Butterflies & Bones

by Whitnay Edes

Mafia
Plus Size FMC
Arranged Marriage
Signed Contracts
Opposites Attract
Dark Romance

Welcome to the Luciano Family.

Life is simple for a teenage girl...right?
Lies.
Nothing about being the daughter of a Mafia Don is easy, especially after he dies. Bubbly attitude, pink dresses, a skeleton in the closet, and the threat of a monster looming over, what could go wrong?

I have until graduation to make my life my own, so when three guys offer me the deal of a century, I have to take it. But I can't be the one to ruin their lives but I can't be his. Little did I know that they'd be more than my salvation.
The monster of my nightmares brings my world crashing down and I'm no longer scared of him and what he could do. I'm terrified that I'll loose what they've given me.

When things start falling apart will I be able to keep them safe?

Kindle Edition

Published August 29, 2025

Reviews

[Chelsea Hackert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this why choose mafia! It was one of the best why choose books I have read to date. Whitnay out did herself with this book! Ansley Luciano is the mafia bosses daughter, he currently is suffering from cancer. He has told his daughter that she has until high school graduation to find a suitor to marry and that will obey her so she can run the famly, if she doesnt find someone by graduation, she becomes his current enforces and he just wants to use her body. The first guy she tried ended up killed, so he didnt make the cut. Then Ross, Blake, and Titus make her an unbelievable deal. She gets the 3 of them and they all get her, and they will be her suitors so she will not have to marry Dawson. Little did Ansley and the guys know that Dawson and the Lucianos house guy, Charles, had made an alliance. At the meeting where Ansley and the guys signed the consort contract, Charles had switched it with one Dawson had provided, stating that Ansley belonged to him, not the other boys. Ansley finds out who all went behind her back to side with Dawson after he sped up her fathers death, and killed everyone that had sided with Dawson, including Dawson and Charles.

[Dalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read many standout "why choose" novels, but this one surpasses them all. What I loved most was the emotional tension—the pull of forbidden love, the lingering shadows of past traumas, and the clash between survival and desire. The romance is fierce, the stakes are relentless, and every chapter teeters between innocence and destruction.

Ansley Luciano, daughter of a powerful mafia boss, is battling cancer. Her father gives her until graduation to find a man who will respect and obey her—or else she'll be forced to marry Dawson, his brutal enforcer, who sees her only as a tool. After her first choice is murdered, Ansley turns to Titus, Blake, and Ross—men who know her, and whom she trusts. Together, they strike a deal to protect her future. But behind the scenes, Dawson and the family’s right-hand man, Charles, conspire against her, secretly altering the contract to claim her for Dawson. When Dawson hastens her father's death, Ansley uncovers the betrayal—and takes ruthless revenge on everyone who stood against her.

[Angela Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first page, Butterflies & Bones gripped me with its mix of softness and danger. Whitnay Edes knows how to write heroines who are equal parts vulnerable and strong, and this book proves it. The main character might love pink dresses and bubbly smiles, but her world is anything but light. Being the daughter of a mafia Don comes with shadows, secrets, and scars—and Whitnay paints those contrasts beautifully.

What I loved most is the emotional push and pull: the temptation of forbidden love, the haunting presence of past monsters, and the way survival and desire collide. The romance is intense, the stakes are high, and every chapter feels like a tug between innocence and ruin.

If you love mafia romance with heart, danger, and a heroine who refuses to break even when her world does, Butterflies & Bones is one you’ll want on your shelf.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — dark, romantic, and unforgettable.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butterflies and Bones is a mafia series.It's a fast pace full of pain, action and revenge. Twists you're not going to see coming. It's about Mr Luciano the Don having cancer and his right hand man Dawson wanting to kill him to take his place. Ashley is named the new Queen of the family. She's only 17 but with her love for pink dresses and fighting spirit her father taught her how to defend herself. Her high school friends Titus, Ross n Blake have been in love with Ashley for years have agreed to be her suitors for marriage. Dawson the enforce is enraged he gets the paperwork changed for on her 18th birthday she becames his. Ashley is blood thirsty to going on a killing spree to weed out those who have betrayed her father and her. She's heart broken when she finds out someone she regards as family has betrayed her. This is a must read let's hope Whitnay carries on with the series it's going to be a hit.

[Stacey Foss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book truly shows us what you see on the outside is not always what the person's true self is. Ansley is all pink, sunshine and happiness but underneath she is ruthless, unhinged and may just have some secrets in her closet. Ross, Titus and Blake have all had their eyes on Ansley but Ross was the one who has been vocal about his obsession. When it looks like someone else is moving in they decide to take some action. I loved how determined and mindful all three of them were of her position and showed her their devotion and strength by standing by her side but also showing her she can be soft and vulnerable with them. The story was fast paced and gave us suspense, mystery, twists you don't see coming and steam that was on fire. I was given this book as an ARC for my honest review.

[Jonnica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ansley is a different kind of women but I was hear for it all. Ansley was in her senior year of high school and she was the happy go lucky bubblie girl she always had a smile on her face. What you didn't see was how she truly was at home the mafia queen to be but she had to find her man in order to take the crown. She not only found herself one but she found herself three. She went through so much taking her rightful place as queen because people wanted to take that spot from her. It was a good why choose romance!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down!
It’s a quick, fun read with more depth than I expected! I went in without reading the blurb so was a bit nervous about it at first. However, I really did like it a lot! Each of the characters were well thought out, had their own unique style and personality-which I loved. The plot was easy, but the quirkiness of the FMC was fantastic. I love that she knows herself and her needs. Spicy but tasteful. I liked that each relationship is independent and that the MMCs are best friends. Loved the mention of characters from Whitnay’s other books!

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a wild ride! steamy, dark, mafia story
Ansley appears as a sweet and innocent girl. but she's anything but. and Ross Titus, and Blake, all have the hots for her. what they don't know is she's a part of a mafia family and needs to find a guy and get married otherwise she ends up stuck with a guy who only wants what her family has.
this book pulls you in right from the beginning. Ansley is a great character. she's a certain person for certain people and someone else to others.
I love the darkness that comes with this story.
very well done.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wild ride Ansley Blake Ross and Titus have been on and boy oh boy do they love it! But do you want to know who really stole the show..... FRED... yes Fred is the best character. Hands down it's a top-tier 5-star read for me. Spice plot and bubbly pink dresses what more could you ask for? oh wait I forgot 3 absolutely deliciously devoted men... I mean you should check triggers i guess if you have those...

[Jordan Fiest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Butterflies and Bones is a why choose romance.

Ansley is a very interesting character. As the story started I thought she was going to act a certain way, just to be thrown a curve ball and it be revealed she isn't anything like she portrays herself as. She really gives the guys a run for their money. But none of them were willing to be parted from her and needed to be apart of her life in any way they could be. By the end of this we see her for the Queen she truly is.

[Haley Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a 10/10! The plot was NOT lacking in this book! Ansley (FMC) is a total badass who finds herself in a difficult situation. The MMCs absolutely love her & everything she’s about (even her bestie in the closet😂) the twist at the end definitely got me though.. I wasn’t expecting it at all! I will say spice was more of a 3.5/5. Ultimately if you want a good beginner dark romance book with a good story line.. this is it!

[GKP2460 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Butterflies And Bones is my first read by this author and it's quite an intense, intriguing read. These characters are something else to say the least and Ansley is fierce. She's unhinged and loves every second of it and so does her men. It's definitely an interesting intro to this new to me author.

[Tianna C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as an ARC and it is my first book from this author. It is a why choose/reverse haram mafia romance with a plus sized fmc. I thought the storyline was intriguing and the characters definitely had their moments. I really enjoyed that SHE was the mafia leader instead of one of the men, definitely a change of pace from the types of mafia romances I usually see.

[Aussie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes Please for plus size FMC ! i was instant hooked to the why choose mafia romance. The emotional tension was so good! I adore the characters especially the boys Titus, Blake, and Ross. Cant wait see where Whitnay goes

[Delilah Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing work I loved everything about it the characters were amazing and the plot was really good i enjoyed this book very much

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!!!! Whitnay had me hooked from the first word. This book was so gut wrenchingly good and I never saw the twists and turns coming. So worth the read.

[C Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty easy book to read quickly. It was a fun read, a little stabby, a little smutty. A why choose romance. Story line moves really quickly and is a little all over the place.

[Trish Bannister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced, dark and steamy Mafia story!

Butterflies and Bones is a thrilling read that will pull you in from the very first page! The story follows Ansley, a sweet but secretive woman who has captured the attention of three men—Blake, Ross, and Titus. For years, they've harbored feelings for her, unaware of the dark secrets she keeps hidden. Whitnay wove a tale that takes us through the dark and dangerous world of Ansley's life, where tragedy and passion couple with the mafia underworld. Can these 3 men can handle who she is and what's to come?? This book is a true roller coaster, culminating in the rise of a queen.