Bones

Bonetti Brothers #1

by Chelle Rose

Luca 'Bones' Bonetti

My rightful place is at the head of the Bonetti empire. With my father dying, the pressure is on to prove I’m the man he can trust with his legacy. He has but one stipulation. I, Luca Bonetti, certified playboy, must take a wife.

When I find a stunning brunette attempting to steal from me, everything changes. Sweet little thief. She may be beautiful, but she chose the wrong man to mess with. I have two choices. Kill her or use her to get what I want more than anything.

What I hadn’t bargained

Her refusal.

Her little body tempting me at every turn.

Her sassy little mouth.

What she doesn’t realize is the harder she fights, the more it thrills me. I love a challenge. And breaking in my butterfly will be nothing short of exhilarating.

Genres: Dark Romance, Audiobook, Mafia Romance, Dark, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Forced Proximity

227 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 18, 2026

About the author

I hate talking about myself. I'm awkward AF and write super spicy books with twisty plots. Most of my books are dark romance so always check the content warnings!

Reviews

[GCR | Book Realm]

Audiobook provided by Blue Nose Audio

Bones was such an easy listen. It got to the point, stayed fast, and never felt like it was dragging anything out.

Luca stayed consistently unhinged, and somehow this captive dynamic worked for me more than it normally does. I still had moments where I was like, this is absolutely not okay, but Athena knew it was wrong too, and the way her feelings developed made it easier for me to buy into than I expected.

The ending was predictable, but it fit the story.

Amanda Stribling and Joe Arden were both incredible. The tone, flow, pacing, and delivery were all so good, and yes, Joe absolutely enhanced the experience because apparently that man can narrate a felony and make it sound reasonable.

I’m definitely excited to start book two.

I’d recommend this to readers who like dark captive romance, mafia romance, unhinged MMCs, morally questionable relationships, and audiobooks with strong narration.

[Dora Koutsoukou · Rating 2 out of 5]

Part 1

2,5 🤔🤔⭐️s

This tough mafioso guy, with so many billions, caught a girl trying to steal into his impenetrable mansion.

All he knew about her was her name, and under certain circumstances he decided to marry her!
Is it reasonable not to do a background check on her???

Moreover, it was insta love and the heroine’s trauma was not deeply explored.

[Josie Ellis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was horrible.. and that’s exactly what I wanted it to be. It felt like someone told AI to create a Walmart version of hunting Adeline. I didn’t have to utilize a single active brain cell on it. I loved it.

[Sorina§ · Rating 1 out of 5]

These types of books shouldn't be allowed to be categorized as romance.
What do you mean he abuses her in the exact same way that every other man in her life abused her before, but because this one is hot and has money, we are pretending that he did not.

If willing to overlook this, the book is still bad, literally nothing happens, besides the obligatory kidnapping and torture scene afterward.

I finished it just because it was short and the duet-style audiobook was good.

[Meka 🌸 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I felt this book had a great plot, and the relationship between Athena and Bones was great.

But it felt like it went from 0 to 100 in no time at all, and the connection wasn’t there. I understand the trauma behind it, and that was tackled well, but I felt like the characters needed more time.

Also there is an overuse in the word giggle, it was used constantly and felt like it would throw off a scene.

Overall the writing was well done and I loved the whole world that we get thrown into though.

Overall

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️/5

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
🌶️🌶️.75

🖤 Morally Grey MMC
✨️ "My Wife"
🖤 Dark Romance
✨️ Touch Her & ☠️ 
🖤 Forced Proximity 
✨️ Mafia
🖤 Angsty 

✨️ALC REVIEW✨️

Narrators: Joe Arden & Amanda Willow

⚠️ CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS⚠️

Let me preface this by saying that I am not a fan of Joe Arden. With everything that came out in the last 8 months regarding him, I didn't have high hopes that I would enjoy his performance. The beginning felt much more forced, but as the audio progressed it felt more natural. Together Amanda and Joe did a fantastic job on this audiobook! They truly gave life to not only this story but these characters!

Athena and Luca "Bones" Banetti couldn't have been more different in every way possible. But Athena found herself in the clutches of Bones after her latest errand from her "boyfriend". Having sticky fingers can always change how things can go, but having WHOLE sticky HANDS, is a brand new situation she found herself in. She was literally dangling off one of the walls of Luca's property, when they came face to face. She knew that things weren't going to end well, but she sure as heck did wha she could to stave off the worst consequences.  She just didn't realiize those consequences would come with even bigger ones along the way.

Athena was such a resilient woman! Luca called her Butterfly, but what he didn't realize at the time was just how much she truly resembled one. She had been through literal HELL and back. And she would unfortunately make a brief stence back there. I loved the spirit that Athena had, because she literally could get through ANYTHING. She didn't know where her life was going but she didn't see the complete 180 it would be doing. Once she was able to breathe and spread her wings she really grew into herself. She was able to live life without the restraints that she had previously! I constantly rooted for her throughout the book, she deserved nothing but all the best in the world. She had not only been neglected, abused (mentally and physically) but left without any kind of education.

Luca came in like the executioner from the very beginning. Even though that isn't what he was known for, he maded a point to use his initimidation to his advantage. Reaper was the one that everyone should be petrified of. But his story will come later. Luca was a take no crap person who refused to hear anything you had to say that didn't even come close to resembling the truth. He ruled his part with an iron fist and for good reason. He had those under him that were taking advantage of not just him but also Athena. That would not fly in his world, so he made sure that they knew exactly what they had invited in. As tje book progressed he became much more of a human being rather than the executioner that he played so much of the part. He was able to see exactly what Athena had been through and wasn't willing to subject her to that anymore. 

I really enjoyed who he became in the last half of the book. He became a man who you would be prooud to have near you, much less the one you would call husband. He had the soft side that Athena needed, but also the stern side that she craved. 

I really enjoyed being able to see how much his family embraced Athena and brought her into their fold. His mother was the matriarch of the family you always dreamed of having in your life. Even though his Dad had passed, his mother was always making sure that he was present and mentioned in the most important of times.

I am very excited to see what the next book entails!


 🔥 Let's Talk About Sex Baby 🥵: 
                   🌶️🌶️.75 /5

⚠️ CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️

There are several scenes that can be disturbing, so I HIGHLY implore you to proceed with CAUTION.

Athena and Luca definitly had their proclivities as to what made them tick (IYKYK). There were multiple scenes where they enjoyed each other outside the bedroom. Dressing Rooms, and the pool to name a few. 


Thank you so much to Chelle Rose and Blue Nose Audio for the free ALC copy 🫶🏻. All opinions are my own, honest and voluntary.

[Cara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I struggled. I wanted to like this, I'd seen some really good teasers, but I stopped reading at chapter 4. I couldn't force myself to read anymore.
Why she tried scaling a fence with barbed wire I do not understand and then he demands her strip and get in a cage, he doesn't want to f**k her but then whips off his shirt to start interrogating her so he can turn around and tell she can wear his t-shirt.

[Vallsykes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 "ridiculous plot but memorable" stars

“I had a pretty little blue butterfly when I was a boy. You remind me of it. Stunning but fragile. Too fragile for life. One torn little wing, and it’s grounded."

Athena, the FMC, coming from a horrible life of abuse, which is unveiled within the plot, and having been coerced into stealing, finds that she steals from the wrong one (or, is he right? If he is, then he is right only with his eventual touch-her-&-u-die stance).

Before, giving the rest of this review, I will stop and pay credit to Josie Ellis's review, saying:

"It felt like someone told AI to create a Walmart version of [H]unting Adeline." Well, shit, now I really got to read that one.
Anyway, Athena's would be victim, Luca Bonetti, quickly turns her into one. Then she's his captive bride. And 🤦🏾‍♀️, really Luca, and his brothers, turn out to be very morally grey, loving blood, tears, death, and power. How, his captive bride? Oh, never mind consent/non-consent wavering, or sociopathic tendencies, Luca Bonetti is the 2nd oldest, set to be his fathers heir, because he is the most sane of his brothers, and his father & family are still traditional: in order to ascend, Luca must marry.

Athena is stunningly beautiful. fragile, his butterfly as soon as he has her under his power, so why not make her his wife?

[S]he whispers, “I told you, I don’t like the cage.”
“I know, baby. I know, and after today I swear to you, you’ll never be in another one.”

Luca's Butterfly's wings were not torn but that were stained with a past so unholy that I had to rage inside, because Athena's backstory is of child abuse, SA, and incest *Trigger warning, FYI* and it is realistic because these atrocities happen too often in real life families. This darkness included in this plot eclipsed any qualms a reader might have about Luca's moral grey-ness, and all I wanted him to do is avenge Athena (she isn't 100% weak but she doesn't live up to her namesake, either).

If there was more development and time taken with their relationship, a better crafted reason or run-up for why they initially get together, then this book may have gotten a 4 or 5 from me...
Walmart Hunting Adeline, indeed.
Tor Thom narrating Luca "Bones" Bonetti also made it worth getting through. ❤️

Happy Reading.

[BrewedBookDragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you like your MMC's to be possessive, obsessive, and completely unhinged??

Meet Luca "Bones" Bonetti and he is a giant walking red flag AND yes, I absolutely continued to hit play and question my own sanity.

Bones is the second oldest but also the man chosen to oversee the family, upon his father's passing. Well provided he gets married that is....

This brings us to Athena and our beautiful Butterfly. Athena has had a tragic life with men that have done nothing but abuse/use her. She is captured by Bones while hanging from the wall of his estate, because her most recent user, asked her to go steal his favorite car.

Bones is OTT and reacts exactly as any good deranged dark romance mafioso. Yes the cage and threats...but Athena has just enough sass to keep him on his toes.

Performed in duet by Joe Arden & Amanda Willow and produced by Blue Nose Audio.

Joe Arden delivers the over the top insanity of Bones and the softer side, that is only for his Butterfly, flawlessly. While Amanda Willow gives Athena the perfect balance of strength, vulnerability, and sass. Together they provide an immaculate performance.

Chelle Rose, does not shy away from heavy topics and this book is no exception. PLEASE READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS!!! Your mental health matters.

Tropes include Mafia, Capt0r/Capt!ve, Breeding Kink, He Falls First, Forced Proximity, and Marriage of convenience.

[Lizzy •lizzy.slittlelibrary• · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5✨

First things first

I went into this one completely blind and so glad I did. BUT definitely check those TWs if you have them.
With this one being a shorty, IMO, I felt the pacing was done so well. I was emotionally invested. Bones is as bad as they come and because of that, I did not expect moments in this story to be so cute and swoon worthy. He develops a soft spot for Athena.

And with that, the heavy moments are still there and I felt done with care. Athena..give that girl a hug. She is a survivor in every sense of the word.

The audio performance really captivates you from the start. It's not often an audiobook can make me cry but Joe and Amanda accomplished that.

Thank you Blue Nose Audio and Chelle Rose for the early audio.

[Vanessa Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating, Dark & Irresistible!

I absolutely loved this dark mafia romance!! It pulled me in from the beginning and had me captivated.

We have Luca aka “Bones” Bonetti as the MMC, who has to marry to take over the as the head of the mafia family. His father is dying and he chooses Luca out of the 4 brothers to take over when he passes. His one stipulation is for him to be married first.

When he finds Athena the MFC trying to climb his gates and steal from him, his first thoughts are to get rid of her permanently. That all changes with his father’s stipulation for him to takeover and he decides to keep her for himself. His beautiful “butterfly” who becomes his wife.

Athena had an abhorrent past of abuse by her own father and when that past catches up to her, she doesn’t expect to be saved. Will Luca be able to find and save her?

He goes from wanting to break her and possess her to wanting to protect her from her past and give her the world.
Luca- “I was wrong. Butterflies aren’t too fragile for life. You will survive the monsters of our world, because I’ll protect you until my last breath. No one will ever hurt you again, because you’re mine.”
This is now one of my favorite mafia romances and I can’t wait for the rest in the series. The Bonetti brothers are all unhinged in their own way and I’m here for it!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐️
4/5 🌶️
4/5 🎙️

I am really not sure how to rate this. I was really worried about the trigger warnings and how I would handle them. The author handled the sensitive nature of trauma pretty well, and while I wish we would have gotten more substance from both MCs…I also feel like it’s maybe not that kind of book. There was just SO MUCH trauma in the FMC’s past that it felt like maybe she could have had slightly less since we didn’t really dive into the healing of it too much.

Definitely check trigger warnings for this one. It was a lot.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the concept of Bones and was excited about a series of all of the Bonetti brothers. The meet-cute between Bones and Athena was a standout moment, but unfortunately the story began to unravel for me soon after. Bones’ sudden shift from wanting to kill Athena to wanting to marry her felt too abrupt, with little development to support the enemies-to-lovers arc. Athena’s backstory also raised questions - her speech and adjustment felt too polished for someone raised in a cage, and her father’s ability to infiltrate a mafia circle and stage a rescue without detection stretched plausibility.

While I don’t expect strict realism in dark romance, the plot holes pulled me out of the story. The narrators delivered strong performances, but even that couldn’t carry a story that felt rushed and uneven. Great premise, but the execution didn’t quite land. I’m hopeful the next installment dives deeper and offers more substance.

[Soophel · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book Athena tries to steal from Luca, who doesn't like to be stolen from but he is in need of a wife. Luckily for him, one literally fell onto his property.

This was one of the cutest dark romance I've ever read. When he gets to know her Luca is a complete simp for Athena, and his POV is downright adorable.

Athena's story is terrible, and the way in which she starts to trust Luca but is still afraid to tell him anything is written very well. The shame she feels about her trauma is heartbreaking but unfortunately realistic.

The only thing I disliked about this book hits a particular pet peeve of mine. We have an FMC who has gone through terrible trauma at the hands of men, so the way in which she starts to talk back felt like way too fast and not the way a traumatised FMC would act.

I enjoyed this book immensely, and am excited about the next few books about Luca's brothers!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Yusra · Rating 1 out of 5]

FUKIN RAPIST 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Bones by Chelle Rose had me hooked from the moment I started it. I was completely invested in the storyline and couldn’t put it down. Chelle’s writing pulled me into this world and kept me there until the very end.

Luca “Bones” Bonetti is about to inherit his father’s spot, but there’s one condition standing in his way he must be married. It doesn’t matter whether it’s for love or convenience. If he wants his place, he needs a wife.

So when someone is caught breaking onto his property and trying to steal from him, Luca knows one thing that simply isn’t allowed, and there has to be a punishment.

What he doesn’t expect is for the woman he catches to completely change his world.

Athena won me over immediately. She’s been through more than anyone should ever have to endure, but she’s still feisty, sassy, resilient, and definitely not going down without a fight. I loved her strength and the way she held her own, especially when it came to Bones.

The banter and push-and-pull between these two had me hooked. Their romance wasn’t an insta-burn, but it wasn’t painfully slow either it hit that sweet spot right in the middle.

And then THAT TWIST.

I did NOT see it coming toward the end of the book, and I love when a story can genuinely catch me off guard.

And the revenge? Served beautifully. 🤌🏻

Long live the Bonettis. 🖤

Bones had everything I enjoy in a book: banter, push and pull, revenge, mild suspense, chemistry, a perfectly paced burn, and a twist I never saw coming.

TROPES & VIBES 🖤

🦴 Mafia Romance
💍 Marriage of Convenience / Must Marry
🔪 Revenge
🔥 Forced Proximity
😈 Morally Gray MMC
💋 Banter & Push-Pull
💪 Feisty / Resilient FMC
🖤 Touch Her and Die Energy
🔥 Medium Burn
🔐 Captor/Captive Vibes
👀 Suspense & Secrets
🤯 Unexpected Twist
👑 Mafia Family / Heir
❤️‍🔥 He Falls Hard

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

He’s the heir to the mafia family.
She’s been abused by her father and now her current boyfriend. Current boyfriend makes her steal things or he will send her back to daddy.

She attempts to steal a car from the MC, gets caught and thrown into a cage.

MC gets told his mafia father is dying and that he needs to find a wife before he dies or he won’t inherit the mafianess.

MC really wants to inherit the mafianess of the family so he tells girl that he won’t kill her for trying to steal from him if she agrees to be his wife.

The bones are here. The skeleton of the novel is here, it just needed some polishing. They go from hating each other to being obsessed and in love the next day. It didn’t make sense nor was it believable. I didn’t feel the chemistry or the pull, they really needed more time to bring that relationship together.

Hes also supposedly a playboy but has no problems swearing off of all other women forever for a girl that he doesn’t want to marry, but has to because his mafia father told him he had to. He married this chick and then turns into a gooey golden retriever that occasionally breaks people’s bones.

Again, the trauma, the backstories, the actual story is good but needs more, more depth, more feeling.

I DNF at 51% cause life’s too short and I have too many books to read to try and finish something that doesn’t suck me in. I can’t even recall their names while writing this review.

[Teags Downwiththetriggers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook 🎧 3.5 stars ⭐️
Tropes: Mafia Romance, Touch her & die, Obsessive/Possessive, Trauma and Healing, Banter, Captor/Captive, Forced Marriage, fast burn.
Micro tropes: My wife
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

First of all - CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS. I went into this blind and listened to the Audiobook. It is very dark with detailed parental r@pe on page and further sexual abuse.

Athena - or butterfly - is ‘ordered’ by her boyfriend to steal a car from some rich dudes house. In her attempt to get in Luca - aka Bones - catches her and immediately cages her. Little does poor Athena realise that she was attempting to steal from the son of the head of the Mafia - not just any old rich dude.

Bones finds himself in a pickle and needs a wife - fast. His instant attraction Athena and her being in his clutches brings around the idea to force her into a marriage with her. What he doesn’t realise is that her truama responses cause his protectiveness to kick into high gear and he finds himself falling hard and fast.

The audiobook on this was 10/10 and I would highly recommend giving it a whirl. The book is also available on Kindle Unlimited.

Darkness: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Vibes: 4/5

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Luca “Bones” Bonetti had me hooked from the very beginning! This book delivered the perfect combination of danger, tension, chemistry, spice, and a whole lot of attitude. Luca is the ultimate arrogant, confident playboy, and watching him meet his match in a sassy little thief was incredibly entertaining.

I loved their push-and-pull dynamic and the way she refused to simply give in to him. The chemistry between these two was incredible, and their constant battle of wills kept me turning the pages. Luca definitely loves a challenge, and she gave him plenty of them!

And Chapter 27?! That revenge was EVERYTHING! Easily one of my favorite moments in the entire book. The buildup made the payoff so satisfying, and I was absolutely here for it!

If you love a dangerous hero, a heroine who refuses to make things easy for him, plenty of tension, and a revenge scene that hits just right, add Bones to your TBR immediately!

Tropes:
🖤 Dark Mafia Romance
🔥 Forced Marriage
🖤 Morally Gray, Possessive Hero
🔥 Enemies-to-Lovers
🖤 Strong-Willed Heroine
🔥 Revenge

[Simone Allentoft · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was actually better than I expected! 😅
It’s definitely a dark romance with some very crazy scenes, kinks, and questionable choices 😂🥵
Because of that, the book spends a lot of time pushing boundaries, and there are a LOT of spicy scenes, so definitely check the trigger warnings beforehand 😅
That being said, there was more to the story than I expected.
A big part of the book focuses on the FMC's psychological struggles and healing, which added more depth to the story than just the “romance”.
And Bones? He was protective of her and cute in some scenes but definitely not a good person😅
For such a short story, I was pleasantly surprised by the character development.
The plot itself isn't huge or overly complex, but honestly, what can you expect😅

Overall, a surprisingly enjoyable dark romance with more character depth than I was expecting and enough emotional development to balance out all the chaos and spice!

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y'all know I'm obsessed with dark romance and this book doesn't disappoint! Athena is sent to steal a car, gets stuck on a wall… and ends up in a cage owned by bone-breaking mafia bad boy Luca Bonetti. Sounds wild? It is. And somehow, this crazy man decides the best way to take over as Don is by marrying you.

I absolutely devoured this book. Check your trigger warnings—our FMC has a traumatic past—but don't let that fool you she is a bad a$$ in her own right! This story is intense, emotional, and totally addictive!

Now I’m just sitting here, not-so-patiently waiting for book 2.

[Natalie Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I completed this book on audible so had the great joy of Joe Arden’s voice throughout.

This story was very hard to listen to, but the book fully covers the triggers that are covered in the story.

Athena has had a very hard life in captivity being hidden away by her predator father till she meets Luca well comes across Luca she’ll we say.

Luca is a mafia gang boss who soon turns very very soft when it comes to Athena and it’s so heart warming.

This was a 5 ⭐️ read for the story, the audio and the author’s way of writing.

[Bean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Idk why I keep doing this to myself but there’s something about really cheesy dark romances that I enjoy😂 Literally this was so fast paced, & really bad. There is a plot but it also just wasn’t deep. There are so many trigger warnings for this one it was kind of all over the place. Joe Arden delivered in the audiobook too. I needed something to get me out of my book slump bc it has been rough this month trying to get back into it bc I have too many hobbies😭 So was this great? Not at all. Will I be reading the next one? Yes bc I need to see what the serial killer brother’s story is. 2/5

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this book….if official I'm in love with a walking red flag. It's fast paced. Well written. Spice is on point. The twists and turns had me. I couldn't put it down and in fact I may have squealed at one point with happiness and also floored with silence with some turns. Just amazing. Read it….read it now 😆

[Rhea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book definitely took me on a journey - there was some real dark and messed up parts in this book that made it even better. From the beginning I wanted to know more about Athena’s life, how Bones would treat her and if her father would be brought to justice! All these questions were answered!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chelle did it again! I’m so obsessed with her writing style. The way she makes you feel the characters, their pain, and trauma. This one definitely didn’t disappoint! The story is so sweet and (as always) the smut was on POINT!

[Amber Qizilbash · Rating 5 out of 5]

HELL YES!
Bones is EVERYTHING. My new favourite MMC written by Chelle Rose. I cannot wait for the brothers books. LOVED IT

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me everything I love: Inked men with issues, an FMC who fought every single demon she had, and a happily ever after. The spice was spicing and the passion could light a river on fire.

[stacievolpato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy moly. Obsessed. Finished it in one sitting. Couldn’t get enough of it.

[Rachel Dane · Rating 4 out of 5]

book itself? probably 4 stars. THE AUDIO 5 stars. hes unhinged we love that. we looove that. I love how he helped heal her and the relationship that grows even though hes crazy.