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Mafia Empire #1
The Hermit
From USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author Michelle Heard comes a new STANDALONE, full-length MAFIA ROMANCE novel.
I entered an arranged marriage so my sister, Ciara, could marry for love. Three years later, I’m a widow, and my father arranges for Ciara to marry Dominik Varga. The assassin slash arms dealer is as dangerous as he’s quiet, which is very unnerving.
Needless to say, I’m not happy at all. A deal was a deal, and I kept my end of it, so there’s no way on God’s green earth I’ll just sit back and smile like a good little girl. I’ll fight for Ciara’s freedom so she won’t have to face the hell I was forced to endure.
But Dominik doesn’t make things easy for me. He’s determined to get his hands on half of Dad’s empire.
When he moves into my family home, my entire routine unravels. I have to fight for more than just my sister’s freedom because I’m in danger of losing my heart.
I refuse to admit I’m drawn to his darkness. If I do, God only knows whether we’ll survive the fire raging between us.
A Mafia Romance full-length novel.
Each book in the Mafia Empire series is interconnected but about a different couple who will all find their HEA.
I entered an arranged marriage so my sister, Ciara, could marry for love. Three years later, I’m a widow, and my father arranges for Ciara to marry Dominik Varga. The assassin slash arms dealer is as dangerous as he’s quiet, which is very unnerving.
Needless to say, I’m not happy at all. A deal was a deal, and I kept my end of it, so there’s no way on God’s green earth I’ll just sit back and smile like a good little girl. I’ll fight for Ciara’s freedom so she won’t have to face the hell I was forced to endure.
But Dominik doesn’t make things easy for me. He’s determined to get his hands on half of Dad’s empire.
When he moves into my family home, my entire routine unravels. I have to fight for more than just my sister’s freedom because I’m in danger of losing my heart.
I refuse to admit I’m drawn to his darkness. If I do, God only knows whether we’ll survive the fire raging between us.
A Mafia Romance full-length novel.
Each book in the Mafia Empire series is interconnected but about a different couple who will all find their HEA.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2025
4585 people are currently reading
6691 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Heard
90 books11.9k followersMichelle Heard is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon #3 Bestselling romance author.
She writes emotional heart-shattering stories with a whole lot of Mafia & Romance that will leave you smiling with satisfaction. Every book has an unexpected twist that will show the strength of the characters.
Before becoming an author, Michelle had a career in banking. She lives in South Africa with her son, Sheldon, who's also her right-hand man when it comes to all things publishing, and her daughter-in-law, Tayla, who's her best friend.
Reading Order on AMAZON
STANDALONE NOVELS:
***Mafia & Bratva Romance (in order)***
THE SAINTS SERIES:
Merciless Saints - Damien Vetrov
Cruel Saints - Lucian Cotroni
Ruthless Saints - Carson Koslov
Tears of Betrayal - Demitri Vetrov
Tears of Salvation - Alexei Koslov
THE SINNERS SERIES:
Taken By A Sinner - Nikolas Stathoulis
Owned By A Sinner - Liam Byrne
Stolen By A Sinner - Gabriel Demir
Chosen By A Sinner - Luca Cotroni
Captured By A Sinner - Viktor Vetrov
THE CORRUPTED ROYALS SERIES:
Destroy Me - Misha Petrov
Control Me - Nikolai Vetrov
Brutalize Me - Armani De Santis
Restrain Me - Maxim Levin
Possess Me - Alek Aslanhov
SERIES (In Order):
ENEMIES TO LOVERS SERIES:
***College & New Adult Romance***
Heartless - Carter & Della
Reckless - Logan & Mia
Careless - Jaxson & Leigh
Ruthless - Marcus & Willow
Shameless - Rhett & Evie
TRINITY ACADEMY SERIES:
***College Romance***
Falcon - Falcon & Layla
Mason - Mason & Kingsley
Lake - Lake & Lee
Julian - Julian & Jamie
The Epilogue
THE HEIRS:
***College & New Adult Romance***
Coldhearted Heir - Hunter & Jade
Arrogant Heir - Jase & Mila
Defiant Heir - Kao & Fallon
Loyal Heir - Forest & Aria
Callous Heir - Noah & Carla
Sinful Heir - Tristan & Hana
Tempted Heir - Christopher & Dash
Forbidden Heir - Ryker & Danny
SOUTHERN HEROES SERIES:
***Suspense Romance***
The Ocean Between Us – Aiden & Emma
The Girl In The Closet – Cole & Birdie
The Lies We Tell Ourselves – Alec & Reece
All The Wasted Time – Wyatt & Scarlett
We Were Lost – Zac & Chloe
OTHER STANDALONE NOVELS:
Not My Hero - Dark YA Romance
She writes emotional heart-shattering stories with a whole lot of Mafia & Romance that will leave you smiling with satisfaction. Every book has an unexpected twist that will show the strength of the characters.
Before becoming an author, Michelle had a career in banking. She lives in South Africa with her son, Sheldon, who's also her right-hand man when it comes to all things publishing, and her daughter-in-law, Tayla, who's her best friend.
Reading Order on AMAZON
STANDALONE NOVELS:
***Mafia & Bratva Romance (in order)***
THE SAINTS SERIES:
Merciless Saints - Damien Vetrov
Cruel Saints - Lucian Cotroni
Ruthless Saints - Carson Koslov
Tears of Betrayal - Demitri Vetrov
Tears of Salvation - Alexei Koslov
THE SINNERS SERIES:
Taken By A Sinner - Nikolas Stathoulis
Owned By A Sinner - Liam Byrne
Stolen By A Sinner - Gabriel Demir
Chosen By A Sinner - Luca Cotroni
Captured By A Sinner - Viktor Vetrov
THE CORRUPTED ROYALS SERIES:
Destroy Me - Misha Petrov
Control Me - Nikolai Vetrov
Brutalize Me - Armani De Santis
Restrain Me - Maxim Levin
Possess Me - Alek Aslanhov
SERIES (In Order):
ENEMIES TO LOVERS SERIES:
***College & New Adult Romance***
Heartless - Carter & Della
Reckless - Logan & Mia
Careless - Jaxson & Leigh
Ruthless - Marcus & Willow
Shameless - Rhett & Evie
TRINITY ACADEMY SERIES:
***College Romance***
Falcon - Falcon & Layla
Mason - Mason & Kingsley
Lake - Lake & Lee
Julian - Julian & Jamie
The Epilogue
THE HEIRS:
***College & New Adult Romance***
Coldhearted Heir - Hunter & Jade
Arrogant Heir - Jase & Mila
Defiant Heir - Kao & Fallon
Loyal Heir - Forest & Aria
Callous Heir - Noah & Carla
Sinful Heir - Tristan & Hana
Tempted Heir - Christopher & Dash
Forbidden Heir - Ryker & Danny
SOUTHERN HEROES SERIES:
***Suspense Romance***
The Ocean Between Us – Aiden & Emma
The Girl In The Closet – Cole & Birdie
The Lies We Tell Ourselves – Alec & Reece
All The Wasted Time – Wyatt & Scarlett
We Were Lost – Zac & Chloe
OTHER STANDALONE NOVELS:
Not My Hero - Dark YA Romance
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,334 reviews
February 3, 2025
I’m a homebody introvert, and Dominik is my kind of person. He was so relatable.
Especially when he said
“I’m a hermit by nature and don’t want anyone else in my personal space.”
I loved these two.
Grace was fierce and sassy, and it broke my heart to see what she had been through.
I loved how patient Dominik was with her. Knowing the trauma she went through, he didn’t push himself on her. Having been through something similar to Grace, I loved how he let her go at her own pace.
Especially when he said
“I’m a hermit by nature and don’t want anyone else in my personal space.”
I loved these two.
Grace was fierce and sassy, and it broke my heart to see what she had been through.
I loved how patient Dominik was with her. Knowing the trauma she went through, he didn’t push himself on her. Having been through something similar to Grace, I loved how he let her go at her own pace.
February 6, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (ARC Review)
''My beginning and end and everything in between''
Safety warnings
- H 38 / h 32
- No OW/OM drama
- No cheating
- Loss of loved ones
- Violence/d*ath
- Forced marriage
- Kidnapping
- Physical and mental abuse
- R*pe (not by MMC)
- Trauma/PTSD
- HEA
Michelle writes it, which means I will read it.
A new mafia series coming your way and it starts off with Dominik aka The Hermit.
Grace has always protected her younger sister from everything that would cause her any harm. She is willing to do anything to make sure she never has to go through any pain, even letting herself be the one who receives it.
Grace was married to an abusive and disgusting man and thankfully by the time this story starts he has been dead for a year though his actions towards Grace still brings her nightmares.
When her father announces that Ciara (her younger sister) will need to marry, Grace is absolutely against it and even begs for her to be considered for the marriage, but her dad has no intention of allowing her to marry again, after her last marriage was a ''disaster''.
Dominik, who has longed to live his life in absolute solitude, away from everything and everyone, agrees to this marriage for business purposes and makes it known he wants nothing to do with his future wife, he would even leave her where she is and just be married in name only.
The chemistry between Grace and Dominik was explosive, they really matched each other well and balanced the other. He finally finds someone who does not annoy or bother him, and she is willing to marry him (thinking he is a monster) to save her sister but she also ends up seeing the good he has within him.
He is extremely protective of Grace. He falls for her and is shocked by how much he feels, considering he never has in his life.
Let me say this and I might not be in the majority, but I hated her sister. She was selfish and honestly at the end I felt so sorry for Grace for being so considerate of Ciara when Ciara could just do what she did and never blink an eye. I felt sad but also was happy that Grace was no longer burdened by putting Ciara first and finally was free. Though I hope one day she will remember all the good her sister did for her and all the pain she had so she never had to.
I enjoyed being introduced to this new mafia world and the people who will eventually get a book. We meet them briefly but there is one we see a lot more in this book than the rest and it makes me sad that his book is the last of the series!
''My beginning and end and everything in between''
Safety warnings
- H 38 / h 32
- No OW/OM drama
- No cheating
- Loss of loved ones
- Violence/d*ath
- Forced marriage
- Kidnapping
- Physical and mental abuse
- R*pe (not by MMC)
- Trauma/PTSD
- HEA
Michelle writes it, which means I will read it.
A new mafia series coming your way and it starts off with Dominik aka The Hermit.
Grace has always protected her younger sister from everything that would cause her any harm. She is willing to do anything to make sure she never has to go through any pain, even letting herself be the one who receives it.
Grace was married to an abusive and disgusting man and thankfully by the time this story starts he has been dead for a year though his actions towards Grace still brings her nightmares.
When her father announces that Ciara (her younger sister) will need to marry, Grace is absolutely against it and even begs for her to be considered for the marriage, but her dad has no intention of allowing her to marry again, after her last marriage was a ''disaster''.
Dominik, who has longed to live his life in absolute solitude, away from everything and everyone, agrees to this marriage for business purposes and makes it known he wants nothing to do with his future wife, he would even leave her where she is and just be married in name only.
The chemistry between Grace and Dominik was explosive, they really matched each other well and balanced the other. He finally finds someone who does not annoy or bother him, and she is willing to marry him (thinking he is a monster) to save her sister but she also ends up seeing the good he has within him.
He is extremely protective of Grace. He falls for her and is shocked by how much he feels, considering he never has in his life.
Let me say this and I might not be in the majority, but I hated her sister. She was selfish and honestly at the end I felt so sorry for Grace for being so considerate of Ciara when Ciara could just do what she did and never blink an eye. I felt sad but also was happy that Grace was no longer burdened by putting Ciara first and finally was free. Though I hope one day she will remember all the good her sister did for her and all the pain she had so she never had to.
I enjoyed being introduced to this new mafia world and the people who will eventually get a book. We meet them briefly but there is one we see a lot more in this book than the rest and it makes me sad that his book is the last of the series!
February 4, 2025
3.5 ⭐
I found this to be quite short, and I think that's why I didn't really get invested in it that much. The story touches on some pretty heavy topics, and it could be triggering for some readers. So, please check the TWs!
Story-wise, it wasn't anything I hadn't come across before. But I was still curious about how the author would handle it, and I'm interested in the MCs' interactions.
Dominik (38) is an assassin and arms dealer who has been hired by Ian, Grace's father, to rescue her from captivity. He accomplished it successfully, and in exchange, he asked for half of Ian's business profit as payment.
Ian wasn't ready to just hand it over like that. He needed something concrete, especially since he was looking to partner up with Dominik. So, he suggested setting up an arranged marriage between Dom and his younger daughter, Ciara.
Dominik isn't interested in marrying anybody else, but he's willing to do it in exchange for ownership of half of Ian's business. So he agreed, but he said that it would only be on paper, and if they needed to produce an heir, he would gladly do it by artificial insemination.
Here comes Grace (32). She went along with her father's plan to marry her off to her POS abusive late husband, all so her sister could marry for love. Her husband has been gone for a year now (assassinated by Dom, but both of them have no clue about this fact at first), and after the hellish two years she endured in that marriage, Grace wasn't looking to tie the knot again. At the same time, she wanted to look out for her sister and didn’t want her to go through the same hardship she dealt with in her first marriage. She wasn't interested in marrying Dom either; she just wanted her dad to stick to his promise that he wouldn't marry Ciara off, since that was the agreement they had before. But their dad is a selfish prick, and he still went ahead and approved the agreement.
Ian asked Dom to stay with them until the wedding ceremony so he could get to know Ciara better. So, that's where forced proximity comes into play.
Dom and Grace are forced to spend time together during family meals. Because she had been acting as her sister's personal bodyguard, determined to stop the wedding no matter what it took.
As the days went by, it was clear that despite their constant bickering, there was a growing attraction between them. He likes her feisty personality, and for some reason, she feels safe around him, even with his reputation.
So when Dom asked for a bride swap, Grace didn't hesitate to agree, not because she's interested in him—well, she is sort of, but mainly for her sister's sake. She's her priority, and she's willing to do everything to protect her.
Anyway, it was insta-something, and honestly, the sudden shift between them felt really unnatural.
See, Dom wasn't really the social type; he didn't have the energy to handle anyone other than his sister. Tbh, he doesn't want to deal with people at all, if he can avoid it. But as soon as he realized he was starting to like Grace, it was like his whole personality flipped overnight. He just can't help but be drawn to her and always wants to be near her. He said her presence doesn't annoy him, which is a bit of a change since usually just being around people tends to get on his nerves.
As for Grace, her fear of men and intimacy just seemed to disappear after spending a few days with Dom. Sure, he showed her that he’s not going to force or hurt her like her first husband did. But the way her trauma came across in the story, along with the constant silent panic attacks over certain things, really felt like it ran deep and needed to be handled properly with some professional help. But nope, there's not a single mention of that.
It was just impossible to believe that all her trauma and the fear she had built up over the years could just disappear like that, all because her husband of only a few days showed her so much respect and care. I might be able to go along with this if they had been together for months, but it's only been a few days (maybe a little over a week). And, out of nowhere, she's all of a sudden ready to get intimate with him? What’s up with that? Like, I need it to make sense.
But maybe readers are just meant to suspend their disbelief with this story and not overthink the whole duration of their relationship??? Idk, that topic was pretty intense, and I feel like it should've been approached more thoughtfully, and it deserved a lot more sensitivity, but unfortunately, I didn't see that level of care in this discussion.
As for the the suspense, it was alright, I suppose, but I think the villain had it way too easy, imo.
I'm really liking this alliance that Dom kicked off, and I'm pretty stoked to see how the stories of the other guys will unfold. Santiago's character is definitely my favorite (by far)—he's wild and funny, but he can also be deadly scary. I'm curious about the second book too. It's pretty rare to see a woman as the head of a mafia, so I can't wait to see how Cassia is going to be a total badass in her story.
Overall, it was pretty okay. The story was quick and really fast-paced. There's definitely some romance and suspense here, but honestly, I feel like it could have been even better if certain elements had a chance to breathe and develop more fully instead of being rushed. I really hope that in the next books, if they ever contain serious topics, they will be handled with the care and depth they deserve, rather than being glossed over.
Anyhoo, with that being said, I'm still looking forward to the upcoming book in this series.
Book info:
- Organized crime
- Forced marriage
- Violence
- Kidnapping
- Panic attacks/PTSD
- R@pe (on/off page, past)
- Domestic abuse
- No cheating, OM/OW, separation
- Instant attraction
- Slowburn
- No V (h - had been with one man only, H - celibate for a decade)
- Breeding (very light)
- Open door spice
- HEA (mos later, married and pregnant)
I found this to be quite short, and I think that's why I didn't really get invested in it that much. The story touches on some pretty heavy topics, and it could be triggering for some readers. So, please check the TWs!
Story-wise, it wasn't anything I hadn't come across before. But I was still curious about how the author would handle it, and I'm interested in the MCs' interactions.
Dominik (38) is an assassin and arms dealer who has been hired by Ian, Grace's father, to rescue her from captivity. He accomplished it successfully, and in exchange, he asked for half of Ian's business profit as payment.
Ian wasn't ready to just hand it over like that. He needed something concrete, especially since he was looking to partner up with Dominik. So, he suggested setting up an arranged marriage between Dom and his younger daughter, Ciara.
Dominik isn't interested in marrying anybody else, but he's willing to do it in exchange for ownership of half of Ian's business. So he agreed, but he said that it would only be on paper, and if they needed to produce an heir, he would gladly do it by artificial insemination.
Here comes Grace (32). She went along with her father's plan to marry her off to her POS abusive late husband, all so her sister could marry for love. Her husband has been gone for a year now (assassinated by Dom, but both of them have no clue about this fact at first), and after the hellish two years she endured in that marriage, Grace wasn't looking to tie the knot again. At the same time, she wanted to look out for her sister and didn’t want her to go through the same hardship she dealt with in her first marriage. She wasn't interested in marrying Dom either; she just wanted her dad to stick to his promise that he wouldn't marry Ciara off, since that was the agreement they had before. But their dad is a selfish prick, and he still went ahead and approved the agreement.
Ian asked Dom to stay with them until the wedding ceremony so he could get to know Ciara better. So, that's where forced proximity comes into play.
Dom and Grace are forced to spend time together during family meals. Because she had been acting as her sister's personal bodyguard, determined to stop the wedding no matter what it took.
As the days went by, it was clear that despite their constant bickering, there was a growing attraction between them. He likes her feisty personality, and for some reason, she feels safe around him, even with his reputation.
So when Dom asked for a bride swap, Grace didn't hesitate to agree, not because she's interested in him—well, she is sort of, but mainly for her sister's sake. She's her priority, and she's willing to do everything to protect her.
Anyway, it was insta-something, and honestly, the sudden shift between them felt really unnatural.
See, Dom wasn't really the social type; he didn't have the energy to handle anyone other than his sister. Tbh, he doesn't want to deal with people at all, if he can avoid it. But as soon as he realized he was starting to like Grace, it was like his whole personality flipped overnight. He just can't help but be drawn to her and always wants to be near her. He said her presence doesn't annoy him, which is a bit of a change since usually just being around people tends to get on his nerves.
As for Grace, her fear of men and intimacy just seemed to disappear after spending a few days with Dom. Sure, he showed her that he’s not going to force or hurt her like her first husband did. But the way her trauma came across in the story, along with the constant silent panic attacks over certain things, really felt like it ran deep and needed to be handled properly with some professional help. But nope, there's not a single mention of that.
It was just impossible to believe that all her trauma and the fear she had built up over the years could just disappear like that, all because her husband of only a few days showed her so much respect and care. I might be able to go along with this if they had been together for months, but it's only been a few days (maybe a little over a week). And, out of nowhere, she's all of a sudden ready to get intimate with him? What’s up with that? Like, I need it to make sense.
But maybe readers are just meant to suspend their disbelief with this story and not overthink the whole duration of their relationship??? Idk, that topic was pretty intense, and I feel like it should've been approached more thoughtfully, and it deserved a lot more sensitivity, but unfortunately, I didn't see that level of care in this discussion.
As for the the suspense, it was alright, I suppose, but I think the villain had it way too easy, imo.
I'm really liking this alliance that Dom kicked off, and I'm pretty stoked to see how the stories of the other guys will unfold. Santiago's character is definitely my favorite (by far)—he's wild and funny, but he can also be deadly scary. I'm curious about the second book too. It's pretty rare to see a woman as the head of a mafia, so I can't wait to see how Cassia is going to be a total badass in her story.
Overall, it was pretty okay. The story was quick and really fast-paced. There's definitely some romance and suspense here, but honestly, I feel like it could have been even better if certain elements had a chance to breathe and develop more fully instead of being rushed. I really hope that in the next books, if they ever contain serious topics, they will be handled with the care and depth they deserve, rather than being glossed over.
Anyhoo, with that being said, I'm still looking forward to the upcoming book in this series.
Book info:
- Organized crime
- Forced marriage
- Violence
- Kidnapping
- Panic attacks/PTSD
- R@pe (on/off page, past)
- Domestic abuse
- No cheating, OM/OW, separation
- Instant attraction
- Slowburn
- No V (h - had been with one man only, H - celibate for a decade)
- Breeding (very light)
- Open door spice
- HEA (mos later, married and pregnant)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2025
Sadly The Hermit didn’t work out for me. It actually started out promising. Suspense and action. I was intrigued by the story but the execution felt flat. It was too fast paced which didn’t leave much time or depth to Grace or Dominik. Grace has experienced a lot of trauma and I felt her overcoming it was too soon and how she did it was an easy way out. I needed more depth! Dominik was an ok hero but nothing out of the ordinary.
The writing was okay but at times it was a little too much. I was bored most of the time sadly.
The writing was okay but at times it was a little too much. I was bored most of the time sadly.
February 4, 2025
Grace was everything she was so strong with what she was out though by her dead husband and her father. 😭😭😭 she gave so much to her sister who was going to be forced to marry Dom so Grace made sure that didn't happen and we'll they banter and flirting between Dom and Grace was everything he hates everyone but his sister and he doesn't hate Grace. He loves that she stands up to him from the get-go and would do anything to save her sister. And little did she know he also saved her from her first husband.
Dom is making a team an alliance to help each other out, and he's taking his wife with him. Grace was learning the business. My only problem was I hated the sister with everything Grace done for that brat. She runs away and pretends her sister doesn't exist.
We also get some great side charas and I can't wait to see who they fall for.
No ow/om drama, no cheating, slight secondary character, drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶
Slowinsta
38H/32h
Pinning
Foece marriage
Violence
Kidnapping
Panic attacks
Ptsd
Rape
Pyshical and mental abuse
No condom
Hea
Dom is making a team an alliance to help each other out, and he's taking his wife with him. Grace was learning the business. My only problem was I hated the sister with everything Grace done for that brat. She runs away and pretends her sister doesn't exist.
We also get some great side charas and I can't wait to see who they fall for.
No ow/om drama, no cheating, slight secondary character, drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶
Slowinsta
38H/32h
Pinning
Foece marriage
Violence
Kidnapping
Panic attacks
Ptsd
Rape
Pyshical and mental abuse
No condom
Hea
December 11, 2025
»You're always quick to take care of others, never thinking of yourself. I'm the one who will take care of you.«
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
Poor woman suffered so much in her past. I could really relate to her and viewed her as a brave and intelligent woman.
❥ 𝑫𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒌 ࣪⋆✮
An introvert arms dealer who hates everyone on his personal space until he meets Grace? Amazing.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
I‘m such a huge Michelle Heard fan and her books never disappoint. She just knows how to write a good and entertaining mafia romance with unique characters and a packing storyline. I inhaled every single one of her mafia books and I‘m so glad she decided to write multiple new series set in the same world (I‘m so excited!).
This was a worthy beginning to an hopefully epic new world. I can‘t wait to read the next books.
Grace and Dominik stole my heart and I had a lot of fun following their story. It’s full of angst, tension and banter - the perfect combination. Dominik is kinda introvert which was interesting and I could relate to his personality. Grace is the only one who didn‘t annoy him and he quickly falls for her. Both are strong and brave with a traumatic past. Dominik is the perfect man for Grace cause he helps her overcome the trauma and has a whole lot of patience with her.
The side characters were awesome as well and I hope everyone get‘s their own book as well (especially Santiago, Cassia and Evinka).
Overall this was another amazing mafia romance by Michelle Heard and I will inhale all following books for sure.
𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
Yes! If you never read a book by this author then you definitely missed out on some good shit.
𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓 ׂㅤ𐙚 ࣪ ⭒
plot: 4/5
spice: 2/5
humor: 4/5
couple/tension: 5/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes
𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 ᡣ𐭩ྀི₊ ⊹
possessive and protective hero, instant attraction, touch her and die, forced proximity, trauma and healing, he falls first and harder, arms dealer / assassin x mafia princess, introvert mmc, morally grey but gentleman mmc, slow burn
𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲
ages: Grace (32) and Dominik (38)
cheating: no
sharing: no
kinks: no
𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 The Hermit ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 The High Priestess ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#3 Death ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#4 The Empress ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#5 The Devil ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
Poor woman suffered so much in her past. I could really relate to her and viewed her as a brave and intelligent woman.
❥ 𝑫𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒌 ࣪⋆✮
An introvert arms dealer who hates everyone on his personal space until he meets Grace? Amazing.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
I‘m such a huge Michelle Heard fan and her books never disappoint. She just knows how to write a good and entertaining mafia romance with unique characters and a packing storyline. I inhaled every single one of her mafia books and I‘m so glad she decided to write multiple new series set in the same world (I‘m so excited!).
This was a worthy beginning to an hopefully epic new world. I can‘t wait to read the next books.
Grace and Dominik stole my heart and I had a lot of fun following their story. It’s full of angst, tension and banter - the perfect combination. Dominik is kinda introvert which was interesting and I could relate to his personality. Grace is the only one who didn‘t annoy him and he quickly falls for her. Both are strong and brave with a traumatic past. Dominik is the perfect man for Grace cause he helps her overcome the trauma and has a whole lot of patience with her.
The side characters were awesome as well and I hope everyone get‘s their own book as well (especially Santiago, Cassia and Evinka).
Overall this was another amazing mafia romance by Michelle Heard and I will inhale all following books for sure.
𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
Yes! If you never read a book by this author then you definitely missed out on some good shit.
𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓 ׂㅤ𐙚 ࣪ ⭒
plot: 4/5
spice: 2/5
humor: 4/5
couple/tension: 5/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes
𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 ᡣ𐭩ྀི₊ ⊹
possessive and protective hero, instant attraction, touch her and die, forced proximity, trauma and healing, he falls first and harder, arms dealer / assassin x mafia princess, introvert mmc, morally grey but gentleman mmc, slow burn
𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲
ages: Grace (32) and Dominik (38)
cheating: no
sharing: no
kinks: no
𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 The Hermit ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 The High Priestess ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#3 Death ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#4 The Empress ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#5 The Devil ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
February 3, 2025
The Hermit by Michelle Heard
4/5⭐
2,5/5🌶️
"I know I force you, but I did it because you deserved so much better, and I couldn't leave you in Ireland. I wanted you here with me where you could heal, and nothing could hurt you again."
I discovered Michelle's books about two years ago, and I have to say, the moment I read her work, I was completely hooked! I binge-read three of her mafia series, and now she’s one of my top favorite authors in that genre. Her stories never disappoint me, and this latest one is no different. The chemistry between Dominik and Grace is undeniable from their first meeting, and I loved their banter! The tension, suspense, and even the side characters were fantastic — I just couldn’t put this book down and read it all in one sitting!
Dominik is such an interesting character; he's an assassin and arms dealer who’s a bit of a grump and prefers his solitude. He doesn’t like socializing until Grace comes along. Her fire, sass, and fierce personality drew him in, and I loved seeing how he grew to enjoy being with her. Grace, on the other hand, is incredibly strong and resilient. After going through terrible things at the hands of her ex-husband, she still shines, is compassionate, and becomes even braver. I admire her so much! What I loved was how protective Dominik was. Once he learns about Grace’s past, he’s so patient and understanding. He shows her that he’s nothing like her ex and that he would never hurt her. Watching Grace slowly open up and trust him was so heartwarming. And the way Grace can calm and understand Dominik is beautiful; they truly become each other's safe haven.
I also enjoyed the side characters a lot, especially Evinka and Santiago. I can’t wait to see if they get their own stories later on! I’ve always been a fan of the mafia world that Michelle has created in her books, and this first book is such a fantastic start for a new series. I’m super excited to dive into the next books and see how each of the character's story unfolds!
"No one has ever made me feel the way you do, and no one will. There's only you, Grace. You're a masterpiece that was made just for me."
4/5⭐
2,5/5🌶️
"I know I force you, but I did it because you deserved so much better, and I couldn't leave you in Ireland. I wanted you here with me where you could heal, and nothing could hurt you again."
I discovered Michelle's books about two years ago, and I have to say, the moment I read her work, I was completely hooked! I binge-read three of her mafia series, and now she’s one of my top favorite authors in that genre. Her stories never disappoint me, and this latest one is no different. The chemistry between Dominik and Grace is undeniable from their first meeting, and I loved their banter! The tension, suspense, and even the side characters were fantastic — I just couldn’t put this book down and read it all in one sitting!
Dominik is such an interesting character; he's an assassin and arms dealer who’s a bit of a grump and prefers his solitude. He doesn’t like socializing until Grace comes along. Her fire, sass, and fierce personality drew him in, and I loved seeing how he grew to enjoy being with her. Grace, on the other hand, is incredibly strong and resilient. After going through terrible things at the hands of her ex-husband, she still shines, is compassionate, and becomes even braver. I admire her so much! What I loved was how protective Dominik was. Once he learns about Grace’s past, he’s so patient and understanding. He shows her that he’s nothing like her ex and that he would never hurt her. Watching Grace slowly open up and trust him was so heartwarming. And the way Grace can calm and understand Dominik is beautiful; they truly become each other's safe haven.
I also enjoyed the side characters a lot, especially Evinka and Santiago. I can’t wait to see if they get their own stories later on! I’ve always been a fan of the mafia world that Michelle has created in her books, and this first book is such a fantastic start for a new series. I’m super excited to dive into the next books and see how each of the character's story unfolds!
"No one has ever made me feel the way you do, and no one will. There's only you, Grace. You're a masterpiece that was made just for me."
October 1, 2025
Meant to Be
Grace is the daughter of some kind of mafia… I am guessing Irish, but I may have missed it. She is kidnapped and in full panic as she is beaten and about to molested. Her father is on the phone and doing nothing to rescue her, when suddenly a man comes through the window shooting her attackers.
Dominick does not like people, but he discovers that he likes Grace. He knows immediately, because she doesn’t annoy him. Dominick hates everyone except his sister and now Grace.
This is an action packed, spicy romance that is swoon worthy once you get past the build up. It started a little slow, but picked up fast and wouldn’t let me leave the book overnight. Solid four star love fest.
Grace is the daughter of some kind of mafia… I am guessing Irish, but I may have missed it. She is kidnapped and in full panic as she is beaten and about to molested. Her father is on the phone and doing nothing to rescue her, when suddenly a man comes through the window shooting her attackers.
Dominick does not like people, but he discovers that he likes Grace. He knows immediately, because she doesn’t annoy him. Dominick hates everyone except his sister and now Grace.
This is an action packed, spicy romance that is swoon worthy once you get past the build up. It started a little slow, but picked up fast and wouldn’t let me leave the book overnight. Solid four star love fest.
