Lucid Nightmare (Marino Legacy Trilogy Book Two): A Christian Mafia Romance

by Skylar J. Kent

ROME

I swore to kill him if I ever saw him again, and now he's back.

Every kid knows the feeling of having a monster under the bed, but mine wanted me in his sheets. Two decades later, Father Norman has the guts to show his mug again, still playing the good shepherd.

I'm out for revenge, but then I learn he has friends. Lots of them. And one of the offenders is close with the woman I love.

BELLA

I always knew that evil lived among us, but I wasn't aware just how close it lurks.

My family is anything but happy that I'm dating a mob boss, and they make no secret of their aversion to Rome. Despite my efforts to appease them, things only get worse. Then Rome starts distancing himself from me without explanation.

When a loved one of mine is suspected of being involved in child trafficking, I start digging for proof. What I uncover shatters my world into a million pieces—and paints a target on both Rome’s back and mine.

Lucid Nightmare is a gritty Christian mafia romance about a mob boss caught between darkness and light. It's the second installment in the Marino Legacy Trilogy and picks up right where Cruel Blood (book one) left off.

Author's While Lucid Nightmare does not contain explicit content, it is intended for readers 18+ due to mature themes and violence. Content warnings will be available under "Read sample" once the book is published.

Genres: Mafia Romance

Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 25, 2026

Reviews

[Danielle K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew! I’m not sure I can write a review that will do this book justice. Lucid Nightmare had me crying and then laughing in the same chapters. The way that Skylar takes things that are absolutely horrific and can show us how God is working in the middle of our messes is beautiful. There were so many “little” moments so powerfully written that I will be rereading this to soak up more of those truths.

As the author has stated, this is for an 18+ audience and handles very dark topics (darker than book 1), sure to be difficult for some readers. This book has had me in prayer a lot since reading. Light is supposed to expose darkness. And, while this book may make some uncomfortable, sometimes being uncomfortable is just what we need for a wake up call to pray and do more for those around us.

Be sure to read Cruel Blood first as this is Book 2 in the Marino Legacy Trilogy. As such, it also ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. But don't worry, Book 3 won’t be too far away!

Thank you, Skylar, for the ARC!


*All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

[Shae Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! This was only my second time reading a mafia romance. The first Christian mafia romance I read was actually "Cruel Blood", the first book in this series.

I’ll admit, as a Christian, I started off SUPER confused before I even opened the first page of book one. My struggle was, “How in the world could a mafia mob boss be a Christian? And if he was…duh, just get out! Walk away and leave the life behind!” Boy, was I wrong. After finishing book one, I just knew book two couldn’t possibly get any better.

WRONG AGAIN!

There are so many complex layers that begin to unfold as you read through this book. Kent’s writing and perspective quite literally engulfed me. For the first time, I found myself sitting there thinking, “Huh…this really isn’t as simple as I thought it was.”

And the more I read, the more certain things began to hit home in my own life—especially in my walk with Jesus.

Obviously, my life looks nothing like Rome and Bella’s, but the wrestling between our flesh and our desire to follow Jesus? THAT I understand. There are times when I know what Jesus is calling me to, and yet my flesh wants something completely different. This book reminded me that following Jesus doesn’t mean the struggle suddenly disappears. But because of Jesus, I don’t have to be ruled by my flesh either. There is power in Him to choose differently, to surrender again, to repent when I get it wrong, and to keep becoming more like Him.

That honestly inspired me. It made me examine some areas of my own life and remember that the things we wrestle with may be real, but they don’t have to have the final say. Jesus does. And I love when a fictional story can unexpectedly turn my heart back toward Him like that.

I do want to say this: PAY ATTENTION TO THE CONTENT WARNINGS. Don’t skip over them! Kent does a great job of clearly laying them out at the beginning of the book, and they are there for a reason. There are some very heavy and difficult themes throughout this story, and I think readers should know what they’re walking into. I read the warnings beforehand, so I was prepared to an extent for what I could potentially encounter, and I’m really glad I did.

With that being said, the story is heartbreaking, but it’s also incredibly beautiful and when I tell you this is a ROMANCE novel... IT IS A ROMANCE NOVEL! I can almost guarantee that, like me, you will feel just about EVERY human emotion as you journey through Rome and Bella’s story. There were moments that hurt to read, moments that made me angry, moments that made me hopeful, and moments that made me want to reach through the pages and hug these characters. And I grew to LOVE these characters! Rome, Bella, Fury, Michele, Creed, Guiliana...

I highly recommend this book. I also really appreciate Kent for truly doing what her description says: “daring to go where other Christian writers have never gone before.” She doesn’t shy away from the darkness and complexity of this world, while still allowing faith, redemption, grace, and love to have a place within it.

Amazing job, Kent. I cannot WAIT to read book three!

[Brittany Paulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woowwwww!! I couldn’t turn the pages of this one fast enough, just like Cruel Blood! Definitely observe the content warning on this one, it delves into some really heavy stuff that is hard to read, much heavier than the first book. But the author does a phenomenal job at showing how God shines through in the darkest of places, and nothing is beyond His sight. The flaws in the characters are so relatable and “real life”, and as hard as it is to think about, I applaud Skylar J. Kent for tackling the horrific subject of child trafficking. The romance is clean and very swoony….and it’s going to be impossible to wait until March for the last one!

[Caren | Hopefulwords · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary advance copy of this book. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Where do I even begin?! Faith stands out in this story and love is woven throughout alongside it — I Corinthians 13:4–7 came to mind. Rome and Bella’s connection goes so far beyond physical attraction, even though it’s still present. They are committed, and love is visible in how they are there for each other.

Dispersed through the heavy, heartbreaking themes are the hilarious moments. The story takes these little curves so suddenly that you never know when it’s going to happen, and I love that. I laughed out loud at one specific scene! I can only imagine how much fun the author had writing that bit. Here’s a clue: date night.

However, regarding the darker themes, please make sure to read the content warnings at the start. Horrific subjects like ch*ld SA and traff*cking are included to bring awareness, and while non-explicit, there are enough hints and details so the reader knows what happened.

This is a story that reaches out to the bruised and lost and says there’s still hope. It brings attention to the defenseless. It shows fighting the good fight and being there for one another.

I could not put this book down. The Marino Legacy Trilogy is an incredible series, and the brotherhood/found family between Rome and his friends is amazing! And Rome is a wonderful uncle/father-figure to Giuliana!

I’m already looking forward to the next and final book in this series!

Content:
Christian Mafia Romance
Strong Faith Themes
Intimacy level: Kisses Only between the main characters | References to a side character’s premarital relations | 18+ for mature themes and conversations
Language: No profanity
Violence
Sensitive subjects: trauma and the aftermath; includes but is not limited to r*pe and ch*ld SA (please see the content warnings at the start of the novel)

[Gloria Elemide · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried. I laughed. I blushed. 😭😂🤭 What a combination!

Lucid Nightmare took me through so many emotions. This book is DARK, heartbreaking, and honestly difficult in places, but somehow Skylar Kent still manages to weave faith, love, hope, and even humour through all that darkness.

One thing that really stood out to me was how faith was portrayed. It wasn’t just there in the background. The characters wrestled, struggled, made choices, had to surrender, repent and keep choosing Jesus even when their flesh wanted something completely different. And I loved that because it felt real. Following Jesus doesn’t mean the struggle disappears, but it does mean the struggle doesn’t have to rule you.

And Rome and Bella? 🥹 Their relationship went beyond attraction. The way they showed up for each other, remained committed, and loved each other through difficult circumstances was beautiful to watch.

But please, READ THE CONTENT WARNINGS. Seriously. This book deals with very heavy and disturbing subjects, and I appreciated that the author was upfront about what readers would encounter. Some of the themes are not easy to read, but I could see why they were included and how the story used them to shine a light on darkness and the people who are often overlooked.

And then, somehow, in between all this heartbreak, the author would throw in something hilarious and have me laughing. 😭 That balance caught me off guard more than once.

The brotherhood and found-family dynamics were another highlight for me. And Rome with Giuliana? 🥹❤️ I loved their relationship.

This is definitely not a light, fluffy romance, but there is so much love, faith, redemption and hope woven through the darkness.

I came out of this book with my emotions thoroughly dealt with, and honestly, I’m glad I read it.

Now I need BOOK THREE because that cliffhanger?? 😭

[Heather · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Lucid Nightmare picks up right where Cruel Blood ended.
Rome is still straddling two worlds as he is still the mafia boss, but also a Christian and wants to leave that world but it’s not a simple thing to do. He had a horrendous childhood and some demons from the past come into play more in this book. And we see Rome wrestle with God about wanting to have revenge but knowing it’s not up to Him. There is scripture in the book and so many rich, deep, solid Gospel truths woven naturally throughout. The themes of forgiveness and leaving vengeance up to God are strong. We see main characters confessing sin and beautiful prayers and really cool “God at work” aspects.

I loved the found family between Rome and his mafia “brothers”. I loved how Rome is so gone for Bella and so protective of her. He prays for her, cares for her when she’s sick and loves her - his light in his darkness - so much. I also loved seeing character crossovers from other Skylar Kent/JJ Samie Myles books. Also, her writing style is so easy to read - so down to earth and conversational.

Now, having said all that, this book is dark. It depicts in a very real way, the evil that exists in our world. There are some details of what Rome and his mafia brother went through in their abuse as kids. It has usual mafia book violence but there are added heavy, heavy topics in this book and some of the content is hard to read. A few parts were too graphic or violent for my preference, but at the same time, when you stick with it to the end, the faith elements do shine through so strong and beautifully.

Please, please read the content warnings before going in to see if this book is right for you. There is no swearing.

Thanks Skylar for an early complimentary copy to read and review.

[Sage Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional reckoning not a casual escape. From the very beginning, the narrative confronts you with a wave of raw trauma and heavy, unfiltered emotion. It doesn't shy away from the darker corners of human experience. It uses them as a backdrop to explore what it truly means to build a relationship with God when you are surrounded by grief, temptation, and sinful behavior.

For a large portion of the book, I found myself wrestling with the main female character. Her passiveness in the face of her overstepping, boundary-crossing family was incredibly difficult for me to digest. It frustrated me, and that friction made it hard to move past certain chapters. However, as the story unfolded, my frustration shifted into a quiet understanding. I had to stop viewing her through my own lens and accept her for who she fundamentally is: a through-and-through Proverbs 31 woman. She isn't passive out of weakness; she is fiercely committed to anchoring her life, her choices, and her endurance in a desire to praise God above all else.

In contrast, watching the male lead navigate his own darkness was a heavy, aching experience. As he constantly struggled to choose the right direction when facing a fork in the road, the narrative forced me to look past his missteps and truly comprehend the "why". Although he’s deeply flawed, he has a strong desire to do good. Throughout the book you are carrying a sense of hope for him. Praying that when that fork in the road inevitably presents itself again, he will have the strength to choose the path of redemption.

[Candace Riggs(darling) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review of this book. MASSIVE SPOILERS!
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Where do I even begin? This book is about some of the darkest things that happen and how you can heal from it.
Rome is a mob boss who struggles with anger, grief, vengeance and his relationship with the Lord. He and Bella are helping each other find comfort in one another but most importantly in God.
When all heck breaks loose because a rival mob is after Rome and they don’t understand why not only is he in danger but so is Bella and his niece Giuliana. When trying to trap Rome the rival mob has Giuliana SA’d leading Rome to share his story with her that he’s kept hidden.
When it all comes to light of what Fury and Rome went through(I was bawling)it’s discovered that sadly Bella’s parents are responsible for some of the darkest evil. Rome desperately connects with God, so he doesn’t take vengeance into his own hands, but when he’s kidnapped and then Bella is too, he doesn’t know if he’ll be able to keep restraint.
The ending had me wanting more because the way it ended and I can’t wait for Book 3 in the Marino Legacy.

Also Fury’s response to Barbra had me in stitches! There is also a scene where Bella does a period simulator on all the guys and they are dying from it, I giggled! These were some of the funniest parts in the book!

[Bri Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great book by Skylar Kent. This is book two in the Marino Legacy Trilogy. This book is alot heavier and darker than Cruel Blood (book #1) was. But it captured the really graphic realities of the sick world we live in. It also did it carefully, and included so much faith themes on the page. If you want to really go through the roller coasters of the characters in this book, this book is for you. You can feel their heavy emotions, trauma, guilt, grief, and their doubts. This book focuses a little bit more of Fury (Rome and Bella are still the main characters) but we learn more about Fury and my heart is just broken for him. You also get to see a little more of Giuliana in this book. Its fully of healing themes, as well as beautifully placed scripture. You can tell that Skylar goes to great measures to make sure that things are balanced out between the goodness of God working and the brutal realities or living in a fallen world.

Be careful to look at the content warnings because this book is again much darker and intense than Cruel Blood.

*This is an arc review but all opinions are my own*

[Jenny x Carolena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucid Nightmare definitely got dark. Extremely dark. There is A LOT packed into this book, and the content warnings aren't something to brush past. This one felt much heavier and more serious than the first, Cruel Blood, digging into trauma, depression, grief, and the damage that can come from all of it. There were also twists I absolutely did not see coming, which made it even harder to put down.

Rome is really clinging to his lifelines in this one: God and Bella. And Bella has plenty she's dealing with too, especially with her family. Some of her choices had me questioning what on earth she was thinking, but she's human, she's flawed, and she's trying to navigate some pretty awful circumstances. This is definitely not a standalone, so you NEED to read Cruel Blood first. It's gritty, heavy, and at times difficult, but I am completely invested in the Marino Legacy and look forward to what book three can bring!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Kate Fenley · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY COW! MUST READ SERIES!!!! I literally don’t even know where to start with this book. I devoured each in one day and I am just so blown away by Skyler‘s writing. This book is definitely heavy. It talks about some really terrible evil things that surprisingly enough go on every single day in the world and most of us don’t even realize it, which is just so heartbreaking. I am amazed at how she adds the Lord into her books. It’s just so unique, especially in this genre of dark Romance and it’s clean, which just makes it so much better for me because I only read clean books.And myyy lawdddd there’s some sizzle between these two!! I mean, the chemistry is absolutely off the charts. The banter between them is also great.This book truly shows that even in the darkest of places and with the darkest people God is working on those people and in those dark places and he is after them and I believe he will get them!! AHHH I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!! 10/10 stars for me!

[angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the arc from the Author.
I loved this book. This book is dark Christian romance. Please check your triggers before reading this book. This book will make you have all kinds of emotions. It will make you laugh, sad,you will have anxiety. It will make you cry.
Rome does love hard and wants protects the ones he loves. He has hard past that makes him, who he is today.
Bella loves Rome, and she is a Christian. But she loves her family. She is stuck in both worlds.
Rome and Bella love each other in this evil world. To make this world right for the one they love and the love for each other. And other people safe from this evil world. And God has a hand all things.
I would say this book for people 18 and up. This book makes you aware things around us. This has dark topics in this book.
I could not put this book down. And I love this book. I'm so ready for book 3. Rome and Bella has my heart.

Thank you for the arc.
Skylar Kent

[Myra · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you come to a hard part for you to read or the suspense feels like too much, don’t stop reading, you will see that God is still at work….
Rome’s redemption story continues in Lucid Nightmare. He and Bella struggle to have a Christ centered relationship among the hardships of living in the mafia world and overcoming the severe trauma he experienced growing up. Things come to a boiling point when evil from his past returns and more evil targets his niece Guilliana. Will Rome listen to the still small voice of God, or will he choose his own path and vengeance? The struggle is real and I love that Kent does not shy away from some of the hardest issues in today’s world in her works. Parts of this story remind me that, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

[Julie whyte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. There was so much happening with the action, the romance, the banter and the chosen family, but what I loved most was the character growth and the way faith was such a natural part of the story.

Rome and Bella were definitely my favourites. Their chemistry was so good, and I loved the fun they had together while still trying to honour their faith. I also really enjoyed seeing Rome trying to navigate life with his teenage niece. That added a whole other side to his character.

There were some really difficult themes throughout the story, but I thought they were handled well, and I loved the reminders about forgiveness, trusting God and leaning on Him when life gets hard.

And that ending...

I NEED the next book! ❤️

ARC given by Author.

[Kristine Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Review from an advanced received copy from the author**

What a wild ride this book was! As other reviewers have noted, this book really had a beautiful depth to it, addressed many difficult topics that really highlighted some of the complexity that can exist in the Christian life. I absolutely could not put this book down from the second I started reading it. Rome and Bella navigate some pretty hefty things both in the past and the present.

Please be cognizant of the content warnings at the beginning of the book, it is decidedly darker than the first book but I am genuinely looking forward to the third one coming up in the trilogy!

[Lauren Hill · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! Definitely check the trigger warnings as it is much darker than Cruel Blood. This book makes you feel all the emotions the characters are, which is great but also made me put it down after some chapters to process. Skylar did a phenomenal job taking the heartache and trauma the characters faced and using that to show how we should cling to God in times of struggle, even when it feels impossible and you don’t know how to believe. Seeing the characters struggle but also help each other through their own struggles was so encouraging and it made me like some of the characters even more. Excited for the next book to come out to see what happens next!

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s taken me a minute to gather my thoughts and I still am unsure how to convey them. Sometimes the most dark and uncomfortable of stories are the ones we need to hear most. Romeo and Bella have had hurt and darkness in their pasts and present lives that they are trying to navigate with grace and faith. I really admired them and their ability to be there for other people during their trials while figuring out their future together. I laughed and cried with these characters and can’t wait to see where the next book takes us. I am loving this Marino family and how they keep me on the edge of my seat. Five stars

[Allyson Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skylar J. Kent crafted another intense story with mature themes for readers 18+ in the Marino Legacy series. Kent tackles difficult topics like child sexual abuse
and child trafficking in Lucid Nightmare. The author does an excellent job weaving faith into her story and having Rome and Bella, who are Christians, imperfect with flaws and struggles. If you a fan of Christian mafia romances with imperfect characters and mature themes, the Marino Legacy series is for you.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Taniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not an easy book to get through and I advise everyone to check the trigger warning before diving into this story. It made me cry, hold my breath, yell and laugh. There were moments where I had to stop because I couldn’t handle what was written and my mind was mentally not prepared. There were moments of pure heartbreak but I’m also the struggle let go of the pride we have in our hearts to take things into our own hands.

This book was a mystery, thriller, romance and so much more. I just can’t wait to see how the next part will unfold.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second gritty book I have reviewed in the same day. Skylar Kent is a pen name for JJ Samie Myles who also writes under that name. Skylar Kent is a name she uses for her more gritty fiction.

I was a bit dubious about a Christian mafia fiction series, but it works. Kent (Myles) is a great author, and she actually pulls it off. I loved the first book in this series, Cruel Blood, and have been looking forward to reading this one.

It isn't for the faint of heart. There are warnings in the front of Kent's books, telling what subject matter is in the book. And as the book blurb says, this one covers the sexual exploration of a child by a priest. There are no graphic details given about that, but this is not your grandma's Janette Oke fiction. This is truly gritty fiction, yet are topics that need addressed in Christian fiction.

There was one scene in the book....no offense to the author...but the main character and his friends were rescuing kids that were being used by some very bad people. The main character did something that I feel should not be in the book, as it was a bit too graphic. But maybe others may not think so.

But overall, this was a great read, other than a major cliffhanger ending. 😐 Again, this is a great read and series, but one should read the content warnings before reading them.

Special thanks to the author for an advance e-book copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

[Bookish babe ☕️ · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Love this book! The walk of faith these characters have to go through is so heartbreaking but beautiful. They pray for each other and encourage each other! This book shows real life struggles and trials that people go through and the struggle of turning to God and letting Him fight the battles. I took away 1/2 star because some of the scenes got a little too graphic for my tolerance. But other than that this book is amazing!

[Dani Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for an uncomfortable read about very current and relevant events, this book is for you.
Though this book is closed door, it is quite "graphic" in the description of trauma/injury. If this is a concern, check warnings.
As always, Skylar J Kent fills the pages with faith and hope, and this is yet again another fantastic read!

[bookloverjb123 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an Arc provided by the author.

This book is definitely not for the faint of heart and deals with raw and very emotional and traumatic details and feelings. The storyline is a struggle between good vs evil and no heart is too far gone for redemption.

[Lissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore Rome & Bella's devastatingly redemptive ,caring, fiery, loving , sweet, swoony story!!


Please see the content warning in the book before reading.

[Adeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sucked in before I could even get away. The real grit of the book is so well executed. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat.