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Morelli Family #1
A Love Most Fatal
Since she was a girl, Vanessa Morelli has trained for two titles: CEO of Morelli Construction, and more importantly, head of the Morelli Crime Family. So far, it’s going well; business is booming, and the city’s criminals fear and respect her. Or at least she thought they did, before shipments start disappearing, construction sites blow up, and—most annoying of all—the older women lay on the pressure for her to marry and make an heir.
When an ill-advised date with her Godson’s math teacher goes horribly wrong, she brings him under her protection while she figures out who’s sabotaging her operation.
Nate, the goofy, dog-owning teacher, wants nothing to do with her after learning that she’s the queen of organized crime in the city. But when the choice is life or death, he chooses to accept her help and move in for the summer. Bored out of his mind, though, Nate offers his services on the hunt for a suitable husband, interviewing every eligible mafioso in Massachusetts.
But when more sparks begin to fly between her and Nate instead of her and her suitors... she starts to wonder. Can they work and live together, without falling for each other along the way?
When an ill-advised date with her Godson’s math teacher goes horribly wrong, she brings him under her protection while she figures out who’s sabotaging her operation.
Nate, the goofy, dog-owning teacher, wants nothing to do with her after learning that she’s the queen of organized crime in the city. But when the choice is life or death, he chooses to accept her help and move in for the summer. Bored out of his mind, though, Nate offers his services on the hunt for a suitable husband, interviewing every eligible mafioso in Massachusetts.
But when more sparks begin to fly between her and Nate instead of her and her suitors... she starts to wonder. Can they work and live together, without falling for each other along the way?
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2024
340 people are currently reading
14261 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,554 reviews
January 20, 2025
3.5⭐️ giggled so much!!!
January 21, 2025
“Her smile is everything to me, like it might make my brain melt the way her cheeks push up her eyelids and she tries to keep her lips closed.”
when he’s the nerdy math teacher who wants to be her husband & take care of the kids & cook for her while she’s the hot mob boss >>>
the “why is she so pretty while she’s yelling at me?” had me shrieking. nate served with all the simp energy i wanted.
the ending disappointed me in a couple ways, but i don’t care because this was such a genuinely fun read!
all in all, a successful buddy read with my fav buket 💝 manifesting many more this year 🕯️🕯️🕯️
when he’s the nerdy math teacher who wants to be her husband & take care of the kids & cook for her while she’s the hot mob boss >>>
the “why is she so pretty while she’s yelling at me?” had me shrieking. nate served with all the simp energy i wanted.
the ending disappointed me in a couple ways, but i don’t care because this was such a genuinely fun read!
all in all, a successful buddy read with my fav buket 💝 manifesting many more this year 🕯️🕯️🕯️
Want to read
June 20, 2024"a mafia rom-com about a female mob boss" FUCKK YEAHH FINALLY (I'm sick of only men being ones)
January 20, 2025
SHE’S A BADASS MAFIA BOSS. HE’S A MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH TEACHER. what can go wrong??🤭
this was delicious. he was the most pathetic man i’ve ever seen in my life. he was whimpering, begging, crying for attention from her.
his thoughts on their FIRST DATE;
My mind paints a very clear fantasy, unbidden, in which Vanessa and I live in domestic bliss. I’ve quit my job, just for a few years, just until the youngest is in pre-school, and Vanessa runs the world all day before she comes home to be with me and our two babies. After the children are asleep, after a delicious dinner I made, unless we ordered in, we make love and in fact make another baby, a third, a girl who we name Vanessa Jr. She has my nose.
I think there is something wrong with me.
the last 10% wasn’t the best ngl but the rest was scrumptious so it deserves all the stars 😋🩷
first successful br of the year with my fav lila 💋🥰🩷 we gonna be so lucky this year🕯️😌
this was delicious. he was the most pathetic man i’ve ever seen in my life. he was whimpering, begging, crying for attention from her.
his thoughts on their FIRST DATE;
My mind paints a very clear fantasy, unbidden, in which Vanessa and I live in domestic bliss. I’ve quit my job, just for a few years, just until the youngest is in pre-school, and Vanessa runs the world all day before she comes home to be with me and our two babies. After the children are asleep, after a delicious dinner I made, unless we ordered in, we make love and in fact make another baby, a third, a girl who we name Vanessa Jr. She has my nose.
I think there is something wrong with me.
the last 10% wasn’t the best ngl but the rest was scrumptious so it deserves all the stars 😋🩷
first successful br of the year with my fav lila 💋🥰🩷 we gonna be so lucky this year🕯️😌
August 21, 2025
Best mafia romance I’ve ever read!
September 26, 2024
MEN WHO WHIMPER >>>>
Ok now that I have your attention, this is genuinely such a fun addition to the mafia romance genre. Vanessa is a mob boss in the Italian Mafia in Boston, and the time has come for her to find a husband. After a bumpy first meeting with Nate, her nephew’s middle school math teacher, she agrees to go as his date to a wedding he’s attending. She has no intention of ever seeing him again. But, after the date goes wrong and his safety becomes a concern, he has to stay in her home, under her protection, for the summer. Nate becomes so bored, he agrees to help Vanessa find a suitable husband, and of course we all know how this goes. *cue the “this is only for tonight” spicy trope*
What’s really brilliant about this book is Kath’s ability to take all these stereotypes of MMC’s in mafia romance that we typically love, and flip it so we aren’t falling for them, we actually fall for the goofy math teacher right along with Vanessa. Nate is charming yes, but he also isn’t super tall or muscular, he doesn’t have tattoos, and he throws up at the sight of blood. He is the antithesis of what Vanessa (and most of us who read mafia romance) is looking for.
Needless to say, if you enjoy men who happily fantasize about being a stay at home husband for their hot mob wife, eat her out like a champ, whimper and moan, while also helping her wash her hair, have movie nights with her, and have an ugly senior dog that they will protect with their life. Then I truly think you’ll love Nate as much as I do.
A Love Most Fatal is a stellar mafia romcom and one I will definitely be recommending/shoving down peoples throats for years to come.
*I received an arc from the author in exchange for my honest review*
Ok now that I have your attention, this is genuinely such a fun addition to the mafia romance genre. Vanessa is a mob boss in the Italian Mafia in Boston, and the time has come for her to find a husband. After a bumpy first meeting with Nate, her nephew’s middle school math teacher, she agrees to go as his date to a wedding he’s attending. She has no intention of ever seeing him again. But, after the date goes wrong and his safety becomes a concern, he has to stay in her home, under her protection, for the summer. Nate becomes so bored, he agrees to help Vanessa find a suitable husband, and of course we all know how this goes. *cue the “this is only for tonight” spicy trope*
What’s really brilliant about this book is Kath’s ability to take all these stereotypes of MMC’s in mafia romance that we typically love, and flip it so we aren’t falling for them, we actually fall for the goofy math teacher right along with Vanessa. Nate is charming yes, but he also isn’t super tall or muscular, he doesn’t have tattoos, and he throws up at the sight of blood. He is the antithesis of what Vanessa (and most of us who read mafia romance) is looking for.
Needless to say, if you enjoy men who happily fantasize about being a stay at home husband for their hot mob wife, eat her out like a champ, whimper and moan, while also helping her wash her hair, have movie nights with her, and have an ugly senior dog that they will protect with their life. Then I truly think you’ll love Nate as much as I do.
A Love Most Fatal is a stellar mafia romcom and one I will definitely be recommending/shoving down peoples throats for years to come.
*I received an arc from the author in exchange for my honest review*
October 21, 2024
I loooooove it so much! 😭😍♥️ I want the second book right now. 🤣
I really dig 90% of the book, especially the role reversal part. You don't come across stories about a female mob boss every day. Pretty awesome, huh? I'm a big fan of the MCs, both on their own and together as a couple. I just wish they had more time together. Some of the things they did were told instead of shown, and the thing is, I just want to see every moment they share—like all of it. I lived for those interactions. 🥹
Also, I'm totally on board with supporting women, but if the roles were reversed, I wouldn't want the MMC kissing the OW just to see if there's chemistry between them. And that's exactly what Vanessa did here. She probably has her reasons for doing that, but it doesn't mean I have to be okay with it. 🤷♀️
Despite some of my issues, this book is a real gem, especially for a debut novel! I can't wait to dive into the next books in this series. 😁
I really dig 90% of the book, especially the role reversal part. You don't come across stories about a female mob boss every day. Pretty awesome, huh? I'm a big fan of the MCs, both on their own and together as a couple. I just wish they had more time together. Some of the things they did were told instead of shown, and the thing is, I just want to see every moment they share—like all of it. I lived for those interactions. 🥹
Also, I'm totally on board with supporting women, but if the roles were reversed, I wouldn't want the MMC kissing the OW just to see if there's chemistry between them. And that's exactly what Vanessa did here. She probably has her reasons for doing that, but it doesn't mean I have to be okay with it. 🤷♀️
Despite some of my issues, this book is a real gem, especially for a debut novel! I can't wait to dive into the next books in this series. 😁
January 27, 2025
: ̗̀➛ started on 1/21/25
: ̗̀➛ finished on 1/26/25
didn't love it, didn't hate it 🤷🏻♀️
--
i really want something good right now and this looks sooo good!!
: ̗̀➛ finished on 1/26/25
didn't love it, didn't hate it 🤷🏻♀️
--
i really want something good right now and this looks sooo good!!
September 7, 2024
I NEED EVERY SINGLE SIDE CHARACTER’S BOOK IN MY HAND RIGHT NOOOOOWWWWWWWW!
this is easily one of my favorite books so far 😭😭😭
Nate and Vanessa were perfect! They read like real people who have TOTALLY normal reactions to finding out someone is THE boss of the mafia 😂
I literally don’t know what to say……it was everything.
it’s safe for me! no info on Nate’s past, just that he doesn’t know many women and he doesn’t give off hoe vibes at all 😂 he has a lesbian best friend that he would take to family events. It was two years for Vanessa and she has been going on dates to find a future husband.
There is some om drama in the fact that she has Nate interview potential mafia husbands but she is doing it for duty and she thinks Nate hates her so instead of going on dates with the potential husbands, she has him interview them and see who he likes best for her.
It was also so nice to see how vulnerable Vanessa was even though she’s this badass mafia boss. this isn’t a typical mafia family….they all love each other so much and will do anything for each other.
OMG I CANT WAIT FOR MARY’S STORY!!! she is so badass.
and i hope that Willa gets a story like a prequel or something because her and her husband are so cute
thank you so much for an arc of this!
this is easily one of my favorite books so far 😭😭😭
Nate and Vanessa were perfect! They read like real people who have TOTALLY normal reactions to finding out someone is THE boss of the mafia 😂
I literally don’t know what to say……it was everything.
it’s safe for me! no info on Nate’s past, just that he doesn’t know many women and he doesn’t give off hoe vibes at all 😂 he has a lesbian best friend that he would take to family events. It was two years for Vanessa and she has been going on dates to find a future husband.
There is some om drama in the fact that she has Nate interview potential mafia husbands but she is doing it for duty and she thinks Nate hates her so instead of going on dates with the potential husbands, she has him interview them and see who he likes best for her.
It was also so nice to see how vulnerable Vanessa was even though she’s this badass mafia boss. this isn’t a typical mafia family….they all love each other so much and will do anything for each other.
OMG I CANT WAIT FOR MARY’S STORY!!! she is so badass.
and i hope that Willa gets a story like a prequel or something because her and her husband are so cute
thank you so much for an arc of this!
November 15, 2025
Really freaking cute, really freaking funny, and the tension was off the charts!
This is the first time I’ve read a mafia romance, and I think the reason this work for me is because it read very much like an adventure romcom! I loved that there were laugh out loud funny moments, tender moments, and plenty of action!
What’s to love…
- mafia romcom
- she’s the badass boss babe and he’s a nerdy math teacher
- he’s down so freaking bad for her
- TENSION FOR DAYS
- Family-forward, but also found family
- a touch of mystery
What’s not to love…
- This is something I’m not sure I would have notice had it not been via audio but it felt like there were an exorbitant amount of times where a contraction would have felt more natural. This made the writing feel a bit stilted and awkward at times.
- I would have preferred to see a bit more of the relationship develop on page. It felt like we went from luke warm to boiling and skipped the shimmer portion. The shimmer portion is my favorite! Don’t skip that!
🌶️- Explicit but mild Ch 27, 29
Audio Narration: 4/5 - Solid performance but not my favorite. pacing &. pausing were both fine. I thought the female gave a better performance than the male narrator. Inflection, especially during the male narrators performance felt a bit off. It really emphasized areas where a contraction would have been more natural - something I didn’t notice when switching to print form.
Rec via beasleysbooks
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
This is the first time I’ve read a mafia romance, and I think the reason this work for me is because it read very much like an adventure romcom! I loved that there were laugh out loud funny moments, tender moments, and plenty of action!
What’s to love…
- mafia romcom
- she’s the badass boss babe and he’s a nerdy math teacher
- he’s down so freaking bad for her
- TENSION FOR DAYS
- Family-forward, but also found family
- a touch of mystery
What’s not to love…
- This is something I’m not sure I would have notice had it not been via audio but it felt like there were an exorbitant amount of times where a contraction would have felt more natural. This made the writing feel a bit stilted and awkward at times.
- I would have preferred to see a bit more of the relationship develop on page. It felt like we went from luke warm to boiling and skipped the shimmer portion. The shimmer portion is my favorite! Don’t skip that!
🌶️- Explicit but mild Ch 27, 29
Audio Narration: 4/5 - Solid performance but not my favorite. pacing &. pausing were both fine. I thought the female gave a better performance than the male narrator. Inflection, especially during the male narrators performance felt a bit off. It really emphasized areas where a contraction would have been more natural - something I didn’t notice when switching to print form.
Rec via beasleysbooks
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
November 18, 2024
⊹₊⟡⋆ Everyone who told me that this book was so good, you were all RIGHT! ⊹₊⟡⋆
This book was made for me. And if you love mafia romances but she's the one in the mafia and he's a shy teacher who has a huge crush on her but doesn't know about her life and when he finds out, he rejects her but then now he has to live with her and her family because HE'S IN DANGER and of course he can't protect himself so he needs her protection, but he's seeing that she's not all that bad and he loves her family and her life and and and and!!!! IF YOU LOVE ALL OF THAT TOO, this book was for you as well ♡
A Love Most Fatal truly embodies all genres because this book has action, mystery, romance, comedy, drama. LIKE HELLO???? Kath Richards, you angel, you made one of my favorite books of this year!!!! HANDS DOWN. This book was hilarious and funny and soooo fun. I had the best of time reading all about Vanessa and Nate who couldn't be more wrong for each other but have finally found someone who actually understands them. Their relationship is adorable and swoon-worthy, heart-warming, passionate, every single adjetive - they're that.
I've read thousands of mafia books where either he's the one in the mafia or both of them are, but never about HER only being part of that world. And it's so interesting to see the reverse, because now we have a guy who is scared, frighten, and doesn't know what to think. He's thrusted into a world where there is blood, fighting, danger everywhere and he's just a math teacher who dresses awkwardly and loves his dog. It's so exciting to see him get to know the Morelli family and how nice they all are and how easy it is for him to become part of them. I loved loved this book so much જ⁀➴
It's not a surprise to say that I'm 100000% excited to read the next book oh my god. Maxim and Mary + arranged marriage/marriage of convenience + both of them are grumpy + she's chaotic and bloodthirsty + he's the head of his family. OOOOH GIVE IT TO ME NOW.
This book was made for me. And if you love mafia romances but she's the one in the mafia and he's a shy teacher who has a huge crush on her but doesn't know about her life and when he finds out, he rejects her but then now he has to live with her and her family because HE'S IN DANGER and of course he can't protect himself so he needs her protection, but he's seeing that she's not all that bad and he loves her family and her life and and and and!!!! IF YOU LOVE ALL OF THAT TOO, this book was for you as well ♡
A Love Most Fatal truly embodies all genres because this book has action, mystery, romance, comedy, drama. LIKE HELLO???? Kath Richards, you angel, you made one of my favorite books of this year!!!! HANDS DOWN. This book was hilarious and funny and soooo fun. I had the best of time reading all about Vanessa and Nate who couldn't be more wrong for each other but have finally found someone who actually understands them. Their relationship is adorable and swoon-worthy, heart-warming, passionate, every single adjetive - they're that.
I've read thousands of mafia books where either he's the one in the mafia or both of them are, but never about HER only being part of that world. And it's so interesting to see the reverse, because now we have a guy who is scared, frighten, and doesn't know what to think. He's thrusted into a world where there is blood, fighting, danger everywhere and he's just a math teacher who dresses awkwardly and loves his dog. It's so exciting to see him get to know the Morelli family and how nice they all are and how easy it is for him to become part of them. I loved loved this book so much જ⁀➴
It's not a surprise to say that I'm 100000% excited to read the next book oh my god. Maxim and Mary + arranged marriage/marriage of convenience + both of them are grumpy + she's chaotic and bloodthirsty + he's the head of his family. OOOOH GIVE IT TO ME NOW.
July 13, 2025
"I can handle any number of things on my own, but I didn’t realize how nice it is, sometimes, to have someone whose job is to handle things with you."
---------
Audio came out on July 8th, 2025.
"A mafina rom-com" - YES
---------
Audio came out on July 8th, 2025.
"A mafina rom-com" - YES
October 1, 2024
4 stars ★
“I don’t know how to tell her she’s the most beautiful woman, monster or not, that I’ve ever seen, and with every day that passes in her presence, I’m increasingly certain that there’s hardly a bad or cruel or monstrous thing about her.”
what a fantastic debut! a fun, cute mafia rom-com with refreshing characters
✧ mob boss fmc
✧ hot nerdy mmc
✧ first person dual pov
✧ slow burn
✧ forced proximity
✧ under her protection
✧ cute? dog
✧ touch him/her and ☠️
✎nate
ordinary guy who's a nerdy maths teacher and is dorky 😭 i loved him right from the start he was so funny and loveable. this man was the greenest of green flags. the ultimate golden retriever cinnamon roll ❤️ and if you like them needy and whimpering 🥵🤭 you will love this man
✎venessa
badass mafia boss who's family oriented and will do anything to protect the ones she loves. she has a hard exterior with a vulnerable softer side ❤️ a supporter of women's wrongs - she was a absolute queen.
i'm so excited for mary's story!!
p.s. i also need a leo story 🙏🏼
─── ⋆⋅ ❤︎ ⋅⋆ ───
⤝pre read⤞
mafia girl boss x nerdy maths teacher
sounds fun
“I don’t know how to tell her she’s the most beautiful woman, monster or not, that I’ve ever seen, and with every day that passes in her presence, I’m increasingly certain that there’s hardly a bad or cruel or monstrous thing about her.”
what a fantastic debut! a fun, cute mafia rom-com with refreshing characters
✧ mob boss fmc
✧ hot nerdy mmc
✧ first person dual pov
✧ slow burn
✧ forced proximity
✧ under her protection
✧ cute? dog
✧ touch him/her and ☠️
✎nate
ordinary guy who's a nerdy maths teacher and is dorky 😭 i loved him right from the start he was so funny and loveable. this man was the greenest of green flags. the ultimate golden retriever cinnamon roll ❤️ and if you like them needy and whimpering 🥵🤭 you will love this man
✎venessa
badass mafia boss who's family oriented and will do anything to protect the ones she loves. she has a hard exterior with a vulnerable softer side ❤️ a supporter of women's wrongs - she was a absolute queen.
i'm so excited for mary's story!!
p.s. i also need a leo story 🙏🏼
─── ⋆⋅ ❤︎ ⋅⋆ ───
mafia girl boss x nerdy maths teacher
sounds fun
July 27, 2025
This was so much fun, i loved the world and the romance so much. The fmc is the head of the Morelli crime family and she is a fierce leader. She meets the mmc who is a gentle teacher and hes in the room and finds out what she really does. There is some dislike at first as he has to be in forced proximity to the fmc and her family. I liked the romance, how they get together and the mafia plot. Overall a good read!
February 2, 2025
gimme me mortal peril and a man who yearns and I will read it!!!
vanessa is the boss and she needs a husband and an heir. after a disastrous meet cute, nate, her sister’s kids’ math teacher, asks her to attend a wedding with him. she says yes and neither of them expected the passionate kiss and the near death experience to end the night. vanessa feels like she needs to protect him, so she moves him into her house. nate hates everything vanessa and her family stands for… or does he 👀
this was a delicious slow burn. nate is down bad even thought he’s tasked with helping her find a suitable husband. the two of them make actually zero sense on paper but when they’re together they just can’t help themselves for 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. vanessa is a bad ass strong fmc who takes zero shit and I LOVED her. nate is such a soft boy but also protective and obsessive (my fav).
I had truly so much fun. I can’t wait for mary’s book!!
this was a bit predictable in terms for the big bad and whatever. but I still had a lot of fun.
what to expect
⟢ mafia romance, but she’s the boss
⟢ he’s a middle school math teacher
⟢ “just to get it out of our system”
⟢ slow burn
vanessa is the boss and she needs a husband and an heir. after a disastrous meet cute, nate, her sister’s kids’ math teacher, asks her to attend a wedding with him. she says yes and neither of them expected the passionate kiss and the near death experience to end the night. vanessa feels like she needs to protect him, so she moves him into her house. nate hates everything vanessa and her family stands for… or does he 👀
this was a delicious slow burn. nate is down bad even thought he’s tasked with helping her find a suitable husband. the two of them make actually zero sense on paper but when they’re together they just can’t help themselves for 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. vanessa is a bad ass strong fmc who takes zero shit and I LOVED her. nate is such a soft boy but also protective and obsessive (my fav).
I had truly so much fun. I can’t wait for mary’s book!!
this was a bit predictable in terms for the big bad and whatever. but I still had a lot of fun.
what to expect
⟢ mafia romance, but she’s the boss
⟢ he’s a middle school math teacher
⟢ “just to get it out of our system”
⟢ slow burn
June 17, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
a mafia rom-com where the fmc is a mob boss? yes pls 😩
why was this SO cute 😭😭
this was honestly such a fun read i had a great time!!
i can’t help but feel like at some point throughout the book, the romance was kinda on hold? for a little while nothing was happening between nate and ness which was a teeny weeny frustrating 🤏🏼
also nate is such a fucking cutie omg 😭 he gives off major nerdy cinnamon roll energy. i adore him sm.
my girl ness had me DOWN BAD for her shes so damn fine 🤭
quotes:
“I want you all the time. Forever.”
“Let me be the one. Please, please.”
i love it when men are pathetic for their women 🙈
“I am criminally, fatally in love with you.”
AAAH 💘
a mafia rom-com where the fmc is a mob boss? yes pls 😩
why was this SO cute 😭😭
this was honestly such a fun read i had a great time!!
i can’t help but feel like at some point throughout the book, the romance was kinda on hold? for a little while nothing was happening between nate and ness which was a teeny weeny frustrating 🤏🏼
also nate is such a fucking cutie omg 😭 he gives off major nerdy cinnamon roll energy. i adore him sm.
my girl ness had me DOWN BAD for her shes so damn fine 🤭
quotes:
“I want you all the time. Forever.”
“Let me be the one. Please, please.”
i love it when men are pathetic for their women 🙈
“I am criminally, fatally in love with you.”
AAAH 💘
July 9, 2025
I received an ALC copy from NetGalley and Tantor Audio in exchange for an honest review. I thought this audiobook was a decently done production. I’ve enjoyed a few books narrated by Tim Paige in the past, which was what initially intrigued me to pick up this audio. I found the voice actors fit the characters pretty well.
However, I felt very ok with a A Love Most Fatal as a story. I thought that the two MC’s didn’t have enough chemistry for me to fully believe their romance. Their characters aren’t fleshed out enough by the end, which was one main reason I didn’t believe in them as a couple. But I also didn’t understand why these two liked each other by the end. This book is also marketed as a romcom, but I didn’t find it read that way. It was more just a light mafia romance. There’s not many funny parts or shenanigans that romcoms tend to have, which was also why I was a bit disappointed.
This is still in interesting twist on a mafia romance, with a mob boss heroine, and a damsel in distress hero. I liked how this flipped that dynamic, and I applaud this author for trying something unique in this genre. It’s hard to do, and I’m glad this was written.
Unfortunately though, I am disappointed and this wasn’t my favorite. It wasn’t bad, and I get why others enjoyed it. I just felt disconnected from these two as characters and as a couple, which in turn made me kind of tune out this story as a whole. Still a fun story to pass the time, but nothing incredibly memorable. I am intrigued for book 2 though, as the setup was quite interesting. I may give that one a go when it releases.
Again, thank you to NetGalley for the ALC!
* * *
Omg I got an ALC for the audiobook!!! Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ALC!
* * *
So you’re telling me this is a mafia romcom with the FMC as the crime boss?? I NEED THIS
However, I felt very ok with a A Love Most Fatal as a story. I thought that the two MC’s didn’t have enough chemistry for me to fully believe their romance. Their characters aren’t fleshed out enough by the end, which was one main reason I didn’t believe in them as a couple. But I also didn’t understand why these two liked each other by the end. This book is also marketed as a romcom, but I didn’t find it read that way. It was more just a light mafia romance. There’s not many funny parts or shenanigans that romcoms tend to have, which was also why I was a bit disappointed.
This is still in interesting twist on a mafia romance, with a mob boss heroine, and a damsel in distress hero. I liked how this flipped that dynamic, and I applaud this author for trying something unique in this genre. It’s hard to do, and I’m glad this was written.
Unfortunately though, I am disappointed and this wasn’t my favorite. It wasn’t bad, and I get why others enjoyed it. I just felt disconnected from these two as characters and as a couple, which in turn made me kind of tune out this story as a whole. Still a fun story to pass the time, but nothing incredibly memorable. I am intrigued for book 2 though, as the setup was quite interesting. I may give that one a go when it releases.
Again, thank you to NetGalley for the ALC!
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Omg I got an ALC for the audiobook!!! Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ALC!
* * *
So you’re telling me this is a mafia romcom with the FMC as the crime boss?? I NEED THIS
March 25, 2025
If you told me I’d be this entertained by a book that features a mafia queen getting matchmaking help from a golden retriever-energy math teacher, I wouldn’t have believed you. And yet, here we are. 4 stars for pure, ridiculous fun—because while the plot is borderline absurd, I loved every second of it.
Vanessa is everything I want in a mafia queen: ruthless, confident, and completely exasperated by the men around her. Then there’s Nate, who accidentally stumbles into her world and promptly loses his mind over how normal crime lords seem to think murder and explosions are. Their dynamic? Chef’s kiss.The banter? Perfection. The slow-burn tension while he’s playing matchmaker for her? Hilarious.
Is the plot realistic? Absolutely not. Did I care? Also no. This book had me grinning the whole time, and I cannot wait for the next one—because Mary and Maxim?!? GIVE IT TO ME NOW.
🎶"BO$$" – Fifth Harmony
🎶"Salute" – Little Mix
🎶"You Belong With Me" – Taylor Swift
It’s fun, it’s fast-paced, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. A ridiculous, entertaining ride that has me desperate for the next book. Bring on Mary & Maxim!!!!!
Vanessa is everything I want in a mafia queen: ruthless, confident, and completely exasperated by the men around her. Then there’s Nate, who accidentally stumbles into her world and promptly loses his mind over how normal crime lords seem to think murder and explosions are. Their dynamic? Chef’s kiss.The banter? Perfection. The slow-burn tension while he’s playing matchmaker for her? Hilarious.
Is the plot realistic? Absolutely not. Did I care? Also no. This book had me grinning the whole time, and I cannot wait for the next one—because Mary and Maxim?!? GIVE IT TO ME NOW.
🎶"BO$$" – Fifth Harmony
🎶"Salute" – Little Mix
🎶"You Belong With Me" – Taylor Swift
It’s fun, it’s fast-paced, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. A ridiculous, entertaining ride that has me desperate for the next book. Bring on Mary & Maxim!!!!!
February 1, 2025
3.25 will be more accurate. i wanted to love this book more but i didn’t 🤷🏻♀️ and actually got bored in some parts
rtc soon
rtc soon
September 3, 2025
this is one of my favorite mafia books now. i had soo much fun reading this!!!
♡ golden retriever math teacher mmc × fierce mafia boss fmc
♡ mafia rom-com
♡ forced proximity
♡ he's under her protection
i love vanessa×nate together. i need more nerdy men simping for strong mafia women. he's so down bad and i loved every second of it. the romance, the smut, the family and mafia vibes were so well done.
vanessa's sister, who is her enforcer has a book coming out this month and i can't wait to read it!!
my favorite quotes:
╰┈❥ I want to help Vanessa somehow, but she’s handling herself just fine. She expertly fights the man that’s at least double her size. In a flurry of moves I barely see, she’s brought him to the ground beneath her and shot another two rounds into his head. [...] Mind you, she’s done all this wearing her very tall heels.
╰┈❥ “Beautiful for a monster?” she says, and I gulp.
I don’t know how to tell her she’s the most beautiful woman, monster or not, that I’ve ever seen, and with every day that passes in her presence, I’m increasingly certain that there’s hardly a bad or cruel or monstrous thing about her.
╰┈❥ My mind paints a very clear fantasy, unbidden, in which Vanessa and I live in domestic bliss. I’ve quit my job, just for a few years, just until the youngest is in pre-school, and Vanessa runs the world all day before she comes home to be with me and our two babies. After the children are asleep, after a delicious dinner I made, unless we ordered in, we make love and in fact make another baby, a third, a girl who we name Vanessa Jr. She has my nose.
I think there is something wrong with me.
╰┈❥ As if her face isn’t already perfect, she needed to have a dimple.
╰┈❥ This earns me a laugh, and I revel in the sound like it’s a heated blanket.
╰┈❥ I think I whimper, the sound that comes from me is involuntary and needy as I take in her tits again.
♡ golden retriever math teacher mmc × fierce mafia boss fmc
♡ mafia rom-com
♡ forced proximity
♡ he's under her protection
i love vanessa×nate together. i need more nerdy men simping for strong mafia women. he's so down bad and i loved every second of it. the romance, the smut, the family and mafia vibes were so well done.
vanessa's sister, who is her enforcer has a book coming out this month and i can't wait to read it!!
my favorite quotes:
╰┈❥ I want to help Vanessa somehow, but she’s handling herself just fine. She expertly fights the man that’s at least double her size. In a flurry of moves I barely see, she’s brought him to the ground beneath her and shot another two rounds into his head. [...] Mind you, she’s done all this wearing her very tall heels.
╰┈❥ “Beautiful for a monster?” she says, and I gulp.
I don’t know how to tell her she’s the most beautiful woman, monster or not, that I’ve ever seen, and with every day that passes in her presence, I’m increasingly certain that there’s hardly a bad or cruel or monstrous thing about her.
╰┈❥ My mind paints a very clear fantasy, unbidden, in which Vanessa and I live in domestic bliss. I’ve quit my job, just for a few years, just until the youngest is in pre-school, and Vanessa runs the world all day before she comes home to be with me and our two babies. After the children are asleep, after a delicious dinner I made, unless we ordered in, we make love and in fact make another baby, a third, a girl who we name Vanessa Jr. She has my nose.
I think there is something wrong with me.
╰┈❥ As if her face isn’t already perfect, she needed to have a dimple.
╰┈❥ This earns me a laugh, and I revel in the sound like it’s a heated blanket.
╰┈❥ I think I whimper, the sound that comes from me is involuntary and needy as I take in her tits again.
January 22, 2026
fmc mob boss x mmc math teacher??? YUP!!!!!!!!!
August 22, 2025
this was SUCH a fun time — guysss i loved it
This book is sort of what I wanted from Butcher & Blackbird — high stakes murdering, a true attraction to enemies to lovers story, and so many great side characters.
Just one of those classic "math teacher at private school meets the aunt of one of his students for a parent teacher conference, asks her on a date, has an incredible date, discovers she's a mafiosa, moves into her house because hit men are after him, has to figure out if the arms that keep going missing from the mafia's warehouses are an inside job" romance books — that old chestnut.
I really appreciated the romance in this book, and it was a true slow burn! They have this great date and there's tons of chemistry, but when he discovers she's been hiding the fact that she is a mob boss, he feels betrayed, angry, and resentful. The rest of the book consists of him staying in her house to avoid getting murdered, bonding with her family, and waiting for her to build back his trust.
I had so much fun with this — the side characters are great, I have no idea if any of the mafia details are accurate but I do not care! I wouldn't expect any crazy twist that you can't predict (I saw it coming and I not a seasoned mystery/thriller book). But such good vibes and I am SO here for the romance they are setting up for the second book.
Now I have to figure out if I actually like mafia romances or if this is an outlier. If you have any recs, please drop them below.
This book is sort of what I wanted from Butcher & Blackbird — high stakes murdering, a true attraction to enemies to lovers story, and so many great side characters.
Just one of those classic "math teacher at private school meets the aunt of one of his students for a parent teacher conference, asks her on a date, has an incredible date, discovers she's a mafiosa, moves into her house because hit men are after him, has to figure out if the arms that keep going missing from the mafia's warehouses are an inside job" romance books — that old chestnut.
I really appreciated the romance in this book, and it was a true slow burn! They have this great date and there's tons of chemistry, but when he discovers she's been hiding the fact that she is a mob boss, he feels betrayed, angry, and resentful. The rest of the book consists of him staying in her house to avoid getting murdered, bonding with her family, and waiting for her to build back his trust.
I had so much fun with this — the side characters are great, I have no idea if any of the mafia details are accurate but I do not care! I wouldn't expect any crazy twist that you can't predict (I saw it coming and I not a seasoned mystery/thriller book). But such good vibes and I am SO here for the romance they are setting up for the second book.
Now I have to figure out if I actually like mafia romances or if this is an outlier. If you have any recs, please drop them below.
June 17, 2025
All the information I had of this book before I started reading was the cover, the title and the fact that it is a mafia romance... but I wasn't expecting this!!!
The book was so good and sooo hot.
Vanessa was an incredibly strong woman and I loved seeing her in action, but what I adored was seeing her with Nate. They were so in love from the beginning. Nate was so in love with Ness and never gave up on her and I loved seeing her do the same in the end.
I can't wait for Mary and Maxim's story next!!!!
The book was so good and sooo hot.
Vanessa was an incredibly strong woman and I loved seeing her in action, but what I adored was seeing her with Nate. They were so in love from the beginning. Nate was so in love with Ness and never gave up on her and I loved seeing her do the same in the end.
I can't wait for Mary and Maxim's story next!!!!
Read
October 25, 2024DNF 65%
I really tried to like this book but it just didn't work for me.
I really tried to like this book but it just didn't work for me.
September 22, 2024
There's a lot to love about this debut, particularly the way it takes some classic tropes and spins them in a new direction. It's a lighthearted mafia romance where our hero is the "damsel" in distress, and our (anti)heroine is the ruthless boss. I loved the meet cute and how our antiheroine just wanted a few moments to feel normal with a genuinely kind and gentle man. Not only is he a cinnamon roll sweetheart, but he's also an awkward teacher who is totally out of his element in the mafia world. He brings a lightness to the story, delivering some comedic moments and swoon. Personally, I think the ratio of mafia elements to romance was backwards - our couple doesn't spend nearly as much time on the page together as I would've liked, which meant their relationship wasn't as fully developed as it could've been. I still enjoyed the opposites attract scenario and the gender swap, which made this a fresh and fun read.
The story follows Vanessa, a woman who took over as a mafia boss when her father passed away. She's still young, but she's feeling more comfortable in the role these days. So when Vanessa meets her nephew's teacher and the two end up flirting, she's excited to leave that part of herself behind for a little while. Nate has no idea that the woman he just met is a dangerous criminal, and he definitely wouldn't be spending time with her if he did. But when things go sideways and Nate's life is threatened, Vanessa is quick to step in. Under a mafia boss's protection and suddenly wary of the woman he was crushing on, Nate is unsure what to think. When Vanessa reveals that she's looking at candidates to enter a marriage of convenience with, well, Nate can't just sit back and watch.
That cover is gorgeous and the blurb had me so, so intrigued, so I jumped into this with a lot of excitement. I really loved the beginning, as Vanessa and Nate had their unexpected meet cute and delivered on the playful vibes. There are definitely some comedic moments, though I think the first half is the only place this is a true rom com. I adored the gender swap and how our hero is the fish out of water. Plus, Nate is an exceptionally adorable man, who has a completely normal reaction to discovering that he's dating someone in the mafia. I loved it less when the husband hunt kicked in, not because of the situation but because it overtook the romance. We spend a lot of time with Nate adjusting to all of the changes in his life and Vanessa planning for changes in hers, which meant there wasn't a whole lot of time devoted to swoony moments between them. I would've loved a few more scenes of them really developing their emotional connection, as that felt underdeveloped to me. It's very strong for a debut, however, and I loved the breadcrumbs that were left for the next couple in the series. I'm looking forward to seeing how Richards' writing grows from here, because this was good.
The story follows Vanessa, a woman who took over as a mafia boss when her father passed away. She's still young, but she's feeling more comfortable in the role these days. So when Vanessa meets her nephew's teacher and the two end up flirting, she's excited to leave that part of herself behind for a little while. Nate has no idea that the woman he just met is a dangerous criminal, and he definitely wouldn't be spending time with her if he did. But when things go sideways and Nate's life is threatened, Vanessa is quick to step in. Under a mafia boss's protection and suddenly wary of the woman he was crushing on, Nate is unsure what to think. When Vanessa reveals that she's looking at candidates to enter a marriage of convenience with, well, Nate can't just sit back and watch.
That cover is gorgeous and the blurb had me so, so intrigued, so I jumped into this with a lot of excitement. I really loved the beginning, as Vanessa and Nate had their unexpected meet cute and delivered on the playful vibes. There are definitely some comedic moments, though I think the first half is the only place this is a true rom com. I adored the gender swap and how our hero is the fish out of water. Plus, Nate is an exceptionally adorable man, who has a completely normal reaction to discovering that he's dating someone in the mafia. I loved it less when the husband hunt kicked in, not because of the situation but because it overtook the romance. We spend a lot of time with Nate adjusting to all of the changes in his life and Vanessa planning for changes in hers, which meant there wasn't a whole lot of time devoted to swoony moments between them. I would've loved a few more scenes of them really developing their emotional connection, as that felt underdeveloped to me. It's very strong for a debut, however, and I loved the breadcrumbs that were left for the next couple in the series. I'm looking forward to seeing how Richards' writing grows from here, because this was good.
October 26, 2024
I don’t care about these two, just hand me Mary and Maxim’s book already.
October 1, 2025
4.25 stars✨
She’s the mob boss and he’s a nerdy teacher? Hell yeah.
I love a tough as fuck fmc and I loooved Nate. He’s so malewife. I also loved their big family dynamic🥹 I’m a sucker for that.
She’s the mob boss and he’s a nerdy teacher? Hell yeah.
I love a tough as fuck fmc and I loooved Nate. He’s so malewife. I also loved their big family dynamic🥹 I’m a sucker for that.
September 15, 2025
4.5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I’ve deluded myself into believing that the only people who could want me were the ones who had me by blood or the ones who were worse than me. I didn’t let myself hope that he could want me, or that I could let myself have him back.
I have no problem joining a life of crime if it means I get to be a member of the Morellis, what a cute little Mafia family of badass women!
This Mafia Rom-Com is just what I needed while I was feeling down, I had a blast and I ate up the golden retriever x black cat dynamic between the main couple 😍 imagine being a middle school math teacher leading a mundane life, with a mundane routine and having an eventual-meet-cute at a parent-student conference with a woman (whose car you crashed into earlier) and she's the aunt of one of your stubborn-as-a-brick students—then somehow she owes you a favor and you're in need of a date to your cousin's wedding—she agrees, you take her and then sparks fly—yet it takes a single night to tangle yourself up with the mafia and the most stunning woman you've ever met happens to be the Mob Boss and the Head of one of the most powerful Mafia families in the city.
That's the synopsis of Nate Gilbert's life from the moment he met Vanessa Morelli.
Oh, not to mention while he is stuck with the Morellis until every potential risk is eliminated in order to go back to his normal life, he is tasked with finding the perfect Mafioso spouse for Vanessa so she can sire little mafia heirs, as expected of her.
Basically half of the book turns into the Bachelorette/ Mafia edition and that makes things so much fun and torturous for these two.
I know a book has won me over when the family dynamic hits hard and the Morellis are a lovable bunch that I could not get enough of!! Every. Single. One. Of. Them.
The chemistry between Nate and Vanessa is immediate but they both hail from different worlds, the risks are much higher for Nate who led a normal life versus Vanessa who has been preparedto lead such a life. However, behind the mob boss's tough exterior is a woman who yearns for love and someone to see her for who she is and take the weight off her shoulders and Nate easily sees through all of her.
The book is neatly action-packed with a generous drizzle of swoon-worthy romance and humor, but the emotional scenes gutted me. Definitely one of my favorite contemporary mafia romance books of the year!
I can't wait to jump straight to book 2!! The next couple are going to be sizzling.
Content Warning: physical violence, death [off and on-page], kidnapping, mention of parental death.
I’ve deluded myself into believing that the only people who could want me were the ones who had me by blood or the ones who were worse than me. I didn’t let myself hope that he could want me, or that I could let myself have him back.
I have no problem joining a life of crime if it means I get to be a member of the Morellis, what a cute little Mafia family of badass women!
This Mafia Rom-Com is just what I needed while I was feeling down, I had a blast and I ate up the golden retriever x black cat dynamic between the main couple 😍 imagine being a middle school math teacher leading a mundane life, with a mundane routine and having an eventual-meet-cute at a parent-student conference with a woman (whose car you crashed into earlier) and she's the aunt of one of your stubborn-as-a-brick students—then somehow she owes you a favor and you're in need of a date to your cousin's wedding—she agrees, you take her and then sparks fly—yet it takes a single night to tangle yourself up with the mafia and the most stunning woman you've ever met happens to be the Mob Boss and the Head of one of the most powerful Mafia families in the city.
That's the synopsis of Nate Gilbert's life from the moment he met Vanessa Morelli.
Oh, not to mention while he is stuck with the Morellis until every potential risk is eliminated in order to go back to his normal life, he is tasked with finding the perfect Mafioso spouse for Vanessa so she can sire little mafia heirs, as expected of her.
Basically half of the book turns into the Bachelorette/ Mafia edition and that makes things so much fun and torturous for these two.
I know a book has won me over when the family dynamic hits hard and the Morellis are a lovable bunch that I could not get enough of!! Every. Single. One. Of. Them.
The chemistry between Nate and Vanessa is immediate but they both hail from different worlds, the risks are much higher for Nate who led a normal life versus Vanessa who has been preparedto lead such a life. However, behind the mob boss's tough exterior is a woman who yearns for love and someone to see her for who she is and take the weight off her shoulders and Nate easily sees through all of her.
The book is neatly action-packed with a generous drizzle of swoon-worthy romance and humor, but the emotional scenes gutted me. Definitely one of my favorite contemporary mafia romance books of the year!
I can't wait to jump straight to book 2!! The next couple are going to be sizzling.
Content Warning: physical violence, death [off and on-page], kidnapping, mention of parental death.
December 24, 2025
This was everything I didn’t know I needed😍😍
November 23, 2024
such a refreshing spin to the classic mafia romances!!! Vanessa is the mob boss and Nate is the dorky math teacher who after a first date they are attacked she must now protect him until she finds out who wants to kill her. he wants nothing to do with her now because of her mob association and he is low-key terrified of her, but also very intrigued by her. Because she is a mob boss, she has to get married to have an heir so she enlist the dorky math teacher to help her find a husband while he is staying at her house forprotection. During these few months, they become close as friends. There is a simmering build up of tension the entire time and its perfection.
I loved that this challenged a lot of gender norms because she is a mob boss. She needs somebody who she can marry that won’t be intimidated by her. That would support her decisions and someone who won’t cheat on her. That won’t try to steal her family business from her. Nate is the perfect candidate all along because he is totally fine being in a supportive role and doing anything he can to make sure she is happy and satisfied, and truly is a partner to her. There is even a little of a daydream sequence where he’s saying how he can see himself at home with their future children, taking care of them, and when Vanessa comes home after a long day of mob bossing, and he can’t wait to take care of her, and I just absolutely adore that about him.
this is slow burn and low on spice, but the spice does deliver!! I really loved how Nate slowly was turning into a mafia kind of guy, but also remaining very true to who he is. All of this develops because he is quickly falling in love with her and he wants to be her husband and wants to be in her life and will do anything to protect her and support her.
My favorite scene in this entire book was their first time admitting their feelings and eventually sleeping together because it happened so naturally and so sincerely it made me all gooey inside
I think this could be one of my favorite books of 2024, and I can’t wait for the rest of the series !
I loved that this challenged a lot of gender norms because she is a mob boss. She needs somebody who she can marry that won’t be intimidated by her. That would support her decisions and someone who won’t cheat on her. That won’t try to steal her family business from her. Nate is the perfect candidate all along because he is totally fine being in a supportive role and doing anything he can to make sure she is happy and satisfied, and truly is a partner to her. There is even a little of a daydream sequence where he’s saying how he can see himself at home with their future children, taking care of them, and when Vanessa comes home after a long day of mob bossing, and he can’t wait to take care of her, and I just absolutely adore that about him.
this is slow burn and low on spice, but the spice does deliver!! I really loved how Nate slowly was turning into a mafia kind of guy, but also remaining very true to who he is. All of this develops because he is quickly falling in love with her and he wants to be her husband and wants to be in her life and will do anything to protect her and support her.
My favorite scene in this entire book was their first time admitting their feelings and eventually sleeping together because it happened so naturally and so sincerely it made me all gooey inside
I think this could be one of my favorite books of 2024, and I can’t wait for the rest of the series !
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