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Ciccone Brothers #0.5
It Starts With Me
Stray.
Reject.
Ward of the state.
That’s all I was five years ago. All I thought I would be until Clyde Gallo took me in.
He saw something in me. A hunger for power. No fear.
I would be the perfect soldier in his war for dominance.
But if my time in foster care, group homes, or the streets have taught me anything, it’s to trust no one. Especially a man like Clyde.
He may have molded me to be the perfect right hand, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want more.
I play my part, I listen, and I always follow through, but another thing I’ve learned is to show no mercy, take no pity, and use the stupid fools who trust you as stepping stones.
When Clyde takes something of mine, he’ll see just how close I hold those words to my cold, black heart.
It Starts With Me is the prequel to the Ciccone Brothers series and is a stand-alone novella. Please note: the books in this series contain mature content (18+), graphic violence, and may contain triggers that could be offensive to some readers.
Reject.
Ward of the state.
That’s all I was five years ago. All I thought I would be until Clyde Gallo took me in.
He saw something in me. A hunger for power. No fear.
I would be the perfect soldier in his war for dominance.
But if my time in foster care, group homes, or the streets have taught me anything, it’s to trust no one. Especially a man like Clyde.
He may have molded me to be the perfect right hand, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want more.
I play my part, I listen, and I always follow through, but another thing I’ve learned is to show no mercy, take no pity, and use the stupid fools who trust you as stepping stones.
When Clyde takes something of mine, he’ll see just how close I hold those words to my cold, black heart.
It Starts With Me is the prequel to the Ciccone Brothers series and is a stand-alone novella. Please note: the books in this series contain mature content (18+), graphic violence, and may contain triggers that could be offensive to some readers.
73 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2022
24 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Sade Rena
51 books574 followersSade Rena is a USA Today Bestselling Author of Contemporary and Multicultural Romance.
A lover of all things romance, Sade enjoys spinning tales that are angsty, emotional, and sexy. Stories that sometimes blur the lines and test the limits of love. She writes diverse characters who are flawed, and maybe even a little broken, but either way, the men in her books will worm their way into your heart.
If you enjoy dark contemporary and dark paranormal romance, please be on the lookout for titles under S. Rena!
Visit www.saderena.com
Join the mailing list for updates- https://www.saderena.com/email-list
Facebook and Instagram -@saderenawrites
A lover of all things romance, Sade enjoys spinning tales that are angsty, emotional, and sexy. Stories that sometimes blur the lines and test the limits of love. She writes diverse characters who are flawed, and maybe even a little broken, but either way, the men in her books will worm their way into your heart.
If you enjoy dark contemporary and dark paranormal romance, please be on the lookout for titles under S. Rena!
Visit www.saderena.com
Join the mailing list for updates- https://www.saderena.com/email-list
Facebook and Instagram -@saderenawrites
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 13, 2022
Each installment cements my love for the Ciccones more than the last!
While doing a job for his then-boss, Clyde Gallo, Eric finds himself back inside the South End Boys’ Home. There the trajectory of his life and legacy are irrevocably changed.
Despite the short length, It Starts With Me gives us the depth we had been missing where the Ciccone patriarch is concerned. This prequel helped slot so many series elements into place and gives fodder for those of us reeling from the WTF cliffy at the end of Teach Me. It was interesting to see the more human version of Papa Ciccone as well as the circumstances that made him the man and leader he ultimately became.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🖤🖤
Heat: 🌶
🗂 Genre: Romantic Suspense
✨ Tropes: Mafia/Bratva/Crime Family,
⚠️ Safety Squad: VïoIence. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📣 Type: It Starts With Me is part of the Ciccone Brothers series, but can be read as a standalone. However, these books will be best enjoyed when read as a series.
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
While doing a job for his then-boss, Clyde Gallo, Eric finds himself back inside the South End Boys’ Home. There the trajectory of his life and legacy are irrevocably changed.
Despite the short length, It Starts With Me gives us the depth we had been missing where the Ciccone patriarch is concerned. This prequel helped slot so many series elements into place and gives fodder for those of us reeling from the WTF cliffy at the end of Teach Me. It was interesting to see the more human version of Papa Ciccone as well as the circumstances that made him the man and leader he ultimately became.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🖤🖤
Heat: 🌶
🗂 Genre: Romantic Suspense
✨ Tropes: Mafia/Bratva/Crime Family,
⚠️ Safety Squad: VïoIence. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📣 Type: It Starts With Me is part of the Ciccone Brothers series, but can be read as a standalone. However, these books will be best enjoyed when read as a series.
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
June 26, 2022
I was not expecting to like this as much as I did. I’m usually not a fan of MF, but damn this was good. There was so much grit and angst compacted into such a short story that I found myself not wanting to put it down. I don’t think I’ve ever read a mafia book quite like this one and I mean that in the best way possible.
April 8, 2022
It Starts With Me is not a romance, so keep that in mind. Instead, it functions as a necessary backstory to the head of the Ciccone family and offers some intriguing tie-ins to the overall series.
April 12, 2022
An interesting start
It Starts With Me is a short, quick, bloody read that gives basic background on the Ciccone family. It's a little steamy; with one very short spicy scene, but mostly focuses on Eric and how he becomes the head of the Ciccone family.
I think it will be interesting to see how this series unfolds.
It Starts With Me is a short, quick, bloody read that gives basic background on the Ciccone family. It's a little steamy; with one very short spicy scene, but mostly focuses on Eric and how he becomes the head of the Ciccone family.
I think it will be interesting to see how this series unfolds.
April 3, 2022
Now I get the connection from Teach Me and Jerry; I wondered if it might be something like this and I love this quick prequel. This family has drawn me in, and I can't quit reading their story.
December 7, 2022
AWESOME!! SPOILER ALERT!!
What a way to start a series! Can't wait to read the next book. This is a short story that explains on how Eric "Papa" Gallo becomes Eric Ciccone, which in my opinion is so awesome & different (I didn't expect it at all), He takes Lily's last name! Even though I expected for the story to mention that Clyde, his boss, to die by Eric's hands I DID NOT EXPECT for Lily to die!! And now Papa Ciccone has Max & adopted a son from a druggie, WOW, that was also unexpected. Again, I can't wait to read the next book!!
What a way to start a series! Can't wait to read the next book. This is a short story that explains on how Eric "Papa" Gallo becomes Eric Ciccone, which in my opinion is so awesome & different (I didn't expect it at all), He takes Lily's last name! Even though I expected for the story to mention that Clyde, his boss, to die by Eric's hands I DID NOT EXPECT for Lily to die!! And now Papa Ciccone has Max & adopted a son from a druggie, WOW, that was also unexpected. Again, I can't wait to read the next book!!
April 10, 2023
Needed This!!!
New author to me. Just finished Ivy and Baby's book. I had my issues with it, but this short helped to bring WAAAAAYYYYY more clarity to their story and probably the other books. Wish authors got this from the beginning. When we have origin stories of how people came to be with a series, it makes more sense, flows better for readers and we stay invested in your series. I don't know if I want to read the rest of the series, because again we only see some of the origin story...but it was good enough for those that love this author and this series.
New author to me. Just finished Ivy and Baby's book. I had my issues with it, but this short helped to bring WAAAAAYYYYY more clarity to their story and probably the other books. Wish authors got this from the beginning. When we have origin stories of how people came to be with a series, it makes more sense, flows better for readers and we stay invested in your series. I don't know if I want to read the rest of the series, because again we only see some of the origin story...but it was good enough for those that love this author and this series.
November 5, 2025
2.5 stars
I read this in the anthology Coerced. See my review for it here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I read this in the anthology Coerced. See my review for it here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews