FROM USA TODAY BEST-SELLING AUTHOR PARKER S. HUNTINGTON COMES A STEAMY, SLOW-BURN LOVE STORY FULL OF ENEMIES-TO-LOVERS BANTER, SET IN HIGH SCHOOL.
Damiano De Luca: a curse with no cure.
Before he ruled the De Luca family, before he became the man everyone feared, before he scoured an empire in search of me, he chose me to ruin.
I was an innocent. An untainted princess. The heiress to the Vitali mafia throne. And I was in the wrong place at the wrong time when I met the wrong boy.
My name is Renata Vitali, and this is not a love story.
HOLY BOOK CRACK!! I've found a new-to-me author and I'm addicted! I devoured this prequel and Parker S. Huntington has a new lover of her words. WOW! Diving into DAMIANO DELUCA now because I am in love!!!
I really liked this one. As everyone knows I love mafia and enemies to lovers and all the things this one had.
I'm not sure if I would recommend this because all these chapters seem to be included in Damian's book. I wasn't sure, but until it's finished I'm not sure. So I would suggest to buy the second of this duet.
3.5 stars. While I enjoyed this audiobook, it was very apparent that I jumped on to a moving train. It was obvious that this story was the middle of an ongoing series and I wish I had more information.
I loved Renata’s grit, inner strength and street smarts. I love that she knew just how far to push and when to pull back. I also enjoyed Damien’s care for those his father callously hurt either directly or through his neglect of supervision. It was clear to me that Renata and Damien would make a formidable force when they finally admitted they cared for each other. I will actually read this series in order. I can tell I’m missing a very intense series.
This book, OMG. All the feels. Renata, I love her so much, she’s so strong..but at the same time she doubts so much of herself and tries to hide her feelings toward the others, a Mafia Princess by name but she’s really a Knight with her shiny armor, with a strong and sassy attitude. Then she meets Damiano, oh man, I mean this boy is the one for her. They are so perfect for each other. He’s a prince of the most hateful mafia family in the 5 syndicates and it’s doing his best for retrieving the power and respect his family deserves. They fall in love, all that passion and attraction it’s so well developed. I love all the books in this series, and this one is no exception. It’s so good, it describes them so perfectly, and leaves you craving with more of the story..which continues in Damiano’s book.
As a prequel to Damian and Renata’s story, this did a great job of laying the foundation of their relationship. I loved their chemistry and the ending left me with some questions that I hope will be answered with the next book. I think there could have been a little more tension, but again, for a prequel it was very satisfying. I’m looking forward to their full book!!
This book i will gladly give 5 stars. Even tho it ends in a cliffhanger. This whole series is amazing. I can't wait until Damion's book come out and i hope it's soon. I need to know what happens next. 😭😭 I loved this book as i do all of Parker's books. ❤❤
This is a prequel background of Renata and Damian as teens. Slowwww burn. Maybe too slow. Damian is tame. Renata is...strategic. Not a lot of interaction more telling. Intrigued to find out more about them in Damian’s book. 2.5 stars.
"She stared at me like I was a reflection , and she was a looking glass."
Wow. What a way to introduce a new author. Renata Vitali is a heart piercing prequel novella to Damiano De Luca. A mafia romance with an emotional and intense edge that will make you fall in love with it. The writing is absolutely intriguing. Renata Vitali pulls you into an angsty and heart pumping story that will make your heart quake. You will meet Renata and Damiano as they start a magnificent and punishing love.
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
Lubię to jak Parker tworzy relacje, zawsze znajdzie coś, co łączy bohaterów jak dwa puzzle. I tempo tworzenia tych relacji jest idealne. Jedyną drobną wadą jest coś, co zauważyłem w poprzednich częściach- jakaś taka chaotyczność, niedbałość w spicy scenach, może to pięta achillesowa autorki. Poza tym, zakończenie jest nieco bez sensu, Renata jest zdecydowanie mądrzejszą bohaterką niż wynika z jej decyzji i całego tego dramatu, który moim zdaniem jest z lekka naciągany. Ale cytatów pokochałam tutaj mnóstwo. . . . They say, one day, it will hurt less. The distance will stop seizing my throat and let me breathe. It’ll feel okay to wake up, pat the space beside me, and not feel her there. It’ll be easier to tell a joke and realize the only person who can understand it isn’t there to hear it. They say, one day, you’ll find someone else, and you’ll feel these same things for her. They say these things, but not a night passes where she doesn’t cross my mind. She’s either my curse or my angel. . My heart was calm as I accepted the inevitability of discovery with grace. My heart was calm. My heart was calm. My heart was calm. Until I saw him for the first time, and it wasn’t. . It was little things like this which told me he cared. And it was the pathetic pattering of my heart which told me I did, too. . One day, when I didn’t have my head so far up my ass, I would look back at this moment and realize it was precisely the moment I fell for Knight. . “Do you ever feel like the only real people in this world are the ones in these books?” “Or maybe the world we’re living in is a book, and we’re just characters.” I rested my head against the bookcase and closed my eyes. “If that’s the case, someone is reading me, becoming me, understanding me, and maybe I’m not so lonely after all.” . "I feel like a princess.” “You are a princess.” “But I’m a Knight. I do the saving, not you.” . When we were good, she was Knight, and I was Day. When we were bad, she was Princess, and I was Damsel. Needless to say, she was usually Princess, and I was usually Damsel. .
I hate myself for not having read this author's work before! Renata Vitali is such a good story. I fell in love with the characters instantly. Renata and Damiano made my heart beat faster with every turn of the page. It felt like a privilege to read about these two becoming unlikely friends and how they fell for each other with every moment they shared. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the moment they realized and accepted their feelings for the other one, but also for the curveball that life would probably throw at them.
Well good, listen !!!! I love writers who only rise and fall in their writing. And Parker keeps doing it! She made me crazy. For obsession 🤣🤣🎉 What a great fun !!!!! 🔥🔥🔥 This time, the fifth book in the series is a novella. A novella that tells the story of Renata Vitali and Damiano De Luca! How they knew each other. Why they ever met 🤷♂️ Who brought her there ?! 🤦♂️😱
The Vitali family is out of the five families that control the US (Romano, Adenertii, De Lucca, Rossi, Camarino) are located in Italy. A huge and huge mafia family. rich. And from there came the beautiful beauty girl Renata.
At the age of 16, Renata, on her father's behalf, is sent as a reconciliation gift to the province of Lucca, where the chair of the Mafia Angelo sits. He is cruel and full of cold blood and hatred. He jokes with her. Laughs with her. But she is not stupid. She discovers the secret he has hidden, that he is his mysterious son.
Renata was a wonderful figure to me. Why? She likes to read books. Entertainment has always been books. She is a bitchy who is set in her position. Still, she must not be weak. Because she is vital. They are the power of the Lions! There were sections of the book that I forgot at all that this is a 16-year-old character. She was so mature for her age. She doesn't count any of this blonde meter. ❤📚🤪
Damiano de Luca, the mysterious son that no one knew about his existence, is discovered by Dante. "By mistake." He only heard rumors about the Vitali family. For their courage, for their wealth, for their purpose. But, he also has a purpose. To put down Angelo. His father.
But, when he sees Renata. He feels something he has not felt most of his life. And that's love. He does not know his mother. He quietly sneaks into the library just to spend time with her. And slowly, a relationship develops.
Damiano's character is very complex. She is different. Because he lives cruelly. His father beats him. Destroys it. Breaking it. Scars all over his body. And always reminds him, that is his failure. He is very brave. But, he does not give up he will achieve his goal.
But what happens when love starts to get confused? We think we know the person who is facing us. The person we love. Do even after saying goodbye. Can we forget it?
In conclusion, this novella is an excellent opening for the sixth book in the series (don't want to end it because I'm eagerly awaiting the seventh book !!!!!!) The plot is superbly written. The characters are great. The emotion goes directly and not gets stuck. I felt thirsty for more. Because I wanted and wanted more from this amazing writer!
One of my favorite things about reading romance is the feeling of falling in love. Feeling a connection with the characters and allllllll the emotions deep down in your soul. You laugh when something is funny (despite getting weird looks from everyone around you.), you cry when your heart gets broken (and yes, Im a crier). Parker S. Huntington brings all the feels. I absolutely loved every single word. Renata is such a strong, beautiful heroine. She's got one heck of a backbone. I love her sass and how smart she is. And Damiano.. WHEW. Boy does he set your kindle on fire. He's cunning, intelligent and smoldering sexiness all rolled into one. This is such a great, quick read..One I devoured in a few hours. I was longing for more...and luckily book 2 (Damiano De Luca) came out shortly after. I highly recommend this book..this series is a definite must have in your library.
The Five Syndicates Series was in my Wishlist for a while, so I grabbed the opportunity to read Renata’s book.
Most of the time, my experience with novellas/prequels has been frustrating. My major issue with them is mostly about their length and wanting to write a consistent story in a few pages can be really challenging.
And Parker Huntington did a great work with this novella/prequel: It made me want to know more about the Five syndicates universe. It made me love Renata’s and Damiano’s love story. And it made me wanted to know more about the whole series, especially Damiano’s book of course.
I can’t wait to see what’s in store for those two!
***ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review***
After reading the reviews who suggested that I read this book before I read Damian De Luca I made the mistake of taking that suggestion and reading it, and was bored which surprised me because I love Mafia romance books but yeah this book did not live up to its hype and then I made the mistake of actually reading Damiano De Luca and was utterly confused on why it had gotten so many good reviews.
This was the first book I’ve read by this author, and it won’t be the last! I loved the storyline and the characters! Writing style pulled me in from the first page, and I can’t wait to read the next book!