A ruthless mafia boss with a score to settle. A sassy heroine who’s not getting away. Will any chance at love survive the aftermath?
We knew the bloodbath was possible, just not when or how our enemies would strike. In a heart-wrenching minute of blazing guns, the responsibility of getting retribution for the savage Italian Crime Family falls to me, Salvatore Larussio.
The fair-skinned beauty should focus on doing as she’s told and been trained to do. Suture and bandage quickly to stem the flow of Larussio blood. Instead, Natasha boldly defies me, trying to appeal to decency that after today no longer exists.
A man surrounded by fear and deception can sense it, feel it, and smell it in the air. There’s far more to Adrianna underneath that icy exterior than she wants me or anyone to know. Despite that, she calls to my tainted soul as though she were put on earth just for me.
When I force the hot-tempered beauty to reveal her secrets, it can be our undoing, or a means to an end for a newly appointed Larussio King.
Or a revelation that will kill even the deepest of love.
Boss’s Vendetta is the explosive first book in the Sicilian Gods series by Via Mari. It is a deliciously dark, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, mafia romance. You will love these novels where the passion is fiery, the loyalty is fierce, and the stakes are high. Each book is a standalone that focuses on different couples in each book. They all have a guaranteed happily ever after, at the conclusion.
An intriguing mafia romance read, slightly dark, action packed and steamy. I liked the development of both characters and plot.
There were some repetitions though that had me rolling my eyes. How ruthless motherfuckers to their enemies the Larussios were and having to read the word ‘capiche’ for 26 times, didn’t excite me.
Adrianna wanted to find out which member of the Larussio family had killed her father years ago. I found weird her confessing her plan to Salvatore, the soon-to-be Don of this family... Also, she being a doctor and then going around killing bad guys wasn’t well delivered.
I will give a chance to the next part of the series.
Salvatore knows he needs to take over as the Mafia Don, the latest threat to his family put everything in motion. With a Doctor on hand Salvatore is aware that Adrianna, is not a fan of him or his family. Something about the sexy Doctor with attitude to match pulls at him. He takes his shot with Adrianna, it is inevitable to not act on the chemistry but is Adriana everything she appears to be?
There is a lot to unfold about this story and definitely had me guessing what would happen. Fast paced read full of sizzling chemistry, action and intrigue. Salvatore is a complicated man whose personality radiates of the pages. Great match with Adriana. Really good book, highly entertaining.
This is book 1 in the Scilian God's series. This is a dark Mafia Romance and I loved it. As you would imagine with a Mafia Romance there is a lot of danger and intrigue, there is also a lot of passion and fierce protectiveness of the family and the women they love. The connection between Salvatore and Adrianna is definately hot and electric. At first it's not so much love as a hate relationship Salvatore is a strong and powerful don. His main focus in on family business and protecting his Mafia family from harm. He seems cold and ruthless with no time for love and at times it seem like he has no capacity for love. That is until he meets Adrianna. Adrianna is the doctor hired to take care of the patients at the hotel. Her job is to take care of the family without asking questions. She is a strong willed independent woman who doesn't take kindly to a man telling her what to do or how she does it. However the spark and connection she feels with Salvatore is too strong to ignore or turn away from. However she has secrets and these secrets could threaten their romance and even cost her, her life?
What will happen if Salvatore let's Adrianna in? Will he lose his focus and risk his family? What will happen when Adrianna's secret is revealed? And how do you deny and connection and spark that is as powerful as the one between them?
I loved this story and I can't wait to read more in this series .
2.5⭐️ rounded down to 2⭐️ It all boils down to the writing. The writing was very jarring. It jumped back and forth between the dual point of views but at the beginning of the chapter there was no indication of whose point of view we were in until like a few pages in. I kept having to reset my mind on what was going on.
The writing and world building was repetitive. I literally starting skimming at around the 47% mark.
Also, the word “capische” was said over and over and over again. Give it a break.
The story felt rushed and unbelievable. Going from hate to love in what…2 days,not even, while in forced proximity.
This was almost a DNF for me and I definitely will not be continuing the series.
Spice level: 🌶🌶🌶 Plot: would have been 3.5⭐️ if not for the writing.
This is the first book in a brand-new series by an author I’ve come to love over the last few years. This mafia series is a spin off from previous series’ and brings back many favourite characters that I loved catching up with again. Set around the Larussio family, in this book we get the story of Salvatore who is running the family due to Great Uncle stepping back from duties as he gets on in age. Salvatore is dark, brooding, dangerous and hot as sin. He’s far to busy running the family, finding out who is leaking secrets. No way does he have the time, or inclination, for a relationship. Sexy Doctor Adrianna hates the Larussio family with a passion. So why is she working for them? What is she hiding? And why, oh why, does she find the dark brooding Salvatore so damn irresistible? I loved Salvatore and Adrianna’s story. As well as being hot as hell, there is so much drama, danger, intrigue and backstabbing that makes this book so unputdownable, if that’s a real word. I totally lost myself in this book and think it just might be my favourite by this author so far. I really can’t wait to read more in this series.
She hates him and what he stands for, but how do I get his eyes from staring at me in my dreams.
I saw her in the hospital and she intrigues me, her sassy nature draws me in but who is this woman who has snuck inside and I can’t let go.
This is the first book I have had read by this author and omg it is brilliant. I loved the way the characters interacted with each other and crated the tension and darkness the story oozed. The story itself was well written and created the tension and passion to hold you until the end.
This story twists and I loved the way the author weaved through the drama and the secondary characters added to the depth of the story.
I love this genre and I can say that this is one of the best written and developed stories I have read to date. I will definitely be reading the next in this series and more books by this author. Thank you for drawing me into the world of the Larussio family and more.
Love this series Love the Larussa family Adrianna and Salvatore intense emotional heartstopping broken insta love So many twists Ready for Dom in underbosses retaliation
This is the first book by Via Mari that I have read and I will most definitely read more. The writing style is smooth and easy to read even if the subject matter has you gripping your seat.
Addrienna is a doctor at a mafia run casino in Las Vegas. She is looking to get close to the Larrussio family. Revenge is on her mind and she will do anything to get it. Her papa will not have died in vain.
Salvatore finds himself at the head of the Larrussio family, almost! After being attacked with the whole family present he is out for blood and retribution. The pretty doctor is brought into the inner circle without fully understanding the ramifications. She is trapped underground with the family trying to keep them alive. Her job is keep everyone alive and bandaged up.
Will things heat up between her and Salvatore or will there be an order to have her killed because she is a loose end? This book will keep you reading page after page.
Via Mari once again gives us an explosive high heat level action-packed book in the newest installment of her Mafia stories~ Each time I read one of these books, the newest becomes my favorite~ This time, I can say it is my most favorite, not because of the romance, but because of the story involved~ She really outdid herself in the story plot~ Most of the books do not have as detailed information that is included in this one~ I was so caught up in the story itself, I could not believe I hit the last page~ Bonus scene…squeee~ Via’s books and her writing improve with each book. She manages to enthrall you until the last pages. I believe this series will prove to be the best as far as plots goes! My favorite love story is Chase’s and Katarina’s of Via’s~ I absolutely LOVE the fact she brings old characters back into her books~ This one is about Salvatore, Giovanni’s cousin. The book opens right after the attack on the Larussio’s and right before Serena’s and Giovanni’s wedding. Giovanni will let someone else take a position he temporarily filled in for…in line next is Salvatore, to be the Don, who takes care of the ruthless and shadier sides of the family business. Salvatore meets the doctor, Adrianna, while she is caring for Serena and the others after the attack. Adrianna is a fiery devoted physician; especially to the Larussio family as of now~ Her first couple meetings with Salvatore do not go well. A war is definitely brewing and it will be a no holds bar for everyone involved~ Great-uncle is out of commission from the attack and is holding on by a thread after Adrianna operates on him. Now, she is confined to the underbelly of the Vegas casino and the infuriating Sal who finds he cannot resist her. As things heat up between the two, the war coming heats up between other mafia families as well. There is a mole in the family, who and why? Sal will have to make incredibly hard bloody decisions for the retaliation needed against their enemies. He is not afraid to get his hands dirty either~ So much on the line, so many lives at stake, a family reputation on the line…who will live and die? Who will come out on top? Adrianna is another matter; she has some deep dark secrets, that if exposed, could cost her, her life. Will she be the next queen of the Larussio family? Or, will she end up one of the many targets that have betrayed the Larussio family? When the biggest secret of all comes out…the reader will not be able to believe how catastrophic it could prove for many involved~ I seriously cannot wait to read the next explosive book in this series~
Boss's Vendetta (Sicilian Gods Book 1) by Via Mari - Review by Jessica Stone
This is a deliciously dark, enemies to lovers, mafia romance that I promise will make your toes curl with all the sexual tension.
Salvatore Larussio's life just got a whole lot more interesting, due to some unfortunate circumstances Salvatore's (or sal as his family call him) cousin steps down and next in line to become head of the family "business" putting sal in line for the thrown. But with great power comes great responsibility and a turf war the likes of which we've never seen.
Natasha, is a bold, feisty, smart beautiful woman and doctor who's recently taken a position as running a clinic in the Larussio's casino, but what no one knows is the job isn't what brought Natasha, it was a long held vendetta against the Larussio's.
Will Natasha get her revenge before she falls pray to the dark eyes and smoldering look of her new boss. Will Sal come out on top of these mafia wars and secure his territory and the safety of his family, or will the both fall together.
All and all a splendid read, I love the premise of the story, it was a mafia romance but with a twist, very refreshing and fun to read something outside of the norm. I'm a big enemies to love fan so this book hit the sweet spot, the relationship between the two main characters is an emotional, sexually charged rollercoaster in my opinion. Natasha is a take no crap, knows her worth, get things done type of girl which is one of the things that cause her to clash heads with Sal so much. Sal is your typical baddie, he knows he's smoking hot, rich, powerful, all the things a mafia romance mc should be, so throwing a hard headed woman, who questions his every command and tests his every limit is *chef's kiss* EVERYTHING.
I'm pretty excited to read not just more from this series but the author, the story was immaculate, the world and character building was well thought out and the spice was juuust right.
Who's ready to see which Larusso man is next to meet his match?? This girl!
Boss's Vendetta, Sicilian Gods Series, Via Mari, Review, Itsy Bitsy Book Bits, Mafia, Romantic Suspense, Jessica Stone, October 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially since it's the first book that I've read from this author, and was not disappointed. It's a dark, mafia romance book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark, mafia romance books. I was not able to kit this book down until I had finished from beginning to end in one sitting. A ruthless mafia boss with a score to settle. A sassy heroine who’s not getting away. Will any chance at love survive the aftermath? We knew the bloodbath was possible, just not when or how our enemies would strike. In a heart-wrenching minute of blazing guns, the responsibility of getting retribution for the savage Italian Crime Family falls to me, Salvatore Larussio. The fair-skinned beauty should focus on doing as she’s told and been trained to do. Suture and bandage quickly to stem the flow of Larussio blood. Instead, Natasha boldly defies me, trying to appeal to decency that after today no longer exists. A man surrounded by fear and deception can sense it, feel it, and smell it in the air. There’s far more to Adrianna underneath that icy exterior than she wants me or anyone to know. Despite that, she calls to my tainted soul as though she were put on earth just for me. When I force the hot-tempered beauty to reveal her secrets, it can be our undoing, or a means to an end for a newly appointed Larussio King. Or a revelation that will kill even the deepest of love. Boss’s Vendetta is the explosive first book in the Sicilian Gods series by Via Mari. It is a deliciously dark, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, mafia romance. You will love these novels where the passion is fiery, the loyalty is fierce, and the stakes are high. Each book is a standalone that focuses on different couples in each book. They all have a guaranteed happily ever after, at the conclusion. I'm excited to see where the author takes this series. I will be reading more of her books shortly.
Boss's Vendetta (Sicilian Gods Book 1) by Via Mari - Review by Kaylee Johnston
3.5 Stars
Book 1 in the Sicilian Gods Series, Boss's Vendetta, is about Salvatore and Adrianna. The book focuses on how the two of them come together, what the vendetta is, and how everything gets solved. The mafia romance genre includes many explicit and dark scenes - this story is no different.
The connection between Salvatore and Adrianna is great at the beginning. I am always a fan of enemies-to-lovers stories. I found the plot points and the development of this story to be unique and enticing. I loved how it progressed and the settings things took place. The main conflict was tense and I couldn't keep myself from reading as quickly as I could. I loved seeing the relationship between Salvatore and his cousin, Dominic. I thought the way the characters were portrayed was done really well - especially the Great-Uncle. I loved when Sal and Adrianna finally come together and how seamlessly Adrianna fits into the family.
The things that kept this book from being four or five stars for me are the continuous use of the word "capiche." It felt overused a lot, to the point I felt it was being included unnecessarily. The switch from a scared bystander who is helping where she can to a skilled and cold agent capable of disappearing and infiltrating certain locations and then back was a bit jarring. I also need to point out that there was a lot of repetition for why Sal and Adrianna couldn't be together. There's also a lot of repetition by both Sal and Adrianna about how dangerous Sal was and who he actually was, but there wasn't much that supported that. Adrianna's hate also kind of just fades away.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was definitely spicy and kept me intrigued the whole time. I definitely recommend reading this if you're looking for a hot, action-packed story!
Boss’s Vendetta is a dark, mafia, romance. Dr. Adrianna Palento sought out a job with the Larussio mob family, in Las Vegas. She secretly is looking for her father’s killer and believes it was someone in the Larussio family, even though she has never known her father. What she didn’t expect was Salvatore Larussio. Salvatore is the next in line to become don of the family and is also instantly taken by the new doctor. However, in the family, not just anyone is allowed to infiltrate their walls, so Salvatore trys to ignore the feeling. Whether or not Adrianna “hates” Salvatore and what he stands for, she refuses to let any one person suffer when hurt. The family is attacked during a wedding and many had to go into hiding, including the doctor. While “trapped” underground, Salvatore and Adrianna have a little bit of time to explore this attraction. However, what will happen when he finds out Adrianna’s secrets? Can he find a way to keep her safe from his own family? Mafia romance is one of my favorite genres. I thought this particular mafia romance was a little different then the ones that I have recently read. I guess I feel that way because it seems more realistic then most. I enjoyed the mystery of the characters and the development of the romance between Salvatore and Adrianna. As characters go, Salvatore was your typical dark, semi-souless mafia boss. But I did enjoy that he was honest with her throughout the book about his darkness and what would happen to her if certain things took place. Adrianna, she was an amazing character. I thought she was realistic, smart, cunning, honest, and I really loved how she never showed fear to Salvatore. She always stood her ground even in the face of evil which made me love her even more. Adrianna was also brave as hell ever step of the way and in every decision she made!
This author knows how to begin a series. You make the characters strong and relatable. You throw in some mafia rules and regulations, some guns, some lies and deception, a little violence, a whole lot of steam, and then you kill off all your enemies. Well, maybe not all….I mean, can you ever truly kill off ALL of your enemies in a mafia series??
Adrianna is a complicated woman. A doctor, a woman out for revenge, a daughter, an orphan, a woman seeking answers. All her life she was told that her father was killed by the Larussio family before her birth. Her mother never revealed her father’s name. After years of studying to become a doctor and plotting to get the revenge she seeks, Adrianna takes a job as an in-house doctor for the Larussio’s new casino in Las Vegas. She hopes this will let her get close enough to get the answers she is so desperate for but will it lead to more?
Salvatore is thrust into the position of next in line due to his older brothers taking other roles. He is the right man for the job but some feel that he doesn’t deserve and hasn’t earned it. And those are just his cousins. As Salvatore starts to fight the enemies within, he finds that they are linked to the enemies outside the family. What he didn’t need at this moment was a distraction, a weakness for his enemies to exploit but that is exactly what Adrianna, the new doctor, has become to him. How does he manage to keep the woman that he has been waiting his entire life for and his family safe when she might be the one they need protecting from?
There was so much in this book. So much good stuff, stuff that will keep you coming back for the next one in the series, so much that will make you fall for the dark prince. So glad that I found this series!! It is fantastic!!!!
This is only for those over the age of 18 due to its adult themes.
Salvatore Larussio is a man who leads a double life, by day he spends time with the high rollers at his families casino, spending time with the big wigs, the high up and the social climbers, but begins closed doors, he is a ruthless heir to a mafia throne. Adrianna is a doctor with a past she would rather forget, but now she is working at the Larussio resort and is in charge of the urgent care there, but as well as the usual emergencies she has to deal with, add into that the responsibility of sewing the family up as well, she has a lot on her plate.
The two first butt heads over the treatment of a family member and when she doesn’t back down when faced with the devil himself, he is more shocked than anything, but when a family gathering which is supposed to be a happy one turns into a bloodbath, things take a turn for the unexpected for Adrianna. In the midst of triaging the casualties, a decision is made to whisk her away with them so that she can continue their care, but just what that means is something Adrianna is completely opposed to, but seemingly has no choice in the matter.
As they are being kept in close confines, things that Salvatore finds intriguing about this ice queen from the emergency room are the things he finds attract him to her the most, but when Adrianna is confronted with the realisation that she is attracted to those same things, she decides to tell Salvatore the truth of why she is there. Will the secrets she has been hiding make or break the tenuous bond she has is building with the family, or will it be her undoing? This is a Mafia suspense with plenty of action throughout, as this darkly romantic story pulls you into the the underworld and keeps you there, while you follow along this spicy story of retaliation and retribution.
Adrianna is a doctor in the Vegas strip, hired specifically to be at the beck and call of the Larussio crime family. While she also serves as the doctor to visitors of their hotel, her contract pays her extremely well and includes a glitzy apartment to keep the mafia family healthy. She has her reasons for taking this job, and the salary and amenities are strictly a bonus until she accomplishes what she came to do.
Salvatore Larussio is about to become the new Don to the family after his cousin stepped down from the position. As Great Uncle ages, he is preparing to retire very soon and hand the reins over to Sal. Sal was formerly an enforcer in their mafia family and is well known for his ruthlessness matching his cold demeanor. In reality, Sal has far more fears than anyone would ever realize. Being in charge meant everyone and their safety was his responsibility, now. It meant he could no longer enforce the punishments on their enemies, he could only make the call to do so. He lives in fear for his family and himself and has no time for love or romance.
However, Adrianna has caught his eye and he cannot help but recognize the pull he feels for her. He thinks of her constantly, even though any time they speak her distaste for him is evident. Will Sal take a shot at love? Will Adrianna's secret and intentions ruin anything that might develop?
This is a fast paced read, very well written, draws a beautiful picture of their surroundings and has you rooting for Sal and Adrianna to be together in spite of everything. Looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
If you like your mafia family deep and devoted with slightly convoluted family members, from the old school to the new Don and the backstabbing other members, the Boss deep and dark and your heroine with a past then this is the book to read. We follow the Larussio crime family as they set up their extended business in Vegas. Kidnappings, shootings and underground hideouts are all deeply seated in this world that hooks you and takes you deeper into the mafia network. Adrianna Palento starts working as the Doctor at the new complex built by the Larussio’s on the strip, she is Doctor at the Emergency Care Unit for the hotel, and on call for the members of the family should they need attention. And the family members need more than most. The Doctor has a secret , one that she needs to keep especially from the family. This is not easy especially when you are thrown into a safe house facility with the high ranking members of the family after a dramatic shootout. Salvatore is groomed to take over the family when the time comes; his family and cousins are mostly behind him. After the attack throws him into close quarters with the Doctor, and her secrets, how can he keep her alive, especially as his interest in her becomes all consuming? The family, their business partners and their love lives are brought together in a well written story that keeps you wanting to come back for more. I can’t wait to read the next book to see how the characters continue to grow.
“I sure as hell didn’t ask for this job, but I will do it as though every life in my family depends on it...because it does.”
Just when I thought the enemy was taken care of another one would jump out. But these characters, Salvatore Larussio and Adrianna Palento take no prisoners and can handle whatever is thrown their way...capiche? As with any good story there are secrets being kept that when revealed will either make the family stronger or destroy the love that is developing between these two.
This is a new series and while these two main characters have a good ending there are too many questions about the rest of the family for it to be the only book. The first of many stories to come, I hope! I enjoyed this story; the wording and language is how I would think a Mafia family would speak. The situations are realistic and hard to believe at the same time.... sounds a little life regular life too. This story also made me laugh on occasion...especially when Salvatore and Adrianna would butt heads.
“A smile crosses my face for the first time all day as I envision the blonde beauty’s fiery blue eyes lighting up with anger in reaction to that order. Maybe it’s not so bad being in charge...”
This is the perfect startup book for a new series. It is explosive, filled with action, drama, violence, and romance. With characters that are relatable, ones you love to love and ones you love to hate.
Adrianna is the female in the stories we always aspire to be. She is a doctor, who was orphaned, and is looking for answers into her fathers death. Which may come from the elusive Larussio’s. So when she gets a job working in one of their casinos this may be the perfect chance to find answers to the questions plaguing her about whether the Larussio’s were responsible.
Salvatore, who is not even heir to the mafia throne, is thrust into the position solely by availability. Many think he should not be there nor that he has earned such a prestigious position of power. The last thing he needs is a sexy doctor turning his world inside out and giving his enemies a weakness to exploit.
Will Adriana finally uncover the truth about her father’s death and will it be the answer she hopes? Can Salvatore protect his family and Adriana from threats within and outside the family so he can find his happy ever after? This is a dark mafia romance, with suspense, lies, and romance which makes for an amazing story in my book. I am excited to read the next book in this series just to see what happens next!
Boss's Vendetta: Dark Mafia Romance (Sicilian Gods #1) by Via Mari
This isn't the first book I've read by the author. Boss's Vendetta is the first book in the Sicilian Gods Series. The book was so well written that I finished it in about an hour. I loved the characters and the plot.
Salvatore is the next in line for the boss of his family's mafia. He meets the urgent care doctor in the resort and finds that he can't get her off his mind. He meets her through his cousin when his wife was harmed. The quote I chose for Salvatore is: “Anything and anyone remotely connected to the family or our organization is my business. Running the urgent care and being the only physician on call for the entire casino and resort— it’s too much for one person.”
Adrianna is the doctor at the resort where Salvatore and his family reside. Cousins, Uncles, brothers, and whatever else you want to call them. She mouths off the first time she meets him and now she finds that she can't stop thinking of him. The quote I chose for Adrianna is: “Whatever does the dark prince want after pulling me from a much-needed night of sleep?”
Highly recommended for Mafia Romantic Suspense lovers.
WOOT!!! She did it again!!! Another feather in this talented author’s cap! Boss’s Vendetta is the first book in the Sicilian Gods series by Via Mari. This is a fantastic start to a new series, but is also a bit of a nod to ‘The Larussio Legacy’ series as this first instalment gives us Salvatore Larussio’s story- and wow, what a story he has! It is a fantastic dark mafia romantic suspense with an enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity element- as well as danger, intensity, drama, action, chemistry, sizzle, agendas, mafia politics, high stakes, emotion, and more. As I have mentioned so many times now, I have read all of Via Mari’s book and have loved every one of them. She never fails to deliver a sexy and enticing read that keeps me glued to the pages as all the gritty developments unfold. And this story didn’t let me down! With wonderful characters, superb chemistry, attention to detail, as well as palpable suspense cleverly woven throughout the plot… all this gripping tension definitely had me on the edge of my seat- avidly reading to discover how it would all play out. Well Done! Bring on Book #2!
I just loved the cover art but once I learnt more about Salvatore the cover became alive ! Nailed it ! For that alone I’ll give 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 what’s between the pages was even more epic ! I love myself a mafia family but I must say the Larussio’s are my favourite by far !❣️😉
When Salvatore and Dr Palento first cross paths you can feel the tension already and it’s off the charts 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥not long after that they’re thrown into chaos by an attack on their family at a family wedding and all hell breaks loose , I could smell the blood and fear I could hear the bullets flying and the screams it’s so well written ! Great Uncle takes a near fatal hit and the beautiful Dr Palento plays a monumental role in pulling him through , his stubborn nature helped him fight as well 😂😉❣️
What follows in the underground place of safety and later on the ground is a read of epic proportions, there’s sizzling hot and steamy romance , there’s suspense , a lot of blood , violence and gore and a few very unexpected twists and turns that had me do a double take and reread and yes I did gasp 😱
Yes we have a HEA but I’m starved for more of the Larussio family 🔥🥰
I used to dislike these types of Mafia books but one author got me hooked. Now I’m always looking for more. This book was about Adrianna and Sal. Sal was next to lead the family and Adrianna was the good doctor at the resort there to take care of the guests and of course the family. The family never goes to the hospital when they are shot or stabbed. Adrianna hates everything about Sal. From his dark penetrating eyes to his bossy demeanor. So why can she not get him off her mind and he goes out of his way to look for her. When a wedding is ambushed, the family is lucky Adrianna is there to be able to go underground to care for the injured. The question remains….how was the wedding ambushed at their resort with all that security….there’s a rat! Sal makes it his number one priority to find the rat all while trying to get Adrianna into his bed. Adrianna has secrets of her own on why she showed up to work for this family. She seems like a sweet innocent doctor but, when something or someone threatens what is hers, she will do what she needs to in order to neutralize the threat! I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end and cannot wait for more!
Salvatore Larussio, is the next in-line to become the Mafia Boss in Las Vegas. Dr. Adrianna Palento took a job working at the Larusso's Casino in the Urgent Care. She’s responsible for treating the hotel's guests, when they need it, but she also is responsible for patching up any of the family when they get injured. Dr. Palento gets used to the never ending rotation in the urgent care. When a bloodbath takes place at a family wedding, inside the hotel, many of the family members are injured, and need to go into hiding to hide from the police. Many of them are led into the hidden tunnels below ground, where there's a hidden safe house and hospital area. Because of the injured, Dr. Palento is also taken to the tunnels, so that she can assist, but secrets she’s been hiding for a very long time get revealed. Will this lead her to her death? Will all be forgiven by the family? Will the tension between Adrianna and Salvatore be their undoing?
This book was really good, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one in this series.
This book is an amazing start for a new series. I love, love, love mafia books, they are my favs. So, having read a bunch of them, this one rates right up there with some of the best ones I have read. There is the push and pull between characters. There is growth of each character. There is also the amazing set up for future books. I cannot wait to read the next one in this series. How do you work the mafia and keep your mouth shut? How do you keep your head down when that is the last thing you want to do? What happens when feelings start to get involved where they shouldn't be? These are all the questions that I asked myself while reading this book. Those questions made it a major page turner and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I didn't put this book down. I actually didn't even go to sleep until I had finished it. If you love the cocky alpha males of mafia and the feisty good girl that makes their cold hearts melt, this is you next book. Highly recommend this amazingly well written mafia love story!!!
I have never read anything by this author before but we are off to a great start! This book is the first in this series and it was a page turner. Adrianna has been plotting revenge against the Larussio family since she was young as she was under the impression they killed her father. When she is hired as an in house doctor at their new casino in Las Vegas she hopes to find the answers she seeks. Will the answer be what she wants to hear or will she be left with more questions? Salvatore is next in line to be the leader of the Mafia but there are those out there that don't feel like he deserves it. There is a rat within his ranks and he intends to find out who it is. Things only tend to get complicated when he and Adrianna start dancing around each other trying not to catch feelings. The last thing Salvatore needs is to give his enemies a reason to think he has a weakness. Keeping Adrianna at an arms length is a lot easier said than done though. Will he be at to keep her and his family safe or is she the true enemy he needs to look out for?
Salvatore is a fiercely loyal man that puts the mafia first...it's his job as the don. However, his priorities are questioned when he encounters a beautiful doctor. Adrianna has a mind of her own and does not take kindly to men barking orders at her. However, her job requires her to do just that...and ask no questions. Imagine her surprise when the man she feels an intense spark with is none other than Salvatore. While that spark begins with a feeling akin to hatred, it quickly morphs into something much more passionate. However, Salvatore knows Adrianna is keeping a secret and, when it comes out, it can turn both of their worlds upside down. Will they be torn apart? Or, is their love for each other enough to help them through?
I enjoyed Adrianna's character and these two were entertaining to read. There was so much going on in the story that I was sucked in! And, as secrets were being revealed, I was excited to see how it was going to affect them. And one of the secrets...WOW...
A great book that I devoured in a sitting and am looking forward to reading what happens next!
Okay, it's my own damn fault for not DNFing this but I just hate not finishing books! I was in the mood for a mafia romance and this...was not it for me.
➕ - The premise was promising! Adrianna patches up gunshot and knife wounds for the Italian crime family, but she has a secret vendetta against one of them. - The plot picked up near the end with some twists and tension/suspense.
➖ - The writing!!! It is tedious and dry with lots of telling instead of showing. The dialogues are stilted and unrealistic. For a 270 page book, it felt much, much longer. - Some actions by the two main characters made me scratch my head 🤔. - The book had a good chunk (>50%?) that dealt with the mafia side of things. I had zero interest. Yes, I'm only here for the romance with protective alphaholes. - Dont get me started on the medical inaccuracies. General surgery residency is 5 years (at least), not 3. And no, a general surgeon cannot function as an emergency physician, family physician, anaesthesiologist, intensivist and a lab technician!!!
I have read many a dark mafia romance as it stands, but this series has opened up strong and addictive, just like I like my coffee. I absolutely admire both these characters life pursuits, their ambition, and their want to make the world a better place, even when their world isn't full of silver linings and rainbows. Salvatore and Adrianna clearly stoke each others fire's and when they really get down to the nitty gritty details, they find each other more consuming then their separate paths have been.
This authors attention to detail, world building and character development is talent to say the least, and I will certainly be reading more of this series as it becomes available. I didn't want to put it down, and I have to admit, this was novel was devoured as though it was a novella. Highly recommend if action, sexy scenes, and a whole bunch of sexual tension is your thing. Well done!