We’re sworn enemies. So why do I crave his touch?I never miss. As one of the most feared assassins alive, I’ve built my name on cold precision and kill counts. My latest target should be Rhee Gun-woo, a Korean mafia heir with blood on his hands—my father’s blood.
But the moment we lock eyes across a neon-lit club, everything changes. I should want him dead. Instead, I want his hands on me.
Gun’s brutal and real, dangerously trustworthy in a world of lies, with a touch that burns hot like fire on my skin.
Now I’m caught between twenty years of revenge and one impossible desire. Complete my mission and honor my father’s memory—or surrender to the man who could destroy me.
…because in Gun’s world, enemies who become lovers don’t just break the rules. We die for them.
Ruthless Touch is a spicy, fast-paced AMBW Mafia Romance with twists, turns and lots of tension between the hate-to-love couple. It has an HEA ending and is recommended for fans of Kdramas and AMBW Romance. Be sure to check out the content warning at the start of the book and get ready to go on a wild ride. 💋
Sienne has a thing for dark and brooding alphas and the diverse women who love them. She enjoys writing stories where lines are blurred and the romance is dark and delicious. In her spare time, she unwinds with a nice glass of wine and Netflix binge.
****ALL of my books have trigger warnings. Please take a sec to either visit siennevega.com for a list OR read the front of the book labeled "Content Warnings".****
I enjoyed this book. There was lots of action to keep you entertained. My favorite characters are definitely Gun, Joong, and Priscilla, they couldn’t no wrong in this book. Elise, our FMC, was more complicated. She was a tough assassin but somehow she was constantly failing her mission. I appreciate that she and Gun are equally matched but I wanted to see her really own her missions.
I pretty much figured out the plot twist from the beginning, things just didn’t seem right.
While the main villain gets taken care of, there are a few people I feel needed their comeuppance, namely Gun’s brother and his brother’s mother, and the director.
While we get to see our main characters a few weeks to months in the future, it would’ve been nice to see them a few years into the future in an epilogue. Maybe we’ll get a little novella or maybe a Priscilla/joong story and check in with everyone.
The thing about Sienne Vega’s books is that they grab your attention from the beginning. Sienne writes in a way that pulls you in and makes you feel like you are part of the story’s world. Ruthless Touch is high energy, fast-paced, and full of spice without sacrificing any of the plot.
Elise is an a$ /s@s/ s¡ñ who is hired to eliminate Güñ. These two characters are pretty clever, and there is more to them than meets the eye. Elise keeps Güñ on his toes. There’s a lot of heat between these two, and the spicy scenes are written well. As much as the action scenes. Elise was fiery, and Güñ knew precisely how to handle her.
I appreciate the details Sienne went into, carefully carving out the Korean culture and representing it in Ruthless Touch. Being half Black and half Korean, I often find it challenging to find books, much less Mafia Romance, that accurately describe certain aspects, and I enjoyed reading Ruthless Touch.
🥃 ARC Review by The Bourbon Sipping Bibliophile Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) Proof/Steam: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (A full-bodied, long, hot finish) Pour Style: AMBW Mafia Romance • Enemies to Lovers • Action/Suspense
🥃 The Pour: A Well-Aged Whiskey Smash This book is a perfectly blended, high-proof cocktail of action, danger, and undeniable heat. Set against the neon-lit backdrop of the Seoul underworld, Ruthless Touch follows the master assassin Elise and her target, Rhee Gun-woo, a powerful Korean mafia heir. What starts as a simple mission of revenge quickly twists into a dangerous game of forced proximity, betrayal, and passion that threatens to ignite the entire criminal landscape.
Vega delivers on the promise of fast-paced, cinematic storytelling. The tension is present from the first page, and the verbal and physical sparring between the leads is electric. This is not a slow-burn tale; it’s a high-stakes collision that leaves you breathless. If you like your romance to feel like an action movie where the chemistry is just as deadly as the weapons, pour yourself a glass of this one.
💕 What Hit the Palate Just Right ✔ Explosive, matched leads — Elise and Gun are perfectly balanced. She's the focused assassin; he's the charming, protective, and slightly chaotic "lover boy." Their dynamic is pure fire. ✔ High-octane plot — The story is driven by twists, mafia intrigue, and family secrets that keep the pages turning. It successfully blends K-Drama flair with the intensity of a dark romance. ✔ The "Found Family" warmth — The side characters, particularly Gun’s loyal second, Joon-gi, and Priscilla, are brilliant. Their humor and unwavering loyalty provide a necessary anchor in the violent world. ✔ Authentic setting — The Seoul setting and cultural details are beautifully woven into the narrative, adding depth and flavor to the story's backdrop.
😕 Where the Proof Fell a Bit Flat – Pacing in the action sequences While generally fast-paced, the plot occasionally moves too quickly through major turning points, sometimes skipping over the necessary emotional weight. – Assassin Efficacy Elise is billed as a master assassin, yet her attempts on Gun's life are often quickly thwarted or turn into accidental foreplay, which slightly strains credibility.
🌶️ Spice Notes This is a high-proof pour. The spice is frequent, earned, and directly tied to the characters’ hate-to-craving dynamic.
Expect: Alpha-male possessiveness Intense, open-door scenes Chemistry that jumps off the page
Definitely adult—prepare for the heat.
⚠️ Content Warnings Gun and knife violence Emotional trauma/PTSD Family conflict/abuse Poisoning On-page sex
🥃 Final Sip Ruthless Touch is a thrilling, spicy addition to the mafia romance shelf that stands out thanks to its unique setting and the unforgettable chemistry between its leads. It’s an immersive, binge-worthy read that guarantees an HEA after a wild ride. While a few elements stretch belief, the fun, the fire, and the dynamic relationships make this a highly enjoyable pour.
Final Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Drink Pairing: Smoky Manhattan. A potent, classic cocktail that reflects the book's intense, dangerous atmosphere, with a bitter cherry twist to represent the high-stakes romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really love Sienne Vega’s international books; her readers get to travel from the comfort of their favorite recliner, and it is always worth the trip! We have been to England and now Ruthless Touch takes us on our second trip to South Korea. Like Marked By Him, Ruthless Touch is centered around criminal elements, mafia and intrigue; however, the dynamics of our two main characters give this exciting story a totally different vibe. Elise is the farthest thing from a rabbit! Clever, yet underappreciated, Rhee Gun-woo (Gun) is a seasoned warrior in the Cheongryong (Korean mafia) but he brings a sense of humor and honor to his endeavors. He has a fun-loving and loyal sidekick in Joon-gi (think Stitches in the Roses series 😊). When Gun and Joon see a beautiful woman seated serenely in the chaos of a local nightclub, they are both captivated but Gun sees behind the quiet façade she presents to the simmering danger beneath. Elise has literally been waiting and training for most of her life for a chance to avenge an old wrong. Meeting Gun is just one of the steps on her agenda. Flirting and feeling the beginnings of a heady connection, the pair seems destined for a night of passion so imagine Gun’s surprise when seduction turns into combat. As Gun and Elise grapple both physically and emotionally, they discover that they have surprising commonalities and hidden connections that need exploring and understanding. They didn’t so much fall in love as “collided”; I genuinely loved how different their temperaments were and how they complemented each, providing a barrier to the world and filling in the broken places they both in their spirits. The story’s action was taut with some unexpected plot twists and reveals. I loved their little cobbled together family and would love to revisit Gun and Elise and to check in on Cilla and Joon. Great Story!
Favorite Lines:
“Begged or agreed with a resigned sigh after you asked fifty-eleven times?” I’m demure and mysterious, the only woman seated alone at the bar counter. It even amuses me that she seems to deeply hate me so much. It almost seems personal. “She’s not just a woman,” I tell his limp corpse. “She’s mine.” And both of us carrying the weight of choices we never got to make. Gun in a towel. Gun without his shirt. Gun’s grin and his teasing words that heat up my skin. “I have plenty of cuties in my roster, my friend. Perfect 10s too. Like your sexy assassin girlfriend.” “That’s the interesting thing about people,” I say. “We all have a duality. And good and bad pieces of ourselves. Some worse than others.” “You’re lying, feline. That dance we shared told no lies. You felt it too—the pull between us. The instant connection.” Home isn’t here. It isn’t the beach. It isn’t some peaceful escape from reality. This strange, cobbled-together family we’ve built from betrayals and tested loyalties and the kind of love that doesn’t ask permission. About found family and second chances and the strange grace of being fully known and still wanted. https://theretiredreader.com/f/ruthle...
Ruthless Touch: An AamBW Mafia Romance by Sienne Vega
Drink: Goyangi
Music: Say It by Tory Lanez
Elise Quinn: If, “avenger,” was a person it would be Elise. Her focus was so sharp, it became her identity—she couldn’t see past her mission.
Rhee Gun-woo: If, “lover boy” was a person it would be Gun-woo. When it came to the woman he loved, there was no line he wouldn’t cross to protect her or make her smile.
Sienne Vega never misses when it comes to creating a moment, and Ruthless Touch was no different. This action-packed ride had us on the best kind of emotional roller coaster, and we loved every twist, turn, and gasp.
Elise? That girl. Period. We don’t get enough female assassins, and she delivered everything we wanted—skilled, focused, and full of depth. Watching her learn to trust herself and others was both powerful and satisfying. We were rooting for her every step of the way.
And Gun-woo? Whew. His layers were pure entertainment. He liked being unpredictable—while letting others think he wasn’t. Charming, ruthless, protective, intelligent, and just the right amount of flawed. His darkness was intriguing, sexy, and surprisingly tender. His scenes with his best friend? Comedy gold. Those two had us laughing, stressing, and swooning all at once.
Elise and Gun-woo were a perfect match—explosive chemistry and emotional connection all wrapped into one. They truly became each other’s soft landing, and we adored it.
Vega’s storytelling was cinematic. The action, the culture, the setting—it all came alive. We haven’t been to Seoul, but she made us feel like we were right there: weaving through the streets on a motorcycle and tasting every bite of Korean street food.
This story had everything: passion, danger, redemption, and heart.
A must-read for anyone who loves intensity with a side of tenderness.
Gun and Elise's story was a rollercoaster ride. I love Elise's personality. She's a strong, independent woman who has a sense of justice. She's flawed as well but doesn't let her stop her from getting her revenge. Gun is hilarious. His fights with Elise and the constant provoking her was his version of foreplay. He's deadly protective as well and won't allow anyone to mess with her. They really have so much in common, good and bad. Both have been hurt and are carrying scars from the past, one they didn't even realize what connected in the beginning. The plot flowed smoothly. Of course, Sienne Vega brings the twists and turns as well which never fail to keep me entertained from beginning to end. Even the secondary characters bring so much to the story, especially Joon. I would love for him to get his own story. Overall, this was a great read that I'd recommend.
Ruthless Touch was such an entertaining enemies-to-lovers read, packed with action, tension, and cinematic energy. It reminded me of the spy-style movies I love — fast-paced, dramatic, and full of chemistry. Gun and Elise complemented each other perfectly, and their Mr. & Mrs. Smith–vibe fight scenes were some of my favorite moments.
Joon-Gi, Gun’s hilarious and loyal “sidekick,” completely stole the show for me. I found myself hoping he’d get his own love story… maybe even with Priscilla. I connected with this whole cast so much that I genuinely wanted more of them once the book ended. And yes — I absolutely needed the director to get what was coming to her!
This was my first Sienne Vega novel, and it definitely won’t be my last.
I received this as an ARC from Ms. Vega. This is my honest review.
Gun and Elise are both people who aren't to be played with and neither one of them had a problem standing on business when it came to getting their point across. Although Elise had her reasons for going after Gun, she soon realized that his reputation proceeded him and it wasn't going to be as easy for her as thought. Gun is a man that doesn't leave loose ends and he's very calculating. He knows that Elise is the woman for him but in order to get her to see that they are better off lovers than enemies, he's going to have to melt that block of ice that surround her heart. This book was everything I have come to expect from a Sienne Vega story... Action packed, wonderful characters, racy love scenes, and great twists and turns!!!
Did the timeline always make sense? No. Did the dual PoV make the first half of this book read repetitive? Yes. Did I have fun reading Gun being smitten with Elise trying to take him out? Yes! Was Elise a good assassin? The jury is still out on that one.
So I say all of that to say I had fun and that's all that matters.
Format: ebook KU Romance tag: open door CN: brain trauma, PTSD (nightmares), anxiety, migraines with overuse of meds, emotionally abusive parent, gun and knife violence, poisoning, family secrets,
This book has me booking a reservation for a flight to Korea. From the first chapter you’re being transported into the world of Elise and Gun. Their story and their relationship with each character in this book.
The chemistry between them is truly fascinating and hot. Definitely one to watch.
Really enjoyed this one.
Any opinions, recommendations, or suggestions expressed within this review our Solely and uniquely made by me. I originally and voluntarily had received in advance copy of this book via Bsprout.
*ARC Reader* Ruthless Touch does not disappoint. Gun and Elise’s story is so hot and action packed. This book touches on mafia, assassins a father’s disappointment, friendship and family secrets. I love how this is not a traditional enemies to lovers and close proximity trope. This book plays out like a straight up action movie with amazing spice. The story also has a mystery that our main characters need to get to the bottom of. I highly recommend this book. Once again, Sienne can do no wrong.
This was an epic story between our main characters, Elise and Gun. Their fight scenes were toting the line of foreplay and true bodily harm. In the beginning we know Gun suffers with head trauma but as the story progresses, as he and Elise become closer, shifting from enemies to lovers (only from her view cuz Gun falls first) mention of his migraines become less and less. It's almost like she silences his pain.
This book had “Romeo & Juliet star crossed lovers” vibes along with comedy, action, suspense, twists you don’t see coming & a bit of smut…aka all the good things lol. I loved this book. Very fast paced so putting it down to go back to real life is incredibly difficult. Great job Sienne! Looking forward to more of your stories, especially if they’re as good as this was as I was mesmerized from the first chapter.
This is an engaging, suspenseful, twisted, and utterly captivating mafia romance between Gun and Elise. Sienna Vega has written a tantalizing rollercoaster ride that is well developed, has an exceptional plot, and plenty of twists with added supporting characters. Once I started reading it I had a hard time putting it down. Highly recommend reading. I look forward to reading more from Vega.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Great story and character development! I felt like I was in the streets of Korea dodging bullets and fists and delivering butt whoopins with the support of my deadly Korean gangster boyfriend with a sweet side! Great job intertwining romance with a pretty violent story. Loved it!
A great read! The characters were so well written and complex, compelling and complicated. The plot was intriguing, exciting and fast paced. World building was excellent and expertly drawn. All in all a great read and I highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a suspenseful mafia romance between Elise and Gun. These two flawed souls and the unique plot make for an intriguing read. It is a love story filled with drama, steam, action, danger, passion, twists and turns, plus engaging secondary characters. An emotional page turner.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
All I can say is this was a mafia story that was filled with action, love, betrayal and death. I was fully invested, but not convinced that the culprit was actually the one that committed the crime(s). The cast of characters Gun, Eli, etc. was a pleasure to read about.
Elize- Black Silk, has one thing only on her mind and that is a twenty year old act of revenge. But is revenge still going to be sweet when she learns the truth? and What of Gun? Very good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A story of two people with different agendas and trauma in their lives Who end up falling in love despite the obstacles One a gangsta the other a killer Lots of action and some twists and turns you don’t expect Great job Sienne
This was an entertaining, intriguing and intense story. This book brought the drama with action packed scenes, a lot steam and sexiness but also an emotional depth.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was such a fun read. I love both Gun and Elise so much. They are absolutely perfect for eachother. The twist I freaking knew it from the beginning. I liked all the action this book gave me.
This book, grabs your attention. It's got everything, action, plot twists, love, lust, etc, etc. I couldn't put this book down. Great story, full of details.
⚔️ Ruthless Touch is everything you expect from a dark, cat-and-mouse, high-stakes romance. Elise, a trained assassin driven by revenge. Gun, the mafia heir who was supposed to be her target. And between them—chemistry so intense it blurs every line between love and death.
Does the mission get completed? You’ll have to read to find out. Just know this story delivers danger, passion, and the kind of slow-burn chaos that only enemies-to-lovers can bring.
This was my introduction to Sienna Vega, and I’m already excited to dive into more of her work!
Gun and Elise made quite the pair. Elise's code name is Black Silk, and she is out to get revenge on Gun. She plans to kill him and his father. Elise goes to Club Eclipse to seduce and then kill Gun, but the tables get turned on her. Gun stops the hit and then he is drawn to her. They both try to fight the attraction but fall in love. This story had some twists and turns I did' see coming. You will enjoy reading this story.