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When I Accidentally Kidnapped the Mafia Boss

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He's the head of the Irish mafia. She's a wallflower florist with a dark romance obsession.
This will end well, right?

When sweet florist Lexie Carter saves an injured stranger from an alley, she never imagined it would be Liam Donovan, the most dangerous man in the city. Her panic turns into an accidental kidnapping situation, complete with handcuffs.

Instead of fighting it, Liam falls hard and fast, refusing to leave when she wants him gone.

But the head of the Irish Mafia is no freeloader. One day together, and he’s already cooking her dinner, cleaning her apartment, and bending her over the table to spank her with her own mafia romance novel—while critiquing the inaccuracies.

Liam owes her a life-debt, and he intends to repay it. But when his dangerous world starts to close in, Liam will stop at nothing to protect her, even if it means dismantling his entire empire.

And Lexie? She’s no damsel in distress.

When I Accidentally Kidnapped the Mafia Boss is a fast-paced, short and sweet mafia romance where HE is the virgin and she’s a flustered florist—filled with all the dark romance girly tropes and a healthy mix of cuteness, comedy, and spicy chaos.

236 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2026

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Emily Shore

13 books78 followers

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5 stars
159 (43%)
4 stars
117 (32%)
3 stars
62 (16%)
2 stars
20 (5%)
1 star
7 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
Profile Image for Sim-fully Ever After.
602 reviews67 followers
May 5, 2026
4🌟, 3🌶️

This ended up being such an unexpectedly fun read.

I went in thinking it would be darker, but it leans more playful and chaotic, which honestly worked really well for me.

The whole accidental kidnapping setup is ridiculous in the best way, and the story knows it. I loved how bookish and self aware it felt, with all the little nods to romance tropes. Lexie was easy to root for, especially if you are more on the quiet, overthinking side, and Liam had this softer, almost devoted energy that balanced out his mafia background. It is definitely a fast burn, but the chemistry and humour kept me hooked even when things moved quickly.

It is not super heavy on the mafia side, so do not go in expecting something intense or gritty. This feels more like a light, spicy romcom with a dark edge. A couple of elements did not fully land for me, but overall I had a really good time with it.

A lovely read that I would recommend when you want something quick, fun, and a little different.

~~~~

Huge thank you to Emily Shore for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
Profile Image for Toni.
51 reviews2 followers
June 12, 2026

When I Accidentally Kidnapped the Mafia Boss is pure, sweet, touch her and die chaos. I wasn’t exactly expecting an almost cozy romcom, but that’s what I got and I’m really not mad about it. While it wasn’t the best thing I’ve ever read, I was certainly entertained.

Lexie is a grieving florist who patches up a beaten-up, surprisingly virginal, mafia kingpin named Liam, and this man just... refuses to leave her apartment. 😂 Instead, he stays, upends her life, and helps her speed run through all her favorite romance tropes.

Watching a supposed to be terrifying mafia boss melt for a wallflower all while trying not to give up his flower was cute enough, but Lexie's Nana absolutely stole the show. She’s a "retired" undercover FBI agent who clearly doesn't know what retirement means, and I am currently looking into adoption options so she can be my grandma too.

If you want dark and toxic, keep walking. But if you want a quick, slightly grey romcom where the good guys get everything they never knew they needed and the bad guys get exactly what they deserve, pick this up!
Profile Image for Alaina Kay.
178 reviews5 followers
May 25, 2026
Omfg I had so much fun reading this one!! Liam is that man. AND A VIRGIN MMC?? My favvvvv. They were so cute and DIRTY good lordy. I have so many great 1 liners saved 😅
Profile Image for Kaytlyn.
17 reviews
May 21, 2026
Almost DNF

The only positive thing I can say is that this book was a quick and easy read. It was kind of cute sometimes but mostly extremely cheesy and cringy. The FMC referenced book tropes in almost every single chapter and the MMC kept referring to himself as a “morally grey book boyfriend”. After knowing each other for 2 days the FMC said she trusted the MMC enough to not need a safe word. It was all pretty terrible and the only way I’d recommend this book to someone is if they were trying to reach a reading goal since it’s so short and an easy read. I almost DNF but I kept hoping it would get better. Unfortunately, it did not.
Profile Image for Aly.
80 reviews1 follower
May 8, 2026
“I know villains, Darlin’. I break bread with ‘em, and I bury ‘em. You’re the furthest thing. You’re the absolution I don’t deserve. And he could never know how to handle a girl who has more heart than he has soul. So let me be the villain who will love your light and burn the world to keep you safe.”

Honestly if I saw that quote on an add I’d add the book to my tbr so fast! This book was unexpected but still great. I went in thinking this was going to be a DARK or at least GREY romance. It was definitely grey but more light grey than dark. It was like if a morally grey romance and a cozy romance had a baby. The book had comments about different book tropes, which I loved. Reading this book made me feel like I was reading a romance book while watching it on tv. It’s not too dark and it doesn’t drag on.

This is seriously my new cozy read. If the quote above didn’t sell you, then read it again.
Profile Image for KJ.
5 reviews
April 28, 2026
Received an advanced copy from author

This book is exactly the kind of chaotic, banter-heavy romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously—in the best way possible. The dialogue is sharp and ridiculous in a “did they really just say that?” way, and the chemistry leans fully into the absurd premise without losing charm. Would absolutely recommend if you want something light, funny, and just a little unhinged.
Profile Image for Catie Fickin.
92 reviews
August 5, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received this book as a gift, and the premise immediately caught my attention—it sounded like such a fun, unique idea.

Overall, it was a decent read, but it didn't quite live up to the potential of the plot for me. There were definitely enjoyable moments, but parts of the story dragged, and I felt like the concept could have been executed a little better.

It wasn't a bad book by any means, just one that didn't fully click with me. I'm still glad I gave it a read!
Profile Image for The Bou.
380 reviews32 followers
May 23, 2026
Sweet mafia romance
Not really dark
No real plot
Lot of spice (too much maybe?)

✅age gap H37/h28
✅she rescued him
✅Irish mafia
✅virgin MMC
✅kidnapped by the villain
✅Dom/sub
✅belt punishment 🙄
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I really enjoyed the first part of the book. The whole kidnapping and inner monologues were fun… and then the story took a turn into spice land!

The MMC was not enough OTT for my liking.
He flirted with Lexie’s best friend (said she looked like a queen 😒) and other sales assistants. He even shared detail of his private life with River 😟
Why would you tell another woman this kind of stuff??
River was not a good friend. She was always belittling Lexie.
Liam being a virgin came as a surprise especially after rubbing in our faces his past conquests 🤔 One of his “ex” measured his 🍆 He even told Lexie he has seen a lot of 🍑🍑 and received several BJ… so half a virgin I would say.

Not sure how I would take if my virgin man was not f*** me and waiting for months before doing the did but, belting my 🍑 every day… Priorities I guess.

The last 1h30 into the book were pointless.
Profile Image for Amber 🖤📚.
45 reviews
May 18, 2026
If you are looking for a quick, spicy and hilarious romantic comedy with a dark twist, When I Accidentally Kidnapped the Mafia Boss by Emily Shore delivers a fun, whirlwind ride. It’s a classic case of opposites attract. Elexia is a woman who finds humor in the everyday darkness, while Liam is the darkness.

From the very first page, the contrast between them sets up a highly entertaining dynamic. By Chapter 3, I was completely hooked by Shore’s smooth, thoughtful writing style. It sucks you in immediately without feeling overdone. As someone who has to fit reading into small pockets of free time, I absolutely loved the short chapters. It made it incredibly easy to find a stopping point without having to pause mid-scene. Plus, the book itself isn’t overly massive, making it a quick, manageable read. Right off the bat, I appreciated that Shore included a pronunciation guide for Elexia’s name. It’s such a simple touch, but with so many unique names in romance novels, it felt like a huge, thoughtful bonus.

The comedy in this book is elite. The insults in Chapter 9 were top-tier, and the nonchalant dialogue had me rolling. (When Elexia casually drops, "I picked him up in an alley." I lost it). There is a hilarious scene where Liam tries to "punish" her using a dark mafia romance book, and Elexia is entirely focused on him ruining the spine of the book! The chemistry is undeniable, and the library scene at the Gala was absolute fire. There is plenty of explicit, detailed spice to satisfy romance fans.

Without spoiling too much, the detail about Elexia unknowingly making her own wedding flowers without realizing it was beautiful. It made the story feel like it came perfectly full circle.

While the book was a lot of fun, it did suffer from some pacing and developmental issues that kept it from being a five-star read. This is a true whirlwind romance where everything happens incredibly fast. I felt like their very first interaction came and went too quickly. Elexia goes from being so terrified that she drugs Liam to straight-up begging him to be with her and I wanted to see more resistance from her. Ultimately, it felt a bit too much like a "meet, screw around, fall in love" situation, and I wish the story had slowed down to give their emotional connection more substance.

Ironically, while the romance moved at lightning speed, some of the individual scenes felt a bit drawn out and became a little hard to get through. There are also definitely some cheesy parts. While most of it is cheesy "in the best way possible," the flirting and teasing in front of Nana felt genuinely awkward. Additionally, Elexia's friend River, while supportive, came across as a "little much" at times. There are some twists at the tail end of the book, but the relationship escalates so rapidly that I wasn't entirely crazy about how everything wrapped up.

Overall, the book is a good, short and spicy read. It has some cheesy moments and some pacing issues where I wished for more "in-between" plot development, but the humor and heat make it well worth the ride. It is perfect for a quick weekend escape!
Profile Image for Vicky.
134 reviews9 followers
May 6, 2026
I’ve been trying to figure out how I feel about this book, and I’ve landed on a four-star rating. I think this might be a classic case of me not being the target audience. The story was decent enough and it’s a very easy, uncomplicated read, but a few things stopped me from really loving it.

Part of my confusion came from how it was pitched. It’s marketed as a mafia romcom, but it felt like it lacked any real mafia vibes. At the same time, it didn’t quite hit the mark on the comedy side for me either, so it ended up sitting in an awkward middle ground. Because it didn’t fully commit to being a dark thriller or a laugh-out-loud romance, I found it hard to get invested in what was happening.

The main sticking point for me, though, was the MMC. He’s supposed to be Irish, but the dialogue felt like it had been written by someone who used Google instead of speaking to someone who is Irish. Having lived there for years, it was really jarring to read phrases like "top of the morning to ye". I don’t think I’ve ever heard a real person say that in my life. The constant "luv" and "darlin" felt just as forced, and every time he spoke it took me right out of the story. It’s difficult to swoon over a character when their voice feels like a stereotype.

I also found the constant book talk a bit much. I usually love a relatable FMC who reads romance, but here she was constantly referencing tropes and comparing the hero to book boyfriends. It felt like the book was constantly breaking the fourth wall, which just reminded me that I was reading a story. It’s hard to feel any real emotional spark or tension when you’re being hit over the head with the mechanics of the genre every few pages. It was a perfectly fine way to spend a few hours, but those little frustrations meant I never quite felt the heart of the story.
Profile Image for Natasha.
192 reviews4 followers
May 6, 2026
When I Accidentally Kidnapped the Mafia Boss was chaotic, hilarious, spicy fun from start to finish. This book knows exactly what it is: a mafia romcom that lovingly pokes fun at the genre while still delivering tension, possessiveness, and chemistry that absolutely works.

Lexie is a soft, bookish florist who accidentally handcuffs and “kidnaps” an injured stranger… who just so happens to be Liam Donovan, the head of the Irish mafia. And instead of escaping? This man basically moves in, cooks her dinner, cleans her apartment, protects her from danger, and then proceeds to critique romance novels while making her fantasies come true.

The entire dynamic between them had me laughing out loud. Liam is such a contradiction in the best way: dangerous, dominant, obsessive… but also deeply domestic and completely gone for Lexie almost immediately. And yes, even though he’s technically a virgin, trust me when I say that does not stop him from getting things done in the bedroom.

Lexie and Liam’s chemistry was playful, unhinged, and ridiculously entertaining. I loved how self-aware the story was, especially with the little nods to common romance tropes. The humor never took away from the attraction or emotional connection, though. Underneath all the chaos and spice, there’s a genuinely sweet romance between two people who just fit together.

The pacing is quick, but it works perfectly for this kind of story. It’s short, bingeable, spicy, and full of personality. If you’re a dark romance reader who occasionally wants something lighter and funnier without losing the possessive mafia man energy, this is such a good time.

Come for the accidental kidnapping. Stay for the terrifying mafia boss who cooks, cleans, spanks responsibly, and falls first.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Valerie.
14 reviews
May 8, 2026
**I received an ARC copy of this book and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.**

The title pretty much tells you what you’re getting with this one, and honestly, it delivers exactly that vibe.

Lexie (Elexia) finds a man badly beaten in an alley after her car breaks down nearby. After waiting for the attackers to leave, she helps him into her car and takes him home, and things spiral from there. (I’ll skip details to avoid spoilers, but the “kidnapping” part isn’t quite what you’d expect at first).

I really enjoyed Lexie and Liam together. Their chemistry worked well, and I loved Lexie’s sass. Liam’s Irish brogue was also a big highlight for me (yummmm!). Lexie’s grandmother is another standout; she plays an interesting role and brings a lot of personality to the story.

Overall, this was a spicy, fun read with a cozy feel for most of it. My only struggle was the tonal shift near the end. It goes from light, fluffy romance to a much darker turn pretty quickly, and it felt a bit jarring compared to how Liam was initially portrayed. I know this was intended; it was just unexpected!

There are a few trigger warnings to be aware of, but as the author notes, this is meant to be more of a fun, slightly chaotic palate cleanser...and, it works!

I enjoyed the storyline, and the twist at the end caught me off guard in a good way. I also appreciated seeing a virgin MMC, especially one older, which felt refreshing and less common in this genre.

Overall, this was an easy, spicy, entertaining read, and I look forward to reading more from Emily Shore! I'll definitely be checking out her darker reads.
Profile Image for Kat Jowett.
147 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 30, 2026
I really enjoyed this, Emily has managed to write a book that's both serious and hilarious. I found that the FMC relatable she's been stuck in her shell for years she's surrounded by big personalities, but she's a bit of a wallflower, she's a good person who's been let down and hurt before and sank into books instead of real relationships, so when she finds a man being beaten, she helps him when she offers to take him to the hospital he tells her no, quite firmly with a weapon to emphasise how much he doesn't want to go, she still takes him home, puts those nursing skills she had to sacrifice to good use, all while handcuffing him and talking about how bad a idea it was. She's caring she can't help herself.

Liam is a mafia boss who does bad things but is trying to right the wrongs of his fathers legacy he's slowly cutting out the rot in his organisation, but people don't like it so when he gets rescued by the nice florist, he falls for her pretty quickly, let's say he likes to keep his accidental kidnapper happy, even when she drugs him, he wakes up and makes her breakfast in her pink apron... he also puts her mafia romance books to good use 😉

This is a fast burn romance, Liam and Emily click instantly and things expand quickly from there, he's everything she wants, he's her literal walking talking book boyfriend and she's everything he needs, kind, caring, loving, strong, patient and submissive.

Some moments in this had my laughing, some had me shouting and it was 100% worth the read
Profile Image for Madeline Goldsworthy.
168 reviews10 followers
May 4, 2026


When I accidentally kidnapped the mafia boss
Emily Shore
5 stars

Format: ebook
Genre: mafia rom com

“You’re already mine, Lexie. Ye have been since the day you found me in the alley and chose to save a monster who didn’t deserve ye.”

Liam is the head of the Irish mafia. Lexie is a wallflower florist with an obsession for dark romance. When sweet Lexie finds and saves an injured stranger in the alley, she never could have imagined it would be Liam Donovan, the most dangerous man in the city. Her panic turns the situation into an accidental kidnapping complete with handcuffs and zip ties. Instead of fighting, Liam falls hard and fast and decides to stay where Lexie would prefer he left. Liam Donovan is a man who earns his keep however and one day Lexie comes home to find him cooking dinner and have cleaned the house, then bends her over the table and spanks her with a mafia book whilst critiquing the inaccuracies. Liam owes Lexie a life-debt and he fully intends on repaying it. But when his dangerous world starts to close in, Liam will stop at nothing to protect Lexie, even if it means dismantling his entire empire. But Lexie is no damsel in distress.

This was a fast paced and enjoyable read. It is a mafia rom com with dark elements sprinkled throughout. I enjoyed the writing style and the characters were good too. The pacing was great. What I loved about the story was that it was very bookish so it had conversations about tropes and books.

I would recommend to a friend and read again.
Profile Image for Jennifer English.
216 reviews5 followers
May 5, 2026
So I randomly came across a post by an author looking for ARC readers and it sounded like such a cute, fun read, I said what the hey and signed up for it. I luckily got chosen and dived right in.

The story overall is on the lighter side, especially when you stop to think that it's a Mafia Boss romance. We really didnt get to hear too much about the mafia side of it, other than little bits here and there until the big, ugly reveal scene towards the end. Not that its ugly, but what goes down is on the ugly side for our sweet Lexie.

Lexie is super sweet with a bit of a steel spine but I feel like the whole lite Dom/sub thing came out of left field and I'm just not sure if it was the dialogue or what, but it felt like it didn't really fit her. And honestly, that's really what kept this from being a 5 star review for me.

As for Liam, he was actually way nicer than I would have anticipated, but probably because he got knocked around a bit in the beginning and then saw an angel save him and decided she was his. lol I absolutely loved how he leaned in 100% to her "kidnapping" him and then staying "kidnapped" until it no longer satisfied his wants. 😏

The story wrapped up nicely, giving us the HEA that all of us romance junkies are looking for. It was definitely a good palette cleanser after finishing a darker Mafia read.
Profile Image for Alex Barker.
108 reviews1 follower
May 5, 2026
This book was such a fun, light read that still managed to keep a bit of that darker edge. The banter between the characters was easily one of the best parts-sharp, hilarious, and constant enough to keep me smiling the entire time.
One of my favorite elements (as a fellow bookworm) was how the story pokes fun at mafia romance tropes. The male lead calling out inaccuracies in mafia books-and basically roasting them—was such a refreshing twist. It added a layer of humor that made the story feel self-aware in the best way. Just because the female lead enjoys those books doesn't mean she blindly believes them, and that dynamic made their interactions even better.
I also loved how the story actively highlights the tropes as they happen. It almost feels like the author is winking at the reader, saying, "Yep... you've read this one before too." It's clever without being overdone and adds a unique charm to the whole experience.
Overall, this is a perfect palate cleanser if you usually read heavier or darker romance. It still has those darker themes, but it's balanced with humor, lightness, and just enough action to keep things interesting. A quick, entertaining read that will definitely make you laugh and smile.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2026
I was blessed with an Advanced Copy of this book, and I enjoyed it so much! Feet were kicking, blushes were had, and just all around a great experience.

It is Morally grey Irish Mafia MMC (who is also a virgin!) meets Elexia Carter who is a very shy and introverted book girlie and florist, until you see (hear about) her book collection 😍 and HE falls hard and fast (and first) for his little Mo Róisín.
They are the cutest little morally grey meets sweet cute cupcake couple ever.

The scenes in this book are a book lovers dream! The banter between them, the way little miss sweet and innocent would just catch him off guard time after time, just loved it!! Elexia lets her guard down enough to enjoy herself just a little after going through the pits with an ex, with the support of her Nanna and Best friend to keep her grounded and empowered.

There is talk of historical DV, SA and threat of SA, and well, it’s a Mafia book, there’s going to be blood. If that’s not for you, that’s ok. This book will not be for everyone, I know this, and this is technically my first read of any of Emily’s work for me, and I throughly enjoyed being apart of Liam & Lexie’s story.

I can’t wait to read more of her work.
Thank you Emily Shore for allowing me to be apart of this for you! 🫶🏻✨
Profile Image for Destiny Wilson.
97 reviews5 followers
May 5, 2026
Chaotic. Playful. Spicy.

This book was such a fun twist on the usual mafia dynamic, and I loved how it didn’t take itself too seriously while still delivering on the tension and spice. Lexie being a soft, bookish florist who accidentally ends up handcuffing a literal mafia boss is chaotic in the best way, and her reactions felt so genuine and relatable. Liam, on the other hand, was a whole contradiction—dangerous and powerful, yet weirdly domestic and devoted almost immediately. Their chemistry had this playful, unhinged edge that made every interaction entertaining, especially with the way the story pokes fun at classic mafia romance tropes.

What stood out to me most was how the story balanced humor with those darker undertones without losing its identity. Liam’s intensity and protectiveness never fully overshadowed the lighthearted vibe, and Lexie held her own in a way that kept things from feeling one-sided. The pacing was quick, but it worked for the kind of story this is—short, spicy, and full of personality. It’s definitely one of those reads you go into for the chaos and stay for the dynamic, slightly ridiculous romance that somehow still hits.
Profile Image for Leisel.
783 reviews4 followers
May 10, 2026
This was such a light-hearted and fun read, especially in comparison to some of Emily's other stories that I’ve read. Having said that, every one of her books has been an incredibly entertaining experience, and this story easily joins that same list.
I absolutely adored the characters, with Alexia being such a wonderful personality — down-to-earth, honest, and a true romantic at heart, even if she mostly experienced romance through her enormous library of every romance genre imaginable. That aspect worked beautifully within the plot and added such a charming layer to her character. Then, of course, there’s Liam, the Irish mafia boss, who was everything readers could want in a leading man.
The plot was brilliantly crafted, captivating my interest from page one and holding it right through to the end. The story delivered moments that made me laugh, cry happy tears, cheer, and completely melt into the romance. The heat level was perfectly balanced, making it compulsively readable, yet for once I found myself wanting to savour the story at my own pace and simply get lost within its world.
Profile Image for Jine.
447 reviews12 followers
May 2, 2026
I’ve been on a MM kick lately but when I saw the blurb for this book I knew I had to read it! As someone who reads dark romance I loved how much books and tropes were mentioned! And then Liam I could hear his accent while reading which made it so much more enjoyable! This is my first book by this author but I am definitely going to read more! Liam is basically bleeding out when Lexi discovers him and takes him back to her apartment to help him not knowing he is a mafia boss
The heat the tension and the laughs honestly it was so good!
Lexi is all of us getting to live out her morally grey book boyfriend’s fantasy! I feel like this book was written for us dark romance girlies who all want the book scenes to happen
I loved how fiercely loyal he was to her almost instantly and we get to see how their relationship developed quickly
It does have a lot of spicy scenes but the best was saved for last when he gave his wife his virginity; it had a lot of spice but a lot of drama and laughs too
I really enjoyed this!
Profile Image for Heids_in_books.
183 reviews14 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 3, 2026
ARC Review of When I Accidentally Kidnapped the Mafia Boss by @emilybshore was such a fun, fast, spicy little mafia read.

This follows a flustered florist who somehow ends up kidnapping a mafia boss.
This wasn’t a super serious or heavy mafia romance. It is short, quick, spicy and with a dollop of humour.
I loved that Liam was a virgin which was a fun switch up, because usually in these books it is the mafia man who has all the experience and the FMC who is the virgin!
Alexia was flustered, out of her depth, and somehow stuck dealing with a man who absolutely should not have been kidnapped by anyone, let alone her.

The plot flowed well, don’t expect slow burn, just enjoy the characters, the humour, the spice, and the fact that accidentally kidnapping a mafia boss apparently can work out pretty well.

If you want a short, spicy mafia romance with a romcom edge, a virgin MMC, forced proximity vibes and a very different setup, this is a fun one.

Thank you to @emilybshore for my ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Profile Image for Amber Ireland.
85 reviews2 followers
May 4, 2026
This book follows Elexia aka Lexie, a cute little wallflower with a taste for dark romance (as Liam describes her!) Right off the bat I absolutely adore her. Shes the right amount of sassy without it being annoying. Liam who is the MMC has me in love with him off the bat with his cute Irish speak and how he is instantly smitten with our sweet FMC.

I have DNF many a books lately cos the FMC just drives me insane cos they write her to be sassy and independent yet most the time they overdo it and I end up hating her. I'm so happy to say that this is NOT the case with Lexie. I need a best friend just like her.

He definitely falls first but she's not far behind. This book is a perfect palette cleanser from my darker romance taste and its perfection. The library scene lives rent free in my head! I also would love to mention how while yes this book has spice (LORDY DOES IT 😍) It is so perfectly balanced with the plot.

Perfect little action scenes that mixed so well with suspense but keeping it a light hearted romance!
24 reviews2 followers
May 4, 2026
I admit it – I gravitated to the title – Emily Shore’s When I Accidentally Kidnapped the Mafia Boss. Usually, it is the other way around; colour me intrigued indeed.

And I wasn’t disappointed. Elexia comes across as real - a flustered mess when she stumbles upon something she wasn’t supposed to see, only to realize, Oh God, what now?

Liam, on the other hand, the Mafia Boss (not giving anything away, as it’s in the title), is curious and captivated by Elexia, and hmm, is it really kidnapping when he doesn’t want to go free?

The story is well-written, full of charm, wit, and quirky humour (he steals her drawer full of self-help toys!), not to mention action and betrayal, as one expects in a Mafia book.

Ms. Shore is a new author to me. When I found out she writes much darker books, I was surprised, as this book doesn’t read like that. I am now a fan, but only in this genre (sorry, I’m like Elexia – I’m a mess when it comes to anything squeamish). Highly recommend this book.

Profile Image for Iman’s Library.
166 reviews53 followers
May 6, 2026
🩷Advanced copy🩷

3.5⭐️
The premise of this book was so cute and I was really excited to read it, and I enjoyed myself quite a bit! This was a silly good time with a sunshine florist who tries to save a Mafia boss but kind of ends up kidnapping him? Oops 🙊

The FMC was so cute and funny, and the MMC was down bad for her from the very start! He pretends to be passed out while she’s “kidnapping” him, and ends up making her breakfast while she’s under the impression that he’s still tied up 😂

The girl is obsessed with dark romance, and he made sure to deliver exactly what she likes 😏

I wasn’t a huge fan of the dirty talk, it actually kind of gave me the ick, and I felt the was a lack of “Mafia” related things in this Mafia romance, which is why I didn’t give it a higher rating, but if you’re looking for a cute and spicy time with almost every book trope, this one is for you!

And OMG, that honeymoon was really cute 😭

🩷Tropes🩷
Mafia dark rom-com
She saves & kidnaps him
Obsessed MMC
One bed
Inexperienced MMC
Age Gap (28/37)
Profile Image for Jade.
129 reviews2 followers
May 3, 2026
🖤 ARC REVIEW 🖤
When I Accidentally Kidnapped the Mafia Boss – Emily Shore

This was chaos… but make it cute.

FMC? Funny, quirky, and completely dark romance obsessed (honestly… relatable). Her POV brought so much humour and made this really easy to fly through.

MMC? Irish mafia.
37-year-old virgin.
And down horrendously from the moment he meets her 😮‍🔥

There’s betrayal within his ranks, pushing him toward that darker side shaped by his past… but the story still balances that with humour and lighter moments.

The romance is a mix of whirlwind and slow burn—intense, chaotic, and definitely memorable.

He tells her he loves her over a bloody scene…
and proposes over a dead body.

Yeah. That kind of book 😂

For me, this was a fun, easy read and the perfect palette cleanser after heavier, darker books. I did find myself wanting a bit more emotional depth to fully connect, but I still really enjoyed the ride.
Profile Image for Natasna.
482 reviews10 followers
May 4, 2026
A mafia boss… but make him a *blushing, untouched king*? Yeah, I was already seated.

Liam out here running an empire but losing the plot the second Elexia pulls out a needle and some handcuffs—sir got patched up and *emotionally attached* in the same night. And Elexia? Flower shop by day, lowkey menace by night. Sis said “hold still” and had this man cuffed to a radiator like it was totally normal. I respect it.

He falls first, HARD. Protective, obsessed, ready to burn the world—meanwhile she’s just trying to water her plants and mind her business (failing, respectfully).

The first half? Comedy, chaos, and “why is this man so down bad?” energy. The second half? Oh, the mafia said *plot twist, babe*—betrayal, tension, stakes raised.

Only complaint? I wanted that drama sprinkled a little earlier, not saved like dessert. But the ending? Satisfying.

Now I’m side-eyeing River and Uncle Eamon like… y’all got stories too or what? 👀
Profile Image for Alisha Pascual.
430 reviews24 followers
May 4, 2026
I freaking loved this! It was a little different from most mafia books i’ve read because it’s the FMC, Elexia, who ends up kidnapping the mafia boss! And she is so adorable and hilarious and a breath of fresh air for irish mafia boss, Liam. She is everything he never knew he needed in his life till she came across of him, healed him up, and kidnapped him in her cute little apartment. Their chemistry from the start was next level (helped that they are both pretty gorgeous lol), their interactions are hilarious, sexy, and banter filled. And then the steamy parts, whew, are they hot! My personal favorite was the library scene, or maybe the book scene. Anyway, Elexia has a literal morally grey book boyfreind that is head over heels in love with her that she just can’t believe it, multiple times thinking she’s dreaming. And even though Liam has a dark side, she accepts all of him. They are like soulmates. IYKYK. Loved, loved, loved this book!
Profile Image for stacy.
63 reviews6 followers
May 6, 2026
Omg where to start?? I ATE this book UP! It was that good! Lexie works at a florist shop and one day comes across an Irish Mafia Boss named Liam injured and takes him in. Well more like “kidnapped” 😂. But can you REALLY kidnap a mafia boss? I believe he WANTED to her to kidnap him 😂. There are handcuffs involved 🤨

She loves reading dark mafia romances which he finds out about. There’s TONS of hilarious banter between the two. Oh and did I mention he’s a VIRGIN? However don’t let that virgin fool you. There’s some spicy 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ scenes for sure.

This book was perfect for me to take a break from my other books I’ve been reading. I guess you can call it a “palette cleanser”. This is truly a MUST READ! You will definitely feel all the feels while reading! Yes there’s even HEA!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the author Emily Shore for my honest opinion. This is my honest opinion upon completion of this book.
Profile Image for Brooklynn Robertson.
156 reviews3 followers
May 18, 2026
When I Accidentally Kidnapped the Mafia Boss has a charming, chaotic energy that makes it easy to breeze through, and the central pairing—a feared mafia leader and a shy florist—has a sweetness that keeps the story engaging. The book leans hard into its tropes, and when it works, it’s cute, funny, and full of the over‑the‑top drama fans of this style enjoy.

That said, some parts felt a little cheesy and unbelievable, even for a trope‑heavy romance. What should have been a short, punchy novella ends up feeling like a full novel squeezed into too few pages, which throws off the pacing. Big emotional beats and plot turns happen so quickly that they don’t always land with the impact they’re aiming for.

Still, the story delivers on its promise of fast-paced, trope-filled fun, and the chemistry between the leads keeps things lively. If you’re in the mood for something playful, dramatic, and easy to finish in one sitting, it’s a solid pick—just expect a bit of whiplash along the way.
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