Savage Proposal

by Bella Ash

Isabella:
Sold by my own father to Lorenzo Vitali—a man carved from violence and draped in cruelty.
I became a prisoner in a gilded cage, bound by chains heavier than steel.
He demands an heir. His touch burns, unravels, consumes. I should hate him. I should fear him.
But it’s not the demand that terrifies me.
It’s him.

There’s a darkness in Lorenzo—seductive, merciless, and impossible to escape.
Every glance pulls me deeper into the abyss. Every stolen breath blurs the line between loathing and longing.
And my heart, the traitor, begins to beat for the very man who holds it hostage.

But men like Lorenzo don’t just break women like me.
They devour.
They erase.
And I refuse to be swallowed by his darkness.

Lorenzo:
The night they took Sienna from me; I swore vengeance and buried what remained of my heart.
Nothing could ever break me again.
Until Isabella Rossi fell into my hands—scarred, defiant, and hauntingly like Sienna.

She was meant to be a pawn. A vessel for the heir that will secure my legacy.
But her fire doesn’t bend—it provokes.
Her defiance fuels an obsession I never wanted.

She thinks she can resist me.
But in my world, resistance isn’t survival.
It’s the spark that feeds the fire.

Trigger Warning: This book is a dark romance intended for mature audiences only. It contains explicit sexual content, graphic violence, forced pregnancy, assault, captivity, kidnapping, criminal activity, and a cliff-hanger ending. Read at your own risk.

This book was previously published as part of the Vitali Duet, and has now been expanded into the Savage Mafia Kings series.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance

ebook

Published October 3, 2025

About the author

Bella Ash is a dark mafia romance author. She loves writing dark, alpha heroes who find themselves obsessed with their strong, sassy heroines. Her stories are filled with action, suspense, steam—plus captivating anti-heroes and the woman who can’t help but learn to love them.

To you, dear reader, she promises intense emotion, edge-of-your-seat action, and always and forever an HEA that will leave you satisfied and smiling.

Bella lives with her family in Chicago and loves to go on old Mafia tours to find as many little tidbits to use for her books as possible. When she’s not writing, she loves to spend time with her handsome hubby, go to Broadway shows, or drink way too much dark coffee.

Reviews

[Jojo Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely gripped by Lorenzo and Isabella’s story. I’m not convinced ’Enzo does love Isabella or if he’s fallen in love with Sienna all over again the baby may sway him. Does she really love him or is it a case of Stockholm syndrome?
Her father is a POS, why does he do things to hurt her and not her sister? Or has he? I wonder if he’s really her dad.
I hope Amalia is saved , I love her and Elio will go on the rampage if she doesn’t. Isabella is in trouble her father is there and …… cliffhanger!!!!!! I have to wait till June now

[Ceacea]

DNFing at 25%. There isn't a single thing that makes me want to keep reading about these characters. The MMC is horrible but. not in the fun way an the FMC is the world's largest doormat.

[Abigail Gomez · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of Mafia romances, but I could never love a book that promotes domestic violence like this does. The fact that he beat Isabelle when he found her in the library and she slept with him like it was nothing the next day while making excuses for him being a savage is insane to me.

[Lyndi (mibookobsession) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After an attack in her teens left her scarred and broken, Isabella is surviving, working as a nurse assistant while going to school for nursing. Until one day she's yanked from her life, sold by her father to a ruthless and uncaring mafia don to repay his own debts.
Lorenzo Vitali never recovered after the loss of his wife. Under pressure from the minor Cosa Nostra families to have an heir, he makes his new captive an offer: give him a child and she'll be free in a year.
While there were a few scenes that had me shaking my head and telling Isabella to run, she was entirely too accepting. I loved how she grew a backbone in the end but even that left her in even more trouble and a crazy cliffhanger ending. And now I just HAVE TO read the next one to find out what happens next lol. Does he actually have feelings for Isabella or is it only the resemblance to his late wife?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chasity Trimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maria romances are my cup of tea. And this one did not disappoint. Just after the first book by Bella Ash, I am a fan! I was consumed the moment I started this book.

Lorenzo Vitali is head of Costa nostra and he became hard, cruel and closed himself off after his wife, the love of his life was brutally murdered. Isabella Rossi, a strong willed FMC, is a nurse assistant going to school to become a nurse practitioner.

Isabella is taken by Lorenzo, her surrogacy as a payment for the debt that is owed by her father, as she also looks like the wife he lost years ago when she was murdered. The banter, emotions, angst, passion and twists in this story kept me engrossed. So intense and full of steam! And that jarring cliffhanger took me by surprise! I need book 2 like yesterday!!

[Meka 🌸 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a weakness for a good mafia romance and that’s exactly what this was.

Isabella is taken by Lorenza to pay off her father’s debt and after an agreement for her to be his surrogate in exchange for her freedom she has to make a choice.

Although she has her past trauma and has been kidnapped she doesn’t let that make me weak, she is a strong FMC and Lorenzo is a cruel and powerful Don.

Despite how he treats Isabella you can’t help but root for the two to overcome their own fears and hang ups and find happiness together, but wave after wave keeps them on their toes and always fighting to work.

Overall

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5

[Chai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for allowing me to review this ARC. In return for this book, I am providing an honest review.

Isabella (our FMC) came from a family where her father continuously broke her trust, all in the name of gambling and other ventures. She has worked to get her life sorted by studying to become a nurse. Enter Lorenzo, our MMC. Lorenzo is the head of a group of Mafia families, and a while back, he lost his wife, Sienna. Being pushed for an heir and having a convenient doppelganger fall into his lap, Lorenzo decides to go down the unconventional route for securing an heir.

This book is a cat and mouse chase between a brat and a brat tamer who are insistent that they aren't falling in love with each other. Our FMC is strong, bratty, and caring. Our MMC is a little bit of an ass, dominant, and in deeeeeep denial.

This story was a perfectly written Mafia romance that kept me on the hook the entire way through the book. Though, as an ARC reader... I am now distinctly displeased because the next book isn't there to read. I genuinely had no issues with this read.

[Nioka Comstock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Umm all i can say is yummy. This book kept me flipping the pages to read more and I loved how it was layed out to me.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted do DNF this book at chapter 18. I wish i did. The idea for the book was okay but the writing was not. The characters were so unlikable that I was just mad reading about them.

[Sarah-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, despite a few spelling/typing errors early in the book. Smut heavy but a good read for those of a fantasy inclination.

[Tedra · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has its moments

New author for me, writing was decent.
Several reviews brought me to this book.
Id like to clear up something that was mentioned in those reviews.
1. MMC does NOT beat the FMC when he discovers her inside the study that belonged to his now dead wife. He isn't very nice to her but he does not hit or beat her. He does nearly strangle her & one of his men has to pull him off of the FMC & hold him down..
Actually I was more upset by how needy the FMC acts through out the entire book.
2. MMC is a giant SOB thru out this book, at times a straight up bully. For every 5 d!ckish things he says or does, he does 1 sweet thing..
Yeah he kidnapped FMC because she is basically a doppelganger to his dead wife..
The dude Dresses the FMC in his DEAD WIFE'S CLOTHING!! Every clothing FMC wears has come from dead wife's closet. Everytime MMC takes her out he picks out his FAVORITES (dresses) from his wife's closet & gets excited to see how well the dress "clings to her curves". Oh poor girl....
Yeah his entire crew & his brother are aware & they all tell MMC he's a d!ck through out. Loved Amaelie, what a great supporting friend for the FMC.

3. Why was FMC worried about prices on the menu, it turned into a big thing for her ? Obviously MMC was taking her out to eat? It just seemed like it was a thing for the author to make the FMC be embarrassed. Like that is the whole story humiliate & embarrass the FMC

4. Sex scenes were mostly ok, kinda generic. I lost count how many times FMC cried during smex- not from hormones but because she wanted it so bad which was a tad to ridiculous. Write me passionate & hot descriptive scenes, don't give me a weepy FMC sounds like a brainless nympho who loses control in 1 scene when MMC whacks off rather than touch - like it was cringe.

5. That everyone was just ok with the plan on forcing FMC to have the MMC'S baby & being made to leave & abandon it once it was born. Like NO one told the MMC that was a horrific thing to even consider. Like real!

6. Her attack from years ago was nonsensical why were there cuts all over face? These were organ harvestors & how could they bitch such a job? Why would they even bring a priest anyway? So what if she died? Organ harvestors dont care they would've taken her kidney regardless if she was bleeding out. The priest was such a horrible guy that he was into boys, involved in organ harvesting but felt compelled to pray over her ? The whole thing was just silly & made no sense, all that I guess to establish how shitty her dad was? Yet FMC never thought he'd do it to his other daughter?
7. Dude & his crew live in a huge ass estate and they don't have a freaking panic room??

8. FMC is a doormat. A wet noodle. She's mouthy & always saying things like make me or no, but flips in 4 sentences or less. So you can't put any faith in anything she really says. Even when she had total right to do something, she allowed the MMC to "punish her" really it was just spanking but still she did nothing wrong.. and again with the please all through out smexy times ugh.

3 stars because I actually did think the writing was good, I actually did like the female. But I wouldve loved a better story.
And a MMC that actually said I'm sorry & a FMC that made him say it

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lorenzo:

I built my empire on blood and betrayal, turning my heart to stone after losing the only woman I ever loved.

Love is a weakness I can’t afford.

But then Isabella Rossi walks into my world—scarred, defiant, and hauntingly like Sienna.

She was supposed to be a pawn in a dangerous game, a surrogate to secure my legacy.

Yet her strength and fire awaken feelings I buried long ago.

Falling for her is a risk I can’t take.

In my world, love doesn’t save—it destroys.

Isabella:

Betrayed by my father, I’m sold to Lorenzo Vitali—a man who embodies the darkness that ruined my family.

He demands I give him a child, a choice that should shatter me.

But it’s not the demand that terrifies me; it’s him.

His icy exterior hides a dangerous pull I can’t resist. I hate myself for wanting him.

Falling for Lorenzo means losing myself.

Men like him don’t love—they devour.

And I refuse to be consumed.

This contemporary dark mafia enemies-to-lovers romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building that is engulfed by darkness, danger, violence, and grit, and characters that are alpha, exuding power, ruthless, danger, violence, dark, captivating, obsessed, possessed, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with a savage proposal, explicit romance that is consumed by steamy, sizzling passion, lust, desire, and spice with all the feelings to leave readers breathless and begging for more, drama, suspense that will leave readers on the edge of their seats, deception, secrets, heartfelt emotions, forced proximity, forced pregnancy, Lorenzo and Isabella's story, supposed to be a pawn in a dangerous game, Lorenzo built his empire on blood and betrayal, turning his heart into stone after losing the only woman he ever loved, Isabella is betrayed by her father and sold to Lorenzo Vitali-a man who embodies the darkness that ruined her, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with the savage proposal and explicit romance that is sure to transport readers into the darkness and down a rabbit hole where danger and lust collide. Readers are sure to be transported into a world that is wildly dangerous and unforgettable.

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

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25stars—SAVAGE PROPOSAL is the first instalment in Bella Ash’s contemporary, adult VITALI MAFIA dark, erotic, Mafia romance series. This is Don Lorenzo Vitali, and nursing student Isabella Rossi’s story line.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives( Lorenzo and Isabella) SAVAGE PROPOSAL follows in the wake of the abduction of Isabella Rossi. Isabella’s father owes over one-million dollars to the Vitali Casino and Hotels, and sells his daughter as payment for his debt but there is more to Don Lorenzo Vitali’s need from Isabella, he needs an heir, and Isabella is the perfect woman to give him a child but all is not as it appears to be, the past refuses to let go, as both Isabella and Lorenzo struggle with the demons from the past, demons that continue to control the direction of their lives.

The world building focuses on the tempestuous relationship between Lorenzo and Isabella, as our heroine must come to terms with what is happening and why as threats against the Vitali crime family are targeting too close to home. Isabella’s past is determined to take control, as Lorenzo struggles with his growing feelings for a woman he refuses to love.

The relationship between Lorenzo and Isabella is contentious at best. Isabella is Lorenzo’s prisoner, but a woman who is hoping for something more, including the possibility of her own happily ever after but Lorenzo refuses to accept there is anything between them, except the child Isabella is carrying for the man who will break her heart. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of energetic, charismatic and sometimes questionable secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to Lorenzo’s men: Elio and Amalia, Damian, and Lorenzo’s brother Christian. The requisite evil has many faces.

SAVAGE PROPOSAL is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, family and relationships, hatred and love. The character driven premise is captivating, dramatic, and dark; the romance is seductive and fated; the characters are determined and desperate. SAVAGE PROPOSAL ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating reading, a Mafia leader that has decided to take a surrogate as repayment for her father’s debts
Lorenzo decides that he is going to reclaim a debt by taking the daughter a nurse and after being told that she is a doppelganger for his murdered wife Sienna which he initially disbelieves. However, when he had arrived at her clinic with an injury and she comes into treat the wound he feels his heat stop, it is as though the love of his life is standing before him but she is lond dead murdered by one of his own men.
When Isabella realises that Lorenzo is in her clinic for more than treatment for his injury and when he explains that her father has boasted at his casino that she will clear his debts using whatever means the Don of the Vitali Mafia determines appropriate. Her own father does not give a damn about the career she has worked so hard to attain nor that if she refuses the debt will be taken from her younger sister, this she could never allow.
When she is then taken to the home of Lorenzo and his closest family his cousin Elio and his wife Amalia, along with Damian who deals with security concerns and other tasks expected within the Cosa Nostra. All of these members are aware that all of the rooms Sienna used are locked up and also understand that mentioning her name will bring down his wrath and this is not something anyone desires.
She agrees that she will become his surrogate as long as this clears the debt. He expects Isabella to live under his roof and abide by his rules for the next year. What he had never expected was that he would feel drawn to he and she also had feelings for him but in his lifestyle a woman is a target as had already been proven by Sienna’s death and he would never allow that to happen again.
I guarantee that you will be captivated by this read it is so well written and the characters and plot are simply captivating.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the wonderful writing.

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

[BooksBooksandmoreBooks69 · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I delved into "Savage Proposal," I was immediately swept into a world of darkness, danger, and intense emotions.

The story follows Lorenzo Vitali, a man whose life is defined by bloodshed and brutality. From the first sentence, I could feel the weight of his solitude, his heart hardened by loss. The stakes are high, and the tension palpable, making it impossible to put the book down.

Isabella, is training to be a nurse. When one unfortunate incident has her in the crosshairs of a dangerous man!
Isabella is now caught in a nightmare, unknown to her, she’s sold by her own father to Lorenzo! Her defiance and resilience shine through, even as she grapples with the terrifying grip of her captor. The chemistry between her and Lorenzo is electric—a mixture of hatred, fear, and an undeniable attraction that pulses throughout the pages. Their dynamic is infused with a raw intensity that kept me on the edge of my seat.

The author expertly crafts a story that explores the complexities of love and power. Lorenzo's obsession with Isabella is both dark and fascinating, (there is a secret that if exposed will only add fuel to an already explosive situation,) and I found myself torn between wanting them to find happiness and fearing the inevitable chaos that accompanies their connection. Isabella’s fiery spirit challenges Lorenzo, igniting a battle of wills that is as thrilling as it is tumultuous.

The plot is rich with twists and turns, and just when I thought I had a handle on where the story was headed, the author expertly flipped the script. The cliffhanger left me reeling, desperate for more. It’s a stark reminder that in this world, love does not guarantee safety—it often brings destruction.

"Savage Proposal" is an enthralling enemies-to-lovers tale that dives deep into the darker sides of human emotion and connection.

If you're a fan of dark romance filled with tension and passion, this book is for you. Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster of emotions that will leave you hungry for the next installment!


🦋

[Candace Cram · Rating 2 out of 5]

NetGalley ARC

2/5 stars

I just couldn’t really root for the couple. There is no way that I could ever believe that Lorenzo loves Isabella. She looks like his dead wife. And he basically replaced his dead wife with another version of her. Throughout this book her compared them continually. It got icky for me. The sex scenes were badly placed in this book. There is basically no plot. He abused her and almost killed her and she had sex with him straight after. It just didn’t make sense. Something traumatic would happen and they would just have sex? It just didn’t fit well. The dirty talk made me cringe a lot. And I have a poker face when I read in public but I couldn’t help it. Now this is a mafia romance so I’m not expecting a literary masterpiece when I read it. I liked the found family aspect of it. Unfortunately for me I just can’t get behind the romance. Maybe the second book will help me.

The two main characters had mood swings so much that I had whiplash. She was so scared of him and then she wanted to jump his bones. It just didn’t make sense. I felt there was no build up at all. I felt after she had gotten pregnant it was kind of forgotten and leaned so much more into sex scenes every chapter. That poor baby! The time jumps were all over the place I don’t know if I wasn’t paying as much attention as I should of been or what but it felt like a few days then jumped to a few weeks then months and I’m very confused on how far she is in her pregnancy. I think Lorenzo needs some therapy and a book slammed into his jaw. I hate women abusers so much. But I believe that if it’s written more carefully and he as a character can repent or apologise and actually show that I could look past it in the sake of this romance in this book. (In real life I wouldn’t). But for Isabella to just basically hop onto his dick straight after. Have some self respect girl be for real?!

Anyways I hope the second book brings me joy and helps me actually root for the couple. Also FYI it leaves on a cliff hanger.

[Books and Daisies · Rating 4 out of 5]

🔥 Savage Proposal: A Vitali Mafia Romance by Bella Ash 🔥

This book made my heart ache for the FMC—Savage Proposal is a lighter dark mafia romance, but it still delivers plenty of tension, passion, and danger. Bella Ash pulls you into a world where power and desire collide, and love is just as ruthless as the enemies lurking in the shadows.

The heroine? Strong-willed, fiery, and unafraid to challenge the dangerous man who has taken her captive. The hero? Possessive, lethal, and completely obsessed with claiming what’s his. Their chemistry is explosive, filled with tension, betrayal, and undeniable attraction.

If you love enemies-to-lovers, an emotionally unavailable yet irresistible mafia boss, and a heroine who refuses to break, this is the book for you. Be prepared—this one will leave you desperate for the next installment ASAP! 🔥🖤

This book made my heart ache for the FMC—Savage Proposal is a lighter dark mafia romance, but it still delivers plenty of tension, passion, and danger. Bella Ash pulls you into a world where power and desire collide, and love is just as ruthless as the enemies lurking in the shadows.

The heroine? Strong-willed, fiery, and unafraid to challenge the dangerous man who has taken her captive. The hero? Possessive, lethal, and completely obsessed with claiming what’s his. Their chemistry is explosive, filled with tension, betrayal, and undeniable attraction.

If you love enemies-to-lovers, an emotionally unavailable yet irresistible mafia boss, and a heroine who refuses to break, this is the book for you. Be prepared—this one will leave you desperate for the next installment ASAP! 🔥🖤.

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

[Mafia Wife · Rating 3 out of 5]

When they show up to take her, she finds out that her father has sold her to the mafia for his debts. She is furious, but trapped and cannot escape. He’s the ruthless Don who takes what he wants and what he wants is her. He decides that if she gives him an heir, he will let her leave. But the longer she stays, the more he realizes that he is never going to let her go. This is a complicated story. In addition to the arc of her, settling her father’s debts, there is a previous trauma drama arc that connects. They have incredibly strong attraction to one another, and their spice is explosive. They are trying to resolve issues from the past as well as navigate current mafia drama, in addition to secrets being kept from her. She is very strong, and stands up for herself. She was damaged from previous trauma, but is resilient and fights for herself. He has been locked in the past for a long time, but she is his chance for the future. His anchor can be dark, and goes to dv at one point which was not only not called for but also challenging to read and be able to find him redeeming. I was ready for this to wrap up, hoping for a happily ever after to bring this back around. It felt like a slow burn in some ways, and in others, it felt repetitive and drug out. I thought everything was wrapping up, only to get hit with a cliffhanger. There was no warning that this was part of a duet, leaving off on a cliffhanger. I really hate that. I read a lot and do not like to have to wait for the next story to come out as I have already read so many other books in between. If it is not a complete story, I want to know what I’m getting into.

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

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Savage Proposal by Bella Ash is a mobster romance featuring Lorenzo Vitali, who was as cruel and closed-off as it was possible to be. A great character, well-written and compelling. He came home one night to find his wife butchered in their bed. The killing had been done by his right-hand man. The one he had trusted. He no longer allowed her name to be spoken...at all. That man had been chosen by his father. He now chose his own crew. One of them had come to him with a story of a woman whose father owed him money and who looked just like his dead wife. After a visit he decided she would do and he took her with him. He wanted her to be his surrogate. After a year she could have the baby, leave it with him, and return to her life. He’d hired a doctor to see to it. No fuss, no muss. Isabella Rohim as the days wore on.

Many twists and turns in this novel. It is a story of love, but also extremely carnal, and explicit. Both discovered things about the other that added intrigue to this story. The life of a mobster is not a pretty one, but Isabella had been born into it. The twists and turns came quickly and often. The adjacent characters were interesting: Lorenzo’s brother who was about to become a priest; the priest who was his mentor, Father David, a favorite of his father’s; the men and women who worked for him, loyal to the end. An enticing book to read. A terrific example of the genre. Can’t wait for the next one.

I was invited to read Savage Proposal by the author through Booksprout. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #BellaAsh #SavageProposal.

[That Lady Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️🌶️

You know shits gunna go get good when the FMC brings out the “make me”

So this story follows Isabella and Lorenzo.

Lorenzo is head of the Costa nostra and Isabella is a nurse in training.

Lorenzo wife is murdered six years ago and he made a vow that he would never love enough again, until Isabella’s farther owes Lorenzo a debt and like the scum bag he is, instead of paying off said debt he decides to hand over this daughter as payment. What Lorenzo didn’t anticipate was that Isabella to the carbon copy of this late wife in every way but personality. Basically think it’s like when you get a McFlurry, you won’t always get the same amount of topping but the flavours is still going to taste the same.

So after Lorenzo takes Isabella, he makes her a deal, to keep the supporting families off this back he has to produce an heir, he decides that the best way to keep the families at bay is to stuff Isabella like a turkey at Christmas with his baby gravy, and they do get it on quite a fair bit.

In return Isabella farther debt is paid and she is to return to her life after the delivery but of course we wouldn’t be here if that were the end of the story, oh no.

Really beautiful story, please check your trigger warnings. This cliffhanger will you leave with more frustrated than having to wait for 6 hours to be seen at the A&E for spraining your foot. Yes that is very specific and yes that did happen to me 😅

[Amber Keehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Bella Ash mafia hit!

Don Lorenzo Vitali has never stopped mourning the loss of his wife, murdered under mysterious circumstances six years ago. So when he’s told about a woman who looks exactly like her, he doesn’t believe it—until he sees Isabella Rossi in the emergency room. Without hesitation, Lorenzo and one of his men take her.

Isabella, it turns out, has already been betrayed—her father offered her to Lorenzo to settle a mountain of casino debt. To Lorenzo, she’s the perfect stand-in: a woman who looks like the one he loved, and a potential surrogate to produce an heir and keep rival families from circling with their daughters.

But what happens when Isabella becomes more than a lookalike… and Lorenzo begins to feel something real? And what if she starts to feel the same?

As their connection deepens, dangerous forces close in. Lorenzo still doesn’t know who ordered his wife’s murder—or why Isabella was once targeted as an unwilling kidney donor when she was a teenager. Now, powerful enemies are aligning, and the Vitali empire may be under greater threat than ever.

Will love survive the secrets and betrayals? Or will their enemies tear them apart before the truth comes to light?

Read this gripping romantic suspense to find out—before everything ends on a cliffhanger you won’t see coming.

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

[Amanda Scaccia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Think of Beauty and the Beast with a Mafia Twist…. That is the feeling I had while reading Savage Proposal. This was the first Mafia dark romance I have read in awhile and it did not disappoint.

Isabella is a nurse assistant, going to school to be a nurse practitioner. She’s grabbing her last patient for the night. Unbeknownst to her, she would be the one that’s grabbed. Thanks to her no for good, gabbling addict of a father, she has now been sold to the highest and most dangerous person in the Cosa Nostra Mafia.

Lorenzo has one job… Keep his friends and family safe and keep to himself. The last time he let him self feel anything, caused the loves of his life to no longer be with him. After he was forced to collect on a debt in a less conventional way, he is now stuck with Isabella… The pain in his ass who also is a dead ringer doppelgänger for his descend wife Sienna.

This is a true Dark Mafia Romance… So please check your trigger warnings. I really did enjoy this, and finished in less than 48 hours. I could not put this book down. And what’s worse, book two of this duet is not coming out until June, and I need to know what comes next. Thank you @booksirens for providing this digital ARC. Thank you @bellaashlivros for such a fun read. If you enjoy Dark Mafia Romance books, check this one out. Release date is 4/3/2025.

[Shelly Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was dark on many levels. It's every trigger warning thrown into a bowl and churned out. Isabella is sold by her father to Lorenzo. She takes it way too calmly as if she's been here before. Father is a creep, check. Isabella falls for her captor, and he decides to use her as a surrogate. Lorenzo needs an heir, check. There's violence - to the extreme and a former wife who Isabella seems to be a twin for. Check, check, and check. Many bad guys. Lorenzo may or may not be in love with Isabella or first wife reincarnated. Some of the plot was telegraphed and some to a left turn and hit a small compact car.

The "why do authors do this" - the length, this ends on a cliffhanger and the next book comes out in June. If you are going to do a duet, trilogy, etc, have the other book ready to go. The wait is ridiculous. The length of the book - it's going to be a duet; there's no need to have a ridiculous length. Serious editing is needed to get rid of some of the extraneous interactions. If the author would have ended the story line, then great on the length. Otherwise, the storyline needs to flow better and quicker. After reading this book, the author could have written an ending and had a wonderfully dark story. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Malini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part one by MeemsAngel82

This was an entertaining read that grabbed my attention right away. I liked Tue h way more than the H in this one for the bulk of the story. The surrounding characters were interesting as well and there was some unexpected moments that left me guessing.

She had been taken, she also looked like his murdered wife. He needed a baby and he'd take one from her.

And that, there. Is a huge part of it. The past he had was sad and it shaped him. But he had good people around him and yet, he was overly cruel to a woman who did good in the world. Stopping her education, instilling fear into her and unfortunately making it clear he had no feelings for her. I wish he was not into that repetitive statement. Be it his mind or his words, he kept at it while keeping her there. If he had stopped using that I would have softened towards him even more. I'm hoping things will drastically turn around because there is more to come and surprises are being revealed along the way. I am so curious as to her similar looks to his late wife, her dad and his cruelness towards his own children, her sister, and just how much is this man planning on groveling later on? I can't wait to find out!

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

[Shelley Drinkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg why why why do I have to wait for part 2 of this story?! It’s going to be torture! This was so so good!

Isabella has had a rough time in life thanks to her father and his gambling habits, when he gets into debt to lorenzo Vitali he sells out his eldest daughter to repay those debts. Lorenzo takes Isabella, but his motives are far more driven by the fact that she bears an uncanny resemblance to his late wife. He strikes a deal with Isabella, who doesn’t really have much of a choice, that if she provides him with an heir, initially planned to be via surrogacy, then once she has given birth she is free to return to her life. Despite his best efforts and his denial, lorenzo falls in love with Isabella, and makes it his business to get retribution for those who have hurt her in the past. Soon, enzo’s enemies set their sights on Isabella and Lorenzo must face up to his feelings for her… which will hopefully be coming in book 2!

Like previous books I’ve read by Bella ash this one is very well written, well paced, and had me engrossed from the first page to the last, and I read it in less than a day! Now I just need to wait the 2 months for the concluding part without going insane!.

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

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this book.

This book has a prologue and 58 chapters in 287 pages (at least that's the amount shown in the NetGalley app). To get that many chapters in a short page count, the chapters are short. I'm a fan of short chapters and this allowed for the story to move quickly but still had a lot going on.

In Chapter 16, there's an incident between the MMC and the FMC that can make it or break it for the reader. Since I was reviewing this book, I kept going. I liked that the FMC was like "No, that was fucked up." I did like that the FMC kept going back and forth on "I hate this situation but I want to sleep with MMC" because it felt very real for me. I wish the FMC wasn't as "forgiving" (the impact of the incident wasn't dwelled on for very long) and I wanted there to be more groveling on the part of the MMC. Since this is Book 1 of a duet, it either should have been resolved here instead of Book 2 (if it is at all) because they have enough issues to work through for Book 2.

A few things that would be nice to spell out early since they weren't items that need to be a slow-dripped reveal.

In the end, I surprisingly really liked it and I'm excited to read the next part of the duet.

[Ella • _elliereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t tell the other subgenres but Mafia romance might be my favorite 👀 Honestly if they’re well written, I will keep reading them. I read this book as part of the 4 book boxset (through NetGalley) and I loved it!

Even though a lot of these stories are pretty similar, I can’t help but eat them all up 😅 I would honestly be a perfect mafia romance heroine because I would be the perfect mixture of “this is so disturbing but I’m also kind of turned on…?” So while this book definitely has a lot of well-used elements, it also made me love it more. I like how Isabella has a smart mouth and is -kind of- fearsome. And don’t get me started on Lorenzo. Grieving mafia don who refuses to fall for his kidnap victim? Yes, please 🙏 Maybe what I like most about mafia romance is the “bad” guy falling head over heels and worshipping his girl, don’t we all want that?

Anywhoo, as a mafia romance connoisseur, I can definitely say, this was a good one. Already halfway through book 2 as I’m writing this and excited for more to come.

Ps: While the spice is nice, I would’ve loved it even more if the spice scenes where longer.

Pps: don’t read mafia romance if you’re looking for realistic books because, spoiler alert: there’s nothing realistic about it.

Okay bye xoxo

[Dorrita Winch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an Enemies to Lovers Dark Mafia Romance in The Vitali Mafia, book 1 in this series.
This is Lorenzo and Isabella’s story. A hard, gritty mafia story.
When Lorenzo lost the love of his life Siena he has since grew cold and hardened in his emotions.
Having lost her has taken its toll, his destiny to be alone in life seems fixed..and he’s just fine with that.
Untill Isabella Rossi. Her father gives her to him. She’s has her own issues and scars, damaged but what’s worse, she reminds him so much of his Siena.
He needs to gain his legacy. His strong reaction and feelings for her was unwanted and unexpected.
Isabella is drawn to him like she has with no other man before. But she knows he is what he is and she’s just a pawn in his plans. When an unexpected surprise makes their relationship even more complicated..well it gets interesting.
And when she’s attacked he’s touched and moved. Realizing his feelings for her is changing.
How can anything good from their complicated relationship ?
This ends on quite a cliffhanger so beware of that.

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

[Kim Bobbitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lorenzo Vitali lost his whole world in one night. His life was changed forever and he is a shell of a man. No emotions, no attachments, just family and the family business. Sometimes a business man has to collect on unpaid debts. His intent to collect led him straight to Isabella.
Isabella is a nursing student just trying to get through another shift at the hospital. She knows something is off with her last patient but she has to do her job. He’s super hot, but he’s looking at her like he’s seen a ghost…
Savage proposal is a sultry mafia romance with a twist of mystery that reels you in and refuses to let go. There is no shortage of chemistry in this book but it’s the relationships, and healing that tug at your heartstrings and keeps you really invested in these characters. Book one ends on an absolutely brutal cliffhanger and you will be just like me, dying to know what happens next. If you love…

❤️‍🔥 Mafia romance
❤️‍🔥 Enemies to Lovers
❤️‍🔥 Forced Proximity
❤️‍🔥 Touch her and ☠️
❤️‍🔥 Who did this to you?
❤️‍🔥 Brutally grumpy MMC
❤️‍🔥 Sassy FMC

Go read Savage proposal. I read it in one day and couldn’t stop.

[Heather Dudley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Savage Proposal is fantastically written, well balanced with action/romance and beautifully executed by Bella Ash. The story is quite captivating from beginning to end, entertaining and an absolute pleasure. The characters are fantastically written and phenomenally executed throughout the story. Savage Proposal follows the story of Isabella and Lorenzo. I absolutely couldn’t get enough of their amazing story which I was kind of saddened when it came to an end because I didn’t want it to end. The chemistry between Isabella and Lorenzo is undeniably irresistible to the point where neither one of them could no longer ignore the feelings they have for each other. I loved seeing their story come to life through the pages of this amazing book. Bella Ash continues to prove to me what a phenomenal author she is with each book I’ve read by her. I’m always looking forward to reading her phenomenal romances stories and I can’t wait to see what her next book will be about. Savage Proposal is absolutely a recommended book for anyone to checkout and give it a read.

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