Loving Lucia

Breaking Lucia #3

by Raissa Donovan, Addison Wolf

I want out of this wedding... but can I trust them not to shatter me all over again?

I left Angelo, Saint, and Victor, only to land squarely in the hands of Emilio Pavone, a man who makes the three of them look like playful puppies.

As much as I want to never see them again, I'll need their help if I want to avoid the wedding and free myself and my family. The only problem is I don't know if I can trust them. Angelo still manhandles me, Saint has made it clear he wants me unconscious--and Victor is playing with all of our lives.

The wedding is fast approaching, and I need to make the most important decision of my life:

Pavone and his open cruelty, or the three men who nearly destroyed me.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Why Choose, Mafia Romance, BDSM, M F M, Romance

340 pages, ebook

First published April 22, 2022

Reviews

[Meredith is a hot mess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't have the energy to write a proper review, but after Angel Lawson & Samantha Rue these are my new favorite dark & twisted reverse harem authors. With each book I've noticed the writing and storyline improve. I can't wait for Vanessa's story to release. With that said, this series is not going to be for everyone 😬 I've technically read books with more disturbing content, but something about the way these authors write makes some scenes especially stomach curdling.



Things I like:

- A+ characterization. I want to expand on this later, but I could tell the authors really put their heads in the characters' minds while writing and stayed true to them and how they would react in these circumstances.

- Angel is now one of my favorite characters in this series. I appreciated how they wrote Victor. He maintained his complete lack of remorse for his treatment of everyone...Yet he did have some remorse, but only because he didn't get what he wanted as quickly as he wanted. His entire character and characterization was amazing. I actually ended this book wishing I could read more with all these characters, especially Victor. There's some nuance to the characterization I liked.

- I was happy to see the authors make Lucia morally ambiguous, ruthless, and cold-hearted towards anyone she deemed an enemy. I like my morally ambiguous heroines in the mafia.

- I hope the authors keep up this style of dark, and keep up the care and attention spent on characterization. I think I've learned I can read anything, even if it doesn't seem like it would be suited towards my tastes, if there's good characterization.

- I'm not going to bother with trigger warnings because if anyone has made it this far in the series you know what you're getting into by now.

I might come back later to add more.

[Rossy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So.. this series is genuinely a dark erotica/dark romance. I will be honest it had a lot Iot degradation and humiliation which I don't necessarily like that much..but, credit to the authors - the story was well crafted and I was reading it all with morbid curiosity and guilty pleasure, even if at times it was absolutely disgusting what they did to her..

So much kink and truly bad heroes.. I guess felt realistic in a sense that they did remain bad.. as in, they did not become marshmallows as the story developed. Albeit the h fit in with them at the end.

What disappointed me the most in this series (Edit: and the reason why 4⭐) is that nothing TRULY-truly changed. After everything they put her through in first 2 books...I was waiting for something more.. more of an explanation, especially more reasoning for Victor's behaviour. Maybe a twinge of hurt over what they did. Yes, in the end they saved her, and promised nothing more drastic etc and that she will be an equal more buuut still. I missed more feelings/more emotion throughout to come to that point. There was resolution, but there was no breaking point for it, you know?

Now.. I know she ran away from them in book 2 (I mean - damn right she did).. but it was hard to see how she had to fake 0rg@sms for the villain and to see her sleeping with him till about 45%..and not one hero be upset by it specifically. Yes, they were angry but still composed for too long.

Worst things for me was that they did let guards grope/s€xually touch her as part of punishment in book 2. And whipped her in front of some other "bosses".. But I just hoped that in the last book, as it developed, their feelings would have been more j/p more obsessed in the final book, wanted some more satisfaction of them being more devastated.

Anycase, I really didn’t know how to rate this, as it was definitely a very enthralling read which is very unique albeit at the same time you feel a bit guilty for reading it😂🙈
kudos to the authors!

Edit: and that's why I settled on 4⭐ as even with all depravity it was so different enthralling and unique. It just that the point that frustrated, I had to explain in more detail!

[Louise ❀ (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can’t lie, in comparison with the first two I struggled a bit with this one and skimmed a lot of it.

TLDR:
We pick up where we left off with Lucia escaping and having to go back to her father and Pavone. Pavone turns out to be worse than the guys, Angelo gets his revenge on Lucia’s father and starts to doubt Victor. Saint finally seems (kind of) convinced that he might be bisexual and is more agreeable to exploring it, although still hesitant. Pavone continues to be gross, Lucia reconciles with the guys, they make plans to get her, her sister and her mother away from Pavone by killing him. Victor swoops in and almost messes everything up (because of course he does), turns out he had a secret plan all along. Lucia escapes, Pavone is killed, Victor and the guys take control. Pavone’s second in command and his son escape with Lucia’s sister. The guys all confess their love to Lucia (yes, even Victor), and agree to be partners for realsies this time. We end the book with the guys and Lucia hunting down Pavone Jr and Ricci to save Lucia’s sister. We don’t see them actually save her in the book because I believe there’s a spinoff series about her.

Honestly, I really wasn’t that impressed with this one. I expected there to be…more. It’s literally like 80% Lucia being stuck with Pavone and being treated like shit, 10% her finding ways to sneak off and be with the guys, then the rest is that ending scene where the guys get her back. It just feels like nothing really changes until right at the very end. Sure, Pavone getting his comeuppance was a satisfying ending for his character but I feel like the rest was kind of a swing and a miss for me.

Trigger and Content Warnings:
Dub/non con
D/s (including male sub)
Humiliation
Violence
Murder
Blood/gore
Torture
FMC literally gets pissed on by multiple men as punishment/humiliation tactic
Kidnap

**Please check trigger warnings before reading. Look after yourself, your mental health is important. You are loved and you matter**

🌶️ - medium

[Shaireen I · Rating 4 out of 5]

Logistically some things are irrevocable which being born in mafia , the characters who are born in this world of crime can't choose to afford a normal life and partner that's why lucia choose the guys because she would rather have less evil like pavone.

this was more of a realistic mafia book, i understand the ending and romance, the characters are truly bad people, the angst was high, the mmc acted a lil nice in this book, the romance aspect was actually more thrilling and felt forbidden in my opinion because of going behind pavone

[The Open Bookish Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
5🌶
⚠️ALL THE TRIGGERS⚠️
__________________
Ok. This book is high on the spice!! So many new experiences!😈😈😈

I felt this one went a little slower than the other two but I suppose that’s to be expected given the circumstances.

I can’t say much or it will literally spoil the book for you. This series was good and I can’t wait to read her sisters book!!!

[reader. kore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful conclusion to this three book series. We see Victor being vulnerable, more of his out of the shadows when he is not the master puppeteer. There's Angelo with his crazed frenzy and Saint- sweet Saint with his own quirks. Every man brought something to the harem- unique kinks, traits and played a fitting role that completes the puzzle. But they have one thing in common- a burning desire for Lucia. A page turner for me that kept me hooked since book one.
Ps. Heed content warnings.

[Tianna Croft · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an ending! Seeing how the characters evolved through the trilogy, especially Lucia definitely made it an amazing read.
If you don’t mind the triggers and plenty of sexy time, with a little m/m action thrown in there, this is definitely one series you have to read!

[Taylor Harvey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t even know why I finished this series.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Give This Book a 4/5 Star Rating

HEA(?): Yes
Relationship Type: RH>Reverse Harem: MMFM
M/M(?): Yes
Heat: 4/5
Romance: 3.5-4/5
Pacing: Mid Fast, You definitely got a feeling for how the pacing was gonna end up being because of the previous book, I do feel like this could’ve been a little bit more breathing room cause near the end a lot was going on and it was kinda hard to focus and I ended up having to reread parts.
Dark(?): 2.5/5, this one is a bit hard to rate, I Love Dark to Extreme Dark reads, this read may be darker for others.
Drama: 4.5/5
Suspense: 4.5:5

No Spoilers.
I’m very interested in reading Vanessa’s Trilogy, I’m very curious as to how her story will unfold.

[♥ I’d Rather Be Reading ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars (rounded up)

- Heroine: Lucia
- Harem: Angelo, Saint, Victor
- POVs Included: Multiple POVs (Lucia, Angelo, Saint, Victor)
- Book Playlist (Hero is Bad Guy Playlist)
- Book Playlist (Enemies to Lovers Romance Playlist)
- Book Playlist (Reverse Harem Romance Playlist)

Lucia has gotten away from Victor, Angelo, and Saint. But now she’s been handed over to a man even worse than the three of them! Now she has to find a way to help save her family from Pavone. She is also starting to question her feelings about the guys when she starts missing them.

I liked this one a lot! There were some things I didn’t like (I’ll get to that in a minute), but the fact that the guys have FINALLY started showing loyalty to Lucia made all the difference.

I still think it was really dumb of her to run home after running from the guys, but it all worked out in the end so who am I to argue?

But I loved Lucia in this one. She’s such a strong character and despite her desperate circumstances, she shows such a great amount of inner strength. I just really liked her.

I also loved that we got so much more Angelo in this one (he’s my favorite of the three). He’s just my kinda psycho and I enjoyed that he had a lot more page time.

And I enjoyed seeing Victor’s behavior improve in this one, even if he is still a little too cold for my own personal tastes.

I didn’t like that we got the detailed scenes of her with Pavone. Some of these are outright rape and I also just don’t like seeing her with someone other than the guys. I could’ve done with more fade to black moments for these. But I appreciated how sneaky she was with the guys behind that asshole’s back. It was a fun dynamic to see her sneaking around with them.

I also wasn’t a fan of her sister Vanessa who just comes across as whiny and a little entitled. I know her books are next so I hope she grows some backbone in those books. I don’t like her that much as of now.

The only other thing I would’ve liked is more background on the guys. Why is Victor so emotionless? What’s the story about why Saint is so scared of being himself sexually? We know a bit about Angelo’s background, but the other two are still a bit of a mystery.

And I would’ve liked for Saint to have come more to terms with his sexuality by the end of the trilogy. He improved, but still has a lot more growth to do. I can’t say I liked his constant whining about it. He’s not my favorite of the guys, a little too soft. I think I just want to run away with Angelo. lol

STILL, despite my couple of issues I REALLY enjoyed this book and series. It was a lot of fun to read and I really binged these. I’d definitely recommend them to those who like darker reverse harems with guys who are assholes at first but come around by the end. Great series! I will definitely read more from this author.

[Kristina Gehrls · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love love love this series, it’s amazing!!! The ending was perfect!!! I am definitely adding this series to my reread list. I fell in love with Saint the most I think. Raissa and Addison did an amazing job with these characters!! Lucia is a strong FMC and she doesn’t back down easily. There are points of abuse, so beware of the triggers. There’s also a lot of steamy goodness throughout the series. I loved everything about this series, thank you ladies!!!

[Tamarra Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

And love Lucia they did

This book contains extremely dark themes, and may not be for you, please head to the authors website for the full list of triggers, readers discretion advised.

Lucia made the ultimate sacrifice and returned home to her father, mother, sister and Pavone. She is now forced to go through the wedding out of choice for her family, and when Angelo shows up, she’s not sure what to make of his presence, but when Pavone subjects her to a s*xual act in front of her family, she has no choice by to acquiesce to him and when the life of her father is taken, she knows there is no going back.

Lucia goes through with the farce that is her relationship with Pavone, going through the motions of planning there wedding, fulfilling each step, the process bringing her to the end, all to protect her mother and sister Vanessa.

But what Pavone doesn’t know is that of the appointments that Lucia has been attending, they have been used as a cover to meet up with Saint and Victor, aided by Angelo, to put a plan in place to bring Pavone and his empire down, in the process using that time to engage in intimate acts with Lucia, feeling conflicted by her feelings for them, and of there feelings towards her of her betrayal.

Pavone uses Lucia to his advantage, playing her, only when it suits him, but to his own disbelief Lucia pits herself against his men, men who attempt to take advantage of her, of their own free will, coming out victoriously, however she endures abject submission, degradation and humiliation by Pavone’s hands, and Lucia is left wondering if she is truly broken physically, psychological, mentally and emotionally, and when she gives Angelo, Saint and Victor a piece of her mind, she is done, just done.

Lucia is saving Vanessa and there mother from a fate worse than death, but doesn’t have the inclination to baby Vanessa’s feelings, doing everything in her power to protect them, much to Vanessa’s disgust, when she is shocked to learn some truths as to why Lucia is doing what she is doing, leading to a disagreement then eventually an apology with Vanessa telling Lucia to stop doing whatever it is she is doing for her, but Vanessa is not cut out for this life, and Lucia will do whatever she needs to ensure her family’s safety.

Then the day of her wedding arrives, and all hell breaks loose, Pavone takes off with Lucia and Giulio and Damien take off with Vanessa. Angelo catches up with Pavone and Lucia, and everything comes full circle when Angelo and Lucia give Pavone what he deserves, his ending bittersweet much to Saint and Victor’s delight also.

But after, these men are no short of being possessive, wicked and depraved, Lucia gives herself to them freely, through it all she continues to show her fiery strength and determination, she fights them at every turn, her resolve never wavering, giving into there touch of pleasure and pain, and it’s in that moment when they admit that they love her and she loves them.

Lucia is not the same person she was before, and she knows that she can never go back to her life before everything, for everything has changed and she wouldn’t change it for a thing, as Victor finally makes her part of there team, using her wily skills to wheedle out Pavone’s men, being part of the process gives Lucia a thrill like no other, because for Victor, kidnapping Lucia really was the best decision he’d ever made.

This story is told from different POV, it will take you on a wild ride, having you turn page after page. This book had me from beginning to end, it told a telling story, this author definitely knows how to write.

This book has it all slow burn dark romance, alpha dominant men, a woman who gives as good as she gets, dark humour, mafia related themes, roller coaster of emotions, drama, action, loyalty, jealousy, madness, mayhem, intrigue, revenge, vengeance, violence, murder, adrenaline seeking suspense, twists, turns, truths.

Reading this story, it enables the  readers to really connect with the characters, and as the story unfolds the readers see the development and growth from the characters singularly and together. 

And those MM, MF, MFM and MFMM s*x scenes, including those BDSM elements were steamy, yet sensual, dirty, hot, intense, physical, provocative, it had all the angry angst, hate, pleasure and passion one would except. Victor, Angelo and Saint take what they want without consequence, each giving Lucia the pain and pleasure she deserve, their possessive and obsessive need for control and dominance, it was off the charts and had all of the feels.

Cannot believe that this is the end of there story, but all good stories must come to and end, they got there happily ever after including that bonus epilogue which proves that they are no short of being possessive, wicked and depraved, showing Lucia who’s clearly in charge and who owns her heart, mind and body, it was bittersweet and oh so perfect, and one very well deserved for them all.

[dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

the way i barely put this book down.... i was captures from the beginning until the end. and i still could not get enough!

lucia, you are such a strong woman with a steel mind and has her savage ways. she's such a great fmc. independent, but not too overbearing. still submits, but knows when to stand up for herself. she was so entertaining to read, and the way her character grew to someone who flourishes and be the best person she can be.

for saint, i felt for him in some scenes, but i understand what they were trying to achieve. i feel bad for what happened to him, and i wish he talked about it with lucia. he's still a great character and in the end, he still ended up submitting as well to all 3 of them.

angelo is that crazy motherfucker in trios. i did not expect anything less from him. from the gun to the choking, one would say i could not get enough of his crazy ways. i loved his character for his open sexuality and how owned it. he did not give a fuck about anyone's opinion about him and i think saint took a memo from his book.

last but not least, victor. this fucker is so consistent at being an asshole. he just keeps on keeping shit to hinself and not giving a fuck. no wonder lucia fucked off. anyway, as expected the fucker did NOT even grovel one bit. he's such an ass especially to lucia. but he did explain all of his actions towards her, which wete uncoventional but hey, it worked. hate to say, he's my fave out of the three just because i really love the red flags.

the characters in this series were intricate and written so beautifully. they had time to become better (somewhat) and redeem themselves. they went through the worst, somehow still came out worse but a little bit better.

the plot will get you on the hook and will never let out. i'll be thinking about this book for awhile. ALOT OF TRIGGERRING things in this series so PLEASE read your TWs. VERY VERY DARK and at one point, i did feel queasy.

the smut was great just like the other two books. these authors, writes them so well and detailed....and yup, that's all i'm gonna say about that.

i can't wait to start the next series about lucia's sister vanessa.

[Kyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic conclusion to the series! I’ve been hooked on this story since Breaking Lucia came out and the authors did an amazing job finishing it off while still leaving room in their world for a spinoff (very excited about this.) The characters are amazing, and these ladies made them feel larger than life. Angelo, Saint, and Victor came together out of convenience all those years ago, but Lucia brought them all together in a way they weren’t before. We get to see what happens when Lucia is removed from that equation and how each guy handles – or doesn’t handle it. Lucia’s character development has come so far! She started out as meek and naïve, she is no longer those things. She’s sassy, feisty, and strong as h*ll and really becomes her own person.

Now, why Lucia thought that running home to Pavone was going to be a better solution is beyond me. And she pays for it dearly. She’s treated as garbage, not human, of zero importance. But through it all she refuses to break. Each time she gets up and dusts herself off just a little bit stronger than before. She even gathers the strength to go behind Pavone’s back – a very brave or maybe stupid decision, but one she makes, nonetheless. Before we know it, she’s this bad**s fmc who’s ready to take on the world. Or at least three deranged, damaged, depraved men. Her biggest obstacle is protecting her family.

This last book has everything I had been hoping to see. Each character continues to grow right up until the end. It looks differently for each one but it’s fascinating to see. When everyone comes together and finally start working together it seems like there might be happy ending in sight. Or at least one that doesn’t keep Lucia as Pavone’s prisoner. I love how the story played out. The spice in this book is off the charts steamy and there is MM. If you love RH mafia romance as much as I do, I highly recommend this trilogy. BEWARE the triggers, read the warnings, this is not a light easy read. It’s dark, filled with kinks and degradation. There is dubcon in this book. I can’t wait to see what these ladies come up with next!! 🖤

[Katie A · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the first two books in this series I was convinced that Emilio Pavone was going to be the worst of all the men around but if I'm being honest, he was the most tame. Sure, he found ways to humiliate Lucia but there wasn't even rough sex with him. The one thing that's worse to me about his humiliation is that they are done in front of other people. Victor made sure to keep the majority of his scenes in private but Emilio didn't care who saw what with Lucia. He did make clear that nobody else was to touch Lucia but that didn't keep him from parading her around and letting people watch his acts of depravity.

This book made me really love Angelo and truly hate Saint. These feelings were already building for me in book 2 but this really solidified how I feel about the two of them. Angelo became Lucia's protector and friend in book 3 and I just feel like that was all she ever wanted or needed. She lost her family throughout these books and even though she was able to live in the same house as her mother and sister she was rarely able to interact with them. Even in book 1 all Lucia ever wanted was to be protected and not be alone. Angelo helped her with that in this book.

As much as I enjoyed the new relationship between Angelo and Lucia, I won't lie when I say that this book was a little bit disappointing. I really expected a lot worse from Emilio so I was a little let down that he didn't do any sort of BDSM or kink play. He really just liked to humiliate Lucia and use her for regular sex that wasn't even portrayed very often in the book. Where the scenes with Victor, Saint, & Angelo were still detailed in graphic I wanted a bit more of Emilio's depravity like was built up in the previous books of the series which is why I'm only giving this installment 3 stars.

[Lissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to start off by stating that I did not read the first two books, I will not read them, and I am glad I did not.

Loving Lucia is excellent - from the plot to the prose to the pace, the quality is something you see in something traditionally published.

It doesn't pull any punches, it is a DARK mafia romance, and it doesn't shy away from the harsh reality that mars mafia life. There is explicit rape, dubious consent, and taboo kinks. In a see of "Dark" romance books, it's refreshing to see a novel where the characters are unabashedly morally grey at best and absolute monsters at their worse. It really adds to the gravity and tension of the situation.

Lucia is hands down one of the best heroines I have ever met. She's manipulative, selfish, and capable. She knows what she wants and will always aim for it against all odds. Seeing such an unstoppable force against an unfair and merciless world is delightful.

Everything is well-paced and interconnected until the end, where things feel very rushed for completion. Lucia's relationships with the men still feel underdeveloped and more out of necessity than any affection. I wish more time was spent exploring the new dynamic with Lucia and her men now that she is "free." Vanessa's kidnapping would have been the perfect avenue to explore that dynamic instead of being the catalyst for a new series. With all the brutality, more softness would have been appreciated. This is the main reason I'm glad I didn't read the first two books; I'm way too sensitive to witness a woman getting brutalized without any payout or love.

I don't think I'll be picking up Vanessa's book. Compared to Lucia, she falls flat and appears whiny and weak.

[Half.sassed.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Queen amongst her Kings

Loving Lucia is culmination of events that have built during the previous two books.

I loved this series. The world building, the character development and k!nks will have you invested in this page turner. You will second guess your morals, because you'll test your boundaries here. Victor, the leader of the pack is cold, aloof and controlling. Saint is the resident S0mnophiliac, and the one that'll steal your heart first. Angelo, the enforcer, will grow on you. I didn't always agree with his tactics, but it's in his character to be the way he is. This is where you'll be rooting for the villains.

Lucia decides to take matters in her own hands and is returned to the original situation she left in book #1. The vicious, Pavone, is the constant thorn in her side that makes her question why she left Victor, Saint and Angelo in the first place. She's tired of being just a Pawn in their game.

Lucia has a strength that you'll admire, she has a toughness about her that helps her survive without claiming the victim card. She handles bad circumstances with expertise.

You'll be swept into this series like none other, but be warned, it has three morally gray characters that you'll grow to love. I really enjoyed the finale of Lucia and her men.

It's not really the end, just the beginning of a new chapter with Lucia's sister, Vanessa. I look forward to the ride these authors take me on.

What you'll find:
Dark romance- it's light black
Captive
RH
Violence

Heed the TW

4.5⭐

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book picks up right where book 2 left off with Lucia returning home to her father and Pavone. Lucia feels like she can't trust Victor, Saint, or Angelo so she is better to return home; Pavone and her father can't be worse then them, can they? With Lucia gone, Victor, Saint, and Angelo struggle to keep themselves together which leads to some unexpected twists!

I really like Lucia's character development throughout this series. She was so much stronger in this book and tried to protect those around her, no matter what it did to her. I ended up liking Saint and Angelo by the middle of the book, but Victor is the one that really surprised me. I ended up loving his character and loved seeing more depth to his feelings. He is not the cold man that I thought he was through the first two books!

This book definitely has some dark parts, but it is filled with action, steam, and twists that will keep you guessing. I will say, this book was by far my favorite in the series. Even with the bonus excerpt, I still need more of Lucia and these guys. I enjoyed meeting Nessa, Lucia's sister, in this book and can't wait to see what happens in her books because she is very different than Lucia.

[Kassey J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never have I ever wanted a fmc to break as much as I have with this book. Lucia was just so annoying it's one thing to be a brat but there's comes a point when someone's suppose to learn and it's taken Lucia forever. I'm rooting for the bad guys to break her mainly because she's tstl. And psychological kink is not one of mine but man is this girl in need of breaking. Like play the long game and stop thinking your better than everyone. Ughhhh this book is good but annoying all at the same time. I like the guys pov's better than hers. She's also a selfish nitwit like everyone's expendable sweetie, get off your high horse already 😪😒. It honestly gets worse and worse with her. She's just so annoying thinking there's not repercussions to acting out and she keeps saying they forced her like no they didn't or else you would of bit and kicked and scratched she didn't fight at all. I swear she's the epitome of the "spoiled tstl weak female" kind of character. It would of been a good book if they actually wrote a somewhat likeable fmc, there's no way to salage her character and I'm almost finished with the 3rd book -_-
Finished and still didn't like her but atleast she stopped treating her men badly...

[Genevieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great finale.

“I can see the hardness in her face, the way her time with Pavone—her time with us—has turned her into something even more alluring.”

Loved being back with this harem. Lucia grew, away from Saint, Angel and Victor, coming into her own. She was possibly as bloodthirsty as they are. Nothing more attractive than a strong FMC.

“I’m the nice one, Rubio. If you just tell me what I want to know, you won’t have to play with Angelo.” - Lucia

The conclusion is a different pace to the first two books. We see more of their motives and backstory. Less violence, still very much mafia. Saint, in particular, accepts who he is. His need for Lucia’s acceptance, praise and love, drives him to truly fit into their relationship.

“The thing with threats is—never make any you don’t intend to follow through on.” - Victor

Victor will still go to any lengths to protect them all. Underneath the cold shell, there is a heart, it’s well hidden.

Angel was the surprise this time, reining in his own needs for Lucia.

Look forward to reading Vanessa’s book, and more of this world.

[Caterina · Rating 4 out of 5]

These men drive me crazy

I liked this book, just as I've liked the other two. If your here you've read the first two and don't need a description of what the book is about so I'm going to give you some of my thoughts.

Victor, Angelo, and Saint are bad boyfriends. How they treat her through what she's going through just proves they don't care about her like they think they do. Saint is the most un-self aware person ever. He gets his feelings hurt and just doesn't see how his actions are to blame for how Lucia feels about him.

Pavone is disgusting on all levels. The authors did a great job making him someone I love to hate.

Eva was a horrible mom even considering how she was being treated by Pavone. But I guess that comes from being forced into marriage with a mobster because you're pregnant. She seems to have no emotional connection with her children.

Vanessa is so scared and leans heavily on Lucia. It seems like she is fragile but don't underestimate her. She will hold her own when it comes down to it. (Read her story in the Breeding Contempt series.)

[Brittani Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

so worth it!!!

If you made it passed book 1&2’s triggers and are fine with more m/m action your safe to read this one😈 and if your here and haven’t read the first 2 books….. what are you doing, go read those first🤣🤣

Story:Well Lucia is back where she started( I mean come on girl😤) and things are not going the way she thought they would (because dah🙄 girl you new better). Now is she going to be able to manipulate things to a better place or will she need the men she abandoned’s help? (And would you want to help the chic that ghosted you on your date😬)

Thought: I was so satisfied with the way this book wrapped up this trilogy. We get answers, they share feelings, and some very deserving people lose lots of bl00d😵😁. And must not forget all the dirty, messy, spice🥵🥵🥵 cause its definitely in there and delicious 🤤.

Rating:5/5 ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't feel like the guys really changed. Although they were a thousand times better than Pavone, they still made excuses for what they did to her and put her through. There was never any groveling or sincere apologies.

Also Saint was a such whiner in this one. I found him to be more feminine than Lucia (which was irritating). For me it took away from his character from the first 2 books and the storyline.

While chapter 21 was hot-ish. It was all about Saint being dominated, which took away from the RH theme.

I didn't find this one to be as good as the first two. I really didn't feel their emotions and what they were giving through. Which was sad because there were so many moments where the guys could have really been there for Lucia emotionally. And instead I felt it was always just about sex for them. 🙁

[Trude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow. So much fucked up shit in this one, for once not a lot by the guys! Be mindful of the triggers if you have one, cause this one has a lot of them.

I loved how the guys developed in this one, especially Victor. I feel like he grew a lot as a character. Saint is adorable most of the time, and I liked that he stopped hating himself as much for wanting something he’s grown up with hearing is wrong. He’s still not completly there, but it’s a start. And Angelo is still as fucked up as ever, but a lot softer towards Lucia than the other books.

And Lucia. Poor Lucia, can’t catch a fucking break. She went through a lot in this one, a lot worse that what the guys actually put her through in the other books. But I liked how she grew into her own power and trusted herself a lot more. Despite what she went through.

Good, fucked up story!

[Nathalie *in it for the angst* · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first half nearly made me give up. I cannot believe that Lucia goes back yo her father. She’s supposed to be this strong woman, but she can’t handle getting some cash from her sister and hitch-hiking tf to a different state? It was mentioned a few times that Victors influence is very local. Then a few chapters later, she asks to be rescued by the very men she ran away from? Seriously?
Also: Dub-con with a man who isn’t part of the harem… ummm no. That went too far for me.

The second half of this book was the first time I partly enjoyed reading this book. There were some nice scenes between the main characters. However, I could only make myself enjoy them by willingly forgetting what they did in the first two books. The guys didn’t apologise nearly enough to deserve her attention. The love declarations at the end felt sudden and it is still not clear to me why the guys like Lucia or she them.

So, since I *kind of* enjoyed 0.5 of the three books, I’d say this was a waste of time.

[Tianna McPherson (Anna Lee) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved how this story played out. Lucia running back home having to marry the bad guy but finding a way to still love the 3 that made her life hell to begin with when the kidnapped her. Then to finally come to realize that all along they were what she needed to begin with. Victor, Saint and Angelo also realize that deep down they to have found love for each other. But what I loved the most was how in the end they did everything that they could but still two people slipped away with the one thing she holds dear. I can't wait to see that one plays out. If you haven't read this series yet, then I'm going to tell you now that it's a must read. I give it 5 stars. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

[Shawna Jimenez more.books.forever · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an epic conclusion to one Holy F wild ride!! Lucia’s growth was leaps and bounds I loved who she became and how much she would sacrifice for the ones she cares about. Angelo, Saint and Victor finally accept that Lucia is all they have needed all along and I swear it took losing her the way they did to get their. The love these four have developed over the course of the series was everything. Their journey was nothing short of a freaking miracle because it was no sun shine and rainbows but in the end it was them. I wouldn’t have had it any other way their worked for everything they have together. This series is a must read and I cannot wait for what comes next from these two authors.

[UnintentionallyKind · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite level of crazy

So excited to be back with Lucia and her men again!
I have had rose colored glasses for Victor, Angelo, and Saint since the beginning but I love how after her heartbreaking decision in book two the tables were turned. As much as I missed Saint, Angelo, and Victor's "loving" torture it was nice to see another side to them. She also suffers at the hands of Pavone this time including his horrible endearment of "babe" on a regular basis but gains some ground with her men. There was so much growth that needed to happen for their relationship to evolve and this book made that possible even though it was incredibly painful to read at times. Can't wait to see what's in store for Vanessa!

[Taereadsspice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucia takes a huge risk by deceiving the guys and going to marry Emilio the ruthless mob boss. She’ has learned how to be just a manipulative, selfish and capable after dealing with everything that has been thrown at her. She has become the true BOSS.
The guys are not only growing on a personal level after they are betrayed but it’s so hot to also see their own relationships. We get to see the smutty as sin but also a softer side that was defiantly needed after the first 2 books but don’t be discouraged because they still have their usual antics. LOL
I was so happy with how the author wrapped up the series. I felt like all the questions were answered, blood was shed for people to have their revenge and feelings reveled.
I can not wait for the next book that has Luci’s sister.

[Emily Draper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed the series a lot, but with this book I felt like I wanted more of a conclusion to their relationships with each other. The storyline with Pavone was fairly satisfying, but it dragged when it came to Lucia and her guys finally admitting what they meant to each other. Plus Lucia never talked about how she felt for them. Maybe that is resolved in the novella after this one, but it just felt like a glaring hole in the scene at the safehouse at the end. Also, I wish Saint had also come to terms with his feelings for Angel. That still felt very unresolved, and squicky when he had to be manipulated into anything with Angel or Victor. Either he wanted them or not; either he was going to embrace the fact that he was queer or it was always going to feel slightly rapey.