Matteo

The Syndicates #1

by Cala Riley

Vanessa
I wasn’t supposed to be here. Kidnapped by a stranger and forced to live in his home. So why am I drawn to my captor? Secrets from my past threaten not only myself, but now him. Do I trust the man who kidnapped me or get the hell out of Dodge?

Matteo
I’ve always done the right thing. Making decisions for myself that were more for the benefit for others. Until I meet her. What started as a good deed may turn into a kidnapping before I know it. She is the first thing I’ve ever wanted for myself. The question is, will I be able to keep her?

**Some subjects in this book may be triggering. For more information please check our website.

Genres: Mafia Romance, Dark Romance, Forced Proximity, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary, BDSM, Romance

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 25, 2021

About the author

Cala Riley, better known as Cala and Riley, are a pair of friends with a deep seated love of books and writing. Both Cala and Riley are happily married and each have children, Cala with the four-legged kind while Riley has a mixture of both two-legged and four. While they live apart, that does not affect their connection. They are the true definition of family. What started as an idea that quickly turned into a full-length book and a bond that will never end.

Check out our linktree for more information:
https://linktr.ee/authorcalariley

Reviews

[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unbelievable!

[Samantha (bookgramsaga reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

''Everything has its price''

Safety warnings:
- No cheating
- No OW/OM drama
- Mention of drug addiction
- Violence/d*ath
- Mention of abuse
- Loss of loved ones
- Kidnapping
- Stalker
- HEA

SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️

SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️

SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️

SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️

I obviously missed the books prior to this one where some of the side characters we see in this book get their story told. It doesn't hinder the reading experience so it's not a must read before diving into Matteo's story.

Vanessa is a homeless girl who has had a rough life, she went from home to home and then ran away when she was 16 and has lived on the streets ever since (she is 20). She runs into Matteo on the street and sees his wallet on the ground and takes it when he doesn't notice. This prompts him to find her and basically kidnap her. He keeps her in his house and takes care of her via food, a place to sleep and comfort.

She has a backbone for almost 40% of the book and refuses to believe this is all out of his kindness but plans to escape etc.

Once they start to get to know each other and she realizes he is not at all cruel and using her, but really is just trying to help her, she becomes soft and accepting of her current predicament.

Did she get Stockholm syndrome?
Yes-ish. He was not forcing her into anything other than living in the house, but it does have an effect on her and him being her actual captor does play a role.

We met Izabella (who obviously had a book before) and her attitude about him keeping Vanessa a secret was weird? Maybe if I had read her book and seen her friendship with Matteo it would have been better but honestly it felt like she was just being unreasonable? It just made me dislike her.

Nico (Matteo's second in command) is a big presence throughout the book and honestly his death was just unnecessary. It could have been avoided, especially since he was injured once in the book and that should have been it.

We also got (light) BDSM in this book as Matteo is into that and it felt out of place for me for some reason. I think their sex life did not need it.

We do get an epilogue of them one year later and they have a son (named after Nico) but they are not married yet.

We meet the next MMC Killian briefly at the end and despite how I feel about this book I will want to continue on with the series (unless they all just do not work for me).

[Kate V · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 4 stars!

Matteo is the first book in The Syndicates series and features Matteo and Vanessa. I have read this series completely out of order but decided I should probably go back to the beginning. This mafia romance morsel was just what I needed. Vanessa is living on the streets and steals Matteo's wallet without realizing she just stole from someone very important and very dangerous. Matteo doesn't take kindly to thieves and finds and kidnaps her. What message would it send if he let a thief get away for stealing from him?

“You don’t get it, cara. I am the mafia. Capo of Queens. Nothing happens in my city I don’t know about or handle. Until further notice, you are mine to do with as I please. If anyone was to lay hands on you in my territory without my permission, they would be asking for certain death.”

Kidnapping Vanessa was one thing but being undoubtedly attracted to the fiery beauty is a whole other ballgame that Matteo is not prepared for. Vanessa is falling for the dominant and possessive male but also waiting for the other shoe to drop so they are stuck in this in-between.

“What are you doing to me?” she whimpers. I kick off my pants, crawling up her body. “Owning you.”

Vanessa and Matteo's bond deepens but dangerous forces are closing in. Will they beat back the danger and make a life together?

Vanessa is the type of heroine that I love to read. She is witty, funny, resourceful and kind. I really liked her and I loved her naivety but also her realism. Matteo was domineering and obsessive and I loved the way he fell for Vanessa. It was completely organic and sweet.

"I stare down at her for a while. She’s the wish I knew I wanted but didn’t know how to ask for. Now she’s mine. I meant what I said. I’ll never let her go."

Matteo was a really good read. There were twists and turns, plenty of action and plenty of steam. I wish this had been a little longer but overall a really good read!

[Abstract ♥ Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS



Star Rating : 3.5/5 Stars

POV : Dual

Cliffhanger : None

Hero : Matteo

Heroine : Vanessa

Pace of the story : Moderate

Angst Rating : 6/10

Heat Rating : 7/10

Triggers Involved : Kidnapping

Plot Summary :
Vanessa was a woman simply living her life. That i until she ended up at the wrong place at the wrong and ended up getting kidnapped.Her captor was a man who entranced her. Soon feeling began to surface and being with matteo became a choice not a necessity.

For the first time in his life , Matteo has wanted something for himself. He wanted Vanessa and he was keeping her no matter what she said. She was the best thing in his bleak life and there was no way he was letting her go!

Overall Opinion :
The story was a good read for me. It was a one time read for me and since i am a hardcore lover of dark themes like kidnapping and mafia , I liked this one. Matteo and Vanessa had an amazing story.

The emotions in the book were high and even though the book had it’s bleak moments , I still found myself reading it till the very end not being able to stop! A must read for all the mafia romance lovers out there! Let this book be your next fix of dark romance!

Final Verdict :
An amazing Mafia romance story
A one time read for me.
The book had it’s bleak moments but I found myself reading this one in a single sitting!
A must read for all the mafia romance lovers out there!


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[Sentranced Jem · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

A mellow mafia romance.
I guess this would be good for those who want to start a mafia romance?
An enjoyable read nonetheless

[Luna ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

» I'm twenty.«
» I'm twenty-five.«
» Good for you. I'm still not fucking you.«

★ ★

❥ 𝑽𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂
At first I liked her cheeky character and her confidence but sadly this didn‘t last. After a few days in Matteos house she becomes an submissive girl with no will or self respect - Stockholm syndrom at it‘s best.

❥ 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒐
Same game like Vanessa: in the beginning I enjoyed his character but soon he becomes a big asshole and doesn‘t respect Vanessa as a person.

✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
I have mixed feelings about this one.
The idea was quit nice, she‘s homeless and he‘s a rich mafiaboss - that‘s an interesting constellation with good options for an enjoyable story.
The first 40% were really good because both characters had their own personality and Vanessa stood her ground against Matteo. But soon Vanessa lost her will to fight and as a result her personality. They fell in love (Stockholm syndrom) and this was so unbelievable because Matteo literally did NOTHING that could have made Vanessa fall for him. Yes, he gave her a bed, food and shower but that‘s it.
As I said the plot had potential but it wasn‘t done well sadly. The love story was not relatable and it‘s sad that Vanessa lost her kinda wild character traits just to become obedient to Matteo…


plot: 3/5
spice: 2/5
humor: 3/5
couple/tension: 3/5
world building: 4/5
happy end?: yes

keywords: mafia, possessive and protective hero, touch her and you‘ll die, kidnapping, homeless x rich

𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆
ages: 20 (Vanessa) and 25 (Matteo)
cheating: no
sharing: no
kinks: spanking, cuffs

[Raquel.Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for a captivity mafia romance and you are new to the genre… then this book might be for you.

I based my decision to read Matteo based on the cover and I really wanted to like this book. I was looking for a good mafia series to get into, but it seems I need to keep looking. Sadly, this book was not for me. I found it corny and just not exciting considering it’s a mafia captivity romance. This book brings nothing new to the table.

I appreciated that writing is not bad and since it’s my first book by this author, I plan on picking up one of the other books in the series in the future to determine if I like her books.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

“You don’t have to like me, but you will obey.” Matteo, Cala Riley

Okay Matteo 🧎🏻‍♀️

Matteo is a mafia romance that is set in New York with a FMC who is homeless and a MMC who’s capo that is both sweet & dark. A perfect combination.

What I loved about this book was the tension between the characters. Cala Riley know how to do tension and spice. It always flows so beautifully and makes me feel all the tingles, which really elevates the reading experience. I also loved the mafia aspects, the character development of our FMC, Vanessa, who showed what it was like to grow up on the streets but still come out of it on top. And I loved the contrast that Matteo showed us. He was both respectful & kind, but dark & dominate which flowed beautifully for his character.

I’m definitely going to keep continuing to read this series because Matteo was an easy, quick, mafia read. And I’m a complete sucker for these types of books. They help me get out of my reading slumps. And the way Cala Riley does story telling is fantastic. It’s addicting, sexy, and over all extremely enjoyable. I can’t wait to meet Killian in the next book.

The reason I’m giving this 3/5 stars is for a few reasons. One being there were a few points in the plot where I felt the story needed to be written out a bit longer. For example, the toy scene, on a Sunday, it was brought up then never addressed again. I would have loved to see how that played out between the main characters, because that was spicy & hot. Also, the first sex scene between the MCs didn’t feel like a virgin not knowing anything so I would have liked to see a little more apprehensiveness there. And another reason is some of the dialogue could have been cut back just a little between the characters. Nothing bad, just some things were repeated and drawn out.

But other than that, this story was fantastic. It was addicting as it was sexy and I loved the chemistry between the main characters, Vanessa and Matteo. I also loved Nico, he was a great side character that I was thoroughly attached too. I can’t wait to read more from these authors and the rest of the series as well. Their writing style is truly addicting to read.

If you’re looking for a fresh mafia romance, grab this one. It was a great quick read and if you enjoy mafia, this is for you.

[Tristina Brockway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matteo is so much more than I would have imagined. He goes above and beyond for Vanessa in his own way and the two will leave you with a case of the swoons while making you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I especially loved reading Vanessa's point of view, while heartbreaking at times. Cala Riley pulled big and hard on your heart strings with Matteo. I can't wait to read more from this new series!

[Ashley Estep The Art of Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matteo is the perfect example as to why I love Cala Riley's writing. They are a one-click for me before I even know what they're writing.

Matteo was everything I thought he would be and nothing like what I expected him to be. Cala and Riley did such an amazing job with him. If you've read Mafia King then you met the sweet, brother Matteo that you couldn't help but love. When you read his book you get the arrogant, jerk, Capo that is Matteo. He's tall, dark, handsome and will have you forgetting your thoughts when you look at him.

Vanessa is absolutely perfect for Matteo. She's sweet, and innocent. Even after being homeless and living on the streets for years she just this amazing and sweet woman. While she struggles with her feelings for Matteo and about living in his house. She really struggled with feeling comfortable and not having to worry. I love the way Vanessa grows and finds herself as a person and not as a homeless person. Matteo allows her to discover the things she likes to do.

I love that they included my favorites from the Mafia Royalty series while making Matteo his own book. While we get a glimpse of them, they do not overpower this book and are there for a reason. Each and every character in this book has a purpose.

Cala and Riley get better with each book they write. Matteo is everything you would want in a Mafia book. Steamy, violent, funny at times. My sweet Matty turned into a ruthless Capo that I have to say I love even more now. But they stayed true to who he is and he's still the sweet guy he's always been.

Matteo is amazing start to The Syndicate Series. I loved every second of Matteo and Vanessa's story. I love Mafia and Cala Riley know how to deliver an amazing Mafia story. I cannot wait to see what they do with the rest of this series!

[Nikki Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cala Riley really knocked it out of the park with this release! I was lucky enough to read an ARC, and trust me when I say, If you love Mafia Romance, you will love this book.

The chemistry between Matteo and Vanessa was page melting. And when I tell you this book is hot, I mean it.

I loved Matteo right off the bat. He was an asshole, but he has a sweet side that he didn’t let too many people see. He was so protective of Vanessa.

I was weary of Vanessa, because I loved Matteo so much. She’d had a hard life and wasn’t willing to trust so easily, but when she finally let her guard down I started to love her character. She was such a badass.

This book definitely deserves five stars. It was steamy and exciting. It left me on the edge of my seat. And I truly didn’t see some things that happened coming.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went in Reading Matteo with high expectations and I was not disappointed. The writing duo of Cala Riley deliver a top notch read that will leave an impact on the reader and leave them begging for more. I had never read any of their work before and was impressed with how well they collaborated together.
The title character is a member of the mafia but unlike other members, he isn’t as scary or dangerous. He has a soft spot and we see that when he meets Vanessa, the homeless woman who steals his wallet. Matteo takes her home to punish her, but soon the pair surprises one another when they grow closer.
This book is well written and I look forward to reading. Ore from the authors in the future

[Sophie Ruthven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a new to me writing duo.
This book conflicted me as the more we got to know the characters, the more I wanted to love it. But unfortunately for me personally the plot kept losing me/giving me whiplash, which is a shame as there were some really good points that held potential for the rest of the story. In saying all of that, Vanessa's transformation was inspiring to watch.

[P · Rating 3 out of 5]

First time reading from this duo, for a capo Matteo is pretty cinnamon roll i never really got a big bad vibe from him his interactions with the other characters fell flat for me, i did like that he was capo and Vanessa was homeless i liked how he wanted to feed her and make her comfortable but like idk the storyline was at a plateau and nothing was ever really happening.


Copy provided for Free in exchange for a honest review all opinions are my own.

[World Of Books 65 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matteo is an engrossing brilliant must read from Cala and Riley (yes they are two great authors) who once again bring a unique spin on romance writing one that is a pleasure to read. Not all writers can pull of a slow burn story without the reader loosing interest but Cala and Riley have no such problem with Matteo and Vanessa's story - because every build up to their intimate moments (and boy are those good) has been brilliantly woven into this story to ensure us the reader are drawn deeper and deeper into this couples lives. As the teacher becomes the student and doubts set in sit back and immerse yourself in everything you could want in a great romance!

At 20 Vanessa has spent her life on the streets since running away from foster care; she sleeps in between dump trucks, and she can make a loaf of bread last for weeks; when she accidentally bumps into Mafia boss Matteo and steals his wallet she had no idea that her life was about to dramatically change. Matteo wasn't sure what he was going to do with this woman who looked like a slight wind would knock her down but as a Mafia boss when someone steals from you a debt has to be paid. For all the toughness that is Matteo there is a softer side that I loved. Vanessa reminded me of Belle from 'Beauty and the Beast' with her love of books and I suppose some may say that there is a little of the Beast in Matteo!

But within this hot engrossing romance there is another underlining story that is so cleverly embedded that you don't even know it is staying with you even after you have finished the book and that is Vanessa's life on the streets and how it effects the way she is when she is given a meal and a shower and why trusting comes hard.

If you have read any of Cala and Riley's other series; Brighton Academy or the Mafia Royalty Series you will understand right away about this unique couples writing skills if you are new to these authors welcome you won't be disappointed.

[Stefanie Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying that you don’t need to have read the previous mafia books by Cala Riley to understand this world, however if you are like me you may run to amazon and grab them because it gives you more of these characters stories and after I finished this book I was instantly in the authors inbox saying I NEED MORE.

Matteo is tied for one of my top reads of January.

Matteo is a bad ass hero, with a dirty dirty mouth but when you get to know the real him, I swear he’s a giant teddy bear and you just want to snuggle him to keep you safe at night.

Vanessa... where do I begin. Cala Riley nailed her ob the head ... well not literally but there are some super sick (in a good way) violent scenes in here that are utter *kisses fingers* perfection! Anyway back to our heroine, my heart not only broke for her and the hardships that she has faced throughout her life but as we get a deep dive into her character development we get to grow with her - discovering her newfound hopes, wants, dreams and needs. We are learning them just as she is. For all her live she didn’t need more- just whatever it took to survive.

Now you put these two on a page and sweet Jesus it’s sexual tension for days! Rewards never seemed so sweet!

I highly recommend checking out this book and I will most definitely be adding this paperback to my shelf.

[Tina Locklear · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gripping read the author gives you two characters from two different worlds and fate brings them together. Vanessa and Matteo meet in an unusual way, they crossed paths by fate.

Matteo is a ruthless, very dark alpha male mafia capo and he takes nothing from no one. He is the type that you fear because he gives and good as he takes. Matteo gives off vibes of power and arrogance.

Vanessa is down on her luck and going through life's struggles that many haven't faced. Because of her bad situation she is forced to do something that has put her life at risk therefore that's how she stumbles into the powerful well dressed Matteo.

This is a new author to me but i plan to read more of her books in the future. These two characters went through so much to be together, the author gives lots of twists and turns, love, hate, revenge, fear and Matteo was a force to fear and he hated betrayal. I cant wait to see what happens next in this series.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I received a copy of this book to review)

Trigger Warnings include:
homelessness, infant abandonment, foster care system, kidnapping, murder, threats of bodily harm and rape

On the streets of Queens, an Italian Mafia Capo and a homeless woman run into each other, in the lovely literal sense. And that changes their lives instantly. The sweet things in mafia and dark romances hit me harder than any other trope. And this one definitely hit hard, multiple times! Matteo is the most “normal” important member of the mafia I have ever read! He uses public transportation. He’s sweet (though his edges are a little rough). He’s compassionate, especially with his found family. But don’t worry, he’s just as possessive and demanding as you want from a member of the mafia. Vanessa has a fire in her, but Matteo was never afraid of being burnt. She doesn’t cower from him. She talks back, argues, refuses to give in or even accept his help. Vanessa causes her own trouble, and poor Matteo nearly loses him mind. And nearly loses her. But what’s a mafia romance without the drama?! I loved him even harder the more he did for Vanessa. The more he fought against her storming current. All Matteo wanted to do was get her off the streets. Now he’s stuck between a rock and the hard place in his pants.

Cara: 38

My Favorite Quotes:
• “Your fight turns me on.”
• “You don’t have to like me, but you will obey.”
• “If you keep staring at me while touching your lips, I’m going to get the wrong idea.”
• “This changes everything.”
• “I think God sent you here to torture me.”
• “Keep those eyes open. I want to see you get there.”
• “I’m your worst f!cking nightmare.”
• “Once we do this, I’ll never let you go.”
• “You’re a f!cking wet dream.”
• “I love hearing the noises you make.”
• “I know I love you.”

8/10 Dirty Birdy
7/10 Dark Romance
8/10 Forced Proximity
8/10 Mafia Romance
9/10 Series

This is my review for Killian
This is my review for Haruaki
This is my review for Nikolai
This is my review for Enzo
This is my review for Callum
This is my review for Kenji
This is my review for Dimitri
This is my review for Tristano
This is my review for Declan This is my review for Kado
This is my review for Maxim
This is my review for Oh Holy Night

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matteo is nothing like I expected. It raw and a complete gripping story. Vanessas and Matt’s emotions bleed trough the page on in this book. The chemistry between the pair is hot. The book is well written and deserves a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[sarahy · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

“𝐒𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫. 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞. 𝐈 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝. 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐨.”

If you’re looking for a good quick mafia book, this is for you! Vanessa was hilarious & extremely sweet, she held her own with whomever crossed her path, which I loved. Matteo was a bit of an ass at first but had the sweetest intentions, just didn’t know how to execute them haha, but I swear he gets better at it. Overall I enjoyed this book onto Killian’s book.🤭

[Laundry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y'all I have been Jones-ing for a good mafia suspense romance for a hot second. So when I saw the description of Matteo, I knew this was exactly what I had been waiting for. Suspense, hot AF bad boys, scorching hot romance - this book has it all.

Story Line: As you may have guessed, Matteo is our leading man. He's tall, dark, dangerous and oh so delicious. He meets Vanessa in the most intriguing way (I want to tell you, but it's something I think the author wants hidden and I always promise no spoilers). Anyway, their relationship starts a little unorthodox but it works and flows so perfectly. Matteo and Vanessa are the epitome of a love/hate relationship. And their fire both naughty and not, are what make this book absolutely epic.

Interaction: Vanessa's character absolutely makes this book the masterpiece that it is. She is so well rounded. We see every side of her and feel every single emotion she does. When she's plotting and formulating, I found myself doing it right along side her. And when she's falling head over heals for the bad guy, girlfriend I was too. Matteo is easy to love, you will find. Yes, he's not exactly one of the good guys, but his heart is in the right place. And with each action, we see why. We see that he is not made of stone and he becomes that much more REAL. It was an incredible adventure witnessing two strong but flawed characters find their HEA.

Laundry: I don't think there are truly the correct words to encompass the hotness that is Matteo and Vanessa laundry. In the bed, in the shower, on the table, or any other surface in that house - it's all off the charts hot. I don't think I've ever wanted to let my hubby watch me shower, but after reading this book and knowing what it lead to? Yeah, Mr Laundry can watch all he wants ;)

Depth: There is SO much depth to this story. I wish I could elaborate so much. But I need to leave this amazing amount of detail for y'all to discover on your own. What I can say is this - it's been a long, long time since I made Mr Laundry sit down and talk about a book with me. Okay, that's not exactly true because he gets to hear about all the naughty laundry stuff each time. But that's not all I told him about. I told him about how freaking incredible Vanessa is. How I admire her and aim to be as strong as she is. Reading about her past shattered my heart into a million pieces. And then here comes Matteo, her knight riding in on his black horse, saving her in the most deliciously dark way possible. If you get nothing else from this book, let it be this - do not underestimate the power of this story. This is not just a mafia romance. This story is about finding the strength from within, but also knowing when it's time to accept a helping hand. It's beautiful and blindingly brilliant.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this.

I am a sucker for rich meets poor. In this instance, Matteo bumps into Homeless Vanessa and drops his wallet. Vanessa picks it up and runs off. Matteo is so cute (i know, he is not suppose to be cute... should be big tough mafia guy!. But i think he is cute... at least underneath) some funny moments, slow burn, rags to riches story. This couple was perfect, so cute!

[Jos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehhhhhh just wasn't my cup of tea...The storyline just didn't do it for me:(

[queen_of_the_books_18 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matteo is book 1 in the syndicates series by Cala Riley.

If you love mafia romances then this is the story for you. Matteo and Vanessa’s chemistry is off the charts and they bought all the emotions. Vanessa was breaking my heart at certain points.

I haven’t read Cala Riley’s previous mafia books and that didn’t impact my reading experience but you can bet that I’m going to go back and read them now.

[Raja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books was the second mafia book that I fell in love with!

The story was easy to follow being that it was a mafia related storyline. Normally I have trouble keeping up with the different types of mafia terminology, but this book was spot on and I now feel like a pro (not really but it sounds good).

This story and the outcome was what made this read unique. Goodness I loved Vanessa and all her sassiness! I loved her will to survive and do what it takes to make it in a unforgiving world. In the end, she turned around a horrible four years by blessing others that were willing to help themselves with her help.

Matteo was not your usual crime boss. Now, don’t get me wrong, he was feared, got the job done and his hands dirty when needed. But, within his life as a leader, he felt he was missing something that all his other family had. Little did he know, it would run directly into him and set his life on a different course!

I absolutely adored Vanessa and Matteo’s story AND can’t wait to read more about The Syndicate family. Phenomenal read with just the right amount of EVERYTHING!

[Larissa Rye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so freaking excited to go back the Catalini family! Even better was getting Matteo’s book. I’ve missed this crazy wild family so I was really excited to dive into this book. This is probably my favourite series by Cala & Riley. I’m really looking forward to the next book because I can’t wait to see what happens next!

At first I was like what the heck happened to Matteo that he’s being such a Dick. Then I remembered he’s mafia, he’s a badass & I love it. I think these two were absolutely meant for each other. She softened his rough edges but was also a strong, determined, & independent woman who was strong enough for a man like Matteo.

I loved the ending. Nico 😭 I need to know about these Westies too. The ending definitely left me wanting more of this series.

[A Klue · Rating 2 out of 5]

To say I'm an avid mafia romance reader would be an understatement. I've come across a lot of different types, so I know there is a very broad spectrum of light vs dark content. It all comes down to finding the right balance to meet your personal preferences. On the richter scale of this genre, I'd say this book shakes things up to a minor rumble. I actually have no problem with that. It was the mechanical, robotic, even corny and cheesy at times writing (which often came in the form of mental musings) which kept getting in the way of my enjoyment.

There were also contradictions here that I can't help but point out. One being Matteo prayed at every meal, like he was a pious, devout Christian. Holding hands with the heroine in prayer before eating even a sandwich didn't seem likely, folks. Though we are told he's a tow the line or else mobster, I'd label him a cream puff capo instead. I could give more examples, but I simply don't have the time. We certainly get a much softer side of him than I usually see in this type of romantic read.

Don't get me wrong. I love sweet. I prefer it over an OTT dark, heartless, soul less hero who is constantly degrading and abusing the heroine before he supposedly finally sees the light. It is just I need better writing to pull it all off.

Here's to hoping others enjoy this book. I wish the author continued writing success. If available on Kindle Unlimited, I may give her another chance. I certainly applaud her choice to give us a good guy kind of mob hero. I just found it overkill on the cheesy mental musings and actions so far. I stopped reading at 46%, because nothing major had happened yet. Though things looked likely to get steamy, smexy very soon, I had completely lost interest in the story line.

Title: Matteo, Series: The Syndicates (Book 1), Author: Cala Riley, Pages: 238, pub date: 2/25/21, never been kissed virgin homeless heroine, softer side cream puff capo, mechanical robotic writing, too many mental musings, corny even cheesey at times,

(I voluntarily read and reviewed a Kindle Unlimited version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not compensation in any form for this review. There is no relationship or affiliation between this reviewer and the author, publisher, or any PR firm.)

[Carol · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ Chapter 3

Started well enough and then we have to listen to the heroine randomly insert how hot the hero is (while he's still a stranger) when she bumps into him. Followed by the hero bemoaning how he wants to find his "one" like his friends who are all engaged or married. Then for them to meet again and the heroine again has to tell us how sexy the hero is. 🙄🤦‍♀️😴

Where is the story? I love romance and I love Mafia tropes but damn why must authors feel the need to inject the story with inane and pointless details about how "sexy" someone is as a random thought? It feels so juvenile and amateur. There are far better ways and more appropriate opportunities to describe the MCs without using simple descriptors like sexy. The timing of these inserted thoughts were what I really had the most problems with. I just rolled my eyes through what I managed to read. Hero was already unexplainably protective of the heroine too.

I'm too picky for this crap.

[Chelsie Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok.
This was so good.
I loved how it was “dark” but NOT dark. You got both POV’s and you CARED about BOTH characters.
This is a stand alone but clearly in a world that’s already built.

Reread:
This is an easy read where the MMC cares in a platonic way that moves to romance and the FMC is hot for the MMC but mad at him then that moves to romance.
It’s not a DARK read but still has a veil of mafia to it.
I think the next book should be read to see if it’s just this one that’s hyped or not.

[Ooga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic quick read!

I loved the character development in this!
Vanessa goes from fighting the comfortable life she always wanted being thrust at her, to finally embracing it. She is indifferent towards Matteo at first then finally opens up enough to get to know him as more than what she made up in her mind.

Matteo has been struggling to find the love he is constantly surrounded by when it bumps into him. He is acting completely out of normal with Vanessa and he just can't figure out why. Watching the struggle of wanting her and then not being sure what to do when he finally does. Then being unsure about her because the people around him keep instilling doubt (with good reason).

Well written, just wished I could have seen her gain more freedom throughout. It only touched on her doubts about actually being able to leave when she wants, followed by how it bothered him when she went shopping with the ladies. There was never the discussion between the characters about the conflicting thoughts on the matter. Probably just me but I would have liked that tid bit just for their relationship development.

Fantastic read, totally recommend if you like Mafia romance with kidnapping trope.