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Stolen
For six years, they've been my best friends—four devastatingly handsome roommates who never suspected how deeply my feelings had grown. As graduation approaches and our time together dwindles, walls crumble and confessions spill forth.
My best friends want me.
All of them.
And I want them back.
What begins as a dizzying exploration of passion quickly spirals into nightmare when I vanish without a trace—kidnapped during a date with the son of a powerful mob boss.
Trapped.
A pawn in a vicious Mafia power struggle.
With no knowledge of whether my date survived the attack that tore me away, I'm forced to navigate a lethal underworld where family feuds are settled in blood. As rival factions circle and tensions escalate, one thing becomes I'm at the center of a war about to explode.
The men who took me have no idea what they've unleashed.
It's time to release the dogs of war.
My best friends want me.
All of them.
And I want them back.
What begins as a dizzying exploration of passion quickly spirals into nightmare when I vanish without a trace—kidnapped during a date with the son of a powerful mob boss.
Trapped.
A pawn in a vicious Mafia power struggle.
With no knowledge of whether my date survived the attack that tore me away, I'm forced to navigate a lethal underworld where family feuds are settled in blood. As rival factions circle and tensions escalate, one thing becomes I'm at the center of a war about to explode.
The men who took me have no idea what they've unleashed.
It's time to release the dogs of war.
- GenresFiction
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 6, 2025
6 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
July 9, 2025
When everything feels perfect it all crumbles
This book starts like you might expect and good why choose book to be about to end. Everyone confessing their feelings and relationships start solidifying. Well this is not that book because while on a date with one of her men, who happens to be the son of a mafia boss, she is kidnapped.
Sabine now needs to figure out what is going on and how to get back to her guys. This book is filled with secret codes and messages which is a lot of fun. I love how the guys use everything they can to make and keep contact with Sabine while she is a prisoner.
This story left on a cliffy I was not read for because I wanted so much more.
On a side note what in the world is wrong with Jonas? He did Sabine dirty and I'm mad at him. He will need some serious groveling to get back into my good graces because the things he did I wanted to knock him out for.
I am so ready to see what happens next in this series.
This book starts like you might expect and good why choose book to be about to end. Everyone confessing their feelings and relationships start solidifying. Well this is not that book because while on a date with one of her men, who happens to be the son of a mafia boss, she is kidnapped.
Sabine now needs to figure out what is going on and how to get back to her guys. This book is filled with secret codes and messages which is a lot of fun. I love how the guys use everything they can to make and keep contact with Sabine while she is a prisoner.
This story left on a cliffy I was not read for because I wanted so much more.
On a side note what in the world is wrong with Jonas? He did Sabine dirty and I'm mad at him. He will need some serious groveling to get back into my good graces because the things he did I wanted to knock him out for.
I am so ready to see what happens next in this series.
July 9, 2025
For a first attempt at a contemporary romance Anita Ruffino has absolutely nailed it!
Pretty much everything about this book has pulled me in and held tight all the way through. I think it’s a toss up between Gray and Luca for my favorite. One is a genius who uses those skills to keep our girl informed and the other a mafia heir (always a favorite). Parker is a described as a jock, but I think he has an edge with the motorcycle. Gonna be honest I’m pretty mad about Jonas. He starts off good as the billionaires son and the “strategist” but then fumbles our girl and hurts her. What bugs me most is when the action happens and he goes over seas, suddenly he’s back on board with being with our girl. I hope in book 2 we see more of a grovel from him.
All the training and games and knowledge really paid off for Sabine. Cornered in a precarious situation, she really uses everything to her advantage. Book 1 leaves us on a cliffy and the edge of our seats. I really really really can’t wait for book 2 to see what happens next
Pretty much everything about this book has pulled me in and held tight all the way through. I think it’s a toss up between Gray and Luca for my favorite. One is a genius who uses those skills to keep our girl informed and the other a mafia heir (always a favorite). Parker is a described as a jock, but I think he has an edge with the motorcycle. Gonna be honest I’m pretty mad about Jonas. He starts off good as the billionaires son and the “strategist” but then fumbles our girl and hurts her. What bugs me most is when the action happens and he goes over seas, suddenly he’s back on board with being with our girl. I hope in book 2 we see more of a grovel from him.
All the training and games and knowledge really paid off for Sabine. Cornered in a precarious situation, she really uses everything to her advantage. Book 1 leaves us on a cliffy and the edge of our seats. I really really really can’t wait for book 2 to see what happens next
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2025
I was not ready for the cliffhanger in this book but I totally loved the ride. This is Serenity Rayne's debut contemporary romance under a new pen name. I could not put this book down and read it in one sitting only taking a bathroom break, it was such a page turner.
This story definitely gives you the friends to lovers vibes as Sabine and her guys already have a good relationship with each other that is being explored for more. The action and build up was so good, I was on the edge of my seat. There is a kidnapping and mafia men what more could you ask for. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book, it cannot come soon enough.
If you love a reverse harem with a strong FMC and men who would do anything for her, then look no further and check this book out.
Thank you Anita Ruffino aka Serenity Rayne and @literaryinspired for sending me the advance copy of this. All my opinions are my own.
This story definitely gives you the friends to lovers vibes as Sabine and her guys already have a good relationship with each other that is being explored for more. The action and build up was so good, I was on the edge of my seat. There is a kidnapping and mafia men what more could you ask for. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book, it cannot come soon enough.
If you love a reverse harem with a strong FMC and men who would do anything for her, then look no further and check this book out.
Thank you Anita Ruffino aka Serenity Rayne and @literaryinspired for sending me the advance copy of this. All my opinions are my own.
July 3, 2025
This book was pretty good, I loved the found family trope. The thing that weighs down my review and makes it 3 stars instead of 4 is simply Jonas. He disgusted me first Parker says that Jonas is terrified of breaking Sabines heart, but from what im seeing its the opposite. He dosent seem to love her or care for her at all. Because he says he loves her but then he says "im not ready to settle down", so you love her but dont want to be with her? And the thing that really disgust me and that makes him irredemable in my eyes is the fact that after he broke up with thw fmc he immediatly starts to flirt with the saleswoman the fmc is buying a dress off. And that thing that makes me hate him? he says to the saleswoman after breaking up with the fmc Sabine that she is his SISTER. So where exaclty is he afriad of breaking her heart? First he says he doesnt wanna settle down, goes directly to another woman to flirt and makes it even worse by saying that the fmc is his sister just so he can get laid. Oh and he doesnt stop that, they all go to a ball and he yep you guessed it find a blonde to dance and hang out with. Now i know someone is probably thinking why can she have multiple boyfriends but he cant have multiple girlfriends? the diffrence is CONSENT, in the beginning of the book all the male leads agree that they have feelings for the fmc and want to date her together. So for Jonas to be a fuckboy and destroy everthing is just pathethic of him. And the worst part? He dosent even regret how he treted her, he just didnt like how the fmc looked at him but he didnt seem to be regretful at what he did whatsover. I dont want him in the harem at all, he didnt even apoligize to her and i doubt hes gonna grovel. It was just unecessary drama imo, beacuse now i want him dead so how is the author possible gonna give him redmption? i dont belive for a second that he actually loves her. Thank you for the arc read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2025
One of my go-to paranormal authors, Serenity Rayne, is trying her hand at contemporary. Stolen is the first book under the new pen name Anita Ruffino, and it was amazing!
It starts as a sweet friends-to-lovers. Sabine and the guys already had a great friendship, but now they're figuring out how to become more. I really liked that Sabine and the guys were friends first. They had a great foundation, and things only improved from there. Seeing a friendship group settling into their new (and complex) dynamic was interesting. They handled things pretty well; there were important conversations, testing the waters with dates, and a little spice. The relationships were more on the realistic side.
The story takes a turn and becomes a Mafia romance. Honestly, I was waiting for this. I love the organized crime trope, and everything I loved about it happened in this book. Mafia princes, power plays, strategic moves, manipulation, kidnapping, firefights, very important body parts getting removed, the whole nine yards. Sabine is a badass. There's capable, and then there’s her. She has genius-level intellect, a huge skill set, and a strategic mind and knows how to act the part. She was born for this. I love it when a female character goes beyond normal expectations. The guys were a surprise. More emotionally open than I expected and beyond devoted to Sabine. They've been family for a while, and it shows all throughout the book. Grayson surprised me the most. He's a little bit of a dark horse. A genius hacker with a hidden dark side and maybe a little unhinged. I adored him.
OMG. That plot twist. Dang. I mean, it was good, but it was a hit I didn't see coming. After that, the tension just ratcheted up. Something was coming, people were getting twitchy, and time was running out. Just when I thought things were getting good, the story ended. Ugh! I need to know what happens next. The dogs have been released.
It starts as a sweet friends-to-lovers. Sabine and the guys already had a great friendship, but now they're figuring out how to become more. I really liked that Sabine and the guys were friends first. They had a great foundation, and things only improved from there. Seeing a friendship group settling into their new (and complex) dynamic was interesting. They handled things pretty well; there were important conversations, testing the waters with dates, and a little spice. The relationships were more on the realistic side.
The story takes a turn and becomes a Mafia romance. Honestly, I was waiting for this. I love the organized crime trope, and everything I loved about it happened in this book. Mafia princes, power plays, strategic moves, manipulation, kidnapping, firefights, very important body parts getting removed, the whole nine yards. Sabine is a badass. There's capable, and then there’s her. She has genius-level intellect, a huge skill set, and a strategic mind and knows how to act the part. She was born for this. I love it when a female character goes beyond normal expectations. The guys were a surprise. More emotionally open than I expected and beyond devoted to Sabine. They've been family for a while, and it shows all throughout the book. Grayson surprised me the most. He's a little bit of a dark horse. A genius hacker with a hidden dark side and maybe a little unhinged. I adored him.
OMG. That plot twist. Dang. I mean, it was good, but it was a hit I didn't see coming. After that, the tension just ratcheted up. Something was coming, people were getting twitchy, and time was running out. Just when I thought things were getting good, the story ended. Ugh! I need to know what happens next. The dogs have been released.
July 9, 2025
Stolen is book one in The Nightshade Chronicles. It is a fast burn, contemporary, why choose, friends to lovers, mafia romance with action, intrigue, danger, suspense, mystery, kidnapping, and a surprise pregnancy.
Sabine and her men have chemistry galore and I loved their interactions. I loved how they started as this amazing, tight friendship group and evolved into an awesome romance. I loved the challenges and the danger and that these four men will do anything to get their girl back!
This was a great read! The writing was terrific and I loved the quick pace, and seamless flow, as well as the awesome plot, storytelling, and world building. I also adored the characters and their palpable emotion provoking and spicy moments.
I'd absolutely recommend this book and cannot wait for the exciting next book.
Sabine and her men have chemistry galore and I loved their interactions. I loved how they started as this amazing, tight friendship group and evolved into an awesome romance. I loved the challenges and the danger and that these four men will do anything to get their girl back!
This was a great read! The writing was terrific and I loved the quick pace, and seamless flow, as well as the awesome plot, storytelling, and world building. I also adored the characters and their palpable emotion provoking and spicy moments.
I'd absolutely recommend this book and cannot wait for the exciting next book.
July 9, 2025
Absolutely brutal
That ending had my heart racing!
A woman on the edge just trying to keep herself and her guys safe, together and breathing, what a rollercoaster!
This book was the best friends to lovers, mafia romance series we all need.
This is the first contemporary romance from Anita Ruffino ( Serenity Rayne) and she did a great job.
Sabine is giving big Maura Quinn and Astin Caprioni energy. She's hyper intelligent, pragmatic and absolutely ruthless. But she's also young, in love and very aware of the realities of the world she inhabits.
When she's betrayed, she's a take no prisoners sort of woman.
I really enjoyed this book and read it over an afternoon.
That ending had my heart racing!
A woman on the edge just trying to keep herself and her guys safe, together and breathing, what a rollercoaster!
This book was the best friends to lovers, mafia romance series we all need.
This is the first contemporary romance from Anita Ruffino ( Serenity Rayne) and she did a great job.
Sabine is giving big Maura Quinn and Astin Caprioni energy. She's hyper intelligent, pragmatic and absolutely ruthless. But she's also young, in love and very aware of the realities of the world she inhabits.
When she's betrayed, she's a take no prisoners sort of woman.
I really enjoyed this book and read it over an afternoon.
July 5, 2025
I really liked this book. The FMC Sabine had so many layers. She was raised in a world where you couldn't be weak. Due to being raised in such a world, she had so many insecurities when it came to things. However, she's also very resilient. The men in this story are just as complex.
The question is, are you ready? I definitely felt like I was in the beginning of the book but I had no idea what I was getting into and parts of me were wrecked as I was reading.
The way each man stated their feelings for her opened the door to a different dynamic. When you have the ability to choose, can you?
Without giving any spoilers all I can say is that I was definitely intrigued by the entire story line.
This book has EVERYTHING:
💘 Contemporary RH
💼 Billionaire secrets
💣 Mafia power plays
🧠 Orphan Genius
👷 Blue-Collar heartthrobs
👶 Accidental Pregnancy
🔫 Gun fights
🔥 Blood, death, and heat
The question is, are you ready? I definitely felt like I was in the beginning of the book but I had no idea what I was getting into and parts of me were wrecked as I was reading.
The way each man stated their feelings for her opened the door to a different dynamic. When you have the ability to choose, can you?
Without giving any spoilers all I can say is that I was definitely intrigued by the entire story line.
This book has EVERYTHING:
💘 Contemporary RH
💼 Billionaire secrets
💣 Mafia power plays
🧠 Orphan Genius
👷 Blue-Collar heartthrobs
👶 Accidental Pregnancy
🔫 Gun fights
🔥 Blood, death, and heat
July 11, 2025
Love, power, and people ready to burn the world for each other.
Stolen is a fast paced, tense story set in a modern day, mafia world. Sabine and her best friends have finally admitted the truth of their love for one another while darkness is waiting to tear them apart. While her guys race to help her, Sabine is thrown into the most high stakes game of her life in a place full of secrets, betrayal, and death.
Ruffino’s debut is exciting, tense, and pulls you into a world that you don’t want to come back out of. The relationship between Sabine and the guys is full of love, learning relationship dynamics, and heat. The story line is intense filled with characters that you will love, hate, or have a complicated mix of feelings for.
Stolen will keep you on your toes from start to finish …. the cliff hanger is steep, the book hangover is real, and patiently waiting to find out what happens next may not be possible.
Welcome to the world of Anita Ruffino
Stolen is a fast paced, tense story set in a modern day, mafia world. Sabine and her best friends have finally admitted the truth of their love for one another while darkness is waiting to tear them apart. While her guys race to help her, Sabine is thrown into the most high stakes game of her life in a place full of secrets, betrayal, and death.
Ruffino’s debut is exciting, tense, and pulls you into a world that you don’t want to come back out of. The relationship between Sabine and the guys is full of love, learning relationship dynamics, and heat. The story line is intense filled with characters that you will love, hate, or have a complicated mix of feelings for.
Stolen will keep you on your toes from start to finish …. the cliff hanger is steep, the book hangover is real, and patiently waiting to find out what happens next may not be possible.
Welcome to the world of Anita Ruffino
July 3, 2025
This was such a fab read, I loved Sabine! She was such a strong woman with a great group of friends, and then when those friends want to take things further, she is all for it! We gradually find out that they are all involved-to a greater or lesser degree, in a dark, dangerous world. But they are all aware of the dangers this presents, and have trained to take care of themselves.
This is quite handy when the danger comes knocking on their door, and Sabine ends up kidnapped. But she shown calm, restraint, cunning and a brilliant mind throughout, while the guys work behind the scenes.
I can't wait for the next book after that teasing ending, will Sabine save herself? Will they guys be there in time? Can't wait!
This is quite handy when the danger comes knocking on their door, and Sabine ends up kidnapped. But she shown calm, restraint, cunning and a brilliant mind throughout, while the guys work behind the scenes.
I can't wait for the next book after that teasing ending, will Sabine save herself? Will they guys be there in time? Can't wait!
July 18, 2025
Wow, this story was non-stop! Never knowing who to trust or who was watching! It grabbed me from the first chapter! Sabine and her guys are fantastic! I enjoyed seeing how deep their affection for another actually goes! Such a painful cliffhanger! Absolutely can’t wait for the next story
July 2, 2025
RH Romantic Suspense
What a great contemporary debut for Anita Ruffino (aka Serenity Rayne) well written and incredibly enjoyable.
This book was action packed from the beginning and it didn’t stop!! There was spice, tension (you know who you are), mystery and betrayal.
That tension I speak of, I’m hoping for a bit a grovel…..hint hint 😉
Sabine was an amazing FMC. She was smart, observant, patient and and strategic. I can’t wait to see what else she has up her sleeve.
This ended on cliffhanger and I’m (im)patiently waiting for the next book.
BTW that was kinda rude how you ended that 😑😢😫
Check the TWs
-Best Friends to Lovers
-Bad@ss FMC
-Billionaire MMC
-Mafia Prince MMC
-Genius Hacker MMC
-Blue-Collar MMC
-Accidental Pregnancy
@author.anita.ruffino @literaryinspired
#LiteraryInspiredARCs
What a great contemporary debut for Anita Ruffino (aka Serenity Rayne) well written and incredibly enjoyable.
This book was action packed from the beginning and it didn’t stop!! There was spice, tension (you know who you are), mystery and betrayal.
That tension I speak of, I’m hoping for a bit a grovel…..hint hint 😉
Sabine was an amazing FMC. She was smart, observant, patient and and strategic. I can’t wait to see what else she has up her sleeve.
This ended on cliffhanger and I’m (im)patiently waiting for the next book.
BTW that was kinda rude how you ended that 😑😢😫
Check the TWs
-Best Friends to Lovers
-Bad@ss FMC
-Billionaire MMC
-Mafia Prince MMC
-Genius Hacker MMC
-Blue-Collar MMC
-Accidental Pregnancy
@author.anita.ruffino @literaryinspired
#LiteraryInspiredARCs
July 10, 2025
ARC Read
Sucked in from page 1! Mafia, friends to lovers, and so much more!
Stolen has so much going on! The FMC and MMC's have built such an understanding relationship of one another's strengths. Sabina ,the FMC, is like a chameleon and can blend into any situation that she is thrown into. Because of how she was raised she understands how to play the long game and determine how to get the best outcome. The MMC's working together to get the FMC what she needs to best facilitate the next moves in the game they didn't want to be part of.
The action of this book keeps you invested, the one more chapter didn't work for. I finished this book in one sitting.
Stolen ends on a crazy cliffhanger and there are no notes on when book 2 is going to be released. ☹️
Sucked in from page 1! Mafia, friends to lovers, and so much more!
Stolen has so much going on! The FMC and MMC's have built such an understanding relationship of one another's strengths. Sabina ,the FMC, is like a chameleon and can blend into any situation that she is thrown into. Because of how she was raised she understands how to play the long game and determine how to get the best outcome. The MMC's working together to get the FMC what she needs to best facilitate the next moves in the game they didn't want to be part of.
The action of this book keeps you invested, the one more chapter didn't work for. I finished this book in one sitting.
Stolen ends on a crazy cliffhanger and there are no notes on when book 2 is going to be released. ☹️
July 2, 2025
Well then, leave me on a cliffhanger why don't you!
If you love a super smart, independent female lead, then Sabine is your girl! She's got wits, guts, patience, and loves her guys with all she has. Luca, Gray, Jonas, and Parker are each very different dynamic characters that are easy to get attached to. It's clear that Sabine is the center of their world and they'd do anything for her.
Unfortunately she gets stolen and things get crazy. The story is tense, hot, and exciting. I was finished before I even knew it. It's got action and secrets and plots so thick you could spread it like peanut butter. Go ahead and dive in, find out just how strong Sabine is and what her guys are willing to go through just to get her back.
If you love a super smart, independent female lead, then Sabine is your girl! She's got wits, guts, patience, and loves her guys with all she has. Luca, Gray, Jonas, and Parker are each very different dynamic characters that are easy to get attached to. It's clear that Sabine is the center of their world and they'd do anything for her.
Unfortunately she gets stolen and things get crazy. The story is tense, hot, and exciting. I was finished before I even knew it. It's got action and secrets and plots so thick you could spread it like peanut butter. Go ahead and dive in, find out just how strong Sabine is and what her guys are willing to go through just to get her back.
July 14, 2025
The start of this story feels like the end of a ‘friends to lovers’ reverse harem, a hairbreadth away from their HEA… And then disaster strikes and everything changes. Although I have to admit the tension starts to rise a little before that. I think it’s important to know the start of this story has a different feel to it compared to everything that happens later. The first few chapters, I had to pull through not being a huge fan of seeing what felt like the ending for characters I didn’t have the chance to bond with yet. But once the real action began, I became a real fan.
I still feel like the story started somewhere in the middle, leaving some details about Sabine and her men unclear, even towards the end. But in a way it also works: watching them all work together, build on each others individual strengths, that wouldn’t be possible if they didn’t know eachother so well. Putting their trust in a woman being able to protect herself is quite powerful, and I really enjoyed watching them all play their roles. And I do like it when the woman isn’t a damsel in distress.
Book one does end on a cliffhanger, but don’t let it stop you. It’s a great one…
I still feel like the story started somewhere in the middle, leaving some details about Sabine and her men unclear, even towards the end. But in a way it also works: watching them all work together, build on each others individual strengths, that wouldn’t be possible if they didn’t know eachother so well. Putting their trust in a woman being able to protect herself is quite powerful, and I really enjoyed watching them all play their roles. And I do like it when the woman isn’t a damsel in distress.
Book one does end on a cliffhanger, but don’t let it stop you. It’s a great one…
July 8, 2025
Contemporary RH with Mafia Vibes!
@author.anita.ruffino aka @author.serenity.rayne absolutely smashed it with the start of this series! I was lucky enough to get my eyeballs on an advanced copy from @literaryinspired. From the first chapter I was hooked. If you love Mafia, RH, best friends to lovers, and a FMC who is anything but weak this is for you. There is a plot twist in the middle that will leave your jaw hanging on the floor. This is a perfect summer read to escape the mundane!
@author.anita.ruffino aka @author.serenity.rayne absolutely smashed it with the start of this series! I was lucky enough to get my eyeballs on an advanced copy from @literaryinspired. From the first chapter I was hooked. If you love Mafia, RH, best friends to lovers, and a FMC who is anything but weak this is for you. There is a plot twist in the middle that will leave your jaw hanging on the floor. This is a perfect summer read to escape the mundane!
June 29, 2025
I really wasn’t sure what to expect from this book but OMG it was absolutely fantastic! I was actually gutted as I watched the pages count down that the book was ending, and boy did it end with a bang! I loved the story, I found it a bit hard to get into at the beginning but I’m so glad I persisted with it because it ended up drawing me in and ending way quicker than I wanted it to. The characters are brilliant, I’m really looking forward to the next instalment in the series to see what happens next. And that ending! It had me on the edge of my seat shouting that it couldn’t end there! I would highly recommend giving this book a read.
July 7, 2025
I was lucky enough to snag an ARC of this book, the author's first foray into contemporary under a brand new pen name. It was really well done and I love how it starts with them deciding to be in a poly relationship after 6 years of friendship rather than the whole will they won't they shtick. I really enjoyed the story which was well paced with lots of twists and turns and angst along the way. can't wait for the next book.
July 24, 2025
Bound By Desire. Ensnared By Danger.
For the last six years Jonas, Parker, Grayson, and Luca had been Sabine's best friends – they were her ever-so-handsome roommates who had never suspected just how deeply her feelings for them had grown. As their graduation day approached and their time together wound down, their walls start to crumble and confessions started to spill from their lips. Suddenly Sabine is jumping for joy, her best friends want her, all of them, and she wants all of them in return.
What had begun as a dizzying exploration into their passions quickly spirals into a nightmare. Then one day Sabine varnish's without any trace – having been kidnapped while on a date with the son of a powerful mob boss.
Now Sabine finds herself trapped. She's nothing more than a pawn in the vicious Mafia power struggle that she's caught in.
Sabine has no idea if her date had survived the attack that had torn her away from him, she's suddenly forced to navigate this lethal underworld where family feuds aren't settled in courtrooms, they are settled in blood.
Now rival factions are circling and tensions are escalating. And one things quickly becomes clear to Sabine, she's at the centre of something that's about to explode into a war.
Sabine knows that these men have no idea what they've just unleashed. Now Sabine knows it's time to release the dogs of war.
Stolen is the first book by Anita Ruffino the new pen name of one of my favourite paranormal authors Serenity Rayne. This is Serenity's first attempt at writing a contemporary romance and let me tell you, she did just an amazing job. This was an amazing book.
This book starts as a beautiful friends-to-lovers story. Sabine, Jonas, Parker, Grayson, and Luca had this amazing friendship, the kind of friendship that you want when you are starting a new relationship. Now they are setting sail on a new relationship and they are trying to figure all out how to be more than just friends. I loved the way that the 5 of them started as friends and then became more. It built the perfect foundation for their relationship and things only got better from there. I loved seeing their relationship grow and develop even though it was complex at times and I found it to be really interesting. The 5 of them all handled everything so very well; they had the complicated and important conversations, went on dates to test their chemistry, and we got a little bit of spice and heat here and there. I loved the way that their relationships felt realistic and felt like you could see them all out on the street together.
Eventually, Anita gives us the first twist in this book and it becomes a Mafia romance. This was the moment I was waiting for. The Mafia trope is one of the tropes that I live for, and everything that I love about the Mafia trope, Anita put in this book. We get the Mafia princes, all kinds of power plays, quiet strategic moves, manipulations, kidnapping, firefights, some very important body part being removed, and everything in between.
Sabine is such a badass. She's a genius, capable, strong, witty, has a huge skshe has a strategic mind, and she knows how to act the part that she needs to play in any given moment. This is the world that she was born to live in.
Jonas, Parker, Grayson, and Luca are all in love with Sabine. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Grayson is kind of a wildcard in my eyes. He's this genius hacker who has a dark side and is maybe just a tad unhinged. I just loved him. But, all four of these guys are equally devoted to Sabine and are so emotionally open to her.
And then there's that plot twist that slapped us in the face. I never saw that coming. After that twist the tension and angst just ramped up 1000%. And you knew that something was coming up that was causing people to get twitchy because they knew that time was running out.
And then, we were left with a cliffhanger that would rival that of the twisted sisters (and anyone who's read Zodiac Academy knows how painful those were). I was not ready for this book to end, I just wanted to see Sabine kick-ass, wreak havoc, and cause some chaos.
I have to say that this is a great book and you HAVE to read it if you enjoy friends-to-lovers, a great Mafia romance, then you are going to want to read Stolen. I just can't recommend it enough and I can't wait to read the next book. And I can't wait to see what Anita Ruffino writes next.
For the last six years Jonas, Parker, Grayson, and Luca had been Sabine's best friends – they were her ever-so-handsome roommates who had never suspected just how deeply her feelings for them had grown. As their graduation day approached and their time together wound down, their walls start to crumble and confessions started to spill from their lips. Suddenly Sabine is jumping for joy, her best friends want her, all of them, and she wants all of them in return.
What had begun as a dizzying exploration into their passions quickly spirals into a nightmare. Then one day Sabine varnish's without any trace – having been kidnapped while on a date with the son of a powerful mob boss.
Now Sabine finds herself trapped. She's nothing more than a pawn in the vicious Mafia power struggle that she's caught in.
Sabine has no idea if her date had survived the attack that had torn her away from him, she's suddenly forced to navigate this lethal underworld where family feuds aren't settled in courtrooms, they are settled in blood.
Now rival factions are circling and tensions are escalating. And one things quickly becomes clear to Sabine, she's at the centre of something that's about to explode into a war.
Sabine knows that these men have no idea what they've just unleashed. Now Sabine knows it's time to release the dogs of war.
Stolen is the first book by Anita Ruffino the new pen name of one of my favourite paranormal authors Serenity Rayne. This is Serenity's first attempt at writing a contemporary romance and let me tell you, she did just an amazing job. This was an amazing book.
This book starts as a beautiful friends-to-lovers story. Sabine, Jonas, Parker, Grayson, and Luca had this amazing friendship, the kind of friendship that you want when you are starting a new relationship. Now they are setting sail on a new relationship and they are trying to figure all out how to be more than just friends. I loved the way that the 5 of them started as friends and then became more. It built the perfect foundation for their relationship and things only got better from there. I loved seeing their relationship grow and develop even though it was complex at times and I found it to be really interesting. The 5 of them all handled everything so very well; they had the complicated and important conversations, went on dates to test their chemistry, and we got a little bit of spice and heat here and there. I loved the way that their relationships felt realistic and felt like you could see them all out on the street together.
Eventually, Anita gives us the first twist in this book and it becomes a Mafia romance. This was the moment I was waiting for. The Mafia trope is one of the tropes that I live for, and everything that I love about the Mafia trope, Anita put in this book. We get the Mafia princes, all kinds of power plays, quiet strategic moves, manipulations, kidnapping, firefights, some very important body part being removed, and everything in between.
Sabine is such a badass. She's a genius, capable, strong, witty, has a huge skshe has a strategic mind, and she knows how to act the part that she needs to play in any given moment. This is the world that she was born to live in.
Jonas, Parker, Grayson, and Luca are all in love with Sabine. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Grayson is kind of a wildcard in my eyes. He's this genius hacker who has a dark side and is maybe just a tad unhinged. I just loved him. But, all four of these guys are equally devoted to Sabine and are so emotionally open to her.
And then there's that plot twist that slapped us in the face. I never saw that coming. After that twist the tension and angst just ramped up 1000%. And you knew that something was coming up that was causing people to get twitchy because they knew that time was running out.
And then, we were left with a cliffhanger that would rival that of the twisted sisters (and anyone who's read Zodiac Academy knows how painful those were). I was not ready for this book to end, I just wanted to see Sabine kick-ass, wreak havoc, and cause some chaos.
I have to say that this is a great book and you HAVE to read it if you enjoy friends-to-lovers, a great Mafia romance, then you are going to want to read Stolen. I just can't recommend it enough and I can't wait to read the next book. And I can't wait to see what Anita Ruffino writes next.
July 2, 2025
What a great introduction to this new series by Serenity Rayne/ Anita Ruffino 🩷
So we have our fmc Sabine. She is strong, resilient, kind, caring, and kind of a genius, which i love. She has been brought up in a tough world, but instead of cowering, she has thrived and learned to rule it. Our mmc's are Jonas, Parker, Grayson, and Luca. These men are all so different, but together, they are incredible and are so deserving of happiness, except for maybe Jonas. My opinion is still out on him. I think my favourite is Grayson so far. He's a total nerd but is also really sweet and caring and so innocent in a way.
The plot was really good. We see Sabine and her guys grow their relationship into something more. They start exploring what that looks like, which was so beautiful until it's ripped away from them by someone they thought was an ally in their lives. Sabine and Grayson use their genius minds to find an escape, but the clock is ticking as Sabine finds out she is expecting. Sabine will stop at nothing to ensure the safety of her baby and herself, but it kind of explodes...
I'm excited to see what happens next because it's just getting started. I'm really excited to see how bada$$ Sabine truly is because her guys seem to think everyone should be scared of Sabine.
Thank you so much, Serenity/ Anita and Meg, for the opportunity to read this story. I am forever grateful 🙏
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
🧨 why choose
🧨 multiple pov
🧨 bada$$ fmc
🧨 mafia romance
🧨 accidental pregnancy
🧨 billionaire
🧨 spy / subterfuge
🧨 orphan genius
🧨 so much more
So we have our fmc Sabine. She is strong, resilient, kind, caring, and kind of a genius, which i love. She has been brought up in a tough world, but instead of cowering, she has thrived and learned to rule it. Our mmc's are Jonas, Parker, Grayson, and Luca. These men are all so different, but together, they are incredible and are so deserving of happiness, except for maybe Jonas. My opinion is still out on him. I think my favourite is Grayson so far. He's a total nerd but is also really sweet and caring and so innocent in a way.
The plot was really good. We see Sabine and her guys grow their relationship into something more. They start exploring what that looks like, which was so beautiful until it's ripped away from them by someone they thought was an ally in their lives. Sabine and Grayson use their genius minds to find an escape, but the clock is ticking as Sabine finds out she is expecting. Sabine will stop at nothing to ensure the safety of her baby and herself, but it kind of explodes...
I'm excited to see what happens next because it's just getting started. I'm really excited to see how bada$$ Sabine truly is because her guys seem to think everyone should be scared of Sabine.
Thank you so much, Serenity/ Anita and Meg, for the opportunity to read this story. I am forever grateful 🙏
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
🧨 why choose
🧨 multiple pov
🧨 bada$$ fmc
🧨 mafia romance
🧨 accidental pregnancy
🧨 billionaire
🧨 spy / subterfuge
🧨 orphan genius
🧨 so much more
June 28, 2025
While I have read and enjoyed this author under her other name (Serenity Rayne), this different genre didn't hit the same for me at the beginning, it took me quite a while to become engaged in the story but I do want to know what happens in the next instalment. The synopsis indicates it is going to be an RH or poly mafia type romance, but I found the set up for that was a bit clunky and lacked cohesion. Without spoilers I can't go into what threw me off about the plot, but there is danger and action but set at a future at such a distance that it seems unrealistic, and due to elements of the story that add a dimension of angst and fear above just being kidnapped, the time delay felt almost painful to me, is the best I can describe it. The ending alters that timeline a bit, and is much improved in my opinion, and the story has a lot going for it, then you get dumped on a cliffhanger that is part "gasp" and part "really, there?" I didn't love this book, but I did end up liking it quite a bit, and so I am hoping to find the sequel will be faster paced, with some success for the FMC, not just more drawn out suffering. I would say it was more a 3.5 for me, but I chose to round up to a 4 rather than down to a 3. If you enjoy a strong FMC, and partners with a variety of skills that complement hers, in a world of dangerous families and fights to survive between them, you will enjoy this contemporary RH with mafia power plays, billionaire secrets and betrayals.
July 10, 2025
I enjoyed Sabine's story overall. The plot kept me interested, the characters' personalities were fleshed out and the pacing was good. I'm interested to see where the plot will go in book two with the situation getting more dire for Sabine. I really enjoyed the roles each of the boys held respectively within the group and how it suited their skill sets. I will say I'm not keen on Jonas so far with his pulling the "I can't share you in reality, only in theory". Book two might change my mind but he is my least favourite right now. Can easily recommend this as an enjoyable read.
Luca is tied for being my favourite with Grey. Luca is the protective son of a mafia don whose always making sure everyone in his family is safe and holds a degree of control. Grey is the computer genius who slightly struggles with human interaction and built a sex robot in case he never got the girl. He is super protective of Sabine with Luca and throughout, it is seen everywhere. I really liked Parker too whose one of the only ones whose family works in construction. Parker has an easygoing personality, still deeply protective of Sabine but is more relaxed and lowkey with his dates, actions and protective ways. Jonas has been very wishywashy to me so far so I'm hoping he gets more character development and can grovel decently in book 2 to have some redemption.
Luca is tied for being my favourite with Grey. Luca is the protective son of a mafia don whose always making sure everyone in his family is safe and holds a degree of control. Grey is the computer genius who slightly struggles with human interaction and built a sex robot in case he never got the girl. He is super protective of Sabine with Luca and throughout, it is seen everywhere. I really liked Parker too whose one of the only ones whose family works in construction. Parker has an easygoing personality, still deeply protective of Sabine but is more relaxed and lowkey with his dates, actions and protective ways. Jonas has been very wishywashy to me so far so I'm hoping he gets more character development and can grovel decently in book 2 to have some redemption.
July 6, 2025
3.5
I enjoy a mafia romance. Throw in the Why Choose element even better. Not too fond of the pregnancy trope and equally loathe an indecisive love interest. Either you're in or you're out because it causes unnecessary drama in the harem in my opinion.
Things I enjoyed: Fierce FMC, Familial bonds, Witty Banter, Brotherly Bonds, Spice, Protective and Possessive MMCs. High stakes adventure and danger. An FMC who is playing a long con as she plans her escape from captivity and her revenge against the people responsible for her capture.
Things I didn't enjoy: The indecisiveness of one of the MMCs because it adds unnecessary drama and stress to the harem. FMC pregnancy occurring immediately after sleeping with her harem and now she and the baby are in danger.
The stakes are high in this story. You have the Sabine is caught in her father's machinations and it has put her and the ones she loves in danger. Now it is a race against time for Luca, Grayson, Parker and Jonas to locate and save her before they can enact their plan of revenge.
Now that Sabine is aware of who has their hands involved in her capture, the hellcat is loose, and she is ready to reign down hell on everyone involved. She will do whatever is necessary to protect her men as well as her unborn child.
I enjoy a mafia romance. Throw in the Why Choose element even better. Not too fond of the pregnancy trope and equally loathe an indecisive love interest. Either you're in or you're out because it causes unnecessary drama in the harem in my opinion.
Things I enjoyed: Fierce FMC, Familial bonds, Witty Banter, Brotherly Bonds, Spice, Protective and Possessive MMCs. High stakes adventure and danger. An FMC who is playing a long con as she plans her escape from captivity and her revenge against the people responsible for her capture.
Things I didn't enjoy: The indecisiveness of one of the MMCs because it adds unnecessary drama and stress to the harem. FMC pregnancy occurring immediately after sleeping with her harem and now she and the baby are in danger.
The stakes are high in this story. You have the Sabine is caught in her father's machinations and it has put her and the ones she loves in danger. Now it is a race against time for Luca, Grayson, Parker and Jonas to locate and save her before they can enact their plan of revenge.
Now that Sabine is aware of who has their hands involved in her capture, the hellcat is loose, and she is ready to reign down hell on everyone involved. She will do whatever is necessary to protect her men as well as her unborn child.
July 10, 2025
All right, so I really loved the premise of the book Stolen. I read a lot of dark romance/mafia romance, so the main storylines don’t usually veer too far from each other. My only issue with this book is how it was immediately set up. I was so confused during the first 2 to 3 chapters about why I should care about these people. And yes, eventually you grow to give a fuck, but I wish we had been given more of a glimpse into what their dynamic was before shit hit the fan, so to speak.
I love that it’s a reverse harem or why-choose, though I didn’t really feel that too much—except that she was in love with her best friends and they were in love with her. I wish there had been more of the romance we actually got to experience between all of them before the “stolen” part. That way, it would’ve been more emotionally gripping and moving once she was taken from the ones she loved.
It was very promising, and I’d probably still read future installments—mostly out of curiosity—but I can’t exactly say I’m raving about it or screaming my love for it from the rooftops. It’s not bad. It’s just a little emotionally lacking for me, and I wish there had been more… because it could’ve been so much more beautiful.
3 stars. 2 spice.
I love that it’s a reverse harem or why-choose, though I didn’t really feel that too much—except that she was in love with her best friends and they were in love with her. I wish there had been more of the romance we actually got to experience between all of them before the “stolen” part. That way, it would’ve been more emotionally gripping and moving once she was taken from the ones she loved.
It was very promising, and I’d probably still read future installments—mostly out of curiosity—but I can’t exactly say I’m raving about it or screaming my love for it from the rooftops. It’s not bad. It’s just a little emotionally lacking for me, and I wish there had been more… because it could’ve been so much more beautiful.
3 stars. 2 spice.
July 25, 2025
Stolen is an action-packed dark romance that pulls you in from the very first chapter. Anita Ruffino weaves a fast-paced story filled with danger, secrets, and complicated relationships. The heroine’s life is flipped upside down when she's taken and thrust into the dangerous world of the mafia—but the real twist? Her four best friends aren’t who she thought they were… and now, they’re part of the danger too.
What I loved most was the chemistry and emotional tension between the characters. The “why-choose” element (aka reverse harem) was done really well, with each love interest bringing something unique to the story. The plot is suspenseful and dramatic, and I couldn’t stop flipping the pages to see what happened next.
That said, some parts of the story felt a bit rushed, especially at the beginning and end, and there were moments where I wished for a bit more detail or emotional depth. But overall, this book was a wild ride—perfect for readers who love dark romance with high stakes, morally gray characters, and unexpected twists.
If you're into mafia romance with a twist, this one is absolutely worth checking out. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the Nightshade Chronicles!
What I loved most was the chemistry and emotional tension between the characters. The “why-choose” element (aka reverse harem) was done really well, with each love interest bringing something unique to the story. The plot is suspenseful and dramatic, and I couldn’t stop flipping the pages to see what happened next.
That said, some parts of the story felt a bit rushed, especially at the beginning and end, and there were moments where I wished for a bit more detail or emotional depth. But overall, this book was a wild ride—perfect for readers who love dark romance with high stakes, morally gray characters, and unexpected twists.
If you're into mafia romance with a twist, this one is absolutely worth checking out. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the Nightshade Chronicles!
June 27, 2025
Okay I legit didn’t realize I finished the book m. I wasn’t paying attention to the pages & I was ready for Sabine to go off in that island & then the page stopped. So not fair. I was ready for a war to be waged.
Sabine’s story was so good. Having been best friends with the 4 most important men in her life, she kept her feelings for them locked down.
But when they take her eat & mention their feelings for her are more than friends, she decides to give this new relationship a try.
From there, we get glimpses of her relationship with each man. And man was it good.
We also get to see how the men’s lives affect her, also how her father’s decision affects her too. And when her car is tailed & crashed, tragedy strikes.
We see her surviving as a prisoner who is faking amnesia to protect not only her life.
The fact that her & her men were able to sneak around Gio was :: chef’s kiss ::
But that ending, that cliffhanger….ahhh!! I was not prepared. I honestly was just waiting for her to wreck havoc & then nothing 😩
I loved Sabine & her men & I am so very much invested in seeing how it all plays out next.
Amazing job!
Sabine’s story was so good. Having been best friends with the 4 most important men in her life, she kept her feelings for them locked down.
But when they take her eat & mention their feelings for her are more than friends, she decides to give this new relationship a try.
From there, we get glimpses of her relationship with each man. And man was it good.
We also get to see how the men’s lives affect her, also how her father’s decision affects her too. And when her car is tailed & crashed, tragedy strikes.
We see her surviving as a prisoner who is faking amnesia to protect not only her life.
The fact that her & her men were able to sneak around Gio was :: chef’s kiss ::
But that ending, that cliffhanger….ahhh!! I was not prepared. I honestly was just waiting for her to wreck havoc & then nothing 😩
I loved Sabine & her men & I am so very much invested in seeing how it all plays out next.
Amazing job!
July 12, 2025
Stolen, is book one, in the Nightshade Chronicles and is Anita Ruffino debut into contemporary romance!
Stolen had me hooked. This was such a fun, high-stakes ride with a heroine who’s smart, strategic, and fiercely resilient—and four very different men willing to risk everything for her. The dynamic between Sabine and her guys gave me all the soft, friends-to-lovers warmth before throwing me into a world of danger, betrayal, and a brutal cliffhanger.
I adored Gray—he’s my favorite of the group. His loyalty, intelligence, and he’s intense. Swoon. But let’s be real… I need Jonas to GROVEL. Deeply. Repeatedly. The man has so much to make up for.
There’s hacking, secret codes, mafia politics, and a kidnapping that kicks the tension into overdrive. I didn’t realize how invested I was until the final twist hit and I audibly gasped. I’m still reeling and absolutely ready for book two.
If you love found family, layered romance, and watching a woman outsmart everyone in the room? This one’s for you.
Thank you @literaryinspired and Anita Ruffino (Serenity Rayne) for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Stolen had me hooked. This was such a fun, high-stakes ride with a heroine who’s smart, strategic, and fiercely resilient—and four very different men willing to risk everything for her. The dynamic between Sabine and her guys gave me all the soft, friends-to-lovers warmth before throwing me into a world of danger, betrayal, and a brutal cliffhanger.
I adored Gray—he’s my favorite of the group. His loyalty, intelligence, and he’s intense. Swoon. But let’s be real… I need Jonas to GROVEL. Deeply. Repeatedly. The man has so much to make up for.
There’s hacking, secret codes, mafia politics, and a kidnapping that kicks the tension into overdrive. I didn’t realize how invested I was until the final twist hit and I audibly gasped. I’m still reeling and absolutely ready for book two.
If you love found family, layered romance, and watching a woman outsmart everyone in the room? This one’s for you.
Thank you @literaryinspired and Anita Ruffino (Serenity Rayne) for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
July 4, 2025
I love this author no matter what she writes. Sabine is a sassy, brave, strong female lead that has been taught how to take care of herself and situations by her men and their fathers. They are roommates who love each other and want a forever relationship.
Parker is the protector, always there and Sabines anchor. He makes her feel safe. Luca is the general. He keeps them moving and focused. He is a Don in training. Jonas is the strategist. He sees the world as a chessboard. "Every move calculated and decision weighted." He is also scared and doesn't want to share. Grayson is the watcher. A virgin computer genius and with his blunt honesty he brings humor and intelligence to this story.
This story has so many elements like, kidnapping, murder, mafia, pregnancy, robots, steamy scenes, great world building. I wasn't ready for the ride to stop. I can't wait for the adventure to continue. I highly recommend you read this book.
Parker is the protector, always there and Sabines anchor. He makes her feel safe. Luca is the general. He keeps them moving and focused. He is a Don in training. Jonas is the strategist. He sees the world as a chessboard. "Every move calculated and decision weighted." He is also scared and doesn't want to share. Grayson is the watcher. A virgin computer genius and with his blunt honesty he brings humor and intelligence to this story.
This story has so many elements like, kidnapping, murder, mafia, pregnancy, robots, steamy scenes, great world building. I wasn't ready for the ride to stop. I can't wait for the adventure to continue. I highly recommend you read this book.
July 11, 2025
The new pen name Anita Ruffino aka Serenity Rayne is just FANTASTIC!!! I loved the book and stayed up way too late reading it to finish and then.......... cliffhanger!!!! GRRRRR I usually do not read cliffhangers unless book 2 is right there waiting and this one snuck up on me... Shame on you Anita Ruffino!!! This book is sooo good it grabs you from the first page and keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire ride!!!
And the characters....... You have Gray, the hacker; Jonas, the businessman and playboy; Parker, the construction company owners son and teddy bear; Luca, heir apparent DON; and Sabine, the woman that can hold them all together. They've grown together through college as best friends and the boys all decide to take a leap and let Sabine know how they feel. She starts to date them all with one bowing out because he's a chicken shit.
Then things really go sideways, she's kidnapped, finds out she's pregnant, and plots to escape. I definitely can't wait until book2!
And the characters....... You have Gray, the hacker; Jonas, the businessman and playboy; Parker, the construction company owners son and teddy bear; Luca, heir apparent DON; and Sabine, the woman that can hold them all together. They've grown together through college as best friends and the boys all decide to take a leap and let Sabine know how they feel. She starts to date them all with one bowing out because he's a chicken shit.
Then things really go sideways, she's kidnapped, finds out she's pregnant, and plots to escape. I definitely can't wait until book2!
July 13, 2025
I was super excited to read this as the author usually writes paranormal books. it did not disappoint and is a great start in a new genre.
the book dove right into the action and the romance/spice.
this is a DARK themed contemporary romance that is friends to lovers. there are organized crime and billionaire vibes. the main fmc is smart, sassy, and can take care of herself. She doesn't need anyone to rescue her.
there are pregnancy themes in the book and it does end on a pretty large cliffhanger (booooo I need to know what happens) My favorite character is Gray (two words se* robot lol ) and a certain mmc better be doing some groveling in the next book and have to work for it.
The only complaint I had was that I would LOVE more backstory on the characters. maybe a little prequel novella?
The book is definitely worth the read. it was engaging, action packed and I definitely can't wait for the 2nd book.
the book dove right into the action and the romance/spice.
this is a DARK themed contemporary romance that is friends to lovers. there are organized crime and billionaire vibes. the main fmc is smart, sassy, and can take care of herself. She doesn't need anyone to rescue her.
there are pregnancy themes in the book and it does end on a pretty large cliffhanger (booooo I need to know what happens) My favorite character is Gray (two words se* robot lol ) and a certain mmc better be doing some groveling in the next book and have to work for it.
The only complaint I had was that I would LOVE more backstory on the characters. maybe a little prequel novella?
The book is definitely worth the read. it was engaging, action packed and I definitely can't wait for the 2nd book.
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