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The Forbidden Legacy: Dangerous Mafia Romance
Some legacies should stay buried. Some secrets refuse to die.
I was born a Marietti in the 1980s—raised behind the iron gates of Little Italy, where bloodlines rule and betrayals echo through generations. We don’t speak of the past. We don’t question the rules. Until now.
When a cryptic photograph and a bloodstained note land at my door, my carefully constructed life begins to unravel. Shadows from decades ago are creeping back—and I’m no longer sure who I can trust.
Enter Carl Russo. Rival. Protector. Liar? His piercing gaze says he knows more than he’ll admit. His presence pulls me deeper into a conspiracy I barely understand.
Now the streets I once knew feel claustrophobic. Eyes follow me. Messages appear where they shouldn’t. Every memory I’ve trusted twists beneath the weight of new lies.
Am I losing my mind—or is someone making me believe I am? As the old feud threatens to reignite, one truth becomes This isn’t just about family anymore. It’s about survival.
I was born a Marietti in the 1980s—raised behind the iron gates of Little Italy, where bloodlines rule and betrayals echo through generations. We don’t speak of the past. We don’t question the rules. Until now.
When a cryptic photograph and a bloodstained note land at my door, my carefully constructed life begins to unravel. Shadows from decades ago are creeping back—and I’m no longer sure who I can trust.
Enter Carl Russo. Rival. Protector. Liar? His piercing gaze says he knows more than he’ll admit. His presence pulls me deeper into a conspiracy I barely understand.
Now the streets I once knew feel claustrophobic. Eyes follow me. Messages appear where they shouldn’t. Every memory I’ve trusted twists beneath the weight of new lies.
Am I losing my mind—or is someone making me believe I am? As the old feud threatens to reignite, one truth becomes This isn’t just about family anymore. It’s about survival.
62 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 21, 2026
What makes The Forbidden Legacy compelling is not just the mafia backdrop, but the slow psychological unraveling at the center of the story. This is a book about inheritance in every sense of the word, bloodlines, secrets, memory, and the quiet damage passed down through generations.
The tension builds through uncertainty rather than constant action. As the narrator begins to question what she knows about her family and herself, the reader is pulled into that same unease. The sense of being watched, of messages appearing where they should not, and of truth slipping just out of reach creates an atmosphere that feels claustrophobic and unsettling in the best way.
Carl Russo adds another layer of complexity. He is not simply a rival or protector, but a presence that constantly raises questions about motive and trust. The push and pull between attraction and suspicion keeps the emotional stakes high without overpowering the story.
This book will resonate with readers who enjoy mafia romance with a psychological edge, morally gray characters, and stories where legacy is as dangerous as love. It is less about glamor and more about survival, identity, and what happens when the past refuses to stay buried.
The tension builds through uncertainty rather than constant action. As the narrator begins to question what she knows about her family and herself, the reader is pulled into that same unease. The sense of being watched, of messages appearing where they should not, and of truth slipping just out of reach creates an atmosphere that feels claustrophobic and unsettling in the best way.
Carl Russo adds another layer of complexity. He is not simply a rival or protector, but a presence that constantly raises questions about motive and trust. The push and pull between attraction and suspicion keeps the emotional stakes high without overpowering the story.
This book will resonate with readers who enjoy mafia romance with a psychological edge, morally gray characters, and stories where legacy is as dangerous as love. It is less about glamor and more about survival, identity, and what happens when the past refuses to stay buried.
June 8, 2025
Marisa and Carl are on opposing sides of a war between their families.
Their ages were vague - I assumed mid-20’s, then school was mentioned so I thought teens… Not sure if it was meant to be a story that spanned years, so a bit hard to follow in that respect.
The build-up was good, plenty of tension between the families, expectations and finding what little bits of ‘good’ that was possible.
But then it kind of fizzled to nothing. Just end chapter, move to the next, they’re together and a HFN/cliffhanger.
If it's a series starter, it's pretty good, so I'm hoping that there is more to come.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Their ages were vague - I assumed mid-20’s, then school was mentioned so I thought teens… Not sure if it was meant to be a story that spanned years, so a bit hard to follow in that respect.
The build-up was good, plenty of tension between the families, expectations and finding what little bits of ‘good’ that was possible.
But then it kind of fizzled to nothing. Just end chapter, move to the next, they’re together and a HFN/cliffhanger.
If it's a series starter, it's pretty good, so I'm hoping that there is more to come.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 5, 2025
The suspense of this book had me page turning of what was going to happen.
Pregnant unexpectedly, now the past of Carl and Marisa must now run because her father is not having their relationship. They are a Russo and a meretti, and they cannot be together. Now on the run in the mountains of upstate New York. They are being watched and are close to having their cover blown. Can Carl protect Marisa like he says he can with the injuries he is sustaining.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Pregnant unexpectedly, now the past of Carl and Marisa must now run because her father is not having their relationship. They are a Russo and a meretti, and they cannot be together. Now on the run in the mountains of upstate New York. They are being watched and are close to having their cover blown. Can Carl protect Marisa like he says he can with the injuries he is sustaining.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 6, 2025
Marissa is a daughter of the Marietta family.
on the piazza there was the festival band going, there were a lot of people , her mother always warned her to stay away from the Russo’s but when she heard someone say that they are here , she saw Carl and he saw her too , they couldn’t take their eye of each other .
A short forbidden love story between two lovers that came both from a mafia family .they were meeting on the basement of her house were she painted ,
Their families hated each other, but he made sure to take her and vanished from their lives.
on the piazza there was the festival band going, there were a lot of people , her mother always warned her to stay away from the Russo’s but when she heard someone say that they are here , she saw Carl and he saw her too , they couldn’t take their eye of each other .
A short forbidden love story between two lovers that came both from a mafia family .they were meeting on the basement of her house were she painted ,
Their families hated each other, but he made sure to take her and vanished from their lives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2025
Carl Russo and Marisa Marietti were from rival mafia families, and their love was forbidden. There were lots of twists in this sometimes-scary story. The author did a great job with world building and bringing the mafia families to life. There was violence, but that is to be expected with a mafia story. Overall, I enjoyed this dark, intense, and complicated suspenseful drama full of family drama, angst, tension, revenge, mistrust, and betrayal. I would recommend it for those readers interested in mafia romance stories.
July 24, 2025
This is a great story that is descriptive along with dynamic characters that brings this story to life. Madison and Carl belong to the mafia families that rule the city and are enemy rivals. their connection will test everything they grew up to believe. Will their relationship withstand the fallout from their families and lead them along the path to happiness.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 28, 2025
Fighting for the Truth for Love -
This was an interesting mafia romance novella about betrayal, communication as well as the strength and determination of the heroine to live her life the way she wants it and ensure peace prevails with the help of an unexpected ally. You will enjoy reading this book and be happy to recommend it to your friends.
I received a free review copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was an interesting mafia romance novella about betrayal, communication as well as the strength and determination of the heroine to live her life the way she wants it and ensure peace prevails with the help of an unexpected ally. You will enjoy reading this book and be happy to recommend it to your friends.
I received a free review copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 7, 2025
I enjoyed the forbidden legacy which was Marisa and Carl’s story. It was an entertaining read. I received an early copy. And voluntarily leaving this review.
July 24, 2025
This is a great story that is descriptive along with dynamic characters that brings this story to life. Madison and Carl belong to the mafia families that rule the city and are enemy rivals. their connection will test everything they grew up to believe. Will their relationship withstand the fallout from their families and lead them along the path to happiness.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews