Don't Say Mafia

The Wrong Made Men #1

by C.R. Jane

Jagger Thatcher's book. Blurb to come. Release date will be moved up.* Jagger Thatcher is a morally grey antihero who is obsessed with his girl and will do anything to keep her.

Don't Say Mafia is a mafia romance standalone from USA Today and International Bestselling Author C.R. Jane.

Genres: Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Romance, Dark, Audiobook, Anti Hero

521 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 18, 2026

About the author

I'm a wife, mother, and author! Writing has always been a passion for me, and publishing my first series is a dream come true. I drink too much caffeine, never sleep, and my imagination is always churning out ideas. Eva and her men have been in my head for awhile, and I'm so glad to finally take you with me on this journey!

Reviews

[Soft Nectarine ~]

MAFIAAAA?!!! Jagger?!

C.R Jane could lure me to my death with this one because I would blindly follow her ANYwhere 👏 👏

[Texa]

Edit - she’s not a v and there’s an om sex scene so at least that’s something

Self note: the book opens with the mmc in bed with ow, he falls asleep mid sex

[Amelia Blackmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Don’t Say Mafia
Author: C. R. Jane
Series: The Wrong Made Men, 1

Format: Edelweiss ebook
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV’s: Eden (FMC) & Jagger (MMC)

What to expect:
*Mafia dark romance
*Morally grey antihero
*Broken FMC

Safety:
One sex scene between MMC and OW, before he even knew the FMC existed. No other mentions of the MMC being with other women. One sex scene between FMC and OM. No other drama with OW/OM. No third act breakup. A lot of on page violence, kidnapping.

Review:
This author can never go wrong with her over the top MMC’s!! The minute that Jagger laid eyes on Eden he was done for, no one could ever separate him from his love after that moment. Is he over the top with his protective acts? Yes! Is it legal in any way? No! Do we love him anyway? Absolutely!!

Eden was broken and beat down from years of being taken advantage of by someone who claimed to love her. You will need to read the book to understand more of why she trusted and stayed with this person for so long. Eden truly deserved everything that Jagger was able to provide for her, I am so glad she didn’t fight him over his protectiveness.

The MMC of this book is the brother of the MMC from The Wrong Play, he is featured several times in this story. If you haven’t read The Wrong Player series I suggest starting there first.

The book is a lot darker than this author’s normal stories. This is a typical mafia romance with a lot of on page violence, kidnapping, murder, and more.

I cannot wait to read the rest of this series, the friend group was hilarious and so protective of each other. This series is going to be another amazing set of books from this author!!

[Lari]

HOLD MY PEARLS! MAFIA? I'M ON BOARD

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a good time all around, like all CR Jane books are. The men that CR writes are obsessive and possessive, just the way we like them and Jagger was no exception. This man tried not the be just like his brother but failed spectacularly and in a more unhinged way. Jagger takes one look at Eden and is like, she’s mine, even though she’s married when they first meet.

Eden has been in Vegas for years and is crumbling working two jobs and living in a run down apartment while her husband, Ryan, who isn’t doing much. One night, she works the high roller table at her casino job and locks eyes with none other than Jagger. The story unfolding afterwards is of a man possessed to make this woman his and Eden getting all the things she deserves.

I read this in a day because I could not stop laughing at how truly unhinged Jagger was and the vibes of the whole book just made me happy. The way CR writes, you’re like, yeah, makes total sense how he’s getting the girl because he’s obsessed and needs her to be happy. In order for her to be happy, she needs to be his.

The group of the Syndicate as whole is totally unhinged, and when you’re in the mafia, I feel like you have to be. This is not your typical mafia book though. This is a group of men who will make you laugh out loud from their utter nonsense and want to be friends with them. The way they just welcome Eden into the fold made me so happy because this girl literally had no one.

Thank you to CR Jane for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Tropes:
✨A possessive, obsessive antihero who only has eyes for one woman
✨Banter sharp enough to draw blood
✨The glittering, deadly world of the Vale Syndicate
✨Loyalty, family, and impossible choices
✨A red-flag love story with zero interest in playing it safe
✨Enough chemistry to burn Las Vegas to the ground

[lucialeelibros]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[Nancy Weiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️🎧

This is what I’m talking about when I say I want a Morally Black and seriously UNHINGED MMC!

I haven’t read a dark romance for a while that actually shocked and captivated me so much through my ear holes. This was so good! And this is Mafia - maybe I’m now a sucker for a mafia romance? Either way I need book two immediately.

Our FMC is married and currently bending over backwards to supply money for her household, one of her jobs is working in a casino as a waitress - her life is not great at all. Her husband doesn’t work or contribute anything. Our MMC is the head of a mafia crime gang, he’s super rich obviously but he also owns multiple businesses. One day he looks at her and goes, I want her. Then proceeds to be the most unhinged human being to ever exist. And I ATE. IT. UP.

This is such a fast paced plot and super easy to follow, it’s not dark dark but obviously there are dark themes so check triggers. I would say it’s similar to Bad Bishop - so If that’s your vibe then you need to read this!

The narrators were absolutely fantastic and it’s such a great and engaging audio. Very clearly distinct’s each and every character which I love. We had high stakes, and a rivalry with another gang, just everything about it was fantastic.

I would say my only complaint would be the depth of the narrative and very predictable in some ways but I devoured it none the less.

Thank you so much Podium Entertainment for the ALC. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[ashlee ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jagger + Eden

-dark romance
-boy obsessed
-rich x poor
-mr. steal your girl
-age gap
-stalker

we got ourselves another classic cr jane manipulative possessive man here ladiesssss!! & he's been vamped up to ANOTHER LEVELLLLL!!!

“𝘘𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨,” 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥. “𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘌𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳?”
𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥, 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘐’𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙪𝙥 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙬𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙚𝙙.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙚 𝙄’𝙙 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙖𝙜𝙤.
𝘈 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮. “𝘈𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵,” 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥, 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘵, “𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥.”

😌😏😈🤭

[Vera]

Omg, I just saw a sneak peak in The Wrong Catch and guys there are at least three more book we're gonna get with this series (I hope, fingers crossed) because there's Maddox who we see in the sneak peak and there's two other people name dropped like Cruz and Carl. Can't wait for this one ❤️

[Sam]

5 ⭐️/ 2 🌶️

RTC

[Mary Chang · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one started out with so much potential. The opening tugged at my heart and I was rooting for them! It was even entertaining with the humor sprinkled in regarding Jagger & his friends. And of course who doesn’t love a possessive, stalker-y MMC who chases after what he wants but the plot was lost to me after Jagger’s second attempt. What made it even harder for me to connect to was that Eden didn’t even fully take a step back to really self-evaluate. She literally went from one bad situation into the next without a thought so unfortunately this wasn’t the book for me.

However, I do think that although the book was a miss for me the narrators still did an amazing job on the duet narration. Sean Masters & Alexis Paige were both phenomenal which held my attention - otherwise, I would’ve must likely not finished the book.

Thank you so much to Podium for the ALC! 🫶🏻

[Sierrie]

SOOO hes really a Mafia!!! Can't wait for him and more of Jace

[Donna reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Was Not Prepared for the Jagger Thatcher Obsession!!

When I say Jagger Thatcher is your next unhinged, obsessive, possessive, morally grey, “touch her and I’ll bury you” dark mafia book boyfriend, I’m not making a recommendation…

I’m issuing a warning.

I went into Don’t Say Mafia ridiculously excited, but absolutely NOTHING could have prepared me for the absolute obsession this book would become. C.R. Jane didn’t just write a mafia romance…she unleashed pure, addictive chaos and I devoured every single glorious page.

Jagger Thatcher is walking, talking insanity in a tailored suit.

She’s married?
“That’s unfortunate…for him.”

She catches his eye?
Congratulations, Eden. You’ve just become the newest member of the Jagger Thatcher Possession Program. There are no applications, no interviews, and absolutely no opt-out clause.

This man has never heard the word boundaries a day in his life.

He doesn’t ask permission.

He doesn’t wait.

He doesn’t negotiate.

He simply decides…

“Mine.”

And from that moment on, absolutely everyone else is just an inconvenience standing in his way.

Completely irrational?

Absolutely.

Did I eat up every second of it?

WITHOUT QUESTION.

From the very first chapter I was completely consumed. Behind the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas lies a world built on blood, loyalty, violence and men who would burn the entire city to the ground for the people they love. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

Then there’s Eden.

I absolutely adored her.

Her story completely broke my heart. She escaped an abusive childhood alongside Ryan, the boy next door who understood exactly what she’d survived. She married him believing friendship and security would eventually become happiness. Instead, she worked tirelessly while Ryan drifted through life, living off her and giving her the bare minimum. Ryan may not have been evil, but he certainly wasn’t the partner Eden deserved.

Then Jagger walked into her life…

…and unknowingly she lit the fuse on the biggest explosion imaginable.

Because once Jagger Thatcher decides you’re his…

There is no escaping him.

The chemistry between Jagger and Eden was absolutely explosive, but what completely stole the show for me was their banter. These two had me smiling like an idiot. Their conversations were packed with razor-sharp wit, playful teasing, undeniable tension and the kind of electric back-and-forth that made me desperate for every scene they shared. Eden never became a pushover. She challenged Jagger, called him out, stood her ground and refused to let him bulldoze over her…and I LOVED that. Watching this powerful, completely unhinged man become even more obsessed every time she pushed back was ridiculously entertaining.

And the spice…

Sweet baby Jesus.

Let’s just say C.R. Jane didn’t turn up the heat…

She threw the thermostat into the fire. 🔥

But as obsessed as I became with Jagger and Eden, I was equally invested in Jagger’s inner circle.

Cruz, Lawson, Maddox, Gage, are absolute comedic gold together.

These men may be dangerous criminals, but put them in a room together and the roasting begins. The constant teasing, sarcastic remarks, brotherhood, loyalty, and complete inability to let anyone live anything down had me laughing out loud throughout the book. Their friendships made this world feel alive and now I desperately need every single one of their stories.

C.R. Jane absolutely knocked this one out of the park. Don’t Say Mafia is exhilarating, addictive, hilarious, emotional, wildly entertaining and completely impossible to put down. Every chapter left me wanting “just one more”…until suddenly it was two in the morning and I’d finished the entire book.

Don’t Say Mafia belongs at the very top of your TBR.

And Jagger Thatcher?

He didn’t just become one of my favourite dark romance book boyfriends…

The man kicked the door down, claimed the throne and dared anyone to argue with him.

[Jessie The Great · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, watch your triggers before reading this book. There are plenty of triggering plot points and many people end up in difficult situations that in real life would be awful. Let's remember that this is fiction and we don't actually want to be stalked and forced into a possessive relationship... I think.

They don't bone until 71% so hold on to your butts kids, this is a bit of a slow burn. Jagger really needed to take a page out literally any of "the Wrong" men on how to bag their ladies. As Parker stated to Matty, "Space is how relationships die, man. You're supposed to suffocate them -- with love." So what, she was married... Just a mild speed bump for these obsessed men. And boy did he take care of that. Anyway... On to this book. Jagger "Don't Say Mafia" Thatcher is probably a part of the mafia... or at least in this case they're a Syndicate. A syndicate that runs Vegas. We've gotten glimpses of our anti-hero in many of the The Wrong series'. Jagger is friendly with the golden boy - Lincoln. He's also Jace-Face's big and mysterious brother.

Eden is a girl from the trailer park who had promises made to her and found herself wanting. I am a bit heart broken for Ryan, because he is a product of his surroundings. Nature vs Nurture and all that. Was he gonna dig himself out and be better? Outlook not so good, but he really didn't get the chance to show us for himself. Eden is a hard worker down on her luck and holding up a lot of dead weight when she finds herself in the path of Jagger. And well, Jagger is single-minded about her, so buckle-up buttercups and enjoy the ride. I sure did.

As, previously mentioned this is a bit of a slow-burner. There isn't any cheating from our FMC, so Jagger had to find his way around the aforementioned 'dead weight'. Once he was out of the picture though, all bets were off. This book has it all, we have crime, we have spice, and - best of all - we have more group chats! We see plenty of chats between Jace and Jagger, just for giggles... As well as the unhinged conversation between Jagger and his lil' syndicate buddies. All very entertaining. Especially, when Jagger asks Jace - I hide under beds for fun - for advice. Classic.

Gawd, I enjoyed this read so much. C.R. Jane knocked it out of the park and set us up for a new series full of psychopaths. I will drop everything to read any of her upcoming releases. This lady knows how to write a story that is engaging and entertaining. She knows how to make them salacious and make me agree that sure, stalking and crime isn't that bad. I loved everything about this, I even forgot to care a bit about how the relationship ended between Ryan and Eden... Heck, Eden forgot... but let's be real, a man described like Jagger could make us forget a lot of things. Definitely, give this one a go when it's out, you won't regret it.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I received an ARC from the Author's team. The opinions I hold about it are my own.

[Anna Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️5 ARC Review

Holy psycho shitballs Batman, she’s reached new heights of unhinged!! 😂 The mind of C.R Jane is a fun place to be because I don’t think the woman has boundaries anymore and I am SAT FOR IT!!

Where do I even start?! I’ve seen people complaining that this opens with our hero Jagger mid sex with another woman. True? Yes. But fucking hilarious because he is nowhere near interested, it’s a one night stand and he falls asleep mid thrust 🤭 Plus, he’s not even met Eden yet, so calm down keyboard warriors 🙄

If you’ve read C.R Jane before, you’ll be familiar with her particular brand of unhinged men who like to, in various ways, de-house their love interests in favour of moving them into their homes. Yes, Jagger follows in their footsteps with this but MY GOD does he go one better by offing her hubby too! Married? Pah, not a problem, babe! 😂 To be fair, her husband was a useless lay about druggie so… I’m with Jagger on this one.

Is he everything I expected, hoped, and wanted him to be? Yes. And more! I loved the mystery surrounding him during the Wrong Player series, and his little bits of advice he offered always had me on the edge of my seat waiting for him. I was NOT disappointed. He is obsessed. More than obsessed. The man would do quite literally anything for her - which he more than proves in this book 😂 Psycho? Perhaps just a touch. But we don’t read dark romance for the fluffy kittens he’s storing, do we? We want red flags, black flags, fucking ‘be warned, enter at your own risk’ flags! This man has them in spades.

Eden, sweet little Eden. She’s not totally naive, but she is definitely not all there when it comes to noticing Jagger’s…. Extra curricular activities 🤭 She’s spent her whole life in fear. She’s been abused, promised the world and been failed by so many - her husband Ryan included. Who can blame her when this huge, gorgeous, brain chemistry altering man comes along and sparks life into her? A man who doesn’t just promise her things, but makes her feel safe, wanted and like she’s the only thing that matters to him. And then he delivers. She’s safe, she’s taken care of, she wants for nothing but not held down by his ego. Even if he does handcuff her and tell her she is not getting away!

I loved their story so much. And for once, the heroine didn’t find out the heinous crimes her beau did to get her! Hurrah! She’s still blissfully in the dark that her new hubby murdered her one just to have her. Isn’t that sweet?!

In all seriousness this is a dark romance lover’s catnip. Obsession, pitch black desire and even darker morals, brutality, ownership and twisted found family too. This series will be one to watch and dare I say, Jane’s finest heroes yet? Yes, I do, because this was SUBLIME.

[Brennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

How is this possibly my first C.R. Jane book? Well, glad I fixed this obvious omission and I will be reading a lot more of her books from now on since this book had all the things I was looking for - equal parts dark and thrilling and spicy and unexpectedly funny.
Eden has the heartbreakingly small life of someone in deep poverty. She works her two jobs, stresses about how to keep herself and her deadbeat husband fed and she sleeps. Rinse and repeat. No friends. No joy. Jagger lives in another world. One of penthouse apartments with private chefs, high roller gambling and working with a team of men who are more brothers than friends. He can find the fun in anything. Until he sees the gorgeous cocktail waitress who works in his casino and knows that he has to have her. About that, he is deadly serious.
If you aren’t careful, this book will give you whiplash. At first I found it disconcerting that Eden and Jagger’s POVs were written in such different tones, like I was reading a dark romance and romcom at the same time. But the genius of that writing comes through when you realize that all of that is intentional. Eden and Jagger live in such different worlds with such different experiences that of course their tones feel different, until they come together and everything falls in synch. Eden’s struggles feel so real yet she manages to maintain a sweetness and never seems as bitter as she has every right to be. Jagger is irreverent about everything but the most important things in his life - his friends and now Eden. Does he stalk her and do super questionable things to win her over? Sure he does. Yet, somehow it all seems perfectly justified and makes it all that more enjoyable to watch it play out. Oh and the spicy scenes in this book are feral, dirty brilliance.
This audiobook is recorded in Duet style narration by Alexis Paige and Sean Masters. Again, it was like listening to two different books at first. I’m used to Alexis’ bubbly, funny side and this was tougher and more grounded voice that was beautifully done. Sean Masters is at his unhinged and ruinous best, gleefully growling his way from torturing an enemy to playful banter between the friend group. But together they just clicked, their chemistry really made it feel like their bond was inevitable.
Thank you to Podium Entertainment and author C.R. Jane for the chance to listen to and review an advanced copy of this audio book.
I will absolute be continuing The Wrong Made Men series.

[BookishMarineMama03 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously CR Jane…. Don't Say Mafia is the first book in the Wrong Made Men series. This book was AMAZING!! It was everything and more! I probably drove you crazy with my continual messages throughout my read, but I couldn't help it! It's so freaking good! Yes, it's a DARK, violent, bloody mafia romance with an absolute unhinged, possessive, absolute stalker and obsessed man, BUT IT IS SO MUCH MORE than just that! It’s hilarious! The banter is chef's kiss! The emotions, I laughed, I cried, I felt everything. The amount of things I highlighted, the things these two said to each other. I can't express how beautifully written they were, so deep to the soul! And the spice, holy hot as hell there aren't enough words to describe the chemistry, the connection, the scenes, this man’s absolute filthy mouth. I could just go on and on! This is going down on my all time favorite list, infinity stars, YOU NEED THIS BOOK!

Jagger Thatcher. We had glimpses of him in the previous series. Jace’s brother! (Who was always my absolute favorite, but I think Jagger has taken that spot.) This man is seriously unhinged. But he is so much more. Loyal, so caring, so funny. Always one to never believe like Jace in the whole love at first sight and one look at Eden and he is done. Down bad. It’s freaking on! Eden, this girl, I resonated with so much of her. Taken so low by the stupidity of a man who never knew what he had, to the point you just become numb. You don't even realize there is so much more to life or that you deserve the world! And this girl deserves everything! She’s so deeply wounded to the core and so scared to believe she could find a soul deep love. And this man proves it, every freaking day just how much he adores her and never will let her go. He will protect not only her but her heart!

Add in getting to see Jace and so many others from past books PLUS the bonus of getting to know these men of the Vale Syndicate, these unhinged men, the found family. SO PERFECT!

I don't even know what else to say. I wish I could put every quote in this review. This book was everything, Infinity stars! And I can't wait for book two!

Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐♾️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

🌻Thank you C.R. Jane for sending me my arc!

[Bari (justbookedup) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've officially accepted that C.R. Jane has a gift for creating the most completely unhinged men imaginable & somehow making me fall in love with every single one of them.

After loving the Pucking Wrong series, I couldn't wait to see what she'd do in the dark mafia rom-com space, & Don't Say Mafia did not disappoint. It has all of the obsessive, over-the-top devotion I've come to expect from her heroes, but with higher stakes, a darker world, & a brand new group of chaotic men that I'm already obsessed with (please check TW).

When Jagger spots Eden working at his casino, he decides she's meant to be his. The only problem? She's already married. What follows is dark, hilarious, chaotic, & wildly entertaining. Jagger's obsession knows no bounds, & while his actions are objectively unhinged, C.R. Jane somehow makes you root for him every step of the way. I laughed far more than I expected, & the banter between Jagger & his crew perfectly balanced the darker moments.

Eden really grew on me throughout the story. Her naivety came from simply wanting to be loved, which made her choices easy to understand. Watching her find her confidence & step into her strength made her journey so satisfying. But Jagger completely stole this book for me. He's possessive, obsessive, absolutely feral, & somehow impossible not to love despite the mountain of red flags.

The audiobook elevated the entire experience. Sean Masters was born to voice men like Jagger, capturing every ounce of his obsessive, protective energy. Alexis Paige was equally phenomenal as Eden, bringing so much vulnerability & strength to her performance. Their duet narration was seamless, immersive, & made the chemistry even stronger.

I'm already counting down the days until the next book because this new crew completely stole the show. If C.R. Jane keeps giving me possessive, down-bad men who would burn the world for their women, I'll happily keep showing up.

🖤 Dark Mafia Rom-Com
💕 He Falls First & HARD
🩶 Morally Grey Anti-Hero
💋 Stalker
☠️ Touch Her and...
💍 Married FMC
🫶 Found Family
✌🏻 Dual POV in Duet Narration

[Cloudstanloves2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️ Stars

🌶️🌶️🌶️3/5 pepper

🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration


Don’t Say Mafia by C.R. Jane was one of my most anticipated reads of 2026, and it exceeded every single expectation I had. I went into it with high expectations and C.R. looked at my expectations, laughed, and launched them 5000 levels higher. She absolutely blew me away.

Jagger, I don’t even have words. I’ve loved every MMC C.R. has ever written, but I never imagined she’d take an MMC this far. Jagger goes there and then keeps going. I had to sit with my thoughts for days because I knew this was going to be an infinity read the moment I started, but it still managed to level me.

Eden was the perfect FMC for Jagger. What she’s endured makes Jagger’s brand of devotion, obsession, and intensity feel tailor made for her. One thing I really appreciated in this book is how much more background we get for the FMC. Instead of a quick prologue, we live in the roots of Jagger’s obsession with Eden, and it turns the story into a slow burn that pays off beautifully. When things heat up, they ignite. These two are electric together.

The audiobook narration was phenomenal. I screamed when Alexis Paige was announced the narrator for Eden, she’s one of my favorites and Sean Masters embodied Jagger flawlessly. This is absolutely going on both my re-listen and re-read lists.

If you’re a mafia romance lover, this is a must read. C.R. Jane weaves in familiar faces from her other worlds (no spoilers!), and I adore how her universes collide. The cast of characters was incredible, something she always excels at, and this book instantly became one of my top reads of the year.

A quick reminder that this is a dark romance, and it touches on heavier themes, so definitely check your trigger warnings before diving in.

And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Jagger may have officially dethroned Camden James as my all-time favorite C.R. Jane MMC. He even outpaced his own brother Jace, who was tied with Camden. Jagger booted them out of first place without hesitation.

I hope you give this one a try and love it as much as I do.

[Ayushi Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there's one thing this author always delivers, it's an MMC who is completely, unapologetically obsessed—and Jagger might be one of the most chaotic yet. The second he notices Eden, every decision he makes revolves around keeping her safe, claiming her, and giving her the life he believes she deserves. Morally questionable? Constantly. Entertaining? Absolutely.

Eden's journey was one of my favorite parts of the story. She's spent years trapped in a toxic marriage, carrying the weight of emotional manipulation while working herself to exhaustion just to survive. Watching her slowly realize that she deserved more than the life she'd accepted was incredibly satisfying. Her growth felt just as important as the romance, making every victory she earned feel worthwhile.

Jagger is exactly the kind of antihero fans of CR Jane will love—protective to an extreme, completely irrational when it comes to Eden, and never pretending to be a good guy. Somehow, despite every red flag he waves, it's impossible not to root for him because his devotion never wavers. His brand of love is intense, reckless, and undeniably addictive to read.

The mafia backdrop adds plenty of danger, but what surprised me most was how often I found myself laughing. The members of the Syndicate have an effortless chemistry that balances the darker moments with humor, sarcasm, and genuine loyalty. Their interactions made the found-family aspect of the story just as compelling as the romance itself.

This is definitely one of the author's darker books, with violence, murder, kidnapping, and other graphic mafia elements woven throughout the story. If you enjoy obsessive antiheroes, touch-her-and-die energy, morally gray heroes, and romances that fully embrace the chaos, this one is well worth picking up.

I'm already excited to see where the rest of this series goes because this group has so much personality, and I know each of their stories is going to be just as addictive.

Thank you to CR Jane for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thank you to CR Jane and Team for giving me another opportunity for an ARC Read!

It's obvious by now that anything written by CR Jane, I'll love and devour. It's no different here with Don't say mafia because I hate to say it but Jagger may have just dethroned Lincoln Daniels and I'm not mad about it - being a long time reader of CR's I can honestly only advise you to go into this reading the triggers.

Eden, I loved her. I believe that with everything she has been through in her life to end up working two jobs to survive with essentially a deadbeat husband close to repeating the cycle to the point of meeting Jagger in one of the most least expected ways was worth it as that built her into the person she ended up being and to see that she came out the end of it happy. Yes, she was this forbidden fruit in a way to Jagger and his persistence at the start didn't deter or waver her loyalty, which really just makes her so realistic in so many ways i couldn't even begin to tell you - but I understand her, promises begin to feel empty when they're not fulfilled.

Jagger, I'm obsessed with him. Slap me between him and Cruz and i'll be the happiest i've ever been. Craziness aside..Really getting to meet him in this one aside from Jace's book (The Wrong Play) has been a ride. Not only was he comedic gold, he was dangerous, protective and might I say little possessed in other words when it all came down to Eden. In better words.. unhinged and I was there for it because this man was down bad after convincing himself he was not Jace who had fallen head over heels first. Aside from all of that, he was loyal and never gave up despite unconventional ways, he now holds a special place in my brand of crazy.

Other than that? The entire read was easy and evenly paced to make it easy to follow along with equal parts stalking, banter and action with enough storyline before, in between and the end to any answer questions that may arise

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

JAGGER THATCHER DID NOT COME TO PLAY Y’ALL! Jagger has all the makings of an over the top possessive, obsessive, stälker. He is so hilariously in denial about how unhinged he truly is but he’s also so much more than that—he’s loyal to a fault, caring, and he’s got jokes. He oozes masculinity and power but women had never really left their mark on him. One look was all it took for Jagger to be so gone for Eden and in true CR Jane fashion, he manipulated every scenario to get her in his arms. All of it was questionable of course. He is the very definition of Mr. Steal Yo Girl and I’m not mad at it because Eden deserves someone who will go scorched earth for her. And scorched earth he did because no one takes away what’s his.

The banter in this was perfection, the chemistry was sizzling, and the mouth on that man was downright filthy. This book had me laughing one minute and questioning my sanity the next. Jagger and his friends are so hilariously unhinged and I loved every second of it. They will make you laugh out loud with all their nonsense and want to be a part of their found family. Also I will never look at cheesecake the same after this book so thank you for that CR Jane.

I was able to immersive read this thanks to Podium Entertainment and CR Jane and her team and it was truly the best. The narrators did such an amazing job bringing the story to life and it was so engaging and addictive. They both truly embodied the characters and I couldn’t have been happier.

I can’t wait for the next installment because Jagger has already set the bar high for his boy Cruz and I already know he’s an overachiever.

[Sentranced Jem · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way I squealed when this landed on my kindle!
If you've read C.R. Jane's The Wrong Player hockey romance series then you know Jagger Thacher. He is the brother of Jace Thatcher (The Wrong Player).
And from what we have seen and read, Jagger is dangerous, mysterious and a total badass….And THIS girl can officially confirmed that he is indeed all that and more.

Tropes:
🖤Mafia Romance
🖤Dark romance
🖤Morally Grey Possessive Antihero
🖤OTT obsessive possessive MMC

Jagger Thacher is unhinged and I’m not even mad about it. The fact that the FMC was already married? Just a minor inconvenience for Jagger. And the lengths this man goes to will blow your mind. And the dark romance girlie in you will just nod your head along like, “Yep, totally normal behavior.” 😂

Eden made me quite emotional to be honest. Her story with her husband Ryan is heartbreakingly realistic.
“Ryan had drained me. Not all at once. Not dramatically. It had happened slowly, over years—crisis after crisis, broken promise after broken promise, nights spent waiting for the sound of the door, wondering what version of him would walk through it. Sober. High. Angry. Apologetic.”
Watching her heal from years of emotional drain and broken promises made her journey incredibly impactful. She went through A LOT, which only makes Jagger’s fierce, protective devotion that much more satisfying. Everyone needs a Jagger in their lives to sweep them off their feet.

Don’t Say Mafia is one wild ride and I am here for it!

[Melina · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.R. Jane has officially become an auto-buy author for me. I’m completely obsessed with her Wrong Player series, so it was no surprise that I fell head over heels for Don’t Say Mafia. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read an advanced copy, I will absolutely be insufferable recommending this book to everyone!

I had the best time falling for Jagger and Eden. One of my favorite things about C.R. Jane’s books is the incredible depth she gives her characters. They feel so real that I wish I could be part of the Las Vegas Syndicate. Jagger and Eden’s chemistry was absolutely chef’s kiss. 🥵🥵🥵 The girl didn’t stand a chance staying in her marriage once Jagger set his eyes on her. I was constantly laughing, but I was also completely stressed because while Jagger is hilarious, he is also an absolute psycho. Maybe not “Ice and Milk” level of psycho, but he is definitely darker than his brother Jace. Let’s just say the No Drama Llamas could never!

I had to keep reminding myself I was reading a dark mafia romance because wow. Jagger does some truly unhinged things, and this book didn’t shy away from embracing the dark.

What I love most about these books is how the more serious moments are balanced with complete chaos and humor. The author doesn’t take herself too seriously, and it makes her books so fun to read. I was laughing one minute and holding my breath the next. I’m completely obsessed with her writing style, and I already cannot wait for Cruz’s book and Dark Horse!

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

[Samantha (rain.books.and.tea) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t Say Mafia
5⭐️ 4🌶️ 5🎧

My biggest complaint everytime I finish a CR Jane book is that I have to wait a totally reasonable amount of time for the her write the next book!

Because what do you mean I can’t immediately start another book where the MMC is FERAL for the FMC and will do anything and I mean ANYTHING to get her.

I have an unhealthy obsession with fictional men who would never give me the time of day. And I may as well be a fly on the wall for all the attention Jagger would give me.

Jagger is the definition of OTT. He falls hard and fast for Eden and won’t let a silly little thing like her being married get in his way. He is a parade of red flags willing to stalk, orchestrate and manipulate to get what he wants. And I loved almost every moment of it. There was one thing he did that I wish had played out differently but it didn’t stop me from loving the book.

I love CR’s books because they are SO over the top. I can just turn my brain off and go along for the ride. Who needs logic when you have billions and a pierced 🍆?

After all she has lived through Eded deserves someone like Jagger. Someone who is obsessed and will give her everything her heart desire.

I said that the worst part of this book is waiting for the next one and I mean it. The Syndicate is giving the Circle of Trust a run for their money with their friendship and shenanigans and I want more!

Thank you to CR Jane and Podium for this ALC.

[Glenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another masterfully written story by C.R. Jane, brought to life by Sean Masters as Jagger Thatcher and Alexis Paige as Eden Thorne.

I've been dying to learn more about Jagger ever since he was introduced as a side character, and even more after reading Jace's book, The Wrong Play. What can I say? This book combined two of my biggest obsessions: C.R. Jane's writing and a mafia romance. I should've known it was going to be perfection.

In Don't Say Mafia, we get the unhinged, morally gray MMC we've come to expect from C.R. Jane, paired with an FMC who immediately captures his attention. The story delivers the perfect balance of dark romance, humor, and emotional moments. What I wasn't expecting were the tears I ended up shedding along the way.

Sean Masters did an incredible job bringing Jagger to life, giving him the rugged, unhinged voice that fit his character perfectly. He also made each side character feel distinct, changing his tone and delivery enough that you could instantly tell who was speaking.

Alexis Paige was equally fantastic as Eden. She captured Eden's vulnerability beautifully while also letting her quiet strength shine through. She also did an amazing job voicing the side characters. There were several moments where I genuinely wondered if there was a full supporting cast because each voice felt so unique.

Overall, this audiobook exceeded all of my expectations. My only complaint? I wanted more Jagger. I seriously can't get enough of those Thatcher boys.

[Glenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another masterfully written story by C.R. Jane, brought to life by Sean Masters as Jagger Thatcher and Alexis Paige as Eden Thorne.

I've been dying to learn more about Jagger ever since he was introduced as a side character, and even more after reading Jace's book, The Wrong Play. What can I say? This book combined two of my biggest obsessions: C.R. Jane's writing and a mafia romance. I should've known it was going to be perfection.

In Don't Say Mafia, we get the unhinged, morally gray MMC we've come to expect from C.R. Jane, paired with an FMC who immediately captures his attention. The story delivers the perfect balance of dark romance, humor, and emotional moments. What I wasn't expecting were the tears I ended up shedding along the way.

Sean Masters did an incredible job bringing Jagger to life, giving him the rugged, unhinged voice that fit his character perfectly. He also made each side character feel distinct, changing his tone and delivery enough that you could instantly tell who was speaking.

Alexis Paige was equally fantastic as Eden. She captured Eden's vulnerability beautifully while also letting her quiet strength shine through. She also did an amazing job voicing the side characters. There were several moments where I genuinely wondered if there was a full supporting cast because each voice felt so unique.

Overall, this audiobook exceeded all of my expectations. My only complaint? I wanted more Jagger. I seriously can't get enough of those Thatcher boys.

[S.A. Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t Say Mafia by C.R. Jane

Growing up in a trailer park with an abusive step-father, Eden didn’t have the best start to life. After marrying the boy that promised to get her out of the trailer park, they move to Las Vegas, where life continues to drags them down.

Working two jobs while her husband battles addiction and basically lets her carry all the burden, Eden is asked to work the high roller room and there she meets Jagger Thatcher (brother to my favourite of all of J.R.’s MMCs, Jace) As soon as Jagger sees Eden he is obsessed and doesn’t let that pesky little ring on her finger stop him from pursuing her.

To Jagger, marriage isn’t a red light, it’s just a mild inconvenience. After doing some pitch black MMC things, Eden is free of her marriage and after doing a couple of more pitch black things, Jagger finally has Eden in his arms.

But Eden doesn’t really know what she’s gotten herself into and as the Vale Syndicate motto states, you don’t say mafia. Will Eden find out Jagger is made man? You’ll just have to read it and see.

It took a little bit for the spice to really get going but once it did… Phew 🥵

I am very intrigued by Jagger’s business partners, and can’t wait to read Cruz’s story. And I really can’t wait to meet the girl that ends up with Gage 😳

Although Ryan had his issues, I don’t think he deserved what happened to him. But hey, this is a dark mafia romance so…

I received an advance copy and this is my honest opinion.

[haley faust · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY, did Jagger not disappoint!! 🖤

I devoured this book. Jagger was obsessed with Eden the first night he met her in the high roller room and did WHATEVER was necessary to get her to be his. What’s a little murder & a lot of arson in the name of love?
•☠️🚙 • ☕️🔥• 🏚️🔥 •

Jagger was a serious and possessive man who operated his life mainly in black, but so incredibly witty and funny at other points that had me laughing out loud.

Eden was someone who never got a chance in life until she caught the attention of Jagger Thatcher. She was immediately his, and all of her problems seemingly disappeared. She trusted him, leaned on him, and loved him. She accepted him for who was as soon as she learned the truth.

The best thing about CR Jane books are the surrounding characters and this book was no different. Jace and Jagger’s texts had me CACKLING. References to the almighty Lincoln Daniel’s. Jagger’s family with Cruz, Maddox, Lawson and Gage were hilarious. Mrs. Bentley’s breakfast burritos. Blanche’s airline & brownies, chefs kiss.

This story was full of all of the elements (and more) of the best dark romance. It was perfect and Jagger is definitely my new favorite.

& of course, the spice was SPICY! 🌶️ 🥵🔥

I can’t wait for Cruz’s book Don’t Say I Do!

[Michelle Brashars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t Say Mafia is CR Jane’s first book in her new series The Wrong Made Men. Jagger Thatcher is part of the Vale Syndicate with 4 of his friends they practically own Las Vegas. Eden works in one of their casinos. She’s working two jobs to scrape by. She’s already married, but she’s in an unhappy marriage where her and her husband got out of a bad childhood together and basically clung to each other afterwards, but he keeps bringing her down. He’s unemployed and has many problems. Jagger sees Eden one night serving drinks in the high roller room and that’s basically it for him. He’s obsessed. He’s gotta have her, even when he finds out she’s married. Husbands are just obstacles. He will do absolutely anything to have her. Jagger is crazy 😂 and so are his friends. They’re super funny, but the only down side to reading a lot of CR Jane books is that sometimes the characters feel interchangeable. Sometimes Jagger feels like Jagger the mafia man, and other times it’s like all her football & hockey player characters pretending to be mafia men. The same humor, friendship dynamics, and the same texts, etc. If I hadn’t read her other books I would thoroughly enjoy it. It is a very entertaining book though and the spice is good.