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Dark Dynasties #1
Made for Saints
Dante Conti is a man of control—ruthless, calculated, and unyielding.
As the boss of one of the most powerful mafia families, his life is built on discipline and loyalty. But when a business problem forces Emilia into his world, their lives become dangerously intertwined. She’s everything he should avoid—fiery, reckless, and far too tempting. Yet the more he’s around her, the harder it becomes to stay away.
Emilia has spent her life trying to outrun the shadows of her family’s name, but when circumstances pull her into Dante’s orbit, she finds herself drawn to the man she should fear most. He’s cold, commanding, and impossible to resist.
He wasn’t made to bend, but for her, he’s willing to break. As tensions boil over and betrayal strikes from every side, Dante and Emilia discover that their greatest threat isn’t the enemies circling them—it’s the war they’re waging within themselves. And when the final blow comes, it won’t just shatter their fragile trust. It will break them completely.
Made for Saints is the first book in a two-part duology within the Dark Dynasties universe. A dark, plot-driven mafia romance filled with high-stakes tension, forbidden desire, and morally gray characters. Book two concludes their story with a guaranteed HEA.
As the boss of one of the most powerful mafia families, his life is built on discipline and loyalty. But when a business problem forces Emilia into his world, their lives become dangerously intertwined. She’s everything he should avoid—fiery, reckless, and far too tempting. Yet the more he’s around her, the harder it becomes to stay away.
Emilia has spent her life trying to outrun the shadows of her family’s name, but when circumstances pull her into Dante’s orbit, she finds herself drawn to the man she should fear most. He’s cold, commanding, and impossible to resist.
He wasn’t made to bend, but for her, he’s willing to break. As tensions boil over and betrayal strikes from every side, Dante and Emilia discover that their greatest threat isn’t the enemies circling them—it’s the war they’re waging within themselves. And when the final blow comes, it won’t just shatter their fragile trust. It will break them completely.
Made for Saints is the first book in a two-part duology within the Dark Dynasties universe. A dark, plot-driven mafia romance filled with high-stakes tension, forbidden desire, and morally gray characters. Book two concludes their story with a guaranteed HEA.
396 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 20, 2025
74 people are currently reading
1831 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 11, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Elle Kay is a new-to-me duo author and I am intrigued to see how the next part of the story develops. I am also looking forward to Rafe and Luca’s books! I think the series has a lot of potential, though I wouldn’t count this first book as dark romance. It’s kinda light, imo.
That said, this book is very slow burn, to a point where many dialogues and descriptives get repeated a lot. I don’t mind long conversations but only if the dialogue doesn’t have too much of a push-and-pull that seems like it was going nowhere or take too long to reach a resolution. This made it hard for me to stay engaged as I felt a lot of the times there weren’t a lot going on. Some conversations made the book longer which I felt was not needed and would not hurt if half of book 1 combines with book 2.
I’d also have a few lingering questions like what is the nature of relationship between Papa Ricci and Dante? When the Conti brothers have lunch what is the purpose of said lunch other than simply mentioning it? There were several other meetings mentioned (like the one at the 83% mark with that V lady) and because many of them were from Emilia’s POV, my curiosity was never satiated. Also why was Dante always at her house?? It’s not the kind of close proximity I had expected but other than the odd file-dropping errands and occasional meetings, my curiosity really just enforced my question about Papa Ricci and Dante’s nature of business together.
(I should note that I am autistic and repeated patterns just jump out to me. I can attest to this being an annoying trait when trying to read a book.)
Other than that, there were several typos and one incomplete sentence which I have reported.
Anyways, I can understand the reasoning behind the cliffhanger and will be staying for the next book because I want to trust the process. I do expect more Dante POVs next book as well as more drama and action.
Elle Kay is a new-to-me duo author and I am intrigued to see how the next part of the story develops. I am also looking forward to Rafe and Luca’s books! I think the series has a lot of potential, though I wouldn’t count this first book as dark romance. It’s kinda light, imo.
That said, this book is very slow burn, to a point where many dialogues and descriptives get repeated a lot. I don’t mind long conversations but only if the dialogue doesn’t have too much of a push-and-pull that seems like it was going nowhere or take too long to reach a resolution. This made it hard for me to stay engaged as I felt a lot of the times there weren’t a lot going on. Some conversations made the book longer which I felt was not needed and would not hurt if half of book 1 combines with book 2.
I’d also have a few lingering questions like what is the nature of relationship between Papa Ricci and Dante? When the Conti brothers have lunch what is the purpose of said lunch other than simply mentioning it? There were several other meetings mentioned (like the one at the 83% mark with that V lady) and because many of them were from Emilia’s POV, my curiosity was never satiated. Also why was Dante always at her house?? It’s not the kind of close proximity I had expected but other than the odd file-dropping errands and occasional meetings, my curiosity really just enforced my question about Papa Ricci and Dante’s nature of business together.
(I should note that I am autistic and repeated patterns just jump out to me. I can attest to this being an annoying trait when trying to read a book.)
Other than that, there were several typos and one incomplete sentence which I have reported.
Anyways, I can understand the reasoning behind the cliffhanger and will be staying for the next book because I want to trust the process. I do expect more Dante POVs next book as well as more drama and action.
April 22, 2025
I did receive this book from the author and I am giving it a 3.5 because I feel like a lot of people will like this but I just felt like it was not enough slow burn for me I am hoping I prefer book 2 a little more
June 26, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
March 2, 2025
DANTE. CONTI. IS. THAT. MAN.
I came across this author on Threads promoting her first book and I thought I'd give it a shot since I'm a sucker for mafia romance. It was such a great read! Slow burn, but don't let that fool you. The spicy moments were HOT and totally worth the wait.
I love my dark romances with a little but of comedic relief, and Elle did not disappoint. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the conversations between characters and inner dialogue. Emilia's wit and charm perfectly pairs Dante's dark and brooding personality.
I loved that there was actually substance to the side characters (maybe setting us up for some interconnected standalones?👀)
The ending had me THROWING my Kindle across the room. I NEED book 2 ASAP! This book does end on a cliff hanger, but an HEA is promised for book 2. This was overall a great debut and I cannot wait to see what else Elle puts out!!
Fave quotes:
“Look at you,” he murmured, his voice thick with lust. “When I first saw you, I thought you were untouchable. Meant for saints, angels, anyone but me.” His lips brushed against my neck, his breath hot and ragged. “But now—fuck, now I know better. You’re not made for saints, are you? You’re made for sinners like me.”
I should’ve thrown her over my shoulder right then and there. Dragged her into one of the empty rooms off the ballroom and fucked the defiance out of her. I should’ve made her scream my name until the only thing left in her veins was me.
Dante had killed a man right next to me without hesitation or warning. And somehow, the most terrifying part wasn't the violence – it was how his touch had still sent shivers down my spine even with another man's blood cooling on my skin.
I came across this author on Threads promoting her first book and I thought I'd give it a shot since I'm a sucker for mafia romance. It was such a great read! Slow burn, but don't let that fool you. The spicy moments were HOT and totally worth the wait.
I love my dark romances with a little but of comedic relief, and Elle did not disappoint. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the conversations between characters and inner dialogue. Emilia's wit and charm perfectly pairs Dante's dark and brooding personality.
I loved that there was actually substance to the side characters (maybe setting us up for some interconnected standalones?👀)
The ending had me THROWING my Kindle across the room. I NEED book 2 ASAP! This book does end on a cliff hanger, but an HEA is promised for book 2. This was overall a great debut and I cannot wait to see what else Elle puts out!!
Fave quotes:
“Look at you,” he murmured, his voice thick with lust. “When I first saw you, I thought you were untouchable. Meant for saints, angels, anyone but me.” His lips brushed against my neck, his breath hot and ragged. “But now—fuck, now I know better. You’re not made for saints, are you? You’re made for sinners like me.”
I should’ve thrown her over my shoulder right then and there. Dragged her into one of the empty rooms off the ballroom and fucked the defiance out of her. I should’ve made her scream my name until the only thing left in her veins was me.
Dante had killed a man right next to me without hesitation or warning. And somehow, the most terrifying part wasn't the violence – it was how his touch had still sent shivers down my spine even with another man's blood cooling on my skin.
May 3, 2025
I read this book with high anticipation, I have rated it a one star. Here’s why:
- Editing needs to be heavily refreshed, errors were present in every chapter. From missing punctuation to miss placed words, even an unfinished sentence was present.
- Tracking was another issue, the scenes would begin with people in the room that would magically make no comment on what was happening between the two. Mafia girls are known for their virtue and they didn’t touch onto the importance of that at all which was a major missed opportunity. On the note of tracking the story seemed to forget when it said something only a sentence before and repeat it or worse more counteract it completely.
-Formatting was difficult to process due to a lack of scene breaks.
-The characters seem to lose themselves throughout the story, key personality traits from the beginning just being forgotten or completely disregarded.
-There was consistent points where the characters are confused with others. One specific scene was the phone call between Luca and Dante where suddenly it became Rafe speaking.
-Emelia is an interesting concept but she lacks true background, she came across as shallow in this book and not in the spoiled mafia princess way thats usually portrayed in mafia romances. She was shallow in the lacking depth to her personality and background. It would’ve been favourable to have more of her family dynamics explained in her mental speech.
I’d like to see this story again after some editing and revisions as I do feel it has real potential. The story isn’t bad at its core so please don’t misconstrue my statements. The editing, formatting and consistency needs revisions to give readers a better experience, the overall idea however is strong and interesting.
Overall the book seemed to not be ready for publication just yet.
- Editing needs to be heavily refreshed, errors were present in every chapter. From missing punctuation to miss placed words, even an unfinished sentence was present.
- Tracking was another issue, the scenes would begin with people in the room that would magically make no comment on what was happening between the two. Mafia girls are known for their virtue and they didn’t touch onto the importance of that at all which was a major missed opportunity. On the note of tracking the story seemed to forget when it said something only a sentence before and repeat it or worse more counteract it completely.
-Formatting was difficult to process due to a lack of scene breaks.
-The characters seem to lose themselves throughout the story, key personality traits from the beginning just being forgotten or completely disregarded.
-There was consistent points where the characters are confused with others. One specific scene was the phone call between Luca and Dante where suddenly it became Rafe speaking.
-Emelia is an interesting concept but she lacks true background, she came across as shallow in this book and not in the spoiled mafia princess way thats usually portrayed in mafia romances. She was shallow in the lacking depth to her personality and background. It would’ve been favourable to have more of her family dynamics explained in her mental speech.
I’d like to see this story again after some editing and revisions as I do feel it has real potential. The story isn’t bad at its core so please don’t misconstrue my statements. The editing, formatting and consistency needs revisions to give readers a better experience, the overall idea however is strong and interesting.
Overall the book seemed to not be ready for publication just yet.
March 11, 2025
My Review:
Elle Kay is a new-to-me author and I can’t be happier that I took a chance and read “Made for Saints”. This is a mafia romance with characters whose moral compasses
don’t point due north. This debut book reads as if Elle has been writing for a very long time. The flow of the storyline is excellent and Dante and Emilia are written with great detail. Their sizzling heat that lurks just below the surface is EVERYTHING!!
Dante is the mafia boss of a powerful family. Emilia is a mafia princess whose father and brothers keep her in the dark relating to the family’s business matters. Through a turn events, they are placed in each other’s path. Will they yield to one another or will it be a head on collision both vying for control?
I am completely waxing poetic about this book!!! I am utterly blown away with this storyline and the strong plot. There are so many elements incorporated into this book… evil and innocence, flight or fight, elegance and ugliness, security and danger, acceptance and denial, clarity and secrecy, etc. The slow seductive burn is especially well written. The family members on both Dante’s and Emilia’s side have such a strong presence within the story making them so much more than just secondary characters. They play an integral part and help to drive the narrative. This book will leave you waiting on the precipice and wanting more!
This is a must read 5⭐️ book!
“Made for Saints” is the first book in a two-part duology within the Dark Dynasties universe.
Elle Kay is a new-to-me author and I can’t be happier that I took a chance and read “Made for Saints”. This is a mafia romance with characters whose moral compasses
don’t point due north. This debut book reads as if Elle has been writing for a very long time. The flow of the storyline is excellent and Dante and Emilia are written with great detail. Their sizzling heat that lurks just below the surface is EVERYTHING!!
Dante is the mafia boss of a powerful family. Emilia is a mafia princess whose father and brothers keep her in the dark relating to the family’s business matters. Through a turn events, they are placed in each other’s path. Will they yield to one another or will it be a head on collision both vying for control?
I am completely waxing poetic about this book!!! I am utterly blown away with this storyline and the strong plot. There are so many elements incorporated into this book… evil and innocence, flight or fight, elegance and ugliness, security and danger, acceptance and denial, clarity and secrecy, etc. The slow seductive burn is especially well written. The family members on both Dante’s and Emilia’s side have such a strong presence within the story making them so much more than just secondary characters. They play an integral part and help to drive the narrative. This book will leave you waiting on the precipice and wanting more!
This is a must read 5⭐️ book!
“Made for Saints” is the first book in a two-part duology within the Dark Dynasties universe.
March 23, 2025
I am so excited to have been chosen as an ARC reader for Made for Saints by
While I enjoy romance, my usual picks tend to be fantasy; and I read romance and rom-com/ what I call “chick lit” (like chick flicks) as a break between my fantasty books.
I have read some dark romance… but will say some of the tropes/themes in some can me a lot for me (I am a therapist and have my own trauma so…..) so I’m always cautious about what I pick from that genre.
However! I throughly enjoyed Made for Saints! Mafia families, dark and possessive MMC, but also a FMC who isn’t a shirking violet, but one who is just as trapped by her circumstances despite being a “mafia princes”. Despite the MMC being possessive, I never got the trigger vibes of him being a giant walking red flags as a partner.
The slow burn between the FMC and the MMC was delicious.
✨Mafia Familes
✨Dual Point of View
✨Touch her and ☠️
✨”Good Girl”
✨Slow Burn
✨Takes Care of Her
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Plot Heavy Spice
I highly recommend for those who enjoyed the Twisted series, or Not So Meet Cute series (but darker!)
While I enjoy romance, my usual picks tend to be fantasy; and I read romance and rom-com/ what I call “chick lit” (like chick flicks) as a break between my fantasty books.
I have read some dark romance… but will say some of the tropes/themes in some can me a lot for me (I am a therapist and have my own trauma so…..) so I’m always cautious about what I pick from that genre.
However! I throughly enjoyed Made for Saints! Mafia families, dark and possessive MMC, but also a FMC who isn’t a shirking violet, but one who is just as trapped by her circumstances despite being a “mafia princes”. Despite the MMC being possessive, I never got the trigger vibes of him being a giant walking red flags as a partner.
The slow burn between the FMC and the MMC was delicious.
✨Mafia Familes
✨Dual Point of View
✨Touch her and ☠️
✨”Good Girl”
✨Slow Burn
✨Takes Care of Her
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Plot Heavy Spice
I highly recommend for those who enjoyed the Twisted series, or Not So Meet Cute series (but darker!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2025
Holy smokes!!!!!!
First time reading this author and OH MY GOODNESSS!!!!
This is Book 1 of Dark Dynasties, it starts of focusing on Emilia and Dante. It’s a 2 part book, in this book we meet them and their backstory. ANDDDDDD what a story, plot and just wow!!!! This book had me on my toes from BEGINNING TO END!!!! We meet Emilia, a mafia princess who likes to tether on the line of danger. She believes she is nothing more than a pretty face to men like her father. Enter, Dante, an alpha broody male who walks into Emilia life and decides she belongs to him. No how, what, where and why needed. The tension between these two is off the charts!!! I screamed at so many scenes in this book waiting for them to see what I was reading and yelling at my kindle while my poor husband slept. The plot, the angst, the suspense, the spice, the banter and the flirting was TOP TIER!!!! BUT the ENDING!? The cliffhanger it ended on was the cherry on top!!!!! Please drop whatever book you’re reading, this book NEEDS to be on top of your TBR!!
P.S. I’m beyond excited I can jump into Book 2 ASAP to read the final piece to this story!!
First time reading this author and OH MY GOODNESSS!!!!
This is Book 1 of Dark Dynasties, it starts of focusing on Emilia and Dante. It’s a 2 part book, in this book we meet them and their backstory. ANDDDDDD what a story, plot and just wow!!!! This book had me on my toes from BEGINNING TO END!!!! We meet Emilia, a mafia princess who likes to tether on the line of danger. She believes she is nothing more than a pretty face to men like her father. Enter, Dante, an alpha broody male who walks into Emilia life and decides she belongs to him. No how, what, where and why needed. The tension between these two is off the charts!!! I screamed at so many scenes in this book waiting for them to see what I was reading and yelling at my kindle while my poor husband slept. The plot, the angst, the suspense, the spice, the banter and the flirting was TOP TIER!!!! BUT the ENDING!? The cliffhanger it ended on was the cherry on top!!!!! Please drop whatever book you’re reading, this book NEEDS to be on top of your TBR!!
P.S. I’m beyond excited I can jump into Book 2 ASAP to read the final piece to this story!!
March 23, 2025
Overall I think Emilia and Dante are interesting separately. Which imo is a pro because it's annoying when the only time the story is good is when the two main characters are together. I enjoy a good Mafia romance, especially when there are diverse elements, or there is a little twist to it that you don't normally see.
Emilia simmers a lot and tends to back down when I would want her to keep pushing - AND I know based on the ending that there is a lot more to the story so I can be patient.
I like that Dante - while conflicted - still is pretty true to his character and his actions are not back and forth even if what he is saying is. I would love to see more of these side characters especially her brothers, and for them to get some more dimension too. Overall if you are a fan of romance in general, mafia, suspense, and an underlying tension of 'who done it' you're gonna like this one.
Emilia simmers a lot and tends to back down when I would want her to keep pushing - AND I know based on the ending that there is a lot more to the story so I can be patient.
I like that Dante - while conflicted - still is pretty true to his character and his actions are not back and forth even if what he is saying is. I would love to see more of these side characters especially her brothers, and for them to get some more dimension too. Overall if you are a fan of romance in general, mafia, suspense, and an underlying tension of 'who done it' you're gonna like this one.
March 24, 2025
I think there is a lot of potential for this series and the authors to be successful.
I love Mafia romances but for me this was very light.
I loved Dante and everything about him but I found Emilia to be very annoying. Maybe she will be redeemed in book 2.
Personally, it was too long for the plot. There was a lot that just seemed repeated to make the story longer that wasn’t needed. It made it very difficult for me to stay invested in the book. There was also a lot of over using of certain sentences that was very distracting as a reader. Another thing that was taking me out of the story was the typos. One sentence just ends without actually finishing what was being said.
But I don’t like to use my personal feelings as a heavy weight in my rating because something that bothers me won’t necessarily bother someone else. There were parts that I truly enjoyed which I leaned on for my rating.
I love Mafia romances but for me this was very light.
I loved Dante and everything about him but I found Emilia to be very annoying. Maybe she will be redeemed in book 2.
Personally, it was too long for the plot. There was a lot that just seemed repeated to make the story longer that wasn’t needed. It made it very difficult for me to stay invested in the book. There was also a lot of over using of certain sentences that was very distracting as a reader. Another thing that was taking me out of the story was the typos. One sentence just ends without actually finishing what was being said.
But I don’t like to use my personal feelings as a heavy weight in my rating because something that bothers me won’t necessarily bother someone else. There were parts that I truly enjoyed which I leaned on for my rating.
June 29, 2025
Estoy entrando en una etapa en donde me está llamando mucho leer este tipo de tramas. La idea es buena, la trama es interesante, solo que está muy mal ejecutada.
No se siente real las interacciones, y es demasiado largo el libro que hasta se repiten varias veces los diálogos entre los personajes.
No hay ningún momento donde se entienda por qué se empezaron a gustar, fue solo algo momentáneo, porque ella no demuestra "miedo" cuando está con él.
al final me desesperó la actitud de Dante, todo pasa demasiado rápido que te quedas tan confundido como Emilia. Parece un adolescente haciendo drama y no un wey de 35 años.
También, wtf con que se la pasara todo el tiempo en su casa, literal parecía que no tenía otra cosa que hacer.
El final me dejó enganchada, tocará leer el siguiente para ver cómo termina su historia.
siendo sincera, solo lo estoy leyendo porque las escenas spicy están bastante entretenidas, aunque espero mucho más en el segundo libro...
No se siente real las interacciones, y es demasiado largo el libro que hasta se repiten varias veces los diálogos entre los personajes.
No hay ningún momento donde se entienda por qué se empezaron a gustar, fue solo algo momentáneo, porque ella no demuestra "miedo" cuando está con él.
al final me desesperó la actitud de Dante, todo pasa demasiado rápido que te quedas tan confundido como Emilia. Parece un adolescente haciendo drama y no un wey de 35 años.
También, wtf con que se la pasara todo el tiempo en su casa, literal parecía que no tenía otra cosa que hacer.
El final me dejó enganchada, tocará leer el siguiente para ver cómo termina su historia.
siendo sincera, solo lo estoy leyendo porque las escenas spicy están bastante entretenidas, aunque espero mucho más en el segundo libro...
March 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Mafia romance? Say less- Made for Saints gave me everything I wanted and more. I devoured this book in one sitting and was hooked from page one. The plot was strong, the tension was chef’s kiss, and the slow burn had me screaming. Emilia and Dante’s dynamic was perfection—she pushed him just as much as he pushed her, and their banter had me grinning like a fool. The spice was a solid 3/5 and SO worth the wait.
I loved Emilia as a character—fiery, bold, and not afraid to challenge Dante’s control. And Dante? Whew. Cold, commanding, and hot as hell. The cliffhanger ending absolutely wrecked me in the best way, and now I’m dying for book two and need it ASAP. If you love dark mafia romance with strong characters, high-stakes tension, and delicious slow burn vibes, you need to read this book.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Mafia romance? Say less- Made for Saints gave me everything I wanted and more. I devoured this book in one sitting and was hooked from page one. The plot was strong, the tension was chef’s kiss, and the slow burn had me screaming. Emilia and Dante’s dynamic was perfection—she pushed him just as much as he pushed her, and their banter had me grinning like a fool. The spice was a solid 3/5 and SO worth the wait.
I loved Emilia as a character—fiery, bold, and not afraid to challenge Dante’s control. And Dante? Whew. Cold, commanding, and hot as hell. The cliffhanger ending absolutely wrecked me in the best way, and now I’m dying for book two and need it ASAP. If you love dark mafia romance with strong characters, high-stakes tension, and delicious slow burn vibes, you need to read this book.
April 16, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - Stars
🌶️🌶️ - Spice
Dante and Emilia’s story shows real potential in Elle Kay’s debut mafia romance. As a fan of new authors and the forced proximity trope, I appreciated the sizzling chemistry and the classic “bad girl tamed by the brooding mafia guy” dynamic. Emilia’s role as a thief and her tension-filled relationship with Dante added strong flavor to the plot.
However, the story lacked key narrative elements—like insight into Dante’s business dealings and meetings with Emilia’s father, which would have strengthened the pacing and depth. The inclusion of two engagement parties also felt unnecessary and could’ve been streamlined.
Despite a few inconsistencies (like a sentence that wasn’t fully composed), the foundation is strong. I am sticking with the series thanks to the cliffhanger ending and I hope that the next book fills in those missing pieces
**I must note that I tend to grasp onto repetitive dialogue and situations as I recognize patterns in books that others may not**
🌶️🌶️ - Spice
Dante and Emilia’s story shows real potential in Elle Kay’s debut mafia romance. As a fan of new authors and the forced proximity trope, I appreciated the sizzling chemistry and the classic “bad girl tamed by the brooding mafia guy” dynamic. Emilia’s role as a thief and her tension-filled relationship with Dante added strong flavor to the plot.
However, the story lacked key narrative elements—like insight into Dante’s business dealings and meetings with Emilia’s father, which would have strengthened the pacing and depth. The inclusion of two engagement parties also felt unnecessary and could’ve been streamlined.
Despite a few inconsistencies (like a sentence that wasn’t fully composed), the foundation is strong. I am sticking with the series thanks to the cliffhanger ending and I hope that the next book fills in those missing pieces
**I must note that I tend to grasp onto repetitive dialogue and situations as I recognize patterns in books that others may not**
September 17, 2025
Unfortunately, this book was not for me. The writing style felt extremely repetitive, with the author recycling the same phrases at every possible opportunity. It came across as amateurish and almost childish, which made it difficult to stay engaged.
By the halfway point, I decided to DNF. The world-building was practically nonexistent—even though the story is set in the real world, there was no sense of place, no atmosphere, and no grounding in where the characters actually were. The descriptions of both settings and characters were either terribly vague or missing altogether, leaving me with no clear picture of anything.
Overall, this read was frustrating rather than immersive. With more care in writing, better editing, and stronger descriptions, it could have been much more compelling.
By the halfway point, I decided to DNF. The world-building was practically nonexistent—even though the story is set in the real world, there was no sense of place, no atmosphere, and no grounding in where the characters actually were. The descriptions of both settings and characters were either terribly vague or missing altogether, leaving me with no clear picture of anything.
Overall, this read was frustrating rather than immersive. With more care in writing, better editing, and stronger descriptions, it could have been much more compelling.
April 14, 2025
Tense doesn't even BEGIN to describe this book. Oh my god. This was a delicious mafia story full of danger, duty, and the allure of a forbidden desire. I ATE IT UP.
Dante. Oh my word. That man is the picture of sin and all its delicious consequences. The devil himself caught in the twists and turns of his world desperately seeking salvation.
I loved the chemistry between these MCs. Heartfelt banter with genuinely adorable moments and smoldering tension so hot that I'm surprised my Kindle didn't sizzle.
The ending has me holding my breath. I'm on the verge of a coronary waiting to see what happens next.
This book is made for all the saints out there who love to be tormented like the secret sinners they are 😘
Dante. Oh my word. That man is the picture of sin and all its delicious consequences. The devil himself caught in the twists and turns of his world desperately seeking salvation.
I loved the chemistry between these MCs. Heartfelt banter with genuinely adorable moments and smoldering tension so hot that I'm surprised my Kindle didn't sizzle.
The ending has me holding my breath. I'm on the verge of a coronary waiting to see what happens next.
This book is made for all the saints out there who love to be tormented like the secret sinners they are 😘
May 1, 2025
2⭐️
This was my first book by Elle Kay and the first in the Dark Dynasties: The Conti Collection. So, let’s get into book one. This was a very light mafia book; the main focus wasn’t really on the mafia and the dynamics there but more on Emilia’s and Dante’s relationship. It did have a main problem throughout the story that we will see more of in book 2, but I think the primary focus was the development of their relationship. It started as insta-lust, and they were both interested in each other from the beginning, but I have to say that towards the end, their relationship did kind of develop into something more and started to make sense.
I did like Dante; he wasn’t afraid to call out Emilia on her bullshit when needed, and the way he cared for and protected her was cute. Emilia did sometimes drive me insane, especially when she put herself in situations she really didn’t have to be in. But other than that, I liked that she also wasn’t afraid to talk back to Dante and didn’t listen to everything he asked of her. There are many questions about the dynamics between some other characters that I would like to see answered since I think it would be important to know, like Emilia’s father and Dante and their business together.
The main thing that kind of threw me off was the repetitive sentences; they really weren’t necessary. They just kept describing a specific thing over and over again, which personally bothered me. I gotta say the cliffhanger does have me wondering how the story will develop in book 2, and I would love to have a book about Rafe and Luca since I think these two have much potential. So, we will see xx
Thank you Elle Kay for the copy in exchange for an honest review!
This was my first book by Elle Kay and the first in the Dark Dynasties: The Conti Collection. So, let’s get into book one. This was a very light mafia book; the main focus wasn’t really on the mafia and the dynamics there but more on Emilia’s and Dante’s relationship. It did have a main problem throughout the story that we will see more of in book 2, but I think the primary focus was the development of their relationship. It started as insta-lust, and they were both interested in each other from the beginning, but I have to say that towards the end, their relationship did kind of develop into something more and started to make sense.
I did like Dante; he wasn’t afraid to call out Emilia on her bullshit when needed, and the way he cared for and protected her was cute. Emilia did sometimes drive me insane, especially when she put herself in situations she really didn’t have to be in. But other than that, I liked that she also wasn’t afraid to talk back to Dante and didn’t listen to everything he asked of her. There are many questions about the dynamics between some other characters that I would like to see answered since I think it would be important to know, like Emilia’s father and Dante and their business together.
The main thing that kind of threw me off was the repetitive sentences; they really weren’t necessary. They just kept describing a specific thing over and over again, which personally bothered me. I gotta say the cliffhanger does have me wondering how the story will develop in book 2, and I would love to have a book about Rafe and Luca since I think these two have much potential. So, we will see xx
Thank you Elle Kay for the copy in exchange for an honest review!
November 18, 2025
I love a slow burn, but it needs a proper payoff. All that edgy, melodramatic filler in this book… and for what?
On paper, the plot setup is promising. In true dark romance fashion, Dante is cold, controlling, “impossible to resist”, and lives by discipline and loyalty until fiery, reckless Emilia tests all his rules. Emilia, for her part, has spent her life running from her family’s shady legacy, so being thrown into Dante’s criminal orbit is the last thing she wanted
It’s a recipe for delicious tension and moral grayness, in theory.
So why does it go off the rails? In short, because Emilia is allergic to logic and the plot can’t stop tripping over its own feet.
After a certain point, I started skimming through the repetitions. Likely won't read the second one.
On paper, the plot setup is promising. In true dark romance fashion, Dante is cold, controlling, “impossible to resist”, and lives by discipline and loyalty until fiery, reckless Emilia tests all his rules. Emilia, for her part, has spent her life running from her family’s shady legacy, so being thrown into Dante’s criminal orbit is the last thing she wanted
It’s a recipe for delicious tension and moral grayness, in theory.
So why does it go off the rails? In short, because Emilia is allergic to logic and the plot can’t stop tripping over its own feet.
After a certain point, I started skimming through the repetitions. Likely won't read the second one.
March 26, 2025
Made For Saints was a thrilling read, starting off strong and ending with a bang. The slow burn was slow but once the spice arrived, it definitely got a little hotter in my reading space 🤭
I liked Emilia; a feisty heroine with a sharp tongue is always a plus. Her love interest and the MMC, Dante, was something else. His willingness to kill anyone who bothered or even looked at his girl was intense. Dante's brothers were a source of comic relief and I loved how they teased Dante about his infatuation.
I felt like the book was longer because of some repetitive ideas or sentences. I like a well thought out plot but I had to take a break over the repetition. That said, the cliffhanger made my jaw drop! I wasn't expecting the results and I cannot wait for book 2 to drop this September.
Huge thanks to L & K for the early copy!
I liked Emilia; a feisty heroine with a sharp tongue is always a plus. Her love interest and the MMC, Dante, was something else. His willingness to kill anyone who bothered or even looked at his girl was intense. Dante's brothers were a source of comic relief and I loved how they teased Dante about his infatuation.
I felt like the book was longer because of some repetitive ideas or sentences. I like a well thought out plot but I had to take a break over the repetition. That said, the cliffhanger made my jaw drop! I wasn't expecting the results and I cannot wait for book 2 to drop this September.
Huge thanks to L & K for the early copy!
May 9, 2025
First, I’d like to say, I received a copy of this book from Elle Kay in exchange for an honest review, thank you, ladies for introducing me to Dante and Emilia. I LOVED this book! The possessive, obsessive nature that Dante has towards Emilia is classic mafia romance material. He’s utterly too much and somehow I want more. This book felt like you’re just being teased and edged for about 400 pages BUT the subtle hits of romance that Dante displays toward Emilia are totally worth it. I really enjoy Emilia as well, her feisty, fiery attitude is spectacular and I really appreciate that she does not and will not back down to Dante. I’m not usually a cliffhanger fan, but I appreciate that the drama and plot in the story led so well to it. I absolutely cannot wait to continue their story in the second book! I think Ella Kay’s character development and writing style is very good, there are some editing hiccups here and there but that’s not uncommon, and they’re easy to overlook without pulling you out of the world they’ve created. I’d definitely recommend this to all mafia lovers.
April 7, 2025
The Conti Collection book 1-- ends in a cliffhanger -- strong plot, mid level spice , exceptional storyline .. personally the plot was dragged on a bit much but it just slowed it a lil .
Dante is the mafia boss you didnt know you needed :) he is a mafia boss from the powerful Conti family. Emilia is the mafia princess whose father and brothers keep her in the dark about the family business . She is fiesty and bold .. does back down too much in certain situations .
mafia romance
slow burn
morally grey MMC
OTT possessive MMC
Dante is the mafia boss you didnt know you needed :) he is a mafia boss from the powerful Conti family. Emilia is the mafia princess whose father and brothers keep her in the dark about the family business . She is fiesty and bold .. does back down too much in certain situations .
mafia romance
slow burn
morally grey MMC
OTT possessive MMC
April 15, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
This book is a mafia romance with some interesting characters. I like how the MMC has so much more to him than this broody mafia boss. The FMC challenges him and helps him want to be better. The only problem I had with the book was the repetitive choice of wording and reuse of exact sentences. It mad e the flow of the book stagger and it was like I was rereading parts again which didn’t draw me in as much. The ending also ended in what felt like a rush until the last sentence and then it made sense. I didn’t expect the ending which is nice but i was left off not sure how I felt.
This book is a mafia romance with some interesting characters. I like how the MMC has so much more to him than this broody mafia boss. The FMC challenges him and helps him want to be better. The only problem I had with the book was the repetitive choice of wording and reuse of exact sentences. It mad e the flow of the book stagger and it was like I was rereading parts again which didn’t draw me in as much. The ending also ended in what felt like a rush until the last sentence and then it made sense. I didn’t expect the ending which is nice but i was left off not sure how I felt.
April 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
I’m not normally one who reaches for mafia romances but Made for Saints made me think twice about that! The tension, the secrets, and the betrayal absolutely fueled a fire in this book. It did take me just a little bit to get into this story as it starts out slower in my opinion. However as soon as everything took shape I was absolutely living for it! I can’t wait to see what craziness is going to happen in book 2 with Dante and Emilia. If you love a mafia romance you should definitely check this one out!
🌶️🌶️/5
I’m not normally one who reaches for mafia romances but Made for Saints made me think twice about that! The tension, the secrets, and the betrayal absolutely fueled a fire in this book. It did take me just a little bit to get into this story as it starts out slower in my opinion. However as soon as everything took shape I was absolutely living for it! I can’t wait to see what craziness is going to happen in book 2 with Dante and Emilia. If you love a mafia romance you should definitely check this one out!
April 24, 2025
300 pages of torture was the absolute perfect dedication in the best way! This was my first time reading the authors and I am a forever fan now! The slowest burn I've read that took forever to do anything and at the end still hadn't done the deed. The writing has a way of sucking you in and not releasing you until you reach the end of the book. Emilia was a little aggravating at times, I wanted to shake her at some points and go "How did you not know?!?!" 😂. Dante was the perfect Mafia boss. I will definitely be reading more!! I could talk about this book for hours and hours!
March 22, 2025
Absolutely obsessed with this slow burn and even more obsessed with Dante! 🥵
I love checking out new romance series from new authors and I'm so glad I decided to pick this one up -- I legitimately could not put this down! The story hooked me from the get-go and the tension between Emilia and Dante had me hooked right from the start (plus this spice had me SAT 👀)
I'm legit counting the days until book two after that ending, I need MORE!
I love checking out new romance series from new authors and I'm so glad I decided to pick this one up -- I legitimately could not put this down! The story hooked me from the get-go and the tension between Emilia and Dante had me hooked right from the start (plus this spice had me SAT 👀)
I'm legit counting the days until book two after that ending, I need MORE!
May 10, 2025
3.25 ⭐️ i have such mix feelings about this but i enjoyed the slow burn and tension between them
I don’t want to say much abt this because i’ll focus my rating on the 2nd book
but this was an alright 1st book to know the characters and their world. nothing special, just fine i guess. but the ending made me want to read the next book immediately after lol
I don’t want to say much abt this because i’ll focus my rating on the 2nd book
but this was an alright 1st book to know the characters and their world. nothing special, just fine i guess. but the ending made me want to read the next book immediately after lol
July 16, 2025
Despite labelled as a dark theme, this story filled with contrasts — darkness and light, power and vulnerability, danger and love. I loved watching them slowly break down each other's walls. The romance is slow, the writing is sharp, and the emotional twist left a mark. Quietly intense and hitting all the right spots.
March 14, 2025
What a great slow burn!
I loved how the book opened and the immediate heat between Amelia and Dante, but the way the intrigue between the families developed kept me hooked!
Book 2 needed now please.
I loved how the book opened and the immediate heat between Amelia and Dante, but the way the intrigue between the families developed kept me hooked!
Book 2 needed now please.
March 20, 2025
This was such a good book! I cannot believe this is L and Ks first book. It was PHENOMENAL! I read it in one day I could not put it down. Definitely a must read if you like dark mafia romance books. I cannot wait to read the second one.
April 26, 2025
15% through, loving Dante, Emilia is iffy to me at this point. Loving the writing though! Just honestly not in a mafia mood and don't want to force myself to read it. I'd rather read it when in the proper mindset so the review reflects that!
Definitely suggest giving this a try though!
Definitely suggest giving this a try though!
March 27, 2025
I read this as an ARC it, The tension between the FMC and MMC was top notch and absolutely perfection. I’m new to mafia romance but this was chefs kiss.
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