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Second Son
When I thought of death, I thought of him.
Dying releases a rush of endorphins— the greatest high you’ll ever receive. Once, I felt it myself and have been chasing it ever since.
Everything about him was a warning. The man who embodied death, the most feared person in the city.
But I only felt alive again whenever he was near.
Recklessness, curiosity, a broken heart . . . one of the three would end up killing me.
And when it came to Andrea Delarosa, I knew exactly which one it would be.
Dying releases a rush of endorphins— the greatest high you’ll ever receive. Once, I felt it myself and have been chasing it ever since.
Everything about him was a warning. The man who embodied death, the most feared person in the city.
But I only felt alive again whenever he was near.
Recklessness, curiosity, a broken heart . . . one of the three would end up killing me.
And when it came to Andrea Delarosa, I knew exactly which one it would be.
461 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2022
62 people are currently reading
514 people want to read
About the author
Mallory Hart
6 books128 followersMallory Hart is the writer of steamy romance novels. With a love for the taboo and a soft spot for villains, her stories feature bad boys, morally grey characters and dark themes. When not writing, she can be found with a glass of red wine, blasting music and dancing in her underwear. When she’s had a little bit too much wine, she usually settles down with a book that makes her blush.. For updates on new releases, visit her website or subscribe to the newsletter.
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February 16, 2023
5 *Call Me When You're Older* Stars
“You’re a bad man, Andrea Delarosa.” I nodded, laying my hand over the one she had on my face.
"I'll be good to you."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I love E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G about this book. A mafia Don who once loved, suffered great loss and thinks he'll never find love again. A young girl who wants nothing more than to find love, but knows that she shouldn't, as she will die sooner rather than later.
Mallory Hart has woven such a great story of forbidden love. Unrequited love. A slow burn wrought with sexual tension. Claire and Andrea's story takes years to unfold. At first, she's too young. Andrea won't have anything to do with her...but, yet, he's still drawn to her. It starts with a conversation on a balcony, then a dance in a ballroom, then a kiss on the cheek. The pacing of this book is just perfection and really shows how their attraction grew over the years.
And, Andrea Delarosa is the perfect MMC. He's the right amount of jealous/possessive with a heavy dose of protectiveness. He's always kept an eye on Claire, as he didn't feel her family did, nor did he feel that they educated her in the ways of the mafia and the things she should/should not be doing. He recognized her innocence and knew if would be her undoing.
This whole series is about life in mafia...especially what it means to be a girl growing up in the life. Although not quite as well known as Danielle Lori or some of the other authors in the mafia world, Mallory Hart is a hidden gem. This book and the series is right up there with all of my other favorites. I love her writing. She writes with such intimacy, catching all of the tiny nuances of each character. I love her storytelling. And, above all, I love the characters she's created. This is a world I could get lost in and not leave. If you are a fan of slow burn, character-driven mafia stories, I cannot recommend this enough. It will be one I read over and over.
Song: Claire de Lune, The Cure's 'Just Like Heaven'
Nicknames/Endearments: Piccola Rossa {Little Red}, Rossa {Red}, Principessa, Bellissima
When you spent every day waiting for the inevitable, Death wasn’t so taboo. I didn’t fear her. We were old friends.
“Didn’t your mother teach you not to talk to strangers?” I shrugged.
“Strangers are just friends you haven’t yet met.”
“Call me when you’re a little older.”
Dark eyes flashed. In the strange red light, I realized why everyone talked about him in whispers. He didn’t look like a man. He looked like the devil. Good thing Death and I were best friends.
“Tanya?” I asked, refusing to look at her. I couldn’t ask it if I did. Beneath my breath, I murmured, “What does it mean if a man tells you to ‘call him when you’re older’?”
“Usually, that he wants to fuck you but thinks you’re too young. If you have to ask that, he’s probably right.”
“You can’t control other people, piccola rossa."
“Sorry,” I whispered, stumbling on my heel. “It’s fine. I’ll find another broody man to dance with.”
Arms hung limply at his sides, he stared at me like this was, in fact, the stupidest thing he’d ever done. I kind of felt the same.
I yelped as he tugged me forward, the only room for Jesus if the Son was a piece of paper. Every point of contact—and there were a lot of them—set on fire beneath my dress. One hand roamed up my side as his hips rolled against mine. When that hand fisted my hair, I told myself this was still very cousinly.
I took a moment to look at her. For some reason, I wanted to remember the exact way her breath sounded when she realized what I was about to do.
A lesson I took away—morbid curiosity was that for a reason. For some reason, I wanted to remember. For another, I wanted the taste of her to be a lot more than just a memory.
“You can’t please everyone, piccola rossa.”
“Is it better to be like you, then? Always displeasing people?” His gaze turned on me, slow and lazy. He didn’t appear amused at all as he asked, “Do I displease you?”
That electric current sang beneath my skin, mouth tingling in anticipation as he stared at me long and hard, taking a deep sip of bourbon with his lips right over where mine had been.
“Your comment was still unnecessary.” Frowning, I added, “It displeased me.”
An old friend. As in, he had friends. Friends, dimples, a smile, a cozy apartment, and a messy bed. A person. He was a person.
Standing in the center of the apartment, he clutched his glass in one hand and shoved the other in his pocket. Whiskey irises roamed over me, like he was deciding if I fit into the layout or not.
It was only a few hours ago, but the memory of him drinking bourbon flashed in my head. The way he held my eyes as he raised the glass to his lips, the curve of them as they brushed the remnant of my lipstick. In a way, it was our first kiss.
A black cross inked over his heart gleamed under the lights, and then I was shoved down to the cushions.
“You taste even better.”
“Are you going to come for me, piccola rossa?"
Taking her home, not a part of the plan. But she’d agreed to it, and I wrongly assumed she knew what she was getting into. I felt as much for Claire McGowan as I felt for the wall. The only difference, Claire had a better ass.
I’m not shy. I’ve done this before. There was absolutely no reason those seven words should have infuriated me the way they did.
So I could admit it bothered me a bit. Along with those brilliant smiles she gave everyone else while in the same breath threw a shoe at my head. In addition to the way she was a ball of sunshine to the world but viewed me like Satan. While we were completely fucking candid, I also hated the way she always looked at me like I was about to snuff the light out of her.
But mostly, because she was the first woman in years I didn’t picture as a blonde. It would have been an injustice—piccola rossa’s hair was as integral to her as her hatred for me.
“Go back to sleep, Claire.”
“Were you playing for me?”
“It’s ‘Clair de Lune,’” I whispered, leaning my head against his chest. “My favorite.”
“Because it has your name?” I shook my head, stumbling with the effort. Warmth and citrus caught me, holding me up.
“My music box."
“Go back to sleep, piccola rossa.”
“Am I old enough yet?”
Bitter tears clogged my throat, but I shoved those down too. I wanted a life where it was okay to cry because I didn’t have to live every day to the fullest. Enough time to take a couple of bad days and take a rain check on being happy for once.
Her mass-murdering, criminal-syndicate-running, gun-wielding uncle. The perfect babysitter.
“You can’t just walk wherever you want, Claire. You’re smarter than that.”
I stared out the window instead of answering him. Everyone always had these cryptic warnings, but I was yet to run into any trouble. In fact, the only trouble I seemed to get into was with the knight in shining armor next to me.
“Everyone thinks you’re a god, but you look like a man to me.”
“Is it about last night?”
“No.”
“You sure?”
“Oui, I’m sure. I get drugged and kidnapped by crime lords all the time.”
“I don’t drug women.”
“I’m pretty sure I was drugged."
“You were.” His cold words swam around us, thickening the air. “But I didn’t do it.”
“I woke up in your bed.”
“You did. You’re welcome for that. The alternative would have been displeasing."
There were things I didn’t understand, him most of all. Because if my parents could kiss me good night and kill people, then it was possible he loved like that too.
“I didn’t realize God tasked you with delivering judgment.”
“I don’t need the bible to know you’re a bad man."
"Am I?" “Then maybe it’s time I start living up to your expectations." “You want me to be the bad one between us?” “Is that what you want?” “Yeah, that’s what you want."
He claimed his own section of my psyche. The last person who should invade my thoughts ruled them.
“I’m sorry." “I didn’t realize.” He bit the inside of his cheek, the most nervous look I'd ever seen on him. “I’m going to make it up to you, okay?" “I want you to listen to me for a minute." “I would have never done that if I knew. I shouldn’t have done it anyway.” His lips drifted down, leaving a tender kiss over that fluttering pulse. “I was frustrated, and I took it out on you.” His thumb brushed over my cheek, pulling me tight against his mouth. “You can tell me no. You can tell me to take you home. But I don't want that to be your first time, so let me do it better."
“I’m not going to sleep with you to ease your conscience.” The corner of his lip tugged up, holding no humor. “I think I proved my desire to sleep with you goes beyond guilt."
"Then why haven't you?"
“Because I shouldn't."
"And now?"
"Our secret," he murmured.
“Things could get complicated with your family, so I want this between me and you." “Our secret. If you’re okay with that, I’ll make it up to you as many times as you want."
“You’re so good, getting so wet for me."
“What’s wrong?"
“I’m a little nervous.”
“Don’t be.” His hand came back between us, rubbing my clit. “I’ll take care of you.” Then he grabbed my hand, bringing it lower . . . lower. My fingers brushed over his cock, and he wrapped my hand around it. "I want to take care of you so fucking badly."
“You’ll fit, right?”
“You can take it."
“You’ll let me stretch you out and fuck every inch of you."
“I’ve wanted you for a long time."
“You feel so good it’s a fucking sin."
“You’re gonna come around my cock, piccola rossa."
He didn’t need to make it up to me. He didn’t need to fix this. It could have been his own selfish desire to get me in bed, but the way he looked at me warped my perceptions. Of him, of us, of whatever this was, because he no longer looked at me like he hated me. He looked at me like I was the only thing he ever wanted.
I liked how she looked at me on New Year’s. I liked her shy smile after I kissed her cheek on Christmas. I liked how she looked with my finger in her mouth, wide eyes staring at me like I was God as I fucked her. Those little looks were few and far between, and I pathetically held on to each one. I didn’t want her smiling at waiters, at her friends, at strangers in a bar. I wanted her smiling at me.
“We’ll talk later.”
“We’ll talk now.”
“It’s your daughter’s baptism. Maybe this should wait.”
“Stay the fuck away from my cousin.” Turning his harsh glare on me, Darragh hissed, "And you stay the fuck away from him."
“I’ll never understand your vices.” He stared at me, something unreadable in his face.
"Me neither."
“If you planned on staying in, why did you tell me to wear something nice?"
“Because I wanted to see you in something nice?"
“This isn’t a thing,” I said. I waved my free hand between us and took a healthy sip of wine. “Sorry if I gave you the wrong idea the other week, but I'm not sleeping with you."
“You are,” he said. Simple. Matter-of-fact.
“Are you, Mr. Andrea Delarosa, having intercourse with any other human females?"
“Not as long as you’re taking those."
“This is not a thing."
“Our secret."
“Ask me nicely,” I whispered.
His gaze turned serious. “Please let me do dirty things to you."
“I’ll consider it. With condoms.”
“As long as I’m sleeping with you, I won’t be with anyone else.” He crossed one ankle over the other, a movement I was distinctly aware of even though his ankles were under my chair. "So I'm not fucking you with a condom on."
The killer with a picture of his niece on his desk. The manwhore who kept toiletries for his sister at his place. I didn’t think a lifetime would be enough to figure him out.
“As long as our little arrangement is going, there won’t be anyone else. You have my word."
“And what if I want to sleep with other people?"
“If you sleep with anyone else, Claire, I will fucking kill them."
“I like you better without makeup."
“I like makeup,” I whispered, hating how it sounded. Like a plea. His voice came out a low murmur. “Can't see your freckles with it."
“Piccola rossa,” he said, my nickname harboring a threat. “Why aren’t you coming for me?"
“You need to do a little better than that."
"Do I?"
“The faster you come for me, the sooner I'll fuck you."
“I’ll come with you inside me.”
“You’ll come then too,” he growled. “But first, I’m going to taste every dirty thought you've had while you finish."
“Now you can come with me inside you."
He tasted like darkness, sin, death, all the things I resisted and craved so deeply at the same time. I knew right then I’d lied to myself before. I didn’t resist him because I feared him. I did it because nothing would match this. Not the sensual books, not my own fingers, not another man. I craved Andrea. The darkness, the sin, all of it. I didn’t want to finish with another man’s cock inside me. I wanted rough hands gripping my face, telling me to watch him while that dangerous current wrapped around my skin.
“Do you want to watch me fuck you, principessa?"
“You want to watch me take care of you?"
“I’m going to be very, very nice to you now."
“Ti voglio così tanto che fa male." {I want you so much it hurts}
“I want you to come for me, rossa."
Unlike her cousins, I wasn’t going to be fucking nice about it either. I was pissed. Pissed that she didn’t think, again. Pissed that she would do this to herself. Pissed that I knew exactly how to handle this shit after a lifetime of it.
Right now, anger was control. The opposite of my usual methods, but if that anger bled out of me completely, it’d be replaced with something else. Something scented like cotton candy, breathing my name in the dark with a blush coating her face.
"Look at me." "Where's my sunshine?"
"I don't know anymore."
Dark clouds had cleared, letting a bright, silvery moon hang in the sky. Moonlight washed the room, clinging to her soaked skin like glitter. For a moment, I just stared. Peacefulness stole her expression while she slept. It didn’t matter she still had makeup running down her face, that her soaked hair lay in a matted mess on top of her head. When I said Claire glowed, I truly meant it. It was the worst circumstances imaginable, but she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. Shadows and darkness beside glitter and light.
Pressing my lips together, I fought to control the anger constricting my throat. The same rage demanded to pry open those soft, pink lips and make her tell me exactly what happened. Because if it was someone else, if someone did that to her, they’d be begging for hell by the time I killed them. Nobody fucking touched piccola rossa.
“Claire.” Her name was her undoing but also mine. I only used it when I needed something: her attention, her forgiveness, her time.
“It’s a pacemaker.” Soft words caught around her trembling breath. “My heart stopped. It doesn't work right anymore."
It worked just fine if you asked me. Maybe a little too well. It was a miracle she was alive at all, with the way her heart bled for everything and everyone around her.
My hands remained on her hips. Hands covered in blood, filth, things that didn’t belong on skin that glowed for the moonlight. Everything I touched I destroyed. Death followed me like an old friend.
“Don’t look at me like that,” she whispered.
“Like what?”
“Broken.”
"You're not broken."
I wasn’t letting her go home.
“You’re not broken.” She finally looked at me. Really looked at me. “I promise, alright? I’ve seen a lot worse than you."
“You don’t have to hide with me," I said.
“To everyone else, fine,” I continued.
“Put the mask on, I don’t care. You know I’ll do the same.” Leaning forward, I pressed a kiss to her cheek. Her answering breath all but ruined me. “But here...I'll commit your sins if you take my virtues."
“You’re a bad man, Andrea Delarosa.” I nodded, laying my hand over the one she had on my face.
"I'll be good to you."
“What happens when a crime boss takes a sick day?” My eyes traced the curves of her hips, barely hearing a thing she said. “The usual. Cocaine trade collapses, an entire precinct retires, shootings go down by two hundred percent."
If we did things my way, it’d go a little something like this: I’d place my hands on either side of her, boxing her in against the counter. Then, I’d give her ten seconds to tell me exactly what she needed from her apartment and to write it down. She’d dutifully do it because she was a good little rossa before slipping off that T-shirt and dropping to her knees. And just for disobeying me before it was even nine, she'd wrap those soft lips around my dick until I can on her tits.
“Since when do you care about me?” She was going to give me a fucking stroke. “Since you were drugged on my property, walk my streets unsupervised, and showed up at my door on the brink of death."
“You shouldn’t care about me.” My eyes narrowed on her. How about she didn’t tell me what to do? “Well, I do. You can get the fuck over it now and make me that list."
I slapped her ass again. Harder. Her following yelp put more than a few dirty ideas in my head. I slapped her one more time for good measure. She glared. “What was the last one for?" I winked.
"To remind you I own it."
The scent wrapped around me like a sin. God really was fucking good sometimes.
Claire was nothing but a passing phase. If I fucked her enough, I’d get her out of my system, and then we’d never speak of this again. In my ideal situation, that’d be exactly how it went. But there seemed to be Claire's way, my way, and the way shit decided to go.
Three hours ago, I’d been told I only had ten years with her. Three hours ago, ten years seemed like nothing. Two hours ago, I learned just how long twenty seconds was when someone’s heart stopped beating. Right now, I realized just how much I’d trade for five hours. Minutes. Seconds. Claire could kiss me back in five seconds.
“I don’t think it’ll be easy. Honestly, you probably deserve a lot better than me. But I’ll try for you, rossa. I’ll never stop trying. And whether I get fifty years with you or five minutes, I'd rather have that than nothing at all. Every second I have with you is the most I could ever ask for."
“You’re a bad man, Andrea Delarosa.” I nodded, laying my hand over the one she had on my face.
"I'll be good to you."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I love E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G about this book. A mafia Don who once loved, suffered great loss and thinks he'll never find love again. A young girl who wants nothing more than to find love, but knows that she shouldn't, as she will die sooner rather than later.
Mallory Hart has woven such a great story of forbidden love. Unrequited love. A slow burn wrought with sexual tension. Claire and Andrea's story takes years to unfold. At first, she's too young. Andrea won't have anything to do with her...but, yet, he's still drawn to her. It starts with a conversation on a balcony, then a dance in a ballroom, then a kiss on the cheek. The pacing of this book is just perfection and really shows how their attraction grew over the years.
And, Andrea Delarosa is the perfect MMC. He's the right amount of jealous/possessive with a heavy dose of protectiveness. He's always kept an eye on Claire, as he didn't feel her family did, nor did he feel that they educated her in the ways of the mafia and the things she should/should not be doing. He recognized her innocence and knew if would be her undoing.
This whole series is about life in mafia...especially what it means to be a girl growing up in the life. Although not quite as well known as Danielle Lori or some of the other authors in the mafia world, Mallory Hart is a hidden gem. This book and the series is right up there with all of my other favorites. I love her writing. She writes with such intimacy, catching all of the tiny nuances of each character. I love her storytelling. And, above all, I love the characters she's created. This is a world I could get lost in and not leave. If you are a fan of slow burn, character-driven mafia stories, I cannot recommend this enough. It will be one I read over and over.
Song: Claire de Lune, The Cure's 'Just Like Heaven'
Nicknames/Endearments: Piccola Rossa {Little Red}, Rossa {Red}, Principessa, Bellissima
When you spent every day waiting for the inevitable, Death wasn’t so taboo. I didn’t fear her. We were old friends.
“Didn’t your mother teach you not to talk to strangers?” I shrugged.
“Strangers are just friends you haven’t yet met.”
“Call me when you’re a little older.”
Dark eyes flashed. In the strange red light, I realized why everyone talked about him in whispers. He didn’t look like a man. He looked like the devil. Good thing Death and I were best friends.
“Tanya?” I asked, refusing to look at her. I couldn’t ask it if I did. Beneath my breath, I murmured, “What does it mean if a man tells you to ‘call him when you’re older’?”
“Usually, that he wants to fuck you but thinks you’re too young. If you have to ask that, he’s probably right.”
“You can’t control other people, piccola rossa."
“Sorry,” I whispered, stumbling on my heel. “It’s fine. I’ll find another broody man to dance with.”
Arms hung limply at his sides, he stared at me like this was, in fact, the stupidest thing he’d ever done. I kind of felt the same.
I yelped as he tugged me forward, the only room for Jesus if the Son was a piece of paper. Every point of contact—and there were a lot of them—set on fire beneath my dress. One hand roamed up my side as his hips rolled against mine. When that hand fisted my hair, I told myself this was still very cousinly.
I took a moment to look at her. For some reason, I wanted to remember the exact way her breath sounded when she realized what I was about to do.
A lesson I took away—morbid curiosity was that for a reason. For some reason, I wanted to remember. For another, I wanted the taste of her to be a lot more than just a memory.
“You can’t please everyone, piccola rossa.”
“Is it better to be like you, then? Always displeasing people?” His gaze turned on me, slow and lazy. He didn’t appear amused at all as he asked, “Do I displease you?”
That electric current sang beneath my skin, mouth tingling in anticipation as he stared at me long and hard, taking a deep sip of bourbon with his lips right over where mine had been.
“Your comment was still unnecessary.” Frowning, I added, “It displeased me.”
An old friend. As in, he had friends. Friends, dimples, a smile, a cozy apartment, and a messy bed. A person. He was a person.
Standing in the center of the apartment, he clutched his glass in one hand and shoved the other in his pocket. Whiskey irises roamed over me, like he was deciding if I fit into the layout or not.
It was only a few hours ago, but the memory of him drinking bourbon flashed in my head. The way he held my eyes as he raised the glass to his lips, the curve of them as they brushed the remnant of my lipstick. In a way, it was our first kiss.
A black cross inked over his heart gleamed under the lights, and then I was shoved down to the cushions.
“You taste even better.”
“Are you going to come for me, piccola rossa?"
Taking her home, not a part of the plan. But she’d agreed to it, and I wrongly assumed she knew what she was getting into. I felt as much for Claire McGowan as I felt for the wall. The only difference, Claire had a better ass.
I’m not shy. I’ve done this before. There was absolutely no reason those seven words should have infuriated me the way they did.
So I could admit it bothered me a bit. Along with those brilliant smiles she gave everyone else while in the same breath threw a shoe at my head. In addition to the way she was a ball of sunshine to the world but viewed me like Satan. While we were completely fucking candid, I also hated the way she always looked at me like I was about to snuff the light out of her.
But mostly, because she was the first woman in years I didn’t picture as a blonde. It would have been an injustice—piccola rossa’s hair was as integral to her as her hatred for me.
“Go back to sleep, Claire.”
“Were you playing for me?”
“It’s ‘Clair de Lune,’” I whispered, leaning my head against his chest. “My favorite.”
“Because it has your name?” I shook my head, stumbling with the effort. Warmth and citrus caught me, holding me up.
“My music box."
“Go back to sleep, piccola rossa.”
“Am I old enough yet?”
Bitter tears clogged my throat, but I shoved those down too. I wanted a life where it was okay to cry because I didn’t have to live every day to the fullest. Enough time to take a couple of bad days and take a rain check on being happy for once.
Her mass-murdering, criminal-syndicate-running, gun-wielding uncle. The perfect babysitter.
“You can’t just walk wherever you want, Claire. You’re smarter than that.”
I stared out the window instead of answering him. Everyone always had these cryptic warnings, but I was yet to run into any trouble. In fact, the only trouble I seemed to get into was with the knight in shining armor next to me.
“Everyone thinks you’re a god, but you look like a man to me.”
“Is it about last night?”
“No.”
“You sure?”
“Oui, I’m sure. I get drugged and kidnapped by crime lords all the time.”
“I don’t drug women.”
“I’m pretty sure I was drugged."
“You were.” His cold words swam around us, thickening the air. “But I didn’t do it.”
“I woke up in your bed.”
“You did. You’re welcome for that. The alternative would have been displeasing."
There were things I didn’t understand, him most of all. Because if my parents could kiss me good night and kill people, then it was possible he loved like that too.
“I didn’t realize God tasked you with delivering judgment.”
“I don’t need the bible to know you’re a bad man."
"Am I?" “Then maybe it’s time I start living up to your expectations." “You want me to be the bad one between us?” “Is that what you want?” “Yeah, that’s what you want."
He claimed his own section of my psyche. The last person who should invade my thoughts ruled them.
“I’m sorry." “I didn’t realize.” He bit the inside of his cheek, the most nervous look I'd ever seen on him. “I’m going to make it up to you, okay?" “I want you to listen to me for a minute." “I would have never done that if I knew. I shouldn’t have done it anyway.” His lips drifted down, leaving a tender kiss over that fluttering pulse. “I was frustrated, and I took it out on you.” His thumb brushed over my cheek, pulling me tight against his mouth. “You can tell me no. You can tell me to take you home. But I don't want that to be your first time, so let me do it better."
“I’m not going to sleep with you to ease your conscience.” The corner of his lip tugged up, holding no humor. “I think I proved my desire to sleep with you goes beyond guilt."
"Then why haven't you?"
“Because I shouldn't."
"And now?"
"Our secret," he murmured.
“Things could get complicated with your family, so I want this between me and you." “Our secret. If you’re okay with that, I’ll make it up to you as many times as you want."
“You’re so good, getting so wet for me."
“What’s wrong?"
“I’m a little nervous.”
“Don’t be.” His hand came back between us, rubbing my clit. “I’ll take care of you.” Then he grabbed my hand, bringing it lower . . . lower. My fingers brushed over his cock, and he wrapped my hand around it. "I want to take care of you so fucking badly."
“You’ll fit, right?”
“You can take it."
“You’ll let me stretch you out and fuck every inch of you."
“I’ve wanted you for a long time."
“You feel so good it’s a fucking sin."
“You’re gonna come around my cock, piccola rossa."
He didn’t need to make it up to me. He didn’t need to fix this. It could have been his own selfish desire to get me in bed, but the way he looked at me warped my perceptions. Of him, of us, of whatever this was, because he no longer looked at me like he hated me. He looked at me like I was the only thing he ever wanted.
I liked how she looked at me on New Year’s. I liked her shy smile after I kissed her cheek on Christmas. I liked how she looked with my finger in her mouth, wide eyes staring at me like I was God as I fucked her. Those little looks were few and far between, and I pathetically held on to each one. I didn’t want her smiling at waiters, at her friends, at strangers in a bar. I wanted her smiling at me.
“We’ll talk later.”
“We’ll talk now.”
“It’s your daughter’s baptism. Maybe this should wait.”
“Stay the fuck away from my cousin.” Turning his harsh glare on me, Darragh hissed, "And you stay the fuck away from him."
“I’ll never understand your vices.” He stared at me, something unreadable in his face.
"Me neither."
“If you planned on staying in, why did you tell me to wear something nice?"
“Because I wanted to see you in something nice?"
“This isn’t a thing,” I said. I waved my free hand between us and took a healthy sip of wine. “Sorry if I gave you the wrong idea the other week, but I'm not sleeping with you."
“You are,” he said. Simple. Matter-of-fact.
“Are you, Mr. Andrea Delarosa, having intercourse with any other human females?"
“Not as long as you’re taking those."
“This is not a thing."
“Our secret."
“Ask me nicely,” I whispered.
His gaze turned serious. “Please let me do dirty things to you."
“I’ll consider it. With condoms.”
“As long as I’m sleeping with you, I won’t be with anyone else.” He crossed one ankle over the other, a movement I was distinctly aware of even though his ankles were under my chair. "So I'm not fucking you with a condom on."
The killer with a picture of his niece on his desk. The manwhore who kept toiletries for his sister at his place. I didn’t think a lifetime would be enough to figure him out.
“As long as our little arrangement is going, there won’t be anyone else. You have my word."
“And what if I want to sleep with other people?"
“If you sleep with anyone else, Claire, I will fucking kill them."
“I like you better without makeup."
“I like makeup,” I whispered, hating how it sounded. Like a plea. His voice came out a low murmur. “Can't see your freckles with it."
“Piccola rossa,” he said, my nickname harboring a threat. “Why aren’t you coming for me?"
“You need to do a little better than that."
"Do I?"
“The faster you come for me, the sooner I'll fuck you."
“I’ll come with you inside me.”
“You’ll come then too,” he growled. “But first, I’m going to taste every dirty thought you've had while you finish."
“Now you can come with me inside you."
He tasted like darkness, sin, death, all the things I resisted and craved so deeply at the same time. I knew right then I’d lied to myself before. I didn’t resist him because I feared him. I did it because nothing would match this. Not the sensual books, not my own fingers, not another man. I craved Andrea. The darkness, the sin, all of it. I didn’t want to finish with another man’s cock inside me. I wanted rough hands gripping my face, telling me to watch him while that dangerous current wrapped around my skin.
“Do you want to watch me fuck you, principessa?"
“You want to watch me take care of you?"
“I’m going to be very, very nice to you now."
“Ti voglio così tanto che fa male." {I want you so much it hurts}
“I want you to come for me, rossa."
Unlike her cousins, I wasn’t going to be fucking nice about it either. I was pissed. Pissed that she didn’t think, again. Pissed that she would do this to herself. Pissed that I knew exactly how to handle this shit after a lifetime of it.
Right now, anger was control. The opposite of my usual methods, but if that anger bled out of me completely, it’d be replaced with something else. Something scented like cotton candy, breathing my name in the dark with a blush coating her face.
"Look at me." "Where's my sunshine?"
"I don't know anymore."
Dark clouds had cleared, letting a bright, silvery moon hang in the sky. Moonlight washed the room, clinging to her soaked skin like glitter. For a moment, I just stared. Peacefulness stole her expression while she slept. It didn’t matter she still had makeup running down her face, that her soaked hair lay in a matted mess on top of her head. When I said Claire glowed, I truly meant it. It was the worst circumstances imaginable, but she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. Shadows and darkness beside glitter and light.
Pressing my lips together, I fought to control the anger constricting my throat. The same rage demanded to pry open those soft, pink lips and make her tell me exactly what happened. Because if it was someone else, if someone did that to her, they’d be begging for hell by the time I killed them. Nobody fucking touched piccola rossa.
“Claire.” Her name was her undoing but also mine. I only used it when I needed something: her attention, her forgiveness, her time.
“It’s a pacemaker.” Soft words caught around her trembling breath. “My heart stopped. It doesn't work right anymore."
It worked just fine if you asked me. Maybe a little too well. It was a miracle she was alive at all, with the way her heart bled for everything and everyone around her.
My hands remained on her hips. Hands covered in blood, filth, things that didn’t belong on skin that glowed for the moonlight. Everything I touched I destroyed. Death followed me like an old friend.
“Don’t look at me like that,” she whispered.
“Like what?”
“Broken.”
"You're not broken."
I wasn’t letting her go home.
“You’re not broken.” She finally looked at me. Really looked at me. “I promise, alright? I’ve seen a lot worse than you."
“You don’t have to hide with me," I said.
“To everyone else, fine,” I continued.
“Put the mask on, I don’t care. You know I’ll do the same.” Leaning forward, I pressed a kiss to her cheek. Her answering breath all but ruined me. “But here...I'll commit your sins if you take my virtues."
“You’re a bad man, Andrea Delarosa.” I nodded, laying my hand over the one she had on my face.
"I'll be good to you."
“What happens when a crime boss takes a sick day?” My eyes traced the curves of her hips, barely hearing a thing she said. “The usual. Cocaine trade collapses, an entire precinct retires, shootings go down by two hundred percent."
If we did things my way, it’d go a little something like this: I’d place my hands on either side of her, boxing her in against the counter. Then, I’d give her ten seconds to tell me exactly what she needed from her apartment and to write it down. She’d dutifully do it because she was a good little rossa before slipping off that T-shirt and dropping to her knees. And just for disobeying me before it was even nine, she'd wrap those soft lips around my dick until I can on her tits.
“Since when do you care about me?” She was going to give me a fucking stroke. “Since you were drugged on my property, walk my streets unsupervised, and showed up at my door on the brink of death."
“You shouldn’t care about me.” My eyes narrowed on her. How about she didn’t tell me what to do? “Well, I do. You can get the fuck over it now and make me that list."
I slapped her ass again. Harder. Her following yelp put more than a few dirty ideas in my head. I slapped her one more time for good measure. She glared. “What was the last one for?" I winked.
"To remind you I own it."
The scent wrapped around me like a sin. God really was fucking good sometimes.
Claire was nothing but a passing phase. If I fucked her enough, I’d get her out of my system, and then we’d never speak of this again. In my ideal situation, that’d be exactly how it went. But there seemed to be Claire's way, my way, and the way shit decided to go.
Three hours ago, I’d been told I only had ten years with her. Three hours ago, ten years seemed like nothing. Two hours ago, I learned just how long twenty seconds was when someone’s heart stopped beating. Right now, I realized just how much I’d trade for five hours. Minutes. Seconds. Claire could kiss me back in five seconds.
“I don’t think it’ll be easy. Honestly, you probably deserve a lot better than me. But I’ll try for you, rossa. I’ll never stop trying. And whether I get fifty years with you or five minutes, I'd rather have that than nothing at all. Every second I have with you is the most I could ever ask for."
December 14, 2025
İkinci Oğul aka Beni Büyüdüğünde Bul ❤️🔥
Slow burn mafya bayadır denk gelmiyordu güzel oldu. Claire İrlandalı ama Fransa’ da yetişmiş, bir takım olaylar sonunda kendini 17 yaşında New York’ ta mafya kuzeninin yanında buluyor ve olaylar gelişiyor. Bir yandan neden burda olduğunu anlamaya çalışırken Andrea ile denk geliyor, sağlık sorunları da varken carpe diem bebeyim diyerek gününü gün ediyor. 🙂↕️
Bu yazardan ilk okumam oldu ve abartı olmadan 5 kere kurşunlanmadan çatılardan atlamadan mafya romansı görmenin ayrı bir zevki varmış yaw..Aradığımı buldum gibi gibi 🌟
Slow burn mafya bayadır denk gelmiyordu güzel oldu. Claire İrlandalı ama Fransa’ da yetişmiş, bir takım olaylar sonunda kendini 17 yaşında New York’ ta mafya kuzeninin yanında buluyor ve olaylar gelişiyor. Bir yandan neden burda olduğunu anlamaya çalışırken Andrea ile denk geliyor, sağlık sorunları da varken carpe diem bebeyim diyerek gününü gün ediyor. 🙂↕️
Bu yazardan ilk okumam oldu ve abartı olmadan 5 kere kurşunlanmadan çatılardan atlamadan mafya romansı görmenin ayrı bir zevki varmış yaw..Aradığımı buldum gibi gibi 🌟
November 3, 2025
Don't let this book fool you, that girl was definitely suicidal.
I also didn't expect it to be a fantasy, because NO ONE can abuse their ailing body with alcohol and medication that much and still be alive.
A stupid thing to be mad about, sure. But it took all the enjoyment out of this book.
I also didn't expect it to be a fantasy, because NO ONE can abuse their ailing body with alcohol and medication that much and still be alive.
A stupid thing to be mad about, sure. But it took all the enjoyment out of this book.
June 21, 2022
ARC REVIEW
"He didn't look like a man. He looked like the devil. Good thing Death and I were best friends."
As always check trigger warnings before reading. This story will grab you and hold on while shaking you around emotionally. I wasn't prepared to sob my eyes out from about 80-ish% till the end, but there I was, lying in bed, ugly sobbing to another book.
Mallory really struck the emotional chords with Andrea and Claire. Their story is unforgettable.
"I didn't realize God tasked you with delivering judgement."
This emotional, dark and intense story takes you on an unforgettable ride but with a slight twist. In this grumpy/sunshine romance, we have two very flawed, very different MC's. Coming from Hit / Marked, I didn't really enjoy Andrea's character in those books... Until Second Son. Once we got into the 'how's & why's', that was when it clicked into place, and we saw more of the man under the shell. Peeling those hardened layers back on this darkened soul took some time but it had paid off. I fell in love with yet another truly morally gray character.
"I'll commit your sins if you take my virtues."
Mallory's writing was simply phenomenal once again. The stories she creates, the emotions she pulls, it all is so seamless.
More people should pick these books up because Mallory is the Mafia queen. Nothing ever compares when it comes to mafia. I know, I know, I shouldn't compare books, but she set the standard so dang high that I can't help it. Her writing and characters are truly unforgettable and will stick with you.
"I don't need much in life, but I need you."
"He didn't look like a man. He looked like the devil. Good thing Death and I were best friends."
As always check trigger warnings before reading. This story will grab you and hold on while shaking you around emotionally. I wasn't prepared to sob my eyes out from about 80-ish% till the end, but there I was, lying in bed, ugly sobbing to another book.
Mallory really struck the emotional chords with Andrea and Claire. Their story is unforgettable.
"I didn't realize God tasked you with delivering judgement."
This emotional, dark and intense story takes you on an unforgettable ride but with a slight twist. In this grumpy/sunshine romance, we have two very flawed, very different MC's. Coming from Hit / Marked, I didn't really enjoy Andrea's character in those books... Until Second Son. Once we got into the 'how's & why's', that was when it clicked into place, and we saw more of the man under the shell. Peeling those hardened layers back on this darkened soul took some time but it had paid off. I fell in love with yet another truly morally gray character.
"I'll commit your sins if you take my virtues."
Mallory's writing was simply phenomenal once again. The stories she creates, the emotions she pulls, it all is so seamless.
More people should pick these books up because Mallory is the Mafia queen. Nothing ever compares when it comes to mafia. I know, I know, I shouldn't compare books, but she set the standard so dang high that I can't help it. Her writing and characters are truly unforgettable and will stick with you.
"I don't need much in life, but I need you."
January 7, 2023
Mallory Hart has slayed me once again. Talk about heart rending storytelling! The author deftly takes on the hopelessly romantic style of old fashioned doomed love affairs by opening her first paragraph with the revelation Claire had died once before. With this tragic event foreshadowing the potential tragedy of the story, the reader is sucked into an emotional maelstrom of hope, loss, yearning, violence and love - such deep, unforgiving, messy, painful love.
“Fear was a strange thing to elude a child, but when God put me on this earth, He forgot to give me a healthy dose of it. A childhood spent climbing the tallest trees, agreeing to any dare asked of me, and not shedding a tear when my parents packed up in the night and hurriedly moved us to France. I didn’t fear the strange language I learned to speak in kindergarten, nor the bustling streets of Paris compared to the quiet hills of Ireland. So when the doctors sat me down at fifteen and said things like incurable and the prognosis is undetermined at this time, I didn’t feel fear then either.” Claire is awesome and Andrea is just swoon worthy!
To read Second Son is to remember how first love can remake the fabric of a persons life, to dictate the highs and suffocating lows of risking your heart but most of all, it’s a story of broken lives and healing. Love love love this book!
“Fear was a strange thing to elude a child, but when God put me on this earth, He forgot to give me a healthy dose of it. A childhood spent climbing the tallest trees, agreeing to any dare asked of me, and not shedding a tear when my parents packed up in the night and hurriedly moved us to France. I didn’t fear the strange language I learned to speak in kindergarten, nor the bustling streets of Paris compared to the quiet hills of Ireland. So when the doctors sat me down at fifteen and said things like incurable and the prognosis is undetermined at this time, I didn’t feel fear then either.” Claire is awesome and Andrea is just swoon worthy!
To read Second Son is to remember how first love can remake the fabric of a persons life, to dictate the highs and suffocating lows of risking your heart but most of all, it’s a story of broken lives and healing. Love love love this book!
June 8, 2022
Andrea Delarosa is the new Don, his family was attacked and although he was never meant to rule he’s in charge now. His sister married the boss of the Irish mob and is living her best life, if only he could do the same. But the past has a way to weigh you down and Andrea can’t seem to let go.
Claire McGowan is Darragh’s cousin (Andrea’s sister husband) and she came to America from France so she could get the best doctors. Claire is 7 years younger than Andrea and he’s a bad man, a mafia boss, whereas she’s sunshine and rainbows personified. You’d never guess that she has so much going on in her life. They shouldn’t make sense together but deep down they understand each other only like true soulmates do. She’s the calm he needs, he’s the anchor she craves. They work together in perfect sync. They love hard, they don’t need a label nor words to know what they have is real and they’ll go to the end of the world for each other. If that’s not love, I don’t know what it is.
In true Mallory Hart fashion, it was a story of broken but beautiful people and I wouldn’t change a thing of Andrea and Claire’s journey.
Also, major kiddos for giving us a little peak into Darragh and Pina’s life.
Claire McGowan is Darragh’s cousin (Andrea’s sister husband) and she came to America from France so she could get the best doctors. Claire is 7 years younger than Andrea and he’s a bad man, a mafia boss, whereas she’s sunshine and rainbows personified. You’d never guess that she has so much going on in her life. They shouldn’t make sense together but deep down they understand each other only like true soulmates do. She’s the calm he needs, he’s the anchor she craves. They work together in perfect sync. They love hard, they don’t need a label nor words to know what they have is real and they’ll go to the end of the world for each other. If that’s not love, I don’t know what it is.
In true Mallory Hart fashion, it was a story of broken but beautiful people and I wouldn’t change a thing of Andrea and Claire’s journey.
Also, major kiddos for giving us a little peak into Darragh and Pina’s life.
June 15, 2022
I loved this book. It was a little heartbreaking at times but I loved how the characters developed. The timeline that was given made their story more realistic for me. I love how some real life problems gave Claire so perspective on life and how brave she was. The spicy scenes were immaculate.
November 24, 2023
4.75 ☆
let me take a moment to gather my thoughts because wow
let me take a moment to gather my thoughts because wow
March 1, 2025
⭐️3.5⭐️
March 12, 2025
SO GOOD. LOVE IT.
4.5 🌟
Update : damn it, I'm giving this 5 stars 🤭.
AAAAAAAAAH 🤸🕳️
4.5 🌟
Update : damn it, I'm giving this 5 stars 🤭.
AAAAAAAAAH 🤸🕳️
June 12, 2022
Claire has had a rough go of life, the short one she’s going to get anyway. It’s not easy being told as a child that you have a disease that’s going to take your life. It’s even harder when your parents have to send you to your cousin in the Irish Mafia in NYC when you don’t speak the language well and you’re suddenly subject to new rules to keep you safe in a world full of danger. Especially when all you want is to experience what life has to offer before it’s over.
Andrea never wanted to be the Don of NYC. As the second son there was a level of comfort in knowing he wouldn’t have to worry about that responsibility. But when his sister flees, is kidnapped by the Irish mafia before defecting to their side and the rest of his family is lost to their enemies he has no choice but to step up. With his lack of preparation he makes mistakes and he makes a lot of them. But the one mistake he won’t make is getting involved with Claire. Despite how palpable their chemistry is and how much he’s dying to take her for his own. No way is he risking war 2.0 especially given the still tenuous relationship he has with his sister who is married to Claire’s cousin.
Yet the heart wants what it wants and when they keep ending up together there’s no way to resist the unrelenting pull to each other. But Andrea has had a lot of loss in his past. Is he really ready for this especially with a girl who can only give him right now?
This is Mallory’s best work yet. I spent two sleepless nights devouring this book and cursing the gods that I had to work and couldn’t read all day instead. I did not think I would ever forgive Andrea for his actions in the Mafia Born Duet and yet here we are with me looking like an absolute clown because I’m in love with him. I love that this series is set in the late eighties/early nineties because you get a completely different feel for the mafia world than in more contemporary stories. I love that we got more Pina and Darragh too! Seeing Pina still rule as a Queen in their male dominated world have me a deep satisfaction. And speaking of queens I stan Claire’s doctor. Yes she was harsh but her advice to Claire and Andrea was spot on. She’s who I want to be when I grow up.
This story will tug on your heart strings and the chemistry with set you aflame. This has the hottest steamy scenes Mallory has done to date and I was so freaking here for it. I know it’s early in the month but I’m already calling this as my best read of June and it’s right up there for best of 2022 as well. If you haven’t checked out Mallory’s books and you like Mafia then you need to. Start with the Mafia Born Duet so you can fall in hate with Andrea first then come back here so he can win you over.
Thanks so much to Mallory as always for providing me with an early copy to review!
May 18, 2023
I really loved this series. The writing is excellent and the characters have a lot of depth. I much preferred this book to the duet before it.
My only complaint is the EXTREMELY over the top drinking & smoking in the series. I’m not saying that as a prude, but there is not a single scene in this book where the FMC is not chugging wine like water, and yet she is rarely intoxicated. I had the same complaint with the first book. It’s like the alcohol is there to set some sort of ~vibe~ but it honestly just got repetitive and annoying. She’s drinking multiple bottles of wine a day, just like Pina chugs an 1/8th of whiskey every morning for breakfast. And yet neither of them are ever sick, they are never drunk other than a couple of scenes. It’s not believable and it took me out of the story every single time. The MMC is smoking cigarettes constantly. Inside, outside, in every single scene (just like Darragh did in the duet). I don’t know if this was an attempt on the authors part to make it “feel” like the 80’s, but it comes off more like the author doesn’t really know any other idle things the characters can be doing with their hands during a conversation.
My only complaint is the EXTREMELY over the top drinking & smoking in the series. I’m not saying that as a prude, but there is not a single scene in this book where the FMC is not chugging wine like water, and yet she is rarely intoxicated. I had the same complaint with the first book. It’s like the alcohol is there to set some sort of ~vibe~ but it honestly just got repetitive and annoying. She’s drinking multiple bottles of wine a day, just like Pina chugs an 1/8th of whiskey every morning for breakfast. And yet neither of them are ever sick, they are never drunk other than a couple of scenes. It’s not believable and it took me out of the story every single time. The MMC is smoking cigarettes constantly. Inside, outside, in every single scene (just like Darragh did in the duet). I don’t know if this was an attempt on the authors part to make it “feel” like the 80’s, but it comes off more like the author doesn’t really know any other idle things the characters can be doing with their hands during a conversation.
July 27, 2025
Rate：4🌟
December 27, 2025
"Two skeletons on a shore. He held out his blackened; she held out hers broken. They’d both taken their gifts, cherished them, and those hearts were doing a little better now, growing every day."
“I’ll commit your virtues if you take my sins. I’ll be your good if you take my bad."
i did not sign up to sob over a mafia romance, yet here i am. i had no idea this was about a dying girl and a man who lost his lover. i almost dnf because i hate dead girlfriend tropes, but the writing was excellent in pulling me in. thank goodness i continued, i had a devastatingly beautiful time.
i really really really love our heroine, claire. she was so kind, so sweet, so pure. her morbid and suicidal thoughts were hurting me. i wanted to step into the book, wrap her in my arms, and make her laugh. but i don't need to because the mmc andrea found her. he was perfectly made for her.
it felt as if they were exquisitely made for one another. as if they were two halves that only made sense when they were together.
the slow burn and tension in the first half were phenomenal—especially shocking for a mafia romance, where slowburn is rare. it made the second half, when they became fuck buddies (indenial lovers), feel earned. it never felt as if it was just sex. it was something more. their relationship was so toxic, and yet it was so tender and so real.
no. the way my heart broke when claire got so depressed, she wouldn't smile anymore, and andrea desperately asked her 'where's his sunshine?'. the way my heart broke when she started smiling again. claire had no idea what her smile meant to him. i love them.
a mafia romance would involve the mmc doing immoral things, such as killing other men for the fmc and stalking the fmc. but i already knew that. it was those mundane moments that made my head spin.
the snow on their heads. their conversations. lunch dates. fifteen minute calls. music. painting on each other's bodies. he let her paint the walls of his house. they cook for each other. her lying on the piano while he plays her favorite tune. the way he grips her waist while she circles her hands on his neck. their dirty beautiful sex. they were undeniably so in love with each other. i felt like a third wheel. they didn't even have to put it in words. they can deny and hide it all they want.
I JUST WANNA KISS MALLORY HART FOR GIVING THEM THE HEA THEY DESERVE!!! i genuinely was so scared all throughout the book since claire was dying and always depressed. the last line was so rewarding: "And with that, we would live forever."
thank you for not breaking my heart. thank you for ending this book with a quiet, enduring hope. they grew old—white hair, wrinkles and all that. they even had grandchildren. idgaf.
my favorite moment was when she finally faced death:
Death caressed my face. You were the one that got away.
Go fuck yourself, I whispered back. I have way too many things to live for.
IM SO PROUD OF HERRRRRRR. and also this sums up their entire dynamics and I LIVEEEE:
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” I exhaled a shaky breath, my arms coming around myself when he added, “Are you alright, baby?”
Be strong, be strong, be strong. I’d done that my entire life though, and for once, it was good to know someone else would do it for me. Someone was willing to commit my sins. Not all of them, because some things we needed to face alone, but after a lifetime of fearlessness, plastic smiles, and marching through the pain, it was a strength in its own way to take a break and let it go.
“I’ll commit your virtues if you take my sins. I’ll be your good if you take my bad."
i did not sign up to sob over a mafia romance, yet here i am. i had no idea this was about a dying girl and a man who lost his lover. i almost dnf because i hate dead girlfriend tropes, but the writing was excellent in pulling me in. thank goodness i continued, i had a devastatingly beautiful time.
i really really really love our heroine, claire. she was so kind, so sweet, so pure. her morbid and suicidal thoughts were hurting me. i wanted to step into the book, wrap her in my arms, and make her laugh. but i don't need to because the mmc andrea found her. he was perfectly made for her.
it felt as if they were exquisitely made for one another. as if they were two halves that only made sense when they were together.
the slow burn and tension in the first half were phenomenal—especially shocking for a mafia romance, where slowburn is rare. it made the second half, when they became fuck buddies (indenial lovers), feel earned. it never felt as if it was just sex. it was something more. their relationship was so toxic, and yet it was so tender and so real.
no. the way my heart broke when claire got so depressed, she wouldn't smile anymore, and andrea desperately asked her 'where's his sunshine?'. the way my heart broke when she started smiling again. claire had no idea what her smile meant to him. i love them.
a mafia romance would involve the mmc doing immoral things, such as killing other men for the fmc and stalking the fmc. but i already knew that. it was those mundane moments that made my head spin.
the snow on their heads. their conversations. lunch dates. fifteen minute calls. music. painting on each other's bodies. he let her paint the walls of his house. they cook for each other. her lying on the piano while he plays her favorite tune. the way he grips her waist while she circles her hands on his neck. their dirty beautiful sex. they were undeniably so in love with each other. i felt like a third wheel. they didn't even have to put it in words. they can deny and hide it all they want.
I JUST WANNA KISS MALLORY HART FOR GIVING THEM THE HEA THEY DESERVE!!! i genuinely was so scared all throughout the book since claire was dying and always depressed. the last line was so rewarding: "And with that, we would live forever."
thank you for not breaking my heart. thank you for ending this book with a quiet, enduring hope. they grew old—white hair, wrinkles and all that. they even had grandchildren. idgaf.
my favorite moment was when she finally faced death:
Death caressed my face. You were the one that got away.
Go fuck yourself, I whispered back. I have way too many things to live for.
IM SO PROUD OF HERRRRRRR. and also this sums up their entire dynamics and I LIVEEEE:
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” I exhaled a shaky breath, my arms coming around myself when he added, “Are you alright, baby?”
Be strong, be strong, be strong. I’d done that my entire life though, and for once, it was good to know someone else would do it for me. Someone was willing to commit my sins. Not all of them, because some things we needed to face alone, but after a lifetime of fearlessness, plastic smiles, and marching through the pain, it was a strength in its own way to take a break and let it go.
June 14, 2022
"You're a bad man, Andrea Delarosa. I'll be good to you."
When Andrea was introduced in Mallory Hart's Mafia Born duet I couldn't help but feel pulled in by him. He is the second son of the mafia don and therefore didn't really anticipate ever being Don himself. He loves his sister, Pina, and spent as much time with her as possible....then she went missing, he was taken hostage by the Irish, and all heck broke loose. One day he is just the second son and the next....he is the new Don!
Claire is a distant cousin of Darragh's and has health issues requiring care her parents could no longer afford so they send her to live with Darragh and he ensures she gets the medical care she needs. She is young and in a new country with family she doesn't know. One day a man catches her eye and she has not a clue who he is....the new Don of the Italian mafia, also the brother to her cousin's wife....Andrea Delarosa. She knows she should not be around him yet finds him intriguing and cannot really stay away from him any time there is an opportunity of a "run in" with him.
Andrea knows Claire is forbidden for many reasons.....she is younger and the cousin of his brother-in-law, a member of the Irish family. For years he is able to keep his distance from her but as she gets older his will withers away until one night he gives in.
Even though there is an age gap between them I feel they are a perfect match for each other. Claire is one of the three woman Andrea feels kindly towards. They balance each other out. She is the sunshine to his cloudy day. As things progress between them I felt like those roles reversed and he was her sunshine on her bad days. He was unable to deny her anything once he accepted his feelings towards her. He is even willing to stand up to Darragh when it comes to her. Then when the time comes he really shows just how strongly he feels for her when she needed it most and I absolutely loved that.
Mallory Hart nailed Andrea and Claire's story. There were some plot twists in there that involved Andrea's life that I didn't see coming and it explained so much about him. Then there was poor Claire who was sent off to live with family she didn't even know and a couple of them welcomed her with open arms and looked out for her. Claire and her positive outlook on her situation was inspiring....she makes the most out of life and what it throws her way. This story ended on such a perfect note....it couldn't have been any better. I can only hope that Rory has a story coming because I need me some more of that fun loving Irishman.
When Andrea was introduced in Mallory Hart's Mafia Born duet I couldn't help but feel pulled in by him. He is the second son of the mafia don and therefore didn't really anticipate ever being Don himself. He loves his sister, Pina, and spent as much time with her as possible....then she went missing, he was taken hostage by the Irish, and all heck broke loose. One day he is just the second son and the next....he is the new Don!
Claire is a distant cousin of Darragh's and has health issues requiring care her parents could no longer afford so they send her to live with Darragh and he ensures she gets the medical care she needs. She is young and in a new country with family she doesn't know. One day a man catches her eye and she has not a clue who he is....the new Don of the Italian mafia, also the brother to her cousin's wife....Andrea Delarosa. She knows she should not be around him yet finds him intriguing and cannot really stay away from him any time there is an opportunity of a "run in" with him.
Andrea knows Claire is forbidden for many reasons.....she is younger and the cousin of his brother-in-law, a member of the Irish family. For years he is able to keep his distance from her but as she gets older his will withers away until one night he gives in.
Even though there is an age gap between them I feel they are a perfect match for each other. Claire is one of the three woman Andrea feels kindly towards. They balance each other out. She is the sunshine to his cloudy day. As things progress between them I felt like those roles reversed and he was her sunshine on her bad days. He was unable to deny her anything once he accepted his feelings towards her. He is even willing to stand up to Darragh when it comes to her. Then when the time comes he really shows just how strongly he feels for her when she needed it most and I absolutely loved that.
Mallory Hart nailed Andrea and Claire's story. There were some plot twists in there that involved Andrea's life that I didn't see coming and it explained so much about him. Then there was poor Claire who was sent off to live with family she didn't even know and a couple of them welcomed her with open arms and looked out for her. Claire and her positive outlook on her situation was inspiring....she makes the most out of life and what it throws her way. This story ended on such a perfect note....it couldn't have been any better. I can only hope that Rory has a story coming because I need me some more of that fun loving Irishman.
June 13, 2022
Death followed me like an old friend. She told me that herself once. To her, I was nothing but a man.
With just one look across the lobby and now with family occasions, Andrea Delarosa & Claire McGowan fate was now set in stone. Entwining together without them seeing the webs that were drawing them closer.
A powerful deadly man, Andrea has risen up over taking the family name and rebuilt the empire from the ashes. His sister Pina has her own life, but the connection is stronger than ever before as her life grows.
A red flame is starting to catch Andrea's eye, burning the temptations that seem to be heating up every time he crosses paths with Claire. Young, bright and way too good to be enclosed by his darkness, Andrea knows that her family wouldn’t allow anything to even happen between them, even Andrea is forcing himself not to touch something precious…
“You want me to be the bad one between us? Is that what you want?”
But sometimes pretty little things have cracks and will never be perfect…yet together they could set each other alight…in the worst and best possible of ways.
Ma mere always told me my recklessness would get me in trouble, but what was life without a little risk?
Andrea & Claire…<3 A beautiful, slow-burn, emotional, heated romance this story turned out to be. They may be polar opposites and with a slight age gap but these two keep finding themselves at each event, something is burning the flames between them…just wait for this to heat up and how they both start to feel the change of dynamics.
I enjoyed going back into this world and this time with Andrea Delarosa! Wow a man of many dark talents and broody mystery that as the story unfolds you realise there are different layers to this character.
Claire…my gosh what a character that I’m not going to go into but wow…strong and going through a very emotional story. Lot of care was taken as each development happened and how all the characters reacted to this.
This story follows Andrea & Claire, then our other favourite cutthroat couple Pina & Darragh. I really enjoyed still having that connection to them, their interactions as a family was great a perfect balance.
Life is too short not to be happy.
Life is too short to be bitter.
Life is too short to be mean.
A life lived in fear is not a life at all.
With just one look across the lobby and now with family occasions, Andrea Delarosa & Claire McGowan fate was now set in stone. Entwining together without them seeing the webs that were drawing them closer.
A powerful deadly man, Andrea has risen up over taking the family name and rebuilt the empire from the ashes. His sister Pina has her own life, but the connection is stronger than ever before as her life grows.
A red flame is starting to catch Andrea's eye, burning the temptations that seem to be heating up every time he crosses paths with Claire. Young, bright and way too good to be enclosed by his darkness, Andrea knows that her family wouldn’t allow anything to even happen between them, even Andrea is forcing himself not to touch something precious…
“You want me to be the bad one between us? Is that what you want?”
But sometimes pretty little things have cracks and will never be perfect…yet together they could set each other alight…in the worst and best possible of ways.
Ma mere always told me my recklessness would get me in trouble, but what was life without a little risk?
Andrea & Claire…<3 A beautiful, slow-burn, emotional, heated romance this story turned out to be. They may be polar opposites and with a slight age gap but these two keep finding themselves at each event, something is burning the flames between them…just wait for this to heat up and how they both start to feel the change of dynamics.
I enjoyed going back into this world and this time with Andrea Delarosa! Wow a man of many dark talents and broody mystery that as the story unfolds you realise there are different layers to this character.
Claire…my gosh what a character that I’m not going to go into but wow…strong and going through a very emotional story. Lot of care was taken as each development happened and how all the characters reacted to this.
This story follows Andrea & Claire, then our other favourite cutthroat couple Pina & Darragh. I really enjoyed still having that connection to them, their interactions as a family was great a perfect balance.
Life is too short not to be happy.
Life is too short to be bitter.
Life is too short to be mean.
A life lived in fear is not a life at all.
June 15, 2022
This is grumpy meets sunshine GOLD!
However, Claire isn’t you're typical sunshine FMC and Andrea isn’t your run of the mill grumpy mafia don. These characters are complex and emotional.
I felt for Claire this whole book. You learn very early that doctors have told her that she isn’t going to live a normal life and with epilepsy and a defective heart, she doesn’t have very many years left. So she spends all her energy being positive and happy for those around her.
“Life is too short to not be happy.
Life is too short to be bitter.
Life is to short to be mean.
A life lived in fear, was not a life at all.”
I can only imagine how feeling like you have to be “on” all the time would wear a person down. Even if you’re life isn’t going to be “normal”, you still have feelings that are valid and need to be felt.
Then in walks Andrea, who is dealing with a past of his own that has molded him into a stoic, hard, unfeeling man.
As their relationship grows, they learn to lean on one another and together they work on facing a unknown future.
“I’ll commit your sins if you take my virtues.”
This story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time. I loved watching Claire grow into a young women who is in touch with her feelings and turn away from a “it is what it is” attitude to truly wanting to be present in her life.
I loved the way Andrea gave her a safe space to do all her growing but also how she turned into his safe space in the same breath.
Mallory did a phenomenal job bringing this sorry together! I am a fan of this couple and her writing! Would highly recommend!
Themes/Tropes
• Forbidden Relationship
• Mafia Romance
• Grumpy/Sunshine
• Touch her and die
• Praise
A HUGE thank you to this amazing author for sending me this ARC to enjoy!
18+ read
Check Trigger and Content Warnings
*This review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own.*
However, Claire isn’t you're typical sunshine FMC and Andrea isn’t your run of the mill grumpy mafia don. These characters are complex and emotional.
I felt for Claire this whole book. You learn very early that doctors have told her that she isn’t going to live a normal life and with epilepsy and a defective heart, she doesn’t have very many years left. So she spends all her energy being positive and happy for those around her.
“Life is too short to not be happy.
Life is too short to be bitter.
Life is to short to be mean.
A life lived in fear, was not a life at all.”
I can only imagine how feeling like you have to be “on” all the time would wear a person down. Even if you’re life isn’t going to be “normal”, you still have feelings that are valid and need to be felt.
Then in walks Andrea, who is dealing with a past of his own that has molded him into a stoic, hard, unfeeling man.
As their relationship grows, they learn to lean on one another and together they work on facing a unknown future.
“I’ll commit your sins if you take my virtues.”
This story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time. I loved watching Claire grow into a young women who is in touch with her feelings and turn away from a “it is what it is” attitude to truly wanting to be present in her life.
I loved the way Andrea gave her a safe space to do all her growing but also how she turned into his safe space in the same breath.
Mallory did a phenomenal job bringing this sorry together! I am a fan of this couple and her writing! Would highly recommend!
Themes/Tropes
• Forbidden Relationship
• Mafia Romance
• Grumpy/Sunshine
• Touch her and die
• Praise
A HUGE thank you to this amazing author for sending me this ARC to enjoy!
18+ read
Check Trigger and Content Warnings
*This review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own.*
December 8, 2025
AGE GAP+ SICK FMC + DARK ROMANCE + ROMANCE PROIBIDO + SNEAKING AROUND + V FMC + MAFIA + SHELTERED FMC
ela morava na franca com os pais mas descobriu uma doença, epilepsia. ela teve uma convulsão e o coração dela parou, ela tem marca passo
os pais nao estavam dando conta de tomar conta dela por causa disso e mandaram ela para morar com os primeiros em ny - eles eram da máfia irlandesa
ela é superprotegida e não pode fzr nada, mas vive sempre tentando fzr o melhor, sorri e é ser feliz pq ela sabe que vai morrrr cedo
ao msm tempo ela começa o livro não tomando os remédios direito e não quer fzr uma cirurgia no cérebro para tentar consertar
ela conhece ele no casamento da irmã dele. ele fala para ela para ela procurar ele quando ela for mais velha (meio que derreti, morri, não levantei)
ai eles vão se encontrando mais toda hora pq a irmã dele casou com o primo dela, só que ele é o primo de odeiam
ele atirou no primo dela em outra ocasião pq ele tinha ficado com a irmã dele
slow burn eles demoram mt para se beijarem pela primeira vez, ela pede um beijo de presente para ele e ele da depois de um tempo um beijo na bochecha do
acho que quando ela vai fzr 20 anos ela quer perder a virgindade ai ela sai com uma amiga
acaba que ela é drogada e ele tem que salvar ela
ela não entende direito o que aconteceu e acha que foi ele
ela é meio maluquete tb, mas eu gostei pq achei que ela tinha motivo para ser
tem uma cena em que ela toma mt remédio, ela é meio suicida e 100% alcoólatra
amei a coisa dela ser superprotegida e o romance dela ser secreto
eles começam bem devagar. ele não sabia que ela era birgem e descobre na hora pq ela tinha metido que já tinha feito antes em outra ocasião
ela fala que gostaria que ele fosse fofo com ela ou algo assim e ele é eles tem um relacionamento super querido ele trata ela igual uma princesa
ela achava que o país dela eram pessoas noemis, mas eles eram terroridtas, ela descobre pq ele conta pra ela
ela fica mt puta com os primeiros ela sente mt ressentimento de não ter uma vida livre em ny
ele demora mt a descobrir que ela tá doente, e quando descobre não sabe que ela vai morrerem cedo
o fbi tava em cima dela por causa dos pais dela, aí queriam deportar ela a menos que ela falasse algumas coisas sobre os primos o
ela é pega e na vdd começam a perguntar coisas sobre o andrea,
se ela não falasse nada para eles tinham um plano b de casar ela com alguém para ela virar cidadã
iam casar ela com um velho
ele descobre pq ela fica na delegacia detida por caída do fbi e acaba contando pra ele
ele mata o cara e fala que vai casar com ela
os primeiros não aceitam
no final do livro e lá tem um monte de convulsão e o coração dela para
irmã dele ajuda, ele vai literalmente correndo para o hospital
ela teve uma strike, mas depois se recupera da tudo certo ANEI KUITO
ela morava na franca com os pais mas descobriu uma doença, epilepsia. ela teve uma convulsão e o coração dela parou, ela tem marca passo
os pais nao estavam dando conta de tomar conta dela por causa disso e mandaram ela para morar com os primeiros em ny - eles eram da máfia irlandesa
ela é superprotegida e não pode fzr nada, mas vive sempre tentando fzr o melhor, sorri e é ser feliz pq ela sabe que vai morrrr cedo
ao msm tempo ela começa o livro não tomando os remédios direito e não quer fzr uma cirurgia no cérebro para tentar consertar
ela conhece ele no casamento da irmã dele. ele fala para ela para ela procurar ele quando ela for mais velha (meio que derreti, morri, não levantei)
ai eles vão se encontrando mais toda hora pq a irmã dele casou com o primo dela, só que ele é o primo de odeiam
ele atirou no primo dela em outra ocasião pq ele tinha ficado com a irmã dele
slow burn eles demoram mt para se beijarem pela primeira vez, ela pede um beijo de presente para ele e ele da depois de um tempo um beijo na bochecha do
acho que quando ela vai fzr 20 anos ela quer perder a virgindade ai ela sai com uma amiga
acaba que ela é drogada e ele tem que salvar ela
ela não entende direito o que aconteceu e acha que foi ele
ela é meio maluquete tb, mas eu gostei pq achei que ela tinha motivo para ser
tem uma cena em que ela toma mt remédio, ela é meio suicida e 100% alcoólatra
amei a coisa dela ser superprotegida e o romance dela ser secreto
eles começam bem devagar. ele não sabia que ela era birgem e descobre na hora pq ela tinha metido que já tinha feito antes em outra ocasião
ela fala que gostaria que ele fosse fofo com ela ou algo assim e ele é eles tem um relacionamento super querido ele trata ela igual uma princesa
ela achava que o país dela eram pessoas noemis, mas eles eram terroridtas, ela descobre pq ele conta pra ela
ela fica mt puta com os primeiros ela sente mt ressentimento de não ter uma vida livre em ny
ele demora mt a descobrir que ela tá doente, e quando descobre não sabe que ela vai morrerem cedo
o fbi tava em cima dela por causa dos pais dela, aí queriam deportar ela a menos que ela falasse algumas coisas sobre os primos o
ela é pega e na vdd começam a perguntar coisas sobre o andrea,
se ela não falasse nada para eles tinham um plano b de casar ela com alguém para ela virar cidadã
iam casar ela com um velho
ele descobre pq ela fica na delegacia detida por caída do fbi e acaba contando pra ele
ele mata o cara e fala que vai casar com ela
os primeiros não aceitam
no final do livro e lá tem um monte de convulsão e o coração dela para
irmã dele ajuda, ele vai literalmente correndo para o hospital
ela teve uma strike, mas depois se recupera da tudo certo ANEI KUITO
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2023
One million stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Loved, loved, looooved it! Man, I already had a crush on Andrea since book one of Pina’s story and I had a feeling his book would be even better. And damn was I right? Mallory can fucking write! God, I don’t even know how to begin explaining how good this book was. So intense, so interesting. Honestly her series are the best mafia romance books I’ve read so far. The feelings in this book were so damn strong and authentic. I loved seeing the hidden soft side of Andrea. As they said many times “he was always the sweet one”. We knew he cared a lot for his sister and was capable of love but in this book we find out just how really big his heart is. He tried to stay away from Clair and wait for her till she got older but they always found themselves in the same room, sitting next to each other, wanting each other. Clair has a weak heart and Andrea’s heart has been shattered to pieces before but yet all they want is to be with one another no matter how much it hurts at the end.
I can’t say I’m a little sad to know they won’t have forever but the ending was still sweet and as happy as possible. I honestly couldn’t get enough of this couple. I also enjoyed having moments with Pina and Darragh and see them all together. I would read a hundred books about all of them seriously. ❤️❤️❤️🥲
I can’t say I’m a little sad to know they won’t have forever but the ending was still sweet and as happy as possible. I honestly couldn’t get enough of this couple. I also enjoyed having moments with Pina and Darragh and see them all together. I would read a hundred books about all of them seriously. ❤️❤️❤️🥲
June 13, 2022
Andrea was never supposed to be the Don of the family. His older brother was groomed for that position from birth. While his sister Pina was the princess that no one saw. He was the sweet one. Well until life happened as it does in a made family. He became a shell of the person he was until a beautiful girl walked into his line of sight. Knowing she was off limits it became a game to stay away.
Claire knows she is on borrowed time. Life has handed her an uphill battle from the start, and no one knew her struggles as she never wanted to burden anyone. She became the girl that was always alone and never wanted so she wore a smile on her face to keep the mask in place. No one would see behind it or so she told herself, until one person managed to break past the barrier. She may have seemed always happy and upbeat, but Andrea learned quickly when someone was masking things. He just never could predict the fall.
We get another amazing book by Ms. Hart. After witnessing all the things Pina and Darragh went through and how protective Andrea was of his sister, I was excited to read his story and learn what made him into the man that he was. Going from kindhearted and sweet to dark and unforgiving. He had his reasons and he also needed someone to help him through them. When time is not guaranteed, do you do what is expected or do you start to truly live life to the fullest? Once I started this book, I knew I wouldn’t be able to put it down and I was right. Nothing pulled me away it was the amazing.
Claire knows she is on borrowed time. Life has handed her an uphill battle from the start, and no one knew her struggles as she never wanted to burden anyone. She became the girl that was always alone and never wanted so she wore a smile on her face to keep the mask in place. No one would see behind it or so she told herself, until one person managed to break past the barrier. She may have seemed always happy and upbeat, but Andrea learned quickly when someone was masking things. He just never could predict the fall.
We get another amazing book by Ms. Hart. After witnessing all the things Pina and Darragh went through and how protective Andrea was of his sister, I was excited to read his story and learn what made him into the man that he was. Going from kindhearted and sweet to dark and unforgiving. He had his reasons and he also needed someone to help him through them. When time is not guaranteed, do you do what is expected or do you start to truly live life to the fullest? Once I started this book, I knew I wouldn’t be able to put it down and I was right. Nothing pulled me away it was the amazing.
June 14, 2022
Andrea is the Don of the Italian Mafia in New York and he meets Claire when their eyes meet across the lobby of his brother in laws hotel but he makes it known that she is too young and does everything he can think of to push her away because whoever he gets too attached to he loses. Andrea is a lone wolf, a broken man and a made man, who became Don before his time and when he was the second son a role he was never intended to take.
Claire was dealt a bad hand when she was pronounced dead at 15 when her heart stopped beating, she was brought back but not the same, she looks at the world differently and when her parents make the decision for her to leave France and move to New York where her family there have the money to give her better healthcare she spirals especially once they no longer keep in touch, she feels abandoned and unloved.
This book has a completely different feel to the Mafia Born duet which in my opinion you have to read first basically because it is brilliant and the cross over of the characters will help you understand the rivalry between Andrea and Darragh. It is so much more emotional the backstories of the MCs are heartbreaking and the fact that Claire is on borrowed time with her heart has her making some pretty rash decisions, my heart was in my throat at the end the love these 2 had for each other was unmatched true definition of soulmates.
Claire was dealt a bad hand when she was pronounced dead at 15 when her heart stopped beating, she was brought back but not the same, she looks at the world differently and when her parents make the decision for her to leave France and move to New York where her family there have the money to give her better healthcare she spirals especially once they no longer keep in touch, she feels abandoned and unloved.
This book has a completely different feel to the Mafia Born duet which in my opinion you have to read first basically because it is brilliant and the cross over of the characters will help you understand the rivalry between Andrea and Darragh. It is so much more emotional the backstories of the MCs are heartbreaking and the fact that Claire is on borrowed time with her heart has her making some pretty rash decisions, my heart was in my throat at the end the love these 2 had for each other was unmatched true definition of soulmates.
October 3, 2025
Probably one of the best books I’ve ever read. I’ve always gravitated towards fantasy rather than contemporary romance, because like many, I like to have a brief respite from the usually mundane real world and I often feel like fantasy stories tend to stay with me longer because of the fantastical elements. With that being said, I’ve probably read every major mafia romance out there because I had a brief, albeit intense obsession, after reading the Made series by Danielle Lori- like many a romance reader do. I really couldn’t find many books that lived up to the hype and this author not only lived up but completely obliterated my previous standards. It’s the first non fantasy book that has truly captivated me and it has the perfect amount of slow burn, angst, spice etc. It will make you feel very strongly and it will encapsulate you fully while you devour it. Because yes you will want to read it in one go. I will say the ending felt a bit rushed to me but not enough to deter me from giving it 5/5 stars. Even among my long list of fantasy books that’s not a common thing. The fact that this book and author aren’t more popular is criminal to me, almost as unlawful as the characters in the book if you ask me.
June 10, 2022
WOW
OKAY, I LOVED this book everything I've read by Mallory to date has been 5 stars for me and this is no exception. This story follows Andrea (Pina's big brother) and Clare (Darragh's Couisn) I had no clue what to expect from them BUT it was an incredible story to experience and you have to read it.
Andrea on the surface is cold and aloof, they say he's a liar and manipulative but is that the truth? HELL NO there is so much more to this man and my GOD the way the layers are peeled back had my heart racing.
Clare first comes across as immature, Naive and so so innocent, but once again there is so much more to the character she is sunshine, yes but like us all she isn't always as she seems I grew very attached to her very quickly because she's so relatable and lovable.
The way the plot unfolds is excellent it's set over a longer period than Hit & Marked, and the romance in this book is very different to the aforementioned books, the spice is amazing but if you took it out of this story would still hold strong. and the ending MADE ME SOB happy or sad that's for you to find out.
OKAY, I LOVED this book everything I've read by Mallory to date has been 5 stars for me and this is no exception. This story follows Andrea (Pina's big brother) and Clare (Darragh's Couisn) I had no clue what to expect from them BUT it was an incredible story to experience and you have to read it.
Andrea on the surface is cold and aloof, they say he's a liar and manipulative but is that the truth? HELL NO there is so much more to this man and my GOD the way the layers are peeled back had my heart racing.
Clare first comes across as immature, Naive and so so innocent, but once again there is so much more to the character she is sunshine, yes but like us all she isn't always as she seems I grew very attached to her very quickly because she's so relatable and lovable.
The way the plot unfolds is excellent it's set over a longer period than Hit & Marked, and the romance in this book is very different to the aforementioned books, the spice is amazing but if you took it out of this story would still hold strong. and the ending MADE ME SOB happy or sad that's for you to find out.
June 15, 2022
This is a heartfelt forbidden romance and its so forbidden it was start a WAR. Which Andrea the Don of NYC does not want but Claire stole his heart...
I love a mafia romance when the hero and heroine are grumpy and sunshine trope. The tense story line is nicely broken up with these witty moments and how can you not love them
Claire is a kickass heroine because since she was child she was told that it's going to be a short one. Instead of begin misable she took on life.
Andrea I loved him straight away too and I LOVE LOVE the scenes with Pina "Your lying has gone down in quality." The banter is brilliant and that just one. She protective over Claire. He has alot of his should the familiar and trying to fight against the pull for Claire like Pina said he is losing his touch...no spoilers
This one is far the best one by far. My heart went though so much with this book not only with the suspense and action but the heartfelt forbidden love story and we just hope both survive so they can grow old with their love BUT will they get that chance to love each other...no spoilers
Never forget, this is your life ❤️
☆MUST READ & FAV☆
I love a mafia romance when the hero and heroine are grumpy and sunshine trope. The tense story line is nicely broken up with these witty moments and how can you not love them
Claire is a kickass heroine because since she was child she was told that it's going to be a short one. Instead of begin misable she took on life.
Andrea I loved him straight away too and I LOVE LOVE the scenes with Pina "Your lying has gone down in quality." The banter is brilliant and that just one. She protective over Claire. He has alot of his should the familiar and trying to fight against the pull for Claire like Pina said he is losing his touch...no spoilers
This one is far the best one by far. My heart went though so much with this book not only with the suspense and action but the heartfelt forbidden love story and we just hope both survive so they can grow old with their love BUT will they get that chance to love each other...no spoilers
Never forget, this is your life ❤️
☆MUST READ & FAV☆
June 19, 2022
This book continues with Andrea who is Pina’s brother. Andrea is now the leader of the Italian mafia while Pina married Darragh, the leader of the Irish mafia.
Darragh and Pina have taken in Claire who is terminally ill and needs proper medical attention. She grew up in France so when she moves to America, she struggles with language and American slang. The few interactions she’s had with Andrea have been short and tense.
He thinks she’s too young and she knows what kind of man he is being the Don. But they find themselves drawn to each other. Claire knows she’s has limited time on this Earth and doesn’t want to waste it. She and Andrea finally give in and their chemistry is *chefs kiss*.
But she has a secret. The more their feelings grow the more guilt she feels. What will happen when Andrea finds out? What if her illness finally beats her? How will she live the rest of her limited life?
There are a lot of time jumps in this book that broke up the story a little bit but the energy and tension between Andrea and Claire keeps you engaged in the story. Now Mallory, I need to know who’s book is next 😉
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5
🌶🌶🌶/ 5
Darragh and Pina have taken in Claire who is terminally ill and needs proper medical attention. She grew up in France so when she moves to America, she struggles with language and American slang. The few interactions she’s had with Andrea have been short and tense.
He thinks she’s too young and she knows what kind of man he is being the Don. But they find themselves drawn to each other. Claire knows she’s has limited time on this Earth and doesn’t want to waste it. She and Andrea finally give in and their chemistry is *chefs kiss*.
But she has a secret. The more their feelings grow the more guilt she feels. What will happen when Andrea finds out? What if her illness finally beats her? How will she live the rest of her limited life?
There are a lot of time jumps in this book that broke up the story a little bit but the energy and tension between Andrea and Claire keeps you engaged in the story. Now Mallory, I need to know who’s book is next 😉
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5
🌶🌶🌶/ 5
September 5, 2022
This is the first book I have read from this author.
Claire is sent to live with her cousin who is head of one of the mobs. Her every wish is granted. She goes about her day oblivious to the danger that follows her on a daily base.
When she catches the eye of an opposing mob boss he tells her to look him up when she gets older. Claire is innocent and has no idea what that actually means. Throughout the years they periodically run into each other, a little flirting and her getting on his nerves.
What I enjoyed about their slow fall into love was the fact that Andrea never once tried to hide who he was and what he was involved in. He didn't try to shelter Claire what getting involved with him would entail.
Claire is seeing their future by the amount of pills that are left. In her opinion they are on a time stamp. She is keeping secrets from Andrea about what is actually going on with her and her health. By not sharing with him what she is facing she is risking not pulling through.
When the worst happens it makes Andrea realize how much Claire means to him.
I did enjoy the epilogue and seeing that Claire's future is a little bit brighter than what it had been.
Claire is sent to live with her cousin who is head of one of the mobs. Her every wish is granted. She goes about her day oblivious to the danger that follows her on a daily base.
When she catches the eye of an opposing mob boss he tells her to look him up when she gets older. Claire is innocent and has no idea what that actually means. Throughout the years they periodically run into each other, a little flirting and her getting on his nerves.
What I enjoyed about their slow fall into love was the fact that Andrea never once tried to hide who he was and what he was involved in. He didn't try to shelter Claire what getting involved with him would entail.
Claire is seeing their future by the amount of pills that are left. In her opinion they are on a time stamp. She is keeping secrets from Andrea about what is actually going on with her and her health. By not sharing with him what she is facing she is risking not pulling through.
When the worst happens it makes Andrea realize how much Claire means to him.
I did enjoy the epilogue and seeing that Claire's future is a little bit brighter than what it had been.
June 22, 2022
PERFECTION 5 STARS for Second Son by Mallory Hart
WOW what a story ! Definitely a top 5 read for me for this year.
I was so enraptured by Claire and Andrea’s story I had to stop myself from going to the end of the book just to see the outcome and YES they do get their happily ever after.
Dark Mafia genre
Age Gap
Heroine is Claire McGowan or La Piccola Rosa ( Little Red ) , Little Miss Sunshine
Hero is Andrea Delarosa - he screams power , dominance and wealth becoming Claire’s enemy with benefits
Great story line and plot
Setting in three countries of Ireland , France and USA ( New York City )
I found myself on edge as there is so much angst and sizzling chemistry in Claire and Andrea’s relationship! Slow build but it takes about 3 years for them to finally get together !
Mafia Don and 20 year old artist
Andrea is far from the bad person everyone feels he needs to be for Claire he is only good - I loved how they both balanced each other’s characters perfectly ….
ARC provide by author in exchange for and honest review !
Off the charts so good !
WOW what a story ! Definitely a top 5 read for me for this year.
I was so enraptured by Claire and Andrea’s story I had to stop myself from going to the end of the book just to see the outcome and YES they do get their happily ever after.
Dark Mafia genre
Age Gap
Heroine is Claire McGowan or La Piccola Rosa ( Little Red ) , Little Miss Sunshine
Hero is Andrea Delarosa - he screams power , dominance and wealth becoming Claire’s enemy with benefits
Great story line and plot
Setting in three countries of Ireland , France and USA ( New York City )
I found myself on edge as there is so much angst and sizzling chemistry in Claire and Andrea’s relationship! Slow build but it takes about 3 years for them to finally get together !
Mafia Don and 20 year old artist
Andrea is far from the bad person everyone feels he needs to be for Claire he is only good - I loved how they both balanced each other’s characters perfectly ….
ARC provide by author in exchange for and honest review !
Off the charts so good !
August 17, 2022
Omg this was beautiful
I read a lot of romance novels. I average one a day or every couple days. So when I see phenomenal writing, I appreciate it for what it is.
This authors grasp of language and the way she structures sentences borders on poetic at times. The characters are well rounded and easy to love. The story itself, is somehow more than a "mafia" romance. The main female character is very sick. And as the reader you are confronted with her mortality and the grief attached to mourning her eventual much too early demise. Knowing this, (it's not a secret, it's addressed in the very first sentence) as the reader, makes every moment she spends more beautiful and poignant and meaningful...the man she loves is such a beautiful soul, wrapped in walls and gruff exterior.
This would most likely qualify as a dark romance, but unlike most of them this one straddles the line between dark and beautiful really well. I look forward to finding more books by this author.
I read a lot of romance novels. I average one a day or every couple days. So when I see phenomenal writing, I appreciate it for what it is.
This authors grasp of language and the way she structures sentences borders on poetic at times. The characters are well rounded and easy to love. The story itself, is somehow more than a "mafia" romance. The main female character is very sick. And as the reader you are confronted with her mortality and the grief attached to mourning her eventual much too early demise. Knowing this, (it's not a secret, it's addressed in the very first sentence) as the reader, makes every moment she spends more beautiful and poignant and meaningful...the man she loves is such a beautiful soul, wrapped in walls and gruff exterior.
This would most likely qualify as a dark romance, but unlike most of them this one straddles the line between dark and beautiful really well. I look forward to finding more books by this author.
November 29, 2025
“I didn’t need to be happy, I just needed to not be sad.”
This was so phenomenal man. Although it’s pretty much the typical mafia romance, the tropes here just did it for me, and the characters were great. The MC wasn’t a characterless asshole.
I loved how crazy they were for each other, and how he treated her 😖 It’s the domestic actions like the morning scenes where they’re wrapped around each other or him playing ‘Clair De Lune’ on the piano for her when she sleeps 🤧 all of it shows a loving relationship that’s not only sexual (although there was a lottt of that 😭) but yeah, fluff is a must.
Edit: Guys, I came back just to mention how mf hot Andrea was 😩 this man was another breed. How was he broody, dark but soo sweet and loving ☹️
-
Nothing makes a more heart wrenching and despairing story than the secret life-threatening sickness trope, it creates all that tension and desperation which prompts desperate love confessions 👅
-
Also this is probably one of the first books I read where they actually had a fairly positive view on religion. Like I get that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I was getting so fckn fed up of the negativity and hatred 😑.
This was so phenomenal man. Although it’s pretty much the typical mafia romance, the tropes here just did it for me, and the characters were great. The MC wasn’t a characterless asshole.
I loved how crazy they were for each other, and how he treated her 😖 It’s the domestic actions like the morning scenes where they’re wrapped around each other or him playing ‘Clair De Lune’ on the piano for her when she sleeps 🤧 all of it shows a loving relationship that’s not only sexual (although there was a lottt of that 😭) but yeah, fluff is a must.
Edit: Guys, I came back just to mention how mf hot Andrea was 😩 this man was another breed. How was he broody, dark but soo sweet and loving ☹️
-
Nothing makes a more heart wrenching and despairing story than the secret life-threatening sickness trope, it creates all that tension and desperation which prompts desperate love confessions 👅
-
Also this is probably one of the first books I read where they actually had a fairly positive view on religion. Like I get that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I was getting so fckn fed up of the negativity and hatred 😑.
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