Unspoken Devotion

by Chelsea Burton Dunn

Devotion to family can’t always overrule the heart.

Carmen has been pining after her next-door neighbor and brother’s best friend, Leo, for nearly her whole life. When she accidentally sends him a scandalous selfie, she is convinced she’s ruined everything. But when Leo comes back to town after being discharged from the military, he shows her that he’s felt the same way about her for years. Despite how close their families are, there’s no denying that they’re meant for each other.

But of course, there’s no happily ever after for two children of the Mafia. When Salvatore, Leo’s father and the Capo in Kansas City, decides to use his second-in-command’s daughter as a pawn to build an alliance with the Irish mob, Carmen is stolen away to be married to an Irish Mob prince.

But Leo is determined to get her back—no matter the cost to the Mafia or their families.

301 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 17, 2025

About the author

Chelsea Burton Dunn is a Kansas City native - the Missouri side not the Kansas side. That matters to locals. Where is that you might ask? Right, smack-dab in the middle of the country. She has two beautiful children and is married to a superb partner, but let’s not forget their snuggly cat and eager-eater of a dog.
Having always been a little strange herself, she instantly fell in love with paranormal, supernatural, and fantasy books, movies and tv shows as a child. Did everyone think it was a phase? Absolutely. Was it? Absolutely not. Being weird is a blessing, not a curse. She’s always embraced that part of herself and those around her.
She started writing from a very early age, initially starting and completing one of the Deadman’s Hand books in high school. She is a lover of music, having her other love and talent be for singing. She performed on main stage operas in the children’s chorus from grade school to high school.
Chelsea loves to delve into the difficulties of life, love, and loss, while spicing it up with a little magic and monsters. As she liked to say when she was younger, “the monsters in my head need to come out to play every once in a while,” so giving them life on the page seemed appropriate.
You can see more about Chelsea, her projects, and find her social medias by visiting her website.

Reviews

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark mafia romance that delivers on the thrill, action, suspense, and spice. This mafia world and its characters are well written and were easy to read and I kept turning pages trying to find out what happens next. I was not expecting this emotional ride I was taken on.

The tension, build-up, and banter between Carmen and Leo were so good. I loved how their relationship from friends to lovers developed. That moment when they can't contain the hunger for each other and finally give in to their feelings was a chef's kiss. The sweetness is short-lived because that's when things really get crazy and Carmen is "sold off" to be another man's bride! What a twist! Of course, Leo stops at nothing to get his woman back and it was perfection.

Tropes:
Mafia
Explicit
Brother's best friend
Neighbor
Friends to lovers
Dual POV
Check TW

If you're looking for an exciting, spicy yet sweet mafia romance this one is it.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Enzo's story is next. I really enjoyed all the interconnected characters in this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle Shamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars isn't nearly enough for this book. I wad immediately pulled in from the beginning. Leo and Carmen both grew up in mafia families. Leo went off to the Marines, and Carmen helped run the family bakery. Both have had a crush on each other since they were little. But between 2 families and 6 kids. five being boys. Carmen was the only girl.
But when Leo comes home, it only solidifies the feelings they've had for one another all those years. And when they're finally ready to act on them, Sal senior sells Carmen to his rival.
The brothers all come together to try and get her back. But omgosh, the chaos and the twists and turns. the fact that he sold her to his rival so she could marry him... This book was wild, emotional, and really pushes too the limit.
I was pulled in, and I felt like I was going through the chaos with them.
This book and characters were so well written. i can't wait to read book two.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am leaving a voluntary review.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unspoken Devotion pulls you in with its rich atmosphere, compelling characters, and slow-burn tension that builds into something unforgettable. The blend of mystery, desire, and emotional depth makes this dark romance completely addictive. A gripping start to the Dolce Obsurità series! 💕🔥.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ilse · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘’There was no such thing as going out of my way, or any task that was too inconvenient when it came to her.’’

I absolutely LOVE this book. It is written really well, I could really feel everything the characters were feeling and what the author wanted me to feel.


‘’I don’t think there could ever be another man I could love the way I love you.’’
I fucking love Leo and Carmen! They are amazing characters.


‘’We will get her back. We will find a way to do this.’’
’’It was for nothing, Sal,’’ Adrien said, the pain and vulnerability in his voice something I hadn’t heard from him since we were small… since his dad died.

Okay this quote fucking broke me.
I just really love the chemistry they all have!
I can’t wait to read the other books

Overall I would definitely recommend this book!

[Alison F · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Dolce Obsurita series. This is a best friends sister, age gap, mafia, second chance romance. This is Carmen and Leo’s book. Their families lived next door to each other their whole lives. Carmen emails Leo while he’s in the military and right as their feelings are finally admitted to each other a curve ball is thrown. I loved the twist and turns in this book. It’s face paced. Can’t wait to read book 2.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unspoken Devotion had me hooked from page one. Carmen and Leo’s tension is electrifying—years of unspoken feelings finally exploding in the steamiest, heart-stopping way. I loved how Chelsea Burton Dunn captures that mix of longing, danger, and forbidden desire—these two are perfect for each other, yet the Mafia ties and family loyalties keep pulling them apart.
The stakes are high, the emotions are raw, and the suspense is non-stop. Every time Leo fights for Carmen—defying his family, risking everything—you can feel the intensity and desperation. Carmen is such a strong, relatable heroine, and Leo’s loyalty, passion, and protectiveness made my heart race.
If you’re craving a dark, mafia-packed romance with enemies-to-lovers tension, forbidden love, and a hero willing to do whatever it takes to claim the woman he loves, Unspoken Devotion will pull you in and never let go.

[Laura Wolff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new author for me and what an amazing author she is! I love all good mafia stories and this one was no different.

Please read the trigger warnings as always as this life is hard and these people go through a lot. Be prepared.

Wow. Ok. So Chelsea pulls us into the LaMartinas and Lupos families. Two tight knit families both with ties to the mafia. But LaMartinas family lost their father and so Salvatore Lupos took over for both families, with his greedy, slimy self. Ever had a character you wanted to punch in the face. That’s this guy.

Anyways, there isn’t really one main character as this story revolves around both families who are completely intertwined.
Leo Lupo is back from the Marines and has been in love with Carmen LaMartinas forever. They emailed while he was oversees but now that he is back he is trying to figure out a way to have her and keep his friendship with her brothers.

Carmen works for her mom and Leo’s mom at the bakery, and is applying for pastry school. Out of all kids she is the only girl. So dating is difficult, especially with a mafia family. Plus she doesn’t want to date because she has only ever loved Leo. But doesn’t want her brothers to kill him so she just sends flirty emails. But now he is back and staking his claim and she isn’t sure she will survive him.

Ontop of the fact that now Salvatore has “sold” her to the O’Shea Clan to gain an alliance in the sex trade business. One that none of the boys wants any part of.

Now the brothers must all come together to get Carmen back before she is hurt and figure out how to deal with Salvatore senior.

This book I actually had to put down and walk away from for a couple days because it got to me. Once she got taken I had to take a break. Most of the time I can handle it and remember it’s only fiction. But Chelsea has a way of drawing you in that feels real.

I am on to book 2 now in this series and can’t wait to see what happens next. Book one ended kind of but not really on a cliffhanger. More so they now have to deal
With the fall out of what they did to get Carmen back.

If you love mafia romance, dark and twisted, revenge and murder, hot and spicy and a big family with all the antics then you’ll love this book! I highly recommend Chelsea’s mafia series. Go grab it!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cheyenne Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unspoken devotion is a great read and a well written one. The sorty is well thought through and overall really enjoyable.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Katinka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carmen and Leo, the youngest children of members of the local mafia, grew up as neighbors. They were raised to be able to defend themselves as needed, and though they did have a good childhood, each sought a life that did not involve joining the mafia themselves. After Leo returned home having been honorably discharged by the military, he was able to once again spend time with the girl he had secretly loved for years, who also happens to be secretly in love with him. But when his father uses Carmen as a means to forge an alliance with the Irish Mafia, Leo and the rest of his family need to find a way to stop her unwanted marriage from happening without alerting his dad to their plans. But can they find a way to stop it from happening without starting an all-out mafia war?

I read a review copy of this book and really enjoyed it. But I do need to warn readers that it comes with a number of trigger warnings. This book contains themes of sex-trafficking, rape, violence, and abuse. It is is not suitable for younger readers as it does contain some graphic (consensual, not rape) sex scenes.

Despite the tough themes, this is primarily the story of two people who have fallen in love, and two families who want to allow them to be together, despite Leo's father’s plan for her. Overall, I believe that the story is very well-written and if the themes won’t trigger you, one that I believe a lot of readers will enjoy. We do not “see” a rape itself happen in this book, and though there is a great deal of violence that takes place, as well as an awareness of sex-trafficking, that seems to be a secondary part of the story, and not a primary focus of it. I believe these themes were delicately handled.

The characters are all strong and smart individuals, and while they may live morally-grey lives as part of a mafia family, they do come across as good people rather than villains to be hated. In most cases, their own lives were decided by factors other than what they may have wanted, though the decisions made were their own.

[Chandra Quimby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books that don't drag on, they get to the point, and the only content is what's relevant to the story. Chelsea knows what she's doing. Carmen was an amazing FMC, she was strong and formidable, but also tender and feminine. She didn't lose any of her softness simply because of how she was raised or the life she'd lived. And Leo, oh my! I was drawn to him right from the start! He complimented Carmen is eveyr way possible, bringing out the warrior in her while also showing her she is worthy of devotion. The story kept me on my toes, and now I'm on to the second book, no doubt another hit!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alex Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carmen and Leo's relationship had me clamoring for more. Not going to give spoilers, but this book was steamy, suspenseful, dark, and romantic all rolled into one book. I'm about to start book two and I can't wait to see what Enzo and Ingrid's relationship heralds.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[brenda hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed read this book I couldn’t put it down turning the pages. I thought the story was interesting and was well written that kept you reading. I can’t wait to read from Chelsea Burton Dunn.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jodie Cary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am new to this author, and I thought this story was just okay. I couldn't connect with the characters or get into the story. I may have to try again later.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.