That’s all I allowed myself with the gorgeous stranger.
I didn’t expect he’d be the only one who could save me…
Sophie
Family is everything. I’m the sweet and innocent good girl. I have a goal, a plan. And refuse to be distracted.
That is… until I meet him. The gorgeous man who’s covered in tattoos and an expensive suit. Immediately ensnared by his piercing icy-blue eyes, I decide to do something just for me. One night. Then, it’s back to my plan to do right by my family.
But I never expected to fall hard and fast. Nor did I expect the truth—about his family or the horrifying dangers coming for me—to shatter everything.
Creed
My family rules the crime world, and I rule the legitimate arm of our empire. I forged my own path while honoring my loyalty to them.
The moment my eyes fall on Sophie—my angel—I know I’ve found her. The one for me.
But it all crashes down once she finds out who my family is. I have no choice but to let her go.
Until an enemy comes for her, then nothing will stop me from protecting her at all costs. I’ll even wade into the darkest parts of the criminal underworld that I vowed never to go.
Because Sophie is mine. My angel. My good girl. My everything.
--
Dive into Creed, the gripping first book in the mafia romance Santoro Brothers series. It features an MMC with possessive, “touch her and I’ll unalive you” vibes. There’s no cheating, no cliffhanger, and a HEA is guaranteed. This is a standalone book and features Creed and Sophie’s story.
Things to know about Creed:
Italian mafia It is MF Jealous/possessive MMC Cinnamon roll for her Sweet but strong FMC Insta-love and he falls first Second chance Age gap (19/28) Dual POV Readers are strongly advised to check the content warning inside.
H is back from his fuck session from ow, his casual hookup whenever he's in town. He goes out after and gets a hard on from looking down bartender ow's shirt. h interrupts him and he also gets a hard on for her, whom he later fucks.
He legit goes from his fuck session with ow to fucking h without a condom. You think he tells her that he had just fucked another woman? Nope. Eww bro. Just eww 🤢🤮
Creed family are the Italian mafia but he himself doesn’t do anything illegal he has legitimate businesses that he’s made with legal money. He wasn’t looking for love put happen to find the women of his dreams at a work function Sophie is a university student studying accounting but her real passion is nonprofit organisation to help vulnerable people but she feels she can’t do that as she has to support her family She’s a bit of a goody two shoes, but when she meets Creed at the same function, they have a one night stand they both seem to fill a pull towards each other When her mum died, she sort out her father who she’s always been told was a very nasty man and she found out that was the case. He was a soldier for the cartel. When she found out her father was going to give her to one of the soldiers she ran back home to her grandparents. This book is full of twist and turns kept me gripped well written and lots of hot spice would definitely recommend this book
I read this story in a few hours, but it took me a few days to summarize my impressions. So, the story is hard cliché, told a hundred times already because you know the beginning and the end.What was impressive to me was the writing style, because that is the most important thing to me. I like to feel the chemistry between the characters, I like the story to interest me from the beginning and I don't want to let it go. This story had all of that and I really enjoyed reading it. I liked both the main and secondary characters of this story, I liked the loyalty and passion for those they love. I would like to read stories about the other characters in this story because I think they are interesting enough. All in all, I enjoyed it, I recommend it to everyone and I can't wait for the next part.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
3.5 ⭐️ 3.5 🌶️ 🖤 Mafia Romance 🩶 Age gap 19/28 🖤 Strong FMC 🩶 He falls first 🖤 No cheating and no cliffhangers
Sophie and Creed met and had a insta chemistry, one night and Creed is totally obsessed. This book is jam packed with action and some mystery to keep you reading! The beginning of the book pulls you in instantly. This story kind of slows down and there seems to be a lot of unnecessary repetition. Which is the reason for my rating.
But if you want to dig into some action filled mafia romance then this is definitely the book for you!
This baby author has knocked it out of the park with this debut book. It’s dark, delicious and steamy - the perfect recipe for a book in my opinion. Creed it yummy and I couldn’t stop reading his story. I can’t wait to read Vito’s book which is up next!
If you love dark mafia reads, this should be on your MUST read list. You won’t be disappointed!
The best way to describe this book is Hunting Adeline (not as dark and no stalking but themes are there) meets Dante by Sadie Kincaid (also not as dark and no red flags). Creed is the tatted-up, rich, successful muscle man who's on a straight and narrow path while being part of a mafia family. Sophie is a college-focused, goodie-two-shoes girl with a dark family history. This is a standalone interconnected series.
The plot was plotting and the spice is spicy!! Right off the bat the spice already started and tension throughout the book is good. I did not want to put this down. Mafia, cartel, MC, kidnapping, and twisted family made this full of shock and action. But there were a lot of parts where I thought it was too much and over the top that it became an overactive imagination. Once you accept it it's good. There's a chapter that brought me a flashback to the end of Powerful and I almost tossed my Kindle. Still looking forward to reading about the next couple!
Creed is the legitimate son of the Santoro mafia family. He meets Sophie by chance and is instantly enamored, and the feelings are mutual until she finds out about his family. Sophie has goals to take care of her family, and nothing will get in her way. Until her evil father comes looking, and Creed has to save her by using his mafia families' contacts. This was fantastic. It will keep you engrossed from the jump.
I got this and Vito in a free sale around the time of the Amazon sale. I was immediately intrigued with something with the cover and I'm not one to be interested in covers. It came at a great time because I've been in a mini slump all month. I immediately became sucked into the story and a few hours later realized I was almost half way thru. It's got all the best parts of the stories I enjoy in darker romances. And this author knows how to write action scenes.
Ahh I love me a Mafia Romance!! Creed was such a fab read, and chemistry between the MCs was everything and more! Not only were the MCs amazing but so were the secondary characters and I cannot wait to read about them! The narrators did a great job with this book and only drew me in further to the story!
Thank you Lora and Blue Nose for the opportunity to listen!
Once again, I fell for a book that had been recommended non stop in my book club… should have known better!
Thee first chapters didn’t impress me much… MMC is a playboy, who, you know, likes to f*** hard & wild because he is a big bad man with lot of tattoos 🙄🙄🙄 Also, who goes to an Halloween themed party dresses as Bob Iger or Reshma Saujani??? I had to Google those names 🤦🏼♀️
H is 28 h is 19!!!
A lot of repetitions -Sophie is a siren with a plan and no gag reflex and almost faint every time Creed calls her “good girl” 🙄 -Creed doesn’t deal in the mafia part of his family (until he does of course) and has a breeding kink
You could tell the book was written by a female author and she gave the MMC the behaviour she would want from a man, but not how a real man would behave.
So yes not a good start! But, he was a goner for Sophie as soon as he saw her, so I kept reading.
The situation with Zac was dumb as f*** girl, if a man doesn’t want to be seen with you he doesn’t deserve you…
The whole investigation done by Ollie was boring as hell and so long!! I skipped so many parts at the end.
Won’t read the other books are the men are just massive pussy-whipped wanna be dominant idiot.
ahh i loved it. the spicy scenes, the tropes, the way the plot was carried through the whole book, the heartbreak, the lust. Creed would do anything for Sophie no matter what the cost to himself. it was fantastic
What happens when you fall for the person you’re supposed to be tracking down so she can be married to a mafia boss?
Sophie goes to a party and hooks up with Creed, only to find out he’s been tasked with taking her back to her dad so she can be married off. But when Creed finds out she’s to be married to one of the most dangerous crime lords he decides he’s going to keep her for himself, or at least try.
This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I absolutely loved it. I’m a sucker for some mafia romance but this even had a bit of mystery and suspense sprinkled in.
This book is an absolute masterpiece, beautifully and skillfully crafted from start to finish. From the very first page, I was completely captivated by the vivid descriptions that set the perfect tone and effortlessly guide the plot forward. The story introduces Creed, a compelling and intense—strong, possessive, and dangerously attractive man—whose obsession with Sophie, an innocent yet determined and stunning woman, adds layers of complexity to the narrative. I was particularly drawn to how Sophie is lovingly referred to by various endearing nicknames—which enhance the dynamic between them.
The supporting characters in the story are not just filler; they add depth and intensity to the overall experience, amplifying the emotional highs and lows. What I absolutely loved was how the author masterfully unveils the stark contrast between the characters' outward appearances and what lies beneath, creating a narrative full of intrigue and suspense. The writing itself is so immersive—vivid, engaging, and intricate—that it feels almost as though you're reading in 3D, completely transported into the world the author has created.
The narrative style and structure are nothing short of gripping, pulling you in deeper with every chapter. This book is not just a read; it's an experience.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is like reading an Agatha Christie Mafia Suspense Mystery Romance. It’s AMAZING!! The depth of love and loyalty between Creed and Sophie is so moving and truly fulfilling. The storyline kept me reading without stopping because I needed more. It was like peeling an onion with every layer representing a new scene and filled with the unexpected. One of the best mafia romances I’ve read. These characters stole my heart and the writing is so brilliant it drew me into every moment. Looking forward to Vito’s book next.
I connected so much with Sophia, she’s educated, protective, bold, but with the right man her submissive side shines through! When this happens everything is okay in her world, she’s safe, she’s strong and with the backing of her legitimate (non crime) mafia man she’s got a back bone of steel! This book captivated me from the moment they laid eyes on each other!! I can not wait for the next one!!
Sophie She is 19 and came to the US from Mexico for a college education, to earn a degree, and to get a good job to help support her family back home. They mean everything to her and have put her first when her mother went to live with her grandparents, and then they raised her when he mother passed away. She works hard, never goes out for fun, and school is her primary focus, other than checking in with her family. Sweet innocent Sophie. Her best friend calls her Killjoy. Dating doesn't interest her, especially the guys at her school. They are wild, like to party, and are uninteresting to her. She wants to do well and make her uncle and grandparents proud since her mother died, and she is estranged from her father. When attending a school function, she would usually ignore the staff and potential investors. Still, she would make herself go so her roommate would leave her alone, never stopping her from studying to get away from Schoolwork. That night, her safe, boring little life collides with a dangerous-looking but the most attractive man she has ever seen. She has never wanted anyone as she did him at one glance, one conversation. Maybe she can stop being a good girl for just one night, then back to the grind with school and family. She needs to scratch an itch; it's all she needs or wants. One night of letting her hair down, and then it all goes back to normal. Serious, boring, and safe.
Creed He doesn't want to rub elbows at this school function, but he has to. His family runs the local Italian Mafia, but he is the youngest in the family and runs legitimate business ventures without getting into "the life" that would make his hands dirty. Just because he's not on the dark side of the family business doesn't mean he's unaware or that he's not dangerous. Make an appearance here, talk to whoever he needs to, have a friendly interaction, and leave. Until he is face to face with the most beautiful creature he has ever laid his eyes on. He has the most stunning women throw themselves at him daily, but none of them keep his interest, and he gets rid of them as soon as they start to seem clingy. This angel, however, steals his breath and his heart instantly. She has no idea who he is or who his family is, and acts unimpressed. She doesn't throw herself at him as all women do. He can see interest in her eyes, but she doesn't act on it, stays indifferent, and that makes her even more attractive to him. She is his, and she doesn't know it yet, but she will. Soon Sophie will see that she is his. His angel. His good girl. His everything.
This book... The POV flips a few times between Sophie and Creed, then shifts to Sophie's roommate's perspective after an event in the storyline. Although you know the situation Sophie is in, the stress her roommate feels and the people around her are palpable. Then things get crazy, scary, and dangerous. It's fast-paced, hot, and at times nerve-wracking. I loved it. The story, the narration, I loved it all.
This is book one in the Santoro brothers mafia series. It doesn't have a cliffhanger and ends in an HEA. It's a standalone, but I believe in this type of series, it is probably best to read in order. I WILL be reading the rest of this series.
Expectations:
Multiple POV Duet Narration Italian Mafia Family Mexican Mafia He Falls First MMC Cinnamon Roll for FMC SPICY Close Family Death Ring Kidnapping Human Trafficking Jealous Possessive MMC Age Gap HEA
Book one in the Santoro Mafia series Performed in duet by Janine Granda & Ryan Stone
Preorder: Available NOW Release Date: January 6th Approximate listening time: 11 hours 45 minutes at normal speed A bonus scene will be available for free download exclusively in the Blue Nose AUDIO app starting on release day.
Thanks to Blue Nose Audio for the advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Writing was really good but I was disappointed overall. I actually read the third book in this series first and had really enjoyed it so went and got the first two books in the series.
Creed is the youngest and he is in the outskirts of his family’s criminal activity. He is a businessman that owns and operates an extremely successful business legally within the law. He is fully aware of his family’s operations and family still comes first.
A couple of things had me deducting stars. First the overused plot point of the manwhore. The h is not a virgin thank goodness but has never had really good sex. I really disliked the start H had just gotten back to his home from hooking up having sex with a regular hookup who he connected with when in town. He’s thinking he has to stop hooking up with her because she is starting to develop feelings. He goes to a mixer for business that night and is a bit bored until he goes to the bar and the bartender makes it clear she is available so he’s thinking if fucking her now this is within 24 hours of having sex with the regular hookup. He then meets the h before he can hookup with the bartender. He is a goner from the start. Totally obsessed and possessive.
They go home together and have sex all night with no protection. No talk about STD’s nothing. He thinks about how he’s never went bare and they were like teenagers who couldn’t control themselves.
The h father is a criminal and she wants no part of that world. The H does not tell her about his family. He has to leave after their night together she thinks it’s a one night stand but he comes back and they spend a week together until she finds out about his family she breaks things off.
Two months later she is scared she may be pregnant and she contacts him to be there to do the test. I liked that part. This opens their lines of communication and for the next few months they keep talking but are not together. Neither are with others during this time which I liked.
The h’s father shows up in town and the h is in danger the H finds out and comes to the rescue hiding her in his family’s estate in other city. Here is another overused plot point I hated he dies punishments like spanking and denying orgasm because she kept them apart for months. To each their own for kinks but I dislike this and think it’s overused. I also felt like it did not really fit the story or the h’s personality.
There is subplot with her family and roommate looking for her. The roommate is badly hurt. The h actually does get kidnapped. She is rescued before anything really bad happens. They get their HEA. So a good read but not great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I feel like the concept is good. The characters are engaging. The execution could use a little work, but it’s nothing horrible.
This doesn’t feel like a debut novel. It feels like a spin off of a finished series. The world is established. All the side characters are fairly fleshed out. It feels like there should be 2 or 3 interconnected series that I need to search for.
My main problem with this book is that it gets lost in the details. There were subplots that could have been explored, but instead we for page after page of inconsequential details. I feel like the ending was rushed, because the book got caught up in details.
The end act introduced even MORE characters, which all had to have detailed explanations on why they were important to the story. These characters were introduced like the readers should already know their stories, or at least the one they referenced.They’re also given detailed information about who they are, why they’re important, etc. To such a degree that it feels like the MMC and FMC are side characters to their own story.
I did enjoy the overall story and world building. We get to know Creed’s family and their dynamics fairly well. Sophie’s family, not so much. Then there are the stories of Zach and Ollie, Sophie’s college friends. Their stories are left up in the air at the end. I’m not sure if that’s intentional, and setting them up for their own books, or just because the story needed to be wrapped up and they just became background fodder.
I am excited to read more from this author, especially if she’s going to expand to the stories of the side characters. She’s set herself up to do so. My problem was that the main characters got lost in their own book.
For all my nitpicking, it’s a solid book. It sets up the author’s universe well. It gives you the main side characters, gives information about them and draws you into the world itself. You want to read about the motorcycle gang. You want to read about the world of Sophie’s cousin and all his rock star friends.
While Creed and Sophie do get a happy ending, I remember more about the side characters than I do about them. Which isn’t really a good thing when they were the main couple.
Creed by Lora Nox - Book one in the Santoro Mafia series
Performed in duet by Janine Granda & Ryan Stone
When Creed, the youngest son of the Santoro mafia family and wanting nothing to do with the family criminal business he decided to only deal in the legitimate and legal business.
He is tall, tattooed and not interested in relationships until he meets Sophie at a business mixer who's attending college to better her families finances after her mother passed and her grandparents raised her. Family is everything to Sophie, and even though she's disowned her cartel connected father, Sophie wants the best for the ones she loves at whatever cost.
Creed and Sophie’s feelings hit hard, fast and take absolutely no prisoners and they struggle to come to terms with these exceptional circumstances.
After learning the truth of what his family does, she runs, but Creed meant forever and will not stop trying to win her back. With an unforseen enemy edging closer to their bubble of happiness, Sophie must rely on the man Creed promises he is and push aside the fear that his reputation brings. Creed is determined to do anything to protect Sophie, including involving his family and creating a truce with some unlikely allies. She is his soul, and he refuses to live without her.
Creed is a totally over-the-top jealous and possessive alpha, and Sophie recognises his need for control and was willing to give him that, except when they were being equals. She wasn't afraid to tell him no or stand against him with her own ideas, and it really strengthened their relationship. Creed definitely met his equal in Sophie, but that doesn't mean he's going to play fair.
This audiobook is narrated by Janine Granda & Ryan Stone and they are fantastic, they draw you in fully and have the MC’s characters chemistry pouring through your earbuds.
Let’s be honest—I haven’t read a lot of mafia romance, and now I’m questioning all my life choices. Because Creed? Absolute gold. This book had me in a chokehold from page one, and I didn’t even try to fight it.
Meet Creed Santoro
Mafia son. Business tycoon. A man trying to stay on the legal side of things while still being deadly as hell. He’s 28, tatted, broody, and possessive. Basically, if red flags were sexy, Creed would be the whole damn parade. He spots Sophie at a business event, and boom—obsession unlocked.
Enter Sophie
Our “angel,” Sophie, is a bit of a mystery at first. But when she meets Creed? She decides one night is all she’ll give him. (Spoiler: We all know that’s a lie.) She’s in business school, driven by family loyalty, and absolutely holds her own. She’s smart, protective, and not afraid to challenge Creed—which only makes him want her more.
The Chemistry? Palpable.
This book is filled with mystery, action, drama, romance, and enough spice to set off fire alarms. The tension? Chef’s kiss. Creed and Sophie’s chemistry practically jumps off the page, and the banter is top-tier. If you love possessive MMCs, badass FMCs, and relationships where the attraction is felt, this one’s for you.
And let’s talk about Creed’s praise kink—because wow. Call me “good girl” just once, and I’m done for. Creed takes that to a whole new level, and honestly? We support him.
Final Thoughts
This book is a rollercoaster in the best way—fast-paced, emotional, and addicting. You won’t just read it; you’ll devour it. If you love mafia romance with passion, intrigue, and a hero who’s borderline unhinged in the best way, Creed is a must-read!
I don’t know what’s going on with my book choices lately, but this one just did not work for me.
The romance leaned way too hard into insta-love for me to buy the “unconditional” connection between Creed and Sophie. Everything escalated so fast that there was no time for trust, depth, or emotional foundation to form—and because of that, their relationship felt more like obsession than love.
Creed came across as overly controlling, and Sophie gave in far too easily at every turn. The moment she “goes missing” without contacting her friends or family—despite knowing how worried they would be—was the breaking point for me. With Creed’s money, power, and resources, there is simply no believable reason she couldn’t have found one way to let her people know where she was. I honestly place a lot of the blame for what happened to Ollie on her choices. It was careless and avoidable.
I also completely understood Antonio’s reaction. Any normal family member would be alarmed by a loved one disappearing and reappearing with a literal mob prince. Sophie’s argument about “choosing her happiness” and expecting her family to just get over their concerns felt wildly tone-deaf. That logic might work if the man in question were a decent, honest citizen—not someone tied to organized crime.
To be clear, I enjoy morally gray men in fiction. This genre exists for a reason. But Sophie’s moral high ground about her family being judgmental didn’t sit right when their fears were entirely justified.
That said, the secondary characters were interesting enough that I’m willing to give the series one more chance. Here’s hoping Vito is less of a tool than his brother.
"One night. That’s all I allowed myself with the gorgeous stranger. I didn’t expect he’d be the only one who could save me…"
This is my first time reading a book by this author and boy what a flipping read. I will definitely be reading more from her. Once i started I couldn't put it down for the life of me, I devoured it in one sitting. It's a wild rollercoaster ride that has twists and turns you don't see coming. It's such a beautiful and captivating master piece.
"This girl… woman… angel will be my undoing, but I have no intention of walking away. I don’t want just to win her. I want to conquer her. Every. Inch."
It's filled with mystery, action, drama, romance, spice, suspense, emotions, passion and loads more. Their chemistry and attraction is palatable, I fell deep and hard for creed and Sophie, you just can not. The characters,storyline, plot and side characters where amazingly written and created. The author makes you feel like your apart of their world.
"I slip into my dorm room and lean against the door, grinning. Bob may be a nerdy-looking guy, but dayum, he knows how to use that big dick."-ollie.
Sophie our fmc is smart, beautiful, protective and bold, she really does come into her own with creed by her side. Creed our mmc he's strong, possessive, handsome, deadly and dangerous. He's every girls wet dream. The pair spend an explosive night together, but creed has other plans, Sophie is his new obsession.
When you can grab this book you won't be disappointed, I sure wasn't highly recommend!
A great Mafia romance!! That ending had me on edge !! So good and really a juicy- tension filled story !
🌶️ dual POV 🌶️ insta chemistry 🌶️ Italian mafia 🌶️ second chance 🌶️ he falls first 🌶️ age gap 🌶️ possessive MMC 🌶️ SPICY
“Lei è la tua anima.”
“She is my soul,” I confirm his words.”
❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️
Great Read! I put 4 stars instead of 5 only bc it does slow down alittle and I do feel that it could have been shorter. But overall I really did love the whole story.
I think this book had great tension and spice between the main characters. I don’t typically like insta love, but I do like when the MMC falls first. I loved how family centered Sophie was. As the oldest daughter in my family, I really was able to relate to her in the beginning and I understood why she was so hesitant to get involved with Creed. I loved how SURE Creed was since the moment he had saw her. The age gap is ages of 19/28, so it was good and not creepy 🤣 I like that Creed was independent from his “family’s business.” And had worked for everything he had. I loved that he was willing to do everything and ANYTHING for Sophie’s safety.
I loved the bad ass female at the end and It was definitely an ending that keeps you on your toes and I am happy it wasn’t a cliff hanger 🤣
Im so excited for Vito’s story 😛 I really think he’s going to be my favorite 😍🤍
Also, Lora… thought: I NEED a book for Pappa and Mamma’s story 😮💨 I just know that would be SO GOOD.
I am a sucker for a mafia romance…and Creed did not disappoint!
Creed Santoro is part of the Santoro family, an Italian mafia family, who deals with the legitimate and legal business…he’s tall, sultry and not interested in relationships until he meets Sophie and it’s instant infatuation and desire!
Sophie is an immigrant who’s attending college to better her families finances after her mother passed and her grandparents raised her. Family is everything to Sophie, and even though she’s disowned her cartel connected father, Sophie wants the best for the ones she loves at whatever cost. After meeting Creed and feeling the spark they share, will Sophie continue on her path or will she become head over heels with Creed and go after their love?
This story had the romance, the spice and the possessive MCs but it was also full of action and found family. I loved the Santoro family, and how they were so connected, putting family first.
I’m typically not in love with insta-love, but it was fitting for Creed and Sophie. Sometimes when you know, you know. I didn’t love that she was only 19, and the pregnancy parts, but overall it was a great story!
I look forward to Vito’s story and the continuation of the Santoro Mafia series.
When Creed, the youngest son of the Santoro mafia Don, meets Sophie at a business mixer, he's immediately all-in. Sophie has secrets of her own, but lets Creed break down her walls. After learning the truth of his family, she runs, but Creed meant forever and will not stop trying to win her back. With an unforseen enemy edging closer to their bubble of happiness, Sophie must rely on the man Creed promises he is and push aside the fear that his reputation brings forth. Creed is determined to do anything to protect Sophie, including involving his family and creating a truce with some unlikely allies. She is his soul, and he refuses to live without her.
Soooo, I absolutely loved this story! I finished it at 2am this morning and have been thinking about it since. Creed is a totally over-the-top jealous and possessive alpha, and I have no complaints. Sophie recognized his need for control and was willing to give him that, except when they were being equals. She wasn't afraid to tell him no or stand against him with her own ideas, and it really strengthened their relationship. Creed definitely met his equal in Sophie, but that doesn't mean he's going to play fair. There were so many spicy scenes in this story, and every one of them was fantastic. A+ all around!
Creed is a fast paced mafia romance that was so good it will leave you wanting more. Although this type of book has been written many times before, Creed didn’t feel like a retelling of generic tropes, it was intriguing and added new elements which kept me hooked. With tropes such as age gap, he falls first and second chance, this book should definitely go on the TBR of anyone looking for a new mafia romance!
Sophie simply thinks she’s having a one night stand with a handsome stranger from a club, little does she know Creed won’t let her go once he’s tasted her. With her life centred around supporting her family, Sophie tries her best to resist Creed and the impulse to be with him, but their connection is too strong.
The chemistry in this book was wild, Creed was truly who you would want as the MMC in a mafia romance. The only reason I did not rate this book higher was due to some phrases/lines being repeated unnecessarily, leading me to question if I had already read that part of the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Lora Nox's debut novel Creed kicks off her Santoro Mafia series with a compelling blend of steamy romance and gritty crime drama.
The book introduces us to the powerful Santoro crime family, focusing on Creed Santoro, who runs the legitimate business interests of the family empire. When Creed encounters the innocent and beautiful Sophie, he immediately recognizes her as his soulmate. Their intense attraction sizzles on the page.
However, while the central love story is engaging, the book occasionally gets bogged down in extraneous details. Minutiae about what drinks and snacks characters are enjoying in a given scene detract from the forward momentum of the plot. Additionally, significant page time devoted to fleshing out secondary characters, likely intended to lay the groundwork for future instalments, has the unfortunate effect of pulling focus from the main couple in this volume.
Nox's vivid writing style and interesting premise show great promise, but some judicious editing could really allow the strengths of Creed to shine through more consistently.
Despite these quibbles, Creed offers an intriguing introduction to the Santoro clan that will leave readers eager to see what Nox has in store in upcoming books.