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Mafia Men Need Love Too
No one ever talks about what happens AFTER you accidentally kidnap a mob boss…
River Lang was in trouble.
See, her ex left her with more than trust issues—he also saddled her with his debt.
To the Russian mafia.
But they said they’d let her off the hook if she agreed to tempt a rival mafia man into their trap. Easy enough.
Until she grabbed the boss of the entire Italian mafia by mistake.
Nico Fortunado is rich. Powerful. Unfairly sexy. He could’ve turned her over to the Russians, but for some reason, he protected her.
By telling the Bratva she was his fiancée.
Now, River’s facing a marriage of convenience—or maybe an arranged marriage?—to an obnoxiously hot mafioso who is more than willing to make her, um, happy, but doesn’t think he’s capable of falling in love. Sound like a recipe for a broken heart to you?
Yeah. River thought so, too…
Mafia Men Need Love Too, book 3 in the Adorable Psychos series, is a light, snarky, hilarious contemporary rom com that can be read as a standalone. It features a morally grey hero, a wildly quirky heroine, a cussing parrot (long story) and all the witty banter you can handle. Download today for a criminally good time.
Trope Map :
Morally grey hero
Mafia romance
Arranged marriage/marriage of convenience
Some spicy times
Snarky, witty banter
Accidental kidnapping
No 3rd act breakup
River Lang was in trouble.
See, her ex left her with more than trust issues—he also saddled her with his debt.
To the Russian mafia.
But they said they’d let her off the hook if she agreed to tempt a rival mafia man into their trap. Easy enough.
Until she grabbed the boss of the entire Italian mafia by mistake.
Nico Fortunado is rich. Powerful. Unfairly sexy. He could’ve turned her over to the Russians, but for some reason, he protected her.
By telling the Bratva she was his fiancée.
Now, River’s facing a marriage of convenience—or maybe an arranged marriage?—to an obnoxiously hot mafioso who is more than willing to make her, um, happy, but doesn’t think he’s capable of falling in love. Sound like a recipe for a broken heart to you?
Yeah. River thought so, too…
Mafia Men Need Love Too, book 3 in the Adorable Psychos series, is a light, snarky, hilarious contemporary rom com that can be read as a standalone. It features a morally grey hero, a wildly quirky heroine, a cussing parrot (long story) and all the witty banter you can handle. Download today for a criminally good time.
Trope Map :
Morally grey hero
Mafia romance
Arranged marriage/marriage of convenience
Some spicy times
Snarky, witty banter
Accidental kidnapping
No 3rd act breakup
- GenresRomance
212 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2025
About the author
Isabel Jordan
34 books519 followersThe normal:
Isabel Jordan writes because it’s the only profession that allows her to express her natural sarcasm and not be fired. She is a paranormal and contemporary romance author. Isabel lives in the US with her husband, her son son, a neurotic Shepherd mix and a ginormous Great Dane mix named Jerkface. (Don't feel bad for Jerkface. He really is a jerk.)
The weird:
Now that the normal stuff is out of the way, here’s some weird-but-true facts that would never come up in polite conversation. Isabel Jordan:
1. Is terrified of butterflies (don’t judge…it’s a real phobia called lepidopterophobia)
2. Is a lover of all things ironic (hence the butterfly on the first edition cover of Semi-Charmed)
3. Is obsessed with Supernatural, Game of Thrones, and Dog Whisperer.
4. Hates coffee. Drinks a Diet Mountain Dew every morning.
5. Will argue to the death that Pretty in Pink ended all wrong. (Seriously, she ends up with the guy who was embarrassed to be seen with her and not the nice guy who loved her all along? That would never fly in the world of romance novels.)
6. Would eat Mexican food every day, if given the choice.
7. Reads two books a week in varied genres.
8. Refers to her Kindle as “the precious”.
9. Thinks puppy breath is one of the best smells in the world.
10. Is a social media idgit. (Her husband had to explain to her last week what the point of Twitter was. She’s still a little fuzzy on what Instagram and Pinterest do.)
11. Kicks ass at Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.
12. Stole her tagline idea from her son. Her tagline idea was, “Never wrong, not quite right.” She liked her son’s idea better.
13. Breaks one vacuum cleaner a year because she ignores standard maintenance procedures (Really, you’re supposed to empty the canister every time you vacuum? Does that seem excessive to anyone else?)
14. Is still mad at the WB network for cancelling Angel in 2004.
15. Can’t find her way from her bed to her bathroom without her glasses, but refused eye surgery, even when someone else offered to pay. (They lost her at “eye flap”. Seriously, look it up. Scary stuff.)
Isabel Jordan writes because it’s the only profession that allows her to express her natural sarcasm and not be fired. She is a paranormal and contemporary romance author. Isabel lives in the US with her husband, her son son, a neurotic Shepherd mix and a ginormous Great Dane mix named Jerkface. (Don't feel bad for Jerkface. He really is a jerk.)
The weird:
Now that the normal stuff is out of the way, here’s some weird-but-true facts that would never come up in polite conversation. Isabel Jordan:
1. Is terrified of butterflies (don’t judge…it’s a real phobia called lepidopterophobia)
2. Is a lover of all things ironic (hence the butterfly on the first edition cover of Semi-Charmed)
3. Is obsessed with Supernatural, Game of Thrones, and Dog Whisperer.
4. Hates coffee. Drinks a Diet Mountain Dew every morning.
5. Will argue to the death that Pretty in Pink ended all wrong. (Seriously, she ends up with the guy who was embarrassed to be seen with her and not the nice guy who loved her all along? That would never fly in the world of romance novels.)
6. Would eat Mexican food every day, if given the choice.
7. Reads two books a week in varied genres.
8. Refers to her Kindle as “the precious”.
9. Thinks puppy breath is one of the best smells in the world.
10. Is a social media idgit. (Her husband had to explain to her last week what the point of Twitter was. She’s still a little fuzzy on what Instagram and Pinterest do.)
11. Kicks ass at Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.
12. Stole her tagline idea from her son. Her tagline idea was, “Never wrong, not quite right.” She liked her son’s idea better.
13. Breaks one vacuum cleaner a year because she ignores standard maintenance procedures (Really, you’re supposed to empty the canister every time you vacuum? Does that seem excessive to anyone else?)
14. Is still mad at the WB network for cancelling Angel in 2004.
15. Can’t find her way from her bed to her bathroom without her glasses, but refused eye surgery, even when someone else offered to pay. (They lost her at “eye flap”. Seriously, look it up. Scary stuff.)
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 8, 2026
Rating 5⭐️
Spice 🌶
Dual POV
Mafia Romance
Marriage of convenience
Morally grey MCs
Divorced, quirky FMC
Forced proximity
Witty banter
Touch her & die
He fell first
Pet companion- parrot
No 3rd act breakup
HEA
Mafia Men Need Love Too was a delightful continuation of Isabel Jordan’s Adorable Psychos series. The entire series is fun, and this installment absolutely holds up alongside the others. I loved getting to see our previous baddies, Tenley and Ren, again, and the story gave me exactly what I was looking for. This is a low-stakes, lighthearted mafia romance that knows exactly what it wants to be: sweet, sassy, and fun, with just enough danger and spice to keep things interesting. It delivers cozy mafia vibes without heavy angst, keeps the pacing tight, and focuses on the relationship in a way that made me smile the whole time.
One of the biggest highlights for me was the witty banter. It was sharp, playful, and genuinely funny. On top of that, both River’s and Nico’s inner monologues were incredibly entertaining to read and really added to the charm of their dynamic.
The pacing is fast, but not so fast that you miss important details. Isabel Jordan does a great job of keeping things simple and to the point while still making you invested in the outcome of the relationship. Nico is a great example of a morally gray man who falls in love. Because of the quick pacing, Nico is able to recognize his feelings and express them in a mature, adult way instead of dragging things out like so many darker romances tend to do. His world is dark and dangerous, but he’s not so closed off that he can’t recognize a treasure right in front of him. I loved how quick he picked up on her quirks and adored her for them, and how he noticed River’s talent with finances and trusted her enough to put her in a position where she could truly shine.
Meanwhile, River is an average, everyday woman thrown into a dangerous and chaotic situation, and I really appreciated that her reactions felt grounded and realistic. At the same time, because she’s a fan of mafia smut, she’s understandably curious, and more than a little enticed, by the idea of a marriage of convenience of her very own. Out of the three women in this series so far, River was by far the most relatable for me. She’s savvy, sassy, thrifty, anxious, and introverted at heart, and I completely related to her lifestyle of living in yoga pants, staying home drinking wine, and obsessing over Jensen Ackles. The pop culture callouts sprinkled throughout the story were a delight and only added to the fun, and her nervous spouting of random facts was dorky yet charming.
Ages aren’t explicitly stated, but in my head both River and Nico felt like they were in their early- mid 30s based on the amount of life experience they had. I especially liked that River was divorced and had been for a while. The idea of marriage again didn’t send her into an emotional spiral because she’d already healed that part of herself long before meeting Nico, which felt refreshing and realistic.
Overall, this book worked for me because it didn’t try to be something it wasn’t. It leaned fully into being fun, character-driven, and emotionally easy to sink into. Between the humor, the banter, the maturity of the unconventional relationship, and the lack of unnecessary angst, it felt like a comfort read with just enough edge to keep things interesting. Everything about this story just scratched an itch for me.
Recommend if you like: low-stakes mafia romance, marriage of convenience, witty banter, relatable heroines, and cozy vibes with a touch of spice.
Spice 🌶
Dual POV
Mafia Romance
Marriage of convenience
Morally grey MCs
Divorced, quirky FMC
Forced proximity
Witty banter
Touch her & die
He fell first
Pet companion- parrot
No 3rd act breakup
HEA
Mafia Men Need Love Too was a delightful continuation of Isabel Jordan’s Adorable Psychos series. The entire series is fun, and this installment absolutely holds up alongside the others. I loved getting to see our previous baddies, Tenley and Ren, again, and the story gave me exactly what I was looking for. This is a low-stakes, lighthearted mafia romance that knows exactly what it wants to be: sweet, sassy, and fun, with just enough danger and spice to keep things interesting. It delivers cozy mafia vibes without heavy angst, keeps the pacing tight, and focuses on the relationship in a way that made me smile the whole time.
One of the biggest highlights for me was the witty banter. It was sharp, playful, and genuinely funny. On top of that, both River’s and Nico’s inner monologues were incredibly entertaining to read and really added to the charm of their dynamic.
The pacing is fast, but not so fast that you miss important details. Isabel Jordan does a great job of keeping things simple and to the point while still making you invested in the outcome of the relationship. Nico is a great example of a morally gray man who falls in love. Because of the quick pacing, Nico is able to recognize his feelings and express them in a mature, adult way instead of dragging things out like so many darker romances tend to do. His world is dark and dangerous, but he’s not so closed off that he can’t recognize a treasure right in front of him. I loved how quick he picked up on her quirks and adored her for them, and how he noticed River’s talent with finances and trusted her enough to put her in a position where she could truly shine.
Meanwhile, River is an average, everyday woman thrown into a dangerous and chaotic situation, and I really appreciated that her reactions felt grounded and realistic. At the same time, because she’s a fan of mafia smut, she’s understandably curious, and more than a little enticed, by the idea of a marriage of convenience of her very own. Out of the three women in this series so far, River was by far the most relatable for me. She’s savvy, sassy, thrifty, anxious, and introverted at heart, and I completely related to her lifestyle of living in yoga pants, staying home drinking wine, and obsessing over Jensen Ackles. The pop culture callouts sprinkled throughout the story were a delight and only added to the fun, and her nervous spouting of random facts was dorky yet charming.
Ages aren’t explicitly stated, but in my head both River and Nico felt like they were in their early- mid 30s based on the amount of life experience they had. I especially liked that River was divorced and had been for a while. The idea of marriage again didn’t send her into an emotional spiral because she’d already healed that part of herself long before meeting Nico, which felt refreshing and realistic.
Overall, this book worked for me because it didn’t try to be something it wasn’t. It leaned fully into being fun, character-driven, and emotionally easy to sink into. Between the humor, the banter, the maturity of the unconventional relationship, and the lack of unnecessary angst, it felt like a comfort read with just enough edge to keep things interesting. Everything about this story just scratched an itch for me.
Recommend if you like: low-stakes mafia romance, marriage of convenience, witty banter, relatable heroines, and cozy vibes with a touch of spice.
June 22, 2026
MISFIT MEETS MAFIA
I picked this book because I wanted something lighter, and it ended up being one of the most enjoyable surprises I’ve read in a while. The premise is ridiculous in the best possible way: a kindergarten teacher accidentally kidnaps the wrong mafia boss and ends up tangled in a fake engagement that slowly becomes something real.
What made this book work for me wasn’t the mafia plot. It was the voice. River’s internal monologue was funny, quirky, and completely her own. Whether she was rambling random facts, worrying herself into absurd conclusions, or trying to navigate a world she clearly didn’t belong in, she felt like a real person. Nico was a great counterpart with his dry humor and gruff personality, and together they had a relationship built more on conversation, friendship, and compatible weirdness than overwhelming chemistry.
The supporting cast added a lot of charm, especially Tenley and Feather Locklear, the sweater-wearing parrot who nearly stole the show. The story moved quickly without feeling rushed, avoided dragging out repetitive scenes, and kept the humor flowing from beginning to end.
This wasn’t a book that made me cry or completely consume my life, but it was consistently entertaining, genuinely funny, and refreshingly original. Sometimes a book doesn’t need to be deep to be memorable. Sometimes it just needs a strong voice, lovable characters, and a bird in a sweater.
WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR:
• Readers who enjoy humorous romance
• Readers who like quirky heroines and scenic-route inner monologues
• Fans of grumpy/sunshine dynamics
• Readers looking for a lighter mafia romance
• People who enjoy banter and character-driven stories
• Readers who want open-door romance without endless repetitive scenes
• Anyone who loves memorable animal side characters
WHO THIS BOOK ISN’T FOR:
• Readers looking for a dark or gritty mafia romance
• Readers who want high suspense or intense danger
• Readers who need deep emotional devastation
• Readers who prefer plot-heavy stories over character voice
• Readers who dislike quirky humor or random fact tangents
• Readers looking for very high steam or chemistry-focused romance
• Readers who want a realistic portrayal of organized crime rather than a comedic one
I picked this book because I wanted something lighter, and it ended up being one of the most enjoyable surprises I’ve read in a while. The premise is ridiculous in the best possible way: a kindergarten teacher accidentally kidnaps the wrong mafia boss and ends up tangled in a fake engagement that slowly becomes something real.
What made this book work for me wasn’t the mafia plot. It was the voice. River’s internal monologue was funny, quirky, and completely her own. Whether she was rambling random facts, worrying herself into absurd conclusions, or trying to navigate a world she clearly didn’t belong in, she felt like a real person. Nico was a great counterpart with his dry humor and gruff personality, and together they had a relationship built more on conversation, friendship, and compatible weirdness than overwhelming chemistry.
The supporting cast added a lot of charm, especially Tenley and Feather Locklear, the sweater-wearing parrot who nearly stole the show. The story moved quickly without feeling rushed, avoided dragging out repetitive scenes, and kept the humor flowing from beginning to end.
This wasn’t a book that made me cry or completely consume my life, but it was consistently entertaining, genuinely funny, and refreshingly original. Sometimes a book doesn’t need to be deep to be memorable. Sometimes it just needs a strong voice, lovable characters, and a bird in a sweater.
WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR:
• Readers who enjoy humorous romance
• Readers who like quirky heroines and scenic-route inner monologues
• Fans of grumpy/sunshine dynamics
• Readers looking for a lighter mafia romance
• People who enjoy banter and character-driven stories
• Readers who want open-door romance without endless repetitive scenes
• Anyone who loves memorable animal side characters
WHO THIS BOOK ISN’T FOR:
• Readers looking for a dark or gritty mafia romance
• Readers who want high suspense or intense danger
• Readers who need deep emotional devastation
• Readers who prefer plot-heavy stories over character voice
• Readers who dislike quirky humor or random fact tangents
• Readers looking for very high steam or chemistry-focused romance
• Readers who want a realistic portrayal of organized crime rather than a comedic one
June 28, 2026
Aw man, its over?
I read all 3, in order. They are 3 different couples but some characters overlap. You dont need to read any of the others to understand the one you pick. They were all great tho, so I suggest you read them all any way. If you start here, thats cool, you wont regret it. But my favorite is Ren and Lark, bad guys need love too. I just adored ren and lark. But nico and river were also great. Knox and tenley were amazing too tho, criminals need love too. So if your thinking about reading this, im here to tell you to stop. Seriously, stop thinking and reading reviews, just read this damn book already ok !! Happy reading
I read all 3, in order. They are 3 different couples but some characters overlap. You dont need to read any of the others to understand the one you pick. They were all great tho, so I suggest you read them all any way. If you start here, thats cool, you wont regret it. But my favorite is Ren and Lark, bad guys need love too. I just adored ren and lark. But nico and river were also great. Knox and tenley were amazing too tho, criminals need love too. So if your thinking about reading this, im here to tell you to stop. Seriously, stop thinking and reading reviews, just read this damn book already ok !! Happy reading
October 30, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book, specifically the romance. The other adorable psychos books there’s more of a balance of power. While the power dynamic between them equalizes by the end of the story from how unequal it started out as it makes me question the longevity potential of the relationship. This is not the feeling one wants to feel after reading a romance novel. All this aside this was a super fun read with all the wit and snark I have come to appreciate from an Isabel Jordan book.
March 27, 2026
River's ex-husband owes money to the Russian mafia. They ask River to kidnap a member of the Italian mafia. River kidnaps the wrong guy, Nico is not offended, he is intrigued. River and Nico become engaged to keep the Russian mafia at bay. It is cute. I love the pet parrot, Feather Locklear. I have enjoyed this series.
October 30, 2025
3.25 ⭐
This was genuinely a really wholesome sweet read. The writing was very straightforward and simplistic but not in a bad way. I appreciated how to the point it was. The romance was fluffy and cute, and all the characters were likeable. Truly nothing to complain about. Great job!
This was genuinely a really wholesome sweet read. The writing was very straightforward and simplistic but not in a bad way. I appreciated how to the point it was. The romance was fluffy and cute, and all the characters were likeable. Truly nothing to complain about. Great job!
March 10, 2026
This was my favorite of the series. River was so innocent without being naive. She was just a good girl. Nico was really gone for her from the beginning. This was such a fun, fast paced story and I couldn’t put it down.
October 25, 2025
Sweet, spicy, snarky, witty banter for DAYS. Yes, please!
November 2, 2025
A damn delight
November 4, 2025
River and Nico’s story is unconventional and so much fun. Sexy tension, witty banter, and a HEA worthy of old Hollywood. Absolutely loved it!
December 27, 2025
This whole series has been good fun
December 27, 2025
3.75⭐️
January 2, 2026
I love all of these characters.
January 6, 2026
Loved it
## This was a terrific read. I adored the heroine and the hero was hot, hot, hot. Sexy AND funny. Well done.
## This was a terrific read. I adored the heroine and the hero was hot, hot, hot. Sexy AND funny. Well done.
February 11, 2026
A delightful tale of a kindergarten teacher and a Mafia boss who meet under a mistaken identity kidnapping situation. Clever and funny dialogue with some hot sex scenes thrown in.
July 8, 2026
The same story as the first two.. except worse
July 9, 2026
I enjoyed reading.
June 4, 2026
This was an easy and nice read. I enjoyed the connection and chemistry better, River and Nico. I love how River would just blarb out weird facts when she's nervous and Nico didn't find that weird at all.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews