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Esposito Mafia Series #1
GODLY OBSESSION
I was the daughter of a dirty sheriff and an abused woman. Haedleigh was a small town, which really didn’t have much going on, and it was known for its vintage trains. It was the kind of town where everybody knew everybody, your neighbours were practically family and there was only one college in town. Our bars played amateur music from amateur bands who rehearsed in their garages, there was a gas station where trucks would stop for the night and cheap beer cans littered the streets every Saturday and Sunday morning. Haedleigh was the kind of place where kids weren’t afraid to play in the streets and more often than not, the elderly would gather every morning, gossiping about whose daughter was spotted with whose son.But even with towns as peaceful as Haedleigh, dirty secrets still lay within the rubble of the scrapyard. The swinging decapitated bodies that hung from the Islesbury Bridge, heads placed on spikes on the front lawn of different homes, and the random gunfire you’d hear in the middle of the night as the people of Haedleigh sat near their radios, in silence.It was all his doing. A man by the name of Salvatore Esposito that people whispered in the confines of their homes with the lights off for fear of the curse that his name carried.Quite honestly, I dismissed the whispers and thought that they were simply rumours. Lord knows how those spread around these parts since people didn’t have much to do with their lives, but I suppose I shouldn’t have been so naive. I mean, papa did refer to his corrupt friends as ‘the devil’. That should have been warning enough I suppose, but my curiosity would be the death of me…literally.Papa’s poker nights with ‘the devil’ were where it all began. 20 years of successfully staying out of papa’s business and the one day I think that I can be sneaky, it all comes crumbling down. ‘The devil’ that papa let into our home was going to do a lot more damage than just take a few hundred thousand dollars from papa during poker night, that was for sure.
422 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2023
83 people are currently reading
559 people want to read
About the author
ANSA Reads
14 books56 followersFor all your dark romance desires...
There's not much to say about me, I'm not quite as interesting as my characters. I'm the kind of girl who prefers to live through their imagination- forever on the outside, looking into the world that I have so perfectly created but will never be a part of.
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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ansareads
Payhip: https://payhip.com/ANSAReads
There's not much to say about me, I'm not quite as interesting as my characters. I'm the kind of girl who prefers to live through their imagination- forever on the outside, looking into the world that I have so perfectly created but will never be a part of.
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/ANSA_Reads
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ansareads
Payhip: https://payhip.com/ANSAReads
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
November 10, 2024
he have BRANDED himself, his pain, words, and love within me 🤌🏻
“the bullets didn’t hurt, the crash didn’t hurt, the surgeries didn’t hurt, the injections didn’t hurt, the recovery didn’t hurt…only my heart did.” He pressed his forehead to my cheek, suddenly on his knees, next to me, “you broke my heart, Nirvana,” he admitted in a raspy whisper, his eyes closing as he breathed in my scent which was probably rancid. “You broke something that I had forgotten I had. I want nothing more than to return the favour, my little mouse,” he opened his eyes, “to break your heart like you did mine, break it so bad that after this, you don’t recognise yourself in the mirror. I’m going to break you so bad that nobody will ever want you, not even yourself– only me. I will only want you, be the only one to want you, and then, then you’ll need me more than I need you. Then my worshipping you will be the only way that you can live, breathe, survive, think, cry, laugh, snort, everything. It will rest on me, my Nirvana.”
“the bullets didn’t hurt, the crash didn’t hurt, the surgeries didn’t hurt, the injections didn’t hurt, the recovery didn’t hurt…only my heart did.” He pressed his forehead to my cheek, suddenly on his knees, next to me, “you broke my heart, Nirvana,” he admitted in a raspy whisper, his eyes closing as he breathed in my scent which was probably rancid. “You broke something that I had forgotten I had. I want nothing more than to return the favour, my little mouse,” he opened his eyes, “to break your heart like you did mine, break it so bad that after this, you don’t recognise yourself in the mirror. I’m going to break you so bad that nobody will ever want you, not even yourself– only me. I will only want you, be the only one to want you, and then, then you’ll need me more than I need you. Then my worshipping you will be the only way that you can live, breathe, survive, think, cry, laugh, snort, everything. It will rest on me, my Nirvana.”
May 18, 2023
First of all I wanna thank L for the recommendation 🙇🏻♀️. Second of all this is dark and it remained dark till the very end wow. P.S. If you are squeamish pls stay away 🌚.
“If I come back and you’re not here, “I won’t even bother to look for you, little mouse. I’ll kill off one of your family members every hour until you have no choice but to run back to me. And when you do, I’ll rip your legs right out from under you so that you can never run again.”
“If I come back and you’re not here, “I won’t even bother to look for you, little mouse. I’ll kill off one of your family members every hour until you have no choice but to run back to me. And when you do, I’ll rip your legs right out from under you so that you can never run again.”
June 9, 2023
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
This is one of my most favorite books I’ve read so far this year.
It was pitch black dark, just how I like it and I devoured it tf up purrrr 😂😭
Salvatore Esposito took his obsession with Nirvana to the EXTREME! My GOD the things Nirvana and the people she knew and loved had to endure 🥹😭 Salvatore Esposito is a crazy MF!
ANSA Reads once said “For all your dark romance desires…” and she definitely wasn’t lying!
I’m about to start the second book in this series as soon as I’m done writing this review.
I will definitely be reading all of ANSA Reads books and future books. 🩷
Two quotes from the book to get an insight on how crazy/obsessed Salvatore is with Nirvana:
“I’ll kill anyone who looks you in your eyes, or anyone who calls you by your name unless I’ve said so. I will slit their throats if they think that they can ever, even be on the pedestal that you’re on. For you, my little mouse, for you I’d kill whoever I crossed paths with.”
“You broke something that I had forgotten I had. I want nothing more than to return the favour, my little mouse,” he opened his eyes, “to break your heart like you did mine, break it so bad that after this, you don’t recognise yourself in the mirror. I’m going to break you so bad that nobody will ever want you, not even yourself– only me. I will only want you, be the only one to want you, and then, then you’ll need me more than I need you. Then my worshipping you will be the only way that you can live, breathe, survive, think, cry, laugh, snort, everything. It will rest on me, my Nirvana.”
This is one of my most favorite books I’ve read so far this year.
It was pitch black dark, just how I like it and I devoured it tf up purrrr 😂😭
Salvatore Esposito took his obsession with Nirvana to the EXTREME! My GOD the things Nirvana and the people she knew and loved had to endure 🥹😭 Salvatore Esposito is a crazy MF!
ANSA Reads once said “For all your dark romance desires…” and she definitely wasn’t lying!
I’m about to start the second book in this series as soon as I’m done writing this review.
I will definitely be reading all of ANSA Reads books and future books. 🩷
Two quotes from the book to get an insight on how crazy/obsessed Salvatore is with Nirvana:
“I’ll kill anyone who looks you in your eyes, or anyone who calls you by your name unless I’ve said so. I will slit their throats if they think that they can ever, even be on the pedestal that you’re on. For you, my little mouse, for you I’d kill whoever I crossed paths with.”
“You broke something that I had forgotten I had. I want nothing more than to return the favour, my little mouse,” he opened his eyes, “to break your heart like you did mine, break it so bad that after this, you don’t recognise yourself in the mirror. I’m going to break you so bad that nobody will ever want you, not even yourself– only me. I will only want you, be the only one to want you, and then, then you’ll need me more than I need you. Then my worshipping you will be the only way that you can live, breathe, survive, think, cry, laugh, snort, everything. It will rest on me, my Nirvana.”
May 30, 2023
This book was crazy as fuck, WOW, this is what you call dark.
Really Dark shit...
I like my man crazy, but while reading this I was questioning myself.
Like I was confused, because I was like am I crazy ?? that I loved that Kind of obsession's and Darkness.
But at the same time I was scared?
Really Really fucked up.
Really Dark shit...
I like my man crazy, but while reading this I was questioning myself.
Like I was confused, because I was like am I crazy ?? that I loved that Kind of obsession's and Darkness.
But at the same time I was scared?
Really Really fucked up.
February 3, 2024
The premise was intriguing, but the end result just didn't meet the expectations. I didn't care for the style of writing. It was littered with neverending ramblings & repetitiveness. As well in desperate need of proofreading and editing.
- a lot of typos, missing words, misspelled words, misused words
- Chapter 1 she said she has been best friends with Rachel for over 6 years, but in chapter 3, it's over 7 years.
The book starts out in 1st pov but chapter 4 was in 3rd pov. Then went back to 1st pov.
No likeable characters.
I didn't want or care for the minute by minute details on the name brand clothing. To me, it just seems like word filler.
- a lot of typos, missing words, misspelled words, misused words
- Chapter 1 she said she has been best friends with Rachel for over 6 years, but in chapter 3, it's over 7 years.
The book starts out in 1st pov but chapter 4 was in 3rd pov. Then went back to 1st pov.
No likeable characters.
I didn't want or care for the minute by minute details on the name brand clothing. To me, it just seems like word filler.
June 15, 2024
This is not a love story but rather how the villain destroyed everything to get her! He crossed each and every limit to get her and killed everyone who came in the middle.
Salvatore was a monster with no redeeming qualities. Nirvana was just an innocent who caught the attention of the devil. I wished they didn't end up together and she had killed him.
‼️no cheating, no ow drama‼️
Salvatore was a monster with no redeeming qualities. Nirvana was just an innocent who caught the attention of the devil. I wished they didn't end up together and she had killed him.
‼️no cheating, no ow drama‼️
June 5, 2024
Sickening!
I love reading dark romance, but this book was too much for me. There were a few parts that made me feel physically sick. I honestly had terrible dreams one night as I read before going to bed. The reason for the three stars is not just because of the disgusting descriptions of torture , but because I felt like the plot was going around in circles and dragged on. Plus, the character Anna escalated from 0 to 100 real quick. One moment she was styling Nirvana’s hair- the next she was… (don’t want to give spoilers). I won’t continue with the series as I want to have pleasant dreams and not nightmares. This book is more fitting for the genre of horror!
I love reading dark romance, but this book was too much for me. There were a few parts that made me feel physically sick. I honestly had terrible dreams one night as I read before going to bed. The reason for the three stars is not just because of the disgusting descriptions of torture , but because I felt like the plot was going around in circles and dragged on. Plus, the character Anna escalated from 0 to 100 real quick. One moment she was styling Nirvana’s hair- the next she was… (don’t want to give spoilers). I won’t continue with the series as I want to have pleasant dreams and not nightmares. This book is more fitting for the genre of horror!
March 31, 2024
Goriest romance story ever this was not what I expected at all lmao
October 30, 2023
5 ⭐️
You see I gave this 5 stars but you don’t know how I feel unless you read this yourself. First of all I live for dark romances, my morals and grey area is nonexistent so when I say this is a pitch-black-romance you know how dark…I am utterly heartbroken for the h I want to weep when I think about her…You know in mostly dark romance novels when the h trying to run from the H I got so frustrated because despite his nature he’s just trying to love the h BUT IN THIS ONE I was rooting for the h to get away so fucking hard. There is no LOVE in this…only pure dark OBSESSION that gets people killed for real, this has HEA I just want to clarify it but it is the most heartbreaking HEA I’ve read. I still love them both…I’m just all over the places right now.
You see I gave this 5 stars but you don’t know how I feel unless you read this yourself. First of all I live for dark romances, my morals and grey area is nonexistent so when I say this is a pitch-black-romance you know how dark…I am utterly heartbroken for the h I want to weep when I think about her…You know in mostly dark romance novels when the h trying to run from the H I got so frustrated because despite his nature he’s just trying to love the h BUT IN THIS ONE I was rooting for the h to get away so fucking hard. There is no LOVE in this…only pure dark OBSESSION that gets people killed for real, this has HEA I just want to clarify it but it is the most heartbreaking HEA I’ve read. I still love them both…I’m just all over the places right now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2024
DNF—The writing style was not for me… it was like it was written in another language which is fine but made the flow choppy. The darkness was not the type I like. This was macabre darkness where the hero kills her family and makes her eat a stew made of her bff. I like dark romance.. this is more horror. I skimmed to the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2024
the book was just sick. dont get me wrong I love dark read but this shit doesn't make any sence how the hell are you going to be mentally functional and fucking smile at the guy after that shit?
March 13, 2025
It could have gone well bec I enjoyed it so much in the beginning I couldn’t put it down but the ending was pathetic!!
November 15, 2024
Whew! That was crazy! Darker than Descent, not quite as dark as Vanquished or A Beautiful Evil. Well, maybe same level of darkness, but just different triggers that were less triggering for me personally. This book badly needs a good editor, but it definitely kept me interested. I'd have liked it more if there was more romance or connection between them, but I don't think that was the author's goal. It's more erotic horror than romance, IMO, though it sort of has a HEA? Kinda? I mean the H is happy and the h is now insane enough to also be happy. It's fine, she's fine, they're all fine. Fine. 😂
October 8, 2023
dark
Dark. Different. This is not a love story but boy does it keep your interest. There isn’t a lot smut. But the story is worth it. But it’s brutal.
Dark. Different. This is not a love story but boy does it keep your interest. There isn’t a lot smut. But the story is worth it. But it’s brutal.
November 11, 2024
I'm traumatized. But I think this is how a true mafia *romance* (horror) should look like.
March 8, 2025
this was dark. like wtf… I was surprised I finished it lmao. I did like it surprisingly but whew… he put that GURL THROUGH IT BABY
December 9, 2023
Dear lord this book. These fucking Esposito brothers. This author is so underrated. Her books are for those of us with pitch black hearts who love reading only the most fucked up Heros.
December 14, 2023
go in blind
The author deserves all her flowers . I love this book . Take the chance you won’t regret this seriously
The author deserves all her flowers . I love this book . Take the chance you won’t regret this seriously
December 15, 2023
DARK ROMANCE, PSYCHOPATH! this is definitely for the dark romance girlies who love a mmc who can’t live without her and doesn’t give her the option , the plot wasn’t very exciting for me and not much spice with descriptions, story was good just wasn’t much of a attention grabber for me . So if you looking for a love story your not getting it . Beware and grab some tissue not much description in the spice .
January 29, 2024
DNF this writing style is atrocious. I’m not sure if it’s a young writer that wrote this or maybe the writing was a different language and translated but it read very immaturely. Spelling errors, missing words, repetitive words and very choppy writing style. I couldn’t even get past 10 pages because the style of writing was so poor
Read
June 1, 2023Dnf at 30%. I really tried with this one, but the writing is just bad. It's in need of beta readers and an editor. I was really intrigued by the premise and the level of darkness, but the poor quality of writing constantly took me out of the story.
January 12, 2024
What did I just read? 😱
This is one of the darkest, disturbing and twisted books I've ever read. It was more of a horror story. I had nightmares from it 🙈 If you don't have strong stomach do not read it!
My feelings through this book
😍🤤🫢🫣😱😱😮😵💫🤢🤢😵🤯💀
This is one of the darkest, disturbing and twisted books I've ever read. It was more of a horror story. I had nightmares from it 🙈 If you don't have strong stomach do not read it!
My feelings through this book
😍🤤🫢🫣😱😱😮😵💫🤢🤢😵🤯💀
April 12, 2024
I love Mafia but this book was mess for Me. I felt the writing was all over the place. The description of characters was confusing for me. I can't be arsed to read the next book.
dnf
February 12, 2025DNF - I have read many dark romance books. I have read dubcon/ noncon books sue me BUT this book is absolutely disgusting. This isn’t dark romance of any kind. As someone who reads omega verse when bored my standards are really in hell that being said… Not only does this book contain the most sexually disturbing and sickening things I have ever read it just had to have the most atrocious writing.
The perspectives constantly shift without somehow informing the reader. The book is also overly descriptive I am surprised she didn’t discuss the colour, smell and fluidity of her urine.
I am South African and the author clearly has some sort of South African roots but babe… this book contains so much colourism and fat phobia. This book contains many HARMFUL Zulu cultural stereotypes as well. Perhaps the author is Zulu perhaps not idk and idc she should know better especially considering the cultural background in South Africa. Not only is South Africa the rape capital of the world but Zulu women are affected by this in a disproportionately negative manner in comparison to other cultural and ethnic groups. This book is so tone deaf. It cannot be justified by being “fiction” or whatever. There is a difference between writing body betrayal like scenes and whatever the fuck this was.
There are worse things on AO3 and wattpad but add in the casual colourism and cultural backgrounds of the characters and this becomes one of the most disgusting things I have ever read. Do better
The perspectives constantly shift without somehow informing the reader. The book is also overly descriptive I am surprised she didn’t discuss the colour, smell and fluidity of her urine.
I am South African and the author clearly has some sort of South African roots but babe… this book contains so much colourism and fat phobia. This book contains many HARMFUL Zulu cultural stereotypes as well. Perhaps the author is Zulu perhaps not idk and idc she should know better especially considering the cultural background in South Africa. Not only is South Africa the rape capital of the world but Zulu women are affected by this in a disproportionately negative manner in comparison to other cultural and ethnic groups. This book is so tone deaf. It cannot be justified by being “fiction” or whatever. There is a difference between writing body betrayal like scenes and whatever the fuck this was.
There are worse things on AO3 and wattpad but add in the casual colourism and cultural backgrounds of the characters and this becomes one of the most disgusting things I have ever read. Do better
January 27, 2024
This is really dark, but I would not classify this as a romance or even erotica as it is listed on other's shelves There is virtually no spice here. That was my first complaint.
My second was the writing. I didn't particularly care for the writing style, but also, it feels like there was a least one chapter missing.
it was strange and took me out of the story.
And again, this is listed as romance, but having never read anything by this author before now, I was expecting spice, I would have never picked up this book if I had known there really wasn't any. If I am going to read dark, the spice (for me) is a necessary element. Given that, I won't sign up for book 2.
My second was the writing. I didn't particularly care for the writing style, but also, it feels like there was a least one chapter missing.
it was strange and took me out of the story.
And again, this is listed as romance, but having never read anything by this author before now, I was expecting spice, I would have never picked up this book if I had known there really wasn't any. If I am going to read dark, the spice (for me) is a necessary element. Given that, I won't sign up for book 2.
September 28, 2025
Alright so the book at the beginning was quite interesting. The first 60% i quite liked and matter of fact i thought it was gonna be a 4 star read.
But shit, how wrong was i. Dont think im not into dark romance, cause I AM INTO DARK DARKKK ROMANCE. But tf u mean having “human broth , placenta and fingers” then cutting open the fmc’s stomach for an apparent c section with her conscious. Like what??
I honestly couldn’t take it no more, cause i get that the mmc is an underboss and is in mafia n shit , is supposed to be dangerous, terrifying but whattt. The writing is decent , storyline was okay. I liked the mmc at first thinking he is does it all but aint gonna do shit to fmc. But cuttin her open like that??? Hello?
What started as a four star read turned into a two star read 🙂
But shit, how wrong was i. Dont think im not into dark romance, cause I AM INTO DARK DARKKK ROMANCE. But tf u mean having “human broth , placenta and fingers” then cutting open the fmc’s stomach for an apparent c section with her conscious. Like what??
I honestly couldn’t take it no more, cause i get that the mmc is an underboss and is in mafia n shit , is supposed to be dangerous, terrifying but whattt. The writing is decent , storyline was okay. I liked the mmc at first thinking he is does it all but aint gonna do shit to fmc. But cuttin her open like that??? Hello?
What started as a four star read turned into a two star read 🙂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2024
Коли, я прочитала всі тропи то була дуже зацікавлена цією невеликою книгою. Що ж там за тропи:
1. Темний роман
2. Мафія
3. Морально-чорний герой
4.Одержимий гг
5. Різниця у віці (21-32)
6.Полон
7. Жорстокі сцени тортур і вбивства.
Починалось все досить добре, і скажу що головний герой Сальваторе мені подобалося, який же він був властний, і одержимий прям to much. Але те що відбувалось далі, сцена з батьком Нірвани😳, яка ж я була наівна що це найгірше що може бути, ох, як же я помилясь, в кінці мене чекав просто нереальний surprise 🤯
Трохи не розуміла Нірвану, її примусом заставили бути з Сальваторе, і все ж вона щось там починає відчувати до нього, я б назвала це хвора любов, але то таке.
Нірвана звісно на свій вік молода, але я не думала що вона така дурна, щоб все ж таки йти проти Сальваторе🤬
З Сальваторе навпаки все зрозуміло, психопат, соціопат і ще багато що можна про нього сказати 🤭
Я вже ж таки сподівалася на інше закінчення, були сцени в кінці , я такая думаю щооооо??? 🤯🤯🤯
Але мені сподобалось, не скажу що це було щось типу вау, але не погано 😅
1. Темний роман
2. Мафія
3. Морально-чорний герой
4.Одержимий гг
5. Різниця у віці (21-32)
6.Полон
7. Жорстокі сцени тортур і вбивства.
Починалось все досить добре, і скажу що головний герой Сальваторе мені подобалося, який же він був властний, і одержимий прям to much. Але те що відбувалось далі, сцена з батьком Нірвани😳, яка ж я була наівна що це найгірше що може бути, ох, як же я помилясь, в кінці мене чекав просто нереальний surprise 🤯
Трохи не розуміла Нірвану, її примусом заставили бути з Сальваторе, і все ж вона щось там починає відчувати до нього, я б назвала це хвора любов, але то таке.
Нірвана звісно на свій вік молода, але я не думала що вона така дурна, щоб все ж таки йти проти Сальваторе🤬
З Сальваторе навпаки все зрозуміло, психопат, соціопат і ще багато що можна про нього сказати 🤭
Я вже ж таки сподівалася на інше закінчення, були сцени в кінці , я такая думаю щооооо??? 🤯🤯🤯
Але мені сподобалось, не скажу що це було щось типу вау, але не погано 😅
February 4, 2024
This book is f***ed up!!!!!!
Seriously, this book is so effing jacked. I don’t know if it something I could ever reread, but it was well worth the read. Honestly, I didn’t read the trigger warnings. I probably should have. Salvatore is psycho. Not in a “oh man, that is hot” sort of way. No. In like a run! So hard. So fast. RUN!!! Sort of way. But, at the same time, a little part of you thinks if Nirvana had just leaned into the crazy…this book messes with you. I am off to read the second.
Seriously, this book is so effing jacked. I don’t know if it something I could ever reread, but it was well worth the read. Honestly, I didn’t read the trigger warnings. I probably should have. Salvatore is psycho. Not in a “oh man, that is hot” sort of way. No. In like a run! So hard. So fast. RUN!!! Sort of way. But, at the same time, a little part of you thinks if Nirvana had just leaned into the crazy…this book messes with you. I am off to read the second.
December 8, 2023
Conflicted
The writing style took me a little to get used to, but once I did the story was "easier" to read. I would call this a horror romance. Its very explicit in regard to the violence. Technically, you can say this is an HEA, kind of. The relationship was toxic as hell. I just wanted more to soften the edges. It did keep me reading so that shows potential and why I rayed it up to a four.
The writing style took me a little to get used to, but once I did the story was "easier" to read. I would call this a horror romance. Its very explicit in regard to the violence. Technically, you can say this is an HEA, kind of. The relationship was toxic as hell. I just wanted more to soften the edges. It did keep me reading so that shows potential and why I rayed it up to a four.
April 17, 2024
Speechless
Why am I only now seeing this book and author? This was so unexpectedly good I don't know where to begin. When I tell you this book shocked me so much that I could't put it down and I have read some pitch black books before. Not many authors who write about black women in this dark erotic genre do it right but damn this author did her thing!! Please continue to give us more of this please .
Why am I only now seeing this book and author? This was so unexpectedly good I don't know where to begin. When I tell you this book shocked me so much that I could't put it down and I have read some pitch black books before. Not many authors who write about black women in this dark erotic genre do it right but damn this author did her thing!! Please continue to give us more of this please .
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews