At ten years old, Tucker Givenchy became the protector of his family. With no favors left and crime families circling the waters, he signs a marriage contract to Arianna Vitale—princess of the ruthless Vitale syndicate—to keep his loved ones alive.
At nine, Arianna already knows her fate. As the Vitale heiress, her life isn’t her own. Her duty is to secure an alliance, obey her father, and never question the price she’ll pay for peace.
What begins as obligation grows into something neither of them were ever allowed to want. What was arranged becomes inevitable.
Their union was meant to unite two powerful families. But as they grow older and the world around them sharpens into violence and lies, Tucker realizes he isn’t just fulfilling a childhood vow— he’s claiming the one person he’s always known was his.
In a world where loyalty is currency and love is a liability, Tucker and Arianna realize that just maybe, a combination of the two is utterly lethal.
I received this book as an ARC through BookSirens, and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
I ended up enjoying this book so much more than I expected. The characters, both the main and the side characters, felt vivid and easy to connect with, and I really loved the relationships and dynamics between them. The storyline was engaging and fun, and the chemistry between the characters kept me hooked from start to finish.
Reading this had also made me invested into some characters and there are a few I’m hoping she’ll write about in the future, and if I get the chance to read another one of her books, I I’m sure I’ll do it without any hesitation.
I sincerely hope you give this book a chance and enjoy it as much as I did!
Arianna and Tucker both young, strong characters, have an arranged marraige but loved one another beforehand. A mafia family like Tucker's respected their women, the women were outspoken, and their men protected them, totally different than Arianna's family. The normal for them was the complete opposite.
A fairly short book but it was full on throughout, lots of drama, angst, heroics and typical young college kids antics.
I enjoyed reading the twists and turns, each character was different but they all geled as friends. Layla was a particulary interesting, spitfire of a friend to Ari, they were very close friends , never losing their bond.
I was expecting more from the ending as it felt a little rushed and didn't tie everything up. I am sure the next book in the series will answer those questions as we get to read about other characters.
All in all a good read, that made me want more from this series.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoy reading Mafia romance and this book takes you into the journey of a young couple, Tucker and Arianna. It brings romance, angst, and challenging times for the couple. Each character has to grow rather quickly due to the world they live in. Tucker makes tough decisions to protect Arianna. received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I couldn’t put this book down! The world building is easy to follow with slightly complicated family dynamics but characters that are easily relatable. From the first page I’m thrown into a mafia world where the Princess needs protecting from her own father and the man she has arranged to marry is happy to step up. Halfway through the book and still completely engrossed in the story and the characters. I’m very happy with the build up to this point and not sure where the rest of the book is going. In these types of stories heads always roll and I just hope Ari and Tucker keep theirs. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one noticing the changes in Tucker since his initiation in NY. Both he and Arianna needed to have the brutal conversations with each other about how they’ve both changed. Starting a marriage is difficult enough and I was happy they both came to their senses… more than once 😏
FMC: Arianna gets downplayed a lot in the story in my opinion. She’s fiercely loyal to Tucker and wants the best for her brother especially as he navigates his new role. But I think she’s just as much of a wildcard as Leyla. If anything, she’s possibly worse because she has the skills and connections that others don’t. There’s so many unexpected ways that she continues to shine as the FMC through the story.
MMC: Tucker is as romantic and loyal as someone could ever be. While navigating two worlds, he has to make difficult decisions as heir to his family’s legacy. Sometimes those choices come with deadly consequences. He’s doing all of this at the ripe age of 18 and trying to keep balance between his family’s laid back stance and the strict rules of Arianna’s family.
Liked I found it very romantic when Tuckers family found a way for Arianna to have at least some say in her big day. The big bloody twist in the middle of everything almost caught me off guard but the moment it was announced, it was obvious who did it… Sandro stepping up immediately made his character shine in unexpected ways and I actually began to like him again. The spicy scenes were amazingly delicious and I refused to put the book down during those moments.
Disliked We get it, old men are perverted. With the rest of the story focusing on complicated dynamics of two families who don’t see eye to eye on how to run the family business, I was hoping this particular cliche wouldn’t be as front and centre of the story. While the portrayal of the brothel wasn’t inaccurate, it came off as distracting for me. Arianna calling Tucker “sir” also felt random and just thrown in since it’s popular right now.
Arianna and Tucker had an arranged marriage, but they were blessed to have known each other for years before their wedding. They love each other, although from the beginning they were under enormous pressure due to their responsibilities. Tucker did everything he could to protect Arianna; he gave her a safe space, tried to make her happy, and kept his end of the bargain, even when it cost him more than he was willing to admit. However, Arianna didn't fully trust him at first; opening up wasn't easy for her, as she had grown up molded as a mafia princess, and yet she is a lethal, strong, and admirable woman.
I deeply loved both characters and the way they protected each other. Nothing was easy on their path, but little by little they became each other's light, always watching each other's backs. It was beautiful to see how their feelings grew, how trust was built step by step, and how they learned to support each other without reservation. Tucker was forced to do many things that nearly broke him, but he endured it all for the only woman he loves, the only one who gives him a reason to live. The support of his family was a detail I loved and that added even more depth to the story.
Arianna also did many important things to protect the family. Her strength fascinated me; she's not someone who is easily intimidated. The chemistry between Arianna and Tucker is simply incredible; the tension between them was astonishing, and their relationship gave me absolutely everything: emotion, drama, and growth. They both evolved, helped each other, and together, became unstoppable. In the end, they achieved what they so longed for peace and tranquility, without pressure, without impositions, and the freedom to live together forever.
I enjoyed this book immensely. Leyla is a wonderful character, the sister we all wish we had. I loved her for her unique spark and her strength, and I eagerly await reading her story very soon. I was also really eager to see how Sandro and Valentina's story unfolds; they have amazing chemistry. Ultimately, this story left me wanting more. ❤️❤️❤️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The character development and world development in this book is fantastic! Not only did there need to be two worlds to juxtapose one another but they also needed to able to overlap and have some similar undertones that allowed them to work together. Ari is a spitfire and would totally be a bestie. I love that Tucker comes from a such a wholesome place that he could pull not only Ari but himself back from the edge the Mafia tried to throw them over. The whole story and the banter was fire! The story had excellent exposition but I felt the climax fell a little flat because there are so many lose ends that I felt the end of the book was missing a little bit. It almost felt like this should be book one of a duet rather than a standalone and that is the only reason it didn't hit 5 stars for me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an advance review copy through BookSiren , and I am leaving this review voluntarily. The Ariana arrangement is a novel that explores love, obligation and self discovery through a marriage of convenience storyline. As the story unfolds, both Arianna and Tucker struggle with the balance between independence and connection. Wallace effectively portrays how power dynamics and unspoken expectations can shape relationships especially when emotions begin to blur the lines of once clear arrangement. The writing style is reflective and character focused, emphasising emotional growth over fast paced action. The steady pacing allows readers to fully engage with the journey as they learn the difference between obligation and genuine affection. Themes of trust, control and personal choice are woven through, encouraging readers to think critically about what it means to truely choose love.
This is my first story by the author, and I'm definitely checking out her backlist once I post my review of "The Arianna Arrangement!"
"In a world where loyalty is currency and love is a liability, Tucker and Arianna realize that just maybe, a combination of the two is utterly lethal."
Boy did I ever want these two to have more than JUST an arrangement! They both so deserved more. BUT, in their world, there are rules to be followed, and LOVE may really be a LIABILITY! Especially on that already exists!
I think that Tucker and Ari may just prove that things can come out differently than expected!
More like 3.5 stars. I do the love the connection that Tucker & Arianna share but I thought it was a little repetitive. Their age range is what threw me off a bit. A lot of smut throughout which turned repetitive and sometimes I wanted a little more angst from them both. I thought the mafia aspect was fine but I prefer more violence to really get me going.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The plot twist with Arianna & her father blew me away. I love that Arianna can have a fiery side but she could be a little careless. But hey she’s young.
This started off pretty strong, and I was enjoying the setup at first. But somewhere halfway through, the focus shifted heavily to Leyla and Bradley. To the point where I genuinely forgot Arianna was supposed to be the FMC. It made the story feel unbalanced, and I found myself less emotionally invested as it went on.
The spotlight stayed on side characters for too long, which pulled attention away from Arianna’s arc. Because of that, I’m not really interested in continuing with Sandro’s book if it’s going to revolve around Bradley again.
I enjoyed this book so much had a hard time putting down to go to sleep.
We don’t often get this side of the mafia family experience. Typically it’s from the guys POV or the female is scared and has to work up to falling for the guy. I liked Ari being the one from the family. Tuck was raised in a semi mafia family but raised with unheard of morality and Ari decides from the beginning to lean into her upbringing to protect the Crestwood family.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Arianna Arrangement is my first read by this author but it won't be my last. This is Tucker Givenchy and Arianna Vitale's intense, fast-paced, arranged marriage story and it's fantastic! This couples marriage was arranged when they were children and traveling this journey with them is quite entertaining. The evolving of the characters and the building of their relationship was great to watch. The chemistry between them is explosive and fortunately for them they're perfect together. I can't wait for what's next with this family.
The Arianna Arrangement’ is a gripping, heart-pounding tale of loyalty, love, and power. Jenilee Wallace masterfully weaves a story where childhood promises clash with dangerous family politics, and forbidden desire sparks amidst betrayal and bloodlines. Tucker and Arianna’s journey from obligation to inevitable passion is both intense and beautifully crafted. The tension, stakes, and emotional depth make this a must-read for fans of romance with high stakes and sharp intrigue
Omgosh, I loved this. Tucker and Arianna were an amazing couple throughout this book. Having an arranged marriage as children. But since they’ve grown up together, they already had love for one another. Both of them together worked well. Arianna was a strong woman in her own right. I love the intensity, hire complex, and loving these two were.
This book grabbed me, it kept me turning the pages. I truly couldn’t get enough of this one. Loved every minute.
This was my first Jenilee book and let me say … I really liked it !!!!!!!! I like how it started and how faithful he was to Ari. Ari was one tough cookie and took no bull I liked her. I can’t wait to read Sandro and Valentina’s story and also Layla’s she was a trip 😂. We all need a friend like Layla!!! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Loved it! Their dynamics together was fabulous and Ari is one kickass lady! Can't wait for the rest of the series as I really want to know what happens further! I received an ARC and leave this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed this book so much had a hard time putting down
Arianna and Tucker started out with an arranged marriage, but as time passes they both evolve and it becomes so much more. This story is about growth ,loyalty, power and love.
This book was hard to put down. It gets you hooked and u just want to keep on reading. I love the storyline and the writing style of the author. I will definitely check out her other books.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.