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The Mastermind
Dark secrets, fast cars, filthy lust...your new mafia romance obsession 🖤🏎️
Ruthless Underboss. Clever Mastermind. Sworn Rival.
Just a handful of reasons why I should hate Cesare Salvatore, heir to the Salvatore Sicilian mafia throne. Other reasons? His insanely gorgeous face. How hot he looks in his Formula One race suit. The feral look in his eyes when he’s pounding his enemy into the ground… But as a Mancinelli, I abide by one family Stay away from the Salvatores.
Betrayal. Forbidden Attraction. Vendetta Ignited.
Cesare believes there’s a traitor in his crew…put there by me. He’ll uncover the truth by any means, including blackmailing me into his bed. What he doesn’t know is I’ve crushed on him since high school; have craved his blood-stained hands on me since one mistake sparked a lust-hate relationship. Discovering he’s equally hot for me risks re-igniting a family vendetta and unearthing brutal decades old secrets many have been killed for. Can we stop before sparks turn to inferno? Because if it does? Forget Romeo & Juliet. Our forbidden attraction will destroy empires.
An enemies-to-lovers dark mafia story full of dark secrets, fast cars, filthy lust and deceit. Perfect for fans of Kylie Kent, Sadie Kincaid and Penelope Sky.
PRAISE FOR ZARA COX ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ 'Steamy, violent, full of betrayals and secrets, this is what mafia romance is made of' NetGalley
⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ 'The spice was abundant and the dirty talk was filthy 🥵' NetGalley
⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ 'Ate this up. Mafia and F1???? Ya I loved every moment of this.' NetGalley
Just a handful of reasons why I should hate Cesare Salvatore, heir to the Salvatore Sicilian mafia throne. Other reasons? His insanely gorgeous face. How hot he looks in his Formula One race suit. The feral look in his eyes when he’s pounding his enemy into the ground… But as a Mancinelli, I abide by one family Stay away from the Salvatores.
Betrayal. Forbidden Attraction. Vendetta Ignited.
Cesare believes there’s a traitor in his crew…put there by me. He’ll uncover the truth by any means, including blackmailing me into his bed. What he doesn’t know is I’ve crushed on him since high school; have craved his blood-stained hands on me since one mistake sparked a lust-hate relationship. Discovering he’s equally hot for me risks re-igniting a family vendetta and unearthing brutal decades old secrets many have been killed for. Can we stop before sparks turn to inferno? Because if it does? Forget Romeo & Juliet. Our forbidden attraction will destroy empires.
An enemies-to-lovers dark mafia story full of dark secrets, fast cars, filthy lust and deceit. Perfect for fans of Kylie Kent, Sadie Kincaid and Penelope Sky.
PRAISE FOR ZARA COX ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ 'Steamy, violent, full of betrayals and secrets, this is what mafia romance is made of' NetGalley
⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ 'The spice was abundant and the dirty talk was filthy 🥵' NetGalley
⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ 'Ate this up. Mafia and F1???? Ya I loved every moment of this.' NetGalley
- GenresRomanceEnemies To Lovers
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 8, 2025
88 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
July 7, 2025
The book started off really rocky tbh. The dialogue was choppy and awkward. The inner monologue was flat but had more personality than the actual dialogue. It took a good chunk of the book to adjust to the writing style and eventually I started enjoying it.
It’s very smutty for sure. Their relationship did feel substantial but it also went too fast. The emotional aspect was written at an odd pace.
The writing style was also inconsistent. Easygoing and playful one second and then it becomes almost formal the next. And not only in the inner monologue but the actual dialogue has unnatural vocab.
Idk why it was irking me so bad but it just felt annoying and took me out of the story.
Other than that the story was pretty interesting. Kept me hooked enough to stay till the end. Ngl tho the ending was kinda anticlimactic?
It was fast paced enough it took me out of my slump so I’m calling this a win 😝
ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC! ♥︎
It’s very smutty for sure. Their relationship did feel substantial but it also went too fast. The emotional aspect was written at an odd pace.
The writing style was also inconsistent. Easygoing and playful one second and then it becomes almost formal the next. And not only in the inner monologue but the actual dialogue has unnatural vocab.
Idk why it was irking me so bad but it just felt annoying and took me out of the story.
Other than that the story was pretty interesting. Kept me hooked enough to stay till the end. Ngl tho the ending was kinda anticlimactic?
It was fast paced enough it took me out of my slump so I’m calling this a win 😝
ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC! ♥︎
July 6, 2025
I didn't know that a book that combines Formula 1 and the Mafia could have such good results.
It's a dual POV. Enemies to lovers. Rival families. A dispute between the Salvatores and the Mancinellis.
And the chemistry between Cesar and Maddelena? OMG. It's been there since very early on, but the rivalry between the families held them back. Until they forgot about it.
Of all the people in the world, the heart chooses what makes it feel alive.
I loved every second of this story. The writing is very good. For me, it might have been too spicy, but not bad either, by the way. I loved Cesar. I love reading about these men who want to show evil, but are the cutest of all.
Ahhhhh, and I want more of Rafa's story, okay?
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.
It's a dual POV. Enemies to lovers. Rival families. A dispute between the Salvatores and the Mancinellis.
And the chemistry between Cesar and Maddelena? OMG. It's been there since very early on, but the rivalry between the families held them back. Until they forgot about it.
Of all the people in the world, the heart chooses what makes it feel alive.
I loved every second of this story. The writing is very good. For me, it might have been too spicy, but not bad either, by the way. I loved Cesar. I love reading about these men who want to show evil, but are the cutest of all.
Ahhhhh, and I want more of Rafa's story, okay?
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.
July 9, 2025
I really liked the combination of formula one and Mafia Romance, it was something different to what I've read before, so it kept me intrigued. I loved the chemistry and forbidden love tension and drama from being rival families. There's a good plot to spice ratio, and their relationship feels believable and genuine, building from their lust. I enjoyed the balance of high stakes from their families finding out, and the drama from their rival formula one racing, and their families secrets and schemes.
Cesare's character was a fun mix of dominance, possessiveness and caring protector, and his weakness is the girl he can't get out of his mind, who happens to be an enemy. It definitely had the Romeo & Juliet vibes, but without the tragic ending.
Cesare's character was a fun mix of dominance, possessiveness and caring protector, and his weakness is the girl he can't get out of his mind, who happens to be an enemy. It definitely had the Romeo & Juliet vibes, but without the tragic ending.
July 8, 2025
Parabolic curve? Talk dirty to me. Call me by my name because now I am securely in pole position as an F1 girly.
This was just such a fun ARC read for her. Had all the high-stakes drama as your fav mafioso series mixed in with the speed ranged, fast-paced danger of fast cars and fast family. In short, I loved it. My only wish is that it came out sooner so I could chat shop with the girlies, because I just know they are going to love this duo as much as I did.
Call me thoroughly scandalized, this certainly felt like a part one to what we can only hope is a series that will keep us wrapped up tight the whole way through.
Oh, and Zara, I am gonna need to know about that look in Renzo's eye stat.
This was just such a fun ARC read for her. Had all the high-stakes drama as your fav mafioso series mixed in with the speed ranged, fast-paced danger of fast cars and fast family. In short, I loved it. My only wish is that it came out sooner so I could chat shop with the girlies, because I just know they are going to love this duo as much as I did.
Call me thoroughly scandalized, this certainly felt like a part one to what we can only hope is a series that will keep us wrapped up tight the whole way through.
Oh, and Zara, I am gonna need to know about that look in Renzo's eye stat.
July 10, 2025
The Mastermind by Zara Cox.
Mafia rivals book 1.
I really enjoyed this book. I did like the cover and blurb. I loved the chemistry between Cesare and Maddelena. Omg. I loved how protective he was. It did take me a bit to get into this book. But once I did. I couldn't put it down. I did like the texts they sent each other. I got used to the writing style. I loved the fighting scene. I loved Rafaelle. I hope he is next. I definitely recommend this book.
Mafia rivals book 1.
I really enjoyed this book. I did like the cover and blurb. I loved the chemistry between Cesare and Maddelena. Omg. I loved how protective he was. It did take me a bit to get into this book. But once I did. I couldn't put it down. I did like the texts they sent each other. I got used to the writing style. I loved the fighting scene. I loved Rafaelle. I hope he is next. I definitely recommend this book.
July 2, 2025
: The Mastermind
By Zara Cox
Chapter 16 Page 128
Maddelena
4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Spice Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶
{ An alarming heart-warming act that snatched what little breath I'd regained.
Like his feeding me and catching me when I was dizzy, this felt like an act of a considerate man. Not the vengeance-seeking monster's heir from the night club or the racer hell-bent on crushing his enemies.
But weirdly, I didn't even prefer one over the other. They were all tied up in the mystery that had created Cesare Salvatore. And my growing addiction was fiercely worrisome.}
Cesare is the underboss and overall manager of operations in the Salvatore family. He is considered ruthless, menacing and a temper that could rival Lucifer himself and he was following his dream to become a Formula One racing driver. To the Salvatores, they were the best and it started, point proven.. but then trouble occurred when the Macinelli family decided to also compete and Cesare sensed trouble.
He was right but if he thought it would be that easy to fix, he was very wrong. There was a mole in his presence and he was willing to seek them out, destroy, tame, taunt and annul their existence into a million pieces, and he would walk them through exactly how he would do that before he did it!
Loyalty meant something to him and death swiftly follows those who did not take that into account before their actions. He would not and could now allow this insult to carry on. He must find a way to stop this and now.
Maddelena is the granddaughter of the Macinelli family, it is her job to make sure the running of her family's Formula One racing team operates smoothly, money being spent wisely and justly, for the team and nothing else getting in the way of them winning. It also didn't hurt to watch the Salvatores come second.. even third to their first place.
If her family had more talent than me or /him/, that was a problem for him. Not her! (If Cesare wanted to react like a little baby having a meltdown because of it.. that spoke a lot about him but Maddelena is carrying a secret, one she does not want to get out so avoidance is the only way she can play this..
Cesare Salvatore and Maddelena Mancinelli. Two names that nobody knows right? Wrong. They are the characters of this mafia series in which Italian families fight for dominance over everything, from land, money, allies, power, people and anything else they can get their hands on before the competitors try to. These star-crossed lovers are like a rough and sadistic, modern-day twist on Romeo and Juliet were created and brought to life by this amazing author: Zara Cox.
I loved this book, it had the right amount of spice with a storyline to kill for not only did Zara portray both characters to perfection but she told an understanding story of two people who wanted to be together but were forced into another war between their families that were going to pull secrets out of cages once ago locked. This would be the death of her ..or him.
That was for certain but is the risk worth taking?
A huge thank you to Zara Cox, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and relay my honest feedback. ::|
By Zara Cox
Chapter 16 Page 128
Maddelena
4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Spice Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶
{ An alarming heart-warming act that snatched what little breath I'd regained.
Like his feeding me and catching me when I was dizzy, this felt like an act of a considerate man. Not the vengeance-seeking monster's heir from the night club or the racer hell-bent on crushing his enemies.
But weirdly, I didn't even prefer one over the other. They were all tied up in the mystery that had created Cesare Salvatore. And my growing addiction was fiercely worrisome.}
Cesare is the underboss and overall manager of operations in the Salvatore family. He is considered ruthless, menacing and a temper that could rival Lucifer himself and he was following his dream to become a Formula One racing driver. To the Salvatores, they were the best and it started, point proven.. but then trouble occurred when the Macinelli family decided to also compete and Cesare sensed trouble.
He was right but if he thought it would be that easy to fix, he was very wrong. There was a mole in his presence and he was willing to seek them out, destroy, tame, taunt and annul their existence into a million pieces, and he would walk them through exactly how he would do that before he did it!
Loyalty meant something to him and death swiftly follows those who did not take that into account before their actions. He would not and could now allow this insult to carry on. He must find a way to stop this and now.
Maddelena is the granddaughter of the Macinelli family, it is her job to make sure the running of her family's Formula One racing team operates smoothly, money being spent wisely and justly, for the team and nothing else getting in the way of them winning. It also didn't hurt to watch the Salvatores come second.. even third to their first place.
If her family had more talent than me or /him/, that was a problem for him. Not her! (If Cesare wanted to react like a little baby having a meltdown because of it.. that spoke a lot about him but Maddelena is carrying a secret, one she does not want to get out so avoidance is the only way she can play this..
Cesare Salvatore and Maddelena Mancinelli. Two names that nobody knows right? Wrong. They are the characters of this mafia series in which Italian families fight for dominance over everything, from land, money, allies, power, people and anything else they can get their hands on before the competitors try to. These star-crossed lovers are like a rough and sadistic, modern-day twist on Romeo and Juliet were created and brought to life by this amazing author: Zara Cox.
I loved this book, it had the right amount of spice with a storyline to kill for not only did Zara portray both characters to perfection but she told an understanding story of two people who wanted to be together but were forced into another war between their families that were going to pull secrets out of cages once ago locked. This would be the death of her ..or him.
That was for certain but is the risk worth taking?
A huge thank you to Zara Cox, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and relay my honest feedback. ::|
June 30, 2025
ARC review
4.5⭐|3🌶|17%🌶frequency
I definitely love mafia romance 🤩 But let me be honest, I'm not a sports fan at all. BUT when I saw a mafia romance with Formula 1, I was curious 😁 So I took the opportunity to ARC read this one. I haven't read any books by this author before, so I didn't know what to expect. I won't say I was surprised, because that would mean I was expecting it to be bad, but still, I was happy I loved this book. Maybe some will ☠️ me now, but I'm actually not a fan of the Romeo and Juliet story 🙈 Never was and never will be. And yes, I still call myself a reader.
The story about Cesare and Maddelena definitely had a lot of the story of Romeo and Juliet or West Side Story (what I like more, but still hate the ending), but in contrast to them, Cesare and Maddelena will get their HEA 😍
I loved them both so much. Cesare is a hard mafia man. But he has a secret weakness. A weakness he has had for a LONG time. And it makes him so cute 🥰 I wouldn't call it a second chance, but still the two have a bit of a history 😁
Cesare and Maddalena aren't "just" from rival families, no, both families are big in the Formula 1. Cesare is the first driver in his own team, and Maddalena's youngest brother is the first driver in her family's team. Both are also the heirs of their families. Very very difficult 🙈
If you love Mafia romance and Formula 1, then I'm pretty sure you will love this book. If not, I don't know 🤷♀️🙈
As I said, this was my first book by this author, but not the last. I'll definitely read book 2 of this series, and I'm excited about who it will be about. Will it have F1 in it again???
Thanks to Boldwood Books, NetGalley & the author for trusting me with an ARC 🩷
Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...
4.5⭐|3🌶|17%🌶frequency
I definitely love mafia romance 🤩 But let me be honest, I'm not a sports fan at all. BUT when I saw a mafia romance with Formula 1, I was curious 😁 So I took the opportunity to ARC read this one. I haven't read any books by this author before, so I didn't know what to expect. I won't say I was surprised, because that would mean I was expecting it to be bad, but still, I was happy I loved this book. Maybe some will ☠️ me now, but I'm actually not a fan of the Romeo and Juliet story 🙈 Never was and never will be. And yes, I still call myself a reader.
The story about Cesare and Maddelena definitely had a lot of the story of Romeo and Juliet or West Side Story (what I like more, but still hate the ending), but in contrast to them, Cesare and Maddelena will get their HEA 😍
I loved them both so much. Cesare is a hard mafia man. But he has a secret weakness. A weakness he has had for a LONG time. And it makes him so cute 🥰 I wouldn't call it a second chance, but still the two have a bit of a history 😁
Cesare and Maddalena aren't "just" from rival families, no, both families are big in the Formula 1. Cesare is the first driver in his own team, and Maddalena's youngest brother is the first driver in her family's team. Both are also the heirs of their families. Very very difficult 🙈
If you love Mafia romance and Formula 1, then I'm pretty sure you will love this book. If not, I don't know 🤷♀️🙈
As I said, this was my first book by this author, but not the last. I'll definitely read book 2 of this series, and I'm excited about who it will be about. Will it have F1 in it again???
Thanks to Boldwood Books, NetGalley & the author for trusting me with an ARC 🩷
Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...
July 8, 2025
Steamy. Dangerous. Enemies to lovers.
From the first chapter, you are hooked into the dramatic relationship Maddelena and Cesare have. Sworn enemies, due to family rivalries, with a lust that could set fire to whole towns, the two must come together to find a hidden mole but is that all they’ll find? And what will happen to the pair of them if they are uncovered on their secret ‘mission’? They’re playing a dangerous game, with both families harbouring a deep grudge against the other and neither being gun-shy. Will this Romeo and Juliet-esque affair benefit them or will they find their passions are more trouble than they’re worth?
Sometimes, after reading a few of steamy romances, you can fall foul of assuming what’s going to happen - especially with the enemies-to-lovers trope - but Cox does well in making sure there are twists and turns to keep you on your toes. She also knows how to write a hell of a steamy scene - and boy did she in ‘The Mastermind’! From the cover to the description to the way Cesare speaks to Maddelena, Cox has created a fully-rounded bad-boy that you can’t help but lust after. I also liked the portrayal of our strong female protagonist and how her inner turmoil was written - it felt very relatable. Added to this is the dual perspective, which I am always a fan of.
Whilst there is lots I liked about this book, I have to say that parts of the writing felt slightly disjointed and rushed. I like a slowburn in the enemies-to-lovers trope but there wasn’t enough of a build-up in this for me. I also don’t think there was enough exploration of the family dynamics/ mob life. Outside the steaminess, plot fell a little flat.
From the first chapter, you are hooked into the dramatic relationship Maddelena and Cesare have. Sworn enemies, due to family rivalries, with a lust that could set fire to whole towns, the two must come together to find a hidden mole but is that all they’ll find? And what will happen to the pair of them if they are uncovered on their secret ‘mission’? They’re playing a dangerous game, with both families harbouring a deep grudge against the other and neither being gun-shy. Will this Romeo and Juliet-esque affair benefit them or will they find their passions are more trouble than they’re worth?
Sometimes, after reading a few of steamy romances, you can fall foul of assuming what’s going to happen - especially with the enemies-to-lovers trope - but Cox does well in making sure there are twists and turns to keep you on your toes. She also knows how to write a hell of a steamy scene - and boy did she in ‘The Mastermind’! From the cover to the description to the way Cesare speaks to Maddelena, Cox has created a fully-rounded bad-boy that you can’t help but lust after. I also liked the portrayal of our strong female protagonist and how her inner turmoil was written - it felt very relatable. Added to this is the dual perspective, which I am always a fan of.
Whilst there is lots I liked about this book, I have to say that parts of the writing felt slightly disjointed and rushed. I like a slowburn in the enemies-to-lovers trope but there wasn’t enough of a build-up in this for me. I also don’t think there was enough exploration of the family dynamics/ mob life. Outside the steaminess, plot fell a little flat.
July 10, 2025
Mafia ✨and✨ F1?! I wasn’t sure how she was going to do it, but the way the two were intertwined actually made sense. One pushed the other forward right when I began to wonder when it would come back around. Super impressive because I was definitely skeptical 👏
Enemies to lovers, forbidden love, and a family rivalry to boot. Maddelena and Cesare’s chemistry is hot, hot, hot 🔥 from the moment they tangle as teens. Unfortunately, their families have a decades long feud separating them, which situates them as enemies even before birth. Forbidden is an understatement.
As adults, the two are put in each other’s paths on a regular basis, being part of the F1 world. Worse yet, some shady things have been happening on the track and now the legitimate side of the business and the underworld are colliding, bringing the two even closer. It’s no surprise when they end up in bed together, but their feelings certainly are.
The writing was so well done. It felt professional and flowed nicely. The spice was abundant and the dirty talk was filthy 🥵 Overall, very reminiscent of some of my favorite authors.
A few things I loved:
* The Sicilian pet names 🤍
* Obsessive, Protective MMC
* “I found forever here” 😭
* Big Italian families
* Sleeping walking confessions 💤
Like most mafia families, both sides have siblings galore, so I can’t wait to see who’s next. Rafa, Fist, and Sofiya have me very intrigued 👀
The Basics:
Mafia Don/F1 Driver 🏎️//Consigliere 💵
1st Person Dual POV
Book #1 in the “Mafia Wars” series, but can be read as a standalone
HEA 🖤
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 🤍
Enemies to lovers, forbidden love, and a family rivalry to boot. Maddelena and Cesare’s chemistry is hot, hot, hot 🔥 from the moment they tangle as teens. Unfortunately, their families have a decades long feud separating them, which situates them as enemies even before birth. Forbidden is an understatement.
As adults, the two are put in each other’s paths on a regular basis, being part of the F1 world. Worse yet, some shady things have been happening on the track and now the legitimate side of the business and the underworld are colliding, bringing the two even closer. It’s no surprise when they end up in bed together, but their feelings certainly are.
The writing was so well done. It felt professional and flowed nicely. The spice was abundant and the dirty talk was filthy 🥵 Overall, very reminiscent of some of my favorite authors.
A few things I loved:
* The Sicilian pet names 🤍
* Obsessive, Protective MMC
* “I found forever here” 😭
* Big Italian families
* Sleeping walking confessions 💤
Like most mafia families, both sides have siblings galore, so I can’t wait to see who’s next. Rafa, Fist, and Sofiya have me very intrigued 👀
The Basics:
Mafia Don/F1 Driver 🏎️//Consigliere 💵
1st Person Dual POV
Book #1 in the “Mafia Wars” series, but can be read as a standalone
HEA 🖤
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 🤍
June 18, 2025
I want to say thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book I really appreciate it!
Contrary to the description of this book, this book was truly not it at all like I really hoped for it to be. To get it out of the way if you like spice and really only like reading spicy books with no real care for plot, or characters than you will love this book. That is essentially what this book is in full actuality. Well I love a good spicy book, I'm not a big fan of it being the center focus of 90% of the chapters of the book. The spice is spicy and its well written but in my opinion that's all this book has going for it.
The characters are very one sided and lack zero depth. The formula one aspect is just there, it's not really truly a full focused part of the story. The mole aspect to the story is not a center focus either, the Mafia aspect yes it's there, theres some action, but it doesn't really fully feel like a Mafia romance. On that, the romance doesn't feel like romance, it feels like a lust centred relationship. This also isn't enemies to lovers, just like Romeo and Juliet isn't, it's their families who are (well mainly grandparents). The highlight to that is that thankfully no one dies and this has a happy ending. The last 3 chapters and the epilogue are what saved this review for me and I'm really grateful for them.
Thank you very much again from the bottom of heart for allowing me to read this book I really appreciate it.
Contrary to the description of this book, this book was truly not it at all like I really hoped for it to be. To get it out of the way if you like spice and really only like reading spicy books with no real care for plot, or characters than you will love this book. That is essentially what this book is in full actuality. Well I love a good spicy book, I'm not a big fan of it being the center focus of 90% of the chapters of the book. The spice is spicy and its well written but in my opinion that's all this book has going for it.
The characters are very one sided and lack zero depth. The formula one aspect is just there, it's not really truly a full focused part of the story. The mole aspect to the story is not a center focus either, the Mafia aspect yes it's there, theres some action, but it doesn't really fully feel like a Mafia romance. On that, the romance doesn't feel like romance, it feels like a lust centred relationship. This also isn't enemies to lovers, just like Romeo and Juliet isn't, it's their families who are (well mainly grandparents). The highlight to that is that thankfully no one dies and this has a happy ending. The last 3 chapters and the epilogue are what saved this review for me and I'm really grateful for them.
Thank you very much again from the bottom of heart for allowing me to read this book I really appreciate it.
June 23, 2025
The Mastermind delivers heat, action, and just the right amount of chaos. Think Romeo & Juliet, but with fast cars, loaded weapons, and a whole lot of unresolved sexual tension.
Cesare Salvatore is the heir to a powerful Sicilian crime family—and a world-class F1 driver on the side. Maddelena Mancinelli is the sharp, no-nonsense daughter of his family’s oldest rival. From the outside, they’re sworn enemies. Behind closed doors, it’s a different story entirely.
Their chemistry is explosive. From a teenage kiss that lit the fuse to full-blown adult obsession, these two burn up every page they’re on together. Their shared past only adds fuel to the fire, and when Maddelena is accused of betraying Cesare’s crew, the only way to uncover the truth? Blackmail. Close quarters. Zero self-control. You know where this is going—and it’s filthy in the best way.
What really worked for me is how the mafia world and the F1 racing circuit were woven together. I was skeptical at first, but the tie-in was smart and added a fresh spin on both genres. The writing was sharp and fast-paced, and the spice was definitely on the higher end—dirty talk fans, you’ve been warned.
If you’re into forbidden romance, family feuds, and morally gray characters who can’t seem to keep their hands—or secrets—to themselves, The Mastermind needs to be on your radar. I’m already eyeing the next book in the series because I need more from this world.
᪥ Mafia
᪥ Enemies To Lovers
᪥ Dark Romance
᪥ Obsessive, Protective MMC
᪥ F1 Racing
᪥ Dual POV
Cesare Salvatore is the heir to a powerful Sicilian crime family—and a world-class F1 driver on the side. Maddelena Mancinelli is the sharp, no-nonsense daughter of his family’s oldest rival. From the outside, they’re sworn enemies. Behind closed doors, it’s a different story entirely.
Their chemistry is explosive. From a teenage kiss that lit the fuse to full-blown adult obsession, these two burn up every page they’re on together. Their shared past only adds fuel to the fire, and when Maddelena is accused of betraying Cesare’s crew, the only way to uncover the truth? Blackmail. Close quarters. Zero self-control. You know where this is going—and it’s filthy in the best way.
What really worked for me is how the mafia world and the F1 racing circuit were woven together. I was skeptical at first, but the tie-in was smart and added a fresh spin on both genres. The writing was sharp and fast-paced, and the spice was definitely on the higher end—dirty talk fans, you’ve been warned.
If you’re into forbidden romance, family feuds, and morally gray characters who can’t seem to keep their hands—or secrets—to themselves, The Mastermind needs to be on your radar. I’m already eyeing the next book in the series because I need more from this world.
᪥ Mafia
᪥ Enemies To Lovers
᪥ Dark Romance
᪥ Obsessive, Protective MMC
᪥ F1 Racing
᪥ Dual POV
September 6, 2025
As a Formula 1 fan, I was intrigued to see how it was woven into this Mafia Rivals book. I will be honest - when I first started reading, I stopped after one chapter and switched to another book, as it didn't grab me straight away. When I came back to it later, I pushed through a couple of chapters and it started to draw me in.
Cesare and Maddelena's families are sworn enemies, which means that they must be too. She runs her family's racing team; he is the driver for his family's team. When it seems that a mole is sharing their secrets, Cesare knows that Maddelena's family must be involved. While trying to uncover the truth, the pair reignite a flame that first sparked when they were teenagers - before they knew who each other was. Can they keep their forbidden trysts secret from their families and uncover the truth about the sabotage?
As I said, this didn't draw me in straightaway but, once Maddelena's narrative started I started to enjoy it more and then became intrigued to see how it would play out. The dual narrative kept the viewpoint interesting. The F1 side of the story didn't really go into as much detail as I would have liked, but I guess that wasn't really the focus of the story - it was just a side plot to the mafia war and the 'love story' between the two main characters. I say 'love story' as it was mostly lust and steamy sex but it kept things interesting!
As the first in a series, it had enough to interest me into reading future books in the series.
Thanks to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for this review copy.
Cesare and Maddelena's families are sworn enemies, which means that they must be too. She runs her family's racing team; he is the driver for his family's team. When it seems that a mole is sharing their secrets, Cesare knows that Maddelena's family must be involved. While trying to uncover the truth, the pair reignite a flame that first sparked when they were teenagers - before they knew who each other was. Can they keep their forbidden trysts secret from their families and uncover the truth about the sabotage?
As I said, this didn't draw me in straightaway but, once Maddelena's narrative started I started to enjoy it more and then became intrigued to see how it would play out. The dual narrative kept the viewpoint interesting. The F1 side of the story didn't really go into as much detail as I would have liked, but I guess that wasn't really the focus of the story - it was just a side plot to the mafia war and the 'love story' between the two main characters. I say 'love story' as it was mostly lust and steamy sex but it kept things interesting!
As the first in a series, it had enough to interest me into reading future books in the series.
Thanks to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for this review copy.
September 19, 2025
This is Book 1 in the M@fia Ruvals series and oh boy is it an AMAZING book!
I started to read this and immediately had Romeo and Juliet feels, which of course is backed up by even the characters joking about how their story is like a Romeo and Juliet saga!
The story follows Maddelena and Cesare - two members of enemy families that face off on the Formula One track... when a mole is discovered of course, things explode!
I absolutely loved this story as it is a m@fia story mixed into a Formula 1 world and the writing is just breathtaking.
We have the dark and intense underworld of the rival mafia families and forbidden love, but mixed with a slightly light sports kinda-romance element which is very unique.
Families torn apart by an event that happened generations before, it was addictive and intriguing watching Maddelena and Cesare interact and the drama unfold around them.
Maddelena is a brilliant character, even if her family don't treat her so well and Cesare is the epitome of a morally grey character.
Beautifully written and poetically delivered, this story is dark and gritty so keeps you on the edge of your seat - the action is intense and the love overwhelming.
Nevermind the story being called 'The Mastermind', Zara should take this as her nickname!
I highly recommend to all who love m@fia stories or anyone who wants to try out the m@fia/Formula 1 crossover - it's so darn good!
I cannot wait for book 2!
I started to read this and immediately had Romeo and Juliet feels, which of course is backed up by even the characters joking about how their story is like a Romeo and Juliet saga!
The story follows Maddelena and Cesare - two members of enemy families that face off on the Formula One track... when a mole is discovered of course, things explode!
I absolutely loved this story as it is a m@fia story mixed into a Formula 1 world and the writing is just breathtaking.
We have the dark and intense underworld of the rival mafia families and forbidden love, but mixed with a slightly light sports kinda-romance element which is very unique.
Families torn apart by an event that happened generations before, it was addictive and intriguing watching Maddelena and Cesare interact and the drama unfold around them.
Maddelena is a brilliant character, even if her family don't treat her so well and Cesare is the epitome of a morally grey character.
Beautifully written and poetically delivered, this story is dark and gritty so keeps you on the edge of your seat - the action is intense and the love overwhelming.
Nevermind the story being called 'The Mastermind', Zara should take this as her nickname!
I highly recommend to all who love m@fia stories or anyone who wants to try out the m@fia/Formula 1 crossover - it's so darn good!
I cannot wait for book 2!
January 3, 2026
2.5 stars
This book felt like it was trying to be too much of everything/every trope it wanted to play off of, and it ended up not being much of any of it. As such, it was very weird. The pacing was off most of the book, the plot didn't seem to know if the focus was the Mafia angle, the Formula 1 bit, the family drama, the romance, the smut?
It's a disjointed mix, for sure, which somewhat comes together in the last third of the story (but it can easily lose readers before then). It's like the author was trying things on for size throughout and those try-outs still made it to the final book.
Still, the suspense was good - I stayed mostly to find what was happening to the races and all around.
It could've been more Mafia - that bit felt overlooked if not rushed in some parts.
It could've been more romance - less flash-hot leading to rather clunky smut and more slow burn, get to know the characters throughout.
Cesare himself, it felt like the author hesitated to commit to what he was - Mafia heir or the one who wanted to go 'clean'? Heart of stone or gooey marshmallow for Maddalena? There was no mastermind vibe to him, making the title misleading.
So why did I stay? It's because, while it does get lost sometimes, it ends up building a compelling world - I am dying now to read Rafa's story, so on that, it's a win, it got me hooked.
It's not a bad book, but it's also certainly not one to write home about in the Mafia, dark romance, badass hero genre.
This book felt like it was trying to be too much of everything/every trope it wanted to play off of, and it ended up not being much of any of it. As such, it was very weird. The pacing was off most of the book, the plot didn't seem to know if the focus was the Mafia angle, the Formula 1 bit, the family drama, the romance, the smut?
It's a disjointed mix, for sure, which somewhat comes together in the last third of the story (but it can easily lose readers before then). It's like the author was trying things on for size throughout and those try-outs still made it to the final book.
Still, the suspense was good - I stayed mostly to find what was happening to the races and all around.
It could've been more Mafia - that bit felt overlooked if not rushed in some parts.
It could've been more romance - less flash-hot leading to rather clunky smut and more slow burn, get to know the characters throughout.
Cesare himself, it felt like the author hesitated to commit to what he was - Mafia heir or the one who wanted to go 'clean'? Heart of stone or gooey marshmallow for Maddalena? There was no mastermind vibe to him, making the title misleading.
So why did I stay? It's because, while it does get lost sometimes, it ends up building a compelling world - I am dying now to read Rafa's story, so on that, it's a win, it got me hooked.
It's not a bad book, but it's also certainly not one to write home about in the Mafia, dark romance, badass hero genre.
July 6, 2025
It’s a 3 book series and wow if you love mafia romance and I really enjoyed this one here is blurb
Dark secrets, fast cars, filthy lust...your new mafia romance obsession 🖤🏎️
Ruthless Underboss. Clever Mastermind. Sworn Rival.
Just a handful of reasons why I should hate Cesare Salvatore, heir to the Salvatore Sicilian mafia throne. Other reasons? His insanely gorgeous face. How hot he looks in his Formula One race suit. The feral look in his eyes when he’s pounding his enemy into the ground… But as a Mancinelli, I abide by one family rule: Stay away from the Salvatores.
Betrayal. Forbidden Attraction. Vendetta Ignited.
Cesare believes there’s a traitor in his crew…put there by me. He’ll uncover the truth by any means, including blackmailing me into his bed. What he doesn’t know is I’ve crushed on him since high school; have craved his blood-stained hands on me since one mistake sparked a lust-hate relationship. Discovering he’s equally hot for me risks re-igniting a family vendetta and unearthing brutal decades old secrets many have been killed for. Can we stop before sparks turn to inferno? Because if it does? Forget Romeo & Juliet. Our forbidden attraction will destroy empires.
An enemies-to-lovers dark mafia story full of dark secrets, fast cars, filthy lust and deceit. Perfect for fans of Kylie Kent, Sadie Kincaid and Penelope Sky.
Dark secrets, fast cars, filthy lust...your new mafia romance obsession 🖤🏎️
Ruthless Underboss. Clever Mastermind. Sworn Rival.
Just a handful of reasons why I should hate Cesare Salvatore, heir to the Salvatore Sicilian mafia throne. Other reasons? His insanely gorgeous face. How hot he looks in his Formula One race suit. The feral look in his eyes when he’s pounding his enemy into the ground… But as a Mancinelli, I abide by one family rule: Stay away from the Salvatores.
Betrayal. Forbidden Attraction. Vendetta Ignited.
Cesare believes there’s a traitor in his crew…put there by me. He’ll uncover the truth by any means, including blackmailing me into his bed. What he doesn’t know is I’ve crushed on him since high school; have craved his blood-stained hands on me since one mistake sparked a lust-hate relationship. Discovering he’s equally hot for me risks re-igniting a family vendetta and unearthing brutal decades old secrets many have been killed for. Can we stop before sparks turn to inferno? Because if it does? Forget Romeo & Juliet. Our forbidden attraction will destroy empires.
An enemies-to-lovers dark mafia story full of dark secrets, fast cars, filthy lust and deceit. Perfect for fans of Kylie Kent, Sadie Kincaid and Penelope Sky.
July 8, 2025
Zara Cox delivers a sizzling, high-stakes romantic thriller in The Mastermind, where love, loyalty, and legacy collide in the most dangerous of ways. Set against the brutal backdrop of two rival mob families locked in a generations-long feud, the novel centers on the forbidden romance between their heirs—evoking shades of Romeo and Juliet, but with far more heat, grit, and bloodshed.
From the first page, Cox plunges readers into a world of power, violence, and obsession. The chemistry between the leads is electric, and the spice is balanced beautifully with emotionally charged moments and sharp dialogue. Despite the violence surrounding them, their love story remains the beating heart of the novel, creating a constant tension between desire and danger.
The mob dynamics are vividly drawn—ruthless, unforgiving, and complex. Cox doesn’t shy away from the brutality of this world, and the emotional stakes are raised by the fact that even family isn’t safe from betrayal. The action is fast-paced, and the loyalty tests are relentless, making for a truly compelling read.
The Mastermind is a bold, sexy, and suspense-filled start to what promises to be a gripping series. Zara Cox masterfully blends romance and dark underworld intrigue, leaving readers breathless and eager for what’s to come.
From the first page, Cox plunges readers into a world of power, violence, and obsession. The chemistry between the leads is electric, and the spice is balanced beautifully with emotionally charged moments and sharp dialogue. Despite the violence surrounding them, their love story remains the beating heart of the novel, creating a constant tension between desire and danger.
The mob dynamics are vividly drawn—ruthless, unforgiving, and complex. Cox doesn’t shy away from the brutality of this world, and the emotional stakes are raised by the fact that even family isn’t safe from betrayal. The action is fast-paced, and the loyalty tests are relentless, making for a truly compelling read.
The Mastermind is a bold, sexy, and suspense-filled start to what promises to be a gripping series. Zara Cox masterfully blends romance and dark underworld intrigue, leaving readers breathless and eager for what’s to come.
July 6, 2025
This is a dark romance focusing on a Romeo and Juliet-esque Mafia couple and is set in the Formula One world.
So, there's lots going on from the off, and lots of characters who interlink in various ways so it took me a minute to get to grips with that.
I enjoyed the Formula 1 stuff, my husband watches it so I'm familiar with some of the terminology used here.
Maddelena is a strong, sassy, independent woman. I do feel she loses a bit of this as her relationship with Cesare grows though.
Cesare is a powerful player in his family, and sometimes the things he is involved in was a bit darker than I would usually choose to read.
I was really interested in the family dynamics, and I thought there were lots of siblings that could make this into a really interesting series.
Despite the darkness throughout this read, I still ploughed through it quickly, finishing it over the course of a day in a few sittings. It just had me gripped from the off.
I haven't read anything by this author before but I definitely want to read more and hope there's more to come in this Mafia series soon!
Fans of dark, Mafia romances will really enjoy this!
So, there's lots going on from the off, and lots of characters who interlink in various ways so it took me a minute to get to grips with that.
I enjoyed the Formula 1 stuff, my husband watches it so I'm familiar with some of the terminology used here.
Maddelena is a strong, sassy, independent woman. I do feel she loses a bit of this as her relationship with Cesare grows though.
Cesare is a powerful player in his family, and sometimes the things he is involved in was a bit darker than I would usually choose to read.
I was really interested in the family dynamics, and I thought there were lots of siblings that could make this into a really interesting series.
Despite the darkness throughout this read, I still ploughed through it quickly, finishing it over the course of a day in a few sittings. It just had me gripped from the off.
I haven't read anything by this author before but I definitely want to read more and hope there's more to come in this Mafia series soon!
Fans of dark, Mafia romances will really enjoy this!
May 28, 2025
The book follows Maddelena, who is the eldest daughter of the Mancinellis crime family. She is a boss ass bitch and I always love a powerful FMC in the typical "mens field." Cesare Salvatore, the eldest son of a different mafia family. The two grew up together at the same school, and their families have always been rivals. Cesare is balancing between being a leader of his family's crime organization and being an F1 driver. The chemistry between these two is HOT and HEAVY. The way they are both attracted to each other but also HATE each other made the tension so good. I was very surprised by the integration of F1 in a mafia romance, but it actually is such a great idea because how else would the mafia in today's world be able to account for all their money without it being suspicious? I found this to be a very quick, fun, spicy read, and it was a nice palate cleanser for me.
Read if you like:
-Dual POV
-Enemies to Lovers
-Mafia family rivals
-Forbidden Love (mafia Romeo and Juliet)
-F1 Racing
Thank you, Boldwood Books, for reaching out and sending me this ARC.
Read if you like:
-Dual POV
-Enemies to Lovers
-Mafia family rivals
-Forbidden Love (mafia Romeo and Juliet)
-F1 Racing
Thank you, Boldwood Books, for reaching out and sending me this ARC.
June 30, 2025
The Mancinelli and Salvatore families have been sworn emenies for years. Whilst being rivals in the mafia world they are also both domonating the formular 1 racing world and compete against each other.
After a close encounter in their teenage years Cesare and Maddelena have some unfinished buisness and their chemistry is off the scale. I really enjoyed the book and was invested with their story from first few pages. Both characters are very likeable and I was routing for them both and a happy ever after. Every time the pair come together the spice increases. As the synopsis suggests there are various similaries with Romeo and Juliet which are also mentioned numours times within the book. The book has defintely been written as a watch this space. I will be interested to read more books in the series and hope Raff gets his own installment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After a close encounter in their teenage years Cesare and Maddelena have some unfinished buisness and their chemistry is off the scale. I really enjoyed the book and was invested with their story from first few pages. Both characters are very likeable and I was routing for them both and a happy ever after. Every time the pair come together the spice increases. As the synopsis suggests there are various similaries with Romeo and Juliet which are also mentioned numours times within the book. The book has defintely been written as a watch this space. I will be interested to read more books in the series and hope Raff gets his own installment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2025
The Mastermind is a dark mafia romance set in the world of Formula One. It features characters reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet and is filled with intrigue.
As two powerful Italian families are vying for ultimate dominance, and at the centre of it all are Cesare Salvatore, a mafia heir and elite Formula 1 driver, and Maddelena Mancineli, the fiercely independent daughter of his family's biggest rival.
But when Maddelena is accused of betrayal, she and Cesare are forced into a dangerously close partnership, fueled by blackmail and secrets.
And with tension, danger, and sizzling chemistry, The Mastermind delivers a fiery and fast-paced read. That perfectly blends the dark allure of mafia romance with the adrenaline-fueled excitement of Formula 1, making it a unique take on the genre and something I've never read before, but would definitely read again.
My thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read The Mastermind. All thoughts expressed are my own. 😊
As two powerful Italian families are vying for ultimate dominance, and at the centre of it all are Cesare Salvatore, a mafia heir and elite Formula 1 driver, and Maddelena Mancineli, the fiercely independent daughter of his family's biggest rival.
But when Maddelena is accused of betrayal, she and Cesare are forced into a dangerously close partnership, fueled by blackmail and secrets.
And with tension, danger, and sizzling chemistry, The Mastermind delivers a fiery and fast-paced read. That perfectly blends the dark allure of mafia romance with the adrenaline-fueled excitement of Formula 1, making it a unique take on the genre and something I've never read before, but would definitely read again.
My thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read The Mastermind. All thoughts expressed are my own. 😊
July 4, 2025
As soon as I saw this book with advertised with Mafia AND F1 I was sold!
Cesare is the grandson of a Mafia boss but is trying to follow his dream in being a racing driver. Maddelena is the granddaughter of the rival Mafia's family boss. I really enjoyed this forbidden romance element and it was compared a few times to being like Romeo and Juliet. In my opinion this book was very spicy so if that's your thing, I think you'll really like this story. The spicy scenes were well written and added to the tension between the characters perfectly. I would have liked there to have been a little more F1 involved but really liked the idea of having both Mafia and F1 featured in a book together. I'd never seen them merged before and think it was an interesting concept that worked well!
Thank you to the publisher, author and netgalley for sending me a copy to review.
Cesare is the grandson of a Mafia boss but is trying to follow his dream in being a racing driver. Maddelena is the granddaughter of the rival Mafia's family boss. I really enjoyed this forbidden romance element and it was compared a few times to being like Romeo and Juliet. In my opinion this book was very spicy so if that's your thing, I think you'll really like this story. The spicy scenes were well written and added to the tension between the characters perfectly. I would have liked there to have been a little more F1 involved but really liked the idea of having both Mafia and F1 featured in a book together. I'd never seen them merged before and think it was an interesting concept that worked well!
Thank you to the publisher, author and netgalley for sending me a copy to review.
August 16, 2025
Maddelena's first encounter with Cesare is when they are in their teens. But the two come from opposite Italian families who are long-term sworn enemies.
But that one encounter will only dim until reignited and set into motion a forbidden passion that will set the two families to war.
This is a great storyline mixing racing cars, mafia gang families and forbidden romance all into one, making this novel a great escape for any romance reader.
Cox tells this narrative with alternating chapters, with the two main characters, Maddelena and Cesare, seeing both narratives of the families; I like how this gave more depth to the narrative.
I found myself thinking, not only is Cesare dangerous, he is SEXY!!
This is a great first book in a series, and I am excited for what next novel will be.
But that one encounter will only dim until reignited and set into motion a forbidden passion that will set the two families to war.
This is a great storyline mixing racing cars, mafia gang families and forbidden romance all into one, making this novel a great escape for any romance reader.
Cox tells this narrative with alternating chapters, with the two main characters, Maddelena and Cesare, seeing both narratives of the families; I like how this gave more depth to the narrative.
I found myself thinking, not only is Cesare dangerous, he is SEXY!!
This is a great first book in a series, and I am excited for what next novel will be.
May 24, 2025
Eldest granddaughter of the Mancinelli crime family, Maddelena Mancinelli knows one of the top rules is to stay away from all the Salvatore men. But Casare Salvatore is too delicious and too dangerous to make smart decisions around.
In this world of the Sicilian-American mafia, Casare knows that family comes above all else. And yet he can’t stop thinking about Maddie. Will he risk it all to have her?
***Mafia romance
***Forbidden love
***Dual POV
***F 1 Racing
***🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Casare, the tattooed, muscled, dirty talking, hunk of meat that you are - delicious! I ate this right up. Can’t wait to read the next in the series!
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.
June 30, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this one. I usually quite enjoy dark mafia romances. Violence is often to be expected and that certainly happens here. A strong and domineering hero is also often par for the course. What I'm less keen on, is a heroine who doesn't push back or at least attempt to have some control over her life. I didn't really buy their relationship either, it was all very intense, very quickly without much substance behind it.
I didn't hate it, but I didn't love the characters either. Perhaps future books will be a bit more to my taste. I'm sure plenty of people would love it, it just wasn't really for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.
I didn't hate it, but I didn't love the characters either. Perhaps future books will be a bit more to my taste. I'm sure plenty of people would love it, it just wasn't really for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.
July 14, 2025
This is my first read by this author and also the first book in this brilliant new series, Mafia Rivals.
I really love a good mafia romance read and so didn't hesitate to grab this on with both hands.
This book set off at a pace and it did take me a little minute to get to grips with all of the interlinking characters and work out which sides they were in withing the different families.
But it soon became easy to see the main players and focus on the storyline.
The storyline does follow a pretty standard mafia style read - however, I found this had a really unique twist with it combining a bit of a sports romance trope in there too.
I've not read many F1 reads, but the couple that I have, I've really enjoyed and I think adding this, r ally makes this read stand out among the rest.
I really liked our main characters and the little bits of background that we got for each of the families.
Seeing all the other family members and the dynamics between them as well as the dynamics between the two families gave us an intriguing baseline to work forward from in the rest of the series.
The writing style was engaging throughout and once I got to grips with all the characters, I was completely invested and raced through this.
I can't wait to see how things develop over the course of the series and am.really looking forward to seeing book 2 soon.
I really love a good mafia romance read and so didn't hesitate to grab this on with both hands.
This book set off at a pace and it did take me a little minute to get to grips with all of the interlinking characters and work out which sides they were in withing the different families.
But it soon became easy to see the main players and focus on the storyline.
The storyline does follow a pretty standard mafia style read - however, I found this had a really unique twist with it combining a bit of a sports romance trope in there too.
I've not read many F1 reads, but the couple that I have, I've really enjoyed and I think adding this, r ally makes this read stand out among the rest.
I really liked our main characters and the little bits of background that we got for each of the families.
Seeing all the other family members and the dynamics between them as well as the dynamics between the two families gave us an intriguing baseline to work forward from in the rest of the series.
The writing style was engaging throughout and once I got to grips with all the characters, I was completely invested and raced through this.
I can't wait to see how things develop over the course of the series and am.really looking forward to seeing book 2 soon.
June 3, 2025
If you are a fan of Formula One and mafia romance , then this book is for you.
We have Cesare Salvatore , the mafia heir and one of the drivers and Maddelena Mancinelli, the sister of the rival driver. And they are also mafia rivals.
But in the past something happened between them, and over the years the attraction was still there, even though they hate each other.
It was an interesting plot, with all the races and stuff. I liked how was the story written and the characters.
For sure I will read the other books, if will be a series.
Thank you Boldwood Books, Netgalley and Zara Cox for this Arc. This is my only and honest opinion about the book.
Give it a try!
We have Cesare Salvatore , the mafia heir and one of the drivers and Maddelena Mancinelli, the sister of the rival driver. And they are also mafia rivals.
But in the past something happened between them, and over the years the attraction was still there, even though they hate each other.
It was an interesting plot, with all the races and stuff. I liked how was the story written and the characters.
For sure I will read the other books, if will be a series.
Thank you Boldwood Books, Netgalley and Zara Cox for this Arc. This is my only and honest opinion about the book.
Give it a try!
June 23, 2025
Thank you Boldwood for the ARC!
Overall, this book was a 3.25 star for me. It covered all the fun microtropes in romance: f1, Mafia, and billionaire. I thought the build up between Cesare and Maddelina was great. The flashback of how they first met was cute and I think that's why their instalust connection made sense when we first meet them. The book felt short and a bit rushed outside of the romance plot line. I was expecting more out of the f1 aspect of the series and the Mafia felt almost like a side plot when it should have been the focus. The book was what I needed in the moment but I definitely was wanting more out of it.
Overall, this book was a 3.25 star for me. It covered all the fun microtropes in romance: f1, Mafia, and billionaire. I thought the build up between Cesare and Maddelina was great. The flashback of how they first met was cute and I think that's why their instalust connection made sense when we first meet them. The book felt short and a bit rushed outside of the romance plot line. I was expecting more out of the f1 aspect of the series and the Mafia felt almost like a side plot when it should have been the focus. The book was what I needed in the moment but I definitely was wanting more out of it.
July 3, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
As a massive F1 fan I really hoped I would be in love with this, but actually I think if you love F1 you might not enjoy it as much because it felt very unbelievable that a full time F1 champion would have time to be dealing with family mafia drama 🤣 on that note, I wish there was more actual drama. It all felt very he said/she said/threats until the last 5%. The ending was very predictable and it did annoy me the amount of times Romeo and Juliet were mentioned so it very very predictable unfortunately. As an F1 and mafia romance lover I requested this ARC because it sounded like my perfect book but I just spent a lot of reading time wanting more from the story.
As a massive F1 fan I really hoped I would be in love with this, but actually I think if you love F1 you might not enjoy it as much because it felt very unbelievable that a full time F1 champion would have time to be dealing with family mafia drama 🤣 on that note, I wish there was more actual drama. It all felt very he said/she said/threats until the last 5%. The ending was very predictable and it did annoy me the amount of times Romeo and Juliet were mentioned so it very very predictable unfortunately. As an F1 and mafia romance lover I requested this ARC because it sounded like my perfect book but I just spent a lot of reading time wanting more from the story.
July 8, 2025
So Much to be Found in These Pages!!
Cesare is the underboss of a Sicilian-American crime family. Maddelena Mancinelli is consigliere of her family’s assets and CEO of Furia Racing. Cesare races for his family. Arch enemies, family politics, traitors, a mix of innocence and siren, and dark sinister undercurrents.
The relationship is forbidden and scintillating. The action is fast-paced. The females are bargaining chips. A propensity for sleepwalking and talking provides a heightened danger.
Quite the page-turner. Will keep you glued to the page.
***** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book *****
Cesare is the underboss of a Sicilian-American crime family. Maddelena Mancinelli is consigliere of her family’s assets and CEO of Furia Racing. Cesare races for his family. Arch enemies, family politics, traitors, a mix of innocence and siren, and dark sinister undercurrents.
The relationship is forbidden and scintillating. The action is fast-paced. The females are bargaining chips. A propensity for sleepwalking and talking provides a heightened danger.
Quite the page-turner. Will keep you glued to the page.
***** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book *****
October 31, 2025
Zara Cox fuses the glitz of Formula One with the grit of the Mafia underworld and the result is pure, high-octane drama. Think Romeo & Juliet, but with roaring engines, loaded guns, and chemistry that could burn rubber.
What I Loved
* The Formula One x Mafia combo: I wasn’t sure how those two worlds would work together, but the blend felt fresh and clever. The F1 circuit added a thrilling, modern edge to the classic mob rivalry.
* Explosive chemistry: Cesare and Maddelena’s connection sizzles from their very first teenage kiss to their dangerous, adult entanglement. Their forbidden love felt real; equal parts lust, tension, and genuine emotion.
* Cesare’s character: A perfect balance of dominant, possessive, and deeply protective. His weakness, loving his family’s enemy, made him magnetic and human.
* High-stakes drama: The constant tension between racing rivalries, family betrayals, and deadly secrets kept me hooked. Every chapter raised the stakes.
* Writing & pacing: Sharp, fast-paced, and unapologetically sexy. The spice was hot but purposeful, enhancing the emotional intensity rather than overshadowing it.
* Series potential: The world-building and side characters set up the Mafia Rivals series beautifully. I can already tell there’s plenty more to uncover.
What Didn’t Quite Work for Me
* Character overload (at first): It took a little while to get my bearings with all the family names and connections.
* Familiar mafia beats: While the sports twist made it stand out, some of the mob family dynamics was still enjoyable, but occasionally predictable.
Final Thoughts
The Mastermind delivers everything you could want in a dark, forbidden romance—intensity, danger, and heat, all wrapped in sleek F1 glamour.
If you’re into forbidden love, family feuds, and morally gray characters who can’t resist each other, this one deserves a spot on your TBR. I’m already counting down to the next book in the Mafia Rivals series.
What I Loved
* The Formula One x Mafia combo: I wasn’t sure how those two worlds would work together, but the blend felt fresh and clever. The F1 circuit added a thrilling, modern edge to the classic mob rivalry.
* Explosive chemistry: Cesare and Maddelena’s connection sizzles from their very first teenage kiss to their dangerous, adult entanglement. Their forbidden love felt real; equal parts lust, tension, and genuine emotion.
* Cesare’s character: A perfect balance of dominant, possessive, and deeply protective. His weakness, loving his family’s enemy, made him magnetic and human.
* High-stakes drama: The constant tension between racing rivalries, family betrayals, and deadly secrets kept me hooked. Every chapter raised the stakes.
* Writing & pacing: Sharp, fast-paced, and unapologetically sexy. The spice was hot but purposeful, enhancing the emotional intensity rather than overshadowing it.
* Series potential: The world-building and side characters set up the Mafia Rivals series beautifully. I can already tell there’s plenty more to uncover.
What Didn’t Quite Work for Me
* Character overload (at first): It took a little while to get my bearings with all the family names and connections.
* Familiar mafia beats: While the sports twist made it stand out, some of the mob family dynamics was still enjoyable, but occasionally predictable.
Final Thoughts
The Mastermind delivers everything you could want in a dark, forbidden romance—intensity, danger, and heat, all wrapped in sleek F1 glamour.
If you’re into forbidden love, family feuds, and morally gray characters who can’t resist each other, this one deserves a spot on your TBR. I’m already counting down to the next book in the Mafia Rivals series.
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