Bound By The Mafia's Code: An Enemies-to-Lovers Mafia Romance of Power, Loyalty, and Obsession

by Nina Costa

356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 29, 2026

Reviews

[Linda Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caught me off guard
Elena Rossi (The Ghost) is playing the role of the Don's sweet, compliant daughter at the event. Enzo DeLuca from New York enters the ballroom not impressed with the Sicilian party. But people see him and make way instantly for him; most without realizing they recognize his authority. But Enzo doesn't care because he's on a carefully planned mission to snatch Elena. He and his team work smoothly and get her out of there and back to his place in New York. She's not happy when she waked from being drugged but she's already plotting ! She's dangerous too. And she's tired of being underestimated, controlled, contained and of people trying to make her smaller. She's not. She's dangerous too !
Enzo is a man of few words. He isn't aftaid of silence; he know that it holds power of it's own. And he's holding a lot of secrets from Elena and she just won't stand for that for long. . He can already see her mapping the room, the house, exits, cameras. I really liked Enzo he was a different kind of Mafia Don. A lot different that her father the Don. It still takes a LONG time for any trust to develop between them. But they need to hurry up about that because they have a clever enemy inside the works. I don't trust her cousin Marco, who is close to her father. He's almost like the son he doesn't have and influencing him more than he should be able to.
What caught me off balance for a while was all the computer speak. It made me uncomfortable at first because I didn't understand what was going on. Well at least at first !

But the story was really good and I got used to the writing style of this author and things began to get really intense with betrayals, the precision and alignments.
I really enjoyed the dual points of view and how the story worked out in the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jinane Abou Hassan zahran · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Bound By The Mafia’s Code, loyalty is everything, and nothing is ever simple. Elena’s life is built on duty, honor, and the double identities she crafted as the Don’s daughter and as the Ghost, a life that belongs solely to her. She discovers that loyalties can shift, bend, and be rerouted, that family, alliances, and love demand constant recalibration, and that trust can be both a weapon and a refuge. Enzo respects her autonomy, meets her as an equal, and becomes the anchor she can rely on. Their slow-burn romance is filled with restraint and careful calculation, mirroring Elena’s strategic mind. Meanwhile, Enzo stands beside her, doing everything necessary to protect and support her. In a story where deception (by close ones) is constant and allegiance is tested at every turn, loyalty becomes not just a duty but a choice, a line that defines who survives, who thrives, and who truly matters. The narrative moves at a very fast pace, with constant action, and at times I felt almost like I was running and struggling to catch my breath. Some repeated ideas occasionally made it feel rushed, but the tension and stakes remain gripping throughout.

[Caroline Reichardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing mafia love story with Enzo and Elena. This is by far one of the best mafia romance novels I have ever read. It is so well plotted, written, full of suspense, and love that you enjoy this story from beginning to end and won’t want to put it down. The story grabbed me right from the beginning with Enzo in Sicily. Back in New York Enzo has a penthouse that has so many fail safe mechanisms which make life interesting. Elena being the computer guru she is has her own network and hidden secrets of her own. When Elena’s cousin, Marco, comes after her and Enzo she goes into protective mode and starts working against him. Elena’s whole family becomes involved and it becomes a match of wits with Elena versus Marco. There is not a dull moment in this story right up to and including the ending. I liked how Enzo and Elena worked together at the end of the story. I would love to recommend this book to adults.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed "BOUND BY THE MAFIA'S CODE" I was completely pulled into this interesting, intriguing, steamy, emotional, intense drama with secrets, danger, suspense, action keeping you reading.
Elena's family is all about duty, honor, alliances, trust, she's the Don's daughter hiding like a ghost to have a life of her own.
Enzo is someone she can rely on when she needs to, he's loyal, respects her, will do anything to protect her, especially when her family sides with her cousin Marco in going after her & Enzo.
Will Enzo & Elena survive her family & her cousin Marco to get a HEA its an on the edge you seat page turner you can't miss.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

She has two identities that of a loyal daughter and the protector of her family both which she owns. When their enemy finds out her identities, he makes plans to capture her and in doing so set into place a series of other things she wasn't prepared for. This story is filled with dramatic twists and turns that had me all caught up in Elena and Enzo as their paths cross and leads them along the road to renewal.

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

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elena has two identities the mafia dons obedient loyal daughter and the ghost that keeps her and her family safe, butbwhen their Rival Enzo learns her identity as the ghost well, he plans on getting her, but in taking her captive, hebignites another side to Elena and when loyalties shift and betrayals grow where will it leave them? Well written the story is suspense filled and engaging through out. Well developed characters with steamy scenes enemies to lovers and more

[Sammye · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyed Enzo and Elena‘s love story. The intriguing plot kept me engaged and reading non-stop! It’s full of drama, suspense and steam. An excellent page turner.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. It’s easy to read, well written and Enzo and Elena’s chemistry pulls you into their story right away. Definitely recommend this book by Nina.