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Loving Elise: An Enemies to Lovers Mafia Romance
Second Edition This edition of Loving Elise has been revised to remove all sexually explicit content and strong profanity. While the storyline remains the same as the original edition, new scenes have been added in place of the intimate content.
Elise
All I’ve ever wanted is a normal life.
But when you’re the only daughter of Gabriel Consoli, the country’s most notorious mafia boss, “normal” is faking your death and moving away with a false identity.
It worked for six years until he found me.
He stole my normalcy, my freedom, my life.
I thought he couldn’t possibly take anything else.
But now he wants my heart.
Joshua
The plan was use the girl to get the territory.
After all, Consoli wouldn’t have hidden his daughter away if she wasn’t a weakness worth extorting.
Everything was going perfectly until she pulled that stunt.
Now, she knows too much for me to simply give her back.
But the longer she’s here, the more sure I am.
Whether she likes it or not, Elise Consoli is mine.
Loving Elise is an American Mafia enemies-to-lovers romance. It is book one in the Love and Blood series, but can be read as a standalone.
This book features torture, mild language, and sexual assault themes that may be triggering or offensive to some readers. Recommended for 18+.
Elise
All I’ve ever wanted is a normal life.
But when you’re the only daughter of Gabriel Consoli, the country’s most notorious mafia boss, “normal” is faking your death and moving away with a false identity.
It worked for six years until he found me.
He stole my normalcy, my freedom, my life.
I thought he couldn’t possibly take anything else.
But now he wants my heart.
Joshua
The plan was use the girl to get the territory.
After all, Consoli wouldn’t have hidden his daughter away if she wasn’t a weakness worth extorting.
Everything was going perfectly until she pulled that stunt.
Now, she knows too much for me to simply give her back.
But the longer she’s here, the more sure I am.
Whether she likes it or not, Elise Consoli is mine.
Loving Elise is an American Mafia enemies-to-lovers romance. It is book one in the Love and Blood series, but can be read as a standalone.
This book features torture, mild language, and sexual assault themes that may be triggering or offensive to some readers. Recommended for 18+.
426 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 25, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 28, 2026
So first of all, I would like to say that I was extremely skeptical that this book would be a very clean read because I have tried so-called Christian mafia romances and they were not clean at all. I am a no spice/closed door reads girlie personally, and wasn’t sure what to expect of a book that had been cleaned up and released as a second edition.
I have to say that in general, I loved it. There are only three points that I disliked or felt uncomfortable with, but we’ll get to those in a moment. The book was very well written for the most part.
There was no explicit content and there weren’t really any closed door scenes either. The most we get is, he is in bed with her but it’s because she doesn’t sleep well because of nightmares and that is it. There is no grinding, mentioning of “members,” heavy petting, heavy making out, etc., etc. There are a couple of plot twists towards the end, one of which I was kind of expecting, and the other was a slight surprise.
The book does not shy away from violence which most of that did not bother me.
Going into the three things that I did not like… 1) so one thing I have noticed some reviewer mentioned is that they can’t get over the fact that Joshua basically tortured Elise and then a month later they are together, which I have to say that really bothers me as well. For context, he met up with her and the guys of having a date together and drugged her wine, she was unconscious for two days, and woke up for him to taze her and whack her with a switch. I mean, I can handle the whole enemies to lovers fighting thing but for me he was being excessively heavy handed and I did not like that. I know every woman is different but as for myself and lots of my female friends, I know that if we had that happen to us, we would not be wanting to get with the guy so quickly. 🤣🤣🤣 2) I was not a fan of so much cursing. There were no F bombs, but there was a lot of dxxmn and hxll dropping everywhere. 3) so there is no explicit content, but there is another scene later on where one of Joshua’s men is beating her up because she’d told Joshua about an obscene comment he made and Joshua’s response was to ship him off elsewhere. The man came back drunk and whipped Elise mercilessly, and was about to do worse to her (beyond grabbing at the front of her). Nothing else happened and I kind of have a sneaking suspicion that this may have been one of the scenes that was cleaned up, but it’s not really a scene that I would want to read again.
I have to say that in general, I loved it. There are only three points that I disliked or felt uncomfortable with, but we’ll get to those in a moment. The book was very well written for the most part.
There was no explicit content and there weren’t really any closed door scenes either. The most we get is, he is in bed with her but it’s because she doesn’t sleep well because of nightmares and that is it. There is no grinding, mentioning of “members,” heavy petting, heavy making out, etc., etc. There are a couple of plot twists towards the end, one of which I was kind of expecting, and the other was a slight surprise.
The book does not shy away from violence which most of that did not bother me.
Going into the three things that I did not like… 1) so one thing I have noticed some reviewer mentioned is that they can’t get over the fact that Joshua basically tortured Elise and then a month later they are together, which I have to say that really bothers me as well. For context, he met up with her and the guys of having a date together and drugged her wine, she was unconscious for two days, and woke up for him to taze her and whack her with a switch. I mean, I can handle the whole enemies to lovers fighting thing but for me he was being excessively heavy handed and I did not like that. I know every woman is different but as for myself and lots of my female friends, I know that if we had that happen to us, we would not be wanting to get with the guy so quickly. 🤣🤣🤣 2) I was not a fan of so much cursing. There were no F bombs, but there was a lot of dxxmn and hxll dropping everywhere. 3) so there is no explicit content, but there is another scene later on where one of Joshua’s men is beating her up because she’d told Joshua about an obscene comment he made and Joshua’s response was to ship him off elsewhere. The man came back drunk and whipped Elise mercilessly, and was about to do worse to her (beyond grabbing at the front of her). Nothing else happened and I kind of have a sneaking suspicion that this may have been one of the scenes that was cleaned up, but it’s not really a scene that I would want to read again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2025
Enemiessssss to Lovers, kidnapping, close door mafia book!!! Kick Butt MFC
A great mafia romance book that offer No profanity; light intimacy with kissing scene. I loved reading about a plot and not about someone’s private parts. Just a heads up though this is a very dark read. The MMC is hard to like for about 65% of the book and at times you want to be Elise’s get away driver, butttt he does redeem him self. I’d love to see more groveling and the MFC making him work for redemption a bit more. Beautifully written story with LOTS of action and plot.
We got a story about a INNOCENT young women, Elise, trying to just live a normal life in the bakery after leaving her mafia family 6 years ago. She meets Mr. Perfect. Who’s actually not!! Mafia Boss Joshua will do anything to expand his business including kidnapping, ransom and do horrible things to the rival mafia boss’ daughter. Joshua our MMC doesn’t realize that he’s actually fallin head over obsession for her on day one and it takes him a long time to finally understand but something happens and he is left to grovel at her footsteps after making a HUGE MISTAKE. Then once things start to really take off for their love story the floor falls out from under them again. Here is where we see just what it takes to make it as a female in the mafia world and how much one must go to protect what’s his.
Great side character as well. Please read!!
Innocent MFC (both in mafia and life)
Morally Grey maybe even slightly black MMC
Touch her and 💀
Rival Family’s
Kidnapping
Found family
Close-Door Romance
No Profanity
⚠️Attempted SA (not MMC) but you could hold him responsible
⛔️ Torture scene(s) of MFC by MMC and others.
‼️ torture, war, violence, body mutilation
A great mafia romance book that offer No profanity; light intimacy with kissing scene. I loved reading about a plot and not about someone’s private parts. Just a heads up though this is a very dark read. The MMC is hard to like for about 65% of the book and at times you want to be Elise’s get away driver, butttt he does redeem him self. I’d love to see more groveling and the MFC making him work for redemption a bit more. Beautifully written story with LOTS of action and plot.
We got a story about a INNOCENT young women, Elise, trying to just live a normal life in the bakery after leaving her mafia family 6 years ago. She meets Mr. Perfect. Who’s actually not!! Mafia Boss Joshua will do anything to expand his business including kidnapping, ransom and do horrible things to the rival mafia boss’ daughter. Joshua our MMC doesn’t realize that he’s actually fallin head over obsession for her on day one and it takes him a long time to finally understand but something happens and he is left to grovel at her footsteps after making a HUGE MISTAKE. Then once things start to really take off for their love story the floor falls out from under them again. Here is where we see just what it takes to make it as a female in the mafia world and how much one must go to protect what’s his.
Great side character as well. Please read!!
Innocent MFC (both in mafia and life)
Morally Grey maybe even slightly black MMC
Touch her and 💀
Rival Family’s
Kidnapping
Found family
Close-Door Romance
No Profanity
⚠️Attempted SA (not MMC) but you could hold him responsible
⛔️ Torture scene(s) of MFC by MMC and others.
‼️ torture, war, violence, body mutilation
March 24, 2026
This book just had me stunned! If you like closed-door romance but still a little bit of intense intimacy kissing this is for you! I was so excited to read this and the author did such a great job with the plot. Joshua and Elise’s relationship was actually so cute. The plot twists in this book had me SHOCKED and sitting stressed at the edge of my bed! At the start you may tend to hate Joshua but again that was only the reaction the author wants from readers but the way he starts to be softer and practically fall apart in Elise’s arms was giving clock it!! Surprisingly with my busy life full of course work, Elise and Joshua would appear in my thoughts on a day I hadn’t had time to read. I loved Elise’s confidence seeping through and her badass era!! Honestly the book made me forget the fact that it was a closed-door romance since everything was just blended in so nicely that I didn’t even pay attention! A rollercoaster full of emotions, but absolutely worth it. I loved the relationships that was gained besides Joshua and Elise for example Ryder and Elise’s relationship which had my heart the entire time! By the end of the book I was in tears after reading the fact that they both named their daughter after Joshua’s dead sister. This book contains certain trigger warnings that is touched upon but I think it makes the book realistic in the mafia world. 10/10 read⭐️!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2026
The first time a mafia book has no sex and yet every word and every line is worth the read
Usually mafia books will be full of sex or eroticism. It comes with the genre. But this is the first time such book is so clean and yet it has more substance than many mafia books I’ve read. This is the first time I found a book that can compete against the best books written by authors like Natasha Knight, JL Beck, Neva Altaj, and more. This is the first time such book does not even need a single sex to make the book engaging. Because all the drama, the ups and downs, and the actions. Gosh!!!! It’s like watching a 3-hour movie!!!! And I love how the author is not afraid of molding and destroying the relationship all over again before fixing it again. I love how the male lead has consistent personality, not instantly softened just because he loves her. I looooveeee it so much!!!!! This is the first time I read from this author and I hope her next books will be just as amazing if not better!!!!
Usually mafia books will be full of sex or eroticism. It comes with the genre. But this is the first time such book is so clean and yet it has more substance than many mafia books I’ve read. This is the first time I found a book that can compete against the best books written by authors like Natasha Knight, JL Beck, Neva Altaj, and more. This is the first time such book does not even need a single sex to make the book engaging. Because all the drama, the ups and downs, and the actions. Gosh!!!! It’s like watching a 3-hour movie!!!! And I love how the author is not afraid of molding and destroying the relationship all over again before fixing it again. I love how the male lead has consistent personality, not instantly softened just because he loves her. I looooveeee it so much!!!!! This is the first time I read from this author and I hope her next books will be just as amazing if not better!!!!
July 25, 2026
Elise - “no seré victima de Stockholm Syndrome”
Elise procediendo ser ser víctima de Stockholm Syndrome💀
Joshua es una terrible persona punto. Todo lo que le hizo a Elise es imperdonable. No me importa cuán bueno fue con ella una vez se dio cuenta de sus sentimientos.
Let’s be so for real Elise nunca tuvo una opinión en estar con él pq era quedarse con él y enamorarse o que él la matara si ella escapara.
Si el libro tuvo plot pero como quiera
No voy a negar que si hubo partes del libro que disfrute pero era por los otros personajes. Like necesito que entiendan eso.. yo ame todo el mundo en este libro menos los protagonistas.
Cuando Elise dijo “nunca me he sentido más libre hasta que Joshua me secuestro” yo dije “WRAP IT UP” pq girlie te enamoraste de la persona que te abusó y rapto por si se te olvidó ( a pesar que como más de tres personajes se lo tratan de decir)
Seré honesta yo solo leí este libro para leer el segundo so más vale que lo disfrute
Elise procediendo ser ser víctima de Stockholm Syndrome💀
Joshua es una terrible persona punto. Todo lo que le hizo a Elise es imperdonable. No me importa cuán bueno fue con ella una vez se dio cuenta de sus sentimientos.
Let’s be so for real Elise nunca tuvo una opinión en estar con él pq era quedarse con él y enamorarse o que él la matara si ella escapara.
Si el libro tuvo plot pero como quiera
No voy a negar que si hubo partes del libro que disfrute pero era por los otros personajes. Like necesito que entiendan eso.. yo ame todo el mundo en este libro menos los protagonistas.
Cuando Elise dijo “nunca me he sentido más libre hasta que Joshua me secuestro” yo dije “WRAP IT UP” pq girlie te enamoraste de la persona que te abusó y rapto por si se te olvidó ( a pesar que como más de tres personajes se lo tratan de decir)
Seré honesta yo solo leí este libro para leer el segundo so más vale que lo disfrute
July 19, 2026
No Spice Mafia Romance
When I read that the author made this second edition to be no-spice and less language I was really excited to try it.
The writing is great! I liked the characters and enjoyed the story.
•There is no on page intimacy - make outs are intense but not very physically descriptive. Intimacy happens between a non-married couple - off page reader is not present.
•There is still cursing - no deity or F word. Other words are ‘peppered’ through out but not abundant.
•Violence - was a lot for me as a reader that doesn’t read a ton of violent type books (mostly rom-com and cozy reads for me) and definitely what you’d expect in a mafia story. There is a SA scene to be aware of as well.
Overall - still a bit much for me as a lightweight reader but I love that the author scaled it back and support that effort 100%!
When I read that the author made this second edition to be no-spice and less language I was really excited to try it.
The writing is great! I liked the characters and enjoyed the story.
•There is no on page intimacy - make outs are intense but not very physically descriptive. Intimacy happens between a non-married couple - off page reader is not present.
•There is still cursing - no deity or F word. Other words are ‘peppered’ through out but not abundant.
•Violence - was a lot for me as a reader that doesn’t read a ton of violent type books (mostly rom-com and cozy reads for me) and definitely what you’d expect in a mafia story. There is a SA scene to be aware of as well.
Overall - still a bit much for me as a lightweight reader but I love that the author scaled it back and support that effort 100%!
July 31, 2026
It's really hard to find a mafia romance that hits the key points that make it a mafia romance without the language and spice, but this updated edition does just that.
Joshua is the morally gray mafia boss who kidnaps Elise with the intent of using her as leverage to get what he wants from her father.
He isn't always the nicest to Elise--he did kidnap her after all--but he sees the strength in her that others have overlooked.
Elise starts as an innocent, naive FMC, but by the end she finds her inner strength and proves she's as fierce as any other capo, while maintaining those qualities that make you like her.
I enjoyed the twists and the overall story. I do recommend reading the trigger warnings.
Joshua is the morally gray mafia boss who kidnaps Elise with the intent of using her as leverage to get what he wants from her father.
He isn't always the nicest to Elise--he did kidnap her after all--but he sees the strength in her that others have overlooked.
Elise starts as an innocent, naive FMC, but by the end she finds her inner strength and proves she's as fierce as any other capo, while maintaining those qualities that make you like her.
I enjoyed the twists and the overall story. I do recommend reading the trigger warnings.
Did Not Finish
September 9, 2026DNF @40%
spoilers below
Honestly, the first seven chapters were kind of hard for me to get through. I didn’t like the fact that the MMC did the torturing to the FMC but I thought with the high ratings that the man would’ve been on his knees after that. But no, he literally lets his pride get in the way and ugh it just irked me so much. The man literally deemed respect at every turn, but dude you literally kidnapped and toured her, did you think she was gonna be polite?! As for Elsie, I really couldn’t fathom the fact that she invited this man over after only knowing him for a day. Like what? Anyways, once that man said give me one month, I just know she’s gonna give in and then I’m gonna be mad all over again. Idk I may come back if I’m in the mode for a rage read.
spoilers below
Honestly, the first seven chapters were kind of hard for me to get through. I didn’t like the fact that the MMC did the torturing to the FMC but I thought with the high ratings that the man would’ve been on his knees after that. But no, he literally lets his pride get in the way and ugh it just irked me so much. The man literally deemed respect at every turn, but dude you literally kidnapped and toured her, did you think she was gonna be polite?! As for Elsie, I really couldn’t fathom the fact that she invited this man over after only knowing him for a day. Like what? Anyways, once that man said give me one month, I just know she’s gonna give in and then I’m gonna be mad all over again. Idk I may come back if I’m in the mode for a rage read.
September 15, 2025
I was so surprised by this book as it’s my first time coming across this author! I’m so grateful that she notes in the book that this is a second edition and with that it becomes a closed door mafia romance book! There are some seriously hard adult themes featured but there are also moments of empathy, sadness and frustration and a few laughs! Loved the main characters and most of the supporting characters. The book was paced perfectly for me, enough drama and enough depth to keep me hooked. I’m off to read book 2 & 3 now!
March 27, 2026
tried to like it
I simply could NOT get over that this man literally tortured her. I love mafia romance and enemies to lovers but that just took it too far for me. He took her planning to torture and kill her. Used a stun gun and switch on her, let her starve, broken and bleeding for days. Strung her back up by her arms the second he thought she ‘disrespected him’. Idk how you just love him a month later. Not for me.
I simply could NOT get over that this man literally tortured her. I love mafia romance and enemies to lovers but that just took it too far for me. He took her planning to torture and kill her. Used a stun gun and switch on her, let her starve, broken and bleeding for days. Strung her back up by her arms the second he thought she ‘disrespected him’. Idk how you just love him a month later. Not for me.
July 18, 2026
This was intense! From the very first page you're thrust into a high stakes mafia world. The author had multiple twists and turns I didn't see coming so it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat.
What I appreciated most though was the author's personal note about her faith journey leading her to change the content of this series. It was clean, with mild language, which is something that couldn't have been said about the first edition. So for that reason, I'll definitely read more by her!
What I appreciated most though was the author's personal note about her faith journey leading her to change the content of this series. It was clean, with mild language, which is something that couldn't have been said about the first edition. So for that reason, I'll definitely read more by her!
January 21, 2026
2.5 stars. This was not a bad book by any means, just didn’t do anything for me personally. It felt repetitive to other mafia/kidnap stories, the plot dragged a bit in the middle, and the MCs fell a bit flat.
April 19, 2026
Brought here by her dad on TIKTOK! (Congrats on your new baby)
I loved the characters and the romance. It wasn't just your usual mafia romance with a weak fmc and over the top mmc. They actually had depth and were relatable. Definitely going to read more of her books!
I loved the characters and the romance. It wasn't just your usual mafia romance with a weak fmc and over the top mmc. They actually had depth and were relatable. Definitely going to read more of her books!
May 10, 2026
I love Josh and Ellie
This book was everything I wanted and more In a dark romance, I never thought I could go without the explicit scenes,but this book has definitely proven me wrong!! I’m so excited for book 2!!
This book was everything I wanted and more In a dark romance, I never thought I could go without the explicit scenes,but this book has definitely proven me wrong!! I’m so excited for book 2!!
July 1, 2026
This was a great enemies to lovers mafia romance. Lots of suspense and action throughout the book. I appreciated the tension between the main characters and the closed door romance. I look forward to the next book!
December 21, 2025
The chef's kiss
What an amazing story! There are some triggers but totally worth it to get to the happy ending. I could not stop turning pages from the moment I started reading.
What an amazing story! There are some triggers but totally worth it to get to the happy ending. I could not stop turning pages from the moment I started reading.
January 22, 2026
Chamo, este libro era plot-twist tras plot-twist, me dejó el cerebro 🤯.
February 10, 2026
I could not put this down! Closed door, enemies to lovers, mafia romance that had me gasping and laughing and feeling all the feelings. I can’t wait to read the next one in this series!
February 15, 2026
amazing
Loved this! Great story great characters love the story and writing! I laughed, i cried, it was fun and great!
Loved this! Great story great characters love the story and writing! I laughed, i cried, it was fun and great!
March 14, 2026
This book had so many twists and turns. I really enjoyed Joshua and Elise’s story and couldn’t put it down. Four stars
March 30, 2026
Not a fan of glorifying criminals, especially the mafia. I didn't realize it was a mafia story until a ways into the book.
May 8, 2026
Curious Elise always get into trouble
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews