Isle of Redemption

by C.J. Lucci

Igor

For over a decade, I’ve loved Julian Bartoli.

I thought nothing could tear us apart.

I was wrong.

My sadistic brother has come to claim me and is set on destroying Julian’s family. My family.

Julian’s safety depends on my compliance in his twisted games. I’ll be the monster if it means keeping the man I love safe. Even if it costs me my soul.

Julian

Igor and I married in secret.

It was a promise to always choose each other, but he was taken from me.

I chased his shadow all across Europe, killing whoever got in my way, but he kept escaping me.

Until now.

His brother is the most feared leader of the underworld.

But nothing will keep me front the man I claimed as mine since the first time I saw him.

Standing on each side of a war brewing in the underworld, can love be stronger than the horrors Igor and Julian have committed to protect each other? Or is Redemption out of reach for their darkened souls?

Author's note: Isle of Redemption is dark MM mafia romance. Find the list of triggers on my website. It can be read as a stand-alone, however, it is part of an interconnected stand alone series following the Moretti Family.

Genres: M M Romance, Friends To Lovers, Second Chance, Found Family, Dark Romance, Mental Health, Dark

348 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 23, 2026

About the author

C.J. Lucci is a passionate queer storyteller who writes romance for those who want to explore their desires and reclaim their power through swoon-worthy and morally ambiguous characters.
From darkness to light, C.J. loves to offer options for readers to discover what titillate their brain, whether it’s queer romance, a new trope you didn’t even know you liked, a new kink, or a new take on mafia romance with women at the helm for once.

Having roots in Corsica, it was only natural for her to pay tribute to the Isle of Beauty through her writing. When she is not writing, she enjoys yoga, long hikes with her partner and drinking coffee.

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this as I thought I would love it, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. I am not too sure what it was that didn't work for me. I think the way the chapters were set up, with past and present chapters, made it a bit difficult for me to connect to the characters. I feel like we didn't spend enough time in the chapters with each character, especially in the past chapters where the romance and their relationship was still developing. For example, Julian and Igor had their first kiss in one of the past chapters and then the next one they were in like a year-long relationship. I think that there was a missed opportunity there to help the readers really understand why and how they fell in love with each other. That being said though, the story was really beautiful. The present chapters showed the yearning and longing between Igor and Julian and the difficult circumstances they found themselves in that were keeping them apart. Yet, I still found myself a bit bored while reading, while I wanted to spend longer with the characters in other parts. I thought the ending was really sad and bittersweet, although appropriate, but I just wish that we spent a little more with the characters: developing Igor's healing more while also showing us how they continued to fight for each other/to be with each other.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not crying, you're crying...
This was the most heartwrenching, soul crushing, beautiful conclusion to this series CJ could have written.
Please check the TW though - this one was DARK.

I just... my heart 😭 the way Julian and Igor almost felt like fated mates, the friendship between Lana and Igor, also the relationship between Igor and the entire Moretti/Bartoli tribe, Mammona being the absolute best Nonna ever written... there was so much love in this book.

It was a great choice to go back and forth between past and present, I loved to see their relationship build from the moment they met. And it was great to have some happy moments from the past in between all the heartaching shit happening in the present.

And believe me when I say there was pain - my husband came to check on me because of how hard I was crying 😂😭
But once again, I love how CJ puts her characters through the most horrific trauma but then also provides them with therapy. Extensive, realistic therapy that doesn't just fix them but helps them heal bit by bit. I love it every single time.

Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read this as an ARC 💛

[Rikke's Reading Nook]

This is an arc review.

The final book in the series, and it has been a lovely time coming - Julian and Igor.

I love their instant teenage love and how it develops over time. The intimacy is so wholesome and also hot! But it's their dynamic that just works.

The world this story is set in, is brutal and you definitely need to read the content warning! But like all Romances, there is a happy ending after all the pain and that's what kept me reading.

Emotionally, I wrung out. I spent the last 30% crying to varies degrees - some because of the pain, some because it was so darn sweet.

I am glad Lucci decided to flip between past and present and this flip between happy and sad. I love the level of detail she puts in her work, and that these men can absolutely go to therapy!

This has been a fantastic read and Lucci has become an auto-read author me. I am very excited to see what her next project will be.

[Fanykuroi (Sapphire Book Lover9095) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not crying, you’re crying 😭

I knew I was going to love this book since Isle of Beauty. Igor and Julian captivated me in Lana’s story and I knew I needed to read their story when Julian dropped that bombshell by the end of book 1. Still, CJ being the sadistic mastermind that she is, made us wait the span of THREE BOOKS to get to them, and you know what? I ain’t even mad about it. After reading their story, Julian and Igor were more than worth the wait.

Compared to the rest of the series, for me (and this is highly my personal opinion), this book was more emotionally charged than the rest—and that is saying something cause CJ is one of this authors that makes me cry or have an emotional rollercoaster with every book— and even though it was a slow burn, it was perfect in every way that I literally have nothing but adoration and obsession for this book.

We not only see the culmination of a beautiful love story that has been in the works since the beginning, but the growth and very relatable actions of two flawed characters that only want what’s best for their love.

Seriously, I could write a thesis on why I love Julian and Igor—and on why CJ had me having heart attacks left and right (istg she’s paying for my therapy bill for this)—but why ruin the fun when you can read about them and have the same emotional rollercoaster I had reading this? 🤭

What to expect in this book:
-MxM Dark Mafia Romance
-Slow Burn
-Dual Timeline and POV
-Friends to Lovers
-Secret Wedding
-Demi MMC
-Angst
-Mental Health Rep
-Hurt/Comfort
-Kings of yearning (like seriously)
-Mammona is the real MVP and I will die on that hill
-HEA

Overview:
Overall: infinite/5
Storyline: infinite/5
Smut: 5/5
The feels it made me feel: at this point I’m a willing guinea pig for CJ’s emotional devastating writing/5

I received an ARC of this book and this is my VOLUNTARY and HONEST review.

[sycokittykat - Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buckle up for an emotional read filled with hope and love but also fear and pain

I will say I jumped into this book completely blind as I have not read the other books. This book is written so that you do not need the other stories to love and appreciate  Igor and Julian.

This book is written in past and present timelines and it worked very well to convey the issues currently happening with how they got there. It was always very clear where in the timeline you were. 

Igor comes to the Moretti family knowing no English and constantly looking for the next danger. The way Julian was able to slowly coax Igor out of his shell was so sweet. While offering Igor a copy of the same book he was reading but making sure it was in his language was perfect. Even though they read at different speeds it offered him a connection he so desperately needed. Also, the whole nightcap routine with Mammona was so sweet. She was such a light and happily took Igor in when he was just a scared boy.

This love story was not easy but it was inevitable. These two men clicked in all the best ways even when it wasn't easy or comfortable. Igor was afraid that the only person he wanted was a man. While their love was not loud and in front of everyone it was deep and meaningful in ways most people never experience. Julian made vows to Igor and nothing and no one would ever keep them apart.

This book made me giggle, swoon, awww, rage and cry all in the span of one night. I was absolutely unable to put this book down and I devoured it in one sitting. I will definitely be reading more from CJ Lucci.

[Brenna Mobley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isle of Redemption - CJ Lucci
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice : 🌶️🌶️🌶️

💚🌻💚🌻💚🌻💚🌻💚🌻💚🌻💚🌻💚

Tropes :
💚 mafia romance
🌻 mutual pining
💚 right person, wrong time
🌻 ”It’s always been you”
💚 friends to lovers
🌻 secret relationship
💚 mental health rep
🌻 dual Timeline
💚 grumpy x sunshine

💚🌻💚🌻💚🌻💚🌻💚🌻💚🌻💚🌻💚

Review:
Julian and Igor own my heart for the foreseeable future. This book was everything I wanted it to be and so much more. Going into their story even from book one, I knew this was going to be the darkest of all the books. Igor made an impossible choice to sacrifice himself in exchange for his best friend’s life, but in the process also left his husband behind. Julian is utterly broken once Igor is gone. He fights hard the first months of his capture, but it seems like Igor doesn’t want to be found. The dual timeline was executed perfectly. I loved getting to see little flirtatious baby Julian fall in love with the grumpy Russian, and watch Igor come to terms with the self acceptance of his attraction and then allowing himself to fall head first in it. I loved getting to see deeper into the past of the Morettis, specifically with Igor and Lana’s friendship but also his relationship with Pietro and Mammona. Watching both Igor and Julian heal from the hurt and trauma they’ve endured was beautiful, even if it was a gut wrenching and heartbreaking process. I just love their love so much. It is so pure and true and I don’t think anyone else deserved a happy ever after as much as these two did. I miss them already, but I’m so excited to see what CJ has in store next.

Also I want to thank you CJ for allowing me to go on this journey with you. From our unhinged voice memos back and forth while I was alpha reading to when I was sobbing in the office when you sent me the bonus epilogues right after you finished. I treasure our friendship and I hope you’re proud of this book because it is a masterpiece.








♾️⭐️

Full review to come, but this was utter perfection. Everything I wanted in Julian and Igor’s story and the conclusion of the Moretti Chronicles.

[sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Ty svet moyey zhizni. Ya ne mogu bez tebya zhit.”

This was my first C.J. Lucci book ever and ever time I read a book by a new author to me, I can be very vary. I can say this book was better than expected and it’s definitely not a boring book by any means. There was always something happening, honestly I feel bad for the roller coaster ride our main character had to go through because they were so meant to be to the point it hurts. I always love reading “it’s only ever been you” type of books and this author made the point very clear because our baby’s been fighting to be together since they were teenagers (10+ years). This was definitely a well deserved, harder fought happy ending.

I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series complete. I cried. A lot.

[Shannai · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

I don't know what it is with Ms Lucci and her making me cry with her books, but it's seeming to be a reoccurring pattern, and honestly, I'm not at all mad about it.

This one hurt, and it full of so much angst and yearning, and I loved it. Julian was such a loverrr boy and proud. I haven't read the other books in the series, but I was able to understand what was happening with no issue, and it was also nice, too, see cameo glimpses of my babies, Irina, Aleksei and Dante, ugh, love, love them so much!!

Thank you to C. J. Lucci for the e-arc of Isle of Redemption in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own

[Katie Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Julian and Igor my darlings😭😭

When C.J. announced that we were getting a Julian and Igor book I couldn’t wait till the book was in my hands. Their journey is certainly not an easy one and I will say quite a bit of tears were shed on my kindle. I know this series is a standalone but I would recommend picking up the earlier books to have a bit of context of the characters and overarching plot.

Julian and Igor’s story is told in past and present tense view and I loved how we got the background of how these two came to be. Igor came to the Moretti family when he was young because of his Pakhan’s orders. While he was more or less in enemy territory he was never treated as such, Igor worked hard and proved his loyalty in which the family welcomed him with open arms. Igor found a home and a family with the Moretti’s and this how he was introduced to Julian because he basically grew up along side of him.

Igor wasn’t attracted to men or women but he couldn’t deny that he felt something for Julian as time went by. When these two finally got into a relationship they took it at Igors pace and of course this blossomed into quite some strong feeling, which even led to the pair being married in secret🥹. That chapter was the absolute sweetest, also forget “where’s my wife” and hello “where’s my husband”🤭

But those good times didn’t last for long as 3 years ago from the present day in the books Igor sacrificed him self and went back to Russia with his older brother Misha in order to protect his sister Lana Moretti, proving that while the Moretti’s weren’t his biological family there was nothing he wouldn’t do for them, even if that meant he would be separated from his husband. Those 3 years were tough and treacherous for our MMCs and I was absolutely sobbing in each pov as I could feel their pain from each page I read.

While Igor was accepting of his fate his husband would stop at nothing until he was back in his arms no matter the cost.

On a side note I loved seeing all the characters from previous books coming together. This family is absolutely unstoppable when they all come together and everyone was needed for this last mission to bring Igor home😭

I don’t want to give too much away about this book but honestly I would have some tissues handy as this book is an emotional rollercoaster.

Thank you so much to the author who provided this e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julian and Igor’s story is not an easy one and this book was an emotional roller coaster! Due to forces outside of their control, Julian and Igor have spent more time apart than together. But those moments when they were together, you can tell their relationship and connection ran deep. Julian and Igor made me melt, they both had these rough exteriors but deep down they were so sweet with one another.

Igor comes into Julian’s life as payment to the Morettis. Igor’s life before joining the Moretti family, is heartbreaking. Igor and his brother suffer the abuse of their father, and Igor carries it with him. Igor arrives straight from Russia knowing no English and is constantly on edge looking out for the next threat. Slowly, Igor’s walls begin to come down as the Morettis treat him with so much kindness and like one of their own. Providing Igor with an education and a safe home. When Julian meets Igor, he recognizes this. Julian is patient with Igor, and never gives up on him. Starting off with being Igor’s friend first then his lover, back to friends and then back to lovers again.

When Igor is reunited with his brother, it isn’t the happy reunion that Igor was hoping for. Igor realizes that his brother has completely changed, and has turned into a horrible monster of a man. Igor’s brother forces him to do horrible and unimaginable things. Igor complies, doing what he needs to do to keep the Morettis safe from his brother. These things haunt Igor. Even when Igor is rescued and the threat of his brother is gone, Igor struggles with his past trauma. But Julian and the Morettis are there for him. There was so much healing in this book and I was here for it. Julian and Igor fought hard for their relationship and their HEA was completely well deserved.

I appreciated the dual timeline in this book, it allowed us to witness Julian and Igor’s relationship and character development and gives enough background to understand what was currently happening in the book. I found this especially helpful since I did not read the previous books in this series.

I loved how all of the couples from the previous books came together for one last mission, to bring Igor home. It was a nice way to end the entire series and it now has me wanting to read the previous books just to get a better understanding of the other couples. Overall I truly enjoyed reading this book, even with my emotions all over the place, their HEA was well worth it.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review:

Thank you, C.J. Lucci for allowing me into your world, into your mind. This is my second ARC of yours and I absolutely love your writing! I look forward to reading all of your books as well as the rest in this series! 🖤

I went into this book completely blind… and it wrecked me in the best, most devastating way. No prior books, no background—just me, diving headfirst into Igor and Julian’s story… and somehow, that made it hit even harder. This story doesn’t just stand on its own—it demands to be felt.

The dual timeline? Absolutely flawless. Past and present weaving together like scars and healing, showing not only where they are—but every painful, fragile step it took to get there. I was never lost… just slowly, painfully piecing them together.

Igor shattered me. A boy dropped into a world he doesn’t understand, unable to speak the language, constantly bracing for the next blow, the next danger. You can feel his fear in your chest. And then there’s Julian—steady, patient, achingly gentle—pulling him out of the darkness inch by inch. Not forcing. Not rushing. Just being there. Offering him a book in his own language so he wouldn’t feel so alone… even if they turned the pages at different speeds. That small act? It felt enormous. Like oxygen.

And Mammona… God. She was warmth. Light. Safety. The kind of love that asks for nothing but gives everything. The nightcap routine? It wasn’t just sweet—it was healing. She didn’t just welcome Igor in… she held him when he didn’t even know how to exist safely yet.

This love story wasn’t easy. It wasn’t loud or perfect or simple. It was messy, quiet, terrifying… and completely inevitable. Igor fighting himself, terrified of what it means to want Julian. Julian loving him with a certainty so deep it felt unbreakable. This wasn’t a love that needed to be shouted—it lived in the quiet moments, in the promises made without hesitation, in the unwavering truth that nothing and no one could tear them apart.

And me? I felt everything. I swooned hard. My heart ached. I raged hard!!! I cried and cried. This book didn’t let me breathe, didn’t let me look away. I devoured it in one sitting, heart in my throat the entire time.

I didn’t just read this story… I survived it.

And I’m not ready to let it go.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Bethan Buckingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Possible spoilers‼️
Isle of redemption is a dark mm friends to lovers mafia romance that follows the story of Igor Petrov and Julian Bartoli. Igor is the son of an unground fighter for the Moscow bratva who is as ruthless as they come. His father commits a crime against their enemies and is forced to choose between his 2 sons to send as payment. He chooses Igor as he’s the youngest and needs to leave his legacy to his oldest. So Igor gets sent away to their enemies as a way to pay for his father’s mistake. This separates him from his brother Misha who is distraught as they have only ever had each other while their father abuses them. Misha promises that he will get him back but to do that he has to become as ruthless as the rest. He ends up becoming the bratva Pathan. Julian is a boy that he meets while paying off his father’s debt. He is the best friend of the bratvas number one enemy but was welcoming and attracted to Igor from first seeing him, helping Igor learn to speak English. As the years go on they start a secret relationship which leads to a secret wedding. However the happiness doesn’t always last as Misha comes for his brother which separates Igor and Julian. Igor will do anything, even become a monster to protect his new found family, including his husband. Leaving Julian yearning, starting his hunt to try find him and bring him home.

4⭐️’s
Even tho I haven’t read the other books in the series I was fortunate enough to be an arc reader for isle of redemption and I read it in one sitting, I couldn’t put it down and was so sad to have finished it. Their relationship made my heart melt, their entire story did. If you like mm mafia romance, found family, friends to lovers, secret relationship and mental health rep then I would 100% recommend for people to preorder. Just be aware you will need tissues at the ready!

Favourite quotes:

“I haven’t sent anyone to Moscow in months. Not because I care who lives or dies. I’d send anyone to their death just to get him back. The thing is my husband doesn’t want to be rescued. Igor Petrov has chose his fate and it isn’t me” 😩

“After the rain, the rainbow” 🌈

[Samantha Steel · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔, 𝑰𝒈𝒐𝒓. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖.

CJ, do you put crack in these books or something? I'm addicted, I'm an emotional mess, nood swings occurring when I get interrupted while trying to read or almost having a mental breakdown at the end of each book from the first book because WE NEVER GOT ANSWERS for Igor and Julian until NOW!

These men hold a special part in my heart, ever since Isle of Beauty. They were torn apart, and it destroyed them (and me). Then having little snippets in each book along this series journeys brought us to their own book, and what a glorious book it was.

Julian and Igor started off as friends as young teenagers when Igor was traded off by his father and Pakhan because of something his horrible father did. But instead of being a prisoner, Igor was given the opportunity to be a young kid surrounded by people who took care of him and surrounded him with love. He's a tough on the outside, yet soft on the inside.

𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓.

Julian is a ball of energy, a golden retriever, who loses his spark for a period of time, and it's such a struggle to read this book without tearing up because of their struggles and their trauma. Their healing is just as hard, and this story shows that healing is not simply, but in fact complex and hard.

“You are the light of my life. I can’t live without you.”

Now this is an MM romance- it's slow and sensual in terms of spice, but their sexual tension is always sizzling, always has been- they were only ever attracted to each other, they are forever, and they're so God damn romantic!

The dual timeline throws you back in time to reminisce on snippets of what we have read in the other books, but it brings so much. It adds a whole different reading experience to this whole book especially when there's emotional trauma, there's a raging war and ultimately a story of fighting for love.


I will forever love this book, and this series. Igor and Julian are end game, they're forever type of love and I will swoon and crave it until the end of time.

[Akku · Rating 5 out of 5]

• 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 5✨

• 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - April 23, 2026

• 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
- MM mafia romance
- married couple
- forced separation
- childhood trauma
- slow burn & angst
- found family
- dark past
- emotional healing
- dual timeline/dual POVs

• 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 -
This story follows Igor and Julian, two men who built a quiet life together after years of pain. Igor once escaped a brutal childhood and found a home with the Moretti family, where he slowly learned what love and safety felt like. Julian became his light, his comfort, and the person who made him believe he deserved happiness. But when Igor’s dangerous brother drags him back into the dark mafia world, everything falls apart. Igor chooses to leave to protect the people he loves, even if it means losing himself in the process. Years later the truth finally comes out and the fight to reclaim freedom and love begins.
This book completely broke my heart and slowly put it back together again. The emotions in this story felt so deep and raw. Igor’s pain and guilt were written in such a powerful way that I felt every moment of his struggle. Watching him carry so much trauma while still trying to protect others made my chest hurt in the best way.
Julian was just as unforgettable. His loyalty and love were so strong, and the way he refused to give up on Igor made their story even more emotional 😭
Their bond felt intense, tragic, and beautiful all at the same time.
The mafia world added such a dark and gripping atmosphere to the story. Every chapter pulled me deeper into the danger, the sacrifices, and the desperate fight for redemption. But beneath all that darkness, the heart of the story was still love and healing.
The ending felt so rewarding after everything these characters went through. Seeing them finally find peace and hope again made the entire journey worth it. This book was emotional, painful, and beautiful all at once, and it stayed with me long after I finished the last page.
Thank you author for the ARC!

[Aleja · Rating 5 out of 5]

MM romance | Mafia romance | Married couple | Forced separation | Friends to lovers | Found family | Slow burn & angst | semi-public play | marking | brat-ting | dom/sub | praise | body worship | whips and restraints.


OMGGG, ahora que terminé este libro, ¿cómo se supone que siga con mi vida? 😭😭😭❤️💛

Julian e Igor fueron todo lo que esperaba y muchísimo más. Dios mío, cómo me hicieron sufrir a lo largo de su historia, pero ese final me dejó destruida! 😭😭 Amé a Santi con todo mi corazón; necesito capítulos extra ahora mismo para verlos como la familia hermosa que son😭❤️

No tengo palabras suficientes para expresar todo lo que esta serie, y especialmente este libro, me ha hecho sentir. Una vez que empecé, no pude parar; me encantó cada paso del camino. Julian e Igor son personajes sumamente complejos con historias de vida durísimas (uno más que el otro), y tuvieron que atravesar demasiado para alcanzar su tan ansiado final feliz🥹❤️‍🩹

Estoy tan obsesionada con ellos que no sé qué voy a hacer ahora😭🥹💖

〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️

OMG, now that I’ve finished this book, how am I supposed to move on with my life?? 😭😭😭❤️💛

Julian and Igor were everything I hoped for and more. My God, they put me through so much pain throughout their story, and that ending?? It absolutely wrecked me😭😭 I adored Santi; I’m literally begging for extra chapters just to see them living their best life as the beautiful family they are 😭❤️

I’m honestly speechless and can’t fully express everything this series—and this book in particular—has made me feel over the last few days. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down; I loved every single second of it. Julian and Igor are such complex characters with even tougher backstories (one more than the other), and they’ve been through hell and back to get their hard-earned happy ending 🥹❤️‍🩹

I am so obsessed with them, I have no idea what to do with myself now! 😭🥹💖

[Book.Lover.Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

ARC review
This review is 100% my own thoughts and feelings and is not impacted by the author at all, thank you to the author for this free ARC.

PLEASE CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS… MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS…
There is a extensive list at the bottom on this review but please be aware there could be others

Igor is full of pain and guilt that were written in a way that you can feel every moment of his emotions. The fact he still try’s to protect others while dealing with so much trauma is so heart wrenching!

Julian is loyal and the love he felt was so strong, plus the way he refused to give up on Igor just made their story even more emotional.

Their path is not an easy one but that makes it all the more special. There was quite a few tears that were shed during the reading of this book.

🧡 MM romance
❤️ forced separation
🧡 found family
❤️ childhood trauma
🧡 dual timeline & POV

This book was devoured in less than 24 hours. It had me hooked. The book is a standalone (interlinked series) but I would recommend the earlier book to get the most context.

TRIGGERS (extensive but not full check the authors website for the full list)
❤️‍🩹 pregnancy complications
❤️‍🩹 mentions of cancer
❤️‍🩹 mentions of alcoholism
❤️‍🩹 murder
❤️‍🩹 pedophilia (mentioned not graphic nothing to do with MCs)
❤️‍🩹 rape (mentioned not graphic nothing to do with the MCs)
❤️‍🩹 death & grief
❤️‍🩹 abuse - child, domestic, physical, emotional, neglect & torture
❤️‍🩹 PTSD
❤️‍🩹 suicide including suicidal thoughts & ideation
❤️‍🩹 sex trafficking

Kinks
🌶️ ownership
🌶️ rope play
🌶️ semi-public play
🌶️ marking
🌶️ brat-ting
🌶️ dom/sub
🌶️ praise
🌶️ body worship
🌶️ whips and restraints.

[Nicole Falcon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Every time Julian touches me, I’m reminded that pleasure exists. When I look at him, it’s like he was put on Earth to make me feel alive, so that I wouldn’t be so alone and lost. Even on his knees, with loud music covering the sounds we make and shadows to hide us, he’s my light."

Nothing in life could have prepared Igor for the life he was destined to have. He went from an abusive household to being sent to the Moretti's for 10 years for penance after his father killed one of their family members. In that time, Julian has become a constant figure in Igor's life. Everything from reading together to training together to becoming more.. dating in secret was not ideal for Julian but it worked for them. Until Igor is forced back to the horrors that are destined to break him but he is willing to endure to keep Julian and his family safe. Julian was never one to back down and is on a mission to get his man back...... no matter the wait or cost.

God this story was an infinite-star read for me...I knew this book was going to break me the moment I read the first book in this series, Isle of Beauty, when these two were first introduced. Their relationship being kept a secret for so long and when they finally have a chance to love out loud, Igor is forced home!? Igor and Julian were written in the stars and nothing was going to stand in the way of that. Julien's bright personality always gave Igor so much hope and love, even when he didn't know what to do with it. Everything about this book was perfect; the characters, the plot, the spice, the drama!

MM Romance, Dark Mafia romance, Each other's first, "Where is my husband?", Mental health rep, dual timeline, 1st POV, dual

[Yinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart wrenching read that had me crying until the very end: however, for very different reasons. I love how Julian's and Igor's past is shown side by side to their present. Their love has grown as much as they have, and when they were apart; they were barely hanging on by a thread.

When Julian and Igor were reunited, I knew my heart wouldn't be relieved: Igor felt like he was far too 'tainted' and didn't want to 'taint' the people he loves. That feeling of guilt tormented him until he decided it was better he was gone. Igor's emotional spiral was heartbreaking and it hurt me more when his loved ones reassured him that he is wanted and loved by them just as much. It hurts because Igor is realizing that his death is just as important as Mammona's: Igor's most precious person in the house and the one who officiated he and Julian's secret wedding.

The ending was perfect: possibly the only book where I cried after I finished reading it. Their story feels complete, even if it is a completely new journey for the renewed couple and their plus one. The limoncello ending scene was perfect and after finishing the story, had me crying for their happy ending: however, I did wish the Mammona was able to officiate their wedding again.

I really enjoyed reading this story and definitely reccomend if you want a story where the build up is intense and very emotional: leaving you in a mess of tears, both sad and happy. Probably bittersweet.

Thank you to C.J. Lucci for the ARC and I voluntarily give my review.

[Zahida Sayed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my soul… three years.
Three years of waiting and I still wasn’t ready.

I stretched this book out for as long as I could, because finishing Isle of Redemption meant losing them. And I’m not okay with that. I don’t think I ever will be.

CJ Lucci didn’t just break my heart she took it apart slowly, piece by piece, and made me feel every fracture.

Igor and Julian are not soft.
They are sharp edges and open wounds.

The kind of love that doesn’t comfort you it consumes you. Every look between them felt like it carried years of pain which it did. Every moment of felt violently beautiful. The yearning wasn’t romantic it was desperate, raw, almost unbearable to sit in.

This book doesn’t let you breathe.
It makes you sit in the hurt.

Two broken people trying to find their way back to something that they deserve, but every step forward costs them something. And you feel all of it the hesitation, the damage, the need that never really goes away.

And the worst part?
I didn’t want it to stop.

I loved the agony. I loved how slow it burned, how it dragged everything out until it ached. I loved how it made me feel like I was unraveling right alongside them.

Because by the end… I was.

And now it’s over.
And I feel empty in the way only a book like this can leave you.

I’m not ready to let Igor and Julian go. I need more of them, more of this world anything to hold onto. So yes, I’m clinging to the hope of a second generation like it’s the only thing keeping me here.

Because I’m not done with them.
I don’t think I ever will be.

[Aidengae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got an ARC and it can maybe spoil something for some people so read at your own risk!!

I waited so long for this book, and it did not disappoint at all. 🥹📖

Usually I don’t really like past chapters because I often feel like they just repeat things that are already happening in the present chapters. But in this book it was done so well that I honestly don’t think I would have survived without the past chapters, because they were just that good.

Seeing how they got together, and even their spicy scene in the beginning, felt so realistic and not rushed at all, which I absolutely loved. ❤️‍🔥 It made their relationship feel genuine and emotional.

Julian was honestly my favorite part of the book. He was just so patient and loving. Even though he wanted Igor to love him in the light and not just in the dark, he still accepted Igor’s fears and loved him even more because of them. That really made my heart melt. 🥺❤️

My heart was breaking for Igor in the present chapters. I truly don’t understand how Misha could become so cruel, even worse than his own father was to him. I just know that if the roles had been reversed and Misha had been taken in by the Morettis, Igor would never have done the things Misha did.

But I’m so glad Igor has the Morettis and his husband by his side. That really meant everything. 🤍

I’m honestly sad that I finished this book in one sitting, but it gripped me so hard that I just couldn’t put it down. It completely pulled me in from beginning to end. 📚✨

[Brownshugar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isle of Redemption by C.J. Lucci is a masterpiece of emotional storytelling and the perfect addition to The Moretti Chronicles. While this can be read as a standalone, the payoff is so much greater if you have followed the series from the start. I received an ARC of this book and I am still trying to pull myself together.
​The dual timeline, told in both past and present tense, allows us to see the evolution of Julian and Igor from children to men. We see the horrific moment Igor is traded away by his father to the Moscow Bratva enemies. We see his brother Misha's descent into becoming a ruthless Pakhan just to find him. But most importantly, we see the quiet, steady love that grows between Julian and Igor.
​Igor is such a complex character. He did not initially feel attraction to men or women, but Julian became his exception. Their relationship is a slow burn that moves at Igor's pace, leading to a secret wedding that had me clutching my chest. The sacrifice Igor makes three years prior to the present day, going back to Russia to protect Lana Moretti, proves his loyalty to his found family. Julian's refusal to give up on his husband is the definition of true love.
​The exploration of childhood trauma, abuse, and mental illness is raw and honest. C.J. Lucci does not shy away from the hard parts of recovery. Seeing the previous characters return felt like a warm hug in the middle of a storm. This is a story of redemption, loyalty, and a love that survives the impossible.

[Maddie Ballard-Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely destroyed me in the best possible way.

This book is dark, brutal, obsessive, and somehow still incredibly emotional underneath all the bloodshed and violence. Igor and Julian are the definition of ride-or-die love. The kind that crosses lines, burns down worlds, and keeps choosing each other anyway.

Igor broke my heart in this one. You can feel the weight of everything he sacrifices trying to protect Julian, even while becoming someone he barely recognizes. And Julian?? Completely feral for his husband in the best way. The man literally tears through Europe chasing Igor and killing anyone in his path. The devotion between them is intense, toxic at times, but also impossible not to root for.

What I loved most is that this doesn’t try to soften the darkness. These men are dangerous. They’ve done horrible things. But underneath all of it is this desperate need to protect each other at any cost.

The tension throughout the book is relentless because they’re constantly being pulled between love and survival, and the looming mafia war only raises the stakes higher. Every reunion, every confrontation, every moment between them felt charged.

Also, the secret marriage trope?? Obsessed.

Definitely check your triggers before going in because this series does not hold back, but if you love MM dark mafia romance with obsession, violence, loyalty, and “I would burn the world for you” energy… this one delivers hard.

[Caylee Janke · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review💖💖

Such a beautiful and heart-wrenching ending to Igor and Julian’s story! I have been anxiously awaiting this book and C.J. Lucci has quite literally outdone herself, yet again!!!

The past and present POVs were done so well and it didn’t feel like whiplash like some other stories, truly showcasing Lucci’s talent as an author for different styles of writing. Finally getting the tragic background of Julian and Igor’s relationship really nailed the YEARNING trope better than any other story I’ve read.

This is also my first MM read and was definitely eye-opening. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel reading the spicy scenes just based on my own sexual preference, but let me tell you, that shit was HOT🥵🥵 Lucci has always done a great job of exposing readers to new genres and relationships, and this relationship was no different. I absolutely love Julian and Igor together, in and out of the bedroom, all puns intended😉

Lucci also did a phenomenal job capturing the rawness that comes with trauma of abuse and mental illness, and again, I love that she still emphasizes the importance of seeking professional help and de-stigmatizing ideals against going to therapy. Even mafia warriors and leaders need therapy!

I am so proud of Lucci for yet another BANGER novel and am so honored to have been chosen as an ARC reader for Isle of Redemption!💖🌻

[Migla M · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

This book was soooo good. I enjoyed it, smiled giggled and kicked my feet and then had that almost crying moment cause it was emotional rollercoaster for sure.

I loved the jumping through past and present, making the story more interesting, layered. I think it added depth to the story, getting to know how they started little by little, and then coming back to the present (which at times wasn't that bright). It was written really well, it was clear and easy to understand what was happening and when.

The love story between Julian and Igor was really beautiful, though heart breaking at times. The yearning and patience that they had for each other. The way how they respect one another and try to learn their needs, wants, tells of when they're happy or sad. The start of their relationship was so cute. Both of them were immediately smitten and mesmerized with each other, but one was such a golden retriever while the other such a grumpy black cat. Their dynamics and chemistry was to live for truly.

Another detail that I liked was that there was an interesting plot also. Though the love story was happening in the main light, all the side characters here and the storyline was also developed, expanded and had a history and place were to delve deeper. All the ups and downs, the happy and sad moments were on point.

[Beautifully Broken Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖤🖤🖤 Isle of Redemption 🖤🖤🖤

🖤 MM Romance
🖤 Found Family
🖤 Trauma/Healing
🖤 Mafia Romance
🖤 First Loves
Spice: 🌶🌶
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'm not crying I swear! I love the mafia books CJ Lucci writes. Every one of them has me hooked from the start. Her characters are always so loveable and the stories are so addictive.

Igor and Julian's suffering spans decades, it grows and twists in the early years they spend together and just when they get a reprieve the unimaginable happens.

My heart broke for Igor and how much he had to endure over such a long time. I was grieving for the possibilities of how things could have turned out differently and what he missed out on as a result. The memories of his time in sun plague him as he desperately tries to survive his new reality.

Julian is the life and soul of their family/friendship group and is the calm to Igor's storm. I loved reading how he managed his despair and how much he really tried to work on himself to be there for Igor. This book is so full of pure love and healing, these two deserve a happily ever after 🖤

Side note, I love Mammona she is the the matriarch we all need in our lives. Really enjoyed her relationship with Igor, it was so sweet and everything he didn’t know he needed.

[Matty B · Rating 2 out of 5]

📖 ARC Review 📖 2.5 ⭐ 4 🌶️

I wanted to love this book as I am a big MM fan. I am in my MM era, and I will happily stay here.

Unforuntely, this didn't hit as much as I wanted it to.

I didn't read the other books in the series, this was the only one. On it's own it's not bad, though there are some moments that didn't make total sense.

However, when chatting with a friend who read the first book... I found out that things within the lore had been changed. Moments that multiple characters were in had been altered from book one to book four. I don't mind when lore changes due to a reveal in the plot, but this wasn't the case. It read as unreliable narrators, or perhaps really bad amnesia.

Another thing was the huge bashing on Lana. I understand Julian was upset, but it felt like Lana was being set up to be the bad guy -- worse than Misha was.

That's another thing -- when reading the interactions between Julian and Igor... I didn't feel a connection. It just felt like sex.

On it's own it's not a bad book. I enjoyed many parts of it. But, after doing research into the lore I had to bump some stars down due to the plot holes, and decreased interest for the two MMCs to be together.

[Denise O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be prepared to be balling your eyes out after reading Igor and Julian’s story 🥺

𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕖 𝕪𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕤, 𝕥𝕨𝕠 𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕒 𝕕𝕒𝕪.

All Julian wants to do is get Igor back, after Igor traded himself to save his friend Lana. Igor ends up back with his brother, but Misha is not the same, he’s beyond redemption.

Throughout the story the heartache Julian feels losing Igor puts him on a path of self destruction, he’d even let people die to get his husband back. While Igor unable to escape his sadistic brother, loses more of his humanity the more he is with his brother, he feels like he is not worth saving. All he wanted to do was to keep Julian safe from Misha.

But Julian still had a small silver of hope that he would see Igor again, even if he wasn’t the same, Igor was always his because sometimes even in the hardest of time love and hope is what will get you through.

CJ Lucci, this is such beautifully written story, the emotions Julian and Igor go throughout the book, have the tissues ready 🥺I love how their relationship developes throughout the years , Julian even helping Igor learn English and when they are apart, the emptiness and grief they feel not knowing if they will ever see each other again.

[Elizabeth Nguyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you C.J. Lucci for allowing me to ARC read Isle of Redemption!

This story follows Julian and Igor. Igor was forced to work and live with Julian’s family for 10 years and during that time, they forged a relationship. When Igor suddenly goes back to his home country, Julian and his family stop at nothing to get him back, but when they do, Igor is not the same man he feels he was. Will his Igor’s past and what he was forced to do haunt him forever and be his downfall? Or will he be able to crawl out of the shadows and accept the love of his found family?

Julian and Igor’s story was really beautiful and tragic. You can instantly tell that they were always meant to be from the beginning. The story does follow two time lines, from when Igor and Julian first meet when they were teenagers, to where they are now as adults, highlighting all of their pivotal moments.

I think because this is the only book from this series that I’ve read, it was a little hard to connect to the story and to really make sense of who everyone was and how eveyone is connected. Although it wasn’t required to read the first 3 books, I definitely think it would’ve benefited my reading experience.

[Nicole Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isle of Redemption is the 4th book in the Moretti Chronicles. This book focuses on Igor and Julian.

Let me just start this off by saying, I absolutely love reading CJ Lucci’s books. They are the perfect blend of romance and mafia plot. This book was no exception.

Julian and Igor have known each other since they were teenagers. Igor came to live with Moretti’s after his father bartered him for unaliving a member of the Moretti family. Julian is a Bartoli , a close friend of the Moretti’s. The family are basically joined at the hip and together constantly.

Julian has been in love with Igor for most his life. He knew that Igor was it for and was just waiting for Igor to catch up.

I absolutely loved reading their love story. It took some time for them to finally get their HEA, but it was so worth it. Igor had endured a lot to make sure Julian and his family were safe from Igor’s brother.

The dual timeline in this story helped show Igor and Julian’s relationship in the best way. I loved their stolen moments and their secret marriage. It broke my heart to read them both yearning for one another.