Cruel Desire

by Lena Vox

FINNI’ve wanted her since the first time she looked at me like I was the enemy.

She’s a Rosso. Italian. Untouchable.

And I’m the son of the man her family is trying to destroy.

Wanting Gianna is reckless. Keeping her would mean war. Touching her could get us both killed.

But she walked into my world with fire in her eyes and defiance in her smile… and I haven’t been able to look away since.

They think this is about territory. Power. Control.

They’re wrong.

It’s about her.

And I’ll burn every alliance, every oath, every bridge between our families if it means she’s mine.



GIANNAI was raised to hate him.

Finn Costello. Irish heir. Enemy blood. Danger wrapped in charm and arrogance.

He represents everything my brother has fought to protect us from.

So why does my pulse race every time he’s near?

Why does he look at me like I’m not a pawn… but a choice?

Falling for him would be betrayal. To my family. To my name. To the legacy written in blood.

But when he touches me, the war outside disappears.

And for the first time in my life, I don’t want to be the good daughter.

I want to be reckless.

Even if loving him starts a war neither of us can survive.

Perfect for fans ✓ Star-Crossed Lovers ✓ Spy Romance ✓ Secret Relationships ✓ Divided Loyalties

Genres: Dark Romance

293 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2026

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that was just released on May 7th called, Cruel Desire. This is about Gianna, she met Finn in college when they were just two people who disconnected from the outside world and their families and only saw each other, they connected and fell for each other. But now they're back to reality and their families are enemies. Gianna is Italian and Finn is Irish, and their families have been trying to destroy each other for generations. Gianna gets caught sneaking out to see Finn and her brother decided to use it as an opportunity to get the upper hand. The plan is to pretend her family disowned her and show up at Finn's family's home with nowhere else to go. Sending her into the lions den to be a mole on the inside. But can she keep up this act, deceiving the man she loves, for the family who seems to care more about destroying the Irish than they care about her safety?
I really enjoyed this mafia romance! I really wish I would've known this was book 5 in the series though before reading it. There was nothing on Goodreads or when I applied and then received the arc saying that this was book 5. I really enjoyed this and I totally would've read the books before this if I had known this was part of a series. I really liked the plot of this story, I love mafia romances and this was a good one between the Italians and the Irish. I thought the character growth and the love story of Finn and Gianna was really well done. This was a fun and entertaining read! ❤️📚

Thank you to the author and Literally Yours PR for this ARC of Cruel Desire, in exchange for an honest review.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

When everything and everyone around you tells you, you can’t be with the one person who you can’t live without… what do you do?

Throughout Cruel Desire we see Gianna really step into her own. She goes from a timid mafia princess, who resents her brother and Mafia don brother, Vito.. to a headstrong matured young woman who will walk through fire for the ones she cares about.

Finn knows one thing. Gianna is his and will always be his. So when she shows up unannounced in enemy territory, putting her life at risk, he stops at nothing to protect her. Even if it means going up against his brother!

Secrets, lies and desire all collide, will they be able to come out of the other side stronger? Or will a betrayal cost them to crash and burn?

This is the first book of The Rosso Mafia series I’ve read, and even though they can be read as standalones, I did feel as though I was missing some parts from previous books.

What I loved about this story was how once Finn & Gianna stepped out of their own way, they really chose each other and found a way. I loved the ending, and what’s to come too!

Thank you to Literally Yours PR & Lena Vox for this ARC opportunity!

Happy Reading
😊🩸🇮🇹

[Akku · Rating 5 out of 5]

• 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 5✨

• 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - May 7, 2026

• 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
- dark mafia romance
- forbidden romance
- spy x spy
- enemies to lovers
- secret relationship
- forced proximity
- touch her & die
- family rivalry

• 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 -
Cruel Desire follows Gianna Rosso and Finn Costello, two people tied to enemy mafia families who were never meant to be together. What begins with secrecy, danger, and hidden feelings turns into a powerful story of love, betrayal, loyalty, and survival.
This book had me obsessed from the start. The chemistry between Finn and Gianna was intense, emotional, and so addictive. Every scene between them carried tension, passion, and feelings that felt impossible to ignore.
Gianna was honestly one of the best fierce FMCs I’ve read. She was strong, bold, and never easy to break even when her whole world was falling apart. I loved how she fought for herself while carrying so much pain and pressure. She felt real, layered, and powerful.
Finn was everything I wanted in a mafia MMC. Protective, possessive, loyal, and completely gone for Gianna. His softer side with her made me love him even more.
The family drama, betrayals, and dangerous mafia politics kept the story gripping till the end. The emotional moments were written so well, and the romance felt raw and consuming. I really adore her brother Vito who is also a don himself 🙈
This was the kind of book that gave me tension, heartbreak, obsession, and love all together. One of my favorite mafia romances for sure.
Thank you literally yours for the ARC!

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

4.5 stars
Cruel Desire was a nice read that gave me exactly what I want in a mafia romance: tension, danger, and that forbidden pull. Finn and Gianna shouldn’t have been together… yet their chemistry made every scene feel charged, and their connection felt intense but also emotional, not just physical. The whole enemies-to-lovers / family rivalry / secret relationship dynamic is so compelling. When her family found out about them, she was left with one option: spy on Finn’s family… and Finn still kept defending her. He stood for her, against everybody. Gianna’s character development really stood out to me: she grows into someone bold and willing to fight for what she wants. She never thought she’d find peace in the middle of chaos. Finn is protective, obsessed, a little unhinged when it comes to her… exactly my type of MMC. They didn’t have it easy, caught between expectations, loyalty, blood ties, and constant threats... They were on opposite sides, but they chose each other anyway. They stayed, despite everything, despite the doubt… and they survived it all. The suspense and constant sense of danger kept me hooked, though some parts felt a bit rushed. Still, it’s a gripping, emotional read with obsession, loyalty, betrayal and just enough chaos to keep things exciting. (ARC in exchange for honest review)

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in this phenomenal series, and this is Finn and Gianna’s story.
Finn is an Irish mafia heir, and Gianna is a Rosso and Italian, and their families are rivals. When Gianna steps into enemy territory, Finn will do whatever he must to keep her safe and protected, even if it means going against his own family.
This is a well written easy to read story, with family, friendships, emotions, rivals, tension, challenges, alliances, secrets, forced proximity, rivals / lovers, forbidden romance, making choices, survival, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, dark mafia romance.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this mafia romance by Ms. Vox!
I've only missed one from the series and will definitely catch up!

Finn and Gianna were wonderfully done characters!
Gianna's growth was wonderful to see.
I adored Finn's protectiveness and possessiveness! YUM!

Rival families...so, there can't be a Finn and Gianna, right?
Well, let Ms. Vox take you on this ride.

Emotional. High tension. Chemistry. Steam!
Everything I love in this trope!

So, so good!

[Reading is escaping reality · Rating 5 out of 5]

He gives protection to a who next level! Putting his life on the line to ensure her safety. She holds a secret that would tear apart the world they know. But the love that they have for each other will be unmatched! This was phenomenal and I can’t wait for what’s to come next!

[Lisa reads alot Hamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lena Vox is quite a new author to me but my goodness her books are great. If you love a morally grey MMC, lots of danger but also hot and steamy then you need to start this series.

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

[valley_girl_36 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a good mafia romance. This read had all the elements I look for in a mafia romance, suspense, danger forbidden love. I did like the characters growth in the story. Thumbs up !

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I think this is my favourite of the series. I liked how the FMC comes into her own. I also really liked them as a couple. Eager for the next series.