Massimo's Punishment

The Famiglia #4

by Leah Merrill

Only one thing can disarm Chicago's deadliest man—the way she says his name.

Massimo

As the Bagliateri Famiglia's enforcer, I'm the deadliest man in Chicago. I never miss, never hesitate, never lose control.

Unless my boss’s daughter is nearby.

One glimpse of her and my tongue freezes, I trip over my own feet, my hands drop whatever I’m holding. Including my loaded Glock.

For three long years, I've kept my distance from Carly, surrounded myself with women nothing like her. I let her believe I hate her.

All because she's promised to a rival Famiglia’s don. Even thinking about her breaks a rule.

But the rules don't cover everything. I overhear her fiancé insulting her? That costs him two of his men. He mocks the lisp that drives me crazy? Make it three.

And if a few of her belongings have found their way into my apartment over the years… they're mine now. They're the closest I'll ever get to having her in my bedroom.

That is, until I'm ordered to babysit her for the weekend.

Joey Bags thinks this is a punishment and that I'll hand her back Monday morning.

Instead, I'll start a war.

Carly

The one thing I asked for in exchange for agreeing to marry a man twenty years older than me was to finish my physics degree. Now my fiancé thinks he can make me drop out.

We’ll see about that.

Hypothesis: the Falco Famiglia don won't accept a ruined bride.

Experiment: borrow one of the guards for the night.

Results: catastrophic.

I'm disowned, discarded, and dumped for the weekend on Massimo—who obviously hates me.

Except… recent data collection suggests otherwise.

He's not glaring at me in disgust, he's memorizing my every move. He's not giving me the silent treatment, he's completely tongue-tied around me.

The man who can't even say my name can't keep his hands—or his mouth—off my little feet. And I really like it. The other stuff too. A lot.

Updated hypothesis: Massimo will never let me go.

Time to test my new theory.

For science.

In the explosive finale of The Famiglia series, some old favorites (yes, Damiano) return with their chaos, and some others won't survive to the last page.

70K words; dual POV, spicy mafia romance featuring a morally grey alpha male who's over-the-top obsessed with his STEM virgin bride. Competence kink from both MCs. He falls first, touch her and die, he steals her stuff, years of pining, one bed (but it's a couch), and some foot stuff.

Interconnected standalone with a HEA, best read in order.

357 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2026

Reviews

[thebeespot72]

Damiano and Paige’s story had me cackling from beginning to end—Paige and her unique suturing abilities. Rob and Tessa’s gave me what I had been looking for at the time—the chatty abductee that doesn’t want to go home. Johnny and Lyndie’s story had me laughing and tearful, but it was also where readers were introduced to Massimo.

What a smooth transition *Massimo’s Punishment was from Book 3! A huge plus was the recap at the beginning! Very helpful! Each of Leah Merrill’s MMCs is vastly different from each other, and Massimo’s character surprised me the most—in a good way. How this strong, tough Mafia Enforcer can be a stammering, tongue-tied simp over a girl was the swooniest thing ever. Between his internal dialogue, which was both comical and endearing, and what was actually being projected towards Carly, it ended up being a perfect match.

The story was the right balance of romance, mafia action, and a satisfying wrap-up conclusion to The Famiglia Series. Though it’s often hard to say goodbye to characters at the end of a series, I always cross my fingers and tell myself that their story never quite ends. They may appear in other ways—maybe?

Thank you to Author Leah Merrill for the gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

*An interconnected standalone with an HEA, best read in order.

[Morally_Gray_Nola]

Leah Merrill is one of my favorite authors.

She has the unique ability to transform the turning of the first page into a door leading to an incredible world that unfolds, so vividly, before my eyes. Where I go on voyeuristic walks alongside amazing characters as their stories unfold.

And let me tell you, Massimo and Carly’s story is so dang good. These two are meant to be together, for sure. Big, bad, sexy-sexy Massimo’s inability to function around Carly is adorable. The way he easily buries hisself into other females is a bit off-putting, but, in all fairness , it’s probably pretty freakin’ realistic—because, men. 🙄

I was so excited to see my name in the Bonus Scene! The fact I’m lapping lime green popsicle juice is just fine with me, since it’s my favorite flavor popsicle—Leah Merrill is just THAT good, I guess. 🤷🏻‍♀️
*** Recommended ***

MMC:
✨Massimo
FMC:
✨Carly
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Series:
✨Book 4: The Famiglia (this is the final in the series 🥺)
Tropes:
👉forbidden love
👉dual pov
👉forced proximity
👉ott obsession - mmc
👉years of pining - mmc
👉STEM fmc
👉engaged to another - fmc
👉virgin fmc
Triggers:🛑see content warning page/author’s website for full list🛑
💥18+
💥 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, mf, open🚪sex
💥profanity
💥violence
💥death

[╰⊱♥⊱╮ღ꧁Kathy,Ahmazing Book Faerie꧂ღ╭⊱♥≺]

This was an ARC read from Book sirens.

Being the final book in this series, it was both happy and sad.
A lot happens, and truths are revealed, some there's no coming back from.
Carly, our heroine, is a force to be reckoned with, and if she'd been let in on the whole picture, I believe she would have been completely unstoppable.
Massimo, our lead male, finally gets his story, and the love he's always craved, but its not an easy road! And nor is dealing with Carly!! not just because of his feelings for her.

There was something special about this story, and the sexy times between Carly and Mas were perfect!
I was especially grateful that ms Merrill took the time to give us a quick rundown of the previoys books, before we start reading.
I have loved reading this series, and my thanks to Leah Merrill for the ARC's.

[Joetta Johnson]

I could not get enough of Mas and Carly! The touch-her-and-die energy Massimo has for Carly is both endearing and ridiculously hot. In his own words, one look at Carly leaves him “stunned stupid,” and for real, I was right there with him. This man had me kicking my feet and cheering!

I’m so sad to see this series end, but wow what an ending it was. I read this book in one sitting because it was just that good. Leah really knows how to write, and I’m an absolute slave to her storytelling. She writes these men and those sexy scenes like no one else. I especially loved Mas’s inner dialogue.

There were also some twists that made me want to reread the entire series, and honestly, I just might. Lord knows I’ve loved every moment of this series!

If you love mafia romance, start this series now and thank me later!

[Sally Jask-eh]

Massimo’s Punishment was hardly smutty but endlessly entertaining. Fast
paced, Massimo really is all that. Wish there was more time to get to know Carly. The mobster violence is wild. The end feels like a beginning - lots of blood.

[Arial Bargeon]

Review after receiving free ARC copy:

I loved this one! I had been waiting for Massimo and Carly's story and it did not disappoint. This book DID make me really hate Johnny and Lyndie though, even though their book had been one of my favs of this series.

[Michelle Frater]

I wish every author gave us a quick series recap at the beginning of their books. It made it SO much easier to jump back into the story, especially since it had been quite a while since I’d read the first three books. And honestly, after getting reacquainted with these characters, I was more than ready to dive straight back in. Massimo is a deadly enforcer. Cold, lethal, and absolutely terrifying… except when Carly is around. The woman he’s fallen hopelessly in love with turns him into a complete disaster. The contrast between the terrifying man everyone else sees and the utterly helpless man Carly turns him into was EVERYTHING. He fumbles, freezes, can barely function, and struggles to even say her name. Oh, and he once accidentally shot someone because he was distracted. Yep, you guessed it, distracted by her. For three years, Mas has deliberately kept his distance, making Carly believe he hates her because she’s promised to another Famiglia don. But underneath all that distance is a man who has loved her quietly and fiercely the entire time. And I absolutely LOVED watching all those little pieces of evidence fall into place. Like the quiet way he avenged every single insult her fiancé threw her way behind her back. You can’t tell me that isn’t love. I also adored the way this story was written because WE know exactly why Mas keeps losing his cool around Carly, even when she has absolutely no idea. And his inner thoughts? Hilarious. Absolutely chef’s kiss. When Carly comes up with a plan to escape her impending marriage, things take an unexpected turn, leaving her heartbroken when her father turns his back on her. Then Mas is forced to babysit Carly for an entire weekend, and suddenly she’s not so convinced that he actually hates her. Watching her slowly start to question everything she thought she knew about him was delicious. Naturally, she decides to put that theory to the test. That woman is a force to be reckoned with. Carly was such a joy. She’s smart, stubborn and definitely not someone who’s going to sit quietly and accept whatever life throws at her. I loved her cooking experiments and her attempts to scientifically explain Mas’s bizarre behavior. Such a nerd! And the banter between these two is absolutely DELIGHTFUL. But beneath all the teasing and humor, there’s this gorgeous undercurrent of longing. Three years of it. Three years of Mas wanting her, protecting her from the shadows, and forcing himself to stay away because he believes it’s what he has to do. So, you just can’t wait for him to crack. The one thing I really struggled with was Johnny’s attitude towards Carly and everything she went through. I honestly expected him to be more supportive, especially considering he’s Mas’s best friend. But apart from that, this book had everything I wanted. There’s no shortage of danger, fast-paced action, violence, drama, emotional angst, delicious tension, and, of course, plenty of steam. Unfortunately, every series has to come to an end eventually, the least you can hope for is that it goes out with a bang. Well…this one brings the whole damn house down. 💥
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[neeshreads]

It’s bittersweet seeing one of my favorite mafia series come to an end! The way I LOVED Massimo and Carly’s story! Massimo is a deadly enforcer, but in the presence of Carly, the girl he’s fallen hopelessly in love with, he freezes and cannot function – he struggles to say her name, move normally, and accidentally shot someone once because his attention was on her 🤣 If he’s not THAT into you, do you even want him? No.

🖤Mafia Romance
🖤Morally Gray & a Cinnamon Roll for Her
🖤Super Smart FMC in STEM
🖤She’s Off-Limits & Arranged to Marry a Don
🖤”It’s Always Been You”
🖤She Makes His Brain Short-Circuit
🖤His “Tossica” & Baby Girl
🖤He Loves Her Intelligence, Curves, Glasses & Toes
🖤Interconnected Series Finale with HEA

Massimo is the Bagliateri Famiglia's enforcer, the man in Chicago who’s known to never miss or lose control…but being around his boss’s daughter? He’s disarmed and can’t function. For three years he’s kept his distance and made Carly think he hates her because she’s promised to a rival Famiglia’s don – breaking the rules to be with her isn’t an option. But when Carly’s fiancé insults her or makes fun of her lisp? He takes out his men. And when Mas has to babysit Carly because she set her hypothesis in motion that a don won’t accept a ruined bride (faking losing her V card), the results are catastrophic…and not everyone survives…

I cannot ever get enough of Merrill’s ability to write the BEST inner monologues. When Mas freezes? You will be cracking up at his inner thoughts! I love the dynamic between these two because the reader knows why Mas acts the way he does, and when Carly starts acting on the hypothesis that Mas doesn’t hate her? When Carly tries to push Mas’s buttons and is sexually frustrated? It. Is. Delightful. That man is so close to cracking a few times (and you’ll love it when he does!). I also adored how much Mas valued Carly – her brains were a big turn-on for him and her lisp gave him all the s’s his heart desired when she said his name. That man WORSHIPS his woman and his burn the world energy for her is top notch! And given there are betrayals and rules broken and rewritten, not every found family relationship may remain, but you know what’s stronger than ever? The bond between Mas and Carly and it’s beautiful!

10/10, a million stars for this series!

Story:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

[Vi Ann Rose]

First, let me say that I LOVE that this book started with a series recap. I wish more authors did this. I read a lot of books and have crappy memory, so I often find myself rereading just to remember past events.

Everything poor Carly went through in the beginning was so painful and left me crying. It really emphasized how cruel and callous both Riccardo and Joey are.

And of course poor, bumbling Massimo was adorable. He's a smooth operator and brings everyone together, until he's in front of the girl he can't have.

Massimo and Carly were super cute with each other. Just know that these two had already fallen for each other years ago, so this was more a story of them working their way around (or through) obstacles to finally be together. It was great to see Carly able to geek out and be herself, and watch Massimo learn to relax and interact with her. I very much appreciate that he wasn't magically cured of his awkwardness (to put it mildly) around Carly once she was no longer engaged. Instead, he built up to it. First talking to her in the dark, then facing away from her, etc.

As much as this was a romance about Carly and Massimo, it was also about the relationship between Massimo and Johnny (and to a lesser extent, Carly and Lyndie). Without spoiling anything, there were some truly gut-wrenching moments when people were put into impossible situations. Unfortunately, I felt like that aspect of the story ended too abruptly. I can understand the initial reactions after everything went down and take no issue with the characters' actions, but I would have liked to see a bit more than what we got weeks later to better wrap up the series. (Maybe our dear author can offer a bonus scene online? 🙏)

That said, this was still a really enjoyable book, and I loved experiencing Massimo and Carly's story. I'm definitely going to miss this whole group of characters. Fingers crossed that we see more of them someday.

[Fabiola]

A fearsome ‘enforcer’ who’s hopeless at love, a brilliant STEM heroine and an all-consuming obsession in the explosive finale to the saga.
Packed with action, mafia romance, obsession and witty humour.
As the fourth instalment and grand finale of "The Famiglia" series, the story stands out for the brilliant contrast between Massimo – Chicago’s most dangerous man, who becomes clumsy and reserved around the woman he loves – and Carly, a virginal and brilliant, analytical heroine with a passion for physics.
The plot follows Massimo, the Chicago mafia’s lethal enforcer, who is cold and infallible with everyone except Carly, his boss’s daughter. Whenever Carly is near, the fearsome hitman stumbles, his tongue gets tied and he even drops his weapons on the floor; seeing the mafia’s lethal enforcer lose control and drop his weapons simply because he sees Carly adds a unique touch that is both endearing and deadly at the same time.
For three years, Massimo has kept his distance because she is engaged to the don of a rival mafia family. However, when Carly decides to cause a scandal of her own to break off the engagement and pursue her career in physics, she ends up in Massimo’s custody for the weekend. Carly approaches her life and her attraction to Massimo as a scientific experiment, bringing witty dialogue, a fresh perspective and great chemistry with him.
Massimo, far from sending her away, is ready to start a war just to keep her by his side.
It’s the ideal read for anyone who loves mafia romances featuring heroes who fall first—and hard—, intelligent heroines and plenty of spice. This is what I think Ali Hazelwood’s "The Love Hypothesis" should have been; Leah Merrill was sublime—I absolutely loved the book.

[Cyd Adger]

Hot, steamy, and intense! What more can you wish for. Massimo and Carly's story, is like no others. You'll be panting at the off-the-walls chemistry. Laughing at the wild banter. And gasping at the lengths our characters are willing to go. Forbidden-fruit, mutual pining and second-chances all wrapped into one intense story. A romantically intense story that doesn't just revolve around flowers, chocolates and fun dates. No, not for the Famiglia! These men and women are the very epitome of ride or die! The take names and ask questions later. It's us against the world baby! Especially when it comes to their HEA being threatened. Some people like to toe the line, but others blatantly cross it, smear it, and burn it to the ground. And our fierce and protective Massimo does just that to rescue his damsel in distress. And what's our lovely and nerdy girl Carly to do but show her appreciation.
I highly recommend reading this book. It was an amazing addition to the series. And it'll have you wanting to re-read them all over again. Everyone's story is different, yet connected, which makes for great world building. And seeing a bit more into the lives of some of our favorite characters. More books to this series will only make it better! Happy reading!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Erika Reed]

Is this really the end?! I literally don't want to say goodbye to any of these characters.
Book 4 gives us Massimo and Carly's story. If you've read the other three, you know she is the daughter of Joey Bags and cousin to Johnny, who is Massimo's best friend. Massimo is the Bags' enforcer, so that automatically makes Carly off limits and he's never crossed that line. Carly has been engaged to marry the much older Don of the Falco Famiglia, Riccardo, since she was a little girl. Naturally, as a 19-year-old college student, she has zero desire to see this through, but...she's a mafia princess, so what's a girl to do? Anyone with eyes can see how Massimo feels about Carly, and the fact that he gets tongue tied every time she's near, doesn't help matters. One thing he can't tolerate, is anyone badmouthing or disrespecting her and he makes note of every single person that does so. When Carly devises a plan to get out of her marriage to Ricardo, things take an unexpected turn, and she's left heartbroken in a way she never saw coming. She'll learn eventually that once a mafia man takes an oath, they live up to that oath at all costs.

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

[Amanda Mae]

Massimo’s Punishment is the fourth and final book in the Famiglia series by Leah Merrill. As someone who has devoured the first three books in this series, I couldn’t wait to dive back into the world of the Chicago mafia, especially since this was Massimo and Carly’s story. And like the previous books in the series, I was OBSESSED with this book. Once again, Leah Merrill delivered a mafia romance full of romance, spice, action, and banter that had me laughing out loud.
As difficult as it is to say, but Massimo is tied with Damiano with my favorite mafia book boyfriend. The fact that Massimo is this morally grey mafia enforcer who in the presence of Carly becomes clumsy and tongue tied had me swooning. And I really appreciate the fact that Carly was no wilting flower. The chemistry between them was undeniable, the banter had me laughing out loud, and the spice had me blushing. I did love the cameos from Damiano, Paige and Rob, but the cameos from Johnny and Lyndie had me side eying them
Leah Merrill did a good job of blending the romance plot line with the mafia action plot line. Once I started reading this book, I couldn’t put it down.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stacey Foss]

I absolutely love Leah Merrills books she always gives us stories that keep us engrossed in the story from the first chapter along with characters that are intriguing. I was super excited to read Massimo's and Carly's story but sad for this series to end. The Mafia world she created was full of action and suspense while giving us those broody, alpha mafia men we love and sassy spitfire women that turn their worlds upside down. Carly has been promised to a despicable Don and she is determined to get out of it. What she didn't see was her father turning his back on her. Massimo has had feelings for Carly for years becoming tongue tied and full of anxiety anytime he is around her. Always doing the right thing and steering clear of her any time he can. When things start getting series for Carly Massimo steps in and is ready to turn his world upside down for her but will she allow it. This story will bring so many emotions out while you read and keep you engaged in the story. You have twists and all the past characters making appearances. I could not get enough. I was given this book as an arc for my honest review.

[AmesChicReads]

Oh my freaking god. “Massimo Alessandro Ferrante.” I have so many thoughts. Top read of the year, hands down. Also, this quote!!!

“All things yield to pressure, Mas.” Her eyes shift up to mine, hold them. “Even you. Someday.”

Leah really said: mafia war? family betrayal? bodies dropping? Anyway, somebody get the bride. 😂

Massimo’s Punishment was everything I wanted from the final book in Leah Merrill’s The Famiglia Series. Violence, loyalty, betrayal, a 3 year obsession, and an MMC who loses the ability to communicate whenever the woman he loves enters the room.

Watching everything come full circle from Damiano’s Rescue made this ending so damn satisfying. But saying goodbye to these men and this famiglia is seriously bittersweet. I’m not ready for the series to be over, and Leah better write something else immediately. I don’t care what it is. 🤣

If you like your mafia romance with humor, banter, violence, and obsession, this is the series you need to add right now.

A huge thank you to Leah for sending me this free e-arc - I love everything you write, lady! All the freakin stars ⭐️

“La mia tossica.”

[A]

Well written, entertaining, and overall a fantastic conclusion to the series. The end did feel just a little rushed with a couple of strings I felt were left hanging, some of which may still be addressed by the author in future books but at least 1 that I thought was going to be a big reveal that is likely just gonna have to live as true in my mind (SPOILER-ish: when Falco was talking to Massimo about his mother, I was absolutely expecting him to be revealed as Massimo's father, which would have also explained so perfectly why Johnny's dad had originally wanted to give Massimo Falco's territory; definitely feel like this was a missed opportunity by the author to tie a lot of pieces together). I also wasn't super thrilled with Johnny's behavior towards Massimo at the end, but I am hopeful the author can tie in a reconciliation when she eventually writes Salvo's book. Loved the development of the relationship between Massimo and Carly.

[Ashley]

I love they dynamic between the two main charaters. Carly is off limits and promised to a much older friend of her fathers who has a history of abuse and selling women. She's told "it's for the family" but when she stands up for herself, she loses everything. Massimo has tried to ignore his feelings for her for years, even to the point where she thinks he hates her. But when noone else will step in to save her, Massimo is there.
I loved the chemistry between these two and big points for how hard her tried to resist her, he just couldnt. He falls first and HARD, but she isn't far behind. Her need to protect him almost tore them apart and the family dynamics here were excellent
This was a good ending to the series where we got to see all the characters from previous books and see some of their stories tied up.

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

[K Wilson]

Review of ARC received from author.

This book is a little hard for me to rate. I love Massimo and Carly’s story and the way they interacted with each other. It was also really fun to revisit Damiano and Paige, those two are as amazing as ever! However, I hated Johnny and was so disappointed in his behavior. I loved Johnny’s Bombshell and this book ruined my perception of him. Ultimately, I decided to not take that into consideration and rate this one as a standalone on its own merits. And for that, it was great. It was fast-paced and entertaining. I especially loved seeing Massimo and Damiano work together. I appreciated the recap at the beginning, as I had forgotten some of the details from the earlier books. I wish more authors did that. Definitely worth reading as the conclusion to this amazing series!

[Julie Lynch-allen]

This is a fantastic end to this series!
I loved the set up - tough Massimo struck dumb by Carly, the woman of his dreams, engaged to a rival Don. She is so untouchable that he can't even talk to her - reduced to a bumbling, stumbling, stuttering mess around her. As a result, she's sure he hates her. Nothing could be further from the truth, Oh, and her fiancé is a horrible human being, Massimo knows this, Carly knows this, and both are stuck.
Carly comes up with a brilliant plan to break everything off, she and Mas are forced together, and suddenly he finds his words. Mayhem and hotness ensue.
Characters from the earlier books show up, secrets are revealed, and all is set right.
I will miss this world and the brilliant writing. These characters are funny, relatable, and endearing.
5 stars, 5 peppers

[SuzieQ]

Wow, such a lot packed into this book, and ties up a lot of loose ends with the Famiglia. Massimo is a wonderful MMC and is just adorable around Carly. Love his little stammers when he is close to her and adore how he truly protects and cares for her later on in the book. Glad Carly's father and her former fiance get their comeuppance, but was a bit surprised by Johnny's attitude towards her and her situation. I kind of got annoyed about that part of the story - and all the 'old school' men in the Famiglia were awful and thought Johnny would have stood up for Carly.
Love Carly's science projects to work out why Massimo behaves the way he does around her and her attempts to cook via scientific reasons is funny.

[GKP2460]

Massimo's Punishment is book 4 in The
Famiglia series and is Massimo and Carly's story. It's a great, fast-paced, forbidden love story that had me glued to the pages from beginning to end. Massimo is so protective and when his woman is in danger they find out just how far he'll go for her. Now, this is where all the twists come in. Carly is daughter to Joey Bags, cousin to Johnny and set to marry another Don. Massimo is the Enforcer for Joey Bags, best friends to Johnny the cousin and determined that Carly is not going to marry the much older Don. This story had me laughing at times, furious at times but enjoying their journey all of the time. This entire series is absolutely fantastic, must read stories. It's an interconnecting series that you'll be glad you took the ride!

[Frank]

A great finale to a great series.

Action, passion, love, and fear; Blinding successes & triumphs; Horrendous miscalculations & mistakes; This story has it all.

The main characters (Carly & Massimo) are very well drawn and are ably supported - mostly by the characters (and their histories) from the earlier books, as well as a few new faces.

Some of the humour is delightfully dark in places [daren't quote it here] however there are some naturally light bits too:
"Not as in overwhelming. In fact, I am perfectly whelmed."

As for the passion? Very enjoyable [and definitely not quotable in a review!].


(I was fortunate to receive an ARC however the above is, as ever, my own opinion.)

[Crystal Grimshaw]

I love how raw and real these charcters feel. I read a lot of mafia books and they always feel so polished and put together. Massimo and crew are a little messy and I love it. The feuds are all entangled. There's secrets left and right. Its a little gritty. I love how Massimo lost his cool around Carly. I truly had no clue how these two were going to find their HEA but they did and it was great. This could be read as a stand alone but a lot of the world building and lore can be found in previous books. All previous couples make appearances too. It is so much fun seeing all of the characters together. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Great story!

[Tesh]

The familia's Enforcer, Massimo is forced to babysit a woman promised to a rival, but Carly has other ideas.

Massimo is so protective of Carly and hope others see her because he is so obsessed by her. They have a rare chemistry and all her flaws are perfect for him as he is totally tongue tied and clumsy around her. But that connection it's very real between them.

This book had me pulling for the two of them from the start. Their inner battles as well as their outside battles seemed to feel along side each other. I loved that aspect.

Perfect characters that made the story come alive for me and an easy read writing style that made this a pleasure to read. Can't ask for more. Highly recommended!

[BP34]

This is the fourth book and final book in the Famiglia Series. This is Carly and Massimo's story and it's not for the faint of heart. As with most mafia romances there's no shortage of danger, fast action, violence, drama or steam. Their chemistry was explosive and off the charts. Their banter will keep you engaged and wanting more. Wow, this has been an amazing series and this book just brings everything to an amazing close. The characters are amazing, multi-layered and interesting. The story line has twists that will keep you guessing. An HEA and no cliffhanger. I read an arc via the author and voluntarily chose to write a review.

[Holly Noel]

Massimo's Punishment by Leah Merrill
Massimo has loved her for what feels like forever, yet the moment she's near, the man who seems unshakable suddenly loses all control. She's a mafia princess trapped by expectations, promised to someone she can't stand—but one unexpected shift changes everything.
With simmering tension, dangerous secrets, and twists that keep you questioning who to trust, this story pulls you in and refuses to let go. Every page raises the stakes, leaving you desperate to discover what comes next.
A gripping, emotional read that had me turning pages long past bedtime and craving so much more!L
Another unforgettable read from Leah
Merrill!

[Johanna]

Book 4 of The Famiglia. For maximum enjoyment read the books in series order.

'In the explosive finale of The Famiglia series, some old favorites (yes, Damiano) return with their chaos, and some others won't survive to the last page.'

The characters were very complex and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and intense and exciting and well paced. World building was excellent and expertly drawn. All in all a satisfying conclusion to the series. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy the read!.

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

[Caroline Reichardt]

This is a fantastic story about Massimo and Carley. Carley is in a difficult position because of a promise by her father and as is Massimo. This story is full of suspense and action becoming a mafia book. I loved the characters in this story as they are all strong and all supposedly devoted to their individual Don’s until a choice has to be made that will affect life going forward. When Carley becomes nineteen all kinds of trouble begins that will affect life going forward. I would love to recommend this book especially if you like mafia stories.

[Rebekah Godfrey]

What could possibly be hotter than a guy who has it so bad for a woman that he can't even speak around her? I don't think there is anything hotter!
Leah has written another fantastic story that i literally couldn't put down once I started. The characters were amazing as always! The banter and angst are just top notch! The brotherhood is so much fun to read about. I am devastated that this series has come to an end but I can not wait for more from Leah...and I'll see my boys in the next series a little? 🙏
Everyone must read this series!!

[Monica Minniti]

Book 4- the last book in this series. There is a refresh chapter in the beginning, but I highly suggest reading the previous books. This review is just a gloss over. In this book we have Massimo and Carly. We have been waiting for this story! She’s a nerdy girl and he’s the perfect protector who rescues his heroine. Their banter, chef’s kiss. It was hot and steamy and super intense. I need more, honestly, I want to re-read all the others again now! Spice is 🌶️🌶️🌶️ and stars are 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