Unforgivable Ties

The Ties #3

by Cleo Sinclair

I should have never saved Vincenzo from bleeding out on that warehouse floor. Us meeting was a chance encounter, and in my naivety, I played the hero to a hot mafia boss. It set off a chain of events I could have never foreseen.

If I had walked away, I would have still been going about my normal life in med school. Now, I’ve gotten sucked into the dark underworld of the mafia, patching up injured criminals in an old warehouse.

When I have to pretend to be his girlfriend, I find myself getting lost in the charade. It should be difficult, horrifying even, to play the part of a Capo’s girlfriend. But we slip into the roles with ease, a seamless performance that blurs the line between reality and pretense.

I should hate Vincenzo for dragging me into this criminal lifestyle. But there is a deep magnetic pull between us I can’t ignore. No matter how hard I try to tear myself away from him, I only get closer.

I’m completely unaware there is a secret hiding in this warehouse that threatens to ruin everything between us.

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2024

Reviews

[Aurelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of this author I have read, and it had me so in-depth in the book. It was well written, very captivating. Dark, fun, interesting, angsty, and very hot is what I would use to describe this book.

Stephanie was just an ordinary girl. A broke med student living in an inhabitant apartment in a sketchy part of town. With an ass of an ex boyfriend who she literally just over when Vincenzo appeared into her life. Vincenzo made his appearance by bleeding out in a warehouse by Stephanie’s apartment and she jumps into action to save his life like any other healthcare worker would, but she’d pay the price for it afterwards. Vincenzo is a known mafia boss, unknown to Stephanie who later uses her to help out his business. To later get used to her banter and her presence, they both struggle to let go of their pride and their misunderstandings of each other leading to lots of angst and tension between them. Stephanie slowly allows herself to see Vincenzo with different eyes with every situation they encounter, the sense of danger that surrounds them slowly excites her. They were great to read together, they did get a bit annoying when they both fought their feelings but it slowly got better the deeper you got into the book. And seeing them together is a different mafia combination I’ve seen and it was really well done. Will definitely look forward to the next book in the series.

[fatima abdullahi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephanie, a struggling med student, finds her world turned upside down when she saves Vincenzo, a notorious mafia boss, from bleeding out in a warehouse. Suddenly thrust into the shadowy underworld of organized crime, Stephanie's medical skills are put to the test as she patches up injured criminals while playing the part of Vincenzo's girlfriend. As their fake relationship deepens, the line between pretense and reality blurs, igniting a magnetic attraction that Stephanie can't ignore. With secrets lurking in the shadows, she must navigate her feelings while facing the consequences of her new life in the mafia. 

Sinclair's writing is absolutely mesmerizing, plunging you headfirst into a world where danger and passion dance a deadly tango. Forget everything you think you know about mafia romances – this book takes a thrilling detour into the shadowy realm of illegal medical practices. We're talking about high-stakes surgeries and ethical dilemmas that'll make your head spin!

It's such a refreshing twist on the genre that I couldn't put it down. And let's talk about the steam factor, shall we? Sinclair knows how to write scenes that'll fog up your e-reader! The chemistry between Stephanie and Vincenzo is off the charts, their fake dating arrangement evolving into something deliciously real and intense was brilliantly executed. It is a perfect blend of suspense and spice, filled with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end.

My only small gripe was craving a bit more depth to Vincenzo's character. Don't get me wrong—he’s a fantastic and complex hero, but diving deeper into his motivations and past would’ve been incredible. A little more backstory could’ve taken this from great to absolutely mind-blowing.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of the Ties series hang on don’t blink and you might want to make sure to double check that you are buckled up, dangerous men, alpha’s personified possessive, oh so gorgeous, brooding all three makings of a story consisting with the three D’s (dark, delicious, and dirty) 😊. There will be suspense, darkness, secrets revealed, hope, forgiveness, and maybe even love somewhere along the way! No good deed they say our girl makes a believer out of us Stephanie an average med student with debt of course an ex. not worth mentioning living in a not so desirable part of town one evening she notices a man bleeding out in a warehouse of course she does what any med student would do saves his life and of course she didn’t know who he was or what his life entailed. Vincenzo sexy as all get out dangerous, ruthless, mafia boss deadly every day how he got caught slipping well we will never know but he was grateful for the little girl who saved him, letting her go for a moment just to ensure he does a check on her and of course he comes back for his girl to work in his underground clinic for his organization in return he pays for her schooling while learning from his current doctor but is that what she wanted despite the magnetic pull between them she is doing her best to ignore it and overthinking about being in his world and the more she does the stronger the pull she feels towards him but how did he end up in that warehouse, will she graduate as a doctor, will they admit what is growing between them, and is there happiness somewhere along the way?

[Shelly Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise was good but there were times the arc went off track. When that happened, it was a bit rough trying to get it on track again. Stephanie is a second-year medical student who comes across an injured Vincenzo. After letting her go and running a check on her, Vincenzo forces Stephanie to work in an underground clinic for his organization. In return, they pay for her schooling, and she learns from the doctor in the clinic. That part of the arc is good. They slow walk the romance and show the inner workings of the mafia.

The times the arc goes off track is the ex-boyfriend showing up one too many times, the snowboarding, the surgeon. It's too many turns rather than letting the arc flow. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Grinning Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cat’s Stats
MMC/FMC- Vincenzo and Stephanie
Genre- Mafia Romance
Length- about 280 pages
Heat- they do the thing and use the P word.
Series? Y
Safety? Y
Triggers- sex, violence
Tropes- Do-Si-Do with the Mafioso, Forced Proximity, Fake Relationship, That’s Not a Hammond, Love Language
Premise- When a medical student saves a mafia capo’s life, she is pulled into the employ of the mafia, and into his arms. (Wouldn’t that make a great cover blurb?)
What I liked- the main couple had a real energy and rapport with each other. Great banter, and both were likable. The book was fast paced and kept my interest easily.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fake Dating Finessed

Vincenzo and Stephanie’s tension was thick from the get go. Their age gap and the mafia life just worked for these two. They balanced the light and dark in each other’s world. I think he might have fallen harder between these two.

I enjoyed having characters from the series make appearances in this book. I’m hooked on this series and awaiting the announcement for the next installment.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linsey Toney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unforgivable Ties is a great dark mafia romance. Please read TW's!
I really loved this story. The characters and storyline held my attention. The slow build romance, mafia vibes, and spice is perfection. I also liked the medical details added into the story seems like the author either has knowledge or did their research. This is the first book I've read from this author but I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book. It was a good mafia romance with spice. Enjoyed the characters, really focused on the main characters and not as much as the side characters which I felt could of added more to the story. The story wrapped up quickly

[Narelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Stephanie met Vincenzo she couldn't have imagined the changes coming their way. A dark mafia and medical romance with secrets and closed door dealings. Also a steamy and loving romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephanie and Vincenzo

I loved this story sooo much! Their meeting, working together, to HEA was so different than the original fairytale in my opinion. Each book gets better.

[Isabelle Houseknecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️ 1.5 🌶️

“Dark? I have some news for you: everything about this profession is dark.”

“You need to find the best darkness in this profession. And to me? Kickbacks and pressure to increase a company’s profit isn’t it.”

I loved this series from book one and this one just took its place as one of my favorite mafia books! It’s not as fast paced as book two but it is still amazing! Stephanie finds Vincenzo bleeding out and as the way of the mafia goes she has seen the ways of the world so she has now become part of the world. Her opinions are join the mafia or death.! I’m sure you can tell what she chooses since one opinion would make for a pretty short and boring book and let me tell you this book is neither of those things! It’s not super long but it is anything but boring CS did a phenomenal job writing yet another Mafia book!

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephanie's world changes when she saves Vincenzos life, she had dreams of helping those by going to med school now she patches up criminals, and has to fake being Vincenzos girlfriend, but nothing about the way they work together feels fake, but will a hidden secret tear their chances of being together apart? Well written engaging steamy, possesive desires, drama and more!

[Maureen Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

3/3.5 ⭐️

[Nokutendamatare · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK!!!!!!! I was in such a slump and this was exactly what I needed ❤️❤️‼️‼️I loved it 💯💯💯💯💯💯🔥🔥🔥