Empire of Temptation

New York State of Mafia #1

by Mila Finelli

The first book in a brand-new series from the author of Mafia Mistress and the Kings of Italy series.

In the quiet of a small New York town, secrets run deeper than blood.

Valentina

I never thought I’d fall for a man like Luca. Powerful. Dangerous.

But there’s something about him I can’t resist. The closer I get to him, the more questions I have.

I want to trust him, but deep down, I can’t shake the feeling that he’s hiding something—and I’m not sure I’ll survive it.

Luca

I’ve spent my life building a vast empire, my hands coated with blood and sweat. And I’ll do anything to keep my family safe.

Including abducting a young woman and forcing her back to Italy, a debt repaid.

But the closer I get to Valentina, the more I lose control. She’s strong and independent, yet innocent in ways that set my blood on fire. She doesn’t know my story, and I’m not sure I can keep it that way for much longer... or if I even want to.

I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her—even if it means risking everything.

Genres: Mafia Romance, Romance, Dark Romance, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Fiction

370 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 3, 2025

About the author

Mila finally decided to write the filthy mafia kings she's been dreaming about for years.

She's addicted to coffee, travel and books with bad men in them.

Newsletter: bit.ly/mila_newsletter
IG: instagram.com/mila_finelli_author
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BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mila-...

Reviews

[Fahmida · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5⭐
ARC provided by Valentine PR!
This is the first time I disliked an ARC to this extent. Before I became an ARC reader, I used to see reviewers posting filtered, sugarcoated and false reviews and now that I am an ARC reviewer, I don't want to cause any displeasure and sugarcoat my HONEST feelings and become THAT person. Please refrain from reading this review if you like the following tropes and want to read this book.

❣️Insta-lust
❣️ Mafia
❣️ Age gap (38,21)
❣️ Virgin x manwhore
❣️ Small town
❣️ weak fmc

Let's get into my issues.......
1. I understand this is an italian mafia book and it's not my first but there was just so much italian thrown in here with no translation which disrupted my enjoyment. Am I supposed to pause every sentence and google translate those phrases? Because that is just annoying. I've read some books where the translation is written in the bottom of the page. And in the others, well the italian/russian isn't used this often.

2. Another ridiculous thing is Val not knowing how to cook when she runs a freaking restaurant. Yes, men who know how to cook are attractive af but that doesn't necessarily mean the fmc has to have zero cooking skills. Any adult having zero basic cooking skills is embarrassing.

3. The mmc, Luca has two sons, 16 and 18 year olds, with his former mistresses which did not sit right with me.

4. His son asking him about 'how the girls are in the US' is unsettling.

5. The amount of times the mmc said 'Mamma mia' and 'Capische' was diabolical.

This is a conversation which triggered my inner feminist and SHOCKED ME because of the audacity of this man! How did the author write this without being triggered?

"And you’ve already agreed to be mine. You cannot take it back.”
“Of course I can. I can change my mind anytime I like. I’m not going to be your mistress.”
“I have a mistress back in Catanzaro. I don’t need another.”
“Luca! What the fuck!”
“Did you think I was celibate?”
“No, but I’m not . . . getting involved with you when you’re already involved with someone else.”
“I am not involved with her. I fuck her when it’s convenient for me.”
“Which means, what? You don’t share?”
“Exactly. I don’t share, bella. Ever.”
“But I’m expected to share?”
“Why would you care?”
“Because it’s gross. And wrong. And misogynistic.”
“I don’t understand. She is back in Catanzaro. What does this have to do with what is happening here?”
“It just does. Are you planning to break it off with her?”
“No.”

Last but not least, I mean ABSOLUTELY NO DISRESPECT TO THE AUTHOR. I'm here to share my genuine thoughts and I am so VERY SURE that there are other readers out there who are going to not like these things just as I did. I was very excited for this book but I'm disappointed. The mmc didn't exude a powerful energy and the fmc was sp dumb and weak😭😭.

Yes, I do read fpr the vibes and I don't consider myself a harsh rater but this book was just so NOT IT. Nothing was right.

IF GOODREADS DELETES THIS REVIEW, WELL.......

~PRE READ~
Screaming, kicking, crying and throwing up over the fact that I got the ARC! Just praying that I'll enjoy it or else imma be real mad:)

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved being back in the Mafia world of Mila Finelli! Her men are cunning, possessive and sexy, with a dash of caretaking sprinkled in. Valentina and Luca spark off of each other right from the start and they kept me engaged all the way through.

I felt for Valentina SO much. My heart broke for her and her situation. Wanting to keep her family restaurant afloat and everything is going tits up when a sexy Italian man comes sweeping in. Luca is swave and intense. He's much older than her but he seems to want to care for her. Only... he's version of care seems to be taking over her life. Maybe he's too good to be true..

Luca is watching Valentina for a very specific reason, he's after her father. Who she claims she hasn't seen in ages but he's willing to wait... for now. She seems so innocent and he finds her beautiful and sassy. But he needs to use her to fix a pickle that he's found himself in, he should not be thinking about her every moment and wanting to make her life easier.

This was gripping, sexy, and just a tad bit angsty. We get to see some old favorites too! I really had a great time. I think this will be another great series.

4.5 Stars
3.5 on the spice scale

CW: grief, violence, kidnapping, loss of a parent due to illness

*Thank you to Valentine PR for an ARC of this title.*

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning is great with a lot of turns but becomes too boring until the end.
Unfortunately.

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t bad. The writing was good and it had many enjoyable moments, including flaming hot sex on a cold marble slab in a cemetery. Unfortunately sex in the cemetery was one of the only original things about it.

Luca is a 38-year-old Italian mafia don who was raised from birth to inherit the family business from his exacting, demanding father. It goes without saying he is gorgeous, sexy, dresses impeccably, and is wealthy and sophisticated. Aren’t all fictional Italian mafia dons? He controls his eighteen- and sixteen-year-old sons, his brothers, the business, his sex life, and himself with an iron fist. He has been sent to New York to retrieve Valentina Montella to be used as bait to lure her estranged mafioso father out of hiding.

Val is the 21-year-old owner of the failing family Italian restaurant left to her by her mother. She’s gorgeous, sexy, has fabulous ta ta’s, has never had a boyfriend, and is a virgin. Her restaurant staff is out of control, her money is disappearing fast, she’s still grieving her mother, and she only occasionally indulges in a night of drunken book club shenanigans to help the restaurant’s bottom line. She keeps saying she’s doing fine. She’s delusional.

Two stereotypes collide and hot sex happens, followed by the obligatory “Let me spoil you” shopping trip to Hermes to drop a fortune on handbags. Then Luca’s true purpose for being in New York is exposed and “You lied to me!” (No, he didn’t.) “You used me!” (And you used him.) “You’re here to kidnap me!” (Lady, he had a million chances to kidnap you and refused to do it.) “I never want to see you again! (Wrist to forehead in hurt despair.) You could smell it coming a mile away.

I took one star off for how utterly predictable this was, and another star because the connection between Investor Daddy Luca and Barely Legal Val consisted of sex and a few lighthearted quips. There were pretty declarations of love towards the end, but I wasn’t feeling anything but sexual heat coming off them and it wasn’t enough for me to care.

They did have one thing besides orgasms in common, though. They were both completely incompetent at their jobs. Val was hopeless at running the restaurant and it was on the verge of collapse when Luca rescued it amidst Val’s protestations and, during the course of this novel, Luca (1) misplaced his cousin, (2) had the Italian Financial Police on his back because he slept with the head’s wife, (3) endangered his familia by refusing to kidnap Val, (4) didn’t see the potential for business expansion in New York while his 16-year-old son did. Then he (5) let Val’s father slip past his security net, then (6) let Val’s father set his garage on fire, which led to (7) Val’s father being able to abduct her. Luca locates where Val’s father has taken her but (8) bungles the rescue by not securing Val’s father’s gun. Hmmm. Is mutual incompetence a basis for love?

[Syndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a fan of Miss Finelli books. Her story telling is perfect. Especially the mafia part. The plot is also not always focusing on the romance but the darker side of darker plot.

Empire of Temptation is great. I spend my weekend finishing this book.

4 stars

[Céloise · Rating 3 out of 5]

☆3 Enough with the “Mamma Mias,” stronzo. 🤌

This was fairly average as far as age gap mafia romances go—although the romance part wasn’t actually very romantic imo. More just lots and lots and LOTS of sex. In the beginning it was hot, but after some time I wanted more soul connection, more believability that these MCs actually fell in love. Not just lust on steroids. For all of their talk of mistresses, that’s more what the dynamic felt like. I liked Valentina’s fiery determination, but the way she just lost all of her spirited resistance due to BBS didn’t do it for me or really make sense. Luca was overly domineering with her mom’s business and decision making. My favorite character was Sam, so I might check out her book if she gets one. Their spicy small town book club was pretty funny too.

[Jody Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Oh, wow. Hello, sir. A very handsome older man..." - Possibly the Mila Finelli Core Story, right here

Luca (mafia don) has to leave Italy for Mafia Reasons and hunt down a missing mafia (fall)guy. The only connection to this missing guy? His daughter Val, best start there. Val is girl-bossing ownership of the family restaurant after her mother's death (she has no relationship to her missing father). Well, sort of girl-bossing, actually the restaurant is failing, her employees are shady and unreliable, the food isn't great. For some reason Val accepts a lot of help from a (hot) total stranger, restaurant improves, attractions are acted on, people fall in love.

LISTEN. I have tried reading other Mafia, and I understand now that I just have a Finelli Exception where I like her books and completely glide over the violence and crime in service of the excellent writing. I actually appreciate how in this book Luca's Mafia Branch actually does crime "I was a murderer, a drug trafficker. The head of a criminal empire that stretched across Italia and Europe." There's talk of drugs and weapons, let the criminals be criminals I say. Less crazy about the young, er, start the mafia men have, including fatherhood, and the extreme patriarchy, but who am I to criticize someone else's fictional culture here?

This book feels looser and funnier to me than Finelli's other books. There's a side character who wanders through every scene snacking like he's Brad Pitt in Ocean's 11, there's a ton of cameos from our faves from the Kings of Italy series, and it's laugh out loud funny in places, such as when a chef and manager hired by Luca appear at the restaurant: "'We are happy to help. No one has forced us to come here.' What an odd thing to say." Dare I say it, but this book also feels feminist. Even though Val is QUITE a bit younger and less powerful than Luca in every way, she pushes back on him when he belittles the restaurant, doesn't let him tamp down her big (justified) anger, and claims her space in the relationship, refusing to settle. "Diminishing the role of women isn't protecting them. It's smothering them. We want to participate, be equals, not be shoved aside." I mean, don't get me wrong, Luca makes the rules (in bed) and Finelli sees all the Daddy out there these days and raises us a "little girl" but the vibe is there and I liked it a lot.

While the authorial voices of Finelli with mafia, and Shupe writing historicals are quite distinct, what doesn't change is the confidence and surety of the prose. Some of the sentences here were so pretty or evocative (inevitable breakup sitting like a "stone in my throat"). Finelli is masterful at showing emotional evolution and character arcs through tiny choices. Luca thinks about Val at the midpoint of their relationship still as one of many, how he "likes a girl who..." and an certain act with "a woman" which switches to "this woman" which ends up as "Being with her was a tiny respite [...] that made me feel whole." No one needs to exposit that the MMC has never felt that way before, the reader gets that she's one of one through character evolution.

It will be interesting to see how Finelli moves the mafia action to the US, taking away the scenery (and food) of Italy that is such a big part of her first series. Although, these people fly private more than Taylor Swift, so I guess they can go back for pasta anytime, or just eat at Trattoria Rustica, now that it actually serves good food.

June 2025 reread: I liked it even more the second time around. What is Finelli putting in these books that make them so delicious??

[babygyalreadit · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

This was just what the doctor ordered. Mila Finelli can do no wrong when it comes to mafia and I had a ball reading her words again. I have a feeling this series is gonna hit different and I’m so excited

[♥ℳelody · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 stars

I didn't really care for the hero nor the heroine. The thing I usually enjoy about Mila Finelli's mafia books is her characters feel layered, the Italian machismo and culture is well done, the steam and filthy talk is hot HOT and emotional intelligence is great and the Mob action is cunning and suspenseful. But this? An underwhelming hot mess. It's just a chalk full of tropes thrown at your head and just sex and more sex. These two barely had any chemistry cause most of their conversations center around guess what? Sex. I didn't really care for the hero Luca who for some reason Finelli thought would be great to give him 2 teenage sons from 2 different mistresses. He is 38 which means he fathered a child at age 20 and 22 from 2 different women. 😳

My eye was twitching and my lip fought really hard not to curl up. I know mistresses is a very common thing in the Mob world and not a big deal but you're telling me the hero who is the eldest son who was raised and groomed to become the next Don by his controlling demanding father had no marriage plans in sight, he was just busy instead spreading his seed everywhere in his early 20s?......M'kay. Sure, Jan. Also, ew. And the overt sexualizing of the hero's younger son was really pushing it and made my skin crawl. Gabrielle is only 16 years old but already a ladies man who "collects pussy" where every woman is eager to fuck him cause he's so great in bed and beautiful. Ick. This boy did not sound or act like a 16 year old. It was weird.

I'm also starting to realize that I don't like how this author writes her heroines. The virtue signaling and misogyny preaching is insanely heavy handed and OTT performative. *ducks for flying objects* Valentina isn't insufferably OTT about her preaching as the heroine Emma was in Mafia Virgin but this is an overall issue I'm seeing in MF's work and I'm so tired of it. It's a Mafia romance, shit is gonna be sexist and toxic. Mafia men are always domineering. We already know that. Why do I need to be given lessons on it? I'm here for the romance and good times and escapism, not patronizing Ted Talks on patriarchy. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It's obnoxious to me and not realistic and keeps taking me out of scenes. Some get off on that and love it, I don't. A guy can learn, grow and be corrected without it being yelled at to the reader on every page. There's action and then there's just endless soup of words and posturing. Do feminist authors not realize the difference? The minute your heroine is defensive about every fucking thing I can't take her seriously. You know, how romance stories used to be written. Now everything needs to have an excessive tilt to it and feminist isms sprinkled everywhere and I need this annoying trend to fucking stop. It's disingenuous. I see this also in her HR books too (under her other pen name Joanna Shupe) and it's even more annoying and ridiculous because of the Historical setting. I think it speaks volumes that my favorite book from Finelli's The Kings of Italy series was a m/m romance Mafia Target. lol That should say enough. I love how she writes her heroes but the heroines? Blerg. Not for me. Same issues I had with Mafia Virgin persisted here. The lack of emotional build up for one and the heroine being aggressively bullheaded to the point it's obnoxious instead of enjoyable. The heroine Valentina also reminded me a lot of Gianna from Mafia Madman which didn't really make sense given how completely different they are supposed to be in temperament, experience and lifestyle and yet......it was the same exact thing. The stubborn pride, brash mouth and hard stance on "not letting men control me". Girl, what men? lol

It's almost like Finelli is trying to make up for her heroines who are virgins by having them preach about misogyny and patriarchy so they get the stamp of approval from readers. Which just makes it even more insufferable. It made no sense here because Valentina was raised by her single mother and lived a very sheltered life in her small town so her guarded heart and take no shit personality didn't feel consistent to what we are told about her. With Gianna it made sense and I got her, here it didn't at all. I don't do well with repetition at all. The more you tell me something, the more I buck. You want your heroine to be oh so smart, oh so independent, so ballsy and fearless and wave that "Men can't control me!" flag high that she needs to remind readers about it. at. every. opportunity. even though Valentina hasn't stepped foot outside of her city much less has had any experience with men. It made no sense. Oh and her "shyness" comes out when she's flirting with the hero. She lost her mother to cancer so she had to grow up fast but I didn't really buy that reasoning for her maturity. This girl is only 21 but talks and acts like a woman twice her age and it kept throwing me off and taking me out of moments. I'm not asking for a wilting lily but this wasn't it either. Her personality didn't fit the situation. She's inexperienced but has legs for days and big tits and model stunning but guess what y'all? She's a virgin. She's so "sweet and innocent" in contrast to the swarthy hunky older Italian mob boss with big hands and chest hair but she has zero problem mouthing off to him and putting him in his place and apparently can help him get out of a notorious Italian prison too by simply walking in and talking to the detective, something none of his brother's or his men were able to do. 😐 Y'all she's so smart and fearless and capable and all his mafioso men are dummies throwing "mantrums". Silly stupid men. Why can't we all be like Valentina? lol I was getting whiplash how ridiculously inconsistent this character was. The special snowflake energy was at 200%. I swear if she farted rainbows the hero would be amazed by that too. She's an Italian American who doesn't speak a word of Italian who runs her family's old trattoria restaurant yet can't cook for shit and nobody in her family realized their decades-old generational Italian restaurant's name was misspelled until the hero pointed it out? Really?? Oh those stupid Americanos!



I normally love her macho heroes who are domineering but Luca didn't really do anything for me. He's instantly smitten and obsessed and controlling with the hot younger heroine and he wants to fuck her and own her and buys her fancy things. He just came off like a bad imitation of a Harlequin alpha hero (and I love Harlequin). And she loses her head and her steel of spine every time this man breathes on her. I normally love heated bickering but this wasn't really that either. There's zero emotional thread beneath all the smut. The steam wasn't even all that steamy for me to make up for the lack of chemistry. That random sex scene in the cemetery was even bizarre. Like 'I'm so hot for you, lemme pull the car over and fuck you on top of a tombstone' O_o 😂 I don't know this fell flat in every area for me.

As much as I love Vito and the D'Agostino brothers crossing over in this series.... I'm not eager to pick up the next book sadly. I didn't care for Maggie at all, she's another Valentina and walking stereotype and the next book is a one night stand trope so that's a hard pass. I also wish Luca's brother's were more compelling, they came off like walking blobs in this book. Which is unusual for this author, this whole thing fell so flat and forced for me. Even the mafia plot and its resolution in the end was super contrived. Stuff was barely fleshed out which isn't like her. I liked Val's other friend Sam but nothing about this book has me eager to continue this series right now. I might circle back for Sam though.

[GigiReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen I rate on vibes and the vibes in Mila Finelli books? Immaculate.
I am complete and absolute trash for a rescue trope. Big gorgeous hero sweeps in and solves all the heroine's problems while giving her orgasms like it's his full time job? Yes, please. This book is that times a hundred 🔥

Sexy Mob Daddy Luca travels to small town NY to find a woman he's going to use for his own nefarious mobstery purposes. But once he claps eyes on her, he's basically a goner and reverts to Mila Finelli Hero factory settings: unhinged protective and obsessive. He's like: I just need to bang her, it will be molto bene and this heartburn will go away. Spoiler alert, it doesn't, just makes it worse.

"I didn’t bother speaking in English, because I didn’t know enough words for what I needed to say. So I told her in my language what I was thinking and feeling inside, an outpouring of emotion I should’ve been embarrassed by. Except I wasn’t. It felt necessary to tell her, even if she couldn’t understand." 🥹

Val is a young woman dealing with grief and a failing restaurant. She's also a virgin 😏 When Mob Daddy comes in and gets all slutty in her kitchen by cooking for her, getting her the help she needs and basically solving all her problems : she's like yep he's gonna pop my 🍒 and ohh does he ever!

“I came here to yell at you, not have sex.” “We are not having sex. You are grinding your clit on my tongue until you come.” 💀

.so if you're in the mood for a small town Mafia book with weirdly cozy vibes, look no further. This is an offshoot of the Kings of Italy series so it's connected. While it's not necessary to read that series to enjoy this, I'd highly recommend it because the author has built a pretty great universe.

If you enjoyed the previous books, you'll love this one! I'm super excited to see where this series goes and can't wait for the next book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
🔥🔥🔥/5

Tropes:
Small town
Secret Identity
Morally Grey Hero
Age gap
Close proximity
Daddy/LG play (one scene)

CW: grief, mentions of cancer. It's not a super dark romance but it is Mafia so ymmv.

I received an ARC for review. All opinions are my own.

[Christi (christireadsalot) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Empire of Temptation is the first book in the New York State of Mafia series. I always have fun with this author’s books and was excited for a new series from her! This one feels a lot different than her previous mafia series, but still fun. We get small town vibes and hidden identity in this one!

Valentina is the owner of her family’s restaurant and it’s a mess. Her staff, the service, the food, even the name of the restaurant is all wrong…as Luca points out when he rolls into town as a customer. He’s a mafia boss who sweeps into town and is ready to fix all of Valentina’s problems and essentially bankroll her restaurant overhaul. He has his own reasons for being there but he’s quickly swept up with her as well!

If you enjoy the protective, morally grey vibes this author brings with her mafia romances, then you’ll definitely enjoy this new one too! This was a fresh, fun feel being set in the small town and around her restaurant. We also get some Enzo and Giana appearances (from this author’s previous The Kings of Italy mafia series). Audiobook is narrated by Aiden Snow and Emma Wilder and such a fun one!

I received an audio ALC, all thoughts in this review are my own.

[ToriLovesHea’s · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mafia isn’t really my jam and Finelli’s Kings of Italy series didn’t quite work for me, but Finelli is a pen name for my beloved Joanna Shupe. So I gave it a shot and I’m glad I did!

This was essentially like candy. I devoured it super fast and had a phenomenal no thinky time. Is anything in here revolutionary for the sub-genre? No, but the beats worked for me and I find Finelli’s writing smooth and engaging. Luca and Val worked for me in a way that heavy age gaps like this (21 and 38) don’t usually in a contemporary. Maybe because Val bears a heavy load of responsibility with owning a restaurant and trying to keep it afloat? Maybe because Luca, for all his Very Manly Man Mafioso-ness is a bit more gentle than other mafia dudes I’ve read? I mean, he’s still being a heavy handed Man but I think their dynamic worked so well because Val desperately needed someone to intervene on her behalf and he kind of had to be high handed or she wouldn’t accept it. Whatever the reason, I liked their dynamic and I REALLY loved that Luca had to be the one to break and come to her in the end and compromise when he said he wouldn’t.

But obviously this wasn’t a solid five stars for me and I think it’s because some of the plot-mafia shenanigans felt like they dangled a bit? I didn’t feel quite satisfied with how some of the mafia plot points felt a little too easily wrapped up + like they were a bit obvious on how to solve. But that may just be me being a picky pants!

A small note on the Italian used throughout the book: y’all please. I know some readers didn’t like how much was in here or the idea that they didn’t have an immediate translation in the text. Finelli literally has a note in the very front on why she chose to not translate or italicize every use of Italian and it’s literally because English is considered the default and she doesn’t want to “other” a language that’s not native for English speakers. There’s a link to a glossary AND every use of Italian can be pretty much guessed at context wise. This was purposefully done.

[Sentranced Jem · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are soooo many things I disliked about this book. I had high hopes for this book since I've enjoyed Mila Finelli's previous books. I buddy read Empire of Temptation with another bookstagrammer , while she DNF-ed the book, I powered through. Unfortunately, it wasn't worth it.
I don't like either of the protagonists.
I love me some possessive, OTT MMC but this dude just didn't do it for me. Here is a man who is supposed to be this badass mafia dude but I don't see it.
Don't even get me started on the FMC. You're telling me that after working in the service industry for 5 years, you didn't learn anything worthwhile? Andddd after all that "she's been through so much in life" spiel, her immaturity boggles my mind. Sure, you can be innocent without being naive to the point where it's just annoying.

The only time I agreed with the MMF was when he said " horned up? Dio, the way this generation talked." I guess I am old now.
This book is NOT a dark romance. It's just masquerading as a dark romance. Where is the mafia-ness that we love? The blood! The gore! Why is everything closed door except the 🌶️ scenes?
And the finale! Tsk tsk. So disappointing.

Would I continue to read her books? Yes.
But as someone who gave her The Kings of Italy series 4⭐ , this series is off to a disappointing start.

[maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

will definitely read the next one, but this was a little slow

LOVED seeing all my favorite characters again

[Annica ⚡️ annica_reads_books ⚡️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valentina’s friend Sam said it best: “A man like that—rich and handsome—who wants to marry me and take me to an estate in Italy? Y’all would definitely never see the likes of me ever again.”

This was a surprisingly decent mafia story, and honestly better than some of the more popular mafia romances on the market. You know, the ones that claim that they are mafia stories and then have little to no mafia plot in the actual book 😂. I did not have that problem with this one! It was a little slow in some spots, but this was a real mafia story, and the plot and world-building met my expectations. There were a few Italian phrases that were repeated a little too often for my liking, however, I’d listen to a Mila Finelli book again. This was narrated in dual narration by Aiden Snow and Emma Wilder. I enjoyed Emma’s narration, and normally I really enjoy Aiden’s narration too, but he sounded a bit too much like Dracula in this one for me.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5. Releases 1/3/25.

The Vibes:

—age gap

—small town but make it mafia

—EROTIC FOOD

—are you lost babygirl (compliment)

Heat Index: 8/10

The Basics:

Trying to root out a mafiosio in hiding, Don Luca Benetti heads to the small upstate New York town of Paesano, setting his sights on his target’s daughter. But struggling restaurant owner Valentina is more than he ever could have bargained for, and what begins as manipulation turns into something deeper than he ever could have imagined…

The Review:

Mila Finelli’s Kings of Italy is one of my favorite series, and I’m excited to kick off her New York State of Mafia series. Same hot don types, different setting, giving us small town vibes but like. You know. Mafia romance.

She doesn’t stray too far from a lot of her favorite tropes here, but she hits them as always: early twenties heroine/late thirties (with teenage sons!) hero, daddy kink, lots of alpha-ing juxtaposed with a heroine who’s down for it in the bedroom and significantly less down outside of it…

This is camp in the best way. Luca hates chicken parm and loves Valentina’s puss. She loves chicken parm and has a slight daddy thing (I mean, is it slight? And also, CLASSIC). Together, they go to NYC fashion shows and get into serious trouble.

I will say, this reads a bit less “plotty” than Finelli’s Kings of Italy books, and you definitely feel a small town vibe that makes a difference. I was charmed by Paesano, and I’m excited to see more of it. That being said, I couldn’t help but get excited when we had a fabulous cameo from Mafia Madman’s Enzo and Gia, my favorite Finelli couple… and by God, they stayed true to form.

The Sex:

Valentina is a virgin, and I liked how this was portrayed. I mean, she does have an active imagination, spurred on by her love of romance novels. This one is a bit less adventurous than Finelli’s other mafia books, but it feels appropriate considering Valentina’s somewhat sheltered nature. And I mean, there’s still face sitting, multiple instances of car sex, some rather intense……. breast stuff…., and a CEMETERY SCENE!!!

So it’s all relative.

I was amped up by the time this is over, and i just want more from Mila Finelli. Here’s to a new series!

Thanks to Valentine PR and Mila Finelli for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Tan Gon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow this is absolutely a disaster what a atrocious book. It felt I was watching a pair of middle school kids playing at being a mafia don and a prospect of a mistress and giggling while they didn’t know if they were on point or simply bore.

Luca the name is the only Mafia this character possessed he was weak a misogynist and extremely un relatable character. Valentina was like a little girl with pig tails running around poking the other kid and hoping to get it right.

This Author needs to take this gig serious and stop writing like she is reading a 7th grade book with adults playing at the bad guy only to be weak and embarrassing.

. The writing was something like this: don’t distract me I’m mad at you right now.
. Chicken Parmesan was in every page as well as repetitive cheap Italian words which weren’t translated and only made the don look like a little bitch.
. I have a mistress in Italy and no I won’t leave her or some nonsense. How about you agreed to be mine and the chic saying I can take it back.
.”Luca. I’m serious. Don’t sleep with her again, not until you and I are finished.” (Who even says this and writes every word with a period)
. Okay graczie baby now let me take you to the hotel and fuck you.. Say what? This is mild to the horrible writing and characters..
. Go find the bed Piccolona.. what was this hide and seek lol I swear it got worse..
. How about this one: are your boxers Armani? He says I don’t know I have a personal shopper.. lol I just can’t this is insane.. someone get this Author a team to help her ..

This book is honestly a negative zero for insulting the reader’s intelligence. I hope the Author takes this as constructive criticism and stops writing this garbage unless she intends to go down as the worst Author when it comes to a fake mafia story.. weak and pathetic characters..

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

in a world filled with subpar mafia romances, mila always delivers. this was so refreshing and i was hooked immediately. i had so much fun reading that i immediately started the ALC for it and it was fantastic!!! luca is sickening romantic - i love it when big mafiosos are puppies in love.

I can’t wait for more mafia romances in new york! luca was so hot and delicious daddy (his a single father too 💅🏼) my favorite part was when he was in prison and the entire scene was reminiscent of goodfellas when henry went to prison and they were cooking 5 course meals 😂

if you love the idea of a hot older mafia man who loves to cook italian food then read this 😘

[Lisa Conant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 out of 5
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶 out of 5

❤️‍🔥Mafia
💰Billionaire
🙈Hidden Identity
🖤Blackmail
🏘Small Town
🫦Age gap (21, 38)

✨️Review:
A well balanced romance/mafia story, this also features a strong couple and we get solid mafia suspense!

Luca is such a slick talker, definitely naughty but oh what a capable Don he is! This man is a lion and excudes power with every gaze into his eyes and every sleek motion of his hands. Just love the way he's described and how Valentina sees him. Because I would swoon over his forearms, the way he removes his cufflinks and tie and his broad shoulders as well!

Val may be young but she's had to take up a lot, running a restaurant on her own, and she's hard headed but also just a bit awkward and shy around him sometimes which I totally would be too! Luca's presence fills a room and he is shown to be very smart in mafia dealings too.

The mistaken identity piece is held out just long enough and their growing relationship was quite wonderfully done, allowing them to spend time together and for his heart to really let her in, whilst also having that play a factor in his mission...which is her!

The only thing that gave me pause from a 5 star is in how Val handled Luca's promiscuity and reversely, how he seemed so nonchalant about it even as he was clearly going beyond just "liking" her. She says how she won't be the "other woman" firmly, but seems to give in and drop the subject too quickly.

It rights itself not long after though. We get an excellent third act with more suspense and an earned wrap up to their romance. In the end, a very easily recommended Mafia romance! Luca just makes you melt and you are in awe of his power.

[Literary Child (Tania) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Знаєте, напевно, вперше за останній час попалася книга з майже грін флеговським головою мафії щодо дівчини. Який зважає перш за все на її потреби, на її побажання, прям замилував до останньої сторінки. Не скажу, що він ідеальний, як і головна героїня, але він намагався по максимуму віддаватися їй попри життя італійського мафіозі❤️

Тропи:
• різниця у віці
• італійський мафіозі
• прихована особистість
• морально сірий герой
• він має двох дорослих синів
• цнотлива героїня
• леді-бос ресторану
• маленьке містечко
• знайомство через маніпуляції
• вона його «fiore mio» («моя квітка»)
• він вірить в її справу та допомагає, а вона — «вода, що повертає мене до життя»

[justinejustreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mila is the queen of mafia

Every time I wait to read one of Mila's books I end up kicking myself because they're just so good. I devoured this in a day. Luca, the mafioso that you are. Really looking forward to book two now. At least I don't have to wait too long!

[Jen's Quick & Dirty Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Hot Mafia Man in NY Stars

All of the mafia mechanics were boring, but the chemistry between Luca and Val was off the charts hot.

✔️ Dual POVs (Luca x Val)
✔️ Set in upstate New York
✔️ Open-door contemporary romance (4/5🌶️)
✔️ Tropes: Mafia romance; age gap

[benevolent bastard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love starting off my year like this.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a New York girl I have no choice but to stan. Also to pray I end up with a hot Italian daddy 🫠DELIGHTFUL


Thank you mustloveaudio for the ALC

[Amber (Amber Reads Romance) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I had a great time diving back into Mila Finelli's mafia word with this new series. I liked how this one was set in a small town because it was very different from her Kings of Italy series.

Luca comes to Valentina's small town to try and find her father. He is keeping an eye on Val and trying to draw her father out of hiding. He steps in and helps remodel her restaurant and brings on better staff. He starts to fall for her and basically decides she is now his woman. He is hiding his reasons for being there which will lead to some issues.

Honestly, I wish I had a billionaire, sexy, Italian, mafia man to come rescue me and bail me out of my financial issues. This man was a swoony dream and I loved him.

It was great to see Enzo and Giana again.

[Lizz_reads._ · Rating 5 out of 5]

MILA DID IT AGAIN!! STOLE MY HEART WITH ANOTHER OF HER MAFIA MEN!!😩😩 This book was literally perfect I just couldn’t put it down form my hands. The storyline , the plot and the chemistry were freaking amazing. Also it felt so good to read another one of Mila’s books after a long time. She’s amazing!! I am definitely totally in love with Luca and Valentina they’re just too good to read about. Their story was so good also the cameo’s in this book had me screaming cause tell me why I was all giddy over them. I literally screamed when there a certain someone mentioned (hehehe) honestly this book absolutely incredible and I enjoyed reading it so much. Can’t wait for more.

Trust me guys Mila Finelli never disappoints cause she is MOTHER OF MAFIA ‼️

❤️‍🔥TROPES❤️‍🔥

Small town mafia romance
Age gap
Serious spice
Hidden identity
Enzo and Gia cameo

[Judy Portelles · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Flo₂₂]

DNF 11%
EWWWW
- he has 2 teenagers sons with 2 different mistresses
-he has a current mistress in Italy and doesn't plan to break up with her once getting involved with Val, he even pays for her apartment etc
-the italian in it is horrible!!! full of mistakes and misspells!!!!!

[Jessica White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mila fans get ready because you’re about to dive into the deep end with Luca Benetti and Valentina Montella. I’ve missed the arrogant dark Italian alpha MCs Finelli is known for and the strong-willed gorgeous women they’re crazy over, and boy did Finelli deliver with Empire of Temptation.

This book is the best of two worlds; a close-knit Hudson Valley town, and the dangerous extravagant mob boss lifestyle. If you’ve ever been curious as to how these two would meet, just imagine the small town vibe of Ozark coupled with hot Italian men and a little Italian trattoria in the countryside of New York and you’ll get the idea. With her signature wit and style, Finelli makes chauvinistic men seem attractive, makes a possible kidnapping seem plausible, and will have you salivating for more Italian dons by the end of the book, as well as believing even they deserve an HEA. Cooking with rolled shirtsleeves is now my newest competency kink, thanks to Luca’s kitchen skills. Did I mention that by 29% the MMC is already dining from his desk on some, ahem, American cuisine? Finelli can write some killer sex scenes and she doles out O’s left and right with the creative genius of an artist. Expect hands, mouths, breasts, cars, desks, pinching, even cemeteries as things and places that aid in Luca and Valentina’s freakiness.

As well, fans of the Kings of Italy series can expect cameos and mentions of at least five characters from that series. It just goes to show how good the world building is that these two series will be able to crossover effortlessly. I am so excited for the New York State of Mafia series and also to see if Val’s Mafia Island reality show ever takes off (IYKYK) because I’d definitely watch. Thank you to Valentine PR and Mila Finelli for my early copy. All opinions are my own.

What to expect:
-cooking as a form of foreplay
-anything she does gets his pants tight
-Italian nicknames
-Face sitting
-“But who takes care of you?”
-age gap 38 and 21 both in family businesses
-virgin FMC vs experienced MMC
-small town meets big city personalities
-anything for family

CW (mafia not included): death of a parent from cancer

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Steam: 🪭🪭🪭.5
Re-read? 💯 and can’t wait for audio

[Katie Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

Empire of Temptation is a brand new mafia series and all I can say is this book was a great way to kick it off👏🏼

This book follows Luca and Valentina. Luca who is the Don of the Benetti family has received information that his cousin has been arrested and now he also due to be arrested. Now, Luca is given a lifeline in which he can avoid time behind bars and that is he must deliver Flavio Segreto back to Italy. But Flavio has been off the grid for quite some time now, and this is where Valentina gets tangled up in our tale as she is Flavio’s daughter.

Luca flies to New York with the plans of using Valentina to draw out her father but these plans get derailed quite quickly as Luca is mesmerised by Valentina from the first meeting, and the feeling is most certain mutual from Valentina’s end. The pair meet at Valentina’s restaurant where she is on the verge of a crisis which has arisen from problems between her staff. Valentina is left in quite a pickle but Luca steps in to provide his assistance.

I loved Valentina, she stood her ground especially when it came to Luca and he most certainly loved that as well. Luca is your typical mafia boss. He is possessive of Valentina and would burn the world and not leave a flame touch her👏🏼

This book had a very good plot line that kept me turning those pages. We had plenty of delicious moments between our MC’s and in addition to that very enjoyable side characters ✨

Thank you so much to the author and Valentine PR who provided this e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