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Tainted Hearts #1
The Mafia and His Angel: Part 1
Alessio…
Cold. Ruthless. Killer. I am respected and feared by all.
I wasn’t put on this earth to love or be loved. I was put here to wipe out every last member of the damn Abandonato mafia, to pay them back for my mother’s death.
When I find a strange girl hiding, beaten, under my bed, I don’t let her live out of compassion. She’s a trinket, my plaything.
Ayla…
I thought Alessio was only one more man who wanted to use me, hurt me, and throw me away. I don’t know what it is to trust anymore. I can’t find my heart under the pain.
Alessio found it. He touched it, and brought it alive again.
But if he discovers just how dangerous I am to him…I’ll lose my life.
Cold. Ruthless. Killer. I am respected and feared by all.
I wasn’t put on this earth to love or be loved. I was put here to wipe out every last member of the damn Abandonato mafia, to pay them back for my mother’s death.
When I find a strange girl hiding, beaten, under my bed, I don’t let her live out of compassion. She’s a trinket, my plaything.
Ayla…
I thought Alessio was only one more man who wanted to use me, hurt me, and throw me away. I don’t know what it is to trust anymore. I can’t find my heart under the pain.
Alessio found it. He touched it, and brought it alive again.
But if he discovers just how dangerous I am to him…I’ll lose my life.
472 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2017
2847 people are currently reading
20984 people want to read
About the author
Lylah James
27 books4,968 followersAuthor of The Mafia and His Angel. Creator of Alessio Ivanshov and Aylessio.
Reading is her first love and always will be.
Writing is her passion. She writes because the voices in her head won't stop and because they deserve to be heard and read. Lylah James writes about drool worthy and total alpha males, with strong and sweet heroines. She makes her readers cry - sob their eyes out, swoon, curse, rage and fall in love. Mostly known as the Queen of cliffhanger and the #evilauthorwithablacksoul, she likes to break her readers' hearts and then mend them again.
She uses all her spare time to write. If she is not studying, sleeping, writing or working - she can found with her nose buried in a good romance book, preferably with a hot alpha male.
Reading is her first love and always will be.
Writing is her passion. She writes because the voices in her head won't stop and because they deserve to be heard and read. Lylah James writes about drool worthy and total alpha males, with strong and sweet heroines. She makes her readers cry - sob their eyes out, swoon, curse, rage and fall in love. Mostly known as the Queen of cliffhanger and the #evilauthorwithablacksoul, she likes to break her readers' hearts and then mend them again.
She uses all her spare time to write. If she is not studying, sleeping, writing or working - she can found with her nose buried in a good romance book, preferably with a hot alpha male.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,316 reviews
October 11, 2017
You know how they say you should never judge a book by it’s cover? Well, I pretty much never follow that advice. I’m a rebel like that. Lol If I see a book with a beautiful cover, I automatically want to read it. The number of times that I’ve had to talk myself down from buying a book based solely on the cover that I knew I would never actually read is almost embarrassing. Suprisingly, most of my cover buys don’t let me down, so I would argue that maybe that advice we have gotten since grade school is wrong at least as many times as it is right.
I was browsing through Instagram one day when I saw the cover of The Mafia and His Angel: Part 1 by Lylah James and immediately signed up for an arc after reading the blurb. Mafia romances are some of my favorite things to read, so I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. Warring crime families, forbidden love, lies, betrayal, and suspense, the story was right up my alley. Once again, my cover whore cravings didn’t steer me wrong!
Ayla Abandonato is the daughter of an Italian mob boss and the wife of his second in command. Her father promised her to his second when she was still a child. She was forced to marry him, and when he got her in his grips, he brutalized her on a daily basis. Her father turned a blind eye to the horrors she endured at the hands of the man that was supposed to honor and cherish her until death.
Everyone has a breaking point, and when Ayla reached hers, she ran away. She ran away from her father, her home, and most importantly her husband. It wasn’t an easy feat which is why she wound up in the back of a strange man’s car while trying to escape her husband’s men. It wasn’t until the car stopped that she realized she had made a terrible mistake. This wasn’t just an ordinary man. It was the pakhan of the Ivanshov Bratva, Alessio. Worse yet, The Abandonatos and the Ivanshovs are sworn enemies.
Ayla is surprised when Alessio offers to let her work as a maid in his home instead of throwing her out on the street or worse. He is inexplicably drawn to her, so he decides to keep her around despite her lying about who she was. Alessio has no idea about her true identity, but he can tell she is lying about it for some reason.
As time goes on, Ayla begins to find friendship, love, and comfort amongst his people and especially Alessio himself. While these feelings are amazing, she can’t stop thinking about when it will all come crashing down. How long can things go on the way they are? He will find out who she is eventually. What will happen to her then? Alessio doesn’t take betrayal well. Will her last name wind up being the reason she loses her life?
The Mafia and His Angel ends on a cliffhanger that shocked the hell out of me. I didn’t see it coming, and I want the next book like yesterday. The story is well written, the characters are interesting, and the romance is as sweet as it is steamy. The only real issues I had with the book is that the heroine isn’t as strong as I like them to be, and Alessio and his men can sometimes seem too soft. I tried to keep in mind that Ayla was seriously abused, so I can understand why her character is a little on the weaker side. Maybe mob guys are super understanding about mental health issues, who knows? Either way, it doesn’t really matter, because I enjoyed the story despite those things. I don’t want you to misunderstand me and think that Alessio is nothing but a big mush ball, because he’s not. He definitely has his alpha asshole pants on most of the time (just how I like them). On top of that, he is ruthless when it comes to his enemies and even his own men that would choose to cross him. If you are looking for a new mafia romance to dive into, I recommend this one to you!
ARC generously provided for an honest review.
I was browsing through Instagram one day when I saw the cover of The Mafia and His Angel: Part 1 by Lylah James and immediately signed up for an arc after reading the blurb. Mafia romances are some of my favorite things to read, so I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. Warring crime families, forbidden love, lies, betrayal, and suspense, the story was right up my alley. Once again, my cover whore cravings didn’t steer me wrong!
Ayla Abandonato is the daughter of an Italian mob boss and the wife of his second in command. Her father promised her to his second when she was still a child. She was forced to marry him, and when he got her in his grips, he brutalized her on a daily basis. Her father turned a blind eye to the horrors she endured at the hands of the man that was supposed to honor and cherish her until death.
Everyone has a breaking point, and when Ayla reached hers, she ran away. She ran away from her father, her home, and most importantly her husband. It wasn’t an easy feat which is why she wound up in the back of a strange man’s car while trying to escape her husband’s men. It wasn’t until the car stopped that she realized she had made a terrible mistake. This wasn’t just an ordinary man. It was the pakhan of the Ivanshov Bratva, Alessio. Worse yet, The Abandonatos and the Ivanshovs are sworn enemies.
Ayla is surprised when Alessio offers to let her work as a maid in his home instead of throwing her out on the street or worse. He is inexplicably drawn to her, so he decides to keep her around despite her lying about who she was. Alessio has no idea about her true identity, but he can tell she is lying about it for some reason.
As time goes on, Ayla begins to find friendship, love, and comfort amongst his people and especially Alessio himself. While these feelings are amazing, she can’t stop thinking about when it will all come crashing down. How long can things go on the way they are? He will find out who she is eventually. What will happen to her then? Alessio doesn’t take betrayal well. Will her last name wind up being the reason she loses her life?
The Mafia and His Angel ends on a cliffhanger that shocked the hell out of me. I didn’t see it coming, and I want the next book like yesterday. The story is well written, the characters are interesting, and the romance is as sweet as it is steamy. The only real issues I had with the book is that the heroine isn’t as strong as I like them to be, and Alessio and his men can sometimes seem too soft. I tried to keep in mind that Ayla was seriously abused, so I can understand why her character is a little on the weaker side. Maybe mob guys are super understanding about mental health issues, who knows? Either way, it doesn’t really matter, because I enjoyed the story despite those things. I don’t want you to misunderstand me and think that Alessio is nothing but a big mush ball, because he’s not. He definitely has his alpha asshole pants on most of the time (just how I like them). On top of that, he is ruthless when it comes to his enemies and even his own men that would choose to cross him. If you are looking for a new mafia romance to dive into, I recommend this one to you!
ARC generously provided for an honest review.
August 3, 2017
It was an enjoyable read when I finished it, to a point.
It was actually a very violent book to a point it's sickening now that I think of it.
What was enjoyable was Alessio's love for Ayla after she was rescued but Alessio treating her like a plaything and whoring around with Nina after being intimate with Ayla is beyond something I can stand. I could the first time I guess because i did read it, or may be I skipped and read the 3rd part of the book, but on the next book for Viktor Alessio claims it was love at first sight.
I was like "get me out of here" and couldn't delete the book fast enough from my Wattpad!
You DON'T fuck around OW when you love someone!
That is cheating on my book and it's fucking disgusting. This is done! I'm done with this completely!
It was actually a very violent book to a point it's sickening now that I think of it.
What was enjoyable was Alessio's love for Ayla after she was rescued but Alessio treating her like a plaything and whoring around with Nina after being intimate with Ayla is beyond something I can stand. I could the first time I guess because i did read it, or may be I skipped and read the 3rd part of the book, but on the next book for Viktor Alessio claims it was love at first sight.
I was like "get me out of here" and couldn't delete the book fast enough from my Wattpad!
You DON'T fuck around OW when you love someone!
That is cheating on my book and it's fucking disgusting. This is done! I'm done with this completely!
August 11, 2020
Alright, this is a great example of good idea-bad execution.
This story had potential, but dear lady, I couldn’t with the dialogue and the inner monologues. The whole “I don’t know why I’m feeling this way but I know can’t let her go” and “he’s my light and the only thing that keeps me from breaking” are cliché af but they can work if they’re earned. I don’t want to be told character A has never felt a connection with someone until character B arrived, I want to read it.
There were 2 things that hurt this book a lot: Dialogue and Stupidity.
Do you really want me to believe all these ruthless mafia men do not keep tabs on their enemies to the point of not knowing how their family members look like? I don’t want to tell people how to run their business but that’s not how you do it, son.
And don’t get me started on how the main lead thought this girl was a spy when she doesn’t even own a phone nor she left the mansion. It was all to create drama in the most uninspiring way possible.
I’m way more curious about the side characters since I can’t stand this couple. Alessio and Ayla are boring and have no chemistry whatsoever.
A lot of the bad guys are just bad for the sake of being so and our “good guys” lack dimension. Also, are these guys really Russian? I don’t expect a well layered cultural backgrounds from these kinds of books but still.
Anyways, I already have book 2 so I might as well see if there’s any improvement.
This story had potential, but dear lady, I couldn’t with the dialogue and the inner monologues. The whole “I don’t know why I’m feeling this way but I know can’t let her go” and “he’s my light and the only thing that keeps me from breaking” are cliché af but they can work if they’re earned. I don’t want to be told character A has never felt a connection with someone until character B arrived, I want to read it.
There were 2 things that hurt this book a lot: Dialogue and Stupidity.
Do you really want me to believe all these ruthless mafia men do not keep tabs on their enemies to the point of not knowing how their family members look like? I don’t want to tell people how to run their business but that’s not how you do it, son.
And don’t get me started on how the main lead thought this girl was a spy when she doesn’t even own a phone nor she left the mansion. It was all to create drama in the most uninspiring way possible.
I’m way more curious about the side characters since I can’t stand this couple. Alessio and Ayla are boring and have no chemistry whatsoever.
A lot of the bad guys are just bad for the sake of being so and our “good guys” lack dimension. Also, are these guys really Russian? I don’t expect a well layered cultural backgrounds from these kinds of books but still.
Anyways, I already have book 2 so I might as well see if there’s any improvement.
May 26, 2021
2.5-2.75 stars.
Only I could get halfway through a book only to realize that I’ve actually read it before🤦🏻♀️
Only I could get halfway through a book only to realize that I’ve actually read it before🤦🏻♀️
hell-fucking-no
August 5, 2017Was really excited to read this one until I found out that he hooks up with OW not once but three times after meeting the heroine. She lives in his house and he did it while she was there.
He claims it was love at first sight for him and yet he hooks up with another woman? That's cheating.
No fucking thank you-cya!
He claims it was love at first sight for him and yet he hooks up with another woman? That's cheating.
No fucking thank you-cya!
October 1, 2017
Ayla is the daughter of an Italian mob boss. Life in the mafia is the only life she’s ever known. A life she no longer wants. Married to one of her father’s men, a man she was promised to at an early age, is not the stuff of dreams. Her husband has beaten and brutalized her repeatedly and she’s had enough. Desperate circumstances merit desperate measures and Ayla runs away, right into the path of a man who would rather kill her than help her if he knew who she really was.
Alessio is the pakhan of the Bratva. He’s cold and he’s lethal. He’s obviously got a dark and painful past. When he discovers Ayla in his home, rather than killing her or turning her out, he observes her brokenness and offers her a job as a maid. Over time, his intense fascination with her starts to break down his impenetrable walls, but he’s reluctant to explore anything. Especially because he knows she’s keeping secrets. When Ayla’s secret is revealed, will it serve to bind them, or will it drive these lovers apart?
I don’t know the answer to that yet because this book ended on a cliffhanger. There’s a very unexpected twist that has me eager to get my hands on part two. The Mafia and His Angel wins points for its character development and the plot. However, when I started this book, I did think that it would be a tad darker than it turned out to be. While the actions of the Bratva were typical of what you would expect, I didn’t find them scary or twisted. Alessio definitely had a soft side and sometimes I thought he and his members were too soft. That could also be because there wasn’t much in the way of action in this part and maybe the situation will change in the next one. If you’re a fan of mafia romance, you’ll definitely find many things to enjoy about this one!
Release Date: October 2, 2017
Genre: Mafia Romance
POV: Dual - 1st person
Heat 3.5 out of 5
Type: Book 1 of Tainted Hearts
Alessio is the pakhan of the Bratva. He’s cold and he’s lethal. He’s obviously got a dark and painful past. When he discovers Ayla in his home, rather than killing her or turning her out, he observes her brokenness and offers her a job as a maid. Over time, his intense fascination with her starts to break down his impenetrable walls, but he’s reluctant to explore anything. Especially because he knows she’s keeping secrets. When Ayla’s secret is revealed, will it serve to bind them, or will it drive these lovers apart?
I don’t know the answer to that yet because this book ended on a cliffhanger. There’s a very unexpected twist that has me eager to get my hands on part two. The Mafia and His Angel wins points for its character development and the plot. However, when I started this book, I did think that it would be a tad darker than it turned out to be. While the actions of the Bratva were typical of what you would expect, I didn’t find them scary or twisted. Alessio definitely had a soft side and sometimes I thought he and his members were too soft. That could also be because there wasn’t much in the way of action in this part and maybe the situation will change in the next one. If you’re a fan of mafia romance, you’ll definitely find many things to enjoy about this one!
Release Date: October 2, 2017
Genre: Mafia Romance
POV: Dual - 1st person
Heat 3.5 out of 5
Type: Book 1 of Tainted Hearts
November 2, 2020
I am between 2 and 3 stars for this book.
What i do not like:
1. The characters. I feel really uncomfortable reading how Ayla after being tortured and raped, jumping like a rabbit into Alessio's arms. I am rolling my eyes. Ayla needs therapy. Not a somekind of romance with Alessio.
And Alessio is suppose to be this ruthless and cold hearted mafia. Instead he is now a therapist. He listens to Ayla with a hope curing her with sexual acts. Which is very very laughable.
What i like:
1. The story is good. The plot is interesting. If only more effort can be invested into giving more reliable characters.
I end up giving this 3 stars
What i do not like:
1. The characters. I feel really uncomfortable reading how Ayla after being tortured and raped, jumping like a rabbit into Alessio's arms. I am rolling my eyes. Ayla needs therapy. Not a somekind of romance with Alessio.
And Alessio is suppose to be this ruthless and cold hearted mafia. Instead he is now a therapist. He listens to Ayla with a hope curing her with sexual acts. Which is very very laughable.
What i like:
1. The story is good. The plot is interesting. If only more effort can be invested into giving more reliable characters.
I end up giving this 3 stars
April 29, 2017
5 stars❤
Alessioooooo❤
I am in love with this book..
I really like the pace at which this book is going, which I know is a weird thing to say, but its true..
I think Im dreading the moment Alessio learns the truth about Ayla more than Ayla herself :( ..
BEAUTIFUL BOOK❤
Alessioooooo❤
I am in love with this book..
I really like the pace at which this book is going, which I know is a weird thing to say, but its true..
I think Im dreading the moment Alessio learns the truth about Ayla more than Ayla herself :( ..
BEAUTIFUL BOOK❤
August 1, 2017
DNF @ 60%
January 17, 2018
This book is idiotic. The title alone says it all "The mafia and his angel" by Lylah James. Still i gave it a go, even if it turned out to be a short one.
The "big" standoff in his bedroom at the beginning, was the first stepping stone for this book. A supposedly life threatening situation, shaking and trembling with fear, a gun pointed at her head. And all she apparently can think about are his piercing eyes and her body warming under his penetrating gaze. Then back to fear and utter terror and switching back to his intimate way of saying her name... "Sigh" ...this is ridiculous.
She has bruises all over her face and body, after being beaten and raped, but she pinches her cheeks and bites down on her lip to redden them. In an attempt to make herself look better? It can't be only me who finds that idiotic. I don't even want to list all the other hilarious reactions and inner monologues this book offered.
I can't even grasp how the current high rating came to. Maybe the majority of the readers wanted a book with low aspiration to pass the time in between life.
DNF at 16%
The "big" standoff in his bedroom at the beginning, was the first stepping stone for this book. A supposedly life threatening situation, shaking and trembling with fear, a gun pointed at her head. And all she apparently can think about are his piercing eyes and her body warming under his penetrating gaze. Then back to fear and utter terror and switching back to his intimate way of saying her name... "Sigh" ...this is ridiculous.
She has bruises all over her face and body, after being beaten and raped, but she pinches her cheeks and bites down on her lip to redden them. In an attempt to make herself look better? It can't be only me who finds that idiotic. I don't even want to list all the other hilarious reactions and inner monologues this book offered.
I can't even grasp how the current high rating came to. Maybe the majority of the readers wanted a book with low aspiration to pass the time in between life.
DNF at 16%
January 6, 2021
This was not your normal, run of the mill mafia story AT ALL. It was so so much more! It wasn't super dark or gritty imo, but the emotions of all the characters were on overdrive. You don't really see that in this type of read, but it was refreshing. Who knew that the men in this book could could impart more than fear on people. Who knew that they could also feel more emotions than just hate. I was intrigued and held captive by this book. Quite the page turner. Wow!
Ayla and Alessio's story was a different one for sure. She ran away and left her prison of a home behind and someone ends up unknowingly in the car of her family's most hated enemy.
She knows of him, but he is given a fake name by her so he is completely in the dark as to who she is. He can tell she is skittish and something is going on. Why else would she just end up with him. He wants to play with his kitten for a bit so he offers her room and board in exchange for her working as a maid. Possibly even his most personal one. She accepts his offer and then the angst and lust starts.
He wants her. She wants him, but knows she shouldn't. He shouldn't want her because that brings emotions into play that aren't great to have when you need to a feared mafia dude. He vowed never to let love lead him.
Well, love (or lust at this point, not sure) kinda has a way of wiggling itself into the tightest of spots in our hearts and blacked out souls. They have this cat and mouse game going on. He lets her into some secret spots in his heart that no one else occupies even the woman in the picture when Ayla first arrives to Alessio’s home.
Things are starting to unravel, secrets can't be hidden for much longer and tidbits of mystery were dropped at the end of the book! Can't wait to see how it plays out it part 2.
Ayla and Alessio's story was a different one for sure. She ran away and left her prison of a home behind and someone ends up unknowingly in the car of her family's most hated enemy.
She knows of him, but he is given a fake name by her so he is completely in the dark as to who she is. He can tell she is skittish and something is going on. Why else would she just end up with him. He wants to play with his kitten for a bit so he offers her room and board in exchange for her working as a maid. Possibly even his most personal one. She accepts his offer and then the angst and lust starts.
He wants her. She wants him, but knows she shouldn't. He shouldn't want her because that brings emotions into play that aren't great to have when you need to a feared mafia dude. He vowed never to let love lead him.
Well, love (or lust at this point, not sure) kinda has a way of wiggling itself into the tightest of spots in our hearts and blacked out souls. They have this cat and mouse game going on. He lets her into some secret spots in his heart that no one else occupies even the woman in the picture when Ayla first arrives to Alessio’s home.
Things are starting to unravel, secrets can't be hidden for much longer and tidbits of mystery were dropped at the end of the book! Can't wait to see how it plays out it part 2.
December 24, 2016
OH MY GOSH
OH MY GOSH
HJHJHJGJHJGJGK
NOOOOOOOOO
LIKE WHAAAATTTTT......!?
PLs dont tell me its what i think it is! Noooooooo pls not him not him plssssss omgogmgomgogmogmgogmogmgogmigmgogmogmgomg
Shooot On my way to part 2 ciao
OH MY GOSH
HJHJHJGJHJGJGK
NOOOOOOOOO
LIKE WHAAAATTTTT......!?
PLs dont tell me its what i think it is! Noooooooo pls not him not him plssssss omgogmgomgogmogmgogmogmgogmigmgogmogmgomg
Shooot On my way to part 2 ciao
December 3, 2017
#### CONTAINS SLIGHT SPOILERS ####
After seeing some fabulous reviews for this book I downloaded it months ago on KU but since it was a cliffhanger (and wow was it ever) I decided to wait until all three books were out.
I have to be honest straight away and say I didn’t love this book anywhere near as much as it appears most readers did. For a start I had a kind of deja vu feeling to the extent where I stopped and double checked I hadn’t already read it, this could just be the curse of reading so many books after a while they all blend.
I’ll also say that up until the cliffhanger I’d no real intention of continuing on with this but after that I just have to see where it’s going and why, why is the big thing.
I know Ayla has suffered and I can’t begin to imagine how she’s coped but at times she reminded me of the frail heroines from the historical romances I used to read so much.
Alessio - I expected a much harder darker character, I know he has feelings for Ayla and I’m all about the romance but he was like a soft little clueless puppy at times. I say clueless because while he’s building a relationship with Ayla, kissing her and giving her her first orgasm he has the blonde bombshell that is Nina coming round. He doesn’t hide her (Ayla enters his office while Nina is on her knees giving him a blow job and he just continues on...) yet seems confused when Ayla isn’t happy.
I understand why Ayla kept her secret for so long but it’s too long now and I hate it when one character sits on something you know is going to come out and cause major problems instead of just owning up.
Also I’m being picky I know but what is with all the names starting with A.
Ayla
Alfredo - Ayla’s father
Alberto - Ayla’s fiancé
Alessio - Ayla’s new love
February 8, 2020
Trigger warning: This is a dark romance series. It has abuse, rape, drugs, sexual assault, gore etc. Not recommended for readers below 18 years old and those who aren't into this subgenre.
Enduring seven years of abuse, Ayla Abandonato had enough and ran away from her fiance, Alberto. She was bethroted to her father's right hand man since sixteen years old. His cruelty took away her innocence and each piece of her soul. She is fighting for survival and vows not to return to the devil. However, she landed in the territory of her family's nemesis, the Bratva and meets the famous ruthless boss, Alessio Ivanshov.
Alessio is born to lead the Russian mafia / Bratva. His painful childhood memory turned him into a cold-hearted, menacing and terrifying mafia boss. He's merciless and powerful. As much as possible, he doesn't let his enemies know his kryptonite or else it'll be his and his empire's downfall. When he found an unkempt, bruised and wounded lady under his bed, terrified by his presence, he became fascinated by her mysteriousness and purity. He's eager to know her story and secrets. For a long time, he lost his belief to angels as what his parents told him when he's a young boy. Seeing her, he slowly finds his light and his angel.
It's official. I'm addicted to this series. The pacing is gradual and it quite dragged on as I waited for the plot twist. Ms. James took her time time to build up the characters. Not just the protagonists but as well as the supporting characters like Viktor, Phoenix, Maddie, Nikolay etc.The book encompasses different subjects like love, friendship, abuse and betrayals. Alessio and Ayla's relationship was slowly built up too and I like it because it's realistic. They found a way to overcome their fears and traumatic pasts, especially for the heroine.
The best part of this book is the ending. It's a cliffhanger and I almost dropped my kindle on my face! Holy shit. That is a well placed plot twist and I immediately started part 2. It's a good start. I just wonder how Ayla will tell the truth. (The whole truth of her being the Italian mob's daughter) and how Alessio will react to it. I don't think I'll be ready for her to face the consequences of her actions. I'm so fucking nervous.
Enduring seven years of abuse, Ayla Abandonato had enough and ran away from her fiance, Alberto. She was bethroted to her father's right hand man since sixteen years old. His cruelty took away her innocence and each piece of her soul. She is fighting for survival and vows not to return to the devil. However, she landed in the territory of her family's nemesis, the Bratva and meets the famous ruthless boss, Alessio Ivanshov.
Alessio is born to lead the Russian mafia / Bratva. His painful childhood memory turned him into a cold-hearted, menacing and terrifying mafia boss. He's merciless and powerful. As much as possible, he doesn't let his enemies know his kryptonite or else it'll be his and his empire's downfall. When he found an unkempt, bruised and wounded lady under his bed, terrified by his presence, he became fascinated by her mysteriousness and purity. He's eager to know her story and secrets. For a long time, he lost his belief to angels as what his parents told him when he's a young boy. Seeing her, he slowly finds his light and his angel.
It's official. I'm addicted to this series. The pacing is gradual and it quite dragged on as I waited for the plot twist. Ms. James took her time time to build up the characters. Not just the protagonists but as well as the supporting characters like Viktor, Phoenix, Maddie, Nikolay etc.The book encompasses different subjects like love, friendship, abuse and betrayals. Alessio and Ayla's relationship was slowly built up too and I like it because it's realistic. They found a way to overcome their fears and traumatic pasts, especially for the heroine.
The best part of this book is the ending. It's a cliffhanger and I almost dropped my kindle on my face! Holy shit. That is a well placed plot twist and I immediately started part 2. It's a good start. I just wonder how Ayla will tell the truth. (The whole truth of her being the Italian mob's daughter) and how Alessio will react to it. I don't think I'll be ready for her to face the consequences of her actions. I'm so fucking nervous.
Read
October 19, 2017Dnf at 31%
I was already finding a lot wrong/lacking in this book, but when the 'hero' (and I use this term VERY loosely) gets caught when another woman.... Nope I'm done.
I was already finding a lot wrong/lacking in this book, but when the 'hero' (and I use this term VERY loosely) gets caught when another woman.... Nope I'm done.
May 18, 2017
Wattpad read.
December 5, 2025
My review
This book is my villain origin story. I read it back on Wattpad, and it was my first experience with an unsafe romance book. It gave me my first hatred of what I called "desk scenes." When the woman walks in on her man having sex with another woman on his desk. He looks up, sees the woman he's been chasing, and rather than having any inch of shame, he continues, and gives a smug smirk while he does it.
Safety Stats
Ayla
Virgin - no
What's Your Number - no
Alessio
Playboy - yes
Sex scene with OW - yes
Cheating - yes
OW drama - yes
Overall, Not Safe.
This book is my villain origin story. I read it back on Wattpad, and it was my first experience with an unsafe romance book. It gave me my first hatred of what I called "desk scenes." When the woman walks in on her man having sex with another woman on his desk. He looks up, sees the woman he's been chasing, and rather than having any inch of shame, he continues, and gives a smug smirk while he does it.
Safety Stats
Ayla
Virgin - no
What's Your Number - no
Alessio
Playboy - yes
Sex scene with OW - yes
Cheating - yes
OW drama - yes
Overall, Not Safe.
January 27, 2021
1/26/21 - yet another reread. read this for the first time in 2015 and ayla and alessio are still some of my biggest comfort characters. lylah’s writing style in this book is much different from her more recent works (considering she was writing for fun and was probably my age when she started), but the sentimental value it holds is so important to me.
i’ve read this series so many times i’ve lost count. it is the best mafia series i have ever read. lylah james has such a talent for dark romance and pushes the limits in her books. this makes them all the more heartbreaking, but that makes the reparation all the more sweeter. her books are so passionate.
alessio and ayla. i don’t know where to start. ayla is, without a doubt, the strongest female character i have ever read. the things that she has endured and overcome...its mind blowing. alessio is the same way. the traumatic things that he has had to overcome are incredible. they are a match made in heaven.
now i’m off to read part 2 for the bazillionth time. this series never gets old.
i’ve read this series so many times i’ve lost count. it is the best mafia series i have ever read. lylah james has such a talent for dark romance and pushes the limits in her books. this makes them all the more heartbreaking, but that makes the reparation all the more sweeter. her books are so passionate.
alessio and ayla. i don’t know where to start. ayla is, without a doubt, the strongest female character i have ever read. the things that she has endured and overcome...its mind blowing. alessio is the same way. the traumatic things that he has had to overcome are incredible. they are a match made in heaven.
now i’m off to read part 2 for the bazillionth time. this series never gets old.
August 3, 2017
This book was everything! Ayla and Alessio were two broken people that needed saving. They became each others peace, and as they slowly started falling for one another they went bring you along a roller-coaster of pain, heartache and tears.
Safety Note and Spoilers:
Safety Note and Spoilers:
September 14, 2020
This book is so bad, from the characters, the story, the writing style 😖 aghhh it's just ridiculous.
Apparently when the head of the rival family kills your pregnant mother and you swear to avenge her by killing him and his entire family, it does not occur to you, I do not know, for example, to investigate who the members of his family are, because it is completely ridiculous that you do not know that the woman who appeared at your house is the daughter of the Italian Mafia boss (his mother's murderer) and the wife of the second in charge, seriously man clearly you did not do your job well, and I don't know how you plan to kill the whole family if you don't know who they are.
Or the fact that anyone can enter your house that is protected by numerous guards and kill your entire family or get into your car without anyone noticing and take them to your home yourself.
After this chapter I should have stopped, but I thought ? Really they can't be that stupid, but I should have known better, because up to 80 percent where I decide to stop torturing myself and DNF the book, and despite having the other family under surveillance, having informants and numerous resources to find out who the woman who appeared in your house is, they were still without discover her identity.
So the characters, Ayla, everything about her is so cliché, of course because it is so normal that when a gun is pointed at your head you can only think in his beautiful and piercing blue eyes, or the part in which she and Maddie see the hangover 2, but she says she doesn't like it for being very vulgar but when she sees another woman give alessio a bj and then see them having sex against the wall in the corridor, she just feels embarrassed and weird for having found him in so compromising position🤣🤣, so let's continue with our routine I play the piano for you every night and you flirt with me, awwww how cute.
Or when she finds them, a third time and lets Maddie hurt her physically (twisted her ankle) in order to get Alessio's attention and take him away from Nina (the other woman), so of course he runs to her help, carries her in his arms and she feels butterflies and smiles from side to side.
And Alessio he is an asshole, and all that crap about "he's just stubborn" and he does everything he does because he doesn't want to face his feelings but actually loves Ayla, so she just has to sit and wait for him because at the end of the day he is the one who makes her laugh and gives her peace, no no no he was a disgusting coward and a terrible mobster.
At one point the situations were so ridiculous that I just couldn't continue and Dnf at 80 percent, I was really not going to continue with the series so why waste time and finish the book.
Apparently when the head of the rival family kills your pregnant mother and you swear to avenge her by killing him and his entire family, it does not occur to you, I do not know, for example, to investigate who the members of his family are, because it is completely ridiculous that you do not know that the woman who appeared at your house is the daughter of the Italian Mafia boss (his mother's murderer) and the wife of the second in charge, seriously man clearly you did not do your job well, and I don't know how you plan to kill the whole family if you don't know who they are.
Or the fact that anyone can enter your house that is protected by numerous guards and kill your entire family or get into your car without anyone noticing and take them to your home yourself.
After this chapter I should have stopped, but I thought ? Really they can't be that stupid, but I should have known better, because up to 80 percent where I decide to stop torturing myself and DNF the book, and despite having the other family under surveillance, having informants and numerous resources to find out who the woman who appeared in your house is, they were still without discover her identity.
So the characters, Ayla, everything about her is so cliché, of course because it is so normal that when a gun is pointed at your head you can only think in his beautiful and piercing blue eyes, or the part in which she and Maddie see the hangover 2, but she says she doesn't like it for being very vulgar but when she sees another woman give alessio a bj and then see them having sex against the wall in the corridor, she just feels embarrassed and weird for having found him in so compromising position🤣🤣, so let's continue with our routine I play the piano for you every night and you flirt with me, awwww how cute.
Or when she finds them, a third time and lets Maddie hurt her physically (twisted her ankle) in order to get Alessio's attention and take him away from Nina (the other woman), so of course he runs to her help, carries her in his arms and she feels butterflies and smiles from side to side.
And Alessio he is an asshole, and all that crap about "he's just stubborn" and he does everything he does because he doesn't want to face his feelings but actually loves Ayla, so she just has to sit and wait for him because at the end of the day he is the one who makes her laugh and gives her peace, no no no he was a disgusting coward and a terrible mobster.
At one point the situations were so ridiculous that I just couldn't continue and Dnf at 80 percent, I was really not going to continue with the series so why waste time and finish the book.
December 13, 2017
Felt no connection to the characters.
The switch in POV happened too frequently.
Did not work for me.
The switch in POV happened too frequently.
Did not work for me.
October 22, 2017
I found all the lines in this story as cliché-ed as ever...
So that part was an actuall buzz kill :/
I struggled through this romantic part of the storyline cause it did nothing for me but the background action/crime/suspense pulled me through till the end...
Sadly, it left me with impression of an just "okay" read...and I'm not even thinking of continuing with the sequel.
However, the writing style is satisfactory and I m.sure that this state of mine is just a fact of "this is me not you" kinda stuff, so all of you "mafia" trope worshipers should still give this book a chance, inspite of my bitter ranting.
April 11, 2019
4 💖💖💖💖 🇷🇺 💘😇 🇮🇹 🌟🌟🌟🌟s❣️
This was not a typical hard mafia story. It was full of emotions, suspenseful and I liked the author’s writing. It had both characters’ pov and their chemistry was exceptional.
This was not a typical hard mafia story. It was full of emotions, suspenseful and I liked the author’s writing. It had both characters’ pov and their chemistry was exceptional.
December 12, 2017
I really wanted to love this, I really enjoyed mafia romances but the writing was terrible and I was super bored.
May 19, 2022
[ Edit : 19/05/2022 - ReRead this book with my friends and it still invoked the same feelings life before Alessio and Ayla's story was swooning and heartbreaking.]
-
“But I know what it feels like to have so much pain that you feel like you’re going to die.” I needed him to understand, to see that I was broken too
-
My mind has become immobile to form words to describe about how much I loved this book.
Still reveling in the fact about the characters this story gave me.
~~~
Lylah James debut novel tongue-tied me and her killer power of writing left me hungry for more. She captured my attention from the start and until the end leaving me with a cliffhanger made me scream with want. I NEEDED MORE!!
~
Alessio my rough, hardheaded, cocky ,rugged man was the highlight of this book... His mysterious yet endearing personality called me out & made me want to smotherand kidnap him. This man is impeccable. ( Que the mush)
-
"I was scared, because I had learned the hard way that happiness can be taken from you in a second."
-
As for Ayla, she was a women faced with life's abuse making her weak but still there was a little strength left in her and with the correct push she would come out victorious.
-
“There is always light at the end of the dark tunnel,”
-
Running from the only place which had crushed her will, leaving the only man who will haunt her in her life forever was Ayla's best decision but in the process of running she didn't have a plan and ends up being locked in a place where the world's most feared mob boss The Ruthless King was Living.
She has never imagined to be caught from one nightmare and landed in another.
Alessio Ivanshov never thought to find a scared yet haunted women under his bed cowering from the dark, his heart stuttered at that moment an unknown feeling bloomed but then he quickly hide it because when you rule the world you can't have feelings, it makes you weak and this world of crime doesn't accept weakness, because it leads to the path of destruction of everything you have..
..
Alessio didn't wanted to repeat history, his past made him swear off anything resembling to love.. So you see they were doomed from the start & Ayla being the daughter of Abandonato whom Alessio hates from the core of his heart made Ayla's possibility of living less than attainable.
..
But will their past become a barrier between their growing relationship or will their feelings push past all of this & make them see the Love they could have?
Scars or not they are meant for each other & words may not be said but their soul screams to be united & if they realise this looking past their stubbornness then what lies ahead would be love that will heal every scar borne by them.
~
I'm excited to read more about Ayla & Alessio's Journey. This Mafia Romance had me lusting for more.The Ivanshov's brotherhood is one to love I swear every character is so appealing that I can't wait to read more!!
🔸
-
“But I know what it feels like to have so much pain that you feel like you’re going to die.” I needed him to understand, to see that I was broken too
-
My mind has become immobile to form words to describe about how much I loved this book.
Still reveling in the fact about the characters this story gave me.
~~~
Lylah James debut novel tongue-tied me and her killer power of writing left me hungry for more. She captured my attention from the start and until the end leaving me with a cliffhanger made me scream with want. I NEEDED MORE!!
~
Alessio my rough, hardheaded, cocky ,rugged man was the highlight of this book... His mysterious yet endearing personality called me out & made me want to smotherand kidnap him. This man is impeccable. ( Que the mush)
-
"I was scared, because I had learned the hard way that happiness can be taken from you in a second."
-
As for Ayla, she was a women faced with life's abuse making her weak but still there was a little strength left in her and with the correct push she would come out victorious.
-
“There is always light at the end of the dark tunnel,”
-
Running from the only place which had crushed her will, leaving the only man who will haunt her in her life forever was Ayla's best decision but in the process of running she didn't have a plan and ends up being locked in a place where the world's most feared mob boss The Ruthless King was Living.
She has never imagined to be caught from one nightmare and landed in another.
Alessio Ivanshov never thought to find a scared yet haunted women under his bed cowering from the dark, his heart stuttered at that moment an unknown feeling bloomed but then he quickly hide it because when you rule the world you can't have feelings, it makes you weak and this world of crime doesn't accept weakness, because it leads to the path of destruction of everything you have..
..
Alessio didn't wanted to repeat history, his past made him swear off anything resembling to love.. So you see they were doomed from the start & Ayla being the daughter of Abandonato whom Alessio hates from the core of his heart made Ayla's possibility of living less than attainable.
..
But will their past become a barrier between their growing relationship or will their feelings push past all of this & make them see the Love they could have?
Scars or not they are meant for each other & words may not be said but their soul screams to be united & if they realise this looking past their stubbornness then what lies ahead would be love that will heal every scar borne by them.
~
I'm excited to read more about Ayla & Alessio's Journey. This Mafia Romance had me lusting for more.The Ivanshov's brotherhood is one to love I swear every character is so appealing that I can't wait to read more!!
🔸
avoid
June 8, 2023Self note
Constantly cheating by H in this series (multiple books).
Safety info- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Constantly cheating by H in this series (multiple books).
Safety info- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October 22, 2017
There was so many things that could have propelled this book into a great story. However too many things stopped it from being so.
1. The mafia element was gone. Yes, Alessio, is Pakhan. That's all. Ayla is daughter of a Don. Cool. There are flashbacks to show how the families have a feud but they were not doing anything.
2. Telling...not showing. Ugh! So Alessio is suppose to be this bad ass boss. He is ruthless and a killer, etc. However, he yells and barks but there is nothing to hold him as bad. The author tells us. Doesn't show us. I wanted to see the boss in action for crying out loud.
3. Speaking of the boss...he stays in the house all damn day with Ayla and the staff he employs. When is he out there making moves. For a man set on revenge, he is not making any moves. So when his shot at avenging his mother's death is lost, I'm mad he is so distraught and angry. Dude, you rarely leave the house. Your top men are in the house too.
4. Also, the maids that Ayla forges a bond with get too close and personal in their business for me. One of them even have the nerve to run up on Alessio and demand to know his intentions for Ayla. Threatens that he doesn't hurt her, etc. Are you the fucking boss or this chick? I was waiting for him to express his authority and put her in his place but no!!!! He explains his affection for Ayla.
5. The main thing that was confusing was the other woman. I am not sure why she kept popping up but it took entirely too long for Alessio to finally get rid of her. Did I mention that same maid chick ran up on her and Alessio in their moment yelling at them? He didn't say anything? While I was thinking the same thing as the maid, I was like, "Aren't you an employee of a Pakhan? You got balls lady!".
The story is heavily focused on the romantic connection with Alessio and Ayla which could work but Ayla is holding back who she is. I don't blame her. She is his enemy. She has also been traumatized beyond anything. The description flashbacks of her abused added to the story. Alessio's pain as a child tugged at my heart. I wanted the author to dive into that more or use it as a driving force for shit to hit the fan.
This book spent a lot of time on the two characters fighting their attraction. The ending kind of surprised me. I may take a peek at book 2 to see if we can steer this ship back on it's course of being a mafia romance.
1. The mafia element was gone. Yes, Alessio, is Pakhan. That's all. Ayla is daughter of a Don. Cool. There are flashbacks to show how the families have a feud but they were not doing anything.
2. Telling...not showing. Ugh! So Alessio is suppose to be this bad ass boss. He is ruthless and a killer, etc. However, he yells and barks but there is nothing to hold him as bad. The author tells us. Doesn't show us. I wanted to see the boss in action for crying out loud.
3. Speaking of the boss...he stays in the house all damn day with Ayla and the staff he employs. When is he out there making moves. For a man set on revenge, he is not making any moves. So when his shot at avenging his mother's death is lost, I'm mad he is so distraught and angry. Dude, you rarely leave the house. Your top men are in the house too.
4. Also, the maids that Ayla forges a bond with get too close and personal in their business for me. One of them even have the nerve to run up on Alessio and demand to know his intentions for Ayla. Threatens that he doesn't hurt her, etc. Are you the fucking boss or this chick? I was waiting for him to express his authority and put her in his place but no!!!! He explains his affection for Ayla.
5. The main thing that was confusing was the other woman. I am not sure why she kept popping up but it took entirely too long for Alessio to finally get rid of her. Did I mention that same maid chick ran up on her and Alessio in their moment yelling at them? He didn't say anything? While I was thinking the same thing as the maid, I was like, "Aren't you an employee of a Pakhan? You got balls lady!".
The story is heavily focused on the romantic connection with Alessio and Ayla which could work but Ayla is holding back who she is. I don't blame her. She is his enemy. She has also been traumatized beyond anything. The description flashbacks of her abused added to the story. Alessio's pain as a child tugged at my heart. I wanted the author to dive into that more or use it as a driving force for shit to hit the fan.
This book spent a lot of time on the two characters fighting their attraction. The ending kind of surprised me. I may take a peek at book 2 to see if we can steer this ship back on it's course of being a mafia romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2021
Oh man! I’m always in the opposite direction 🙈so here I go again! An unpopular opinions is coming once again your way.
Sure I enjoyed the first two or three chapters because I didn’t think Alessio was going to treat Ayla as his plaything and be violent with her. Or whoring around with Nina. He was just as bad as her husband.
DNF. I couldn’t enjoy this author writing.
.
.
<<<<<<<< SPOILERS ALERT >>>>>>>>
.
.
The girl was beaten up. She was raped. She was all covered in bruises, face and body. But she took a hot shower and just like magic her cheeks were red again and her green eyes were shining brightly. Then she gave a pinch on her cheek, bit down her red lips redden them much further just so she could look better to face Alessio. This is just beyond ridiculous, guys, sorry. 🙄
And as that wasn’t enough, on the same day, Alessio enters into her room without any respect at all to her and do sexually things to her and this author wants me to believe that this broken girl would be aroused and enjoy all that? Seriously? 🙄 This girl right here that has just run away from an abusive husband, that used to be raped by him, that had bruises all over her face and body, a body that was still sore would want to be touched specially in the way things were happening there? Is this author for real?
Nope! Not for me.
Sure I enjoyed the first two or three chapters because I didn’t think Alessio was going to treat Ayla as his plaything and be violent with her. Or whoring around with Nina. He was just as bad as her husband.
DNF. I couldn’t enjoy this author writing.
.
.
<<<<<<<< SPOILERS ALERT >>>>>>>>
.
.
The girl was beaten up. She was raped. She was all covered in bruises, face and body. But she took a hot shower and just like magic her cheeks were red again and her green eyes were shining brightly. Then she gave a pinch on her cheek, bit down her red lips redden them much further just so she could look better to face Alessio. This is just beyond ridiculous, guys, sorry. 🙄
And as that wasn’t enough, on the same day, Alessio enters into her room without any respect at all to her and do sexually things to her and this author wants me to believe that this broken girl would be aroused and enjoy all that? Seriously? 🙄 This girl right here that has just run away from an abusive husband, that used to be raped by him, that had bruises all over her face and body, a body that was still sore would want to be touched specially in the way things were happening there? Is this author for real?
Nope! Not for me.
Read
August 6, 2017DNF
Good concept but story is lacking in delivery. Badly.
The story lacks substance. Characters, particularly the Boss, is a cream puff. A total wuss who apologized so eloquently, it bordered vanilla.
I did not finish the story and therefore will not offer a rating.
Disclaimer: This review is my PERSONAL OPINION of this book. My personal opinion should have no bearing on your experience with this book!!!!
Good concept but story is lacking in delivery. Badly.
The story lacks substance. Characters, particularly the Boss, is a cream puff. A total wuss who apologized so eloquently, it bordered vanilla.
I did not finish the story and therefore will not offer a rating.
Disclaimer: This review is my PERSONAL OPINION of this book. My personal opinion should have no bearing on your experience with this book!!!!
July 8, 2019
Had to change my ratings because of cheating and rape later on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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