Empire of Seduction: A Dark Italian Mafia Romance

New York State of Mafia #2

by Mila Finelli

Maggie

I’ve made a terrible mistake.

I just needed a small break from running the family winery with my brother, a few days of fun for myself.

So I went on a weekend trip and slept with a gorgeous stranger. Happens all the time, no big deal.

Except now I learn this stranger is a mob boss.

And worse, this mob boss has won my family's winery from my brother in a poker game.

This can’t be happening. I won’t allow it.

Vito D’Agostino may be smart and powerful and super hot, but he’s no match for me.



Vito

When I met Maggie Fiorentino I thought she was cute. A woman up for anything, no strings attached. We didn’t even exchange more than our first names during our one and only night together.

I certainly never planned to see her again.

But fate has thrown me into her path once more, our futures destined to be entwined.

I want her winery. And I want her.

One thing to know about me? I always get what I want.

Genres: Mafia Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Dark Romance, Forced Proximity, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

366 pages, Paperback

Published June 25, 2025

About the author

Mila finally decided to write the filthy mafia kings she's been dreaming about for years.

She's addicted to coffee, travel and books with bad men in them.

Newsletter: bit.ly/mila_newsletter
IG: instagram.com/mila_finelli_author
FB: facebook.com/milafinelliauthor/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mila-...

Reviews

[Soft Nectarine ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

He gave her the best sex of her life…and then stole her business. Delicious mafia romance feat. cum-eating mafioso & a feisty vineyard owner!

✨🍷🍇🖤🍇🍷✨

“Let me have you once more. I’m salivating for you, bella.”

Maggie is a young & fiercely independent vineyard owner…well part-owner since her idiot brother gambled it away to her sexy Italian one night stand. She is PISSED & takes it all out on the new owner Vito until he makes her melt for him.

I really enjoyed this fiery dynamic! Vito is a Don & no one ever denies him but Maggie will be screaming at him with her entire chest and he’ll just laugh it off. He LOVES MAKING HER MELT FOR HIM and starts craving her sweet side!

🍇 she is a submissive in bed but a testy contrarian in the vineyard

🍇 he loves eating…EATING & DEVOURING

🍇 “We would fight and fuck and laugh together until I took my last breath, and I would lay the world at her feet.”

🍇 Italian speaking mmc that smokes (why hot if unhealthy??)

🍇 he cums inside her & takes a picture *excuse me*

While this is a mafia romance it wasn’t too dark! I didn’t even think Vito was that bad….until he got OBSESSED. He couldn’t get enough of Maggie and the smut was intense! 🍆 Dangerously bossy Vito can get it! He knew just how to handle Maggie and his protective vibes were immaculate.

I did think the AGE GAP was so under-utilized! They had a solid 12 years between them but it was never even mentioned *devastated tears* WHY miss this golden opportunity?!?


morally grey mmc
fierce fmc
enemies to lovers (lite)
she works with her hands
cum eating 👅
pleasure dom/sub dynamic (lite)
🍑🍑
small town
HEA

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wild ride! I enjoyed this book so much and it had me staying up way too late. I couldn't put it down until I got to the end. The characters, the chemistry, the dash of humor... this book was the whole package.

Maggie was feisty as hell, and I honestly was almost put off by her a few times but, if I put myself in her situation, I can understand her much better. She works SO hard to keep the family vineyard above water and her brother just goes and fucks it all up? The AUDACITY of that clown, though I did come to love him.

Vito, well, he was everything you'd expect. Commanding, sexy, high-handed, and stubborn. He's also Enzo's brother, which explains a lot. He sweeps in and has a plan for dominating Maggie's family business, but he is NOT expecting the type of defiance and resistance that she puts forth. Nor does he expect how hot he gets for her when she challenges him.

This was a wonderfully fun time and I enjoyed it so much! I can't wait for what comes next in this series.

4.5 Stars
4 on the spice scale

CW: gambling addiction, violence, gore,, drugs, discussion of parental death

*Thank you to the author for an ARC of this title.*

[Carla]

DNF 14%.
Boring…
Unfortunately

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two stubborn heads were seriously hot asf together and I am curious on the other siblings stories especially Massimo, Paloma, and Mikey🙂‍↕️

[Jody Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen, if Maggie has a million fans know that I am one of them, and if she has no fans know that I am dead. I loved her so much. Particularly at the beginning of the book, when she picks up a guy in the bar and afterwards is all, ok thanks for the fun time, see ya! While he is all, ummmm, no stay, let's do it again, and then afterwards when she's all, is this revenge because I left before you woke up? BOSS MOVES. But it was her reaction to something he wore, mafia don or no, that made me fall in love. Oh yeah the guy. Its Vito! Noted supporter of French artists and maritime navigation expert Vito. Serious, project oriented, planner Vito. Madman Enzo's second who is running Toronto now Vito.

Maggie and Vito meet again when it turns out her brother gambled their family winery in a card game with Vito and lost. Sparks, of course, fly. But neither of them "does" relationships or a second bite at the apple (sidebar, I don't love it when a character's whole worldview on romance is shaped by a HS-era first, and we get a double dose here), so no worries there, even if Vito "for some reason [...] felt off kilter, out of my element." On her part, Maggie is too mad at Vito for winning the winery (and yet quickly forgives her brother who actually BET THEIR LEGACY IN A CARD GAME fairly quickly) to act on the urges she feels around him.

Naturally of course they do act on their mutual attraction, and per Finelli's praxis it is scaldingly hot, repeatedly. Poor dumb Vito keeps referring to the short term, convenient forced proximity of their relationship and then wondering that "Something happened in the last few minutes, something to upset her. I didn't know what." Although to be fair she went from regularly insisting he leave asap to hating the idea. He loves that she doesn't care about his money or name or power (and yet of course like a good Finelli hero wants that feisty side of hers to turn into submission on the regular), and she loves him despite his money and name and power.

Finelli uses all her considerable craft to show the ways their worlds don't mesh, the expected mutual keeping-to-the-script of insisting its casual while both wanting more, but also how Maggie is out-grouped when he's speaking Italian with his siblings, "he was in good hands. I'm not needed. He doesn't need me. I couldn't even understand what they were saying." And how she chafes at being kept in the dark for her own protection. Vito struggles with being a transitional figure, in that liminal space between the way his father's generation protected women and treated them according to roles, and the leaders of his own generation, who have wives with their own lives and have found partnership within the constraints of their work.

I love how Finelli threads the needle with this transitional generation of her characters, and how they are in a lot of ways both tradition-bound and also feeling out new boundaries and limitations as they fall for these American women who don't fit into the mafia wife constraints of the "old country." I think it's one of the most interesting aspects of her moving the action of this new series to North America, and a way to keep the mafia genre fresh. The interplay of Fausto (arguably of the previous generation) so firmly ensconced in Italy with his traditional wife Frankie, and with Enzo, Vito, Giacomo and the others from the current generation is a great synecdoche of this generational shift at large.

If you are looking for a fiery hot romance, with the intelligence and emotion that Finelli brings to all her writing then this is the book for you. Like all her mafia books, these characters are VERY hands on with their work on page (Vito noticing Maggie has callouses, "I sometimes worked with my hands, too.") so prepare to do a little skimming if that's not your thing.

Thank you to Mila Finelli for the arc.

[Christi (christireadsalot) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Empire of Seduction is the 2nd book in the New York State of Mafia series, which is a small town meets mafia romance series! This is Maggie & Vito’s story, a mafia romance with age gap, hate to love vibes, a billionaire hero, and a one night stand that leads to more.

Maggie owns a winery with her brother, it’s been in their family for generations and she loves her work with the vines. The story kicks off with her finding out her brother lost their family winery in a poker game to Vito. And when Vito shows up she realizes he was the hot guy she had a one night stand with recently! Now they have to work together and the chemistry between them is still sizzling.

This was light and fun! We do get some mafia action but it’s set in this small town with the winery business as well. Lots of family dynamics with Maggie and her brother, as well as Vito and his siblings. His brother and sister show up to help out and we get mentions of their older brother, Enzo, who was the hero of Mafia Madman also by this author (in the Kings of Italy series). Lots of banter and spicy times, I liked how Maggie knew exactly what she wanted (and didn’t) and was not afraid to share. Vito is a billionaire and throws money around to fix the winery, spoil her, and help his siblings.

I received an ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own.

[Alina Kravets · Rating 4 out of 5]

Книга мені сподобалась.💎

Пара: Меггі & Віто


Тропи:
⋆ мафія
⋆ від ворогів до закоханих
⋆ різниця у віці (12 років)
⋆ вимушена близкість
⋆ One Night Stand
⋆ маленьке містечко

Історія починається з класичного, але завжди ефективного тропу — секс на одну ніч, який раптово перетворюється на щось більше. Меггі, сильна й рішуча власниця виноробні, зіштовхується з Віто — доном мафії, який не лише викрав її увагу на одну ніч, а й буквально відібрав її сімейний бізнес у покері. Їхня хімія відчувається з перших сторінок і тримає в напрузі до самого фіналу.

Що особливо сподобалось — це баланс між напруженням мафіозного світу й атмосферою маленького містечка. Аввторка майстерно поєднує жарти, родинну динаміку, емоції та пристрасть. Віто — харизматичний, багатий, владний, але при цьому більш стриманий, ніж його брат Енцо з попередньої книги, і тому навіть цікавіший у своїй внутрішній боротьбі.

Тут акож згадуються герої з попередньої серії «Королі Італії».

Трохи кінцівка не сподобалось, але в цілому ок, продовжу серію.

І звісно рекомендую до прочитання!❤️‍🔥

[Booked and Busy]

Another hit from Mila and perhaps my favorite since Mafia Mistress

[Syndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Empire of Seduction is not that dark mafia that is promised. But Miss Finelli story telling was enetertained enough that I enjoy this book very much.

The characters are lovely and the plot is ridicilous.
Still... it was a good book.

4 stars

[Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌟

Second book in the series and I enjoyed it.
Plot follows around Maggie and Vito. Maggie had one night stand with Vito and moves on until she learns her brother has lost their winery to Vito and Vito is a mob boss. Story picks up from there and plot unveils. Overall this was an enjoyable quick read with lesser mafia plot. it majorly revolves around Maggie trying to fix and save winery and Vito throwing money for it all. I liked both characters and their development, plot was decent as well.
overall I enjoyed it.

[GigiReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy mafia romance. Sounds bonkers? Well it is and it's fantastic! This is the second book in the offshoot series and stars none other than Enzo's (Mafia Madman) younger brother Vito. Vito isn't quite as bombastic in his unhingedness as Enzo but I didn't let him fool me because I knew the D'Agostino gene pool is made up of hot psychos and I wouldn't have it any other way. Vito and Maggie have a one night stand and later oops her brother lost the winery in a game of cards and to none other than her booty call. This was totally historical romance classic tropes but make it mafia and it really worked for me, Vito and Maggie were fire together, the chemistry leapt off the page. There were some Mafia shenanigans in an external plot but the book is a mostly character driven sexy af, close proximity rivals to lovers delight.
Highly recommend. It stands alone but it's better to read in order imo and the other books are just as good

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
🔥🔥🔥/5

Tropes:
One Night Stand
Close Proximity
Small Town
Age Gap

CW: violence and some gory scenes. Mentions of grief.

[jakira · Rating 2 out of 5]

i thought i would like this but i did not… this series is just not for me :/

[babygyalreadit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had everything I needed out of a mafia romance. Mila Finelli has never written a bad book!!

If you’re looking for something intense, angsty, spicy, funny & adventurous this is the book for you. Vito had me folded real fast that man, that man, that MF man

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heat Index: 8/10

—fuck first, feelings later

—gambling shenanigans

—Mr. "Cool Head" meets Miss "DGAF"

The Basics:

When mafia don Vito D'Agostino meets Maggie, it's lust at first sight. Which is why they have a sizzling one night stand. But what happens when they meet again... after Vito wins Maggie's family's winery off her brother? Oops!

The Review:

As always: I am very picky about my mafia romance novels. A lot of them are corny. A lot of them are basically torture porn. A lot of them are US-centric (in terms of the mafia in question). I don't like any of those things, and Mila Finelli is one of the few authors who understands how to avoid these pitfalls and wring all the glorious, fun, campy goodness out of this subgenre.

I've wanted Vito's book since Mafia Madman (which remains my favorite Mila book and an all-time favorite in general—you don't have to read it before this one, but trust me, you wanna). I have a feeling that the Ravazzanis are Mila's best beloveds (and trust me, I get it) but the D'Agostino family is where it's at for me. Vito is the cooler, calmer alternative to his admittedly whackadoodle brother Enzo, yet he's also the younger, less experienced don. He perhaps has the natural instincts for the role, but he's not very experienced, and I found this book to be a little heavier on the mafia shenanigans than its predecessor in the series. Which added to the fun.

You know what else added to the fun? Maggie. Mila writes very good heroines in general, but it's been a while since a heroine in her repertoire got my attention quite to the degree that Frankie, and especially GIA (coincidentally Enzo's heroine, for those not in the know) the way Maggie has. She's brash and take-charge, while hiding a warm and gooey center. And she's uniquelt suited for Vito. I don't always need a romance couple to feel obviously "suited"—I like the clash—but here, though they clashed on the surface, it was quickly clear to me that these two... got each other. Physically and emotionally. They felt like a match. Like people who would be friends as much as they were lovers.

Maybe against their better judgment.

So in the midst of this mafia drama, you have a bit of a romcom, a bit of "he falls first and he doesn't know what to do about it", a bit of "she has to deal with Feelings beyond Pants Feelings". It's super fun, and I had a great time with it.

There remains the small town element, which differentiates the New York State of Mafia series from the Kings of Italy series. As a small town hater, I am begrudgingly charmed. It shouldn't work, but somehow it does. Mila just knows what she's doing, and that's a huge differentiator that sets these books apart from a lot of churn and burn mafia romances. While they give you the tropes you want, those OTT moments, they're clearly executed by an experienced writer who knows how to balance fun with plot, emotions, and yes, character development.

GIMME MORE.

The Sex:

As usual, it's quite hot, and I'm always a huge fan of "fuck first, feelings later" books. Maggie and Vito's sexual chemistry is never in question (and, like Enzo and Gia, they bond over their mutual love of butt stuff; the D'Agostinos have their trademarks). This isn't what I'd call a kinky romance, but it definitely goes there in terms of detail.

The Conclusion:

Mila Finelli is where it's at when it comes to mafia romance, and while I loved the last book in this series, Empire of Temptation, I enjoyed this even more. What are you waiting for?

Thanks to Mila Finelli and her team for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kymmie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing Mila never fails to deliver? Her hot, overprotective mafia men and his feisty, sassy women who drive them absolutely nuts—in the best way! 😏

I was immediately hooked into Vito and Maggie‘s story. Their meet cute was so hot. I loved how Maggie took the initiative and rocked Vito’s world, literally 😜

Now sadly, their next encounter is because Maggie‘s brother lost their winery to Vito in a card game. But I believe in faith. They were meant to see each other again! Ruffle each other’s feathers in order to wrestle in the sheets. I don’t know how many times I wanted to take over Maggie spot. Like girl, I love being an independent baddie, but I’ll take that penthouse any day 😂

I love the cameo with Enzo and Fausto. It makes me wanna do a reread so badly. The ending was so cute. I am dying for Paloma and Massimo story. I know Mila’s gonna deliver 👏🏼

Thank you so much @mila_finelli_author for this ARC 🫶🏼

.
.
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#bookstagram #bookreview #mafiaromance #spicyreads #bookrecs

[Imromanticallyinvolved · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cozy, small-town, mafia romance —who would have thought these could be combined so perfectly? This is an enemies-to-lovers story where they clash on the surface but are actually perfect for each other deep down. Maggie is bold and full of life, always ready to stand up for herself and speak her mind. The competent, low-key Mafia boss, Vito, is charm personified, with a patient nature that balances Maggie's fiery spirit.

Maggie struggles to let go of her anger about her lost vineyard that was a symbol of her independence and dreams. It’s hard for her to see Vito as anything more than the man who took her vineyard away. Vito, on the other hand, must learn to let a past betrayal go and be more open to giving up the control he is used to, especially when it comes to keeping secrets. Maggie's boldness surprises Vito, and he begins to appreciate her daring spirit, which challenges him in ways he never anticipated. As they clash emotionally and mentally, their differences highlight their unique personalities, making for a compelling dynamic that hooked me from the start.

I loved watching Maggie and Vito redefine what love means for them. They challenge each other to grow, stepping outside their comfort zones while also learning the value of compromise. Their interactions are loaded with heated banter, palpable tension, and sizzling chemistry tempered by truly thoughtful gestures and care taking. Maggie's sass with class adds a delightful twist to their romance, while Vito’s calm demeanor provides a grounding balance. They learn that their strengths and weaknesses can blend together to create something beautiful. Even though he's on the receiving end of her frustrations, Vito respects her feelings and remains steadfast in his efforts to break down her barriers. Through promises he doesn’t break, (te lo prometto IYKYK) Maggie slowly builds trust in him and learns to embrace vulnerability.

This is a beautifully crafted, character-driven romance showing how two people from opposing backgrounds can find common ground and build a meaningful relationship. It’s an intricate dance between passion, resilience, and the delicate art of compromise in the pursuit of true love. The steamy scenes were intense and were really the only moments where Maggie, happily, let Vito take charge. Some darker elements of mafia business may unsettle some readers, but I highly recommend this book for its exceptional writing, character development, and the dynamics at play, along with delightful cameos from previous characters in the series. Mila Finelli once again proves that her ability to write mafia romances is unparalleled.

I was honored to receive an early copy from the author (Thank You!) All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Whitney Theresa June · Rating 5 out of 5]

I TOLD MYSELF I WASN'T GOING TO WRITE THIS POST IN ALL CAPS LIKE I AM SCREAMING AT YOU TO READ MAGGIE & VITO'S STORY! So just know that I really really want to.
*inhale* *exhale*
(Anyone else want to get a Mila Finelli mafioso bookish tattoo? Or is it just me?)

Tropes inc:
🍷Enemies-to-Lovers
🍷Morally Grey MMC
🍷He Falls First
🍷Age Gap
🍷Small Town

Maggie is everything. From the moment she yells at Luca in the previous novel I knew I was going to LOVE her as the FMC of her own story. And she did not disappoint. Girl, I would be punching people & then taking myself off for a quiet cry in a wine cellar after all that she went through. She knew what she wanted & did not wish to deviate from that plan even if it meant struggling to keep her family legacy alive. I love that she was both tough and yet allowed herself that momentary moment of softness/vulnerability once she and Vito spent more time together. I adored the dichotomy of who she was.

Did I think that a mafia boss could also be a secret cinnamon roll until Finelli wrote Vito? I did not. Did I absolutely love him even when he was pulling sh*t? I couldn't help myself I did. What did he want? A legacy of his own outside his family now that he was heading up the Toronto mafia syndicate. So when he saw an opportunity to take the vineyard, he did so and boy was he in for a surprise when his one night(casino)stand co-owned said casino. I swear I heard the bell of a boxing match everytime Vito & Maggie squared off at the beginning of the novel until that anger reignited the passion they had shared. And then we were all basically on spicy fire for the rest of the book. Which I was here for.

I have to mention how giddy I was when we got all the mafia don brother-in-laws under the same roof at the end of the novel. It just makes me want to reread the entire first series all over again. Thanks Meghan for buddy reading this one with me!

My apologies for my review being so chaotic. My brain is all a jumble from how much I loved Empire of Seduction and how much I want others to discover the phenomenal dark romance writing prowess of Mila Finelli!

*thank you to the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

[Kelli Matthews | SighingOurPleasure · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

This book is what happens when a one-night stand turns into a high-stakes turf war—with orgasms. Maggie just wanted a weekend away from the family winery. Instead, she seduces the man who wins said winery in a poker game with her brother. Cue chaos. And lust. And a lot of mutually assured destruction vibes, with great wine pairings.

