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By Blade, I Protect
My father runs the only arms operation in Sicily, and now that the Skull King is monopolizing the drug empire in all of Italy, we’re in hot water.
Because everyone wants to take our business for themselves—because they aren’t strong enough to handle the Skull King.
Just when things are looking bad, Wolfe shows up looking for a job. He was born to inherit the throne of Cosa Nostra, but a mysterious falling out has forced him to turn his back on the only family he’s ever known.
None of us are sure if we can trust him, so he has going to start at the bottom and prove his loyalty. With a cocky smirk on his face and a twinkle in his eyes, he does what he’s told.
But the second he sets eyes on me—I become the real thing he wants. But I’m not dumb enough to get involved with one of the guys at the syndicate, no matter how insanely hot he is, so I tell him it’s never going to happen.
But this man doesn’t stop.
I’m a nurse that stitches bullet holes and keeps my father’s men alive on top of everything else I do for the business, and Wolfe continually cuts and stabs himself because he knows it’s the one way to get alone me alone. While I stitch him up, he stares and smirks at me…like I’m already his.
Even when my father is present, he stares at me the same way—like he doesn’t care if this obsession gets him killed. He’s honest and passionate and smart—but I also think he’s a little crazy.
I finally give in, saying it’s just for the night, but this man wants all of me before he ever touches me. An affair somehow turns into the most intense relationship I’ve ever had, and Wolfe wants to be straight with my father about us even if it gets him killed.
But that’s way too risky, not when our enemies are moving in, not when there’s a snitch in our midst—and everyone thinks it’s Wolfe. Our relationship becomes clandestine and forbidden, and while that would be fun for other men, Wolfe disagrees.
Because he wants me—forever.
When so much is set against us, I’m not sure if our relationship will survive.
But Wolfe believes it will—because he’ll die for it.
Because everyone wants to take our business for themselves—because they aren’t strong enough to handle the Skull King.
Just when things are looking bad, Wolfe shows up looking for a job. He was born to inherit the throne of Cosa Nostra, but a mysterious falling out has forced him to turn his back on the only family he’s ever known.
None of us are sure if we can trust him, so he has going to start at the bottom and prove his loyalty. With a cocky smirk on his face and a twinkle in his eyes, he does what he’s told.
But the second he sets eyes on me—I become the real thing he wants. But I’m not dumb enough to get involved with one of the guys at the syndicate, no matter how insanely hot he is, so I tell him it’s never going to happen.
But this man doesn’t stop.
I’m a nurse that stitches bullet holes and keeps my father’s men alive on top of everything else I do for the business, and Wolfe continually cuts and stabs himself because he knows it’s the one way to get alone me alone. While I stitch him up, he stares and smirks at me…like I’m already his.
Even when my father is present, he stares at me the same way—like he doesn’t care if this obsession gets him killed. He’s honest and passionate and smart—but I also think he’s a little crazy.
I finally give in, saying it’s just for the night, but this man wants all of me before he ever touches me. An affair somehow turns into the most intense relationship I’ve ever had, and Wolfe wants to be straight with my father about us even if it gets him killed.
But that’s way too risky, not when our enemies are moving in, not when there’s a snitch in our midst—and everyone thinks it’s Wolfe. Our relationship becomes clandestine and forbidden, and while that would be fun for other men, Wolfe disagrees.
Because he wants me—forever.
When so much is set against us, I’m not sure if our relationship will survive.
But Wolfe believes it will—because he’ll die for it.
418 pages, Paperback
Published April 7, 2026
About the author
Penelope Sky
74 books7,353 followersA New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Penelope Sky is known for her dark romance that makes you fall for her characters….no matter how dark they seem. Her books are being translated into several languages around the world, and she’s sold more than a million books worldwide. She lives in a small town in California with her husband, where she spends most of her time writing on the back porch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 360 reviews
July 9, 2026
Yes!I really wanted a good Forbidden mafia romance when I picked this one up. Its about the Don’s daughter who falls for her father’s employee, Wolfe, (who was next in line to becoming a Don at rival mafia) and wow… this man is arrogant, confident, possessive, and completely unapologetic about it.
I really enjoyed their relationship. It’s definitely a fast-paced, love-at-first-sight romance, but it worked for me. Wolfe is ready to tell her family about their relationship almost immediately, while she’s terrified of how her father will react. That tension between them kept me hooked... but I won't know what happened because I have to wait for book 2~~
“It’s barely been a month, and I’m already out-of-my-fucking-mind obsessed with you. So, if you were my wife…” He made a tsk-tsk noise behind his closed lips as he gave a slight shake of his head. “That would be a whole different level. That’s a legal and emotional contract that I would never let you break. If you ran from me, I would hunt you. If you fucked someone else, I would kill them. If you filed for divorce, I’d burn down the courthouse with the papers inside.”
That quote perfectly captures Wolfe’s obsessive, morally gray, psychotic and crazy-ass personality. If you love possessive MMC, mafia romance, forbidden love, and a really obsessive MMC, this one is definitely worth checking out. It sure wins my stamp of approval guys!
~pre-read~ I am in the mood for a good forbidden mafia romance!
I really enjoyed their relationship. It’s definitely a fast-paced, love-at-first-sight romance, but it worked for me. Wolfe is ready to tell her family about their relationship almost immediately, while she’s terrified of how her father will react. That tension between them kept me hooked... but I won't know what happened because I have to wait for book 2~~
“It’s barely been a month, and I’m already out-of-my-fucking-mind obsessed with you. So, if you were my wife…” He made a tsk-tsk noise behind his closed lips as he gave a slight shake of his head. “That would be a whole different level. That’s a legal and emotional contract that I would never let you break. If you ran from me, I would hunt you. If you fucked someone else, I would kill them. If you filed for divorce, I’d burn down the courthouse with the papers inside.”
That quote perfectly captures Wolfe’s obsessive, morally gray, psychotic and crazy-ass personality. If you love possessive MMC, mafia romance, forbidden love, and a really obsessive MMC, this one is definitely worth checking out. It sure wins my stamp of approval guys!
~pre-read~ I am in the mood for a good forbidden mafia romance!
June 15, 2026
DNF at 42%
When the FMC herself says “my wet folds” I’m out. The spice was written just AWFUL and I didn’t care about their relationship or the plot enough to overlook it.
Pity.
The narrators did fantastic job though. Thanks to Libro.FM for the ALC.
Maybe I’ll try again in the future.
When the FMC herself says “my wet folds” I’m out. The spice was written just AWFUL and I didn’t care about their relationship or the plot enough to overlook it.
Pity.
The narrators did fantastic job though. Thanks to Libro.FM for the ALC.
Maybe I’ll try again in the future.
July 13, 2026
This is a Dark Mafia Romance, and this is the first book in the By Blade series. I read this book by listening to the audiobook for this book, and I really enjoyed this audiobook. This book was hard to get into at first, but the characters won me over. I really enjoyed this book, but there is some dark stuff in this book and some steamy times in this book. This book will not be for everyone. I love all the crazy drama in this book. I did love the romance in this book too. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 ⭐
By Blade, I Protect was such a great start to this series!!
Penelope Sky drops us back into the Italian Mafia world, and I was so ready for it. I just finished her Roman Republic series and was curious if there would be any crossover. Other than mentions of Cosa Nostra and the Skull King, this feels like a new story in the same universe.
I really enjoyed the characters in this one. Wolfe grew up in Cosa Nostra and was set to take over when the time was right, but a clash of values sends him packing. He walks away from everything, which usually means death, and joins their rival family instead.
I freaking love Wolfe! His “I don’t give an F” attitude, his boldness, his confidence, all of it. He's ruthless and thrives on danger, but he also has a strong moral compass. He speaks his mind, doesn’t flinch, and goes after what he wants. The fact that he literally cut himself open just to see Frankie again? Wild. Obsessed in all the best ways.
Frankie is exactly the kind of FMC I love. She's strong, feisty, and confident, but still vulnerable. She's no helpless mafia princess. She is a nurse who patches up her dad’s men and runs the clean side of the business.
Wolfe and Frankie fall hard and fast into a forbidden romance. Wolfe is all in, but Frankie is scared of what will happen if her dad finds out. The story is fast paced, full of action, violence, and gore, but also focuses on their secret relationship and how they navigate it. Frankie proves she is no damsel, and Wolfe shows just how lethal he can be.
The narration was great. Michael Ferraiuolo and Ramona Master did a solid job. It took me a bit to stop hearing Constantine from Roman Republic, but once I did, I really enjoyed their performances. I would have liked a few more accents, but overall it was well done.
The ending was the perfect cliffhanger and setup for book two. Now I will be waiting impatiently to see how the fallout plays out.
Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Penelope Sky for this ALC.
By Blade, I Protect was such a great start to this series!!
Penelope Sky drops us back into the Italian Mafia world, and I was so ready for it. I just finished her Roman Republic series and was curious if there would be any crossover. Other than mentions of Cosa Nostra and the Skull King, this feels like a new story in the same universe.
I really enjoyed the characters in this one. Wolfe grew up in Cosa Nostra and was set to take over when the time was right, but a clash of values sends him packing. He walks away from everything, which usually means death, and joins their rival family instead.
I freaking love Wolfe! His “I don’t give an F” attitude, his boldness, his confidence, all of it. He's ruthless and thrives on danger, but he also has a strong moral compass. He speaks his mind, doesn’t flinch, and goes after what he wants. The fact that he literally cut himself open just to see Frankie again? Wild. Obsessed in all the best ways.
Frankie is exactly the kind of FMC I love. She's strong, feisty, and confident, but still vulnerable. She's no helpless mafia princess. She is a nurse who patches up her dad’s men and runs the clean side of the business.
Wolfe and Frankie fall hard and fast into a forbidden romance. Wolfe is all in, but Frankie is scared of what will happen if her dad finds out. The story is fast paced, full of action, violence, and gore, but also focuses on their secret relationship and how they navigate it. Frankie proves she is no damsel, and Wolfe shows just how lethal he can be.
The narration was great. Michael Ferraiuolo and Ramona Master did a solid job. It took me a bit to stop hearing Constantine from Roman Republic, but once I did, I really enjoyed their performances. I would have liked a few more accents, but overall it was well done.
The ending was the perfect cliffhanger and setup for book two. Now I will be waiting impatiently to see how the fallout plays out.
Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Penelope Sky for this ALC.
June 2, 2026
This book was so easy to read and fun! I didn’t know it was book 1 and we would get more🤭 im excited to see where this series goes because i fell in love with wolfe and the fmc is a baddie!
July 4, 2026
Book Title: By Blade, I Protect (Book 1 of By Blade)
Author: Penelope Sky
Publishers: Hartwick Publishing + Dreamscape Media
Pub Date: June 30, 2026
Dates Read/Listened: June 22, 2026 – June 25, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: By Blade, I Protect is book one of the By Blade series, and I have to say it’s off to an intense start. Wolfe doesn’t give an F, which makes him pretty lovable in my book (love a tattooed bad boy maverick 😈), and Frankie feels super authentic on top of being whip smart. Their relationship is like a rocket taking off and moving remarkably fast. If you aren’t a fan of instalove, this isn’t for you, but I loved how quickly they fell for each other and Wolfe’s dedication to defending Frankie at any cost. There is quite a bit of action as well, and this is not a light read in any sense; it is DARK. The end leaves the perfect setup for the next book, and I can’t wait to see where this series goes from here!
🎧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬: Ramona Master & Michael Ferraiuolo made this book a treat, and I’m extremely glad I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook. While I sometimes thought Ferraiuolo’s female voice for Frankie was a little weird, he did a fantastic job overall. I especially loved Master’s narration for Frankie, and together, they made me feel like I was right in the story. Do I recommend? 100%!
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🔪🩸🍷🥵
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I received a complimentary copy of this book as well as an advanced listening copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Author: Penelope Sky
Publishers: Hartwick Publishing + Dreamscape Media
Pub Date: June 30, 2026
Dates Read/Listened: June 22, 2026 – June 25, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: By Blade, I Protect is book one of the By Blade series, and I have to say it’s off to an intense start. Wolfe doesn’t give an F, which makes him pretty lovable in my book (love a tattooed bad boy maverick 😈), and Frankie feels super authentic on top of being whip smart. Their relationship is like a rocket taking off and moving remarkably fast. If you aren’t a fan of instalove, this isn’t for you, but I loved how quickly they fell for each other and Wolfe’s dedication to defending Frankie at any cost. There is quite a bit of action as well, and this is not a light read in any sense; it is DARK. The end leaves the perfect setup for the next book, and I can’t wait to see where this series goes from here!
🎧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬: Ramona Master & Michael Ferraiuolo made this book a treat, and I’m extremely glad I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook. While I sometimes thought Ferraiuolo’s female voice for Frankie was a little weird, he did a fantastic job overall. I especially loved Master’s narration for Frankie, and together, they made me feel like I was right in the story. Do I recommend? 100%!
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🔪🩸🍷🥵
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I received a complimentary copy of this book as well as an advanced listening copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
May 27, 2026
Arc Review:
I LOVE Penelope Sky and am always waiting for her next release so I was fired up to get this ARC.
It was just ok, typically the later books in the series are the best so I’m not going to give up on this one. This book really set the scene and the romance up for the next two books. I don’t love the insta love trope.
I think a lot happened just before the book ended and would have liked more plot development in the beginning. It was a quick read so I imagine the next few books will get further into detail regarding the plot.
I do love that these last few series she’s written are loosely connected. I will be reading more in this series, but it just wasn’t my favourite.
I LOVE Penelope Sky and am always waiting for her next release so I was fired up to get this ARC.
It was just ok, typically the later books in the series are the best so I’m not going to give up on this one. This book really set the scene and the romance up for the next two books. I don’t love the insta love trope.
I think a lot happened just before the book ended and would have liked more plot development in the beginning. It was a quick read so I imagine the next few books will get further into detail regarding the plot.
I do love that these last few series she’s written are loosely connected. I will be reading more in this series, but it just wasn’t my favourite.
June 26, 2026
✨ALC Review✨ - 2 ⭐️
Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me.
The biggest issue was that the romance was way too instalovey. This is supposed to be at least a duology, if not a trilogy, following the same couple, and we’re not even 40% into the first book before he’s acting completely in love with her. The problem is, they barely know anything about each other. He basically just thinks she’s hot and becomes obsessed. I think this story would have been so much stronger, and their eventual relationship much more satisfying if it had been a slow burn.
The book repeatedly tries to convince us that “duration has no impact on depth,” which I would normally agree with. Except these two spend almost all of their time having sex or cuddling and have had maybe ONE real conversation. I just never bought into the depth of their relationship.
As for him, his arrogance was actually kind of hot at first, but the longer the book went on, the more it started giving me the ick. I don’t know if it was the specific word choices or what, but it eventually crossed the line from confident to cringey for me. Also, we get it, he’s huge. I really didn’t need to be reminded every five seconds.
There were also so many moments throughout the book, including during the intimate scenes, that made me cringe. Honestly, some of her inner thoughts during those scenes were painful to get through.
Another thing that bothered me was the complete lack of discussion around protection. She’s fully aware that he’s probably slept with half the city, yet there’s not even a conversation, or really even a passing thought about using condoms.
I also found it strange that he constantly talks about how he’s everyone’s type and can have anyone he wants, only to later reveal that he pays for sex. Those two things felt contradictory, and I was left trying to make sense of it.
Character development was another weak point for me. Neither character felt particularly well developed. By the end of the book, I still felt like I knew almost nothing about Frankie other than the fact that she’s a nurse.
I also felt like the intimate scenes were heavily focused on the MMC’s pleasure. Real life already gives us plenty of that, so I would have liked to see more balance here. For a man who was supposedly absolutely obsessed with and infatuated with her, he didn’t seem particularly concerned with her pleasure, which made his devotion feel less believable.
As for the audiobook specifically, I didn’t love the narrators. They both did a perfectly fine job, nothing terrible, but nothing particularly memorable either. I just didn’t feel like either voice fit the characters very well. Wolfe’s voice should have been much deeper, especially considering how often we’re reminded of his size, and I wasn’t a fan of how breathy Frankie’s narration was. Her voice often came across as very young and childish.
Overall, this one had a lot of elements that I would normally enjoy, but the rushed romance, lack of character development, and constant cringe made it a miss for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for letting me listen to this one early.
Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me.
The biggest issue was that the romance was way too instalovey. This is supposed to be at least a duology, if not a trilogy, following the same couple, and we’re not even 40% into the first book before he’s acting completely in love with her. The problem is, they barely know anything about each other. He basically just thinks she’s hot and becomes obsessed. I think this story would have been so much stronger, and their eventual relationship much more satisfying if it had been a slow burn.
The book repeatedly tries to convince us that “duration has no impact on depth,” which I would normally agree with. Except these two spend almost all of their time having sex or cuddling and have had maybe ONE real conversation. I just never bought into the depth of their relationship.
As for him, his arrogance was actually kind of hot at first, but the longer the book went on, the more it started giving me the ick. I don’t know if it was the specific word choices or what, but it eventually crossed the line from confident to cringey for me. Also, we get it, he’s huge. I really didn’t need to be reminded every five seconds.
There were also so many moments throughout the book, including during the intimate scenes, that made me cringe. Honestly, some of her inner thoughts during those scenes were painful to get through.
Another thing that bothered me was the complete lack of discussion around protection. She’s fully aware that he’s probably slept with half the city, yet there’s not even a conversation, or really even a passing thought about using condoms.
I also found it strange that he constantly talks about how he’s everyone’s type and can have anyone he wants, only to later reveal that he pays for sex. Those two things felt contradictory, and I was left trying to make sense of it.
Character development was another weak point for me. Neither character felt particularly well developed. By the end of the book, I still felt like I knew almost nothing about Frankie other than the fact that she’s a nurse.
I also felt like the intimate scenes were heavily focused on the MMC’s pleasure. Real life already gives us plenty of that, so I would have liked to see more balance here. For a man who was supposedly absolutely obsessed with and infatuated with her, he didn’t seem particularly concerned with her pleasure, which made his devotion feel less believable.
As for the audiobook specifically, I didn’t love the narrators. They both did a perfectly fine job, nothing terrible, but nothing particularly memorable either. I just didn’t feel like either voice fit the characters very well. Wolfe’s voice should have been much deeper, especially considering how often we’re reminded of his size, and I wasn’t a fan of how breathy Frankie’s narration was. Her voice often came across as very young and childish.
Overall, this one had a lot of elements that I would normally enjoy, but the rushed romance, lack of character development, and constant cringe made it a miss for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for letting me listen to this one early.
July 31, 2026
2.5⭐
There were definitely moments that kept me reading. Unfortunately, the execution never matched the potential. The romance and mafia plot felt like they were taking turns instead of working together. Constantly fighting for the spotlight. Just as I started getting invested in one aspect, the focus shifted to the other before it had a chance to land. Due to that, I never felt fully immersed. As a fellow Sicilian, I was also hoping the setting would play a bigger role. Instead it felt like it was mainly there to establish the organized crime backdrop.
The romance leaned heavily into instalove and repetitive spice. "Do I need foreplay?" No, but girl...maybe I do! Francesca was so aggressively attracted to Wolfe. Add to that dialogue that was a bit too cringy and oversharing for my taste. Pulling me out of the story and more than once I caught myself thinking… Why are you volunteering this information? Early on it was heavily emphasized how long it had been since Francesca had sex or how incredibly attractive Wolfe was. Instead of being a strong willed FMC, she came across as desperate. Now, I wasn't asking for less spice because one scene had some of my favorite kinks wrapped up. What I was hoping for was more anticipation and emotional chemistry. Moments where the relationship could actually breathe. Almost every chapter felt turned up to eleven. Rather than feeling action packed or emotionally intense, it felt extremely rushed.
With everything said, I will emphasize I don’t think this was the right fit for me particularly. The premise immediately caught my attention and there are compelling moments that pushed me through to finish. If you enjoy a very fast paced mafia romance with instant attraction and high stakes drama, I think you will likely have a more enjoyable experience than I did.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Penelope Sky & Netgalley for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.
There were definitely moments that kept me reading. Unfortunately, the execution never matched the potential. The romance and mafia plot felt like they were taking turns instead of working together. Constantly fighting for the spotlight. Just as I started getting invested in one aspect, the focus shifted to the other before it had a chance to land. Due to that, I never felt fully immersed. As a fellow Sicilian, I was also hoping the setting would play a bigger role. Instead it felt like it was mainly there to establish the organized crime backdrop.
The romance leaned heavily into instalove and repetitive spice. "Do I need foreplay?" No, but girl...maybe I do! Francesca was so aggressively attracted to Wolfe. Add to that dialogue that was a bit too cringy and oversharing for my taste. Pulling me out of the story and more than once I caught myself thinking… Why are you volunteering this information? Early on it was heavily emphasized how long it had been since Francesca had sex or how incredibly attractive Wolfe was. Instead of being a strong willed FMC, she came across as desperate. Now, I wasn't asking for less spice because one scene had some of my favorite kinks wrapped up. What I was hoping for was more anticipation and emotional chemistry. Moments where the relationship could actually breathe. Almost every chapter felt turned up to eleven. Rather than feeling action packed or emotionally intense, it felt extremely rushed.
With everything said, I will emphasize I don’t think this was the right fit for me particularly. The premise immediately caught my attention and there are compelling moments that pushed me through to finish. If you enjoy a very fast paced mafia romance with instant attraction and high stakes drama, I think you will likely have a more enjoyable experience than I did.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Penelope Sky & Netgalley for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.
July 12, 2026
Typically in mafia romances, lieutenants aren't able to just leave one syndicate or Costa and join another rival family. It was a refreshing and enjoyable take to see the MMC break away and switch allegiances.
The relationship dynamics between the characters were a lot of fun to read. The intense possessiveness worked really well for these characters and kept the tension high throughout the story. It delivered exactly what I look for in a dark romance, and I'm excited to see where the plot goes next. I will definitely be continuing the series.
The relationship dynamics between the characters were a lot of fun to read. The intense possessiveness worked really well for these characters and kept the tension high throughout the story. It delivered exactly what I look for in a dark romance, and I'm excited to see where the plot goes next. I will definitely be continuing the series.
July 7, 2026
And here we are again.....
Listen, i had hopes for this book as the synopsis was promising, so started this one but i guess somethings can never change and in this case itz penelope sky's books, her characters and her storyline.
Before we get into my thoughts and feelings i got to tell you guyss that there are reviews for all penelope sky's book so if you found this one fun...interesting... helpful go and check those one out.
Did i finish reading this book? hell no, i just started was 3rd chapter in, and i was rolling my eyes, cringing hard and gagging. I love mafia romance and i have stated this so many times, does this author doesn't read her reviews? like how many times are you going to write ints love and one night stands and dumb heroines and cocky, over confident and too full of himself.
So this book starts with mmc leaving costa nostra coz they have difference of opinion, so he joins another mafia gang where fmc is daughter of the head mafia man, she is a nurse an mmc is instantly obsessed with her. He doesn't have to wait even a day, their 3rd meet they decide they need to band and the convo goes like...
mmc: you could give me your number
fmc: look i never mix business and pleasure but i will make an exception for you
mmc: yeah
fmc: yes, coz you are so fucking hot i can barely stand it
next scene takes place over when the same day they are doing the deed in her house and fmc is like wow, thats a really monster cock and she says i m really flexible. The inter dialogue is really cringy and just so damnn eeksss. let me tell you these two are strangers and yet she allows him to do the deed without any protection and............i m not a fan of this kinda shitty drama.
This is not a romance, not because there are no swoony scenes and dialogues but coz there is zero chemistry, just two hot sexy very much attracted to each other characters wanting fuck. No characterization no chemistry and zero romance.
I WANT TO KNOW YOU THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS SO DO REPLY AND LET ME KNOW
Listen, i had hopes for this book as the synopsis was promising, so started this one but i guess somethings can never change and in this case itz penelope sky's books, her characters and her storyline.
Before we get into my thoughts and feelings i got to tell you guyss that there are reviews for all penelope sky's book so if you found this one fun...interesting... helpful go and check those one out.
Did i finish reading this book? hell no, i just started was 3rd chapter in, and i was rolling my eyes, cringing hard and gagging. I love mafia romance and i have stated this so many times, does this author doesn't read her reviews? like how many times are you going to write ints love and one night stands and dumb heroines and cocky, over confident and too full of himself.
So this book starts with mmc leaving costa nostra coz they have difference of opinion, so he joins another mafia gang where fmc is daughter of the head mafia man, she is a nurse an mmc is instantly obsessed with her. He doesn't have to wait even a day, their 3rd meet they decide they need to band and the convo goes like...
mmc: you could give me your number
fmc: look i never mix business and pleasure but i will make an exception for you
mmc: yeah
fmc: yes, coz you are so fucking hot i can barely stand it
next scene takes place over when the same day they are doing the deed in her house and fmc is like wow, thats a really monster cock and she says i m really flexible. The inter dialogue is really cringy and just so damnn eeksss. let me tell you these two are strangers and yet she allows him to do the deed without any protection and............i m not a fan of this kinda shitty drama.
This is not a romance, not because there are no swoony scenes and dialogues but coz there is zero chemistry, just two hot sexy very much attracted to each other characters wanting fuck. No characterization no chemistry and zero romance.
I WANT TO KNOW YOU THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS SO DO REPLY AND LET ME KNOW
July 9, 2026
⚔️TOUR STOP & REVIEW⚔️
AVAILABLE NOW
“Because everyone will know that if they look at you wrong, I’ll k!ll their entire f*cking bloodline.”
”You, my little siren, are my mate. My soulmate. The other half of me.”
💬 Oh my this one is spicy spicy!! Mafia, touch her and goodbye, forbidden romance, secret relationship, morally gray MMC. Basically just all the best things. Frankie was a dynamic, strong FMC and Wolfe was just perfect. Definitely recommend for fans of the genre!
Thank you for the signed review copy @penelopeskyauthor @otrpr 🙌🏼
#ByBladeIProtect #PenelopeSky #DarkRomance #MafiaRomance #ByBladeSeries
AVAILABLE NOW
“Because everyone will know that if they look at you wrong, I’ll k!ll their entire f*cking bloodline.”
”You, my little siren, are my mate. My soulmate. The other half of me.”
💬 Oh my this one is spicy spicy!! Mafia, touch her and goodbye, forbidden romance, secret relationship, morally gray MMC. Basically just all the best things. Frankie was a dynamic, strong FMC and Wolfe was just perfect. Definitely recommend for fans of the genre!
Thank you for the signed review copy @penelopeskyauthor @otrpr 🙌🏼
#ByBladeIProtect #PenelopeSky #DarkRomance #MafiaRomance #ByBladeSeries
May 29, 2026
Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audio ARC
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really wanted to love My Blade, I Protect by Penelope Sky because I normally enjoy her books, but this one just didn’t hit the same for me. The audiobook, though, was amazing. The narrators absolutely carried the story and did such a great job bringing the characters and emotions to life.
