To Have and to Hurt

Dark & Dirty Vows #3

by Morgan Bridges

Commanding my family's empire is an honor,
Except the thoughts I have are anything but.
This young woman intrigues me, and not just because she doesn't speak.
It's the quiet rebellion she exhibits in every nuanced movement and pointed look.

However, she's the one woman I shouldn't pursue.
Others may consider my attraction inappropriate.
And it also goes against my strict rule not to mix business with pleasure.
Me being twice her age is another reason to leave her alone.

Yet fate has other plans, to tempt and test me.
And she has plans as well, to challenge and disobey me.
Her defiance makes me want her all the more.
But giving into my carnal desires has consequences.
Some that are detrimental to us both...

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Mafia Romance, BDSM, Forced Proximity, M F Romance, Contemporary

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 22, 2021

Reviews

[Alexandraa XX · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOODNESS…. THIS BOOK🤩🤩🤩 THIS AUTHOR OFFICIALLY MADE ME IN LOVE🥰🥰🥰 GREAT BOOK! GREAT STORY!!! LIKE WHAT I WANT AND EVEN BETTER😍😍😍😍👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

OH MY… Where do i even start lol


‼️‼️‼️SAFE HOT ROMANTIC GREAT LOVE STORY


‼️‼️‼️THE HEROINE IS A VIRGIN.


‼️‼️‼️LOVE IN FIRST SIGHT


‼️‼️‼️THE HERO IS OTT POSSESSIVE PROTECTIVE ALPHA MALE

I love the way the hero really care about her even when she doesn’t want to eat, the hero wants her to eat and to be healthy…

“Another basic need I have is wanting to see she’s provided for in every way. Her health, both mental and physical, is also very important to me.”


‼️‼️‼️THE HEROINE IS 18 YEARS OLD AND THE HERO IS 36 YEARS OLD.

‼️‼️‼️NO CHEATING

‼️‼️‼️THE HERO is not a manwhore either. He does say he have his past but doesn’t really quite say he is a manwhore though lol

‼️‼️‼️SOOOO MANY JEALOUS SCENES FROM THE HERO AND so little from the heroine🤣🤣

I lost count on how many times the hero got jealous because he got jealous even the first time he saw the heroine when she was just talking to somebody! 🤣

“AND ONE MORE THING. DON’T TRY TO FCK ANY OF MY MEN OR THE ONES WE COME INTO CONTACT WITH.”

“AFTER VIOLETTA (THE HEROINE) SITS NEXT TO BENITO, HE LEANS AND WHISPERS SOMETHING IN HER EAR. MY BLOOD HEATS. WHAT THE FCK BENITO SAYING TO HER?”

“HIS FAMILIARITY AND FRIENDLY ATTITUDE TOWARDS VIOLETTA STILL IRRITATES THE FCK OUT OF ME. THE SINISTER PART OF ME WOULDN’T MIND THE IDEA OF LEAVING HIS ASS ON THE DIRT ROAD.”

“IF YOU DON’T REMOVE YOUR HANDS FROM HER, I WILL PUT A BULLET IN YOUR FCKING HEAD.”

🥺🥺🥺🥺


‼️‼️‼️THE HERO IS SO HAPPY AND GLAD THE HEROINE IS A VIRGIN. HE CAN’T EVEN BELIEVE THAT SOMEBODY BEAUTIFUL LIKE HER IS STILL A VIRGIN. Its like a gift to him🥺🥺🥺🥺

“The very idea that violetta is pure, untouched by any other man, shifts my mindset to an unstable place. If i were to take this woman, she would be mine in every sense of the word, knowing only my touch, my body, my c*m… It fcks with my head and my inner beats claws at my insides, desperate to be free, to take possession.”


‼️‼️‼️TRIGGER: Killing, r*pe (from someone the heroine knows that still haunts her because she saw whats happening in front of her eyes), guns.



‼️‼️‼️THE HERO IS OBSESSED WITH THE HEROINE AND WANTS HER SOOOOO BADLY….

“As well as kissed her more than any other woman in my life prior to her.”

“I’ve never meet anyone like you. You came into my life and showed me things about myself that I didn’t know and don’t want to. Because now I can’t go back to the way everything was before.”


‼️‼️‼️THE HERO SAYS TO THE HEROINE “YOU ARE MINE” MINE MINE MINE sooo many times 🥺🥺


‼️‼️‼️NO DRAMA WITH OW

‼️‼️‼️DRAMA WITH OM but not too annoying… the OM is actually only cared about the heroine like a sister and also wants the hero to really claim the heroine before any other man comes in the way lol.

Other drama was about their enemies and family!


‼️‼️‼️IT HAS PUSHING AWAY FROM BOTH BUT NEVER TOO MUCH THO…

‼️‼️‼️IT HAS SEPARATION FOR 1 DAY😛😛

The hero immediately regrets that he push and ends with the heroine so he come to see her so fast 😛

At the time the om was with the heroine because he is the hero’s bodyguard and he wants to see if the heroine is okay, he only hug her because she was having a anxiety attack and the hero came to see that. He got so jealous and so mad🤣🤣

And the hero never went to anyone else.


‼️‼️‼️HAPPY ENDING. MARRIED… i think the happily ever after will be on the other book though like their future children… because the hero for sure really want the heroine for forever… like their family have this motto of loyalty till the end… and also the hero did say he will never let her go so… yeah. This is a series though, a series of their beautiful hot family and siblings of their love stories so the next one will maybe and hopefully be the happily extended epilogue. cause i want to see their children and their 30 years later too🤩🤩🤩🤩💕💕💕 please do!


‼️‼️‼️OF COURSE WE GET TO SEE THEIR FAMILY AND THE AMAZING RAFAEL FROM THE SECOND BOOK. I LOVE HIM TOO MUCH BECAUSE HE IS SO FUNNY AND CRACK ME UP SO MUCH😍😍😍

Imagine if rafael in 10 years later omg i want that!

Also i also want to see their reunion on meeting with their long lost sister! Imagine 4 brothers and 1 sister like come on! That would be amazing reunion! I want to see how protective they are to her and how their relationship is going to be like in the future as a family😍😍😍😍 PLEASE DO AUTHOR🙏🙏😇



This author officially become my favorite of top 10😍

I AM OBSESSED
😍😍😍😍😍

[Jen ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐


MCs:
- Tristano, 36
- Violetta, 17/18


Book info:
- Crime syndicate 
- Forced proximity 
- Mention of rape
- Age gap
- No cheating, opd, 3rd act breakup
- Selective mute
- HEA


I'm in between whether to rate this 3 or 4, so I'm going to settle with 3.5. The high rating is solely because of Violetta. Also, I don't know how to review this, so I'm just going to list some events and random thoughts. These are unorganized, so 🤷‍♀️


1. Tristano was asked to watch over Violetta, and upon first glance, insta-lust kicked in immediately. He knows she's way too young, but he didn't think much about her age at that point.

2. He went to Guatemala and brought Violetta with him. At this point, she's still 17, but she lied to Tristano and told him she's 18 (though she's about to be in 2 days). Anyway, they did some sexual stuff, and this made me uncomfortable. Of course it's not his fault, but still.

3. After the event from #2, Tristano's brother called to check up on him and Violetta, and this is how he found out that she's still a minor. He was disgusted at first for what he did, and I thought he would stop whatever lust-filled ideas he had for her, but no, he didn't. Even after finding out she's a minor, he did another sexual thing with her. 🤦‍♀️ Like, dude, can't you wait for her to be legal at least? I'm sure you're not going to die without getting any action within two days. 😐

4. The timeline of the book is less than a week. She fell in love with him, and he felt possessive of her. I didn't feel any connection at all with them, but that could be a me case.

5. I didn't appreciate the constant reference to other women or how it was different with Violetta. The dom/sub relationship is not my thing, and I'm so bothered by this even though Violetta seems to really like it. 🤷‍♀️

6. They celebrated her 18th birthday, and he took her virginity brutally at a table in the rented restaurant. He didn't even use a freaking condom! Ugh, hello, STD! Though in the beginning he said it has been months for him since he had sex. Still, I can't stomach reading the MCs doing it bare when the MMC is a hoe.

7. I liked Violetta; she's the most strong-willed FMC for me in this series. She didn't let Tristano walk all over her, and she defied him whenever she wanted to get heard or if she didn't agree with what he had to say. So glad to read a strong FMC; I'm so over and done with spineless heroines.

8. I don't know how to feel about Tristano; he was a jealous, possessive asshole all throughout the book. He pissed me off when he went cold to Violetta because he thought she was going to be just like his mother. Then, when he saw one of his men comforting her (he's the reason for her pain), he had his fit of jealousy, and this was his line to her: “Whoring yourself out to me and then to Benito within twenty-four hours is quite impressive, and in my house no less. When I said you needed more life experiences, I didn’t think you’d spread your legs so quickly.” I'm just glad Violetta slapped him for that. I was so proud of her at that moment.

9. Then, after the incident at #8, he had a 180, all of sudden claiming her like she's a thing to possess, and he acts like he just didn't hurt her and ended them even before they got started. He didn't even apologize for that! He just went, declaring she's his, and that's the end of the conversation. He made my head spin with his push-and-pull treatment of Violetta.

10. I hate it that Violetta is the only one who said the words "I love you" in this story. She said she's fine not hearing those words from Tristano because his actions are more than enough. Well, sue me, I hate that!!! I need both words and actions; would it kill him to outright tell her he loves her?? 😤

11. Some of the scenes almost at the end became dubcon (or assault?). Usually, I'm fine with it, but for some reason, I feel like she's forced to do something she doesn't even want to do. She asked for space because she was hurting, but he didn't allow it. Then he proceeded to use sex against her. I don't feel so good reading scenes like this when the MMC manipulates the FMC through physical aspects.

12. As for their mother, I feel sad for what happened to her. But I'm also annoyed that she didn't even fight for them. I understood the need to stay away when they were younger, but when they grew up and became powerful enough, why didn't she approach them? She just built a new life somewhere while watching her sons from afar. She said she loved their father, but she had a son with someone else. I hated that she moved on, and maybe they're better people than I am, because I don't think I'll forgive her for what she did.


Overall, this was okay, I guess (?). I didn't enjoy it, maybe because the timeline was ridiculously short and the insta-love didn't work for me. It was insta-love for the FMC, but insta-lust for the MMC. I didn't read the second book, but I sensed a pattern: the FMCs in each book are not doormats, and the MMCs are assholes with little redeeming qualities. The whole plot is still not done. I think the next book will be the closure for all the villains in this series, and I'm not sure if I even want to read that. If the MMC is just the same as the first three books, then I might skip that. It is such a shame not to finish the whole series, but my sanity and blood pressure are way more important than finding a conclusion to this series. 🤷‍♀️

[Lori [semi-hiatus]]

Note to the author: Please use indents.
I'm trying to read this and it's really messing with my eyes.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Some very strong writing at times.

The h hadn’t spoken in two years after witnessing something very disturbing happen to her sister. Her sister put h in H’s charge after going to rescue H’s brother.

The H and h had immediate sparks but the H was reluctant to act on them for a number of reasons (the 17 year age gap, his brother was engaged to her sister, he had trouble trusting any women after his mother abandoned him at 10).

The story builds on their chemistry and sexual tension and when it all comes to head, the H gets cold feet and mucks around with the h’s heart and feelings. It was a bit of a storm in a teacup through and they have their HFN.

We are given snippets of details pertaining to the H and his brothers and their missing mother throughout the book and a complete reveal at the end of the book. The ending felt a little contrived but it set things up for the next book.

[april ♡ probably reading smut - safety reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 He set my soul on fire.

TROPES:
~age gap
~dark mafia
~forbidden love
~guardian/ward
~mute FMC

If you like dark mafia with a heroine who is selectively mute and a hero who will burn down the world for her, READ THIS! It was so good. One of my favorites I've read this year!

SAFETY:
Ages: 17h, 36H
Virgin/celibate: virgin heroine, celibate hero
OM/OW drama: none
Cheating/sharing: none
Triggers: violence
Kinks: praise/good girl, hand necklaces, spanking, rough sex, semi-public sex
HEA?: yes!

[Smut Around & Find Out (Veronica) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mafia and age gap with a touch of forbidden? Sign me the hell up. Each book just keeps getting better and better.

I admire Tristano’s loyalty to his brothers, but even more so in his act to protect Violetta. The way he cared for her melted my heart. Violetta’s trauma and guilt had left her to take a vow of silence, walls built around her so high, but somehow, Tristano seemed to break every one of those barriers.

The tension between these two was thick, the desire they had for each other never-ending. Each second of it had me wanting them to cross the line already! I absolutely loved them together.

With all the twists and turns and more secrets being revealed, I’m so looking forward to the next book!

[Mandy Robitaille · Rating 4 out of 5]

the age gap here was *chef's kiss*

[Chey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violetta hasn't spoken in two years after seeing something terrible. Now Tristiano is looking after her for her sister, but despite their age difference he wants her. He's determined to break her silence and attempt to not touch her. But things heat up between them as their story unfolds.

The third book in this series doesn't disappoint The! It does take some getting into in the beginning, but once you're in to it, you will love it. Tristiano is a bit older than Violetta, since she's only 18, but the age gap is what makes this romance much better. Mafia men and an age gap romance? What's not to love! And the scenes between the two are full of steam and do not disappoint.

[Tara Chamberlain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly suggest reading if you love mafia, suspense, twists, age gap. Tristano and Violetta were kindle melting passion. I absolutely loved how Tristano made Violetta break out of her shell. Violetta was very relatable with her strong willed personality. I absolutely adored her. This book had my emotions up and down and the twists were shocking. I did not see that coming. The cliff hanger ending leaves you dying for the next book. I also hope that Benito will get his own book. His character was so much fun and energetic that I fell in love with him.

[Deepthi · Rating 2 out of 5]

MMC is not the type of mafia man I would like. Alpha, dom is fine as long as he knows how to respect his partner.
Tristano didn’t seem like a mafia boss at all. After he took her virginity he called her a slut just because he has seen one of his men in her room fucking pathetic.

Violetta loved her though, the way she held her ground infront of him when he sprung profanities on her the slap👏👏👏

Coming to plot there is no mafia element at all.

Tropes:
Alpha hero, virgin heroine
Age gap (15yrs)
Forced proximity
One bed trope

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

[Matthewsmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tristano and Violetta

I have been waiting for Tristanos story to be told for months and the wait was worth it. Tristano is by far my favorite of the 3 Brothers.

Not only do you fall more in love with the characters, but secrets will be revealed!

[Kevin McMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing book

I loved this book, this series, and every book I've read by this author. I can not wait TY o read the next one.

[⚔Irunía⚔]

DNF 12%

[Kate ☕ (semi-hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is about Tristano and Violetta (Carina's sister from the previous book). It was much better than the previous book in terms of safety. Tristano is the calmest one from the Silverstri brothers, but still loves his women completely submitted. Unfortunately, it seems like the author loves the D/S relationship and the whole series will be in this style. Violetta is thankfully not that submissive of a character, and it's her who seduces Tristano, not the other way around. Tristano feels bad about his feelings towards Violet for the first half of the book, since she hasn't yet reached 18 birthday. There's a significant age gap between MCs. She is just reaching 18 and he is 36.

Throughout the whole book Tristano is jealous of Violet and one of his man (Beni is a great guy, and I'd love to hear more about him in the future books), even though Beni and Violet see each other more like brother and sister. Tristano's possessiveness is one of the reasons, I'm not adding extra stars. His stupid conclusions and remarks make the book look a lot trashy and made my eyes roll and turn my head. For example:

" You don't need to do that," she grumbles. "I can do it myself. It's my body, you know".
I smile and continue wiping her inner thighs. "Actually, it's mine and the sooner you accept that the easier this will be." 🙄 For real??

And this one's my favorite:

"You will not go to another man, whether it's an hour or thirty years from now. But on the off chance you do, I'll kill him. It's not complicated."

That one made me laugh - well thirty years from now, you may be still able to kill the guy, but forty or fifty years from now, chances are you won't be there anymore to do that 😁

My preference of the Silverstri brothers so far
1) Tristano - 5 stars, the oldest and calmest of brothers, yet crazy possesive of his girl
2) Maximus - 4 stars, tough guy, who goes soft for his girl
3) Rafael - 1 star , totally twisted, possesive and dominant jerk

There are other siblings found of the Silverstri family in this book, so there are more books to come. I might need a break from this series for a while, though. 🙂

[Glowstars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Settling in to read this book was like coming home to your crazily dangerous family, all the while knowing they'd do anything to keep you from harm - just not from themselves.

As I'd come to expect from previous books in the series, To Have & To Hurt has all the scorching heat, the fiery explosions, the drama and the emotional angst carried by quirky characters who don't always fit the mafia romance mould. In this instalment of the story the characters' actions were a tad predictable but I think that had they been anything else, the story arc between the books wouldn't have held together so well. It holds with Tristano being the centred, controlled head of the family. And let's be honest, predictable doesn't mean boring or clean. No! This book has more than enough dirt and steam to keep you happy.

I really hope there's a fourth book in the series because there is so much more to learn about this family and I want to read it all.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

SOOOO I WAS EXPECTING SOMETHING MORE BUT WAS I DISAPPOINTED? NAH. THE AGE-GAP HAD ME NAILED DOWN FOR THE WHOLE RIDE, AND NOT TO MENTION I'VE ALWAYS HAD A WEAKNESS FOR ELDEST BROTHER SYNDROME.

TRISTANO is the eldest brother in the family, and he also takes his responsibility very seriously. Hot, serious and doesn't have time for nonsense? My favourite type of alpha. The story opens with him receiving an anonymous message that only his brothers and his mother know of. Suspicious, he agrees to meet with this mysterious person. That's pretty much what the entire story is centered on, the men's missing mother whom they assumes is either dead or not. Through it all, Tristano has to babysit his future sister-in-law's sister who also happens to intrigue him immensely. The attraction wasn't immediate but, it wasn't a slow burn either. The two just had no awareness of each other until later I guess. Tristano's convinced she's too young for him, and would be better off with someone her age BUT he's already lusting and possessive of her. Should he go for it? Or should he not? While I did enjoy his character, I still felt like something's missing...and I blame it on reading the series back-to-back...the brothers just all blend into one and the same man and that just sucks.

VIOLETTA was part of the entire intrigue of the story. I think the entire book would have BEEN BORING if she talked right from the start. Soooo, years ago after witnessing her sister's violent rape by their cousin, it traumatized her to the point where she becomes sort of mute. She no longer talks, but she can still communicate with people. She's not broken, just bent. 17 going on 18 to Tristano's 36, she never imagined she would be attracted to this man, let alone any man after her trauma but there's something about Tristano that makes her feel safe, cherished and protected. AND I CAN VOUCH for that feeling, it's most likely why some women prefer older men who can take care of you compared to boys. LOL! Anyways, I feel the character development happened more with Violetta because she starts coming out of her shell like a butterfly from a cocoon as her sexual attraction blossoms for Tristano.

OVERALL I love alpha-possessive but, I'm not so keen on the whole spanking shit. Sure, it's kinky but when the heroes just keep doing it over and over to the heroines, I just felt like shutting the book. This one had potential, but like I mentioned, it lacked a certain something to make it SHINE APART from all the other mafia stories and didn't give me the full satisfaction.

[G · Rating 1 out of 5]

I usually find smut - empowering - women writing dirty good with no shame or judgement.
But this series was full of backwards views and misogyny.
The men make the decisions and take full control over the women. Call it guardianship.

In book 1 she mentions she feels like a wife now, treated like on, GIRL if that's marriage you're skewed views are majorly fu*ked. I cringed hard and at that moment knew this was one of those authors that's ok with women having no autonomy of their lives.

[Ali · Rating 2 out of 5]

Huh?

This first two books in this series were amazing! I have know idea what happened with this one. Plus add to the fact that he thought the FMC looked like his mom, and that it started with him 35 and her 17?? Yeah. Just not a good book. It got two stars because the writing is good, but the whole story was rubbish.

[Nina🦦 · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5⭐️ I liked it at first but then Tristano was just a coward running from his feelings while also being a hypocrite asshole 🤷‍♀️

[fearlessly, vir.☆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

He takes my face between his hands, cradling it gently. "We are the beginning of a legacy, you and I."

that one extra star? yeah that's for violetta and for violeta only.
I mean she for sure had her moments but I don't blame her, not only she's young she had a horrible fucking life so in my texts she's entitled to whatever she wants she can do no wrong in my eyes I don't make the rules.

now.. for the rest of it.

like this book walks on a very fine line and it kind of doesn't do it properly. it plays with a lot of wrong areas, and I don't know it's just weird and uncomfortable. at the start of the book, violeta is a minor, she's just days away from turning 18 (and even tho technically she would be an adult we all now "bring mature" doesn't just happen overnight, it was such a poor excuse if u ask me. going back to that technicality, she lies about her age but that's like an excuse to have tristano do and think things you know it's definitely not okay in any sense.

that's exactly why I was weird about it, because I honestly don't mind an age gap, it's not something that bothers me in general but c'mon–you can do it better, I know you can!

anyway, leaving that aside, he's not exactly this mature adult man I was expecting because he was just controlling and blaming her because he couldn't stay away etc etc like you're a grown ass man pull it together.

oh, also making the only latin characters being connected to the mafia–i know it's the theme of these books but it felt so stereotypical I'm still complaining.

there's also the whole issue about their mother and idk it's just happened and I really didn't care about that point, she went through a lot of things she loves them can't really blame her bc she was going from shitty situation to a shittier situation so

I don't know I never have expectations for this kind of books and yet this didn't truly meet them and maybe that says it all.

there's apparently plans for a next book, I read the first chapter but there's not a release date and honestly I don't think I'll ever read it because I don't care enough about it but who knows maybe one day if I find out it's been published I'll do it for the anecdote–woudn't be the first time.

[Charlene Gaskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all the books in this series but absolutely loved Tristan and Violetta's story. Age gap stories can be iffy for me but this one was done well with a sensual, sexy over the top hero and a heroine that was old beyond her years. Life can make people grow up faster due to the circumstances surrounding their childhoods which is the case for Violetta and her sister Carina.

I loved Tristan's character wanting to do the right thing by protecting Violetta but refusing to give into his lust for her due to her age and the circumstances surrounding she and Carina. He fights his attraction for her through the first half of the book, but "Wow", when they finally come together the fireworks, sexual attraction and lust collide like an out of control train. The author knows how to build sexual tension and attraction through an initial slow burn process that then turns into a tsunami. Her sex scenes are not only crafted by how she writes them but also paints a picture that the reader can see in their mind. I have read some authors whose sex scenes are okay but lack the verbal sexual dirty talk, banter that makes the reader feel as though they are watching it, vs., reading it.

This is a Mafia story with underlying themes, monsters that go "boo" in the night and revenge which has been successfully transferred from book to book in this series without a cliff hanger. Other authors need to take note how well this can work when writing a series about several characters such as Tristan, Maximus and Raphael. This book opens the door for more half sibling's stories, as well as introducing Ada, the elusive mother that abandoned her husband and children 20 years earlier. I can't wait to read Dante's story and hope that the half sister gets her story as well. I love Raphael's character and the his banter throughout the book that had me laughing out loud. Maximus is the quiet brooding brother, but also adds to Tristan's and Violetta's story. Unlike some Mafia families these brothers are connected at the hip and have each other's backs in good times and bad. This is a great series.

[Ashkenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

No Closure

H: Tristano Silvestri
h: Violetta Nardone (younger sister of Carina book 2)
Tristano promises Carina (Rafael's fiance book 2) that he will protect her sister with his life. He receives a text and this takes him on a journey outside of the US to Guatemala to find the real truth on what happened with his mother, with him he takes Violetta. While being together they get to know each other a little bit more intimate and their attraction gets stronger and stronger, he tries to hold himself back since he fears this will be trouble with his brother Rafael if he starts something with Violetta. Tristano learns the truth of what actually happened to his mother that caused her to flee. Him learning that his mother was 17yrs years old when she got with his father put a damper on his feelings he has with Violetta being that she is now 18yrs old. He feels she is too young to know what she really wants (I agree 100%)
One thing that I'm noticing with each story is that really nothing gets resolved other than the male and female being together. The enemy from Book 1 still lingers to book 2, in book 2 a new enemy comes into play so now we are dealing with 2 enemies and by the end of book 2 that is never
resolved. I also didn't like that Violetta is so young for him, he can twist her and manipulate her and mold her into whatever he wants. Just like his proposal and not giving her an option to say "No". Most of the story he really treated her as his child vs as his equal or his woman.
 I kept reading this book thinking that book 3 would come full circle but it didn't, what it actually did was yet again adding a 3rd enemy to the mix. Now we have to wait for book 4 to get some closure which by the looks of it is not going to come anytime soon since this book came out on 7/22/2021!!. This is the reason I'm giving it a 3. 

[Anna Whin · Rating 3 out of 5]

one thing about me is that if i liked a book an author has written, i will start to comb over all their works and read them. from Morgan Bridges Now You're Mine duet (i only liked the first book) to then finding this one, i wanted to see if Morgan would be an author i would gladly follow and read all her works. Unfortunately, from the three books i have read from her, i only liked one of them and this one was not one of them.

this book wasn't BAD, it was just a little boring. there was honestly more about the plot with the H's family then there was with the H and h. what i did realllllly like was the taboo aspect of it. she was 17 turning 18 in a few days but ofc he doesn't know that ;) AND he was her 'guardian' for a few days, lol. the book started off good, the H was already obsessed with the heroine as he took one look at her so that was always so hot and SO entertaining. gosh the scene with them in the car?!?! 🔥 🔥 but honestly the beginning was the only good part about this book. i was genuinely zoning out while reading whenever it got to a point about the H's family drama. i also didn't love the ending because it still felt like the H doesn't take the heroine's feelings into consideration when she poured her entire heart out to him and also him never saying a simple "I love you" to her was like a knife to the chest 💔

overall, not a bad book because i did love their interaction in the beginning but it fell flat and was boring

safety (from what i remember): no omd/owd, virgin h, age gap, taboo,

[My Enraptured Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

* Swooning Chemistry
* Enthralling Plot
* Happy Ending

I liked their unspoken chemistry and his dominance along with dual PoV and dark theme with Mafia background!
Read Trigger warnings first ⚠️!

Tristano Silvestri and Violetta Nardone, come from Mafia background but his sister-in-law rushes to save his brother, ge promises to take care of her sister by all means. When he gets a cryptic message, he is thrown back to past as only one person would know about that particular line, so he is curious to get to know more details, as it concerns his mother (who is supposed to be dead, as he witnessed it in his childhood). You are wondering where Violetta is? He took her with him, even she fascinates him, she is Forbidden!
She hasn't spoken to anyone in two years because of her trauma and now under his protection, she finds herself and what she wants. The top in the list is Tristano🤤. In an unknown city, the lines blur. With the unraveling secrets and growing chemistry, He has lots in his plate to figure out, so when they return back to Chicago, he leaves her as she is young and yet to discover life, but what happens next left me speechless! Find out yourself, I already gave too much! Best book in the series❤️

[Leesha Gilliland · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first age gap dark romance… let’s just say I was very impressed 👀 Tristano is the 36 year old (oldest) mafia brother who falls for the last FMC’s little sister who is just turning 18. There’s some gray area of slight smut when she’s 17 but told him she was 18 (even though she wouldn’t be for a couple of days)… Italian age of consent was brought up … ?? Morgan Bridges makes the rules! Idk it’s dark romance y’all!! We listen and we don’t judge!!

Either way, the plot thickened (no pun intended) with the boys’ mom and her backstory at the end which has me so ready for the next book.

I liked how much more fire this FMC had and how she stood up for herself, but also wish the MMC would’ve been more compromising for her happiness. Give the girl a little space! But how he gave her choices and couldn’t keep himself away from her no matter how hard he tried, gave her her first real birthday gift and always made sure she was okay afterward *swoon* Yeah, if you have daddy issues this is the book for you lol

Overall tropes of age gap, mafia, oldest sibling/youngest sibling match, forbidden romance. Be sure to look at trigger warnings as always but especially with Morgan Bridges books!

[Eden Weber · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s difficult to enjoy the storyline because it’s hard for me to ignore the wrongness.

This relationship made me uncomfortable not titillated. It brings to mind the Pres. Clinton- Monica lawinski’s power dynamics. Everything the FM is questioning is actually correct i’m like an older character. She doesn’t have the knowledge to give. It’s hard to find anything but mean about the MM in this book celebrates what’s wrong with power, imbalance relationships . Never gives her any power. Everything she decides about the relationship is in her mind and not supported by anything. MM says or does. In most books you at least get a glimpse into a emotionally attached visual when the male character point of view is used and you can like him. But what he thinks and does only brings date rape vibes. The relationship’ manipulation and brainwashing of a young girl makes any erotica uncomfortable. this is primer in what not to do.
she’s a prisoner of her circumstances and because she so young I do consider it statutory rape.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Emotionally Abusive vibes

So, I’m not a huge fan of age gap romances for obvious reasons. The heroine is not even 18 when the story begins and she loses her virginity right after she turns 18 by someone double her age. There’s obvious problems with that and especially with her background, how it can be perceived as taken advantage of.

Now, there’s also a lot of stuff that if it was written like the villain was talking, you’d call Tris an emotionally abusive partner - so I also wasn’t a fan of that.

Seems to be a lot of CNC action in here as well. Was very glad when I finished.

[Jackie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Age is Irrelevant

This is book three in the series and it didn’t disappoint. It is just as enthralling as the first two. The three brothers are all alphaholes. But each has redeeming qualities and fierce love and hot passion. It was a joy to watch as Tristano unravels and puts himself back together, with the help of the two strong women in his life, lover and mother. If you like mafia fiction even just a little bit, then you have got to read this series. And of course, the best is saved for last. Enjoy.

[Sarah Griggs-Holley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tristano the oldest brother and head of the family. He has made some hard decisions in his life. He and his brothers are set on revenge. Tristano thinks everything through. He is calculated and is tame, that is until he see Violetta. Violetta a complication but Tristano gave his word he would protect her.
Violetta is the little sister to Carina. She is mute by choice. Violetta may not talk but she notices everything. She may be young but she is also wise almost an old soul.
Tristano is twice her age and should not have any feelings towards the little sister of his brother’s fiancée.

You find out a lot about Silvestri family in this book. A lot is the why Tristano and his brothers are seeking revenge.

This book gives you family drama, twist and turns, serious age gap, touch her and die vibes, hilarious secondary character, possessive over the top male, a FMC that comes into her own self.

[Marianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Muito giro o amor à primeira vista, e ele ser o primeiro e único amor da vida dela e tal mas isto foi mto forçado.

Atao e a backside story? A vingança deles, o que acontece a isso? E a história da mãe aparecer no fim e continuamos sem ter um ponto final nessa parte. E de repente têm outro alvo e a seguir?

Não gostei nada deste e muito menos depois de tudo o que foi semeado nos outros livros achei que este seria o culminar de tudo e afinal nada.

Quer morram todos ou não eu gostava de saber o que aconteceu!

Até às próximas leituras!