Original Sin

The Sinners #1

by Elizabeth Miller

Deadly. Dangerous. A beautiful sinner.

Luca Mancini is an assassin with a dark past and a darker scar crushing more than his good looks.
He said goodbye to his soul. I said hello to an unfamiliar stirring deep inside.
Some people call him monster. I must call him mine.
The capo dei capi, the greatest king of all time, forces Luca to marry me—his defiant daughter.
Watch her, he commands of Luca. Control her and make her obey the family motto: loyalty above all else.
But I have other plans.
They involve retribution for my mother’s death and freedom from this God forsaken underworld.
Luca has a choice. Fight by my side, or crumble with the rest of the kingdom.

I want revenge. Luca wants me.
A mafia war brought us together.
Will his vow to my father tear us apart?

Love is power, sinning inevitable.
And for the king to fall, a woman must rise to reign—or die trying.
I’m about to take my shot at the throne.


The Sinners is an organized crime / mafia romance that edges on the dark side. These pages are full of revenge, punishment and redemption, but this is also a deeply moving love story. Please read with caution.

Genres: Dark Romance, Contemporary, Romance, Mystery, Anthologies, Amazon, Mafia Romance

439 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

Writer, wife, mother, and gummy bear lover. As a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance, Elizabeth Miller brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.

Reviews

[Clayr Catherall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic start to this Dark Mafia Duet.

I was drawn into this story from the very first page. The secrets, lies, mystery, danger and action, had me glued to my kindle. I didn’t know what was going happen next.

Would Vivienne ever be free? Is Lucas her HEA? Would Vigo get what he deserved?

Now I went into this book blind, only knowing it was a Mafia romance. Which I have say, I’m huge fan of. This was also a new to me author, and I’m now rushing to find more of her books. As this story was amazing! I can’t wait to read book two.

[Natalia · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @37%

Couldn't connect with any of the characters nor the story...

Vivi needs a special place in the boring, meaningless and annoying characters list.

[Literary Temptations · Rating 3 out of 5]

MY RATING: 3.5*
RELEASE DATE: 17 January 2022
CLIFFHANGER: Yes

ARC was kindly provided for an honest review

This is my first book by this author. Its full of intrigue, mystery, anguish, deceit, heartbreak, love and betrayal. Luca and Vivian are a couple who want each other but their circumstances pose such an obstacle that being together seems impossible.

Vivian is born to a ruthless man who seeks power, respect in the most violent of ways. With contempt for his daughter and something akin to hatred for her hardheadedness, he is abusive, emotionally, and physically to try to bring her to heed but no joy. Vivi is fierce and refuses to cower to him and compromise her moral compass for anyone, no matter how much they beat her.
Through her turmoil, her only constant is her father’s assassin, Luca. Her heart yearns for him. For some reason he is the light in her world, while he’s not even hers. As fate may have it, in the end he becomes hers. Or is he really?

Luca is known as the man you never want your name to cross his desk. As assassin for the don with a kill list as long as his arm. When his boss’s daughter catches his eye, he knows he cant act on his feelings without risk of death. So he fight his feelings, but Vivi pushes until by stroke of luck, she lands on his lap. But are his intentions pure? Is he marrying her for love, or are the hidden agendas at play?

There are so many secrets in this book and I’m here for it. I have to say I wish I’d read the book before this one because while I enjoyed it I couldn’t hep but feel like I was missing something. Especially when Luca and Vivi met and whatever it is that happened 5 years ago. There was a lot going on off pages which always does my head in because it robs me of feeling really part of the story. Like the dynamics of Simone and her husband that made him think Vivi would have secrets. I wish I got to see Vivi’s life with her family apart from when they were beating the shit out of her. It almost read like part 2 of an already told story.

Luca’s background while told was another thing that happened off pages. Even the mafia-ness of a mafia story was off the pages. I really hate that. Another thing that annoyed me was how long the chapters were. They got tedious to read and somehow slowed down the pace of the book.

But, I loved Luca. Nobody, and I mean nobody grovels like that man. It made me all swoony and fuzzy inside, hell I would have forgiven him anything. I liked the storyline. The betrayal was plentiful I felt sorry for Vivi. To be that alone must suck. Literally everyone in her life betrayed her.

I can’t wait for book two because that cliffhanger is savage. I don’t know how she will move on from that kind betray from Luca, and I can’t wait to find out.

[Chalice · Rating 3 out of 5]

The couple: Luca and Vivienne

Romance trope: mafia
Series: The Sinners
Length: 439 pages

Plot: Vivienne's dad is the head of the mafia and Luca is his newest soldier. He's also the object of her affection even if he can't return her regard. She has to learn to live without him - sort of. He's always around and when push comes to shove, when her dad is about to get rid of her one way or another, Luca steps up. But is that sort of forced marriage what Vivi wants? And who is Luca, really?

Commentary: The big reveal at the end wasn't that much of a surprise.
The book felt really long (and has a second book to finish out the story), and I think part of that is the amount of poetic introspection coming from both characters. I don't think the style fit the genre/tropes. And (I hope I'm wrong) it almost seems like at the end - and into the next book - we're going to see the heroine transform into a more bada$$ sort of mafia princess who has the skills to stay on the run and fight people. I could be wrong. But I rarely enjoy that sort of transformation because it never feels realistic. Although I guess I don't know what a realistic mafia princess/bodyguard/undercover agent breakup would look like.

Next book in the series: Deadly Sin

[Spunky N Sassy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spunky N Sassy Rating: 5.0

~~~~~~~~~~Julie's ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review~~~~~~~~~~

This book is beautifully written. The love, hate and anguish is all right out in the open. Vivi and Luca really want the same thing but lies always destroy. Vivi breaks my heart but somehow I think she will find away to get her peace.

[Sophie Ruthven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a new to me author and one I'll definitely be reading more from in the future, including the second book in what is shaping up to be a fantastic duet.
It was so close to being added to my top reads of '22, only a few minor niggling things that stopped me, but they were nothing in the grand scheme of things, still making this a solid 5 star read.
This was a massive book (in a good way), yet I was forcing myself to slow down as I didn't want the book to end it was that jam packed with action and secrets.
I can't reccomend this book enough and I'm already eagerly awaiting the second part. I'm sure I'll be doing a re read before that happens and that says a lot with my hectic list.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.

Luca Mancini is an assassin with a darker past and a darker scar crushing more than his good looks. He said goodbye to his soul. I said hello to an unfamiliar stirring deep inside. Some people call him a monster. I must call him mine. The capo dei capi, the greatest king of all time, forces Luca to marry me-his defiant daughter. Watch her, he commands of Luca. Control her and make her obey the family motto: loyalty above all else. But I have other plans. They involve retribution of my mother's death and freedom form this God forsaken underworld. Luca has a choice. Fight by my side or crumble with the rest of the kingdom. I want revenge. Luca wants me. A mafia war brought us together. Will his vow to my father tear us apart? Love is power, sinning inevitable. And for the king to fall, a woman must rise to reign-or die trying. I'm about to take my shot at the throne.

This is a darkish mafia romance, but with that said I have to say that it is one heck of an epic love story. But there might be some triggers for some readers so you should heed the warning in the beginning of the book if that applies to you.
This is a story that will have you hooked from the very first pages. It was filled with tons of secret and lies. A whole lot of danger and will have you reading your kindle non stop. Vivienne and Luca have one heck of a story and all she wants is her revenge for her mothers death and freedom for the world she has been in her whole entire life. She hates it with a passion and that's all she is ever wanted. Her father forced Luca to marry her, but that was really not a problem since he wanted her to begin with. But did he want her for love or what he could gain out of the entire situation. Vivienne is one tough female character too!!! This was my first Elizabeth Miller read too and I really really loved how she writes her characters. You feel like you really are seeing a movie play out in front of your eyes as your reading it is so well written. If you love mafia books then this one is so worth taking the chance on. I loved every second of it.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an action packed, edge of your seat tale that gripped my attention from page one.

Vivienne longed for one thing: freedom. Through the story, she experienced loss but also profound love. Luca was a dark knight and he was determined to protect Vivienne. But in a world where secrets and lies rule, who can Vivienne trust? So much was hidden in codes and clues and everyone wanted what Vivienne had or was perceived to have. Her father was power hungry and demanded respect and loyalty from all. If not...

As the story progressed, it seemed that Vivienne found a strength within herself. This is what I loved about her as a character. She was a pawn in her father's game but she refused to remain as one. She realised that there was only one person who could save her.

This was a compelling and riveting read. So many surprises and truths exposed that I kept gasping out loud. I can't go into it too much detail because I want readers to discover these truths for themselves. I just don't know how I'll cope with waiting for the next book. I need to know what awaits Vivienne and Luca.

[Amy Mccann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mafia romance is one of my absolute favourite genres and I thoroughly enjoyed the Original Sin by Elizabeth Miller she gave us a deadly and sinful story with a strong heroine, Viva has managed to get away from her controlling family but she finds it hard to trust anyone especially a man like Luca.

Luca is a ruthless man who has no qualms in killing those who deserve death. He's sexy and mysterious and you can see why Vivi would fall for a man like Luca but can he have Vivi and manage to keep his guard up.

A fantastic mafia book full of danger, death and passion it was left on a brilliant cliffhanger and I'm excited to see what the next book has in store for Luca and Viva.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

From its start to its awesome cliffhanger, this is a book crammed with action, passion and an intensity that has left me reeling. The strength and courage of Vivi is wonderful! Her determination in the face of the deep freeze of her family and its purpose, is so dangerous. She is a creation of fire, one that has burned long and deep. Her journey with Luca is a part of Vigo's plan to control her. Good luck with that! Vigo is detestable and Luca is, in so many ways, the kindling to keep Vivi's fire bright and stoked. I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens next. I'm sure it will be as explosive as this book! 💖💖💖💖💖

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Any increment of time with you is worth a life full of pain.”

Original Sin is a dark, dangerous and steamy story full of mystery, violence, and intrigue. Vivi and Luca are a tumultuous and passionate couple who must fight each other and outside forces to even have a chance at a life together.

“Another vow, this one spoken with so much ferocity I knew in my marrow I’d only ever belong to Luca Mancini.”

Vivi was a fierce heroine. She refused to be controlled by her family and was determined to free herself to live her life on her own terms. She was slow to trust and if she gave you her trust and you betrayed her, watch out. Luca gave her hope for a brighter future, but even though he has her heart, she’s not sure if he can be trusted with her secrets.

“Vivienne Mancini owned me, and I would do everything in my power to remain by her side.”

Luca was a killer and made no apologies for his gruffness. He was a man of mystery with a dark past, but his feelings for Vivi made him vulnerable. He would do anything to protect her and she helps soften this dangerous man.

“Even when we’re apart I fight for you. I’ll always find you.”

Vivi and Luca travel a difficult road and their story is not an easy one. There are secrets, lies and betrayals around every corner and you never know who you can trust. My heart was absolutely shattered by the end of the book. This book ends in a cliffhanger and I absolutely cannot wait for the conclusion to Vivi and Luca’s story.

[One Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivi & Luca love story is a long complex one. Luca is here to keep his girl safe from a hidden enemy even thou she hates his guts 😈 Father, The Boss made it a official in a meeting.

Luca is the most dangerous weapon to the Cabello Family. They are using his to protect the mafia princess that is not afraid to stand her ground especially against her Father...no spoilers...but I will say she suffered the consequences for it and still not afraid. His heart beat for her that the vow he takes🖤

"A new world order. No one is protecting you now." ~Luca
A series of event causes Vivi to be valuable...no spoilers

Vivi has a "Il mio bel salvatore" (you have to read the book😉) his name is Luca. Oh and she hates his guts why I hear well that a complex one...no spoilers. Vivi is a strong independent women that is not afraid and she prays for her families sins

Steamy sins, suspense, action and get ready to be addicted to their forbidden romance lies & secrets.

Who knew searching the truth could be so🥵 lets just say it a new method! 😈 YES THERE IS A CLIFFHANGER! AND it made me tearful 😭

☆MUST READ & FAV☆

[Reading by Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

She met the priest outside the confessional as the sounds of gunfire interrupted her confession. Vivienne Cabello sought him out weekly for absolution...murder, corruption, human trafficking. And he tells her each week that her father's sins aren't hers to bear.

The closest that Vivi came to being at peace was while volunteering at the Mission in Brooklyn. She is preparing a meal for the hundreds that are expected when her friend Sam turns up the TV in the Mission kitchen. Bruno Angelini was dead...he had been pulled out of the Hudson River.

Sam whispers asking if he had called the hit. She didn't need to say anything else because Vivi knew what she was asking. Her father Vigo Cabello was the biggest mafia king on the East Coast. Drugs, guns and money laundering that spanned 11 countries and the largest human trafficking network in the world...a true monster.

She hears childish squeals as the outer doors open and looks up to see her mother with arms full of flowers and gifts for the children. Her mother Simone promised that they would be free and whispered in her ear that she had plans in place...and then the lights go out and the only light is from the flashes of machine gun fire...and her mother lying dead in her arms.

Luca Mancini was a hitman and Vigo wanted Simone's secrets. Secrets that Vivi held. But Vivi wasn't the only one with secrets.

I can't tell you enough how much I enjoyed this book. It is very well written and the characters are fully developed and relatable. I first want to say that if you don't like books with cliffhangers beware because this story leaves you hanging.

This has to be one of the best mafia romances that I have read. This story grabs you from word one and the storyline has twists and turns and shocking revelations. Vivi isn't the normal Mafia Princess that you read about - she hates the world that she was born into and will do anything to escape. Luca made a pledge to the mafia king and will do anything to keep his promise.

This book is action-packed, full of danger and suspense, violence and steamy hot chemistry. If you have triggers for sexual violence and abuse this dark romance might not be for you, but wow! I can't wait to see what happens next. This is my first time reading Elizabeth Miller and it won't be the last. Highly recommend!

[Joy Avery Lovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

☆☆☆☆☆
Original Sin was an exciting, mysterious, heated thrill ride of epic proportions. This is my first read by this author and I don’t plan on it being the last. I fell in love with her style of writing and creative mind.
Luca Mancini is an assassin with a rather dark past and a darker scar that seemed to destroy more than his incredibly good looks. It seems his soul disappeared after every life he’s taken working for Vigo Cabello. Vivienne is Vigo's daughter and a constant struggle to deal with. She wants revenge for the death of her mother but more than anything, she wants freedom from the cesspool of a life she’s lived, up until now. She’s always noticed Luca and been very attracted and vice versa. She gets the surprise of a lifetime when her father forces Luca to marry her. Even amidst the abuse she’s had to endure, both mentally and physically, from her father, he’s never been able to control her. He thinks Luca may be able to. He gives Luca strict instructions to watch Vivi closely, find a way to control her and make her obey the code, “Loyalty above all else”, the family motto. She has other plans. Luca can fight beside her or fall with the rest of them. Her father is the capo de capi or king. She plans to get rid of the King and if she survives, take the throne. Can she trust her new husband or will he betray her like everyone else?
The book pulled me in from the very beginning and kept me engaged until the cliffhanger that just about devastated me. There were so many twists and turns, secrets, lies, betrayal, suspense and action-packed events that kept me perched on the edge of my seat dying to know what would happen next. I can’t believe we have to wait until October for part two of this duet! But it’s worth it. I loved the characters, especially Vivi. She is such a feisty yet strong female lead. She was bad to the bone. Her strength and desire to continue fighting was admirable and had me seriously falling for her as well as Luca. They are an incredible power couple. I highly recommend this book but if you hate cliffhangers, you may want to wait. This is my honest opinion, freely given.

[Jennifer Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY EVER LOVIN' HOLY HELL! That brutal cliffhanger ending has me dying inside because my goodness, didn't see it coming whatsoever & I'm absolutely SHOCKED AS ALL HELL! I'm one of those readers whose mind is always trying to guess what's going to happen, and I'm not going to lie, I have figured out a ton but again, I'M SHOCKED AS ALL HELL! It's the story of Vivienne, who comes from a powerful mafia family, but she's not too loved to be honest. Luca is the man who is tasked to keep her safe when things really start to happen in a bad way. She's always had a thing for him, and he harbors his own secret feelings, and finally things start to develop. The twists are intense and coming in hot as no one knows why someone is out to get Vivienne, hell, it could be her own family but who knows?! The heat was serious, and there's action jumping off as well. Now I'm here impatiently waiting on the conclusion since I need it more than coffee, so I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Jesi Blanco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betrayal hurts more when it comes from someone close to you.

Vivi comes from a powerful family but life has not treated her well. She is abused in more ways than one. But Luka is willingly to do everything he can to keep her safe. When she is to be married off to a man, Luka tells they should be married.

But secrets are coming to light. Even though he does his best to keep her safe, who can keep his secrets away from Vivi? They will learn how much fire a woman scorned can create. I can't wait to read the rest of their story in the next part of their duet!

*𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘*

[Trac · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a slow start , but Mann… when it picked up , it wasn’t just cruising.. we were flying. So much drama, mystery, intrigue , suspense . I adored how the author wrote this heroine . She was emotionally tethered , yet mentally strong enough to know when to accept that emotion was her downfall and she rose from the ashes of her own ignorance. It was such a beautiful character development, I was in awe of this girl . Luca was flawed , but as much as I liked him, I am not completely invested in him. I still feel that his job and obligations were still his priority and without realizing it completely, he was still using And manipulating Vivi to get his job done . It didn’t matter what he said , his actions contradicted his feelings so I’m not really rooting for him or their reconciliation.

Awesome book ! Highly recommend

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first part of a duet and is Luca and Vivienne’s story. Luca is the assassin for a Don, and Vivi is his boss’s daughter, and he tries to stay away from her as she is forbidden. Luca and Vivi want the same things but are destined to be torn apart by lies and deceit, and there are so many obstacles to challenge them. This duet ends with a whammy of a cliffhanger, and I cannot wait for the second part. This is a well written flawless story which is dark, raw, gritty, and with secrets, lies, redemption, mystery, danger, emotions, anguish, deceit, heartbreak, betrayal, and love, which leads to a riveting and addictive page turner. I highly recommend this talented authors work.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original sin is one of those books that starts out slow and gradually gets more interesting until it builds up to the mother of all cliffhangers.
This mafia romance has all the usual things. Innocent naive heroine, hot as hell alpha hero and bad guys. Twists and turns also make an appearance and before you know it, you’ve finished the book in a large sitting.
This book is the first one I’ve read from the author and I look forward to reading the conclusion , as well as more of her other books.

[Teresa Juckett (Love Dark Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow is all I can say after that ending. That last chapter I swear sprouted wings and flew as everything came to a head between Vivienne and Luca and the lies and secrets told it had me on the edge of my seat just trying to read it fast enough with what was happening ugh these 2 are going to give you a run for your money. This is one book that will have you scrambling to figure out who's playing who and keeping secrets. Needless to say I was floored with those eye opening reveals😳. This book was soooo good I'd definitely recommend.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’m impressed! It started off a little confusing for me, and I couldn’t figure out who was who and what was going on. It didn’t take long for it to make sense, and once it did I was hooked! This book was so suspenseful and everyone is so full of secrets! There were so many twists and turns I did not expect! Each secret revealed hooked me in even further! There is so much action packed into this first book in the duet, I absolutely can’t wait to see what happens in the second part! This is definitely a one-click recommend, you won’t regret it!

[Denise Rei · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLYSHEETCAKES, Miss Miller you need to be spanked for dropping that twist. I'm still mindblown at the intensity of Vivi and Luca's relationship and how it has evolved. And how can I not snicker and feel Luca's frustration whenever he 'Viviiieeeenne' Vivi?

It is seriously building up to a head with the plot and I can't wait for the final book whilst still wishing the worst outcome towards Vigo and Stefano.

Book Two is very well-written, and has a good pacing throughout. It's remarkable how some authors can draw you in with so much in details and emotions. Brilliant job girl!

[Crysti Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was going to be a 3 star review… until the last 15% of the book. That last 15% was enough to earn another star. The story started off introducing us to Vivi and the people around her - family and friends. We are then introduced to Luca and his involvement with Vivi’s family. The many twists and turns this story takes were true to the characters and storyline. But, that last 15% (give or take a few percent) completely blew my mind. I had to stop reading and try to figure out if I missed something because those bombshells were completely unexpected. However they added the WTF moments the story needed. I already wish part 2 was out so I could read the conclusion to this story. If there are shockers in that book like the end of this one, it’ll be a great read.

There were times I thought that I would mark this as a DNF. However, I am so glad that I stuck it out until the end. Vivi and Luca are hot together. I can’t wait to see if their love can withstand all the secrets and her horrible family (minus the one brother. He’s pretty cool. But, I don’t know how long that will last once all the secrets come pouring down). Speaking of secrets… I can’t wait to find out the big secret that has everyone killing to keep buried.

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original Sin by Elizabeth Miller is the First book in The Sinners Duet. This starts the story of Luca and Vivienne 'Vivi'. Luca Mancini is an assassin who is scared on the inside and the outside. Vivienne is the daughter of a very mean and abusive man. When Vivienne and Luca are brought together they both seem to have the same goal. This book does end up with a cliffhanger setting us up for the next installment in their story.

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original Sin by Elizabeth Miller is the First book in The Sinners Duet. This starts the story of Luca and Vivienne 'Vivi'. Luca Mancini is an assassin who is scared on the inside and the outside. Vivienne is the daughter of a very mean and abusive man. When Vivienne and Luca are brought together they both seem to have the same goal. This book does end up with a cliffhanger setting us up for the next installment in their story.

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

This is a new author to me and HOLY ISH!! I am so freaking glad I picked this baby up! I am freaking speechless! Prepare yourself for one wild and crazy ride! This book will make you little black heart beat just a little bit faster! Luca and Vivienne give me so much life. Anything and everything you could want in a dark mafia romance you will find in this baby right here. I was captivated from beginning to end and I cannot wait to pick up Deadly Sin!!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best mafia romance reads I've read in a while. It is far from the same old storylines and had some major twists and turns. Vivi really comes into her own throughout and just builds strength. Luca is a very complicated hero. The suspense, drama and intrigue kept me on edge the entire read. I really hope we don't have to wait too long for book 2. Excellent read.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I had a hard job putting this book down for too long, but one has to, to get the jobs done 😂
Vivi’s father and oldest brother are brutal towards her. Thank God for sending her Luca, her saviour. Lots of secrets hidden in this story, some come out near the cliff hanging end. Onto the next book in the series

[Debra Shutters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in My wife Collection and I was draw in from the beginning the first chapter you learn about some of Luca and in chapter 2 you learn some about Vivi the next chapters kept me reading to find what is happening how they deal with everything and it ends with a cliff hanger. I went to buy this ebook and found that I already have it. Look forward to reading the next book Deadly Sin.

[Melony Hobgood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really had a hard time getting into this book the first chapter. I'm completely happy I stuck it out because it turned into a great book, with about every emotion I could have. I will say some parts definitely left a bigger impression on me than others.