Love and Treasure

Love and Treasure #3

by Carina Taylor

Cleo Ricci is just your everyday, average mafia princess about to be forced into marriage. She'll do anything to get out—even steal from a thief.

Cleo Ricci has a reputation for being an ice queen. She's spent time cultivating that image, and is happy that her reputation precedes her.
But the reality is she's just your everyday, average mafia princess about to be forced into marriage.
Luckily, she's found the perfect escape.
A briefcase full of three million dollars.
However, there's another thief around and she's soon fighting Nicholas Bennetto for her ticket to freedom.
He keeps showing up no matter how often she tries to push him away, and she finds herself becoming fond of those blue eyes and arrogant smile.
Cleo has a choice to make, and she can only keep love or treasure?

Love and Treasure is a novella set in the 1960's. Both characters have a morally gray compass but are lovable all the same.

Genres: Romance, He Falls First, Novella, Rom Com, Closed Door Romance, Found Family

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2024

Reviews

[Alysha (For The Love of Christian Fiction) · Rating 5 out of 5]

STAWP! This was the cutest, quickest, adventure rom-com novella!! Add to that it was set in the 60s AND it was a “back story” book to a series I have LOVED…I was hooked!

Cleo & Nick were just the best morally gray characters! Their chemistry filled each page and their banter was just *chefs kiss*

The Bennetto family is my new favorite “crime family” (I can honestly say I did not have one before, but there they are 😂)
Not trying to make extra work here for you Carina, but if Marco & Luca decide that they want you to tell their stories of how they met their wives…I wouldn’t stop you.

It was a whirlwind, love at first heist kinda moment. And honestly I was here for it in this novella!

It gave me all the feels and a craving for Nonna’s spaghetti!
5/5 stars

*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*

[The Emperor Napoleon · Rating 1 out of 5]

bombastic side eye

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Talking about the past has a way of stealing from you in the present. And I don’t intend to be its victim any longer.”

I never knew I needed a mafia romance series in my life…until I met up with Carina Taylor and her Love and Treasure romcom adventure series. Book 3’s title is the same name as the series, but it takes us all back to the roots of the family in 1968 and I couldn’t have loved it more.

Nicholas and Cleo are such a fun pair and I loved the 60s vibe that permeates the story. The flair of the unknown, sparking and instantaneous romantic tension, and the danger lurking around each page turn really engaged me and it was fun to immerse myself in this author’s work once again.

This is a fairly short read that was perfect for a hot afternoon.

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were voluntarily given*

[Suzan · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I’ve found my person. Just like my brothers told me I would one day. I just didn’t expect my person to be someone who was halfway likely to kill me.”

This ‘60’s adventure romance’ was such a fun and GROOVY story! Having recently read Rook to King, I loved going back in time and getting Cleo and Nick’s backstory. They made a great couple, and I adored the banter and chemistry between them.

BLURB: “Cleo Ricci has a reputation for being an ice queen. She’s spent time cultivating that image, and is happy that her reputation precedes her. But the reality is she’s just your everyday, average mafia princess about to be forced into marriage.

Luckily, she’s found the perfect escape.
A briefcase full of three million dollars.
However, there’s another thief around and she’s soon fighting Nicholas Bennetto for her ticket to freedom.

He keeps showing up no matter how often she tries to push him away, and she finds herself becoming fond of those blue eyes and arrogant smile.

Cleo has a choice to make, and she can only keep one: love or treasure?”

Love and Treasure is a fun, fast paced novella, and a pure delight! Both main characters are morally gray, but so very lovable, and so perfect for each other. I loved them, adored Cleo’s Nonna, and the 60’s slang and vibes were far out! ✌🏻

I hope we’ll see more of Cleo and Nick in the next couple of books!

Many thanks to the author for an ARC!

[Tricia Anson · Rating 5 out of 5]

You guys, this novella is a blast! Hilarious banter, double crossing, amazing tension, a meddling Nonna, world traveling, and so much FUN.
I read it in an evening and wanted to just dive right in and read it again.

Things I Loved:
-New bracelet?
-“And lucky for him, it’s my lot in life to keep other people humble. I’m just nature’s civil servant. Here to help in any way I can.”
-“‘Maybe the Vicellis should worry about what she’ll do to them.’ She grins. ‘See? I knew you’d be the perfect man to take her on a date.’ I didn’t realize being terrified of someone made you qualified to ask them out.”
-“Forgery is an important life skill that everyone should practice.”
-“I’ve got three million and a runaway Mafia princess. Not how I saw this going.”
-First date
-“‘Hello, I’m only here because he stole from me, then carried me inside.’ Cleo greets them with a straight face.”
-Secret passageway
-“I love it when you threaten me.”
-“‘She wouldn’t protect me. Neither would dad.’ I wait for him to say ‘I told you so.’ ‘That’s okay. I will,’ he says as he tightens his arms around me.”
-“‘Touch her, and I’ll kill you.’ ‘Aw, you did rethink things about murder!’ Cleo says from behind me in a cheerful voice.”
-The best kind of ending—and a peek at the future (related to Rook to King!)

This is the story of the grandparents from Rook to King—you don’t have to have read it to enjoy this story—but I bet you’ll want to once you finish!


CW: Mild swearing (a couple uses of A** & H***) and discussions of murders, physical violence, and stealing—totally lighthearted to fit the Adventure Romcom category. Sweet on the romance.

[Larissa (That Baker That Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐ Round Up

Synopsis:
Cleo is a mafia princess trying to escape a forced marriage. But now she has to deal with another thief to get her freedom.

Includes:
✨60’s mafia rom-com
✨Adventures
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨He falls First
✨Found Family
✨Morally Grey MC
✨Quick Read

🌶️Heat Level:
Just Sweet Kisses
Attraction/Tension:🔥🔥

My Opinion:
This is such a cute novella! It’s a prequel for Rook to King, and I had so Much fun in that book, that couldn’t be different with this one. I love the mafia setting, the humor and the adventures. Nick is just so swoony and funny and Cleo is feisty, and together they are such a delight to follow. Everything made this read so much fun, I didn’t wanted to end.

TW:Discussions of murder (not on page), Physical violence, Dysfunctional family.

*I received a free review copy of this book from the author. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.*

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

{Thank you to the author, Carina Taylor, for my gifted eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.}

I think adventure romance is one of my new favorite genres–it’s just so fun! After reading and absolutely loving Rook to King, I was so excited to read Love and Treasure, a novella about Cleo and Nick, the grandparents of the FMC in that story.

I really enjoyed Love and Treasure! Witty banter, tension, meddling grandmas, double-crossing, “he falls first,” and so much more to love about this novella.

The attention to historical detail for the 1960’s setting was really fun, too! I loved reading some of the 60’s “lingo” the characters used.

Overall, such a fun story! I love this series! I cannot wait for the next book in the series, a full length novel, to come out soon!

Highly recommend Love and Treasure! This title is also available on Kindle Unlimited if you’re a subscriber!

[Micah (micahs.bookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was in a word: FUN! I loved Cleo and Nick’s personalities. Their bantering and adventures were so entertaining and their chemistry was the cutest!!

It had Mafia men, jokes about murder, and high dollar thievery, but it was very lighthearted and absolutely DELIGHTFUL. Just trust me on this one! Morally Gray maybe, but these two definitely have hearts and a conscience.

Love and Treasure is a quick, fast paced novella that had me hooked and excited to keep reading.

I highly recommend reading Rook to King first, to avoid spoilers in Love and Treasure’s epilogue. These books together are GOLD and will have you laughing and smiling the whole time.

[Megan Crofton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was so fun! I’m so glad the author gave us readers a prequel novella to one of my most favorite books I read in 2024. I love the adventure rom com world Carina Taylor has created!

I love the enemies to more but instant attraction tension between Cleo and Nick. They were so fun and loved the push and pull of their relationship. Love how the author writes the MCs morally gray but also as respectable thieves at the same time. IYKYK! Such a fun juxtaposition.

This one was fun and fast-paced and definitely kept me on my toes. Taylor does a great job at surprising the reader with something they didn't expect.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun novella. It had good pacing and was reminiscent of movies like Charade or How to Steal a Million.

[Courtney Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I don't need a man to have the time of my life. I just need that briefcase full of cash"

"I sigh, realizing I'm coming out of this night with more than i bargained for. I've got three millionand a runaway Mafia Princess. Not how I saw this going."

What a fun novella! "Love and Treasure" is a 60s adventure romance with enemies-to-lovers, morally gray characters, found family, and a feisty FMC. The banter between Cleo and Nick is fantastic! Cleo, an everyday mafia princess, is about to be forced into marriage and will do anything to get out, even steal from a thief. Nick, a run-of-the-mill thief from a family people tend not to mess with, teams up with her, making for an entertaining duo. The connection to the rest of the series is revealed at the end, and let me tell you, when I found out, I almost tossed my Kindle in excitement. This is a must-read!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love and Treasure was a brilliant 1960s mafia adventure romcom! It was a quick and easy read. This novella takes place before events in Rook to King. I am going to have to read Rook to King just to see Nick and Cleo in action again because of how much I loved this novella! Nick and Cleo were hysterical! I was laughing so much at their antics. As a history nerd, the attention to the 1960s details was well done! There were many twists and turns throughout Nick and Cleo’s adventure in New York. This book was full of my favorite kind of banter, witty and sarcastic! They had so many good one liners and comebacks. Nick and Cleo definitely kept each other on their toes. I love a good meddling grandmother in books. Nonna was the best and a hoot! The romance was closed door that did not go past kissing. There was some minor swearing. This novella was a page turner in the best way and highly recommend!

I volunteered to read an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book I read in this series and it was a hit. It was a fun, quick novella that you could read in a day. I loved that it took place in the 1960s. Before I started, I let my moral compass go out the window and just let myself enjoy the crazy plot and fun characters. Yes this book is about gangs and thievery etc. but it is so fun and lighthearted. I never find myself saying this, but I LOVED the insta love. It just fit so perfectly in this book. He was both terrified of her in a fun way and just gone for her. I loved Nicks family too. The main characters had the best dialogue. They were equally skilled in all the ways that make them good morally grey characters. But they both also had hearts of gold. They were a good match and will keep each other on their toes. Fun fun read.

SPOILERS and book notes:
1968 New York!
Just think of hairspray time period. MY grandparents. Cleo’s family is part of the Florence Mafia. Cleo has a heavy Italian accent. Nick and Cleo’s meetcute is everything. He comes in to her Italian restaurant with a snobby date so she dumps spaghetti on her and steals her pearl necklace. The snobby date storms out but Nick just turns to her and said “new bracelet”? (Bc she wrapped it around her wrist) and then he holds his hand out to take them. She totally thinks he will return them to the rightful owner: “I unwrap the string of pearls from my wrist and slowly lower it, bead by bead, into his large hand. He maintains my gaze the entire time. Jeez, those eyes are blue. “Turn,” he commands. I scowl at him, but he holds up his finger and spins it in a circle. With a healthy amount of hesitation, I turn my back to him. I gasp when his hands appear in front of my face, and then his fingers brush against my collarbone. He’s clasping the pearls around my neck. “They look better on you than they did on her,” he whispers.” I LOVE A VILLAIN/VILLAIN ROMANCE. Nick: “The moment Cleo Ricci smiled at me, I thought my heart had stopped beating. I’d heard rumors that she was gorgeous, that her glare could freeze your heart, and that overall, she was as intimidating as she was beautiful. But none of the rumors had mentioned her smile or the fact that when she turned the full force of it on you, you were in danger of falling in love.” But he knows doing anything with her would mean death. Nick is planning on robbing Cleo brother Dario: “He doesn’t think anyone would dare steal from someone as powerful as a Ricci. And lucky for him, it’s my lot in life to keep other people humble. I’m just nature’s civil servant. Here to help in any way I can. And tonight, I plan on helping myself to an easy three million cash.” Cleo just thinks Nick is a brash American but he really is a Bennett family. Famous for being high class thieves. To buy the grandmas silence all he needs to do is take Cleo on a date and show her the city. ““Maybe the Vicellis (enemy gang) should worry about what she’ll do to them.” She grins. “See? I knew you’d be the perfect man to take her on a date.” I didn’t realize being terrified of someone made you qualified to ask them out.” Her brother arranged a marriage alliance with vicellis! They each steal the brief case at the same time and both won’t let go! Their banter!!! ““I thought since you haven’t tried to kill me yet tonight it meant you’d decided to like me.” “Just because I think you have a kissable face doesn’t mean I want to spend an entire evening with you.” And they dare kiss each other!!!!! Such a fantastic first kiss. I love the sweetness of holding hands while walking. It’s different than an escort. It says you really care about them. I LOVE this insta love!! Which is so rare for me. “Nick leans forward as he speaks. “I’m not going to chase after you again. The next time we’re together, it’s going to be because you came to me. And when you do, that’s it. I’ll know we’re meant to be. If you come after me, we’re in it for life.” Pretty sure my jaw hits the floor. “How can you say that? You just met me. Have you lost your mind?” Nick shrugs. “When you know, you know. But I want you to be certain. So, I’ll be waiting for you when you’re ready to admit you feel something for me too.” The absolute audacity of this man. And the way it makes me want to spend the rest of my life with him.” She kisses him after he promises her this: “He’s strong and solid, and I feel perfectly safe in his arms as he kisses me. I never knew that promises of keeping me safe and standing by my side could melt me into a puddle.” She comes on his private jet as the copilot! Aw! To Italy! One moped in Florence to escape her brothers friends trying to take her: ““I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.” “What about you?” “I would absolutely never hurt you.” He fires up the moped, then bends down to whisper in my ear. “I protect the things I love, not hurt them.” He throws her over his should to take her to his house. Both his brothers and their wives welcome her so warmly! ““The Bennetto family values life. They value family. And when Isabella married Luca and I married Marco, we were welcomed into the family with open arms and no restrictions.” I love this explanation of the insta love!!! ““Why did you tell your brothers you wanted to marry me?” “Because I do.” “You’re crazy to want to commit so fast. You know hardly anything about me.” Nick grins. “I’ve seen enough to know. Besides, it’s part of the Bennetto luck. We always know early on who we’re meant to be with. It was that way for my father, my grandfather, and my brothers. I was beginning to worry it was broken for me, but then I found you.” “And do the women know right away?” I challenge him. He pretends to think about it for a moment, then looks down at me, fighting a smile. “Definitely not. They take a lot of convincing.” Pressing my lips together, I have to fight a smile of my own. “So, what are we supposed to do now?” “Kiss, definitely,” he says as he leans toward me.” Her family is prepared to force her into the marriage! “He covers the distance in three big steps and wraps me in his arms. And there is nothing worse than getting wrapped up in a comforting hug when you’re about to cry. It makes the sobs ten times louder.” Her family won’t protect her, but HE WILL. And he freaking does. “I reach a hand in front of Cleo, pushing her safely behind my back, and now, I’m standing between her and Aldo. “Touch her, and I’ll kill you.” “Aw, you did rethink things about murder!” Cleo says from behind me in a cheerful voice.” And then when he protects her she says “I love you”. And they drop the marriage bomb on her idiot brother like a BOSS. “Dario, I’d like you to meet Nicholas Bennetto.” Dario’s eyes go wide as he stares at me. He knows exactly who I am and the secrets my family and I hold. I hear Cleo’s satisfied laugh before she adds, “My husband.”

[Katrinalee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the 1960’s, Love and Treasure is a prequel for Rook to King, telling the story of Gracen’s grandparents, Cleo and Nicholas. She is a mafia princess whose family plans to marry her off as part of a deal with another mafia family. He is a professional thief. They both want to steal her brother’s briefcase full of three million dollars and get out of town. Unfortunately (or not) they arrive at the same time to steal it. He falls first, and fast. She can’t seem to get rid of him and keep the money at the same time.

I love a good adventure romance. The combination of sharp banter, romantic sparks, international intrigue, and constant danger makes this a winner. And the kisses! It checks all the boxes for me, except one. It’s too short. I love this series so much, I was ready to really dwell in this world for a good long time. Fortunately, it’s just a quick fix while waiting for the next book to arrive next month. Yay!

[Emari Gerberding · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella was a fantastic addition to the series, expanding the story of the Mafia families in an exciting way. It added depth to the world and kept me hooked from start to finish. Cleo's personality truly stood out—she's a fascinating character with a morally gray edge that makes her even more compelling. Despite her flaws, she’s impossible not to enjoy, and she’s even more entertaining in the next book!

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love and Treasure is the romantic adventure novella of the summer!
This novella is part of a series set in the 60s - before Brodie and Gracen’s story in Rook to King (sidenote – see a previous post for a more detailed book review of Rook to King -- however – Rook to King is amazing, and now I cannot wait to re-read it knowing Nick and Cleo’s background story AND THE EPILOGUE!!!)

Ok – back to Love and Treasure
I consider myself to be a pretty decent human being – my compass runs straight with very little deviation. However, after reading about a mafia princess vs thief plot with twists and turns (or falls down a staircase… #ifkyk) that I didn’t see coming…I would be okay if my compass strays a little bit like the MMC and FMC (see author’s note below).

The meet cute of Nick and Cleo is hilarious. Pasta and a disgruntled waitress make for a great scene. The snark, banter, and wit throughout the book between Nick and Cleo made me laugh out loud multiple times.

I have a special fondness for side characters that include family members and the meddling grandma and the brothers/sisters-in-law made this story truly shine.

I love this humorous dual POV story from cover to cover and highly recommend it to anyone looking for characters that have something slightly different than the average 9-5 day job.

Author’s note:
“Love and Treasure is an adventure romcom, and with that comes tense situations, discussions of murder (though nothing on page) and physical violence.
There are also morally gray main characters. In fact, it’s more of a charcoal gray rather than a light gray. i.e. their moral compass is broken.
Other things to note: one character has a dysfunctional family with a capital D.”
I found the above things to be nothing but lighthearted material for a good read. There is also occasional mild Bible swear words that do not detract from the story.

Thank you to the author for the complimentary copy. All thoughts expressed are my own.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this is told from Cleo & Nick’s points of view (these are Gracen’s -from Rook to King– grandparents)

– the story is set in the 1960’s (a glossary is provided for the few phrases used in the book that we don’t use today)

– there are two uses of the word for butt starting with an ‘a’

Review:

I cackled a few times reading this book! XD Cleo was a force and though Nick probably should have run for the hills with everything that Cleo was, he was even more drawn to her because of it all. I loved that he didn’t shy away and honestly confused Cleo a bit because of that. I loved that they kept meeting up and surprising each other with their skills & their approaches to the various situations they found themselves in. I can’t wait to read more books within the connections to Gracen/Bodie (from Rook to King) & their cohorts & I wonder if we’ll see more of Cleo & Nick in those future books!

Summary:

Cleo Ricci has a reputation & family connections to the mafia. She never expected that her connections would lead to an undesired arranged marriage to a guy from a rival group. Thankfully she’s got options on how to get away from it. If only those chances weren’t constantly being thwarted by a handsome thief…

Nick Bennetto’s family has a bogey man reputation that causes no one to want to cross them. And when Nick happens to hear that a case of three million dollars is on its way to the Ricci family restaurant, he can’t help himself from going to get it. Though he almost forgoes that plan upon meeting Cleo Ricci. Stories say that her ice queen mafia princess demeanor is something to fear & they’re not wrong. But they never said anything about how her smile could cause a man to want to fall in love…

[Alicia (aliciasalwaysreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: adventure romance
Content: mild language, kisses

I love that Carina wrote Cleo and Nick’s story and that she surprise released it! How fun was that?!

This novella tells the story of Cleo & Nick, the grandparents of Gracen, the FMC in Rook to King. Both are morally gray and come from morally gray families. They really suit each other so well though!
I loved the way Nick supported Cleo’s independence. Such a fun, engaging read!

Favorite Quotes:
👩🏻 “So, what was the problem?” Marco asks. “That was the issue.” “The guards?” “The daughter.” I stare at the ceiling and recall every detail of that beautiful problem.

😂 I drop my hold on the crowbar and walk back to the door, unbolting it and swinging it wide. “It was wonderful of you to stop by; please don’t do it again.”

🙄 “Just because I think you have a kissable face doesn’t mean I want to spend an entire evening with you.” He stops abruptly in the open doorway and grins down at me. “So, you think I’m kissable, do you?” I narrow my eyes at him. “I can’t believe that’s all you took away from that.”

😏”She doesn’t know I keep a crowbar in my bag.” He smirks and takes a step back toward me. “I love it when you threaten me.”

💀 “Touch her, and I’ll kill you.” “Aw, you did rethink things about murder!” Cleo says from behind me in a cheerful voice.

🔥 I’m starting to get a good idea of what our future is going to hold. Lots of hot temper, and lots of hot making up. Sounds like heaven.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own. No positive review was required.

[Randi Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love and Treasure is the third book in the series of the same name. While this is a prequel, taking place in the 1960s, long before the other books, I would definitely recommend reading at least Rook to King before reading this one. There are some twists in that story that might be spoiled if you read this one first--- and it's so fun to experience those twists as they come! (It's also a personal favorite of mine and as such, I highly recommend it anyway!)

