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Hit
GIUSEPPINA
I was never supposed to meet him, but one fateful night had him saving my life.
Now he thinks he owns me. I’m his to keep.
He’s ruthless, cold, and a killer, but something draws me to him anyway.
I know what he’s capable of. I know he was meant to kill me. And I know one wrong slip may make him change his mind about sparing my life.
But I want to test him, push him, be a part of his world.
I know I should be afraid. I know I should run. But something about Darragh has taken me over, and I don’t know how long I can resist . . .
______
A hitman.
A princess.
A forbidden romance.
All her life, Giuseppina Delarosa knew two things: what her father and brother did after dark was a secret, and her life was never her own. As the sole daughter of Don Delarosa’s clan, it was well known a marriage would secure the future of the family. But when she learns she’s to be wed to an infamous ally, Giuseppina has other plans.
Darragh O’Callaghan is good at exactly two things: not caring about anyone, and killing his enemies. The only Irish mafia in the city needs good enforcers to keep their borders, and Darragh does his job well. So he can’t understand why he screws it all up when a hit is placed on the Delarosa gang’s prime jewel: Giuseppina Delarosa.
One rainy night.
One decision not to kill.
One moment that changes everything.
Hit is a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers, dark mafia romance. It is book one in the Mafia Born Duet.
I was never supposed to meet him, but one fateful night had him saving my life.
Now he thinks he owns me. I’m his to keep.
He’s ruthless, cold, and a killer, but something draws me to him anyway.
I know what he’s capable of. I know he was meant to kill me. And I know one wrong slip may make him change his mind about sparing my life.
But I want to test him, push him, be a part of his world.
I know I should be afraid. I know I should run. But something about Darragh has taken me over, and I don’t know how long I can resist . . .
______
A hitman.
A princess.
A forbidden romance.
All her life, Giuseppina Delarosa knew two things: what her father and brother did after dark was a secret, and her life was never her own. As the sole daughter of Don Delarosa’s clan, it was well known a marriage would secure the future of the family. But when she learns she’s to be wed to an infamous ally, Giuseppina has other plans.
Darragh O’Callaghan is good at exactly two things: not caring about anyone, and killing his enemies. The only Irish mafia in the city needs good enforcers to keep their borders, and Darragh does his job well. So he can’t understand why he screws it all up when a hit is placed on the Delarosa gang’s prime jewel: Giuseppina Delarosa.
One rainy night.
One decision not to kill.
One moment that changes everything.
Hit is a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers, dark mafia romance. It is book one in the Mafia Born Duet.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2021
284 people are currently reading
2153 people want to read
About the author
Mallory Hart
6 books128 followersMallory Hart is the writer of steamy romance novels. With a love for the taboo and a soft spot for villains, her stories feature bad boys, morally grey characters and dark themes. When not writing, she can be found with a glass of red wine, blasting music and dancing in her underwear. When she’s had a little bit too much wine, she usually settles down with a book that makes her blush.. For updates on new releases, visit her website or subscribe to the newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
December 9, 2024
i didn’t anticipate that this would actually be really good. mafia books these days are seriously exactly the same, and even though i love this trope, everything is similar one way or another. insta lust or love, or it’s either marriage for honor and all. this, however, was kind of different, and it wasn’t all about the relationship but rather the plot too, which was very interesting!
i loved the writing style! it was very nicely written and was more show than tell. if you’re looking for a mafia book where they both are enemies, he’s an assassin from the rival family who has to kill the mafia princess but instead saves her life when she commits suicide, & even though he tries many times to kill her, he doesn’t and rather makes her his business partner – then his wife, of course 😌
hejehdjs it was like a mixture of all the cute stuff, perfect enemies-to-lovers scenes, and the hero was annoyed most of the time because of her but turned on at the same time ✋🏻
⌞ Darragh O'Callaghan & Guiseppina Delarosa ⌝
ᯓ 30-22
Darragh & Pina tried to kill each other twice. he had to kill her because of the hit, while she tried to escape from him and hit him many times, even with a frying pan lol 😂 it seriously had the scene where they both rolled in the ice and stopped an inch from thorny bushes while he was bleeding (i lovvvveed it because i’ve always wanted to read a scene like this)
Darragh:
“I don’t like you, Giuseppina. You’re temperamental, never know when to shut your mouth, you tried to hand me over to the feds and you’ve put a target on my back. You’re rude, way more violent than any woman should ever be and you’ll make a horrible wife.”
also him:
“She was beautiful, strong, passionate, and I lied that day in my kitchen, because she made the best goddamn wife in the world.”
• he wasn't shown as a psychopath or someone heartless but rather he was a healthy, perfect child who was forced into this life. Pina reminded him of his mother, who was on the run with him for 10 years until she committed suicide and his father captured him. he was all sharp, manipulative, and a liar, but he was never cruel to Pina. i actually really loved his character and all his flaws.
his backstory was sad. he had morals, felt guilty and tbvh towards the end, he was OBSESSED. too possessive. AND HE ALSO CALLS HER LOVE
“I’m not here to bargain, love”
“Tell me what you want, love.”
“Just trust me, love.”
“Take it in your mouth, love.”
• Pina was crazy 😭 she was actually crazy because she cut her pinky finger just because it was needed for proof and even attempted suicide randomly 😭 her life was always sheltered, like she was never even allowed to leave her house, it was that serious. besides, she was so skeptical about Darragh and had zero trust in him agahshjs. she was pretty indecisive, moody, and temperamental, and Darragh pointed this out A LOT 😂 but nvm, i liked her.
they made a deal where she had to marry him, they’d attempt a hit on their mutual enemy, and then Darragh would kill his father. they both trained for months together and had a lot of push & pull moments. Darragh only initiated sex once and was badly turned down by Pina, and he didn’t attempt it again. he was pretty respectful with her after she put him in his place. his love language was through actions.
i loved the scene where she fell into ice water and he just went crazy & blank and saved her. then instead of going immediately back, he lit up a fire till she calmed down a bit, walked for hours in freezing cold just so she wouldn’t die, and took care of her A LOT because she caugh pneumonia after it.
forgot to mention, he even shot her once during a shooting match 🤡
⌞ side characters ⌝
Rory – his brother’s character – is really fun, he was like a golden retriever so i was shocked when in the end, he was all serious and cut someone's face lol. i want his book ffs.
Andrea – Pina’s brother – disappointed me. like bro, you were the nicer one WHY DID YOU HAVE TO SAY SHITTY THINGS TO HER. he even has his own book tho
THE ENDING WAS SOOO GOOOOOD 😭 THE WAY SHE KILLED HIS FATHER AND NOT THE PERSON SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO MARRY, AND THE USE OF THE CODE WORD DURING THE INTERVIEW ✋🏻 i’m definitely reading book 2 rn!
• Marked – 4 stars
i loved the writing style! it was very nicely written and was more show than tell. if you’re looking for a mafia book where they both are enemies, he’s an assassin from the rival family who has to kill the mafia princess but instead saves her life when she commits suicide, & even though he tries many times to kill her, he doesn’t and rather makes her his business partner – then his wife, of course 😌
hejehdjs it was like a mixture of all the cute stuff, perfect enemies-to-lovers scenes, and the hero was annoyed most of the time because of her but turned on at the same time ✋🏻
⌞ Darragh O'Callaghan & Guiseppina Delarosa ⌝
ᯓ 30-22
Darragh & Pina tried to kill each other twice. he had to kill her because of the hit, while she tried to escape from him and hit him many times, even with a frying pan lol 😂 it seriously had the scene where they both rolled in the ice and stopped an inch from thorny bushes while he was bleeding (i lovvvveed it because i’ve always wanted to read a scene like this)
Darragh:
“I don’t like you, Giuseppina. You’re temperamental, never know when to shut your mouth, you tried to hand me over to the feds and you’ve put a target on my back. You’re rude, way more violent than any woman should ever be and you’ll make a horrible wife.”
also him:
“She was beautiful, strong, passionate, and I lied that day in my kitchen, because she made the best goddamn wife in the world.”
• he wasn't shown as a psychopath or someone heartless but rather he was a healthy, perfect child who was forced into this life. Pina reminded him of his mother, who was on the run with him for 10 years until she committed suicide and his father captured him. he was all sharp, manipulative, and a liar, but he was never cruel to Pina. i actually really loved his character and all his flaws.
his backstory was sad. he had morals, felt guilty and tbvh towards the end, he was OBSESSED. too possessive. AND HE ALSO CALLS HER LOVE
“I’m not here to bargain, love”
“Tell me what you want, love.”
“Just trust me, love.”
“Take it in your mouth, love.”
• Pina was crazy 😭 she was actually crazy because she cut her pinky finger just because it was needed for proof and even attempted suicide randomly 😭 her life was always sheltered, like she was never even allowed to leave her house, it was that serious. besides, she was so skeptical about Darragh and had zero trust in him agahshjs. she was pretty indecisive, moody, and temperamental, and Darragh pointed this out A LOT 😂 but nvm, i liked her.
they made a deal where she had to marry him, they’d attempt a hit on their mutual enemy, and then Darragh would kill his father. they both trained for months together and had a lot of push & pull moments. Darragh only initiated sex once and was badly turned down by Pina, and he didn’t attempt it again. he was pretty respectful with her after she put him in his place. his love language was through actions.
i loved the scene where she fell into ice water and he just went crazy & blank and saved her. then instead of going immediately back, he lit up a fire till she calmed down a bit, walked for hours in freezing cold just so she wouldn’t die, and took care of her A LOT because she caugh pneumonia after it.
forgot to mention, he even shot her once during a shooting match 🤡
⌞ side characters ⌝
Rory – his brother’s character – is really fun, he was like a golden retriever so i was shocked when in the end, he was all serious and cut someone's face lol. i want his book ffs.
Andrea – Pina’s brother – disappointed me. like bro, you were the nicer one WHY DID YOU HAVE TO SAY SHITTY THINGS TO HER. he even has his own book tho
THE ENDING WAS SOOO GOOOOOD 😭 THE WAY SHE KILLED HIS FATHER AND NOT THE PERSON SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO MARRY, AND THE USE OF THE CODE WORD DURING THE INTERVIEW ✋🏻 i’m definitely reading book 2 rn!
• Marked – 4 stars
November 30, 2023
Oh shit. I did not realize that this is a duet. That cliffhanger is brutal.
This was really good! There were some typos in the book, and sometimes the pacing was a little too quick, but overall, I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this dark mafia romance. This is a solid enemies to lovers with a marriage of convenience, set in the 1980s, which was different.
The Plot
The female main character, Pina, is the daughter of an Italian mafia boss, and she has been locked in her house for her entire life. Her father and oldest brother are cruel, her mom is addicted to pain meds, and her only friends have been her 2nd oldest brother and one of their maids. The male main character, Darragh, is the son of the Irish mafia boss, and he also serves as the Irish mafia's best hitman.
On the day that Pina is told that she must marry the man who raped and murdered her only friend (the maid), she runs away from her house. In an effort to avoid the marriage, Pina tries to commit suicide. Simultaneously and unbeknownst to her, with the Irish closing in on the Italians in NYC, Darragh has been told that his next hit target is the elusive mafia princess herself, Pina, before her wedding. Because of this, while Darragh is staked out on a roof overnight with his rifle, waiting for Pina to emerge for her wedding the following day, he spots her in an alley below the building slitting her own wrists.
While Darragh first considers leaving Pina because she did his job for him (he was sent there to kill her, but she was killing herself), he is drawn to her and decides to save her instead. He picks up Pina from the alley and brings her to his safe house where he nurses her back to health. After saving Pina, she is unhappy to be there with "the Irish mafia's scariest boogeyman." Meanwhile, Darragh is still trying to figure out why he saved her and what to do with her. (serious enemies to lovers vibes during this time)
In an effort to save Pina, he and Pina strike a deal, and then he decides that he will train her, give her a fake identity and have a marriage of convenience with her in order to call a cease fire between their mafias (much to Pina's chagrin). At the same time, while they spend time together in his safe house, he trains Pina over the course of several months in sharpshooting with a rifle, and she becomes a hitwoman. To convince her father and fiancee that she's really dead, Pina cuts off her own finger with a butcher knife and mails it to them. AKA Pina is a badass, which we love to see.
This was really good! There were some typos in the book, and sometimes the pacing was a little too quick, but overall, I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this dark mafia romance. This is a solid enemies to lovers with a marriage of convenience, set in the 1980s, which was different.
The Plot
The female main character, Pina, is the daughter of an Italian mafia boss, and she has been locked in her house for her entire life. Her father and oldest brother are cruel, her mom is addicted to pain meds, and her only friends have been her 2nd oldest brother and one of their maids. The male main character, Darragh, is the son of the Irish mafia boss, and he also serves as the Irish mafia's best hitman.
On the day that Pina is told that she must marry the man who raped and murdered her only friend (the maid), she runs away from her house. In an effort to avoid the marriage, Pina tries to commit suicide. Simultaneously and unbeknownst to her, with the Irish closing in on the Italians in NYC, Darragh has been told that his next hit target is the elusive mafia princess herself, Pina, before her wedding. Because of this, while Darragh is staked out on a roof overnight with his rifle, waiting for Pina to emerge for her wedding the following day, he spots her in an alley below the building slitting her own wrists.
While Darragh first considers leaving Pina because she did his job for him (he was sent there to kill her, but she was killing herself), he is drawn to her and decides to save her instead. He picks up Pina from the alley and brings her to his safe house where he nurses her back to health. After saving Pina, she is unhappy to be there with "the Irish mafia's scariest boogeyman." Meanwhile, Darragh is still trying to figure out why he saved her and what to do with her. (serious enemies to lovers vibes during this time)
In an effort to save Pina, he and Pina strike a deal, and then he decides that he will train her, give her a fake identity and have a marriage of convenience with her in order to call a cease fire between their mafias (much to Pina's chagrin). At the same time, while they spend time together in his safe house, he trains Pina over the course of several months in sharpshooting with a rifle, and she becomes a hitwoman. To convince her father and fiancee that she's really dead, Pina cuts off her own finger with a butcher knife and mails it to them. AKA Pina is a badass, which we love to see.
February 22, 2023
Re-read: still amazing. I think about this book a lot ♥️
———original review——-
This is the ONLY book i’ve given 5 stars to in all of 2021. Let that speak for itself.
buuuuut GODDAMN IT I READ IT WITHOUT REALIZING IT’S A DUET and only found out at the end 😭 I need the next book right nowww! (update: it’s out, and it was amazing)
This was sooo SO GOOD. like omg I cannot emphasize wow much this rocked my world.
Most mafia books these days are so boring to me bc the storylines feel repetitive but this…this was outstanding and so unique!
The H, Darragh, is actually badass and will kill anyone if needed but was totally wrapped around this girl. In fact it was interesting reading that he still intended to kill the h, Pina, for a while for the first quarter of the book (but couldn’t get himself to do it each time he tried). To see him go from trying to kill her to constantly saving her and killing anyone who would try to harm her was incredible.
The romance was so good! It had great ~pulling at your heartstrings~ teasing and a spicy build-up, all packed nicely with an adrenaline rush. It was so romantic when after he saved her from drowning, she asked him “What are you?” and he looked at her meaningfully and said “Your husband”. That moment felt so palpable & powerful.
It had so many elements I love:
-h who isn’t a dumbass damsel in distress and so brave
-virgin h + non-man-whore H
-head over heels H who doesn’t realize he’s head over heels
-H respects the h’s wishes and demands
-Mr. & Mrs. Smith vibes
———original review——-
This is the ONLY book i’ve given 5 stars to in all of 2021. Let that speak for itself.
buuuuut GODDAMN IT I READ IT WITHOUT REALIZING IT’S A DUET and only found out at the end 😭 I need the next book right nowww! (update: it’s out, and it was amazing)
This was sooo SO GOOD. like omg I cannot emphasize wow much this rocked my world.
Most mafia books these days are so boring to me bc the storylines feel repetitive but this…this was outstanding and so unique!
The H, Darragh, is actually badass and will kill anyone if needed but was totally wrapped around this girl. In fact it was interesting reading that he still intended to kill the h, Pina, for a while for the first quarter of the book (but couldn’t get himself to do it each time he tried). To see him go from trying to kill her to constantly saving her and killing anyone who would try to harm her was incredible.
The romance was so good! It had great ~pulling at your heartstrings~ teasing and a spicy build-up, all packed nicely with an adrenaline rush. It was so romantic when after he saved her from drowning, she asked him “What are you?” and he looked at her meaningfully and said “Your husband”. That moment felt so palpable & powerful.
It had so many elements I love:
-h who isn’t a dumbass damsel in distress and so brave
-virgin h + non-man-whore H
-head over heels H who doesn’t realize he’s head over heels
-H respects the h’s wishes and demands
-Mr. & Mrs. Smith vibes
December 9, 2024
This book-hands down-is one of the BEST mafia books I've ever read!
November 29, 2021
Pina & Darragh blew my ever loving mind!!! This book had me from page one and I had to finish it in one sitting! Pina wasn’t what I was expecting at all she was strong, feisty and never gave up. Darragh had one job a job he’s known for a job that he excels at except when he comes across Pina and decides to save her which in the end could be deadly for both of them. The chemistry between these two is hot. This author definitely had me hooked and I need to know what happens next!! This Mafia romance is a definite must read!
December 7, 2024
4.5/5 💫
Ahhh this was so good
Ahhh this was so good
November 29, 2021
“She cried too much but at least she did it with a gun in her hand”
- Mallory Hart
*** I received an ARC from Booksprout - All opinions are my own ***
There are two things Giuseppina (Pina) Delarosa knows: what her father and brothers do after dark was a secret, and her life was never her own. When she learns that she’s to be married off to a notorious ally, Pina realizes she must find a way out even if it’s at the cost of her own life. What she never expects is Darragh O’Callaghan - the son of her father’s number one enemy and the man sent to kill her. Except on that cold, rainy night Darragh makes an unexpected choice and everything changes.
Once I picked up this book I honestly didn’t put it down until I got to the last page. Then I screamed and immediately went to check when the second book was going to be released. I’ve read numerous Mafia books over the years and honestly I found this one to be satisfyingly unique. I thoroughly enjoyed the complexity of the plot and the fact that I could never predict what was going to happen next. With some Mafia books, I find that the plots can get redundant and so I was pleasantly surprised to see how much thought Mallory Hart put into this and how well she executed it. I was at the 95% mark still holding my breath and furiously reading as the intensity of the plot just sucked me in and refused to let me go.
As for the characters, Pina Delarosa is such a badass. I have so much respect for her like she was raised with barely any life skills but when life got tough this girl pulled herself together and handled it. She’s someone who has been constantly underestimated by the men around her but Pina doesn’t let that make her feel inferior. No, she uses it as fuel to prove to herself that she is just as strong as them and honestly to me she’s far stronger.
Darragh O’Callaghan could try to kill me any day. Aside from being undeniably attractive, the man is smart, funny, and soft underneath that rough exterior. His backstory along with his interactions with Pina and his brother, Rory, are just *chef’s kiss*. Something I want to commend Mallory Hart for is giving her side characters depth. Her side characters aren’t just there to further the plot rather they’re fleshed out, developed characters who you can definitely get attached to.
I loved that this was a slow burn and enemies to lovers. The bantering between these two had me literally laughing out loud and the spicy scenes were so enjoyable because when you get to them you’re not desensitized and you’re actively cheering for them. It being a slow burn also meant that the plot was not overshadowed by the romance but rather the two intermingled perfectly.
A drawback I will point out and the reason I didn’t give it a full five stars is I did notice some slight grammatical errors. They’re not plenty, they’re not huge, and for me personally they didn’t detract from the plot but I did want to make note of that. Also, I thought the use of the expletive “fecking” was a little overdone. I understand that Darragh is Irish but it would’ve been better to have some variety instead of repetitively using that one word.
Overall, those drawbacks don’t overshadow how much I enjoyed this read. I’ll be eagerly anticipating book two and the conclusion of this story. I can’t wait to get more of Pina and Darragh.
Overall: 4.5
- Mallory Hart
*** I received an ARC from Booksprout - All opinions are my own ***
There are two things Giuseppina (Pina) Delarosa knows: what her father and brothers do after dark was a secret, and her life was never her own. When she learns that she’s to be married off to a notorious ally, Pina realizes she must find a way out even if it’s at the cost of her own life. What she never expects is Darragh O’Callaghan - the son of her father’s number one enemy and the man sent to kill her. Except on that cold, rainy night Darragh makes an unexpected choice and everything changes.
Once I picked up this book I honestly didn’t put it down until I got to the last page. Then I screamed and immediately went to check when the second book was going to be released. I’ve read numerous Mafia books over the years and honestly I found this one to be satisfyingly unique. I thoroughly enjoyed the complexity of the plot and the fact that I could never predict what was going to happen next. With some Mafia books, I find that the plots can get redundant and so I was pleasantly surprised to see how much thought Mallory Hart put into this and how well she executed it. I was at the 95% mark still holding my breath and furiously reading as the intensity of the plot just sucked me in and refused to let me go.
As for the characters, Pina Delarosa is such a badass. I have so much respect for her like she was raised with barely any life skills but when life got tough this girl pulled herself together and handled it. She’s someone who has been constantly underestimated by the men around her but Pina doesn’t let that make her feel inferior. No, she uses it as fuel to prove to herself that she is just as strong as them and honestly to me she’s far stronger.
Darragh O’Callaghan could try to kill me any day. Aside from being undeniably attractive, the man is smart, funny, and soft underneath that rough exterior. His backstory along with his interactions with Pina and his brother, Rory, are just *chef’s kiss*. Something I want to commend Mallory Hart for is giving her side characters depth. Her side characters aren’t just there to further the plot rather they’re fleshed out, developed characters who you can definitely get attached to.
I loved that this was a slow burn and enemies to lovers. The bantering between these two had me literally laughing out loud and the spicy scenes were so enjoyable because when you get to them you’re not desensitized and you’re actively cheering for them. It being a slow burn also meant that the plot was not overshadowed by the romance but rather the two intermingled perfectly.
A drawback I will point out and the reason I didn’t give it a full five stars is I did notice some slight grammatical errors. They’re not plenty, they’re not huge, and for me personally they didn’t detract from the plot but I did want to make note of that. Also, I thought the use of the expletive “fecking” was a little overdone. I understand that Darragh is Irish but it would’ve been better to have some variety instead of repetitively using that one word.
Overall, those drawbacks don’t overshadow how much I enjoyed this read. I’ll be eagerly anticipating book two and the conclusion of this story. I can’t wait to get more of Pina and Darragh.
Overall: 4.5
September 1, 2022
I think I would have really liked the book had the heroine been a bit more amicable. Her stubbornness was really a turn off , atleast for me.
I didn’t like the h at alll.
I didn’t like the h at alll.
Read
November 23, 2023Bored @ 81%
It wasn’t bad, just kinda…blah. Too much telling and not enough showing for my taste.
It wasn’t bad, just kinda…blah. Too much telling and not enough showing for my taste.
March 19, 2025
this was so fun
the last 10% made me nervous af I knew things were going really bad 😭 I enjoyed every second of it and that ending, the last page wow I need the next book now
the last 10% made me nervous af I knew things were going really bad 😭 I enjoyed every second of it and that ending, the last page wow I need the next book now
July 22, 2024
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Stand-alone: NO - DUET (Mafia Born)
Author: Mallory Hart
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️
Spiciness Rating: 2.5/5 🌶
POV: First Person Dual Perspective
Main Couple: Pina and Darragh
Trope(s): Dark Mafia, Enemies To Lovers, Forced Proximity, Secret Arrangement
This is my first book by Mallory Hart. I should have done more research or just plain read better because I did not realize this was a duet. This is a long detailed read where Mallory is building the story, anticipation and angst. There is a lot happening in this storyline. Overall I have enjoyed the book, but realizing there is a book 2 after the length of book 1 kinda put a damper on my excitement. I will add book 2 to my TBR because I would like to know how their story ends and luckily it is in kindle unlimited.
Pina is her family’s best kept secret. The world knows of her existence, however they have yet to see her face. To her family she is just means to an end. There is a war brewing and her family is looking for an alliance. However, the person they have chosen to wed her to is a monster in her eyes.
Darragh has been raised to be a vital part of his father’s empire. When his father gives him the order to kill Pina he chooses to save her instead.
Their families choices have forced their connection. Pina is an innocent, having been sheltered by her family, but she is learning very quickly how to survive in this kill or be killed world. And, Darragh has a plan that will benefit them both.
Time spent sheltered, training, and honing their plan has their connection growing.
The ending didn’t surprise me too much, however it felt rushed given the amount of information the book included, but that may have just been how it came across leaving us hanging. Plus, my surprise finding out it was a duet.
Stand-alone: NO - DUET (Mafia Born)
Author: Mallory Hart
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️
Spiciness Rating: 2.5/5 🌶
POV: First Person Dual Perspective
Main Couple: Pina and Darragh
Trope(s): Dark Mafia, Enemies To Lovers, Forced Proximity, Secret Arrangement
This is my first book by Mallory Hart. I should have done more research or just plain read better because I did not realize this was a duet. This is a long detailed read where Mallory is building the story, anticipation and angst. There is a lot happening in this storyline. Overall I have enjoyed the book, but realizing there is a book 2 after the length of book 1 kinda put a damper on my excitement. I will add book 2 to my TBR because I would like to know how their story ends and luckily it is in kindle unlimited.
Pina is her family’s best kept secret. The world knows of her existence, however they have yet to see her face. To her family she is just means to an end. There is a war brewing and her family is looking for an alliance. However, the person they have chosen to wed her to is a monster in her eyes.
Darragh has been raised to be a vital part of his father’s empire. When his father gives him the order to kill Pina he chooses to save her instead.
Their families choices have forced their connection. Pina is an innocent, having been sheltered by her family, but she is learning very quickly how to survive in this kill or be killed world. And, Darragh has a plan that will benefit them both.
Time spent sheltered, training, and honing their plan has their connection growing.
The ending didn’t surprise me too much, however it felt rushed given the amount of information the book included, but that may have just been how it came across leaving us hanging. Plus, my surprise finding out it was a duet.
November 30, 2021
When Mallory reached out to me asking me if I wanted to read an ARC of Hit all I needed to know was this was an enemies-to-lovers, dark mafia romance and I was sold. This book is so much more than that.
Giuseppina Delarosa, Pina for short, has been locked away her entire life waiting for the time when her father would use her as a bargaining chip to grow his empire. When she learns she is being married to the man who was responsible for the rape and murder of her only friend she vows to get away from this cruel fate even if her escape is death.
Darragh O’Callaghan is the youngest son and the hit man of the head Irish Mafia family. When he is informed his next hit is the Delarosa daughter, their most bitter rivals, he is taken aback as he’s never killed a woman before. Ever the dutiful son, he goes along with the plan until he witnesses Pina trying to end it and he intervenes. Instead of killing her he kidnaps her still unsure of her fate by his hands.
The more time he spends with her the more he realizes he cannot kill her but he cannot free her either. He comes up with a plan to protect her the only way he can. Pina isn’t exactly thrilled with his plans and does everything in her power to resist. The only way to be truly free is to kill those who threaten them but will sheltered Pina have what it takes when the time comes to pull of the ultimate hit?
The delicious tension between these two is enough to keep you flipping the pages deep into the night. I binged this book so quick. I loved the banter, the push and pull, the steam and the eventual respect between these two. Also the hero falls first trope literally melts every single piece of my heart. I loved how Pina is a strong BA heroine despite her incredibly sheltered life. If you’re a fan of Sophie Lark strong heroines you will be OBSESSED with Pina.
This does end with a cliffy but this couple deserves a perfect HEA and I’m willing to wait to get it. If you like dark, mafia, enemies-to-lovers with a strong heroine you will absolutely love this one. This gets all the stars. I will literally read anything Mallory has to give me after this. I’m hooked. Please support this new author and check this incredible book out!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Giuseppina Delarosa, Pina for short, has been locked away her entire life waiting for the time when her father would use her as a bargaining chip to grow his empire. When she learns she is being married to the man who was responsible for the rape and murder of her only friend she vows to get away from this cruel fate even if her escape is death.
Darragh O’Callaghan is the youngest son and the hit man of the head Irish Mafia family. When he is informed his next hit is the Delarosa daughter, their most bitter rivals, he is taken aback as he’s never killed a woman before. Ever the dutiful son, he goes along with the plan until he witnesses Pina trying to end it and he intervenes. Instead of killing her he kidnaps her still unsure of her fate by his hands.
The more time he spends with her the more he realizes he cannot kill her but he cannot free her either. He comes up with a plan to protect her the only way he can. Pina isn’t exactly thrilled with his plans and does everything in her power to resist. The only way to be truly free is to kill those who threaten them but will sheltered Pina have what it takes when the time comes to pull of the ultimate hit?
The delicious tension between these two is enough to keep you flipping the pages deep into the night. I binged this book so quick. I loved the banter, the push and pull, the steam and the eventual respect between these two. Also the hero falls first trope literally melts every single piece of my heart. I loved how Pina is a strong BA heroine despite her incredibly sheltered life. If you’re a fan of Sophie Lark strong heroines you will be OBSESSED with Pina.
This does end with a cliffy but this couple deserves a perfect HEA and I’m willing to wait to get it. If you like dark, mafia, enemies-to-lovers with a strong heroine you will absolutely love this one. This gets all the stars. I will literally read anything Mallory has to give me after this. I’m hooked. Please support this new author and check this incredible book out!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 8, 2021
I need to speck to the MANAGER!
I’ve gone from frustration to rage to just pure FIRERY BURNING INFERNO RAGE! I need answers I can not sit here and say I’m just fine, because my emotional distress is up the roof right now. I need help I need SOS I need emotional stability. Ahhhhhh I can’t even make sense of what I went through right now and it was just a blip like a blip I tell you. Don’t sleep on this stick it through 😭
I’ve gone from frustration to rage to just pure FIRERY BURNING INFERNO RAGE! I need answers I can not sit here and say I’m just fine, because my emotional distress is up the roof right now. I need help I need SOS I need emotional stability. Ahhhhhh I can’t even make sense of what I went through right now and it was just a blip like a blip I tell you. Don’t sleep on this stick it through 😭
December 23, 2025
I don’t like the pacing of this book.
April 8, 2022
I reallllly liked this book!
I like mafia type books, but am not usually wowed by them, so I was pleasantly surprised by this one!
I loved Darragh, I liked how he wasn’t the usual womanizing, jerk type. He was strong and mysterious and even though he’s done bad things, there’s still a lot to him. (Plus, there’s just nothing better than a character who doesn’t care about anyone slowly falling for someone. I’ll die on that hill.)
I also liked seeing Pina grow as a person, especially after being so sheltered. She becomes strong and powerful in her own right, which is a nice dynamic in a mafia setting, where women are usually inferior.
Their relationship progressed slowly and realistically and I enjoyed how they got to know each other on different levels and it wasn’t just a physical thing.
It does have a massive cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more!! Can’t wait to see what happens to these two.
I like mafia type books, but am not usually wowed by them, so I was pleasantly surprised by this one!
I loved Darragh, I liked how he wasn’t the usual womanizing, jerk type. He was strong and mysterious and even though he’s done bad things, there’s still a lot to him. (Plus, there’s just nothing better than a character who doesn’t care about anyone slowly falling for someone. I’ll die on that hill.)
I also liked seeing Pina grow as a person, especially after being so sheltered. She becomes strong and powerful in her own right, which is a nice dynamic in a mafia setting, where women are usually inferior.
Their relationship progressed slowly and realistically and I enjoyed how they got to know each other on different levels and it wasn’t just a physical thing.
It does have a massive cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more!! Can’t wait to see what happens to these two.
did-not-finish
May 1, 2022DNF @ 20%. Really wanted to like this but the characters made dumb, unrealistic choices, they didn't have much of a spark, and it needed another editing pass for typos.
May 16, 2023
Was pretty mid and he was irish 🤮
March 17, 2023
"I’d done a lot of things with my hits before finishing the job. I played their friend, their ally, I lied, but I never put a hit in a red evening gown and took them out on the town. I never promised them “one perfect night” before putting a bullet in their head."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
What a refreshing take on a mafia hitman story! A book friend has recommended this repeatedly and I'm so glad I finally gave it a go. It's one of my favorites so far this year.
As the Irish family's hitman, Darragh O’Callaghan is tasked with taking out their enemy's {the Italian mafia Don's} daughter, Giuseppina Delarosa. When he stumbles upon her injured in an alley, he can't go through with it. Instead, he whisks her off to his safe house in the mountains until he can figure out what to do with her.
It's just the two of them at this remote location and eventually they share their stories. They discover that they have a common enemy and Giuseppina wants to be the one to take him out. She has a very valid reason. Darragh concedes and begins training her in the ways of a hitman. He teaches her about everything from wind direction to adjusting scopes to breaking down guns. I LOVED this part of the story. We don't get many women hitmen...and most definitely, no mafia women being trained by Made Men.
As the description states, this is a slow-burn, enemies to lovers story. By working towards a common goal and training so closely together every day, they eventually fall for each other. An unlikely pair. Him Irish. Her Italian. They had so much chemistry and I absolutely adored them. I also really enjoyed Mallory Hart's writing. She weaves a great story and has created rich, deeply developed characters. Can't wait to see where their story goes.
Nicknames: Pina, Love
The crude stitches in my wrists were no doubt the handiwork of Mr. Serial Killer.
Weakness got men killed, and weakness came in many forms. It didn’t matter if it was a faulty gun, a sudden sense of guilt or a pair of long, golden legs.
Feck. Feck this. Feck Pina. Feck this fecking hit.
Jesus Christ. Someone needed to have a long talk with her about conversations you do and don’t have with people pointing guns at your head.
That was the scariest part of all. The worst monsters weren’t scary, strange things in the dark. They were handsome men who made you believe they’re something that they’re not.
“You’re playing with me,” I finally said. He leaned forward, so close his warm breath cascaded across my neck. Goosebumps raised across my arms. “Get used to it.”
I tried to lean back but he gripped my wrist, locking it to the table. “You have no idea what it would be like if I decided to really play with you.”
“I’ve killed a lot of people, Pina. I’ve never saved one.”
He tucked a hand under my knees and lifted me out of the car.
“What are you doing?” If he wasn’t so tired, he may have rolled his eyes.
“Don’t start swooning. It’s snowing and you have no shoes.”
“The happy life with a white picket fence was never an option for you. I’ve given you two. Run, or stay. It’s your choice.”
There were no such thing as happy endings in our world. Besides, even if I could find someone who looked past all the bullshit, they’d be a target for the rest of their lives. Marriages were alliances. Love was nonexistent.
“She’s a lot like you. She never shuts up,” I told the photograph. Grace O’Callaghan’s face just smiled back. “Maybe that’s why I’ve kept her around so long,” I whispered. “I think you would have liked her.”
Two weeks ago I laid in my bed, listening to Andrea talk about girls. Now I was in the middle of nowhere, down one finger and engaged to a psychopath.
“You’re a fucking psychopath,” I breathed. I meant it, too. Because how could someone go from planning my death, to sending my pinky off to their father, to putting a ring on my finger and feeling me up in the shower?
She didn’t look like a proper bride, but she definitely looked like my bride.
Meanwhile, all I could think about was how I wished Kieran would hurry this the hell up. All I cared about was screwing my wife without her feeling guilty about it, then waking up tomorrow and skipping her training to do it all again. Assassin life could take a backseat to my needs for once.
“This marriage is a sham. It’s an alliance so we can both get what we need. But if you’re going to get additional perks from it, then I need some too.” My jaw set.
“Is the idea of sleeping with me so vile it can’t be a perk for you too?” She stared at me, long and hard.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Are we . . . going after someone?” Darragh cocked the rifle in his hand and grinned.
“Actually, you’ll be shooting me.” I chuckled.
“Ha-ha, very funny.” He stared at me dead-on.
“I’m serious.” My smile faltered. He handed me the second rifle. “May the best spouse win.”
“So, are you just going to stare at me all night?” He shrugged.
“I could get in.”
When I opened my eyes, he cupped his cheek in his hand and leaned against the side of the tub. His eyes were different. Light, crisp and very, very blue. It was the way he looked at me when I got the math problems, the way he looked at me on our runs, and the way he looked at me in my white dress all rolled into one.
I opened my mouth but he beat me to it. He shifted closer, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. Gentle, like he was barely even there. Testing the waters. I rested my cheek on his shoulder and the arm grew tighter. There. That was better.
I hadn’t been able to figure him out. Not in the months we’ve known each other now, and probably not in the years we had to come. The killer who did not kill me. The man who did not strike me. The husband who never demanded my body. The Made Man who never showed mercy, the name that’d been cursed a thousand times in the cigar room on the other side of my bedroom wall, the Angel of Death, the man who taught me to shoot a gun and drive a car, and the only person in my entire life who didn't think I was nothing but a scared little girl or a bride-to-be. The man who saved my life in more ways than I realized.
“You will never do that to me again.” The words came low like a warning, heated like an alarm. I sucked in a deep breath.
“Walk on thin ice?” He shook his head.
"Never scare me like that again."
His finger pumped in and out of me, hard, fast, angry. Angry for not being careful. Angry for scaring him. Maybe even angry for making him want me the way he did.
“I think you’re here just because I want you to be.” He smirked at the gun in the snow. “Craziness and all.” I shook my head.
“I’m not the crazy one.” His eyebrow arched up.
"How about we both qualify?"
“You have one moment to decide. After this, there’s no going back."
“Decide what?"
“Decide if I keep going."
“What happens if you do?"
“I won’t stop,” he murmured. Two fingers pressed against my pussy and pushed apart the folds. He leaned down, lightly stroking my clit with his tongue. “This won’t be like the other nights. I won’t eat you out and stop. If you let me do this, you’re not coming from my mouth. I’m going to fuck you. Then, I'm going to take you home and fuck you again. And again. And again."
I gripped his hair in my hand and pulled him up to look at me. “Then don't stop," I snarled.
“And for the second part, promise me this is a real marriage, that you’re really my wife. That you’ll never leave, and I get to do this to every day for the rest of my life."
“Come on me, love,” he growled. He took my lower lip between his teeth and tugged gently. “I want to feel you break on me."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
What a refreshing take on a mafia hitman story! A book friend has recommended this repeatedly and I'm so glad I finally gave it a go. It's one of my favorites so far this year.
As the Irish family's hitman, Darragh O’Callaghan is tasked with taking out their enemy's {the Italian mafia Don's} daughter, Giuseppina Delarosa. When he stumbles upon her injured in an alley, he can't go through with it. Instead, he whisks her off to his safe house in the mountains until he can figure out what to do with her.
It's just the two of them at this remote location and eventually they share their stories. They discover that they have a common enemy and Giuseppina wants to be the one to take him out. She has a very valid reason. Darragh concedes and begins training her in the ways of a hitman. He teaches her about everything from wind direction to adjusting scopes to breaking down guns. I LOVED this part of the story. We don't get many women hitmen...and most definitely, no mafia women being trained by Made Men.
As the description states, this is a slow-burn, enemies to lovers story. By working towards a common goal and training so closely together every day, they eventually fall for each other. An unlikely pair. Him Irish. Her Italian. They had so much chemistry and I absolutely adored them. I also really enjoyed Mallory Hart's writing. She weaves a great story and has created rich, deeply developed characters. Can't wait to see where their story goes.
Nicknames: Pina, Love
The crude stitches in my wrists were no doubt the handiwork of Mr. Serial Killer.
Weakness got men killed, and weakness came in many forms. It didn’t matter if it was a faulty gun, a sudden sense of guilt or a pair of long, golden legs.
Feck. Feck this. Feck Pina. Feck this fecking hit.
Jesus Christ. Someone needed to have a long talk with her about conversations you do and don’t have with people pointing guns at your head.
That was the scariest part of all. The worst monsters weren’t scary, strange things in the dark. They were handsome men who made you believe they’re something that they’re not.
“You’re playing with me,” I finally said. He leaned forward, so close his warm breath cascaded across my neck. Goosebumps raised across my arms. “Get used to it.”
I tried to lean back but he gripped my wrist, locking it to the table. “You have no idea what it would be like if I decided to really play with you.”
“I’ve killed a lot of people, Pina. I’ve never saved one.”
He tucked a hand under my knees and lifted me out of the car.
“What are you doing?” If he wasn’t so tired, he may have rolled his eyes.
“Don’t start swooning. It’s snowing and you have no shoes.”
“The happy life with a white picket fence was never an option for you. I’ve given you two. Run, or stay. It’s your choice.”
There were no such thing as happy endings in our world. Besides, even if I could find someone who looked past all the bullshit, they’d be a target for the rest of their lives. Marriages were alliances. Love was nonexistent.
“She’s a lot like you. She never shuts up,” I told the photograph. Grace O’Callaghan’s face just smiled back. “Maybe that’s why I’ve kept her around so long,” I whispered. “I think you would have liked her.”
Two weeks ago I laid in my bed, listening to Andrea talk about girls. Now I was in the middle of nowhere, down one finger and engaged to a psychopath.
“You’re a fucking psychopath,” I breathed. I meant it, too. Because how could someone go from planning my death, to sending my pinky off to their father, to putting a ring on my finger and feeling me up in the shower?
She didn’t look like a proper bride, but she definitely looked like my bride.
Meanwhile, all I could think about was how I wished Kieran would hurry this the hell up. All I cared about was screwing my wife without her feeling guilty about it, then waking up tomorrow and skipping her training to do it all again. Assassin life could take a backseat to my needs for once.
“This marriage is a sham. It’s an alliance so we can both get what we need. But if you’re going to get additional perks from it, then I need some too.” My jaw set.
“Is the idea of sleeping with me so vile it can’t be a perk for you too?” She stared at me, long and hard.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Are we . . . going after someone?” Darragh cocked the rifle in his hand and grinned.
“Actually, you’ll be shooting me.” I chuckled.
“Ha-ha, very funny.” He stared at me dead-on.
“I’m serious.” My smile faltered. He handed me the second rifle. “May the best spouse win.”
“So, are you just going to stare at me all night?” He shrugged.
“I could get in.”
When I opened my eyes, he cupped his cheek in his hand and leaned against the side of the tub. His eyes were different. Light, crisp and very, very blue. It was the way he looked at me when I got the math problems, the way he looked at me on our runs, and the way he looked at me in my white dress all rolled into one.
I opened my mouth but he beat me to it. He shifted closer, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. Gentle, like he was barely even there. Testing the waters. I rested my cheek on his shoulder and the arm grew tighter. There. That was better.
I hadn’t been able to figure him out. Not in the months we’ve known each other now, and probably not in the years we had to come. The killer who did not kill me. The man who did not strike me. The husband who never demanded my body. The Made Man who never showed mercy, the name that’d been cursed a thousand times in the cigar room on the other side of my bedroom wall, the Angel of Death, the man who taught me to shoot a gun and drive a car, and the only person in my entire life who didn't think I was nothing but a scared little girl or a bride-to-be. The man who saved my life in more ways than I realized.
“You will never do that to me again.” The words came low like a warning, heated like an alarm. I sucked in a deep breath.
“Walk on thin ice?” He shook his head.
"Never scare me like that again."
His finger pumped in and out of me, hard, fast, angry. Angry for not being careful. Angry for scaring him. Maybe even angry for making him want me the way he did.
“I think you’re here just because I want you to be.” He smirked at the gun in the snow. “Craziness and all.” I shook my head.
“I’m not the crazy one.” His eyebrow arched up.
"How about we both qualify?"
“You have one moment to decide. After this, there’s no going back."
“Decide what?"
“Decide if I keep going."
“What happens if you do?"
“I won’t stop,” he murmured. Two fingers pressed against my pussy and pushed apart the folds. He leaned down, lightly stroking my clit with his tongue. “This won’t be like the other nights. I won’t eat you out and stop. If you let me do this, you’re not coming from my mouth. I’m going to fuck you. Then, I'm going to take you home and fuck you again. And again. And again."
I gripped his hair in my hand and pulled him up to look at me. “Then don't stop," I snarled.
“And for the second part, promise me this is a real marriage, that you’re really my wife. That you’ll never leave, and I get to do this to every day for the rest of my life."
“Come on me, love,” he growled. He took my lower lip between his teeth and tugged gently. “I want to feel you break on me."
November 29, 2021
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
STEAM: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
One of my favorite action movies is Miss Bala. I love a fierce heroine who gets the short end of life stick, is faced with a ridiculous amount of adversity, and comes out fighting and winning.
This book totally embodies that Miss Bala vibe, and I love it.
Darragh O’Callaghan is his father's silent assassin. He is that feeling that someone is watching you, the sound you don't quite know where it came from, and the monster under your bed. When the Irish mafia's most dangerous enforcer is given an assignment to take out the Delarosa's prized jewel, Darragh underestimates two things:
- His ability to take out a woman
- His unexpected sympathy for Giuseppina Delarosa
All Pina wanted is a brief taste of freedom before she becomes a prisoner once more, but only this time to a different warden. Instead of her family, she is arranged to marry into a rival Italian clan. When Pina decides to free herself forever, she is saved by the one person she least expect to be her savior.
Mallory Hart hits her full-length debut out of the park. This mafia romance is unique, has teeth, and takes no prisoners. I always enjoy a romantic suspense laid out as a chess match, and the surprising moves in this one definitely keep you at the edge of your seat. As part one of a duet, there is a lot of ground to cover, so the first half of the book has a slow burn and a somewhat slower pace.
But the second half is well worth the wait. A fantastic blend of action, romance, and suspense, it gives you a nice adrenaline rush as you follow the main characters around their plot for revenge and justice. The spicy scenes are delicious; Mallory Hart builds a wonderful, simmering tension from these two enemies that will have you biting your lip in anticipation for the ultimate payoff.
Darragh is fantastic in the first half of the book. He is mysterious and dangerous; you know he is that shadow in the dark that you should be afraid of, but still yearn for his fingers around your neck. While he shines the best in the beginning, it is Pina who takes the spotlight in the second half. Like I said in the beginning, the Miss Bala vibes is strong in this read, and Pina owns that role. She transforms from a rich princess prone to tantrums to a strong warrior ready for any challenge, and I absolutely love the growth.
Because this is part of a duet, it does end in a cliffhanger. One that leaves you wanting for more. I am already counting down to April when Book Two Marked comes out.
** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. **
STEAM: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
One of my favorite action movies is Miss Bala. I love a fierce heroine who gets the short end of life stick, is faced with a ridiculous amount of adversity, and comes out fighting and winning.
This book totally embodies that Miss Bala vibe, and I love it.
Darragh O’Callaghan is his father's silent assassin. He is that feeling that someone is watching you, the sound you don't quite know where it came from, and the monster under your bed. When the Irish mafia's most dangerous enforcer is given an assignment to take out the Delarosa's prized jewel, Darragh underestimates two things:
- His ability to take out a woman
- His unexpected sympathy for Giuseppina Delarosa
All Pina wanted is a brief taste of freedom before she becomes a prisoner once more, but only this time to a different warden. Instead of her family, she is arranged to marry into a rival Italian clan. When Pina decides to free herself forever, she is saved by the one person she least expect to be her savior.
Mallory Hart hits her full-length debut out of the park. This mafia romance is unique, has teeth, and takes no prisoners. I always enjoy a romantic suspense laid out as a chess match, and the surprising moves in this one definitely keep you at the edge of your seat. As part one of a duet, there is a lot of ground to cover, so the first half of the book has a slow burn and a somewhat slower pace.
But the second half is well worth the wait. A fantastic blend of action, romance, and suspense, it gives you a nice adrenaline rush as you follow the main characters around their plot for revenge and justice. The spicy scenes are delicious; Mallory Hart builds a wonderful, simmering tension from these two enemies that will have you biting your lip in anticipation for the ultimate payoff.
Darragh is fantastic in the first half of the book. He is mysterious and dangerous; you know he is that shadow in the dark that you should be afraid of, but still yearn for his fingers around your neck. While he shines the best in the beginning, it is Pina who takes the spotlight in the second half. Like I said in the beginning, the Miss Bala vibes is strong in this read, and Pina owns that role. She transforms from a rich princess prone to tantrums to a strong warrior ready for any challenge, and I absolutely love the growth.
Because this is part of a duet, it does end in a cliffhanger. One that leaves you wanting for more. I am already counting down to April when Book Two Marked comes out.
** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. **
November 26, 2021
Tbh at first, I thought this was going to be an okay book, even though I have to say the synopsis of the book was filled with suspense and that intrigued me, and then when I started reading the Prologue, I got hella intrigued. And then it started, the slow burn romance, slow building of the relationship was incredible. The banters between the MCs were just Elite, I was laughing the whole time. Those banters are just C.U.T.E. And OMG I will not stop if I start talking about Darragh, that man is hot as hell. He cares soo dearly for Pina and the way he was always worried for her, he has my heart at just that. Then his Irish accent... his freaking Irish accent. SOOO HOT. The author literally spelled The IRISH accent of Darragh, and that was lava for me. Also, really enjoyed seeing the strong side of Pina, how she decided to stand up for herself, and omg the way Derragh supported that, my heart.is.melted. I really loved how the author took time and put every detail of their surroundings and side characters, which really makes reading enjoyable, and thanks to Mallory for that cause I love to know the side characters and the surroundings as well, rather than just focusing on the MCs. But Pina’s mom should have had a bit more screen time, even though she is messed up. I am glad we also got to know about their past, which really helps to feel more deeply for the characters. Having good sibling relationships was a chef’s kiss for me. Pina and Darragh definitely go with each other so well. Loved the pair. ALSO, the ENDING!!!!!! I was dumbfounded after I finished the book. The ending was badass, strong, mind-blowing, and intriguing as hell. Now I seriously can’t wait for MARKED to be out.
Amazing plot, absolutely marvelous twist, I was always so eager to know what was going to happen next that I couldn’t stop reading a bit, cause the suspense is that good. Butterflies??? Well, my belly is going to blast because of the amount of them were created while reading this book. The Spicy scenes were perfect, I couldn’t stop blushing. Amazing book. Definitely worth the read. It’s a GEM!!!!!
Bòidheach !!!
100000% recommend reading when it releases.
November 30, 2021
3,5/5 ⭐️
This book was sent to me as an ARC in exchange for my honest opinionI.
I went blind into this book, only knowing it would be mafia and quite dark. It didn't disappoint in that aspect, as we follow the lives of Pina, Italian mafia princess, and Darragh, heir to the Irish mafia. He was sent to kill her, but after something happen that night, he finds himself trying to protect her instead, protect her agains both their families.
I honestly loved Darragh so much, I'm a sucker for man obsessed and I loved when the MMC falls first, so obviously I would like him!
Guiseppina was much more difficult to like in my opinion, I kinda found her ungrateful, and sometimes it felt like she was just looking for a fight, holding things against him that were not even his fault, and constantly doubting him.
It was a good read nonetheless, the spice was good (he praises her which is suuuper hot), and I really loved their dynamic, when Pina wasn't being difficult.
Again, I totally pinned for Darragh, he was just perfect and the way he took care of her was just so beautiful. I really liked the writing style too and the fact that it happened in the 1980's, it was kinda refreshing.The ending really left me flabbergasted though lol (cliffhanger), I am so curious about book too!
Would totally recommend, if you like mafia, marriage of convenience, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, a slight age gap too.
This book was sent to me as an ARC in exchange for my honest opinionI.
I went blind into this book, only knowing it would be mafia and quite dark. It didn't disappoint in that aspect, as we follow the lives of Pina, Italian mafia princess, and Darragh, heir to the Irish mafia. He was sent to kill her, but after something happen that night, he finds himself trying to protect her instead, protect her agains both their families.
I honestly loved Darragh so much, I'm a sucker for man obsessed and I loved when the MMC falls first, so obviously I would like him!
Guiseppina was much more difficult to like in my opinion, I kinda found her ungrateful, and sometimes it felt like she was just looking for a fight, holding things against him that were not even his fault, and constantly doubting him.
It was a good read nonetheless, the spice was good (he praises her which is suuuper hot), and I really loved their dynamic, when Pina wasn't being difficult.
Again, I totally pinned for Darragh, he was just perfect and the way he took care of her was just so beautiful. I really liked the writing style too and the fact that it happened in the 1980's, it was kinda refreshing.The ending really left me flabbergasted though lol (cliffhanger), I am so curious about book too!
Would totally recommend, if you like mafia, marriage of convenience, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, a slight age gap too.
February 27, 2023
FREAKING GOOSEBUMPS GENIUS. damn this is the truest mafia romance book ive read not that ive read many or i know how true mafia works but freaking hell, I HAD COLD HANDS AS IF I WAS THE MAIN CHARACTER?? heart hammering against my chest and my stomach was crunching like im gonna be sick at any moment yes yes dang it
AND IT WAS SO GENIUS? THE TWIST LIKE I WTF?? THE CODE !! GOD I LOVE THEM. pina and darragh (what a sexy name) love them so much
they're totally the opposite attract couple and their banters have no business being hilarious😭😭
pina is a badass queen that take no $hit from the ahole men in her life, i love her.
go read this book pls if you love mafia romance and enemies to lovers forced proximity i came here to kill you and one bed and marriage of convenience goddang it i need to read book 2 immediately thank god it's already out
AND IT WAS SO GENIUS? THE TWIST LIKE I WTF?? THE CODE !! GOD I LOVE THEM. pina and darragh (what a sexy name) love them so much
they're totally the opposite attract couple and their banters have no business being hilarious😭😭
pina is a badass queen that take no $hit from the ahole men in her life, i love her.
go read this book pls if you love mafia romance and enemies to lovers forced proximity i came here to kill you and one bed and marriage of convenience goddang it i need to read book 2 immediately thank god it's already out
November 22, 2022
"You will never do that to me again.”
“Walk on thin ice?”
“Never scare me like that again.”
~~~
“Clean it and reassemble it. I’ll see you in a few hours.” I stood up. “Wait—where—” “Back to bed,” he said, waving me off. I bristled. “It’s five in the morning, love. I need my beauty sleep. If you finish early, do me a favor and have breakfast waiting.” “You asshole. You can’t just—” His footsteps pounded up the stairs before I could even finish that sentence.
He says that and yet cooks her the same breakfast every day😩
“Walk on thin ice?”
“Never scare me like that again.”
~~~
“Clean it and reassemble it. I’ll see you in a few hours.” I stood up. “Wait—where—” “Back to bed,” he said, waving me off. I bristled. “It’s five in the morning, love. I need my beauty sleep. If you finish early, do me a favor and have breakfast waiting.” “You asshole. You can’t just—” His footsteps pounded up the stairs before I could even finish that sentence.
He says that and yet cooks her the same breakfast every day😩
June 7, 2024
3.5 stars
all mafia books read the same with the exception of The Made series lol, but this was entertaining enough.
the last few pages were so exciting, sadly it ended in a cliffhanger and i don’t know if i want to read another book about the same characters/plot
i didn’t really feel the romance between Darragh and Pina . also anytime he called her ‘love’ it didn’t feel right. that word is reserved for Aaron Warner hehe but also because there was no chemistry between them oops
all mafia books read the same with the exception of The Made series lol, but this was entertaining enough.
the last few pages were so exciting, sadly it ended in a cliffhanger and i don’t know if i want to read another book about the same characters/plot
i didn’t really feel the romance between Darragh and Pina . also anytime he called her ‘love’ it didn’t feel right. that word is reserved for Aaron Warner hehe but also because there was no chemistry between them oops
December 8, 2021
whewwwww that fuckin cliffhanger and plot twist!!! OMDS I loved Darragh a lot! more than I loved pina (because at first she was an ungrateful brat but I liked her later) I loved their dynamic, the boy obsessed trope and the "I take care of her when she's sick trope" honestly everything was giving and I loved every second. The cliffhanger/plot twist caught me off guard but I was ready and I can't wait for the second book.
March 27, 2022
Daraugh is sent to assassinate Guisippina.. he ends up
Saving her and then falling for her. The setting is the 80’s. There were things I liked but it was slow in places and was easy for Me to Set this book aside. Don’t get me wrong I set books aside if I really love them so much I Can’t bear to finish and say goodbye to the characters too… but this book was just sluggish despite characters with so much potential. Maybe I’ll read the next one….
Saving her and then falling for her. The setting is the 80’s. There were things I liked but it was slow in places and was easy for Me to Set this book aside. Don’t get me wrong I set books aside if I really love them so much I Can’t bear to finish and say goodbye to the characters too… but this book was just sluggish despite characters with so much potential. Maybe I’ll read the next one….
May 24, 2022
5⭐️
✔️enemies-to-lovers
✔️mafia
✔️kidnapping
✔️marriage of convenience
“So, this was it. This was how the next stage of my life would begin. Not in the compound, not in my father’s office. But with a killer in a safe house, a gruesome wound side by side with a wedding band. A proposal with a threat attached. The sad, short tale of Giuseppina Delarosa just took a turn for the stranger.”
My mind is blown. I’m diving into book 2 rn.
✔️enemies-to-lovers
✔️mafia
✔️kidnapping
✔️marriage of convenience
“So, this was it. This was how the next stage of my life would begin. Not in the compound, not in my father’s office. But with a killer in a safe house, a gruesome wound side by side with a wedding band. A proposal with a threat attached. The sad, short tale of Giuseppina Delarosa just took a turn for the stranger.”
My mind is blown. I’m diving into book 2 rn.
January 31, 2025
the cover is embarrassing, the plot is good
However its kinda slow burn, but somehow not?? like the switch between „nothing“ and everything was kinda fast? idk how i think about this book tbh
also the chemistry was just fine (;))
the last 5% was thrilling, but still idk what to think about it either
However its kinda slow burn, but somehow not?? like the switch between „nothing“ and everything was kinda fast? idk how i think about this book tbh
also the chemistry was just fine (;))
the last 5% was thrilling, but still idk what to think about it either
December 6, 2021
4.5
Irish Mafia Man? ✅ Fierce Heroine ✅
I loved this mafia romance! Darragh and Pina are seriously mafia couple goals!
Irish Mafia Man? ✅ Fierce Heroine ✅
I loved this mafia romance! Darragh and Pina are seriously mafia couple goals!
March 11, 2025
this ended on a cliffhanger but i don’t care about the characters enough to continue it 😔
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