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The Don's Surrogate
325 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 14, 2026
He claimed her for an heir. She became his weakness.
Elena knows what it means to pay for someone else’s sins. When her father’s debt pulls her into Luca’s guarded world, she’s forced into a role she never chose, watched by men who obey without question and bound to a don who treats mercy like a liability. She should hate him cleanly, but nothing about Luca stays simple once his control starts to look like protection.
Luca builds his life on discipline, fear, and command. Elena is supposed to be a solution, kept safe, contained, and temporary. But her defiance gets under his skin, her silence cuts deeper than pleas, and the more he tries to control the terms between them, the more she exposes parts of him he never meant to show.
What begins in coercion turns into something darker, hotter, and harder to name. Elena doesn’t soften for him, and Luca doesn’t become harmless for her. They meet in the dangerous space between power and trust, where desire is tangled with anger, protection has teeth, and choosing each other costs more than either expects.
Elena grows from a guarded woman trapped in survival mode into someone who can name what’s been done to her, hold her boundaries, and choose from strength instead of fear. Luca’s control cracks into vulnerability, especially when Elena becomes the one person he can’t command without losing what matters. Their bond stays intense, possessive, and complicated, but it shifts through defiance, heat, danger, and reluctant trust into something shaped by her agency as much as his need.
A dark, ultra-steamy mafia romantic suspense about coercion, survival, control, and the brutal difference between being claimed and being chosen. It’s about a captive heroine who refuses to disappear, a possessive don whose control fractures into devotion, and a love that has to become a choice before it can become real.
The Elevator Pitch: When her father’s debt delivers her into the hands of a ruthless don, Elena becomes bound to a bargain that treats her body like collateral. Luca built his world on control, but her defiance turns captivity into a dangerous intimacy neither of them can contain. As enemies close in and desire fractures every rule between them, survival becomes tangled with trust, possession, and the terrifying choice to stay.
Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥 Ultra-Steamy / Erotic Romance
Elena knows what it means to pay for someone else’s sins. When her father’s debt pulls her into Luca’s guarded world, she’s forced into a role she never chose, watched by men who obey without question and bound to a don who treats mercy like a liability. She should hate him cleanly, but nothing about Luca stays simple once his control starts to look like protection.
Luca builds his life on discipline, fear, and command. Elena is supposed to be a solution, kept safe, contained, and temporary. But her defiance gets under his skin, her silence cuts deeper than pleas, and the more he tries to control the terms between them, the more she exposes parts of him he never meant to show.
What begins in coercion turns into something darker, hotter, and harder to name. Elena doesn’t soften for him, and Luca doesn’t become harmless for her. They meet in the dangerous space between power and trust, where desire is tangled with anger, protection has teeth, and choosing each other costs more than either expects.
Elena grows from a guarded woman trapped in survival mode into someone who can name what’s been done to her, hold her boundaries, and choose from strength instead of fear. Luca’s control cracks into vulnerability, especially when Elena becomes the one person he can’t command without losing what matters. Their bond stays intense, possessive, and complicated, but it shifts through defiance, heat, danger, and reluctant trust into something shaped by her agency as much as his need.
A dark, ultra-steamy mafia romantic suspense about coercion, survival, control, and the brutal difference between being claimed and being chosen. It’s about a captive heroine who refuses to disappear, a possessive don whose control fractures into devotion, and a love that has to become a choice before it can become real.
The Elevator Pitch: When her father’s debt delivers her into the hands of a ruthless don, Elena becomes bound to a bargain that treats her body like collateral. Luca built his world on control, but her defiance turns captivity into a dangerous intimacy neither of them can contain. As enemies close in and desire fractures every rule between them, survival becomes tangled with trust, possession, and the terrifying choice to stay.
Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥 Ultra-Steamy / Erotic Romance
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Don’s plan has come full circle and now he has a surrogate that is going to provide a heir
Luca DeLuca had been determined to seek recompense from the man that owed him over 3.7 million dollars, he knew that he could not pay this he was going to put his daughter up instead and unbeknown to her she was going to provide him with an heir.
Elena had been horrified the day she had been taken to Luca’s home where he had coldly told her what her father owed him and that he was unable to pay the insurmountable amount and so he had decided the debt was also hers and she would sign the agreement stating she would provide him an heir and that once weaned she could leave.
The house was like a living and breathing entity with her every movement and action being monitored either by his housekeeper who brought her all her meals, walked with her around the garden for the time permissible at the times permissible. Then there wher his guards that were inside the house ensuring that she did not stray anywhere she should not, the ones outside that watched her and also protected her from any possible attacks.
Over time their interactions of an evening over dinner became the norm and as the child began to grow within their actual daily conversations were always about if she was resting, walking and eating and sleeping sufficiently. He had even started to attend her interim check ups with the Doctor in his own medical wing in his own home, she found this to be at time highly invasive and irritating.
Over time their relationship began to grow and their interactions are more personal, he is able to see the intelligence she carries so quietly within her. He discovers when there is an inside attack that she misses nothing where his men are concerned, her ability to read individuals in their actions and also in their questions as they try to discover things about what happens within his home.
This is such a beautifully written book, the relationship between Luca and Elena is a wonderful read and I guarantee that other readers will feel exactly the same as myself.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the wonderful writing.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Luca DeLuca had been determined to seek recompense from the man that owed him over 3.7 million dollars, he knew that he could not pay this he was going to put his daughter up instead and unbeknown to her she was going to provide him with an heir.
Elena had been horrified the day she had been taken to Luca’s home where he had coldly told her what her father owed him and that he was unable to pay the insurmountable amount and so he had decided the debt was also hers and she would sign the agreement stating she would provide him an heir and that once weaned she could leave.
The house was like a living and breathing entity with her every movement and action being monitored either by his housekeeper who brought her all her meals, walked with her around the garden for the time permissible at the times permissible. Then there wher his guards that were inside the house ensuring that she did not stray anywhere she should not, the ones outside that watched her and also protected her from any possible attacks.
Over time their interactions of an evening over dinner became the norm and as the child began to grow within their actual daily conversations were always about if she was resting, walking and eating and sleeping sufficiently. He had even started to attend her interim check ups with the Doctor in his own medical wing in his own home, she found this to be at time highly invasive and irritating.
Over time their relationship began to grow and their interactions are more personal, he is able to see the intelligence she carries so quietly within her. He discovers when there is an inside attack that she misses nothing where his men are concerned, her ability to read individuals in their actions and also in their questions as they try to discover things about what happens within his home.
This is such a beautifully written book, the relationship between Luca and Elena is a wonderful read and I guarantee that other readers will feel exactly the same as myself.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the wonderful writing.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 13, 2026
This is a mafia book with a twist. Don Luca found out someone had stolen from him and decided to use his daughter as his surrogate to give him a child. When Luca confronts Elena with her father’s theft he presents her with a contract on what she needs to do to spare her father. Now I expected the Luca and Elena to have some very angry, hot CNC interactions to achieve his goal. But the author instead decided to make the process as clinical and invasive as possible. There are charts and observations, egg retrieval and tests. This stunned me because the book no longer felt like a romance but more of a how to. When these two do finally become intimate it seems forced and uncomfortable because it came out of nowhere. There was no romance or him softening toward her and the sex became almost an afterthought. The book ended with a lot of unanswered questions for me. There was a lot of talk of people coming for him or her but we never knew why. I liked the book but I’m also very confused by it. It didn’t feel like a mafia romance for the first 50% of the book because it was such a slow burn. I liked the author’s writing style, I loved the action but this book definitely needed more romance more sexual tension around our characters so that I felt that they wanted each other. I liked the book but it lacked certain things that would make it a great book.
May 17, 2026
The Don's Surrogate is part of the Contracted for his Heir series. It is well-written and very suspenseful.
Elena's father owes a lot of debt. Luca is the don who has collected information on her. She is summoned by his men to go to Luca. She is told that her father owes a huge sum of money. She knows that she can't pay it back. Luca doesn't want money. He wants her to bear his heir. He has all of her medical records. She has no choice but to sign an agreement. She must stay in his home until the baby is born and after a short while after she can leave. But now she is under the watchful eye of Luca's men who restrict where she can go in the home.
Luca is used to having control. He wants to keep Elena protected. He is not used to someone pushing back on his control. After an incident with one of his men he learns to trust Elena. They form an unique bond that neither saw coming.
I loved how strong Elena was and didn't want to cower in front of Luca. I loved how possessive he was and how they both changed each other for the better. I look forward to more from this talented author.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Elena's father owes a lot of debt. Luca is the don who has collected information on her. She is summoned by his men to go to Luca. She is told that her father owes a huge sum of money. She knows that she can't pay it back. Luca doesn't want money. He wants her to bear his heir. He has all of her medical records. She has no choice but to sign an agreement. She must stay in his home until the baby is born and after a short while after she can leave. But now she is under the watchful eye of Luca's men who restrict where she can go in the home.
Luca is used to having control. He wants to keep Elena protected. He is not used to someone pushing back on his control. After an incident with one of his men he learns to trust Elena. They form an unique bond that neither saw coming.
I loved how strong Elena was and didn't want to cower in front of Luca. I loved how possessive he was and how they both changed each other for the better. I look forward to more from this talented author.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed Luca & Elena's story...
Elena's dad stole a lot of money from Luca, so she ended up getting "sold" to him for a time... the time it takes to have a baby...
I really liked the style of writing. It was different, but in a good way. The book is fast paced with a lot of action.
Luca is stoic and serious... and I loved seeing the cracks start to appear in his armor...
Elena is strong... and I love that she finally found someone who really loves her and that she was able to be provided for instead of having to be the parent in the relationship with her Dad.
I love the ending.
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
*mafia
*he's the Don
*she's sold to pay her father's debt
*she's a surrogate to provide the Don an heir
*dark romantic suspense
*contract arrangement
Thank you to the author (Pearl Rosetta), publisher & Booksprout for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Elena's dad stole a lot of money from Luca, so she ended up getting "sold" to him for a time... the time it takes to have a baby...
I really liked the style of writing. It was different, but in a good way. The book is fast paced with a lot of action.
Luca is stoic and serious... and I loved seeing the cracks start to appear in his armor...
Elena is strong... and I love that she finally found someone who really loves her and that she was able to be provided for instead of having to be the parent in the relationship with her Dad.
I love the ending.
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
*mafia
*he's the Don
*she's sold to pay her father's debt
*she's a surrogate to provide the Don an heir
*dark romantic suspense
*contract arrangement
Thank you to the author (Pearl Rosetta), publisher & Booksprout for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
It is a story that caught my attention. Elena is brought to Luca's study to be told she will be his surrogate because her father stole from him. Their relationship begins with her a prisoner being told she will bear a child then leave after the child is born. He is a morally gray character, ruthless and the Don. What starts out as a chore soon becomes something more. The chemistry between the main characters is hot. Enemies to lovers relationship.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Locked in a fortress run by Don Luca is Elena's lot until she gives birth but the forced contract says she will leave and the baby will stay with the father.
He's one ruthless, dangerous man and one not to be crossed if you want to live a long and healthy life.
As a surrogate and thinking it's just a means to an end can change as soon as you start to feel it move then things can get really complicated unless there's a different option available.
Can this really happen to this controlling dangerous man, is he strong enough to resist her after all.
He's one ruthless, dangerous man and one not to be crossed if you want to live a long and healthy life.
As a surrogate and thinking it's just a means to an end can change as soon as you start to feel it move then things can get really complicated unless there's a different option available.
Can this really happen to this controlling dangerous man, is he strong enough to resist her after all.
May 26, 2026
The characters are very underdeveloped. We still don't know why MMC chose FMC to be his surrogate, how long he's considered surrogacy as opposed to having a child the natural way or hiring another surrogate, how long he's been observing her, etc. We don't understand why they started to love each other.
The dialogue is stilted - a lot of conversation and responses are "yes" or "no" as complete sentences. No one talks like that. It gets annoying fast.
The passing of time is strange. She's pregnant in one chapter and then six months along in two chapters.
The dialogue is stilted - a lot of conversation and responses are "yes" or "no" as complete sentences. No one talks like that. It gets annoying fast.
The passing of time is strange. She's pregnant in one chapter and then six months along in two chapters.
May 13, 2026
'But the way he touches me,
breaks every single term.
And I was never leaving.'
The characters drove the storyline and they were very appealing and complex and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was excellent and solidly drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy the read!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
breaks every single term.
And I was never leaving.'
The characters drove the storyline and they were very appealing and complex and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was excellent and solidly drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy the read!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 11, 2026
The Contract
$3.8million her father took from Luca. So he’ll take Elena. But Luca’s been planning that for some time, before the contract. Elena will carry his heir, then leave. At least that was the agreement. But what happens when they both want more? When they not only want, but crave more! Amendments of course!!
$3.8million her father took from Luca. So he’ll take Elena. But Luca’s been planning that for some time, before the contract. Elena will carry his heir, then leave. At least that was the agreement. But what happens when they both want more? When they not only want, but crave more! Amendments of course!!
May 13, 2026
So mad at Elena's father!
A debt to be paid with an heir!
And, Elena can leave once the child is weaned!
WHAT! WHAT? WAIT! NO!
Will the vessel become more?
This enemies-to-lovers story had me glued to the pages!
Of course, you know that I was hoping for Luca's walls to come down!
How would Elena ever leave her child!
Luca, she better not have to find out!
A debt to be paid with an heir!
And, Elena can leave once the child is weaned!
WHAT! WHAT? WAIT! NO!
Will the vessel become more?
This enemies-to-lovers story had me glued to the pages!
Of course, you know that I was hoping for Luca's walls to come down!
How would Elena ever leave her child!
Luca, she better not have to find out!
Review of advance copy received from Author
When her father steals from the Don to the tune of 3.8 million dollars Elena becomes leverage that he uses to become surrogate for his heir. This enemies to lover's romance is filled with thrilling twists and turns that drew me in and had me connecting with Elena and Luca.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 13, 2026
Pearl delivers again with a story packed full of chemistry and simmering tension. From the very first pages, I was completely hooked. The emotional stakes and slow-burn attraction kept me turning pages late into the night. I genuinely couldn’t put it down until I reached the end.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 13, 2026
The Don's Surrogate (Contracted for his Heir) by Pearl Rosetta. I thought this was a good story with complex drama, dark and unexpected romance, bits of action and suspense, and heated passion that leads to Luca and Elena making choices one would have never imagined in the beginning of their story.
May 14, 2026
Her father owed him a lot of money and he plan was simple, take his daughter and have an heir. Her job as simple, carry the child and then leave, that was it. However the more time that they spend together the more they realize that she cannot just leave at the end of this.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 27, 2026
Debt and Surrogacy
Luca is in need of an heir so when an unmanaged debt presents a solution he takes it. Elena is to be a his gilded surrogate. This story was full of tension and suspense. I was on constant edge trying to figure out what comes next. It was definitely an entertaining story and enjoyed it until the end.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Luca is in need of an heir so when an unmanaged debt presents a solution he takes it. Elena is to be a his gilded surrogate. This story was full of tension and suspense. I was on constant edge trying to figure out what comes next. It was definitely an entertaining story and enjoyed it until the end.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 19, 2026
Loved this smexy hot mafia daddy story. The MFC is supposed to have his heir, and then be set free. But he’s not giving her up and she’s not sure she wants to leave. Loved their chemistry. This was great.
May 20, 2026
This book delved into complex themes and characters, offering a rich and thought-provoking reading experience. The narrative explored intricate relationships and emotional depths, leaving a lasting impression.
May 26, 2026
Amazing story. A little dark and intense. Lots of twists to keep my attention. Possessive, protective main characters. danger and secrets throughout. highly addictive storyline. Way better than five stars.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Loved it!!
I really enjoyed reading The Don’s Surrogate. I was immediately hooked with this book and couldn’t put it down until the last page. Loved Gianni and Luca’s story!!
I really enjoyed reading The Don’s Surrogate. I was immediately hooked with this book and couldn’t put it down until the last page. Loved Gianni and Luca’s story!!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews