Cruel Savior

Ruthless Arrangements #1

by Lilith Vincent

I saved his life. Now he owns mine.

I’ve lived my whole life in a golden cage, the captive daughter of a powerful mafia don. When my father arranges my marriage to Vincenzo Vici, a cold-blooded assassin from a rival family, it’s a death sentence. For both of us. Because my father uses our engagement to slaughter the Vicis and take their territory.

But he makes a grave error. He doesn’t kill the most dangerous Vici of Vincenzo himself.

I’ve never met my intended fiancé, so when I stumble upon a handsome, bloodied stranger being tortured in a laundromat in the middle of the night, I follow my instincts and save his life.

Big mistake. The man I saved is Vincenzo Vici, and when he discovers I’m the woman who led his family to slaughter, I realize there are circles of hell my father never showed me.

Vincenzo should kill me. He wants to kill me. Instead, he decides to make me pay in a different way—by holding me to our arranged marriage and exacting his revenge on me.

But Vincenzo isn’t the monster I expected. His ruthless kisses light up my soul. His darkness is a dangerous addiction. And when my father hands me poison and orders me to finish what he started, I’m caught between two impossible loyalty to my own blood, or devotion to the darkness that sets me free.

Author’s Cruel Savior is a standalone MF arranged marriage mafia romance with a virgin heroine and a possessive and obsessed alphahole. There is no cheating and no other women. The story is dark, dirty, and delicious, so please read at your discretion.

Genres: Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Dark, Romance, Marriage Of Convenience, Contemporary

305 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 25, 2026

About the author

Lilith Vincent is a steamy mafia reverse harem writer who believes in living on the wild side! Why choose one when you could choose them all.

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Reviews

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

「⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 star Review」
☀︎ CRUEL SAVIOR ☀︎ Is the first full length mafia romance book within the (Ruthless Arrangements) series by author Lilith Vincent. In this you'll meet Adora and Vincenzo.

📚'𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂'📚 can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS

Tropes:
❥ Arranged mafia marriage
❥ Virgin heroine
❥ Possessive | Obsessive alphahole.
❥ Seven year age gap
❥ Enemies to lovers
❥ He falls first

I’m so glad this was the book I chose to bring me back to this genre because it’s been a hot minute since I’ve read a mafia book, it used to be my go too genre, but needing a break I branched out into other genres.

The Montonis and the Vicis have been raging war against each other for many years, Adora's father proposed a marriage between Adora and Vincenzo the eldest son of one of the most blood thirsty families within Malus which would forge an alliance uniting the two families.

But her fathers got another plan set in place.

Vincenzo lost his whole family which led right to Adora's doorstep, pointing directly towards her father, who massacred his whole family in cold blood, Vincenzo was lucky he was at the wrong place at the right time or else he would've been taken out too.

This started off with a bang, pulling me in quickly, and I loved how it all unfolded. I can’t imagine these two characters with anyone else, they suited each other perfectly. Adora had been abused all her life by her father, making her jittery and scared to speak out, her character underwent such profound changes throughout the book, making many underestimate her, even her own father, and I loved that about her.

Overall, I couldn't put this slow burn of a book down, The spice and steam between these two characters was chef’s kiss and I was here for it all. I'm so excited for the next book, I need/want/crave to see what kind of journey the authors going to take us on in that one..

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[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Lilith comes out with a banger it's a banger!!! We are back in a mafia world and I couldn't be more happier!!

It starts off pretty bloody when Adora a mafia daughter who ran away from her family helps out a man on the ground being beaten her mistake he's the most dangerous man. Vincenzo was her fiancé before her father killed his whole family. And he doesn't know who she is. Until he wants revenge he discovers who she. He sorta hates her on principle but when he sees how her father and his men treat her. His feelings change but he's still going to show her he's an ass.

Adora poor Adora she's trying to make the best out of a horrible situation. The more she spends with Vincenzo the more she falls deeper in love ❤️. Even if her father wants her to kill her husband. With all the drama and tension we do get amazing tension between the two and along the way side characters being build in this new mafia world.

The spice is low in this and very soft vanilla for the two.

No ow/No om, No cheating, secondary characters, drama, sexy times, virgin gal no manwhore

Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶.5

Slowinsta
Tiny push away from both
Tiny age gap 7 years
Domestic violence
Torture
Murder
Praise kink
Masturbation
Tiny degradation/Humiliation
No condom
Hea
Epilogue

[Kursed Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unwittingly a trap for her fiancé and his family, Adora Montoni flees her childhood home following a deadly ambush.

Putting two and two together after being saved a stranger in a laundromat, Vincenzo Vici forges an unlikely connection with Adora who will once again become a pawn.

Adora and Vincenzo’s pain bleeds from the pages of Cruel Saint. She sees his pain and longs to help him heal. Yet with her history, it’s terrifying to imagine a man in the mafia can be trusted. It’s so gratifying to watch her shed the persona she’s been forced to don and embrace a future where she’s loved and respected. Likewise, seeing Vincenzo open his heart is the kind of HEA I’ll never tire of.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥1/2
Darkness: 🖤
Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 🤯🥺🥵😊😍
Ending: 💗 {HEA}

POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present • Past}

🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Dark, Mystery/Suspense, New Adult

✨ Tropes: Age Gap (7), Arranged Marriage, Bad Boy x Good Girl, Billionaire, Found Family, Mafia/Bratva/Organized Crime, Rival Families
 
💫 Microtropes: “Good Girl”, Good Girl > Dark Queen, Pet Name (Doe), Tattooed MMC, Tragic Past, Trauma Bonding, Used as Pawn/Leverage, Virgin FMC

🔆 Character: College Student, Illegal Enterprises, Mafia Princess

💋 Kinks: Finger Licking Good, Squirting

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a

🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, MINE!

⛔️ Safety Squad: Physical Abuse (Not by MMC), Torture (Not of FMC), Unaliving, Violence, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page and in the past and/or present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📍 Setting: City

⚠️ Warning: This steamy read will leave your panties damp and your cheeks flushed.

📣 Type: Cruel Savior is the first book in the Ruthless Arrangements series, but can be read as a standalone.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

"I’m falling for you, doe,“ I whisper. "My life is in your hands."

I enjoyed this for the most part. Vincenzo wasn’t how I expected him to be, and considering what happened to his family, he was also relatively "nice". To be honest, I was constantly wondering why he didn't just kill Adora's father.
My favorite part was how he was obsessed with Adora. He fell so hard, and even after he found out who she was, he just couldn’t stop wanting her. His POV was actually so sweet sometimes.
—> The nickname also fits so perfectly… "doe"

"She belongs with me. I know this with absolute certainty. This woman who thinks fast under pressure, who risks her life to save mine, who looks at danger and walks straight into it, she belongs at my side. Not as my prisoner. Not for revenge. As my partner. My equal. Mine."

Throughout the book, I kept wishing there was more going on between Vincenzo and Adora. I mean, there were really sweet and hot scenes, but for me, something was missing.

However, the whole mafia families plot was great, and I can’t wait to see more of some characters. I’d love to get a book about Christiano, Adora’s brother. And also Dashamir Dervishi. He’s so mysterious and dark, and I really hope he gets a book in this series.
And I can’t forget that scene at the end. Rafiel Lucania and Ariana Barone…somethings going on there.
I saw the next book is going to be about Adora’s best friend, Lucy, and her brother Damiano. This is going to be so interesting. I can’t wait.

tropes:
- mafia romance
- revenge
- arranged marriage
- he falls first and hard
- hate to love
- obsessed MMC
- age gap (7 years)

favorite quotes:

"The city of Malus. Proud and deadly mafia families locked in a struggle for power. Protect your heart. Love is ruthless."

"I fell his hot breath in my ear as he says, vicious and mocking, „Where are you going, my pretty little savior?"

"I found her half dead tonight. If anyone lays a finger on her or hurts her in any way, I’ll cut their fucking heart out."

"You’re supposed to be my enemy. I’m supposed to destroy you.“ His hand slides up my arm, proprietary, possessive. „But every time I try, I just want you."

"She’s mine,“ I tell him. „My bride. My woman. Touch her again, and I’ll kill you."

"We’re Montonis. We don’t forgive. We don’t forget."

[Soft Nectarine ~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know if I was confused OR annoyed OR annoyed because I was confused….

Mafia princess Adora is trapped in an abusive family dynamic & swept away in an arranged marriage massacre 🩸🔪 Her husband to be is the only survivor!

I found this to be a difficult read due to eye-rolling character personalities or unnecessarily muddled plot. Vincenzo was incredibly impulsive & would fly into a rage (emotionally) hurting the fmc but than also salivate over her in the next minute. Don’t get me wrong I’m all for an occasional alpha asshole but Vini boy was too immature (perhaps young) for me!

She was no different! Adora’a line of thinking was literally ‘Vincenzo is the only one that can save me from my abusive dad…I should kill him’. Make it make sense!!

Plot should have been simple but with irrational characters lying to themselves it was difficult to follow their decision-making & emotions.

DNF @62% I had high hopes for this one and I’m so sad this dark romance didn’t work out 😭

[di · Rating 1 out of 5]

The most annoying characters I’ve read in a while.

I kid you not the fmc literally chooses to defend her precious lover instead of playing her part (she’s trying to trap someone) when the alternative consequence is DEATH! You want me to believe this is a competent mafia queen?

Don’t even get me started on the mmc. He’s supposed to be this big bad assassin/mafia don but literally all he does the entire book is get his behind kicked. It’s kind of pathetic. The whole climax of this book rests on a deal they made with bad guy 2 (who’s getting his own book at some point probably) and this man is surprised, astonished, shocked that bad guy 2 refuses to uphold his end of the deal when HE CANNOT DELIVER WHAT HE PROMISED??!! Sir, that’s how deals work?

In conclusion, they’re both idiots that had the survival instincts of a potato. So, a match made in potato heaven, I guess.

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like it and it had potential, but it wasn't what I expected.

There are parts of the story that aren’t properly resolved; everything that happens with the guns comes to nothing. On the other hand, I understand that the author is leaving us with mysteries for the next instalments, like the brother, but she should have given us a bit more, as she did with Damiano.

And the main characters were also lacking something; they feel flat to me. Vincenzo is grey, but I don’t see him as the ruthless killer.
I don’t know, you might like it if you haven’t read much about the mafia, but I found it generally lacking.

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars
2.5 on the spice scale

[Cristina]

The author is mostly a miss for me. This one wasn’t any different. The insta-lust really kills me. Where’s the banter? Character development? I need more than surface level.

[Han · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

Ok so I enjoyed this but god I know his whole family had just passed and all but I don’t think I’ve ever read a mafia don book where he’s pretty much constantly having to be saved by the h. I’m all for the fmc being strong and smart but jeez. She saved his life 3 times and he kinda put himself in those situations by being reckless (also where were the guards? You’re a mafia don and you have no guards???) I was getting slightly embarrassed 😭

Virgin h
Didn’t seem like a manwhore H nothing really on his past
No OWD

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5.
This story is good but it should have been better.
It’s worth reading.

[*CJ* · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Cruel Savior” is the story of Adora and Vincenzo.

This is a super angsty romance between a couple arising from rivaling families. The “wedding” starts with an unimaginable tragedy that shapes their whole relationship. One is abused and afraid, the other is heartbroken - how they heal each other, learn to trust and fall in love, and get their happy ending forms the story.

The first half is heavy, the second half is sweet. The characters are likable and im glad they could move on- both god my heart hurt for them.

Safe
3.5/5

[Nasreen Guzmán · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cruel Savior

3⭐

Que les puedo decir, mafia, venganza, romance en medio de una tragedia. Tenemos a Vicenzo y Adora que por cosas de la vida, se topan en una lavandería y ella lo salva...😅

Es entretenido, un libro relativamente corto y ligero para ser de mafia, me gustó que no girara la trama en base al spicy (porque ya sabemos como suelen ser).

Me hubiese gustado otro final, pero bueno, es de esos libros entretenidos, pero olvidables.

27/04/2026 - 2/05/2026🧚🏽‍♂️

[Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

FLOVED it!

Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: Arranged marriage
Angst: 😱😱😱1\2
Smexy: 🔥🔥1\2

I really enjoyed this story! It managed to be sweet and exciting and spicy all at the same time. The characters were wonderful And they had a ton of chemistry right from the start. There were lots of bread crumbs for future stories and it made me super excited for what's to come. If you're a fan of possessive and If you're a fan of possessive and obsessive heroes this one will definitely be for you too!

[Kat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok, este libro en cuanto a mafia es de lo peor que he podido leer. Tal vez si fuera mi primer libro de mafia pudiera haberme gustado, o si yo fuera una adolescente, pero realmente, qué mal desarrollado en cuanto a lo mafioso, tenemos acá familias que son súper temidas y en el mismo libro ni saben enseñarnos por qué es que son familias tan temidas y poderosas.

Tenemos a nuestro protagonista, Vincenzo, que acaba de perder a toda su familia que consta de: mamá, papá, hermana y un primo, los mata su futuro suegro. Los únicos que logran sobrevivir son su tía, un primo y él. Solo se habla de la familia, no de que murió toda la organización, pero con la muerte de estas personas, al parecer, se acaba toda la organización, ya que a lo largo del libro vemos que Vincenzo no cuenta con más gente. Se habla de que su gente lo necesita como Don, pero no se menciona en específico quiénes, Vincenzo no tiene guardias a su mando, no tiene un círculo de confianza con los que armar planes para vengarse... no tiene nada.
Una organización de mafiosos que es descrita como una de las más peligrosas no tiene gente, básicamente, jaja. Miren, básicamente a la familia de él la masacran y no había nadie para defenderlos, Nadie!!!! No había guardias cuidando a su hermana, ni a nadie de la familia, no tenían a nadie, ni un chófer, nada, mientras, nos narran que los guardias de la otra organización rival masacran a esta gente, o sea, la familia rival sí cuenta con guardias y todo ese sistema, pero la familia del protagonista, al parecer, no.
Y lo peor es que nos narran que el protagonista es una máquina de matar, básicamente. Al tipo le tienen súper miedo, lo describen como un diablo, así que uno esperaría que fuera un Don bueno, un Don despiadado (si lees libros de mafias sabes a lo que me refiero). Es el peor Don que he leído. Dios, le roban un cargamento de armas en su territorio, ¿y cómo es posible que no reúna a su gente para armar un plan para recuperar ese cargamento? En el libro no se ve nada de eso. ¿Cómo es posible? Entonces por eso me pregunto: ¿qué gente depende de él entonces? ¿Líder de qué era? ¿Cómo no vas a tener hombres de confianza para estos tipos de trabajo? Nada de eso se menciona.
Ah, pero ¿cuál es el plan de nuestro brillante Don para recuperar el cargamento? Ir con su prometida a la fiesta de cumpleaños del que le robó el cargamento y ver si, por casualidad, lo encuentra. Y allí se le ocurre otra brillante idea: se supone que tenían que pasar desapercibidos porque, si no, los iban a matar, pero él decide que va a pelear en la ridícula batalla que armaron para la celebración del cumpleañero de su puto enemigo. Y no solo va a pelear delante de todos los invitados de esa fiesta, va a ganar porque, claro, él es el mejor de todos según la autora. Y en efecto gana, allí tiene la atención de todos y le rompen la camisa dejando en evidencia el tatuaje de su organización. Así que ya sus enemigos saben que él no debería estar allí y lo quieren matar. (Ah, por cierto, la organización enemiga sí que tiene guardias y el tipo sí que tiene gente a su mando).
Justo lo que se tenía que evitar... y aquí es donde pasa otra cosa súper patética: a este temido Don (Vincenzo) lo vuelve a salvar la protagonista. La protagonista salvó a Vincenzo de la muerte tres veces. Las tres veces que ese man estuvo a punto de morir, ella le salvó el culo. Para eso la hubiera puesto a ella como líder. Y no me malentiendan, amo las protagonistas fuertes, pero aquí se pasaron. El protagonista no hace absolutamente nada para demostrar por qué es el hombre más temido, por qué es una máquina de matar. Jajaja, no mames, es que ni miedo da. Se la pasa todos los capítulos suspirando por la protagonista y siendo humillado por todos sus enemigos. Mínimo, si me vas a describir a una familia poderosa, hazla poderosa de verdad, y si me vas a describir a un protagonista tan temido, al menos de verdad dame a ese hombre tan aterrador y no un mamerto como este.

Otra cosa que pasa en este libro, que demuestra que acá el tema de mafia es súper flojo, es que Vincenzo, cada que quería ir a la casa del papá de Adora (que obvio es el enemigo número uno de él y le mató a toda la familia) lo hacía. El carajo se metía en la casa así como si nada. La familia de Adora también es otra familia súper temida y el papá de ella es súper despiadado, pero creo que nada más era despiadado con las mujeres, porque Vincenzo iba a su casa, entraba como si nada, le plantaba cara y nada.
Hay una parte del libro que me da mucha risa, y es que Vincenzo entra a la casa de Adora y ve cómo su padre casi la golpea, así que, pues, amenaza al señor y le dice que lo va a matar si le vuelve a pegar. El papá de Adora tenía para matarlo allí mismo. Vincenzo siempre iba solo y se dejaba ver, el señor estaba en su territorio, tenía a sus guardias cerca y podía matarlo fácilmente y ya. No habría represalias porque, vuelvo y repito, jamás en el libro se menciona cuántos hombres tiene Vincenzo a su mando y tampoco se demuestra que siga siendo una organización poderosa, así que es fácil matarlo. Pero pues no pasa. El señor no lo hace porque pues no, según le tiene miedo a Vincenzo. Hazme el favor!!!!! Miedo de qué, no sé, porque vuelvo y repito: Vincenzo no ha hecho absolutamente nada por lo cual se le deba tener miedo. Los guardias del papá de Adora también están pintados en la pared, ni se notan, y cuando se notan le tienen súper miedo a un solo hombre.
Y lo peor es que Vincenzo ni siquiera se venga él mismo de la muerte de su familia. Es Adora quien decide matar a su propio padre, porque ni para eso le dan los huevos a este protagonista, y eso que pasa todo el bendito libro diciendo que quiere vengarse y quiere al señor muerto, y ni eso es capaz de hacer.

En fin, no quiero seguir escribiendo nada sobre eso porque siento que no me estoy explicando bien, todo es tan raro en este libro en cuanto a mafia, está tan mal escrito, tan mal desarrollado... Todo es tan básico, tan infantil, tan sin sentido. Todo se siente aburrido, sin coherencia, todo es súper absurdo y no tiene lógica. El único que, al parecer, sí tiene una organización criminal decente es la familia Dervishi.

Y en cuanto a lo demás, es muy meh. La química de los protagonistas, meh. Se siente a veces, no se sabe bien cómo se enamoran si comparten muy poco. En fin, ya me volvió a dar coraje. Es un libro bien malo, al menos para mí. Y es una pena porque esta autora me gusta cómo escribe, he leído otras cosas de ella que sí que me gustaron, pero no sé qué le pasó en este libro.

[Sarah♡books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️
Adora x Vincenzo 🤍

📚 Enemies to lovers
📚 Virgin Heroine
📚 Arranged marriage
📚 Dark romance
📚 Revenge
📚 Age gap ( 20 l 27 )
📚 Insta Lust
🚩no cheating or sharing, no WO/OM

[Vix · Rating 2 out of 5]

sigh.

i had high hopes for this book since i normally like lilith’s books and also because i saw that excerpt of vicenzo killing all the guys at start of the book before it was released…

but it seems not long after that that the book loses its touch somehow…

here are some things that bothered me:

• this is not a dark mafia book and idk if it wasn’t marketed like that but i guess that was what i expected and i was disappointed 🫩

• when vicenzo’s family is killed in the slaughter, we have zero idea on what happened to the vici’s empire, if we can even call it empire, because in the book it feels like the vici mafia is composed only by vicenzo, matteo and sofia — where are the men? the bodyguards? the structure? the guns? the power behind a “powerful” family?

• matter of fact, there is little to no mafia aspect in any of this book, only the relationships and that bothered me a lot… cause in the beginning adora describes how the city is divided into 2 and then 2 again by different families and yet none of this is further explained…

• little to no sex scenes… like i get she’s a virgin and a princess but jesus girl help us out here. just 2 scenes are not it.

• characters inconsistency:

> vicenzo in the beginning brings this whole killer/assassin/devil/icecold demeanor which i LOVED and yet he’s like a little bitch the longer the book goes on and barely gets to use his skills — i get the guy is in love but that doesn’t have to make him a fucking idiot. he’s the don for christ’s sake. he doesn’t act like it.

> i have the same problem with adora… tough but soft in the beginning, and by the end an insecure girl that doesn’t even wanna say cock? fuck off. you’re a mafia princess and married to an assassin.


i will try reading lucy and her brother’s story which may be better but at this point dashamir is the most interesting character so we’ll see.

[Blue]

MMC needed to be saved by FMC multiple times lmao

[Moonlit.RomanceReads ✨️ Talia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I read this so quickly, I did not want to put this down and once I got to the end I was so damn sad, I loved this!

Poor Adora, I felt so much sympathy for her, for what she has gone through her whole life. Seeing her character growth throughout the book was satisfying, standing up for what she wanted and having someone that was on her side. Beautiful.🖤

Vincenzo was a man with a lot of grief and sadness, seeing him be filled with a purpose finally as he fell hard and fast for Adora? Yes and Yes. He was obsessed, protective and absolutely prefect 💓

I did not want this to end. I now do not know what to do with myself after finishing this 😭

[Dawn Smit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book in one sitting, I loved it so much, it's intense, emotional, heartbreaking and exciting

I felt so sorry for Adora the mafia princess and the abuse she has put up with her entire life but watching her character grow thru the story was wonderful

Vincenzo is top tier book boyfriend material 🫠 absolute perfection, lethal assassin, complex and absolutely devoted

The tension between these two is slow burn explosive and the spice level is perfect and not over done

You should definitely read this ❤️ I cannot wait for book 2!!

Thank you Lilith Vincent and The Smuthood for this fabulous ARC opportunity ❤️

[Sentranced Jem · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.7 stars

Expectations VS Reality.
I really wanted to like it but I found it a little lacking. For a guy who is suppose to be this vicious and ruthless man, I found the MMC rather “eh”. Yes, I get that he’s going through a terrible time but I’m still.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to receive this ARC and DEVOURED this book in less than 24 hours. I have read Lilith Vincent's books before and loved them but this book was something special. The world, the depth of characters, and love that truly conquered all.

Vincenzo Vici is now one of my top tier book boyfriends. He is deadly perfection. His Doe was strong and equally as deadly.

I cant wait for book 2!!! If you have read Lilith Vincent's books already, you know this is a must read. If you haven't what are you waiting for??? Read this NOW! 🖤❤️🩸

[warhawke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Dark Romance
Type: Standalone book 1 of Ruthless Arrangements
POV: First person - dual
Rating:




As the daughter of a Don, Adora Montoni knew her life was not hers to choose. She accepted a business marriage to Vincenzo Vicci, the heir of a rival family and a ruthless assassin. Determined to make the union work, Adora stepped into it willingly, only to discover that her betrothed wanted nothing more than revenge.



The book started in an intriguing way, immediately establishing who Vincenzo and Adora were at their core. He was alluring in his darkness, yet he had a soft spot in his heart. She was innocent yet hardened by her life.

While certain aspects of the plot could have been developed more convincingly, I still enjoyed it overall. The supporting characters added interest, and I’m looking forward to reading their stories.

Cruel Savior is a story of walking the edge and found family. It would appeal to readers who enjoy dark mafia romance.





🖤❌🖤. . . (F)BR with Twinsie CC . . .🖤❌🖤





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[CC · Rating 4 out of 5]

4★

To form a powerful union between mafia families, Adora Montoni is set to meet her betrothed until the party ends in bloodshed. Vowing to exact revenge for this massacre, Vicenzo Vici takes steps to hide his contempt for the one person he believes is to blame.

“This man is a Vici. If he finds out I’m a Montoni, I’m a dead woman.”

Narrated in dual POV, Adora is young but she has endured which has made her resilient. Tired of being a pawn, Adora intends to escape but an unusual situation and a shattered discovery changes her trajectory. Though Vicenzo is cocky and fierce, he feels a strong pull to Adora despite being the daughter of a rival. As they navigate the treacherous waters of their family dealings, the stakes increase for Adora and Vincenzo.

In this storyline, I especially enjoyed how Adora and Vincenzo meet and the resulting nickname he calls her. The mafia dynamics could have been tighter in that Vincenzo came across as a bit too inexperienced in his actions at times. Being the first book in this series, a foundation was established for characters and overarching plotlines for future books. I will look forward to reading more books in this series.


*An ARC was provided for a review.*


*This was a (F)BR with Twinsie Hawkey*


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[Lexi Cubbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book in the mafia world of Malus and I can't wait to see what else is in store for us.

Adora seems like the perfect little mafia princess on the outside but she has been abused and shaped to obey all her life by her narcassistic father. The Montonis and the Vicis have been enemies for far too long and the idea is to bring peace through an arranged marriage between Adora and Vincenzo Vici. But it's a trap set by Adora's father and she unwittingly leads Vincenzo's whole family to be slaughtered in cold blood. After that, she can't take it anymore and runs away but it doesn't last long.
Before being brought home, Adora runs into a bloody scene at the laundromat at night and this time she's not willing to just stand there and do nothing, she helps the defenseless man attacked by four Albanians. What she doesn't know is that the man is her fiancé, Vincenzo and the man is anything but defenseless, he's the most ruthless assassin in town.
Vincenzo can't forget about the little doe who saved his life and whose life he spared, and after putting two and two together, he finds Adora soon enough. Killing her to revenge his family would be too easy, what he really wants is for her father to die the most painful of death and she's the key to that. If he goes through with marrying her, he can learn what's her father's weakness is and exploit it to cause the most damage.

Their connection was instant and the storyline sucked me right in. I almost gave it 4 stars because I'm sure there will be books in this series I'll love more, but it was just too good.

It had dark elements but was more focused on the romance, and I loved to see how forgiveness and letting go healed Vincenzo, and how Adora changed from mafia princess wallflower into a badass mafia queen, I adored the strength she showed. They were both just two love-starved characters who have been through too much and I'm so glad they found each other.

[Lorna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story follows the arranged marriage of Mafia Prince/Don Vincenzo and Mafia Princess Adora.

Neither Vincenzo and Adora have ever met prior their engagement party, only having seen 1 picture of eachother, before the tragedy that follows due to Adora's psychotic deranged father using their engagement party as a chance to take out the Vici family and using his daughter as bate, but what Adora's father didn't count for was Vincenzo being late to his own engagement party and after the events Adora took off and ran away.

Vincenzo and Adora meet for the first time in a laundromat when Adora helps save Vincenzo's life not knowing who eachother are and a make out session she finds herself back under her father's control the next day having been found by his capo's.

I really enjoyed this story and all the twists and turns with how Adora is actually a badass instead of the usual mafia princess who walks into situations with her head held high to save Vincenzo putting her life at risk.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a ride this book took me on! Immediately you are thrust into the story full force. It is a bit of a darker arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, mafia romance. He is an assassin, she is a mafia princess. And both were essentially used as pawns by her father. There were moments that had you gasping and cursing, blushing and giddy, and rooting for an unconventional and interesting romance story. I really enjoyed their story and the twists and turns throughout it- I didn’t want it to end and I wanted more of their story! ☺️

Also…As always with mafia romance stories, revenge is sweet. I am so glad the villain got what he deserved in this one!

I can’t wait for book 2!

[dan (rowan's gf) · Rating 1 out of 5]

quién me manda a leer libros tan malos

[Marnice A]

I don’t know what I was expecting when I went in blind. The blurb about the laundromat didn’t make a lot of sense giving the description of Vincenzo. He’s this hardened assassin and he got caught at 1 AM at a laundromat by four men of a rival mafia. They were beating him, an assassin and killer and he was just letting it happen. Why did he allow them to beat him? Especially when he easily escaped and killed all of them. Adora intervening and kicking him the knife was just unnecessary. She’s a meek controlled daughter of a Don who’s sheltered with zero life experience. Her running away, finding a job and a place to live was never explained. She left the massacre with no money and the clothes on her back, I would have loved context explaining how she managed all that with nothing. Her father’s capo physically abusing her was also unnecessary, it was like, “let’s find a way to keep the girl a perpetual victim” and I was OVER IT. Also, a lot of this drama and chaos in her life could have been avoided had Adora told Vincenzo she didn’t know her father’s plans regarding his family and her not telling him irked me. I dread the miscommunication trope just have a conversation! There so much unnecessary filler and I found myself losing interest at certain points. The inner monologue of both MC’s was uninteresting and truly this book could have been shorter. Dervishi men getting the jump on him and torturing him for almost 24 hours made him look weak. He looked weak this entire book. I had to double check and make sure this is the author who wrote Tyrant Mercer (he would have NEVER allowed anyone to get the jump on him and torture him) because I was expecting V to be hardened like him. This was more of a tell not show story. I wanted to see more of the vicious side of him but he read CREEPY to me. Him breaking into her home was awkward, I’m all for stalker romances this one just missed the mark. I will not continue the series because book two is about siblings and I don’t cross familial lines EVER! Also, his entire family who are “assassins” getting slaughtered without taking out a single enemy didn’t track, how didn’t they shoot a single person. They’re smarter than that and walking into that type of trap should’ve caused major red flags! I can’t decide exactly what to rate Cruel Savior, I’ll have to think on it.

[Flo₂₂ · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh, I'm disappointed 😞
it started really really good...but having this H saved by her multiple times was ridiculous...I mean...he was a assassin, he was portrayed as strong etc and yet...he needed saving wth?
I get it the first time, I loved it and I was intrigued but not the other times .
I hated how many times she toke the lead ... SMH
I needed more from it, it was all to insta, I needed more depth and connection...
there was only instant lust and even that it was little pieces here and there, I thoughts we will get more intimacy but nope 🙅‍♂️ 😅
it's a shame.
I liked the mmc's but I didn't love them.