The Bride The Don Chose: An Enemies To Lovers Arranged Marriage Mafia Romance With An Obsessive Hero

by Sloane Blackwell

349 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2026

Reviews

[Renee collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for letting me arc read this amazing book!

This is my first read by this author and she did not disappoint I love mafia romance and this one was so good. The characters were so well written and I absolutely loved the storyline I can’t wait to read more by this author!

[Ebbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unexpectedly good? I’d rate this a 3.7

What I loved:

-The swearing was to a minimum. I hate, hate, hate when authors make swearing a personality.

-The hero was gentle and kind and HOT. his constant attention on the FMC was so personal and intimate. I just loved how much of himself he gave Lottie when she was in his presence. Full attention, at all times.

-The chemistry between the two of them was perfect. The slow burn was at a perfect speed and I loved the length of this novel.

What I didn’t love as much:

-The grammar was a bit off. It made the story a little difficult to get immersed into.

-using God’s name in vain. I don’t like this, in fact I can’t stand this.

But I again want to point out that I really really do love that Ms Blackwell didn’t have characters who swore for 90 percent of this book. Very refreshing!

-Sometimes it was too much mafia details and not enough personal moments between characters? Like they never really dated each other. Yeah I get they were married, but I wanted to see a little more courting, more marital spats and all that jazz. Even some groveling thrown in.

- at times the main characters were so … not cold but robotic? Like they lacked humanity. Not in a sense where they were mean but rather lifeless. I feel like we didn’t get any personal information about who they actually were outside of the mafioso. What was their fave color, did they have a best friend, what did a lazy Sunday look like, what are some weird quirks? What did a date night look like? They seemed impersonal at times.

But I think this author has great potential to be someone I could get into. Looking forward to reading more of this author in the future

[VickydpBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up for the mafia romance… I stayed for the chemistry and the obsessed Don. 🖤🔥

This book had me hooked from the very first chapter. The drama starts immediately, and once Damiano uttered that one word at the altar, I knew I was in for a wild ride.

Damiano Vitale is everything I want in a mafia MMC—powerful, protective, ruthless when he needs to be, but completely gone for his woman. The man falls first, falls hard, and watching this feared Don become utterly obsessed was honestly one of my favourite parts of the book.

The FMC was just as impressive. She’s intelligent, resilient, and refuses to let anyone underestimate her. I loved that she wasn’t a damsel in distress and could hold her own, even in the dangerous world she suddenly finds herself in.

The chemistry between them was undeniable from the start. The tension, the banter, the protective moments, and the spice were perfectly balanced with the action and suspense. Every chapter left me needing to know what happened next.

If you love:
🖤 Mafia romance
💍 Arranged marriage
🔥 Enemies-to-lovers
❤️ He falls first
🔥 Obsessive, possessive Don
🖤 Fierce, intelligent FMC
⚔️ Touch her and die
✨ Guaranteed HEA

…then you need this on your TBR immediately.

This book delivered everything I look for in a mafia romance—high stakes, sizzling chemistry, emotional moments, and a hero who would burn the world down for the woman he loves. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down.

[Nikki Ibarra · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ 5/5 Stars

From the very first scene, The Bride the Don Chose captivated me completely. Damiano’s bold choice of Lottie at her cousin’s wedding set the stage for their intense and unconventional arranged-marriage romance.

Lottie’s strength, intelligence, and unwavering determination to break free from the constraints of the mafia world resonated deeply with me. She constantly challenged Damiano’s decisions, refusing to simply accept his authority. In contrast, Damiano’s character was a complex blend of calculating, possessive, protective, and unwavering belief in Lottie’s place beside him even before he fully comprehended his own feelings.

The chemistry between Damiano and Lottie was electric. Every interaction was filled with tension, banter, forced proximity, and a gradual but undeniable development of trust. The intricate family politics, hidden betrayals, and constant danger surrounding their marriage added depth and complexity to the story, elevating it beyond mere romance.

This book delivered everything I adore in a mafia romance: an obsessive hero, a formidable heroine, an arranged marriage, enemies-to-lovers tension, family betrayal, danger, and a satisfying conclusion. I found myself unable to put it down, eagerly turning each page.

Highly recommended for readers who are drawn to possessive mafia men who fall head over heels and never question their choice.

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damiano is super suave and intelligent for his age. He is not what Lottie expected. At all. Turns out, they are perfectly suited for each other. Made for each other. Which means t-r-o-u-b-l-e for them, because betrayal from within their own family cuts deep and costs more than it should. Going through it all—after everything—they certainly earned that HEA.

One thing that really chews at my brain after reading Damiano and Lottie’s story . . . they very clearly would go scorched earth for each other, yet neither has uttered those three little words that would solidify their tight bond, leaving no air holes for leaks.

MMC:
✨Damiano
FMC:
✨Lottie
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Tropes:
👉dark mafia romance
👉arranged marriage
👉obsessive mmc
👉he falls first
👉enemies to lovers
👉touch her and ☠️
👉virgin/strong/intelligent fmc
👉rival families
Triggers:🛑see content warning page/author’s website for full list🛑
💥18+
💥 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, mf, open🚪sex
💥profanity
💥violence
💥betrayal

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed "THE BRIDE THE DON CHOSE"
was given freely for my honest opinion it hooked from the beginning I found it to be an interesting, intriguing, intense steamy journey keeping you reading.
Damiano Vitale a ruthless powerful Don falls hard for Carlotta "Lottie" Russo a rival family hoping for an arranged marriage to form an alliance.
Lottie has spent her life proving to every man that underestimates her wrong never thinking shed be marrying the man she was raised to fear.
Daminao's ruthless reputation everyone knows its a code once he feels Lottie is his to take nothing will stop him getting what he wants & not letting go.
Damiano's enemies want Lottie & he do everything to make sure that doesn't happen thats why Chicago fears him for choosing her they'll feel his wrath touch her & die.
Will Damiano & Lottie truly get their HEA & figure out wants Lottie a must read to see what happens you won't be disappointed.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me entertained, and I had to finish it to see what happened. It is about Carlotta (Lottie) Russo who was the maid of honor at her cousins wedding, but when the groom Damiano Vitale, the Don, comes in he says he doesn’t want to marry her cousin, he wants to marry her. Damiano wants to marry a Russo woman to form an alliance. This is their story of understanding and working together. There are villains in the story who I will not tell you who they are, you need to find out. I will say I am taking a ½ star off the rating because I wanted more love between the characters, and I do not believe either of them ever said they loved each other, I believe they did, but they never said it.
I received an ARC of this book, and I am leaving my honest opinion.

[Mini · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, I just can't. The premise of the book was great. However, the way the way everything was laid out and explained again and again and again with the exact same words and sentences was just so overly repetitive that by the end of the book I was skipping half the page because I already knew exactly what the sentences were. There was very little chemistry between the MMC & FMC the way you would expect from a mafia or dark romance book. There was no yearning, no intensity, no spark, no proper banter. Just 2 ppl constantly watching, evaluating, marking, filing, adjusting, maping, etc etc
I wanted burning, yearning, passion, not quiet calculations, and the same thoughts on repeat.

[Sharelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The wrong bride, but the right girl

Damiano is the youngest Don in Chicago, Lotte was the bridesmaid at her cousin's wedding. One moment standing next to her cousin, next being told she will take the brides place & being traded as an asset.

This story felt like it was coming from a neurospicy POV with both characters. Attention to details, repetitive sentences, OCD moments & the feeling of characters justifying their actions. Whilst I appreciate this approach to the characters I felt like the story was a little disjointed in its delivery & the last 2 chapters were written to meet a word counter.

Overall not a bad story, just didnt capture my attention enough to read it in one sitting.

[Shelly Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Damiano and Lottie story. Damiano needs to marry for an alliance but the way he picks his bride starts this story off on a cerebral travel though the mind of two people who tend to over think but it works for them. The one thing that set this apart was also the one thing that caused it to drag down. They both thought through everything before they made a move that it tended to slow down the flow. We already knew their thought process that we didn't need to have every little detail mapped out every time. The author didn't seem to be able to find a way out of it. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lottie and Damiano’s story starts out in a church for someone else’s wedding (which comes full circle at the end of the book).

Damiano needs a bride to secure an alliance with a rival Mafia family. At the last moment at the alter he chooses Lottie.

What follows is a slow burn yearning based on mutual respect. Lottie analyzes everything and looks at patterns and maps out everything. Damiano also leads the same way. Together they need to figure out who is targeting Lottie and why.

Lottie’s a bit of a bad ass and Damiano knows it.
Working together they need to figure out who’s trying to take down their family.

[dales explorer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lottie Russo was attending a wedding as her cousin’s bridesmaid.

She didn’t expect the groom to march down the aisle, point to her and say “Her or the deals off”!!

Neither did she expect to be marrying him 48 hours later to help tie the major crime families in Chicago together.

As she gets to know him, she finds it harder and harder to despise him. Especially when they realise that there are moles working deep within the family to betray them.

A spicy romance interlaced with mob strands.

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

[Cindy Luebke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damiano is not your typical ruthless Don that you normally read about in most mafia books, I think that's what sets this book apart slightly from the others. It's not talking about constantly him killing and beating up people.The relationship between him and Lottie seems genuine and sweet. Even though love is never mentioned, you can tell that it is definitely there. I would love to see more of these 2, maybe a book 2.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fast‑paced, addictive mafia romance that delivers exactly what you want from the trope: danger, devotion, and a hero who’s as ruthless as he is obsessed. The chemistry snaps from page one, and the tension between duty, power, and desire keeps the story moving without dragging. It’s short, punchy, and satisfyingly dramatic — perfect if you love possessive antiheroes and heroines who find their strength in the fire.

[Carrie Kluiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book catches your attention from the beginning. Its a mafia book but the Don is a surprise I was not expecting but it also has some of the old school antics. She was very aware and knowledgeable which helps make it a stronger main character. Looking forward to reading more of her books. I received a free copy of this book via Book sprout to leave volunteer review.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This intriguing Mafia Romance has drama, danger, betrayal, twists, secrets, lies, arranged marriage, and amazing secondary characters. The MCs are defined, engaging, likable, have chemistry and steam, are Intelligent, capable, determined, work well together and stop denying their feelings. I enjoyed this entertaining book. I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Carrie Hess · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bride the Don Chose

Amazing book! FMC and MMC marry for an alliance. Not everything is what it seems. FMC's cousin and uncle are helping go against the MMC.

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