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The Mafia Wives #1
Ruthless Vows
He despised me but claimed me anyway.
Gabriel Moretti is a monster.
A man who bought me from auction.
I’m supposed to care for my new husband.
But how can I when he hates my father for what he did to him?
Now I’m trapped in a marriage filled with deceit.
My mind is filled with loathing.
While my body yearns for his touch,
I’m not sure what the outcome will be.
All I know…
Gabriel has me ensnared.
And I’m not sure I’ll make it out alive.
Ruthless Vows is the first in a 4 book series but it can be read as a standalone novel and has a guaranteed HEA ending.
Gabriel Moretti is a monster.
A man who bought me from auction.
I’m supposed to care for my new husband.
But how can I when he hates my father for what he did to him?
Now I’m trapped in a marriage filled with deceit.
My mind is filled with loathing.
While my body yearns for his touch,
I’m not sure what the outcome will be.
All I know…
Gabriel has me ensnared.
And I’m not sure I’ll make it out alive.
Ruthless Vows is the first in a 4 book series but it can be read as a standalone novel and has a guaranteed HEA ending.
162 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 22, 2022
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March 22, 2022Couldn’t get passed him cheating….a big no no for me in a romance book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2024
Tags: age-gaaap, cheating-hero, cheating-mafia-romance, doormat_heroine, hero-married-to-heroine, mafia-cartel-romance, marriage-arranged, older-hero-younger-heroine, ow-drama, read, revenge, troubled-marriage, virgin-heroine, weak-hero, weak-heroine
It wasn't 'Ruthless' as predicted by the title. The H was no alpha; felt more like a teenager. The H was a typical mamma's boy who acted as such in the name of so-called revenge (who ultimately didn't get the revenge either).
Didn't connect like a mafia romance at all.
It wasn't 'Ruthless' as predicted by the title. The H was no alpha; felt more like a teenager. The H was a typical mamma's boy who acted as such in the name of so-called revenge (who ultimately didn't get the revenge either).
Didn't connect like a mafia romance at all.
March 30, 2022
There were some elements of the story that reminded me of the book Bound by Honor by Cora Reilly. The writing was eh and the story was meh. Absolutely nothing memorable.
March 21, 2022
Trigger Warnings: Violence, Sexual Assault, Cheating
Eva Conti made the ultimate sacrifice to protect her sisters. After learning of her father's irresponsibility and recklessness; Eva and her sisters learn that her Mafia father was in serious debt and didn't have the means to pay. As a result he signed up his eldest daughter for an auction to the highest bidder to pay off his debt.
Gabriel Moretti is out for revenge against the man who killed his little brother years ago. His mother learning of the auction gave him the information and convinced him what better way to get revenge than to buy their enemy's daughter and torture her to get back at RIccardo Conti.
With his plan in place Gabriel went to secure his purchase and implement his plan of revenge. Gabriel charmed Eva under false pretense to gain her trust only to deceive her. Eva learned how cruel and deceitful her new husband was after the auction marriage and returning to his mansion where he kept her locked in a cage while still sleeping with his mistress.
The more time Gabriel spends with Eva the more he realizes that she is nothing like her father and that she is slowly creeping up under his skin. He breaks things off with his mistress and makes a conscious effort to be a better man for his wife.
When facing the possibility of what his future hold Gabriel has to make some hard decisions. One being to let the hate his been harboring for so long go and to decide which family he is willing to fight for. Will he continue to seek revenge for the murder of his brother or will he cleave to his wife and restore her trust in him and work towards the family they just found out they created.
I enjoyed this mafia romance it wasn't as dark as most that I have read but it did deal with the Gabriel cheating on Eva right after they became married and I felt she was too understanding and forgiving. I did enjoy that she wasn't abused and/or humiliated in this story like most women are. This couple had a few bumpy roads to cross but eventually made to their HEA.
I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review based on my opinion to the story.
Eva Conti made the ultimate sacrifice to protect her sisters. After learning of her father's irresponsibility and recklessness; Eva and her sisters learn that her Mafia father was in serious debt and didn't have the means to pay. As a result he signed up his eldest daughter for an auction to the highest bidder to pay off his debt.
Gabriel Moretti is out for revenge against the man who killed his little brother years ago. His mother learning of the auction gave him the information and convinced him what better way to get revenge than to buy their enemy's daughter and torture her to get back at RIccardo Conti.
With his plan in place Gabriel went to secure his purchase and implement his plan of revenge. Gabriel charmed Eva under false pretense to gain her trust only to deceive her. Eva learned how cruel and deceitful her new husband was after the auction marriage and returning to his mansion where he kept her locked in a cage while still sleeping with his mistress.
The more time Gabriel spends with Eva the more he realizes that she is nothing like her father and that she is slowly creeping up under his skin. He breaks things off with his mistress and makes a conscious effort to be a better man for his wife.
When facing the possibility of what his future hold Gabriel has to make some hard decisions. One being to let the hate his been harboring for so long go and to decide which family he is willing to fight for. Will he continue to seek revenge for the murder of his brother or will he cleave to his wife and restore her trust in him and work towards the family they just found out they created.
I enjoyed this mafia romance it wasn't as dark as most that I have read but it did deal with the Gabriel cheating on Eva right after they became married and I felt she was too understanding and forgiving. I did enjoy that she wasn't abused and/or humiliated in this story like most women are. This couple had a few bumpy roads to cross but eventually made to their HEA.
I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review based on my opinion to the story.
June 1, 2022
Good but...
The Author should fix the many errors in this book.
Besides that I enjoyed the book. Gabriel marries Eva for revenge because of what her father did to his family. However Eva's innocence and good heart win him over. You'll want to beat Gabriel for some things he does, I did anyway.
The Author should fix the many errors in this book.
Besides that I enjoyed the book. Gabriel marries Eva for revenge because of what her father did to his family. However Eva's innocence and good heart win him over. You'll want to beat Gabriel for some things he does, I did anyway.
April 23, 2023
I loved the last book I read by this author, so I was excited for this. Sadly, I'm disappointed.
Our hero Gabriel wins an auction to marry Eva, our heroine, in pursuit of revenge against her father Riccardo. Gabriel believes that he can torture Riccardo by torturing Eva. The problem is, he never seems to land on a strategy for this, and he goes back and forth constantly on what to do about her. He clearly has not thought this through at all, and it's annoying. I mean really, who marries someone for revenge without a plan? And yeah, if we're going there, it seems like an obviously flawed idea in the first place, because how much could the h's father care about her if he literally sells her off to the highest bidder to settle his debts? But I get that this is romance, so I'm prepared to accept a little weak logic to further a plot. I just think that the whole series of events would have been a lot more impactful if the hero had a stronger plan in place, and if we could see it carried out a bit more before he starts waffling constantly.
What the H does manage to do to the heroine is lock her in a dungeon here and there for a day or so, until he inevitably changes his mind again and lets her out. Another misstep I see here is that we don't hear anything about the h's experience in the dungeon. What does her cell look like? She's usually wearing some fancy gown when she's down there, is she cold? Does she have a cot, a blanket, or a bench? For the love of God, does she have a toilet?? Can she brush her teeth? He never mentions feeding her. He's gone too much to do it himself, and it doesn’t sound like his staff is complicit in his scheme enough to be delivering meals, so I don't think she's getting food. Somehow this doesn't come up, and the heroine never so much as mentions that she's hungry. It's hard to feel anything about these series of events when everything is so glossed over.
Despite any issues I'd had, I was still all in with this story, soft spots and all, until some shit went down and I realized this book was actually just going to piss me off. Because on top of everything, this story has a raging doormat of a heroine.
So, the H has a lady he sleeps with, right? And then he gets married, and he takes the h's virginity and everything, but he still goes to fuck OW the night after, kind of to keep his focus on the h as the enemy, etc. Okay, yes this is gross, but it makes sense. Gabriel doesn't have any feelings of loyalty to Eva, quite the opposite, he wants to actively discourage any of those feelings. For me, reading this go down just gets me hyped for when the h hears about it, and the H has to deal with the consequences of betraying the relationship he's trying so hard not to care about. That shit sounds delicious.
The h doesn't hear about it at first. What's more, she fucks him within a half hour of being let out of her cell. Disappointing that she doesn't put up any kind of resistance toward the guy who just had you locked in a dungeon, but whatever. There'll be other opportunities for her to show some strength.
Then, the h meets the H's mistress, and is told in clear terms that he is still fucking OW, and that she shouldn't expect anything else because this isn't a real marriage. The h is hurt by this, and it redraws the line between them as opposing forces. The H feels a twinge of guilt, and seeks to quash it by fucking OW again. After they do the deed, he finds himself comparing OW to the h and feels weird about it, so he breaks it off with his mistress. He showers, then goes right down to visit Eva in the dungeon and fucks her. This is where alarm bells start going off in earnest. Is she really not about to put up any form of resistance to this at all? It's one thing to fuck a guy who hates you and treats you like shit, but to fuck a guy that hates you, treats you like shit, and unrepentantly cheats on you? Does she have no self-respect at all??
THEN, right after he comes and he's still inside the heroine, Gabriel tells her that he just broke it off with the OW, not hiding the fact that he slept with OW directly before this in the process. And when this idiot hears that the guy locked her in a cell, fucked another woman, then came back to fuck her, she thinks that that is positively dreamy. Her first thought is actually "and with that, I can see myself falling in love with Gabriel." Seriously?! How pathetic can she be?? And wait, am I supposed to be swooning right along with her? Because I'm not. I'm disgusted, and any remaining respect for the heroine I might have had has gone out the window, along with my last hopes for liking this bullshit fucking book.
Weirdly enough, the heroine later does grow a spine about something, and she chooses her godawful father's life to take a stand over. And for the record, her father is awful, and the H's quest for revenge is valid. Not only does he auction Eva off to creepy strangers to pay his debts, and threaten to auction off each of her younger sisters until he gets the money, he murdered the H's eight-year-old brother.
At first, her stance makes a warped sense. She wants her father to live and get the money from her marriage auction to pay off his debts to spare her sisters going up for auction themselves. It seems dumb, because her dad is the one threatening to auction off her sisters in the first place, but fine. Soon however, it stops being about her sisters' well-being and becomes this thing about how the H just needs to let his revenge go, or whatever. And she convinces the H to not only let his little brother's murder go unavenged, but to pay him the money from the auction. That's right, Gabriel the mob boss doesn't just let his brother's murderer live, he gives him a million dollars! And when her father gambles away the money immediately and announces his intention to auction off each of her sisters anyway, they still let him live!! The hero assures Eva that they'll protect her sisters, but it looks like each of the books following in the series is focused on a different sister going up for auction, so that obviously doesn't happen.
Look, in real life, I get the value of forgiveness, and I know that violence is the wrong answer in most situations. But for fuck's sake, this is the mafia! He murdered an eight year old boy, and lives on to auction off his own children one by one like cattle to further his habits, completely scot free! How is any of this supposed to fly, with me or with the MCs?
And after all of this, I'm super confused as to how I'm supposed to feel like this is an emotionally satisfying, happy ending.
To top it all off, the rest didn't do it for me either. The dialogue was stilted, there was little to no character development, the MCs' chemistry was weak, their being in love came out of nowhere and didn't feel believable at all. The sex was boring, and it didn't even seem like they enjoyed it that much.
It was all a huge miss for me, and I'm sad about it because I was excited about this series. I think I'll still go for this author, but I don't think I'll read the subsequent books in the series, because after looking into them I think I'll be similarly frustrated.
Our hero Gabriel wins an auction to marry Eva, our heroine, in pursuit of revenge against her father Riccardo. Gabriel believes that he can torture Riccardo by torturing Eva. The problem is, he never seems to land on a strategy for this, and he goes back and forth constantly on what to do about her. He clearly has not thought this through at all, and it's annoying. I mean really, who marries someone for revenge without a plan? And yeah, if we're going there, it seems like an obviously flawed idea in the first place, because how much could the h's father care about her if he literally sells her off to the highest bidder to settle his debts? But I get that this is romance, so I'm prepared to accept a little weak logic to further a plot. I just think that the whole series of events would have been a lot more impactful if the hero had a stronger plan in place, and if we could see it carried out a bit more before he starts waffling constantly.
What the H does manage to do to the heroine is lock her in a dungeon here and there for a day or so, until he inevitably changes his mind again and lets her out. Another misstep I see here is that we don't hear anything about the h's experience in the dungeon. What does her cell look like? She's usually wearing some fancy gown when she's down there, is she cold? Does she have a cot, a blanket, or a bench? For the love of God, does she have a toilet?? Can she brush her teeth? He never mentions feeding her. He's gone too much to do it himself, and it doesn’t sound like his staff is complicit in his scheme enough to be delivering meals, so I don't think she's getting food. Somehow this doesn't come up, and the heroine never so much as mentions that she's hungry. It's hard to feel anything about these series of events when everything is so glossed over.
Despite any issues I'd had, I was still all in with this story, soft spots and all, until some shit went down and I realized this book was actually just going to piss me off. Because on top of everything, this story has a raging doormat of a heroine.
So, the H has a lady he sleeps with, right? And then he gets married, and he takes the h's virginity and everything, but he still goes to fuck OW the night after, kind of to keep his focus on the h as the enemy, etc. Okay, yes this is gross, but it makes sense. Gabriel doesn't have any feelings of loyalty to Eva, quite the opposite, he wants to actively discourage any of those feelings. For me, reading this go down just gets me hyped for when the h hears about it, and the H has to deal with the consequences of betraying the relationship he's trying so hard not to care about. That shit sounds delicious.
The h doesn't hear about it at first. What's more, she fucks him within a half hour of being let out of her cell. Disappointing that she doesn't put up any kind of resistance toward the guy who just had you locked in a dungeon, but whatever. There'll be other opportunities for her to show some strength.
Then, the h meets the H's mistress, and is told in clear terms that he is still fucking OW, and that she shouldn't expect anything else because this isn't a real marriage. The h is hurt by this, and it redraws the line between them as opposing forces. The H feels a twinge of guilt, and seeks to quash it by fucking OW again. After they do the deed, he finds himself comparing OW to the h and feels weird about it, so he breaks it off with his mistress. He showers, then goes right down to visit Eva in the dungeon and fucks her. This is where alarm bells start going off in earnest. Is she really not about to put up any form of resistance to this at all? It's one thing to fuck a guy who hates you and treats you like shit, but to fuck a guy that hates you, treats you like shit, and unrepentantly cheats on you? Does she have no self-respect at all??
THEN, right after he comes and he's still inside the heroine, Gabriel tells her that he just broke it off with the OW, not hiding the fact that he slept with OW directly before this in the process. And when this idiot hears that the guy locked her in a cell, fucked another woman, then came back to fuck her, she thinks that that is positively dreamy. Her first thought is actually "and with that, I can see myself falling in love with Gabriel." Seriously?! How pathetic can she be?? And wait, am I supposed to be swooning right along with her? Because I'm not. I'm disgusted, and any remaining respect for the heroine I might have had has gone out the window, along with my last hopes for liking this bullshit fucking book.
Weirdly enough, the heroine later does grow a spine about something, and she chooses her godawful father's life to take a stand over. And for the record, her father is awful, and the H's quest for revenge is valid. Not only does he auction Eva off to creepy strangers to pay his debts, and threaten to auction off each of her younger sisters until he gets the money, he murdered the H's eight-year-old brother.
At first, her stance makes a warped sense. She wants her father to live and get the money from her marriage auction to pay off his debts to spare her sisters going up for auction themselves. It seems dumb, because her dad is the one threatening to auction off her sisters in the first place, but fine. Soon however, it stops being about her sisters' well-being and becomes this thing about how the H just needs to let his revenge go, or whatever. And she convinces the H to not only let his little brother's murder go unavenged, but to pay him the money from the auction. That's right, Gabriel the mob boss doesn't just let his brother's murderer live, he gives him a million dollars! And when her father gambles away the money immediately and announces his intention to auction off each of her sisters anyway, they still let him live!! The hero assures Eva that they'll protect her sisters, but it looks like each of the books following in the series is focused on a different sister going up for auction, so that obviously doesn't happen.
Look, in real life, I get the value of forgiveness, and I know that violence is the wrong answer in most situations. But for fuck's sake, this is the mafia! He murdered an eight year old boy, and lives on to auction off his own children one by one like cattle to further his habits, completely scot free! How is any of this supposed to fly, with me or with the MCs?
And after all of this, I'm super confused as to how I'm supposed to feel like this is an emotionally satisfying, happy ending.
To top it all off, the rest didn't do it for me either. The dialogue was stilted, there was little to no character development, the MCs' chemistry was weak, their being in love came out of nowhere and didn't feel believable at all. The sex was boring, and it didn't even seem like they enjoyed it that much.
It was all a huge miss for me, and I'm sad about it because I was excited about this series. I think I'll still go for this author, but I don't think I'll read the subsequent books in the series, because after looking into them I think I'll be similarly frustrated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2022
horrible writing disgusting cheating trope
The writing was really low quality. For it being a mafia book that wasn’t really flushed out very well either. And while I don’t mind a hint of cheating under certain circumstances in this book it just became disgusting. So the main male character continue sleeping with his hook up after marriage OK that would be understandable since it was a forced marriage and they weren’t in love. Except that he continues sleeping with his side piece even after he takes his wife’s V card. And continues to sleep with his side piece while still being intimate also with his wife. To the point that the night he finally breaks up with his mistress he sleeps with the mistress first then tells her oh we’re over now. Like he couldn’t have told her that before they banged ? And the reason he finally realizes is wrong? The mistress lights up a cigarette and he realizes she smells worse than his innocent wife…. Then goes home “knowing what he has to do with his wife” takes a shower “to wash her (the mistress) off” and then sleeps with his wife. While he’s still inside of his wife he says I broke it off with my mistress. And she’s like when and he’s like when I went to her. So the wife actually knows he slept with her and the mistress in the same night and yet has no problem with this? This goes beyond doormat to level of extreme degradation. Like I don’t think your shower 🚿 cleaned you up that well dog…. A bleach bath might have been better. Worst book I’ve read in a really long time. It made me nauseous and that’s hard to do because I’ll read anything. Plus the sex scenes were so pedantic and boring!! No descriptions, just “we did what we usually do” (mistress scene). Boring sex scenes with main couple. This was a waste of space, time and a good looking cover. 😒
The writing was really low quality. For it being a mafia book that wasn’t really flushed out very well either. And while I don’t mind a hint of cheating under certain circumstances in this book it just became disgusting. So the main male character continue sleeping with his hook up after marriage OK that would be understandable since it was a forced marriage and they weren’t in love. Except that he continues sleeping with his side piece even after he takes his wife’s V card. And continues to sleep with his side piece while still being intimate also with his wife. To the point that the night he finally breaks up with his mistress he sleeps with the mistress first then tells her oh we’re over now. Like he couldn’t have told her that before they banged ? And the reason he finally realizes is wrong? The mistress lights up a cigarette and he realizes she smells worse than his innocent wife…. Then goes home “knowing what he has to do with his wife” takes a shower “to wash her (the mistress) off” and then sleeps with his wife. While he’s still inside of his wife he says I broke it off with my mistress. And she’s like when and he’s like when I went to her. So the wife actually knows he slept with her and the mistress in the same night and yet has no problem with this? This goes beyond doormat to level of extreme degradation. Like I don’t think your shower 🚿 cleaned you up that well dog…. A bleach bath might have been better. Worst book I’ve read in a really long time. It made me nauseous and that’s hard to do because I’ll read anything. Plus the sex scenes were so pedantic and boring!! No descriptions, just “we did what we usually do” (mistress scene). Boring sex scenes with main couple. This was a waste of space, time and a good looking cover. 😒
June 19, 2022
The story wasn’t bad but… this man cheated on his wife TWICE during the book and decided after sleeping with his mistress the 2nd time, that his wife deserved better. Then after sleeping with mistress he goes home, takes a shower and immediately sleeps with his wife…I can’t
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2022
Riccardo Conti is in debt and needs cash quickly, so he has his daughter Eva sold to the highest bidder for an arranged marriage.
The only problem is Gabriel Moretti wants revenge on her, so he's bidding on her.
I was not a fan of Gabriel; he cheats on Eva, and I'm not too fond of cheating.
They go through hell and back but eventually, they get their happy ending.
The only problem is Gabriel Moretti wants revenge on her, so he's bidding on her.
I was not a fan of Gabriel; he cheats on Eva, and I'm not too fond of cheating.
They go through hell and back but eventually, they get their happy ending.
March 23, 2022
This book is a mafia arranged marriage romance. The hero married the heroine to get revenge on her father . That was all fine but he kept a mistress in the side . Slept with the heroine with no condom, went to sleep with his mistress next day , back to the wife , then slept with the mistress again and immediately has sex with wife without a condom within an hour or two. I just couldn’t stomach it. That’s not a romance. I am giving me 3 stars because it of the arranged marriage for revenge storyline . I would not read this book again . Perhaps if he cheats he doesn’t have to see his mistress every day or every other day. It just became a distraction from the story.
March 23, 2022
Had Potential *Spoilers*
This books plot drew me in but the story felt rushed and fell a little flat for me. I wanted a dark mafia/mob romance and at first I thought I was getting it. Gabriel was so amped up and violent in the beginning I was excited to see how he would develop and how dangerous he would be. He has had a grudge for over 14 years with Eva’s Dad so he plots to destroy him through her thanks to the tip from his Mom. He wanted to psychologically torture her because he doesn’t believe in physical violence against women it seems. His torture? Locking her in a cage in the basement for a few hours at a time. Then almost instantaneously he changes his mind about how he treats Eva after a few conversations? I believe in the power of word and actions but it was after less than two weeks with her and he had a change of heart? After 14 years of plotting?
Eva. I was not the biggest fan of hers. She was doing all this for her sisters and I can respect that. However, she came off as weak even when she was supposed to come off as powerful. She wasn’t all that believable for me. I wanted more for her.
There were also several errors that took away from the story for me. Typos, wrong words used (scent instead of sent as an example), wrong pronouns (Ali was introduced as She but everything else referring to him in the book indicates he’s a male), a piece of conversation was forgotten within a few days (she met him and asked about a library because she loved reading and then he finds her in the library a few days later and said he didn’t know she liked to read), amongst others.
Overall, I enjoyed the idea of this story but wish it was better executed and not as rushed as it felt. It had some good moments for me so I’m giving it 3 stars.
This books plot drew me in but the story felt rushed and fell a little flat for me. I wanted a dark mafia/mob romance and at first I thought I was getting it. Gabriel was so amped up and violent in the beginning I was excited to see how he would develop and how dangerous he would be. He has had a grudge for over 14 years with Eva’s Dad so he plots to destroy him through her thanks to the tip from his Mom. He wanted to psychologically torture her because he doesn’t believe in physical violence against women it seems. His torture? Locking her in a cage in the basement for a few hours at a time. Then almost instantaneously he changes his mind about how he treats Eva after a few conversations? I believe in the power of word and actions but it was after less than two weeks with her and he had a change of heart? After 14 years of plotting?
Eva. I was not the biggest fan of hers. She was doing all this for her sisters and I can respect that. However, she came off as weak even when she was supposed to come off as powerful. She wasn’t all that believable for me. I wanted more for her.
There were also several errors that took away from the story for me. Typos, wrong words used (scent instead of sent as an example), wrong pronouns (Ali was introduced as She but everything else referring to him in the book indicates he’s a male), a piece of conversation was forgotten within a few days (she met him and asked about a library because she loved reading and then he finds her in the library a few days later and said he didn’t know she liked to read), amongst others.
Overall, I enjoyed the idea of this story but wish it was better executed and not as rushed as it felt. It had some good moments for me so I’m giving it 3 stars.
March 23, 2022
DISCLAIMER
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was really hopeful for this book, dark mafia romance, arranged marriage, brooding mob boss and a girl who lived a sheltered life.
I loved the characters, Eva was the sweet, innocent daughter of a once ruthless mobster, and Gabriel the head of a well renowned mob family who would stop at nothing if you crossed his path in the wrong way.
The storyline was good, the spicy scenes were spot on I did however feel there was something missing. It kind of felt a little rushed in between the spicy scenes
It is definitely worth reading, I have given the book 4 stars just because of it feeling a bit rushed in my opinion.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was really hopeful for this book, dark mafia romance, arranged marriage, brooding mob boss and a girl who lived a sheltered life.
I loved the characters, Eva was the sweet, innocent daughter of a once ruthless mobster, and Gabriel the head of a well renowned mob family who would stop at nothing if you crossed his path in the wrong way.
The storyline was good, the spicy scenes were spot on I did however feel there was something missing. It kind of felt a little rushed in between the spicy scenes
It is definitely worth reading, I have given the book 4 stars just because of it feeling a bit rushed in my opinion.
December 28, 2023
An arranged marriage fuelled by revenge turned into something fuelled by love.
This didn’t really feel like a mafia romance but it was filled with passion, revenge, hate and smut.
Gabriel was full of hatred for the man that killed his 8 year old brother and he chose to marry that man’s daughter for revenge. Only for him to realise how wrong he was about the man’s daughter. Eva’s heart is filled with goodness and strength, her love and urges to protect her sisters was a clear sign to Gabriel that he was wrong.
I really enjoyed this short story and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. I hope Gabriel’s mother comes to her senses as what she did was unforgivable.
This didn’t really feel like a mafia romance but it was filled with passion, revenge, hate and smut.
Gabriel was full of hatred for the man that killed his 8 year old brother and he chose to marry that man’s daughter for revenge. Only for him to realise how wrong he was about the man’s daughter. Eva’s heart is filled with goodness and strength, her love and urges to protect her sisters was a clear sign to Gabriel that he was wrong.
I really enjoyed this short story and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. I hope Gabriel’s mother comes to her senses as what she did was unforgivable.
Want to Read
March 19, 2022💝
ARC received via Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.
💝
March 25, 2022
This book is a great start to the series. It features interesting characters that go through growth over the course of the book.
I had trepidation due to a marriage auction being involved - I dislike stories that involve human trafficking. However, my concerns were unfounded. This does not involve trafficking and I was not uncomfortable in any way. In fact, they even attempt to protect other women in the story.
In the end, a great read and I look forward to more.. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I had trepidation due to a marriage auction being involved - I dislike stories that involve human trafficking. However, my concerns were unfounded. This does not involve trafficking and I was not uncomfortable in any way. In fact, they even attempt to protect other women in the story.
In the end, a great read and I look forward to more.. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 23, 2023
DNF 51%
October 25, 2022
Solid Mafia, Insta Lust, Arranged Marriage.
The revenge motive and plan was a little weak to me some things contradict one another.
But over all it was nice.
The revenge motive and plan was a little weak to me some things contradict one another.
But over all it was nice.
September 22, 2023
Go in with proper expectations and you may appreciate. Do not expect a dark tale or think mafia light or an imposter...wearing a mask to live up to evil madre's expectation!. Because this dude? He has a big ole conscience and dare I say ,a heart that as it turns out,is open to love.
As for the cheating? In his confusion he pretty much forces himself.He had purchased her at auction at his mothers behest as a revenge tactic towards her father.He ran off to.the mistress twice within the first few days of the union . He is quite.regret full, immediately goes the grovel mode,full on apologetic route. So rather than his wife be a victim of emotional torture as he had planned ,it is he who suffers...
The writing detail is a bit floppy.....If your intended told you she never sought an orgasm because she would rather be busy reading, would you be likely to forget? Within the next day or two,He sees his wife in the library and says to her" I didn't know you liked to read." Seriously??😂😂😂
As for the cheating? In his confusion he pretty much forces himself.He had purchased her at auction at his mothers behest as a revenge tactic towards her father.He ran off to.the mistress twice within the first few days of the union . He is quite.regret full, immediately goes the grovel mode,full on apologetic route. So rather than his wife be a victim of emotional torture as he had planned ,it is he who suffers...
The writing detail is a bit floppy.....If your intended told you she never sought an orgasm because she would rather be busy reading, would you be likely to forget? Within the next day or two,He sees his wife in the library and says to her" I didn't know you liked to read." Seriously??😂😂😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2022
Ok so there is good and there is bad… more emphasis on the bad. Look it wasn’t a fantastic read and it wasn’t awful it was just alright. I found it a little random actually.. hardcore alpha mafia boss at the start who turned into a massive sap… and Eva let everything slide with her goodie two shoes attitude…
There were a few things I could let slide like how she forgave his infidelity I kinda get the reason but to just brush it under the rug and move on and then her body constantly betrayed her. Have a back bone women… AND pregnant at 2 week paleease… and this whole book happens over a 2 week period.
I guess what I’m saying is it lacked depth and development.
Don’t get me wrong I jumped in head first because I wanted a mafia cheating read… that was not the issue.
I just didn’t love it
There were a few things I could let slide like how she forgave his infidelity I kinda get the reason but to just brush it under the rug and move on and then her body constantly betrayed her. Have a back bone women… AND pregnant at 2 week paleease… and this whole book happens over a 2 week period.
I guess what I’m saying is it lacked depth and development.
Don’t get me wrong I jumped in head first because I wanted a mafia cheating read… that was not the issue.
I just didn’t love it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2022
When I asked for this book, I was very excited to read it.
Everything the plot primed intrigued me, so when what it promised wasn't there, I just couldn't wrap my head around it.
I've tried my hardest to like it though. Just couldn't find anything that the plot promised: the dialogue, the characters, and the portrait of the events were, according to me, not developed like they should have been but merely glossed over. If only she would have worked more on the development, I might've enjoyed it more.
. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Everything the plot primed intrigued me, so when what it promised wasn't there, I just couldn't wrap my head around it.
I've tried my hardest to like it though. Just couldn't find anything that the plot promised: the dialogue, the characters, and the portrait of the events were, according to me, not developed like they should have been but merely glossed over. If only she would have worked more on the development, I might've enjoyed it more.
. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 4, 2023
It was like a train wreck and I couldn’t stop staring. So many times I should have said screw this and DNF. Sometimes a book is not for me, but this was just bad. The whole plot covers a max of like 3 weeks. The personality changes should not have happened in 3 weeks. Also I am usually not a mistake police, but the quantity of mistakes was bad. I kept thinking it had to get better because the comments on TikTok were positive, but nope. Not at all. One character had there name misspelled multiple times, ages/timelines for past trauma seemed to change at one point and then change back, and it was just confusing.
June 22, 2022
I started out enjoying this book but towards the end it got to lovey dovey. I didn’t like how the H decided not to get h father. Her father killed his 8 year old bro so he should have been killed too. Her father also sold her and then lost all the money gambling. Now he is going to auction off her sisters too. Not killing him doesn’t seem very mafia boss like to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2023
3.75 Stars. Great story but had some issues.
Two people who grew up one way, believing one thing. He with hate and vengeance in his heart vowing to ruin the man who murdered his younger brother. She protected and innocent believing her father was a good father, a good man. But fate has something in store for these two.
At her father's demand, to save himself from debt, the MFC is to be auctioned at a marriage auction. Threats of losing their home and her younger sisters facing the same fate if she didn't agree gain her compliace. She will do anything to save her sisters from the same fate. The MMC, who has avoided relationships, and whose only goal is vengeance, sees it as an opportunity to get his revenge, make her father suffer with the knowledge that his daughter is now captive of his greatest enemy.
Even as these two get to know each other, trust doesn't come easy. Years of hate and the venom fueled by his mother make it difficult for him to abandon his need to use her for vengeance and to see what's real. She, finding it difficult to believe her father is the evil man her new husband claims him to be and the husband's hot and cold attitude towards have her doubting him which is fueled by one sister who trusts no one.
The premise is a good one and I did enjoy the story line. What I found unbelievable was the father and especially the MMC's change of character towards the end. The father went from a ruthless mafia boss capable of murder, but controlled and protected his daughters to an in debt, gambling, drunken fool. The MMC went from a strong, ruthless mafia boss out for vengeance, an Alpha man, to an overly mushy spouse. Seriously? Where did the in control alpha man go? I mean really, couldn't he lose his quest for vengeance, be sweet to her and show her love without losing his alphaness! The changes were too abrupt and too drastic.
Add to the above the lack of editing...missing, mispelled or just wrong words and this dropped my rating to 3.75 stars (and that only because I did like the story...just could have been better).
Two people who grew up one way, believing one thing. He with hate and vengeance in his heart vowing to ruin the man who murdered his younger brother. She protected and innocent believing her father was a good father, a good man. But fate has something in store for these two.
At her father's demand, to save himself from debt, the MFC is to be auctioned at a marriage auction. Threats of losing their home and her younger sisters facing the same fate if she didn't agree gain her compliace. She will do anything to save her sisters from the same fate. The MMC, who has avoided relationships, and whose only goal is vengeance, sees it as an opportunity to get his revenge, make her father suffer with the knowledge that his daughter is now captive of his greatest enemy.
Even as these two get to know each other, trust doesn't come easy. Years of hate and the venom fueled by his mother make it difficult for him to abandon his need to use her for vengeance and to see what's real. She, finding it difficult to believe her father is the evil man her new husband claims him to be and the husband's hot and cold attitude towards have her doubting him which is fueled by one sister who trusts no one.
The premise is a good one and I did enjoy the story line. What I found unbelievable was the father and especially the MMC's change of character towards the end. The father went from a ruthless mafia boss capable of murder, but controlled and protected his daughters to an in debt, gambling, drunken fool. The MMC went from a strong, ruthless mafia boss out for vengeance, an Alpha man, to an overly mushy spouse. Seriously? Where did the in control alpha man go? I mean really, couldn't he lose his quest for vengeance, be sweet to her and show her love without losing his alphaness! The changes were too abrupt and too drastic.
Add to the above the lack of editing...missing, mispelled or just wrong words and this dropped my rating to 3.75 stars (and that only because I did like the story...just could have been better).
March 22, 2022
I have read Ivy Davis’s other two books and I have enjoyed her writing. I enjoy Ruthless Vows.
Eva, daughter of mafia boss Riccardo Conti is a quiet shy bookworm. Never able to experience much of life she escapes into her favorite books. Besides her love for books, Eva loves her three younger sisters. They all have been sheltered all their lives. That was until her life was flipped upside down with her father’s words. He was selling her off in an auction where mafia men go to buy a bride. He was in debt and if she didn’t do it, her sisters would pay the price. They would be sold off so in order to protect her sisters she agreed to her father’s demands.
Gabriel Moretti is her father’s rival, his enemy. He hates the Contis’, Riccardo killed his baby brother and has been waiting for the perfect moment to enact his revenge. He went to the auction knowing that Eva was up for sale. He bought her and plans to use her to get revenge on her father.
Eva now finds herself trapped in a marriage that is filled with nothing by deceit or is she? Can she break through Gabriel and get him to see she is not her father and should pay for his crimes?
I love the resilience and fight in Eva but I also love the devotion both Gabriel and Eva have for their siblings. It is something they could bound. Gabriel is possessive and protective of Eva. He believes she is the enemy but does not believe in hurting her physically. Well not with the fight Eva has in her.
I hoped to see a bit more plot or story line.
. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Eva, daughter of mafia boss Riccardo Conti is a quiet shy bookworm. Never able to experience much of life she escapes into her favorite books. Besides her love for books, Eva loves her three younger sisters. They all have been sheltered all their lives. That was until her life was flipped upside down with her father’s words. He was selling her off in an auction where mafia men go to buy a bride. He was in debt and if she didn’t do it, her sisters would pay the price. They would be sold off so in order to protect her sisters she agreed to her father’s demands.
Gabriel Moretti is her father’s rival, his enemy. He hates the Contis’, Riccardo killed his baby brother and has been waiting for the perfect moment to enact his revenge. He went to the auction knowing that Eva was up for sale. He bought her and plans to use her to get revenge on her father.
Eva now finds herself trapped in a marriage that is filled with nothing by deceit or is she? Can she break through Gabriel and get him to see she is not her father and should pay for his crimes?
I love the resilience and fight in Eva but I also love the devotion both Gabriel and Eva have for their siblings. It is something they could bound. Gabriel is possessive and protective of Eva. He believes she is the enemy but does not believe in hurting her physically. Well not with the fight Eva has in her.
I hoped to see a bit more plot or story line.
. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 22, 2022
Buckle up this is a wild ride, dangerous men, alpha personified, possessive, oh, so gorgeous, brooding all the makings of a deliciously story 😊. There will be danger, suspense, kidnapping, and so much more. Within the first chapters you get the panoramic view of whom you’re dealing with!
By the time you’ve figured out who is who and what is what, you’re already hooked, and you may as well give up the fight and prepare yourself for an all-nighter!
Can’t say I didn’t warn you.
It starts out like your usual Eva’s father is in debt, still racking it up, doesn’t know when to stop so taking a chance auction her off for enough money to cover all his debt and she is none to happy. Gabriel sexy as all get out man out to revenge his brother’s murder, killed by Eve’s father so having the bright idea to buy her and make her pay for her father’s sins believing anyone one associated with the man will be just like him. But after spending just a little time around her he realizes she is innocent, a pawn to her father especially he does nothing help her but also, he wasn’t expecting a intense attraction to the women he was supposed to make pay for a crime she didn’t commit their common ground is both will do anything including offering themselves up as a sacrifice to protect the ones they love and they learn deceit, betrayal hurt but the hope, love will help them both but will it change his mind and can they find HEA?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
By the time you’ve figured out who is who and what is what, you’re already hooked, and you may as well give up the fight and prepare yourself for an all-nighter!
Can’t say I didn’t warn you.
It starts out like your usual Eva’s father is in debt, still racking it up, doesn’t know when to stop so taking a chance auction her off for enough money to cover all his debt and she is none to happy. Gabriel sexy as all get out man out to revenge his brother’s murder, killed by Eve’s father so having the bright idea to buy her and make her pay for her father’s sins believing anyone one associated with the man will be just like him. But after spending just a little time around her he realizes she is innocent, a pawn to her father especially he does nothing help her but also, he wasn’t expecting a intense attraction to the women he was supposed to make pay for a crime she didn’t commit their common ground is both will do anything including offering themselves up as a sacrifice to protect the ones they love and they learn deceit, betrayal hurt but the hope, love will help them both but will it change his mind and can they find HEA?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 23, 2022
This is the first book in the new mafia wives series. It’s a story of Gabriel Moretti and Eva Conti, both members of traditional Italian mafia families. Eva starts off as a young, protected romantic, but is soon faced with her father's irresponsibility and recklessness that leads to her ultimate sacrifice to protect her younger sisters, she’s auctioned off to be married in order to save her sisters from the same fate. Gabriel plots a revenge against Eva’s family for the killing of his little brother 12 years ago and his mother convinces him that the best way to get revenge is to buy their enemy's daughter and torture her. He charms Eva under false pretense to gain her trust, and Eva learns how cruel and deceitful he is after moving into his house where she is kept locked in the basement and he continues his affair with his mistress. Eva will do anything to protect her sisters and Gabe will stop at nothing to get his revenge.
I liked the fact that this mafia romance wasn't as dark as most, but I extremely disliked his cheating. Also, she was way too understanding and forgiving. I did find the story somewhat lacking since it didn’t pull me in emotionally, but overall this is a good book. It has a lot of drama and steam, there is some character development and it ends with a HEA, even if it felt somewhat rushed. I was quite a bit bothered by the choice of names in both families since they were supposed to be traditional Italian mafia families..
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I liked the fact that this mafia romance wasn't as dark as most, but I extremely disliked his cheating. Also, she was way too understanding and forgiving. I did find the story somewhat lacking since it didn’t pull me in emotionally, but overall this is a good book. It has a lot of drama and steam, there is some character development and it ends with a HEA, even if it felt somewhat rushed. I was quite a bit bothered by the choice of names in both families since they were supposed to be traditional Italian mafia families..
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 20, 2022
the premise for this book is one that holds plenty of promise, as it’s a mafia retelling of beauty and the beast. eva, born from a long lineage involved in the italian mafia, is used as property by her father and offered up to auction to release him of his debts. gabriel purchases her, hopeful to enact a revenge plot against her father and the perpetrator of a heinous murder that took both his father and younger brother from this world.
everything aligns to what should make a perfect story as the two fall for one another despite circumstances, but it falls short of that goal. whether due to the side plots of characters that show up once in the very beginning of the book and then once more at the end or from how quickly it seems that issues are resolved after years and decades of holding anger for the act, the story takes on an even more melodramatic tone by the final act that just doesn’t seem to hold.
aside from the story lacking an emotional pulse for me to fully enjoy, i find the name choices also a little off considering this is supposed to be an old school italian mafia family. the resolution felt rushed and as much as i really wanted to care, i couldn’t muster that emotional pull for either character as i have in other mafia romances that include arranged marriages.
i received a free copy of this book via booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
everything aligns to what should make a perfect story as the two fall for one another despite circumstances, but it falls short of that goal. whether due to the side plots of characters that show up once in the very beginning of the book and then once more at the end or from how quickly it seems that issues are resolved after years and decades of holding anger for the act, the story takes on an even more melodramatic tone by the final act that just doesn’t seem to hold.
aside from the story lacking an emotional pulse for me to fully enjoy, i find the name choices also a little off considering this is supposed to be an old school italian mafia family. the resolution felt rushed and as much as i really wanted to care, i couldn’t muster that emotional pull for either character as i have in other mafia romances that include arranged marriages.
i received a free copy of this book via booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 20, 2022
Settled into the library at her family home, Eva is happiest when she is sat reading her books. The oldest of four sisters she has led a sheltered life as a mafia daughter. Her father coming to speak with her and her sisters is unusual as he doesn’t tell them anything about his business matters. Finding out that he is in debt comes as a shock to the girls but his solution for the problem is a bigger shock… Eva will be sold off at a marriage auction.
Twelve years ago Gabriel’s younger brother was killed, shot by an enemy mafia boss – Conti. His family has been seeking revenge ever since, with his mother pointing him in the direction of the upcoming marriage auction. Finding out that Conti has put Eva into the auction is his opportunity to gain revenge, Attending the auction he is surprised by her beauty and treats her to one night of the nice side of his personality before acting out his plans.
Thrown to the wolves Eva’s life has been turned upside down. Just when she thought that her marriage might be OK and she’d learn to love with Gabriel etc. the thoughts are ripped from under her feet. Attempting to convince Gabriel that she has nothing to do with her father’s sins and that he is better to let go of his revenge – after all would this be what his brother would want?
Twelve years ago Gabriel’s younger brother was killed, shot by an enemy mafia boss – Conti. His family has been seeking revenge ever since, with his mother pointing him in the direction of the upcoming marriage auction. Finding out that Conti has put Eva into the auction is his opportunity to gain revenge, Attending the auction he is surprised by her beauty and treats her to one night of the nice side of his personality before acting out his plans.
Thrown to the wolves Eva’s life has been turned upside down. Just when she thought that her marriage might be OK and she’d learn to love with Gabriel etc. the thoughts are ripped from under her feet. Attempting to convince Gabriel that she has nothing to do with her father’s sins and that he is better to let go of his revenge – after all would this be what his brother would want?
March 22, 2022
This is the 1st story in the Mafia Wives Series with Eva Conti the oldest of 4 girls and Gabriel Moretti whose in charge of his Family’s dealings. These two families are involved in the Mafia and Gabriel is out for revenge as Eva’s dad killed his younger brother 12 years ago when he was only 8 years old. Eva’s father is in debt so he decides to sell her at an auction to get the money to pay them off and Eva agrees so the same fate does not happen to her 3 younger sisters. Gabriel makes sure he wins the bid for Eva and treats her with respect until he gets Eva to his home and then he turns mean and shows her what he intends to do to her for revenge. Eva has a soft heart full of love and care that she gets confused about how Gabriel is hot with her one moment then cold and hard the next. When Eva shows and explains to Gabriel that he can trust her and not make her responsible for her fathers crimes. Gabriel becomes intrigued with Eva and ends up finding love with he he is not ready to face. This story will give you a twist or two along with betrayal, those out to cause unnecessary harm and sexy scenes full of passion and love! I can not wait until the next story in this series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 24, 2022
Having read other books by this author I was looking forward to reading this one.
Although this was a good read, I didn't feel it was a great read in comparison to other books I've read by Ivy. Don't get me wrong, that shouldn't stop you from reading this book, if you'd never read another Ivy Davis book before, I don't think you would be disappointed.
This is Gabriel and Eva's story.
Eva has been sold at auction to Gabriel. Simple. No, of course it's not; this is the world of mafia where nothing is what it seems.
Eva's father has a large debt and only the sale of his eldest daughter will cover it. Unknown to him Gabriel has no intention of paying him as he only bought Eva as revenge for a terrible action carried out against his family some years earlier. Gabriel comes to realise that Eva knows nothing of this and a relationship starts to develop between them. Enter Gabriel's mother - the very epitome of mother in law from hell, who will do anything to ensure revenge is carried out.
Lots of secrets, lies, misunderstandings, betrayals and heat combine to make this a good read from beginning to end.
Eva has three sisters, will they get their own stories? I hope so. .
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Although this was a good read, I didn't feel it was a great read in comparison to other books I've read by Ivy. Don't get me wrong, that shouldn't stop you from reading this book, if you'd never read another Ivy Davis book before, I don't think you would be disappointed.
This is Gabriel and Eva's story.
Eva has been sold at auction to Gabriel. Simple. No, of course it's not; this is the world of mafia where nothing is what it seems.
Eva's father has a large debt and only the sale of his eldest daughter will cover it. Unknown to him Gabriel has no intention of paying him as he only bought Eva as revenge for a terrible action carried out against his family some years earlier. Gabriel comes to realise that Eva knows nothing of this and a relationship starts to develop between them. Enter Gabriel's mother - the very epitome of mother in law from hell, who will do anything to ensure revenge is carried out.
Lots of secrets, lies, misunderstandings, betrayals and heat combine to make this a good read from beginning to end.
Eva has three sisters, will they get their own stories? I hope so. .
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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