Roman Dalonzo is a mobster. He makes no apologies for his lifestyle or who he is. He’s a Don. He’s a boss. He’s ruthless. He knows what he wants. And when his eyes land on Erica Younger, he knows who he wants. Roman will stop at nothing to get the gorgeous woman with a quick wit and an unapologetic demeanor.Erica Younger is a business owner. She’s a boss. She’s intelligent. She’s loyal. She’s unapologetic. And when she catches the eye of a ruthless mob boss, Erica wants no parts. However, when fate keeps throwing them together, she reconsiders her stance.Roman and Erica are more alike than they could’ve imagined, but when family ties and misunderstandings combine to make a deadly explosion, will they be able to make their relationship work? Or will they die before they ever get a chance?
4.5⭐️ Unprepared! Yes, you read it correctly. I was wholly unprepared when I began reading this book because the only knowledge I was armed with was that it is an IR romance, and it has a fabulous cover! No review checks and no synopsis- reading this time, probably a first for me. Funny that.
As a consequence, the start of the first chapter caught me totally off-guard, as I began reading one of the most provocatively carnal, lusty beginnings that I can ever remember reading—right at the jumping-off-point! Truly, I was so taken aback, I almost jettisoned this book back to Amazon. BUT, at the same time, I was intrigued, so I kept reading.
As I continued to read this book, I knew I was hooked; I knew I HAD to finish it. I felt compelled to read the entire book, without knowing what lay ahead, primarily because of my categorical and utter fascination with the main female character, Erica Jade Younger (EJ).
Simply put, EJ is magnificent. She just exudes power, confidence and independence. She can be nice, professional, respectful, or she can let her “ratchetness” come out. “So, I’ma need you to take some of that bass out your voice before we have a problem,” Erica firmly responded in an even tone.” I just LOVE that. Further, she’s intelligent and sexy, a heady combination. EJ is the consummate businesswoman and provides the ways and means for others to help themselves, especially in investment strategies. Think of her as a female Alpha.
MC Roman, head of the Dalonzo crime family, is dangerous, and he’s a killer. By happenstance, Roman sees EJ, and he decides he wants her, but is puzzled by the feelings she invokes in him, feelings that he’s never experienced before. Roman believes he may have finally met his equal in EJ, and she just may be the one to change his life. Of course, Roman is a typical Alpha.
After seeing Erica and introducing himself, Erica only gives Roman her first name and drives away. Armed only with her first name, and the $200,000 car he’d seen her driving when she left the club, Roman scours the entire US to find her. “Roman felt like a simp. A man of his stature shouldn’t have to chase anybody, especially a woman he’d seen in a nightclub, but he couldn’t get her off his mind.” After a few cat and mouse games, Roman and EJ finally meet and talk—and, um, other things at an exclusive sex club, and from then on, it’s off to the races. After this encounter, Erica has officially become Roman’s woman. Erica is a bit pragmatic as she thinks of her relationship with Roman—“she had accepted a long time ago that being with a regular guy was not in the cards for her.”
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, villains working in concert against Roman and EJ are some nasty pieces of work. They are deadly, and some are protected in high places. The lives of all Roman and EJ hold dear are at stake—unless they are stopped, permanently.
To sum it up, I absolutely loved the pairing of Roman and Erica—it just felt RIGHT. Further, this book has numerous elements to it: some parts are erotic, sexy or sensual, other areas carry humorous and lighter moments. Additionally, there are twists and unexpected turns that are delightfully surprising. Violence plays an integral role in the book; however, it never seems to be gratuitous. In addition to everything else, the pain of betrayal looms large and the hurt it inflicts is raw and viscerally depicted.
Finally, I have saved the best for last. This book is so seductive and mesmerizing because the characters are charismatic and very appealing, the writing is superb, and the dialogue flows effortlessly. It all coalesces into an impressive, meticulously organized piece of work. Perhaps I should be more unprepared in my future reading endeavors, huh?
Beautifully written. Kasey Martin is an amazing author, An Alpha’s Yearning was just another proof of that. I enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end, the chemistry between Roman and Erica was unmatched. I’m also happy to see some of my favorite characters from previous books make an appearance. High Recommend! Well done Kasey Martin!
I have so many questions about this story. Erica is a successful businesswoman who created her own space and brought along friends and cousins when she built her business. That was a big mistake on her part (in my opinion). Somewhere along the way, she didn't realize her business had become infected by jealousy.
Don Roman Dalonzo has a pest problem that he wants to get rid of by the name of Guiliani. He has the evidence, but it's not that easy since they haven't come at him directly, and the council hadn’t sanctioned his retaliation. One day he notices a woman passing by while having lunch with his father, and Roman can’t believe his luck when he sees her again. He has to make her his.
I understand Erica wanting those around her that she can trust. However, she should have realized that they would be the first to turn on her if the price was right. There isn’t a price on loyalty. Why did she give Mercedes so many chances? She should have been out the door. Help can only go so far, and when her ‘best friend’ started questioning her business decisions? When Kitty and Reggie started to move differently with her. Why did she let it slide and not fire them?
Overall, I found it to be an okay read. It feels like a lot was left out, and I didn't get the sense of Roman yearning.
The ex stripper, mob boss trope is getting old. A bit formulaic. I also find it annoying the need to make women rude in the name of feistiness. There’s nothing wrong in accepting help when you’re a couple. I wish the love story developed over a longer time period as they were a few holes in the story. For instance what happened to her mother? I also find it irritating when one partner is supposed to be a dominant, as soon as they fall in love, the dominance get out of the window and they are now bending over backwards.
I want me some Roman 🙌🙌🙌 HOTDAYYYYYYUM!! OK, I am just going to say this : The book is awesome, the Dolonzo men are FIRE 🔥 & Roman … 🤤 and he met his match when he set his eyes on Erica. She is the Yin to his Yang. Can’t wait for the rest of the Hotties’s stories. Great read!
Pleasantly surprised by a sexually liberated, successful, business-minded heroine. Erica is a black woman you can be proud of. Roman is a delicious alpha male with an elephant trunk in his pants. The intense mafia action and betrayals between hot sex scenes kept this story exciting.
She thought the dirty politicians were after her because of her relationship with Don Roman Delonzo. She was an independent hardworking businesswoman. She wouldn't let anyone undermine her business not even her family. Her strip club Honey was the prize that the dirty politicians and their other mafia cohorts were after and she didn't play their game. It hurt her to her core to find out that those she loved and was loyal to betrayed her for money. Roman wasn't having anyone coming after the woman he intended on spending a lifetime with. They had to turn to EJ's (Erica's) crazy father to help end the war. Once the war ended, Ro had to clean house too. Nothing was standing in the way of him making Erica his bride, not even her crazy father Bishop. Ro finally got his Butterly.
This story was full of action and mystery. I wasn't expecting the betrayal though.
A grudgingly given 3rd star this one, I hovered over that 2 for a bit but will keep it here. Roman and Erica are both strip club owners and circumstances around mob activity and plotting sees them thrown together frequently enough that Roman gets who he wants and that's Erica. Their relationship progresses quickly and she's moved in for her safety at one point.
As to other parts of the book, I didn't buy the betrayal by Claudia and Erica's family's deaths weren't really dealt with at all in the book. Also, Roman was the biggest baddest Don and he's swag all day which is fine but he didn't sound like I'd expect an Italian mobster to in terms of speech patterns.
This was a well developed story, the characters all stood out and it was great to see others from other Kasey Martins books. Roman was definitely bae…Roman and Erica were cute indeed, I will say wow the twist and turns in this story definitely keeps you locked into the book and wanting to finish it right then and there. The betrayal from the ones you are close to is crazy, like all for money and power smh.
As a Black woman, I can appreciate reading a book that carries a tone and culture you can relate to.
I understood the tone of the Black characters and I loved that they had different mannerisms than what we are used to seeing in mafia and biker books. But even the very Italian Roman started to have the mannerisms and the tone of a Black man. Sometimes a Black woman.
At one point, I thought the title of the book was a play on the word alpha and that both Erica and Roman were alphas. Now, I am not so sure. They are bosses but what exactly does alpha mean to the author?
While I liked how easy they were as a couple and their banter, in the beginning, was hot and off the charts, I will never subscribe to instant love books. I just cannot. Especially because Erica and Roman spent more time apart than they did together.
I also cannot reconcile a mob boss who spoke like one but whose actions were that of maybe a shady club owner. Excuse me but I truly think his organisation would have been too big and strong to need anything more than existing. His constant need to seek help was off-putting to say the least.
Now, a lot was happening but with no real rhyme or reason. We have a very fair Erica Jane but yet still she is betrayed by those closest to her? Why? I don't think we got a satisfying answer and then the ripple effects in her family made even less sense.
The mob war was so small time that I am still trying to figure out why. I also don't understand the abused dancers/hookers angle. What was the goal? To tie everything together? I would have liked to explore that more than I would a fight for territory.
Also, Joseph jr would have made for a great adversary or plot twist. I am not sure why that wasn't explored more.
I love the characters as individuals and I love them as a couple. It is everything else that fell off for me and I started thinking about making it a DNF when I got to the 70% mark.
This was ok but a little bit too slow, long and a bit boring as well. But what really made me give it a 4 instead of a 5 star was because it was all over the place. At one point you were reading about Erica and her club, then you got to Roman and his club, then you go to Euphoria to return to another club and so forth and so on. There was nothing else but being in a club. Not once did Erica had a “girl” time like going to the nail place or the supermarket or even to be home or something. And that was another thing, Erica was just annoying, gullible, stupid, clueless and playing at being a wannabe gangster alpha chick while Roman being a don, he was several times clueless about a lot of stuff, thank god for Niro and even Paolo. Luca was selfish. Everyone got what they deserved. The hellbounds sounded interesting as well as the Dalonzo’s; but I guess our next one in line is probably going to be Luca whom I hope will be getting a cute wholesome regular girl from the block type of person because another Erica will not be cutting it for me to read as much as I had to push through to finish this!!!!!
I love this author's books!! Kasey Martin knows how to tell a story that captures the reader right from the start. And this book has ALL the elements of a great story. Roman and Erika were two alphas from different parts of town running their businesses like the bosses they are. But a glance through a window would send them both on a rollercoaster ride of drama, dominance and submission, seduction, shocking betrayals, family reunions, steamy sex, revenge, more steamy sex, retribution and a doggone fabulous HEA epilogue. It was so cool to see some familiar characters. I dare say this book has some Savage Bloodlines elements to it. 🤔🙂 I so highly recommend this book. I totally loved this story. The character development and the storyline just flowed effortlessly. I cannot wait to see whose story Kasey Martin will write next. So worthy of 5⭐'s.
This was my first book by this author. I debated between 2 and 3 stars , but decided upon 3 for the effort and work that it takes to write a story. For me I felt that the characters were not fully developed, for Roman to be a Don, he came across as weak in his behavior, mannerisms and dialogue. Erica the FMC, for her to be a Boss, was naive and soft, how could she not know that everyone in her circle had motives, their own agenda and was working against her? A Boss Bish would have known. I would have preferred more dialogue between the characters that showed growth and a connection between the MMC\FMC. There was no depth to their emotions, just sex, so when the I Love you 🙄 jumped off the page, my eyes rolled 🙄 because it wasn't shown before that. In fairness, I will try another book by this author.
Good humour, it helped to take the edge off all the murder.. So many people were sent to meet their maker I lost track. Erica was a good heroine. I gave a extra star because, she was a interesting female lead who could actually handle the life she chose with her man. Roman was a nice counter balance. Oftentimes, romance novels are full of mismatched couples, which the author(s) then struggle to force a unrealistic or absurd relationship. Consequently, they then have to convince the readers why a unlikely 'couple' belong together and that can be messy. But it didn't happen in this case, which was a breach of fresh air. More like this would improve the genre as a whole.
Roman was smitten the first time he laid eyes on Erica has she walked by the window, so smitten that he started to jump up from the table and go after her. That’s how much Erica affected Roman. Erica was all about family and her money, Erica did a lot for her cousins and to be betrayed like she was by her cousins and childhood friends was just so sad. Roman was also betrayed by someone in his camp, both he and Erica knew how that felt, and they both will stop at nothing to see that those who betrayed them would pay for their crimes. This was an amazing book by Kasey, I look forward to her next book.
I enjoyed reading Roman and Erica’s love story. Erica was a successful woman who wanted to share her blessings with friends and family but in the background said friends and family weren’t satisfied with what she shared with them and their jealousy and betrayal towards Erica turned out to be their demise but still Erica’s family and her so called friend family blamed her. I just wish we could’ve seen their faces when they found out who was really behind all the chaotic mess and death that occurred.
Why do I love mafia reads so much? Because of looks like this. The way Kasey writes about Roman you can’t help but see him as the kind of man you want to be with. You can’t help but to root for him and his family. And Erica was amazing! A strong woman who knew exactly what she wanted and was not afraid to ask for it. This was a great read that had plenty of romance but also had a lot of intrigue and suspense. Another great read from Kasey!
Kasey has brought another sexy Alpha to life. From the moment Roman and Erica lock eyes, they are drawn to one another. The interaction between them will have you biting your lip and clutching your pearls. I highly recommend this book be added to your collection. If new to the writings of this author, you should check out her previous books. Some of the characters spoken of in this book have their own stories that are just as Hot.
Sex-sational story! Roman & Erica play a game of Cat & Mouse in this amorous Mafia romance. Luv the addition of the motorcycle family ! Lots of Alpha males with lots of swag appear throughout this book! Looking forward to Ms. Martin's next book. Hope we find out who the mystery woman is that has Luca MIA for dinner with his family and meetings with the Mafia.
Loved Erica. Claudia being the villain a surprise but her reasons was stupid and her punishment limp. Don't understand why Erica 's family turned on her and still don't understand why Day and Erica went behind her back. Even the punishment merited out to the West family was weak. Anyway looking forward to Luca 's story. By the way good to catch up with the twins and their other halves.
I LOVE Nikita Dalonzo & EJ! She is a great businesswoman and tries to take care of everyone like they’re family, even when they aren’t. He is Family. This was a great story of how they met and how their lives became enter woven. Betrayal is a part of their world and the methods of how they handled that betrayal was a great backdrop to their love. Awesome story!!!!!
This was pretty good. At first (and not to be prudish and I guess I am showing my age) but I had to press myself to continue, I did not like the sexual overtones too much and felt that it dominated the actual storyline but as I continued to read it, the mystery about who was setting up whom made it interesting. Also, I liked the family dynamic on both sides and it gave an insight about our couple and their backgrounds. I am glad that Roman and Erica got their HEA.
Right from the beginning the writer launches you into the action and doesn't let off the gas. The writer gives us a story that is not only hitting all the high notes but gives us such a sexy and funny story. The chemistry is true,it leaps from the pages and moves the story effortlessly. This is a story that needs to be on your faction reading list. Hopefully we get a peak.at the rest of the men in the story a future look at the happy couple.
Yearning for your love...by the Gap band has nothing on this book by mz.Kasey. while this is technically my first standalone read by this author I discovered her through the savage series where she penned a wonderful part of the themed collaboration I enjoy ed the plot tremendously hated it had to cone to an end but look forward to reading more about this great group of characters...sooo I'm waiting bring it👏👍😉😏😊😆😀😃😁😄😅😂😘😍😎💓💗💞💘😈
Enjoyed this story. It had pure strength of both female and male Alpha persona!! EJ is a woman all about her business, money, family and her self care! Roman is a true strong Alpha Don and takes no prisoners with it comes to his mafia family, brothers, business, money, but especially his obsession and love, Erica. I look forward to reading more from this author. Well done!
Although I would not be able to handle mobsters in real life, this story is a vicarious thrill. Like, what if this was really my world? I have been annoyed lately with female protagonists, but Erica is a true lady boss who met her match in Roman-intense roller coaster 🎢 ride! As always, Ms. Martin draws a reader completely in and satisfies!
Erica is a Alpha in her own way. She owns a strip club. She is definitely not a ordinary woman. Roman is also Alpha. Charge of Mob. Together they should not work. He also her to be tough and knows how to take care of her too. I know there is more to come to Romans and his family.
I so thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to ending. Kasey Martin is an amazing author and I love reading all of her books!!! If you love action mixed in with a Lil thuggin and lots of Big Dick Energy this is DEFINITELY your book. Job well done Sis and I can't wait to read what's next!!!!
Two sides of the same coin! So much a like but so different! The chemistry, lust and eventually love between them could not be denied! Roman saw Erica looking through a store window and couldn't get her out of his mind, Erica stared into those silvers eyes and she was infatuated. The love, lust, and mayhem made for an interesting book.