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Veils of Deception: Veils Series
Growing up he never knew what love felt like. His father beat him, his mom a borderline alcoholic was absent both mentally and emotionally. So when he meets a woman with piercing blue eyes, his instant reaction was to go after her and claim her as his. She has been lied to her whole life. Her parents are who they say they are, her first love lived a double life, and now the man she fell in love with after her husbands death has lied about his real life. Her instinct is to get as far away from him as possible, being a single mother of two, all she wants to do is protect her kids. But who can she trust enough to protect her family from her unknowing past.
Audible Audio
Published March 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 30, 2025
Veils of Deception is a dark mafia romance that hits a lot of the right notes — gritty, emotional, and fast-paced with just enough heat and danger to keep the pages turning. At around 350 pages, it moves quickly, which mostly works, but I really think this book would’ve benefitted from pushing that 400-page mark.
What really stood out to me, though, was how well the author handled the characters’ solo arcs. Both the main leads had their own personal growth happening alongside the romance, and it felt believable. Nichole Martinez managed to make the darkness in the story feel earned — the trauma, the violence, the secrets — all of it made sense for the world they’re in. It didn’t feel like pain was added just for shock value (which is something this trope can lean on way too heavily). Instead, it felt grounded, like these were the natural consequences of the choices and lives these characters have been part of.
There were still a few areas that felt underdeveloped — the pacing of the romance could’ve used more buildup, the side characters were interesting but needed more time to breathe, and some plot threads felt a little rushed or glossed over. That said, the overall tone and vibe were solid, and the dark elements didn’t feel out of place or overly dramatized just for the sake of being “dark.”
Even with the few hiccups, I enjoyed it enough to want to keep going with the series. I’m definitely curious to see where Nichole Martinez takes the story next — the foundation is there, and I’m hoping the next books give everything a bit more time to stretch and settle. If I could I would give this a 3.5, but again, Goodreads is limited in the rating aspect.
What really stood out to me, though, was how well the author handled the characters’ solo arcs. Both the main leads had their own personal growth happening alongside the romance, and it felt believable. Nichole Martinez managed to make the darkness in the story feel earned — the trauma, the violence, the secrets — all of it made sense for the world they’re in. It didn’t feel like pain was added just for shock value (which is something this trope can lean on way too heavily). Instead, it felt grounded, like these were the natural consequences of the choices and lives these characters have been part of.
There were still a few areas that felt underdeveloped — the pacing of the romance could’ve used more buildup, the side characters were interesting but needed more time to breathe, and some plot threads felt a little rushed or glossed over. That said, the overall tone and vibe were solid, and the dark elements didn’t feel out of place or overly dramatized just for the sake of being “dark.”
Even with the few hiccups, I enjoyed it enough to want to keep going with the series. I’m definitely curious to see where Nichole Martinez takes the story next — the foundation is there, and I’m hoping the next books give everything a bit more time to stretch and settle. If I could I would give this a 3.5, but again, Goodreads is limited in the rating aspect.
May 16, 2026
I received a listening code for Veils of Deception, a dark mafia romance, and overall I really enjoyed it. Fallon and Ben did a phenomenal job with the narration and absolutely carried the emotional intensity and chemistry of the story. Lyra was good as well, though the accent execution missed the mark for me at times. Leanna and Sean also did well and brought a lot to the overall listening experience.
The story itself had a great arc, delivered plenty of spice, and carried a heavy emotional punch throughout. With some more time and continued honing of their skill sets, these voice actors are going to execute their roles impeccably. They all have incredible potential as newer voice actors in the game, and I can absolutely see some of them becoming major up-and-coming names in the industry.
If mafia romance is your thing, this one is definitely going to be right up your alley.
The story itself had a great arc, delivered plenty of spice, and carried a heavy emotional punch throughout. With some more time and continued honing of their skill sets, these voice actors are going to execute their roles impeccably. They all have incredible potential as newer voice actors in the game, and I can absolutely see some of them becoming major up-and-coming names in the industry.
If mafia romance is your thing, this one is definitely going to be right up your alley.
July 9, 2026
Read this one for bookclub. Our genre this month was smut which isn’t my favorite because it’s typically trash writing, dumb storylines, and toxic as hell behavior which checks all the boxes for this book. I gave it 1.5 ⭐️ because it fits the theme of our genre this month and because I finished it. I know there’s a lot of people out there that probably loved this book but it was not for me 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
April 25, 2025
"Ti amo, Anya, Per tutto il tempo che vivro" I love you for as long as I live"
Veils of Deception is a dark mafia romance that dives deep into the hearts of its characters. Marco is emotionally detached, convinced he's beyond redemption. But when Anya enters his life, those emotional walls begin to crack. Their connection is immediate and so intense it was inevitable.
The author's attention to detail in creating their backstories is exceptional - every trauma and emotion is felt allowing readers to become invested in Marco and Anya's journey. This book captures your attention from the very first page, you don't just read their story - you feel it, and you don't stop feeling it until long after the last page.
If you're a fan of dark romance with rich character development, an intricate plot and romance that is both dangerous and beautiful, Veils of Deception needs to be on your TBR.
Veils of Deception is a dark mafia romance that dives deep into the hearts of its characters. Marco is emotionally detached, convinced he's beyond redemption. But when Anya enters his life, those emotional walls begin to crack. Their connection is immediate and so intense it was inevitable.
The author's attention to detail in creating their backstories is exceptional - every trauma and emotion is felt allowing readers to become invested in Marco and Anya's journey. This book captures your attention from the very first page, you don't just read their story - you feel it, and you don't stop feeling it until long after the last page.
If you're a fan of dark romance with rich character development, an intricate plot and romance that is both dangerous and beautiful, Veils of Deception needs to be on your TBR.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews