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Mafia Wives Club #1
Impulsive Desires
Who knew one split second decision would turn my entire life upside down?
My life is simple. School, work, sleep, repeat. Or at least it was. One crazy impulsive decision later and I’m being thrown head first into the deep end of an all out mafia war. I need to figure out a way back to my life without being killed – Or worse, falling head over heels with the mafia boss determined to protect me.
He’s supposed to be the most dangerous man in Chicago so why is that every time he looks at me, my knees go weak and my tongue loosens. I must have a death wish. It should be a crime to be that good looking and that much of a jerk at the same time though. How do I get back to my life safely… and do I really want to?
My life is simple. School, work, sleep, repeat. Or at least it was. One crazy impulsive decision later and I’m being thrown head first into the deep end of an all out mafia war. I need to figure out a way back to my life without being killed – Or worse, falling head over heels with the mafia boss determined to protect me.
He’s supposed to be the most dangerous man in Chicago so why is that every time he looks at me, my knees go weak and my tongue loosens. I must have a death wish. It should be a crime to be that good looking and that much of a jerk at the same time though. How do I get back to my life safely… and do I really want to?
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2022
90 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
A.F. Montoya
34 books112 followersA.F. Montoya is a daydreamer turned writer who writes contemporary mafia romances. She’s been reading romance novels since her mother bought her one as a joke when she was a teen and now writes them and shares them with her mother, much to her chagrin. She enjoys reading in her spare time and supporting other authors. When she isn’t writing or thinking about new book ideas she is supporting her husband and kids.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 25, 2024
This book started off okay. Nothing amazing but it was a quick, light read so I was leaning towards a 4 star review for its ability to serve that purpose. Unfortunately about half way through the book fell apart for me when it couldn't decide what it wanted to be tonally. Apologies for the stream of consciousness review, but at that point I just started jotting down notes as I read.
❗ Warning ❗
SPOILERS AHEAD
❗ Warning ❗
SPOILERS AHEAD
May 6, 2023
Isn't it supposed to be about Mafia?.. There's very little of it. It kind of feels like a college romance 🤔
March 13, 2023
3.5* Really good when it got going. and I loved it.
Before I start my review, I very nearly stopped reading this book as it seemed boring, but I’m so glad that I did read it. As I loved it and was sad when it ended.
Josephine/Jo is quite a sad character when the book starts. She’s at college and works the rest of the time, she has no friends and shares a flat with three other women who don’t like her. To be honest it gets a bit too much at times, as everyone seems to dislike her, for no reason. Even her college professors hate her and bully her. Bizarrely. When she saves the life of Liam’s neice, she’s drawn into a war between mobsters families, and has to live with Liam for her protection. Liam is the head of the Irish mob, and comes across as really hard at first. As they are forced together they become close and fall in love.
One of the things that I loved so much about this book, is how Jo fought against falling in love with a mobster. She really fights her feelings as she can’t equate the Liam she sees with the mobster who kills and tortured men. Too often writers gloss over this and the women just accept that they do horrific things.
Apart from a couple of niggles, I loved this book, and I can’t understand how the author isn’t more popular. In parts it was exciting and then at others it dragged. There’s no explanation on their enemies and why they hate each other, or even what the O’Connors do. Okay they’re the Irish mob, do they sell drugs? Weapons? Are any of Liam’s workers family? Cousins? As they seem really close and talk to him like family. Then there’s Josephine who talks about her mentally abusive parents, and how they caused her a lot of social anxiety, and bullied her. What do they do? She talks like they’re wealthy but she’s poor, where do they live? What does Liam’s sister’s husband do? Is he part of the business?
I won’t bore you too much, I’ll just say that are questions that aren’t answered, and it’s annoying. Still would definitely read it again.
Before I start my review, I very nearly stopped reading this book as it seemed boring, but I’m so glad that I did read it. As I loved it and was sad when it ended.
Josephine/Jo is quite a sad character when the book starts. She’s at college and works the rest of the time, she has no friends and shares a flat with three other women who don’t like her. To be honest it gets a bit too much at times, as everyone seems to dislike her, for no reason. Even her college professors hate her and bully her. Bizarrely. When she saves the life of Liam’s neice, she’s drawn into a war between mobsters families, and has to live with Liam for her protection. Liam is the head of the Irish mob, and comes across as really hard at first. As they are forced together they become close and fall in love.
One of the things that I loved so much about this book, is how Jo fought against falling in love with a mobster. She really fights her feelings as she can’t equate the Liam she sees with the mobster who kills and tortured men. Too often writers gloss over this and the women just accept that they do horrific things.
Apart from a couple of niggles, I loved this book, and I can’t understand how the author isn’t more popular. In parts it was exciting and then at others it dragged. There’s no explanation on their enemies and why they hate each other, or even what the O’Connors do. Okay they’re the Irish mob, do they sell drugs? Weapons? Are any of Liam’s workers family? Cousins? As they seem really close and talk to him like family. Then there’s Josephine who talks about her mentally abusive parents, and how they caused her a lot of social anxiety, and bullied her. What do they do? She talks like they’re wealthy but she’s poor, where do they live? What does Liam’s sister’s husband do? Is he part of the business?
I won’t bore you too much, I’ll just say that are questions that aren’t answered, and it’s annoying. Still would definitely read it again.
August 22, 2023
Mafia King Liam O’Connor
This is my fifth book by AF Montoya and I really enjoyed it. I absolutely loved her MC series Devil’s disciples and am a sucker for a good mafia read, so figured I’d give this a try.
The storyline was really good, but I struggled with two things. One I wish the spicy scenes were lengthier. Not the best I’ve read, but not the worst. The second is I wish we got to read Liam’s point of view. I sometimes struggle with one POV, as I feel like you miss out on a lot of the story. Having Liam’s POV could have really made this into a five star read.
Awesome read, highly recommend
4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 Spice 🌶️🌶️
This is my fifth book by AF Montoya and I really enjoyed it. I absolutely loved her MC series Devil’s disciples and am a sucker for a good mafia read, so figured I’d give this a try.
The storyline was really good, but I struggled with two things. One I wish the spicy scenes were lengthier. Not the best I’ve read, but not the worst. The second is I wish we got to read Liam’s point of view. I sometimes struggle with one POV, as I feel like you miss out on a lot of the story. Having Liam’s POV could have really made this into a five star read.
Awesome read, highly recommend
4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 Spice 🌶️🌶️
December 3, 2023
The toddler was the star of the show.
This was one of those books where it would have really helped to have a dual pov, it felt like I was only reading half the story. I wanted to know Liam's thought process and how he ended up falling for Jo.
On the mafia end this is like super vanilla, we never see any of Liam's "work" and I didn't get the sense that it played any part in his life other than as a plot device.
This was one of those books where it would have really helped to have a dual pov, it felt like I was only reading half the story. I wanted to know Liam's thought process and how he ended up falling for Jo.
On the mafia end this is like super vanilla, we never see any of Liam's "work" and I didn't get the sense that it played any part in his life other than as a plot device.
January 4, 2025
Another Home Run to add to the list
Second book read by the same author a one day third book read by the same author in two days. I think I caught a reading bug. I wonder how many more I can read tomorrow. This offer creates amazing books. Great characters great scenes, emotions run the gambit from excitement to humourous to joyful to scared to sad. It’s a fantastic read.
Second book read by the same author a one day third book read by the same author in two days. I think I caught a reading bug. I wonder how many more I can read tomorrow. This offer creates amazing books. Great characters great scenes, emotions run the gambit from excitement to humourous to joyful to scared to sad. It’s a fantastic read.
September 9, 2022
incredible
AF Montoya’s books always keep my attention. This one is no different. This book has action and heat. Josephine’s selfless knows no bounds. Read this book if you like badass women and sweet handsome men.
AF Montoya’s books always keep my attention. This one is no different. This book has action and heat. Josephine’s selfless knows no bounds. Read this book if you like badass women and sweet handsome men.
February 4, 2024
Omg I loved this book, I've laughed and smirked and just generally devoured this book.
Favourite scene:
The paintballing -
"You were helping him, weren’t you?” I pursed my lips against a grin. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Favourite scene:
The paintballing -
"You were helping him, weren’t you?” I pursed my lips against a grin. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
November 26, 2024
loved it!
I absolutely loved it! The love, loyalty, the trust! The relationship between Jo and Liam! The additional characters like James and Jaime! And who could resist Matilda! Really good! Read it!
I absolutely loved it! The love, loyalty, the trust! The relationship between Jo and Liam! The additional characters like James and Jaime! And who could resist Matilda! Really good! Read it!
January 4, 2025
Another hit!
I really enjoyed this story. It’s on the lighter side of Mafia romance but still steamy with action. Loved Liam and Josephine. Loved their banter. Great side characters too. Now to read the next book
I really enjoyed this story. It’s on the lighter side of Mafia romance but still steamy with action. Loved Liam and Josephine. Loved their banter. Great side characters too. Now to read the next book
January 21, 2025
Mafia
2.6⭐️ It was a book🤷🏽♀️😂 but fr it was just a basic mid plot, starter wattpad vibes of a book. She’s a student struggling with money, safes a girl during a shootout turns out she the niece of a mafia boss and now has to live with his for protection and they have feelings and the bad guys want revenge and she gets kidnapped. The usual 🤷🏽♀️
2.6⭐️ It was a book🤷🏽♀️😂 but fr it was just a basic mid plot, starter wattpad vibes of a book. She’s a student struggling with money, safes a girl during a shootout turns out she the niece of a mafia boss and now has to live with his for protection and they have feelings and the bad guys want revenge and she gets kidnapped. The usual 🤷🏽♀️
March 26, 2025
Terrible Female lead!
Painful to read. It's amazing to read about a Mob Boss that allows disrespect from his employees and his love interest. The female lewd was immature until the end. It was pages and pages of ungrateful and bratty behavior...... Horrible
Painful to read. It's amazing to read about a Mob Boss that allows disrespect from his employees and his love interest. The female lewd was immature until the end. It was pages and pages of ungrateful and bratty behavior...... Horrible
November 19, 2022
4.5stars.
March 10, 2024
Absolutely love her books so much. I loved this one. I can't wait to read more of this series. 🌟🔥📚💖🌟🔥💖📚🔥🌟💖📚🌟🔥📚📚🌟💖💖🔥
March 12, 2024
amazing
Wow just loved it from start to finish. Great start to a series can’t wait to read the next book.
Wow just loved it from start to finish. Great start to a series can’t wait to read the next book.
March 26, 2025
It was well written. I enjoyed reading it.
November 17, 2025
I rounded up but prob more of 3.5. Not a bad book but not overly exciting either.
January 13, 2024
4.5⭐️
i guess i am reading through all of AF Montoya’s booklist. the reason Jo and Liam meet is unique and although tragic, a great meet-cute.
everyone in the book was so funny. from Matilda to the guys that worked for Liam. and i loved they all called her Little Terrorist.
age gap 22FMC/30MMC
forced proximity
irish mafia
i guess i am reading through all of AF Montoya’s booklist. the reason Jo and Liam meet is unique and although tragic, a great meet-cute.
everyone in the book was so funny. from Matilda to the guys that worked for Liam. and i loved they all called her Little Terrorist.
age gap 22FMC/30MMC
forced proximity
irish mafia
May 26, 2023
I like how Jo and Liam met and all that happened after she got hospitalized.
January 2, 2026
Weirdly cozy for a mafia book. I should probably give it a lower rating but it was just so darn cute I couldn’t help enjoying the crap out of it.
Two issues:
1) the book is tonally kind of all over the place. Like I said, cozy romance vibes, but mixed with torture scenes mixed with college finals mixed with mobsters playing paintball as training? It’s weird.
2) this author has a difficult time maintaining consistent verb tenses, particularly when the narrator is describing her feelings. It makes me wonder if she’d be more comfortable writing in present tense. The narrative squares between past tense and present tense frequently enough that it’s distracting.
Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable if somewhat silly read and I’m looking forward to reading orders in this series. Love a mobster who falls hard and fast.
Two issues:
1) the book is tonally kind of all over the place. Like I said, cozy romance vibes, but mixed with torture scenes mixed with college finals mixed with mobsters playing paintball as training? It’s weird.
2) this author has a difficult time maintaining consistent verb tenses, particularly when the narrator is describing her feelings. It makes me wonder if she’d be more comfortable writing in present tense. The narrative squares between past tense and present tense frequently enough that it’s distracting.
Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable if somewhat silly read and I’m looking forward to reading orders in this series. Love a mobster who falls hard and fast.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews