Coffee, spicy books, and a profound disrespect for tomorrow (aka reading until four in the morning). My three favorite things.
I aim to write the kind of stories that keep you up way too late, while squealing, kicking your feet, and falling hopelessly in love with your new book boyfriend (or two... I don’t judge).
Grab that triple-shot brown sugar shaken espresso. Trust me, we’re both going to need it.
4.25 stars. I knew this book was my type from the blurb alone and I'm glad it didn't disappoint. I actually thought the beginning would be a bit darker, but the result was still nice.
The story follows Dylan, mistakenly kidnapped in his twin's place. Dante, his captor, doesn't believe his explanations at the start since Dylan's twin is known for being good at faking. Dante will soon realize that he's commited a big mistake.
Starting by the things I wanted differently: the first chapters felt a bit rushed for me and later on there were some things repeatedly mentioned that didn't need to be in my opinion (such as Dante's loneliness, since the dialogue and actions themselves spoke louder). I was expecting more from was the climax near the end as well. I really wanted it to be a bigger threat, but I guess it was like that because the author didn't want this to be too dark.
There was also one detail that I decided to give a pass and continue the book anyway since it didn't come up too much: the insta attraction. I feel like the story had a good balance between that and making the characters get to know each other before developing actual feelings, so kudos for that.
Speaking about the characters, I ended up liking both a lot. Dylan is the type of MC that is easy to love and one of my favorite type of characters, vulnerable but resiliant. Dante is also my favorite type of love interest, tough but protective. They fit amazingly well. I loved how Dylan basically brought life to a loner like Dante and made him want to become better, meanwhile Dylan gained support and strength from Dante in order to face whatever and whoever was against his own self.
The book had tropes I found well done, such as the captor and captive dynamic and the groveling. I liked that the author gave the characters time to warm up to each other in an organic way, without rush and despite the circumstances. I found Dante's redemption believable and enjoyable too. There were times where the characters surprised me with their actiona, like Dylan making up that type of plan and Dante ending up being patient. It made them feel more compelling.
The conclusion felt satisfying as well. I loved the cameos from all the characters in the series (although I still have to read a couple). Even if some scenes were cliche, I'll always like them as long as they entertain me, and I was entertained during the entire book for sure. Despite the last chapters feeling a bit sped up, the last one felt very fulfilling.
I wonder if there would be other books from the series, I honestly never want it to end. No matter what, I'll definitely continue to check out this author's future works.
-I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Tags: (might miss some of them) -POV: first person -Content warnings: -Elements: -Sexual act(s): -Dynamic:
Stockholm syndrome and growing possessive-obsession swirl together in another tension-filled read in the author’s My Mobster series (each book has new MCs). I almost always enjoy a twisted romance that involves “MINE/touch him and die” sentiments, and this one delivered.
Dylan, a baker who’s just opened a new bakery, wakes tied to a chair in an intense and frightening man’s secret room. It doesn’t take him long to figure out the man thinks he’s his con-man twin brother (Declan. Bring on the D names because the other MC is Dante…why why why all the Ds…), and that he stole something this man will force him to admit to and return at any cost. Convincing Dante he’s got the wrong man, and not to hurt him…impossible.
And hurt him, mentally, Declan does, but…
But.
As Dylan is held captive in Dante’s house and as they find ways to live together, doubt and intrigue grow, and Dante continues to question what he thought was true. Dylan plans escape, but the proximity is messing with them both, and what develops is an unhealthy but undeniable pull to each other, a growing sense of protectiveness and empathy, and a highly inconvenient attraction that simmers into passion and Feelings. My kind of catnip.
I may have missed it, but, I did not understand why Dante didn’t just google Dylan and learn all about his bakery and friends and see that, apart from the obvious personality difference, he very clearly isn’t Declan. And it was unclear what was keeping Dylan locked in the house too.
Aside from that, I ate up the growing obsession, the push pull of what each should want and commit to v what their growing intimacy and connection urged them to, and how the heck was this all going to be resolved? Intense and addictive. Seeing Dante go to the mattresses and do things totally against his instincts for his man when Things Happen? Delicious.
Dante works for and with secondary characters who are the heroes of previous books, one of which I read and loved, and seeing them all again was enjoyable and added layers to the read.
Overall a winner for me. I was immersed and entertained, and the ending delivered.
Except. I really wanted to know if anyone made Mrs. Murphy’s anniversary cake. Fie on that loose end! Cake is important!
HEA, captor-captive, mistaken identity, mafia romance. No OM action or drama, totally safe for me. Highly recommended.
My thanks to BookSirens for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.
This series has me in a chokehold and The Wrong Man was no exception.
Was it my favorite in the series? No.
Did I still absolutely eat it up? Also yes.
This book leans hard into dark, messy, morally gray territory right from the start, and I was immediately hooked by the premise alone. The tension, the guilt, the oh no he messed up BAD energy… it was everything I wanted going in.
Dylan and Dante worked so well for me. Dylan is exactly the kind of character I gravitate toward—soft but strong, vulnerable but still able to stand his ground when it matters. And Dante? Peak “touch him and you die” energy wrapped up in a man who desperately needs to get his life together. I love a broken man who has to grovel, and this delivered.
What I really appreciated was how their relationship developed. It wasn’t just instant feelings with no substance. You could actually see the shift, the tension turning into something deeper, and it made the emotional payoff hit harder. Dante’s redemption arc felt earned, which is so important in a story like this.
That said, I did feel like the beginning moved a little quickly, and there were a few moments that felt slightly repetitive. I also wanted just a bit more intensity toward the climax. With a setup like this, I was expecting things to go even darker or higher stakes—but I get why the author didn’t push it all the way there.
Even with that, I was fully invested the entire time. The character dynamics, the emotional growth, and the groveling (important) kept me hooked.
The ending felt satisfying, and I loved getting little glimpses of characters from earlier books. This series honestly just keeps pulling me back in, and I’m not ready to be done with it anytime soon.
If you like:
captor/captive dynamics
morally gray characters trying (and struggling) to be better
redemption arcs with actual groveling
emotional hurt/comfort with dark themes
… you’ll want to pick this up.
⚠️ Check trigger warnings before reading.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I absolutely loved The Wrong Man by Jessica Jackman—wow, what an intense and gripping MM mafia romance.
This story pulls you in right away. Dante, a mafia interrogator, is trying to make amends to Dylan, an innocent man who suffered because of him. That premise alone is heavy, but the execution makes it completely unforgettable.
I was hooked from the very first page. The interrogation scenes were especially compelling, and I really appreciated how the story didn’t shy away from the emotional weight of what happened. What makes it even more powerful is Dante’s devotion—his determination to help Dylan heal, even while knowing that what’s between them is complicated and far from healthy.
Their relationship is full of tension and contradiction. Both of them understand that what they’re building isn’t exactly right, yet neither can walk away. That push and pull makes everything feel so raw and real.
Dante, in particular, really stood out to me. There’s something deeply sad and lonely about him. In a way, he feels just as trapped as Dylan—only his prison is invisible. That parallel added so much emotional depth to the story.
And I loved that moment of rescue toward the end—that classic “the cavalry arrives” scene. It’s honestly one of my favorite things about mafia stories: that sense of family, of people showing up when it matters most.
Overall, this was an amazing read—emotional, intense, and completely absorbing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I’ve been waiting for Dante’s story since I started this series and I was not disappointed. The big monster of the Ajello family is secretly a gentle giant.
This book is very dark, including torture, Stockholm syndrome, etc. so please check trigger warnings before reading.
Dante’s got the wrong man, it’s the right face, but the personality is off. But Dante’s never wrong, until he is. After finding out that instead of capturing the enemy who crossed them, but instead his identical twin, he tries to make up for the damage that he’s done. It’s far from easy, but so beyond worth it for Dante.
Dylan and Dante have such a complicated relationship, but the slow burn and process of seeing it unfold is amazing. What starts as survival for Dylan turns into real attraction and Dante just wants to revert every harm he’s caused to Dylan, although it’s impossible to, he does his damnedest to try.
Dante’s been this big, scary, monster of a mafia man throughout the series and seeing this gentle, quiet, and soft side is such a delight. He’s been the silent enforcer, helping the other guys out by any means necessary, so seeing him in a role that makes him human and soft was a nice change of pace.
I received this book through BookSirens in return for an honest review.
Dante brutally mistook Dylan for his criminal twin and imprisoned him, unleashing the darkest parts of himself on an innocent man. When he discovers the truth, guilt consumes him. Now he’s desperate for redemption, forgiveness, and the love he never believed he deserved. Dylan, once the “wrong man,” has become the only man Dante wants — and the one who forces him to confront the possibility that he isn’t a monster after all.
This was an intense and emotional story, especially in the way Dante’s actions left Dylan deeply traumatised. Seeing Dylan slowly recover and reconnect with something familiar — his love of baking — added a much‑needed softness to the darker themes. Those moments showed the lighter, gentler side of him that Dante eventually learned to see and cherish. I appreciated the premise and the heavy emotions woven through their dynamic, but I didn’t fully love the execution. The middle section dragged a bit for me, with little variation in the plot, and the strong elements of Stockholm syndrome and obsession made their relationship harder to believe at times. Still, the contrast between Dylan’s quiet resilience and Dante’s desperate need for redemption created a compelling tension. Their connection, though unconventional, carried a raw emotional weight that kept me reading. This was an MM story with mature content.
I love a good MM Romance! Both Dylan and Dante didn't have the best childhoods. Dylan spent most of his childhood bullied by his troubled twin brother Declan. At age 16, his Irish Mafia parents discovered he was gay and disowned him sending him to live with his Aunt. Thankfully his Aunt showed him kindness, love and compassion.
Dante's parents died at age 7. He was left to his grandmother, a part of the Italian mafia, who was strict and believed love was a weakness that could be exploited. Dante grew up to be the one the mafia sent people to who needed to "talk". He lived a simple life, void of relationships, working and existing. His latest task ended up changing his life forever.
Dylan was dropped off...begging for his life. Dante was conflicted. He had never been given the wrong man before. He didn't know what to do or who to believe. Thankfully, Declan just can't resist trouble and ends up confirming that Dante in fact has Dylan in his grasp, not Declan.
Both Dante and Dylan went through so much during their time together. Both growing in ways they didn't expect. Dante learning that love doesn't make you weak and Dylan learning his true inner strength.
This dark MM romance gave me chills. It's intense, twisted, and completely unhinged, and yet developed a sweetness that was u expected. I devoured the pages in a day. The suspense starts from the first page and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book.
Dante and Dylan meet under extreme unconventional circumstances. Dante does some truly atrocious things to Dylan, and yet I found myself forgiving him as Dylan did. I felt the heavy guilt and regret he felt from his giant mistake. In no way was this a healthy relationship, but it's fictional, and therefore, this unhinged morally-black monster was able to redeem himself in the dark romance world. What can I say he gave good groveling. Stockholm syndrome, but make it sweet... Let me tell you, I couldn't get enough of their dynamic. The slow-burn build-up was perfect. Once the spice hit, it was so hot I was fanning myself from the heat. They both fill one anothers lonely touch/attention starved lives. I loved it.
I knew this was going to be exactly what I wanted based on the author's note: "Dante & Dylan are not relationship goals. If someone tortures you, you shouldn't forgive them. If you enjoy fictional toxic codependency, sit back and enjoy the escape from reality."
And yeah, this was toxic, dark, and such a delicious slow burn. The captor x captive trope in this was done well. Obviously there was a power dynamic between the two MMCs, Dante and Dylan. But honestly, the moment Dante realized his mistake, Dylan seemed to hold a lot more power than he was aware of. These two just worked so well together even while Dante was planning on keeping Dylan against his will and Dylan was trying to seduce Dante into complacency.
The pacing to this was perfect. The plot concerning Dylan's captivity and the tentative hunt for his brother moved right along with the relationship building. It was the perfect slow burn, though both men were feeling their feelings from pretty much the start. I just really enjoyed this. Obviously I did not pay too much attention to the fact that Dante did, in fact, torture Dylan because it really would be unforgivable regards if he left physical marks or not.
I really enjoyed this book. The start was intense being that the trope is captor & captive romance but it wasn't as intense as I thought it would be. Dylan had every right to be traumatized for what happened but also I'm happy it didn't go further than what happened to him because I don't think any amount of groveling would have rescued this relationship but it didn't go that far so again thank goodness for that.
Dylan was resilient, sweet and so kind but boy he could not resist Dante. Making a plan and not sticking to it. And Dante, he was immediately smitten with Dylan. And when the misunderstanding cleared up, he became so gentle and cute. But Dante, you had a gut feeling. Next time, do some research.
"It felt like something I didn't know I was missing". Dante you sap.
And fuck Declan and the rest of the Dylan's family.
I didn't want to stop reading this book, did some phrases repeat itself yes however, I really liked how it all came together in the end. And the ending was too freaking cute 🥺
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Dante believes he’s captured the man who crossed him… only to realize he’s taken the wrong twin. The face is the same, but the personality is all wrong—and for the first time, Dante’s certainty fails him. Once he discovers the truth, he tries to undo the damage he’s caused, even though he knows he can never fully erase it. Watching him try anyway is what makes this book so compelling. Dylan and Dante’s relationship is messy, complicated, and slow‑burn in the best way. What begins as pure survival for Dylan gradually shifts into something real, and Dante’s determination to protect him—after being the one who hurt him—creates a gripping emotional arc. Their dynamic is layered, tense, and ultimately incredibly rewarding. One of the highlights of the entire series is seeing Dante’s transformation. He’s always been the silent, terrifying enforcer—the monster in the shadows. Here, we finally see the quiet, gentle, unexpectedly soft side of him. It humanizes him in a way that feels earned and adds so much depth to the series' world. If you enjoy dark romance with complex characters, emotional redemption, and a slow burn that pays off, this one is absolutely worth the read.
This story is intense. Very intense. It is no small matter to be kidnapped and have to undergo and see horrible things. This is the story of Dylan, who has already had a traumatic childhood, thanks to his twin brother. And from Dante. Dante, who works for the mafia and is basically the guy you call when you have a problem and want it solved. Yes, Dante and I had a problem from the beginning. His behavior, the coldness, the manner. Yes, everything. And poor Dylan, who is held responsible for something he had nothing to do with. Both are actually broken, the shards are everywhere. And yet, it turns out that those shards can be put together again and that they can start something together. This is not an easy story, but it is very intense and beautifully described. But honestly, I didn't expect anything less from Jessica Jackman. I also thought it was wonderful that Ginni made another appearance. The rest of the characters too. I really enjoyed this book and saying goodbye will be very difficult.
Dante and Dylan were an unusual pair with a strong opposites attract vibe. It starts with a lot of action and a dark start for them with Dylan's mistaken identity and Dante's brutal job. After the initial action, the pace slows right down, there's a lot of slow-burn getting comfortable with each other and getting to know each other. There were points that I just wanted to give each of them a hug and tell them everything would be ok. They had good chemistry and the pace picked back up towards the end of the story. I feel like we learnt a lot about Dylan, his past and what was important to him; I would have liked a little bit more backstory of Dante other than the few snippets we got about his grandmother. This is book 4 in the series but I read it as a standalone and it all made sense - it does bring in secondary characters from Dante's world that clearly have their own books so I'll go back and read those soon. Overall, this is a good mm romance that is dark in places but has a sweet HEA.
Another good book from Jessica! Honestly since their debut, I've really enjoyed the majority of their books, and this is no different. I loved the premise plus Dylan and Dante are both really likable characters that have just found themselves in a very complicated situation. But all of the decisions they make and their thought processes behind them made sense, which made it enjoyable to watch them fall in love.
With a bit of a lull happening around the 60-70% mark, and then the main conflict with Dylan's brother which sort of coming to a head and then wrapping up all in the following 60 pages..I was left feeling like that plotline could have been developed and paced out a bit better. It was still enjoyable just a bit anti-climactic.
Definitely worth checking out still, and while this marks the end of My Mobster which is a bit bittersweet — I'll be looking forward to Jessica's future works for sure.
What can I say about this book? It was such a joyful ride (after all the torture).
We have a mafioso MC who is completely starved of touch, affection, love, and companionship, and I think he fell for the cute little baker MC the moment he laid eyes on him, thinking he was his evil twin.
It’s so cute and frustrating—but completely understandable—to see Dylan fighting against his feelings. It’s so good to see their love blooming against all the odds, where there was only hurt, trauma, and loneliness before.
I loved Dylan, but I absolutely loved Dante and how sweet he could be, even being the big bad mafioso that he is. I just wanted to put him in my pocket and protect him from the loneliness in his heart.
The whole series is a must-read, and I loved every minute of this book. I’m going to miss them so much.
Dante and Dylan were the perfect couple to cap off an amazing series! While it definitely has some dark and deviant moments, this book ended on an incredibly wholesome, happy note. The progression of Dante and Dylan's affection and love for each other was perfectly paced and nuanced for their situation. Their story was written with so much heart and tenderness. The epilogue was absolutely equally beautiful and bittersweet. It really encapsulated the state of now for all the MCs in the series without taking away from Dante and Dylan's HEA. Hate that this is the end for this world but love that it'll always be there for a reread.
This author has me in an auto-read chokehold, can't wait for the next book!
I will be honest I was skeptical and thought this book wasn’t for me. The Instant Love trope is not my taste usually but here after the 20% the story does picks up and the relationship development between the characters makes sense.
Dante sweet side, his patience, the fact he takes accountability, makes an endearing character. Easily a lovable one.
Dylan oh sweet Dylan. As a prisoner he tried to be manipulative in order to escape. And how did that turn out?
The only disclaimer I would have add to the book is that this is not a Dark Romance. This is a mafia romance. Most of the elements appearing on the trigger warning list, are barely mentioned or described from a far POV
Anyway, loved them and enjoyed seeing them falling for each other.
ARC review I absolutely loved it. No spoilers until the book is public so more review to come!
Dylan had me cracking up at times during the kidnapping. Dante was a softy at heart and my heart broken for him at times. (Yes, I realize he tortured people for a living lol)
This definitely wasnt an instalove. Dylan's and Dante's emotions were well written.
Quote from Dylans thoughts: "Because when I think about Dante being attracted to me, when I think about using that attraction to escape, I don’t feel clever or strategic. I feel guilty."
I do wish it took a little longer for Dante to find out they brought him the wrong twin but I enjoyed how the book played out.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have loved this whole series and each and every couple. Dante and Dylan fit right in to this world. I feel Dylan suffered quite a bit and his trauma was almost the worst of all of them. The trauma that caused his pneumonia, that was a bad one. And the gradual changing of Dante was a pleasure to watch. I realized along with Dylan what Dante's life had been like and while it did not excuse what he did, it did explain it. I loved the baking, especially the macaroni. I loved how everyone from the other books came together to help and I really really loved Aunt Moira. My only criticism was too many words that included repetition of speeches and sentences that made me skip over some content. This has been a great series with great personalities.
This story reminds me of beauty and the beast: Dante is the beast that lurks in his castle (concrete flat) and Dylan is the beauty who is being held captive because of his twin brother, but the longer he stays around Dante, the more he notices the little things about him.
I really like that rescue mission towards the end: it was so satisfying and the contrast between Dylan and his brother Declan is so good! Dylan who have been mocked and overlooked his whole life, has people who are willing to go through everything just to get him back while Declan is the ruthless and strong one but a majority of his people have left him.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When a Butcher meets a Baker but was looking for the "bad twin." An interesting story about what happens when a mafia's enforcer has the wrong twin, an innocent but realizes it too late and cannot bare the idea of just tying up a loose end. It begs the question if you lose your freedom can you really forgive the one who hurt you, can you maybe even fall for them? This was a good back and forth on the dynamic between Dante and Dylan, two broken men trying to figure out each other's motives, with a bit of slow burn added in there that really seemed to work for them.
I did read this as an ARC, and my review is based on my personal opinions and preferences.
It’s that quiet ache in my chest when my heart breaks while reading—that’s what Jessica Jackmann means to me. I love this series, the Boys/Wives, and their husbands, who, despite their sometimes very tough exteriors, have a soft spot for their loved ones. Do you need to watch your mental health while reading? Absolutely, and you should really take the foreword to heart. This isn’t a nice, lighthearted meet-cute; it creates trauma, and that binds them together so tightly that something more emerges from it. If you’re looking for stories that touch the heart and aren’t afraid of the darkness, you’ve come to the right place. A heartfelt reading recommendation.
I agree with the author--I fell in love with Dylan and Dante. This was a wonderful story. I was a bit hesitant, sometimes Mafia stories are a bit too dark for me, but even though the book was a bit dark, it caught and held my attention throughout the day. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. The following was one of my favorite lines in the book, “The beginning doesn’t define us. What matters is what’s true now. And what’s true now is that I love you, and you love me, and nothing you did while fighting to survive is going to change that.” It sums up the book quite well and I encourage mm readers to get this book and enjoy it.
Loved it! Dante is known as the "crime family's butcher". If you do wrong by them, Dante makes it "right". The crime family brings him Dylan. But Dylan is not who they want, they want Declan, Dylan's evil twin. Dante begins the torturing not believing Dylan is the wrong man, until something clicks & he realizes OMG, he isn't Declan. Now what does he do? He knows he should do right by the family & kill Dylan but there's something about him, Dante can't shake. Dante decides he's going to keep him & make him his. Low angst, HEA, great addition to the series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
That is unexpectedly an endearing sweet and fun read 🥹
I extremely enjoyed it they both are so cute together and i enjoyed the slow burn + their little sweet baking session date 👀 it is also unexpectedly funny in some parts heheheh especially Dylan thoughts and ramblings 😂
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“Tomorrow,” I say aloud. “I’ll try making them tomorrow.” Dante nods. “I’ll be here.” Of course he will. Where else would he be? This is his flat. His prison. His carefully controlled world, where I’m the newest and most confusing addition.”
Excerpt From The Wrong Man: A Dark MM Possessive Romance Jessica Jackman This material may be protected by copyright.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
the beginning 30% of this was so delicious the tension the mistaken identity the guilt and shame ough so good. chemistry was chemistry-ing and then somehow it completely halted and fizzled out when they just had sex for no reason after spending weeks slowly SLOOOOOWWLLLYYYYYY getting to know each other. ruined the whole thing! the kidnap just felt like an excuse to actually have them get together because the situation in the house was going nowhere. and then dylan's whole secret plot being that he manipulated dante into feelings. bitch PLEASE. im really upset bc this had such good potential and it fell apart. whatever!
Dante and Dylan, the most opposite of people but so meant for eachother. I was really not sure how they could find their way past all the trauma Dante caused but the true resilience of Dylan shone through. This was truly a unique story and a very fitting end to the series. Jessica is a brilliant storyteller and I highly recommend reading the other books in the series as well. I was given an ARC copy and I am voluntarily writing this review. I can't wait to see what other stories Jessica Jackman will gift the world with.
I've been waiting for this book for awhile so I was really excited to read this. I gobbled this up so fast, or at least as fast as I could while adulting. It was not as intense as I thought it would be but I loved it all the same. Dylan had me cracking up with how naive and innocent he was. The way he tried to manipulative Dante was just hilarious. I did like how Dante felt guilty when he finally accepted he had the wrong twin and tried so hard to make up for it. I loved this, hands down beautiful read.