The story itself just wasn’t my favorite from her. I kept waiting to fully connect with it, but unfortunately it never really happened for me. It wasn’t bad, just not one I’ll remember compared to some of her other books that I’ve loved.
If you’re already a fan of Penelope Sky, you may still want to give it a try, especially in audio format because the narration was honestly the highlight for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really wanted to love My Blade, I Protect by Penelope Sky because I normally enjoy her books, but this one just didn’t hit the same for me. The audiobook, though, was amazing. The narrators absolutely carried the story and did such a great job bringing the characters and emotions to life.
The story itself just wasn’t my favorite from her. I kept waiting to fully connect with it, but unfortunately it never really happened for me. It wasn’t bad, just not one I’ll remember compared to some of her other books that I’ve loved.
If you’re already a fan of Penelope Sky, you may still want to give it a try, especially in audio format because the narration was honestly the highlight for me.
July 1, 2026
Look, I love a mafia romance. I really do. However this was not only like insta love adjacent, but it was also a bit on the nose and cheesy to me. MMC wants to join her family’s business, decides the FMC is going to be his, has enormous junk and apparently knows how to use it, and is possessive. I hated every time he talked about how he’s an “adrenaline junkie” and “doesn’t feel pain”. The FMC is from a mafia family, is a nurse, is off limits to anyone working for her family, does not react to his inhumanly large junk, allows him to basically take over her life, and is quickly completely obsessed with him. Both characters are “not like others” and the intensity did not feel earned.
Where was the conflict? Her father won’t let her date men in his employ, yet doesn’t notice them banging and they don’t fear him? I did not care at all about the conflict affecting the family and honestly didn’t believe the romance in the relationship. Also, I’m so sorry, but a man hitting a woman’s cervix during sex is not something I want to read about repeatedly. I wince every single time I read that.
Now, all that being said, this was not a bad book. It just wasn’t to my personal taste. I tend to like a little complexity to my romance unless the point is to be straight forward and unhinged. This was neither of those things.
Where was the conflict? Her father won’t let her date men in his employ, yet doesn’t notice them banging and they don’t fear him? I did not care at all about the conflict affecting the family and honestly didn’t believe the romance in the relationship. Also, I’m so sorry, but a man hitting a woman’s cervix during sex is not something I want to read about repeatedly. I wince every single time I read that.
Now, all that being said, this was not a bad book. It just wasn’t to my personal taste. I tend to like a little complexity to my romance unless the point is to be straight forward and unhinged. This was neither of those things.
July 10, 2026
I just finished listening to the audiobook of By Blade, I Protect, and I really enjoyed it! Wolfe and Francesca were wonderful main characters, and I loved watching their relationship grow into one built on trust, love, respect, and protection.
This was a great steamy mafia romance that had just the right balance of suspense and romance without being overly gory or filled with excessively harsh scenes. The chemistry between the characters kept me invested from beginning to end.
This is the first book in a two-part story, and I can’t wait to start the next book, By Blade, I Vow! Thank you, Penelope Sky, for another enjoyable mafia romance with the perfect amount of spice, excitement, and heart.
Happy reading!
This was a great steamy mafia romance that had just the right balance of suspense and romance without being overly gory or filled with excessively harsh scenes. The chemistry between the characters kept me invested from beginning to end.
This is the first book in a two-part story, and I can’t wait to start the next book, By Blade, I Vow! Thank you, Penelope Sky, for another enjoyable mafia romance with the perfect amount of spice, excitement, and heart.
Happy reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2026
Penelope Sky, the Author of "By Blade, I Protect" writes a powerful, intense,and captivating novel. The Genres for this amazing book are " Workforce Romance, Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Suspense, Mystery, Crime and Fiction. In this well written story, the author vividly describes the locations, scenery, and the dark and dramatic characters. The characters are complex, complicated, bold, aggressive, flawed, courageous, and each is dealing with their roles in life and problems. The story is narrated by the female protagonist, Frankie, a nurse and is part of the wine and guns crime organization. Frankie is not afraid of blood, and fixes up the soldiers in her father's organization, when they get hurt. When her father's organization is hurting, the male protagonist, Wolfe appears looking for a job.
Besides being an Alpha male, hot and sexy, Wolfe has a certain moral code that is not noticed in many fixers in the industry. In one of the biggest organizations, Wolfe was next in line to succession, but disagreed with his boss, and amicably parted ways. Wolfe lives, and loves in an obsessive and frenzied way. Frankie's father doesn't trust him, and expects that Wolfe has to earn his way. Frankie describes Wolfe as "honest, passionate,smart and crazy". There are twists and turns, betrayals, secrets, threats, kidnappings, danger and murder. The only problem is Frankie is into Wolfe, and Wolfe is obsessed and possessive of Frankie. With all the war and trouble that is going around this could be deadly. I enjoyed seeing a powerful and courageous woman in this novel. I highly recommend this intense novel.
Besides being an Alpha male, hot and sexy, Wolfe has a certain moral code that is not noticed in many fixers in the industry. In one of the biggest organizations, Wolfe was next in line to succession, but disagreed with his boss, and amicably parted ways. Wolfe lives, and loves in an obsessive and frenzied way. Frankie's father doesn't trust him, and expects that Wolfe has to earn his way. Frankie describes Wolfe as "honest, passionate,smart and crazy". There are twists and turns, betrayals, secrets, threats, kidnappings, danger and murder. The only problem is Frankie is into Wolfe, and Wolfe is obsessed and possessive of Frankie. With all the war and trouble that is going around this could be deadly. I enjoyed seeing a powerful and courageous woman in this novel. I highly recommend this intense novel.
July 21, 2026
I received By Blade, I Protect in return for an honest review from Over The River PR.
Francesca works with her father and helps out where she can. Her father has taken on Wolfe who's walked away from his own family to start over. They have this instant attraction that turns from a whirlwind night into a secret relationship. Wolfe has to prove himself to her father and she has to figure out how to tell her father she's fallen for him. However, being part of the mafia world danger is around every corner.
I started this one before bed and had to put it down so that I didn't stay up all night reading and finished it first thing in the morning as I couldn't wait to see how it would end. I love Francesca she's such a sweetheart considering she's grown up in a mafia family. Wolfe is a perfect swoon-worthy morally grey guy that is perfect for her. They have this spicy connection that neither can deny and Wolfe is playing for keeps.
I've read several of the authors books but this one may just be my favorite so far. The characters were easy to connect with and I loved their instant connection it just works. I'm still having a little book-hanger and can't wait for the next one to come out as I need to know what's going to happen next. The author has done a beautiful job creating a story with just the right amount of spice that keep me hooked till the very last page. Highly recommend if you are looking for a dark mafia romance.
Francesca works with her father and helps out where she can. Her father has taken on Wolfe who's walked away from his own family to start over. They have this instant attraction that turns from a whirlwind night into a secret relationship. Wolfe has to prove himself to her father and she has to figure out how to tell her father she's fallen for him. However, being part of the mafia world danger is around every corner.
I started this one before bed and had to put it down so that I didn't stay up all night reading and finished it first thing in the morning as I couldn't wait to see how it would end. I love Francesca she's such a sweetheart considering she's grown up in a mafia family. Wolfe is a perfect swoon-worthy morally grey guy that is perfect for her. They have this spicy connection that neither can deny and Wolfe is playing for keeps.
I've read several of the authors books but this one may just be my favorite so far. The characters were easy to connect with and I loved their instant connection it just works. I'm still having a little book-hanger and can't wait for the next one to come out as I need to know what's going to happen next. The author has done a beautiful job creating a story with just the right amount of spice that keep me hooked till the very last page. Highly recommend if you are looking for a dark mafia romance.
June 24, 2026
Listen…give me an obsessed mafia man and I’m already halfway sold. Penelope Sky is one of my favorite mafia romance authors, so I had ridiculously high expectations, and Wolfe absolutely delivered.
This man is confident, chaotic, completely unapologetic, and obsessed with Frankie from the second he sees her. I loved that he never played games. He knew what he wanted and spent the entire book proving he was willing to risk everything for her.
Frankie was exactly the kind of FMC I enjoy in mafia romance. She’s not sitting around waiting to be rescued. She’s stitching up bullet wounds, helping run the family business, and holding her own in a world full of dangerous men. Their chemistry, banter, and constant push and pull had me flying through this book.
The action, family loyalty, betrayal, and forbidden romance all came together to make this such a fun read. Wolfe is probably going to live rent free in my head for a while.
My only tiny complaint? The phrase “wet folds.” Every single time it showed up I cringed a little. It completely pulled me out of the scene, and I just know there are approximately a thousand better ways to describe that.
Other than my personal vendetta against those two words, I had an absolute blast with this book. If you’re a mafia romance reader who loves an obsessed MMC, a capable FMC, secret relationships, and enough danger to keep the tension high, definitely pick this one up. Penelope Sky remains one of my auto-read authors.
This man is confident, chaotic, completely unapologetic, and obsessed with Frankie from the second he sees her. I loved that he never played games. He knew what he wanted and spent the entire book proving he was willing to risk everything for her.
Frankie was exactly the kind of FMC I enjoy in mafia romance. She’s not sitting around waiting to be rescued. She’s stitching up bullet wounds, helping run the family business, and holding her own in a world full of dangerous men. Their chemistry, banter, and constant push and pull had me flying through this book.
The action, family loyalty, betrayal, and forbidden romance all came together to make this such a fun read. Wolfe is probably going to live rent free in my head for a while.
My only tiny complaint? The phrase “wet folds.” Every single time it showed up I cringed a little. It completely pulled me out of the scene, and I just know there are approximately a thousand better ways to describe that.
Other than my personal vendetta against those two words, I had an absolute blast with this book. If you’re a mafia romance reader who loves an obsessed MMC, a capable FMC, secret relationships, and enough danger to keep the tension high, definitely pick this one up. Penelope Sky remains one of my auto-read authors.
July 6, 2026
5 “Baby” Stars!!
Ms. Sky I’ll need you to come to the front of the class please!! You wrote your butt off with this book 🙌🏾😁!! And this is just book one!! I didn’t want to put it down!!
I’m absolutely obsessed with Wolfe! He’s everything I want my MMC’s to be. He’s totally unhinged, looks death in the face and laughs at it 😅. He’s psychotic, manic, violent and fearless. I’m so in love with him 🫠. Now Francesca is a beautiful FMC and the only one that can bring Wolfe to his knees 🥰. These two were made for one another in every way. I can’t wait to see how their relationship continues to develop. Thankfully I don’t have to wait too long, book two comes out July 14 YAY!! 😀
All I’m gonna say is download or buy this book immediately! By Blade, I Protect is one heck of a ride. Wolfe will have you swooning, smiling and make you wonder if there is something wrong with you because some of these things he does will have you high five 🖐️ him in your mind 🤭. Great start to this trilogy!! Book one gets two thumbs up from me!!
Ms. Sky I’ll need you to come to the front of the class please!! You wrote your butt off with this book 🙌🏾😁!! And this is just book one!! I didn’t want to put it down!!
I’m absolutely obsessed with Wolfe! He’s everything I want my MMC’s to be. He’s totally unhinged, looks death in the face and laughs at it 😅. He’s psychotic, manic, violent and fearless. I’m so in love with him 🫠. Now Francesca is a beautiful FMC and the only one that can bring Wolfe to his knees 🥰. These two were made for one another in every way. I can’t wait to see how their relationship continues to develop. Thankfully I don’t have to wait too long, book two comes out July 14 YAY!! 😀
All I’m gonna say is download or buy this book immediately! By Blade, I Protect is one heck of a ride. Wolfe will have you swooning, smiling and make you wonder if there is something wrong with you because some of these things he does will have you high five 🖐️ him in your mind 🤭. Great start to this trilogy!! Book one gets two thumbs up from me!!
July 2, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One thing I love about a mafia romance is the unforgettable characters, nonstop tension, and a romance that completely consumes you. @penelopeskyauthor By Blade, I Protect delivered all of that!
From the moment Wolfe entered the story, I was hooked. Not only is he a totally hot MMC, but he’s confident, ruthless, fiercely protective, and absolutely relentless when it comes to Frankie. Underneath all of that tough exterior is a man with his own moral code, and watching him risk everything for the woman he loves made him impossible not to just root for and swoon over.
Frankie was just as compelling. This FMC is strong, intelligent, and determined to keep her heart guarded as she fought her feelings every step of the way. But the chemistry between these two? Absolutely electric. Every interaction was packed with tension, passion, and the kind of obsession that keeps you flipping pages late into the night. The spice was pure perfection.
What I loved most was that this wasn’t just a romance. The mafia politics, betrayals, danger, and constant twists added so much depth to the story and kept me completely invested. Every chapter raised the stakes, and I genuinely had no idea what was coming next.
If you love possessive heroes, high stakes mafia romance, obsessive love, and a story that’s impossible to put down, this one belongs on your TBR. Five stars without question! I devoured every page and can’t wait to continue this series with By Blade, I Vow. 🖤📚
Thank you Penelope for a #gifted copy of your book! By Blade, I Protect is OUT NOW!
#bookreview #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #booksbooksbooks
One thing I love about a mafia romance is the unforgettable characters, nonstop tension, and a romance that completely consumes you. @penelopeskyauthor By Blade, I Protect delivered all of that!
From the moment Wolfe entered the story, I was hooked. Not only is he a totally hot MMC, but he’s confident, ruthless, fiercely protective, and absolutely relentless when it comes to Frankie. Underneath all of that tough exterior is a man with his own moral code, and watching him risk everything for the woman he loves made him impossible not to just root for and swoon over.
Frankie was just as compelling. This FMC is strong, intelligent, and determined to keep her heart guarded as she fought her feelings every step of the way. But the chemistry between these two? Absolutely electric. Every interaction was packed with tension, passion, and the kind of obsession that keeps you flipping pages late into the night. The spice was pure perfection.
What I loved most was that this wasn’t just a romance. The mafia politics, betrayals, danger, and constant twists added so much depth to the story and kept me completely invested. Every chapter raised the stakes, and I genuinely had no idea what was coming next.
If you love possessive heroes, high stakes mafia romance, obsessive love, and a story that’s impossible to put down, this one belongs on your TBR. Five stars without question! I devoured every page and can’t wait to continue this series with By Blade, I Vow. 🖤📚
Thank you Penelope for a #gifted copy of your book! By Blade, I Protect is OUT NOW!
#bookreview #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #booksbooksbooks
July 1, 2026
4.5. Rated R. Contemporary Mafia Romance
I loved it! The ending was excellent the MFC is such a badass. EXCEPT….this was not a standalone. Grrrrrr
Cliffhanger. I will be reading the next two when they come out. Not long thank goodness.
Now, the MMC….well….if you enjoy a badass alpha male, these are words used to describe him:
Intense, domineering, deranged, manic, psychotic, a fucking killing machine … just to name a few.
His words: “If I’m not on the cusp of death, I get anxiety.”
“I don’t feel fear or pain……addicted to adrenaline……utterly calm in a gunfight.”
Not sure I’d want him but loved reading the book. 😜
Great description of the Mafia world.
Recommend!
I loved it! The ending was excellent the MFC is such a badass. EXCEPT….this was not a standalone. Grrrrrr
Cliffhanger. I will be reading the next two when they come out. Not long thank goodness.
Now, the MMC….well….if you enjoy a badass alpha male, these are words used to describe him:
Intense, domineering, deranged, manic, psychotic, a fucking killing machine … just to name a few.
His words: “If I’m not on the cusp of death, I get anxiety.”
“I don’t feel fear or pain……addicted to adrenaline……utterly calm in a gunfight.”
Not sure I’d want him but loved reading the book. 😜
Great description of the Mafia world.
Recommend!
July 11, 2026
Loved this book!! Wolfe is former Cosa Nostra and turns his back on them. He ends up working for another family and they have no idea who he is. Frankie is the daughter of the don who he is working for & it is made known to everyone that she is off limits. Wolfe doesn’t care about anyone’s rules when it comes to getting what he wants and he wants Frankie!! I love a strong mmc who says he will burn the world down for his woman & actually does just that!! This book had great action, plenty of spice and a good plot!!
July 3, 2026
Wolfe Wolfe Wolfe 🔥 this man is funny, possessive and has a dark sense of humor! Wolfe finds himself attracted to his new bosses daughter…and their relationship sparks hard and FAST! Francesca is bossy, sassy and JEALOUS! Wolfe is not afraid to tell her how it is and risk his life for her…and her family! The ending leave off is Francesca having just fought for her life and Wolfe leaving her with an ultimatum to tell her father about them… 👀 I can’t wait for book two!
July 24, 2026
not really engaging
I found this book to be boring. It was a recommendation and unfortunately it fell short. Wolfe was crazy…but was he really? He just wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty for the boss but he wasn’t truly unhinged. I also never felt the chemistry between him and Francesca. Their super fast relationship took up most of the book but I was never invested in it. I did like that he taught her to use a blade to defend herself. I didn’t like this one much
I found this book to be boring. It was a recommendation and unfortunately it fell short. Wolfe was crazy…but was he really? He just wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty for the boss but he wasn’t truly unhinged. I also never felt the chemistry between him and Francesca. Their super fast relationship took up most of the book but I was never invested in it. I did like that he taught her to use a blade to defend herself. I didn’t like this one much
June 15, 2026
I’ve enjoyed every book by Penelope Sky so far and I guess it’s just going to continue being that way! This book had just enough spice but also a good storyline. Obsessive MMC that falls first. Giving touch her and d!e vibes. Mafia. This is book 1 in the series and now I need book 2 immediately to continue their story!
July 13, 2026
cristo 🤦♀️
July 19, 2026
Started off okay but didn’t make it past the first spicy scene. Wondering if it is AI based on how terrible the writing was. Read a lot of spicy, mafia romance and never been so immediately turned off by writing in a scene.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
**𝓝𝓞 𝓢𝓟𝓞𝓘𝓛𝓔𝓡𝓢**
⚜️𝔻𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕠𝕗-
𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫, NetGalley 𝐚𝐧𝐝 Dreamscape Media 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰, 𝐢𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤.
⚜️ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤-
* 🗣 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 Ramona Master ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Michael Ferraiuolo ⭐️⭐️ his performance was ok but he was an extremely poor casting choice so this let him down massively!
* 📚 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 ⭐️⭐️.75 / 5
* 🌡️ 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲🌶🌶🌶 / 5 -𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑦 𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑠
* Which books have I also given this same rating? (𝑠𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑦𝑙𝑒𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑤𝑛)
5⭐️ Fourth wing / Bound by inked flame / Anathama / The Lies of Lena / Of silver and Curses
4.5⭐️ Bitten / The Female / Quicksilver / Bride / Lights Out / A Bargain so Bloody
4⭐️ Spellcaster / One Dark Window / From Blood and Ash / Phantasma / Butcher & Blackbird
3⭐️We Who Will Die / The Wolf King / Daughter of No Worlds / The Ex Hex
📝Cliff Notes Review-
Overall, this one had a lot of elements that I would normally enjoy, but the rushed romance, lack of character development, and constant cringe made it a miss for me. The audio was very poorly cast so that didn’t help either.
⚜️𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫 𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒓, 𝑳𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑵 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒕?⚜️
(𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡- 𝐵𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑜𝑟 𝐴𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑜?) erm… perhaps just skip it altogether?
⚜️𝔸𝕦𝕕𝕚𝕠 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨:
I didn’t love the narrators. It was ok, nothing terrible, but not addictive or particularly memorable either. I just didn’t feel like either voice fit the characters very well. Wolfe’s voice should have been much deeper, especially considering how often we’re reminded of his size. Ramona Master isn't bad, but sounds like a breathy teenager. I got really bored listening to Michael Ferraiuolo. He's not at all a good casting choice for a 6'6" muscular and tattooed man! He gives soft and pushover vibes, not fudge with me and find out mafia vibes. The voice qualities simply don't fit the characters.
Book review-
Penelope Sky is a new author to me although I am aware she is very much a content mill, pushing out multiple series alongside the romantasy series under Penelope Barsetti every couple of months. The rapid release suggests to me that it is all about the money not the story, leaning heavily on common tropes, predictable plots, and underdeveloped characters so, although I was intrigued- I went into this with low expectations.
The writing style isn’t the issue; it’s the content that falls short.
so this has many elements I enjoy, hence how I was attracted to it, but this one is... not good. Now I’m not usually a mafia reader having only picked up a handful and enjoyed maybe just over half of them- so I could be biased here, but It's full of boring mafia politics and male pi55ing contests.
I think a lot happened just before the book ended and would have liked more plot development in the beginning. It was a quick read so I imagine the next few books will get further into detail regarding the plot.
The relationship doesn't come across as genuine or remotely believable, and this is coming from a fantasy reader that enjoys ‘dark fairy smut’.
The characters aren't well developed, and aren't engaging.
Frankie is a two dimensional character and the only thing we know about her is she's a nurse. She has no other characteristics and could have been absolutely anyone without effecting the plot.
Wolfe is direct in a predatory way, not in a charming or disarming way. If this was a wolf shifter book I’d totally go for it, as I expect that. But even in a fictional book he was overly heavy handed and far to obsessive way to quickly. I loved his cocky attitude and the way he knew his worth but I didn’t love how he just decided she was his as it read more like a serial killer-I own you now and you can not say no or do anything without permission kind of way rather than an addictive, obsessive and devoted kind of way. I half expected him to chain her up in a cellar and throw away the key to be honest. His arrogance was actually kind of hot at first, but the longer the book went on, the more it started giving me the ick. Wolfe was clearly written to be confident, obsessed, and persistent, but for me, he came across as more of an arse, just arrogant and frustrating than irresistibly obsessive. I kept waiting for that spark that would make me fully understand Frankie's attraction to him, and it never quite clicked for me.
The book really tries to convince us that “duration has no impact on their feelings,” which I can understand, especially as you can know someone for months but only spend a few hours a week talking or seeing them, or you can push all those hours together and spent a full week with someone and get the same result. BUT- these two spend all of their time strictly in public / mafia view, or having sex followed by a little cuddling and have had maybe ONE real conversation which came at the end of the book. I just didn’t buy into the their ‘relationship’ one bit. I found myself wanting far more communication between the two that had actual outcomes. There were several moments where a conversation could have cleared things up, added some depth and just made for a better read.
The spice is just as undeveloped as the rest of the story. No build-up, no female pleasure or female female power, just instant arousal at the sight of a p*rn-star c*ck, followed by his finish signaling the end of the scene. It reads like male-focused p*rn rather than hot, steamy, passionate shmex, plus, there is no way she wasn’t sore and considering he fell in love instantly- he didn’t ever care for her comfort or after care, never mind preparations, or her orgasms.
Another thing that bothered me was the complete lack of discussion or awareness of protection (from diseases more so than pregnancy) She’s fully aware that he’s slept with half the city, and then paid for the other half, yet there’s not even a passing thought about using condoms, having tests or- at this point I’d have accepted the pill for pregnancy prevention just to see he cares for her health.
-I also found it disturbing that he constantly talks about how he’s everyone’s type and can have anyone he wants, only to later reveal that he paid for sex “a lot”, I get this is probably something close to him to do with his past but also- ewww for the same reason. No spoilers but Iykyk.
🪧𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
I don’t regret reading it but I wouldn’t read the next one, Even with my frustrations, I was never bored. The pacing kept me engaged, the audiobook was easy to binge. I’m not sure I’d pick up another book by this author either.
𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠;
𝕋𝕚𝕜𝕋𝕠𝕜
https://www.tiktok.com/@your_bookish_...
IᑎՏTᗩ
https://www.instagram.com/your_bookis...
***********************
𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕤:
⭐️ DNF
⭐️⭐️
I managed to finish it but it was rubbish. I won't keep a physical copy and won't recommend it, but it's a shame as the plot could have made a good book in another author's hands
⭐️⭐️.5
It was OK. I wish I didn't start this one as it didn't do it for me as I struggled to read it. It had an interesting premise that fell flat but I had to see what happened in the end.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don't regret reading it, and I will read the next one, but this one did have a few flaws. [These could be repetitive writing, gaps or plot holes, better character growth or world building, areas needing more detail]
Generally, the book lacked depth and became confusing. The plot resonated with me even though it annoyed me on the whole.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to the right people, but I wanted more! Sadly, it's easily forgettable with a few issues I just couldn't overlook/get past.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good book! I loved it, but... I needed more! I really did enjoy it, but it had a few parts that needed more detail or added history/background or lore. But that's because the story or characters were memorable, and the plot was strong with brilliant twists. I would re-read if I needed to catch up for the next book and would recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Great book! I truly wish the story had been thought about more, or the author had been given more time as this book is so close to brilliance! I will likely read again and will definitely be recommending it to all!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW! Absolutely amazing book! Well written with great characters and a plot so memorable that it will stay with me. I will definitely read this again, I will be recommending it and sharing it with the whole world! Also- I NEED A PHYSICAL COPY!
🔥⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥
This is my God level tier. The book must be perfectly memorable. Even after reading 50+ more books, I will remember character names and emotions along with the plot. If there is a special edition, then I need to own it! If there is a conversation on books- I'm talking about this!
SPICE SCALE:
🌶️– segsual language and a little on-page action
🌶️🌶️– a lot of segsual language and some on-page open door action, may be occurring a couple of times
🌶️🌶️🌶️– a lot of explicit action and dirty talk, occurring frequently with 2/3 lurvers
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – super graphic and explicit, occurring 4 or more times, can be more grey and taboo themed.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – Kinks and Fet!shism, explicit and super graphic. It is likely to be tushy play, toys, playrooms, and more dark / taboo fantasies and realities.
⚜️𝔻𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕠𝕗-
𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫, NetGalley 𝐚𝐧𝐝 Dreamscape Media 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰, 𝐢𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤.
⚜️ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤-
* 🗣 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 Ramona Master ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Michael Ferraiuolo ⭐️⭐️ his performance was ok but he was an extremely poor casting choice so this let him down massively!
* 📚 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 ⭐️⭐️.75 / 5
* 🌡️ 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲🌶🌶🌶 / 5 -𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑦 𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑠
* Which books have I also given this same rating? (𝑠𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑦𝑙𝑒𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑤𝑛)
5⭐️ Fourth wing / Bound by inked flame / Anathama / The Lies of Lena / Of silver and Curses
4.5⭐️ Bitten / The Female / Quicksilver / Bride / Lights Out / A Bargain so Bloody
4⭐️ Spellcaster / One Dark Window / From Blood and Ash / Phantasma / Butcher & Blackbird
3⭐️We Who Will Die / The Wolf King / Daughter of No Worlds / The Ex Hex
📝Cliff Notes Review-
Overall, this one had a lot of elements that I would normally enjoy, but the rushed romance, lack of character development, and constant cringe made it a miss for me. The audio was very poorly cast so that didn’t help either.
⚜️𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫 𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒓, 𝑳𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑵 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒕?⚜️
(𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡- 𝐵𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑜𝑟 𝐴𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑜?) erm… perhaps just skip it altogether?
⚜️𝔸𝕦𝕕𝕚𝕠 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨:
I didn’t love the narrators. It was ok, nothing terrible, but not addictive or particularly memorable either. I just didn’t feel like either voice fit the characters very well. Wolfe’s voice should have been much deeper, especially considering how often we’re reminded of his size. Ramona Master isn't bad, but sounds like a breathy teenager. I got really bored listening to Michael Ferraiuolo. He's not at all a good casting choice for a 6'6" muscular and tattooed man! He gives soft and pushover vibes, not fudge with me and find out mafia vibes. The voice qualities simply don't fit the characters.
Book review-
Penelope Sky is a new author to me although I am aware she is very much a content mill, pushing out multiple series alongside the romantasy series under Penelope Barsetti every couple of months. The rapid release suggests to me that it is all about the money not the story, leaning heavily on common tropes, predictable plots, and underdeveloped characters so, although I was intrigued- I went into this with low expectations.
The writing style isn’t the issue; it’s the content that falls short.
so this has many elements I enjoy, hence how I was attracted to it, but this one is... not good. Now I’m not usually a mafia reader having only picked up a handful and enjoyed maybe just over half of them- so I could be biased here, but It's full of boring mafia politics and male pi55ing contests.
I think a lot happened just before the book ended and would have liked more plot development in the beginning. It was a quick read so I imagine the next few books will get further into detail regarding the plot.
The relationship doesn't come across as genuine or remotely believable, and this is coming from a fantasy reader that enjoys ‘dark fairy smut’.
The characters aren't well developed, and aren't engaging.
Frankie is a two dimensional character and the only thing we know about her is she's a nurse. She has no other characteristics and could have been absolutely anyone without effecting the plot.
Wolfe is direct in a predatory way, not in a charming or disarming way. If this was a wolf shifter book I’d totally go for it, as I expect that. But even in a fictional book he was overly heavy handed and far to obsessive way to quickly. I loved his cocky attitude and the way he knew his worth but I didn’t love how he just decided she was his as it read more like a serial killer-I own you now and you can not say no or do anything without permission kind of way rather than an addictive, obsessive and devoted kind of way. I half expected him to chain her up in a cellar and throw away the key to be honest. His arrogance was actually kind of hot at first, but the longer the book went on, the more it started giving me the ick. Wolfe was clearly written to be confident, obsessed, and persistent, but for me, he came across as more of an arse, just arrogant and frustrating than irresistibly obsessive. I kept waiting for that spark that would make me fully understand Frankie's attraction to him, and it never quite clicked for me.
The book really tries to convince us that “duration has no impact on their feelings,” which I can understand, especially as you can know someone for months but only spend a few hours a week talking or seeing them, or you can push all those hours together and spent a full week with someone and get the same result. BUT- these two spend all of their time strictly in public / mafia view, or having sex followed by a little cuddling and have had maybe ONE real conversation which came at the end of the book. I just didn’t buy into the their ‘relationship’ one bit. I found myself wanting far more communication between the two that had actual outcomes. There were several moments where a conversation could have cleared things up, added some depth and just made for a better read.
The spice is just as undeveloped as the rest of the story. No build-up, no female pleasure or female female power, just instant arousal at the sight of a p*rn-star c*ck, followed by his finish signaling the end of the scene. It reads like male-focused p*rn rather than hot, steamy, passionate shmex, plus, there is no way she wasn’t sore and considering he fell in love instantly- he didn’t ever care for her comfort or after care, never mind preparations, or her orgasms.
Another thing that bothered me was the complete lack of discussion or awareness of protection (from diseases more so than pregnancy) She’s fully aware that he’s slept with half the city, and then paid for the other half, yet there’s not even a passing thought about using condoms, having tests or- at this point I’d have accepted the pill for pregnancy prevention just to see he cares for her health.
-I also found it disturbing that he constantly talks about how he’s everyone’s type and can have anyone he wants, only to later reveal that he paid for sex “a lot”, I get this is probably something close to him to do with his past but also- ewww for the same reason. No spoilers but Iykyk.
🪧𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
I don’t regret reading it but I wouldn’t read the next one, Even with my frustrations, I was never bored. The pacing kept me engaged, the audiobook was easy to binge. I’m not sure I’d pick up another book by this author either.
𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠;
𝕋𝕚𝕜𝕋𝕠𝕜
https://www.tiktok.com/@your_bookish_...
IᑎՏTᗩ
https://www.instagram.com/your_bookis...
***********************
𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕤:
⭐️ DNF
⭐️⭐️
I managed to finish it but it was rubbish. I won't keep a physical copy and won't recommend it, but it's a shame as the plot could have made a good book in another author's hands
⭐️⭐️.5
It was OK. I wish I didn't start this one as it didn't do it for me as I struggled to read it. It had an interesting premise that fell flat but I had to see what happened in the end.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don't regret reading it, and I will read the next one, but this one did have a few flaws. [These could be repetitive writing, gaps or plot holes, better character growth or world building, areas needing more detail]
Generally, the book lacked depth and became confusing. The plot resonated with me even though it annoyed me on the whole.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to the right people, but I wanted more! Sadly, it's easily forgettable with a few issues I just couldn't overlook/get past.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good book! I loved it, but... I needed more! I really did enjoy it, but it had a few parts that needed more detail or added history/background or lore. But that's because the story or characters were memorable, and the plot was strong with brilliant twists. I would re-read if I needed to catch up for the next book and would recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Great book! I truly wish the story had been thought about more, or the author had been given more time as this book is so close to brilliance! I will likely read again and will definitely be recommending it to all!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW! Absolutely amazing book! Well written with great characters and a plot so memorable that it will stay with me. I will definitely read this again, I will be recommending it and sharing it with the whole world! Also- I NEED A PHYSICAL COPY!
🔥⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥
This is my God level tier. The book must be perfectly memorable. Even after reading 50+ more books, I will remember character names and emotions along with the plot. If there is a special edition, then I need to own it! If there is a conversation on books- I'm talking about this!
SPICE SCALE:
🌶️– segsual language and a little on-page action
🌶️🌶️– a lot of segsual language and some on-page open door action, may be occurring a couple of times
🌶️🌶️🌶️– a lot of explicit action and dirty talk, occurring frequently with 2/3 lurvers
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – super graphic and explicit, occurring 4 or more times, can be more grey and taboo themed.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – Kinks and Fet!shism, explicit and super graphic. It is likely to be tushy play, toys, playrooms, and more dark / taboo fantasies and realities.
July 31, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars
Wolfe is a cocky jackass... and I love it. 😏🔥
I inhaled all three books in just a few days. This series wasn't even on my radar. It kind of appeared out of nowhere without all the anticipation and hype I'm used to seeing with other PS series. Or at least, that's how it felt to me.
Wolfe (33) has no biological family and is the #2 man to Italy's Cosa Nostra Don. The two are close, and Wolfe is expected to take over when the Don retires. That is, until the Don decides to lead the Cosa Nostra into some business Wolfe refuses to be part of. Wolfe walks away, which would normally be a death sentence, but Don Russo surprisingly allows him to leave.
Looking for a new purpose, Wolfe offers his services to rival Don Mancini because he respects the way he runs his organization. Wolfe has never had a girlfriend, never been in love, and honestly never wanted any of that. But the second he lays eyes on the Don's daughter, Francesca (26), the man is absolutely gobsmacked. ❤️🔥
Unlike many men in the mafia world, Don Mancini never treated Francesca like a pretty possession to be traded away. She's intelligent, capable, and tough as nails, and he decides she'll be the one to take over the family when he retires (or dies), not his son Leo. He respects her abilities, but he's still an overprotective father... and pretty much no man is good enough for his daughter—especially one who works for him. 😅 Francesca has only had one relationship, if you can even call it that, but she's just as captivated by Wolfe from the moment they meet.
The trilogy was a fantastic blend of romance and mafia action. There was plenty of tension, violence, mystery, and excitement as the Skull King terrorized the underworld alongside his henchman, Icarus. I was here for all of it—the romance, the bloodshed, the suspense... everything. 🖤🔫
That said, I enjoyed Books 1 and 2 quite a bit more than the finale.
Wolfe and Francesca are both incredibly strong main characters, but in my opinion, the author dropped the ball in Book 3. No spoilers, but I felt like she completely neutered Wolfe by the end. It was as if he reached down, ripped off his own balls, and handed them to Francesca to tuck into her handbag. 😂
Wolfe is a mentally and physically strong man who's a born leader. He came to the Mancinis with years of experience, invaluable contacts, and there was a reason he was destined to become the next head of the Cosa Nostra. In the first two books, I loved how both Wolfe and Francesca had a healthy give-and-take. Neither one diminished the other. They recognized and respected each other's strengths. They felt like the ultimate power couple in the making. 💪❤️
By the end, though, Wolfe was suddenly saying things like, "You don't need to take my name when we marry," "The children don't need my last name," and "What's mine is yours, and what's yours is yours." He basically became Francesca's personal bodyguard. During one meeting with an arms dealer at a restaurant, she sat at the table while Wolfe stood behind her instead of having a seat himself. That was just one of several moments where I felt the author diminished Wolfe in an effort to make Francesca seem more powerful.
The thing is... it wasn't necessary. They were already both powerful. I would've much rather seen them continue working together as equals instead of shifting into a boss-and-bodyguard dynamic.
Even with that disappointment, this was still a great read, and I flew through the trilogy. ❤️
Book 1: By Blade I Protect (4 stars) Wolfe and Francesca relationship building.
Book 2: By Blade I Vow (4 stars) They make their stand together as a solid unit.
Book 3: By Blade I Love (3.4 stars) HEA albeit with a neutered Wolfe.
Wolfe is a cocky jackass... and I love it. 😏🔥
I inhaled all three books in just a few days. This series wasn't even on my radar. It kind of appeared out of nowhere without all the anticipation and hype I'm used to seeing with other PS series. Or at least, that's how it felt to me.
Wolfe (33) has no biological family and is the #2 man to Italy's Cosa Nostra Don. The two are close, and Wolfe is expected to take over when the Don retires. That is, until the Don decides to lead the Cosa Nostra into some business Wolfe refuses to be part of. Wolfe walks away, which would normally be a death sentence, but Don Russo surprisingly allows him to leave.
Looking for a new purpose, Wolfe offers his services to rival Don Mancini because he respects the way he runs his organization. Wolfe has never had a girlfriend, never been in love, and honestly never wanted any of that. But the second he lays eyes on the Don's daughter, Francesca (26), the man is absolutely gobsmacked. ❤️🔥
Unlike many men in the mafia world, Don Mancini never treated Francesca like a pretty possession to be traded away. She's intelligent, capable, and tough as nails, and he decides she'll be the one to take over the family when he retires (or dies), not his son Leo. He respects her abilities, but he's still an overprotective father... and pretty much no man is good enough for his daughter—especially one who works for him. 😅 Francesca has only had one relationship, if you can even call it that, but she's just as captivated by Wolfe from the moment they meet.
The trilogy was a fantastic blend of romance and mafia action. There was plenty of tension, violence, mystery, and excitement as the Skull King terrorized the underworld alongside his henchman, Icarus. I was here for all of it—the romance, the bloodshed, the suspense... everything. 🖤🔫
That said, I enjoyed Books 1 and 2 quite a bit more than the finale.
Wolfe and Francesca are both incredibly strong main characters, but in my opinion, the author dropped the ball in Book 3. No spoilers, but I felt like she completely neutered Wolfe by the end. It was as if he reached down, ripped off his own balls, and handed them to Francesca to tuck into her handbag. 😂
Wolfe is a mentally and physically strong man who's a born leader. He came to the Mancinis with years of experience, invaluable contacts, and there was a reason he was destined to become the next head of the Cosa Nostra. In the first two books, I loved how both Wolfe and Francesca had a healthy give-and-take. Neither one diminished the other. They recognized and respected each other's strengths. They felt like the ultimate power couple in the making. 💪❤️
By the end, though, Wolfe was suddenly saying things like, "You don't need to take my name when we marry," "The children don't need my last name," and "What's mine is yours, and what's yours is yours." He basically became Francesca's personal bodyguard. During one meeting with an arms dealer at a restaurant, she sat at the table while Wolfe stood behind her instead of having a seat himself. That was just one of several moments where I felt the author diminished Wolfe in an effort to make Francesca seem more powerful.
The thing is... it wasn't necessary. They were already both powerful. I would've much rather seen them continue working together as equals instead of shifting into a boss-and-bodyguard dynamic.
Even with that disappointment, this was still a great read, and I flew through the trilogy. ❤️
Book 1: By Blade I Protect (4 stars) Wolfe and Francesca relationship building.
Book 2: By Blade I Vow (4 stars) They make their stand together as a solid unit.
Book 3: By Blade I Love (3.4 stars) HEA albeit with a neutered Wolfe.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As someone who can never get enough mafia romance, By Blade, I Protect completely pulled me in from the very first chapter. ❤️🔪 Set against the breathtaking yet brutal landscape of Sicily, this story delivers everything I look for in the genre—danger, obsession, family loyalty, explosive chemistry, and enough suspense to keep me glued to every page.
Wolfe is the definition of a dangerous man. After walking away from the Cosa Nostra following internal conflicts, he finds himself working for a rival Sicilian family. He's ruthless, lethal, and feared by everyone around him—but the moment he meets Francesca "Frankie," all logic goes out the window. 😏🔥 His attraction to her is immediate, intense, and honestly a little unhinged in the most entertaining way possible.
Frankie is far from a helpless mafia princess. As both her family's nurse and an important part of their operation, she's smart, capable, and determined to stay in control of her own life. Watching her constantly battle her growing feelings for Wolfe was incredibly entertaining. While she starts off more guarded and resistant, her true fire shines later in the story, and once that side of her emerges, she absolutely owns every scene she's in. 👏❤️
The chemistry between Wolfe and Frankie is off the charts. Their secret relationship creates endless tension, stolen moments, and plenty of emotional turmoil. Wolfe's devotion quickly turns into full-blown obsession, and the lengths he's willing to go just to spend time with Frankie had me laughing, swooning, and shaking my head all at once. 😂😍 The banter between them is sharp, chaotic, flirtatious, and wildly addictive.
Beyond the romance, there's plenty of intrigue woven throughout the story. With confidential information finding its way into the wrong hands and trust becoming increasingly fragile, suspicion begins to spread through the family. Wolfe finds himself caught in the middle of it all, forcing both him and Frankie to confront impossible choices while enemies circle closer. ⚔️🖤
What I loved most was how well the book balanced action, emotion, humor, and romance. The relationships feel intense, the stakes are high, and the emotional moments hit hard. Wolfe may seem like a walking red flag at first glance, but underneath all the danger is a man who would burn the world down for the woman he loves. 🥹❤️
The audiobook experience made the story even better. 🎧✨ Ramona Master and Michael Ferraiuolo brought so much life and emotion to these characters. They captured the tension, vulnerability, humor, and passion beautifully. If I had one tiny criticism, it would be that I imagined Wolfe's voice with a bit more roughness and grit. Even so, both narrators delivered a performance that kept me fully invested from beginning to end.
Overall, By Blade, I Protect is a thrilling mix of mafia drama, forbidden romance, family loyalty, obsession, betrayal, and sizzling chemistry. 🌹🔥🗡️ The story is emotional, entertaining, and impossible to put down. And after that ending? I'm already counting down the days until the next book because I need more of Wolfe and Frankie immediately! ❤️📚
Wolfe is the definition of a dangerous man. After walking away from the Cosa Nostra following internal conflicts, he finds himself working for a rival Sicilian family. He's ruthless, lethal, and feared by everyone around him—but the moment he meets Francesca "Frankie," all logic goes out the window. 😏🔥 His attraction to her is immediate, intense, and honestly a little unhinged in the most entertaining way possible.
Frankie is far from a helpless mafia princess. As both her family's nurse and an important part of their operation, she's smart, capable, and determined to stay in control of her own life. Watching her constantly battle her growing feelings for Wolfe was incredibly entertaining. While she starts off more guarded and resistant, her true fire shines later in the story, and once that side of her emerges, she absolutely owns every scene she's in. 👏❤️
The chemistry between Wolfe and Frankie is off the charts. Their secret relationship creates endless tension, stolen moments, and plenty of emotional turmoil. Wolfe's devotion quickly turns into full-blown obsession, and the lengths he's willing to go just to spend time with Frankie had me laughing, swooning, and shaking my head all at once. 😂😍 The banter between them is sharp, chaotic, flirtatious, and wildly addictive.
Beyond the romance, there's plenty of intrigue woven throughout the story. With confidential information finding its way into the wrong hands and trust becoming increasingly fragile, suspicion begins to spread through the family. Wolfe finds himself caught in the middle of it all, forcing both him and Frankie to confront impossible choices while enemies circle closer. ⚔️🖤
What I loved most was how well the book balanced action, emotion, humor, and romance. The relationships feel intense, the stakes are high, and the emotional moments hit hard. Wolfe may seem like a walking red flag at first glance, but underneath all the danger is a man who would burn the world down for the woman he loves. 🥹❤️
The audiobook experience made the story even better. 🎧✨ Ramona Master and Michael Ferraiuolo brought so much life and emotion to these characters. They captured the tension, vulnerability, humor, and passion beautifully. If I had one tiny criticism, it would be that I imagined Wolfe's voice with a bit more roughness and grit. Even so, both narrators delivered a performance that kept me fully invested from beginning to end.
Overall, By Blade, I Protect is a thrilling mix of mafia drama, forbidden romance, family loyalty, obsession, betrayal, and sizzling chemistry. 🌹🔥🗡️ The story is emotional, entertaining, and impossible to put down. And after that ending? I'm already counting down the days until the next book because I need more of Wolfe and Frankie immediately! ❤️📚
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