What do you think?
Rate this book
Bianco Crime Family #1
Cruel Tyrant
He spilled a drink on my dress. I dumped my wine in his lap.
Which is why I invite the dark-and-brooding beast to clean me up.
Only it turns out, he’s not a stranger at all.
The first night I met my future husband, he left the club with my underwear in his pocket.
Turns out, the cruel, mysterious man that drove me wild in a club bathroom is the terrifying Davide Bianco, a powerful member of the Bianco Crime Family,
And he’s my new arranged fiancé.
He’s controlling and viciously scarred, and I’m terrified I won’t be able to start over with this monster watching my every move.
I need space to heal my wounds, while the darkness lurking inside him craves a way out.
We can help each other if I learn to embrace my role as his new favorite plaything.
I’m afraid I’m going to find out how it feels to fall for a killer before this sham is over.
Which is why I invite the dark-and-brooding beast to clean me up.
Only it turns out, he’s not a stranger at all.
The first night I met my future husband, he left the club with my underwear in his pocket.
Turns out, the cruel, mysterious man that drove me wild in a club bathroom is the terrifying Davide Bianco, a powerful member of the Bianco Crime Family,
And he’s my new arranged fiancé.
He’s controlling and viciously scarred, and I’m terrified I won’t be able to start over with this monster watching my every move.
I need space to heal my wounds, while the darkness lurking inside him craves a way out.
We can help each other if I learn to embrace my role as his new favorite plaything.
I’m afraid I’m going to find out how it feels to fall for a killer before this sham is over.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2024
2163 people are currently reading
1024 people want to read
About the author
B.B. Hamel
200 books2,527 followersI'm a long time reader, writer, and lover of Romance! Writing is my dream and my passion, and I want to share my stories with you.
I live in the Philadelphia area with my husband and two dogs.
Website: http://www.bbhamel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bbhamelwriter
Check out my mailing list for updates, giveaways, and more! http://bbhamel.com/signup
I live in the Philadelphia area with my husband and two dogs.
Website: http://www.bbhamel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bbhamelwriter
Check out my mailing list for updates, giveaways, and more! http://bbhamel.com/signup
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
May 14, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
This is the final story of the Rossi siblings (at least that's what I think), i.e., Stefania's story, but it's probably the start of a new series for the Bianco family (there's a loooot of potential, especially with Davide's little sister).
This is an arranged marriage between two mafia families so that they could help each other with their businesses and the impending war that the Bianco family will soon face in this book.
I liked Stefania a lot, actually, and sometimes it's not easy for me to connect well with the FMC. But I really liked her. She definitely just wanted to find her way, maybe separate from all the mafia drama. But she obviously got dragged into the family again after her oldest brother basically pushed her into accepting this marriage.
Their relationship was 💥🥵 from the start, I think the scene in the first chapters was the 🔥 between them. It was clearly a hate - lust - love type of an instant connection between them.
Davide had a filthy mouth on him, that's for sure. All those moments in the book when he realized he truly loves her were absolutely adorable 🥹🥰🥰. He had a heavy trauma to overcome from his childhood, and I liked how they worked it out together. They try to communicate and navigate together this new relationship between them. It sometimes worked, but sometimes, they had hiccups in their journey to happiness. Which is fine and realistical.
The mafia plot side of the book was also interesting, slow paced here and there, but that's fine. I'm curious to see how this war will end.
Why not a perfect rating, then? Because:
- It was repetitive sometimes
- I wanted a more extended epilogue with these two. They deserved a great epilogue with them after a few years 🥹🥹. Hence, I hope they'll have cameos in the next books (if this turns out to be a series)
- The spicy scenes, some of them at least, while they were hot, were very rushed, in my opinion.
- Using "girl" in his POV was annoying (not in the spicy scenes, it was fine then). She's a woman, your woman, not a girl! He's a 32 years-old, big mafia killer !!! (For e.g., "Every time I look at this girl, I see something new, something good." Why not every time I look at MY girl or MY wife (they were already married) or this woman even 🙄🤔🤷♀️)
** PS: Some of these things are definitely subjective, so even though they did not work for me, these might not become an issue for other readers 😊 ✌️
What to expect
- arranged marriage
- mafia setup
- not quite dark, there are some things mentioned (like violence etc.), but on the mild side
- no V; she was celibate the past 3 years (because she was afraid of her brother's meddling in her personal life);
- found family
- no OP drama at all
- protective and obsessed MMC from the first moment
- HEA
.
.
“I keep chasing something. I’ve been after it my whole life, ever since what happened with Santoro, but being with you is better than getting revenge.”
-- choosing her, their marriage, their love, their future, instead of being reckless in searching his revenge, was such a 🤌 moment
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the final story of the Rossi siblings (at least that's what I think), i.e., Stefania's story, but it's probably the start of a new series for the Bianco family (there's a loooot of potential, especially with Davide's little sister).
This is an arranged marriage between two mafia families so that they could help each other with their businesses and the impending war that the Bianco family will soon face in this book.
I liked Stefania a lot, actually, and sometimes it's not easy for me to connect well with the FMC. But I really liked her. She definitely just wanted to find her way, maybe separate from all the mafia drama. But she obviously got dragged into the family again after her oldest brother basically pushed her into accepting this marriage.
Their relationship was 💥🥵 from the start, I think the scene in the first chapters was the 🔥 between them. It was clearly a hate - lust - love type of an instant connection between them.
Davide had a filthy mouth on him, that's for sure. All those moments in the book when he realized he truly loves her were absolutely adorable 🥹🥰🥰. He had a heavy trauma to overcome from his childhood, and I liked how they worked it out together. They try to communicate and navigate together this new relationship between them. It sometimes worked, but sometimes, they had hiccups in their journey to happiness. Which is fine and realistical.
The mafia plot side of the book was also interesting, slow paced here and there, but that's fine. I'm curious to see how this war will end.
Why not a perfect rating, then? Because:
- It was repetitive sometimes
- I wanted a more extended epilogue with these two. They deserved a great epilogue with them after a few years 🥹🥹. Hence, I hope they'll have cameos in the next books (if this turns out to be a series)
- The spicy scenes, some of them at least, while they were hot, were very rushed, in my opinion.
- Using "girl" in his POV was annoying (not in the spicy scenes, it was fine then). She's a woman, your woman, not a girl! He's a 32 years-old, big mafia killer !!! (For e.g., "Every time I look at this girl, I see something new, something good." Why not every time I look at MY girl or MY wife (they were already married) or this woman even 🙄🤔🤷♀️)
** PS: Some of these things are definitely subjective, so even though they did not work for me, these might not become an issue for other readers 😊 ✌️
What to expect
- arranged marriage
- mafia setup
- not quite dark, there are some things mentioned (like violence etc.), but on the mild side
- no V; she was celibate the past 3 years (because she was afraid of her brother's meddling in her personal life);
- found family
- no OP drama at all
- protective and obsessed MMC from the first moment
- HEA
.
.
“I keep chasing something. I’ve been after it my whole life, ever since what happened with Santoro, but being with you is better than getting revenge.”
-- choosing her, their marriage, their love, their future, instead of being reckless in searching his revenge, was such a 🤌 moment
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 16, 2024
All that was missing was a plot climax. Fizzled.
July 28, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
The only reason i finished this book was because i was hoping it would get more interesting but i only had one emotion while reading this book; bored 🥱
The only reason i finished this book was because i was hoping it would get more interesting but i only had one emotion while reading this book; bored 🥱
October 14, 2024
0.5
There’s such a disconnect between what’s happening in the h POV and the H POV, it’s like they live different lives and only come together for some fucking. The h was spoiled and acts out when shit are hitting the fan and the H came to apologize then fuck her silly. The plot was not plotting and god was it slow and really went nowhere but I suspect the author will draw this conflict out over the course of the series. But luckily for me, I’m not interested enough to waste my time with this series. Also how many fucking ambush and set up does the H have to walk into? I lost count
There’s such a disconnect between what’s happening in the h POV and the H POV, it’s like they live different lives and only come together for some fucking. The h was spoiled and acts out when shit are hitting the fan and the H came to apologize then fuck her silly. The plot was not plotting and god was it slow and really went nowhere but I suspect the author will draw this conflict out over the course of the series. But luckily for me, I’m not interested enough to waste my time with this series. Also how many fucking ambush and set up does the H have to walk into? I lost count
May 12, 2024
Excellent start to the Bianco Famiglia series! After reading the Rossi Famiglia series, I couldn’t wait for the youngest of the Rossi’s to finally get her story. This book had me instantly. It starts off w/ excellent banter between Stef & Davide that had me laughing. But I quickly went f/laughing at the banter to my toes curling f/Davide’s dirty mouth. Stef & Davide were forced into a marriage, but the chemistry they had was sizzling! And it wasn’t long before they started to actually accept their marriage & a real romance blossomed between them.
I loved that the book was kinda fast paced, it kept me invested. Between the action, steamy scenes, the mc’s & the side characters, I didn’t want to put it down. I was anxious to know exactly what happened to Davide & how he got scarred.
I can’t wait to see what comes next for this family! And I’m really excited & looking forward to Angelo’s story.
I loved that the book was kinda fast paced, it kept me invested. Between the action, steamy scenes, the mc’s & the side characters, I didn’t want to put it down. I was anxious to know exactly what happened to Davide & how he got scarred.
I can’t wait to see what comes next for this family! And I’m really excited & looking forward to Angelo’s story.
May 29, 2024
I have been enjoying this series so much. I think Stefania's story is my favorite. I love how she thrived and grew. Thought the ending was a bit abrupt and incomplete but I'm hoping that's because there's more to come!
Read
December 25, 2024FREE today (December 25, 2024) on Amazon.
June 13, 2024
A magnificently written mafia story with amazing characters as well as a great page turner. The story has suspense, intrigue, action and a steamy spicy romance as well as a happy ever after ending.
A mafia story about an arranged marriage between two mafia people from two very different worlds that wind up going together during the brink of war to love one another even though they both didn’t want the arranged marriage and it was supposed to be in name only or at least that’s what they thought at the beginning.
The mafia princess was the youngest out of five children. Her father passed away a while ago and her mother passed a year ago but her older brother who was the don of the mafia family as well as her other three brothers took care of her. But when she felt like she was alone even with the big family she had she left getting her own apartment as well as getting a job even though the job was in one of her family’s businesses. She even had a friend that was not affiliated with any mafia family. She was happy with her life away from the mafia family that she grew up with.
The mafia enforcer was third born out of five children, three boys and two girls. The second eldest brother is in prison. His parents are the head of the mafia family and the eldest son will take over being don when his father steps down. When he was a kid he was kidnapped and put in a small cage, during that traumatic experience a fire started at his arm and hand was both burned badly. Since then he can’t handle enclosed spaces and large groups of people. Since then he has forced himself to be stronger since he wasn’t when the tragedy happened.
The mafia princess after finding out didn’t have very much time to get her things in order before she was whisked from her home in Philadelphia to his home in Chicago. The mafia enforcers family has a block to themselves and around the area the men that’s part of the mafia family lives. The block they live in is blocked off on both ends. The mafia enforcer’s home is different since he doesn’t like enclosed spaces. His home is an open floor plan all the way through except for the baths and the closet, the place has three floors all the same way. The second floor is where the bedroom is located and the third is for storage.
Once they get to Chicago he takes her to his home and it’s no time at all that his family comes over. First his mother so she can acclimate her to everything before the rest of the family shows up except for the brother that’s in prison. All of the mafia enforcers family welcomes her into the family all except for the youngest sister who is leary about any new people around the family.
The mafia princess can’t handle the open floor plan so the mafia enforcer along with his friends make splits off the third floor into rooms for her to do whatever she wants to do with them, the first room she makes into a library and later another is made into an office.
The newlyweds talk to talk and the mafia princess starts to get acclimated to her life there with her husband. The mafia enforcer goes to his normal business while the mafia princess is stuck there but the mother and eldest sister takes her shopping or she goes out to brunch with them as well as goes over to his parents to visit his mother. The couple goes to his parents for a dinner that the mafia family has every so often during one of the dinners the youngest sister threatens the mafia princess.
The mafia princess is getting tired of being cooped up on the block where the mafia family lives but the mafia enforcer won’t let her get a job due to what has been going on outside of the block but he informs her that he will try to find her a work from home job.
The mafia princess’s friend shows up and the youngest sister helps get her past the guards. The mafia princess is a bit upset with her friend for not getting ahold of her to tell her about coming. The friend is worried about the mafia princess since she just left and she only got an email saying she was married and was moving. The friend met the mafia enforcer and she stayed for a bit until she had to get back to Philadelphia and her job.
The mafia enforcer was busy trying to find out who broke into the mafia family's warehouse and destroyed things as well as stole guns while they were being shipped from Philadelphia by the mafia princess’s family.
The couple is getting close, they talk when they can and even have sex. The couple talk about growing up in their families but the mafia enforcer won’t tell her what happened to him and the mafia princess won’t force it out of him figuring that he will tell her when he wants to. The couple is finally starting to feel something for one another.
One of the mafia princess’s brothers comes to visit while he’s there to meet with the mafia enforcer’s father/don. The mafia princess is furious with her brother for not getting ahold of her for so long and she finds out that the brother/don informed them not to contact her so she can get acclimated into her new life. They talk for a while before he has to leave.
During this time the mafia enforcer is gathering up leads trying to figure out who took the guns while they were being shipped. While the couple is together the mafia enforcer gets a call from his father’s old friend, during the call the mafia enforcer is so upset that the mafia princess has to soothe him. The mafia enforcer has a meeting with his father/don and his brother. The father’s old friend wants a meeting just between him and the mafia enforcer, and the father/don makes the arrangements for the meeting. All three members of the family go to the meeting which was a sneak attack and during the attack the father/don gets shot but all of the men who were with his father’s old friend were killed, the father’s old friend got away though. The father/don was in surgery and the family waited for word about if he would make it or not. During this time the mafia princess helped her husband’s family by getting what they needed and between those times she stuck by her husband holding his hand and making sure he knew she was there for him. When the father/don was awake he informed the family that he was putting the eldest brother in charge until he was better.
The mafia enforcer went after anyone who was in the father’s old friend’s mafia family, he didn’t matter if they were low level or not. At this time the couple barely saw one another. They told one another that they liked one another but now she was worried about him. After the father gets out of the hospital the family holds a party for him. During this time the father was getting better but he still had a ways to go. The three men went to the prison to see the brother, they stayed for a bit talking to him before they had to leave. The mafia enforcer wished that his brother could get out but he still had a couple of years left to serve before he could get out on parole. The father once he gets better and is out of rehab he informs everyone that he is returning back to being the don of the family.
The mafia enforcer found out about a high level man from the father’s old friend mafia family and he wants to get him to find out where the father’s old friend is at but he starts thinking about the mafia princess and that he doesn’t want to be killed that he wants to go home to her so he calls off the hit but his friend charges into the dead end street that they followed the high level man to and gets killed by a number of the father’s old friend soldiers, it was a trap.
The family goes to the funeral of his friend and his father/don informs the mother and sister of the friend that they will see to their needs that they are still part of the mafia family even though the friend died. The couple tell one another that they love each other after he tells her what happened.
The mafia enforcer gave the mafia princess a job going through his books at the businesses that he owns and she did so well that he made her the manager after some time.
The mafia enforcer remembers the things that he promised to the mafia princess when they first were wed so he tells her that she could go to her family for the summer but she doesn’t want to. She wants to be with him and his family. She does want to visit for a bit but only if he goes with her. The couple was in love and they were so happy together where the mafia enforcer was even thinking about them having kids of their own.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A mafia story about an arranged marriage between two mafia people from two very different worlds that wind up going together during the brink of war to love one another even though they both didn’t want the arranged marriage and it was supposed to be in name only or at least that’s what they thought at the beginning.
The mafia princess was the youngest out of five children. Her father passed away a while ago and her mother passed a year ago but her older brother who was the don of the mafia family as well as her other three brothers took care of her. But when she felt like she was alone even with the big family she had she left getting her own apartment as well as getting a job even though the job was in one of her family’s businesses. She even had a friend that was not affiliated with any mafia family. She was happy with her life away from the mafia family that she grew up with.
The mafia enforcer was third born out of five children, three boys and two girls. The second eldest brother is in prison. His parents are the head of the mafia family and the eldest son will take over being don when his father steps down. When he was a kid he was kidnapped and put in a small cage, during that traumatic experience a fire started at his arm and hand was both burned badly. Since then he can’t handle enclosed spaces and large groups of people. Since then he has forced himself to be stronger since he wasn’t when the tragedy happened.
The mafia princess after finding out didn’t have very much time to get her things in order before she was whisked from her home in Philadelphia to his home in Chicago. The mafia enforcers family has a block to themselves and around the area the men that’s part of the mafia family lives. The block they live in is blocked off on both ends. The mafia enforcer’s home is different since he doesn’t like enclosed spaces. His home is an open floor plan all the way through except for the baths and the closet, the place has three floors all the same way. The second floor is where the bedroom is located and the third is for storage.
Once they get to Chicago he takes her to his home and it’s no time at all that his family comes over. First his mother so she can acclimate her to everything before the rest of the family shows up except for the brother that’s in prison. All of the mafia enforcers family welcomes her into the family all except for the youngest sister who is leary about any new people around the family.
The mafia princess can’t handle the open floor plan so the mafia enforcer along with his friends make splits off the third floor into rooms for her to do whatever she wants to do with them, the first room she makes into a library and later another is made into an office.
The newlyweds talk to talk and the mafia princess starts to get acclimated to her life there with her husband. The mafia enforcer goes to his normal business while the mafia princess is stuck there but the mother and eldest sister takes her shopping or she goes out to brunch with them as well as goes over to his parents to visit his mother. The couple goes to his parents for a dinner that the mafia family has every so often during one of the dinners the youngest sister threatens the mafia princess.
The mafia princess is getting tired of being cooped up on the block where the mafia family lives but the mafia enforcer won’t let her get a job due to what has been going on outside of the block but he informs her that he will try to find her a work from home job.
The mafia princess’s friend shows up and the youngest sister helps get her past the guards. The mafia princess is a bit upset with her friend for not getting ahold of her to tell her about coming. The friend is worried about the mafia princess since she just left and she only got an email saying she was married and was moving. The friend met the mafia enforcer and she stayed for a bit until she had to get back to Philadelphia and her job.
The mafia enforcer was busy trying to find out who broke into the mafia family's warehouse and destroyed things as well as stole guns while they were being shipped from Philadelphia by the mafia princess’s family.
The couple is getting close, they talk when they can and even have sex. The couple talk about growing up in their families but the mafia enforcer won’t tell her what happened to him and the mafia princess won’t force it out of him figuring that he will tell her when he wants to. The couple is finally starting to feel something for one another.
One of the mafia princess’s brothers comes to visit while he’s there to meet with the mafia enforcer’s father/don. The mafia princess is furious with her brother for not getting ahold of her for so long and she finds out that the brother/don informed them not to contact her so she can get acclimated into her new life. They talk for a while before he has to leave.
During this time the mafia enforcer is gathering up leads trying to figure out who took the guns while they were being shipped. While the couple is together the mafia enforcer gets a call from his father’s old friend, during the call the mafia enforcer is so upset that the mafia princess has to soothe him. The mafia enforcer has a meeting with his father/don and his brother. The father’s old friend wants a meeting just between him and the mafia enforcer, and the father/don makes the arrangements for the meeting. All three members of the family go to the meeting which was a sneak attack and during the attack the father/don gets shot but all of the men who were with his father’s old friend were killed, the father’s old friend got away though. The father/don was in surgery and the family waited for word about if he would make it or not. During this time the mafia princess helped her husband’s family by getting what they needed and between those times she stuck by her husband holding his hand and making sure he knew she was there for him. When the father/don was awake he informed the family that he was putting the eldest brother in charge until he was better.
The mafia enforcer went after anyone who was in the father’s old friend’s mafia family, he didn’t matter if they were low level or not. At this time the couple barely saw one another. They told one another that they liked one another but now she was worried about him. After the father gets out of the hospital the family holds a party for him. During this time the father was getting better but he still had a ways to go. The three men went to the prison to see the brother, they stayed for a bit talking to him before they had to leave. The mafia enforcer wished that his brother could get out but he still had a couple of years left to serve before he could get out on parole. The father once he gets better and is out of rehab he informs everyone that he is returning back to being the don of the family.
The mafia enforcer found out about a high level man from the father’s old friend mafia family and he wants to get him to find out where the father’s old friend is at but he starts thinking about the mafia princess and that he doesn’t want to be killed that he wants to go home to her so he calls off the hit but his friend charges into the dead end street that they followed the high level man to and gets killed by a number of the father’s old friend soldiers, it was a trap.
The family goes to the funeral of his friend and his father/don informs the mother and sister of the friend that they will see to their needs that they are still part of the mafia family even though the friend died. The couple tell one another that they love each other after he tells her what happened.
The mafia enforcer gave the mafia princess a job going through his books at the businesses that he owns and she did so well that he made her the manager after some time.
The mafia enforcer remembers the things that he promised to the mafia princess when they first were wed so he tells her that she could go to her family for the summer but she doesn’t want to. She wants to be with him and his family. She does want to visit for a bit but only if he goes with her. The couple was in love and they were so happy together where the mafia enforcer was even thinking about them having kids of their own.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 22, 2024
Cruel Tryant is the fifth and final book in the Rossi Mafia Crime Family Series. A full-length standalone novel complete with a happy-for-now. The books are interconnected with characters from the previous books making appearance, contributing and enhance the story. This is Davide and Stephanie story who is baby of the Rossi family and only girl. A fast paced, dark, thrilling read. This is Stephania and Davide story which is told in a dual point of view. A brilliantly crafted story with two damage and broken individuals and a complex plotline that captures your attention from the beginning and keeps you hooked and riveted and on the edge of your seat and keeps you turning the pages with it's pulse-pounding mystery, non-stop surprises, and thrilling action until the end.
A dark mafia romance, contemporary romance, organize crime romance, polar opposite attracts romance, taboo romance, arranged marriage romance, touch-her-and-die romance, billionaire romance, romantic suspense story, forced marriage romance, age gap trope story, he-falls-first romance, protective hero romance, enemies-to-lovers romance, hate-to-love vibes story, new adult romance, business marriage, fake marriage romance, steamy romance, protector romance with violence, danger, betrayal, hurt, enemies, anger, angst, tension, emotions, lies, passion, enemies, power and control, drama, darkness, madness, deep dark secrets, pawn, pain and trauma, witty banter, humor, mystery, action packed, twists and turns, suspense, survival, dominance, submission, consensual intense rough sex, resentment, deception, revenge, retaliation, alliance, acceptance, mob war, forgiveness, sabotage, loss, grief, bloodshed, death, dirty talking, praises, rivalry, spanking, loyalties, power struggle, blackmail, bloodshed, obsession friendship, power play, possessiveness, torture, murder and love.
It's now time for mafia princess Stephania Rossi from the Rossi Familgia out of Philly to payback and sacrifice for the family like all her brothers have before her through the form of an arranged marriage with the second son mafia prince Davide Bianco, a brutal capo/enforcer for the Bianco mafia Familgia out of Chicago. Stephania doesn't want anything to do with the mafia life and has kept away from her family. She has gone as far as to carved out a new life working at a law firm attached to the familgia and getting her own apartment and finding new friends. When Don Renzo tells Stephania that she was getting married she was livid. She taught that she they had forgotten about her and that she didn't have to get married especially since she moved out and away from the family. She knows that she owes her brother Renzo a lot especially after he had stepped up and raised her like a father after her parents checked out after she was born. Her dad wanted all boys and didn't know what to do with a daughter. Don Bianco and Don Rossi broker the deal of an arranged marriage between Stephania and Davide and the marriage would help them form an alliance. One where the Rossi's would provide the Bianco's with guns for their war against their rival uncle Luciano and the Bianco would provide drugs to to Rossi's.
The Rossi boys has managed to keep Stephania away from the family business all her life for her own protection. But as Stephania grew older she wanted to be a part of the legal side of family business but Don Renzo wouldn't have none of it. Stephania was enjoying her new found independence. Her best friend Giorgio wanted her to go out and loosen up instead of being locked up in her apartment week after week. She got dressed up and went to her brother's Carlo strip club. She was at the club and was walking in some six inch heels and was walking funny because she had been in them too long and her feet was hurting. She was looking for her friend who had went to the bar to get a refill on her drinks when she bump into a brick wall of a man and they spill drinks on each other. The man got mad and rip into her which in turn caused her to get mad and she pour her drinks in his crutch. But instead of apologizing she was very rude and started mouthing off. He snatched her up and takes her into the men restroom and tells his two enforcer to stand guard so that no one comes into the bathroom. He was just going to wipe up her dress but when she tells him to clean her up with his tongue he couldn't resist her offer. They exchanged names where she found out his name was Davide before he stuffed her underwear in her mouth before he went down on her. He gave her a toe curling climax then snatched her panties and put it in his pocket to keep for a keepsake.
Stephania is typically not a girl who part take in picking up random strangers and having one night stands. Put she had been in a three year drought and was tired of her vibrator. She hadn't had sex in so long that she needed a release. But the guys are so afraid of her brother's that they keep their distance. She was feeling bad about what she had done when Renzo summon her to his house and tells her about her impending nuptials. And when she saw who she was going to marry she was livid. Davide Bianco is a ruthless, calculated, cold-blooded, lethal and cold-hearted bastard. He wasn't for the arranged marriage either and was pissed about the situation. But he's all about doing what his Don, boss and father tells to do which would benefit the familgia. Davide had knew about the impending marriage to Stephania prior to their little rendezvous. He wasn't planning on it to go that far. He only wanted to meet his future wife. But when she told him to dry her with his tongue he couldn't resist. She thought that he had set her up since he had prior knowledge. When she found out that she would be leaving Philly to Chicago she definitely wasn't going to go through with the marriage until Davide tells her what was really going on behind the scenes of the mafia familgia.
Davide doesn't like enclose places and is scarred from a very traumatic incident that occurred in his life at twelve years old which now caused him external and internal scar. The trauma turns him into an animal who craves violent the bloodier the better. His dark past has somehow managed to change him and shape his life and subsequently turns him an animal and man fills with darkness with a quest for cruelty something that he loves. If his father wants to send a message and for them to hurt he send Davide because he knows that he will never fail him. Davide and Stephania marriage starts a little rocky but eventually they found a common ground because he wanted it to work and treats it like a real marriage instead of a business contract. He was very attracted to her and finds himself wanting to be around her and thinking about her, feelings that surprises him and he didn't know what to do with. Davide doesn't let anyone in not even his family. But with Stephania it was different he wanted to share things with her. She took up a large space in his head even when he's on a job. Stephania was very bratty and mean to Davide in the beginning and not let's him forget that they didn't have a relationship nor was their marriage real. She would constantly insult him for no reason and all he did was be nice to her and was protective of her even though he could've been really mean. Stephania was very attracted to her husband and the more time that they spend together they found themselves falling for each other. She was worried about Leaving her family behind in Philly but founded another loving family who treats her like their very own with love and understanding. A great ending to the Rossi's story.
I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
A dark mafia romance, contemporary romance, organize crime romance, polar opposite attracts romance, taboo romance, arranged marriage romance, touch-her-and-die romance, billionaire romance, romantic suspense story, forced marriage romance, age gap trope story, he-falls-first romance, protective hero romance, enemies-to-lovers romance, hate-to-love vibes story, new adult romance, business marriage, fake marriage romance, steamy romance, protector romance with violence, danger, betrayal, hurt, enemies, anger, angst, tension, emotions, lies, passion, enemies, power and control, drama, darkness, madness, deep dark secrets, pawn, pain and trauma, witty banter, humor, mystery, action packed, twists and turns, suspense, survival, dominance, submission, consensual intense rough sex, resentment, deception, revenge, retaliation, alliance, acceptance, mob war, forgiveness, sabotage, loss, grief, bloodshed, death, dirty talking, praises, rivalry, spanking, loyalties, power struggle, blackmail, bloodshed, obsession friendship, power play, possessiveness, torture, murder and love.
It's now time for mafia princess Stephania Rossi from the Rossi Familgia out of Philly to payback and sacrifice for the family like all her brothers have before her through the form of an arranged marriage with the second son mafia prince Davide Bianco, a brutal capo/enforcer for the Bianco mafia Familgia out of Chicago. Stephania doesn't want anything to do with the mafia life and has kept away from her family. She has gone as far as to carved out a new life working at a law firm attached to the familgia and getting her own apartment and finding new friends. When Don Renzo tells Stephania that she was getting married she was livid. She taught that she they had forgotten about her and that she didn't have to get married especially since she moved out and away from the family. She knows that she owes her brother Renzo a lot especially after he had stepped up and raised her like a father after her parents checked out after she was born. Her dad wanted all boys and didn't know what to do with a daughter. Don Bianco and Don Rossi broker the deal of an arranged marriage between Stephania and Davide and the marriage would help them form an alliance. One where the Rossi's would provide the Bianco's with guns for their war against their rival uncle Luciano and the Bianco would provide drugs to to Rossi's.
The Rossi boys has managed to keep Stephania away from the family business all her life for her own protection. But as Stephania grew older she wanted to be a part of the legal side of family business but Don Renzo wouldn't have none of it. Stephania was enjoying her new found independence. Her best friend Giorgio wanted her to go out and loosen up instead of being locked up in her apartment week after week. She got dressed up and went to her brother's Carlo strip club. She was at the club and was walking in some six inch heels and was walking funny because she had been in them too long and her feet was hurting. She was looking for her friend who had went to the bar to get a refill on her drinks when she bump into a brick wall of a man and they spill drinks on each other. The man got mad and rip into her which in turn caused her to get mad and she pour her drinks in his crutch. But instead of apologizing she was very rude and started mouthing off. He snatched her up and takes her into the men restroom and tells his two enforcer to stand guard so that no one comes into the bathroom. He was just going to wipe up her dress but when she tells him to clean her up with his tongue he couldn't resist her offer. They exchanged names where she found out his name was Davide before he stuffed her underwear in her mouth before he went down on her. He gave her a toe curling climax then snatched her panties and put it in his pocket to keep for a keepsake.
Stephania is typically not a girl who part take in picking up random strangers and having one night stands. Put she had been in a three year drought and was tired of her vibrator. She hadn't had sex in so long that she needed a release. But the guys are so afraid of her brother's that they keep their distance. She was feeling bad about what she had done when Renzo summon her to his house and tells her about her impending nuptials. And when she saw who she was going to marry she was livid. Davide Bianco is a ruthless, calculated, cold-blooded, lethal and cold-hearted bastard. He wasn't for the arranged marriage either and was pissed about the situation. But he's all about doing what his Don, boss and father tells to do which would benefit the familgia. Davide had knew about the impending marriage to Stephania prior to their little rendezvous. He wasn't planning on it to go that far. He only wanted to meet his future wife. But when she told him to dry her with his tongue he couldn't resist. She thought that he had set her up since he had prior knowledge. When she found out that she would be leaving Philly to Chicago she definitely wasn't going to go through with the marriage until Davide tells her what was really going on behind the scenes of the mafia familgia.
Davide doesn't like enclose places and is scarred from a very traumatic incident that occurred in his life at twelve years old which now caused him external and internal scar. The trauma turns him into an animal who craves violent the bloodier the better. His dark past has somehow managed to change him and shape his life and subsequently turns him an animal and man fills with darkness with a quest for cruelty something that he loves. If his father wants to send a message and for them to hurt he send Davide because he knows that he will never fail him. Davide and Stephania marriage starts a little rocky but eventually they found a common ground because he wanted it to work and treats it like a real marriage instead of a business contract. He was very attracted to her and finds himself wanting to be around her and thinking about her, feelings that surprises him and he didn't know what to do with. Davide doesn't let anyone in not even his family. But with Stephania it was different he wanted to share things with her. She took up a large space in his head even when he's on a job. Stephania was very bratty and mean to Davide in the beginning and not let's him forget that they didn't have a relationship nor was their marriage real. She would constantly insult him for no reason and all he did was be nice to her and was protective of her even though he could've been really mean. Stephania was very attracted to her husband and the more time that they spend together they found themselves falling for each other. She was worried about Leaving her family behind in Philly but founded another loving family who treats her like their very own with love and understanding. A great ending to the Rossi's story.
I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 29, 2024
Same arranged scenario….again
DNF 1 pt for the cover and 1 pt for a mouthy snarky heroine
This is just another arranged marriage with the same reasoning I’ve been reading for years.
The only way crime families in 2024 can arrange an alliance or secure a working relationship/business agreement between families is to force two strangers to get married. It is not only done time and time again in this genre, it is expected. So outdated and archaic.
They seldom write about the forced marriages that end in death, alcoholism,drugs suicide or betrayal. They seldom mention the line of mistresses acquired over the years, just that their couple finds love and happiness.
Davide’d and Stefania story to date is no different. I require something unique in these arranged marriages, otherwise it’s just like the books in this genre that came before it.
DNF 1 pt for the cover and 1 pt for a mouthy snarky heroine
This is just another arranged marriage with the same reasoning I’ve been reading for years.
The only way crime families in 2024 can arrange an alliance or secure a working relationship/business agreement between families is to force two strangers to get married. It is not only done time and time again in this genre, it is expected. So outdated and archaic.
They seldom write about the forced marriages that end in death, alcoholism,drugs suicide or betrayal. They seldom mention the line of mistresses acquired over the years, just that their couple finds love and happiness.
Davide’d and Stefania story to date is no different. I require something unique in these arranged marriages, otherwise it’s just like the books in this genre that came before it.
May 11, 2024
This is a lovely story and Stefania and Davide are amazing and so good together even if it was an arranged marriage. There are some gruesome parts and some very hot parts but it is mainly a love story and the beginning, hopefully, of a new family series.
September 5, 2024
Disappointing
I can't believe that this book leads you into a story to only leave without finishing. I was thinking MAFIA so you finish the fight not leave a cliffhanger from the couple. Not usually this authors M O. Boy did this book throw me for a loop.
I can't believe that this book leads you into a story to only leave without finishing. I was thinking MAFIA so you finish the fight not leave a cliffhanger from the couple. Not usually this authors M O. Boy did this book throw me for a loop.
May 27, 2024
Flat Ending
Plot never got to a climax so it felt like it came to an abrupt end. I was left very disappointed.
Plot never got to a climax so it felt like it came to an abrupt end. I was left very disappointed.
September 17, 2024
wasteful
This was a waste of time, didn’t expect it to end so abruptly with no real conclusion to the story.
This was a waste of time, didn’t expect it to end so abruptly with no real conclusion to the story.
May 16, 2024
Loved the MMC
This is a standalone dealing with Davide Bianco and the Bianco crime family in Chicago. But the MFC in this one is Stefania Rossi, youngest sister in Hammel's series of Rossi Crime family in Philly. Loved this one!
Stefania is the only daughter of 5 children and a late in life child. Her parents basically checked out emotionally when she was born and eventually died. Her older brothers, the eldest in particular, Don Renzo, tried to fill that father role. Stefania loves her brothers and knows they love her, but she's always felt like the after thought... somethng they deal with because they have to. They've kept her away from the family business in an effort to protect, but that only adds to the feeling of being an outsider; she's done her best to make her own way; a job, an apartment and distancing herself from her family. So imagine her surprise when her bother informs her it's time to pay back the family and do her part and that she's to be married to Davide Bianco of Chicago to cement an alliance with his crime family. He's a man who has a reputation for being brutal and violent.
Davide is his family's enforcer. If someone needs to be found, offed,, interrogated...Davide is your man. He never intended to marry because he can't do relationships. Davide is brutal and violent in his job but he's also broken. He has issues. A trauma when he was 12 left lasting scars, both physical and emotional. His recklessness, his cold demeanor, his need to control are all means to deal with his turbulent and conflicting emotions. While he wasn't happy about the marriage arrangement either, he's willing to do what's best for his family and they need this alliance. Even more willing after he first meets her. Something about her calms him, stops the noise in his head.
Stefania fights it in the beginning; she's rude, confrontational and sassy. Davide is so much more than his reputation. He's understanding; He understands that this arrangement is harder for her...she's had to leave her family and friends, her job and apartment, the life she'd created for herself. So while he doesn't let her walk all over him, he does do nice things for her trying to make things easier. I loved that he had a softer side while still being the alpha. I loved that he developed feelings first; and even though he wasn't sure what they were, because he'd not felt anything in a long time, he didn't shy away from them. I loved how he slowly won her over.
The only odd thing was the steamy s€× scenes start out in real time, but then often would switched to more of a short narrative of what happened after the fact. Still it didn't detract much from the story and those who complain that s€× scenes are too long or detailed will probably love this. 4.75 stars
This is a standalone dealing with Davide Bianco and the Bianco crime family in Chicago. But the MFC in this one is Stefania Rossi, youngest sister in Hammel's series of Rossi Crime family in Philly. Loved this one!
Stefania is the only daughter of 5 children and a late in life child. Her parents basically checked out emotionally when she was born and eventually died. Her older brothers, the eldest in particular, Don Renzo, tried to fill that father role. Stefania loves her brothers and knows they love her, but she's always felt like the after thought... somethng they deal with because they have to. They've kept her away from the family business in an effort to protect, but that only adds to the feeling of being an outsider; she's done her best to make her own way; a job, an apartment and distancing herself from her family. So imagine her surprise when her bother informs her it's time to pay back the family and do her part and that she's to be married to Davide Bianco of Chicago to cement an alliance with his crime family. He's a man who has a reputation for being brutal and violent.
Davide is his family's enforcer. If someone needs to be found, offed,, interrogated...Davide is your man. He never intended to marry because he can't do relationships. Davide is brutal and violent in his job but he's also broken. He has issues. A trauma when he was 12 left lasting scars, both physical and emotional. His recklessness, his cold demeanor, his need to control are all means to deal with his turbulent and conflicting emotions. While he wasn't happy about the marriage arrangement either, he's willing to do what's best for his family and they need this alliance. Even more willing after he first meets her. Something about her calms him, stops the noise in his head.
Stefania fights it in the beginning; she's rude, confrontational and sassy. Davide is so much more than his reputation. He's understanding; He understands that this arrangement is harder for her...she's had to leave her family and friends, her job and apartment, the life she'd created for herself. So while he doesn't let her walk all over him, he does do nice things for her trying to make things easier. I loved that he had a softer side while still being the alpha. I loved that he developed feelings first; and even though he wasn't sure what they were, because he'd not felt anything in a long time, he didn't shy away from them. I loved how he slowly won her over.
The only odd thing was the steamy s€× scenes start out in real time, but then often would switched to more of a short narrative of what happened after the fact. Still it didn't detract much from the story and those who complain that s€× scenes are too long or detailed will probably love this. 4.75 stars
May 13, 2024
3.75stars-CRUEL TYRANT is the first instalment in BB Hamel’s contemporary, adult BIANCO CRIME FAMILY erotic, Mafia romance series, set in the author’s Rossi Crime Family world. This is Davide Bianco, and Stefania Rossi’s story line.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Davide and Stefania) CRUEL TYRANT follows the arranged marriage between our story line couple. A night on the town with her friend Giorgia ends when Stefania has a liaison in the bathroom with a brooding stranger but within hours, Stefania will discover said stranger is to be her intended husband, an arrange marriage between Mafia families to reinforce their power and control. Enter Davide Bianco, a member of the Bianco Mafia family but a man scarred both inside and out. The Bianco family is about to head to war with a familiar rival, and the marriage between Davide and Stefania will add more manpower to their point of control. What ensues is the building relationship between Davide and Stefania, and the potential fall-out as Stefania struggles with her position in the Bianco family, and the hot and cold actions of the man with whom she is falling in love.
The world building focuses on the impending war . Someone is attacking the Bianco ships and trucks, and in this, merchandise and weapons go missing. Don Alessandro Bianco suspects the person responsible, and in this, Davide and his brothers are determined to take down the man in charge. We learn a little bit about Davide’s past-the horror and the betrayal by a close family friend.
The relationship between Davide and Stefania begins as an arrange marriage, a marriage Stefania wants nothing to do. The brokering the union gives each side of the Famiglia more control and more power, but Stefania feels like a pawn in a game she cannot control. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative.
We are introduced to Davide’s siblings: Simon, Angelo, Elena, and Laura, as well as their parents Alessandro and Freddie; Stefania’s bestie Giorgia; several Mafia type men and guards; and the return of Stefania’s brothers Saul, Carlo, Renzo and Gian.
CRUEL TYRANT is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The premise is intriguing and entertaining but not as dark as some Mafia story lines; the romance is seductive; the characters are determined and dynamic.
copy supplied for review
www.thereadingcafe.com
Told from dual first person perspectives (Davide and Stefania) CRUEL TYRANT follows the arranged marriage between our story line couple. A night on the town with her friend Giorgia ends when Stefania has a liaison in the bathroom with a brooding stranger but within hours, Stefania will discover said stranger is to be her intended husband, an arrange marriage between Mafia families to reinforce their power and control. Enter Davide Bianco, a member of the Bianco Mafia family but a man scarred both inside and out. The Bianco family is about to head to war with a familiar rival, and the marriage between Davide and Stefania will add more manpower to their point of control. What ensues is the building relationship between Davide and Stefania, and the potential fall-out as Stefania struggles with her position in the Bianco family, and the hot and cold actions of the man with whom she is falling in love.
The world building focuses on the impending war . Someone is attacking the Bianco ships and trucks, and in this, merchandise and weapons go missing. Don Alessandro Bianco suspects the person responsible, and in this, Davide and his brothers are determined to take down the man in charge. We learn a little bit about Davide’s past-the horror and the betrayal by a close family friend.
The relationship between Davide and Stefania begins as an arrange marriage, a marriage Stefania wants nothing to do. The brokering the union gives each side of the Famiglia more control and more power, but Stefania feels like a pawn in a game she cannot control. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative.
We are introduced to Davide’s siblings: Simon, Angelo, Elena, and Laura, as well as their parents Alessandro and Freddie; Stefania’s bestie Giorgia; several Mafia type men and guards; and the return of Stefania’s brothers Saul, Carlo, Renzo and Gian.
CRUEL TYRANT is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The premise is intriguing and entertaining but not as dark as some Mafia story lines; the romance is seductive; the characters are determined and dynamic.
copy supplied for review
www.thereadingcafe.com
December 29, 2024
Possible spoilers!
Waning: Jumbled thoughts, and slight ranting below.
So I got this book for free on one of the Kindle deal days, and honestly wasn't very hopeful that it would be great. So for starters this is a dark mafia romance, with an arranged marriage.
So I loved both Stephania and Davide. I'm so glad this author didn't portray Stephania as a self-absorbed brat. I've read so many arranged mafia romances where the FMC just feels so sorry for herself, and frankly just wants everyone to pity them, but I'm so glad that wasn't the case here.
I also really wished the book showed more interactions with her brothers.
As for Davide he had some serious trama and I love how he was able to open up to her (slowly).
The way he way he sacrificed his (very) open space in his home to built her walls, even after not really knowing her for long. I love how his family accepted her as one of their own (except the little sister).I did think there would be more drama with his younger sister, which I'm kinda sad we didn't get, but at the same time I'm glad there wasn't unnecessary drama.
There was no third act breakup!!!!!
So I only rated this 3 stars because of the ending. When I turned the last page on this book I was so confused, because I thought this book could be read as a standalone and had its own HEA. However that was not the case, when I finished this book I went straight to Goodreads to look for the next book, only to find out it moves on to the next brother. Like, what? We don't get anymore Davide and Stephania.
The next book does look intriguing, so I'll probably end up reading it. Oh, also there's a storyline that continues on throughout the books, so I don't think they should be read out of order.
This is my first book by this author, but i've read some reviews and apparently there's a whole other series about Stephenia's brother's.?.?
This also isn't a super dark romance. There's mention of past trauma (involving fire),and some slight violence mentioned on page. I always recommend checking the trigger warnings.
All in all I enjoyed this book and will most likely be reading the next one.
Waning: Jumbled thoughts, and slight ranting below.
So I got this book for free on one of the Kindle deal days, and honestly wasn't very hopeful that it would be great. So for starters this is a dark mafia romance, with an arranged marriage.
So I loved both Stephania and Davide. I'm so glad this author didn't portray Stephania as a self-absorbed brat. I've read so many arranged mafia romances where the FMC just feels so sorry for herself, and frankly just wants everyone to pity them, but I'm so glad that wasn't the case here.
I also really wished the book showed more interactions with her brothers.
As for Davide he had some serious trama and I love how he was able to open up to her (slowly).
The way he way he sacrificed his (very) open space in his home to built her walls, even after not really knowing her for long. I love how his family accepted her as one of their own (except the little sister).I did think there would be more drama with his younger sister, which I'm kinda sad we didn't get, but at the same time I'm glad there wasn't unnecessary drama.
There was no third act breakup!!!!!
So I only rated this 3 stars because of the ending. When I turned the last page on this book I was so confused, because I thought this book could be read as a standalone and had its own HEA. However that was not the case, when I finished this book I went straight to Goodreads to look for the next book, only to find out it moves on to the next brother. Like, what? We don't get anymore Davide and Stephania.
The next book does look intriguing, so I'll probably end up reading it. Oh, also there's a storyline that continues on throughout the books, so I don't think they should be read out of order.
This is my first book by this author, but i've read some reviews and apparently there's a whole other series about Stephenia's brother's.?.?
This also isn't a super dark romance. There's mention of past trauma (involving fire),and some slight violence mentioned on page. I always recommend checking the trigger warnings.
All in all I enjoyed this book and will most likely be reading the next one.
May 19, 2024
“Cruel Tyrant” is the final book in the Rossi Crime Family series by B. B. Hamel, and the first book about the Bianco Crime Family. It’s an arranged marriage, Mafia story that starts in Philadelphia and ends in Chicago.
Stefania Rossi is the youngest child and only daughter in the Rossi Family. Her eldest brother Renzo, who’s been in charge of the family as the Don, always protected her and tried to be the best father figure possible in her life. She’s been kept away from the family business as much as they can , and even allowed to feel like she’s making her own way in life with distance from her family, a job, an apartment, and friends outside Mafia life. When her brother summons her home to meet with him, she’s shocked when he tells her it’s time to pay back her family and marry to make an alliance with another crime family.
Davide Bianco is the enforcer for his family. He has a well-earned reputation for violence and brutality. Trauma endured at a young age left him with visible and invisible scars, and the inability to connect with other people in positive ways. Davide is also unhappy about the arranged marriage, but he’s willing to do it because he understands it’s what his family needs. After he meets Stefania, he’s even more amenable to because for some reason he finds her presence calms him.
Through trials and tribulations, both expected and unexpected, Stefania and Davide find allies in one another. The connection between the main characters is steamy, and also seems grounded in their mutual understanding of family obligations. This book provided for the closure about other characters in the Rossi Crime Family, and nicely set up the next series.
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily sharing my thoughts and opinions.
Stefania Rossi is the youngest child and only daughter in the Rossi Family. Her eldest brother Renzo, who’s been in charge of the family as the Don, always protected her and tried to be the best father figure possible in her life. She’s been kept away from the family business as much as they can , and even allowed to feel like she’s making her own way in life with distance from her family, a job, an apartment, and friends outside Mafia life. When her brother summons her home to meet with him, she’s shocked when he tells her it’s time to pay back her family and marry to make an alliance with another crime family.
Davide Bianco is the enforcer for his family. He has a well-earned reputation for violence and brutality. Trauma endured at a young age left him with visible and invisible scars, and the inability to connect with other people in positive ways. Davide is also unhappy about the arranged marriage, but he’s willing to do it because he understands it’s what his family needs. After he meets Stefania, he’s even more amenable to because for some reason he finds her presence calms him.
Through trials and tribulations, both expected and unexpected, Stefania and Davide find allies in one another. The connection between the main characters is steamy, and also seems grounded in their mutual understanding of family obligations. This book provided for the closure about other characters in the Rossi Crime Family, and nicely set up the next series.
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily sharing my thoughts and opinions.
June 8, 2024
CRUEL TYRANT is the first instalment in BB Hamel’s contemporary, adult BIANCO CRIME FAMILY erotic, Mafia romance series, set in the author’s Rossi Crime Family world. This is Davide Bianco, and Stefania Rossi’s story line.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Davide and Stefania) CRUEL TYRANT follows the arranged marriage between our story line couple. A night on the town with her friend Giorgia ends when Stefania has a liaison in the bathroom with a brooding stranger but within hours, Stefania will discover said stranger is to be her intended husband, an arrange marriage between Mafia families to reinforce their power and control. Enter Davide Bianco, a member of the Bianco Mafia family but a man scarred both inside and out. The Bianco family is about to head to war with a familiar rival, and the marriage between Davide and Stefania will add more manpower to their point of control. What ensues is the building relationship between Davide and Stefania, and the potential fall-out as Stefania struggles with her position in the Bianco family, and the hot and cold actions of the man with whom she is falling in love.
The world building focuses on the impending war . Someone is attacking the Bianco ships and trucks, and in this, merchandise and weapons go missing. Don Alessandro Bianco suspects the person responsible, and in this, Davide and his brothers are determined to take down the man in charge. We learn a little bit about Davide’s past-the horror and the betrayal by a close family friend.
The relationship between Davide and Stefania begins as an arrange marriage, a marriage Stefania wants nothing to do. The brokering the union gives each side of the Famiglia more control and more power, but Stefania feels like a pawn in a game she cannot control. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative.
We are introduced to Davide’s siblings: Simon, Angelo, Elena, and Laura, as well as their parents Alessandro and Freddie; Stefania’s bestie Giorgia; several Mafia type men and guards; and the return of Stefania’s brothers Saul, Carlo, Renzo and Gian.
CRUEL TYRANT is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The premise is intriguing and entertaining but not as dark as some Mafia story lines; the romance is seductive; the characters are determined and dynamic.
Copy supplied for review
Www.thereadingcafe.com
Told from dual first person perspectives (Davide and Stefania) CRUEL TYRANT follows the arranged marriage between our story line couple. A night on the town with her friend Giorgia ends when Stefania has a liaison in the bathroom with a brooding stranger but within hours, Stefania will discover said stranger is to be her intended husband, an arrange marriage between Mafia families to reinforce their power and control. Enter Davide Bianco, a member of the Bianco Mafia family but a man scarred both inside and out. The Bianco family is about to head to war with a familiar rival, and the marriage between Davide and Stefania will add more manpower to their point of control. What ensues is the building relationship between Davide and Stefania, and the potential fall-out as Stefania struggles with her position in the Bianco family, and the hot and cold actions of the man with whom she is falling in love.
The world building focuses on the impending war . Someone is attacking the Bianco ships and trucks, and in this, merchandise and weapons go missing. Don Alessandro Bianco suspects the person responsible, and in this, Davide and his brothers are determined to take down the man in charge. We learn a little bit about Davide’s past-the horror and the betrayal by a close family friend.
The relationship between Davide and Stefania begins as an arrange marriage, a marriage Stefania wants nothing to do. The brokering the union gives each side of the Famiglia more control and more power, but Stefania feels like a pawn in a game she cannot control. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative.
We are introduced to Davide’s siblings: Simon, Angelo, Elena, and Laura, as well as their parents Alessandro and Freddie; Stefania’s bestie Giorgia; several Mafia type men and guards; and the return of Stefania’s brothers Saul, Carlo, Renzo and Gian.
CRUEL TYRANT is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The premise is intriguing and entertaining but not as dark as some Mafia story lines; the romance is seductive; the characters are determined and dynamic.
Copy supplied for review
Www.thereadingcafe.com
May 14, 2024
Cruel Tyrant is an Arranged Marriage Romance by B. B. Hamel. This is Davide Bianco and Stefania Rossi's story. Davide and Stefania are strangers to each other in her brothers club. Davide accidentally spills a drink on Stefania and she purposely spills her drink on Davide. The story begins with these two bantering back and forth and then there is chemistry involved. Davide is a member of the Bianco Crime Famiglia and Stefania is a member of the Rossi Mafia Famiglia. Renzo Rossi is the Don of the Rossi Famiglia and Stefania's oldest brother. He has arranged for Stefania to marry Davide and join the families together to be more powerful, because of the upcoming war that they face. Davide and Stefania do not want this marriage, but it is expected of them. The chemistry between them is smoking and as they become closer who knows what can happen. The characters are wonderfully written.
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 25, 2024
Loved it
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
What to Expect
- Found Family
- Arranged Marriage
- Mafia Romance
- Grumpy x Sunshine
I recently read "Cruel Tyrant" by BB Hamel and was thoroughly captivated from the very first chapter. The book immediately drew me in with its engaging storyline and complex characters. What I particularly loved about this book is that it deviates from the typical arranged marriage trope where the wife is perpetually angry and resentful. Instead, it presents a nuanced relationship that evolves in unexpected ways.
The romance between the main characters was beautifully developed, with a balance of tension and tenderness that kept me hooked. The chemistry between them was palpable, and the emotional depth added layers to their interactions. The spice in the book was just right, adding an extra element of excitement without overshadowing the plot.
While I enjoyed the book immensely, I do wish the ending had been a bit different. It felt a little rushed compared to the rest of the story, and I would have loved to see a more fleshed-out resolution. However, this did not detract significantly from my overall enjoyment of the book.
"Cruel Tyrant" is a refreshing take on the arranged marriage genre, offering a captivating blend of romance, conflict, and passion. BB Hamel has crafted a story that is both entertaining and emotionally satisfying.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
What to Expect
- Found Family
- Arranged Marriage
- Mafia Romance
- Grumpy x Sunshine
I recently read "Cruel Tyrant" by BB Hamel and was thoroughly captivated from the very first chapter. The book immediately drew me in with its engaging storyline and complex characters. What I particularly loved about this book is that it deviates from the typical arranged marriage trope where the wife is perpetually angry and resentful. Instead, it presents a nuanced relationship that evolves in unexpected ways.
The romance between the main characters was beautifully developed, with a balance of tension and tenderness that kept me hooked. The chemistry between them was palpable, and the emotional depth added layers to their interactions. The spice in the book was just right, adding an extra element of excitement without overshadowing the plot.
While I enjoyed the book immensely, I do wish the ending had been a bit different. It felt a little rushed compared to the rest of the story, and I would have loved to see a more fleshed-out resolution. However, this did not detract significantly from my overall enjoyment of the book.
"Cruel Tyrant" is a refreshing take on the arranged marriage genre, offering a captivating blend of romance, conflict, and passion. BB Hamel has crafted a story that is both entertaining and emotionally satisfying.
May 11, 2024
Gripping Mafia Romance
Stefanie Rossi is the fifth child, the unwanted girl, the problem of the Rossi Famigia. The last few years she has been trying to separate herself from her family life and what they represent. She has her own apartment and her own life and while she works at the Famigia-controlled law firm, she tries to be as independent as she can. Her family has give her space to do as she wants, but now her brother says it’s time to pay the family back. She is to marry Davide Bianco, an important member of the largest crime syndicate in the Midwest. Davide is vicious, brutal and violent, but Stefania lights a spark deep inside his chest. It is primal, ancient, an emotion he never felt before. It is protective. It is instinctual. A part of him he thought had been lost long ago. This is a dark, mafia arranged marriage romance that is brimming with steam and emotion as well as being loaded with danger, violence and murder. There is a lot more to these two characters than one realizes to begin with and they really are perfect for each other. B.B. Hamel certainly knows how to write intriguing mafia romances that will keep one captivated from start to finish.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
Stefanie Rossi is the fifth child, the unwanted girl, the problem of the Rossi Famigia. The last few years she has been trying to separate herself from her family life and what they represent. She has her own apartment and her own life and while she works at the Famigia-controlled law firm, she tries to be as independent as she can. Her family has give her space to do as she wants, but now her brother says it’s time to pay the family back. She is to marry Davide Bianco, an important member of the largest crime syndicate in the Midwest. Davide is vicious, brutal and violent, but Stefania lights a spark deep inside his chest. It is primal, ancient, an emotion he never felt before. It is protective. It is instinctual. A part of him he thought had been lost long ago. This is a dark, mafia arranged marriage romance that is brimming with steam and emotion as well as being loaded with danger, violence and murder. There is a lot more to these two characters than one realizes to begin with and they really are perfect for each other. B.B. Hamel certainly knows how to write intriguing mafia romances that will keep one captivated from start to finish.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
May 13, 2024
This is the last Rossi sibling’s story with Stefania having her arraigned marriage to Davide Bianco for power and war connections in their Mafia relationships. Stefania has never been involved in the families shady dealings so when her brother Renzo gives her the details of her new life she’s not thrilled as she was hoping to figure out her future without the family. Davide is an imposing man with a past involving fire and pain with scars on his hand. Davide does without questions what is expected from his family and along the way the kindness he shows Stefania allows them a chance to build a bond and connection. With each interaction Stefania has with Davide and his family she silently grows closer to them and Davide finds himself falling in love with her and Stefania grows feelings for Davide. It’s nice to see how they deal with each situation by communicating and the dangerous decisions of looking for his enemies each night stop and better decisions are made. The trauma they face on,y brings them together with a real chance at forever! What will happen with the war the Bianco’s are involved in and how will everyone remain protect protected? I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 14, 2024
Holy heck this story will ravage you!
I was hooked from the start when Stefania while out in her brother’s club with her best friend walks in to Davide, a human brick wall that spills his drink on her. In her mind, reciprocity is fair play, so her drink lands on him. What follows next is the hottest scene ever of first hookups! While neither can forget the explosive scene between the two, Stefania is in for a rude awakening when her brother arranges for her to marry in to the Bianco family in Chicago to put the family in a better position. When she discovers her hot interlude, Davide and her future husband are one and the same, she is on the warpath for Davide. Davide has his hangup about being inside four walls, but when Stefania has a hangup about his open floorplan, he steps up to meet her needs. As the danger increases for the Bianco’s, Davide becomes embroiled in exacting revenge against the ex family member that destroyed his trust. Will Davide discover the gem he has in Stefania before risking his life? You have to read to find out and don’t expect to put the book down until you turn the last page!
I was hooked from the start when Stefania while out in her brother’s club with her best friend walks in to Davide, a human brick wall that spills his drink on her. In her mind, reciprocity is fair play, so her drink lands on him. What follows next is the hottest scene ever of first hookups! While neither can forget the explosive scene between the two, Stefania is in for a rude awakening when her brother arranges for her to marry in to the Bianco family in Chicago to put the family in a better position. When she discovers her hot interlude, Davide and her future husband are one and the same, she is on the warpath for Davide. Davide has his hangup about being inside four walls, but when Stefania has a hangup about his open floorplan, he steps up to meet her needs. As the danger increases for the Bianco’s, Davide becomes embroiled in exacting revenge against the ex family member that destroyed his trust. Will Davide discover the gem he has in Stefania before risking his life? You have to read to find out and don’t expect to put the book down until you turn the last page!
May 30, 2024
This was a good read. Stefania Rossi just wants to live her life away from her mafia family she has a job and her own apartment. While out at one of her brother's clubs with her best friend Georgia a guy spills a drink on her, so she dumps her drink in his lap, so he takes her to the bathroom to clean up they get hot and heavy, and he leaves with her panties in his pocket. The next day her oldest brother who is the Don Renzo tells her that he has arranged a marriage for her, and she is furious and when she sees who she is marrying she is even madder. Davide Bianco of Chicago to cement an alliance with his crime family. He's a man who has a reputation for being brutal and violent. Davide is his family's enforcer but, he is also scarred he was burned on the hand and arm when he was a kid. I liked both of these characters Stefania was feisty and stubborn she wasn't a pushover, but she was also sweet and loving and when the Don of the family was shot, she was there taking care of everyone. I loved that Davide showed her his softer side and opened up to her he even gave her a job. This was a good read, but this book had quite a few errors in it with words running together. I haven't read about the Rossi family, but I will.
May 12, 2024
I've been waiting for Stefina Rossi's story she's just been told she's to marry for the good of the family. It's all about connection and deals. I love how the night before a man she accidently spilled his drink on her dress and then she dumped her glass on the man's pants... A pretty fun and sexy scene. Davide Bianco is not any happier about the arranged marriage, fake marriage, but he's intrigued by his spitfire fiancé. A captivating story as Stefina has always wanted to distance herself from the family mafia side of things now finds herself married to the mafia, and mafia miles away from home. Davide is the enforcer of the family, he has a traumatic past he struggles to overcome, a wife who doesn't like him. I love Stefina she's one feisty mafia wife who's trying to find her way in a new family, as the wife of a stranger, a stranger she's definitely attracted to. Will these two find to live together and build a future? Or will his past keep them apart? I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 13, 2024
Cat’s Stats
MMC/FMC- David’s and Stefania
Genre- Mafia Romance
Heat- 🌋🌋🌋🌋🌋 with both a mild praise kink and a mild degradation kink
Series? Y
Safety? Y
Triggers- Graphic violence, blood, fire, explicit erotic content, language, wanton waste of wine
Tropes- One Night Stand, Arranged Marriage, Do-Si-Do With the Mafioso
Mewsings
What I liked- I liked the way their relationship grew and how they both grew kind to each other. The zexytime was nice and hot, with some Fanservice Arm P0rn. There was plenty of action, and, thank heavens the heroine wasn’t kidnapped. No OW/OM drama. And the bestie was hilarious. I would really like to read more about the rest of the Bianco family because I have questions, including wanting to know what made Laura the way she is. I’m hoping that’s Hamel’s next series.
What I didn’t- about the only thing I didn’t like was the title. It’s… okay I guess, but not great. And it has nothing to do with the story at all.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
MMC/FMC- David’s and Stefania
Genre- Mafia Romance
Heat- 🌋🌋🌋🌋🌋 with both a mild praise kink and a mild degradation kink
Series? Y
Safety? Y
Triggers- Graphic violence, blood, fire, explicit erotic content, language, wanton waste of wine
Tropes- One Night Stand, Arranged Marriage, Do-Si-Do With the Mafioso
Mewsings
What I liked- I liked the way their relationship grew and how they both grew kind to each other. The zexytime was nice and hot, with some Fanservice Arm P0rn. There was plenty of action, and, thank heavens the heroine wasn’t kidnapped. No OW/OM drama. And the bestie was hilarious. I would really like to read more about the rest of the Bianco family because I have questions, including wanting to know what made Laura the way she is. I’m hoping that’s Hamel’s next series.
What I didn’t- about the only thing I didn’t like was the title. It’s… okay I guess, but not great. And it has nothing to do with the story at all.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 26, 2024
I've loved reading the Rossi family's stories but Stefania's arranged marriage to Davide has become my favorite.
Being married to Davide meant leaving her family & moving to a different city living with his family.
She didn't know her parents & was brought up by her brother's.
Never feeling part of her family she didn't understand how Davide's family treated each other & made her feel part of their family.
The sex between the couple was off the charts but gradually Stefania softened towards him but couldn't help wondering what was stopping him getting close to her. Davide's past was affecting his future but he couldn't tell her how or why he was feeling until it almost threatened his future with the woman he had grown to love.
There's lots of steam, sassy, fun, scary sist-in-law at times quite emotional but once you start reading this you'll struggle to put it down.
Have loved this series & definitely recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Being married to Davide meant leaving her family & moving to a different city living with his family.
She didn't know her parents & was brought up by her brother's.
Never feeling part of her family she didn't understand how Davide's family treated each other & made her feel part of their family.
The sex between the couple was off the charts but gradually Stefania softened towards him but couldn't help wondering what was stopping him getting close to her. Davide's past was affecting his future but he couldn't tell her how or why he was feeling until it almost threatened his future with the woman he had grown to love.
There's lots of steam, sassy, fun, scary sist-in-law at times quite emotional but once you start reading this you'll struggle to put it down.
Have loved this series & definitely recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 9, 2025
Just ok.
The book starts off with the main characters at a club. The H
accidentally spills his drink on her dress so she deliberately spills
her drink on his pants.
The h works in a law firm. "She works in the research division of the
firm like me, and basically, we’re tasked with pulling legal
documents and hunting down client information for all the
attorneys as needed."
She's also the sister of the mob boss & when he calls her home &
tells her he just arranged a marriage for her, she's furious but has
no choice but to obey. It turns out the man she's now engaged to is
the man from the club and he knew who she was the whole time.
The H is the son of a mob boss & is being forced into this arranged marriage to get some allies for the war that's imminent. He has emotional, mental and physical scars. Despite that, he's a nice guy.
Overall, the story was ok. I wouldn't re-read it or continue on with the series but it was ok enough to read once. It wasn't boring but wasn't anything special either.
The book starts off with the main characters at a club. The H
accidentally spills his drink on her dress so she deliberately spills
her drink on his pants.
The h works in a law firm. "She works in the research division of the
firm like me, and basically, we’re tasked with pulling legal
documents and hunting down client information for all the
attorneys as needed."
She's also the sister of the mob boss & when he calls her home &
tells her he just arranged a marriage for her, she's furious but has
no choice but to obey. It turns out the man she's now engaged to is
the man from the club and he knew who she was the whole time.
The H is the son of a mob boss & is being forced into this arranged marriage to get some allies for the war that's imminent. He has emotional, mental and physical scars. Despite that, he's a nice guy.
Overall, the story was ok. I wouldn't re-read it or continue on with the series but it was ok enough to read once. It wasn't boring but wasn't anything special either.
May 24, 2024
Stefania Rossi goes with her best friend Giorgia to the club her brother Carlo owns. A guy accidentally spills a drink on her but Stefania purposely spills her drink on his lap. The guy takes Stefania into the men’s restroom so they can dry off and unexpectedly, the sparks fly between them.
Renzo, the Don of the Rossi Familglia, tells his sister Stefania that she is to marry Davide Bianco, an important member of the largest crime syndicate in Chicago. When she sees the picture of Davide, she is shocked to see the guy from her bathroom encounter. They are married and Stefania is off to Chicago with her new husband.
Loved Stefania’s feistiness and strength. This couple worked through a lot especially since Stefania was torn from her family, friends and the life she was building in Pennsylvania.
I hope there are more stories about the Bianco family.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Renzo, the Don of the Rossi Familglia, tells his sister Stefania that she is to marry Davide Bianco, an important member of the largest crime syndicate in Chicago. When she sees the picture of Davide, she is shocked to see the guy from her bathroom encounter. They are married and Stefania is off to Chicago with her new husband.
Loved Stefania’s feistiness and strength. This couple worked through a lot especially since Stefania was torn from her family, friends and the life she was building in Pennsylvania.
I hope there are more stories about the Bianco family.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews