Vows and Vendettas: A Laugh-Out-Loud Mafia Rom-Com

by Trilina Pucci

USA Today bestselling author Trilina Pucci weaves red-hot banter and plenty of spice into an enemies-to-lovers mafia romance filled with false identities, family secrets, and one not-so-forced marriage.

Francesca DeLuca, daughter of the infamous “Butcher of Bergamo,” would sooner jump into a river wearing cement shoes than go on another blind date. She only agrees so her annoying sisters will stop pestering her. But when the night goes from bad to worse, she finds herself tripping over her own stilettos—and into the arms of a sexy stranger.

John Dolan, the self-assured owner of several restaurants in Boston, smells like heaven and looks like a god. After fate throws him and Francesca together not once but twice, he’s determined to make her his. But the seductive Irishman isn’t exactly what he seems.

Like moths to a flame, they spend one electrifying weekend together. But when Francesca’s father disappears, John’s lies start to crack. Shocking secrets trigger an explosive confrontation, setting their powerful families at odds. And when the would-be lovers are forced to exchange vows, their marriage tests the limits of old family vendettas—and their faltering self-control.

Genres: Dark Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Mafia Romance, Rom Com

331 pages, Paperback

Expected publication December 8, 2026

About the author

Before I became a romance author, I was a professional dancer. These days, I emotionally choreograph people’s lives instead...on paper.

Most days you’ll find me writing spicy love stories, creating playlists I absolutely don’t need, and convincing myself that staying up until 2 AM to finish a book is a perfectly reasonable life choice.

My big, loud, rambunctious Italian family has also provided plenty of inspiration over the years. In fact, I may or may not have stolen a few names for my Mafia heroes.

Allegedly.

These days, I’m a #1 Amazon and USA Today bestselling author, but the truth is, I didn’t set out to become “the romance author.”

I just loved stories.

The kind that make you laugh unexpectedly. The kind that punch you right in the feelings. The kind that leave you staring at the ceiling at 1 AM thinking about fictional people like they’re real.

And somewhere along the way, I decided I wanted to create those stories too.

Reviews

[That Lady Reads]

⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Vows and Vendettas had some really interesting ideas and moments that kept me curious, but unfortunately, it didn’t completely live up to my expectations.

For the actually plot not in kick in until the 60% mark was disappointing, considering that was my reason behind wanting to read this book.

As always, Ms Pucci always delivers on the delicious spice and oh boy it was. Their relationship had vast amount of banter and sensual moments but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to justify the plot being left behind for majority of the time.

Loved that she was 39 and he was 45, not very often we get main characters of that age group, however to me they were more acting as 2 people between the ages of 25-35.

In the end unfortunately this was boring for me. I really enjoyed the texting between the two and the fighting scene between the two. Also the first conversation between Joseph and Callan has very humorous.

Please can my opinion with a grain of salt.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher to this eARC!

[Euphonious Times]

This was such a fun read, it’s like Mr and Mrs Smith meets Irish/Italian Mafia but a rom com !

I loved the banter and the push and pull between the MCs (which I appreciated being in their 40s) and the book was definitely more character focused rather than plot.

I absolutely adore how obsessed Callan was about Francesca and how he was willing to risk it all and wouldn’t give up on her, everyone deserves that!

[Sneha R]

Having read Vows and Vendettas, I found it to be a refreshing take on the mafia romance genre. Trilina Pucci takes familiar elements such as rival families, secret identities, and a forced marriage and injects them with humor, heart, and laugh-out-loud moments that keep the story entertaining from beginning to end.

Francesca is a standout heroine. She's witty, stubborn, and determined to live life on her own terms despite the expectations of her powerful family. Her internal struggle between independence and loyalty adds depth to what could have been a straightforward romantic comedy. I particularly enjoyed her sarcastic humor and the way she refused to be intimidated by anyone, including John.

John Dolan is equally compelling. What initially seems like a confident, charming businessman slowly unfolds into something much more complex. His secrets create much of the story's tension, but his genuine affection for Francesca makes him easy to root for. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and their banter is some of the book's strongest material.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its tone. While the story includes mafia politics and family feuds, it never becomes overwhelmingly dark. Instead, Pucci cleverly balances high-stakes situations with comedic misunderstandings, quirky side characters, and perfectly timed humor. The result is a romance that feels exciting without becoming emotionally exhausting.

The forced-marriage plotline works particularly well because it creates natural opportunities for both conflict and character growth. Watching Francesca and John navigate trust issues while battling external pressures makes their romantic journey feel satisfying and believable.

Overall, Vows and Vendettas is a delightful mafia rom-com that successfully combines romance, comedy, and family drama. Fans of enemies-to-lovers stories, forced marriages, secret identities, and chaotic family dynamics will find plenty to enjoy. It's the kind of book that makes you laugh, swoon, and turn pages long after you should have gone to bed.

[The Millennial Mood Reader]

𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘: 𝑽𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑽𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒔

5⭐️
3🌶️

Mafia Romance
Rom-Com
False Identities
Strangers to Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
Possessive/Obsessive MMC
Strong FMC
Mature MCs
Family Secrets
“My Wife”
Spicy belt scene
Meddling families


Trilina is a go to author for me so when I saw this book pop up I knew I had to read it! This a hilarious dark rom-com with banter that will have you laughing to the point of tears.

Picture this: a modern day Mr. & Mrs Smith (the fight scene) take on Romeo and Juliet! Meddljng families and all!

Jane and John are mature MCs in their 30/40s and are both the first borns in their families.
Francesca aka “Jane”, aka “Franks” is a single, sassy, sarcastic FMC, and gosh did I loved her dialogue. She is such a baddie!

Callan is every bit the broody, obsessed morally grey Irish mafia man with a big heart,especially when it comes to family. This man was taken by her immediately! He literally swept her off her feet!

Loved how they both tried to act like they didn’t want more! They couldn’t help but dance around each other. The pull between them was insane! The chemistry… off the charts HOT!🔥🔥🔥

The banter between not only the MMC and FMC but the siblings and other side characters had me cracking up!!
Poor Tommy… guy couldn’t catch a break! 🤣

The sisters had me wheezing! I love that they roast each other and kept each other humble!

She is made him work 👏🏼for👏🏼 it 👏🏼 and I was eating it up! And my man Callan was sooooo down bad for her and possessive! Whew that man!

Oh and THAT belt scene…🥵 I can say that was a first for me, whew!

There are also some sweet moments too!

Aaaaaannnnddddd, Holy Plot twist!!! Yeah, this book kept me seated and I could not put it down! If you enjoy laugh out loud rom-coms with morally grey vibes then you will love this!


Thanks to Author Trilina Pucci, Montlake and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Ishika]

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was available as a “Read now” title on NetGalley, so I picked it up directly rather than requesting it.

Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me, and I ended up giving it 2 stars. I really struggled with both the characters and the plot. I felt like the mmc and fmc came across as quite childish, and honestly, they didn't feel like the ages they were supposed to be in the book. Their behaviour just didn't feel believable to me for their age.

I also really didn't enjoy the amount of insta-lust throughout the book. It felt like it was constantly there, and after a while it became too much for me. I also didn't really like the combination of mafia and comedy. That particular mix just didn't work for me, and I found it difficult to get into the tone of the story.

The plot itself also didn't really work for me. I kept hoping I'd become more invested as I continued reading, but unfortunately, that never happened.

I did appreciate that it was dual pov because I usually like getting both characters' perspectives, but I personally prefer first person. And the pov switching in this book was particularly confusing for me. There would sometimes be no clear break between the two perspectives, so one sentence would be in Francesca's pov and then the very next sentence would suddenly switch to Callan's pov. There wasn't even a heading indicating that the pov had changed, which made it quite difficult to follow at times.

I know this is a pretty negative review, but these are just the things that didn't work for me personally. I'm sure this book will work better for readers who enjoy insta lust and a mafia romance and comedy together, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me.

[Rachel Litteral]

4.75 out of 5 stars - Thank you Netgalley for an arc!

I am OBSESSED with this book. Seriously, I could not put it down. Callum is the perfect brooding Irish mafia man who is convinced he has no heart, and then along comes Francesca—the surprise he never saw coming. Watching her completely disrupt his carefully controlled world was everything.
The yearning between these two was absolutely delicious. I especially loved Callum’s musings about Francesca’s outfits and his very strong desire to burn them so no one else could see her in them. The possessiveness, the tension, the longing for more from both sides… SO good. I was eating it up.
I also adored their families and the entire get-together at his family home. Those scenes brought so much warmth, chaos, and personality to the story, and I loved getting to see these two surrounded by the people who matter to them. Honestly, I would happily read about Callum and Francesca going on adventure after adventure because I seriously did not want this book to end.
My only critique was that the POVs switch back and forth mid-chapter, so it sometimes took me a second to realize the perspective had changed. Once I caught on, though, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment.
Otherwise? This book was a masterpiece. Callum and Francesca completely had me in their grip, and I already miss them. Give me all their adventures—I am not ready to let them go. ❤️‍🔥

[Eden]

Vows and Vendettas by Triliana Pucci is a mafia romance for readers who enjoy humour-laced stories, rival families, and steamy romances with older characters.

This story takes readers into the life of Francesca. She is a headstrong FMC who is clumsy, protective, and funny. Her relationship with her sisters I absolutely love and her dedication to the family reminds me of the strong family dynamic in the Bratva Series by TJ Maguire. She is a fully fleshed out and complex character from beginning to end. Our MMC is Callan and he fulfill the sexy stranger meeting perfectly. His obsession with Francesca had me on my toes and whenever the pair were in scenes together, I knew it would be worth every page read. Their chemistry only builds throughout the book and I enjoyed how it develops in respect to the action-filled plot. The side characters also are memorable and I would love to see this universe grow.

In short, Vow and Vendetta's lives up to it's mafia Rom-Com name. Multiple times throughout the story I was on the edge of my seat laughing. This FMC isn't one who will sit back, she's at the forefront of the action and I guarantee you will be cheering her on.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Leia Rey]

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

A little snack book that you can easily finish in a day.

There isn’t a whole lot of plot in Vows and Vendettas. The actual plot finally kicks in around 60%, and for a while the story becomes genuinely exciting. Unfortunately, the tension drops again pretty quickly after that. I also think the story had a lot more potential, especially once they arrive in Ireland. There were plenty of opportunities to add more depth and tension to the mafia storyline and the arranged marriage.

That said, I did enjoy reading it. The chemistry and banter between Francesca and Callan were fun, and I actually really enjoyed the humor throughout the book. I normally don’t gravitate towards comedy, but it worked surprisingly well here and gave the story some much-needed lightness.

Pucci also has a writing style that I really liked. The writing flows easily, and I found myself gliding from page to page without any effort.

So, if you’re looking for a complex mafia plot with lots of twists and tension, this probably isn’t it. But if you want something easy, spicy, funny, and entertaining to read in between heavier books, this is a perfect little snack book.

A fun, easy read when you don’t need much plot and just want to be entertained.

[Caitlyn Herbst]

This was such a fun, spicy mafia romance with the perfect amount of chaos. I really liked the enemies-to-lovers setup, especially because Francesca and John have such a strong attraction to each other from the beginning, even when neither of them is being completely honest about who they really are.

Francesca was probably my favorite part of the book. She has a great personality and isn’t afraid to stand her ground, which made her scenes with John so entertaining. Their banter and chemistry were definitely some of my favorite parts, and I loved how their relationship slowly became more complicated as all the secrets started coming out.

John was also really easy to get invested in. He has that confident, charming personality that makes it obvious why Francesca is drawn to him, but there’s so much more going on underneath the surface. I liked watching the tension between them build while their family situations made everything significantly messier.

Overall, this was exactly the kind of dramatic, spicy romance I was in the mood for. There were secrets, family drama, forced marriage, plenty of tension, and enough twists to keep me interested. Francesca and John’s relationship was messy in the best way, and I had a lot of fun watching everything unfold.

[Katie Pivowar]

Big thanks to NetGalley for the chance to sneak this story early.

Let me preface by saying mafia romance isn’t my favorite, and I avoid third person narratives like the plague.

Now, let me dive in to how this is one of the BEST books I’ve read in 2026. Immediately, I was captivated by John/Callan and Jane/Francesca. I spent every free moment with my nose buried in their unconventional love/hate story.

The volleying between cackling at the banter and absurd challenges, pure loved for all of the side characters, and frustration at all of the teasing, mixed with fanning myself at some of the most passionate, lust-filled scenes my eyes have ever roamed across… LITERARY MASTERPIECE.

I am truly so sad I finished this book as quickly as I did. And may I remind you this is generally the kind of book I’d stay far, far away from? Do yourself a favor and snag this book once it’s released. I’m saying with my whole chest that I will be purchasing a copy and proudly displaying on my trophy shelf.

Well, I suppose here comes the book slump… Following up this one is going to be rough.

[Mary Gosse]

I loved this book! The characters were great, the banter and chemistry between Francesca and Caleb was top-notch, and the family conversations (and situations) were hilarious! I could really feel how obsessed and passionate the two main characters were about each other, and how deeply they cared for each other, even if they had a hard time admitting it themselves. The plot was also interesting and kept me entertained throughout - I could not put this book down! I was a little apprehensive about the mid-chapter POV switches at first, but I found I really enjoyed getting multiple points of view throughout the same conversation, and in the end I thought it really added to the book.

Overall, this was a fantastic book and I’d love to read any possible future books involving the side characters! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advanced copy - this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Anita]

I could not put this book down! I loved the plot and really loved the characters. The banter between the two main characters was engaging and entertaining and their chemistry was off the charts. The addition and contributions from the cast of side characters made this book so enjoyable to read. Despite it being a mafia story, this book was surprising light because potentially dark moments were offset by humorous dialogue and comedic moments so the story read like a rom-com which was refreshing. I also did not see the plot twist coming and that was definitely the icing on the cake!

Overall, this was a very entertaining book, my second by this author and she did not disappoint. I’ll be on the lookout for future books featuring the siblings. I expect them to be just as entertaining based on what I have seen of them so far in this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this free advanced copy; I am leaving review voluntarily.

[Nats Mohan]

NetGalley ARC ✨
If you want a spicy, banter-filled good time, this book is absolutely for you! 🔥

Callan… the man you are. 😍 A proud Irish man who is possessive, dangerous, quick-witted and ridiculously funny. I LOVED the family dynamic between him, his dad and his brothers — they had me laughing out loud! 😂

And Francesca… what a woman! 🇮🇹 An elegant Italian woman who is strong, smart and hilarious. Some of the things she says during her little self-pep talks had me absolutely howling. 😂

But don’t let the humour fool you — this woman is LETHAL. 🔪🔥

And don’t even get me started on her sister… the pure banter had me giggling! I absolutely loved their dynamic and could have read so much more of them.

Callan and Francesca together? The chemistry, the tension, the banter… I was SAT. 🥵

If you love a spicy romance with dangerous characters, hilarious family dynamics, plenty of banter and a whole lot of chemistry, add this one to your TBR! ❤️‍🔥

[Stephanie]

I was super excited to read this book when I realized this was the same author as the Christmas book that gets stuck in a home because of a strong.

This is not your typical mafia romance. You have two strong characters Francesca (jane) and callen (john). They slowly fall in love at the expense of Francesca’s app dates, living a lie testing the waters of romance. One believes in one kind of love the other doesn’t believe in love at all. Throughout the book you have so much banter but what kicked it out of the park was the siblings. They really were the best side kicks. That being said we need more stories on them. Both Jane and John battle to share their truths until it catches up to them and are forced into an arrangement to save the family feud.

This book will get you out of a reading slump.

[Anja H.]

*4 FUNNY STARS*

This was quite a refreshing take on a mafia romance.
While this didn't quite get me to laugh out loud, I definitely smiled a bunch of times. This was a book that didn't take itself too seriously. I did expect this to be a tad bit darker, but I'm not overly disappointed.

The banter between Francesca and Callan was top notch, as well as the spice. Both were badass in their own way.
I loved Francesca's sisters and Callan's many brothers and the dynamic between them. And when both of their families came together, it was a blast! The whole debacle with Callan and Francesca's father was hilarious!

Nothing too exciting happened, I feel like this lacked the "high stakes" part of a traditional mafia novel, even though one revelation did catch me by surprise, but in a good way.

[Allison Free]

This story really had it all
- enemies to lovers
- secret identities
- arranged marriage
- otp boyfriend (he hides her blind date in a closet)
- delicious banter
- top tier side characters

The author did a great job of keeping the story balanced between the mafia, romance, and comedy. I absolutely ate up all the banter between the two main characters. They could light up a room with their chemistry without every stepping into the bedroom but thankfully it extends to there too.

I really hope we will see more stories come out of this world because the author did a fantastic job with the side characters. I need to know if something is going on between Toni and Tommy. Also wouldn't hate seeing more of the word of the day twins 😂

Thank you NetGalley, Montlake, and Trilina Pucci for a copy of this book.

[Lindz]

Overall 3.5/5

Pros
Great characters
Fun engaging plot
Interesting concept
Banter between characters was fantastic
I LOVE older main characters, especially ones who know themselves fully
The spicy scenes were delish

Cons
A lot of Told-not-Shown (in moments that SHOULD have been shown)
The BIG REVEAL should have been told to the readers (and only the readers) MUCH sooner (and not at 70% into the book).
The main conflict doesn't start until 60-70% of the book is done, making the ending feel rushed.

Indifferent, but not my thing
The amount of Italian conversations. I get WHY it's there, but it makes me feel weird to skip huge chunks of conversation to get to the translations.

I enjoyed the book overall, but do feel that the pacing was rushed, especially towards the end. It isn't a re-read for me, but I will read other romance novels by the same author.

[Nicole]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Holy wow I loved this book.

The side characters: 10/10
The banter: 11/10
The chemistry: 12/10

I really enjoyed this unique take on Romeo and Juliet where they don’t know the other is actually the enemy. It's not a take I've read before and it made it really exciting.

The fathers' meddling so their kids would get their heads out of their asses was perfect. I actually wish this book was a little longer because I wouldn't want to take any time away from Callan and Francesca getting to know/falling in love with each other but I also wanted there to be more chapters when both families were all together.

I really hope Trilina does a full series out of this because I need to read Tommy and Toni's book next.

[Kheyra Santos]

Vows and Vendettas was exactly the kind of mafia romance I was in the mood for! I loved the mix of funny banter, chemistry, secrets, family drama, and spice. Francesca and John had such a fun dynamic, and the tension between them kept me turning the pages. I especially enjoyed how the story balanced the darker mafia elements with humor. There were plenty of moments that made me smile while still giving me the suspense and drama I wanted. The secrets, hidden identities, and unexpected turns kept things interesting, and the romance had plenty of fire. A fun, spicy, chaotic mafia rom-com that was easy to get lost in! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Rebecca]

I received an ARC from NetGalley!!

This one was a slow start for me, but once I hit the 30% mark, I was ALL in and finished the rest in one sitting!!!!

Francesca (Italian) and Callan (Irish) - their chemistry was smoking hot from the start. I so much loved watching them fall in love…despite their best efforts.

I thought I had the twist figured out…until I didn’t.
And man, it definitely caught me off guard…in the BEST WAY.

Lovers turned to enemies and back to lovers.
The Mr and Mrs Smith vibes were off the charts fantastic!!!!

While there were definitely some funny chapters, I would not classify it as a (dark) rom-com.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Hang ups:
*There were several 30 and 40 minute chapters, which I didn’t love.
*3rd person POV

[Sierra loves Reading]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
✅TW’s
OMG this book was such a fun read. Trilina did an amazing job at writing a mafia romance. This book was written so good. I was so giddy at many of the scenes. It’s a great starter if you are new to darker books. Trilina wrote such a refreshing mafia romance. Both main characters are older which is something I don’t see often. The banter between Francesca and Callan (aka Jane and John) was so good. Callan was definitely a top tier MMC. I loved them so much. The spice scenes were also done amazingly.
Tropes
❤️mafia
🖤false identities
❤️family secrets
🖤rom com
❤️Italian x Irish mafia

[Hannah]

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith, but make it mafia.

I’ll admit, it took me until about 80% of the way through to really “get” that this book was the joke. I had been taking it way too seriously up until that point and once I learned more into the vibes, I really started to enjoy it.

I loved seeing a later-in-life FMC in a mafia book. Unfortunately, the description does this book a major disservice. I went into it expecting an arranged marriage mafia book, but it turned out that the description was basically just a summary of what happens in the entire book.

[Sydney]

A mafia rom com as promised. Certainly the ARC had some missing words and wrong pronouns that made the reading clunky. The banter was excellent. The tension they were both trying to simultaneously ignore and release was fantastic. I LOVED the siblings, certainly the book wouldn’t have been the same without them on both sides, especially the little sisters meddling in All her business & being her biggest cheerleaders. Loved the father’s parts in the story, didn’t see that coming! Overall, a very happy ending full of love and support.

[Teresa]

What happens when two people from rival mafia families meet, fall for each other, and have no idea they’re part of each other’s rival family? This book.

Callan and Francesca have so much chemistry! I loved the banter that turned into a wild weekend then secrets coming to light. So many red flags but these two were so much fun to read about.

The POV changes were a little confusing at first since they weren’t clearly indicated, but I got used to it after a while.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC.

[Caitlin]

Trilina is one of those authors that you just know, when you pick up their book, you are going to have a good time.

This is mafia rom com meets Romeo and Juliet. It is laugh out loud funny. Callan is obsessive and possessive in the perfect mafia man way. Their families are both chaotic and hilarious.

I can't wait for more from these rival families!

POV: 3rd person POV
Standalone: yes
Tropes/Vibes:
- mafia
- rival families
- secrets
- forced marriage

[Patricia (Spellbound Stories Trish)]

This story was a really good laugh out loud, fall head over heals in love, mafia romance!

Now its told in a pov that I am not used too but once I kept reading I did enjoy the 3rd person pov and that we got to see so much more than just the hero and heroine!

This story was filled with so much heart and I love that they fell in love as Jane and John! It helped to ease the fall and allowed them to truly know the other. A very angsty, steamy romance that I immediately want to read again!

[Nadine Merwe]

Thank you Trilina Pucci and Netgalley for this ARC read.

⭐️ 5 of 5
🔥 4.5 of 5
🎧 6 of 5

Holy Molly, the back and forth banter is fantastic. Damn Francesca is one stubborn woman. Stubborn till the bitter end. Poor Callan is surely one of the Irish Mafia saints to put up with this frightening woman's highs and lows of her mood. Pure deliciousness. Loved every second of this fantastic read. Highly recommend it.

[Colleen Meister]

Romeo and Juliet meets Mrs. & Mrs. Smith. I struggled to get into this one and almost put it down but I’m glad I committed. It’s been a minute since I’ve read a third person/same time dual POV story and it was a refreshing take.

This author wrote a short novella that I enjoyed and I was excited to get the ARC from NetGalley. This story has really good moments and others that just lost me completely. Overall it was a decent read but I had really hoped for more.

[Debbie Ballard]

Loved reading the amazing and awesome romance story. When Francesca falls backward, John (Callan) catches her, but Callan's father is in charge of the Irish Mob, and Francesca's father is the Butcher of Bergamo. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting romance story.

[Carol]

It was a nice book. I liked the banter, the way that Callan never gave up on the pursue and the fathers were awesome.
It's a really light book compared to others in the same genre and I appreciate it because sometimes we just need a cutesy mafia book.
I want to thank Netgalley,the author and the publisher for sending me this ARC.