Maggie is fierce, determined, and mad as hell—understandably! Her passion for the vineyard is real, and I absolutely bought into her emotional stakes. Vito is pure mafia boss energy: calculating, ruthless, and hot enough to make you forget all your good sense. Together? Off-the-charts chemistry. Easily the steamiest of Finelli’s books—there’s no waiting around; they hit the sheets (and other surfaces) early and often.

The worldbuilding ties beautifully into the Kings of Italy universe and the first New York State of Mafia. From the lush details of wine production to the violent edges of mafia power plays, everything here feels intense, indulgent, and just a little dangerous.

Come for the vineyard drama, stay for the smut. Finelli does not hold back. 🍷🔥💥

[Annette ~ wellstothebellsbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

STORY
🌟🌟🌟🌟

SPICE
🌶️ spicy

RECOMMEND
💳 yes

Empire of Seduction by Mila Finelli

E-ARC
Available Now on Kindle Unlimited.

I’m embarrassingly late posting my review.

If you haven’t read any of Mila Finelli’s books, you should.

Empire of Seduction is a true-to-form Mila Finelli mafia romance.

There’s angst, banter, some danger, a sexy Italian man, a stubborn but loyal woman, and spicy scenes.

It all starts with a one-night stand. Neither can forget their night, even though they choose to put it in their (not-so-distant) past. So it’s certainly a surprise when our leading man, Vito, stands in the tasting room of Maggie’s family winery — as its new owner.

Maggie is angry and distraught — rightfully so — that her brother, the co-owner of their family winery, gambled it away. Now she has to work for the man who happens to be the brother of “hot-tempered,” “violent,” “smart” mafiosos: Enzo D’Agostino.

I love that we meet the rest of the D’Agostino siblings, with Enzo cameos.

If you’re curious about the spice: Vito fucks Maggie against the wall of the winery, comes inside her, and then takes a picture of his cum running down her leg. 😮‍💨

Similar to the first book in Mila Finelli’s Empire of Temptation, New York State of Mafia series, Empire of Seduction is a must-read for mafia-lite romances — or for anyone wanting to dip their toes in the mafia romance world.

While Empire of Seduction is the second installment in Mila Finelli’s New York State of Mafia series, you can read it as a standalone; however, I recommend you read Luca and Valentina’s story first.

Happy Reading!!

Check the A Note at the beginning of the book — which is the content warning — if you're sensitive to certain content.

TROPES
🍇 Dark Mafia | 🍇 Enemies-to-Lovers | 🍇 Morally Grey MMC | 🍇 Badass FMC |🍇 One-Night Stand | 🍇 Age Gap | 🍇 Lots of Wine and Bad Choices

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn! Vito is soooo sexy!
Loved this book super fun. Loved how maggie wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself as well!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie and her brother Mikey have been operating their family's New York winery since their parents' untimely deaths. In an attempt to help the business pad its rapidly dwindling coffers, her brother puts everything on the line during an hour-long game of poker that had been comin' up Mikey right until the very end. Unfortunately for Maggie, Mikey has just lost Fiorentino Winery, her livelihood, to an Italian mafioso, Vito D'Agostino, who is looking to expand his "real estate portfolio". Ope! I almost forgot to mention said mafioso is also the man Maggie picked up at a casino bar two nights prior for an epic f*ckathon.

I cannot stop yapping about how much I love Mila Finelli, and guess what? I'M NEVER GONNA STOP YAPPING SO DEAL WITH IT. Empire of Seduction is another absolute banger in the New York State of Mafia series. All Finelli FMCs are delightful firecrackers, but Maggie?! It was truly love at first sucker punch for me and Maggie Fiorentino. She's not afraid of Vito or his leather gloved henchmen and she'll tell him straight to his face (and with her fist if necessary). And don't even get me started on Vito. My sweet bambino! It's like he knew my main k!nk in life is the utter demise of white supremacists. I was a goner the second he laid that sk!nhe@d biker on his ass. Ok so maybe I am in my bloodlust era because of the horrors, but that's 2025 for you babe.

The small town setting of this series is just so damn charming to me. The glitzy "Big Mob" vibes of The Kings of Italy were impeccable, but these crime bosses essentially adopting and completely turning around small family businesses is *chef's kiss* perfect. Most of the book takes place on and around the vineyard which lent the story a very cozy vibe. Coziness in a mafia romance probably seems like a tall order, but it's ultimately a nod to the brilliance of Finelli's writing and the universe she has created. Nobody is doing it better!

It's spicy, it's sweet, it's obviously 23050235 out of 5 stars for me. I am FERAL for the next story in this series so I pray that Mila Finelli keeps 'em comin' (heh).

Thank you to the author for an eARC of this book! All opinions are honest and my own.

[Jen's Quick & Dirty Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Redemption for the Boat Bro

Vito from the yacht bacchanalia got a perfect redemption! AND IT’S SO HOT! Mila Finelli writes top-tier mafia romance.

✔️ Dual POVs (Vito x Maggie)
✔️ Set in upstate New York
✔️ Open-door contemporary romance (5/5🌶️)
✔️ Tropes: Mafia romance; Secret Identity; Workplace romance (ish)

[Nikki (awallflowerreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

I have been anxiously waiting Vito’s story since I first started this series. Empire of Temptation was my first mafia read, and after meeting Enzo and Gia briefly in that, I skipped over to Mafia Madness. Vito was such an interesting and compelling character because he was the exact opposite of his hot-headed and impulsive brother. His calm demeanor and competence continue to be hot as hell in this book. But when he meets Maggie, watching him unravel brought me so much joy. Because Maggie is a cool character, she knows who she is, what she cares about, and the comfort in her skin and herself (while still having some real insecurities) made her instantly lovable. Not to mention, she’s absolutely hilarious and was dropping nonstop lines both outside of her head and internally. Her dynamic with Vito is so much fun, especially at the beginning of the wine takeover. She’s pissed (understandably so) and there were so many moments that had me giggling- the dirt throwing a peak highlight 🤣.

Like all Mila Finelli books, this one is super hot, and the spicy scenes kept delivering. Vito has a mouth on him, and I always love some Italian dirty talk. I thought the plot was on the right side of believable and kind of on the tame-ish side for this series, but it works because it lets the dominant conflict between Maggie and Vito shine. Their relationship is the highlight of this novel, and watching them both navigate their growing feelings and what this means for their well-planned (individual) futures served as great tension. Moreover, this series continues to highlight that although these men are hot mafia dons with dominant overprotective streaks, they’ll also do absolutely anything to please their women. I’ll never get over the caretaking moments when these hot Italian men are just trying to feed their love interests. Like, yes, feed me delicious food, bang me until I can’t think straight, and spoil me with diamonds. Please and thank you!

I’m so excited about the future of this series and really like the small town setting, especially. It provides for some fun moments and keeps me invested in so many side characters. In the words of the great Gianna Mancini- "girl, you've been mafiosoed" and I’m not even a little mad about it. The caretaking moments were so sweetly tender, the spicy scenes hot as hades, and the plot kept me invested until the end. I could not put this book down after I picked it up, and honestly can’t wait to read it again. Both Maggie and Vito are absolute perfect characters in my mind, and I had so much fun reading their love story.

Thank you to the author for an eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own, etc.

[dinithi · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!

i have never been let down by a mila finelli book and i knew this wouldn’t be an exception to that rule! i have been intrigued by vito since we first met him in mafia madman aaaaaand yup he was just as hot i thought he would be 🙂‍↕️

vito, the man that you are!!! love love love. he was obsessed with maggie from the minute he met her, and watching him figure out his feelings for her (while she despises him almost the entire time) was so fun to read about. he wasn’t as cold and cruel as enzo, but he wasn’t without any domineering/controlling mafia madman attributes.

maggie! love her. this girl went through so much — from a one time hook up with a hot stranger to realizing he’s a mafioso to realizing he won her family’s winery and is now her boss in a span of days. all of her feelings were justified, and i was so in support of her, i was feeling all of her anger and frustration, too. mila finelli has never written a meek heroine, but maggie might be ok if my favorites she’s ever written bc not only was she courageous and strong but she was relatable. she didn’t handle everything the way gianna or francesca might have, but that was her charm. all her emotions, the way she fought against vito, then tried to deny her attraction to him, i could understand it all.

i loved all the cameos we got in this one! also i have a much better understanding of the third d’agostino brother (AND their sister) and i loved every scene he was written into!!

if enemies to lovers + forced proximity + “oops you were just supposed to be a one-night stand” + small town romance + mafia are calling your name, this is the book for you!!! maggie & vito’s romance is hot and fiery and possibly even sexier than empire of lust!

[persephone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first ever review.

Holy shit. I love this book so much?! I should mention I’ve been in a sort of “hard to focus on anything too long cause of stress and anxiety” type of hole… and this managed to pull my head out of the sand.

My review isn’t a literary masterpiece but: this was the best pick me up all year long for me, and I seriously appreciate this author for seeing us brat girlies 🫶🏻🩷 Great chemistry, delicious banter and dirty talk, straight forward kind of story.

It’s not a dark romance, imo, and the mafia aspect is sort of light. But this part doesn’t bother me.

The stars are for the couple, specifically.

I quite sincerely haven’t felt like I wanted to see more of or get more stories with a couple (Maggie/Vito) in such a long time. The story itself because of the dynamic and dialogue between them was like realizing a craving I didn’t or couldn’t put into words—and then it was fed several times over.

Maybe one day I’ll write something more constructive and update this later. But I literally read this so fast that I need to buy the physical copy and re-read it again.

[catherinereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

If you haven’t read a mafia romance by Mila, what are you doing?! I knew I was going to be obsessed because it was enemies to lovers, but this book was just so hot and tension filled I couldn’t put it down!!

Our main characters Vito and Maggie have THE HOTTEST anonymous one night stand I’ve ever read, and little do they know in a few days they will forced to work together, even if they can’t stand eachother🤭 this had all my favorite things in a mafia romance, tension filled banter, spice for days, creative plots and sub plots, badass heroines, touch her you 💀, and a mafia boss who can talk dirty in not only one language but two🥵 I loved how Maggie was never afraid to stand up to Vito and challenged him at every turn🤭 and Vito is my new favorite D’Agostino brother, sorry Enzo!!

🍇tropes🍇

☀️anonymous one-night stand
☀️he wins her winery in a poker game
☀️enemies to lovers
☀️obsessed hero/badass heroine
☀️touch her and 💀
☀️SPICY🥵

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vitooo🤭 thats all!!

[Rethika Athukorala · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love me a sexy Italian mafia boss 🥵. Maggie and Vito definitely had some chemistry between them. The ending pissed me off. What do you mean she proposed? That’s ridiculous 🫢

[Amber (Amber Reads Romance) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

Empire of Seduction is the 2nd book in the New York State of Mafia series. This new series by Mila Finelli is the perfect mix of small town and mafia. I especially loved the setting of this one since it centered around a winery, and I am wine girlie. Mila definitely amped up the spice in this one, and it brought all the banter and chemistry you want from a hate to love romance.

Maggie and Vito had an extremely hot one night stand when they met at a bar in the nearby casino. Unfortunately, Maggie is in for the shock of her life when she learns the same sexy Italian won her family winery in a poker game from her brother. She is devastated because this winery has been a part of her family forever, and it is her life. Vito is staying at the winery till he gets everything transitioned, and Maggie just wants him gone. They had an intense push and pull, but neither of them could deny their attraction for long.

Vito was actually saving their winery since it was struggling and trying to give them all the help they needed to make improvements, yet Maggie fought him every step of the way so she could be a little frustrating. I did understand her feelings on everything, though. There are some issues with a local MC, but otherwise, this is pretty mafia light.

Vito is the younger brother to Enzo D'Agostino from Mafia Madman, and we get to see him and Giana again in this book. We are also introduced to Vit's other siblings when he asks them for help. It was great to get cameos from her Kings of Italy series.

I am loving this series, and I can't wait to see who our next couple is.

Thank you to Mila Finelli for providing the ARC.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Not my favorite but enjoyable enough