Determined to rise up in the ranks of the Costa Family, Miko decided to pull of the heist of a lifetime. When he secures a fortune in stolen diamonds, he’s closer than ever to proving his worth in the organization. But those plans hit a snag when a quick-fingered thief lifts his wallet—and the diamonds within—right out of his pocket.
Max has spent most of her life surviving on the streets with her quick wits and even faster hands. When she swipes a wallet whose coin compartment is stuffed with enough diamonds to change her life, she thinks things have finally turned around. Until she’s ambushed.
With the diamonds gone and a dangerous enemy closing in, Miko and Max have no choice but to team up to bring them back. But as the collateral damage starts piling up, the heat between Miko and Max is about to reach the breaking point, leaving them to wonder if they will survive this job with their lives—and hearts—intact.
Jessica Gadziala is a USA Today bestselling author who lives in rural New Jersey with her parrots, dogs, and an ever-growing collection of houseplants. A lifelong dreamer, she’s been writing stories since childhood and published her first book in 2015. When not at her desk, she’s usually feeding backyard birds, rewatching crime dramas, period pieces, and 90s supernatural TV shows, or adding to her towering stacks of unread books.
I’m back with another one of Jessica’s books from the Costa family Saga….. yeah, I know I’m a little late but hey I made it, Lol
Max (Maxine) and her best friend (Megs) spent their childhood navigating the streets of New York. Those days feel like a lifetime ago, back when She had been hustling as a teen pickpocket, and snagging a wallet could mean the difference between a meal or going hungry. Even in that tough life, Max had her own set of rules. If she found cash, she’d take it, but if it was just cards, Max would only swipe enough to cover a hot meal or some basic necessities like socks, warm gloves, and feminine hygiene products.
Max and Megs are definitely in a better place now, enjoying their jobs and sharing an apartment together . Since they first met years back, Max has taken on the big sister vibe, always trying to protect Megs from the rough patches of life. She really wants to keep Megs from getting bitter, but I can’t help but feel she might be a tad too protective at times. So, when Max seen that attractive, sharply dressed man coming toward her, she finds it impossible to hold back
Miko was mainly Cosimo’s go-to guy, but he also had to take on his own jobs to funnel money up to Cosimo and their Capo dei Capi. That kind of hustle helped him gain some favor, especially since he was trying to work his way up to Capo. The tricky part? Miko had a side job he kept under wraps, and it involved some diamonds.
You know the same wallet that was picked just moments ago without his realization carried those diamonds in it I can’t get enough of the chemistry between these two! Miko was aware that stepping up for Max might land him in hot water with the higher-ups, but he didn’t hesitate to do it anyway
And again, my thirst for mafia romance was satisfied.
Jessica knows exactly what I love and gives me stories that I like to think were written especially for me 😉 I mean, how else would you explain that I love all her books, hmm? 😏😂
So this book is about Miko. He is not a capo yet, but through the stubborn woman in this story, he definitely will be 🤣
Miko is an unusual mafia member. He likes order and cleanliness and hates violence. Yes, he is a member of a mafia family, but as I said, he is an unusual mafioso. His family and his brothers are a very unique and interesting group of men 😉
Max (Maxine) did not have an easy childhood. She raised herself, so to speak. And while doing so, she also helped raise other children from the street. Since she lived on the streets for many years, she is very frugal and modest. Whatever she earns is hidden, a behavior she cannot change from the past.
How did two such different people meet, you ask? Just read this book, you'll love their story. I loved every second of this exciting book 🥰
I swear my biggest peeve in life is doing something, the Internet not working and it not uploading but not realising until later!. Goddammit.
Jessie yet again did not disappoint with another unique mafia story following the Costa's and the crazy ways they meet their women.
Miko is a pretty clean cut, likes rules and things in order kind of guy. So naturally, when something goes wrong, he immediately jumps into planning a way to make it right with the least amount of drama possible. But that was not in his wheelhouse this time.
Oh, I loved Miko. He was pretty laidback all things considered.. very reasonable. He also didn't shy away from his attraction or let it go unknown. He was patient, kind but firm in a way that gives you all the tingles. He had plans in life of where he wanted to go.
Max is very different from Miko in life and personality. She can't shake her past, living day to day and having built a career off the back of the hardships and her reality as a teenager and young adult. She is a hustler with a habit of picking for fun. She's closed off externally but feels too much internally. Protective of her loved ones and all the broken things she finds... but her morals are strong, and this one isn't afraid to admit when she's wrong, even if it means putting herself up against the very dangerous man she stole from.
I loved these two and their very dysfunctional start. Miko's automatic protectiveness and very accurate assessment of Max and how to get under her skin was everything. Watching Max soften to Miko and his sweet was delightful. They had great chemistry and funny banter and honestly balanced one another. It obviously wasn't all smooth sailing, but I feel like they navigated the termoil well and moved at a pace that fit them perfectly.
One of my favourite things about Jessie is her ability to slip these crazy side characters in that steal the show in their own special ways and this book was no different with Chuck who had me crying laughing at his shenanigans and Lil who whilst very different also stole some of my attention and had me all kinds of curious. It's like the gift that keeps giving and with new faces also come older loved ones too and there is nothing better than a blast from the past.
As per Jessie hit it out the park with a great story, great characters and and epilogue that soothes my soul. She just never misses.
FINALLY another woman in fiction that doesn’t like chocolate!
That’s it, that’s the review.
Kidding. This one was pretty action packed in that it kept moving along even when their investigation/search was at a standstill. All the moving parts were arranged in a way that you could follow while also understanding they had very little to go on and very few clues to follow.
Max for me, besides not liking chocolate, was not at all relatable as I have never been unhoused in a big city at a young age but she was written in a way that certainly gave me a picture what that would look like. I liked that she had a rougher exterior without being an obnoxious b-word too. Just jagged enough to show her teeth but not so jagged falling in love with her was impossible.
Miko wasn’t on my radar, honestly. I think when looking at a map of who in the Costa Family hadn’t gotten a book yet, he wasn’t on my priority list but now I feel like a butthead for ranking him so low. It’s nice now and again to see a mafia story from a low ranking made man, and not right at the top.
Meeting a few other faces we know little about, Gio and Zeno for example, makes me look forward to who JG will hear talking that maybe I didn’t expect to see next. I love a good surprise that doesn’t follow the popular vote.
Yet another winner from Jessica!! Miko and Max are fantastic together! She's used to fending for herself and he just wants to take care of her. SIGH.......so good! Can't wait for more from the Costa family or any of the other Mafia series she's got going!
I keep saying this with every book I read of Jessica's but I love the women she writes. Max grew up on the streets literally fighting to stay alive not only from the elements but also from lecherous men. She has perfected the art of pickpocketing which she has turned into a career of helping others get something back that was taken from them. When she decides, she is going to lift the wallet of a too attractive man she is passing on the street she has no idea how her life is about to change.
We are back with the Costa family, and this is Miko's story whose Capo is Cosimo. Where he has learned a lot from Cosimo and the family, he really wants to become a Capo himself and has been working on the score of a lifetime. Problem is he had that score hidden in his wallet.
Unknown to both Max and Miko someone else knows what Miko had stashed in his wallet and will do anything to get their hands on it - including putting their hands on Max.
Even though these guys are in the mob they are still honorable men at heart and do not stand for harm being done to women or children.
From the moment Max and Miko's eyes meet passing on the street these two are destined for each other. Max's rough childhood growing up on the street make her a bit untrusting of the feelings she has for Miko but he isnt going to let that stop him from protecting her and eventually making her his for life.
It was a delightful surprise when this book came onto my tablet!!! I had forgotten ordering it and was ecstatic to get it. I have a lot of Jessica's books that I have read more than once because no matter how many times I read them I still am amazed at what an extraordinary writer she is. This story , of course, was up to her high standards as usual. It was very steamy and romantic. I loved Miko, what a sweetheart he was. I loved Max too she was kind and compassionate, smart and feisty. All the other characters were interesting and the humor in this book was entertaining and witty! The suspense from the beginning to the end was very cleverly spread out... I really loved that there was no drawn out angst to stop the flow of the story. From the beginning of the book to the end you felt entertained and happy that you had a new book of Jessica's to read!! Thank you Jessica for the epilogues that is one of my favorite things that you do for your readers and I really appreciate that little treat! I highly recommend this book...you will be drawn into a really beautiful love story about very likable people, be mesmerized by the story line and find yourself with a great big smile at the end! 😇
I love how grown up the MMCs are in this author's work. A super simple situation, almost a throw away moment, but he's paying attention and realizes something important. He is commenting on how she matters more than stolen diamonds and she doesn't believe him. He says,
“You don’t believe me?” “No.” “Why would I lie?” “You’ve known me for point-five seconds.” He opened his mouth, then paused, thinking. “I’m sorry if I haven’t made it clear that you’re important to me,” he said, this time making me open and close my mouth, not sure how I wanted to respond to that. “I’ll do better moving forward,” he added, his arm giving me a little squeeze.
No defensiveness, no hurt feelings, no bullshit - he looks inward, realizes he has not been communicating something, and determines to do better. Simple - no drama, no upset - like a grown ass man. Lovely.
I’ve loved the Costa Family series, and The Woman with the Wallet definitely delivers. Miko and Max are a perfect match—his loyalty and patience collide with her street-smart independence in a way that makes for a slow-burn romance you can’t put down.
Max steals Miko’s wallet, setting off a chain of events that leaves you on the edge of your seat. Their chemistry is explosive, but it’s their slow-building trust that really made this story shine. Miko is protective without being overbearing, and Max is a heroine who can stand her ground while opening up to love in a way she never expected.
The Costa crew remains as fantastic as ever, and the plot has just the right mix of action and emotional depth. My only small nitpick is that the pacing could’ve balanced the action and character moments a little better, but that’s just a minor detail.
Miko is a tight spot because he gets pickpocket by a beautiful woman. Max had no idea she stole a mafia mans wallet full of diamonds. They both end up in danger trying to find a killer and thief.
I like this author in these series, but we didn’t know a lot about Miko even from the other books. It’ll be interesting to see if it keeps going, grabbing the rest of the characters from this story.
I have read all her series. Good stories, well written that flow well. You always hear a little from other characters, so if you read her books you’re part of a family.
Talk about stealing someone heart! Miko is a workaholic trying so hard for his own crew, he hardly has time to see family. In the process of finishing a big job, he sees a beauty who bumps right into him. He realizes a little too late that she took his wallet and the said "job" inside. Max only lifts wallets as a hobby now, after living a hard life with her bestie, but didn't expect the can that was opened by taking this wallet. Miko and Max have lots of chemistry, which makes for a fun story. I super enjoyed the turns and people we meet along the way. Great side characters.
The method they met was unconventional but it was a road to start something new. They both had big dreams. He wanted to climb his ladder of success. Danger and adventure. She was a total badass and took over the top chances. Their collision course was full of protection of family and friends and success as they navigated a binding future. That was cryptic right? My goal was to say read this book. JG wove two different courses so its another in her many stories you should read.
Sigh.....I love the Mafia series Jessica writes. This one featured Miko who was trying to make Capo by raising a fortune in stolen diamonds. So along came Max and pickpocketed his wallet which contained over half a million in diamonds. Unfortunately she was observed doing that and was assaulted and the diamonds stolen. So...Miko stole the diamonds, Max stole them from him and an unknown assailant stole them from her! Very complicated story! The story gets more complicated and reading the story is actually fun.
Another pull you in read by such a talented author. Solid storyline and oh the characters. Jessica has a way of bringing them to life so it feels like you are right there. Love Brio made his appearance and now I need more. I was kinda hoping Lil would snag her a mafia man. Life inside the Jessica universe is such a magical place! Thank you for sharing your talents!
I loved this!!! I couldn’t believe that I wasn’t alerted of the update considering I follow Jessica, but I found it just in time a few days after the release. Looks like our favorite Costa Family will be having more books in the near future!!! The background and personality of our main character was pretty fun and unique this time. The guest stars were enjoyable, but not too overbearing. Only found one typo with the names.
And my fav part of the many JG books I’ve read (most of them, at this point) is the cute lil strays. Those found by Brio and those stumbled upon that attach themselves like a barnacle but you love them anyways.
Chuck and Barry meeting sounds potentially disastrous and I’m here for it.
Also I soooo want to read Gavino and Zeno’s stories. And Lil. But also I want to be with her, not just be her. Ugh. They’re so good. They’re all so good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Woman with the Wallet (Costa Family Book 10), is another great read from Jessica Gadziala. I didn’t think I'd like 'mafia' tropes, but I've read and enjoyed all of Gadziala's Costa Family, Grassi Family, and Lombardi Family, stories so far. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Max is a hard, caring, protective, bad-a$$, who pick-pockets Miko's wallet and gets a lot more than she expected. The two have great chemistry. I'm really hoping to read more about hacker Zeno, diamond Lil and moody Gavino in future books too 📚 💕
I really enjoyed reading this story. You have Miko who is reaching to be Capo and family is everything and vast. Then you have Max who picks Miko's pocket, and has no family and a really crappy past. I like how the story unfolded and, of course, how it ended.
No, seriously though!! This is not a meet cute I have ever experienced before, and it was absolutely a meet cute, in a mafia and pickpocket kind of way. The chemistry 🥵🥵 The connection 🥰🥰 The possessiveness 🥵🥵 Yes please!!
I enjoyed having Miko's story told and Max was a perfect match for him. However, there were a number of editing errors that did distract me from the story.
Love these Costa boys. This did read a bit slower than the others but once it picked up the whole book flew past . Miko gets his wallet lifted but she, the thief, has no idea what’s in that wallet and the mad journey she is about to embark on because of it.