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The Moretti Men #1

Devil's Thirst

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A new neighbor with a secret identity and a deadly obsession…

Amelie
I knew I shouldn't have asked him for a ride.

My new neighbor is a study in contradictions—covered in tattoos and dripping intensity.
He’s alluring yet aloof, and his every calculated move is dangerously seductive.

Little did I know, he’s been systematically inserting himself into every part of my life.
Creeping beneath my protective armor.
Trapping me like a fly in his web before revealing his true identity.

Now, he’s standing before our families calling me his future wife.

He doesn’t understand that my life isn’t that simple.
I have secrets of my own, and his obsession with claiming me might just get me killed.

What to know about Devil’s Thirst:
-Alpha anti-hero
-Ballerina good girl
-Obsessed stalker
-Tragic past
-My wife
-Spicy slow burn
-Has an HEA
-Can be read as a standalone
-Dual POV
-Content warnings— Devil's Thirst contains references to past S/A (not between the main couple) and might not be suitable for readers sensitive to the subject. For a more detailed list of possible content triggers, you can visit the books tab on my website.

For those of you who are new to me, I write what I'd call "mafia lite." My heroes are hardened criminals with soft spots for their heroines. There may be violence and cruelty in my books, but never between the main characters. Enjoy!

356 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 27, 2024

5059 people are currently reading
7568 people want to read

About the author

Jill Ramsower

47 books3,133 followers
Jill is a Texan, born and raised. She manages the hectic social calendars for her three active children and occasionally spends an evening with her dashing husband. Aside from being an author and a mom, she's a travel junkie and loves to read when she is not lost in her own stories.

With Jill’s books, you can count on confident heroines, plenty of steamy tension, and deliciously assertive leading men. There are no guarantees in life, but with her books, you know everything will work out in the end. However, a perfect ending would not be nearly as satisfying without a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Jill loves to add plenty of adversity in her stories, creating unforgettably dynamic characters and sneaky plot twists you will never see coming.

Find her on Facebook here-->https://www.facebook.com/jillramsower...
Never miss a release! Sign up for her newsletter here-->https://jillramsower_234b.gr8.com/
Check out her website here-->https://www.jillramsower.com/


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5 stars
2,627 (33%)
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3 stars
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158 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 761 reviews
Profile Image for Iqra.
706 reviews6,181 followers
July 29, 2025
If you like a soft romance in a mafia setting you will devour this.

I had no idea which direction this book was taking me the whole time lol but I was here for it all. The stalker part was yum 😋

Their romance was so fucking sweet but Sante still kept that hardness about him when it came to mafia/violent matters which made all the difference. The way he dotes on her from the start 🫦🫦🫦

I like that Amelie’s profession was given a space in the story and not just a prop used to make her sound interesting.

This read like a really developed standalone even though I know it’s a spin off from a previous series. It did spoil stuff from books of the other series but I’m not deterred, I’ll still be reading the others written in this universe.

This was exactly what I was looking for to get me out of a slump and I’m soooo happy I read it, I’ve just discovered a new favourite author — watch me devour her backlist 😝🤭
Profile Image for Paige.
754 reviews13 followers
December 29, 2024
This was more of 3.5 for me. I wanted to love this book so much but ultimately there were too many things I wasn’t a fan of.

Starting off I had no idea this was a spin off of the Byrne brothers series. While this says it’s a standalone I very much felt out of the loop because I only read the first book in the original series. That book is where we meet Sante for the first time where he’s a 17 yr old asshole kid who does everything his psycho dad says. This book is about 4-5 years later.

The main thing I liked about this book was Sante. I loved his obsessiveness and how possessive he was. He was all about Amelie and we love that in a MMC but this leads to things I did not like about this book.

Sante is so obsessed with Amelie for years. Four years to be exact, since time they spent together at her sisters wedding. He can’t stop thinking about her over the years, can’t help but want her, holds on to the ring he gives her and even gets it tattooed on him. All of this and yet he becomes an expert at sex because he slept his way through Sicily!! So you have thought about this girl nonstop for years and yet you decide to have tons of sex with other people instead of waiting for her? If you’re going to have your MMC obsessed with the FMC keeping him celibate makes that obsession 1000% better!! Not him screwing his way around Italy while the FMC HAS NEVER EVEN HAD AN ORGASM IN HER WHOLE LIFE? He’s all like omg I’m so glad I’m your first and I’m like yeah dude would have been nice if she was yours too don’t you think? Also if you’re super possessive you don’t let other women touch you. I don’t care if you’re trying to be polite. A real obsessed man will snatch a girls hand off him so fast!! Ugh.

Also I wasn’t a fan of Amelie!! I hate that I didn’t like her very much but she annoyed the crap out of me. Her thoughts were so conflicting and she kept everything to herself. Even knowing telling Sante would keep her safe she still wouldn’t say anything and it was so frustrating!!

The resolution to the conflict was pretty anticlimactic and that whole thing about Sante’s half brother was really pointless. It added nothing to the book and I was just like who cares?!!!

Also by 60% I’m was ready to wrap this thing up, it got kind of boring. I was just glad it wasn’t riddled with sex scenes. The first one isn’t until after 80%.

The more I write this review the more I think I need to change my rating to 3 stars instead.

I might read the next one cause Tommy intrigued me but i feel like I need to read the whole Byrne brother series to fully understand what’s going on.

NO CHEATING
LIGHT OW/OM DRAMA
KIND OF BREAK UP BUT MORE OF A MISUNDERSTANDING
PAST SA
VERY MAFIA LIGHT
HEA (married)
Profile Image for Angela.
268 reviews31 followers
December 18, 2024
**Thank you very much for the ARC copy of this book!**
Ratings out of 5

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🔥🔥
Angst:😱😱😱
HEA/HFN: HEA
POV: Dual 1st person POV
FMC: Amelie
MMC: Sante

I really enjoyed this story! Amelie and Sante met at her sisters wedding 4 years prior to the story beginning. They are both young and damaged. He feels something for her but is sent to Sicily for 4 years. Upon his return he ends up stalking Amelie. She is a ballerina and he watches her dance. He moves in next door to her. She doesn't recognize him because of how much he has changed in the past 4 years. He is obsessive and completely committed to her once he sees her again. There is some deception and groveling on his part. Their story is 4 years in the making.

I took off one star--and this is a ME thing. I prefer that my MMCs are celibate after meeting the FMC. Some people consider it safe as long as they haven't been together yet. My personal preference is that they are celibate after meeting especially if the MMC already declares that they have any type of feelings. His conquests during the separation aren't rubbed in the readers face, which I appreciated--but the fact that he was not celibate is mentioned. I'm not sure if being with women was part of his "training", but regardless-- it's a me thing. If I missed anything and I am wrong about this--someone please clarify--but this is what I gathered from the information provided.

Safety:
OW/OM drama: None
Cheating: None
3rd act breakup:No
Celibate: Yes and no. He didn't seem to be celibate after they first met during their 4 year separation because he mentioned that if there's one thing italian women knew, it's sx. She made it seem like she had dated men but didn't sleep with any of them. After he returned they weren't with other people.
Profile Image for Jac K.
2,517 reviews490 followers
February 18, 2025
2.5-ish ⭐’s
I’m so far behind with reviews that I read this two weekends ago and remember very little, so that’s telling. I’m writing this mostly from notes but do remember it being slow at times.

Amelia is a ballet dancer with demons and a stalker when she meets a mysterious stranger that she’s instantly pulled towards. We learn from Sante’s POV that the two met four (I believe) years earlier and he has been hung up on her since. It’s not explained why she doesn’t recognize him, but she doesn’t. Sante is OBSESSED and quickly infiltrates her life, which isn’t all bad because she needs some saving.

I’m not sure if this is a spinoff (because it’s the first book) but it felt like we were dropped into an existing storyline. There’re Italian and Irish mobsters that I felt like we should know, and there's this entire plot/info dump (early on) where we’re told

Sante’s character wasn’t really developed much. He was rich, he spent time in Italy, but what did he do besides follow the h around? I’m not sure he even had a position with the family. Amelia got on my nerves. She whined, kept secrets, made the dumbest decisions, (like walking home after she just escaped a goon), but she grew as the story progressed. I really liked her sister though.

Bottom Line- It was ok with skimming. I was lost at times and felt like I wasn’t in the loop. There were large chunks of the book where we were stuck in the same holding pattern. The chemistry wasn’t great, the sexy time wasn’t what I’d call hot, but she’s a SA survivor. Tons of trigger, but no safety concerns. (other than the mention that he got around while he was in Italy the last few years)
Profile Image for Anastasia シ.
767 reviews256 followers
December 10, 2025
╭ ✦ •
│ ⊹ 𝟺.𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜, , 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐! ⊹
╰ ✦ •

“It isn’t going to work, or you’re too scared to try? Because the only issue I see is a scared little girl who’s looking for every excuse she can find to run from the one person putting her first.”


Wow! Okay, as I was reading this, I wasn't sure how to rate this, but the last 40% was amazing!!

I know this is a standalone but I feel like I can’t fully judge this story properly without having read all the previous books in this world. I feel like I’m missing a lot of background info!

From my understanding, this world starts with Jill’s Five Families series (which I did ARC read the first 4 books years ago- don’t really remember them tbh but from my reviews I enjoyed them), and then there’s The Byrne Brothers (which I haven't read), and now this new series, Moretti Men.

anyway!

Where do I start!?

Sante and Amelie are such amazing characters. Their love story began four years ago, though neither realized it at the time. After leaving for Sicily, Sante returns to his family—the Italian mafia—unsure of where he belongs or if he even fits in anymore. For two weeks, he keeps his return a secret, hesitant to commit to staying until he’s sure his feelings for Amelie are real and sustainable. He met her at a wedding when they were both teenagers, already scarred by loss and hardship. Yet even in the darkness, Amelie was his light. Though she didn’t know it then, she became the reason he wanted to change.

Amelie, a dedicated ballerina, pours her heart into perfecting her art, practicing for hours every day. Fiercely loyal to her sister and her niece Violet, Amelie is deeply rooted in her small family—the only family she has left. Her sister’s marriage ties them to the Irish mafia, creating a bond of loyalty and trust between the two families.

But Amelie carries a heavy secret, one that could put lives at risk if it were revealed. She isolates herself to protect those she loves, unable to form meaningful relationships. She channels all her energy into dancing, finding solace in the solitude of late-night rehearsals at the theater.

“There’s a peacefulness in dancing by myself. A solitude I know all too well… which is how I can tell the second I’m no longer alone. I feel it now. Someone else is in the theater. They’re watching me from the shadows.”


The suspense in this book is masterfully done. From Sante’s initial secretive return and his bold decision to stalk Amelie in the shadows, to the moment she discovers his true identity at a family dinner, the tension was palpable. And let’s not forget the twists and turns! Just when I thought I had things figured out, Jill Ramsower threw in surprises that left my head spinning.

I wasn't sure how I felt about the whole stalking aspect of the story. It felt weird, and I felt like she forgave him way too quickly. But besides that, their love is raw, intense, and unforgettable. Together, they prove that even the most shattered pieces can come together to form something extraordinary. Sante’s protectiveness and devotion, paired with Amelie’s vulnerability and strength, made for a love story that was both tender and fiery. The way he worshipped her, the way she softened for him—it was perfection.

“Who did I say this body belongs to?”
“You,” I breathe.
“And that’s the problem. How will anyone else unlock a door when I’m the only one with the key?”


Overall, I loved getting back into this world, and I just love Jill's writing. Although I felt like I was missing some things Devil’s Thirst is a journey of healing, redemption, and finding love when you least expect it. I'm eager for the next installment! If you’re a fan of mafia romance with sizzling chemistry, complex characters, and a plot that keeps you guessing, don’t miss this one. Sante and Amelie’s story will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommend!

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

⊹ 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 ⊹

❥Alpha anti-hero

❥Ballerina
❥'Good Girl'
❥'My Pet'
❥'My wife'
❥Medium Burn

❥Obsessed stalker

❥Touch her and 💀

❥Tragic past

❥Secret identity


Thank you for the ARC, Jill♡

_________________________________
Devil's Thirst | Review
Death’s Favor | Review
Mistletoe Masquerade |

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Profile Image for AvidReader.
1,474 reviews330 followers
August 28, 2025
If you love a good mafia romance with obsessed, stalkerish, morally grey hero and lovely ballerina heroine who is so strong despite all the sufferings, then this book is for you.

Sante and Amelie meets one night and they bond over the hidden pain and past trauma. That makes a lasting impression on Sante so when he can’t forget her even after 4 years, he decides to see her once more. This time from the shadows. Man, wasn’t that the best decision of both their life.
I loved how protective and obsessed he was. Meanwhile Amelie gave him the peace and courage to face his own demons.
There was a twist I never saw coming and I was happy to know what ‘really’ happened between Sante and Amelie on Oran’s wedding.

So glad to see the gang Oran, Lina, Noemi, Conner and their beautiful kids.
I am so stoked to read Tommy’s book and that ending was everything.

Safety: It’s not mentioned but from what I understood Sante wasn’t celibate during that 4 years. That kinda bothered me because of how obsessed he was of her. Amelie too had short relationships.

-Stalker romance.
-Obsessed hero x ballerina heroine.
-Anti hero.
-KU, TW could be read as a standalone.
-Recommend.

I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for v.e.e.r.e.a.d.s.
92 reviews931 followers
January 5, 2025
Devoured it.

4.5 ⭐️ 2.5🌶️

I love me some spicy mafia romance but when a slow mafia romance is done right? Nothing beats it!
Jill Ramsower is the queen of slow burn!

Loved the good girl ballerina x bad boy stalker element of this book! Sante was the perfect mix of unhinged x possessive and protective!

Check TWs ⚠️
Profile Image for Katie Murphy.
1,014 reviews97 followers
December 16, 2024
✨ARC Review✨

Let me start by start by saying that Jill absolutely knocked it out of the park with Sante and Amelie’s story.

Now, you don’t need to read any previous books to understand Sante and Amelie’s story but I would definitely recommend that you read the Byrne Brothers series as our Amelie our FMC is the sister of Lina from Vicious Seduction, and our MMC, Sante, is the brother of Noemi from Silent Vows and the cousin of Renzo from Craving Chaos. In addition to this many of the Byrne family make cameos in this book, which I highly enjoyed.

Now back to Devils Thirst.. Sante has just returned home from Italy where he has spent the last four years with his uncle Lazaro. Now his visit was only meant to be a short one until he laid eyes once again on Amelie👀 Two weeks later and the man was still here and his realisation was clear as day that he was beyond obsessed and would do everything and anything to ensure she became his.

“I can be relentless when it comes to getting what I want. And I don’t just want Amelie Brooks; I’ll go fucking insane without her.” - yep that quote absolutely seals it for me👏🏼

Amelie, is ballet dancer who is working hard practicing for the opening night of a new production and she starts to notice fairly quickly that she is being watched. As well as this Amelie gets a new neighbour who inserts himself into her life very quickly. Isaac is mysterious, protective of Amelie and very vague about his past which understandably Amelie wants to know about him. She soon realises at a Byrne family dinner that “Isaac” is in fact Sante Isaaco Manici. Poor Amelie had an awful shock, but Sante revealed to his family that he was home and home for good because he wanted Amelie in his life.

Sante and Amelie’s chemistry is absolutely off the charts. Sante was always patient with Amelie, and absolutely worshipped the ground she walked on. Their journey was not easy as both of these characters had their demons, which they both worked through in this book with the support of one another and their families. You can definitely say that these beautiful souls found a light in one another in a sea of darkness🫶🏼

The twists and turns of this book had my head absolutely spinning, I just loved that I couldn’t predict where the author was gonna take us next.

I am so excited for more that is to come in this series✨

Thank you so much to the author and Valentine PR for this e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭
Profile Image for Leigh.
1,397 reviews325 followers
February 14, 2025
Devil's Thirst is book 1 in the Moretti Men series. I'm going to keep this review short and to the point because I really like this author and I'm looking forward to book 2. This book however was disappointing to me. I found it boring, and I didn't feel any connection between Sante and Amelie. The story was so slow, and I wasn't a fan of Amelie or her inner dialogue.
Profile Image for Lark _thebookchamber.
557 reviews67 followers
July 10, 2025
Obsessed stalker? Sign me up! I really enjoyed Amelie and Sante’s story! I loved Sante’s mysterious, dangerous feel and loved how protective he was. Amelie and Sante’s chemistry was amazing and I enjoyed seeing their relationship come together. There’s twists, turns, secrets.. which all had me hooked to the storyline and on the edge of my seat the entire time while reading! Overall, I really enjoyed this one and will absolutely have to read more from this author!
Profile Image for Tatiana.
176 reviews13 followers
December 27, 2024
Oh boy! If you’ve read Silent Vow, we are finally taken full circle with now getting Naomi’s brothers story!

I love when author’s finally give you the other side of the story when dealing with families and in mafia romances this is even more true!

Sante is unapologetically the villain. He is obsessed, unafraid, demanding but a safe harbor. He has absolutely no qualms with his method of getting the lady.

“I’m the villain, and I want you to love me anyway.”

Amelie is traumatized by events in the past, she is talented, caring and worries more about the ones she loves than about her own happiness.

“I wasn’t winning against the demons. I was drowning.”

Won’t lie, I definitely spent that last 30% with tears just because her traumas is felt deeply and is painful. I loved their relationship because despite everything he gives her the time and the space she needs.
Profile Image for Anna (Literaria Luminaria).
203 reviews69 followers
July 21, 2025
I wanted to like this more than I did.

Devil’s Thirst by Jill Ramsower has the bones of a great dark romance—Italian/Irish mafia, alpha anti-hero, the whole “good girl meets dangerous man” thing. But it didn’t quite land for me.

Sante, the MMC, has been obsessed with Amelia for years after one brief meeting—and I do mean obsessed. He stalks her, inserts himself into her life without consent, and calls it love. And while I don’t mind a possessive hero in dark romance, the obsession here didn’t feel earned. Their original encounter was sweet, sure, but not world-altering enough to justify the level of fixation that follows.

It also didn’t help that while he’s supposedly spent years consumed by his feelings for Amelie, that didn’t stop him from sleeping his way through Italy in the meantime. It made his whole “you’re mine” vibe feel hollow. And the way the story handles Amelie’s sexual inexperience—specifically her never having had an orgasm until him—felt like a tired trope that wasn’t even executed believably.

That said, Sante does care about her. Deeply. He would probably burn the world down for her. Unfortunately, Amelie gives him almost nothing in return. On top of that, she spends most of the book flipping back and forth on what she wants, making impulsive and sometimes dangerously dumb decisions. I kept waiting for her to grow, to show some emotional depth or agency, but it never really came.

Plot-wise, it had potential, and I was definitely more interested in the wider world and side characters than the central romance. But I also felt like I’d walked into the middle of a story. Even though this is technically a standalone, there’s clearly an overlap with Ramsower’s other series, and it shows. A lot goes unexplained or is glossed over quickly (or the opposite in that certain points are repeatedly made over and over again), and I found myself wishing I’d read her earlier books just to get a better grasp on the dynamics.

Still, the book is readable. It’s a quick read, and the setup for the next installment was just intriguing enough that I’ll likely keep going. But as a standalone, this was surprisingly lukewarm for a story that markets itself as dark and all-consuming.

TL;DR: Potentially hot in theory. Red flags in practice. Readable, but underwhelming.

Thanks to IngramSpark for the free copy for review.
Profile Image for Aly.
615 reviews21 followers
December 31, 2024
3.5 stars

First off let’s talk about these covers, I truly couldn’t choose between the two so I added them both. Then the tropes got me, flip to dedication CHEFS KISS.

Amelie has a very tragic past and is trying to make herself a new way. Little does she know her life is going to twist real fast when she has a stalker.

Sante is everything you could ask for in a dark MMC morally black (greyish maybe really dark grey) male!

I went into this totally blind it is a new to me author, it did make me want to go back and meet the interconnected characters. To avoid any spoilers I tried not to get to detailed into my review because I feel like it would take away from the suspense!

‼️ Because of the FMCS tragic past there are some triggers I would advise checking before diving into this one! ‼️

Thank you @valentine_pr_ & @jillramsowerauthor for the EARC.
Profile Image for Patricia (Spellbound Stories Trish) .
2,828 reviews116 followers
December 27, 2024
You are not ready for all the twists and turns that Jill has in store for you! These two will blow you away and have you dying for more!

Amelie and Sante two people who met by chance and weren’t meant for forever, and yet that chance encounter changed the destiny for Sante who made sure he would come back for Amelie.

Sante is a man changed. A man who left a boy. A man whose mission is to get the girl because nothing matters unless she is by his side. Amelie is healing and searching for her place in her new world but also trying to hide from the demons who still want her. Sante will stop at nothing to protect her and show her the love she deserves.

I fell so hard for these two characters and I love how on edge Jill had me the entire time. Such an amazing story with beautiful surprises!
14 reviews
December 31, 2024
Spoilers-ish
Was okay at the beginning. I did not know it was a spin off of another series, they kept referring to events that had happened in previous books. I did not finish it, it was too slow, but also too fast in a way. He stalks her from the start and is extremely controlling of her which is borderline emotional abuse. Its like a Stockholm syndrome and not in the beauty and the beast way either. She went from wanting nothing to do with him to wanting to jump his pants. It kind of reads like a Wattpad story to me. Maybe if I would have read the other series first but this was just not it for me. TikTok made it seem a lot better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lex Carter.
6 reviews
December 15, 2024
I absolutely DEVOURED this book. Sante’s story has been my favorite so far , his character development was sweet to read. I love the way he loves Mel so fiercely. And Mel is such a brave, strong FMC . Her overcoming her trauma and fears was so empowering. Their bond, the spice , the banter between Tommy and Sante, 10/10 , perfect . Amazing read .
Profile Image for Jewels(CC).
170 reviews1 follower
March 6, 2025
3 🌟 It was entertaining. The mfc wasn't very likable, but there were moments in the book I loved. There are some ick moments for sure as well.
Profile Image for Isabella Grace.
493 reviews32 followers
July 18, 2025
I was so so so excited about this book when I read the tropes. But it just didn’t come together the way I hoped and that made me sad because I truly love Jill Ramsowers writing and books.

In this book we have Sante, our MMC and Amelie, our FMC. They meet at her sisters wedding and sparks fly. But they are both very young…working through serious issues and trauma. And before anything can come of them, Sante is sent to Sicily for 4 years.

When he comes back, Amelie is deep into her ballet career and Sante is OTT obsessed with her. To the point that he moves in next door to her she starts to stalk her. She doesn’t even realise it’s him because he’s changed so much in the 4 years he’s been gone.

I’ve seen people having issues with the fact that he wasn’t celibate the 4 years he was gone…it wasn’t a big deal. They never had relationship before he left so really even though he had feelings for he the whole time, he was under no obligation to be faithful. It just is what it is. What did bother be was his aggression when it came to $£x.

Sante had so many moments of sincerity and caring that truly made my heart melt. But at the same time he was so aggressive when it came to getting her in bed. It felt like that was all he cared about. It just gave me the ick. Because it wasn’t a thing where they were both feeling it. It was 1000000% one sided. She had feelings for him but was still trying to get to know him and he just wanted to get to know her insides 😩😩😩

The first half of the book was OK…but the second half felt like a literal time warp. We zoomed so fast through things that I had no idea what was happening. I thought I was missing pages.

This one wasn’t a hit for me. But it might be for you so if this is up your alley definitely give it a shot ❤️

Thank you so much to Jill Ramsower and Valentine PR for the opportunity to ARC read this book ❤️
Profile Image for Amber (Amber Reads Romance).
1,269 reviews193 followers
January 26, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️.5

Devil's Thirst is the first book in The Moretti Men series, but I honestly feel like you need to read the previous series to fully connect with this book. I felt like I was missing a lot from the character's backstories because they were covered in the Byrne Brothers. I still enjoyed this romance, but I would have probably loved it if I read the other series.

Sante has been obsessed with Amelie since he met her at a wedding four years ago. He has returned home after being sent away to finally make Amelie his woman. He may go about it in some crazy ways by stalking, hiding his identity, and moving into her neighbors' place. However, he did it in a sweet and protective way. Amelie has a complicated past and is hiding a big secret about the man who tried to buy her virginity. Her life could be in danger, but Sante is determined to keep her safe. I really liked that she didn't freak out and end things with him when she discovers who he really was and what he did to get her.

I loved Sante's character and how protective/obsessive he was of Amelie. He was so patient with her and took things slowly in the bedroom due to her previous traumas.

🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧
Peter Alden and Brooke Daniels narrated the audiobook, and I thought they both did a great job bringing the banter, suspense, and spice to their performances.

Thank you to Valentine PR for providing the ALC.
Profile Image for destiny.
529 reviews160 followers
February 12, 2025
i feel manipulated and mind fucked

kind of lost interest mid way but i’m glad i pushed through though !! i heard about this on tiktok and i love a good mafia stalker romance. this was definitely more focused on the main characters and the plot was sort of lost at some point.

dark romance, mafia stalker mmc, ballerina fmc, praise, “pet”, light bondage, sexual assault, “my wife”, and dual pov 🖤

although sante’s past wasn’t fully revealed, amelie goes through some rough shit. her parents sold her virginity to a well known man. ever since then amelie ran away. tbh there wasn’t much mafia until towards the end. so idk if i would really call this a mafia romance. it does have mafia ties though.

i definitely want to try to continue this series because i think it has such great potential. i just feel like this was a lowkey miss :/

🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for Misty • booksplusplants.
635 reviews33 followers
July 28, 2025
3.5 Amelie has such a traumatic and tragic past, but I liked how she kept trying to live her life and find happiness through ballet. Her bond with her sister and niece was one of my favorite parts.

Sante is back in America after years in Sicily, and wants Amelie to be his.
This man is obsessive, possessive, and SO protective, and will stop at nothing to get her… including a little stalking.
The red flags were waving, and he was so morally grey, fully determined to make things right and get vengeance for Amelie.

This was my first book from this author but I’m definitely intrigued by some of the other characters and their stories!

Definitely check the trigger warnings, as some heavy topics are a big part of the story.

arc review

🩰Ballerina
🖤Obsessed stalker
🩰Morally grey MMC
🖤Tragic past
🩰Obsessed & possessive
🖤Touch her and 💀
🩰Slow burn
Profile Image for Alyssa Hartell.
19 reviews
January 9, 2025
Jill has done it again. Every book she releases just gets better and better. THE. CHEMISTRY. IS. OFF. THE. CHARTS. Every book I read of Jill’s I say “now this is more favorite couple”.
Profile Image for Shannai.
595 reviews31 followers
December 26, 2024
3.5 ⭐️

Thank you to Jill and Valentine PR for kindly providing me with an ARC of this book. I thought it was really written and featured some of my all-time favourite tropes!

One of the standout elements for me was the stalker aspect of the story, which I thought was handled exceptionally well. It added an engaging layer of tension and intrigue that kept me thoroughly invested throughout. That said, the romantic progression between Sante and Amelie felt a bit fast-paced at times, almost like it leapt from zero to one hundred.

I particularly appreciated how dedicated and unwavering Sante was in his feelings for Amelie. His commitment brought a sense of stability to their relationship amidst the otherwise intense and suspenseful narrative.

Overall, this was a captivating read, and I’m looking forward to seeing more from this talented author and checking out the other books in the series/mafia universe.

Tropes

Stalker romance
Dark mafia romance
Secret identity
Touch her and die
Profile Image for Emily.
5,867 reviews546 followers
January 29, 2025
Sante Moretti is obsessed with Amelie. He first met her four years ago and then was sent away but she was always in his thoughts. He decided to come back once and for all to see if it was just a moment in passing or something more. He realizes quickly she will be his everything. He stalks her and makes plans, but Amelie has secrets and Sante does not realize the triggers he is causing to the beautiful ballerina.

Overall a captivating tangled web of lies and secrets. I liked Amelie but I struggled with her quick acceptance of Sante. It clashed with some of the fears she had. Terrific chemistry and Sante is pure sin, he radiates power through each page he is on. Anxious to see what is next in the series.

Profile Image for K.
470 reviews14 followers
February 21, 2025
This story is marked as stand alone but it's a spin off of the Byrne brothers books. I haven't finished that series so I was confused on Amelie's backstory. So I would probably pick up the Byrne brother series before starting this book.

Other than that I did enjoy the writing style. I liked Sante & Amelie together. Sante has been obsessed with Amelie for years. The big bad was kind of solved in a way that was kind of a let down.



**arc review**
Profile Image for Louisa James.
13 reviews3 followers
January 4, 2025
Only three stars for me for this book I'm afraid, as I felt it lacked character depth. F/L Amalie is being stalked by someone who watches her perform after hours at her Dance hall where's she's preparing for her big debut in stage play Moulin Rouge Yet she carry's on dancing for this man in black who has now started following her home and she at one point found him in her room watching her sleep yet she still didn't call the police. Seeing she was a victim of abuse I found this a little farfetched. Him the male lead Sante is no better at aged 22, after meeting her once is convinced she is the woman meant for him, he has the gall to be angry with her when she doesn't take her security serious enough to the point he actually becomes moody about it. It was an ok read but took me 3 days to finish because I kept finding reasons to put it down that's when I know I won't remember this book.
Profile Image for Mandy (Bestie Book Reviews).
436 reviews151 followers
June 7, 2025
Alpha anti-hero and obsessed stalker? Umm, yes please!!! Amelie and Sante met about four years ago and when Sante returns he becomes obsessed with Amelie. He stalks her, watches her dance, and moves in next door to her. Amelie has no idea who he is as he carefully inserts himself in her life and calls her his wife. Amelie though, she has some secrets and is terrified. If you enjoy your romance a little on the darker side and your hero a little unhinged, you should definitely try this one!

Brooke Daniels & Peter Alden do a fantastic job bringing their characters to life. I highly recommend the audiobook!
Profile Image for Rachel Santillan.
401 reviews12 followers
January 8, 2025
Um. This was nuts. I know it’s dark romance and I read the prologue but I was still thinking to myself - what in the actual fuck? Even with that, somehow as disturbed as I was, Sante and Amelie work, they’re perfectly f’d up for each other, it works 🤷‍♀️

With that, I didn’t like this book as much as any in the Byrne series, that led me up to this book, but I do want to know Tommy’s story, so this book is enough to keep me going with the series as it releases.
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