November 30, 2025
Another thoroughly enjoyable romance from Michelle Heard. Where the hero is cold as ice and then melts into pudding.
No notes!
5 Stars
2.5 on the spice scale
No notes!
5 Stars
2.5 on the spice scale
April 16, 2025
3.5 - 3.75 ⭐️’s
(P.s I wish we could rate in 1/2 stars on here😪)
I’m so sorry but I was kinda disappointed ☹️
All the elements were there but it was lacking a depth to really engross me in the story.
Also I thought the story was going to be way diff based on synopsis - I thought the whole book would be of brewing tension in a forbidden-forced-proximity environment until it finally comes to a head (😉pun intended) causing the FMC & MMC to finally be together
Nope, this was a surface level read DESPITE the torturous backgrounds of the main characters which is rlly saying something imo.
Safety
I did hesitate picking this up for awhile thinking it would be heavy on the ow drama but:
it’s completely safe! H didn’t think twice or have a flicker of attraction towards h’s sister (& h’s sister felt the same, she was terrified of him). H & h are all for each other, read away safely if u so choose 🤞✨🩷
Tropes & Such
-mafia
-instalust
-forced/arranged marriage
-mentions of SA (past, semi-detailed, explicit wording)
-No opd, no cheating
***CONTAINS SPOILERS BELOW‼️👇***
Likes & Dislikes:
DISLIKES
-could’ve gone with a little more prolonging & tension/development between Grace & Dominik. It was good, they had initial attraction & this then developed but it could’ve been dragged out more. It started out w/ a smidgen of tension but then boom insta-lust quickly turned love.
-CIARA WAS THE WORST!!!!!! Omg this made me rage:
••Grace protected her thru EVERYTHING & she had the nerve to leave without telling Grave when:
1. Grace literally said don’t do that, don’t run away without me, we’ll go together
2. That means Grace is left to deal with the fall out & issues Ciara ran away from
What the actual fuck. I wanted Grace to be MAD? I wanted her to tell Ciara off
1. ALSO: when their dad died Ciara could’ve come out of hiding & told Grace where she was but CHOSE not to. Grace literally did so much for her it boiled my blood. She was so selfish.
-this is a personal pet peeve (that this book is not alone in doing but): Haaate when a character is “all bad”. Ilias for example , I get his character is to be an asshole but it’s less believable if he’s always the one being an asshole etc & everyone hates him. Giving some “redeemable” qualities (whether he deserves them or not) gives depth & feels more realistic to real life (so it would be more complex if he died etc esp considering book 2 is ab his daughter)
-the passing out scene???? That gave me weird vibes Dominik didn’t immediately stop bc they never once had convo ab if it was ok & considering all Grave went thru
-why Dominik always gave “a sexy smirk” and why was Graces “heart racing” 24/7, pls use something else to describe the tension 😵💫
LIKES
-Alan and Evinka ??? 👀👀 was that just me?
-🫦Can’t lie.. I did kinda like how she was the only one who could calm him. (Tho he was dickish to others for no reason). But still:
“Dominik,” I snap. “You will sit still and let the doctor do his work.” I place my hand on his shoulder. “Please. For me.” “Fine,” he grumbles, giving Dr. Antonio a nod. While Dominik’s head and side are inspected, I can feel how tense he is and keep my hand on his shoulder.”
-Grace: I liked how straightforward she was about her needs, wants, & feelings at times!
(P.s I wish we could rate in 1/2 stars on here😪)
I’m so sorry but I was kinda disappointed ☹️
All the elements were there but it was lacking a depth to really engross me in the story.
Also I thought the story was going to be way diff based on synopsis - I thought the whole book would be of brewing tension in a forbidden-forced-proximity environment until it finally comes to a head (😉pun intended) causing the FMC & MMC to finally be together
Nope, this was a surface level read DESPITE the torturous backgrounds of the main characters which is rlly saying something imo.
Safety
I did hesitate picking this up for awhile thinking it would be heavy on the ow drama but:
it’s completely safe! H didn’t think twice or have a flicker of attraction towards h’s sister (& h’s sister felt the same, she was terrified of him). H & h are all for each other, read away safely if u so choose 🤞✨🩷
Tropes & Such
-mafia
-instalust
-forced/arranged marriage
-mentions of SA (past, semi-detailed, explicit wording)
-No opd, no cheating
***CONTAINS SPOILERS BELOW‼️👇***
Likes & Dislikes:
DISLIKES
-could’ve gone with a little more prolonging & tension/development between Grace & Dominik. It was good, they had initial attraction & this then developed but it could’ve been dragged out more. It started out w/ a smidgen of tension but then boom insta-lust quickly turned love.
-CIARA WAS THE WORST!!!!!! Omg this made me rage:
••Grace protected her thru EVERYTHING & she had the nerve to leave without telling Grave when:
1. Grace literally said don’t do that, don’t run away without me, we’ll go together
2. That means Grace is left to deal with the fall out & issues Ciara ran away from
What the actual fuck. I wanted Grace to be MAD? I wanted her to tell Ciara off
1. ALSO: when their dad died Ciara could’ve come out of hiding & told Grace where she was but CHOSE not to. Grace literally did so much for her it boiled my blood. She was so selfish.
-this is a personal pet peeve (that this book is not alone in doing but): Haaate when a character is “all bad”. Ilias for example , I get his character is to be an asshole but it’s less believable if he’s always the one being an asshole etc & everyone hates him. Giving some “redeemable” qualities (whether he deserves them or not) gives depth & feels more realistic to real life (so it would be more complex if he died etc esp considering book 2 is ab his daughter)
-the passing out scene???? That gave me weird vibes Dominik didn’t immediately stop bc they never once had convo ab if it was ok & considering all Grave went thru
-why Dominik always gave “a sexy smirk” and why was Graces “heart racing” 24/7, pls use something else to describe the tension 😵💫
LIKES
-Alan and Evinka ??? 👀👀 was that just me?
-🫦Can’t lie.. I did kinda like how she was the only one who could calm him. (Tho he was dickish to others for no reason). But still:
“Dominik,” I snap. “You will sit still and let the doctor do his work.” I place my hand on his shoulder. “Please. For me.” “Fine,” he grumbles, giving Dr. Antonio a nod. While Dominik’s head and side are inspected, I can feel how tense he is and keep my hand on his shoulder.”
-Grace: I liked how straightforward she was about her needs, wants, & feelings at times!
February 18, 2025
Grace has always sacrificed for her younger sister, Ciara—even enduring a hellish arranged marriage to secure Ciara’s freedom. Now widowed and carrying deep scars from her past, she’s horrified when their father arranges another marriage for Ciara, this time to Dominik Varga—a ruthless assassin and arms dealer. Determined to protect her sister, Grace is ready to fight, but Dominik isn’t just another monster in her life.
Dominik, known as The Hermit, has no interest in love or companionship. He agrees to the marriage purely for business, intending to keep his distance. But when Grace steps in, ready to take her sister’s place, his carefully controlled world begins to unravel.
Grace and Dominik’s chemistry is explosive. Their slow-burn connection is intense, with Dominik’s protective nature contrasting beautifully with Grace’s resilience and defiance. He’s never cared about anyone before in a romantic way, yet he finds himself drawn to her. Grace, despite her trauma, refuses to cower and instead challenges him at every turn. Their dynamic is fiery, filled with push and pull, but also moments of tenderness that make their bond all the more satisfying.
Dominik is a powerful, dangerous man, but in true Michelle Heard fashion, he is also deeply loyal and fiercely protective of his woman. Watching him fall for Grace, despite his resistance, is incredibly rewarding.
We get glimpses of other characters who will have their own stories, and I’m already eager to read more. However, I have to admit—I did not like Ciara. She came across as selfish, and while Grace gave up so much for her, she didn’t seem to fully appreciate it. That part of the story left me frustrated.
Overall, this was a fantastic start to a new series!
This book contains dark themes, including violence, trauma, and abuse. While these elements are handled well within the story, they might be triggering for some readers.
Dominik, known as The Hermit, has no interest in love or companionship. He agrees to the marriage purely for business, intending to keep his distance. But when Grace steps in, ready to take her sister’s place, his carefully controlled world begins to unravel.
Grace and Dominik’s chemistry is explosive. Their slow-burn connection is intense, with Dominik’s protective nature contrasting beautifully with Grace’s resilience and defiance. He’s never cared about anyone before in a romantic way, yet he finds himself drawn to her. Grace, despite her trauma, refuses to cower and instead challenges him at every turn. Their dynamic is fiery, filled with push and pull, but also moments of tenderness that make their bond all the more satisfying.
Dominik is a powerful, dangerous man, but in true Michelle Heard fashion, he is also deeply loyal and fiercely protective of his woman. Watching him fall for Grace, despite his resistance, is incredibly rewarding.
We get glimpses of other characters who will have their own stories, and I’m already eager to read more. However, I have to admit—I did not like Ciara. She came across as selfish, and while Grace gave up so much for her, she didn’t seem to fully appreciate it. That part of the story left me frustrated.
Overall, this was a fantastic start to a new series!
This book contains dark themes, including violence, trauma, and abuse. While these elements are handled well within the story, they might be triggering for some readers.
February 9, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
While I wasn't too impressed with the author's previous books, I can't help but keep reading her work.
The story follows a widow who had previously entered an arranged marriage so her sister could marry for love. Now her father is making arrangements for Dominik to marry her sister. When he moves into their house, she finds herself not only fighting for her sister's freedom but also struggling to protect her own heart from falling for him.
I enjoyed this story more than the author's previous works because there was better character development and connection between the protagonists. The relationship evolved naturally, which encouraged me to continue reading her books. Grace proved to be incredibly brave throughout her experiences, though I must say her sister's behavior wasn't entirely to my liking.
I hope the author maintains this slower-paced romance development instead of rushing into instant love. The story was quite addictive, making it a solid choice for readers interested in mafia romance novels.
Aunque los libros anteriores de la autora no me impresionaron tanto, no puedo evitar seguir leyendo sus obras.
La historia sigue a una viuda que anteriormente aceptó un matrimonio arreglado para que su hermana pudiera casarse por amor. Ahora, su padre está haciendo arreglos para que Dominik se case con su hermana. Cuando él se muda a su casa, ella no solo debe luchar por la libertad de su hermana, sino también por proteger su propio corazón de enamorarse de él.
Esta historia me gustó más que las obras anteriores de la autora porque hubo un mejor desarrollo de personajes y una conexión más profunda entre los protagonistas. La relación evolucionó de manera natural, lo que me anima a seguir leyendo sus libros.
Grace demostró ser increíblemente valiente a lo largo de sus experiencias, aunque debo decir que el comportamiento de su hermana no fue completamente de mi agrado.
Espero que la autora mantenga este desarrollo más pausado del romance en lugar de precipitarse en un amor instantáneo. La historia resultó bastante adictiva, lo que la convierte en una buena opción para lectores interesados en novelas románticas de mafia.
While I wasn't too impressed with the author's previous books, I can't help but keep reading her work.
The story follows a widow who had previously entered an arranged marriage so her sister could marry for love. Now her father is making arrangements for Dominik to marry her sister. When he moves into their house, she finds herself not only fighting for her sister's freedom but also struggling to protect her own heart from falling for him.
I enjoyed this story more than the author's previous works because there was better character development and connection between the protagonists. The relationship evolved naturally, which encouraged me to continue reading her books. Grace proved to be incredibly brave throughout her experiences, though I must say her sister's behavior wasn't entirely to my liking.
I hope the author maintains this slower-paced romance development instead of rushing into instant love. The story was quite addictive, making it a solid choice for readers interested in mafia romance novels.
Aunque los libros anteriores de la autora no me impresionaron tanto, no puedo evitar seguir leyendo sus obras.
La historia sigue a una viuda que anteriormente aceptó un matrimonio arreglado para que su hermana pudiera casarse por amor. Ahora, su padre está haciendo arreglos para que Dominik se case con su hermana. Cuando él se muda a su casa, ella no solo debe luchar por la libertad de su hermana, sino también por proteger su propio corazón de enamorarse de él.
Esta historia me gustó más que las obras anteriores de la autora porque hubo un mejor desarrollo de personajes y una conexión más profunda entre los protagonistas. La relación evolucionó de manera natural, lo que me anima a seguir leyendo sus libros.
Grace demostró ser increíblemente valiente a lo largo de sus experiencias, aunque debo decir que el comportamiento de su hermana no fue completamente de mi agrado.
Espero que la autora mantenga este desarrollo más pausado del romance en lugar de precipitarse en un amor instantáneo. La historia resultó bastante adictiva, lo que la convierte en una buena opción para lectores interesados en novelas románticas de mafia.
February 12, 2025
3,5 💫 | Gracias, Michelle, por regresarme la fé en tus libros 🙏🙏🙏. Muak 💋.
¡Me gustó mucho! Me tuvo muy entretenida con todo lo que pasaba, aunque no hay tanta acción, es más romance.
La relación entre Grace y Dom me encantó. El hecho de que él fuera un ermitaño y solo la quisiera a ella cerca me hizo chillar.
Osea, Dom literalmente necesitaba recargar su batería social, y lo hacía tocándole, abrazándola o solo teniéndola junto a él 😩💗.
Creo que es de mis parejas favoritas de Michelle 💕.
AMO los apodos en otro idioma, mi debilidad 😔🤚💗.
Peroooo no le pongo más calificación porque siento que me falto algo, ya que es cierto que los libros de esta autora no son tan desarrollados.
Y porque siento que el libro de Santiago me va a gustar mucho más *gritito*.
Ese tipo solo hablaba y yo quería saber más de él. Osea ¿la parte donde dice que en su lectura del tarot le salió que el amor de su vida va a llegar pronto e iba a tener una larga vida con ella? JKAJAJJAJA LO AMO.
También espero el libro de Evinka *rezo*, estoy segura de que va con Alan, a mi no me engañan.
Eso es todo, sí lo recomiendo, es rápido y fácil de leer ✨. Me pareció un buen inicio para esta nueva saga de mafia.
¡Me gustó mucho! Me tuvo muy entretenida con todo lo que pasaba, aunque no hay tanta acción, es más romance.
La relación entre Grace y Dom me encantó. El hecho de que él fuera un ermitaño y solo la quisiera a ella cerca me hizo chillar.
Osea, Dom literalmente necesitaba recargar su batería social, y lo hacía tocándole, abrazándola o solo teniéndola junto a él 😩💗.
Creo que es de mis parejas favoritas de Michelle 💕.
AMO los apodos en otro idioma, mi debilidad 😔🤚💗.
Peroooo no le pongo más calificación porque siento que me falto algo, ya que es cierto que los libros de esta autora no son tan desarrollados.
Y porque siento que el libro de Santiago me va a gustar mucho más *gritito*.
Ese tipo solo hablaba y yo quería saber más de él. Osea ¿la parte donde dice que en su lectura del tarot le salió que el amor de su vida va a llegar pronto e iba a tener una larga vida con ella? JKAJAJJAJA LO AMO.
También espero el libro de Evinka *rezo*, estoy segura de que va con Alan, a mi no me engañan.
Eso es todo, sí lo recomiendo, es rápido y fácil de leer ✨. Me pareció un buen inicio para esta nueva saga de mafia.
February 13, 2025
This was genuinely atrocious. She marries to save her sister, gets abused, she then tries to save her sister again and her sister leaves her and vanishes?? And then they marry, surprise a few days later she is ready to have sex again after being traumatised up to now. Oh and he’s organising some ‘mafia alliance’ on an island with a fortress they’re building. Man what the wattpad.
February 15, 2025
Again..DEVOURED. Michelle Heard can not write a bad mafia book. It’s impossible!
Spoiler - I think the sister is being held hostage….by an enemy but it may be an enemies to lovers situation 👀
Spoiler - I think the sister is being held hostage….by an enemy but it may be an enemies to lovers situation 👀
February 7, 2025
Yo al parecer no puedo dejar de leer a la autora sabiendo que no me gustan mucho sus libros pero este no estuvo tan mal 👀
Todo lo que quiere Grace es tener una vida tranquila, después de quedar viuda lo único que quiere es cuidar a su hermana menor pero todo se complica cuando está hermana es comprometida a Dominik lo cual para Grace es inaceptable ya que no quiere dejar a su hermana en manos de un asesino pero cuando lo empieza a conocer se preguntara si lo juzgo mal.
La verdad yo he intentado varias veces leer a la Michelle y no más no me terminan gustando sus historias y me quedo en el primer libro y no continúo con la serie perooo creo que está será la excepción ☝🏻 si tiene varia cosa que no me gustó pero siento que si quieres algo de mafia corto y que engancha puede ser tu libro.
Los protagonistas me gustaron no tengo mucho que resaltar de ellos pero algo que me gusta de la autora es que los pocos libros que he leído los hombres son muy lindos y aquí no fue la excepción, un amor con ella, Grace también muy valiente sin importar por todo lo que tuvo que vivir 💔 trataba de mostrar lo mejor de ella y sacaba las garras por los que más quería, él papá un idiota, los otros personajes que salieron me gustaron me tienen bastante intrigada.
El romance lo sentí un poco más lento que en otras historias de ella, solo un poco, y aunque no me encanta su instalove creo que se me hizo más fácil ignorar eso.
Algo que quería mencionar y tal vez este párrafo tenga spoiler es la hermana de ella, no se que onda, la verdad desde un principio no me cayó muy bien, sentí que dejaba que Grace hiciera todo, se sacrificara para ella estar bien y nunca la sentí muy agradecida, puede que es por qué es muy mimada pero eso no hace que me gustará y luego al final que se escapa y se olvida de ella 🥴 cómo por? Leí teorías de que tal vez este secuestrada y sí, tiene sentido pero ya veremos, puede que consiga su propio historia pero Michelle necesita hacer un buen desarrollo por qué no me cae bien.
En general no fue lo mejor peroo estuvo entretenido y si me dejó enganchada para las siguientes historias.
Todo lo que quiere Grace es tener una vida tranquila, después de quedar viuda lo único que quiere es cuidar a su hermana menor pero todo se complica cuando está hermana es comprometida a Dominik lo cual para Grace es inaceptable ya que no quiere dejar a su hermana en manos de un asesino pero cuando lo empieza a conocer se preguntara si lo juzgo mal.
La verdad yo he intentado varias veces leer a la Michelle y no más no me terminan gustando sus historias y me quedo en el primer libro y no continúo con la serie perooo creo que está será la excepción ☝🏻 si tiene varia cosa que no me gustó pero siento que si quieres algo de mafia corto y que engancha puede ser tu libro.
Los protagonistas me gustaron no tengo mucho que resaltar de ellos pero algo que me gusta de la autora es que los pocos libros que he leído los hombres son muy lindos y aquí no fue la excepción, un amor con ella, Grace también muy valiente sin importar por todo lo que tuvo que vivir 💔 trataba de mostrar lo mejor de ella y sacaba las garras por los que más quería, él papá un idiota, los otros personajes que salieron me gustaron me tienen bastante intrigada.
El romance lo sentí un poco más lento que en otras historias de ella, solo un poco, y aunque no me encanta su instalove creo que se me hizo más fácil ignorar eso.
Algo que quería mencionar y tal vez este párrafo tenga spoiler es la hermana de ella, no se que onda, la verdad desde un principio no me cayó muy bien, sentí que dejaba que Grace hiciera todo, se sacrificara para ella estar bien y nunca la sentí muy agradecida, puede que es por qué es muy mimada pero eso no hace que me gustará y luego al final que se escapa y se olvida de ella 🥴 cómo por? Leí teorías de que tal vez este secuestrada y sí, tiene sentido pero ya veremos, puede que consiga su propio historia pero Michelle necesita hacer un buen desarrollo por qué no me cae bien.
En general no fue lo mejor peroo estuvo entretenido y si me dejó enganchada para las siguientes historias.
February 12, 2025
0 Stars – A Masterpiece in Absurdity
Ladies and gentlemen, gather around, because I have just survived 40% of what might be the most accidentally hilarious excuse for a mafia romance I’ve ever read. That’s right, I couldn’t even finish it. I tried. I really did. But there comes a point where you have to ask yourself: Do I value my sanity? And the answer, my friends, was yes.
So, let’s get into this literary marvel.
We have Grace, a mafia princess who makes a noble sacrifice to marry for mafia business purposes so her little sister can marry for love. Aww, how selfless. So touching. Meanwhile, her future husband, Dominik, is supposedly a terrifying, cold-blooded mafia boss. You know, the kind of man who strikes fear into his enemies and definitely isn’t sitting in a dark room writing angsty poetry about his hatred of human interaction.
Except plot twist! He actually is that guy. Because within a single day of meeting Grace, he suddenly likes her. Yes, this hermit, this socially allergic mafia don who apparently hasn’t touched a woman in over a decade (and is proud of it, for some reason) goes from I hate people to I like you, Grace.
Now, let me bless you with his profound words of wisdom:
“Sex isn’t an essential part of my life. Come to think of it, it has probably been over a decade since I last got laid.
It doesn’t matter because being intimate with someone means letting them into your life.
Like I said, I’m a hermit, and the mere thought of being around people tires me. I need months to recover from one day of social interaction, so having a woman in my personal space is not an option at all.”
Sir… be for real. You’re a mafia boss, not some introverted IT guy who codes in a basement and gets winded from making eye contact. You expect me to believe that a man running organized crime hasn’t had a single moment of stress relief in over ten years? Not even with a high-class escort? A one-night stand? A handshake with destiny? Nothing?
And then—oh, this is where the book ascends to divine levels of stupidity—we have a mafia group chat. Yes, you read that right. A WhatsApp for killers.
Because nothing screams organized crime mastermind like a bunch of mafia bosses casually texting each other about illegal activities. I mean, why bother with burner phones, encrypted messages, or, I don’t know, not leaving digital evidence of your crimes when you can just drop a “Hey guys, what’s up, let’s talk murder & business” in the group chat? Maybe throw in a voice note, too, just to make sure the Feds have clear recordings when they come knocking.
And if you think that’s bad, hold on because then, Dominik, our brilliant strategist, decides he needs a private meeting with his fellow mafia bosses. But not just anywhere. On an island. A 100-million-dollar island that he just… buys. In one day.
Oh, but it gets better. The island is untouched, meaning there’s literally nothing there. No infrastructure, no buildings, just nature. And yet, somehow, in two to three days, he manages to have an entire high-tech fortress built on it because apparently, his construction crew consists of genies, time travelers, and supernatural bricklayers.
I’m sorry, but… be serious. Even fiction has limits. A mafia don is not out here placing same-day delivery orders for islands and summoning a fully built security fortress out of thin air like he’s playing The Sims.
At 40%, I had to ask myself: How much longer can I let my brain cells suffer? And the answer was: not one more page.
To the readers who rated this 4+ stars and called it “the best mafia book ever” sweethearts, are you okay? Have you never read Mila Finelli? Rina Kent? Because this? This is not mafia. This is a fever dream written by someone who thinks “mafia” means a broody man with a gun and a billionaire bank account.
And to the author
why? Why did you write this? Did you even skim your own book before publishing, or did you just assume we’d be too distracted by the word “mafia” to notice the absolute circus of nonsense happening here?
Final verdict: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. Save yourself. Read literally anything else.
Ladies and gentlemen, gather around, because I have just survived 40% of what might be the most accidentally hilarious excuse for a mafia romance I’ve ever read. That’s right, I couldn’t even finish it. I tried. I really did. But there comes a point where you have to ask yourself: Do I value my sanity? And the answer, my friends, was yes.
So, let’s get into this literary marvel.
We have Grace, a mafia princess who makes a noble sacrifice to marry for mafia business purposes so her little sister can marry for love. Aww, how selfless. So touching. Meanwhile, her future husband, Dominik, is supposedly a terrifying, cold-blooded mafia boss. You know, the kind of man who strikes fear into his enemies and definitely isn’t sitting in a dark room writing angsty poetry about his hatred of human interaction.
Except plot twist! He actually is that guy. Because within a single day of meeting Grace, he suddenly likes her. Yes, this hermit, this socially allergic mafia don who apparently hasn’t touched a woman in over a decade (and is proud of it, for some reason) goes from I hate people to I like you, Grace.
Now, let me bless you with his profound words of wisdom:
“Sex isn’t an essential part of my life. Come to think of it, it has probably been over a decade since I last got laid.
It doesn’t matter because being intimate with someone means letting them into your life.
Like I said, I’m a hermit, and the mere thought of being around people tires me. I need months to recover from one day of social interaction, so having a woman in my personal space is not an option at all.”
Sir… be for real. You’re a mafia boss, not some introverted IT guy who codes in a basement and gets winded from making eye contact. You expect me to believe that a man running organized crime hasn’t had a single moment of stress relief in over ten years? Not even with a high-class escort? A one-night stand? A handshake with destiny? Nothing?
And then—oh, this is where the book ascends to divine levels of stupidity—we have a mafia group chat. Yes, you read that right. A WhatsApp for killers.
Because nothing screams organized crime mastermind like a bunch of mafia bosses casually texting each other about illegal activities. I mean, why bother with burner phones, encrypted messages, or, I don’t know, not leaving digital evidence of your crimes when you can just drop a “Hey guys, what’s up, let’s talk murder & business” in the group chat? Maybe throw in a voice note, too, just to make sure the Feds have clear recordings when they come knocking.
And if you think that’s bad, hold on because then, Dominik, our brilliant strategist, decides he needs a private meeting with his fellow mafia bosses. But not just anywhere. On an island. A 100-million-dollar island that he just… buys. In one day.
Oh, but it gets better. The island is untouched, meaning there’s literally nothing there. No infrastructure, no buildings, just nature. And yet, somehow, in two to three days, he manages to have an entire high-tech fortress built on it because apparently, his construction crew consists of genies, time travelers, and supernatural bricklayers.
I’m sorry, but… be serious. Even fiction has limits. A mafia don is not out here placing same-day delivery orders for islands and summoning a fully built security fortress out of thin air like he’s playing The Sims.
At 40%, I had to ask myself: How much longer can I let my brain cells suffer? And the answer was: not one more page.
To the readers who rated this 4+ stars and called it “the best mafia book ever” sweethearts, are you okay? Have you never read Mila Finelli? Rina Kent? Because this? This is not mafia. This is a fever dream written by someone who thinks “mafia” means a broody man with a gun and a billionaire bank account.
And to the author
why? Why did you write this? Did you even skim your own book before publishing, or did you just assume we’d be too distracted by the word “mafia” to notice the absolute circus of nonsense happening here?
Final verdict: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. Save yourself. Read literally anything else.
February 14, 2025
I have always been in love with the way this author writes her dark romances and nothing beats her Mafia romances with the same touch! The characters are to die for and the soft chemistry she always gives her characters is something I have found lacking in most books. This book was the same and Dominic totally drew me in right from the start lol.
This one is a standalone and it’s been a while since I have read a dark romance by this author so I started this one as soon as it landed on my kindle. I finished it in a single sitting and have been in a slump ever since. I have been craving more dark romance novels now!
The pace for this one is great and so is the character development. I loved the side characters too and can already see many of them getting their own tales and I am looking forward to more in this series too. Definitely recommending this one to all the dark romance loving people out there who are into tropes like mafia romance too!
This one is a standalone and it’s been a while since I have read a dark romance by this author so I started this one as soon as it landed on my kindle. I finished it in a single sitting and have been in a slump ever since. I have been craving more dark romance novels now!
The pace for this one is great and so is the character development. I loved the side characters too and can already see many of them getting their own tales and I am looking forward to more in this series too. Definitely recommending this one to all the dark romance loving people out there who are into tropes like mafia romance too!
Read
February 23, 2025Unfortunately I did get the ick
February 16, 2025
My Review:
The Hermit was delightful and had its flaws in some ways. I was very curious to see what the author would deliver on this one and most of the time she really brings together some impactful mafia romances and The Hermit was definitely impactful. Don't let my rating fool you, I still enjoyed this book quite a bit when I read it.
I first want to go over the things that I loved. The HERO is what made this book so amazing and I am not even being humble about that lol On the surface Dominik seems to be like your a typical mafia hero but even from the beginning you sense something different about him. He is an introvert. And I resonated so much with him. When you see him talking about not wanting to be married because he would have to be around a human lol I totally understood that. Now there is some angst between Dominik and the heroine Grace. Grace is overprotective and she is damaged emotionally as she suffered a domestic abusive relationship with her first husband who was killed. And her sister is sensitive and more vulnerable. But there is chemistry between Grace and Dominik and when Grace's sister runs away from the situation, Grace does the honorable thing and marries Dominik but he isn't what she expected. He is patient and understanding and isn't pushing her boundaries until she is ready. But he is the first man she is learning to trust. Dominik was PERFECTION!!! In their moments as husband and wife, he is so romantic and patient and once he learns she suffered an abusive relationship he treats her just right. And literally gives her all the HEARTS AND FLOWERS and I just about swooned!! So perfect for Valentines Day weekend.
My issues were first the heroine Grace. She was a bit crazy lol And honestly her character just didn't really make that much sense to me until the later half. But I also didn't understand why she wasn't more concerned over her sister but maybe those answers will come in the series as I am hoping the sister will have a book. I kinda would love her with Santiago. And my other issue (and BIG SPOILER ALERT) Is that when there is a big battle to fight against the Bratva, Dominik takes Grace with him and she is SO not a fighter lol she honestly would have been safe at his hideout which hardly no one knows about. It just didn't make sense to me at all.
Overall I had a blast with The Hermit and I can't wait to see what this author delivers for the series in the near future.
The Hermit was delightful and had its flaws in some ways. I was very curious to see what the author would deliver on this one and most of the time she really brings together some impactful mafia romances and The Hermit was definitely impactful. Don't let my rating fool you, I still enjoyed this book quite a bit when I read it.
I first want to go over the things that I loved. The HERO is what made this book so amazing and I am not even being humble about that lol On the surface Dominik seems to be like your a typical mafia hero but even from the beginning you sense something different about him. He is an introvert. And I resonated so much with him. When you see him talking about not wanting to be married because he would have to be around a human lol I totally understood that. Now there is some angst between Dominik and the heroine Grace. Grace is overprotective and she is damaged emotionally as she suffered a domestic abusive relationship with her first husband who was killed. And her sister is sensitive and more vulnerable. But there is chemistry between Grace and Dominik and when Grace's sister runs away from the situation, Grace does the honorable thing and marries Dominik but he isn't what she expected. He is patient and understanding and isn't pushing her boundaries until she is ready. But he is the first man she is learning to trust. Dominik was PERFECTION!!! In their moments as husband and wife, he is so romantic and patient and once he learns she suffered an abusive relationship he treats her just right. And literally gives her all the HEARTS AND FLOWERS and I just about swooned!! So perfect for Valentines Day weekend.
My issues were first the heroine Grace. She was a bit crazy lol And honestly her character just didn't really make that much sense to me until the later half. But I also didn't understand why she wasn't more concerned over her sister but maybe those answers will come in the series as I am hoping the sister will have a book. I kinda would love her with Santiago. And my other issue (and BIG SPOILER ALERT) Is that when there is a big battle to fight against the Bratva, Dominik takes Grace with him and she is SO not a fighter lol she honestly would have been safe at his hideout which hardly no one knows about. It just didn't make sense to me at all.
Overall I had a blast with The Hermit and I can't wait to see what this author delivers for the series in the near future.
general-romance-non-v-mmc-or-no-v
February 3, 2025safety note:
Both Non V
MMC celibate for a decade already
FMC has only ever been with the ex husband
( She never was with him willingly. She was forced. T.T )
Read responsibly and read the content / trigger warning beforehand.
The FMC was sa-ed by her then husband and is physically and mentally abusive to her
There is No OW nor OM Drama
32 h and 38 H
HEA, married and with a child on the way.
++++++++++
To be honest, I think this is a wasted opportunity for a Virgin MMC but that was just for me. Given the fact that He is a hermit; dislike people in his space and being surrounded with them in general.
I felt like the novel lacked in terms of building up, and wrapping up the FMC's backstory. Also, how her trauma was dealt with?? yeaaa no shiit ain't no way a right man just comes along and suddenly it was just almost as if the trauma disappeared. Well, that is how I feel here.
Also, I love the fire in the FMC, how she talks back and fight for the one she cared for. But suddenly, when the relationship and romance progressed between her and the MMC, she suddenly became the soft, generic, damsel in distress type of heroine. And I kinda hated it.
Anw, I need more resolution with FMC's sister bc ain't no way should it be left like that?
The MMC was okay. The usual possessive MMC but nothing that stands out.
The story was okay. Safe to say, It is a good read to pass some time :)
I like Evinka though( MMC's sister by choice), she is a badass secondary character and if ever she would have a story, I hope she doesn't lose her attitude and bravery and turned into the weak fmc stereotype. that would make me sad bc of the chemistry, and potential build up of her character here.
Both Non V
MMC celibate for a decade already
FMC has only ever been with the ex husband
( She never was with him willingly. She was forced. T.T )
Read responsibly and read the content / trigger warning beforehand.
The FMC was sa-ed by her then husband and is physically and mentally abusive to her
There is No OW nor OM Drama
32 h and 38 H
HEA, married and with a child on the way.
++++++++++
To be honest, I think this is a wasted opportunity for a Virgin MMC but that was just for me. Given the fact that He is a hermit; dislike people in his space and being surrounded with them in general.
I felt like the novel lacked in terms of building up, and wrapping up the FMC's backstory. Also, how her trauma was dealt with?? yeaaa no shiit ain't no way a right man just comes along and suddenly it was just almost as if the trauma disappeared. Well, that is how I feel here.
Also, I love the fire in the FMC, how she talks back and fight for the one she cared for. But suddenly, when the relationship and romance progressed between her and the MMC, she suddenly became the soft, generic, damsel in distress type of heroine. And I kinda hated it.
Anw, I need more resolution with FMC's sister bc ain't no way should it be left like that?
The MMC was okay. The usual possessive MMC but nothing that stands out.
The story was okay. Safe to say, It is a good read to pass some time :)
I like Evinka though( MMC's sister by choice), she is a badass secondary character and if ever she would have a story, I hope she doesn't lose her attitude and bravery and turned into the weak fmc stereotype. that would make me sad bc of the chemistry, and potential build up of her character here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2025
2 stars ✨ Honestly, watching paint dry might have been more interesting.
The FMC has had every single traumatic thing that you can have happen to you ever: Kidnapped, raped, beaten, abused, PTSD, severe anxiety… and it’s magically cured through the power of love from a man she knew for 6 days? Oh, okay.
I thought Grace was gonna be one of those FMC’s that are annoying as hell and fight all the time, but she really doesn’t even have a real personality. She’s supposed to have fight or whatever but it’s not giving anything. I can’t even properly hate her because she’s so boring.
Dominik doesn’t have a real personality either. He’s sooooooooooo boring. He’s not even funny internally either. I was so bored. Save me? Him randomly being obsessed with her for no reason wasn’t even fun too. He kills people for a living but he’s not even mentally ill in a fun way.
They are both falling in love with each other a week and a half into knowing each other by now. Like okay love bomb.
Dominik takes her to a battle field? Because he can’t leave her alone? Are you stupid? Whatever don’t piss me off.
The book is basically over at 80% in but then the last 20% you have to sit and watch them be boring and domestic. Kill me.
The FMC has had every single traumatic thing that you can have happen to you ever: Kidnapped, raped, beaten, abused, PTSD, severe anxiety… and it’s magically cured through the power of love from a man she knew for 6 days? Oh, okay.
I thought Grace was gonna be one of those FMC’s that are annoying as hell and fight all the time, but she really doesn’t even have a real personality. She’s supposed to have fight or whatever but it’s not giving anything. I can’t even properly hate her because she’s so boring.
Dominik doesn’t have a real personality either. He’s sooooooooooo boring. He’s not even funny internally either. I was so bored. Save me? Him randomly being obsessed with her for no reason wasn’t even fun too. He kills people for a living but he’s not even mentally ill in a fun way.
They are both falling in love with each other a week and a half into knowing each other by now. Like okay love bomb.
Dominik takes her to a battle field? Because he can’t leave her alone? Are you stupid? Whatever don’t piss me off.
The book is basically over at 80% in but then the last 20% you have to sit and watch them be boring and domestic. Kill me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2025
Mafia Romance
Arranged Marriage (pero no tanto)
Assassin × Sunshine-ish widow
Slow burn pero tenso 👀🔥
Okay pero HELLOOOO???
Este libro empezó y yo ya estaba gripping my imaginary pearls porque Michelle Heard NO JUEGA.
Primero: nuestra protagonista.
Entró a un matrimonio arreglado para que su hermana pudiera casarse por amor. Tres años después queda viuda y cuando piensa que ya puede respirar — BAM — su papá decide que ahora la hermana debe casarse con Dominik Varga.
Sí, EL Dominik: asesino, traficante de armas y walking red flag que una querría en la vida real NO, pero en la ficción… I mean… yes. 😭🔥
Obvio ella dice “ni de chiste, bebé, un trato es un trato”, y se le pone brava al papá, al destino y a todo lo que se atraviese porque no va a permitir que su hermana pase por lo mismo que ella.
Peeero llega Dominik a vivir a la casa familiar y AY DIOS MÍO.
El nivel de tensión.
La dinámica enemies-but-not-really.
Las miradas silenciosas.
Los momentitos de “no quiero quererte pero ya te estoy queriendo”.
La manera en la que él la desarma sin decir casi nada… girl, quedé.
Aquí una cae por el dark, quiet, deadly man en dos segundos.
Es mafia romance, sí.
Hay drama, peligro, poder, secretos… pero también ese fuego lento que te derrite y te tiene aquí de chismosa leyendo a las 3 am.
Dominik y ella???
Obsessed.
Me encantó cómo ella lucha por su hermana y por sí misma, y cómo él poco a poco deja de ser solo el monstruo que todos temen.
📚 THE VERDICT
Un mafia romance juicy, intenso y adictivo.
Si te gustan los hombres peligrosos con cero palabras pero mil vibras, y las protagonistas que no se dejan pisotear: este libro 🍷✨
Arranged Marriage (pero no tanto)
Assassin × Sunshine-ish widow
Slow burn pero tenso 👀🔥
Okay pero HELLOOOO???
Este libro empezó y yo ya estaba gripping my imaginary pearls porque Michelle Heard NO JUEGA.
Primero: nuestra protagonista.
Entró a un matrimonio arreglado para que su hermana pudiera casarse por amor. Tres años después queda viuda y cuando piensa que ya puede respirar — BAM — su papá decide que ahora la hermana debe casarse con Dominik Varga.
Sí, EL Dominik: asesino, traficante de armas y walking red flag que una querría en la vida real NO, pero en la ficción… I mean… yes. 😭🔥
Obvio ella dice “ni de chiste, bebé, un trato es un trato”, y se le pone brava al papá, al destino y a todo lo que se atraviese porque no va a permitir que su hermana pase por lo mismo que ella.
Peeero llega Dominik a vivir a la casa familiar y AY DIOS MÍO.
El nivel de tensión.
La dinámica enemies-but-not-really.
Las miradas silenciosas.
Los momentitos de “no quiero quererte pero ya te estoy queriendo”.
La manera en la que él la desarma sin decir casi nada… girl, quedé.
Aquí una cae por el dark, quiet, deadly man en dos segundos.
Es mafia romance, sí.
Hay drama, peligro, poder, secretos… pero también ese fuego lento que te derrite y te tiene aquí de chismosa leyendo a las 3 am.
Dominik y ella???
Obsessed.
Me encantó cómo ella lucha por su hermana y por sí misma, y cómo él poco a poco deja de ser solo el monstruo que todos temen.
📚 THE VERDICT
Un mafia romance juicy, intenso y adictivo.
Si te gustan los hombres peligrosos con cero palabras pero mil vibras, y las protagonistas que no se dejan pisotear: este libro 🍷✨
July 23, 2025
I love Michelle Heard’s books…her mafia men are always the ultimate combo of super badass, protective and super sweet only to their women. Dominik was no different. He quickly realizes Grace is different and does whatever is necessary to make her his. This book combines action, romance and delicious spice. I was here for it and can’t wait to dive into the rest of this series!
Safety:
- No OW (H has been celibate for a decade!)
- No OM (flashbacks to h being abused by her ex husband)
- No cheating
- No separation
- Deals with rape
Safety:
- No OW (H has been celibate for a decade!)
- No OM (flashbacks to h being abused by her ex husband)
- No cheating
- No separation
- Deals with rape
August 22, 2025
4/5⭐️
March 15, 2025
З чого слід почати цей відгук - так це те, що написано це дуже в стилі Мішель Херд, а отже дуже швидко і легко читається😍🔥 Я люблю її книги за баланс між мафіозною та любовною лінією у сюжеті👌🏻
Домінік Варга — 38 років, найманий вбивця та торговець зброєю.
Грейс Девлін — 32 роки, дочка торговця зброєю.
Грейс завжди захищала свою молодшу сестру і понад усе хотіла щоб Сіара вийшла заміж за взаємним коханням. Саме тому домовилася з батьком, що вона вийде заміж за того кого він обере - а Сіара буде мати вибір і ніколи не вийде заміж за домовленістю. Грейс своїми руками заради сестри віддала своє життя і тіло монстру, який не тільки знущався з нею завдаючи їй фізичного болю а й гвалтував - у цьому жахітті вона прожила два роки. Коли її чоловіка вбили вона повернулася додому до батька та сестри, і намагалася справитися з своїми травмами (їй постійно снилися жахіття та часто траплялися приступи паніки). Грейс потрохи починає жити своє життя, відвідує вечірки - на які в більшості часу змушує ходити батько. Допоки на одній з них її - викрадаю, і все через бізнес батька. Та загадковий чоловік у масці рятує Грейс….
Домінік — відлюдник. Він ненавидить людей через своє дитинство, яке він провів у дитбудинку - де побачив всі найгірші та злі сторони людей та на що вони здатні. Там він знайшов єдину людину яка стала для нього ніби молодша сестра. Він завжди оберігав її, та навчив як виживати і бути сильною(з часом вона стане його правою рукою у бізнесі). Домінік ніколи не думав про створення сімʼї, адже всі люди викликали в нього огиду та агресію (він просто ненавидів всіх). Але коли він рятує старшу дочку свого партнера Девліна - в якості оплати він хоче 50% його бізнесу. Девлін погоджується на це тільки за одної умови — Домінік повинен одружитися на Сіарі та народити спадкоємця. І лиш одна перепона є для цієї угоди - Грейс, яка нізащо не віддасть свою сестру монстру, скоріше вона пожертвує собою..
Те як розкривалася любовна лінія - було прекрасно, так моментами приторно та солодко - але це те що я хотіла в цей момент. Мені вистачило в цій книзі всього, і сюжету, і емоцій. А головний герой це взагалі зелений прапорець для головної героїні, але не для решти людей🤫🔥(ця пара моментами дуже нагадувала - Ніно та Кіару Фальконе)🥹
Ставлю цій книзі тверду 4/5⭐️, та з нетерпінням чекаю решту книг з цієї серії🙃
Домінік Варга — 38 років, найманий вбивця та торговець зброєю.
Грейс Девлін — 32 роки, дочка торговця зброєю.
Грейс завжди захищала свою молодшу сестру і понад усе хотіла щоб Сіара вийшла заміж за взаємним коханням. Саме тому домовилася з батьком, що вона вийде заміж за того кого він обере - а Сіара буде мати вибір і ніколи не вийде заміж за домовленістю. Грейс своїми руками заради сестри віддала своє життя і тіло монстру, який не тільки знущався з нею завдаючи їй фізичного болю а й гвалтував - у цьому жахітті вона прожила два роки. Коли її чоловіка вбили вона повернулася додому до батька та сестри, і намагалася справитися з своїми травмами (їй постійно снилися жахіття та часто траплялися приступи паніки). Грейс потрохи починає жити своє життя, відвідує вечірки - на які в більшості часу змушує ходити батько. Допоки на одній з них її - викрадаю, і все через бізнес батька. Та загадковий чоловік у масці рятує Грейс….
Домінік — відлюдник. Він ненавидить людей через своє дитинство, яке він провів у дитбудинку - де побачив всі найгірші та злі сторони людей та на що вони здатні. Там він знайшов єдину людину яка стала для нього ніби молодша сестра. Він завжди оберігав її, та навчив як виживати і бути сильною(з часом вона стане його правою рукою у бізнесі). Домінік ніколи не думав про створення сімʼї, адже всі люди викликали в нього огиду та агресію (він просто ненавидів всіх). Але коли він рятує старшу дочку свого партнера Девліна - в якості оплати він хоче 50% його бізнесу. Девлін погоджується на це тільки за одної умови — Домінік повинен одружитися на Сіарі та народити спадкоємця. І лиш одна перепона є для цієї угоди - Грейс, яка нізащо не віддасть свою сестру монстру, скоріше вона пожертвує собою..
Те як розкривалася любовна лінія - було прекрасно, так моментами приторно та солодко - але це те що я хотіла в цей момент. Мені вистачило в цій книзі всього, і сюжету, і емоцій. А головний герой це взагалі зелений прапорець для головної героїні, але не для решти людей🤫🔥(ця пара моментами дуже нагадувала - Ніно та Кіару Фальконе)🥹
Ставлю цій книзі тверду 4/5⭐️, та з нетерпінням чекаю решту книг з цієї серії🙃
February 6, 2025
As expected, I enjoyed this very much. I was craving for some Mafia romance and Michelle Heard always delivers!
I loved how protective Dominic was. He was such a grump to everyone other than Grace. I loved that! He was such a swoony hero.
Grace was equal amount of sweet heroine with fire. Despite all the trauma, she came out as the fighter.
It was so sweet to see their relationship progress.
I also adored that Dominic clearly respected and valued the women in his life. His and Evanika’s bond was beautiful.
Loved Santiago and Dominic’s bromance. I hope it’s Santiago’s book next. He was such a quirky but loveable character.
I didn’t give it more stars because I wanted a little more angst and depth to the story.
-He is a grump to everyone other than her.
-Forced Marriage, Arranged marriage.
-Jealous, possessive hero.
-TW, safe and recommended.
I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved how protective Dominic was. He was such a grump to everyone other than Grace. I loved that! He was such a swoony hero.
Grace was equal amount of sweet heroine with fire. Despite all the trauma, she came out as the fighter.
It was so sweet to see their relationship progress.
I also adored that Dominic clearly respected and valued the women in his life. His and Evanika’s bond was beautiful.
Loved Santiago and Dominic’s bromance. I hope it’s Santiago’s book next. He was such a quirky but loveable character.
I didn’t give it more stars because I wanted a little more angst and depth to the story.
-He is a grump to everyone other than her.
-Forced Marriage, Arranged marriage.
-Jealous, possessive hero.
-TW, safe and recommended.
I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
February 21, 2025
Книга мені сподобалась, та трохи нагадала історію Ніно і Кіари.💎
Пара: Домінік & Грейс
Тропи:
⋆ Мафія
⋆ Травмована головна героїня
⋆ Головний герой відлюдник
⋆ Словацька мафія
⋆ Примусовий шлюб
⋆ Панічні атаки
Грейс завжди захищала для своєї молодшої сестри, оберігаючи її від будь-якої загрози. Вона готова витерпіти будь-який біль, аби тільки Сіара не зазнала страждань.
У минулому Грейс була одружена з жорстоким чоловіком, який залишив їй не лише шрами на душі, а й жахливі спогади. На щастя, він уже рік як мертвий, але його вплив на неї досі відчувається.
Коли батько оголошує, що Сіара повинна вийти заміж, Грейс категорично проти. Вона навіть пропонує себе як наречену, але батько відмовляється.
Домінік, який завжди прагнув жити в самоті, погоджується на цей союз виключно з ділових міркувань. Він чітко дає зрозуміти, що не планує мати жодних стосунків із дружиною – шлюб буде лише формальністю.
Але між Грейс і Домініком спалахує хімія, їхні характери ідеально доповнюють одне одного. Вона погоджується вийти за нього, думаючи, що він – монстр, аби врятувати сестру, але поступово починає бачити в ньому щось більше. Він, у свою чергу, стає її захисником і несподівано для себе закохується, хоча раніше ніколи не відчував таких емоцій.
Домінік поводив себе дуже гідно, коли він дізнався що сталось з Грейс, він став її стіною, її опорою!
Допомагав побороти свою травму.
Мені сподобалося занурення в цей світ мафії та знайомство з героями, які отримають свої власні історії.
По назвах можна здогадатись про якого персонажа яка книга.
Рекомендую!
Звісно читатиму далі.❤️🔥
Пара: Домінік & Грейс
Тропи:
⋆ Мафія
⋆ Травмована головна героїня
⋆ Головний герой відлюдник
⋆ Словацька мафія
⋆ Примусовий шлюб
⋆ Панічні атаки
Грейс завжди захищала для своєї молодшої сестри, оберігаючи її від будь-якої загрози. Вона готова витерпіти будь-який біль, аби тільки Сіара не зазнала страждань.
У минулому Грейс була одружена з жорстоким чоловіком, який залишив їй не лише шрами на душі, а й жахливі спогади. На щастя, він уже рік як мертвий, але його вплив на неї досі відчувається.
Коли батько оголошує, що Сіара повинна вийти заміж, Грейс категорично проти. Вона навіть пропонує себе як наречену, але батько відмовляється.
Домінік, який завжди прагнув жити в самоті, погоджується на цей союз виключно з ділових міркувань. Він чітко дає зрозуміти, що не планує мати жодних стосунків із дружиною – шлюб буде лише формальністю.
Але між Грейс і Домініком спалахує хімія, їхні характери ідеально доповнюють одне одного. Вона погоджується вийти за нього, думаючи, що він – монстр, аби врятувати сестру, але поступово починає бачити в ньому щось більше. Він, у свою чергу, стає її захисником і несподівано для себе закохується, хоча раніше ніколи не відчував таких емоцій.
Домінік поводив себе дуже гідно, коли він дізнався що сталось з Грейс, він став її стіною, її опорою!
Допомагав побороти свою травму.
Мені сподобалося занурення в цей світ мафії та знайомство з героями, які отримають свої власні історії.
По назвах можна здогадатись про якого персонажа яка книга.
Рекомендую!
Звісно читатиму далі.❤️🔥
February 8, 2025
A new mafia series by Michelle Heard!!!!!! Starting with Dominik Varga aka The Hermit.
Mafia girl in me had a very great time reading this book. I fell in love with Dominik & Grace immediately. (And Santiago too bc he's such a cutie 🥹✨)
DOMINIK "I’m a hermit by nature and don’t want anyone else in my personal space" VARGA IS MY MAN 🫶. He saved Grace's life twice. He shot her father for slapping her (My fav moment lmao).
How I want my man to be? Hawtttttt, overly possesive and protective, 'touch her & die' type, rude to everyone but her. DOMINIK IS EVERYTHING 🥵🤌
“Interrupt me again when I’m talking to my wife, and I’ll fucking kill you”. (2nd fav moment🤭)
My heart hurts sm for Grace. She has gone through hell because of her abusive *dead* husband. Thank god story started after his death otherwise I would've lost my shit. Grace's recovery phase from her trauma was described brilliantly. The way Dominik was always patient with her 😭❤️. I LOVE HIM SM 🥹🥹❤️.
Mafia girl in me had a very great time reading this book. I fell in love with Dominik & Grace immediately. (And Santiago too bc he's such a cutie 🥹✨)
DOMINIK "I’m a hermit by nature and don’t want anyone else in my personal space" VARGA IS MY MAN 🫶. He saved Grace's life twice. He shot her father for slapping her (My fav moment lmao).
How I want my man to be? Hawtttttt, overly possesive and protective, 'touch her & die' type, rude to everyone but her. DOMINIK IS EVERYTHING 🥵🤌
“Interrupt me again when I’m talking to my wife, and I’ll fucking kill you”. (2nd fav moment🤭)
My heart hurts sm for Grace. She has gone through hell because of her abusive *dead* husband. Thank god story started after his death otherwise I would've lost my shit. Grace's recovery phase from her trauma was described brilliantly. The way Dominik was always patient with her 😭❤️. I LOVE HIM SM 🥹🥹❤️.
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