This was such a fun read! I never thought that morally grey characters were something that I enjoyed, but when Carina Taylor does it? I can't help but love them. Yes, they definitely aren't always on the right side of the law... but I still found myself rooting for them to get their happily ever after just the same. I loved the meeting between Cleo and Nicholas... her sass is fun and the banter between the two of them is absolute perfection. (Truly, Carina is a queen of banter!) I loved how they kept each other on their toes and just played off of one another so well... but also had such a great, undeniable romantic chemistry too. I don't want to give too much away, but this is a fun and quick adventure that you absolutely won't want to miss!

Love and Treasure is a closed-door romance with kisses only. There is a bit of minor language throughout.

** ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! This book was so much fun, and I loved the chemistry between Cleo and Nick.
Cleo is definitely not your normal romance heroine, but she’s so much fun. She’s determined to stand on her two feet and fight for what she wants. While she’s definitely mischievous and has a gray moral compass, she’s also willing to fight for the little guy. It was interesting to peel back her layers and see someone who wanted a real relationship.
I liked Nick from the start! While he’s definitely arrogant, he also has his own set of morals. It was fun to watch him interact with Cleo especially since he fell so hard for her. I loved how he genuinely wanted her to be happy. And getting to see some of his side characters was so much fun.
This story kept me on my toes. I was excited to see how Cleo and Nick would end up together and also how everything would wrap up. It is definitely more on the insta love side, but it fits these characters. They’re not the most conventional couple, so it made sense that they would have an unconventional love story as well. This is a closed door romance with some tense situations including discussion of murder (not on the page), physical violence, and morally gray characters. But if you love a fun adventure romance with a heist vibe, I would definitely recommend this book!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleo and Nico give us so much from the 1960's but also still reminiscent of today. I loved getting to know each one of these characters. Especially once everything was set into motion.

I loved being back in the 1960s and seeing what it was like back then. I have always been fond of the yester years and this gave me the taste of that time that I needed. I have always been fascinated by the mob and how they operated and this definitely gave me a little insight.

I really enjoyed getting to know Cleo and seeing her feisty spirit. I'm so glad that she had so much right in her and she refused to back down just because her family told her so. I was so glad to see how much her Nonna supported her. I especially loved seeing Cleos journey throughout the story, and how her Nonna tied into it into the end.

Nico definitely surprised me by who he was. He also changed so much in several people's lives. I loved that he had a bigger heart that he was given credit for. Nico came for one thing and left with so much more.

I loved this story and am so glad to have been able to read this thanks to a free copy from the author. All opinions are my own, honest and voluntary.

[funkelbunt.liest · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars rounded to 5

To be completely honest I am not a fan of mafia books, morally grey characters (if the story doesn’t include a redemption arc) and to make fun of crime and violence.

So it’s safe to say this is not my favorite Carina Taylor book, even though I still enjoyed it and her writing is as entertaining as ever. (I try to rate books for what they are. This IS a mafia romance. That this is not my preferred genre is not the author’s fault.)
Despite their major flaws (they are more than a bit morally grey in my book) I actually really liked both main characters.

The banter is top notch and if you’re into mafia romances you should definitely give this a try. Carina’s books always make you laugh, this one is no exception.

* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleo & Nick’s story was such a cute, quick read, and I could not stop laughing.

Stars: 5/5
Spice: 0/5 (Closed-Door)

In 1960’s NYC, mafia princess Cleo is told her marriage has been arranged to form an alliance with another family. Cleo is not interested and decides to escape by stealing a briefcase full of three million dollars. Unfortunately, she finds thief Nick trying to steal the same briefcase – and neither of them seem willing to back down.

I loved Cleo & Nick’s story from the very beginning. It was a quick read, super cute, and full of funny banter the whole way through. The back and forth with the stolen briefcase just had me imagining the Pink Panther theme song playing in the background like it was a heist movie. And Nick? Sweet Nick fell hard and fast, and he was just perfect for Cleo. Highly recommend!

[Camille Dayton Fostering.literacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have read Rook to King, then you NEED to read this book! This is the book of Gracen's grandparents and how they end up together.

Two of my favorite quotes:

"But what am I supposed to do now that I have a better idea of who I'm dealing with? She's a woman raised by nuns and murderers."

"I'll take care of him.'
'I don't want you to kill him.'
Nick looks at me in shock. 'I never said I was going to kill him. Good grief, woman.'
He looks genuinely offended, and I realize not everyone's taking care of someone means the same thing."

Overall I really loved this book! The 1960's setting, rival families, and mafia insiders made the book really interesting and fun to read. I would categorize this as a sweet romance, appropriate for teenagers and older who are comfortable with reading about kissing, but who don't want to read about closed door intimacy.

Thank you to the author for the Advance e-Copy. A positive review was not required.

[Mandy Clement · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO FUN!

Ummm this novella was SO FUN! It takes skill to pack a full story into the shorter length of a novella and Carina nailed it!!

Every moment of Cleo and Nick was playful, banter filled, and of course adventure. Cleo is the daughter of a prominent mafia family. When her brother arranges to marry her off to another mafia family she steals 3 million dollars out from under his nose and runs away. Only Nick is also there stealing the money. The two are forced into a sort of cat and mouse over who will keep the money. Except it seems Cleo has also stolen Nicks heart and now he wants her in return.

I loved these characters and highly recommend this book to everyone who likes romantic adventure that keeps you turning pages!

Heat- kissing and make out only
CW- some mild language, thievery and mention of murder

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, this book was so much fun. “Rook to King” was amazing and this story that showcases Gracen’s grandparents…well, it was beautifully done.

I absolutely love the 1960s references and style. I was ecstatic to learn more about the Benetto’s and the background for Gracen’s grandma Cleo and grandfather Nico.

Cleo and Nick were the perfect pairing of feisty and fun. It’s the perfect combination of humor and romance with a touch of suspense. It’s short, it’s fun, and it is perfect for a summer read (or any time really). If you haven’t read a Carina Taylor book yet, this is your perfect opportunity. But, don’t blame me once you’re hooked!

CW: mild language

Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Mindy]

“I’m not sure I’ll survive—but what a way to go.”

I was so thrilled when the author announced this surprise release! I loved Cleo and Nick in ROOK TO KING and it was groovy (haha) reading their origin story.

And what a ride it was! This novella is jam packed with action, twists and turns, amazing kisses, and a heist. This was also my first mafia romance and I am all in!

Cleo is fascinating and mysterious. Nick is handsome and mysterious. They are quite the pair. You could cut the romantic tension with a knife. Their whirlwind romance and adventure is written so well, I didn’t want the book to end. (The epilogue was my favorite, as was the mention of a certain chess set.)

I received an eARC from the author. All views are my own.

[Stephanie P (Because My Mother Read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free e-copy of this book for review.

This adventure romcom was a whole lot of fun! Set in the 1960s it was full of intrigue, competing crime families, and thieves stealing from each other while also catching feelings.

It is a novella that explores some of the side characters in a previous book by the author called Rook to King. It was clear from that book that these characters had interesting backstories so it was really neat to be able to dive into how they got to where they were.

This series is such a fun blend of adventure and swoon. The next full book in the series will release next month and it is called West of Port!

Trigger/content warnings: thieving/morally grey behavior. Steam level is kissing only.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carina Taylor has found her groove with these adventure romances; this book is the definition of fun and entertaining. I just found myself smiling the whole time I was reading Cleo and Nick's story. This is a quick, cute read that has characters that flirt with the wrong side of the line, but you totally cheer for. I love the Bennetto family. The whole love at first meet and connections were swoony. I laughed, I smiled, I loved the ending so much. It made me want to pick up and read Rook to King all over again. It had a good humor to it and is the perfect kind of escapism. I definitely recommend this novella.
I received an advance reader copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always know Carina Taylor is going to put a smile on my face!! Love and Treasure is a novella prequel featuring the grandparents of Gracen, the main character in Rook to King. I had so much fun with this story and learning more about a certain heirloom chessboard! I don’t always like insta-love books but Taylor does them SO well and always throws in enough enemies-to-lovers to keep things interesting. This series is perfect for us grown-ups who loved Ally Carter’s Heist Society series as teens, or anyone who enjoys a good heist story containing morally grey characters with a sense of humor and a softy heart of gold.

*I received a e-copy of this book from the author. I was not required to give a review and the above expressed is my honest opinion.