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Lure of Lethality
Before New York’s underworld crowned her First Lady, a beautiful starlet walked away from a man who loved her.
Thirty years by the Don’s side have taught Flavia Sforza that beauty is a fortress and loneliness its toll. These days, the woman who once melted camera lenses finds her only solace in casinos she secretly rigs and tarot she can’t, because Death keeps dealing itself.
The undertaker stalking her orbit knows each restless ghost in her past—because he is one of them. He has blueprints for her husband’s downfall, for her dynasty’s collapse, and for the effigy he thinks she still is. Yet amid Connecticut’s winter chapels and the heat of forbidden nights, Ruyan must confront the one clause he never anticipated: whether his meticulously planned vengeance can survive the lure of the real, aging, complicated woman behind a legend.
The question is no longer who will bury whom, but if a heart long encased in ice can beat again before it’s placed on a slab in one of his own coffin beds.
Thirty years by the Don’s side have taught Flavia Sforza that beauty is a fortress and loneliness its toll. These days, the woman who once melted camera lenses finds her only solace in casinos she secretly rigs and tarot she can’t, because Death keeps dealing itself.
The undertaker stalking her orbit knows each restless ghost in her past—because he is one of them. He has blueprints for her husband’s downfall, for her dynasty’s collapse, and for the effigy he thinks she still is. Yet amid Connecticut’s winter chapels and the heat of forbidden nights, Ruyan must confront the one clause he never anticipated: whether his meticulously planned vengeance can survive the lure of the real, aging, complicated woman behind a legend.
The question is no longer who will bury whom, but if a heart long encased in ice can beat again before it’s placed on a slab in one of his own coffin beds.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 1, 2026
arc review to come 🖤
August 6, 2026
A Great Read
Katie knows how to write strong female characters, and I am here for it. They are always so quick witted and sassy. Even her side characters can be funny and offer a little lightheartedness to breakup some serious scenes. I’m so sad to see this duology ended but can’t wait to see what she writes next.
Katie knows how to write strong female characters, and I am here for it. They are always so quick witted and sassy. Even her side characters can be funny and offer a little lightheartedness to breakup some serious scenes. I’m so sad to see this duology ended but can’t wait to see what she writes next.
August 4, 2026
thank you to after midnight pr and the author!!
oh boy i loved this one!! as a sequel / companion novel to Tide of Treason, i was so excited to get back into this world and meet these characters again — and it did not disappoint!! i love the Sforza women so. much. and this romance is so☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️
oh boy i loved this one!! as a sequel / companion novel to Tide of Treason, i was so excited to get back into this world and meet these characters again — and it did not disappoint!! i love the Sforza women so. much. and this romance is so☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️
Review of advance copy received from Author
It was an absolute pleasure to receive an advanced copy of this book, and an even bigger one reading it☺️
Despite being a dark romance🩶, there are passages of text that made me howl with laughter. Flavia (the FMC) an absolute queen of killer put downs, and nobody is exempt, not her husband, not Ruyan (the MMC), not even Karen the receptionist at the funeral parlour!!
The book begins in almost film noir style, and leaves you in no uncertain terms there will be revenge, moral ambiguity and complex relationships.
Ruyan is an undertaker, hell bent on exating revenge against the woman who walked out on his father when was a child. Flavia is a longstanding mafia wife, mother and grandmother with a colourful past and a husband she does love, but........
The chapters are written from both Ruyan and Flavia's perspectives, some current, some reflective which is important to build to the back stories of both characters, and illustrating the reason for Ruyan's desire for revenge.
High sexual tension runs throughout the book, yet the romance is slow burning. The spicy scenes are hot but don't dominate the plot, which keeps a good pace throughout and encourages you to keep turning the pages.
I fell in love with both the main characters - Flavia for the love for her family, her no nonsense attitude to everything, and her killer put downs; Ruyan for his intensity and focus on his original plan but also his vulnerability and ultimately how much he truly cared for Flavia.
If you enjoy mafia romance, a little bit of spice and slow burn romance where he falls first (and hard) all interspersed with witty humour you absolutely need to read Lure of Lethality📖💖
My favourite extract is a dialogue between Flavia and her husband, Enzo:
Enzo opened the fridge while I stirred a sugar cube into my espresso, and the sigh he gave was low and ecclesiastical.
“Something wrong?” I asked.
His fingers inched toward the door and then recoiled.
“A finger is not breakfast.”
I considered the accusation. “It does go nicely with brioche.”
He shut the door with a sigh. “The question is not whether it should be served with jam or marmalade, but why someone decided to put a body in our goddamn fridge, Flavia.
Despite being a dark romance🩶, there are passages of text that made me howl with laughter. Flavia (the FMC) an absolute queen of killer put downs, and nobody is exempt, not her husband, not Ruyan (the MMC), not even Karen the receptionist at the funeral parlour!!
The book begins in almost film noir style, and leaves you in no uncertain terms there will be revenge, moral ambiguity and complex relationships.
Ruyan is an undertaker, hell bent on exating revenge against the woman who walked out on his father when was a child. Flavia is a longstanding mafia wife, mother and grandmother with a colourful past and a husband she does love, but........
The chapters are written from both Ruyan and Flavia's perspectives, some current, some reflective which is important to build to the back stories of both characters, and illustrating the reason for Ruyan's desire for revenge.
High sexual tension runs throughout the book, yet the romance is slow burning. The spicy scenes are hot but don't dominate the plot, which keeps a good pace throughout and encourages you to keep turning the pages.
I fell in love with both the main characters - Flavia for the love for her family, her no nonsense attitude to everything, and her killer put downs; Ruyan for his intensity and focus on his original plan but also his vulnerability and ultimately how much he truly cared for Flavia.
If you enjoy mafia romance, a little bit of spice and slow burn romance where he falls first (and hard) all interspersed with witty humour you absolutely need to read Lure of Lethality📖💖
My favourite extract is a dialogue between Flavia and her husband, Enzo:
Enzo opened the fridge while I stirred a sugar cube into my espresso, and the sigh he gave was low and ecclesiastical.
“Something wrong?” I asked.
His fingers inched toward the door and then recoiled.
“A finger is not breakfast.”
I considered the accusation. “It does go nicely with brioche.”
He shut the door with a sigh. “The question is not whether it should be served with jam or marmalade, but why someone decided to put a body in our goddamn fridge, Flavia.
August 8, 2026
thank you to katie the arc !! i was SOOOO beyond excited to read the sequel because i LOVED tides of treason so much, getting to go back to the sforza family was a treat, i love them all so much omg. katie's writing has such a hauntingly beautiful prose to it, it truly made reading such a great experience. from the different analogies to the flow of writing, i never found myself wanting to put it down. i have read a lot of mafia romances with very undeveloped plots/characters, but lure of lethality was the complete opposite. With fleshed out characters and a captivating plot, IT WAS EVERYTHING. The dual timeline was also written so well, being able to see the past and present really made the reading experience more insightful. ALSO SEEING KAYLA AND LUCIUS LIKE AHAHAHA MY PEOPLE
flavia and ruyan were everything and more too omg. THEN TENSION BETWEEN THE TWO AHHHH like from the very first interaction, i was hooked. they warn you about drugs, but not flaviaruyan ! and the BANTER 10/10 NO NOTES ! their relationship development never felt rushed, the pace was really added value to the relationship once they got together
flavia's no nonsense attitude and her love for her family was so endearing to read about, i love her so much and GOD, like she's my shayla. she's such a strong character too.
AND RUYAN, AHH HE'S HILARIOUS LMFAOO MY CORPSE KING. there were so many hilarious moments in the book, like they're both so funny! The love the two felt for each other was truly so beautiful GOODNESS I LOVE THEM SO MUCH AHAHAH
In conclusion, everyone and their mothers need to read this !
flavia and ruyan were everything and more too omg. THEN TENSION BETWEEN THE TWO AHHHH like from the very first interaction, i was hooked. they warn you about drugs, but not flaviaruyan ! and the BANTER 10/10 NO NOTES ! their relationship development never felt rushed, the pace was really added value to the relationship once they got together
flavia's no nonsense attitude and her love for her family was so endearing to read about, i love her so much and GOD, like she's my shayla. she's such a strong character too.
AND RUYAN, AHH HE'S HILARIOUS LMFAOO MY CORPSE KING. there were so many hilarious moments in the book, like they're both so funny! The love the two felt for each other was truly so beautiful GOODNESS I LOVE THEM SO MUCH AHAHAH
In conclusion, everyone and their mothers need to read this !
Review of advance copy received from Author
there are books you enjoy, and then there are books that completely consume you. this was the latter.
from the very first chapter, i knew this story would stay with me long after i turned the final page. it isn’t just another mafia romance—it is an emotionally driven story about grief, devotion, healing, and the kind of love that survives impossible circumstances.
what impressed me the most was the characterization. Ruyan is intense without becoming one-dimensional. his obsession never overshadows the vulnerability beneath it, making every possessive moment feel rooted in love rather than performance. his russian dialogue added so much personality and authenticity that i found myself smiling every time it appeared.
Flavia was equally unforgettable. she is one of those heroines whose strength comes from endurance rather than perfection. her grief, resilience, and emotional growth felt honest, and watching her navigate love while carrying so much pain made her incredibly easy to connect with.
their relationship develops with patience. every reunion, every quiet conversation, every painful separation serves a purpose.
another standout aspect was the writing itself. the pacing kept me invested throughout, balancing emotional depth with tension, while the supporting cast and family dynamics added even more heart to the story.
i had been in a mafia romance slump for months before picking up this book, and it reminded me exactly why i fell in love with the genre in the first place.
this story made me laugh, cry, ache, and hope. more importantly, it made me care. and that’s what makes a book unforgettable.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 7, 2026
Review of advanced reader copy provided by the author. This review is fully voluntary and honest.
This book is written in a film noir style and was filled with morally grey characters, simmering with unease and mystery.
This book follows Flavia, a 48 year old mob wife and Ruyan, a 35 year old undertaker. Flavia worked in the adult film industry since way too young and is now the wife of a powerful mafia. She’s a strong woman who doesn’t take shit from anyone and stands firm in her own beliefs. Ruyan runs a funeral service and is dead set on exacting revenge on Flavia for something she did to him in the past. The only thing is, he’s also attracted to her…
This book was filled with tension, flushed out characters with complicated pasts, and so much humour. I was actually thrown off at first by how funny this was. I quite enjoyed the constant flip between the two MCs POVs as well as the switch from past to present. This gives us good insight into both characters and how they evolved throughout the book.
If you’re looking for a book that has lots of tension but is still slow burn with spice, lots of witty banter, and an older FMC, this book is for you!
This book is written in a film noir style and was filled with morally grey characters, simmering with unease and mystery.
This book follows Flavia, a 48 year old mob wife and Ruyan, a 35 year old undertaker. Flavia worked in the adult film industry since way too young and is now the wife of a powerful mafia. She’s a strong woman who doesn’t take shit from anyone and stands firm in her own beliefs. Ruyan runs a funeral service and is dead set on exacting revenge on Flavia for something she did to him in the past. The only thing is, he’s also attracted to her…
This book was filled with tension, flushed out characters with complicated pasts, and so much humour. I was actually thrown off at first by how funny this was. I quite enjoyed the constant flip between the two MCs POVs as well as the switch from past to present. This gives us good insight into both characters and how they evolved throughout the book.
If you’re looking for a book that has lots of tension but is still slow burn with spice, lots of witty banter, and an older FMC, this book is for you!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
ARC REVIEW
5⭐️
4🌶️
I appreciate my bestie Katie for giving me the opportunity to read book two of the series I was already hooked soon as I seen the characters art and tropes and teaser. Flavia and Ruyan have my whole heart like they had me smiling at my iPad. I was a giggling mess with this book was literally doing cartwheels and dancing in my room was worth the chemistry was a masterpiece.
Flavia she is so girlboss like she not to be play with I also hate her husband from since the first book cause he was just doing too much he gotta go. She literally had me over here dancing in my room like she is that girl cause the way she can just look at you and boom you’re gone. I literally love her I see here her daughters get it from.
Ruyan Mr funeral man he my new husband I fell inlove with him had me giggling, smiling, and blushing and doing cartwheels the way he respectful keeps his hands to his self perfect. He told Flavia he being watching her since he met her since her husband wasn’t it like he made it clear she is going to be his from the very beginning.
5⭐️
4🌶️
I appreciate my bestie Katie for giving me the opportunity to read book two of the series I was already hooked soon as I seen the characters art and tropes and teaser. Flavia and Ruyan have my whole heart like they had me smiling at my iPad. I was a giggling mess with this book was literally doing cartwheels and dancing in my room was worth the chemistry was a masterpiece.
Flavia she is so girlboss like she not to be play with I also hate her husband from since the first book cause he was just doing too much he gotta go. She literally had me over here dancing in my room like she is that girl cause the way she can just look at you and boom you’re gone. I literally love her I see here her daughters get it from.
Ruyan Mr funeral man he my new husband I fell inlove with him had me giggling, smiling, and blushing and doing cartwheels the way he respectful keeps his hands to his self perfect. He told Flavia he being watching her since he met her since her husband wasn’t it like he made it clear she is going to be his from the very beginning.
Review of advance copy
Absolutely beautiful book, a tragic backstory, a love that should not be, and the under weaving of something dark and unobtainable.
Flavia and Ruyan's story was a beautiful ending to the Casa Vitae series, hoping I wouldnt like her, but instead hiping each page bought them closer to each other and for Flavia to be happy. The romantic in me ignored all the red flags, all the trauma, and just wanted true unchanging love to be the ending.
The plot was divine, a mob wife and an undertaker, reverse age gap, which is so nice for a change. Older women deserve true love too, and for a woman who has had such a dark past, for love to be in the most unexpected of places is a wish so many of us desire.
Yes there is over dramatic moments, how else would it be so gripping?
Thoroughly delighted to have been chosen to read this as an ARC book, helping me get back into the enjoyment of reading.
Flavia and Ruyan's story was a beautiful ending to the Casa Vitae series, hoping I wouldnt like her, but instead hiping each page bought them closer to each other and for Flavia to be happy. The romantic in me ignored all the red flags, all the trauma, and just wanted true unchanging love to be the ending.
The plot was divine, a mob wife and an undertaker, reverse age gap, which is so nice for a change. Older women deserve true love too, and for a woman who has had such a dark past, for love to be in the most unexpected of places is a wish so many of us desire.
Yes there is over dramatic moments, how else would it be so gripping?
Thoroughly delighted to have been chosen to read this as an ARC book, helping me get back into the enjoyment of reading.
August 8, 2026
I thought this was a good book. The story is a dark mafia romance that follows Flavia, a don's wife who used to be a starlet, and Ruyan, a calculated funeral director who has been planning a revenge plot against her family for twenty years. They end up crossing paths, and his quest for vengeance turns into a complicated obsession.
I liked the unique funeral noir and gothic atmosphere of the setting, which gave the story a very distinct vibe. The relationship between Flavia and Ruyan is an intense, high-stakes enemies-to-lovers romance with a lot of push-and-pull tension. It balances the dark mafia elements with a solid mystery as Ruyan's revenge plan plays out. The pacing was a little uneven in a few spots, but it is a gripping, fast-paced read with great character dynamics. I recommend checking it out if you enjoy dark romance with a unique twist.
I liked the unique funeral noir and gothic atmosphere of the setting, which gave the story a very distinct vibe. The relationship between Flavia and Ruyan is an intense, high-stakes enemies-to-lovers romance with a lot of push-and-pull tension. It balances the dark mafia elements with a solid mystery as Ruyan's revenge plan plays out. The pacing was a little uneven in a few spots, but it is a gripping, fast-paced read with great character dynamics. I recommend checking it out if you enjoy dark romance with a unique twist.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Flavia and Ruyan’s story was darkly beautiful, captivating, and completely consuming from the very first page. I was hooked and couldn’t put it down!
Mafia romances are some of my absolute favorites, and this one did not disappoint. The writing was so well done, the story pulled me in, and the characters kept me invested every step of the way.
And can we talk about the FMC being older than the MMC?! Heck yes! I absolutely loved that and was here for every second of it.
If you love dark, beautifully written mafia romances with compelling characters and a romance that is one for the ages then this is the book for you.
Mafia romances are some of my absolute favorites, and this one did not disappoint. The writing was so well done, the story pulled me in, and the characters kept me invested every step of the way.
And can we talk about the FMC being older than the MMC?! Heck yes! I absolutely loved that and was here for every second of it.
If you love dark, beautifully written mafia romances with compelling characters and a romance that is one for the ages then this is the book for you.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sadly, I couldn't get into this one as well as I could get into Tide of Treason - Book 1.
The writing is good, the banter between MC is HILARIOUS and sometimes VERY cutting.
The banter with the rest of the cast is also scintillating and can hold your attention or have you laughing.
Flavia's personality progression throughout is actually amazing, but the story itself couldn't hold my interest.
She is the older in this age-gap.
He is trying to get revenge.
There is spice, it's well written, and it's dark but not too dark.
I truly hope you enjoy it, despite my being unable to sink in!
The writing is good, the banter between MC is HILARIOUS and sometimes VERY cutting.
The banter with the rest of the cast is also scintillating and can hold your attention or have you laughing.
Flavia's personality progression throughout is actually amazing, but the story itself couldn't hold my interest.
She is the older in this age-gap.
He is trying to get revenge.
There is spice, it's well written, and it's dark but not too dark.
I truly hope you enjoy it, despite my being unable to sink in!
August 10, 2026
I LOOVVVVED this so much, your writing style is amazing and the way you write your fmcs??? Some authors need to take notes!! Flavia genuinely didn’t take shit from nobody 😩 and don’t even get me started on the humour, ruyan was genuinely such a funny character he cracked me up every other chapter.. all I can say was that this was a piece of art !!
Review of advance copy received from Author
July 22, 2026RTC
July 23, 2026
Awww I love their story!!! The banter and the love hate was so fun!!! I love the depth of their back story and the imagery to the writing!!
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