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Charming Villain
I don’t want a wife. But in the mafia, marriage isn’t about love—it’s about power.
When the Family demands I marry Giovanni Lucatello’s sheltered daughter, I drown my frustration in whiskey and meet a woman who’s everything I shouldn’t bold, sharp-tongued, and tempting as sin. One night with her is unforgettable. But by the next morning, she’s gone. Or so I thought.
When I walk into my engagement meeting, I see her sitting there, looking like innocence itself. Gianna Lucatello. The woman I’m bound to marry.
I’ll make her regret what her father did to me. I’ll make her pay for the Lucatello crest burned into my chest. I’ll punish her in ways that leave her breathless and begging for more.
Because the more I make her suffer, the more I crave her—and the more I realize that beneath her defiance is a woman I’ll burn the world down to protect.
Gianna isn’t just going to be my wife. She’s my obsession. And I’ll stop at nothing to keep her.
Arranged Marriage, Enemies to Lovers, Touch Her and Die, Forced Proximity, Possessive Hero, Mafia Romance
Charming Villain is Luciano and Gianna's story. This novel features dark themes, steamy scenes, and mature content. Please read the first chapter for a full list of TWs.
Each book in The Terlizzis series can be read as a standalone novel.
When the Family demands I marry Giovanni Lucatello’s sheltered daughter, I drown my frustration in whiskey and meet a woman who’s everything I shouldn’t bold, sharp-tongued, and tempting as sin. One night with her is unforgettable. But by the next morning, she’s gone. Or so I thought.
When I walk into my engagement meeting, I see her sitting there, looking like innocence itself. Gianna Lucatello. The woman I’m bound to marry.
I’ll make her regret what her father did to me. I’ll make her pay for the Lucatello crest burned into my chest. I’ll punish her in ways that leave her breathless and begging for more.
Because the more I make her suffer, the more I crave her—and the more I realize that beneath her defiance is a woman I’ll burn the world down to protect.
Gianna isn’t just going to be my wife. She’s my obsession. And I’ll stop at nothing to keep her.
Arranged Marriage, Enemies to Lovers, Touch Her and Die, Forced Proximity, Possessive Hero, Mafia Romance
Charming Villain is Luciano and Gianna's story. This novel features dark themes, steamy scenes, and mature content. Please read the first chapter for a full list of TWs.
Each book in The Terlizzis series can be read as a standalone novel.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2025
32 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Cora Kent
49 books1,027 followersCora Kent fell for her first villain before she even knew what romance was. Ever since Scar was denied a happily ever after, she’s been on a mission to give all the dark, dangerous anti-heroes the endings they deserve. If the Big Bad Wolf had swept Little Red off her feet, it might have saved the fairy tale—so that's exactly what Cora does in her novels: grants her bad boys redemption through passion, power, and the women who can handle them.
When she’s not spinning tales of morally gray heroes and forbidden desires, you’ll find her snuggled up with her cat, sipping a margarita, and watching Grey’s Anatomy.
When she’s not spinning tales of morally gray heroes and forbidden desires, you’ll find her snuggled up with her cat, sipping a margarita, and watching Grey’s Anatomy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 289 reviews
May 9, 2025
"To my dark-hearted darlings— thank you for loving broken men and fierce women with me."
This dark mafia romance is an intense, gut-wrenching story of two deeply traumatized souls pushing and pulling against each other as they try to make a life together. A retaliatory act of violence by the head of the Lucatello family leaves Luciano Terlizzi with nothing but scars and a festering rage that reaches its breaking point once he is forcibly engaged to the man's daughter, Gianna Lucatello. However, Gianna is no stranger to her father's cruelty either, as she was raised in a gilded cage to be a bargaining tool valued only for her perceived purity and submissiveness. After the two MCs spend a night together as total strangers with sizzling chemistry, they face a shocking reintroduction during their engagement, and the lingering desire from their one-night stand shifts toward rage, distrust, and resentment.
This enemies-to-lovers story is not for the faint of heart. Luciano is determined to break Gianna's mind, body, and soul to get revenge against her father. While he attempts to turn their engagement into a living nightmare, Gianna relies on the survival mechanisms she has learned growing up with her father—falling into a role of quiet obedience as she tries to study Luciano and find out exactly what he wants with her. On the other hand, it becomes clear that not even Luciano appears to understand what he truly wants from his fiancée. He obviously craves intimacy and connection with Gianna, yet lashes out and punishes her when they get too close.
As the author pulls you into their dysfunctional coexistence, she does an excellent job of pushing your emotional tolerance for our MMC and making him a true villain before he finally seeks redemption. You will absolutely have moments where you loathe this man. There were times I wanted to reach into the book and throw this man straight into the trash bin— until — the breaking point of their relationship forces him out of his revenge-fueled tunnel vision, and he realizes Gianna was never his enemy; she was a casualty in a war that she never chose to be part of in the first place.
"We move like two battered souls learning to walk again."
I really enjoyed their journey back to each other. It is full of tentative, fragile trust, hope, and a commitment to make something that only belongs to them, not their families. The author reckons the lingering hurt, guilt, and anger between them with the love that makes them want to fight for each other. Anything else would have felt too forced or unrealistic for their story.
Overall, this was a dark, gritty read with complex, flawed characters and a sweet, well-earned HEA. The expected publication date is May 20, 2025. Charming Villain can be read as a standalone, but there are two more full-length novels in the Terlizzi family series. Check your trigger warnings, as this does contain sensitive themes.
Thank you to the author, Cora Kent, for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
-------------------------------------------------------
*Pre-Read*
So excited for this ARC! A dark, mafia romance with enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and an obsessed MMC? Absolutely yes.
This dark mafia romance is an intense, gut-wrenching story of two deeply traumatized souls pushing and pulling against each other as they try to make a life together. A retaliatory act of violence by the head of the Lucatello family leaves Luciano Terlizzi with nothing but scars and a festering rage that reaches its breaking point once he is forcibly engaged to the man's daughter, Gianna Lucatello. However, Gianna is no stranger to her father's cruelty either, as she was raised in a gilded cage to be a bargaining tool valued only for her perceived purity and submissiveness. After the two MCs spend a night together as total strangers with sizzling chemistry, they face a shocking reintroduction during their engagement, and the lingering desire from their one-night stand shifts toward rage, distrust, and resentment.
This enemies-to-lovers story is not for the faint of heart. Luciano is determined to break Gianna's mind, body, and soul to get revenge against her father. While he attempts to turn their engagement into a living nightmare, Gianna relies on the survival mechanisms she has learned growing up with her father—falling into a role of quiet obedience as she tries to study Luciano and find out exactly what he wants with her. On the other hand, it becomes clear that not even Luciano appears to understand what he truly wants from his fiancée. He obviously craves intimacy and connection with Gianna, yet lashes out and punishes her when they get too close.
As the author pulls you into their dysfunctional coexistence, she does an excellent job of pushing your emotional tolerance for our MMC and making him a true villain before he finally seeks redemption. You will absolutely have moments where you loathe this man. There were times I wanted to reach into the book and throw this man straight into the trash bin— until — the breaking point of their relationship forces him out of his revenge-fueled tunnel vision, and he realizes Gianna was never his enemy; she was a casualty in a war that she never chose to be part of in the first place.
"We move like two battered souls learning to walk again."
I really enjoyed their journey back to each other. It is full of tentative, fragile trust, hope, and a commitment to make something that only belongs to them, not their families. The author reckons the lingering hurt, guilt, and anger between them with the love that makes them want to fight for each other. Anything else would have felt too forced or unrealistic for their story.
Overall, this was a dark, gritty read with complex, flawed characters and a sweet, well-earned HEA. The expected publication date is May 20, 2025. Charming Villain can be read as a standalone, but there are two more full-length novels in the Terlizzi family series. Check your trigger warnings, as this does contain sensitive themes.
Thank you to the author, Cora Kent, for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
-------------------------------------------------------
*Pre-Read*
So excited for this ARC! A dark, mafia romance with enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and an obsessed MMC? Absolutely yes.
May 11, 2025
I’ve really been enjoying this series. I love darker mafia romances where they really push boundaries.
This story had some really great elements to it. I liked that Gianna was strong and decisive when it mattered. She knew how to play a long game and also allowed herself tender moments.
Her meet cute with Luciano was perfect for their story line and also added to the tension and animosity that was created throughout the story.
I enjoyed watching Luciano unravel a bit as well. To see different sides of his character that way we could sympathize but also want to smack him upside the head with a newspaper. He also had some not so redeeming qualities that I was really proud of Gianna for seeing and can say that this is where reading and real life become so different. I enjoyed it all in the book but in real life that would NEVEr fly and there would be no second chances.
There were chunks in the middle of the plot that felt kind of flat for me and I found my brain wandering or I was skimming pages but the start of the book and the last bit of the book were exciting. I also liked and appreciated that there wasn’t this annoying defiant banter between the two of them that seems to be a common theme in other books lately. It can get exhausting.
Overall it was a fun read.
This story had some really great elements to it. I liked that Gianna was strong and decisive when it mattered. She knew how to play a long game and also allowed herself tender moments.
Her meet cute with Luciano was perfect for their story line and also added to the tension and animosity that was created throughout the story.
I enjoyed watching Luciano unravel a bit as well. To see different sides of his character that way we could sympathize but also want to smack him upside the head with a newspaper. He also had some not so redeeming qualities that I was really proud of Gianna for seeing and can say that this is where reading and real life become so different. I enjoyed it all in the book but in real life that would NEVEr fly and there would be no second chances.
There were chunks in the middle of the plot that felt kind of flat for me and I found my brain wandering or I was skimming pages but the start of the book and the last bit of the book were exciting. I also liked and appreciated that there wasn’t this annoying defiant banter between the two of them that seems to be a common theme in other books lately. It can get exhausting.
Overall it was a fun read.
June 1, 2025
This is my first Cora Kent Book,
I have never read any of her books to this series. I'm not normally a dark romance book lover but when I was able to read it early I thought I would have it a try.
I love that at the beginning it introduced the character right from the start. It was easy to get into the plot of the book.
I found that the end of the book as flat and a little slow. But I did enjoy how fast pace it was at the beginning to the middle.
Thank you Cora Kent for giving me a chance to get a chance to read and review your book. I will definitely be reading more of your books.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have never read any of her books to this series. I'm not normally a dark romance book lover but when I was able to read it early I thought I would have it a try.
I love that at the beginning it introduced the character right from the start. It was easy to get into the plot of the book.
I found that the end of the book as flat and a little slow. But I did enjoy how fast pace it was at the beginning to the middle.
Thank you Cora Kent for giving me a chance to get a chance to read and review your book. I will definitely be reading more of your books.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 7, 2025
Holyyy shit!!! This book made me cry so bad so freaking bad I’m actually going to crash out 😭😭😭Luciano and Gianna’s story is one heartbreaking one 💔❤️🩹From the moment I started this book I knew it’s gonna make me cry and it . It bloody did !!😭😭 I don’t know how to recover now cause what ? What do I mean!? My babies went through so much and I mean so much I’m not even exaggerating!!! Luciano deserved better !! And Gianna? She deserved fucking better aswell!! Cause hello? These two broken souls really did a number on me.😭😭❤️🩹 I went into this book thinking oh we’re gonna get normal Cora Kent and her lovely stories with her amazing twists but this book ? Game me emotional damage in the best way !!🥺🥺 Holyyy molyyyyy I just don’t have enough words to describe how I feel about this book. All I gotta say is it’s gonna break your heart but mend it at the same time. 😭❤️🩹 This one Cora really did a number on me . Seriously I don’t know how to move on from them. I really can’t !!😭🙏 There were times I wanted to scream at Luciano for what he did sometimes really broke my fucking heart it really did!! I cried for my baby Gianna and I also cried for Luc but seriously they both deserved so much better!!
All I gotta say is this book is gonna make u cry ugly tears and it’s worth it !!😭❤️
Tropes
Arranged marriage “my wife”
Insta love/ instant obsession
S3xy torture dubc-n
Her love heals him
Revenge turned romance
Alpha hole antihero
Dark mafia
All I gotta say is this book is gonna make u cry ugly tears and it’s worth it !!😭❤️
Tropes
Arranged marriage “my wife”
Insta love/ instant obsession
S3xy torture dubc-n
Her love heals him
Revenge turned romance
Alpha hole antihero
Dark mafia
August 19, 2025
This one had a strong start, with a solid writing style that initially drew me in. However, it quickly became repetitive, especially with the inner monologues. There were also small inconsistencies throughout that pulled me out of the moment. For example, at one point, he flips her onto her stomach… only a few lines later to say he flips her onto her stomach again, even though she was already there! Details like that made the scenes feel less polished. There were also several stretches where I found myself skimming, hoping for something exciting to happen, and the pacing also felt off around the 55% mark; after in-depth details of them living together for weeks, the story suddenly rushed through days in half a chapter.
The first encounter between the FMC and MMC was filled with tension, heat, and promise. However, the FMC’s first sexual experience didn’t feel believable, not for a virgin, by any means. Unfortunately, after that, the story began to unravel, and the plot took a confusing and drastic turn once the characters started living together. The MMC’s behaviour shifted quickly to cold, and at times, outright cruel. His sudden change in attitude is jarring, especially considering how obsessed he became with her after just one night. No matter how much he hated her father, it’s hard to believe his feelings towards her would flip so easily.
The romance, if you can even call it that, lacked real depth. There was definitely lust, but the deeper connection, the love… just wasn’t there. Their falling in love didn’t feel natural or fully developed.
And for a mafia-related book, there’s surprisingly little focus on the actual mafia world. Most of the relevant action or context seemed to have happened before the events of the story, which was disappointing if you were hoping for that classic dark romance/mafia immersion. The spice was also on the lighter side, good for readers who prefer fewer steamy scenes, but a bit disappointing for me. Overall, it feels more like a soft entry point into the genre than a true dark mafia romance.
What I did enjoy was the internal conflict. I appreciated that the characters didn’t fall into the typical enemies-to-lovers trap of constant bickering. It was actually refreshing to see a more introspective take, where the tension came from within rather than nonstop arguments.
Overall, it was a quick read, and while I appreciated the premise, it didn’t capture my full attention quite like the earlier books in the series.
Spice 🌶️
The first encounter between the FMC and MMC was filled with tension, heat, and promise. However, the FMC’s first sexual experience didn’t feel believable, not for a virgin, by any means. Unfortunately, after that, the story began to unravel, and the plot took a confusing and drastic turn once the characters started living together. The MMC’s behaviour shifted quickly to cold, and at times, outright cruel. His sudden change in attitude is jarring, especially considering how obsessed he became with her after just one night. No matter how much he hated her father, it’s hard to believe his feelings towards her would flip so easily.
The romance, if you can even call it that, lacked real depth. There was definitely lust, but the deeper connection, the love… just wasn’t there. Their falling in love didn’t feel natural or fully developed.
And for a mafia-related book, there’s surprisingly little focus on the actual mafia world. Most of the relevant action or context seemed to have happened before the events of the story, which was disappointing if you were hoping for that classic dark romance/mafia immersion. The spice was also on the lighter side, good for readers who prefer fewer steamy scenes, but a bit disappointing for me. Overall, it feels more like a soft entry point into the genre than a true dark mafia romance.
What I did enjoy was the internal conflict. I appreciated that the characters didn’t fall into the typical enemies-to-lovers trap of constant bickering. It was actually refreshing to see a more introspective take, where the tension came from within rather than nonstop arguments.
Overall, it was a quick read, and while I appreciated the premise, it didn’t capture my full attention quite like the earlier books in the series.
Spice 🌶️
May 31, 2025
A solid introduction to dark romance, but not a perfect fit for me
I was excited to receive this as my first ARC, what a fun opportunity!
This was also my first dip into the dark romance and mafia romance genre, so I went in with an open mind. The story started strong and was a quick, easy read overall. However, as it progressed, the writing began to feel a bit repetitive, particularly in the internal monologues. At times, it felt like the narrative was stretching to meet a word count rather than moving the plot or characters forward.
I found myself wishing for more development in the central relationship. A deeper connection would have made it easier to root for Luciano, and added emotional weight to the story. I also hoped for a more satisfying payoff at the end, maybe a final spicy moment to bring things full circle.
Still, I enjoyed parts of the book and am grateful for the chance to read and review it as my first ARC experience!
I was excited to receive this as my first ARC, what a fun opportunity!
This was also my first dip into the dark romance and mafia romance genre, so I went in with an open mind. The story started strong and was a quick, easy read overall. However, as it progressed, the writing began to feel a bit repetitive, particularly in the internal monologues. At times, it felt like the narrative was stretching to meet a word count rather than moving the plot or characters forward.
I found myself wishing for more development in the central relationship. A deeper connection would have made it easier to root for Luciano, and added emotional weight to the story. I also hoped for a more satisfying payoff at the end, maybe a final spicy moment to bring things full circle.
Still, I enjoyed parts of the book and am grateful for the chance to read and review it as my first ARC experience!
May 6, 2025
There was a lot of internal conflict going on in the beginning. I actually like that there isn't a lot of back and forth or arguments. Its refreshing not dealing with the constant fighting in a typical enemies to lovers trope.
May 28, 2025
every dark romance i read by cora kent just gets better and better every time 😩 i didn’t want to put it down, it was that good !
i absolutely loved gianna and luciano’s story 🥹
this is a dark, mafia romance, arranged marriage, forced proximity, one night stand, enemies to lovers, age gap, he falls first and harder, accidental pregnancy 💙
i cannot wait for a book about salvatore, i need to read niccolo’s story !
i loved the part when she saved a kitten during a storm, and he reluctantly took her to the store to get supplies for the kitten and then he became a cat dad 🤭🐈⬛
at first, he wanted revenge on her for being the daughter of his enemy but he soon fell in love with her 🥹
thank you, cora kent for the arc 🤍
i absolutely loved gianna and luciano’s story 🥹
this is a dark, mafia romance, arranged marriage, forced proximity, one night stand, enemies to lovers, age gap, he falls first and harder, accidental pregnancy 💙
i cannot wait for a book about salvatore, i need to read niccolo’s story !
i loved the part when she saved a kitten during a storm, and he reluctantly took her to the store to get supplies for the kitten and then he became a cat dad 🤭🐈⬛
at first, he wanted revenge on her for being the daughter of his enemy but he soon fell in love with her 🥹
thank you, cora kent for the arc 🤍
May 25, 2025
Charming Villain is book three in the Terlizzis series by Cora Kent. Luciano Terlizzis does not want to get married, but his family has a different idea. They organise him to marry Giovanni Lucatello, the daughter of one of their rivals. Luciano Terlizzis was frustrated with the demand of his family to go out and drink his sorrel in whisky and meet the woman of his dreams, whom he never thought he would see again. Luciano was wrong; she was sitting at the engagement meeting and was the woman he was forced to marry. Will Luciano Terlizzis and Giovanni Lucatello ever be happy? The readers of Charming Villain will continue to follow Luciano Terlizzis and Giovanni Lucatello to discover what happens.
Charming Villain is a dark mafia romance and an enjoyable book to read. I enjoy how Cora Kent highlights how Mafia families work for her readers. I found the story slow because each chapter only discusses one character, and it was hard to get a handle on the story. I did finish reading this book.
I love Cora Kent's portrayal of her characters and their interaction with each other. Charming Villain is well-written and researched by Cora Kent. I like Cora Kent's description of Charming Villain's settings, which complemented the book's plot.
Thank you to the Author for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book.
Charming Villain is a dark mafia romance and an enjoyable book to read. I enjoy how Cora Kent highlights how Mafia families work for her readers. I found the story slow because each chapter only discusses one character, and it was hard to get a handle on the story. I did finish reading this book.
I love Cora Kent's portrayal of her characters and their interaction with each other. Charming Villain is well-written and researched by Cora Kent. I like Cora Kent's description of Charming Villain's settings, which complemented the book's plot.
Thank you to the Author for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book.
June 3, 2025
This story initially reeled me in, but quickly made me think.....what? It was a conflicting story in that I wasn't sure where the actual plot was heading with both main characters engaging in what I would term "a psychological war game" that went back and forth throughout the entire book. The story was based around the Terlizzis' youngest brother Luciano and his siblings, but didn't really include any of the criminal aspect except for Gianna's father. I wouldn't call the book dark as much as it was sadistic at times with a MMC who I would liken to a Jekyll and Hyde. His mood swings consumed most of the story while Gianna was too meek for my taste as a MFC. I prefer my female characters to have a backbone and know when to speak and when not to.
The story centers around Luciano and Gianna's relationship once he is told he must marry Gianna. She is forced to move in with him before the wedding where he does everything in his power to make her miserable and destroy her. His feelings and desire for her (from their one night stand/hookup with a stranger) is replaced with a desire to control and break her because of her father. It is a very emotional, roller coaster ride through a very dark time for these characters. It was painful at times for both characters because there was little dialogue between them throughout much of this book. There was allot of repetitious inner dialogue that grew tiring.
Giana, was painfully meek and naïve. She did possess an inner strength, but seldom showed it. She was the product of a physically and mentally abusive father who learned to survive by becoming invisible. In my opinion, Giovanni was a monster and should have been put down earlier in this series.
Luciano was a deeply disturbed character that wasn't morally gray, but black. His hatred for Giovanni consumed him which he took out on Gianna. I have grown tired of men in this genre taking out their rage and revenge on an innocent even after they realize that they are as much of a victim as they are.
I never understood Saverio's strategy that an arranged marriage between his wife's twin (who had been branded, kept as a hostage and abused by Gianna's father five years earlier" was going to bring an alliance to the two family's. Really? His story and that of Luciano's twin was good, but continue to see a pattern in this series with him causing this family unnecessary turmoil. It seems immature for a man who wields so much power that still resonates a sadistic side of his personality. It was never clearly explained what Saverio hoped to gain from the marriage, other than a temporary alliance, but felt off considering Luciano was his brother-in-law.
I wasn't impressed with Luciano's brothers as they made light of this marriage when it obviously was eating away at their brother. They joked too much and seemed thoughtless, until the end of the book. It was then that they provided the support and understanding you expect from the brothers when Luciano and Gianna needed it the most.
The ending was predictable because all "arranged marriages" in this genre ends with and HEA or do they?
The story centers around Luciano and Gianna's relationship once he is told he must marry Gianna. She is forced to move in with him before the wedding where he does everything in his power to make her miserable and destroy her. His feelings and desire for her (from their one night stand/hookup with a stranger) is replaced with a desire to control and break her because of her father. It is a very emotional, roller coaster ride through a very dark time for these characters. It was painful at times for both characters because there was little dialogue between them throughout much of this book. There was allot of repetitious inner dialogue that grew tiring.
Giana, was painfully meek and naïve. She did possess an inner strength, but seldom showed it. She was the product of a physically and mentally abusive father who learned to survive by becoming invisible. In my opinion, Giovanni was a monster and should have been put down earlier in this series.
Luciano was a deeply disturbed character that wasn't morally gray, but black. His hatred for Giovanni consumed him which he took out on Gianna. I have grown tired of men in this genre taking out their rage and revenge on an innocent even after they realize that they are as much of a victim as they are.
I never understood Saverio's strategy that an arranged marriage between his wife's twin (who had been branded, kept as a hostage and abused by Gianna's father five years earlier" was going to bring an alliance to the two family's. Really? His story and that of Luciano's twin was good, but continue to see a pattern in this series with him causing this family unnecessary turmoil. It seems immature for a man who wields so much power that still resonates a sadistic side of his personality. It was never clearly explained what Saverio hoped to gain from the marriage, other than a temporary alliance, but felt off considering Luciano was his brother-in-law.
I wasn't impressed with Luciano's brothers as they made light of this marriage when it obviously was eating away at their brother. They joked too much and seemed thoughtless, until the end of the book. It was then that they provided the support and understanding you expect from the brothers when Luciano and Gianna needed it the most.
The ending was predictable because all "arranged marriages" in this genre ends with and HEA or do they?
June 1, 2025
He was supposed to ruin her. She was supposed to run. They never planned on falling.
Gianna (h) knows one thing for certain: no one is coming to save her. Promised in marriage to a stranger by her controlling mafioso father, she’s used to playing by rules she didn’t create. Luciano (H) has waited years to get revenge on the man who branded and scarred him, and marrying his enemy’s daughter is the perfect start. What neither of them expects is the night they share before they know who the other really is.
Thrown into a forced engagement, Luciano and Gianna are caught in a game of power, survival, and twisted loyalty. Luciano wants revenge, and Gianna wants freedom, but neither expects to find something real in the chaos. What begins as manipulation turns into obsession, and what should have been a transaction becomes something deeper and more dangerous. As past wounds surface and buried emotions rise, both must choose between destroying each other or finding a way forward together.
Luciano evolves from a cold, revenge-driven man into someone capable of vulnerability, remorse, and emotional growth. Gianna transforms from a controlled, obedient daughter into a woman who finds her voice, asserts her boundaries, and chooses her own path.
Their relationship shifts from power struggles and emotional manipulation to mutual understanding and earned trust. What begins as control and fear gradually becomes a partnership built on choice, healing, and love.
Hot and steamy, dark, enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, mafia romance, exploring love shaped by trauma, revenge, power dynamics, emotional healing, obsession, redemption, control, survival, trust, betrayal, identity, legacy, and forgiveness. It's a story about two people trying to escape the legacies that shaped them and daring to build something different from the wreckage.
Gianna (h) knows one thing for certain: no one is coming to save her. Promised in marriage to a stranger by her controlling mafioso father, she’s used to playing by rules she didn’t create. Luciano (H) has waited years to get revenge on the man who branded and scarred him, and marrying his enemy’s daughter is the perfect start. What neither of them expects is the night they share before they know who the other really is.
Thrown into a forced engagement, Luciano and Gianna are caught in a game of power, survival, and twisted loyalty. Luciano wants revenge, and Gianna wants freedom, but neither expects to find something real in the chaos. What begins as manipulation turns into obsession, and what should have been a transaction becomes something deeper and more dangerous. As past wounds surface and buried emotions rise, both must choose between destroying each other or finding a way forward together.
Luciano evolves from a cold, revenge-driven man into someone capable of vulnerability, remorse, and emotional growth. Gianna transforms from a controlled, obedient daughter into a woman who finds her voice, asserts her boundaries, and chooses her own path.
Their relationship shifts from power struggles and emotional manipulation to mutual understanding and earned trust. What begins as control and fear gradually becomes a partnership built on choice, healing, and love.
Hot and steamy, dark, enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, mafia romance, exploring love shaped by trauma, revenge, power dynamics, emotional healing, obsession, redemption, control, survival, trust, betrayal, identity, legacy, and forgiveness. It's a story about two people trying to escape the legacies that shaped them and daring to build something different from the wreckage.
May 14, 2025
With having NO CLUE on what the next book in this series was going to be about, I definitely was excited to learn it was about ‘Lucky’ Luciano and surprisingly Christine Lucatello’s cousin! And MY GOD was it SOMETHING ELSE.
Not knowing much about Luciano, and with everything that he went through I can understand as to why he had some revenge intentions when it came to the Lucatello family, and when it was supposed to end their family feud, it ended up being his realisation into what he actually wanted instead. One night wanting to forget all of his problems (and hers too) ended up leading them both to finding the best thing that happened to him. And BOY did he put her through some shit! My GOD! Diving into more of the Lucatello family was something I wasn’t expecting but I definitely loved Gianna! Considering she had grew up in the environment that she was in, she certainly was very strong and had dealt with so much and I can completely resonate with her reasoning for why she did what she did. But the underlying chemistry between Lucky and Gianna WAS THERE even through all the pent-up hatred and heartbreak that came along.
In the end, they both found what they never knew what they had been looking for and it turned out to be the best thing for both of them and I won’t lie, IT WAS FUCKING ADORABLE. With that being said, considering there is one more Terlizzi bachelor left, I wonder how that is going to play out, and I can’t wait for it!
Not knowing much about Luciano, and with everything that he went through I can understand as to why he had some revenge intentions when it came to the Lucatello family, and when it was supposed to end their family feud, it ended up being his realisation into what he actually wanted instead. One night wanting to forget all of his problems (and hers too) ended up leading them both to finding the best thing that happened to him. And BOY did he put her through some shit! My GOD! Diving into more of the Lucatello family was something I wasn’t expecting but I definitely loved Gianna! Considering she had grew up in the environment that she was in, she certainly was very strong and had dealt with so much and I can completely resonate with her reasoning for why she did what she did. But the underlying chemistry between Lucky and Gianna WAS THERE even through all the pent-up hatred and heartbreak that came along.
In the end, they both found what they never knew what they had been looking for and it turned out to be the best thing for both of them and I won’t lie, IT WAS FUCKING ADORABLE. With that being said, considering there is one more Terlizzi bachelor left, I wonder how that is going to play out, and I can’t wait for it!
May 22, 2025
They share a passion-fueled night together before discovering how their pasts and futures are linked…
This mafia arranged marriage enemies to lovers is part of a series but can be read as a standalone with no problems. The story focuses heavily on the relationship dynamics, exploring how events in the past have created the current situation. Both characters have deep trauma and need to go through a lot of healing and growth. In a trope-flip for mafia books, potential red flags are not ignored, despite the depth of feeling involved.
Other things you’ll get in this book: a small grey kitten called Cupcake, some con of the dub variety, misdirected vengeance, an excellent example of how not to parent, and judiciously used salt. “My wife” is used frequently (if mostly inaccurately). The plot doesn’t often take you past the bedroom, but when it does, the door is wedged open for an extended period of time.
All up, it was a great read and I’m keen to learn about the other characters in the series.
This mafia arranged marriage enemies to lovers is part of a series but can be read as a standalone with no problems. The story focuses heavily on the relationship dynamics, exploring how events in the past have created the current situation. Both characters have deep trauma and need to go through a lot of healing and growth. In a trope-flip for mafia books, potential red flags are not ignored, despite the depth of feeling involved.
Other things you’ll get in this book: a small grey kitten called Cupcake, some con of the dub variety, misdirected vengeance, an excellent example of how not to parent, and judiciously used salt. “My wife” is used frequently (if mostly inaccurately). The plot doesn’t often take you past the bedroom, but when it does, the door is wedged open for an extended period of time.
All up, it was a great read and I’m keen to learn about the other characters in the series.
May 8, 2025
Well... this isn't my normal type of read. It's a dark romance with forced marriage... I'm usually a sweet swoony type of girl BUT when I seen this ARC posted I thought why not see what this is all about. Giiiiirrrrrrlllllllll I couldn't put it down. I had to know what was going to happen next. I also try to stay away from Spicy scenes which this did have 4 I believe. You could skip over those and still get the tone of the story.
There are twists you see coming, it's spelled out for you and you are just waiting for them to realize it. Then there are some that you DO NOT see coming and I gasped out loud at one of them and my husband was like "What? What's wrong?!" Oh nothing hunny just this book I can't put down 🤣🤣.
All in all I enjoyed the book and it's defintely one that you won't want to put down until the end. I read it in two days and I have a full time job, 3 kids, and a husband. (Late night readers where are you?? 😉)
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
There are twists you see coming, it's spelled out for you and you are just waiting for them to realize it. Then there are some that you DO NOT see coming and I gasped out loud at one of them and my husband was like "What? What's wrong?!" Oh nothing hunny just this book I can't put down 🤣🤣.
All in all I enjoyed the book and it's defintely one that you won't want to put down until the end. I read it in two days and I have a full time job, 3 kids, and a husband. (Late night readers where are you?? 😉)
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 15, 2025
This was a wild ride, it was tragic, heartbreaking but with a satisfying redemption arc. I loved Gianna's bravery and determination, and her defiance. I had mixed feelings on Luca, I went from sympathy to anger pretty quick, but he does redeem himself.
It's got plenty of family drama, characters to despise, and has a hea.
It's got plenty of family drama, characters to despise, and has a hea.
May 22, 2025
fierce ride
Woooo! When I tell you that I was chillen along for 65% and then the crescendo of the build happens - and then 85% I’m a sobbing mess!!! Woah! Great story, pulled all the heart strings and made you question how this would end. Lucky’s his nickname for a reason! And man did it pull through in the end…had me sweating!
Woooo! When I tell you that I was chillen along for 65% and then the crescendo of the build happens - and then 85% I’m a sobbing mess!!! Woah! Great story, pulled all the heart strings and made you question how this would end. Lucky’s his nickname for a reason! And man did it pull through in the end…had me sweating!
June 7, 2025
I absolutely loved following Gianna and Luciano’s story. Everything from their first meeting, to finding Cupcake, to their time in the hospital, I kept falling more in love with them and their story.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. My review is slightly late due to working 12 hour days, but I still enjoyed the book!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. My review is slightly late due to working 12 hour days, but I still enjoyed the book!
June 3, 2025
I have not read the other books in this series but I really enjoyed this read. A dark enemies to lovers mafia romance and it is checking all the boxes! Forced /arranged marriage, rival families, Spice! The middle was a bit slow and felt slightly repetitive but the ending was worth it. Check your TW.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 7, 2025
So intense and so emotional! A very complex dark romance with characters that I loved! Luciano is so emotional and thoughtful under his brooding dark hero persona and Gianna is such a badass despite all the dark trauma of her past. Very enjoyable and a super fun fast read.
I received this book as an eARC from the author. Thank you so much for the privilege of getting to read this early!
I received this book as an eARC from the author. Thank you so much for the privilege of getting to read this early!
May 25, 2025
Who knew a one night stand could lead to such a roller coaster!! This book will pull you in and you won’t be able to put it down!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 31, 2025
My heart, My home.
Omg this book had me in a cholkhold & in all the right ways! This story took me through a loop of emotions 🤯🤬🖕🥴😭💔🥵☠️💘🫶 Ok, this is gonna be a long one so let's dive in...
FULL REVIEW & SPOILERS AHEAD:
This story is about Luciano & Gianna. Luciano "Lucky" Terlizzi is part of the mafia & is the black sheep of the Terlizzi brothers. To say he's endured some turmoil is an understatement. And his life is about to get a little more complicated cause he's been informed that he's gotta get hitched, to his #1 enemy's daughter. 😳 Nope, he's not havin it, so he decides to go have one last night of freedom before the big day. (Who can blame the guy, right?!)
Now, let's enter in Gianna Lucatello. Gianna has always known she will some day be made to marry whoever her daddy says to, & without question she has been a good girl her whole life. When Gianna finds out she's gotta finally step up to do her mafia princess duty, she panics, feeling the need to take some sort of control for once. So, she says fuck it & sneaks out to find someone to lose her V-card to, a last big F-U to her daddy dearest. Oh holy shitakes!🤦♀️
Welp, I'm sure you can tell where this tale is goin. Ya you guessed it, Luc & G run into each other at a local bar, not knowing who each other is. Just two strangers in the night, tryin to escape impending doom. Sparks begin to fly & soon a night of passion ignites hotter than fireworks on the 4th of July! 🥵🔥🤌 The next morning they've parted ways, only to come back face to face again when they meet at their arranged marriage luncheon. Oofta! 🤯 Luciano is hell-bent for revenge on G's father for a horrendous act of violence years ago & decides to take this opportunity as his golden ticket for retribution, & Gianna is dealing with her own past trauma & personal agenda to escape the guilded cage she's been accustomed to. 😵 Let me tell you, this marriage is a train-wreck waiting to happen! Mayday, Mayday! 🚑💔☠️ My goodness, a lot, & I mean a shit-ton, happens along their journey & it had me up in my feels the whole time! (Check your triggers ladies & gents cause it gets dark y'all.) I laughed, I cried, I screamed, I cursed, I giggled (cause that's all I had left), & then I balled my eyes out as everything came to an end. Oh Lordy, it was an emotional ride!
The author really did a spectacular job delving into Luciano & Gianna's backstories & family dynamics, as well as being able to portray this intense emotional story in such a way that you can relate & understand what they were each going through. It's a beautiful, brutal masterpiece. Overall, the plot was plottin, twists & turns were at every corner, there’s a cat, hilarious brotherly banter, & of course just the right amount of spice. A fantastic read, 4.25 ⭐️'s!
TROPES & TW's:
🖤 Dark Mafia Romance
🖤 Age Gap
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Arranged Marriage
🖤 Possessive, Broken, Morally Grey MMC
🖤 V-Card, Fierce FMC
🖤 Revenge
🖤 Dubious Consent/Power Dynamics
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Emotional Trauma
🖤 Touch her & ☠️
🖤 Spice 🌶🌶🌶.5
FAV QUOTES/SCENES:
Tonight, I’m free to destroy myself in any way I see fit.
There’s something about him that resonates with the hollow ache in my own chest, like recognizing a reflection in dark water. The same desperation, perhaps. The same need to escape...Everything about him screams trouble. And yet, for some reason, I want to step into his storm and let his dangerous current pull me under.
We’re two loaded guns pointed at each other, too reckless to back down.
I wonder what she sees when she looks at me—a man drowning his sorrows or a ticking time bomb waiting to detonate?
The swirl of chaos in her eyes matches mine. We’re both one misstep away from unraveling. Maybe that’s what draws us together like magnets.
“You want it, beg for it.”
“I brought you here to ruin you. I want to break you, Gianna. I want to make you beg. Make you realize you’re not as untouched or untouchable as your father believed. I want to sink myself so deep in you that you don’t remember who you were before I got hold of you. I want to remake you in the image of my darkest desires until there’s nothing left of the pristine daughter Giovanni Lucatello tried so hard to protect."
“Dance on my fingertips, beautiful.”
“Break for me, darling. Let go. Give me what I want, what you want.”
I’m a man possessed, a man so destroyed that he must destroy others, consumed by a darkness that feeds on her submission and tears.
My only choices are to retreat into cruelty or to follow this path wherever it leads. And that path might lead to something dangerously close to love, heartbreak, or a union so twisted that neither of us can walk away unscathed.
I bite my tongue to keep from laughing...It’s insane to see him—this lethal, brooding figure—wandering between pastel cat bowls and glittery collars...“Not. A. Word,” he mutters. I stifle a giggle. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Let her be scared. Let her be furious. Let her fucking hate me if she wants because I don’t give a damn. The twisted desire in my chest begs for a confrontation that ends in no uncertain terms: she is mine to punish, to command, to control.
“You want to push me, Gianna? Then you’d better be ready for what happens when I push back.”
A painful longing twists in my gut that makes it hard to breathe. Please don’t look at me like I’m a monster even if I am one, even if I deserve every ounce of the fear reflecting back at me.
The lines between punishment, pleasure, and possession have never been so dangerously blurred. And if I can’t find a way to navigate this blurriness, it might destroy us both. And despite the guilt and the shame and the fear choking me, one undeniable truth remains: I can’t let her g0.
"If you want Gianna—if you need her—you’d better be ready to bleed for it. Love like that doesn’t come easy, and it sure as hell isn’t given freely. It’s fought for. It’s earned.”
I’ll fi× this. Because I have to. Because the man I once was—the one who wanted to bend her to my will—is dead. The man driving this car is ready to face every demon, to bleed for her if I have to. And I hope to God she’ll let me prove it when I find her.
She thinks she’s saving herself by running away. She doesn’t realize I’d fight the entire world to keep her safe.
“I would’ve torn the world apart to find you, I almost did. And when I realized Giovanni had beaten me there, I lost it. I imagined a thousand scenarios of him hurting you in the five seconds it took me to get to your hotel room. I knew I’d never be able to live with myself if that happened. Because I love you, Gianna. I love you so much it terrifies me. It’s the first time in my life I’ve cared more about someone else’s heartbeat than my own.”
“I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But I swear, I will spend every day of my life trying to make things right—whether or not you want me by your side. I’ll be whatever you need me to be; do whatever it takes to prove to you I can be the man you deserve. And if we…If we get to keep this little life—God, Gianna, I’ll do anything for them. Anything. I’ll change diapers at three in the morning, drive carpool in rush hour traffic, attend every single checkup and school play. I don’t care what it is. If it means I get to see you both happy and safe, that’s all I want in this world.”
"You are my heart, and now, you’re my home.”
"I don’t see broken pieces anymore. I see a man who fought his demons and won.”
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Omg this book had me in a cholkhold & in all the right ways! This story took me through a loop of emotions 🤯🤬🖕🥴😭💔🥵☠️💘🫶 Ok, this is gonna be a long one so let's dive in...
FULL REVIEW & SPOILERS AHEAD:
This story is about Luciano & Gianna. Luciano "Lucky" Terlizzi is part of the mafia & is the black sheep of the Terlizzi brothers. To say he's endured some turmoil is an understatement. And his life is about to get a little more complicated cause he's been informed that he's gotta get hitched, to his #1 enemy's daughter. 😳 Nope, he's not havin it, so he decides to go have one last night of freedom before the big day. (Who can blame the guy, right?!)
Now, let's enter in Gianna Lucatello. Gianna has always known she will some day be made to marry whoever her daddy says to, & without question she has been a good girl her whole life. When Gianna finds out she's gotta finally step up to do her mafia princess duty, she panics, feeling the need to take some sort of control for once. So, she says fuck it & sneaks out to find someone to lose her V-card to, a last big F-U to her daddy dearest. Oh holy shitakes!🤦♀️
Welp, I'm sure you can tell where this tale is goin. Ya you guessed it, Luc & G run into each other at a local bar, not knowing who each other is. Just two strangers in the night, tryin to escape impending doom. Sparks begin to fly & soon a night of passion ignites hotter than fireworks on the 4th of July! 🥵🔥🤌 The next morning they've parted ways, only to come back face to face again when they meet at their arranged marriage luncheon. Oofta! 🤯 Luciano is hell-bent for revenge on G's father for a horrendous act of violence years ago & decides to take this opportunity as his golden ticket for retribution, & Gianna is dealing with her own past trauma & personal agenda to escape the guilded cage she's been accustomed to. 😵 Let me tell you, this marriage is a train-wreck waiting to happen! Mayday, Mayday! 🚑💔☠️ My goodness, a lot, & I mean a shit-ton, happens along their journey & it had me up in my feels the whole time! (Check your triggers ladies & gents cause it gets dark y'all.) I laughed, I cried, I screamed, I cursed, I giggled (cause that's all I had left), & then I balled my eyes out as everything came to an end. Oh Lordy, it was an emotional ride!
The author really did a spectacular job delving into Luciano & Gianna's backstories & family dynamics, as well as being able to portray this intense emotional story in such a way that you can relate & understand what they were each going through. It's a beautiful, brutal masterpiece. Overall, the plot was plottin, twists & turns were at every corner, there’s a cat, hilarious brotherly banter, & of course just the right amount of spice. A fantastic read, 4.25 ⭐️'s!
TROPES & TW's:
🖤 Dark Mafia Romance
🖤 Age Gap
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Arranged Marriage
🖤 Possessive, Broken, Morally Grey MMC
🖤 V-Card, Fierce FMC
🖤 Revenge
🖤 Dubious Consent/Power Dynamics
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Emotional Trauma
🖤 Touch her & ☠️
🖤 Spice 🌶🌶🌶.5
FAV QUOTES/SCENES:
Tonight, I’m free to destroy myself in any way I see fit.
There’s something about him that resonates with the hollow ache in my own chest, like recognizing a reflection in dark water. The same desperation, perhaps. The same need to escape...Everything about him screams trouble. And yet, for some reason, I want to step into his storm and let his dangerous current pull me under.
We’re two loaded guns pointed at each other, too reckless to back down.
I wonder what she sees when she looks at me—a man drowning his sorrows or a ticking time bomb waiting to detonate?
The swirl of chaos in her eyes matches mine. We’re both one misstep away from unraveling. Maybe that’s what draws us together like magnets.
“You want it, beg for it.”
“I brought you here to ruin you. I want to break you, Gianna. I want to make you beg. Make you realize you’re not as untouched or untouchable as your father believed. I want to sink myself so deep in you that you don’t remember who you were before I got hold of you. I want to remake you in the image of my darkest desires until there’s nothing left of the pristine daughter Giovanni Lucatello tried so hard to protect."
“Dance on my fingertips, beautiful.”
“Break for me, darling. Let go. Give me what I want, what you want.”
I’m a man possessed, a man so destroyed that he must destroy others, consumed by a darkness that feeds on her submission and tears.
My only choices are to retreat into cruelty or to follow this path wherever it leads. And that path might lead to something dangerously close to love, heartbreak, or a union so twisted that neither of us can walk away unscathed.
I bite my tongue to keep from laughing...It’s insane to see him—this lethal, brooding figure—wandering between pastel cat bowls and glittery collars...“Not. A. Word,” he mutters. I stifle a giggle. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Let her be scared. Let her be furious. Let her fucking hate me if she wants because I don’t give a damn. The twisted desire in my chest begs for a confrontation that ends in no uncertain terms: she is mine to punish, to command, to control.
“You want to push me, Gianna? Then you’d better be ready for what happens when I push back.”
A painful longing twists in my gut that makes it hard to breathe. Please don’t look at me like I’m a monster even if I am one, even if I deserve every ounce of the fear reflecting back at me.
The lines between punishment, pleasure, and possession have never been so dangerously blurred. And if I can’t find a way to navigate this blurriness, it might destroy us both. And despite the guilt and the shame and the fear choking me, one undeniable truth remains: I can’t let her g0.
"If you want Gianna—if you need her—you’d better be ready to bleed for it. Love like that doesn’t come easy, and it sure as hell isn’t given freely. It’s fought for. It’s earned.”
I’ll fi× this. Because I have to. Because the man I once was—the one who wanted to bend her to my will—is dead. The man driving this car is ready to face every demon, to bleed for her if I have to. And I hope to God she’ll let me prove it when I find her.
She thinks she’s saving herself by running away. She doesn’t realize I’d fight the entire world to keep her safe.
“I would’ve torn the world apart to find you, I almost did. And when I realized Giovanni had beaten me there, I lost it. I imagined a thousand scenarios of him hurting you in the five seconds it took me to get to your hotel room. I knew I’d never be able to live with myself if that happened. Because I love you, Gianna. I love you so much it terrifies me. It’s the first time in my life I’ve cared more about someone else’s heartbeat than my own.”
“I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But I swear, I will spend every day of my life trying to make things right—whether or not you want me by your side. I’ll be whatever you need me to be; do whatever it takes to prove to you I can be the man you deserve. And if we…If we get to keep this little life—God, Gianna, I’ll do anything for them. Anything. I’ll change diapers at three in the morning, drive carpool in rush hour traffic, attend every single checkup and school play. I don’t care what it is. If it means I get to see you both happy and safe, that’s all I want in this world.”
"You are my heart, and now, you’re my home.”
"I don’t see broken pieces anymore. I see a man who fought his demons and won.”
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2025
ARC Review
I devoured Charming Villain by Cora Kent in one sitting. Though I’m not usually a fan of the pregnancy trope, it worked well here because it had a purpose.
I really loved how Gianna and Luciano help heal and free each other from the trauma and emotional prisons they’ve been trapped in.
I think it puts a nice perspective on love. How it is not a weakness but a brave choice and it highlights how people can change if they are willing.
I am incredibly grateful that I was able to receive an ARC of this book to read before the release.
I devoured Charming Villain by Cora Kent in one sitting. Though I’m not usually a fan of the pregnancy trope, it worked well here because it had a purpose.
I really loved how Gianna and Luciano help heal and free each other from the trauma and emotional prisons they’ve been trapped in.
I think it puts a nice perspective on love. How it is not a weakness but a brave choice and it highlights how people can change if they are willing.
I am incredibly grateful that I was able to receive an ARC of this book to read before the release.
June 2, 2025
Two strangers, coming together in a night of unbridled passion, both giving in to the undeniable chemistry between them. To forget who they are, letting go, giving into their basest needs in a night neither will forget.
Luciano is to be married to Gianna, the daughter of Giovanni Lucatello, to bring two mafia families together, a semblance of peace, he’s not given a choice and must accept the hand he is dealt with or deal with the consequences. Gianna knew that she was a bargaining tool, used by her father for power and control, after all she was raised in a gilded cage, her only value her virtue and submissiveness.
But when these two meet face to face, recognition flares, but the rage festering in Luciano reaches breaking point, the lingering desires shifting, the dynamics between them changing irrevocably.
Gianna moves from one gilded cage to another. Luciano is determined to break Gianna, for an injustice done to him at her father’s hands, the sins of the father coming back ten fold. But what Luciano doesn’t know is that Gianna has perfected the art of submission, she’s learned the hard way, to survive in this cruel world she uses her survival instincts, not only that but to find out exactly what he wants with her.
Luciano is drowning in his own self loathing. All he sees when he looks at Gianna is the pain of his past, yet it is Gianna’s quiet nature that puts him on edge, he is cruel to her, and she just accepts everything with her head held high. Her mere presence, being in close proximity stirs up feelings inside, because the connection he has with Gianna is undeniable, the intimacy they both crave slashing white hot, as soon as he gives in, he lashes out, punishing her, pushing her away.
Gianna is confused with what Luciano wants, the push and pull blows hot and cold, sending mixed singles, messing with her heart and emotions in a way that she can’t control, or can she. To co-exist in this marriage Gianna becomes the embodiment of the woman Luciano perceives her to be.
Yet, there is a shift within Luciano, he becomes more tentative towards Gianna and her needs. This can’t truly be the same man she spent that one night with all those weeks ago. Gianna refuses to live a life like this, and for her there is only one choice, she knows what she needs to do.
Luciano has this sinking feeling, he can tell that something is going on with Gianna, he doesn’t know what, it’s the way she carries herself, he watches her closely, looking for that smallest thing that will give her away, because he can feel her pulling away, and what scares him the most is admitting what he feels for her, love.
Because what was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives, turns into a living nightmare, Gianna has fled their wedding, a letter with a secret that shatters his foundation, and that feeling Luciano felt comes forth and manifests into something else entirely. And it is here that he reaches breaking point, which forces him to come face to face with his need for revenge, blind sighted by his own short sightedness, he now understands that Gianna was never his enemy. They were both a casualty of a war that they never chose to be part of in the first place.
To salvage what he has with Gianna, he has to find her, because he cannot live without her. Luciano turns into a man possessed into something that scares not only his brothers but himself. But what shocks him the most is Giovanni’s blatant disregard for his own daughter’s life. But Gianna always knew, it just hurt to hear it. Gianna has become Luciano’s heart, and he won’t stand idly by, wont loose her to her father’s machinations, a battle of wills, blood is spilled, retribution swift.
But for Luciano and Gianna they’re not out of the woods. Both healing from trauma and the uncertainty surrounding the life of their unborn child at the forefront of their minds. But it’s in this moment that he seeks redemption for his wrong doings. The emotional roller coaster that these two face, to find their way back to each other, the fragility of their love hinges on trust, trust they both give each other, a commitment they make to each other, not for their families, but for themselves, that only belongs to them, their happily ever after bittersweet.
Highly recommend both the author and the book.
I received an ARC. Therefore, I am submitting a voluntary review.
Luciano is to be married to Gianna, the daughter of Giovanni Lucatello, to bring two mafia families together, a semblance of peace, he’s not given a choice and must accept the hand he is dealt with or deal with the consequences. Gianna knew that she was a bargaining tool, used by her father for power and control, after all she was raised in a gilded cage, her only value her virtue and submissiveness.
But when these two meet face to face, recognition flares, but the rage festering in Luciano reaches breaking point, the lingering desires shifting, the dynamics between them changing irrevocably.
Gianna moves from one gilded cage to another. Luciano is determined to break Gianna, for an injustice done to him at her father’s hands, the sins of the father coming back ten fold. But what Luciano doesn’t know is that Gianna has perfected the art of submission, she’s learned the hard way, to survive in this cruel world she uses her survival instincts, not only that but to find out exactly what he wants with her.
Luciano is drowning in his own self loathing. All he sees when he looks at Gianna is the pain of his past, yet it is Gianna’s quiet nature that puts him on edge, he is cruel to her, and she just accepts everything with her head held high. Her mere presence, being in close proximity stirs up feelings inside, because the connection he has with Gianna is undeniable, the intimacy they both crave slashing white hot, as soon as he gives in, he lashes out, punishing her, pushing her away.
Gianna is confused with what Luciano wants, the push and pull blows hot and cold, sending mixed singles, messing with her heart and emotions in a way that she can’t control, or can she. To co-exist in this marriage Gianna becomes the embodiment of the woman Luciano perceives her to be.
Yet, there is a shift within Luciano, he becomes more tentative towards Gianna and her needs. This can’t truly be the same man she spent that one night with all those weeks ago. Gianna refuses to live a life like this, and for her there is only one choice, she knows what she needs to do.
Luciano has this sinking feeling, he can tell that something is going on with Gianna, he doesn’t know what, it’s the way she carries herself, he watches her closely, looking for that smallest thing that will give her away, because he can feel her pulling away, and what scares him the most is admitting what he feels for her, love.
Because what was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives, turns into a living nightmare, Gianna has fled their wedding, a letter with a secret that shatters his foundation, and that feeling Luciano felt comes forth and manifests into something else entirely. And it is here that he reaches breaking point, which forces him to come face to face with his need for revenge, blind sighted by his own short sightedness, he now understands that Gianna was never his enemy. They were both a casualty of a war that they never chose to be part of in the first place.
To salvage what he has with Gianna, he has to find her, because he cannot live without her. Luciano turns into a man possessed into something that scares not only his brothers but himself. But what shocks him the most is Giovanni’s blatant disregard for his own daughter’s life. But Gianna always knew, it just hurt to hear it. Gianna has become Luciano’s heart, and he won’t stand idly by, wont loose her to her father’s machinations, a battle of wills, blood is spilled, retribution swift.
But for Luciano and Gianna they’re not out of the woods. Both healing from trauma and the uncertainty surrounding the life of their unborn child at the forefront of their minds. But it’s in this moment that he seeks redemption for his wrong doings. The emotional roller coaster that these two face, to find their way back to each other, the fragility of their love hinges on trust, trust they both give each other, a commitment they make to each other, not for their families, but for themselves, that only belongs to them, their happily ever after bittersweet.
Highly recommend both the author and the book.
I received an ARC. Therefore, I am submitting a voluntary review.
May 19, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Genre: Dark Mafia Romance
AHHH ITS THE 20TH TOMORROW; ITS NEARLY RELEASE DAY❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Before I dive in, I just need to say: Luciano might be morally gray, emotionally guarded, and kind of a disaster—but he’s impossible not to fall for. Charming Villain is the kind of book that grabs you with sharp dialogue and simmering tension, then keeps you hooked with real emotional depth and character evolution.
This is the third installment in Cora Kent’s Terlizzis series, but it reads beautifully as a standalone. That said, if you’re already a fan of the series, you’ll absolutely appreciate the broader context and recurring world elements that make this universe feel so rich and layered.
What stands out immediately is the dynamic between the two leads. Luciano sees marriage as a cold, calculated necessity—a move on a chessboard. Gianna? She’s having none of that. She’s whip-smart, self-assured, and refuses to be anyone’s pawn. Their relationship is a power play from the start, but what begins as a strategic arrangement slowly becomes something far more complicated.
This is a slow-burn romance in the truest sense. Every moment is thick with tension—emotional, romantic, and at times even combative. But it never feels repetitive or overdone. The pacing is spot-on: every beat has space to breathe, and the evolution of the relationship feels earned.
The characters are gorgeously written and deeply human. Luciano isn’t just an aloof antihero—he’s a man shaped by power, expectation, and buried vulnerability. Gianna isn’t just “strong” in the surface-level way so many heroines are; she’s resilient, intelligent, and emotionally nuanced. Their internal conflicts feel real, relatable, and at times uncomfortably familiar. The guardedness, the fear of weakness, the belief that love makes you vulnerable in all the worst ways—it’s all here, handled with care and authenticity.
One of the most compelling aspects of Charming Villain is how it handles emotional transformation. This isn’t a story where one character magically “fixes” the other. It’s about growth on both sides—learning to let go of old beliefs, questioning your own defenses, and figuring out what intimacy actually looks like when trust doesn’t come easy.
And yes—the spice. Cora Kent knows how to write a steamy scene, but what makes these moments stand out is how deeply connected they are to the characters’ emotional journeys. There’s heat, yes, but also vulnerability, longing, and tension. Every encounter feels meaningful, not just gratuitous. It’s the kind of spice that enhances the story, rather than interrupting it.
The writing itself is vivid, immersive, and emotionally layered. Kent has a talent for balancing intensity with intimacy. Her prose is cinematic and rich in detail, without ever bogging down the pace. She brings the mafia world to life in a way that feels grounded and believable, while always keeping the focus on character development.
Final thoughts? Charming Villain is more than just another dark romance. It’s a story about power, identity, and what it means to be seen. It’s about two people who are used to controlling everything—especially their own emotions—learning what it takes to let someone in. It’s gritty, raw, and undeniably romantic in its own ruthless way.
If you love mafia romances with a heavy emotional payoff, if you live for morally gray men and women who refuse to be tamed, and if you’re always searching for a slow-burn that actually delivers—Charming Villain needs to be on your TBR.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Genre: Dark Mafia Romance
AHHH ITS THE 20TH TOMORROW; ITS NEARLY RELEASE DAY❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Before I dive in, I just need to say: Luciano might be morally gray, emotionally guarded, and kind of a disaster—but he’s impossible not to fall for. Charming Villain is the kind of book that grabs you with sharp dialogue and simmering tension, then keeps you hooked with real emotional depth and character evolution.
This is the third installment in Cora Kent’s Terlizzis series, but it reads beautifully as a standalone. That said, if you’re already a fan of the series, you’ll absolutely appreciate the broader context and recurring world elements that make this universe feel so rich and layered.
What stands out immediately is the dynamic between the two leads. Luciano sees marriage as a cold, calculated necessity—a move on a chessboard. Gianna? She’s having none of that. She’s whip-smart, self-assured, and refuses to be anyone’s pawn. Their relationship is a power play from the start, but what begins as a strategic arrangement slowly becomes something far more complicated.
This is a slow-burn romance in the truest sense. Every moment is thick with tension—emotional, romantic, and at times even combative. But it never feels repetitive or overdone. The pacing is spot-on: every beat has space to breathe, and the evolution of the relationship feels earned.
The characters are gorgeously written and deeply human. Luciano isn’t just an aloof antihero—he’s a man shaped by power, expectation, and buried vulnerability. Gianna isn’t just “strong” in the surface-level way so many heroines are; she’s resilient, intelligent, and emotionally nuanced. Their internal conflicts feel real, relatable, and at times uncomfortably familiar. The guardedness, the fear of weakness, the belief that love makes you vulnerable in all the worst ways—it’s all here, handled with care and authenticity.
One of the most compelling aspects of Charming Villain is how it handles emotional transformation. This isn’t a story where one character magically “fixes” the other. It’s about growth on both sides—learning to let go of old beliefs, questioning your own defenses, and figuring out what intimacy actually looks like when trust doesn’t come easy.
And yes—the spice. Cora Kent knows how to write a steamy scene, but what makes these moments stand out is how deeply connected they are to the characters’ emotional journeys. There’s heat, yes, but also vulnerability, longing, and tension. Every encounter feels meaningful, not just gratuitous. It’s the kind of spice that enhances the story, rather than interrupting it.
The writing itself is vivid, immersive, and emotionally layered. Kent has a talent for balancing intensity with intimacy. Her prose is cinematic and rich in detail, without ever bogging down the pace. She brings the mafia world to life in a way that feels grounded and believable, while always keeping the focus on character development.
Final thoughts? Charming Villain is more than just another dark romance. It’s a story about power, identity, and what it means to be seen. It’s about two people who are used to controlling everything—especially their own emotions—learning what it takes to let someone in. It’s gritty, raw, and undeniably romantic in its own ruthless way.
If you love mafia romances with a heavy emotional payoff, if you live for morally gray men and women who refuse to be tamed, and if you’re always searching for a slow-burn that actually delivers—Charming Villain needs to be on your TBR.
May 31, 2025
So this was my first dark romance book and it pretty much validated why I always avoid the romance books with 'controlling' MMCs even if they're free (although I don't regret giving it a shot).
I just could not bring myself to root for Gianna and Luciano to actually end up together. A big part of it is that both characters trauma and trauma responses were very realistic to me. It was so hard to read Gianna using her hypervigilance and masking from her abusive childhood to try and manage Luciano's swings between decency and cruelty. It was INFURIATING to read Luciano's attempts at maintaining control over everything because he can't handle his attraction to Gianna. Luci, if Tony Soprano can go see a therapist regularly, SO CAN YOU!
This leads to what killed this story as a romance for me. SPOILERS BELOW:
***SPOILERS START***
Luciano rapes Gianna (yes, you can rape someone without using your genitals), realizes this was a monstrous thing to do, and his way of apologizing is to turn on the shower for her and tell her she doesn't need to sleep on the floor anymore??? And then he's all surprised pikachu face when she hides her true feelings and runs away at the first opportunity??? I just lost all sympathy for him at this point. I feel if you are going to have your FMC raped by your MMC AND have them together by the end of the book you either need to A: COMMIT to the 'dark' in dark romance and have a truly horrid MMC or B: Have an actual proper grovel at a minimum.
I want to add that I did read the trigger warnings, but would argue 'elements of dubious consent' isn't accurate. Gianna being aroused at the start does not equal consent and I WILL die on this hill. (Now the part where he gets her on her knees and it ends with her mascara running down her face? That was the best kind of dub-con IMO and still lives in my read rent free, thank you very much for the delicious food, Ms. Kent).
By the time Gianna's on the bus I was mostly skimming just to get to the resolution. I honestly don't know when Gianna and Luci fell in love with one another because there are so few genuine interactions between them. The only one I can think of was the shopping trip to Petco where they were actually acting like two normal people. I am furious that Gianna went from a strong-willed, determined, 'that which yields is not always weak' survivor who could work out what she needed to do to survive and act in it even if it was extremely logistically and emotionally difficult for her to immediately forgiving Luci for all his abuse because he saved her from a different abuser. Gianna was the only reason I finished the book and I feel she was robbed of the happy ending she actually deserved.
I just feel there was potential for these two to heal and grow, both as individuals and as a couple, but not in the amount of pages given. They needed at least two books for their relationship to actually develop from lust to genuine love and learn to actually communicate. Instead we got a relationship that reminds me of a kid pressing their favorite dolls faces together and saying 'now kiss!'. Gianna and Luciano are a couple because the plot demanded they be, not because they actually work as one.
***END SPOILERS***
Okay, rant done. I would say if you regularly like dark romances this is probably more your speed than mine. Apparently I need my dark MMCs to be pitch-black and over-the-top villains, not morally-grey control freaks I could meet in real-life 😅
An ARC was provided in exchange for my honest review.
I just could not bring myself to root for Gianna and Luciano to actually end up together. A big part of it is that both characters trauma and trauma responses were very realistic to me. It was so hard to read Gianna using her hypervigilance and masking from her abusive childhood to try and manage Luciano's swings between decency and cruelty. It was INFURIATING to read Luciano's attempts at maintaining control over everything because he can't handle his attraction to Gianna. Luci, if Tony Soprano can go see a therapist regularly, SO CAN YOU!
This leads to what killed this story as a romance for me. SPOILERS BELOW:
***SPOILERS START***
Luciano rapes Gianna (yes, you can rape someone without using your genitals), realizes this was a monstrous thing to do, and his way of apologizing is to turn on the shower for her and tell her she doesn't need to sleep on the floor anymore??? And then he's all surprised pikachu face when she hides her true feelings and runs away at the first opportunity??? I just lost all sympathy for him at this point. I feel if you are going to have your FMC raped by your MMC AND have them together by the end of the book you either need to A: COMMIT to the 'dark' in dark romance and have a truly horrid MMC or B: Have an actual proper grovel at a minimum.
I want to add that I did read the trigger warnings, but would argue 'elements of dubious consent' isn't accurate. Gianna being aroused at the start does not equal consent and I WILL die on this hill. (Now the part where he gets her on her knees and it ends with her mascara running down her face? That was the best kind of dub-con IMO and still lives in my read rent free, thank you very much for the delicious food, Ms. Kent).
By the time Gianna's on the bus I was mostly skimming just to get to the resolution. I honestly don't know when Gianna and Luci fell in love with one another because there are so few genuine interactions between them. The only one I can think of was the shopping trip to Petco where they were actually acting like two normal people. I am furious that Gianna went from a strong-willed, determined, 'that which yields is not always weak' survivor who could work out what she needed to do to survive and act in it even if it was extremely logistically and emotionally difficult for her to immediately forgiving Luci for all his abuse because he saved her from a different abuser. Gianna was the only reason I finished the book and I feel she was robbed of the happy ending she actually deserved.
I just feel there was potential for these two to heal and grow, both as individuals and as a couple, but not in the amount of pages given. They needed at least two books for their relationship to actually develop from lust to genuine love and learn to actually communicate. Instead we got a relationship that reminds me of a kid pressing their favorite dolls faces together and saying 'now kiss!'. Gianna and Luciano are a couple because the plot demanded they be, not because they actually work as one.
***END SPOILERS***
Okay, rant done. I would say if you regularly like dark romances this is probably more your speed than mine. Apparently I need my dark MMCs to be pitch-black and over-the-top villains, not morally-grey control freaks I could meet in real-life 😅
An ARC was provided in exchange for my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2025
Gianna and Luciano meet each other as two strangers in a bar. After sharing a passionate night, they split ways only to find out that they are truly connected beyond their wildest imagination. You see, they’re actually arranged to be married as a peace treaty between their two families that hate each other. So when Luciano finds out that Gianna is the daughter of his worst enemy, he uses her as a power play to seek revenge for past injustices. But how far is too far before he realizes that he’s lost the only person who truly loves him the most?
Okay, I don’t know what happened in this book but CORA KENT, ARE YOU OKAY? How on Earth did you release the absolute most best writing you have ever done in your life and destroy my soul all in one book?
“It’s the first time in my life I’ve cared more about someone else’s heartbeat than my own.”
This book….I can’t even articulate the emotions I have been through while reading this. It felt so different from the other ones in the previous books, there was just this intimate and deep connection between Luciano and Gianna that I haven’t felt in a long time. This wasn’t just “chemistry”, it felt like more. From the get go, their first time was so sweet, it didn’t feel like a regular one night stand. There was hidden meaning behind their touches, hidden emotions behind their actions. Even in their marriage, the way their arranged one paved the way for a real relationship, the domesticity behind their day to day whether it be pet shopping, cooking, or just being in each other’s space, it felt tender and real. And once things went too far, everything came crashing down and so did my heart.
Giana was, in my opinion, such a great FMC. She was complex because while she was fragile in the sense that things did hurt her and shake up her world, at the same time she was strong, smart, and resourceful. She’s grown up in this complicated world so even while facing adversity, she knew how to bid her time and think outside of the box, not just be a damsel in distress despite being taught that her whole life. And I loved that she brought out the gentle side in Luciano, a kind of softness than a man like him can never show normally.
And speaking of Luciano, he really threw me in for a loop. I loved to hate him and hated to love him. His push and pull was really intense and despite being privy to his emotions and inner thoughts, his actions frustrated me a lot. But he was also endearing, grumpy and rugged in his mafia ways. He was cold hearted but when all that ice melted and the real him came forward, he was truly the kind and gentle soul that I knew he could be.
“Love like that doesn’t come easy, and it sure as hell isn’t given freely. It’s fought for. It’s earned.”
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. This was THE BEST Cora Kent book yet and I really hope that we continue getting these deeply emotional, relationship based stories from her because there was a level of love and storytelling that really shined through. I’ve read and reviewed most of Cora’s books but this one will be in my top books and rereads list cause it just really stayed with me.
Okay, I don’t know what happened in this book but CORA KENT, ARE YOU OKAY? How on Earth did you release the absolute most best writing you have ever done in your life and destroy my soul all in one book?
“It’s the first time in my life I’ve cared more about someone else’s heartbeat than my own.”
This book….I can’t even articulate the emotions I have been through while reading this. It felt so different from the other ones in the previous books, there was just this intimate and deep connection between Luciano and Gianna that I haven’t felt in a long time. This wasn’t just “chemistry”, it felt like more. From the get go, their first time was so sweet, it didn’t feel like a regular one night stand. There was hidden meaning behind their touches, hidden emotions behind their actions. Even in their marriage, the way their arranged one paved the way for a real relationship, the domesticity behind their day to day whether it be pet shopping, cooking, or just being in each other’s space, it felt tender and real. And once things went too far, everything came crashing down and so did my heart.
Giana was, in my opinion, such a great FMC. She was complex because while she was fragile in the sense that things did hurt her and shake up her world, at the same time she was strong, smart, and resourceful. She’s grown up in this complicated world so even while facing adversity, she knew how to bid her time and think outside of the box, not just be a damsel in distress despite being taught that her whole life. And I loved that she brought out the gentle side in Luciano, a kind of softness than a man like him can never show normally.
And speaking of Luciano, he really threw me in for a loop. I loved to hate him and hated to love him. His push and pull was really intense and despite being privy to his emotions and inner thoughts, his actions frustrated me a lot. But he was also endearing, grumpy and rugged in his mafia ways. He was cold hearted but when all that ice melted and the real him came forward, he was truly the kind and gentle soul that I knew he could be.
“Love like that doesn’t come easy, and it sure as hell isn’t given freely. It’s fought for. It’s earned.”
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. This was THE BEST Cora Kent book yet and I really hope that we continue getting these deeply emotional, relationship based stories from her because there was a level of love and storytelling that really shined through. I’ve read and reviewed most of Cora’s books but this one will be in my top books and rereads list cause it just really stayed with me.
May 30, 2025
CHARMING VILLAIN is the third instalment in Cora Kent’s contemporary, adult THE TERLIZZIS dark, erotic, Mafia romance series. This is Mafia princess Gianna Lucatello, and Luciano Terlizzi’s story line. CHARMING VILLAIN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.
NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Gianna and Luciano) CHARMING VILLAIN focuses on the arranged marriage and tempestuous relationship between our story line couple. Luciano Terlizzi is expected to marry the daughter of the man who tortured him years before but a one-night stand before facing his doom ends when he wakes up alone, without knowing the who, how or why. Meeting his intended for the first time, Luciano will discover his ‘fiancee’ is his one-night stand, a woman he believes is a liar, and has betrayed his family by their secret rendezvous. Determined to break our story line heroine, Luciano does his best to humiliate and destroy the woman he is supposed to marry, a woman who has already been broken by the man in charge. Frightened for the future, Gianna makes plans for her escape, only to come face to face with the past, a past that is determined to destroy them all.
The world building follows Gianna as she struggles to come to terms with a future out of her control-from the frying pan into the proverbial fire, Gianna finds herself submitting to the emotional abuse she has suffered for so very long. Luciano Terlilzzi is struggling to accept his fate, betrayed by the father of his intended bride but our ‘hero’ refuses to bow down, and sets into motion a plan to fracture the heart and mind of the woman he will purposefully reject.
The relationship between Gianna and Luciano begins as a one-night stand that quickly turns turbulent and acrimonious. Luciano wants nothing to do with our story line heroine, a young woman who has been victimized and broken by her own father. As the days turn into weeks, Luciano’s back and forth, up and down, threaten to crush what’s left of Gianna’s heart, a heart that is willing to run to escape a life of hate and pain. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
The secondary and supporting characters are aggressive and dynamic. We are introduced to Gianna’s controlling and abusive father Giovanni Lucatello, as well as the return of Dante and Adaline Terlizzi, and Saverio Castiglione and Lucia Terlizzi.
CHARMING VILLAIN is a story of betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, power and control, family and relationships, forgiveness and love. The character driven premise is dark, dramatic and edgy; the romance is heart breaking and traumatic; the characters are broken but struggling to heal.
copy supplied for review
NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Gianna and Luciano) CHARMING VILLAIN focuses on the arranged marriage and tempestuous relationship between our story line couple. Luciano Terlizzi is expected to marry the daughter of the man who tortured him years before but a one-night stand before facing his doom ends when he wakes up alone, without knowing the who, how or why. Meeting his intended for the first time, Luciano will discover his ‘fiancee’ is his one-night stand, a woman he believes is a liar, and has betrayed his family by their secret rendezvous. Determined to break our story line heroine, Luciano does his best to humiliate and destroy the woman he is supposed to marry, a woman who has already been broken by the man in charge. Frightened for the future, Gianna makes plans for her escape, only to come face to face with the past, a past that is determined to destroy them all.
The world building follows Gianna as she struggles to come to terms with a future out of her control-from the frying pan into the proverbial fire, Gianna finds herself submitting to the emotional abuse she has suffered for so very long. Luciano Terlilzzi is struggling to accept his fate, betrayed by the father of his intended bride but our ‘hero’ refuses to bow down, and sets into motion a plan to fracture the heart and mind of the woman he will purposefully reject.
The relationship between Gianna and Luciano begins as a one-night stand that quickly turns turbulent and acrimonious. Luciano wants nothing to do with our story line heroine, a young woman who has been victimized and broken by her own father. As the days turn into weeks, Luciano’s back and forth, up and down, threaten to crush what’s left of Gianna’s heart, a heart that is willing to run to escape a life of hate and pain. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
The secondary and supporting characters are aggressive and dynamic. We are introduced to Gianna’s controlling and abusive father Giovanni Lucatello, as well as the return of Dante and Adaline Terlizzi, and Saverio Castiglione and Lucia Terlizzi.
CHARMING VILLAIN is a story of betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, power and control, family and relationships, forgiveness and love. The character driven premise is dark, dramatic and edgy; the romance is heart breaking and traumatic; the characters are broken but struggling to heal.
copy supplied for review
May 31, 2025
ARC Review – Charming Villain (Book 3 of the Terlizzi Family books) by Cora Kent
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Suggested Reading Order
To get the full force of Cora Kent’s tangled, inter-family universe, I recommend diving into her world in this order:
Blackmore University
Cruel Beginnings – Xavier& Kaye (Prequel 0.5)
Cruel Intentions – Xavier& Kaye (Book 1)
Dark Devotion – Niccolo & Christine (Prequel 1.5)
Dark Obsession – Niccolo & Christine (Book 2)
Sweet Temtation – Jackson & Carrie (Prequel 2.5)
Sweet Revenge – Jackson & Carrie (Book 3)
The Terlizzi Family
Corrupt Saint – Dante & Adalina (Prequel 0.5)
Ruthless Sinner – Dante & Adalina (Book 1)
Simple Pleasures – Saverio & Lucia (Prequel 1.5)
Wicked Desires – Saverio & Lucia (Book 2)
Dishonorable Hero – Luciano & Gianna (Prequel 2.5)
Charming Villain – Luciano & Gianna (Book 3) ← this review
The Castiglione Family / Twisted Sisters
Twisted Truths – Raiden & Lucrezia (Prequel 0.5)
Beautiful Mistakes – Raiden & Lucrezia (Book 1)
Twisted Obedience – Priest & Daniela (Prequel 1.5)
Beautiful Devotion – Priest & Daniela (Book 2, forthcoming)
A High-Stakes Collision of Loyalty, Legacy, and Love
In Charming Villain, Cora Kent brings the Terlizzi family saga to a dramatic crescendo. Luciano and Gianna’s story is sharp-edged, emotionally raw, and brimming with the power struggles that define this dark, dangerous world. What begins as a chance encounter under fake names quickly spirals into a forced marriage between sworn enemies—two people shaped by pain, betrayal, and the suffocating weight of their fathers’ choices.
Luciano’s rage is a weapon, and Gianna’s silence is her armor. Watching these two navigate an uneasy alliance—then a fiery, volatile bond—is like standing too close to a bonfire: sometimes thrilling, sometimes overwhelming. There are moments when love feels like war, and moments when survival depends on being the last one standing. Kent doesn’t shy away from difficult dynamics; she leans into them, forcing her characters (and her readers) to confront what it means to want someone who might break you first.
The pacing is relentless, especially in the second half, and the action hits hard. By the time bullets fly and vows are tested, it’s clear that Charming Villain lives up to its name—Luciano is no prince, and Gianna is no damsel. But there’s a fierce kind of poetry in watching two broken people claw their way toward something like healing.
Final Thoughts
Charming Villain delivers on the promise of dark romance: enemies-to-lovers intensity, family betrayals, and a love story forged under fire. It’s not always comfortable, and it’s definitely not soft—but for readers who crave raw, complicated characters and high emotional stakes, this one lands a heavy punch.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Suggested Reading Order
To get the full force of Cora Kent’s tangled, inter-family universe, I recommend diving into her world in this order:
Blackmore University
Cruel Beginnings – Xavier& Kaye (Prequel 0.5)
Cruel Intentions – Xavier& Kaye (Book 1)
Dark Devotion – Niccolo & Christine (Prequel 1.5)
Dark Obsession – Niccolo & Christine (Book 2)
Sweet Temtation – Jackson & Carrie (Prequel 2.5)
Sweet Revenge – Jackson & Carrie (Book 3)
The Terlizzi Family
Corrupt Saint – Dante & Adalina (Prequel 0.5)
Ruthless Sinner – Dante & Adalina (Book 1)
Simple Pleasures – Saverio & Lucia (Prequel 1.5)
Wicked Desires – Saverio & Lucia (Book 2)
Dishonorable Hero – Luciano & Gianna (Prequel 2.5)
Charming Villain – Luciano & Gianna (Book 3) ← this review
The Castiglione Family / Twisted Sisters
Twisted Truths – Raiden & Lucrezia (Prequel 0.5)
Beautiful Mistakes – Raiden & Lucrezia (Book 1)
Twisted Obedience – Priest & Daniela (Prequel 1.5)
Beautiful Devotion – Priest & Daniela (Book 2, forthcoming)
A High-Stakes Collision of Loyalty, Legacy, and Love
In Charming Villain, Cora Kent brings the Terlizzi family saga to a dramatic crescendo. Luciano and Gianna’s story is sharp-edged, emotionally raw, and brimming with the power struggles that define this dark, dangerous world. What begins as a chance encounter under fake names quickly spirals into a forced marriage between sworn enemies—two people shaped by pain, betrayal, and the suffocating weight of their fathers’ choices.
Luciano’s rage is a weapon, and Gianna’s silence is her armor. Watching these two navigate an uneasy alliance—then a fiery, volatile bond—is like standing too close to a bonfire: sometimes thrilling, sometimes overwhelming. There are moments when love feels like war, and moments when survival depends on being the last one standing. Kent doesn’t shy away from difficult dynamics; she leans into them, forcing her characters (and her readers) to confront what it means to want someone who might break you first.
The pacing is relentless, especially in the second half, and the action hits hard. By the time bullets fly and vows are tested, it’s clear that Charming Villain lives up to its name—Luciano is no prince, and Gianna is no damsel. But there’s a fierce kind of poetry in watching two broken people claw their way toward something like healing.
Final Thoughts
Charming Villain delivers on the promise of dark romance: enemies-to-lovers intensity, family betrayals, and a love story forged under fire. It’s not always comfortable, and it’s definitely not soft—but for readers who crave raw, complicated characters and high emotional stakes, this one lands a heavy punch.
May 31, 2025
"Charming Villain" picks up the torch lit in "Dishonorable Hero," delivering a gripping, emotional mafia romance where loyalty collides with love and vengeance tangles with vulnerability. Cora Kent crafts a story that’s as much about internal struggle as it is about external conflict, giving us a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers journey that’s both darkly seductive and emotionally resonant.
Luciano “Lucky” Terlizzi is a standout antihero—physically scarred, emotionally guarded, and torn between punishing the Lucatello name and protecting the woman tied to it. His internal war between revenge and love is palpable on every page. What makes him compelling isn't just his ruthlessness—it's the way his softer side slips through in unguarded moments. He’s possessive, dangerous, and at times cruel, but there’s a wounded tenderness in him that makes his emotional arc incredibly satisfying.
Gianna Lucatello is more than the mafia princess she appears to be. Quiet but resilient, she wrestles with her growing feelings for Luciano and her deep-seated fear of the brutal world she was born into. Her journey from sheltered to self-possessed feels authentic, and her chemistry with Luciano crackles from their first encounter. Their shared trauma, distrust, and undeniable attraction create a dynamic full of tension and nuance.
While *Charming Villain* includes steamy scenes and elements of light degradation, it leans more heavily into story than spice. Readers looking for high heat may find it a bit tamer than expected for a dark mafia romance, but those who appreciate a romance that’s character-driven and emotionally layered will be deeply satisfied. This isn't the darkest entry in the genre, but it’s emotionally rich and laced with just enough grit to keep things intense.
Ultimately, *Charming Villain* is a slightly sweeter kind of dark romance—one where love doesn’t erase the past but offers a path forward through it. Luciano and Gianna’s love is hard-won, scarred, and imperfect—but that’s what makes it so powerful.
*A compelling, emotional enemies-to-lovers romance with just the right amount of darkness. I would have loved even more heat and grit, but Lucky and Gianna’s journey is one I won’t forget.*.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Luciano “Lucky” Terlizzi is a standout antihero—physically scarred, emotionally guarded, and torn between punishing the Lucatello name and protecting the woman tied to it. His internal war between revenge and love is palpable on every page. What makes him compelling isn't just his ruthlessness—it's the way his softer side slips through in unguarded moments. He’s possessive, dangerous, and at times cruel, but there’s a wounded tenderness in him that makes his emotional arc incredibly satisfying.
Gianna Lucatello is more than the mafia princess she appears to be. Quiet but resilient, she wrestles with her growing feelings for Luciano and her deep-seated fear of the brutal world she was born into. Her journey from sheltered to self-possessed feels authentic, and her chemistry with Luciano crackles from their first encounter. Their shared trauma, distrust, and undeniable attraction create a dynamic full of tension and nuance.
While *Charming Villain* includes steamy scenes and elements of light degradation, it leans more heavily into story than spice. Readers looking for high heat may find it a bit tamer than expected for a dark mafia romance, but those who appreciate a romance that’s character-driven and emotionally layered will be deeply satisfied. This isn't the darkest entry in the genre, but it’s emotionally rich and laced with just enough grit to keep things intense.
Ultimately, *Charming Villain* is a slightly sweeter kind of dark romance—one where love doesn’t erase the past but offers a path forward through it. Luciano and Gianna’s love is hard-won, scarred, and imperfect—but that’s what makes it so powerful.
*A compelling, emotional enemies-to-lovers romance with just the right amount of darkness. I would have loved even more heat and grit, but Lucky and Gianna’s journey is one I won’t forget.*.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 1, 2025
Charming Villain is another fantastic book in the Terlizzis Series. This book was about Gianna Lucatello and Luciano Terlizzi. Gianna was the daughter of Giovanni Lucatello, an abusive father and a vicious, cruel, and dangerous mob boss. Gianna had been held prisoner in her father’s gilded cage mansion, groomed to be the perfect mafia princess, and abused into submission. Luciano is the brother of Dante Terlizzi, a mob boss in a rival family. Giovanni viciously attacked Luciano as an example to his brother Dante of what happened when Giovanni was crossed. It served as the catalyst for the hatred Luciano harbored against Gianna’s father and then eventually Gianna. Luciano and Gianna met in a bar when they were both trying to temporarily escape their lives. They met anonymously and spent the night together, an encounter that left them both wanting more. Until they found out who the other was, resulting in a tumultuous start to their relationship.
Kent is the ultimate storyteller and has written another gripping story that sucks you in from the first page and keeps you enthralled until the end. The story pulls readers in with tension, plot points, and world building. Kent excels at character building. Luciano’s character was complex with many layers. Yes, he could be vicious, cruel, and dangerous, but he could still find tenderness for Gianna. Gianna had developed a mask that didn’t show any emotion, no matter what was done to her. She had to be emotionless to survive her father, who viewed emotion as a weakness. I enjoyed the witty and snarky banter between the characters, especially between the brothers. My favorite part of the book centered around Luciano’s niece Serafina, and Luc’s puzzlement about how his toddler niece could like him so much. “Zio Luuu! Her appearance brought some humor and lightness to heavy scenes. Some parts of the story might be shocking because of how brutal the criminal world can be. Please check the trigger warnings and skip this book if it will make you uncomfortable, rather than give it a negative review, because this is a great book. If you are looking for a well-written, dark, mafia romance full of family drama, revenge, and redeemable characters, I would recommend this excellent book for you.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kent is the ultimate storyteller and has written another gripping story that sucks you in from the first page and keeps you enthralled until the end. The story pulls readers in with tension, plot points, and world building. Kent excels at character building. Luciano’s character was complex with many layers. Yes, he could be vicious, cruel, and dangerous, but he could still find tenderness for Gianna. Gianna had developed a mask that didn’t show any emotion, no matter what was done to her. She had to be emotionless to survive her father, who viewed emotion as a weakness. I enjoyed the witty and snarky banter between the characters, especially between the brothers. My favorite part of the book centered around Luciano’s niece Serafina, and Luc’s puzzlement about how his toddler niece could like him so much. “Zio Luuu! Her appearance brought some humor and lightness to heavy scenes. Some parts of the story might be shocking because of how brutal the criminal world can be. Please check the trigger warnings and skip this book if it will make you uncomfortable, rather than give it a negative review, because this is a great book. If you are looking for a well-written, dark, mafia romance full of family drama, revenge, and redeemable characters, I would recommend this excellent book for you.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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