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The Camorra Chronicles #2
Twisted Emotions - Camorra Chronicles T2: Après la saga des Mafia Chronicles
Nino Falcone is genius and monster. As the right hand man and brother of the Capo of the Camorra, his lack of feelings is a blessing, not a curse – until his brother asks him to marry for the sake of the Camorra.
Kiara Vitiello, cousin of the Capo of the New York Famiglia, is chosen to marry Nino Falcone to prevent war with the Camorra, but what she hears about Las Vegas makes her veins pulse with terror. After her father betrayed his Capo and paid with his life, her family thinks marriage is her only chance to bring honor to her name; but only Kiara knows she’s a faulty prize given in return for peace.
A man incapable of emotions and a woman scarred by the past – an arranged marriage with the potential to unite, or destroy…
Kiara Vitiello, cousin of the Capo of the New York Famiglia, is chosen to marry Nino Falcone to prevent war with the Camorra, but what she hears about Las Vegas makes her veins pulse with terror. After her father betrayed his Capo and paid with his life, her family thinks marriage is her only chance to bring honor to her name; but only Kiara knows she’s a faulty prize given in return for peace.
A man incapable of emotions and a woman scarred by the past – an arranged marriage with the potential to unite, or destroy…
448 pages
First published January 8, 2019
3805 people are currently reading
55552 people want to read
About the author
Cora Reilly
49 books29.2k followersI'm an Mafia Romance writer. I'm a lover of good food, wine, travel and books, and I'm hopelessly addicted to bad boys (in books).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,090 reviews
December 23, 2018
This book broke my heart writing it. Nino is the most difficult character I've ever written, but I love him fiercely. I hope you will too.
September 30, 2023
dnf @ 40%
if i read one more time a sentence including virgin, blood and sheets the two brain cells i have left will literally combust after suffering through half of this piece of full misogynistic shit.
now, i wanna adresse the girlies. once again, i’ve seen this book literally everywhere and everyone was talking about the mmc as the perfect man. the gem of the mmcs. well, if these are nowadays standards i don’t want them. nino (mmc) and his brothers (minus adamo) are the most disgusting men i’ve ever read about, so far. i hated every minute of being trapped in nino’s head. every misogynistic and macho thought or conversation he shared with his brothers was the epitome of 'regressing the image of women'. their only hobbies ? their only knowledge and culture? their conversation skills? all orbited around one single thing: women. or precisely : p#ssies, virgins and virgins’ blood and of course wh🤗res .
"at some point it might be required that we produce offspring, but until then I can seek out other women to handle my needs … if that’s what you prefer?"
that’s what our big boy told her when she confessed that she was r@ped when she was a kid. (of course not after he killed the person that did that to her on their weeding night) but everyone seems to forget this disgusting detail —of nino only thinking about how to get laid and turning the conversation of her not feeling at ease around men
about 'him'— to gush over what he told her the next morning:
not him being "confident" that no man would dare make a move on his wife but in meantime while she gets her "shit together" he can and i quote
and to finish with the disgusting Falcone family that’s how his older brother talked to her—in front of him— within one day of her being with them, knowing well that she’s scared of men ever since she was r@ped at 13.
did he say something to his brother? of course not🙂 but you know prefect man and all..
and not an unnecessary scene featuring him fucking a random woman at the begging of the book that he called "wh🤗re"..
if i read one more time a sentence including virgin, blood and sheets the two brain cells i have left will literally combust after suffering through half of this piece of full misogynistic shit.
now, i wanna adresse the girlies. once again, i’ve seen this book literally everywhere and everyone was talking about the mmc as the perfect man. the gem of the mmcs. well, if these are nowadays standards i don’t want them. nino (mmc) and his brothers (minus adamo) are the most disgusting men i’ve ever read about, so far. i hated every minute of being trapped in nino’s head. every misogynistic and macho thought or conversation he shared with his brothers was the epitome of 'regressing the image of women'. their only hobbies ? their only knowledge and culture? their conversation skills? all orbited around one single thing: women. or precisely : p#ssies, virgins and virgins’ blood and of course wh🤗res .
"at some point it might be required that we produce offspring, but until then I can seek out other women to handle my needs … if that’s what you prefer?"
that’s what our big boy told her when she confessed that she was r@ped when she was a kid. (of course not after he killed the person that did that to her on their weeding night) but everyone seems to forget this disgusting detail —of nino only thinking about how to get laid and turning the conversation of her not feeling at ease around men
about 'him'— to gush over what he told her the next morning:
"you think I’m beautiful?”
“to think it would suggest it’s born of my imagination, but your beauty is fact. And the reason why I’m not worried about men making a move on you is because you are a Falcone now, my wife, and in Las Vegas nobody goes against us."
not him being "confident" that no man would dare make a move on his wife but in meantime while she gets her "shit together" he can and i quote
"we agreed that I seek pleasure elsewhere, Kiara. Or did you change your mind?”just imagine not being man enough to keep it in your pants during only one freaking day of marriage knowing that your wife can’t do it and already thinking about how to get it from elsewhere🤮
and to finish with the disgusting Falcone family that’s how his older brother talked to her—in front of him— within one day of her being with them, knowing well that she’s scared of men ever since she was r@ped at 13.
"what the fuck is wrong with you, woman?” he growled. “I was going to grab a fucking piece of pizza, not grope you. I have no intention of fucking you, not now, not ever. For one, there’s no fun in breaking someone broken, and secondly you are Nino’s, so he’s the only one who’s going to get your pussy. Nobody else is going to touch you like that, got it?"
did he say something to his brother? of course not🙂 but you know prefect man and all..
and not an unnecessary scene featuring him fucking a random woman at the begging of the book that he called "wh🤗re"..
August 1, 2025
THE WAY I ABSUTUTELY DEVOURED THIS LIKE IT WAS MY LAST MEAL!!!!! Guys we did it…. We finally found a dark mafia romance book that didn’t make me want to rip my hair out and bang my head against a wall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I literally never thought the day would come again. I was giggling and kicking my feet at 3:30 in the morning so I simply cannot complain.
Nino. Falcone. That’s it. That’s the review. Bye.
No but seriously there is something about a man that literally doesn’t know what emotions feel like who starts to unravel only for her 😭😭😭😭😭 no stop. I can’t. Cut the camera. I’m weak. HE BOUGHT HER A PIANO AND LEARNED HOW TO PLAY IT FOR HER TO EXPRESS HOW HE WAS FEELING THROUGH MUSIC BECAUSE HE COULDNT VOICE IT HIMSELF. Somebody sedate me.
This man LITERALLY ALWAYS HAS HIS FINGERS ON HER PULSE to help him better understand her emotions whenever her pulse picks up or slows down!!!!!!! No like I actually just fainted and passed away. My ghost is currently writing this.
“If my physical strength unsettles you, we could try to have me restrained. I don’t mind.”
No. That’s enough. I can’t take it anymore.
Nino. Falcone. That’s it. That’s the review. Bye.
No but seriously there is something about a man that literally doesn’t know what emotions feel like who starts to unravel only for her 😭😭😭😭😭 no stop. I can’t. Cut the camera. I’m weak. HE BOUGHT HER A PIANO AND LEARNED HOW TO PLAY IT FOR HER TO EXPRESS HOW HE WAS FEELING THROUGH MUSIC BECAUSE HE COULDNT VOICE IT HIMSELF. Somebody sedate me.
This man LITERALLY ALWAYS HAS HIS FINGERS ON HER PULSE to help him better understand her emotions whenever her pulse picks up or slows down!!!!!!! No like I actually just fainted and passed away. My ghost is currently writing this.
“If my physical strength unsettles you, we could try to have me restrained. I don’t mind.”
No. That’s enough. I can’t take it anymore.
December 30, 2022
⋆The evolution from clinical killing machine to doting husband carrying a torch for the one and only⋆
Nino's duality has such a calming, comforting effect on me: like the cold, serene and deadly expanse of the ocean, he is only susceptible to one natural phenomenon: earthquake named Kiara, and I loved to watch the effect of disturbances she caused.
Upon each reread, the book doesn't cease to fascinate me: Nino and Kiara are so intrinsically, infinitely right for each other. Their marriage could have only been arranged and orchestrated by
When Nino and Kiara spoke the language of love through music to convey every tincture of their emotions and feelings left unsaid? Romance is not dead. 🥺 They are like two melodies that merge together into one soft, tender symphony.
The moment Nino offered to simulate affection to accommodate Kiara's need for emotional closeness, I just knew this woman got him good and his emotionless sociopath mask would slip off and crumble under the avalanche of emotions that Kiara's sweet and gentle nature unlocked in him. Cold men going all feral over their women will never lose their appeal.
As a side note: I'm loath to read about rape victims for personal reasons, plus the whole traumatic experience has been turned into such a hackneyed, badly executed plot device by dark romance authors nowadays that it doesn't evoke anything but annoyance and exasperation in me any more,
but this book is a rare exception because
KIARA OWNS MY HEART. The softest, most precious girl. 🥺 I've never read a romance book where I'd love both main characters with equal force. Their tenderness toward each other does something unfathomably messy to my insides.
The book is so ROMANTIC. It's a real slow-burn treasure among a pile of male-gaze porn books that they're marketing as romance these days.
June 17, 2020
4.5 Smut Stars
Finally, an almost 5-star read for me and this author! I knew it would happen someday lol. And oddly enough, I find myself enjoying the earlier ones more upon re-read...perhaps some upgrades are in order, ratings-wise...
Otherwise, I really enjoyed Nino and Kiara's story.
Finally, an almost 5-star read for me and this author! I knew it would happen someday lol. And oddly enough, I find myself enjoying the earlier ones more upon re-read...perhaps some upgrades are in order, ratings-wise...
Otherwise, I really enjoyed Nino and Kiara's story.
May 9, 2024
I will take Nino and Kiara to my grave. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve read their story. They will forever be my favourite couple of all time.
March 22, 2021
3.75 stars
okaaay. but this kinda cute or whateva.
first of all just wanna get this out of the way and tell y'all:
tw — rape and paedophelia in chapter 3, OW scene also in the same chapter and "cheating" (but we'll get into this later).
i thought Nino and Kiara were really cute. Nino is supposed to be this "emotionless" robot (thank you cora for telling me this 58397x) but he was just- he was very sweet to Kiara and also very considerate since he knows about her past and does everything to make her comfortable, even standing up for her to her brothers. he just does everything she says without hesitation and i think that's cute.
some might say Kiara is weak and fragile but in a way she was. she was so scared of everything and would always cower whenever Remo gives her attention but i don't know. i did not NOT like her. i thought she was fine and im a momma bear so obviously with her history, all i wanted to do was protect her. i like her coming out of her shell by the end tho. love it when she wasn't scared of Remo anymore.
also, her relationships with the Falcone bros got me like
THEY WERE SO CUTE. especially when she was playing video games with Adamo. i wanted to punch Savio and Remo sometimes cuz they were being dickheads but im glad they weren't treating Kiara like she's fragile.
aaaalright. now let's get on with the "cheating" (spoiler).
it wasn't mentioned how often the cheating occurred but there was one scene where Nino "pulled out of the whore's ass" but that was it for the cheating. obviously i didn't like that because eww.
a part of me was thankful there's little to no details of the cheating because ✨ ignorance is bliss ✨ but the other part of me was like whowhatwherewhenwhyhow????? is this cheating in normal standards? yes. is this cheating in mafia standards? ehh no, maybe so? i don't know. but once Kiara told him to stop he did because he does whatever Kiara tells him to do. to be honest, i don't know how i feel about this because it was just unnecessary.
i would've given this a higher rating if this book was longer and if we had more Nino chapters/pov's because i wanted to see the parts where he's falling in love with her but he doesn't know he's falling with her but we all know he's falling in love with her. if that makes sense.
his revelation was too little too late for my taste, thus, he seemed too nonchalant in the beginning. i know there's a second book for this couple but personally, i like reading about the relationship moments before they say their 'i love you's' cuz that's where development and sexual tension happens the most and i needed more of that. im spoiled when it comes to these scenes i just wasn't satisfied/convinced with Nino's love. but do i do doubt it tho? no.
the best part in this book was Kiara's relationship to the Falcone bros so here's my reaction to them in this book:
— Nino: okaaay. we get it. you're emotionless af no need to remind us every other page.
— Remo: is fucking crazy so i can't wait to read his book.
— Savio: needs to be taken down a notch with his ho-ness cuz damn boy chill. also, he needs to stop being a dick to Adamo.
— Adamo: he's so precious and innocent. HE'S SO ADORABLE. he doesn't want to kill and be a ho so i just- can we all just protect this precious bean please and thanks.
･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･ Camorra Chronicles ･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･
#1: twisted loyalties — fabiano x leona ↠ 3.25 stars
#2: twisted emotions — nino x kiara ↠ 3.75 stars
#3: twisted pride — remo x serafina ↠ 4.25 stars
#4: twisted bonds — nino x kiara ↠ 4 stars
#5: twisted hearts — savio x gemma ↠ 1.5 stars
#6: twisted cravings — adamo x dinara ↠ 2 stars
okaaay. but this kinda cute or whateva.
first of all just wanna get this out of the way and tell y'all:
tw — rape and paedophelia in chapter 3, OW scene also in the same chapter and "cheating" (but we'll get into this later).
i thought Nino and Kiara were really cute. Nino is supposed to be this "emotionless" robot (thank you cora for telling me this 58397x) but he was just- he was very sweet to Kiara and also very considerate since he knows about her past and does everything to make her comfortable, even standing up for her to her brothers. he just does everything she says without hesitation and i think that's cute.
some might say Kiara is weak and fragile but in a way she was. she was so scared of everything and would always cower whenever Remo gives her attention but i don't know. i did not NOT like her. i thought she was fine and im a momma bear so obviously with her history, all i wanted to do was protect her. i like her coming out of her shell by the end tho. love it when she wasn't scared of Remo anymore.
also, her relationships with the Falcone bros got me like
THEY WERE SO CUTE. especially when she was playing video games with Adamo. i wanted to punch Savio and Remo sometimes cuz they were being dickheads but im glad they weren't treating Kiara like she's fragile.
aaaalright. now let's get on with the "cheating" (spoiler).
↳ first, there's a OW scene in the beginning before Nino and Kiara meet. it was a little bit descriptive but it felt clinical. but right after Nino and Kiara get married, Kiara allowed Nino to "look elsewhere to satisfy his needs" since she's a rape victim and she's still not comfortable with men. There were no descriptive scenes here and it was barely even mentioned. after 4 weeks of knowing each other, Kiara told Nino to stop.
it wasn't mentioned how often the cheating occurred but there was one scene where Nino "pulled out of the whore's ass" but that was it for the cheating. obviously i didn't like that because eww.
a part of me was thankful there's little to no details of the cheating because ✨ ignorance is bliss ✨ but the other part of me was like whowhatwherewhenwhyhow????? is this cheating in normal standards? yes. is this cheating in mafia standards? ehh no, maybe so? i don't know. but once Kiara told him to stop he did because he does whatever Kiara tells him to do. to be honest, i don't know how i feel about this because it was just unnecessary.
i would've given this a higher rating if this book was longer and if we had more Nino chapters/pov's because i wanted to see the parts where he's falling in love with her but he doesn't know he's falling with her but we all know he's falling in love with her. if that makes sense.
his revelation was too little too late for my taste, thus, he seemed too nonchalant in the beginning. i know there's a second book for this couple but personally, i like reading about the relationship moments before they say their 'i love you's' cuz that's where development and sexual tension happens the most and i needed more of that. im spoiled when it comes to these scenes i just wasn't satisfied/convinced with Nino's love. but do i do doubt it tho? no.
the best part in this book was Kiara's relationship to the Falcone bros so here's my reaction to them in this book:
— Nino: okaaay. we get it. you're emotionless af no need to remind us every other page.
— Remo: is fucking crazy so i can't wait to read his book.
— Savio: needs to be taken down a notch with his ho-ness cuz damn boy chill. also, he needs to stop being a dick to Adamo.
— Adamo: he's so precious and innocent. HE'S SO ADORABLE. he doesn't want to kill and be a ho so i just- can we all just protect this precious bean please and thanks.
･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･ Camorra Chronicles ･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･
#1: twisted loyalties — fabiano x leona ↠ 3.25 stars
#2: twisted emotions — nino x kiara ↠ 3.75 stars
#3: twisted pride — remo x serafina ↠ 4.25 stars
#4: twisted bonds — nino x kiara ↠ 4 stars
#5: twisted hearts — savio x gemma ↠ 1.5 stars
#6: twisted cravings — adamo x dinara ↠ 2 stars
September 1, 2024
Virgins, bloody sheets and ”whores”. I’m so sick of it. Just the way they talked about women pissed me tf off. The misogyny. How many times just the word ”whore” was used? 31.
What pissed me of the most was the fact that every damm man used the words ”child fuckers”. They’re rapists and pedophiles. Very simple. Very disgusting.
The way Nino’s brothers (excluding Adamo and Fabiano) treated Kiara was so disrespectful and disgusting. She’s traumatised and afraid of men and Nino did a piss poor job of standing up for her.
”I hope she loses that submissive behavior soon. It’s fucking annoying” - Remo
”What the fuck is wrong with you, woman?” he growled. “I was going to grab a fucking piece of pizza, not grope you. I have no intention of fucking you, not now, not ever. For one, there’s no fun in breaking someone broken,” - Remo
“Shut up, Nino. I’m fucking sick of her flinching. It’s fucking annoying, especially because I didn’t even give her reason to flinch. This is my home, and I’m not going to walk on eggshells because she can’t get a grip on herself.” - Remo
“Jeez, I wasn’t going to grope you, woman.” He held out his hand. “Stop the cowering and take my hand.” - Savio
”Maybe you can fuck the messed-up past out of her.” - Remo
“She’s got a nice ass when she doesn’t hide it under her clothes,” - Savio
“Tell him he needs to stop acting like a fucking pussy and show Kiara who’s boss.” - Savio
Remo gripped my wrist before I could follow. I flinched, but he didn’t release me. “Will you stop this shit?” he growled.
“You better remember your place,” Remo said harshly.
And Nino the ”gentleman”.
On their wedding night he was about to take her against her will because her family wanted bloody sheets. (Which btw would have been easy to fake) Then he figures out she was raped as a kid by her uncle and decides to go kill him. Why? ”Because he stole something she wasn’t willing to give”
Excuse me, sir?
“At some point, it might be required that we produce offspring, but until then I can seek out other women to handle my needs … if that’s what you prefer?” He asks on their wedding night after he’s killed her uncle. Is it really that difficult to keep your dick in your pants for a while and see what she wants after some time spent together? No. It’s not. (He did treat her well once she started to get ready so that’s a plus I guess)
”Neither my brothers nor I are good at female subtlety, and we lack the patience to figure it out. So speak your mind if you want to make it easy on all of us.” - Nino.
”We don’t do well with sensitive women” - Nino.
»»»»»”You allow sex slavery, don’t you? You have Romancers who seduce women, make them believe they are being loved and then turn them into whores.” - Kiara
“These women start working as whores because they want to please a man they should kill instead. If a woman allows a man to treat her like that, it’s as much her fault as it is his. They agree to sell their bodies because they think they are in love. That’s stupid, and they pay for their stupidity.” - Remo
“If women act as the weaker sex, they will be treated that way. Why don’t these idiotic women tell my Romancers to go fuck themselves?” - Remo«««««
Did they only treat Kiara like shit? No. The way they treated THEIR OWN BROTHER??
“Could you sound any more like a pussy? You really need to get fucked.”
Adamo’s face turned red. “Shut up.”
“Come on, you are almost fourteen. When I was your age, I’d already fucked a few girls.” Savio looked at Remo. “Lock him in a room with a few hookers so they can fuck him into shape.”
Adamo shoved Savio’s shoulder. “Shut up! I don’t need your hookers.”
“If you want to be a real Falcone, you can’t be a fucking virgin. It’s pathetic. Or perhaps you are a fag?”
I had high hopes for Twisted Emotions but.. no.
1 star
What pissed me of the most was the fact that every damm man used the words ”child fuckers”. They’re rapists and pedophiles. Very simple. Very disgusting.
The way Nino’s brothers (excluding Adamo and Fabiano) treated Kiara was so disrespectful and disgusting. She’s traumatised and afraid of men and Nino did a piss poor job of standing up for her.
”I hope she loses that submissive behavior soon. It’s fucking annoying” - Remo
”What the fuck is wrong with you, woman?” he growled. “I was going to grab a fucking piece of pizza, not grope you. I have no intention of fucking you, not now, not ever. For one, there’s no fun in breaking someone broken,” - Remo
“Shut up, Nino. I’m fucking sick of her flinching. It’s fucking annoying, especially because I didn’t even give her reason to flinch. This is my home, and I’m not going to walk on eggshells because she can’t get a grip on herself.” - Remo
“Jeez, I wasn’t going to grope you, woman.” He held out his hand. “Stop the cowering and take my hand.” - Savio
”Maybe you can fuck the messed-up past out of her.” - Remo
“She’s got a nice ass when she doesn’t hide it under her clothes,” - Savio
“Tell him he needs to stop acting like a fucking pussy and show Kiara who’s boss.” - Savio
Remo gripped my wrist before I could follow. I flinched, but he didn’t release me. “Will you stop this shit?” he growled.
“You better remember your place,” Remo said harshly.
And Nino the ”gentleman”.
On their wedding night he was about to take her against her will because her family wanted bloody sheets. (Which btw would have been easy to fake) Then he figures out she was raped as a kid by her uncle and decides to go kill him. Why? ”Because he stole something she wasn’t willing to give”
Excuse me, sir?
“At some point, it might be required that we produce offspring, but until then I can seek out other women to handle my needs … if that’s what you prefer?” He asks on their wedding night after he’s killed her uncle. Is it really that difficult to keep your dick in your pants for a while and see what she wants after some time spent together? No. It’s not. (He did treat her well once she started to get ready so that’s a plus I guess)
”Neither my brothers nor I are good at female subtlety, and we lack the patience to figure it out. So speak your mind if you want to make it easy on all of us.” - Nino.
”We don’t do well with sensitive women” - Nino.
»»»»»”You allow sex slavery, don’t you? You have Romancers who seduce women, make them believe they are being loved and then turn them into whores.” - Kiara
“These women start working as whores because they want to please a man they should kill instead. If a woman allows a man to treat her like that, it’s as much her fault as it is his. They agree to sell their bodies because they think they are in love. That’s stupid, and they pay for their stupidity.” - Remo
“If women act as the weaker sex, they will be treated that way. Why don’t these idiotic women tell my Romancers to go fuck themselves?” - Remo«««««
Did they only treat Kiara like shit? No. The way they treated THEIR OWN BROTHER??
“Could you sound any more like a pussy? You really need to get fucked.”
Adamo’s face turned red. “Shut up.”
“Come on, you are almost fourteen. When I was your age, I’d already fucked a few girls.” Savio looked at Remo. “Lock him in a room with a few hookers so they can fuck him into shape.”
Adamo shoved Savio’s shoulder. “Shut up! I don’t need your hookers.”
“If you want to be a real Falcone, you can’t be a fucking virgin. It’s pathetic. Or perhaps you are a fag?”
I had high hopes for Twisted Emotions but.. no.
1 star
July 22, 2021
no thoughts head empty
just nino falcone <3
just nino falcone <3
January 12, 2019
5 STARS!
Nino Falcone deals with his gory/twisted past by suppressing all emotion and relying solely on logic to make his decisions.
Kiara Vitiello grew up as a pariah in her uncle's household after her father betrayed the mob. But that's only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the trauma that she's endured.
Their marriage will seal a truce between the Las Vegas Camorra and The Famiglia on the East Coast.
What I loved most about Twisted Emotions was that its plot centered almost entirely around Nino and Kiara's relationship. And Cora Reilly did such a great job.
Because Nino is such a nasty mother fucker in every other aspect of his life, his patience with Kiara and his attempts to include her in his family - such as it was - made for some seriously swoon worthy reading. I loved him! His confidence, his loyalty, and later his vulnerability were mixed perfectly with his badass nature.
And OH. MY. GOD. I can't wait for the all the upheaval that Remo's plan is going to cause in the next book! Remo falling in love and being taken down a peg or two by a woman is going to be epic, LOL.
PS: this book contains the usual bloody mafia triggers, but also:
"You are too beautiful to lurk in the shadows."Gah! I am total trash for the arranged marriage trope, and Cora Reilly writes the absolute BEST there is.
Nino Falcone deals with his gory/twisted past by suppressing all emotion and relying solely on logic to make his decisions.
Kiara Vitiello grew up as a pariah in her uncle's household after her father betrayed the mob. But that's only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the trauma that she's endured.
Their marriage will seal a truce between the Las Vegas Camorra and The Famiglia on the East Coast.
What I loved most about Twisted Emotions was that its plot centered almost entirely around Nino and Kiara's relationship. And Cora Reilly did such a great job.
Because Nino is such a nasty mother fucker in every other aspect of his life, his patience with Kiara and his attempts to include her in his family - such as it was - made for some seriously swoon worthy reading. I loved him! His confidence, his loyalty, and later his vulnerability were mixed perfectly with his badass nature.
"He knows how strong he is, how powerful. He doesn't have to humiliate me to feel powerful."And watching Kiara come into her own was so satisfying.
And OH. MY. GOD. I can't wait for the all the upheaval that Remo's plan is going to cause in the next book! Remo falling in love and being taken down a peg or two by a woman is going to be epic, LOL.
PS: this book contains the usual bloody mafia triggers, but also:
July 8, 2019
At first, this seemed very much like Aria and Luca at the beginning of their story. Which was not a particularly good comparison.
Rating: 2,5/5⭐
However, it turned out differently (at least something). However, I'm not really interested in Kiara.
I prefer the scenes between the Falcone brothers + Nino's POV. Or when Kiara was interacting with them. The romance between Kiara and Nino soon turned out to be rather tiresome.
Plus I have to say that not much really happened in this book (if you do not count the romance part, of course) which was disappointing.
Remo didn’t have the necessary patience to read bedtime stories. Besides, he had a habit of letting the Death Eaters and Voldemort win.
Let's just say that I'm way too excited for Remo's book. 🐍
Rating: 2,5/5⭐
However, it turned out differently (at least something). However, I'm not really interested in Kiara.
I prefer the scenes between the Falcone brothers + Nino's POV. Or when Kiara was interacting with them. The romance between Kiara and Nino soon turned out to be rather tiresome.
Plus I have to say that not much really happened in this book (if you do not count the romance part, of course) which was disappointing.
Remo didn’t have the necessary patience to read bedtime stories. Besides, he had a habit of letting the Death Eaters and Voldemort win.
Let's just say that I'm way too excited for Remo's book. 🐍
November 28, 2023
NinoKiara are mother and father fr.
The way they simply took responsibility for everyone and made a stabby and wholesome family?? my heart- 😫❤️🩹🤞
This book gave on everything. There wasn’t a scene where I felt something was missing. There was a mix of all the emotions in this book. I felt the pain, and happiness when they were happy, giddy, hot (and I mean HOTTT) and sm more. There were some ‘wtf am I reading’ moments but I actually loved that they were there bc I had a good laugh once I came out of the initial shock 💀🤣
The way the writing is actually so fucking good at showing the emotional trauma on both sides and it makes me FEEL for both the MCs?? Colour me shocked bc there’s no way Cora wrote FabioLeona and then wrote NinoKiara. Absolutely no way.
Nino’s character was so well done I’m crying tears of joy. He was reasonable and calm and straight-up huggable. The way I’d find myself being like 🥺🥺 when he’d ask her to talk to him and tell him what he’s doing wrong so he can change his behaviour?? 😫😫 on my fucking knees.
The whole thing about him not feeling emotions AND THEN HIM BEING LIKE “WHY IS MY HEART CLENCHING?!?” GAHHHH the Qewwwtest shit ever 😭✋
And when it came to the smut.. whoowee this man really knows how to get a girl worked up. There were times when I was like Mr Sir you had no right to be that hot.
And then there’s mother Kiara. She is the most lovable caring adorable PRECIOUS character I’ve read in a while. I felt so bad for what she went thru it had my heart aching for her. Ugh, the way she was so cuteee when she would interact with Nino 🥺😫 they had me giggling, kicking my feet and shit.
I appreciated watching her progress and grow into the woman that she worked hard to become towards the end of the book but she still has a long way to go yet and I’m looking forward to reading their second book. (I’ve not even read the blurb for it yet 😭)
I think some ppl must’ve found the whole playing the piano thing corny or ott but I didn’t. I love music myself and I completely understood exactly what she meant when she was talking about it. I could hear the kind of melody she was describing in my head so clearly it had me like shiiiiiit I’m eating this up. Loved that aspect of the book. AND THAT SCENE TOWARDS THE END WHERE HES PLAYING THE PIANO ALONE AND SHES ON THE STAIRS LISTENING?? BROOOOOOO IT BROUGHT ME TO THE BRINQQQQQ
This book was so easy to read. I never felt like I was reading reading yk? That makes sense alright, leave me alone.
Their story had me stayin up till 4am for one last chapter, that’s how good this was.
𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:
Remo is so goofy im sorry 🤣 he got a bit better towards the end but still. I couldn’t take him serious when he’s out there prancing around in his boxers during a literal life-or-death meeting pls 💀✋
OH WAIT I ALMOST FORGOT REMO DOING HIS BRITISH ACCENT 🤣🤣🤣🤣 kill me now- (how am I gonna survive the jump scare if he does it in his book?? 😭)
Also I’m not looking forward to the next book bc it’s gonna be boriiingggg ☹️
𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:
“You think I’m beautiful?”
“To think it would suggest it’s born of my imagination, but your beauty is fact…”
“What are you going to do to her?”
“I’m not going to do anything,” I said truthfully, and she relaxed. Remo would.
~love that
“Her eyes darted up from the book she was holding and did a quick scan over my naked chest, lingering on my briefs, before she returned her gaze to the book, but she wasn’t able to focus on what she was reading.
Drying my hair, I walked over to where she pretended to read. ”
~Screaming hahaha
“Help?” she whispered, her dark brown eyes trusting, and my heart picked up its pace for some inexplicable reason.
“I didn’t die fifteen years ago, but I didn’t live either … until you.”
The way they simply took responsibility for everyone and made a stabby and wholesome family?? my heart- 😫❤️🩹🤞
This book gave on everything. There wasn’t a scene where I felt something was missing. There was a mix of all the emotions in this book. I felt the pain, and happiness when they were happy, giddy, hot (and I mean HOTTT) and sm more. There were some ‘wtf am I reading’ moments but I actually loved that they were there bc I had a good laugh once I came out of the initial shock 💀🤣
The way the writing is actually so fucking good at showing the emotional trauma on both sides and it makes me FEEL for both the MCs?? Colour me shocked bc there’s no way Cora wrote FabioLeona and then wrote NinoKiara. Absolutely no way.
Nino’s character was so well done I’m crying tears of joy. He was reasonable and calm and straight-up huggable. The way I’d find myself being like 🥺🥺 when he’d ask her to talk to him and tell him what he’s doing wrong so he can change his behaviour?? 😫😫 on my fucking knees.
The whole thing about him not feeling emotions AND THEN HIM BEING LIKE “WHY IS MY HEART CLENCHING?!?” GAHHHH the Qewwwtest shit ever 😭✋
And when it came to the smut.. whoowee this man really knows how to get a girl worked up. There were times when I was like Mr Sir you had no right to be that hot.
And then there’s mother Kiara. She is the most lovable caring adorable PRECIOUS character I’ve read in a while. I felt so bad for what she went thru it had my heart aching for her. Ugh, the way she was so cuteee when she would interact with Nino 🥺😫 they had me giggling, kicking my feet and shit.
I appreciated watching her progress and grow into the woman that she worked hard to become towards the end of the book but she still has a long way to go yet and I’m looking forward to reading their second book. (I’ve not even read the blurb for it yet 😭)
I think some ppl must’ve found the whole playing the piano thing corny or ott but I didn’t. I love music myself and I completely understood exactly what she meant when she was talking about it. I could hear the kind of melody she was describing in my head so clearly it had me like shiiiiiit I’m eating this up. Loved that aspect of the book. AND THAT SCENE TOWARDS THE END WHERE HES PLAYING THE PIANO ALONE AND SHES ON THE STAIRS LISTENING?? BROOOOOOO IT BROUGHT ME TO THE BRINQQQQQ
This book was so easy to read. I never felt like I was reading reading yk? That makes sense alright, leave me alone.
Their story had me stayin up till 4am for one last chapter, that’s how good this was.
𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:
Remo is so goofy im sorry 🤣 he got a bit better towards the end but still. I couldn’t take him serious when he’s out there prancing around in his boxers during a literal life-or-death meeting pls 💀✋
OH WAIT I ALMOST FORGOT REMO DOING HIS BRITISH ACCENT 🤣🤣🤣🤣 kill me now- (how am I gonna survive the jump scare if he does it in his book?? 😭)
Also I’m not looking forward to the next book bc it’s gonna be boriiingggg ☹️
𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:
“You think I’m beautiful?”
“To think it would suggest it’s born of my imagination, but your beauty is fact…”
“What are you going to do to her?”
“I’m not going to do anything,” I said truthfully, and she relaxed. Remo would.
~love that
“Her eyes darted up from the book she was holding and did a quick scan over my naked chest, lingering on my briefs, before she returned her gaze to the book, but she wasn’t able to focus on what she was reading.
Drying my hair, I walked over to where she pretended to read. ”
~Screaming hahaha
“Help?” she whispered, her dark brown eyes trusting, and my heart picked up its pace for some inexplicable reason.
“I didn’t die fifteen years ago, but I didn’t live either … until you.”
February 13, 2025
Reread # 1:
Husband reveal: Nino Falcone 🙂↕️📝💍
__________
Me: I'm thirsty
Mom: you've just had a drink
Me: the thirst for Nino and Kiara never stops 🫗🙌🏻
Husband reveal: Nino Falcone 🙂↕️📝💍
__________
Me: I'm thirsty
Mom: you've just had a drink
Me: the thirst for Nino and Kiara never stops 🫗🙌🏻
March 14, 2024
4.25 stars
I didn’t expect that. I mean, I hoped, but after the first series I didn’t think this would actually deliver. Nino’s book surprised me in the best way.
I just loved watching an emotionless machine slowly open up. It was done so well. I loved how he was so sweet, patient, and considerate with Kiara. How he’d stand up for her even in front of his brothers who he’d die for. Kiara might appear “fragile” but that was understandable considering her past. She’s a sweet precious soul and I needed to give her a hug. I felt proud watching her slowly speak up and be open for what she deserves.
I love that family dynamic so much!! Nino and Remo’s relationship is so precious. The way they got each other backs?? How protective of each other they are? How Nino’s calm logical personality balances Remo’s chaos?? That “bloody weeding night scene?” I don’t know why, but I just liked it too much! it was so satisfying. I also, liked watching Kiara fit in. Her relationship with the brothers and her momma bear attitude was so precious.
The tenderness those two shared? The vulnerability? How their romance was so quiet and sensual. This was just an unexpectedly sweet story between two broken souls. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but those two made me swoon.
I didn’t expect that. I mean, I hoped, but after the first series I didn’t think this would actually deliver. Nino’s book surprised me in the best way.
I just loved watching an emotionless machine slowly open up. It was done so well. I loved how he was so sweet, patient, and considerate with Kiara. How he’d stand up for her even in front of his brothers who he’d die for. Kiara might appear “fragile” but that was understandable considering her past. She’s a sweet precious soul and I needed to give her a hug. I felt proud watching her slowly speak up and be open for what she deserves.
I love that family dynamic so much!! Nino and Remo’s relationship is so precious. The way they got each other backs?? How protective of each other they are? How Nino’s calm logical personality balances Remo’s chaos?? That “bloody weeding night scene?” I don’t know why, but I just liked it too much! it was so satisfying. I also, liked watching Kiara fit in. Her relationship with the brothers and her momma bear attitude was so precious.
The tenderness those two shared? The vulnerability? How their romance was so quiet and sensual. This was just an unexpectedly sweet story between two broken souls. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but those two made me swoon.
January 11, 2019
I had a a few huge problems with this book:
1) The Falcone brothers have a weird (read: degenerate) tendency to fuck prostitutes... at the same time in the same room. I don't know if this is a bonding of some sorts or just one of many mommy issues they have, but it was fucking weird, distasteful and left a bitter taste in my mouth. Especially because they kept doing it while the heroine was in the same house. Nino, though married, did it too. Ok, Kiara did give him permission at first because of her own issues, but reading about Nino "pulling out of whore's ass" wasn't.sexy.at.all. It killed the romance tbh.
2) Nino sounded too good to be true. He is supposed to be emotionless, however... he is not supposed to sound like a sex therapist. He is a fucked up criminal after all. Some of his lines sounded like copy paste from self-help books.
3) The dark subplot dealing with rape overshadowed the romance in my opinion.
I'm still curious to read about Remo though.
1) The Falcone brothers have a weird (read: degenerate) tendency to fuck prostitutes... at the same time in the same room. I don't know if this is a bonding of some sorts or just one of many mommy issues they have, but it was fucking weird, distasteful and left a bitter taste in my mouth. Especially because they kept doing it while the heroine was in the same house. Nino, though married, did it too. Ok, Kiara did give him permission at first because of her own issues, but reading about Nino "pulling out of whore's ass" wasn't.sexy.at.all. It killed the romance tbh.
2) Nino sounded too good to be true. He is supposed to be emotionless, however... he is not supposed to sound like a sex therapist. He is a fucked up criminal after all. Some of his lines sounded like copy paste from self-help books.
3) The dark subplot dealing with rape overshadowed the romance in my opinion.
I'm still curious to read about Remo though.
April 28, 2021
4.5 Stars.
TW for sexual assault
SO GOOOD!! I really love this series so much and how close the men are to one another. Their familial bond is everything. I love a good marriage of convenience and this one was just so fantastic. Kiara is broken when she is married off to Nino, a member of a rival mafia. Due to childhood trauma, she doesn't trust the touch of anyone and is terrified of intimacy. I was so in love with how protective and patient Nino was with Kiara. Nino was not going to let anyone make Kiara feel uncomfortable and treated her as his. The only thing I didn't love was that Nino was not faithful the whole time. This was agreed upon between them, but I wanted Nino to be so enamored with Kiara that he didn't want to be with anyone else. I also would have loved as much mafia content as we got in book one, but it felt a bit more tame in this book. But I heard we get another book with Nino and Kiara later on in the series and I am excited to see them again!
TW for sexual assault
SO GOOOD!! I really love this series so much and how close the men are to one another. Their familial bond is everything. I love a good marriage of convenience and this one was just so fantastic. Kiara is broken when she is married off to Nino, a member of a rival mafia. Due to childhood trauma, she doesn't trust the touch of anyone and is terrified of intimacy. I was so in love with how protective and patient Nino was with Kiara. Nino was not going to let anyone make Kiara feel uncomfortable and treated her as his. The only thing I didn't love was that Nino was not faithful the whole time. This was agreed upon between them, but I wanted Nino to be so enamored with Kiara that he didn't want to be with anyone else. I also would have loved as much mafia content as we got in book one, but it felt a bit more tame in this book. But I heard we get another book with Nino and Kiara later on in the series and I am excited to see them again!
January 27, 2020
0 stars if i could lmao. i'm 4 seconds away from suing for punitive damages. i'm not going into the effort of writing a proper review for this, so:
✿ the absolute worst writing i've ever read (and i read the 50 shades series). it's like two aliens who got all of their information on humans from porn dictated to them by siri and they wrote a book using predictive text from their keyboard. e.g. "you are very wet and my finger will be very pleasurable against your sensitive walls if you allow it", "my body definitely reacted strongly to her assets"
✿ writing a rape victim but having your heroes from other books inflict rape on innocent women and joking about raping virgins before their wedding night
✿ writing a rape victim but having your heroes from other books mock said victim for being wary around men. e.g. "maybe you can fuck the messed-up past out of her", "your wife is a grown woman, shouldn't she be able to handle it?" (in reference to a victim of rape, something that occurred in her formative years, mind you)
✿ being desperate for sex and fucking sex workers, then slut-shaming them for having sex with you
✿ lifelong trauma from being raped magically cured after having sex once
✿ absolutely no fucking plot. the only interesting thing to happen was the rapist's murder, which happened at the beginning. then absolutely fucking nothing.
i want to make it clear: i know this is a mafia book, but the prequel had actual fucking morals and didn't mock or joke about rape while inflicting it on innocent people. how everyone can give this 5 stars and overlook that factor escapes me. it really does.
✿ the absolute worst writing i've ever read (and i read the 50 shades series). it's like two aliens who got all of their information on humans from porn dictated to them by siri and they wrote a book using predictive text from their keyboard. e.g. "you are very wet and my finger will be very pleasurable against your sensitive walls if you allow it", "my body definitely reacted strongly to her assets"
✿ writing a rape victim but having your heroes from other books inflict rape on innocent women and joking about raping virgins before their wedding night
✿ writing a rape victim but having your heroes from other books mock said victim for being wary around men. e.g. "maybe you can fuck the messed-up past out of her", "your wife is a grown woman, shouldn't she be able to handle it?" (in reference to a victim of rape, something that occurred in her formative years, mind you)
✿ being desperate for sex and fucking sex workers, then slut-shaming them for having sex with you
✿ lifelong trauma from being raped magically cured after having sex once
✿ absolutely no fucking plot. the only interesting thing to happen was the rapist's murder, which happened at the beginning. then absolutely fucking nothing.
i want to make it clear: i know this is a mafia book, but the prequel had actual fucking morals and didn't mock or joke about rape while inflicting it on innocent people. how everyone can give this 5 stars and overlook that factor escapes me. it really does.
July 28, 2021
It’s not cheating if you go back to a review and give the book 5stars because you realize how beautiful Nino is and there could be NO ONE who can be better than him. I don’t care what you say.
Original review:
I can’t type, I’m busy loving Nino and getting Remo’s story next.
RTC
Original review:
I can’t type, I’m busy loving Nino and getting Remo’s story next.
RTC
March 26, 2021
5 Born in Blood Stars ⭐
Duty and honor were the pillars of our world. Each of us had to do what was expected.
It was an arranged marriage meant to bring peace and a truce amongst two feuding mafia outfits. Except it also brought together two broken people destined to find happiness, healing and love.
Nino Falcone is the calm before the storm. Unable to feel emotions, it's easy for him to compartmentalise his tasks and duties without guilt or remorse; thus making him lethal.
So agreeing to be one part of the marriage treaty isn't exactly an issue until the wedding night. When he learns something about his new wife that makes him see red and stimulates his deadened heart.
My marriage to Nino was supposed to wash away the blemish of the past, but my secret could ruin us all.
Kiara is the daughter of a traitor. A stigma that never goes away. Entering into a marriage with Nino is the last thing she wants, yet there is no choice. Her husband may be ruthless and deadly, but the bloodbath of their wedding night makes him the dark knight she never thought she deserved.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
I sighed. “I’m scared.”
“Did I give you a reason to be scared?”
I looked back up at his attentive face. “No, but I’m scared because you want me, and because I want you, but I don’t know if I can do it.”
Twisted Emotions was so much better then I hoped. The mafia trope can get repetitive, so the fact that both Nino and Kiara were superb, made this story a delight. Where Nino believed he was incapable of love, Kiara assumed nobody could love her. Beware, there are triggers of rape and abuse, however it just made their entire relationship bittersweet.
Duty and honor were the pillars of our world. Each of us had to do what was expected.
It was an arranged marriage meant to bring peace and a truce amongst two feuding mafia outfits. Except it also brought together two broken people destined to find happiness, healing and love.
Nino Falcone is the calm before the storm. Unable to feel emotions, it's easy for him to compartmentalise his tasks and duties without guilt or remorse; thus making him lethal.
So agreeing to be one part of the marriage treaty isn't exactly an issue until the wedding night. When he learns something about his new wife that makes him see red and stimulates his deadened heart.
My marriage to Nino was supposed to wash away the blemish of the past, but my secret could ruin us all.
Kiara is the daughter of a traitor. A stigma that never goes away. Entering into a marriage with Nino is the last thing she wants, yet there is no choice. Her husband may be ruthless and deadly, but the bloodbath of their wedding night makes him the dark knight she never thought she deserved.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
I sighed. “I’m scared.”
“Did I give you a reason to be scared?”
I looked back up at his attentive face. “No, but I’m scared because you want me, and because I want you, but I don’t know if I can do it.”
Twisted Emotions was so much better then I hoped. The mafia trope can get repetitive, so the fact that both Nino and Kiara were superb, made this story a delight. Where Nino believed he was incapable of love, Kiara assumed nobody could love her. Beware, there are triggers of rape and abuse, however it just made their entire relationship bittersweet.
February 17, 2025
loved in the beginning but it subsided so hard towards the end😭
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October 22, 2023
|| 2.5 stars ||
This is an over-the-top, slow burn mafia romance that features the arranged marriage trope between two different mafia families.
The heroine, Kiara, is a timid and scared girl, who fears the touch and presence of all men after she was raped as a child by her uncle. Her trauma, understandably so, runs incredibly deep, and it takes her a long time to begin to heal.
The hero, Nino, is the second-in-command to his brother and is known to be completely emotionless. He is cold, logical and detached, and he does not have any feelings. Previous trauma has also made him the way he is today, and he deals with it the best he can.
I personally really liked the premise of this story, and I thought it had a promising beginning. I liked both characters and I especially felt like the detail put into Kiara’s trauma and the slow process of her healing was handled well.
I also quite liked the family dynamic where Kiara has to live with Nino and all of his brothers, but I wish we could have had more interactions between them. It felt a little empty now.
The general plot also became rather repetitive, and I have to say it was very uneventful.
Unfortunately, I simply wasn’t entirely sold on the romantic part of Nino and Kiara’s relationship. I mean, I did love how Nino cared for Kiara: He gave her the confidence and support she needed, and it made me feel all warm inside. He was so incredibly considerate of her, and it was rather endearing coming from someone who doesn’t have emotions of his own.
However, I feel like once they became more romantically involved, it became all about sex. Their interactions were all tied in with physical intimacy, and that’s not something I like. I need more emotional intimacy, which I suppose was impossible with Nino being who he is. But still.
I just never really saw them connect. Yes, Nino took care of her in a very soft way, but what made him love her? What did she do that he liked so much? I feel like the answer to that is non-existent, because they didn’t really connect on a deeper level like that. He calmed her down and helped her with her trauma, and they had sex. That’s the extent of their relationship. Which, once again, was a sweet relationship in itself, but not a very romantic one in my opinion.
I could totally see why Kiara fell for Nino, but I didn’t understand it so much the other way around. It seemed to me like Nino mostly felt a duty to her as a husband, and that’s why he treated her as well as he did. But he would have probably treated anyone that way if he were married to them; it wasn’t because of Kiara specifically. And that’s what I didn’t like.
Also, if Nino was truly beginning to feel affection and love for her, he shouldn’t have even wanted to sleep with other women while they were married. Even if Kiara said it was okay. He should have only wanted her. Which, apparently, he did not.
Their entire relationship had something very clinical about it. It lacked passion and a true connection. It just seemed like something that needed to be done, and like Nino tried to do the best he could, not out of love, but out of a sense of duty and efficiency.
I think this idea was emphasized for me by the fact that they had zero conflict or angst in their relationship. It was so easy. Too easy for a relationship in this environment that is formed out of true care and love; it showed to me that this marriage really was a task for Nino. A task he passed with flying colours, yes, but a task nonetheless. Otherwise at least something should have happened between them that didn’t go incredibly smooth.
Due to their lack of a true connection, the ending felt very strange to me. Nino’s sudden influx of emotions seemed completely random to me, and I don’t quite understand where they came from. It was also very over-the-top, yet somehow still anticlimactic. I just wasn’t feeling it.
Also, maybe this is just me, but Kiara and Remo literally had more chemistry together than Nino and Kiara. Do I think Remo would have been better for her? HELL NO. But they did have more chemistry… Probably because Nino and Kiara didn’t have any.
Thank you, Irunía, for recommending this to me. I’m sorry I didn’t love it as much as you did!
This is an over-the-top, slow burn mafia romance that features the arranged marriage trope between two different mafia families.
The heroine, Kiara, is a timid and scared girl, who fears the touch and presence of all men after she was raped as a child by her uncle. Her trauma, understandably so, runs incredibly deep, and it takes her a long time to begin to heal.
The hero, Nino, is the second-in-command to his brother and is known to be completely emotionless. He is cold, logical and detached, and he does not have any feelings. Previous trauma has also made him the way he is today, and he deals with it the best he can.
I personally really liked the premise of this story, and I thought it had a promising beginning. I liked both characters and I especially felt like the detail put into Kiara’s trauma and the slow process of her healing was handled well.
I also quite liked the family dynamic where Kiara has to live with Nino and all of his brothers, but I wish we could have had more interactions between them. It felt a little empty now.
The general plot also became rather repetitive, and I have to say it was very uneventful.
Unfortunately, I simply wasn’t entirely sold on the romantic part of Nino and Kiara’s relationship. I mean, I did love how Nino cared for Kiara: He gave her the confidence and support she needed, and it made me feel all warm inside. He was so incredibly considerate of her, and it was rather endearing coming from someone who doesn’t have emotions of his own.
“How can you say things that make me feel better when you don’t even understand what I feel?”
However, I feel like once they became more romantically involved, it became all about sex. Their interactions were all tied in with physical intimacy, and that’s not something I like. I need more emotional intimacy, which I suppose was impossible with Nino being who he is. But still.
I just never really saw them connect. Yes, Nino took care of her in a very soft way, but what made him love her? What did she do that he liked so much? I feel like the answer to that is non-existent, because they didn’t really connect on a deeper level like that. He calmed her down and helped her with her trauma, and they had sex. That’s the extent of their relationship. Which, once again, was a sweet relationship in itself, but not a very romantic one in my opinion.
I could totally see why Kiara fell for Nino, but I didn’t understand it so much the other way around. It seemed to me like Nino mostly felt a duty to her as a husband, and that’s why he treated her as well as he did. But he would have probably treated anyone that way if he were married to them; it wasn’t because of Kiara specifically. And that’s what I didn’t like.
Also, if Nino was truly beginning to feel affection and love for her, he shouldn’t have even wanted to sleep with other women while they were married. Even if Kiara said it was okay. He should have only wanted her. Which, apparently, he did not.
Their entire relationship had something very clinical about it. It lacked passion and a true connection. It just seemed like something that needed to be done, and like Nino tried to do the best he could, not out of love, but out of a sense of duty and efficiency.
I think this idea was emphasized for me by the fact that they had zero conflict or angst in their relationship. It was so easy. Too easy for a relationship in this environment that is formed out of true care and love; it showed to me that this marriage really was a task for Nino. A task he passed with flying colours, yes, but a task nonetheless. Otherwise at least something should have happened between them that didn’t go incredibly smooth.
Due to their lack of a true connection, the ending felt very strange to me. Nino’s sudden influx of emotions seemed completely random to me, and I don’t quite understand where they came from. It was also very over-the-top, yet somehow still anticlimactic. I just wasn’t feeling it.
Also, maybe this is just me, but Kiara and Remo literally had more chemistry together than Nino and Kiara. Do I think Remo would have been better for her? HELL NO. But they did have more chemistry… Probably because Nino and Kiara didn’t have any.
Thank you, Irunía, for recommending this to me. I’m sorry I didn’t love it as much as you did!
December 18, 2018
Good lord people! When Cora Reilly told us to prepare for a bunch of releases she didn't say that they would completely slay us!! Twisted Emotions was EVERYTHING!! Nino and Kiara completely rocked my world!! This story was vicious and heartbreaking but so sexy and swoony. It rang every damn bell I had and had me fully hooked from the get go!! I thought Fabi and Leona were amazing but Nino and Kiara just stole the Camorra #1 spot!!
Gah!! Without giving away ANY spoilers, this story was magnificent!! There is something about Cora Reilly and arranged marriage stories. She truly has the magic touch. I swear she had me eating out of her hands the minute I entered her world with Luca and Aria and now that there is a spinoff series, I am in mafia dark romance HEAVEN!!
Kiara was absolutely incredible. Her story was heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting as we saw not only her will to survive, but her need to walk into the light and away from past heartbreak and darkness. The fact that she had a strong man and his loyal brothers at her back was just the chocolate covered cherry on top!! And Nino - ahhhhh!! He was fantastic and true Antihero GOLD!! He was dark and scary in an emotionless, killer package. I loved his dynamic with Kiara and the slow progression of their relationship. It was heartwarming and exciting to see how bit by bit, chunk by chunk Kiara broke through his icy facade to the man inside. She proved that she was Nino's only exception and reason to feel.
All in all, this book (and series) is Mafia Romance #goals. The hot chemistry, banter and overall storyline was outstanding and brilliantly written. Reilly consistently keeps her characters true to who they are while giving us magnificent love stories in the process. Through this book and all of her books to date, she once again has proved that she is the leader of the pack!! I seriously AM DYING for Remo's book. Bravo! 6 stars! ~Ratula
Gah!! Without giving away ANY spoilers, this story was magnificent!! There is something about Cora Reilly and arranged marriage stories. She truly has the magic touch. I swear she had me eating out of her hands the minute I entered her world with Luca and Aria and now that there is a spinoff series, I am in mafia dark romance HEAVEN!!
Kiara was absolutely incredible. Her story was heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting as we saw not only her will to survive, but her need to walk into the light and away from past heartbreak and darkness. The fact that she had a strong man and his loyal brothers at her back was just the chocolate covered cherry on top!! And Nino - ahhhhh!! He was fantastic and true Antihero GOLD!! He was dark and scary in an emotionless, killer package. I loved his dynamic with Kiara and the slow progression of their relationship. It was heartwarming and exciting to see how bit by bit, chunk by chunk Kiara broke through his icy facade to the man inside. She proved that she was Nino's only exception and reason to feel.
All in all, this book (and series) is Mafia Romance #goals. The hot chemistry, banter and overall storyline was outstanding and brilliantly written. Reilly consistently keeps her characters true to who they are while giving us magnificent love stories in the process. Through this book and all of her books to date, she once again has proved that she is the leader of the pack!! I seriously AM DYING for Remo's book. Bravo! 6 stars! ~Ratula
December 24, 2025
DNF @ 81%.
Yes I am rating it and yes I am counting it towards my reading goal, I read enough of it, I deserve it. My own review has pissed me off & I wasted my whole day on this so, actually the more I think about it, 1 ⭐ is generous.
Disclaimer, this review is all just my opinion but if you loved this book and don't like seeing negative reviews on books you loved, maybe look away cause I am about to be the biggest hater.
My biggest issues is that you genuinely cannot convince me these men have any respect for women. The amount of times the word whore is used throughout, it is 31 by the way, is disgusting. They constantly refer to sex workers as whores and I hate it so much. It is so demeaning & it genuinely makes me so incredibly mad. Straight up misogynistic bullshit. They are good enough to sleep up but not good enough to show human decency and respect too??? Fuck off.
The MMC, Nino is meant to be an unfeeling sociopath but he is just so unlikable. The FMC needed straight up therapy. I feel so bad for her with what she went through but her character was so frustrating. I wish her healing had been handled better so I could have fully connected to her journey.
Now here is where I officially knew it was all over. (This could be considered a very mild spoiler) After their marriage and it is clear the FMC doesn't want to have sex (which is totally understandable with her past) he tells her that he will 'seek pleasure' elsewhere - and she agrees because she is literally traumatised.
ISTG I texted my friend "If this man fucks someone else I am out"... .wellllllll guess what happened?! 🤡 I CANNOT. I don't care if they ‘agreed’. Theres no way. Get outta here. What a piece of fucking trash. Ugh I am so mad about it.
But wait... after he gets interrupted by his brothers (during sex 💀) the fmc asks him to stay in bed with her and in his inner monologue he says "I'd intended to return to the whore" - YOU ARE ACTUALLY FUCKING GROSS MATE, GOODBYE. IN THE BIN. I hate him. Then she thanks him... be for real. Thanks so much for stopping having sex with a random woman to sleep in the same bed as your wife. Are the standards really that low? Like we are thanking this man for helping you when he was literally inside another woman moments before?
Also I need to point out they have barely been married, can you really not keep it in your pants that long mate?
Then his brothers are the actual worst. Shock they also talk about women as if they are trash. If only they knew how trash they actually were. The way they all spoke about the MMC ‘fucking’ the FMC into submission… with her past too? Disgusting.
This book just evoked so much feminine rage in me and I don't think that was the purpose of it.
I should also add the writing is absolutely atrocious.
Anyway, I gave up when she said she loved this man. I am sure he eventually says he loves her back. You can’t convince I’m believing in this?? Everything sucks. I am being punished.
Truly, I love mafia romance and I love a morally grey character but I just couldn't vibe with this. I am down for them to be bad people as long as they are good to their women, it is part of the attraction to these books lol, but the whole thing just pissed me off so much. Was he good to her eventually? Don't care because he straight up cheated on her and kept referring to other women as whores.
And if you loved this book but read this review anyway, I am sorry LOL. Still love me 😂🩷 I think varied reviews are good and I am not about to ignore how awful this book is. I should also state A LOT of people love this book so hey, don’t let me put you off but if you feel the same as me… don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Yes I am rating it and yes I am counting it towards my reading goal, I read enough of it, I deserve it. My own review has pissed me off & I wasted my whole day on this so, actually the more I think about it, 1 ⭐ is generous.
Disclaimer, this review is all just my opinion but if you loved this book and don't like seeing negative reviews on books you loved, maybe look away cause I am about to be the biggest hater.
My biggest issues is that you genuinely cannot convince me these men have any respect for women. The amount of times the word whore is used throughout, it is 31 by the way, is disgusting. They constantly refer to sex workers as whores and I hate it so much. It is so demeaning & it genuinely makes me so incredibly mad. Straight up misogynistic bullshit. They are good enough to sleep up but not good enough to show human decency and respect too??? Fuck off.
The MMC, Nino is meant to be an unfeeling sociopath but he is just so unlikable. The FMC needed straight up therapy. I feel so bad for her with what she went through but her character was so frustrating. I wish her healing had been handled better so I could have fully connected to her journey.
Now here is where I officially knew it was all over. (This could be considered a very mild spoiler) After their marriage and it is clear the FMC doesn't want to have sex (which is totally understandable with her past) he tells her that he will 'seek pleasure' elsewhere - and she agrees because she is literally traumatised.
ISTG I texted my friend "If this man fucks someone else I am out"... .wellllllll guess what happened?! 🤡 I CANNOT. I don't care if they ‘agreed’. Theres no way. Get outta here. What a piece of fucking trash. Ugh I am so mad about it.
But wait... after he gets interrupted by his brothers (during sex 💀) the fmc asks him to stay in bed with her and in his inner monologue he says "I'd intended to return to the whore" - YOU ARE ACTUALLY FUCKING GROSS MATE, GOODBYE. IN THE BIN. I hate him. Then she thanks him... be for real. Thanks so much for stopping having sex with a random woman to sleep in the same bed as your wife. Are the standards really that low? Like we are thanking this man for helping you when he was literally inside another woman moments before?
Also I need to point out they have barely been married, can you really not keep it in your pants that long mate?
Then his brothers are the actual worst. Shock they also talk about women as if they are trash. If only they knew how trash they actually were. The way they all spoke about the MMC ‘fucking’ the FMC into submission… with her past too? Disgusting.
This book just evoked so much feminine rage in me and I don't think that was the purpose of it.
I should also add the writing is absolutely atrocious.
Anyway, I gave up when she said she loved this man. I am sure he eventually says he loves her back. You can’t convince I’m believing in this?? Everything sucks. I am being punished.
Truly, I love mafia romance and I love a morally grey character but I just couldn't vibe with this. I am down for them to be bad people as long as they are good to their women, it is part of the attraction to these books lol, but the whole thing just pissed me off so much. Was he good to her eventually? Don't care because he straight up cheated on her and kept referring to other women as whores.
And if you loved this book but read this review anyway, I am sorry LOL. Still love me 😂🩷 I think varied reviews are good and I am not about to ignore how awful this book is. I should also state A LOT of people love this book so hey, don’t let me put you off but if you feel the same as me… don’t say I didn’t warn you.
December 21, 2020
Trigger Warning : Fairly detailed rape scene when Kiara(h) was just 13 it continued for four nights afterwards.
That's the exact moment Nino Falcone took my heart ⬇️⬇️
Intelligent✔️
Born Fighter✔️
Caring, Loving, Patient ✔️
Grey eyes ✔️
Tall✔️
Tattoos 🤤🤤🤤✔️
Big yet Lean✔️
What's not to love?
Nino Falcone 🖤
P.S- Officially I want the want the word "simulate" out of English language 😒 tysm
That's the exact moment Nino Falcone took my heart ⬇️⬇️
“I was promised a Vitiello woman in marriage.
A woman with beauty and grace.
You fulfill my requirements.”
Intelligent✔️
Born Fighter✔️
Caring, Loving, Patient ✔️
Grey eyes ✔️
Tall✔️
Tattoos 🤤🤤🤤✔️
Big yet Lean✔️
What's not to love?
Nino Falcone 🖤
P.S- Officially I want the want the word "simulate" out of English language 😒 tysm
April 25, 2024
₊✩‧₊˚౨ 5 stars ৎ˚₊✩‧₊
“ 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓, 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒎𝒆. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒆.”
⋆｡‧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚‧｡⋆
~ AAAAAAHHH Nino and Kiaras story surprised me! I loved everything about this book. WOW WOW WOW.
The way Nino dealt and was patient with Kiara because of the trauma from her past. THATS MY GUYYYY RIGHT THERE. In the other books Nino seemed boring BUT in his own book?! he really served and devoured!!! I LOVEEEEEVEDVDVDVDDVVDV♥️♥️♥️
BRB SOBBINGGG BC I MISS THEM SM.
“ 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓, 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒎𝒆. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒆.”
⋆｡‧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚‧｡⋆
~ AAAAAAHHH Nino and Kiaras story surprised me! I loved everything about this book. WOW WOW WOW.
The way Nino dealt and was patient with Kiara because of the trauma from her past. THATS MY GUYYYY RIGHT THERE. In the other books Nino seemed boring BUT in his own book?! he really served and devoured!!! I LOVEEEEEVEDVDVDVDDVVDV♥️♥️♥️
BRB SOBBINGGG BC I MISS THEM SM.
nope
January 24, 2019She is a rape victim and she finds herself in an arranged marriage.
She gives permission to her husband to sleep with other women and he does!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
She gives permission to her husband to sleep with other women and he does!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 24, 2025
I tried, I really did. But somewhere around the hero having to ‘extract himself’ from another woman so he could comfort the heroine mid-breakdown, I mentally packed my bags and left.
Your enjoyment of this book is going to depend on where your ‘line’ is. The male characters sprinted right over mine. It was truly some of the weirdest character choices I’ve read.
In the beginning, I actually liked the characters. The hero was patient, and the heroine slowly grew more comfortable with him. This must have been really hard given her extensive trauma related to CSA. The book went into detail on that trigger, but it felt necessary to show what she endured and how justified the retribution coming was.
Back to the hero. I thought he was neurodivergent, but other reviews say he was a sociopath. Pretty big difference…and I don’t remember that part, but the point was that he struggled to read people’s emotions. This actually led to some very sweet moments (sociopath or not). For example, he would hold the heroine's wrist to check her heart rate so he could understand what she was feeling. He wanted to connect with her without asking her outright and possibly diving into her trauma. Brownie points for those adorable moments…he later lost those brownie points…
The ‘incident’ I mentioned earlier involved him having sex with another woman after meeting the heroine. To his credit, the heroine asked him to see other women because of her CSA trauma, and they were not in a relationship at the time. Lots of reviewers were fine with this, and fair play, but not me... It wasn’t so much the act itself (although that wasn’t great), it was the fact that he was portrayed as this understanding guy who wanted her to feel safe in his home. Having sex with a prostitute in the guest room, in their home made that hard to believe…was there nowhere else to go…
So despite her being okay with it, I wasn’t. It was very detailed too. Did we really need that much detail for a sex scene with another woman?
I ended up DNFing at 45% because of this. Just to be clear, I really liked the heroine. She didn’t magically get over her trauma the moment she saw the hero’s face, which is something that happens far too often. You could feel how deeply she was still living in her pain.
I should be ending the review here, but I can’t. Remo’s book (3) was also ruined for me in this book.
You can stop here if you don’t care, but I must vent !! So when talking to the heroine’s family, one of her male cousins says to Remo ‘We don’t punish women by r*ping them.’ Weird thing to say, but I just waited for Remo’s denial…and he basically said he only r*ped women who needed to be punished. Excuse me…wtf !! I’ve read a lot of dark mafia romances and I’ve never seen a (soon to be) hero say he was a r*pist. He said he gave women a choice between r*pe and torture, like that somehow made it better…Am I crazy? There are ways to make male characters imposing and frightening without making them r*pists. So yeah, this series was not for me. I felt like it went in and weird direction and tried too hard…
If you still want to read this book (after my glowing review 😐), start with book 1. A lot of what happens in this book references the previous book.
Your enjoyment of this book is going to depend on where your ‘line’ is. The male characters sprinted right over mine. It was truly some of the weirdest character choices I’ve read.
In the beginning, I actually liked the characters. The hero was patient, and the heroine slowly grew more comfortable with him. This must have been really hard given her extensive trauma related to CSA. The book went into detail on that trigger, but it felt necessary to show what she endured and how justified the retribution coming was.
Back to the hero. I thought he was neurodivergent, but other reviews say he was a sociopath. Pretty big difference…and I don’t remember that part, but the point was that he struggled to read people’s emotions. This actually led to some very sweet moments (sociopath or not). For example, he would hold the heroine's wrist to check her heart rate so he could understand what she was feeling. He wanted to connect with her without asking her outright and possibly diving into her trauma. Brownie points for those adorable moments…he later lost those brownie points…
The ‘incident’ I mentioned earlier involved him having sex with another woman after meeting the heroine. To his credit, the heroine asked him to see other women because of her CSA trauma, and they were not in a relationship at the time. Lots of reviewers were fine with this, and fair play, but not me... It wasn’t so much the act itself (although that wasn’t great), it was the fact that he was portrayed as this understanding guy who wanted her to feel safe in his home. Having sex with a prostitute in the guest room, in their home made that hard to believe…was there nowhere else to go…
So despite her being okay with it, I wasn’t. It was very detailed too. Did we really need that much detail for a sex scene with another woman?
I ended up DNFing at 45% because of this. Just to be clear, I really liked the heroine. She didn’t magically get over her trauma the moment she saw the hero’s face, which is something that happens far too often. You could feel how deeply she was still living in her pain.
I should be ending the review here, but I can’t. Remo’s book (3) was also ruined for me in this book.
You can stop here if you don’t care, but I must vent !! So when talking to the heroine’s family, one of her male cousins says to Remo ‘We don’t punish women by r*ping them.’ Weird thing to say, but I just waited for Remo’s denial…and he basically said he only r*ped women who needed to be punished. Excuse me…wtf !! I’ve read a lot of dark mafia romances and I’ve never seen a (soon to be) hero say he was a r*pist. He said he gave women a choice between r*pe and torture, like that somehow made it better…Am I crazy? There are ways to make male characters imposing and frightening without making them r*pists. So yeah, this series was not for me. I felt like it went in and weird direction and tried too hard…
If you still want to read this book (after my glowing review 😐), start with book 1. A lot of what happens in this book references the previous book.
![Profile Image for moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645500038i%2F37448930._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
December 16, 2020
Reread: 10/8/20
listen, Remo is my all time favorite CR character but, when I look back and remember how I felt while reading Nino's book, I realize that maybe the Falcone brothers have a special place in my heart as a whole honestly (yes, even Savio - tho I love him better as a side character rather than a main). <3
***
Warning: I fangirl quite a lot about Nino and Remo in this review so this was a whole mess.
✰ 5 stars ✰
“I love you. For real. No simulated affection or love ever again, because with you, I don’t need to simulate. You dragged that dead part of me out of the past and revived it. I didn’t die fifteen years ago, but I didn’t live either … until you.”
oh damn, I absolutely loved this book! where can I get my own Nino Falcone?? 🥺
Kiara (h):
➴ lemme just say, heroines similar to Kiara are often a hit or miss me, depending on how they are written; however, because of what she's been through, it's understandable why she was that way and I honestly just wanted to hug and protect her. I loved her!! Her character development was so good! It was slow, but it was there and true to her character. 🥰
Nino (H):
➴ umm, where to start with him? first of all, I loved and appreciated his patience for Kiara. The way he was willing to wait for her, guiding her at her own pace was perfection and Also, Nino was more of an actions speak louder than words type of H and I think it truly showed throughout the book. The way he always kept his promises. I thought I’d be annoyed with how he lacked the ability to feel but, surprisingly, I didn’t mind it and it was nice seeing him face his feelings towards the end. 💘
Romance:
➴ Precious and loving. Two words I'd describe their relationship. They were two broken souls with tragic pasts and the way they slowly learned to accept one another was beautiful. They’re my favorite couple in the series so far! <3
Falcone brothers & Fabiano:
➴ Remo. I loved being able to see different layers of Remo. I’ve been intrigued by him since he first appeared in the previous book and my interest towards him keeps increasing. Despite being a heartless killer, it’s ironic because I do think he has a heart, even if it’s just to the very few he sees as family such as his brothers and Fabiano. I also love how he takes “protecting family” and loyalty seriously. In conclusion: I love Remo. I can’t wait to read his book!!
➴ Savio. I was surprised by how much I learned a lot about Savio here. In the first book, it felt like I barely knew him, so it was nice seeing more of him in this!
➴ Fabiano. okay ngl, I like him but he was the least I paid attention to in this book LOL idk if it’s cause the others just peaked my interest more or what 😅 I’m happy to see updates of him and Leona tho 🥰
➴ Adamo. I’ve said it once and I’ll keep saying it; Adamo must be protected. I absolutely love his innocence and it’s refreshing cause his brothers are the exact opposite lol. I know it won’t be for long cause he’s gonna get initiated soon, but he has my heart. ❤️
listen, Remo is my all time favorite CR character but, when I look back and remember how I felt while reading Nino's book, I realize that maybe the Falcone brothers have a special place in my heart as a whole honestly (yes, even Savio - tho I love him better as a side character rather than a main). <3
***
Warning: I fangirl quite a lot about Nino and Remo in this review so this was a whole mess.
✰ 5 stars ✰
“I love you. For real. No simulated affection or love ever again, because with you, I don’t need to simulate. You dragged that dead part of me out of the past and revived it. I didn’t die fifteen years ago, but I didn’t live either … until you.”
oh damn, I absolutely loved this book! where can I get my own Nino Falcone?? 🥺
Kiara (h):
➴ lemme just say, heroines similar to Kiara are often a hit or miss me, depending on how they are written; however, because of what she's been through, it's understandable why she was that way and I honestly just wanted to hug and protect her. I loved her!! Her character development was so good! It was slow, but it was there and true to her character. 🥰
Nino (H):
➴ umm, where to start with him? first of all, I loved and appreciated his patience for Kiara. The way he was willing to wait for her, guiding her at her own pace was perfection and Also, Nino was more of an actions speak louder than words type of H and I think it truly showed throughout the book. The way he always kept his promises. I thought I’d be annoyed with how he lacked the ability to feel but, surprisingly, I didn’t mind it and it was nice seeing him face his feelings towards the end. 💘
Romance:
➴ Precious and loving. Two words I'd describe their relationship. They were two broken souls with tragic pasts and the way they slowly learned to accept one another was beautiful. They’re my favorite couple in the series so far! <3
Falcone brothers & Fabiano:
➴ Remo. I loved being able to see different layers of Remo. I’ve been intrigued by him since he first appeared in the previous book and my interest towards him keeps increasing. Despite being a heartless killer, it’s ironic because I do think he has a heart, even if it’s just to the very few he sees as family such as his brothers and Fabiano. I also love how he takes “protecting family” and loyalty seriously. In conclusion: I love Remo. I can’t wait to read his book!!
➴ Savio. I was surprised by how much I learned a lot about Savio here. In the first book, it felt like I barely knew him, so it was nice seeing more of him in this!
➴ Fabiano. okay ngl, I like him but he was the least I paid attention to in this book LOL idk if it’s cause the others just peaked my interest more or what 😅 I’m happy to see updates of him and Leona tho 🥰
➴ Adamo. I’ve said it once and I’ll keep saying it; Adamo must be protected. I absolutely love his innocence and it’s refreshing cause his brothers are the exact opposite lol. I know it won’t be for long cause he’s gonna get initiated soon, but he has my heart. ❤️
July 16, 2025
Not my first novel by Cora Reilly but it’s been a while since I read a good arranged marriage mafia story and she does hear what she does best and as expected I enjoyed myself immensely.This author is so on the ball with this type of fiction and I always know she's going to deliver a belter of a story.
Twisted Emotions is the second book in this series but can be read as a standalone I did and had no issues following along. It centres on Nino Falcone who is the right-hand man of his brother the Capo of the Camorra and Kiara Vitiello, cousin of the Capo of the New York Famiglia these two are to join for peace between the two powerful families. As usual, we get a story that was captivating and excellently written and one I recommend highly.
I adored Nino and Remos own unique twist of the showing of the sheets after the wedding night it was such poetic and fitting justice. This was such a great read and Cora Reilly is definitely my go-to girl for mafia romance. On a side note, this contains flashbacks of childhood abuse just so you're aware. I voluntary reviewed an arc of Twisted Emotions. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
August 23, 2024
it was cute how nino was all for kiara’s consent, considerate and so patient towards her but i missed feel to it all. they felt somewhat shallow and the spicy scenes had me disliking the use of the word “pelvis” real bad
but i LOVE the falcone fam the scenes that were revolved around them was what i lived for and what i enjoyed the most. kiara can shoo off dat couch and lemme join in on pizza dinner every evening
remo falcone my star and my character up in dis bih. most excited about him ofcourse so ima launch my ahh to twisted pride rn 🚀(it better not disappoint) IT BETTA NAWT
but i LOVE the falcone fam the scenes that were revolved around them was what i lived for and what i enjoyed the most. kiara can shoo off dat couch and lemme join in on pizza dinner every evening
remo falcone my star and my character up in dis bih. most excited about him ofcourse so ima launch my ahh to twisted pride rn 🚀(it better not disappoint) IT BETTA NAWT
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