What do you think?
Rate this book
Vittorio Crime Family #4
His Witness
He kidnapped me.
He was charming, powerful, intoxicating. Accepting his advances might be the last mistake I'd ever make. He was a dangerous man, and the fact that he made me feel alive couldn't hide that I danced with death.
I made my choice, and he made his.
Now I'm trapped in his basement, completely at his mercy. Day after day he toys with me for his own amusement. Pleasure and pain, pain and pleasure. The two are so linked now that I can barely tell them apart and I'm beginning to crave both.
Worse, I'm beginning to crave him.
Author's note: This 77,000-word dark romance novel has mature themes that might make some readers uncomfortable.
He was charming, powerful, intoxicating. Accepting his advances might be the last mistake I'd ever make. He was a dangerous man, and the fact that he made me feel alive couldn't hide that I danced with death.
I made my choice, and he made his.
Now I'm trapped in his basement, completely at his mercy. Day after day he toys with me for his own amusement. Pleasure and pain, pain and pleasure. The two are so linked now that I can barely tell them apart and I'm beginning to crave both.
Worse, I'm beginning to crave him.
Author's note: This 77,000-word dark romance novel has mature themes that might make some readers uncomfortable.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 27, 2014
223 people are currently reading
1220 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa Waltz
36 books1,488 followersVanessa Waltz is an author of Dark Bad Boy Romance and lives in Seattle with her two ill-behaved cats.
Before she settled in Seattle, she lived in Northern California where she studied English Literature at San Jose State University. She pursued a career in medicine before making an about-face to write full-time. She also pens psychological thrillers as Rachel Hargrove.
She enjoys beer tasting, live music venues, and singing her heart out at horrified bar patrons.
Vanessa is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
Email: info@vanessawaltzbooks.com
Website: www.vanessawaltzbooks.com
Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/2JQ4PZ9
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JQ7i5R
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
Before she settled in Seattle, she lived in Northern California where she studied English Literature at San Jose State University. She pursued a career in medicine before making an about-face to write full-time. She also pens psychological thrillers as Rachel Hargrove.
She enjoys beer tasting, live music venues, and singing her heart out at horrified bar patrons.
Vanessa is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
Email: info@vanessawaltzbooks.com
Website: www.vanessawaltzbooks.com
Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/2JQ4PZ9
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JQ7i5R
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
March 15, 2015
4.5 'testimonial' stars
Wow! This was such a great book! Read it in one sitting! As soon as I read the blurb, I KNEW I had to read it!
It seriously had ALL of my favorite book components rolled into one!
kidnapping . a sexy, disturbed, & dirty talking alpha . a strong, back-talking, & relatable heroine . steamy sex scenes . action . and of course, THE MAFIA!
I have to say, the books Vanessa Waltz writes gets better and better with each book she releases! If you are looking for an amazing, well written and fast paced book,then look no further! Seriously, 'one-click' it ASAP!
Wow! This was such a great book! Read it in one sitting! As soon as I read the blurb, I KNEW I had to read it!
It seriously had ALL of my favorite book components rolled into one!
kidnapping . a sexy, disturbed, & dirty talking alpha . a strong, back-talking, & relatable heroine . steamy sex scenes . action . and of course, THE MAFIA!
I have to say, the books Vanessa Waltz writes gets better and better with each book she releases! If you are looking for an amazing, well written and fast paced book,then look no further! Seriously, 'one-click' it ASAP!
December 31, 2014
*ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Absolutely friggin' loved this book! It was fast paced, steamy, bad-assed mafia all in one. I cannot recommend this book enough. It had elements of BDSM, kidnapping, murder, of course mafia and it worked. Sometimes authors get a little crazed with themes but that did not happen here. OMG go immediately to your favorite bookseller and get this book NOW!!!! It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.
Absolutely friggin' loved this book! It was fast paced, steamy, bad-assed mafia all in one. I cannot recommend this book enough. It had elements of BDSM, kidnapping, murder, of course mafia and it worked. Sometimes authors get a little crazed with themes but that did not happen here. OMG go immediately to your favorite bookseller and get this book NOW!!!! It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.
April 5, 2015
3.5 to 4 Suspenseful Stars.
*I was kindly given a copy by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Ms. Vanessa Waltz has done it again! Ooooh that angst and thrill... loved it! His Witness is the 4th book to the Vittorio Crime Family series (which I have yet to read) but I'm glad this book can be read as standalone.
Anyways, full review to come...
*I was kindly given a copy by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Ms. Vanessa Waltz has done it again! Ooooh that angst and thrill... loved it! His Witness is the 4th book to the Vittorio Crime Family series (which I have yet to read) but I'm glad this book can be read as standalone.
Anyways, full review to come...
January 17, 2015
Meet Tommy and Melanie
Tommy is that man who butchers the Rats.
Melanie is that girl who gave up her dream of going to college to run her father's night club.
Melanie is approached by the FBI to testify against the Mob and or go to jail. Tommy kidnaps her from the safe house. He needs her to change her testimony.
He Does more than that!!!
This book is well written, love this family, sure would like to have more in this series.
Oh Yes SB..there is a HEA!!! oxo
Tommy is that man who butchers the Rats.
Melanie is that girl who gave up her dream of going to college to run her father's night club.
Melanie is approached by the FBI to testify against the Mob and or go to jail. Tommy kidnaps her from the safe house. He needs her to change her testimony.
He Does more than that!!!
This book is well written, love this family, sure would like to have more in this series.
Oh Yes SB..there is a HEA!!! oxo
December 26, 2014
This book was exciting. Fast paced. Dark. Hot. Crazy plot twist. Totally didn't see that coming!
My favorite quote from the book, "He’s like that one extra slice of chocolate cake, another drink when you know you’ve already had too much, a hit—just a small bump, just something to tide you over until the next thing comes along and sweeps you off your feet. When his charm is on full blast and I’m wedged beside him in a happy alcoholic haze, he’s almost impossible to resist. I know I shouldn’t, he’s bad for me, but I can’t help it."
It's great, because it sums up how Melanie could ever love a man like Tommy. And Tommy is a bad man. Melanie never really looses her "brass balls" either, which I appreciated!
My favorite quote from the book, "He’s like that one extra slice of chocolate cake, another drink when you know you’ve already had too much, a hit—just a small bump, just something to tide you over until the next thing comes along and sweeps you off your feet. When his charm is on full blast and I’m wedged beside him in a happy alcoholic haze, he’s almost impossible to resist. I know I shouldn’t, he’s bad for me, but I can’t help it."
It's great, because it sums up how Melanie could ever love a man like Tommy. And Tommy is a bad man. Melanie never really looses her "brass balls" either, which I appreciated!
December 26, 2014
When I first saw the description for this story I was sure I had read it already...sounded just like a few other kidnap/handcuff in a basement/torture books I have on my kindle. But OMG NO...this one was so different and captivating...I didn't want to stop reading even though I had a ton of other things to do and to read would have been rude...on Christmas Day!
I was completely sucked into this one from the very first chapter and although it went back and forth a few times (you just don't know who is telling the truth and how it will all play out!) I LOVED this new mafia romance.
Tommy is not a sweet man...he doesn't love anyone and doesn't think he would ever be capable of it having grown up half Italian, half Irish under the guidance of a mob boss. He was very young when he was handed a knife and told to do his first kill and yet when he meets the beautiful Melanie, the woman who runs a club for his mob familia...he is enchanted, in lust and obsessed with having her.
Melanie is not working for the dangerous men of her own free will, but rather because of her own father and although she is attracted to Tommy, she is scared of the hitman and rightly so... he kills without remorse and with a blood-lust that is at times downright revolting.
When Melanie does the unthinkable because she is betrayed and pressured by law enforcement, her life becomes a nightmare of epic proportions and nothing, not even the lustful attention of Tommy can save her from her terrible fate.
This book had SO many twists and turns and was OMG so freaking hot and sexy in some places, I was breathless and could not read fast enough. It was like a super cool combination of some of the best crime/mafia films, thrillers and romance books I have read all rolled into one. The choices made by Melanie and Tommy as they dueled with their minds and bodies in their little dance of death was exciting and leaves you unsure who is being truthful, who you can trust and if they will ever get an HEA or if everyone will ultimately die.
I would recommend this one to dark/erotica readers, crime family saga lovers and anyone who doesn't mind a lot of graphic violence and kinky sex with their romance books. Excellent part of the Vittorio family series but can be read as a standalone.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
***** 5 ***** "even a monster needs love" stars
I was completely sucked into this one from the very first chapter and although it went back and forth a few times (you just don't know who is telling the truth and how it will all play out!) I LOVED this new mafia romance.
Tommy is not a sweet man...he doesn't love anyone and doesn't think he would ever be capable of it having grown up half Italian, half Irish under the guidance of a mob boss. He was very young when he was handed a knife and told to do his first kill and yet when he meets the beautiful Melanie, the woman who runs a club for his mob familia...he is enchanted, in lust and obsessed with having her.
Melanie is not working for the dangerous men of her own free will, but rather because of her own father and although she is attracted to Tommy, she is scared of the hitman and rightly so... he kills without remorse and with a blood-lust that is at times downright revolting.
When Melanie does the unthinkable because she is betrayed and pressured by law enforcement, her life becomes a nightmare of epic proportions and nothing, not even the lustful attention of Tommy can save her from her terrible fate.
This book had SO many twists and turns and was OMG so freaking hot and sexy in some places, I was breathless and could not read fast enough. It was like a super cool combination of some of the best crime/mafia films, thrillers and romance books I have read all rolled into one. The choices made by Melanie and Tommy as they dueled with their minds and bodies in their little dance of death was exciting and leaves you unsure who is being truthful, who you can trust and if they will ever get an HEA or if everyone will ultimately die.
I would recommend this one to dark/erotica readers, crime family saga lovers and anyone who doesn't mind a lot of graphic violence and kinky sex with their romance books. Excellent part of the Vittorio family series but can be read as a standalone.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
***** 5 ***** "even a monster needs love" stars
July 27, 2021
Tommy and Melanie's story... and I should have read this book first before reading Married to the Bad Boy because this one takes place before Elena and Tony met. Tommy and Melanie's story was kinky and a little weird, I'm not sure how to describe it, but still there is a lot of gore and violence that couldn't be absent from a mafia book.
January 2, 2015
A copy given for exchange for an honest review.
I love a dark read and when you get the Mafia involved as well you know your going to get a dark dark tale. Well this was dark, erotic, thrilling, and graphic with a lot of violence.
The storyline had me hooked from the start.
Tommy tortures and kills people for a living. He's been a bad boy killing for Jack his boss since he was sixteen. Melanie works the club her father owns and the Mafia frequent and use the place. So Tommy and Melanies paths cross from time to time. Melanie makes a wrong choice, through no fault of her own and has to face the consequences.
I loved the way they taunt each other and egging each other on when Tommy takes Melanie captive.
Sex scenes were really hot and erotic with Tommy being the typical domineering alpha male and Melanie stubborn and hot headed. I love both their characters. This was well written and fast paced a really enjoyable thrilling and explosive read.
I would of finished this earlier if not for Christmas and New Year getting in the way of my reading.
I love a dark read and when you get the Mafia involved as well you know your going to get a dark dark tale. Well this was dark, erotic, thrilling, and graphic with a lot of violence.
The storyline had me hooked from the start.
Tommy tortures and kills people for a living. He's been a bad boy killing for Jack his boss since he was sixteen. Melanie works the club her father owns and the Mafia frequent and use the place. So Tommy and Melanies paths cross from time to time. Melanie makes a wrong choice, through no fault of her own and has to face the consequences.
I loved the way they taunt each other and egging each other on when Tommy takes Melanie captive.
Sex scenes were really hot and erotic with Tommy being the typical domineering alpha male and Melanie stubborn and hot headed. I love both their characters. This was well written and fast paced a really enjoyable thrilling and explosive read.
I would of finished this earlier if not for Christmas and New Year getting in the way of my reading.
March 26, 2016
4.5 Stars!!!
I LOVED THIS ONE!!!
"I dwell in darkness, sweetheart. If I wanted to kill you, I’d do it."
This is the first book I've read by Vanessa Waltz, it definitely won't be my last either. It's been a while since I read a dark mob book, this story hooked me from the start, I devoured this meal, then licked the plate clean!! The suspense, I couldn't turn the pages quick enough.
Mafia, Murder, Mayhem, all the dirty little deeds I love. I usually like my anti-heroes on the meaner side, but I instantly fell for Tommy. Call it insta-love for me, sweetie. I'm all googly eyed right now.
I definitely need to check out the rest of the books in this series. Stalk the author. This one is going on my favorites list.
I LOVED THIS ONE!!!
"I dwell in darkness, sweetheart. If I wanted to kill you, I’d do it."
This is the first book I've read by Vanessa Waltz, it definitely won't be my last either. It's been a while since I read a dark mob book, this story hooked me from the start, I devoured this meal, then licked the plate clean!! The suspense, I couldn't turn the pages quick enough.
Mafia, Murder, Mayhem, all the dirty little deeds I love. I usually like my anti-heroes on the meaner side, but I instantly fell for Tommy. Call it insta-love for me, sweetie. I'm all googly eyed right now.
I definitely need to check out the rest of the books in this series. Stalk the author. This one is going on my favorites list.
July 12, 2021
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋💋
More disturbing and horror filled from this last in this series.
It’s the final round for these characters, Jack , Vince, joe and co. Are all taking a bow.
Thrilling, tense and satisfying thriller , one you really don’t want to miss if you’ve read the others.
Excellent reading
💋💋💋
More disturbing and horror filled from this last in this series.
It’s the final round for these characters, Jack , Vince, joe and co. Are all taking a bow.
Thrilling, tense and satisfying thriller , one you really don’t want to miss if you’ve read the others.
Excellent reading
January 12, 2015
I was very kindly provided with an arc of His Witness to read and review.
Stop what you’re doing and make sure that you buy this book as soon as it’s released! As soon as I read the synopsis for this I just knew I had to read it, it is completely up my alley and although the story sounds similar to other books of this genre, I had a feeling that it would be something a little different. Boy was I spot on, this book was absolutely amazing. The story is centered on our two main characters, Melanie and Tommy. Mel is running her fathers club to save him the horror of dealing with the Mafia members who have a stake in the business. Tommy is the black soul of the Mafia, he is the one tasked with torturing and maiming anyone who crosses them. So what will he do when Mel is the one on his chopping block?
Mel is a self confessed ‘foul-mouthed borderline alcoholic’ and I found myself in awe of her from the first word to the last. She was full of spunk, fire and she never knew how to back down from any given situation. At one point I was fully expecting her to start beating Mafia members with chairs, this is one strong lady. My heart skipped a few beats whilst reading of Melanie’s plight, I instantly connected with her so reading as she is constantly manipulated and used by everyone was heart wrenching. She comes across as incredibly head strong and brave, you know that whatever people have up their sleeve for her, that she will never go down without a fight.
‘I feel absolutely broken. Undone. Completely shattered in a million pieces.
I lost.’
Tommy was fascinating, because the book is dual point of view we got to hear from him a lot but what made it so exciting was that you never quite knew when or if he was lying, if he was just lying to himself or if he was just positively going to end up disposing of Melanie for his own gain. It really manages to keep you on your toes as you dissect his every word and action towards Mel to try and establish what he’s really up to. Tommy was an extremely dark character but his dirty mouth and almost one track mind totally made up for his darker nature.
‘I wish I could tell you that I was abused.
I wish I could tell you that I had a shitty childhood.
I’m just sick.’
I’ve never before read a book where I felt that there was quite a distinct possibility that the main characters would be dead by the end of it but this absolutely pulled it off. I rarely sit and read a book in one whole sitting, only stopping to occasionally make a cup of tea, but this book pulled it off. In fact it was so that I found no faults in it, I wouldn’t change a thing. Every single character made you love and hate them in almost equal measures and the suspense is strong enough to leave you with no finger nails left to nibble on by the end of it. I would highly recommend this book to everyone, it has such a good amount of emotion, passion, trepidation and sizzles. It definitely has its darker moments but they were so well written, in such fine detail, that I just couldn’t get enough of them.
This is the first Vanessa Waltz book that I’ve read but now I’m so excited to start getting into the Vittorio Crime Family series, I am absolutely hooked. Will Melanie escape the horrible fate that awaits her before she’s broken down? Will Tommy show that he is actually capable of loving someone? Will there be a happy ending …. or will there be no one left alive by the end? Pick this thrillingly breathtaking book up as soon as possible and find out, you won’t be disappointed.
‘Now everything is spiralling out of control, and I feel like I’m trapped in a nightmare. One of those falling dreams. My stomach lifts with the sensation of dropping a huge height, and I try to grasp something to slow my descent, but my hands keep slipping. Every time I feel like I have a firm grip, she comes along and ruins everything. And I’m back to free falling to my death.’
Stop what you’re doing and make sure that you buy this book as soon as it’s released! As soon as I read the synopsis for this I just knew I had to read it, it is completely up my alley and although the story sounds similar to other books of this genre, I had a feeling that it would be something a little different. Boy was I spot on, this book was absolutely amazing. The story is centered on our two main characters, Melanie and Tommy. Mel is running her fathers club to save him the horror of dealing with the Mafia members who have a stake in the business. Tommy is the black soul of the Mafia, he is the one tasked with torturing and maiming anyone who crosses them. So what will he do when Mel is the one on his chopping block?
Mel is a self confessed ‘foul-mouthed borderline alcoholic’ and I found myself in awe of her from the first word to the last. She was full of spunk, fire and she never knew how to back down from any given situation. At one point I was fully expecting her to start beating Mafia members with chairs, this is one strong lady. My heart skipped a few beats whilst reading of Melanie’s plight, I instantly connected with her so reading as she is constantly manipulated and used by everyone was heart wrenching. She comes across as incredibly head strong and brave, you know that whatever people have up their sleeve for her, that she will never go down without a fight.
‘I feel absolutely broken. Undone. Completely shattered in a million pieces.
I lost.’
Tommy was fascinating, because the book is dual point of view we got to hear from him a lot but what made it so exciting was that you never quite knew when or if he was lying, if he was just lying to himself or if he was just positively going to end up disposing of Melanie for his own gain. It really manages to keep you on your toes as you dissect his every word and action towards Mel to try and establish what he’s really up to. Tommy was an extremely dark character but his dirty mouth and almost one track mind totally made up for his darker nature.
‘I wish I could tell you that I was abused.
I wish I could tell you that I had a shitty childhood.
I’m just sick.’
I’ve never before read a book where I felt that there was quite a distinct possibility that the main characters would be dead by the end of it but this absolutely pulled it off. I rarely sit and read a book in one whole sitting, only stopping to occasionally make a cup of tea, but this book pulled it off. In fact it was so that I found no faults in it, I wouldn’t change a thing. Every single character made you love and hate them in almost equal measures and the suspense is strong enough to leave you with no finger nails left to nibble on by the end of it. I would highly recommend this book to everyone, it has such a good amount of emotion, passion, trepidation and sizzles. It definitely has its darker moments but they were so well written, in such fine detail, that I just couldn’t get enough of them.
This is the first Vanessa Waltz book that I’ve read but now I’m so excited to start getting into the Vittorio Crime Family series, I am absolutely hooked. Will Melanie escape the horrible fate that awaits her before she’s broken down? Will Tommy show that he is actually capable of loving someone? Will there be a happy ending …. or will there be no one left alive by the end? Pick this thrillingly breathtaking book up as soon as possible and find out, you won’t be disappointed.
‘Now everything is spiralling out of control, and I feel like I’m trapped in a nightmare. One of those falling dreams. My stomach lifts with the sensation of dropping a huge height, and I try to grasp something to slow my descent, but my hands keep slipping. Every time I feel like I have a firm grip, she comes along and ruins everything. And I’m back to free falling to my death.’
January 1, 2015
Is this a review book or personal read:
I was given this for an exchange for an honest review...
Personal rating: 4 stars.
Did it give me a book hangover:
Nope it didn't!
What I liked about this book.
I loved how this story started with Tommy and what he was doing, it was just raw and brutal and I thought that it was a brilliant start.
The twists in this book were crazy!! My mind was seriously being banged back and forth and I felt that I had to rush just to find out on the next page that there was another twist, it wasn't too much but It did make me second guess a lot which you don't find in many stories. So that was great!
This book is so fast packed with everything that I couldn't keep up and I love that, you find books with a sort of similar plots and that's it but with this one you will find yourselves being shocked over and over again.
The kink in this is seriously smoking hot and my god was he a rough bastard, I didn't think it could get any hotter but then the bathroom scene at the party came up and yep it was a panty dropper hehe!!
I have to say that even though Tommy was an arse for a good portion of the book but I felt like his character was bloody perfect, He is a dirty talking alpha and that suited his character, I mean Vanessa made him funny an oh my god sexy but he was also brilliant at reading people and even though he claimed he isn't that type of man to have feelings and what not but I saw that side before he even showed it!!
Melanie...what can I say about her...I LOVED HER! She was funny as hell with her attitude towards the mob, but she had the heart of a saint, I like hearing about people who put their parents before there own happiness but I felt that she needed a break and that it weren't fair what happened to her.
All in all this book was great and the reason for only 4 stars was because sometimes when I was reading this that some bits seemed to long, example~ Tommy going over his *feelings* it felt like I read that part already and then it was all like 'oh this must be love' and I was like oh come on!!! That was the only bit that got to me but the whole story and the characters JACK was brilliant!
I totally did not see that happening with some certain people.
The ending was great and I wouldn't of wanted it any other way.
Would I read more from this author?
Yes I would because she captured everything in one book.
Would I recommend this book?
Yes I would.
I was given this for an exchange for an honest review...
Personal rating: 4 stars.
Did it give me a book hangover:
Nope it didn't!
What I liked about this book.
I loved how this story started with Tommy and what he was doing, it was just raw and brutal and I thought that it was a brilliant start.
The twists in this book were crazy!! My mind was seriously being banged back and forth and I felt that I had to rush just to find out on the next page that there was another twist, it wasn't too much but It did make me second guess a lot which you don't find in many stories. So that was great!
This book is so fast packed with everything that I couldn't keep up and I love that, you find books with a sort of similar plots and that's it but with this one you will find yourselves being shocked over and over again.
The kink in this is seriously smoking hot and my god was he a rough bastard, I didn't think it could get any hotter but then the bathroom scene at the party came up and yep it was a panty dropper hehe!!
I have to say that even though Tommy was an arse for a good portion of the book but I felt like his character was bloody perfect, He is a dirty talking alpha and that suited his character, I mean Vanessa made him funny an oh my god sexy but he was also brilliant at reading people and even though he claimed he isn't that type of man to have feelings and what not but I saw that side before he even showed it!!
Melanie...what can I say about her...I LOVED HER! She was funny as hell with her attitude towards the mob, but she had the heart of a saint, I like hearing about people who put their parents before there own happiness but I felt that she needed a break and that it weren't fair what happened to her.
All in all this book was great and the reason for only 4 stars was because sometimes when I was reading this that some bits seemed to long, example~ Tommy going over his *feelings* it felt like I read that part already and then it was all like 'oh this must be love' and I was like oh come on!!! That was the only bit that got to me but the whole story and the characters JACK was brilliant!
I totally did not see that happening with some certain people.
The ending was great and I wouldn't of wanted it any other way.
Would I read more from this author?
Yes I would because she captured everything in one book.
Would I recommend this book?
Yes I would.
December 30, 2014
WOW... What an amazing mob story. These mafia guys don't fool around, so watch your back!!
This is the 4th book book in "Vittorio Crime Family" by Vanessa Waltz, and the best one in the series, so far. It was intense, nail biting action from the beginning to end, and kept me on the edge of my seat! This story grabbed me from the first page and was so exciting that I had to continue reading it until the very last page
Tommy and Melanie were a perfect fit together. She is a warm, strong minded, feisty woman and Tommy is a very strong and controlling man and appears to have no conscience or compassion in what he does for the Mob.
BEWARE.... this series is not for the faint hearted. It is very Dark, Raw, Gritty and Violent but extremely well written and totally believable.
.
December 28, 2014
***ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review***
Holy smokes! This book was HOTT! Tommy is a ruthless bastard and Melanie is a hard headed woman, and I loved them! The characters were so well written and the storyline had me hooked. If it weren't for the holiday I would have finished this book in one sitting, cause I just wanted to find out what was going to happen next. Tommy is one sexy man and the sex scenes in this book were amazing. Defiantly will have you all hot and bothered that's for sure. I would highly recommend this to any Dark Romance fans out there, with Ms. Waltz writing you won't be able to put it down. I will be reading all the books I can from this author now!
Holy smokes! This book was HOTT! Tommy is a ruthless bastard and Melanie is a hard headed woman, and I loved them! The characters were so well written and the storyline had me hooked. If it weren't for the holiday I would have finished this book in one sitting, cause I just wanted to find out what was going to happen next. Tommy is one sexy man and the sex scenes in this book were amazing. Defiantly will have you all hot and bothered that's for sure. I would highly recommend this to any Dark Romance fans out there, with Ms. Waltz writing you won't be able to put it down. I will be reading all the books I can from this author now!
March 6, 2015
Read full review: http://beautyandbookenthusiast.blogsp...
The complications this time is because the feds. Melanie told the feds about Vittorio family, feds did that, feds did this. All of that. No more Rizzo family and I’m glad they are gone for good. This book is heavy because it involves the feds. No matter how much I like the family, I am quite happy when feds chicken them out. It just felt so real. More problems when Jack is federal informants. Yeah, a quite heavy book.
Lack one star because I hate Tommy when he is being so cruel with Melanie.
The complications this time is because the feds. Melanie told the feds about Vittorio family, feds did that, feds did this. All of that. No more Rizzo family and I’m glad they are gone for good. This book is heavy because it involves the feds. No matter how much I like the family, I am quite happy when feds chicken them out. It just felt so real. More problems when Jack is federal informants. Yeah, a quite heavy book.
Lack one star because I hate Tommy when he is being so cruel with Melanie.
December 29, 2014
Welcome back to the Vittorio Crime Family! His Witness is the fourth book in this series but can be read as a standalone. Before I get into my review I will say that this is a very dark read. It deals with abuse, violence, and graphic sex. This book is not for the faint at heart. I say this not to discourage the reader but as a forewarning as to what to expect.
Tommy head enforcer and a bit of a psychopath when it comes to his victims has never fit in anywhere. His biological family treated him as if he was non-existent and Jack his surrogate showed him in only the way the mob or any gang could what it feels like to be a part of something. Although Jack was the first one to introduce Tommy to this life he still will never be “made” because he isn’t fully Italian. Because of this Tommy takes liberties where he wants with little to no repercussions. Like many men in this family when he sees something he wants he takes it including women.
Melanie has taken over for her father in the family business. Her dreams of attending Columbia University have been shattered with the burden of helping her father. Jumping in bed with some strange bedfellows Melanie has to sign a deal with the devil. Because her father has business with the Vittorio Family Melanie has no choice but to let them flood drugs through her club for their business. Verbally and psychically abused by the men in this family Melanie has created a hard shell. She doesn’t back down to these guys and lets them know exactly where they can shove it. I love the fact that Melanie is very sassy and has a bit of a filthy mouth.
Due to some unforeseen circumstances Melanie is now Tommy’s captive. Tommy has always had a crush on Melanie but each time she turns him down. Now that he has her exactly where he wants her his goal is to break her by any means necessary.
If you have read any of the other previous stories this story will really make you dislike Vince. He’s a bit of a douchebag to everyone except his wife. While I love a good mob read I had a few issues with the inconsistencies in this story. For instance Melanie says to Tommy, “You said you have anger problems, but I don’t see it at all.” Or my favorite when Tommy says, “I never laid a hand on you I’m trying to help you.” (Potential Spoilers) He only beat her and starved her and made her sit in the cold basement naked for days. I would agree his issues go beyond anger but who are we kidding?
I did find that there were parallels between this story and the other stories in the series. For example Jack has an issue with one of the love interests of his men and wants them to get rid of said love intrest. But the men can’t find a way to part with the women they love and except them for who they are. The women all have issues with Jack and make note to mention that Jack is using them. But because of some blind loyalty to Jack the men including Tommy try to work something out. Although unlike the other men Tommy is more of a man of action and doesn’t just speak about things he makes them happen. I do like the fact that the author does pose questions to the characters that the readers are thinking themselves. i.e. Melanie doesn’t want to leave Tommy after the God awful things he has done to her. She pleads her case which sounds a lot like classic Stockholm Syndrome but Tommy corrects her and lets her know that, “its normal to get attached to the person you are spending so much time with.” I honestly didn’t feel these two characters shared anything more than insults and sex. I would have liked to see more of a connection between the two if possible.
This story is more than Melanie being Tommy’s captive it balances the budding “romance” between the two with the business of the family. I won’t give too much a way but there are a lot of twists and turns in this story and the way the author left the book off I am sure there is more to come. Don’t judge this book based on this one review but for yourself.
**ARC Provided In Exchange For An Honest Review**
Tommy head enforcer and a bit of a psychopath when it comes to his victims has never fit in anywhere. His biological family treated him as if he was non-existent and Jack his surrogate showed him in only the way the mob or any gang could what it feels like to be a part of something. Although Jack was the first one to introduce Tommy to this life he still will never be “made” because he isn’t fully Italian. Because of this Tommy takes liberties where he wants with little to no repercussions. Like many men in this family when he sees something he wants he takes it including women.
Melanie has taken over for her father in the family business. Her dreams of attending Columbia University have been shattered with the burden of helping her father. Jumping in bed with some strange bedfellows Melanie has to sign a deal with the devil. Because her father has business with the Vittorio Family Melanie has no choice but to let them flood drugs through her club for their business. Verbally and psychically abused by the men in this family Melanie has created a hard shell. She doesn’t back down to these guys and lets them know exactly where they can shove it. I love the fact that Melanie is very sassy and has a bit of a filthy mouth.
Due to some unforeseen circumstances Melanie is now Tommy’s captive. Tommy has always had a crush on Melanie but each time she turns him down. Now that he has her exactly where he wants her his goal is to break her by any means necessary.
If you have read any of the other previous stories this story will really make you dislike Vince. He’s a bit of a douchebag to everyone except his wife. While I love a good mob read I had a few issues with the inconsistencies in this story. For instance Melanie says to Tommy, “You said you have anger problems, but I don’t see it at all.” Or my favorite when Tommy says, “I never laid a hand on you I’m trying to help you.” (Potential Spoilers) He only beat her and starved her and made her sit in the cold basement naked for days. I would agree his issues go beyond anger but who are we kidding?
I did find that there were parallels between this story and the other stories in the series. For example Jack has an issue with one of the love interests of his men and wants them to get rid of said love intrest. But the men can’t find a way to part with the women they love and except them for who they are. The women all have issues with Jack and make note to mention that Jack is using them. But because of some blind loyalty to Jack the men including Tommy try to work something out. Although unlike the other men Tommy is more of a man of action and doesn’t just speak about things he makes them happen. I do like the fact that the author does pose questions to the characters that the readers are thinking themselves. i.e. Melanie doesn’t want to leave Tommy after the God awful things he has done to her. She pleads her case which sounds a lot like classic Stockholm Syndrome but Tommy corrects her and lets her know that, “its normal to get attached to the person you are spending so much time with.” I honestly didn’t feel these two characters shared anything more than insults and sex. I would have liked to see more of a connection between the two if possible.
This story is more than Melanie being Tommy’s captive it balances the budding “romance” between the two with the business of the family. I won’t give too much a way but there are a lot of twists and turns in this story and the way the author left the book off I am sure there is more to come. Don’t judge this book based on this one review but for yourself.
**ARC Provided In Exchange For An Honest Review**
December 30, 2014
It's LIVE NOW!
I really liked this story! His Witness is my first Vanessa Waltz book (though I'll definitely have to go back and read the earlier Vittorio family books now) and I was pleased to see that even reading them out of order as I'm doing, it doesn't really seem to spoil the earlier stories.
How can he feel pity for this asshole? He's just as bad as we are. We all deserve this.
This is the story of Tommy and Melanie, a bloodthirsty mobster who dreams of becoming a "made guy" and an overworked, headstrong club manager who would rather be in medical school.
(These were my images of them, though I can't be sure of the eye color. To be honest, I can't recall reading what eye color either of them had, so this is what I'm going with!)
This is no story where their eyes met across the room and they immediately fell in love. These two are physically attracted to each other from the get-go, but Tommy's really just looking to get laid, and Melanie isn't even looking for that--he's mob scum and she wants no part of him.
Circumstances throw them together and their pesky physical connection gets in the way as they grow closer to each other, even though that's the last thing Tommy should be doing.
For the most part, this book hooked me. Once I started reading it I didn't want to put it down, and I did finish it in a day. I liked how the mob interaction/storyline was actually present too, it wasn’t all about the love story.
The characters were interesting, though I felt like Melanie's character changed a lot from beginning to end, which makes sense to a certain degree, but by the time I got to the end, there was barely anything left of her character at the beginning. That may be the point though, so this isn’t necessarily a bad thing—it’s the result of that lifestyle, it can wear you down.
Sometimes I didn’t know what Tommy was thinking. It seemed like he went from “I just want to bang her” to being in love with her sort of fast. I get the circumstances intensify things, but what bothered me most about their love is that I didn’t know why they loved each other—and neither did they.
Why do I love him? I ask myself that because he's right. It's an important fucking question, but I just can't answer it. I just know that i need him.
My issues:
In the middle, briefly, I started to feel like they were going in circles/having the same interaction over and over without much progress, but the majority of the book is very well paced. Sometimes the characters wanted contradictory things ("I want her to fight me!" "I want her to submit, submit, submit!" etc), and at a certain point I was like, "Make up your mind already!"
There was also quite a bit of back and forth: "he's lying to me, he's going to kill me!" "I won't kill you, I promise!" "Your promises don't mean anything!" Then stop wringing them out of him! I would have preferred if the middle...I wanna say 10% would have been a bit tighter, instead of having several of the same kind of scenes, just one or two really strong ones that got whichever point across-just one though, not the conflicting stuff.
That said, this is still a really good read with lots of action and several little twists, the first of which I totally did not see coming. If you like dark romance/mob romance, I would say you will probably enjoy this book.
**ARC very kindly provided in exchange for honest review**
August 28, 2023
This was my first book in this series, so I read the last before the first. I am not a great lover of Mafia / Bratva/ Mobster books, find people who make money off other's suffering distasteful. But there are so many of these around its hard to avoid them,.
Anyone who looks at my ratings ( probably non one) would see I don't give out many 4 stars to Erotic romance - they are all the same after a bit; Billionaire, handsome, big dicked guy, shy, virginal, sweet woman who has been done wrong by her last man / mother / father. It all gets a bit samey samey. But then I'm not American.
But I read a lot, often 2-3 books at a time so you take what you can get.
Anyway this one was different it didn't paint the Vittorio men as misunderstood "good mobsters" it painted them as what they were evil, greedy bastards and Tommy was no different with a side of sicko.
Melanie was strong and feisty in a situation not of her making and acted the only way possible. The Vittorio family were responsible for this and then wanted her dead. Along comes Tommy, he with the dark tastes and the wrong heritage, lies but does save the day and gets the girl he never realized how much he wanted, sweet ( sorry I do like a happyish ending)
I was pleased Jack the hypocrite got his, wanted Vince who was a complete arsehole to suffer too, as I didn't like him, even if he was sweet to his wife :( so not sure if I'll do books 1 and 2.
So an enjoyable different read with great characters and a believable situation.
Thanks Ms Waltz. - Would like to know what happened with Mel and Tommy NYC or Canada?
27 August 2023
Just reread this one and I must say I can't disagree with my first review.
I've read quite a few Mob/Mafia/Bratva books now and this one is a winner - it paints the life as gritty, dirty and dangerous.
I'll keep my four star rating and I'm still not sure if I want to read the rest of the series.
Anyone who looks at my ratings ( probably non one) would see I don't give out many 4 stars to Erotic romance - they are all the same after a bit; Billionaire, handsome, big dicked guy, shy, virginal, sweet woman who has been done wrong by her last man / mother / father. It all gets a bit samey samey. But then I'm not American.
But I read a lot, often 2-3 books at a time so you take what you can get.
Anyway this one was different it didn't paint the Vittorio men as misunderstood "good mobsters" it painted them as what they were evil, greedy bastards and Tommy was no different with a side of sicko.
Melanie was strong and feisty in a situation not of her making and acted the only way possible. The Vittorio family were responsible for this and then wanted her dead. Along comes Tommy, he with the dark tastes and the wrong heritage, lies but does save the day and gets the girl he never realized how much he wanted, sweet ( sorry I do like a happyish ending)
I was pleased Jack the hypocrite got his, wanted Vince who was a complete arsehole to suffer too, as I didn't like him, even if he was sweet to his wife :( so not sure if I'll do books 1 and 2.
So an enjoyable different read with great characters and a believable situation.
Thanks Ms Waltz. - Would like to know what happened with Mel and Tommy NYC or Canada?
27 August 2023
Just reread this one and I must say I can't disagree with my first review.
I've read quite a few Mob/Mafia/Bratva books now and this one is a winner - it paints the life as gritty, dirty and dangerous.
I'll keep my four star rating and I'm still not sure if I want to read the rest of the series.
January 7, 2015
This is the second book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it just as much if not more than the first. This book was exciting and oh so hot. I'm really starting to love mafia stories.
I love kidnapping and forced seduction stories, it's my favourite type of dark romance and His Witness didn't disappoint. Add in a dangerous hero and kinky bedroom scenery and we have sexy smutty goodness. I really enjoyed the kinky sex between Melanie and Tommy. The final scene was hot as hell, thank you Vanessa Waltz.
While advertised as a dark romance, for me this was definitely more grey than dark but I enjoyed it all the same. I think I would have enjoyed more of a struggle between the two characters at the beginning of Melanie's captivity. I feel she gave in to him too easily, especially considering he changed from twisted captor to sweet and protective very quickly. Despite the fact this wasn't very dark to me, I really enjoyed this book and I'm starting to love the men of the Vittorio Crime Family. They're all dangerous and extremely protective.
His Witness is a great addition to the Vittorio Crime Family series.
**An ARC of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
May 29, 2015
Give it up...give it up...applause...applause for an incredible written Mafia story. Five golden star read, amazing, brilliant, dark, gritty, intense... need I say more, hell yeah!
December 29, 2014
I received this for my honest review
4.5 stars. Whew what a nice mafia ride... Tommy and Mel were a great fit. She is such a strong minded woman and Tommy is very strong and controlling man. The darkness of this book hit the spot. Thank you Vanessa for a great one.
4.5 stars. Whew what a nice mafia ride... Tommy and Mel were a great fit. She is such a strong minded woman and Tommy is very strong and controlling man. The darkness of this book hit the spot. Thank you Vanessa for a great one.
July 17, 2016
4.5 Stars!
I loved this book! Melanie was full of sass and attitude and Tommy...well he was just a twisted and sick individual who enjoyed what he did....too much!
Fast paced Mafia romance book with smoking hot sex scenes.
I loved this book! Melanie was full of sass and attitude and Tommy...well he was just a twisted and sick individual who enjoyed what he did....too much!
Fast paced Mafia romance book with smoking hot sex scenes.
January 5, 2015
3.5 Stars
January 26, 2015
3.5 stars
February 6, 2016
3.5 Stars
Review to come....
Review to come....
November 11, 2019
please please please read the warnings before reading! xx
December 30, 2014
I received this book as an ARC for an honest review. When I first got this book I was unsure how I would feel about the story. This book is a mix between 1940's gangsters and modern day technology.
When we first start this book we see Tommy doing what he was trained to do torturing a man who according to Jack has ratted on the family. Tommy is an enforcer in the family but what he really wants is to be a made man. The biggest problem with Tommy he feel no emotion when he works which means he can do very cruel and sadistic things without a second though. His only weakness, the only thing to make him feel something Melanie.
Melanie is a woman who wanted to go to college but knew that she couldn't because she had to help out her aging father in his business. You see Melanie's father own's a strip club and because he has health problems he can not see to the day to day operations of the club. So Melanie agreed to step in an be manager of the club so her father didn't have the extra stress. The problem she has her father partnered with the mob and she has to deal with them. Especially Tommy hitting on her every-time they are there.
The thing neither of them know is the feelings that each of them are feeling if either said something would realize the other person is feeling it too. But no they push each other instead. However when the feds go after Melanie and tell her to either flip on the mob or go to jail she knows she is looking at a no win situation. When she agrees to testify that is when Tommy has to persuade her to change her mind and her testimony before it is to late for the family.
The question for this book is can a girl who has had to sacrifice so much finally find love? Can the boy who feels almost nothing find true love with the woman who makes him feel something?I would recommend this book it is really good story there are some physical torture in this book as well as psychological so if this is offensive to you be warned.
When we first start this book we see Tommy doing what he was trained to do torturing a man who according to Jack has ratted on the family. Tommy is an enforcer in the family but what he really wants is to be a made man. The biggest problem with Tommy he feel no emotion when he works which means he can do very cruel and sadistic things without a second though. His only weakness, the only thing to make him feel something Melanie.
Melanie is a woman who wanted to go to college but knew that she couldn't because she had to help out her aging father in his business. You see Melanie's father own's a strip club and because he has health problems he can not see to the day to day operations of the club. So Melanie agreed to step in an be manager of the club so her father didn't have the extra stress. The problem she has her father partnered with the mob and she has to deal with them. Especially Tommy hitting on her every-time they are there.
The thing neither of them know is the feelings that each of them are feeling if either said something would realize the other person is feeling it too. But no they push each other instead. However when the feds go after Melanie and tell her to either flip on the mob or go to jail she knows she is looking at a no win situation. When she agrees to testify that is when Tommy has to persuade her to change her mind and her testimony before it is to late for the family.
The question for this book is can a girl who has had to sacrifice so much finally find love? Can the boy who feels almost nothing find true love with the woman who makes him feel something?I would recommend this book it is really good story there are some physical torture in this book as well as psychological so if this is offensive to you be warned.
January 13, 2015
This was interesting for a mafia book and I give it 3.5 stars. I typically have no interest to read them and my knowledge of the subject matter is lacking. But the idea of a hit man/sociopath possibly falling for his mark and you have my attention. I have not read the other books and although I did feel lost at times it wasn't due to reading books out of order. It was because I was questioning the validity of the organization I know nothing about. But I hung in there and all was revealed and my previous confusion was intentional. It was part of the twist the author threw in there. She does have me chasing my tail. It was a good read. Melanie fell in love too quickly for being humiliated and abused but it was hard not to have a love/hate relationship with Tommy. You never were certain what page he was on and this book even was told from his pov! I was wondering if he had a split personality when he was around Melanie. I liked the book. I won't read more of this series because mafia subjects have no appeal. But I would read another by this author.
January 6, 2015
Luv a good criminal, sadastic read with bloodshed!
Melanie is tough to the edge with a foul & honest mouth.
She's living a miserable life paying for her fathers debt to the biggest coast of crime thugs & lets it be known.
Gone is having and living a normal girl life.
She wants out so bad.
She's given the option for having what she do desperately wants & needs.
Indicting & testifying against the biggest crime rings.
Tommy has had a thing for Mel since she flipped him the bird, denying all his offers at a chance to take her out.
He's the butcher, the slicer & dicer for the organization.
Since a young boy he's been dreaming of becoming a made man.
His chance has finally come.
One job.
Kidnap Mel, keep her from testifying.
When all said is done, will Tommy be able to follow thru his orders to the end?
Melanie is tough to the edge with a foul & honest mouth.
She's living a miserable life paying for her fathers debt to the biggest coast of crime thugs & lets it be known.
Gone is having and living a normal girl life.
She wants out so bad.
She's given the option for having what she do desperately wants & needs.
Indicting & testifying against the biggest crime rings.
Tommy has had a thing for Mel since she flipped him the bird, denying all his offers at a chance to take her out.
He's the butcher, the slicer & dicer for the organization.
Since a young boy he's been dreaming of becoming a made man.
His chance has finally come.
One job.
Kidnap Mel, keep her from testifying.
When all said is done, will Tommy be able to follow thru his orders to the end?
December 30, 2014
I had a hard time getting into this book at the beginning because of how dark it starts out but I am glad that I kept reading because it got very intense and captivated me. This is one of those stories that you want to cringe away from but can't stop reading, wanting to know what is going to happen next. Melanie, although stubborn and strong willed, finds she does have a weakness in a man named Tommy. Tommy is a lot like a drug to Melanie, very addicting and vice versa. Tommy is a very scary, dangerous man with a loving side that even he didn't know he had until he met Melanie.
As stated in the description, this book is very dark for about 60% of the book.
This book was given to me for an honest review.
As stated in the description, this book is very dark for about 60% of the book.
This book was given to me for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews