The Auction: An Age Gap, Mafia Romance

by K.C. Crowne

The most dangerous man in the room bought me.

One minute, I’m a hotel maid no one notices.
The next, I’m dragged onto a stage where ruthless men buy women for property.

Then Gabriel Moretti walks in.

Silver at his temples.
Violence in his eyes.
Power in every cold, effortless step.

He buys me in front of everyone.

Now I’m trapped inside his world of marble halls, shadowed deals, and bloodstained secrets.
Where his word is law, his touch is ruin… and every glance brands me as his.

Then I learn the truth.

The auction wasn’t random.
The men bidding on me weren’t strangers.
And Gabriel knew exactly who I was.

If the truth comes out, they won’t just hunt me—
they’ll try to erase me before everything burns.

Because I’m not just part of this twisted world.
I’m the spark that could burn it to hell.

This is a full-length standalone featuring an age-gap, mafia romance… and a maid who was never meant to be harmless.
K.C. Crowne is an Amazon Top 6 Bestseller and International Bestselling Author.

Genres: Forced Proximity, Dark Romance, Contemporary Romance, Mafia Romance, Romance, Suspense, Dark

446 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 11, 2026

About the author

K.C. Crowne is an International Bestselling Author, known for dangerously addictive romance.

⬇️ Scroll down to explore the full book list.
Most of K.C.'s books are available on Kindle Unlimited!


❤️‍🔥 Silver Fox Daddies (Complete Standalones – No Reading Order Required)

1. Doctor Daddy
2. Taboo Daddy
3. Daddy's Best Friend
4. Daddy's Law
5. My Ex-Boyfriend's Dad
6. Daddy's Girl
7. My Ex-Best Friend's Daughter
8. Secret Daddy
9. Christmas with Dad's Best Friend
10. Vegas Daddy
11. Daddy's Obsession
12. Royal Daddy
13. Irish King
14. My Ex's Dad
15. Daddy's Orders
16. His Demands
17. The Arrangement
18. Sold to My Ex's Dad
19. Sexting the Silver Fox
20. Nanny for the Don
21. Dark Christmas
22. Sexting the Don
23. Boss Daddy
24. Forbidden Vows
25. Sinful Union
26. His Son's Ex
27. Under His Control
28. Masked Seduction
29. The Naughty List
30. The Christmas Contract
31. Dirty Business
32. The Nanny Contract
33. The Auction
34. Feral King



❤️‍🔥 Chicago Bratva Series (Shared World – Best Read in Order)

1. Dark Prince
2. Dark Obsession
3. Dark Seduction
4. Dark Desires
5. Dark Confession


❤️‍🔥 Antonov & Nicolaevich Bratva Series s (Shared World – Best Read in Order)

1. Highest Bidder
2. Bratva Daddy
3. Owned by the Bratva
4. Knocked Up by the Bratva
5. Ruthless Rival
6. Scarred Prince
7. The Closer
8. Brother's Best Friend
9. Devil's Nuptials

️‍🔥For Her Pleasure, Reverse Harem Books (Complete Standalones – No Reading Order Required)

1. Four Daddies for Christmas
 2. Christmas Triad
3. Her Independence Day
 4. Quadruple Daddies
5. Bossed by 3 Billionaire Brothers
6. Four Stepbrothers for Christmas
7. Christmas with Four Tattoo Artists
8. Men on a Mission
9. Christmas with Four Firemen
 10. Dirty Cowboys
11. Big Bad Mountain Brothers (Menage)


️‍🔥Doctors of Denver Series (Shared World – Best Read in Order)
1. Doctor's Secret
2. Doctor's Surprise Delivery
3. Irish Doctor's Secret Babies
4. Triplets for the Millionaire
5. Doctor's Baby Plan
6. New Zealand Doctor's Baby
7. Doctor's Duties
8. Billion Dollar Mistake
9. Irish Doctor's Gift
10. Irish Doctor's Orders
11. Irish Doctor's Valentine
12. Lucky Charm
13. Secret Babies for my Best Friend's Dad
14. Secret Baby Next Door
15. Secret Babies for the Mafia Doctor
16. Secret Babies for my Dad's Best Friend
17. The Doctor Who Stole Christmas


️‍🔥Mountain Men of Liberty Series (Shared World – Best Read in Order)
1. Baby for the Mountain Man
2. Junior for the Mountain Man
3. Knocked Up by the Mountain Man
4. Baby for Daddy's Best Friend
5. Triplets for the Mountain Man
6. Taken by the Mountain Man
7. Mountain Man's Secret Baby
8. Mountain Man's Accidental Surprise
9. Quadruplets for the Mountain Man
10. Delivering His Gifts
11. Mountain Man's Fate
12. Mountain Man's Lucky Charm
13. Mountain Man's Rival
14. Small Town Mountain Daddy
15. Mountain Man's Gift
16. Mountain Man's Christmas Surprise
17. Mountain Man's Valentine
18. Big Daddy
19. Fireworks with Three Mountain Men
20. Faking Mr. Right


️‍🔥Bearded Brothers (Shared World – Best Read in Order)
1. Her Mountain Daddy
2. Beauty and the Beard
3. Built and Bearded
4. Bride and Beard

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bratva Maid

Thea works as a maid in a swank hotel and nightclub, and lives in a closet sized apartment. One day she and her best friend are drugged and dragged onto a stage to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. A Russian man and another man bid manically for her. The stranger with salt and pepper hair wins with a million dollar bid.

Gabriel Moretti is the don of the local Camorra, but knows he couldn’t allow the Russian to have Thea… it would mean her death sentence.

Thea is a mystery, even to herself, and she has no idea why these powerful men want her. Yet, she is drawn to the man who bought her like a slave.

This was interestingly done with a little touch of the Anastasia story and Cinderella combined. There’s action, drama and spice and added up to a decent four star romance.

[Chelsie Lucas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would like it so much more if the MMC liked the FMC or treated her like a person. She’s not. She’s a past legacy and a current maid.
It was annoying.
The feelings of love came from no romance background. She’s even cleaning while pregnant.

[Charlene Gaskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the original approach to a plot involving a drugged woman caught up in the world of sex trafficking. Thea is a maid at a high end hotel who gets the attention of the auctioneers' I enjoyed how the author explained Gabriel's role in Thea's life as well as their growing attraction to each other while maneuvering the difficult role of overthrowing the man who killed her entire family to overtake her father's role as Pakhan in the Bratva.

The story that follows is well written, exciting and does an excellent job of unpacking the very precarious situation that both Gabriel and Thea are faced with as they systemically have to out maneuver and out think their enemy in order for Thea to claim her late family's rightful position in the Bratva. Thea character's has notable growth in this story as she and Gabriel carve out a love story in all the chaos by raising to the occasion even when it seems impossible to accomplish. I connected with both characters and became intrigued and invested in what happened to them which hasn't been the case in so many recent books that I have gotten through KU and returned before finishing them.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Auction is K.C. Crowne at her most deliciously dramatic, serving up an age‑gap mafia romance that feels like being dragged into a billionaire’s lair by your hair and somehow enjoying the interior design. We start with our heroine, a hotel maid so invisible she could’ve been a ghost—until she’s suddenly shoved onto a stage where men with more money than ethics start bidding like she’s the last Birkin bag on earth.

Enter Gabriel Moretti.

Silver at the temples. Violence simmering behind the eyes. That slow, lethal walk that says, “I’ve ended men for less than a raised eyebrow.” He buys her in front of everyone, and honestly? I would’ve fainted on the spot and hoped he caught me.

From there, she’s swept into a world of marble floors, whispered threats, and secrets so sharp they could slice through steel. Gabriel is the kind of man who doesn’t raise his voice—he just raises your blood pressure. Every look he gives her is a warning, a promise, and a claim all rolled into one.

But then the truth hits like a truck with no brakes. The auction wasn’t random. The bidders weren’t strangers. And Gabriel didn’t just happen to be there—he knew exactly who she was. Suddenly she’s not just a pawn in a dangerous game; she’s the spark that could burn the entire Moretti empire to ash.

And the best part? She’s not the helpless little maid they thought she was. She’s a problem. A threat. A woman who can topple kingdoms if pushed too far.

This book is dark, dramatic, and addictive in that “I’ll read one more chapter and then lie to myself about going to bed” way. The forced proximity is delicious, the tension is thick enough to spread on toast, and the age gap dynamic is executed with the kind of intensity that makes you sit up straighter.

[°˖✧˚lindsay˚✧˖° · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was good until it was too easy.
That whole body betrayal thing never sits right with me.
We can call it dub-con if we’re feeling fancy, but don’t pretend consent was explicit based on involuntary bodily functions.

And then we learn his motivations and get all grossed out again.

Lucky for them, I’m great at compartmentalizing things that make me uncomfortable. I’m a woman, after all.

But who sits buck naked in a leather armchair?
One that’s placed before a fire, mind you.
That is the least attractive thing I’ve ever heard.
The texture? The heat?
You just know his ass stuck to it when he stood.

Made me question my sexuality.
As if I have time to deal with that can of worms again.

Just sitting around with his stem and berries out?
Gross.
Nobody needs to see that thing unless it’s being put to use.

There were also continuity errors.
Her saying she was drugged when she hasn’t even been given an Advil. Guess the author took that part out without removing the many mentions of it.

And she’s gotta be the dumbest girl alive.
We overhear things that she considers concerning, whereas I’d find them affirming.
What does she do? Ruin it, of course.

We wouldn’t have a story without idiots, but it’s not as fun when we start to feel like the biggest for continuing to read it.

The spice did nothing for me. Not a thing.
The parts described were like a strobe light; the dark, unmentioned parts, were the ones we needed. It’s all generalized action with barely a picture painted.
She goes off like a rocket at the barest touch.
Give me a break.

And then, she feels nauseous, because of course she does.

“Thea isn’t like other women. Thea wants knowledge, life experience.”
Yeah. Super unique.

They’re all too trusting for mafia.
Wanted to just strangle them and their big fat mouths.

The accusations and apologies she conceded made me mad.

The ending was the fluffiest fluff that ever fluffed.

I had a hard time maintaining my interest throughout, despite enjoying the writing style.

There are over 30 of these things, man.

I really was hoping I’d found a series, and might try another in the futile hope that they can’t all be like this.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Auction is thirty-third book in the Silver Fox Daddies Series. This is a full-length standalone featuring an age-gap, mafia romance and a maid who was never meant to be harmless. HEA guaranteed. A hotel maid is bought at an auction by Gabriel Moretti, a dangerous mafia kingpin, and discovers she's connected to his world of bloodstained secrets. This is Gabriel and Thea story which is told from a dual point of view. A beautifully crafted story with world building individuals and a twisty and complex storyline that captures the audience attention from the beginning and keeps you riveted and turning the pages. Immerse yourself in this mesmerizing rollercoaster ride filled with heart-stopping emotions, non-stop twists and turns, scorching panty-melting passion, high-octane adventures, suspense, mystery, and pulse-pounding drama. An unputdownable and absorbing addictive read. A fast paced, thrilling, gripping and thrilling story. Captivating. Dark. Dangerous. Delicious. Compelling. Irresistible. Twisted. Sinful. Dirty.

Tropes:
✔️Curvy FMC /Body Worship
🦳🦳Silver Fox Mafia Kingpin
💵💸Billionaires & Millionaires
✔️Employee-Boss Romance
☠️☠️Bratva Romance
✔️Maid × Mafia Don Story
✔️Age Gap Trope Story
✔️ Morally-Gray Alpha Hero Story
🔫Touch-Her-and-Die Story
✔️Forced Proximity Romance
💰💷Bought at Auction
🪢🏠Captive in His Mansion
👼💀Secret Mafia Heir
✔️Hidden Identity
🩸Bloodstained Family Secrets
🤰🤰Surprise Pregnancy
✔️ Protective Possessive Hero
✔️He Falls First Story
🩸Revenge Against Her Family’s Killer
✔️Beauty and the Beast Vibes
🏫🏫Workplace Romance
✔️Romantic Suspense Story
💀💀Dark Mafia Romance
✔️Contemporary Romance
🌑🌑Darkness, Madness
Russian Bratva princess loss her parents at five years leaving her an orphan. She was never told the reason why they were murdered. Italian Don Gabriel Moretti is head of the Camorra as been watching and protecting her from the shadows years since she loss her parents unbeknowing to her. Thea is a beautiful curvy woman working as maid just living her life. She went out with her friend Sylvie one day when they were drugged and kidnap to be sex traffic. She woke up and was on stage under the bright lights at an auction being auctioning off to the highest bidder. When Gabriel Moretti the feared, vicious and ruthless Don won the winning bid of a million dollars. Gabriel had to get the winning bid because the people who murdered her parents was also bidding on her was well.
He took her his mansion for protection from the people who was hunting her now that they know that she's alive. Now she's trapped inside his world of marble halls, shadowed deals and bloodstained secrets. Where his word is law, his touch is ruin and every glance brands her as his. The two succumb to their attraction not long after he brought her into his home he went from protective alpha hero to her lover. And as spend time together she finds herself growing feelings for her captor. Thea doesn't know that she's the heir of a Bratva and that the people who murdered her parents learnt that she survived and wanted to finish the job. Things are not what it appears to be and they're other things at play and that Gabriel is protecting her from her past and he has the information that she have always wanted about her parents death. He knows that he shouldn't be keeping it the information from her.
When she learnt that someone is trying to kill she didn't want to safe in his mansion and tried to escape. If the truth comes out, they won't just her they'll try to erase her before everything burns. Because she's not just part of this twisted world. She's the spark that could burn it to hell. Gabriel had to take care of the threat to her life to keep her safe rebuilding an empire that was lost. The chemistry between them electrifying, magnetic, and scorching hot. The story filled with so many moving parts from secrets, lies, deception, kidnapping, sex trafficking, guilt, attacks, betrayal, backstabbing, double-cross, treachery, fear, consensual intense rough sex, dominance, submission, action packed, loss, angst, friendship, anger, resilience, push and pull, grief, tragedy, bloodshed, murder, danger, violence, enemies, revelations, retaliation, power and control, power play, forgiveness, acceptance, love and so much more.

I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Joelle Palacios · Rating 5 out of 5]

K.C. Crowne delivers a dark, dangerous mafia romance packed with secrets, obsession, betrayal, and a hard-earned happily ever after. From the opening chapters, The Auction pulls you into a brutal world where power is currency, loyalty is bought, and every promise comes with a price.

Thea is far more than the overlooked hotel maid everyone assumes she is. Beneath her vulnerability is a woman unknowingly tied to years of hidden agendas, blood debts, and carefully orchestrated protection from the shadows. Gabriel Moretti may be the most feared man in the room, but even he cannot fully control the chaos set into motion once Thea enters his life. Their chemistry is intense from the start—possessive, emotional, protective, and consuming in all the best mafia romance ways.

Gabriel is the perfect silver fox antihero: morally gray, ruthless when necessary, yet completely undone by Thea. His obsession with protecting her never feels performative; it is woven into years of sacrifice, promises made, and debts owed long before she ever knew his name. Watching the layers of his connection to her unravel was one of the strongest parts of the story.

The supporting plotlines add depth beyond the romance itself. Family secrets, hidden identities, revenge, betrayal, and the looming threat of Sokolov create constant tension throughout the book. Nothing is straightforward, and just when you think the truth is finally revealed, another layer surfaces. The twists surrounding who knew what—and who was protecting whom all along—kept the story addictive from beginning to end.

And of course, no mafia romance would be complete without the delusional former flame who mistakes obsession for love and believes she is somehow entitled to Gabriel. She added exactly the right amount of frustration and drama without overpowering the central story.

What really worked for me was that beneath all the violence, danger, and power plays, this story is ultimately about devotion. About watching over someone from afar. About promises that survive years of loss and sacrifice. About two people fighting through impossible circumstances to finally claim their future together.

If you love mafia romance with protective alpha energy, forced proximity, hidden identities, family conspiracies, emotional angst, and a hero who would burn the world down for his woman, The Auction absolutely delivers.

[Laura Wolff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Gosh. I fall more in love with KC Crowne with every book I finish. She has this way of pulling you into the story and dragging you into the dark but loving every minute of it. I think we all secretly want a possessive, protective caveman to love us, flaws and all. Maybe not overbearing all the time but definitely the adoration that you can feel coming off the page.

This is a mafia romance so please read the trigger warnings as it’s a dark romance with kidnapping, human trafficking, gun violence and murder. If you are not in a place mentally to read this please pick something else.

This is an age gap romance between a Camorra mafia don and the daughter of a fallen Bratva Pakhan, only she doesn’t know who she is. Since her family was violently murdered when she was 5.

Our sweet Thea comes to in a strange place only to realize she has been drugged, kidnapped and is currently being auctioned off to the highest bidder. What she doesn’t know is the man who just paid one million dollars for her has been her silent guardian since her family’s demise. Now she is stepping into the dark world of the mafia and has to come to terms with her feelings and her new reality.

Gabriel is the leader of the NY Camorra. He has been following Thea since she was a child. Now she’s this beautiful, curvy woman he can’t take his eyes off of. But he is placing himself in the line of fire from the Russian Bratva by taking her out from underneath their grasp. Now he has to keep her safe and keep her secret.

This story was amazing. It was full of tension and lust and love. I love being able to really get to know the characters and see their journey unfold as individuals as well as together.

KC does an amazing job at bringing you into the dark underbelly of the mafia. I stayed up reading this because I just couldn’t put it down. I had to know what happened next! If you love a good mafia romance then give this one a read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brenda Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dark, Twisted, and Addictive


KC Crowne delivered another addictive mafia/dark romance filled with intrigue, betrayal, danger, and a wonderfully morally gray hero.

The story starts off strong with Thea being auctioned off against her will alongside her best friend, immediately pulling me into the story. The atmosphere was tense, dark, and emotional right from the beginning.

Thea was a fantastic heroine — intelligent, resilient, and easy to root for despite the difficult life she endured. I especially loved the emotional layers involving her friendship with Sylvie and how their relationship evolved throughout the story.

Gabriel, the Camorra leader, was protective, dangerous, and complicated in all the best ways. While I questioned some of his decisions regarding Thea’s past, his devotion and the chemistry between them kept me invested the entire time.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the found-family dynamic. The relationships felt genuine and added emotional depth to the darker storyline.

My only minor issue was that I guessed the identity of the traitor pretty early on, but honestly, it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the story at all.

If you enjoy mafia romance with a curvy heroine, emotional depth, betrayal, danger, and possessive morally gray heroes, this is definitely worth reading.

🔥 Tropes
• Mafia Romance
• Morally Gray Hero
• Curvy Heroine
• Forced Proximity
• Possessive Hero
• Found Family
• Betrayal & Secrets
• Touch Her and Die
• Dark Romance
• Protective MMC

⚠️ Trigger Warnings
• Human trafficking/auction themes
• Kidnapping
• Violence
• Abuse
• Emotional trauma
• Coercion
• Dark themes
• Criminal organizations
• Threats and intimidation

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

You might want to make sure to double check that you are buckled up, dangerous men, alpha’s personified, possessive, oh, gorgeous, brooding all the makings of a story consisting with three D’s (dark, delicious, and dirty) 😊. There will be suspense, betrayal, death, darkness, secrets reveled, violence, hope, forgiveness, and maybe even love along the way. Thea is so sweet, curvy working as a maid, having lost all of her family when she was five yr. old murdered so she was never told the truth what happened to her family so growing up normal but one day she is kidnapped, and wakes up on the auction stage with bids being posted she doesn’t know what’s going on all she wants is her life, her freedom back until she hears the one million dollar bid. Gabriel sexy as all get out NY Camorra boss ruthless, dangerous on a good day, deadly every day, he has followed the life of the young survivor of the bratva, knew when she was taken there to place the bid on the little girl who grew into a beautiful curvy women, protecting her became his mission to say he was overprotective was an understatement, and telling her about who she really was wasn’t something he wanted to do but knew he needed to tell her the truth of her being a Russian princess the heir to a bratva mafia, and when her own people came for her he made sure she would be ready. The magnetic pull between them is something neither could ignore the more she wished for her freedom fighting the idea of the auction, the idea of having feeling for the man who bought the bid, the stronger the pull between them grew but where are they headed, will she embrace her past, will he be able to protect her keep them safe, and can they find happiness somewhere along the way of finding the truth?

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets Never Stay Hidden Forever -
The last thing Thea remembered was someone buying a drink for her and her friend, but she soon found herself in a middle of a bidding war to buy her. Gabriel made sure no one would be able to get Thea when she was auctioned and even though she fought to get away from him, he didn’t tell her why he bought her. Thea was really upset with what happened and tried to escape, but Gabriel made it nearly impossible for her to leave.

However, not long after Thea had been in Gabriel’s home, he elevated the status of her situation and began spending more time with her, which led to them engaging in unbridled pleasures. Unfortunately, Gabriel and Thea’s happiness didn’t last long, as when the truth about her life came out, it led to a an escalation of the threats on her life. Even though Gabriel tried everything possible to keep Thea safe, especially after they received life changing news, they never expected to threat was closer to them than they realised.

Luckily, Gabriel discovered the truth in time to rescue Thea and permanently deal with the problem, so they could get back on track towards building their life and her family na,e could be restored in the Bratva hierarchy. I can say without a shadow of doubt, that K.C. Crowne definitely hit it out of the park again with this book and every minute spent devouring this fantastic Bratva romance, will be worthwhile. This is a definite must read book.

I received a free review copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great mafia romance with constant danger swirling around Thea. She doesn't know that she's the last remaining member of a murdered bratva family and Gabriel has been working to hide her for twenty years. This is a tense escalation of their attraction and his ongoing control over her life. She, of course, wants to push against her boundaries not realizing how much danger she's in.

I do have questions, such as why he would allow her to struggle day-to-day rather than providing some financial support. It seems he could have subsidized her rent without her knowledge or gotten her a better job or something without exposing their connection. The story does drag a little at times but then the action picks up. The future of the characters is wrapped up well with the exception of Kolya's thug, Sasha. He just seems to disappear at the end and isn't mentioned. His absence in the final violent scene is unexplained.

This is a good mix of separate mafia factions with the expected danger and violence mixed in. Gabriel goes from protective stalker to loving protector while Thea learns the truth of her heritage and her own worth. The insults throughout her life about her weight seem to be a commonly used way to diminish a curvy heroine. She learns to own those curves.

I received an advance reader copy and this is my honest review.

[Tbascoebuzz · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, outstanding job on giving us a full description of Thea and Gabriel…and within the first chapter too! Details didn’t trickle in but rather were immediately incorporated into the storyline and frequently reiterated without becoming tedious. I immediately connected to this story. I loved, loved loved Thea‘s personality. She’s a strong, smart and independent individual with survival instincts. She doesn’t tolerate much of anything off anybody…I readily related to her. She’s a real spitfire and quite awesome. This was such an outstanding story filled with well paced, nail biting drama combined with spine tingling suspense. The slow burn romance aspect and Gabriel’s obsession were extraordinarily well executed. The only detail that didn’t make a lick of sense (to me) was how Thea’s kidnapped friend (Sylvie) could resent and blame her for being trafficked. Because when you and your friend are kidnapped at the same time, how is that anyone’s fault? If any fault is to be placed, it would probably be on Sylvie. After all it was Sylvie that coaxed Thea into harms way. At any rate likable, outstandingly strong characters. This author keeps the reader tightly engaged with each dramatic phase as the story develops and progresses. This story was very believable. I am proud to highly recommend this book.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had great potential at the start. Fast paced and hit the ground running.

And then - it fell and ate cement.

The back and forth of Thea deciding to run or stay was a ping-pong match. Every time, she folded. It was the mindset of I shouldn’t want you, but I do.

Then it gets worse.

Thea discovers that she’s a bratva princess, but keeps working as a maid for Gabriel. Why?! He blows her mind, in more ways than one, and then keeps her as a maid and live-in lover.

Then the woman who raised Thea, but mentally and verbally abused her is forced to work for Gabriel as punishment. Somehow she’s all knowing about the Bratva and Camorra. And don’t forget she still thinks she has a say in how Thea should live her life despite abandoning her. Add that to her being a maid alongside Thea…yeah, okay.

The mole in the organization was predictable. It was a dead give away, even without the (subtle as a bomb) hints that were dropped.

Everything got wrapped up in one big bow of a HEA. I’m not saying it shouldn’t have, but the let’s just say there’s a time and a place for a marriage proposal, and that was NOT it!

I barely ever write reviews on Goodreads. But this book -
It really got on my nerves.

[C Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Gabriel and Thea. Gabriel Marietta is mafia and feared by everyone. Thea is a maid at a local hotel. She’s poor and lives paycheck to paycheck after her parents and siblings were murdered when she was just five years old and she was forced to live with her mother’s best friend. That woman abandoned her the moment she turned eighteen and she was forced to take whatever jobs she could to support herself.

When her friend talks her into going out after work, their foray turns into a nightmare when they are both forced on stage and sold as sexual slaves. Gabriel pays one million dollars for Thea and takes her to his home. But… he’s got secrets and those secrets involve Thea. She has no idea. He knows exactly who she is and his presence at the bar was not accidental.

I’m not going to give away the entire plot. I will say that Thea and Gabriel build a relationship, but it starts out based on lies and when Thea finds out she is very unhappy with him. Can he bridge the gap and pull her back in? I think he can, lol.

This was my second book by this author and I did enjoy it more than the first one I read. It was fairly predictable but I loved Gabriel and his care and love for Thea. 4🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Auction: Silver Fox Daddies (An Age Gap, Mafia Romance) by KC CROWNE

Tagline: Danger, desire, and forbidden attraction ignite when worlds collide at the auction.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)

KC Crowne’s “The Auction” is a thrilling age gap, mafia romance that kept me hooked from beginning to end. The story is packed with suspense, steamy moments, and just the right amount of danger. I loved the dynamic between the strong, relatable heroine and the older, enigmatic mafia boss—KC Crowne does a great job handling their age difference in a way that feels genuine and full of emotion.

The chemistry between the main characters is electric, and I found myself rooting for them the whole way through. The plot moves quickly, with plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting. I also enjoyed the witty dialogue and the colorful cast of supporting characters who add depth to the story.

If you enjoy mafia romances with mature heroes, forbidden attraction, and lots of tension, I highly recommend “The Auction.” It’s a fun, addictive read that delivers everything I look for in this genre!

[Sara Marquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Past Unknown

Thea is a maid at the Belvedere, keeps to herself and unseen. She's into reading and romance novels. Her friend Sylvie talks her into a night out but the night doesn't go as planned. They end up drugged and at a private auction, they are being auctioned!

Gabriel Moretti is at the auction and saves Thea by bidding a million. There is a Russian, Sasha who is also trying to bid for Thea but fails. Sylvie is left behind and Thea can do nothing to help her.

Gabriel is hiding Thea's true identity but can not say anything to her. Secretly, Gabriel has been protecting Thea, keeping her safe.

Kolkov the Russian is responsible for the massacre against Thea's family but has no memory. As her past comes to light and Gabriel has strong possessive feelings, some of the past is uncovered.

Discover why Liza, who raised Thea abandoned her at 18 years of age. Can Thea escape Gabriel? Where will she go? Does her surprise pregnancy change things? Who's leaking information?

Alexei, Thea's cousin comes to offer Gabriel assistance. Max, godfather to Thea's dad, Lev also comes to offer his alliance and keep Thea safe. I enjoyed their story.

[Naughty Nightie · Rating 5 out of 5]

K.C hooks you in right from the start and keeps you turning the pages until the very end with this book. Thea and her best friend Sylvie are on a night out. They then find themselves elsewhere, and it's apparent their drinks were drugged. Both are horrified to discover they're in a room about to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Thea finds her bids getting higher and higher until Gabriel bids the most despite objections from another bidder. Thea is to become a maid for Gabriel. Soon she finds herself falling for her new employer despite being brought at auction. But there are other things at play, and Gabriel is also protecting her from her past and his involvement. Thea is not happy about being left in Gabriel's mansion as someone is out to get her.
I recieved an arc from Booksprout for my voluntary honest review for NN Book Blog. If you enjoy a dark age-gap Camora/Bratva Romance, you will love this book. However, this book may not be for everyone; therefore, heed any author-trigger warnings before reading or purchasing this book.

[Manda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriel has been watching over Thea for years until he is pushed into taking more direct action by his adversary. Now Thea is trapped in a harsh world of violence unsure who to trust and what best to do.

Gabriel is a cold, practical syndicate leader with only one weakness. Now he has that weakness locked in his home and is desperate to keep her safe and his hands to himself.

Thea is a normal girl just trying to survive when she is drugged, sold to the highest bidder and locked up on a crime lord's estate. But the worst part of all this is the uncomfortable attraction she feels for the man she should hate.

I loved the growing feelings between the two main characters and their efforts to fight these. The action was non stop from the very start with plenty of plot twists, mafia violence, strong morally grey over the top protective alpha, growing in strength FMC and betrayals from within. All in all another hit from this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title says it all, but reading it will be delicious!
Thea and her bestie Sylvie go out for drinks only to be drugged and put on the auction block. Thea is 25yo and is bought for one million dollars by the head of the Camorra in NYC, the intriguing older man Gabriel Moretti who is about twenty years her senior. What Thea discovers is beyond her comprehension. Can she believe what she has been told? Is she really the only surviving member of a former Russian Pakhan? Thea’s family was killed when she was 5yo by a rival who leads the Russian crime syndicate to this day. What Thea also discovers is that Gabriel wants her and not as his ward. Join the hunt for the suspected mole in Gabe’s famiglia. Several possibilities but all will become clearer as you read this fantastic book. If you like abduction romance with a mafia flavor, you will enjoy this one. Ms. Crowne can find the best and most provocative covers. Love this one. Yum! I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through Booksprout.

[Dru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thea, an overlooked hotel maid, is suddenly kidnapped and sold at a private auction to the highest bidder. The man who buys her, Gabriel Moretti, is powerful, dangerous, and far more connected to her past than she realizes. As she is pulled into his world of violence and secrets, the truth about her identity begins to unravel.

I really enjoyed this book and found it surprisingly gripping. The story pulls you in right from the start and keeps a strong sense of tension throughout. Thea is a compelling main character, balancing vulnerability with strength, and I liked how she slowly grows into her situation rather than adapting instantly. Gabriel fits the classic possessive mafia role, but his long history with Thea adds emotional depth that makes their dynamic more interesting. The mix of suspense, romance, and character development works very well, and I was invested in their journey the whole time. While a few details could have been explored a bit more, it did not take away from my overall enjoyment. A strong and engaging read.

[Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was deliciously AMAZING. I needed a break from ARC reading and have been wanting to go back to my roots of what started my love for Age Gap books. K.C. Crowne's books are just what coming home feels like for me and her writing has always brought comfort when I need to get away. When this one hit my email that it was available, I said why not. Age Gap and Mafia Romance? Say no More!

Thea has always had to figure it out on her own since she turned 18. A maid at a hotel and trying to save to get through she decides to go out with a friend for drinks. Without her knowing she is now part of an auction that has her worried for herself and her friend. Gabriel, a handsome older man that happens to be there buys her and takes her home. There she discovers not only what Gabriel does for a living but a very important key to her past.

This book had everything I enjoy in Mafia Romance: Age Gap, suspense, drama, and a surprise no one saw coming. Overall, if you need something a a break from your typical read, this one is an ideal pick.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a crazy ride! Kidnapped, auctioned off, revenge against your parents killer. Bratva vs Mafia! But through it all, a HEA . Thea Is meeting a friend after work when she is drugged and kidnapped. She is taken to a mafia don's house. All Thea can think of is trying to escape. Until she can't get the don, Gabriel, out of her head.

There's a snake in the grass working against them. Is it the woman who was paid to raise her as her own when Thea's own family was murdered? Is it Amanda, Gabriel's former lover and current lawyer? Or is there someone else behind the scenes?

This was a real page turner. It kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. It also kept me guessing. I thought I had it figured out then something else would make me question it and I would change my mind only for it to flip back. Well worth the read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cindy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Auction is the latest story in the Silver Fox Daddies. It was so good I could not put it down. It is an age gap mafia romance.

Thea works as a hotel maid. Her friend wants to go to a club so they go and have some fun. She and her friend are kidnapped. Thea wakes up and realizes she and her friend are being auctioned off. She wants to leave but can't. Gabriel places the winning bid of one million dollars. He is a dangerous mafia boss. Thea has to leave her friend who is still at the auction and is taken to Gabriel's home. She tries to escape but there is no escape. Gabriel gives her a job at his home to be a maid. When her feelings for Gabriel intensify what will he do?

I loved how hard-working and kind Thea was. She was a great person. I loved how Gabriel was so possessive of her. Their chemistry was so good. I look forward to the next story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sarah Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t hate this story, but I didn’t love it either. It has quite a slow start, and the heroine’s constant back-and-forth with the hero quickly became frustrating she hates him, then sleeps with him, then hates him again. The cycle repeats: she’s angry about his lies, forgives him, then goes right back to hating him.

It also didn’t quite make sense that, if he was supposedly protecting and helping her, she was still living in poverty and cleaning toilets.

As expected, there’s the looming threat of the villain and a last-minute abduction something that seems to happen in nearly every book like this. Sasha is completely forgotten about and just disappears without explanation, and then we get the happily ever after.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chandra Quimby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love mob books, whether it's Mafia or bratva or anything in between. As always it was perfectly spicy. I think the part I love the most was it was an actual story, with complex characters that twisted and turned and just when you thought you figured out who the bad guy was going to be you were pleasantly surprised that it wasn't the person you thought it was and actually was somebody that was much more obvious but you didn't figure it out! The tragedy of the auction is the most devastating part of this book. Wondering what happened to her friend this entire time, I know it was nagging at me constantly while reading. This was a well-written book that is definitely considered a Paige Turner. There was not an excess of filler that would make it boring at any point. Definitely recommend it!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ragu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Thea and Gabriel. Thea the 5 year old orphan of a Bratva Pakhan. Her family ambushed and murdered in there home. Gabriel the Don of the local Italian Mob. Gabriel pledged to behind the scenes take care of and keep her safe and ensure her true identity never be found out. They finally meet face to face but Thea doesn’t know here true identity and Gabriel doesn’t tell her, he moves her into his home in order to protect her. They eventually begin to have feelings for one another. This story will grab ahold of you from page one all the way to the last page all the while keeping you on the edge of your seat. The story is filled with secrets, mystery, family, suspense, intrigue, danger, emotion, and passion. I highly recommend. A must read. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marilyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thea was meeting a friend but wakes up after being kidnapped and drugged. She then finds herself in a room where an auction is happening and it’s about her! An older man comes in and buys her for a million dollars and she now belongs to him. At his home she has to stay inside but what’s to escape but finds that she’s in danger if she does. She gets told the man is Gabriel and he’s a Mafia Don but he’s also her guardian. He’s been watching her since she was 5 when her family was killed. She doesn’t know that her father was a Bratva Pathan and that men want answers. Gabriel has watched her for a long time but now has become obsessed with her. But he’s also falling for her and wants her for himself. But he’s also has to keep her safe!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angela Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the read!

This is a well-composed mafia romance. The main characters have backstories, the primary supporting cast have discernible personalities (must mention that lovely butler, Oscar), and they're all brought together by a dark, dangerous (and slimy!) situation.

Gabriel is Italian mafia; along with the deadly traits expected, he also has a sense of honor and loyalty and definitely well-hidden obsessive, possessive, and tender tendencies. Thea is feisty, street-smart, and an able thinker/planner; she's also become Gabriel's focus.

The storytelling includes great pacing, multiple hazards to navigate, pertinent surprises, obvious betrayal and motive, searing chemistry within this couple's romance, and a couple of inevitable bonehead moves on the FMC's part on the way to her HEA. I do plan to continue this series!

[RxReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge KC Crowne fan, this one absolutely worked for me 😍 The Auction has all the intense, addictive drama I expect from her books, with a powerful silver fox mafia hero who is possessive, dangerous, and impossible to ignore. Gabriel gives off that cold, untouchable energy at first, but the more the story unfolds, the more layered he becomes. I really liked the mix of romance, suspense, and hidden secrets, especially once the heroine realizes there’s more going on behind the auction than she ever imagined. The chemistry is strong from the start, and the emotional tension keeps building the whole way through. Dark, dramatic, and hard to put down, this was such a fun mafia romance escape 🔥.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.