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Veils of Deception: Veils Series
Marco
Growing up he never knew what love felt like. His father beat him, his mom a borderline alcoholic was absent both mentally and emotionally. So when he meets a woman with piercing blue eyes, his instant reaction was to go after her and claim her as his.
Anya
She has been lied to her whole life. Her parents are who they say they are, her first love lived a double life, and now the man she fell in love with after her husbands death has lied about his real life. Her instinct is to get as far away from him as possible, being a single mother of two, all she wants to do is protect her kids. But who can she trust enough to protect her family from her unknowing past.
Growing up he never knew what love felt like. His father beat him, his mom a borderline alcoholic was absent both mentally and emotionally. So when he meets a woman with piercing blue eyes, his instant reaction was to go after her and claim her as his.
Anya
She has been lied to her whole life. Her parents are who they say they are, her first love lived a double life, and now the man she fell in love with after her husbands death has lied about his real life. Her instinct is to get as far away from him as possible, being a single mother of two, all she wants to do is protect her kids. But who can she trust enough to protect her family from her unknowing past.
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 29, 2026
I am an absolute sucker for a great mafia romance, and Veils of Deception by Nichole Martinez delivered EVERYTHING. Marco and Anya completely stole my heart—and then proceeded to destroy it.
My heart absolutely broke for Anya throughout this entire book. Her emotional journey was eye-opening, especially watching her deal with the devastation of being lied to while doing everything she could to protect her sons. Her strength and determination made her impossible not to root for.
And then there’s Marco. 🥵
This man was EVERYTHING I could have imagined in a Capo. His growth throughout the story is what really set this mafia romance apart for me. He wasn’t just the powerful, possessive man you’d expect—he showed empathy, vulnerability, tenderness, and genuine love.
And that “touch her and die” energy? 🥵🖤 Absolutely an instant classic.
The chemistry between Marco and Anya had me SWEATING. The tension, possessiveness, stolen moments, and that underlying I want you but I’m trying to behave energy had me turning pages like my life depended on it. 🔥 The spice was the perfect addition to all the emotional turmoil, and Marco definitely knows how to make a girl forget she has standards. 😂
The audiobook narration was phenomenal.
@Lyra Blake | 🌶Author|Narrator completely brought Anya to life. Her Russian accent was spot-on, and the emotion she put behind Anya’s voice made every heartbreaking moment feel even more real. You could hear the fear, pain, strength, and vulnerability in her performance.
@Fallen Scynclair was a FANTASTIC Marco. He embodied that Capo personality perfectly while still bringing so much empathy and love to the character. His performance made Marco’s possessive side even more delicious. 😮💨🔥
@Ben Riley | Voice , @Brittany Rice/Leanne Blade, and @SeanChausseeVO were also amazing! This was my first audiobook with all three, and they absolutely delivered.
This book wrecked me emotionally, had me clutching my chest, screaming at the characters, and occasionally needing to fan myself. 😂🔥 The combination of mafia, deception, family, possessiveness, emotional depth, and chemistry made this one unforgettable read.
@🥀Author Nichole Martinez🥀 if Book 2 is in the works… I NEED IT. 👀
5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you love mafia romance with high emotional stakes, possessive Capos, “touch her and die” energy, delicious tension, and phenomenal audiobook narration—ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR. 🖤🔥
My heart absolutely broke for Anya throughout this entire book. Her emotional journey was eye-opening, especially watching her deal with the devastation of being lied to while doing everything she could to protect her sons. Her strength and determination made her impossible not to root for.
And then there’s Marco. 🥵
This man was EVERYTHING I could have imagined in a Capo. His growth throughout the story is what really set this mafia romance apart for me. He wasn’t just the powerful, possessive man you’d expect—he showed empathy, vulnerability, tenderness, and genuine love.
And that “touch her and die” energy? 🥵🖤 Absolutely an instant classic.
The chemistry between Marco and Anya had me SWEATING. The tension, possessiveness, stolen moments, and that underlying I want you but I’m trying to behave energy had me turning pages like my life depended on it. 🔥 The spice was the perfect addition to all the emotional turmoil, and Marco definitely knows how to make a girl forget she has standards. 😂
The audiobook narration was phenomenal.
@Lyra Blake | 🌶Author|Narrator completely brought Anya to life. Her Russian accent was spot-on, and the emotion she put behind Anya’s voice made every heartbreaking moment feel even more real. You could hear the fear, pain, strength, and vulnerability in her performance.
@Fallen Scynclair was a FANTASTIC Marco. He embodied that Capo personality perfectly while still bringing so much empathy and love to the character. His performance made Marco’s possessive side even more delicious. 😮💨🔥
@Ben Riley | Voice , @Brittany Rice/Leanne Blade, and @SeanChausseeVO were also amazing! This was my first audiobook with all three, and they absolutely delivered.
This book wrecked me emotionally, had me clutching my chest, screaming at the characters, and occasionally needing to fan myself. 😂🔥 The combination of mafia, deception, family, possessiveness, emotional depth, and chemistry made this one unforgettable read.
@🥀Author Nichole Martinez🥀 if Book 2 is in the works… I NEED IT. 👀
5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you love mafia romance with high emotional stakes, possessive Capos, “touch her and die” energy, delicious tension, and phenomenal audiobook narration—ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR. 🖤🔥
April 30, 2025
Veils of Deception is a dark mafia romance that hits a lot of the right notes — gritty, emotional, and fast-paced with just enough heat and danger to keep the pages turning. At around 350 pages, it moves quickly, which mostly works, but I really think this book would’ve benefitted from pushing that 400-page mark.
What really stood out to me, though, was how well the author handled the characters’ solo arcs. Both the main leads had their own personal growth happening alongside the romance, and it felt believable. Nichole Martinez managed to make the darkness in the story feel earned — the trauma, the violence, the secrets — all of it made sense for the world they’re in. It didn’t feel like pain was added just for shock value (which is something this trope can lean on way too heavily). Instead, it felt grounded, like these were the natural consequences of the choices and lives these characters have been part of.
There were still a few areas that felt underdeveloped — the pacing of the romance could’ve used more buildup, the side characters were interesting but needed more time to breathe, and some plot threads felt a little rushed or glossed over. That said, the overall tone and vibe were solid, and the dark elements didn’t feel out of place or overly dramatized just for the sake of being “dark.”
Even with the few hiccups, I enjoyed it enough to want to keep going with the series. I’m definitely curious to see where Nichole Martinez takes the story next — the foundation is there, and I’m hoping the next books give everything a bit more time to stretch and settle. If I could I would give this a 3.5, but again, Goodreads is limited in the rating aspect.
What really stood out to me, though, was how well the author handled the characters’ solo arcs. Both the main leads had their own personal growth happening alongside the romance, and it felt believable. Nichole Martinez managed to make the darkness in the story feel earned — the trauma, the violence, the secrets — all of it made sense for the world they’re in. It didn’t feel like pain was added just for shock value (which is something this trope can lean on way too heavily). Instead, it felt grounded, like these were the natural consequences of the choices and lives these characters have been part of.
There were still a few areas that felt underdeveloped — the pacing of the romance could’ve used more buildup, the side characters were interesting but needed more time to breathe, and some plot threads felt a little rushed or glossed over. That said, the overall tone and vibe were solid, and the dark elements didn’t feel out of place or overly dramatized just for the sake of being “dark.”
Even with the few hiccups, I enjoyed it enough to want to keep going with the series. I’m definitely curious to see where Nichole Martinez takes the story next — the foundation is there, and I’m hoping the next books give everything a bit more time to stretch and settle. If I could I would give this a 3.5, but again, Goodreads is limited in the rating aspect.
May 16, 2026
I received a listening code for Veils of Deception, a dark mafia romance, and overall I really enjoyed it. Fallon and Ben did a phenomenal job with the narration and absolutely carried the emotional intensity and chemistry of the story. Lyra was good as well, though the accent execution missed the mark for me at times. Leanna and Sean also did well and brought a lot to the overall listening experience.
The story itself had a great arc, delivered plenty of spice, and carried a heavy emotional punch throughout. With some more time and continued honing of their skill sets, these voice actors are going to execute their roles impeccably. They all have incredible potential as newer voice actors in the game, and I can absolutely see some of them becoming major up-and-coming names in the industry.
If mafia romance is your thing, this one is definitely going to be right up your alley.
The story itself had a great arc, delivered plenty of spice, and carried a heavy emotional punch throughout. With some more time and continued honing of their skill sets, these voice actors are going to execute their roles impeccably. They all have incredible potential as newer voice actors in the game, and I can absolutely see some of them becoming major up-and-coming names in the industry.
If mafia romance is your thing, this one is definitely going to be right up your alley.
August 17, 2026
There are many things I loved about this story. First, I loved how much Anya truly cares for her family, especially her sons. I also loved how much Marco protected and cared for both Anya and her sons. Another strong aspect of this story is how it details the relationship between Marco and Anton and Anya and Erica.
As for the narration, Fallen and Lyra did a fantastic job portraying Marco and Anya. Ben, Leanne, and Sean did a great job as well.
As for the narration, Fallen and Lyra did a fantastic job portraying Marco and Anya. Ben, Leanne, and Sean did a great job as well.
July 8, 2026
Read this one for bookclub. Our genre this month was smut which isn’t my favorite because it’s typically trash writing, dumb storylines, and toxic as hell behavior which checks all the boxes for this book. I gave it 1.5 ⭐️ because it fits the theme of our genre this month and because I finished it. I know there’s a lot of people out there that probably loved this book but it was not for me 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
April 4, 2025
"Ti amo, Anya, Per tutto il tempo che vivro" I love you for as long as I live"
Veils of Deception is a dark mafia romance that dives deep into the hearts of its characters. Marco is emotionally detached, convinced he's beyond redemption. But when Anya enters his life, those emotional walls begin to crack. Their connection is immediate and so intense it was inevitable.
The author's attention to detail in creating their backstories is exceptional - every trauma and emotion is felt allowing readers to become invested in Marco and Anya's journey. This book captures your attention from the very first page, you don't just read their story - you feel it, and you don't stop feeling it until long after the last page.
If you're a fan of dark romance with rich character development, an intricate plot and romance that is both dangerous and beautiful, Veils of Deception needs to be on your TBR.
Veils of Deception is a dark mafia romance that dives deep into the hearts of its characters. Marco is emotionally detached, convinced he's beyond redemption. But when Anya enters his life, those emotional walls begin to crack. Their connection is immediate and so intense it was inevitable.
The author's attention to detail in creating their backstories is exceptional - every trauma and emotion is felt allowing readers to become invested in Marco and Anya's journey. This book captures your attention from the very first page, you don't just read their story - you feel it, and you don't stop feeling it until long after the last page.
If you're a fan of dark romance with rich character development, an intricate plot and romance that is both dangerous and beautiful, Veils of Deception needs to be on your TBR.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews