Twisted Devotion

by Ashleigh Hawke

Akari Tanaka, timid young geek whose world was turned upside down after starting high school, where she became a target for relentless bullying.

Unbeknownst to her, she gained the protection of the one she should fear most.

Her wolf...

Adrianu di Salvo, son of a mafia don, emotionless until he crashed into a trembling young girl the first day of sophomore year, who then became his obsession.

Her safety is his priority...

The only one who can keep her safe is himself...

Until he is pushed to the point where he is her biggest threat…

And he will stop at nothing to keep her...

199 pages, Paperback

Published May 25, 2025

Reviews

[Azaria Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a MMC who has a stutter and is somewhat Mute.
This was a very face paced story and loved hearing the MMC talking to himself in his head of what he was doing was wrong or somewhat stalkerish but at least he was aware of it.
Kyle is the devils spawn and I’m glad he got his ending. Just ‘chefs kiss’
I did finish this in one sitting but didn’t update in time so one day read I fine too ahha
I’m excited for the rest of the series

[eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

finished this in 1 sitting and oh my god, I need more. I thought mikhail and Hannah would get together, I guess not! that was so cute, akari and adrianu are the cutest, thank the holy lord they killed Kyle I hated that mf since he was mentioned! and I knew something was wrong with Ellie because of the way she was acting on the call, ellies odd. Anyways, next book out when

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one day because I just couldn’t put it down! And it ends with a major cliffhanger, which I can not wait to read the second book.
There are a lot, and I mean a lot of twist in this story, which you do not expect. It is well written and pulls you into the story which I love.

[Shae Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this book. Dark, addictive, and emotionally intense. It had me hooked from page one. Akari’s vulnerability and Adrianu’s chilling obsession make for a twisted, unputdownable dynamic that toes the line between protector and predator in the most compelling way. And that ending?? I’m still recovering. Especially that page after the epilogue, no spoilers, but trust me, it changes everything. I need the next book immediately.

If you like morally grey antiheroes, obsession, and mafia romance with a psychological twist, this one's for you.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly heavy

This book is intense. Fast. Very fast actually. I read this book in a few hours, read your trigger warnings, cause this book will trigger you, but if you like dark to black mafia books, this one is a good place to start. On to next.....

[Hayleigh Burr · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an easy, fast paced reads. Lots of twists and turns but plenty to keep you interested. Would recommend to any dark romance lovers who are looking for a something easy but still intriguing. Somewhat predictable but still some good twists and turns. Cant wait for the next book.

[Madison Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I finished it in a day, the ending!! Wow what a cliffhanger, I am so excited for what is going to happen next

[Mistajt baddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was literally so good!! I finished it in one night. Akari and Adrianu are the cutest!

[Tamika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much

[Jess Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first dark romance read , and omg did it start something dark with in me ,
Devoured this book ,

[Kel C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book and can’t wait for the next one! Many times I was left on cliff hangers so it was hard to put it down. Very well written and a must read!

[Jojo Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read a few months ago (only just made a Goodreads account), but devoured this book in a single sitting, then stared at the wall afterwards wondering what to do with my life.
Wont give any spoilers, but if you want a dark f/m, mafia romance with heartache, twists and turns, a rollercoaster of emotions, that you don’t want to put down, this is the book for you.

[Renee Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading NZ author Ashleigh Hawke’s work, and I was genuinely surprised by how quickly I became invested in the story. Despite the darker themes throughout, the writing style was incredibly easy to read and flowed so well that I constantly found myself wanting to read “just one more chapter” to see what would happen next.

Adrianu immediately stood out to me from the very beginning. That cold, dangerous, mysterious mafia heir energy absolutely worked for me, and I loved the intensity he brought to every scene he was in. There was something really addictive about trying to figure him out, especially with the glimpses into his loyalty and the relationships he had with the children of rival mafia families. Those dynamics added an extra layer of intrigue to the story that I really enjoyed and hope gets explored even more moving forward.

Akari, on the other hand, frustrated me quite a bit at times, particularly when it came to her childhood bully. The warning signs were blaring from the beginning, so watching her forgive and trust him so easily had me internally screaming at her more than once. At the same time though, I could still understand that need to forgive and move on and hope for a better future for herself.

I also really appreciated the darker protective and obsessive elements surrounding Adrianu. The line between protection and possession was heavily blurred throughout the story, which created a tense atmosphere that kept me hooked. While some moments were definitely intense, I found the overall plot really engaging and loved the way the story unfolded.

By the end, I was completely invested and eager to start the next book immediately because I need to know where these characters go from here.

[cult pastor kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast Paced Dark Romance

I would consider this a “what you see is exactly what you get” book /gen.

CW/TW’s are accurate; book moves along at a quick pace (I read it in abt 1.5hrs incl. distractions); characters are fleshed out. My sole focus was the portrayal of ASPD, and it didn’t disappoint, as a solid amount of references/points made within about it, are both clinically and lived experience-wise correct.

Definitely a “hits several dark/red flag smut content tropes” book for the book girlies though; the pacing and cadence reflects our BookTok era (not a bad thing) and this is exactly what I’d expect to see recommended on a FB reel for books abt getting stalked and NSFW’d by a ridiculously hot and overprotective mafia boss.

[Sari Book Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh I wasn't sure at the start when the book begun with teenage bullying but boy did it get good 😁 I couldn't put it down and absolutely devoured it in a single sitting as it was that great! The characters were complex and interesting, the storyline had plot twists that kept me hooked and even the spice had the sparks 🤩🎉
The ending was epic and I really loved the epilogues 💖
Can't wait for the next book!!!

[Kerryanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book earlier this year and only just realized i never reviewed.

I absolutely loved this book!! Im normally so hesitant to try debut novels by authors but i have no regrets reading this one an absolute 5☆ read for me there was spice and plot and loads of twist and turns! Ashleigh I'm still so mad at you about Nicoló!

If you love a fast paced spicy mafia book this is the book for you!

[Kassondra Corn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twisted Devotion

The story was decent enough, but there was something lacking with the writing. Not grammar or anything just... off.
I just wasn't enthralled with it. It lacked feeling, I think.
Anyway 3 stars for me.

[Emma Watson · Rating 2 out of 5]

WTH did I just read??
I love a dark romance... this is not that.

I rolled my eyes so much at the weak attempts to make the dark psycho sexy... didnt work.
The plot has more holes than my husbands undies and it all just moves so fast.

Nope!

[Mel Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Author had me hooked at the begining!!! Lots of twists and one huge one!! Wont spoil it but YOU NEED TO READ THIS!!!!

[addie]

i WILL read this once I find its epub💔

[Candy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