Engaged to the Enemy

by Lucy Smoke

In this dark, steamy rom-com perfect for fans of Brynne Weaver, a woman finds herself working alongside her best friend’s new brother-in-law―one of the most notorious mafia bosses in New York and her worst nightmare.Michelle Hanson is swearing off men forever. After her last truly disastrous date, she’s ready for a fresh start in her new job. Unfortunately, the freaking universe has other plans, because on her first day she accidently flashes her new boss… who just so happens to be one of New York’s most dangerously handsome mafia kingpins.The last time Dante Luciani saw her, Michelle was dragging a dead body into an alley. Cute, right? So when he asks her to pose as his fake fiancée for the next few months, Michelle can’t exactly say no, thanks. After all, they both know she can keep a secret. She’ll just have to get through this strictly business engagement without falling for Dante’s charms.But when your fake fiancé is a notorious mobster, "just friends" is never really an option.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication November 17, 2026

About the author

Lucy Smoke, also known as Lucinda Dark for her fantasy works, has a master’s degree in English and is a self-proclaimed creative chihuahua. She enjoys feeding her wanderlust, cover addiction, as well as her face, and truly hopes people will stop giving her bath bombs as gifts. Bath’s get cold too fast and it’s just not as wonderful as the commercials make it out to be when the tub isn’t a jacuzzi.

When she’s not on a never-ending quest to find the perfect milkshake, she lives and works in the southern United States with her beloved fur-baby, Hiro, and her family and friends.


Reviews

[RedFireLady Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this series so far, and Engaged to the Enemy is a dark rom-com that had me giggling and enjoying the story and characters.

4 ⭐️
2 🌶

-- Dear Universe,
When I said I wanted a man to rearrange my guts... I didn’t fucking mean literally.
—Sincerely, a sore bitch --

What's inside:
-Dark Rom-Com
-Marriage Averse MMC
-Fake Engagement
-Dislike to Love
-Obsessive & Possessive
-Touch Her and Die
-Fiesty Shi Tzu Pet
-Mafia
-Banter
-LOL Moments
-Dual POV
-Spice

-- If 1 + 1 = 2, then how much money do I need to buy the same amount of audacity as a man? --

I love the way Lucy Smoke writes these books, they are fun and entertaining and Engaged to the Enemyhad me devouring the story. Each chapter starts with a funny thought from the FMC or MMC and the banter and interactions in the book are a good time. This book is 4 stars for me just based off the entertainment factor and how much fun I had reading it. I have devoured both books in this series, and seriously didnt want to put this book down. Even with all the rom-com aspects, the relationship development is well done and they earn their feelings for each other - this is not an easy insta-love type book.

-- My spine touches the cool metal of the sedan, and I shiver as he comes to hover over me. One hand lands on either side of me, caging me against the cold metal. My breath catches. My heart squeezes. My pussy opens her doors and throws out the red welcome mat. Traitor. --

I am not usually one for fluffy rom-coms, but I do love this series as it still brings the drama and tension of a mafia romance with the added elements of the rom-com for levity. I enjoyed both Dante and Michelle as characters, and loved they way they grew to appreciate each other without having to totally compromise who they were as individuals.

I will absolutely continue reading this series. Its a great break from my usual dark romance and romantasy, and I just have a great time with these books.

Thank you to Forever publishing and NetGalley for this eARC. I had a great time reading it and I am looking forward to the next book!

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.

Michelle (FMC) and Dante (MMC) get their chance at love in "Engaged to the Enemy" by Lucy Smoke. I enjoyed this book about the same as I liked "Married to the Mafia." This is another riotous, hilarious dark romance that employs the fake dating and enemies-to-lovers tropes with expert precision. I love how they loathe each other at the start of the book... it only means it'll be that much sweeter when they actually fall for each other! The banter between them is top-notch, and though Dante is not such a conversationalist, he can give the sass right back as much as Michelle can. I liked watching their evolving relationship as Dante slowly realizes he is head over heels in love with the snarky, sarcastic Michelle. I think there's a bit more emotion involved in this story simply because of everything going on with Michelle's parents and their family farm. I did figure out early on where things were going at the end of the book with the summit, but that's ok! I still enjoyed the ride to get there. Again, I loved the friendship between Daisy (from the first book) and Michelle, and while you *can* read this solo, I highly recommend you read the first book to get a sense of these characters, their backstories, and their histories with one another. That said, this book is quite similar to the first installment in this series, but with changed tropes and two different characters. Some readers might find it repetitive, but I didn't; I think it does enough to differentiate itself from its predecessor. I can definitely see comparisons to Brynne Weaver's books, but maybe more of a Brynne Weaver-light? This book was a fast read; I finished it in less than a day. Good one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Lucy Smoke, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC. Unfortunately, I am not a fan and had to give up at 32%. I found the characters to be very flat and the pace of the story to be too slow moving.

[TJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this is a DNF for me at 46%, and it’s not because there’s anything wrong with the book itself. Honestly, if I had read this a few years ago, I probably would have devoured it, which is probably why I was interested in it in the first place. But once I started reading, it really hit me how much my tastes have changed. I found myself feeling like I was forcing myself to continue, and life is too short for that.

With all that said, if this book seems up your alley, I’d definitely recommend giving it a try. It just wasn’t for me anymore.

I received a digital ARC via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[LeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaged to the Enemy was a fun mafia rom-com! Michelle and Dante were a perfect match for each other. I was laughing from the start because of Michelle. All of her inner thoughts were hilarious. That and the chapter headers! Michelle was funny, and sarcastic. I love sarcastic fmc's so much. A lot of the things she said I agreed with haha. And Dante was our classic grumpy, morally gray mafia Don who acted like he had no feelings. Joke was on him because dude was head over heels for Michelle. They definitely had chemistry and the banter was good. And then when India joined, things only got better 😂. I loved Dante's reaction to her, because I would've said the same things haha. The spice was spicing. These two really get to know each other on a personal level. That rooftop scene? *Spicy*! I love how these two opened up to each other and I loved the ending because it was really sweet.

If you want a light read, love fake engagements, and morally great mafia Don's then you need to read Engaged to the Enemy!

Thank you to Lucy Smoke, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) & Netgalley for the ARC.

[thebookfixpod · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced review copy of Engaged to the Enemy by Lucy Smoke!

Engaged to the Enemy follows Michelle, who is forced into an arranged engagement with Dante, a powerful mafia heir. As the two navigate their dangerous families, power struggles, and undeniable attraction, what begins as a reluctant alliance slowly turns into something more which could have been really juicy but unfortunately fell flat.

Before I get into my thoughts, I should mention that I didn’t read the first book in the series, so I wasn’t comparing this one to anything that came before it. This was my first Lucy Smoke novel.

Overall, I thought this book was just okay. Dark romance is very hit-or-miss for me because the overly possessive alpha male trope can start to feel more comical than intimidating. After a while, the constant “she’s mine” and “no one can even look at her or else” energy just loses its impact.

Ironically, though, Dante wasn’t my biggest issue with the book…Michelle was. I understand wanting to write a strong, prideful heroine, but her stubbornness became frustrating instead of compelling. There were multiple moments where it felt excessive, and rather than rooting for her, I found myself getting more and more annoyed by her.

One thing I personally don’t enjoy in dark romance is if the main couple ever physically hurt each other. I was especially uncomfortable during the scenes where Michelle punched and bit Dante. Those moments didn’t work for me and made it harder to enjoy their relationship.

The writing itself was fine overall, but there were a few moments that completely pulled me out of the story. I actually laughed when Michelle’s internal reaction to Dante confessing that he loved her was, “that’s pretty awesome.” It just felt oddly casual for such a significant emotional moment.

It felt like Michelle fell in love with Dante simply because they slept together which I wish was different. I wanted to see a stronger emotional foundation develop between them before that shift happened. Their relationship needed more convincing moments that showed why they belonged together beyond physical attraction.

In the end, this one just wasn’t for me. I can definitely see why fans of darker mafia romance might enjoy it more than I did, but I never fully connected with either the characters or the romance.

[McKenzie Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaged to the Enemy Review 💍🔫

Thank you to Forever Publishing, Lucy Smoke, and NetGalley for this eArc!

Engaged to the Enemy was such a fun rom-com mafia romance! I was honestly surprised by how much I found myself giggling at the characters and the humor woven into their interactions.

I ended up really enjoying the progression of Michelle and Dante’s relationship. They’re constantly bickering, but there’s always this underlying layer of affection that makes their dynamic so much fun to read. Michelle is awkward in the most entertaining way, but she’s also incredibly funny in her own right. I loved that she has absolutely no problem speaking her mind when she doesn’t like something, and her little internal monologue was such a delight throughout the book.

Dante was the perfect grumpy counterpart to Michelle. He’s a grumbling mess, but his quick wit and humor perfectly match hers. The two of them compliment each other so well, especially when they’re going back and forth, and their conversations were some of my favorite parts of the book.

I also really enjoyed the mafia backdrop. I loved having the darker side of the criminal underworld happening in the background—the meetings, business deals, violence, and all of the responsibilities that come with being part of a mafia family—while the romance itself still had such a fun and lighthearted feel. The contrast between the darker elements and the rom-com chaos worked really well for me.

And I HAVE to talk about India. 😂 I absolutely loved the animal companion in this book. Watching her pop up throughout the story added such an endearing and heartwarming element. I’m a sucker for an animal that is so ugly that they’re cute, especially when they’re just as sassy and much of a little gremlin as the characters themselves. 😂

Overall, Engaged to the Enemy gave me exactly what I wanted: a fun, humorous romance with a darker mafia backdrop. It had plenty of banter and ridiculous moments while still maintaining the seriousness of the criminal world happening around the characters.

I also went into this one without reading the first book, and honestly, it made me want to go back and read the first one! I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a romance that will make you laugh while still giving you that darker mafia atmosphere.

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s something about Lucy Smoke’s writing that flows well and makes it so easy to binge read. I’m new to this author, so I hadn’t read the first book in the series, but had no problems reading this, as whatever context you need is provided as a recap or flashback. I’m actually a little glad not to have read it, because from what I can see in this one, Daisy (the protagonist in book one) is pretty annoying. I do recommend reading the trigger warnings just in case. But is it strange that based on reading them, I expected the book to be darker?

The pacing is good, establishing the premise a fifth of the way through. I love dual point of view narration, so seeing from both Michelle and Dante’s perspectives was great. That said, sometimes the writing feels heavy handed; you can feel the author’s intent in their writing. Like “let’s show how unaffected he is by a dead body by writing this scene”or “oh, show the reader that he’s already interested in Michelle” or “let’s really underline how he isn’t interested in love”. Or, in the case of Michelle, “see, her internal dialogue shows she WANTS a darker hero.” Early on, I wondered if the book would ever stop saying “men like me” (thankfully yes). And random, but why was Michelle wearing stockings with jeans? And as hyped up as the summit is (it’s what prompts the whole scheme after all), it’s over pretty quickly; one of their dates has more words devoted to it. The whole book can feel a bit thin - we don't dive deep into anything, whether it's the climactic scene or a core character trait like Dante's fear. The two leads don't communicate with each other about what they're truly feeling or their worries. Nevertheless, it's a fun read, especially with Michelle's humor.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Lucy Smoke for this ARC!

[Karolina Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay… this book was a whole mafia romance circus and I happily bought a front row ticket. This book follows Michelle and Dante and their fake engagement starts as a simple arrangement… except we all know nothing is ever simple in a mafia romance. Dante needs a fiancee, Michelle has her reasons for saying yes and suddenly these two are stuck pretending they don’t care while everyone (including me) is watching the tension build.

Michelle had me laughing because her inner thoughts were pure chaos. She’s stubborn, sarcastic and definitely had moments where I wanted to yell “girl, please think this through!” But honestly, that’s what made her fun to follow. Dante is the classic grumpy, morally gray guy who acts like he has no feelings… until Michelle starts getting under his skin. Watching him slowly soften was probably my favorite part because those little moments where he dropped the “I’m a scary Don” act were everything. The banter? SO good. The arguments, the teasing, the little moments where they tried to convince themselves this was “just business”… yeah, okay. Sure. We believed you.

I did wish we got a little more depth in certain parts, especially after their relationship shifted, because I wanted more of that emotional connection. A few things moved a little faster than I would have liked, but overall, this was a fun, quick, entertaining read. If you love fake engagements, grumpy morally gray men, mafia drama and couples who are basically one argument away from admitting they’re obsessed with each other… add this one to your list.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Lucy Smoke for allowing me to read this eARC before its release through NetGalley. Engaged to the Enemy releases on November 17, 2026.

[Likhith Suram · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one had such a fun setup. Michelle agrees to pretend to be engaged to Dante, the new head of his mafia family, so he can get through an important gathering without everyone trying to arrange his marriage. Of course, putting two people who already know how to push each other’s buttons into a fake engagement is asking for trouble 😂. I liked the mafia setting, the banter, and the whole “this is only pretend” situation when we obviously know where this is going.

But somewhere along the way, it started losing me a little. I wanted more time to actually feel Michelle and Dante falling for each other. Their chemistry was definitely there, especially earlier in the book, but their feelings seemed to move from attraction to something serious way faster than I expected. I kept thinking, wait… are we already here?? I also wanted Michelle to push back against Dante a little more because that fire between them was one of the things I enjoyed. Some of the bigger mafia moments also felt surprisingly quick, when I was expecting more tension and drama from them.

Still, this was an entertaining, spicy, easy read and I had fun with parts of it. Dante’s softer moments were probably my favorite, and I liked the friendships and family relationships around them too. I think readers who love fake engagements, possessive mafia men, lots of spice, and a romance that moves quickly will probably have a much better time with this than I did. For me, it was enjoyable while I was reading it, but I wanted a little more emotional depth to make the romance really stick with me.

[Natalee Unhinged Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think I’m still trying to process the absolute fever dream that this series is… but you know what? I’m having a ridiculously good time anyway.

This installment follows Michelle, a 24-year-old temp worker who’s trying to save her parents’ farm while chasing her big NYC dreams. Naturally, those plans get completely derailed when her best friend’s brother-in-law needs a fake fiancée to keep the other mob bosses from throwing their eligible daughters at him.

Oh… and he’s the newly appointed Don of the Luciani syndicate.

Totally normal fake dating setup, right?

Engaged to the Enemy leans much more into the mafia romance than the Butcher & Blackbird-esque vibes of the previous book, but it still delivers on the over-the-top chaos that makes this series so much fun. At this point I’ve stopped asking questions and have simply accepted that these books run entirely on vibes, questionable decision-making, and somehow making me enjoy every minute of it.

This was a solid 3.5-star read for me. The romance was fun, the banter kept me entertained, and then the author hit me with a completely out-of-pocket Gaston reference at the end. I actually laughed out loud. That joke earned the extra half star all by itself, and I refuse to elaborate.

Lucy just keeps getting better with each installment, and honestly? I’m fully invested in whatever wonderfully unhinged plot she comes up with next.

[Rachel:) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Michelle is done with men but could use some cash. Dante has no desire for a wife but needs a "fiancée" for the big mafia meeting. The can't really stand each other, but surely they can deal with each other long enough to get what they need from each other and not fall in lust/love, right?

I went into this with high hopes. I love a good mafia/dark romance, big fan of Brynne Weaver's works, and the cover really got me! I hadn't read anything by the author, but everything else looked great and the blurb was vague but sounded like a fun time; unfortunately, it did not quite meet the expectations set for it... The plot itself was fine - sufficiently entertaining but nothing really memorable. There were some inconsistencies of details in a few spots (like one scene where Michelle is in jeans one moment but in stockings a few moments later) that could be mostly overlooked but were still obvious. The larger issue for me were the main characters. At best, I though the were both fairly one dimensional, at worst, annoying. The snarky epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter ended up being my favorite parts of the book.

While a standalone, it is connected to another book by the author. It is not necessary to read the other first, but Michelle and Dante appear to have actually met for the first time in it and the couple from the first book appear quite often in Engaged to the Enemy. So if you enjoyed one, you'll likely appreciate the other. As for me, I'll be moving on from this series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author for providing an early copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

At a mafia summit held once every ten years, powerful families gather to negotiate alliances and strengthen their influence, sometimes through marriages. To help Dante Luciani avoid the political pressure of entertaining those alliances, Michelle agrees to a fake engagement after her best friend sets the plan in motion at a family dinner. As the newly appointed don of his family's syndicate, Dante views the arrangement as a practical solution that benefits them both. But keeping their relationship strictly business becomes more difficult as genuine feelings begin to develop.

This is a hate to love, dark rom-com, mafia romance, and a fake engagement at its core. While the story explores the darker side of the mafia world, it balances the tension with well-timed humor. The highlight for me was the author's clever use of wordplay in Michelle's dialogue, which consistently added some of the funniest moments in the book.

I do recommend that readers review the content and trigger warnings before picking this one up, as it contains themes that may not be suitable for all readers. This book can be read as a standalone but may contain some spoilers for Married to the Mafia if not read first.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advanced copy.

[PJ S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not one to be interested in dark romance—they're usually blurry on consent, focus too much on cruelty, and generally just unpleasant. But I'm usually good with the mafia murder stories. Engaged to the Enemy is no exception. I didn't realize how much I'd love a dark rom-com. The humor, one-liners, and cozy vibes (between murder, of course) absolutely did the trick for me.

This book was so much fun to read. I hadn't read the first book—which I'm going to rectify immediately—but the author does a phenomenal job filling in the gaps, giving the pertinent backstory, and making sure the reader it's caught up and bought in on our pre-existing characters.

Michelle, our FMC, is just the right mix of funny, a little insecure, but mostly confident and independent, with just a little, or medium, sense of adventure. Dante, MMC, was our stereotypical mobster- with-a- heart-of- gold. Somehow the trope didn't come across as too cliche, and he remained a sexy, brooding, guard-dog of a (fake) boyfriend.

Spice in this is a solid 3.5🌶️/5, with about four high quality scenes. And pleasantly all mostly vanilla (though no less hot).

I really need more humorous dark romance, and I'm begging Lucy Smoke to keep going.

Thank you to Forever/ Hatchette for this ARC.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 STARS

Engaged to the Enemy by Lucy Smoke

Okay… this book had me hooked. 👀🔥

I’m a sucker for enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and a little “I absolutely cannot stand you… so obviously I’m going to fall completely obsessed with you” energy—and this one DELIVERED.

The chemistry? 🔥🔥🔥
The tension? SO GOOD.
The banter? Had me wanting to throw my Kindle across the room more than once. 😂

I loved the push and pull between these two. They had me going from “oh, I hate him” to “okay wait… I might actually love him” way too quickly. The relationship development kept me invested, and there were definitely moments where I needed to know what the hell was going to happen next.

Was it perfect? No. There were a few things that didn’t completely work for me, and I wanted a little more depth in certain areas, which is why I’m landing at 4 stars instead of 5.

BUT… did I enjoy the hell out of it? Absolutely.

If you love enemies-to-lovers, forced/arranged relationships, tension, spice, possessive vibes, and characters who make questionable decisions while somehow making you root for them anyway, definitely add this one to your TBR.

Lucy Smoke, you definitely kept me turning those pages. 😏🔥

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC. Dante and Michelle strike a deal to pretend to be engaged as its beneficial to both of them; Dante won't get pressured at the summit by mafia families to marry and Michelle will get the money she needs to help save her parents farm. Dante and Michelle are independent, stubborn people who are constantly fighting their attraction to one another. As they spend more time together, their attraction intensifies and they act on it. Michelle doesn't realize how much Dante actually cares for her and all the things he will do to keep her safe. Both of them have to decide if they are willing to show their hearts and if this fake engagement could be real. This was a fast, fun, and easy read. I liked Michelle and Dante's banter and seeing them interact with Daisy, Giulio, Bianca, and Papa Stefano. Its always great when you get to reconnect with characters from the first book. I also loved India, the dog, Michelle adopted to Dante's disdain, as she was a delightful little terror. I would rate this 3.5 stars, but am rounding up to 4 as I enjoyed the ride. If you are looking for a popcorn mafia read filled with dark humor, a little violence, and a lot of spice, this is the perfect read for you.

[Kitsu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received.

This book started off really fun and exciting for me. I hadn't read the first book in the series but it wasn't necessary to be able to follow along with this book. They went over all the details multiple times from the first book if it mattered in the second so I didn't feel like I was missing any information. At first the book really grabbed me and I was excited about the whole mafia plot seeing as Dante was going to be the new Don. I just felt like the further along I got in the book, the more it fell flat for me. It became extremely predictable and then just felt rushed. I wanted more of how their relationship was going to advance and evolve, but instead I was given a rushed and forced scenario to make them come to terms with their "true feelings". Even the end with the wedding was completely rushed and didn't even give us the entire wedding. I ended up being more disappointed but still enjoyed the book enough and really liked Lucy's writing style. I laughed so much through reading this and the banter between Dante and Michelle was really great. I would recommend it to others, but it's nothing extraordinary for me.

Thanks to Netgalley, Forever publishing, and Lucy Smoke for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Stephanie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC read through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger Warning: Men - This had me!
Michelle’s inner monologue and the things she said were beyond amazing! She had me laughing from the get go. Even if she could be a little shy she stood her ground and didn’t let Dante run her life. She was caring, and did so much for her family.

Dante, the Alpha Wolf. I would not have been surprised if this would have been a book about werewolves. He was strong-willed and would do anything to protect what was his (real or fake).

While I loved the dynamic between Michelle and Dante I felt like their relationship was a bit rushed, or we just didn’t get enough pages of their time together to feel like they were building something strong. When I thought things were going to get really good and have this giant conflict and Dante would wreak havoc on the world, it fell a little flat.

What I Liked
*Michelle’s inner monologue.
*Michelle’s protectiveness of India (the screaming Shih Tzu)
*The banter.

What I Didn’t Like
*Felt a little rushed
*Anticlimatic

[Sue Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m always a sucker for a good mafia romance, and this one was a really entertaining read. Michelle and Dante had such a fun dynamic, especially with all the arguing, teasing, and obvious tension between them. Michelle brought a lot of personality to the story, and I loved how her humour kept things from feeling too heavy.

The mafia setting, romance, and spice worked really well together, and Dante’s protective side was definitely a highlight for me. I also enjoyed watching their relationship shift from something that was supposed to be temporary into something neither of them could really ignore. There were a few moments where the romance felt like it moved faster than I would have liked, and I would have enjoyed more time seeing their emotional connection grow.

This was a fun, easy read with plenty of banter, chemistry, humour, and mafia drama. It was a little predictable at times, but I still had a great time with it and definitely flew through the book. If you enjoy mafia romances with a lighter, more playful feel, this one is worth checking out!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[CWilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This cheeky story has a mafia-flavored fake fiancé, great banter, all kinds of sass, with solid ribbons of "wtf?" running through it. It was a really fun read. Engaged to the Enemy tells the story of the ride-or-die bff we met in the first book, Married to the Mafia. While Michelle, our FMC, is the steady to her bff Daisy's crazy, in this second installment we get to see her step out and have someone else help share the burden of keeping everyone on the rails. Dante, our MMC, tries to emotionally stay away from his fake fiancé with concerns about bringing anyone he cares about into the dangerous place of a crime boss spouse. He proposes being friends with benefits during their contracted fake engagement with the thought that it will give them an outlet for their incredible chemistry until they part ways. But, we all know how that goes, and he can't resist her selflessness, grit, and determination, even with Michelle's demonic dog tearing up his house.

All-in-all this was another super fun read from Lucy Smoke.

[Nikki Church · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Lucy Smoke, Net Galley, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was going to be my first Lucy Smoke read but I started it and noticed this might be related to another book so I looked it up and sure enough, there is a book that is first in the timeline. I stopped reading Engaged to the Enemy and quickly caught up by reading Daisy and Guilio's story first. It can be read as a standalone though.

Michelle is a fierce, strong, independent woman trying to make it in New York. Dante is the first born recently named Don Luciani. The two became acquainted when Michelle and her bestie Daisy found themselves in a precarious situation in Married to the Mafia. Michelle has terrible dates, Dante doesn't want a relationship although his dad just wants him settled and happy. Dante blackmails Michelle into a fake engagement. You can probably see where this is headed...they move in together.

I thought the storyline was fitting for a rom com. He is your typical possessive mafia man and she tries to resist her attraction. I enjoyed their banter, especially Dante's thoughts about the dog Michelle rescues

[Morgan Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy!
While I expected this book to be a little bit more on the darker side, I still really enjoyed it. It was definitely a good distraction while getting my shin tattooed.
This is the first book I have read by Lucy Smoke. I didn’t realize that there was a prior book to this, but it was easy to follow and still really enjoyable. I didn’t feel like I was missing any major details by reading this book first. I would definitely recommend it to my friends.
This was my first mafia romance book. Which had my attention from the beginning. The banter between the characters had me giggling to myself at quite a few points in this book. The relationships between the characters were great. While I loved Michelle and Dante, I also loved the friendship between Michelle and her bff Daisy.
Like I said in the beginning, though, I do wish this book was a little bit darker. I also wish we could have seen Michelle and Dante's relationship after they realized they fell for each other.
Overall, I still really enjoyed this book and am super grateful for the advanced reader copy.

Happy reading ❤️ Release date Nov 17, 26

[Christine I. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, fast, and undeniably sexy read. Michelle’s sassy attitude and sharp inner monologue kept me laughing, and the chapter headings were absolutely hilarious—they set the vibe and delivered every time.

Although the Mafia backdrop adds some intrigue, the heart of the story is the playful chaos between Michelle and Dante as they wrestle with their insecurities and fail spectacularly at keeping their fake engagement fake. Daisy, Michelle’s best friend, is the life of the party and expertly stirs the pot, adding even more spark to their banter.

Be sure to check the trigger warnings if certain themes might hit close to home. For me, the Mafia elements stayed firmly in “romance fantasy” territory rather than anything grounded in real-world grit.

Overall, this was a 3.5/5 stars. Engaged to the Enemy delivers exactly what it promises—a lively, entertaining romance romp—but it doesn’t aim for realism.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and the author for the advance reader’s copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Mackenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, this was a good palette cleanser! Overall, I found it to be a simple, mindless read. The prose was a bit juvenile for my taste, but I picked this book up wanting a spicy, silly, quick read and it gave me exactly that. Fans of the genre (dark romance, mafia romance, etc.) will probably really enjoy this, while people like me who are more "mafia romance when I'm in the mood" will likely have a good time but will also finish with nothing to rave about.

All in all, this standalone, dark romance gave me exactly what I wanted. Compared to other dark romance novels I've read (The Ruinous Love Trilogy, Brutal Birthright series) I actually thought this was a bit lighter/not as violent! So, if you are someone wanting to get into the genre but feel intimidated by the dark nature of these stories, I actually like this would be a great book to start out with. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Expected publication is 11/17/2026.

[Hannah Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank Lucy Smoke for giving me the opportunity to review this book. This is my first approved NetGalley read!

I’ll start by saying that this book had me laughing so hard with all the sass and wit between Dante and Michelle. My favorite part was when Michelle found her dog and Dante asked what mix she was. Michelle said she was a "Shih Tzu mix and that she used to be owned by royalty." Dante responded, “Good, we can ship her back.” 😂 I had the absolute best laugh at this! That type of banter is sprinkled throughout the entire book.

I really enjoyed the lesson that love can come with loss, but it’s better to experience love and loss than to never experience love at all. Michelle has spent her life feeling unworthy of love from men, while Dante is afraid of experiencing loss.

I enjoyed watching both characters develop and work through their individual struggles as they found their way toward each other. Their banter, character development, and the emotional themes made this a really enjoyable read!

[BookNerdMichele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michelle is a small town girl living in. New York with her recently married BFF. Michelle’s best friend has married into the Mafia and she is truly happy for her friend. Michelle has moved to a run down apartment and is trying to make a life for herself in NYC.
This book hooked me for a couple of reasons. First Michelle is not a 20 year old FMC who weighs 120lbs. Second the MMC is hot, he can pick Michelle up and make her feel beautiful.
One of my favorite tropes. Fake Marriage. Michelle agrees to be Dante’s fake fiancé, so he won’t have to marry a bride from another mafia family.
Michelle is looking for love, Dante doesn’t want to ever get married.
I enjoyed the banter, found family, touch her and die vibes, the spice! There are twists and turns that will have you wondering how this will play out. There are scenes that will make you laugh and kick your feet.
Absolutely one of my favorite reads this year!!
Great read for those that like a good Mafia romance.

I received this as an ARC read. Thank you to NetGalley and forever, Grand Central publishing and Lucy smoked for allowing me to read this as an arc read.

[Larissa Benfey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to seeing these two get their own loathing-to-lovers/fake engagement story after their dynamic in the first book, but unfortunately, this one didn’t quite live up to the promise for me.

There were definitely fun moments, and I still enjoyed getting to spend time in this world, but the overall execution felt a little lacklustre. The romance didn’t have quite the spark I was hoping for, and some of the gender dynamics rubbed me the wrong way.

And then the third act leaned into a plot device that felt particularly clichéd and, honestly, a little too predictable for me. I kept waiting for things to pick up, but by that point, I wasn't quite invested enough for the payoff to fully land.

Not a bad read by any means, and there were still moments of the ridiculous, entertaining fun I enjoyed in the first book, but this one was definitely more of a miss for me.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Lexie · Rating 2 out of 5]

First big thank you to NetGalley & Forever Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Now on to the bad news I gotta admit I was really disappointed by this one. I really enjoyed the first book in this series so I was expecting the same in the sequel. Sadly Dante & Michelle just didn’t live up to those expectations.

Their fake engagement usually would be a go to trope for me. But the pair lacked tension and never felt like a good match. I kept waiting for their forced proximity to develop that bond, but instead we are just given meaningless sex. As individuals I just didn’t mesh with them either. Michelles impulsiveness is supposed to come across as cute and charming but instead I found it childish and annoying. Then Dante’s over protectiveness is way too repetitive. Which is weird to say cause I love a protective alpha male. But when he expressed it towards Michelle it just never felt right.

Overall, this isn’t my favorite Lucy Smoke book. But I’d still recommend the series as a whole.

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michelle Hanson has had it with men and dating in New York City. After one disappointment after another, she knows she needs to focus her energy on helping her parents save the family farm. She’s looking forward go starting a new job - until she mistakenly flashes her new boss - mafia head Dante Luciani. Dante has enough going on in his world without complicating life by getting married and attached to someone. But when the idea comes u for Michelle to pose as Dante’s fiancee to ward of family obligations, both are in for a wild ride.

***Dual POV
***Fake engagement
***Mafia romance
***Possessive MMC - Touch her and literally die
***🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This was a fun and fast paced, dark mafia romance. I appreciated how the FMC was feisty and had a backbone to the MMC. Our MMC was ultra possessive and tbh, it was hot.
I do wish there was more time given when the relationship shifted - the sensitive side of the MMC was the best part!

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel ; all opinions expressed are my own.

[Mary Gosse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and entertaining book! I read the previous book (Married to the Mafia), which had overlapping characters, but this could also be read as a stand-alone. I loved the stubbornness and independence of both Michelle and Dante, and how Michelle wasn’t afraid of Dante (even though he was a mafia boss that everyone else was terrified of). I also loved that Daisy and Guilio (plus other mafia/family members) were part of this book, and really supported Michelle and Dante, and helped them work out their relationship issues. I appreciated the dual POV chapters, and thought the mini quotes starting off each chapter were spot-on. The plot was fresh and exciting, the dialogue smooth and realistic (and full of hilarious banter!), and I’d love to read the next book in the series if there is one!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advanced copy - this is my honest and voluntary review.