Notorious

The DeLuca Family #0.5

by K.A. Ware

I've only ever loved one man in my life. I gave him my heart when we were just sixteen, and I never got it back. We were so in love, but it wasn't enough.
Duty to his family drove a wedge between us. We tried to hold on—secret meetings, hooded glances, and stolen kisses. Proclamations of love whispered into the night. We tried to let our love get us through, but as much as we longed for a life away from everything that stood in our way, we knew it was hopeless.
He was the heir to the DeLuca family throne, and I was just the housekeeper’s daughter. Our lives were never meant to intertwine in a tangle of love, passion, and promise. It was his duty to bring the two most powerful families in Sicily together. A deal struck by two fathers with no regard for the wishes of their children.
It was a different time, a different place, one where compliance was the only option—anything else was a death sentence. I fell in love with the boy, vowed my heart and soul to the man, and was forced to watch as he became a monster. 

Genres: Dark, Novella, Forbidden Love, Erotica, Adult, Abuse, M F Romance

152 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 9, 2016

About the author

K.A Ware is an indie author living in Ridgefield, Washington. Her days consist of surfing the internet while pretending to write, making soap, and taking care of her young daughter. Writing is not her only passion, K.A. also serves on the Board of Directors for a local non-profit and spends way too much time reading. She believes in the power of words, alpha females, and that special escape you get when you hunker down and dig into a good book. 
When she’s not busy mothering, working, writing, or reading she enjoys spending time with family and friends and embracing the weirdness and wonder that is the Pacific Northwest. K.A. loves to cook and is often found tinkering in the kitchen and trying to feed anyone that walks through her door. She is obsessed with music, so if you find yourself at a metal show in Portland —take a look around— she’s the crazy redhead head banging at the front.

Reviews

[Michelle Cage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow this book tookyou on an emotional ride. It sure doesn't go as I had envisioned, which was good. I am looking forward to reading more in this series.

[skulls121973 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Elena what she went through broke my heart bless her!!!

It was another great read to this series and was brilliant to get the back story to the DeLuca family
Can’t wait even more now for angelos story :)

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!~

http://rpmbt-blog.com/rpmbt/review-no...

Notorious is a novella in the DeLuca Family Series and is Elena’s book. This is “technically” labeled as .5 in the series, but should probably be read after Vendetta to get the full effect of the book.

Unlike the previous books in this series, there is no HEA in this book and Notorious is an extremely emotional read. Notorious tells us the story of Elena and Carlo’s father Vincenzo and how Elena became such an important part of Carlo’s life.

This book is heartbreaking and powerful, and even though it is a novella, it is full of depth. I have been intrigued by Elena since we met her in Omerta and have wanted to know more about her, and am so glad we finally got to know more about her, I just wish she would have gotten a HEA and wouldn’t have had to have endured so much heartbreak in her life. This novella truly showed how strong Elena is and made me really respect this woman more than I already did. My heart broke for Elena and I came to love her more than I thought was possible. She is truly the glue that holds this family together, and no one really knows it!

If you’ve read previous books in The Deluca Family Series, then you need to pick up Notorious today. This is a definite must read in the series!

[Tami czenkus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story broke my heart, but I was happy when it was all said and done.
Elena's story is one that had me in tears many times and had me wishing I was able to crawl inside and smash some heads together.
We learn how it all started and the levity of the impact Elena had on Carlo and his upbringing.
I am glad that we got some back story of the DeLuca family and how Elena finally had a say on her own life!

[E.M. Courier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Omertà (book 1) about a year ago and completely loved it because I am a sucker for Mafia Romance. I saw this novella and automatically bought it and began it right away. I finished it one sitting it was short as well as a really fantastic book that got you invested in the characters.

Omertà was about Carlo DeLuca and his love interested. This book was about Carlo’s father Vincenzo. Young Vincenzo DeLuca (heir to the DeLuca crime family) slowly falls in love with the sixteen year old housemaid—Elena. Vincenzo is sweet and pure and bring her reading material, writes her little love notes and brings her roses. As the get a little older Vincenzo is thrust into the family business and his first order of business is to mend ties with another crime family. So, he is forced to marry their daughter, Luciana. Vincenzo and his wife move from Italy to America and Vincenzo can’t live without Elena so he brings her as his housemaid and lover. Elena falls pregnant with Carlo and this is where things go downhill. The crime life catches up with Vincenzo and turns his soul dark.

This story made me smile as well as cry. I cried for the relationship Elena and Vincenzo once had and mourned the ending. It was interesting to see a mafia romance story where the crime lord is actually a vicious bastard. Usually they are really sweet to their wife or lover and it makes for a good love story. Gotta love an anti-hero. You see that Vincenzo is corrupted and blinded and that Elena eventually sees him as someone who is what her mother always told her...dangerous. Beautiful, well-written novella! I enjoyed every page.

FIVE STARS

[Arien/Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is considered the 3rd book in this series but takes place as a prequel to the first novel. With Notorious you get the insight on exactly how it all came to be. How this DeLuca empire was built and everything that came with it. Most of the story is from the view point of Elena, the housekeeper of the DeLuca family and Vincenzo - Carlo's father.
I am blown away by the heartbreak and sorrow that is in this book. The things that are carried out in the name of family and business are gut wrenching and you can't help but shed tears along the way. Having read the first two novels, I now completely understand why Carlo is the way he is.
It was shattering to see what two people go through in the name of love and of family. How things can change so much over time. This is not your HEA book but it is certainly and epically wicked good one.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notorious: A DeLuca Family Novella
Written by K.A. Ware

This was basically a prequel story (to be read as the 3rd book in the DeLuca series) about Carlo's Dad and the housekeeper Elana.

This was NOT a happily ever after story. This was the raw story of how Vincenzo and Elana started out and where it all went wrong. This is not going to be a happy feeling book AT ALL so please keep that in mind when reading this story.

I enjoyed seeing how Elana came about and why she is with the family. It is a sad story but I felt that she got her peace in the end.

Looking forward to reading the rest of the DeLuca series

[B. U. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more of an anti-romance. The Notorious novella is a prequel to Omerta but should be read after. Can be read before or after Vendetta. It tells the story of the rise and fall of Carlo's father Vincenzo and the triangle of Luciana and Elena. It ends leading into Omerta, but there is not HEA for this anti-romance. However it is an amazing insight and read and strongly recommended to go along with Omerta.

[Ann Kelly-Uhryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I started to read this I realized that this is a prequel story, but is needed to be read as the third in the series. It gives us more of the history of the DeLuca family. We learn about Carlo's parents and how Carlo was raised.

It is also a story about Carlo's housekeeper Elana, how she came into the fold of the DeLuca fold. Her story is a sad one, and there is no HEA with this book.

I enjoyed getting to dive into the past to see how the DeLuca family got their start in this series. And I can't wait to read the next one.

[J. Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will take you back to the beginning of the DeLuca family and how it all started. Elena falls in love with Vincenzo and Vincenzo's father makes him choose between the family and war that will change both of their lives for ever. Elena is the light to a dark world and tries to do her best with Carlo as he grows up. Great read! Love all the twists and turns to show you how Carlo became the person he is in Omerta

[Joy Westerfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

An evolving story

This book is the third in the Deluca Family series. It dates back to the early 70's to explain the story of Elena & Vincenzo and their relationship. We are also introduced to Carlo, who is the leading force in the first book, Omertà. I truly enjoyed reading how everything came to be. Please read Omertà and Vendetta first so you can understand the characters. Now onto Bloodline! Love this series!

[Bonnie Mancuso · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!! I absolutely loved this book. I love a story that makes me feel and Notorious did just that. This is a story of love and heartbreak. The rise and fall of the man who once ruled an empire. This is a gripping story that you won't be able to put down. While it may not have quite the happily ever after you'd imagine, the ending is sure to make you smile. This is yet another impressive look into the DeLuca crime family. You don't want to miss this series.

[Janice Kidd · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotional rollercoaster!! This story is about Elena, the housekeeper of the DeLucas and Vincenzo DeLuca. We find out about Carlo’s childhood. This is full of excitement and heartbreak. It is a book that you don’t want to miss.

I’m looking forward to reading the next one. Do yourself a favor and read this series.

[Wendy West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my favorite in the series. Though it is well written and believable. It goes back and shows just why Carlo's dad became the way he was. You want to feel bad for him but he was just a monster. To make me hate a fictional character so bad it has to be good writing.

[Heather Matlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

KA Ware is easily one one of my favorites! Everything she writes is amazing. This mafia series is the BEST.. LOVED!

[Nstefa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!! I stumbled upon this series and it was actually amazing!! Lies, deceit, love and honour all within the mafia family!! Really enjoyed the storyline and characters.... amazing!!!

[Holly Orrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was a little more emotional than the others. It's the short story of Elena that'll make you scream and cry. I knew from the first book that I wanted her story and I got it. It explained so much and I respect her character even more than before! It really shows you why Carlo become the great man he was, despite his upbringing.

[Mspraise50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book 3 in the series for me and it tells us what happened in the beginning and how Elena happens to be Carlo's housekeeper. This is Elena and Vincenzo's story. This was a sad story with no happy ending, for all those readers who are always saying that Mafia loves stories should not always have a happy ending. Well this story is for you. No happy ending here. Just a very sad story of lost love.

I would recommend all 3 books in this mafia series as a great read.

[Cassandra Rodgers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

Great story about how young love morphs with time and circumstances! You are cheering for Vincenzo and Elana only to be horrified about how life and his choices had changed him...

[Katrina Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it.

This is the beginning of the family of Deluca family.. Which was Elena and Vuncenzo story.. Now I know Elena really was and what she means to Carlo.. You may want.tp read this one 1st.. I really enjoyed reading it.. 💖

[Rasha Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprised

I was actually very surprised to read this book. I was interested in the very beginning and I'm glad I got to read Elanas story. Read this book, it's worth it

[NC Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read giving the background of Carlo's childhood and the life of his father.

[Sarah DeLong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the beginning of how the DeLuca family came about. In Italy, at the home of the DeLuca Patriarch a young maid, Elena, and his young son, Vincenzo, fall in love. His father coerces him into an arranged marriage but he finds a way to have Elena be a part of the hired help that travels to America with the newlyweds. This story gives the readers the basis of how Carlo became the person he is in Omerta. Another magnificent tale from KA Ware that had me on the edge of my seat.

[Crystal Wilke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart! I felt it shatter for Elena but she is one bada** lady. Notorious is an emotional beginning into The DeLuca Family series. You won't be disappointed with this series. I am loving it. Can't wait to see what happens next.