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Underworld Heirs
Mafia Don's Secret Heir
"Marry me or I kill everyone you love."
Luca Salvatore doesn’t ask.
He demands.
My father’s gambling debts died with him.
But I didn’t.
When Luca—Don of the Salvatore mafia—comes to collect,
He gives me one marry him or watch my mother suffer.
I’ll be his wife.
A deal made in hell.
He’s everything I fear.
Cold, ruthless, a man who owns the city and now, me.
But in his arms, I feel things I can’t deny.
Power. Desire. Pain.
He’s poison and pleasure wrapped in a suit, and I’m falling—hard.
Then I find out I’m pregnant with his heir.
I run.
Five years of hiding.
Until he finds me.
“You took my child,” Luca snarls, slamming me against the wall. “You took what belongs to me.”
Now rival families want my son dead.
Luca’s protection comes with a total surrender.
He says he’ll protect us.
But who will protect me from him?
From the fire in his touch?
From the darkness in his eyes that promises he’ll never let us go again?
The Salvatore Don always collects his debts.
And I just became his most prized possession.
Luca Salvatore doesn’t ask.
He demands.
My father’s gambling debts died with him.
But I didn’t.
When Luca—Don of the Salvatore mafia—comes to collect,
He gives me one marry him or watch my mother suffer.
I’ll be his wife.
A deal made in hell.
He’s everything I fear.
Cold, ruthless, a man who owns the city and now, me.
But in his arms, I feel things I can’t deny.
Power. Desire. Pain.
He’s poison and pleasure wrapped in a suit, and I’m falling—hard.
Then I find out I’m pregnant with his heir.
I run.
Five years of hiding.
Until he finds me.
“You took my child,” Luca snarls, slamming me against the wall. “You took what belongs to me.”
Now rival families want my son dead.
Luca’s protection comes with a total surrender.
He says he’ll protect us.
But who will protect me from him?
From the fire in his touch?
From the darkness in his eyes that promises he’ll never let us go again?
The Salvatore Don always collects his debts.
And I just became his most prized possession.
275 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 17, 2025
846 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
August 13, 2025
idk guys everything happened so fast in this book. one day they get married, the next she's married, gets pregnant, runs away, and then 5 years later they reunite. In the middle of all that, they fall in love???? There just wasn't enough character depth here.
Also I'm sad to say but I skipped a lot of the spicy scenes especially in the later half. Don't get me wrong they were spicy but it all felt repetitive and they needed to communicate more instead of going at it you know. Anyways this was a super fast read but I'm not reading the next in this series.
Also I'm sad to say but I skipped a lot of the spicy scenes especially in the later half. Don't get me wrong they were spicy but it all felt repetitive and they needed to communicate more instead of going at it you know. Anyways this was a super fast read but I'm not reading the next in this series.
September 6, 2025
I was sold on Mafia dudes + secret baby. But i got so bored with Valentina and Luca. First I skimmed then I backfilled a few details I missed. None of it was more interesting. and I finally chocked it up to the horrible fmc Valentina. She was a self righteous beeeeyotch. Her goody two shoes baker and a baby act was disgusting. When she looked at her young son and lied. I wanted to punch her crocodile tears right off her face.
July 15, 2025
Mafia Don's Secret Heir
Luca and Valentina
I liked the characters in this book and for the most part the storyline. I would have given it a higher rating, but there seemed to be parts of the story missing (maybe due to editing?). This does end on a cliff hanger.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Luca and Valentina
I liked the characters in this book and for the most part the storyline. I would have given it a higher rating, but there seemed to be parts of the story missing (maybe due to editing?). This does end on a cliff hanger.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 8, 2025
DNFd
There was so much of the story missing. One second he is forcing her to marry him and then the next she cares about him. Then she finds out she is pregnant and all of a sudden he knows about her plan to leave and they have this angst between them. It’s like it came out of no where
There was so much of the story missing. One second he is forcing her to marry him and then the next she cares about him. Then she finds out she is pregnant and all of a sudden he knows about her plan to leave and they have this angst between them. It’s like it came out of no where
August 8, 2025
good mafia romance
I enjoyed it. It was a quick read I liked the story it does have some spicy parts but it’s good worth the read
I enjoyed it. It was a quick read I liked the story it does have some spicy parts but it’s good worth the read
July 16, 2025
Wowza. This story is about Luca and Valentina. Luca is a mafia don who is collecting on a debt when he agrees to marry Valentina. Valentina’s father worked for Luca and went into a lot of debt and was killed for it. In order to get his payment he took Valentina as payment. Valentina was all sorts of pissed off. Little did she know she would be forced into a marriage to the love of her life and father to her child. As much as she wants to hate Luca, she can’t. Her love for him is the only thing she knows is true. That is until she finds out she’s pregnant and questions everything. This story will keep you on the edge of your seat and seething for more!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2025
Honestly
I did not finish this book it makes me angry when the description does not match the book. I was looking forward to this book and I love the cover the book just did not meet expectations. He took her after her dad's funeral for unpaid debt he did not have her checked out medically. There was no Force proximity the night of the wedding she gate in to him. There was no angst no buildup just all over each other. It just did not hold my interest.
I did not finish this book it makes me angry when the description does not match the book. I was looking forward to this book and I love the cover the book just did not meet expectations. He took her after her dad's funeral for unpaid debt he did not have her checked out medically. There was no Force proximity the night of the wedding she gate in to him. There was no angst no buildup just all over each other. It just did not hold my interest.
September 15, 2025
I tried so hard to finish this book, even skimming pages. The plot and characters were poorly developed. I did not enjoy this book.
August 21, 2025
DNF
The overall story line is interesting but I could not get through the book due to grammatical errors and incorrect tense usage. The amount of errors took away from the story that was already confusing due to plot holes. I did not finish it and would not recommend.
The overall story line is interesting but I could not get through the book due to grammatical errors and incorrect tense usage. The amount of errors took away from the story that was already confusing due to plot holes. I did not finish it and would not recommend.
July 19, 2025
Hard to stay interested
So many details were not included. Stuff was just happening without an explanation. Story could have had a little more depth.
So many details were not included. Stuff was just happening without an explanation. Story could have had a little more depth.
July 31, 2025
Mafia Don's Secret Heir Lisa Cullen newest series of the Underworld Heirs. The first book is spicy and it's standalone with no cheating or cliffhanger and a guaranteed happily-ever-after. A brilliantly crafted story with complex individuals and a twisty and fascinating storyline that captures the reader attention from the start. An unputdownable and absorbing addictive read. Hang on to your kindle and brace yourself for this tantalizing rollercoaster ride filled with mystery, passion, angst and emotions. This is Valentina and Luca story which is told from a dual point of view.
A dark mafia romance, billionaire romance, secret baby, a forced proximity romance, forced marriage romance, possessive OTT alpha hero romance, action & adventure romance, enemies-to-lovers romance, hate-to-love vibes story, Bratva romance, arranged marriage romance, protective alpha hero romance, protector hero story with enemies, rivalry, secrets, consensual intense rough sex, dominance, submission, dirty talking, murder, violence, revelations, power and control, fear, anger, obsession, possessiveness, twists and turns, betrayal, deception, darkness, danger, madness, death, hatred, steam, family found, action packed, survival, threats, resilience, deception, love, drama, bloodshed, attacks, acceptance, forgiveness, jealousy, outside manipulation from his mother, suspense, intrigue, retribution and more.
Because of a gambling debts Valentina dad was in to Don Luca Salvatore and after his death instead of the debt dying with him it was now the responsibility of Valentina. Luca always gets what is owed to him, so when he came to collect he gave her one option marry him or watched her mom suffer. He arranged the marriage between the two and she became his wife. A deal she quickly realized that was made in hell. Luca was everything that she feared and didn't want to be a part of. He's ruthless, commanding, treacherous, cold-hearted and a man who owns the city and now she was also his property. Valentina doesn't believe that she can fit his world or be a Don's wife. But in his arms she felt things that she couldn't deny. Her body was drawn to him every time he steps into a room and the couldn't help but indulge in their desires.
He was power, desires and pain. He's poison and pleasure, sin and sex wrapped in an expensive suit and boy did she fall hard. Luca tried to show that she could be the queen who could rule by his side something that she fought tooth and nail but she couldn't fight her growing feelings. Then she found out that she was pregnant with his heir and everything changes for her with those two pink lines on a pregnancy test then she ran. And for five wonderful years she had made a life for her and her son. But nothing too good ever last forever because he found her and if she thought things were hard before it's going to be worst. He slammed her body against the wall and told her that she took something that belongs to him. He tells her that he will protect them because a rival family wants his son dead.
Luca's protection came with a price, he wanted her total surrender. She owns he will protect them but she wonders who will protect from him. From the fire in his touch. From the darkness in his eyes that promises he will never let them go again. Don Luca Salvatore always collects his debt and now she and his son is now his most prized possession. There's so much up against them that they needed to overcome with his mother treachery which almost causes him his family. Their reconnection was beautiful and they fought hard for their HEA.
I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
A dark mafia romance, billionaire romance, secret baby, a forced proximity romance, forced marriage romance, possessive OTT alpha hero romance, action & adventure romance, enemies-to-lovers romance, hate-to-love vibes story, Bratva romance, arranged marriage romance, protective alpha hero romance, protector hero story with enemies, rivalry, secrets, consensual intense rough sex, dominance, submission, dirty talking, murder, violence, revelations, power and control, fear, anger, obsession, possessiveness, twists and turns, betrayal, deception, darkness, danger, madness, death, hatred, steam, family found, action packed, survival, threats, resilience, deception, love, drama, bloodshed, attacks, acceptance, forgiveness, jealousy, outside manipulation from his mother, suspense, intrigue, retribution and more.
Because of a gambling debts Valentina dad was in to Don Luca Salvatore and after his death instead of the debt dying with him it was now the responsibility of Valentina. Luca always gets what is owed to him, so when he came to collect he gave her one option marry him or watched her mom suffer. He arranged the marriage between the two and she became his wife. A deal she quickly realized that was made in hell. Luca was everything that she feared and didn't want to be a part of. He's ruthless, commanding, treacherous, cold-hearted and a man who owns the city and now she was also his property. Valentina doesn't believe that she can fit his world or be a Don's wife. But in his arms she felt things that she couldn't deny. Her body was drawn to him every time he steps into a room and the couldn't help but indulge in their desires.
He was power, desires and pain. He's poison and pleasure, sin and sex wrapped in an expensive suit and boy did she fall hard. Luca tried to show that she could be the queen who could rule by his side something that she fought tooth and nail but she couldn't fight her growing feelings. Then she found out that she was pregnant with his heir and everything changes for her with those two pink lines on a pregnancy test then she ran. And for five wonderful years she had made a life for her and her son. But nothing too good ever last forever because he found her and if she thought things were hard before it's going to be worst. He slammed her body against the wall and told her that she took something that belongs to him. He tells her that he will protect them because a rival family wants his son dead.
Luca's protection came with a price, he wanted her total surrender. She owns he will protect them but she wonders who will protect from him. From the fire in his touch. From the darkness in his eyes that promises he will never let them go again. Don Luca Salvatore always collects his debt and now she and his son is now his most prized possession. There's so much up against them that they needed to overcome with his mother treachery which almost causes him his family. Their reconnection was beautiful and they fought hard for their HEA.
I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 14, 2025
an exceptionally well written gripping story that i really loved. read it in one sitting stayed up all night. Valentina has very little and is struggling to keep her and her mom surviving because her father gambled all the money away, ran up huge debts gambling and then was murdered leaving the family owing the mafia family half a million dollars they can't pay. Luca Salvatore the don of the family is cold, relentless, emotionless, fierce and gets what he wants. He forced valentina to marry him to repay the debt or he will kill her mother and her friends then her. so she has no choice. after the marriage she finds that the heat in the bedroom is off the charts which makes her confused as to her feelings for a man she hates for tearing her life apart and taking away her choices keeping her a virtual prisoner. Seeing the life she's leading the violence and death and war she determines she wants to run but can't make herself because of her feelings for luca. and she thinks he might be having some for her too. then she discovers shes pregnant and determines the only way to save her child is to flee which she does. 5 yrs later luca finds them and wants them back. he's realized his mistakes and will do anything to return his wife and his son home but valentina isn't going to go without a fight. she strong, defiant, resilient, caring, and doesn't want to live a life of violence with her son. she has stood up to luca at every turn and isn't about to stop now. can she get luca to change if she returns? does he love her or see her as a possession? can she protect her son if she returns? but is keeping him from his birthright the right thing to do? she loves and misses him but she's known peace since she left.
this is a highly emotional, gripping, high heat, plot twisting story. while there is a lot of heat it isn't used as filler but the scenes enhance the story greatly giving it the scope and depth of the mafia life and how relationships work in such families and how love and feelings can be used, abused, or unwise. love can be a weakness and a vulnerability but it can also be the greatest strength. can the two of them come together find their way to love and compromise on the life they lead for the good of their son. can changes truly be made in a mafia family?
note: he doesn't throw her against the wall when he finds her and her son as claims in the blurb. that action never happens.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
this is a highly emotional, gripping, high heat, plot twisting story. while there is a lot of heat it isn't used as filler but the scenes enhance the story greatly giving it the scope and depth of the mafia life and how relationships work in such families and how love and feelings can be used, abused, or unwise. love can be a weakness and a vulnerability but it can also be the greatest strength. can the two of them come together find their way to love and compromise on the life they lead for the good of their son. can changes truly be made in a mafia family?
note: he doesn't throw her against the wall when he finds her and her son as claims in the blurb. that action never happens.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 14, 2025
Title: Mafia Don's Secret Heir
Author: Lisa Cullen
Review: I received an (ARC) Advanced Reader Copy for MY honest review for free.
Valentina's father is a notorious gambler, after losing everything and owing money to the wrong people, it ultimately cost him his life. At the funeral, Valentina sees men that aren't supposed to be there. She approaches with anger and tells them to leave but has this feeling that she hasn't seen the last of them. When she arrives home, non other then Luca Salvatore, head of the Salvatore family is sitting in her living room with an offer she quite literally can't refuse.
Valentina has heard the rumours about Luca, he is a cruel beast of a man, how can she marry him? With no other choice, she must save her mother and anyone she holds dear, she WILL marry Luca Salvatore.
To Valentina's surprise, Luca is very gentle with her. She sees a side to him no other has ever seen. Their chemistry only grows with the more time they spend together and they can't deny their feelings for each other. But when unwanted opinions are whispered in the air and violence is dealt out, Valentina doubts herself, does she want to be in this violent underworld. When she finds herself pregnant, Luca is elated that he will have an heir, but she knows she can't bring an innocent baby into the life the way Luca runs the world with an iron fist. So she does the only thing she can... RUN.
After fleeing to another country, Valentina lives her life the way she always wanted, or so she thought. She has their baby and they live a simple life, although theres not a day that goes by where Valentina doesn't think of Luca and the love she still has for him. Five years on Luca finds them both, will they get there happily ever after or will this world team them apart... again.
This is my first book by Lisa Cullen and it was gorgeous. It had action, suspense, a thrilling plot with twists and turns, sexy smut scenes with Luca's filthy mouth! This was a great read and looking forward to reading more from this author.
Stars: 4/5 ★
Spice: 3.5/5 🌶️
Recommend: Yes
Notes: ARC received through BookSprout
Author: Lisa Cullen
Review: I received an (ARC) Advanced Reader Copy for MY honest review for free.
Valentina's father is a notorious gambler, after losing everything and owing money to the wrong people, it ultimately cost him his life. At the funeral, Valentina sees men that aren't supposed to be there. She approaches with anger and tells them to leave but has this feeling that she hasn't seen the last of them. When she arrives home, non other then Luca Salvatore, head of the Salvatore family is sitting in her living room with an offer she quite literally can't refuse.
Valentina has heard the rumours about Luca, he is a cruel beast of a man, how can she marry him? With no other choice, she must save her mother and anyone she holds dear, she WILL marry Luca Salvatore.
To Valentina's surprise, Luca is very gentle with her. She sees a side to him no other has ever seen. Their chemistry only grows with the more time they spend together and they can't deny their feelings for each other. But when unwanted opinions are whispered in the air and violence is dealt out, Valentina doubts herself, does she want to be in this violent underworld. When she finds herself pregnant, Luca is elated that he will have an heir, but she knows she can't bring an innocent baby into the life the way Luca runs the world with an iron fist. So she does the only thing she can... RUN.
After fleeing to another country, Valentina lives her life the way she always wanted, or so she thought. She has their baby and they live a simple life, although theres not a day that goes by where Valentina doesn't think of Luca and the love she still has for him. Five years on Luca finds them both, will they get there happily ever after or will this world team them apart... again.
This is my first book by Lisa Cullen and it was gorgeous. It had action, suspense, a thrilling plot with twists and turns, sexy smut scenes with Luca's filthy mouth! This was a great read and looking forward to reading more from this author.
Stars: 4/5 ★
Spice: 3.5/5 🌶️
Recommend: Yes
Notes: ARC received through BookSprout
July 24, 2025
When love tastes like danger and protection feels like possession… I was hooked.
From the moment Luca Salvatore entered the scene with his deadly demands and ice-cold control, I knew I was in trouble. Mafia Don’s Secret Heir had me by the throat—and the heart—before the first chapter even ended.
This book is everything I crave in a dark mafia romance: danger that feels like seduction, a heroine with fire in her soul even when she's scared, and a man who walks that razor-sharp line between protector and predator. Luca is intense, controlling, and terrifyingly magnetic. He doesn’t ask. He takes. And yet, somehow, Lisa Cullen made me fall for him so hard it hurt in the best way.
And the heroine? She’s not just a pawn in this dangerous game—she’s a fighter. Forced to marry a man she fears, pregnant with his heir, and brave enough to run when everything’s at stake. And when he finds her after five years of hiding? Whew. That reunion? It’s feral. Raw. And absolutely electric.
There’s this exquisite tension between hate and longing, fear and trust, darkness and redemption that runs through the whole book—and it had me glued to the page. You feel every whispered threat, every possessive touch, every stolen moment of tenderness that neither of them wants to admit exists.
And their son? His presence doesn’t just raise the stakes—it raises the feels. The way Luca shifts from ruthless don to fierce, possessive father? Melted. Me. Completely.
This isn’t just a mafia romance—it’s an emotional rollercoaster, a push-and-pull story where survival meets obsession and love blooms in the most unlikely place: between a woman who wanted freedom and a man who owns the world... and her.
If you’re into secret babies, dark mafia power plays, and a love that shouldn’t exist but won’t die, Mafia Don’s Secret Heir is the kind of story that will leave your heart racing and your Kindle sizzling.
From the moment Luca Salvatore entered the scene with his deadly demands and ice-cold control, I knew I was in trouble. Mafia Don’s Secret Heir had me by the throat—and the heart—before the first chapter even ended.
This book is everything I crave in a dark mafia romance: danger that feels like seduction, a heroine with fire in her soul even when she's scared, and a man who walks that razor-sharp line between protector and predator. Luca is intense, controlling, and terrifyingly magnetic. He doesn’t ask. He takes. And yet, somehow, Lisa Cullen made me fall for him so hard it hurt in the best way.
And the heroine? She’s not just a pawn in this dangerous game—she’s a fighter. Forced to marry a man she fears, pregnant with his heir, and brave enough to run when everything’s at stake. And when he finds her after five years of hiding? Whew. That reunion? It’s feral. Raw. And absolutely electric.
There’s this exquisite tension between hate and longing, fear and trust, darkness and redemption that runs through the whole book—and it had me glued to the page. You feel every whispered threat, every possessive touch, every stolen moment of tenderness that neither of them wants to admit exists.
And their son? His presence doesn’t just raise the stakes—it raises the feels. The way Luca shifts from ruthless don to fierce, possessive father? Melted. Me. Completely.
This isn’t just a mafia romance—it’s an emotional rollercoaster, a push-and-pull story where survival meets obsession and love blooms in the most unlikely place: between a woman who wanted freedom and a man who owns the world... and her.
If you’re into secret babies, dark mafia power plays, and a love that shouldn’t exist but won’t die, Mafia Don’s Secret Heir is the kind of story that will leave your heart racing and your Kindle sizzling.
July 18, 2025
Marry him or lose everything.
Valentina (h) never expected her father's death to lead to her marriage to a mafia don, but when Luca (H) shows up at the funeral to collect a debt, she’s given one choice: become his wife or watch her mother suffer. The deal is simple. The cost is her freedom.
Luca is power wrapped in control. Cold, calculated, untouchable. Valentina is defiant, sharp, and unwilling to break, even as her life is stripped down and remade in his image. What begins as a forced marriage becomes a dangerous collision of wills.
Underneath the silence and steel, something shifts. Luca shows cracks in the armor. Valentina stops flinching when he touches her. Their hate burns into heat, and the lines between survival and surrender begin to blur.
Then she finds out she’s pregnant. Terrified of raising a child in Luca’s violent world, Valentina disappears without a word, leaving behind the man who never expected to fall for her.
He searches for her and their child for five years, unable to forget the woman who ran. He’s changed, and with everything on the line, he’s finally ready to give her the one thing he never could before: a choice.
Valentina evolves from a woman forced into submission to one who reclaims her agency and makes choices for herself and her child. Luca shifts from a cold, controlling mafia don to a man willing to change for the family he never expected to have. Their relationship begins with power imbalance and resentment but grows into a fragile, hard-won bond built on trust, mutual understanding, and the shared love for their child.
A steamy, dark, enemies to lovers, forced marriage, second chance, mafia romance exploring love, power and control, trauma, healing, motherhood, identity, loyalty, redemption, trust, choice, and sacrifice.
Valentina (h) never expected her father's death to lead to her marriage to a mafia don, but when Luca (H) shows up at the funeral to collect a debt, she’s given one choice: become his wife or watch her mother suffer. The deal is simple. The cost is her freedom.
Luca is power wrapped in control. Cold, calculated, untouchable. Valentina is defiant, sharp, and unwilling to break, even as her life is stripped down and remade in his image. What begins as a forced marriage becomes a dangerous collision of wills.
Underneath the silence and steel, something shifts. Luca shows cracks in the armor. Valentina stops flinching when he touches her. Their hate burns into heat, and the lines between survival and surrender begin to blur.
Then she finds out she’s pregnant. Terrified of raising a child in Luca’s violent world, Valentina disappears without a word, leaving behind the man who never expected to fall for her.
He searches for her and their child for five years, unable to forget the woman who ran. He’s changed, and with everything on the line, he’s finally ready to give her the one thing he never could before: a choice.
Valentina evolves from a woman forced into submission to one who reclaims her agency and makes choices for herself and her child. Luca shifts from a cold, controlling mafia don to a man willing to change for the family he never expected to have. Their relationship begins with power imbalance and resentment but grows into a fragile, hard-won bond built on trust, mutual understanding, and the shared love for their child.
A steamy, dark, enemies to lovers, forced marriage, second chance, mafia romance exploring love, power and control, trauma, healing, motherhood, identity, loyalty, redemption, trust, choice, and sacrifice.
Read
July 15, 2025You might want to make sure to double check that you are buckled up, dangerous men, alpha’s personified, possessive, oh, gorgeous, brooding all the makings of a story consisting with three D’s (dark, delicious, and dirty) 😊. There will be suspense, betrayal, death, darkness, secrets reveled, violence, hope, forgiveness, and maybe even love along the way. Valentina hasn’t had an easy life living with a father who gambled everything away then the ones he owed took his life after dying he still owed money to some very dangerous men, and at his funeral some strange men showed up at the funeral of course she tells them to please leave they are to blame for her father’s death. Arriving home she has a visitor sitting in her home. Luca sexy as all get out mafia don a man you don’t want on your radar, he isn’t a nice man usually, ruthless, dangerous on a good day, deadly every day, and when someone owes him money, he intends to collect one way or the other. Valentina the daughter of the man who owes him plenty of money he agrees to make her an offer with everything she heard about him she listens he tells her to marry him to clear her father’s debt or of course he imagination goes wild she agrees but she gets a side of him she never expected, will she accept his world fully or will she run from the violence that exist in his world, will she stick around wanting a family with a man who is okay with dishing out violence, where are they headed, and will they find their own happiness?
July 16, 2025
Valentina becomes a pawn when her father dies, leaving a large gambling debt owed to Don Luca Salvatore. Luca gives her an ultimatum, which she has no option but to accept.
Luca has been brought up to show leadership, strength, commitment, and loyalty to the family. He has extended the family's reach since taking over from his father. When he takes Valentina as his wife, his mother Donna Maria thinks she is too weak, too vulnerable to lead by her husband's side, and will not make a strong queen.
Valentina feels like a prisoner in a gilded cage. She may not like what her husband does, but she is insanely attracted to him. That part of the relationship isn't up for question; when they are together, it is explosive. But can she truly belong to him, stay by his side, when he is all about control and power? Is that something she wants if they have a family? Will they be brought up like he was, and not know of anything different?
Valentina needs to decide how her future plays out; she has more than herself to think about, but can she truly be free of Luca, will she always be looking over her shoulder?
Luca realises too late that the decisions he made have affected his relationship with Valentina. Has he lost her for good? He will leave no stone unturned until he finds her.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Luca has been brought up to show leadership, strength, commitment, and loyalty to the family. He has extended the family's reach since taking over from his father. When he takes Valentina as his wife, his mother Donna Maria thinks she is too weak, too vulnerable to lead by her husband's side, and will not make a strong queen.
Valentina feels like a prisoner in a gilded cage. She may not like what her husband does, but she is insanely attracted to him. That part of the relationship isn't up for question; when they are together, it is explosive. But can she truly belong to him, stay by his side, when he is all about control and power? Is that something she wants if they have a family? Will they be brought up like he was, and not know of anything different?
Valentina needs to decide how her future plays out; she has more than herself to think about, but can she truly be free of Luca, will she always be looking over her shoulder?
Luca realises too late that the decisions he made have affected his relationship with Valentina. Has he lost her for good? He will leave no stone unturned until he finds her.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 13, 2025
** 5 stars **
Mafia Don's Secret Heir was an amazingly suspenseful story. It was so well-written and I couldn't put it down.
Valentina's father has been murdered. Luca comes to the funeral and tells her that if her family wants to survive that she needs to marry him. Valentina has always heard how cruel Luca is so she is scared of marrying him. In the end she decides she has no choice if she wants to save her mother. She agrees to the marriage. Luca is very tender with her. They have amazing chemistry together. She gets pregnant and is surprised. Luca is glad so that he will have an heir.
Valentina doesn't like living with the way things are run in Luca's world. She feels like she wants more and better for her child and begins to look for ways to run away. After overhearing things she didn't know about her father's murder she decides to leave. Luca searches for her but can't find her. After five years he finds her and sees that he has a son. What will happen with Luca and Valentina? Will they become a family?
I loved this story and look forward to more. I hope Sofia's story is next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Mafia Don's Secret Heir was an amazingly suspenseful story. It was so well-written and I couldn't put it down.
Valentina's father has been murdered. Luca comes to the funeral and tells her that if her family wants to survive that she needs to marry him. Valentina has always heard how cruel Luca is so she is scared of marrying him. In the end she decides she has no choice if she wants to save her mother. She agrees to the marriage. Luca is very tender with her. They have amazing chemistry together. She gets pregnant and is surprised. Luca is glad so that he will have an heir.
Valentina doesn't like living with the way things are run in Luca's world. She feels like she wants more and better for her child and begins to look for ways to run away. After overhearing things she didn't know about her father's murder she decides to leave. Luca searches for her but can't find her. After five years he finds her and sees that he has a son. What will happen with Luca and Valentina? Will they become a family?
I loved this story and look forward to more. I hope Sofia's story is next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 3, 2025
Mafia Don’s Secret Heir is definitely a suspenseful and page turning mafia romance. This book has a fantastic plot, wonderful characters and a breathtaking ending for the main characters. The characters are well developed and phenomenally executed throughout the story. Mafia Don’s Secret Heir is fabulously written, amazingly balanced with action/romance and perfectly executed by Lisa Cullen. She continues to create and write phenomenal romances that I absolutely enjoy reading. In my opinion, she puts her all into the stories she creates and writes for a reader’s enjoyment. I can’t wait to see what her next book will be about. Mafia Don’s Secret Heir is the story of Luca and Valentina. The chemistry between the main characters is smoking hot and undeniably irresistible. I absolutely loved getting to know both Luca and Valentina as well as seeing their story come to life through the pages of this book. I would absolutely give this book as a recommendation to anyone who loves reading mafia romances and is looking for a new one to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 24, 2025
dnfd. honestly I feel like the MCS have almost no compatibility. so I read the first 30% of the book probably and it was just there. there were a lot of details that were just kind of glossed over or just plain missing. just like there's a scene where all the sudden there's a Kink room that magically appears that isn't talked about at all in the book until it happens during a sex scene. but they literally live with their family including his mom. then I got bored and started flipping through where it talks about her dad and then she leaves him and then he can't find her for 5 years even though she uses her maiden name along with her first name to open up a business and has a son. but none of the people he tasked to find her could find her. until he randomly had one of his wine clients mention her Bakery. then they met up again and honestly I was just so bored that I stopped reading again. I read this mainly because I want to read the new book with Enzo but honestly I don't know
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2025
I like the concept of a Mafia Don arranging a marriage by using a gambling debt as a reason to protect his employees daughter.
Valentina thought her dad was in debt for gambling. Luca Salvatore the Don arranged a marriage with Valentina by using her dad’s debt. Valentina didn’t believe that she could be the wife of a Don. Luca tried everything in his power to get Valentina to fall in love with him. When she became pregnant her fears grew and she decided she needed to protect her baby. She was living in Sicily for five years and she was making a living for herself and her son with a bakery. He found her and took her back home but the deception of his mama almost took his family from him. Their journey to reconnect and truly see the love they share for each other was great. I really enjoyed the Mafia Don’s Secret Heir. I recommend reading the book.
Valentina thought her dad was in debt for gambling. Luca Salvatore the Don arranged a marriage with Valentina by using her dad’s debt. Valentina didn’t believe that she could be the wife of a Don. Luca tried everything in his power to get Valentina to fall in love with him. When she became pregnant her fears grew and she decided she needed to protect her baby. She was living in Sicily for five years and she was making a living for herself and her son with a bakery. He found her and took her back home but the deception of his mama almost took his family from him. Their journey to reconnect and truly see the love they share for each other was great. I really enjoyed the Mafia Don’s Secret Heir. I recommend reading the book.
July 18, 2025
Valentina's father died, leaving her family in debt to Luca Salvatore. He delivers her an ultimatum. Either she marries him to wipe the debt, or he starts getting rid of her family and friends. Left with no choice, she agrees to marry Luca. Valentina, despite marrying Luca, is not happy with the violent lifestyle he leads. Does she stay when she finds herself falling for Luca, or does she try to escape and get the quiet lifestyle she craves?
I received an arc from Booksprout for my voluntary, honest review for NN Book Blog. If you love a fast-paced, steamy mafia romance, you will love this read. Lisa keeps you turning the pages with all the twists and turns that you don't see coming. The book does end on a slight cliffhanger to lead you into the next book in the series.
I received an arc from Booksprout for my voluntary, honest review for NN Book Blog. If you love a fast-paced, steamy mafia romance, you will love this read. Lisa keeps you turning the pages with all the twists and turns that you don't see coming. The book does end on a slight cliffhanger to lead you into the next book in the series.
September 18, 2025
Fantastic start
This is the first book in the series and it is awesome. The h just lost her father to what she believes is a robbery gone wrong. She is approached by the H for her hand in marriage. He is the Don, he threatens to kill her mother if she refuses. Their marriage starts off rocky with mistrust on both sides. She plans on running away but she falls in love with her husband. A pregnancy complicate the situation even further. A secret causes her to run away and five years later he finds her and his son. Despite betrayal, attempted murder they found their way back to each other. Great ending.
This is the first book in the series and it is awesome. The h just lost her father to what she believes is a robbery gone wrong. She is approached by the H for her hand in marriage. He is the Don, he threatens to kill her mother if she refuses. Their marriage starts off rocky with mistrust on both sides. She plans on running away but she falls in love with her husband. A pregnancy complicate the situation even further. A secret causes her to run away and five years later he finds her and his son. Despite betrayal, attempted murder they found their way back to each other. Great ending.
July 12, 2025
Loved, loved this story. It starts with a bang and drew me into the story. It is a captivating, age gap romantic love story with morally gray characters. Not all is as it seems. Valentina's father has been murdered and now Luca shows up to demand she either marry him or lose her family. Valentina picks marriage the rest of story is magic. It does include betrayal, violence and death. Happy ending included.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 19, 2025
This turned out to be a little different than I thought but, in a good way. There’s a lot of excitement and intrigue as Luca and Valentina try to navigate the confines of their relationship. I loved the change in dynamic as Luca wants to prove to Valentina that the mafia life will work for them and their family. I’m hoping to read another installment in this series. Sounds like Valentina’s friend Sofia is up next!
5 stars!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
5 stars!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 19, 2025
This is the start of a new series by Cullen - Underworld Heirs. Cullen continues to outdo herself. A wonderfully well written, dark, mafia romance read that is not only captivating but well balanced and addictive. Buckle up for the roller coaster of a ride that is the journey of main characters Luca and Valentina. Once you start you won't be able to put this down. Emotional and steamy with plenty of twists. I loved every minute of it and can't wait for more!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 26, 2025
Mafia Don’s Secret Heir
Holy crap, this story was phenomenal. I couldn’t put it down as I read it at night, fell asleep and woke up again to continue reading. Don Salvatore is the opitome’ of Alpha! His description is seen in the readers mind. Valentina is his equal in every way. She is his fire. Their son Leo will follow in their footsteps because he has his Father’s strength but his Mother’s will. Loved this book and will recommend it easily. Thank you for sharing your vision.
Holy crap, this story was phenomenal. I couldn’t put it down as I read it at night, fell asleep and woke up again to continue reading. Don Salvatore is the opitome’ of Alpha! His description is seen in the readers mind. Valentina is his equal in every way. She is his fire. Their son Leo will follow in their footsteps because he has his Father’s strength but his Mother’s will. Loved this book and will recommend it easily. Thank you for sharing your vision.
November 28, 2025
way too many holes in the story
I read it completely even though several times I wanted to stop. There are so many gaps in information, details and time lines. The characters evolved and developed strangely and personalities were a little bi polar. Sometimes the mistakes in details were literally one paragraph away. The story was okay but a little predictable. But the errors in editing and lack of continuity drove me nuts. It’s like it was written for 500 pages and someone slashed through it and made it 250. Too many things left out
I read it completely even though several times I wanted to stop. There are so many gaps in information, details and time lines. The characters evolved and developed strangely and personalities were a little bi polar. Sometimes the mistakes in details were literally one paragraph away. The story was okay but a little predictable. But the errors in editing and lack of continuity drove me nuts. It’s like it was written for 500 pages and someone slashed through it and made it 250. Too many things left out
November 30, 2025
Typical mafia rose up
Valentina must marry Luca to satisfy her father’s debts or so she thinks. But that is just one of the lies Luca tells her to get his way. With enemies both in and out of the Salvador’s family/organization, neither Valentina nor Luca know who to trust.
My issues with this book are the I don’t want you/I’m all yours back and forth between the main characters, the lying to the one you love, on both sides, and the lack of any story for the 5 year break. Just didn’t offer anything new or interesting.
Valentina must marry Luca to satisfy her father’s debts or so she thinks. But that is just one of the lies Luca tells her to get his way. With enemies both in and out of the Salvador’s family/organization, neither Valentina nor Luca know who to trust.
My issues with this book are the I don’t want you/I’m all yours back and forth between the main characters, the lying to the one you love, on both sides, and the lack of any story for the 5 year break. Just didn’t offer anything new or interesting.
January 10, 2026
nice read.
innocent woman gets stuck having to marry the scariest man all thanks to her dad debts that werent paid off before his death. forced into it and no way to escape she starts to feel for him. then something unexpected happens and she fears for not only her life but also her unborn child as well. she does the only thing she could ... run. she was hidden for five years before out of the blue he shows up back into her life. will sh ebe able to accept him and his ways or will she run again .
innocent woman gets stuck having to marry the scariest man all thanks to her dad debts that werent paid off before his death. forced into it and no way to escape she starts to feel for him. then something unexpected happens and she fears for not only her life but also her unborn child as well. she does the only thing she could ... run. she was hidden for five years before out of the blue he shows up back into her life. will sh ebe able to accept him and his ways or will she run again .
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