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King of Ice & Steel Trilogy #1
Captured Light
Captured Light is an age gap, arranged marriage, dark mafia romance. It can be read as the first of the King of Ice & Steel Trilogy or a standalone. In the order of the Captured Standalones, it falls second.
This book contains situations not suitable for those under the age of 18. Some content may be triggering. Please see content warning inside book.
Olivia
Olivia Barone has had her future planned out for her from the moment she was born. Grow into a beautiful, manicured mafia princess and marry underboss, Lucien Esposito. But when she finally meets him, she realizes he’s more dangerous than she ever imagined.
He’s handsome, ice cold, and hungry for power. But is that exactly what she needs to become the woman she was born to be?
Lucien
After being falsely accused, Lucien endured horrific torture at his capo’s hand before his name was cleared. For years, he waited, biding his time and pretending to be the ideal mafia underboss. Now it’s time to make his move.
In the midst of turmoil and betrayal, Lucien finds himself falling for his new wife. After years of operating alone, she might just be the perfect merciless queen to sit at his side.
This book contains situations not suitable for those under the age of 18. Some content may be triggering. Please see content warning inside book.
This book contains situations not suitable for those under the age of 18. Some content may be triggering. Please see content warning inside book.
Olivia
Olivia Barone has had her future planned out for her from the moment she was born. Grow into a beautiful, manicured mafia princess and marry underboss, Lucien Esposito. But when she finally meets him, she realizes he’s more dangerous than she ever imagined.
He’s handsome, ice cold, and hungry for power. But is that exactly what she needs to become the woman she was born to be?
Lucien
After being falsely accused, Lucien endured horrific torture at his capo’s hand before his name was cleared. For years, he waited, biding his time and pretending to be the ideal mafia underboss. Now it’s time to make his move.
In the midst of turmoil and betrayal, Lucien finds himself falling for his new wife. After years of operating alone, she might just be the perfect merciless queen to sit at his side.
This book contains situations not suitable for those under the age of 18. Some content may be triggering. Please see content warning inside book.
321 pages, Paperback
Published May 20, 2022
542 people are currently reading
5297 people want to read
About the author
Raya Morris Edwards
25 books949 followersRaya Morris Edwards is the author of the Sovereign Mountain Series, the Welsh Kings Trilogy, and more! She lives near the mountains, but never close enough. When not writing, she's probably spending time with her family and dogs somewhere in the hills or traveling in the Blue Ridges.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
December 25, 2021
Please this was so bad, warning
SPOILERS AHEAD
I will keep it short but simple. Per usual, divide this in 3 parts.
1) Tiktok recommendation based on the smut.
- It wasn’t worth the smut. Not at all.
It was so bad, I want to give it a zero. Since I can’t do that, I’ll give it a one.
No cause seggs was literally their go to. They were mad? Seggs. They were anxious? Seggs. She breathes? Seggs. He’s horny? Seggs. WORST PART IS, HE CAN’T MAKE HER COME AT THE BEGINNING 💀💀💀
No please this was so bad in so many ways I couldn’t keep my eyes off of it, just to see if I was reading it correctly.
2) MC
- very naive, obedient, soooooo submissive and dumb sometimes. Like? One time he doesn’t give her ANY form of after care after a rough *session* and she just accepts him back again. Next comes quote
“I’m sorry, baby.”
She sat up, her slender legs hanging off the bed. “I wasn’t angry, Lucien, just hurt.”
HOW ARE YOU NOT ANGERED THAT HE HURT YOU??!!! STND UP FOR YOURSELF (she never did. The entire book she was at his mercy.). She deserved better. Some character development. A good story plot. A better family, or at least a new found family trope. Love and affection and not being used like a warm sock for her husband. (BECAUSE YES, ONE DAY SHES NOT IN THE MOOD BUT HE STILL HAVE SEGGS WITH HER EVEN THO SHE CLEARLY DIDNT WANT TO. Marital abuse -> quote.)
“I know. I just—”
“Let’s continue this discussion tomorrow,” he said. “I’m tired and I want to fuck my wife before we sleep.”
[…]
He pushed my legs open and sheathed himself. For a moment, an expression of pure bliss and satisfaction crossed his face, shattering the ice, and then it was gone.
“It’s good to be back,” he murmured.
I heartily disagreed, but I kept quiet, tracing the tattoo on his chest. The hanged bird rippled as he drove into me in lazy strokes. He fucked me in silence for a while, seeming to understand that I wasn’t in the mood to do anything more than lie beneath him. When he finished, he kissed my mouth and rolled from my body to lie beside me in our bed.”
3) Love interest
- HE WAS SUCH A ASSHOLE I CAN’T EVEN. I HAVE SO MANY HIGHLIGHTS OF WHY HE’S BAD FOR HER BUT THIS GOT ME REALLY FUMING. HE GOT MAD AT HER FOR NO REASON THAN FOR BEING A JEALOUS ASS BIH AND THEN SAID HE FELT UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE SHE GOT ASSAULTED !?????? Please imma put the quote.
“Because I thought that dance was for me, but it turns out you’re just performing for Romano, the man who assaulted me. Why does everything have to be for fucking Romano?” she seethed.
“Because it does, because he put his hands all over you and I can’t do a goddamn thing about it,” I snapped, struggling to keep my face blank.
I HATED HIM WITH ALL MY CHEST. WANNA BE ALPHA MALE SO INFURIATING I COULDN’T STAND HIM.
Excerpt From
Captured Light
Raya Morris Edwards
Read at your own risk. (Don’t if you’re smart, I just read through to my insomnia)
SPOILERS AHEAD
I will keep it short but simple. Per usual, divide this in 3 parts.
1) Tiktok recommendation based on the smut.
- It wasn’t worth the smut. Not at all.
It was so bad, I want to give it a zero. Since I can’t do that, I’ll give it a one.
No cause seggs was literally their go to. They were mad? Seggs. They were anxious? Seggs. She breathes? Seggs. He’s horny? Seggs. WORST PART IS, HE CAN’T MAKE HER COME AT THE BEGINNING 💀💀💀
No please this was so bad in so many ways I couldn’t keep my eyes off of it, just to see if I was reading it correctly.
2) MC
- very naive, obedient, soooooo submissive and dumb sometimes. Like? One time he doesn’t give her ANY form of after care after a rough *session* and she just accepts him back again. Next comes quote
“I’m sorry, baby.”
She sat up, her slender legs hanging off the bed. “I wasn’t angry, Lucien, just hurt.”
HOW ARE YOU NOT ANGERED THAT HE HURT YOU??!!! STND UP FOR YOURSELF (she never did. The entire book she was at his mercy.). She deserved better. Some character development. A good story plot. A better family, or at least a new found family trope. Love and affection and not being used like a warm sock for her husband. (BECAUSE YES, ONE DAY SHES NOT IN THE MOOD BUT HE STILL HAVE SEGGS WITH HER EVEN THO SHE CLEARLY DIDNT WANT TO. Marital abuse -> quote.)
“I know. I just—”
“Let’s continue this discussion tomorrow,” he said. “I’m tired and I want to fuck my wife before we sleep.”
[…]
He pushed my legs open and sheathed himself. For a moment, an expression of pure bliss and satisfaction crossed his face, shattering the ice, and then it was gone.
“It’s good to be back,” he murmured.
I heartily disagreed, but I kept quiet, tracing the tattoo on his chest. The hanged bird rippled as he drove into me in lazy strokes. He fucked me in silence for a while, seeming to understand that I wasn’t in the mood to do anything more than lie beneath him. When he finished, he kissed my mouth and rolled from my body to lie beside me in our bed.”
3) Love interest
- HE WAS SUCH A ASSHOLE I CAN’T EVEN. I HAVE SO MANY HIGHLIGHTS OF WHY HE’S BAD FOR HER BUT THIS GOT ME REALLY FUMING. HE GOT MAD AT HER FOR NO REASON THAN FOR BEING A JEALOUS ASS BIH AND THEN SAID HE FELT UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE SHE GOT ASSAULTED !?????? Please imma put the quote.
“Because I thought that dance was for me, but it turns out you’re just performing for Romano, the man who assaulted me. Why does everything have to be for fucking Romano?” she seethed.
“Because it does, because he put his hands all over you and I can’t do a goddamn thing about it,” I snapped, struggling to keep my face blank.
I HATED HIM WITH ALL MY CHEST. WANNA BE ALPHA MALE SO INFURIATING I COULDN’T STAND HIM.
Excerpt From
Captured Light
Raya Morris Edwards
Read at your own risk. (Don’t if you’re smart, I just read through to my insomnia)
March 9, 2022
90% smut
10% plot.
My personal favorite was when he told her to run and if he catches her ...well.
Also the fact that the man sent her 1000 stems of flowers and a damn expensive necklace because Lucien THOUGHT he hurt Olivia when he fucked her rough and claimed her in front of people.
Wow god really has her favorites
Also he couldn't make her cum at the start lmaooooooooooo
Alsoooooo there was this scene where she is not in the mood to fuck but he still does ...silently and then slept plssssssssssss
10% plot.
My personal favorite was when he told her to run and if he catches her ...well.
Also the fact that the man sent her 1000 stems of flowers and a damn expensive necklace because Lucien THOUGHT he hurt Olivia when he fucked her rough and claimed her in front of people.
Wow god really has her favorites
Also he couldn't make her cum at the start lmaooooooooooo
Alsoooooo there was this scene where she is not in the mood to fuck but he still does ...silently and then slept plssssssssssss
December 28, 2021
Fuck was this 🤣 they had sex one time and then they did it every 3 pages 😭😭 it was a rip off of the Cora Reilly series but it was so BADDDD and lucien was a WEIRDO???? Day after he took her virginity he wants to put it in her ASS?? No thank you. SHE LET HIM DO IT TOO??
June 10, 2022
So he hates the capo but leaves his fiance with the sexual predator alone and unguarded. Then he is dragging a server girl to the bathroom to fuck and is turned on by her curvy body where minutes ago he was turned on by his fiance's body. Then he suddenly remembers he is engaged and calls off the blowjob but regrets it that he has to remain faithful. Then he sees his fiance looking obviously in distress but never even goes to ask her atleast if she is okay while he was away down to fuck a server girl leaving her alone among hyenas and wolves. He just assumes she's just uncomfortable in the crowd and goes about his way. WHILE SHE HAS BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND JUST BARELY ESCAPED BEING RAPED. I mean, where is his protective instinct? Where is his possessiveness? He has to be the WEAKEST male in any books I have read so far and this coming from a mafia book. Seriously? I thought mafia men were ultra-Alphas who protect their own and flatten anyone who dares to touch their woman. But apparently not this WIMP. He lets his boss, who he KNOWS is a sexual predator, touch his fiance and LEAVES her with him. So what he is an underboss, I have ready many other lower rank men stand up for their woman and fiercely protect them from other men and would do anything to keep them safe. But this absolute pathetic excuse of a man can only think about banging his fiance but doesn't have the capacity to keep her safe. What a limp dick.
And where was the romance? The passion? Everything was monotonous, cold and clinical. Lucien has to be worst stale cold fish ever. He was like a robot operating on autopilot. He had no personality whatsoever. Speaking of personality, the heroine wasn't much either. Her only traits were she was beautiful. Yes. That's it. Lucien only mentions he is attracted to her and might fall in love with her because she was "beautiful". No traits such as strength, or resilience, or kindness or sweetness or whatever. Nope. Nada. Just skin deep beauty and a hot body and oh yes, sexy legs and thin ankles with blue veins..whatever that means. One heck of a wierd feet fetish.
Oh and she tried to be Sherlock Holmes somewhere in the middle. Like absolutely for no fucking reason. She just heard Lucien talking some Russian guy and she decided to eavesdrop. I mean why? Just why? Mind your own damn buisness girl whatever the fuck you will achieve by knowing who Lucien is having business with? For someone who had the only been groomed to marry a made man her whole life, never dared to know about her father's and brother's business, never had a single rebelous streak, she suddenly decides to poke her nose in the mafia business of her fiance. Girl your personality doesn't match the action. Apart from being a damn problem in the ass. Quite literally.
And what was that about her getting wet by being assaulted by the Capo? Was she or was she not attracted to him? What the hell was that scene? It was so fucking pointless with nothing but just to add that disgust factor in the book. Everything was pointless.
And oh yes. That part when the H was jealous and fucked her roughly, slut-shamed her even while knowing she was sexually assaulted, shot her with cruel words and left her without orgasm or after-care. Oh yes that was the best part. You know why? Because that's where the true doormat came out. She was easily convinced by his thousand roses he made his secretary arrange and the necklace he didn't even bother to choose. And when he came back our doormat queen just said she is not angry, only hurt and forgived him INSTANTLY. YES. INSTANTLY. He says he'll never repeat it and she believes him. Wow. So romantic.
And then you think he is trustable and honourable enough to keep his word? Ahahaha. What a joke. Let me give an exerpt:-
“You are jeopardizing this,” he said softly.
“He was rude to me,” I protested.
“I know he was, but you know it doesn’t matter at this point. I should fuck your mouth to make you think twice about using it.”
I gaped at him and he cocked his head, his cold eyes raking over my body. Sometimes I forgot that he hadn’t changed, he hadn’t become less monstrous now that I was in love with him.
Well, what did you expect, idiot, when you forgive him without making him working for it? Did you think a cruel man with abusive tendencies to magically change overnight? And a man who isn't beneath verbally insulting his wife in jealousy will be honourable enough to keep his word? LOL. That's what you get when you're a doormat. You get walked over. What a stupid bitch.
I should have listened to other reviewers to avoid this book but I was intrigued because it seemed very similar to Sweet Temptation by Cora Riley (which is the Only book of Cora Riley I like btw). But now I regret but I have to finish it.
But WAIT. There's one good thing. The sex. It was hot and so realistic. Especially the first sex scene. Because ADMIT IT not everyone gets off on their first night. And not everyone has the same way to have orgasm. And yes, if you've masturbated long enough you'll have a hard time getting used to others getting you off. Not everyone can orgasm with oral sex and especially women have a VERY diverse spectrum of orgasms. Not everyone gets stimulated the same way, along with stress and trust issues play a huge role in orgasming. So this was one good thing I liked in this book as there are no unrealistic fireworks bursting on the first night of a virgin. So i increased a star for that.
And where was the romance? The passion? Everything was monotonous, cold and clinical. Lucien has to be worst stale cold fish ever. He was like a robot operating on autopilot. He had no personality whatsoever. Speaking of personality, the heroine wasn't much either. Her only traits were she was beautiful. Yes. That's it. Lucien only mentions he is attracted to her and might fall in love with her because she was "beautiful". No traits such as strength, or resilience, or kindness or sweetness or whatever. Nope. Nada. Just skin deep beauty and a hot body and oh yes, sexy legs and thin ankles with blue veins..whatever that means. One heck of a wierd feet fetish.
Oh and she tried to be Sherlock Holmes somewhere in the middle. Like absolutely for no fucking reason. She just heard Lucien talking some Russian guy and she decided to eavesdrop. I mean why? Just why? Mind your own damn buisness girl whatever the fuck you will achieve by knowing who Lucien is having business with? For someone who had the only been groomed to marry a made man her whole life, never dared to know about her father's and brother's business, never had a single rebelous streak, she suddenly decides to poke her nose in the mafia business of her fiance. Girl your personality doesn't match the action. Apart from being a damn problem in the ass. Quite literally.
And what was that about her getting wet by being assaulted by the Capo? Was she or was she not attracted to him? What the hell was that scene? It was so fucking pointless with nothing but just to add that disgust factor in the book. Everything was pointless.
And oh yes. That part when the H was jealous and fucked her roughly, slut-shamed her even while knowing she was sexually assaulted, shot her with cruel words and left her without orgasm or after-care. Oh yes that was the best part. You know why? Because that's where the true doormat came out. She was easily convinced by his thousand roses he made his secretary arrange and the necklace he didn't even bother to choose. And when he came back our doormat queen just said she is not angry, only hurt and forgived him INSTANTLY. YES. INSTANTLY. He says he'll never repeat it and she believes him. Wow. So romantic.
And then you think he is trustable and honourable enough to keep his word? Ahahaha. What a joke. Let me give an exerpt:-
“You are jeopardizing this,” he said softly.
“He was rude to me,” I protested.
“I know he was, but you know it doesn’t matter at this point. I should fuck your mouth to make you think twice about using it.”
I gaped at him and he cocked his head, his cold eyes raking over my body. Sometimes I forgot that he hadn’t changed, he hadn’t become less monstrous now that I was in love with him.
Well, what did you expect, idiot, when you forgive him without making him working for it? Did you think a cruel man with abusive tendencies to magically change overnight? And a man who isn't beneath verbally insulting his wife in jealousy will be honourable enough to keep his word? LOL. That's what you get when you're a doormat. You get walked over. What a stupid bitch.
I should have listened to other reviewers to avoid this book but I was intrigued because it seemed very similar to Sweet Temptation by Cora Riley (which is the Only book of Cora Riley I like btw). But now I regret but I have to finish it.
But WAIT. There's one good thing. The sex. It was hot and so realistic. Especially the first sex scene. Because ADMIT IT not everyone gets off on their first night. And not everyone has the same way to have orgasm. And yes, if you've masturbated long enough you'll have a hard time getting used to others getting you off. Not everyone can orgasm with oral sex and especially women have a VERY diverse spectrum of orgasms. Not everyone gets stimulated the same way, along with stress and trust issues play a huge role in orgasming. So this was one good thing I liked in this book as there are no unrealistic fireworks bursting on the first night of a virgin. So i increased a star for that.
September 26, 2024
Raya Morris Edwards knows how to write some good smut. Quite enjoyed this. A simple mafia plot. And they weren’t kidding about the random foot fetish 🤣
May 10, 2022
i’m not giving this two stars because i hated reading it. i had a fine time reading it, but it definitely doesn’t deserve any more than two stars lol.
the only thing getting it those two stars was the smut, which was pretty good. but once they started having sex, it. never. stopped! ugh it was so annoying. like they had no connection besides sexually. he told her he loved her at literally the most random moment and there was no set up for how he got from feeling indifferent towards her to supposedly loving her. he apologized to her for doing an objectively terrible thing by having his assistant buy her a thousand white roses and an expensive necklace and delivering it to her. he didn’t even take it to her himself!! and then he was like “sorry i’d never hurt you” and she was like “you really scare me but i know and i love you.” HUHHHH??? girl that was a mess. and some of the smut was SOOO weird too. like having sex after he killed someone and was still covered in their blood was NOT the vibe.
to top it all off, the connection between them was sooo unbelievable. i felt no emotions at all while reading this book, aside from shock. like i want to be gasping for air and sobbing uncontrollably while reading a romance. my eyes were drier than a desert the whole time.
also the author just dumped heaps of trauma onto olivia and lucien for no reason. like they just had trauma to have trauma, and the trauma the author gave them was so brutal. if you aren’t going to deal with the trauma in a delicate way and it doesn’t serve some kind of purpose in the story you’re telling, 👏🏻 don’t 👏🏻 put 👏🏻 it 👏🏻 in 👏🏻 just 👏🏻 for 👏🏻 shock 👏🏻 value 👏🏻
this was my first and probably last mafia book, but it was an interesting ride.
the straights really do be whack, i need to go back to my gay haven and stop playing around with these terrible kindle unlimited romances.
the only thing getting it those two stars was the smut, which was pretty good. but once they started having sex, it. never. stopped! ugh it was so annoying. like they had no connection besides sexually. he told her he loved her at literally the most random moment and there was no set up for how he got from feeling indifferent towards her to supposedly loving her. he apologized to her for doing an objectively terrible thing by having his assistant buy her a thousand white roses and an expensive necklace and delivering it to her. he didn’t even take it to her himself!! and then he was like “sorry i’d never hurt you” and she was like “you really scare me but i know and i love you.” HUHHHH??? girl that was a mess. and some of the smut was SOOO weird too. like having sex after he killed someone and was still covered in their blood was NOT the vibe.
to top it all off, the connection between them was sooo unbelievable. i felt no emotions at all while reading this book, aside from shock. like i want to be gasping for air and sobbing uncontrollably while reading a romance. my eyes were drier than a desert the whole time.
also the author just dumped heaps of trauma onto olivia and lucien for no reason. like they just had trauma to have trauma, and the trauma the author gave them was so brutal. if you aren’t going to deal with the trauma in a delicate way and it doesn’t serve some kind of purpose in the story you’re telling, 👏🏻 don’t 👏🏻 put 👏🏻 it 👏🏻 in 👏🏻 just 👏🏻 for 👏🏻 shock 👏🏻 value 👏🏻
this was my first and probably last mafia book, but it was an interesting ride.
the straights really do be whack, i need to go back to my gay haven and stop playing around with these terrible kindle unlimited romances.
July 11, 2023
How does this have so many bad reviews? It's an erotic romance for crying out loud. I've had these books on my e-reader for a while. I'm literally devouring them. I keep saying one more chapter and ended up staying up all night reading. Don't listen to these people if you don't like erotic romance, don't read! This author is amazing!! If I stay up all night, read on my work breaks, and put off chores, you know it's a good book, in my opinion. If you don't like hot mafia men or sex. This isn't the book for you. I'm not going to give spoilers. You just have to read!!! Also, I don't write many reviews. Please keep writing books. I am so excited for the next one!!!!
June 4, 2023
I can't.
dnf at 60%
Bruh. I couldn't read it anymore after i realised he's 36 AND SHE IS 19
ALSO HE MADE HER call him as in "Yes, sir"
HLOO? WTF
I mean technically she should address him like that coz he's LITERALLY 17yrs older than her but she's his financée/wife now ಠ‿ಠ
I can NOT handle the condescending attitude of his.
NAH THAT'S ridiculous.
All it had was smut.
2 star for smut. Bye 🕳️👩🦯
dnf at 60%
Bruh. I couldn't read it anymore after i realised he's 36 AND SHE IS 19
ALSO HE MADE HER call him as in "Yes, sir"
HLOO? WTF
I mean technically she should address him like that coz he's LITERALLY 17yrs older than her but she's his financée/wife now ಠ‿ಠ
I can NOT handle the condescending attitude of his.
NAH THAT'S ridiculous.
All it had was smut.
2 star for smut. Bye 🕳️👩🦯
Read
March 8, 2022DNF 53%
just nope…
just nope…
February 21, 2022
A Nice Change of Pace
2.85/5
I enjoyed this mafia romance!
I think that the writing is in need of some editing, but overall, it's a solid book.
I'm excited to read Sienna and Viktor's book in April. And hopefully get a resolution to Cosimo's story.
The smut was very well-written, Lucien did a number on me.
I also liked how the sex was a lot more realistic. I was pleasantly surprised at how the first few sex scenes played out.
2.85/5
I enjoyed this mafia romance!
I think that the writing is in need of some editing, but overall, it's a solid book.
I'm excited to read Sienna and Viktor's book in April. And hopefully get a resolution to Cosimo's story.
The smut was very well-written, Lucien did a number on me.
I also liked how the sex was a lot more realistic. I was pleasantly surprised at how the first few sex scenes played out.
December 19, 2021
Started it for the smut... stayed for the plot.
This was my first Mafia/ dark romance book and I honestly enjoyed it. I would give it 5 stars but I give it 4.5 since I just wish the climax of the story was more detailed in Luceins head and more drawn out and dramatic and I wish we had Olivias POV in that moment. I also feel like the author breezed past a really important moment for the couple in the story and I wish she didnt. The set up was strange since there was time jumps of weeks and months that were only separated by a paragraph and I wish there was more of a break in the layout of the story for a clearer time separation but overall i really enjoyed the story, it was intense and exciting plotwise and it had good spice. I LOVED how Lucein gave Olivia confidence to hold her head high and not cower to anyone even before they were married and before he loved her. He gave her back the confidence in herself.
LOOK UP TRIGGER WARNINGS. There is explicit SA ON PAGE that really shocked me and its referenced multiple times. Child abuse is also referenced as well as explicit descriptions of the characters eating disorder.
I will be reading the first book in the series soon, since they can be read as standalone.
This was my first Mafia/ dark romance book and I honestly enjoyed it. I would give it 5 stars but I give it 4.5 since I just wish the climax of the story was more detailed in Luceins head and more drawn out and dramatic and I wish we had Olivias POV in that moment. I also feel like the author breezed past a really important moment for the couple in the story and I wish she didnt. The set up was strange since there was time jumps of weeks and months that were only separated by a paragraph and I wish there was more of a break in the layout of the story for a clearer time separation but overall i really enjoyed the story, it was intense and exciting plotwise and it had good spice. I LOVED how Lucein gave Olivia confidence to hold her head high and not cower to anyone even before they were married and before he loved her. He gave her back the confidence in herself.
LOOK UP TRIGGER WARNINGS. There is explicit SA ON PAGE that really shocked me and its referenced multiple times. Child abuse is also referenced as well as explicit descriptions of the characters eating disorder.
I will be reading the first book in the series soon, since they can be read as standalone.
June 28, 2022
I did enjoy this book as it had all my favourite mafia trope in and it was HOT however for me the hero slightly let it down for me I think he should have done more grovelling. I have no problem with a hero being irredeemable or truly bad however if they are they need to own that and don’t grovel instead of doing half hearted attempts. I was also really interested in the side characters more.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
Mafia
Age gap
Arranged marriage
Praise
Degradation
Chase scene
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
Mafia
Age gap
Arranged marriage
Praise
Degradation
Chase scene
April 5, 2022
“I may not be a particularly ethical person, but I am fair.” -Lucien probably.
I read this book at Hunner’s recommendation and honestly it did what it needed to do. Lucien was extremely hot. He activated all of my inner Princess syndrome. Obviously I don’t *want* to be saved from a tall tower but I don’t not want that either. I pictured Lucien like if Edward (Twilight) was in the mafia instead of a vampire. Olivia was annoying but she grew on me throughout the book. All the Goodreads reviews I read before reading this book were like 1 or 2 stars because it was pretty trashy. I agree, the plot was uneven, the pacing was wild, and the characterization was inconsistent at best. BUT the smut was good so you know, three stars.
I read this book at Hunner’s recommendation and honestly it did what it needed to do. Lucien was extremely hot. He activated all of my inner Princess syndrome. Obviously I don’t *want* to be saved from a tall tower but I don’t not want that either. I pictured Lucien like if Edward (Twilight) was in the mafia instead of a vampire. Olivia was annoying but she grew on me throughout the book. All the Goodreads reviews I read before reading this book were like 1 or 2 stars because it was pretty trashy. I agree, the plot was uneven, the pacing was wild, and the characterization was inconsistent at best. BUT the smut was good so you know, three stars.
July 12, 2023
I’m always sad by how disappointed I am in mafia books because I love them so much. This was kind of my first Italian mafia book and I wasn’t a fan. Characters were boring and barely had any personality that contributed to the book. The plot also wasn’t exciting. This was basically just smut. I finished it faster than most books because the smut was so overbearing I basically skipped all of it. In conclusion, the book was uninteresting. So many things were wrong with this book and the characters. Reading it felt like reading a Wattpad book, except I’ve read better books on Wattpad. I’ll stick to Bratva books from now on. (maybe)
March 20, 2023
Even though i finished the book within a few hours, i skipped a lot of parts and skimmed through few pages. I was intrigued by the beginning of the book and was looking forward to reading more about it but there was no such hold or depth to the story. Even the characters were just okay.
I have always loved a mafia arranged marriage book but this book missed its mark.
I have always loved a mafia arranged marriage book but this book missed its mark.
March 16, 2025
Sexual
This was true smut between the pages but it was a good read of magia as well even tho this is a trilogy the first book had a good ending you wouldn't mind not reading the others.
Who am I kidding course I'm going to read the others
This was true smut between the pages but it was a good read of magia as well even tho this is a trilogy the first book had a good ending you wouldn't mind not reading the others.
Who am I kidding course I'm going to read the others
June 26, 2023
Helt okej. Inte riktigt lika fartfylld som jag hade tänkt mig, men det är lite skönt att läsa böcker som inte fullständigt överväldigar en ibland också för omväxlings skull.
December 9, 2021
3.5 stars
Captured Light has two of my favourite tropes - mafia men and age gap romances.
Like most women, Olivia has her future planned out for her throughout most of her life. She is to marry an underboss, Lucien, when she is of age and fall into the role of his wife. The wedding comes and goes, their relationship progresses and Lucien has one last thing to do before they can progress with their lives - kill the capo.
This was a good read. I would have liked more depth, it felt like something was missing although I can't quite put my finger on it, however, the sex scenes were spicy and plentiful and overall it was enjoyable. I would definitely read more!
Captured Light has two of my favourite tropes - mafia men and age gap romances.
Like most women, Olivia has her future planned out for her throughout most of her life. She is to marry an underboss, Lucien, when she is of age and fall into the role of his wife. The wedding comes and goes, their relationship progresses and Lucien has one last thing to do before they can progress with their lives - kill the capo.
This was a good read. I would have liked more depth, it felt like something was missing although I can't quite put my finger on it, however, the sex scenes were spicy and plentiful and overall it was enjoyable. I would definitely read more!
July 31, 2023
2.5⭐️
NOT A BAD BOOK!!!
MMC ANNOYED ME MOST OF THE TIME (99%)
It’s an erotic romance so expect a lot of smut
I finished it in one day which says a lot because sometimes I do take a minute to finish a book however, this one I think the pacing was very well done. The only thing that I just didn’t really like was the MMC he wasn’t the worst but also he was one of those who wanted power and obedience. It took a minute for me to really see them together but towards the end, the epilogue was what made me bump it up a little bit more because he was finally a little bit more romantic. throughout the book the romance aspect lacked but in the epilogue I could see how they worked together. Idk not a bad book not the best book. Overall plot was def there and I am excited to continue the trilogy and watch them both grow and develop together.
NOT A BAD BOOK!!!
MMC ANNOYED ME MOST OF THE TIME (99%)
It’s an erotic romance so expect a lot of smut
I finished it in one day which says a lot because sometimes I do take a minute to finish a book however, this one I think the pacing was very well done. The only thing that I just didn’t really like was the MMC he wasn’t the worst but also he was one of those who wanted power and obedience. It took a minute for me to really see them together but towards the end, the epilogue was what made me bump it up a little bit more because he was finally a little bit more romantic. throughout the book the romance aspect lacked but in the epilogue I could see how they worked together. Idk not a bad book not the best book. Overall plot was def there and I am excited to continue the trilogy and watch them both grow and develop together.
Read
December 8, 2024Dnf 66%
What the hell is this book? It’s so bad and absolutely ridiculous.
First of all it’s 90% smut and 10% plot and the smut wasn’t even good.Like it was so cringe.
And the characters omg they are pathetic and so goddamn SHALLOW.
The h(I can’t even remember her name)has absolutely no personality.She’s horny all the fucking time,she gets wet over every stupid thing.She’s just the girl who was mentally abused by her parents for years and now only thinks about sex.NOTHING ELSE.
I don’t want to waste my time talking about her,or this mf book,but anyway in a few words she’s just so shallow,I can’t find any other words to describe her.
And she pissed me off so much!
Like I said she doesn’t use her brain,has no personality and just wants to get laid.
She keeps saying over and over that she’s confused why her husband does things on his own (like driving his car and carrying his bags) instead of having the “servants” as she calls them,do it for them.
She accepts everything her husband says and never argues when she doesn’t agree with him ,like all the fucking time.
Example: He was telling her that when he’ll become capo that he’ll basically won’t have any time for her and she was trying to talk to him about it but he shut her up and told her that he “only wanted to fuck her”.So they had SILENT sex 🤢.She says that she wasn’t in the mood but still went along with it.
Also she says that she loves him out of nowhere (BEFORE THAT SILENT SEX SCENE) while he doesn’t give a shit about her and he only uses her for her body.
Her husband,H,Lucien: Tbh the only reason I felt a tiny bit of interest in this book at the beginning was because of him.I wanted to find out what happened to him and he wants so desperately revenge so when he admitted that he was brutally tortured I kept reading because I felt sorry for him.
But he’s so AWFUL.
Firstly he’s a toxic and selfish asshole.He uses the h to please his needs and he doesn’t give a damn about her.
He feels possessive and all of that but he doesn’t FEEL anything about her.He doesn’t listen to her and he only cares about his plan on revenge and becoming the capo.Nothing else.
He’s stupid,arrogant,rude and toxic.
Omg now that I remembered😂
The first time they met and the first time they had sex was absolutely mortifying ridiculous.Like it was so so CRINGE.
The first time they met he gives her a box with a ring inside because they’d marry(arranged marriage) in a few months and:
h: “Aren’t you going to put it on my finger?”
Lucien: “I’m not in love with you Olivia” (ah that’s her name)
Olivia: I flinched as if he’d hit me.Why did it hurt hearing him saying that?
Like what the actual fuck?!?You saw him for the first time a few minutes ago and you expected him to magically fall in love with you?
And their first time: It was on their wedding night and Lucien kept saying that he has to bed her.BED HER?!Ew.
It was so cringe and it felt so weird.
I have to admit though that the reason I read this book was because I’ve read another book of this author called “Paradise descent.” and I’ve rated it with 4⭐️ because I really enjoyed it so I thought that I would probably like this too.
WRONG!This book is disappointing and disgusting.
Awful book don’t read it folks.
What the hell is this book? It’s so bad and absolutely ridiculous.
First of all it’s 90% smut and 10% plot and the smut wasn’t even good.Like it was so cringe.
And the characters omg they are pathetic and so goddamn SHALLOW.
The h(I can’t even remember her name)has absolutely no personality.She’s horny all the fucking time,she gets wet over every stupid thing.She’s just the girl who was mentally abused by her parents for years and now only thinks about sex.NOTHING ELSE.
I don’t want to waste my time talking about her,or this mf book,but anyway in a few words she’s just so shallow,I can’t find any other words to describe her.
And she pissed me off so much!
Like I said she doesn’t use her brain,has no personality and just wants to get laid.
She keeps saying over and over that she’s confused why her husband does things on his own (like driving his car and carrying his bags) instead of having the “servants” as she calls them,do it for them.
She accepts everything her husband says and never argues when she doesn’t agree with him ,like all the fucking time.
Example: He was telling her that when he’ll become capo that he’ll basically won’t have any time for her and she was trying to talk to him about it but he shut her up and told her that he “only wanted to fuck her”.So they had SILENT sex 🤢.She says that she wasn’t in the mood but still went along with it.
Also she says that she loves him out of nowhere (BEFORE THAT SILENT SEX SCENE) while he doesn’t give a shit about her and he only uses her for her body.
Her husband,H,Lucien: Tbh the only reason I felt a tiny bit of interest in this book at the beginning was because of him.I wanted to find out what happened to him and he wants so desperately revenge so when he admitted that he was brutally tortured I kept reading because I felt sorry for him.
But he’s so AWFUL.
Firstly he’s a toxic and selfish asshole.He uses the h to please his needs and he doesn’t give a damn about her.
He feels possessive and all of that but he doesn’t FEEL anything about her.He doesn’t listen to her and he only cares about his plan on revenge and becoming the capo.Nothing else.
He’s stupid,arrogant,rude and toxic.
Omg now that I remembered😂
The first time they met and the first time they had sex was absolutely mortifying ridiculous.Like it was so so CRINGE.
The first time they met he gives her a box with a ring inside because they’d marry(arranged marriage) in a few months and:
h: “Aren’t you going to put it on my finger?”
Lucien: “I’m not in love with you Olivia” (ah that’s her name)
Olivia: I flinched as if he’d hit me.Why did it hurt hearing him saying that?
Like what the actual fuck?!?You saw him for the first time a few minutes ago and you expected him to magically fall in love with you?
And their first time: It was on their wedding night and Lucien kept saying that he has to bed her.BED HER?!Ew.
It was so cringe and it felt so weird.
I have to admit though that the reason I read this book was because I’ve read another book of this author called “Paradise descent.” and I’ve rated it with 4⭐️ because I really enjoyed it so I thought that I would probably like this too.
WRONG!This book is disappointing and disgusting.
Awful book don’t read it folks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2025
Captured Light by Raya Morris Edwards is the 2nd standalone book in the Captured Mafia series with is not complete.
Tropes:
✔️ FM Romance
✔️ Mafia Romance
✔️ Arranged Marriage
✔️ Age Gap
✔️ Kinks/ Fetish-esque
✔️ Available on KU
POV: First Person Duel 👩🧑
Rating: 11/10 (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
🌶️🌶️🌶️/3
🌶 Starts about 30%
Okay well I’m in love… this book absolutely took me by surprise in the best way. This could possibly be my favorite mafia and crack my top 10. I cannot wait to read the other books in this world. 🌎
Love love love Lucien!!! I was so excited to see a united front from Lucien and Olivia almost from the beginning… you don’t see that often in mafia forced marriages. Lucien is not a good guy but he owns it and Olivia owns the fact that she doesn’t want or need him to change. I loved it. The relationship progressed beautifully and I could not put the book down.
100% recommend.
✨“I hardly think I’m the queen,” I said. “You will be when I’m done with you,” he said.✨
Olivia Barone had grown into a beautiful, manicured mafia princess and is set to marry the underboss, Lucien Esposito. But when she finally meets him, she realizes he’s more dangerous than she ever imagined.
Lucien endured horrific torture at his boss’s hand before his name was cleared. For years, he waited, biding his time and pretending to be the ideal mafia underboss. In the midst of turmoil and betrayal, Lucien finds himself falling for his new wife. After years of operating alone, she might just be the perfect queen to sit at his side.
𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨 Violence, Kinks (CNC, Praise, Primal, Degradation)
Tropes:
✔️ FM Romance
✔️ Mafia Romance
✔️ Arranged Marriage
✔️ Age Gap
✔️ Kinks/ Fetish-esque
✔️ Available on KU
POV: First Person Duel 👩🧑
Rating: 11/10 (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
🌶️🌶️🌶️/3
🌶 Starts about 30%
Okay well I’m in love… this book absolutely took me by surprise in the best way. This could possibly be my favorite mafia and crack my top 10. I cannot wait to read the other books in this world. 🌎
Love love love Lucien!!! I was so excited to see a united front from Lucien and Olivia almost from the beginning… you don’t see that often in mafia forced marriages. Lucien is not a good guy but he owns it and Olivia owns the fact that she doesn’t want or need him to change. I loved it. The relationship progressed beautifully and I could not put the book down.
100% recommend.
✨“I hardly think I’m the queen,” I said. “You will be when I’m done with you,” he said.✨
Olivia Barone had grown into a beautiful, manicured mafia princess and is set to marry the underboss, Lucien Esposito. But when she finally meets him, she realizes he’s more dangerous than she ever imagined.
Lucien endured horrific torture at his boss’s hand before his name was cleared. For years, he waited, biding his time and pretending to be the ideal mafia underboss. In the midst of turmoil and betrayal, Lucien finds himself falling for his new wife. After years of operating alone, she might just be the perfect queen to sit at his side.
𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨 Violence, Kinks (CNC, Praise, Primal, Degradation)
January 13, 2022
This book had so much potential but fell short… extremely short. There needs to be additional editing and more storyline.
This is an arranged mafia and age gap story between Lucien and Olivia. Olivia is very naive and Lucien is this mafia guy who is the strong silent type, but ends up being prissy, in my opinion.
Here is what I liked:
1. The happily ever after.
Here is what I didn’t like:
1. The book moved too quickly. The sequence of events, didn’t provide readers enough transition from scene to scene. I felt like I had to go back and re-read to make sure what the author was saying. Oh we are at opera next thing you know you are home screwing. Who is the editor for this book?
2. Lucien has a foot fetish - this was completely irrelevant and should have been removed during editing.
3. Once they finally consummate their marriage, they are having sex every 3rd page… and he doesn’t make her O in the beginning. I know this is more true life, but it’s a story that we want to fantasize about! And the scenes were blah… I get it, it’s smut, but build up the tension the chemistry.
4. Do some research on the Italian mafia. Underboss is higher than a capo, yet everyone is a underboss and the ranking officer is a capo…. Dios mio.
This is an arranged mafia and age gap story between Lucien and Olivia. Olivia is very naive and Lucien is this mafia guy who is the strong silent type, but ends up being prissy, in my opinion.
Here is what I liked:
1. The happily ever after.
Here is what I didn’t like:
1. The book moved too quickly. The sequence of events, didn’t provide readers enough transition from scene to scene. I felt like I had to go back and re-read to make sure what the author was saying. Oh we are at opera next thing you know you are home screwing. Who is the editor for this book?
2. Lucien has a foot fetish - this was completely irrelevant and should have been removed during editing.
3. Once they finally consummate their marriage, they are having sex every 3rd page… and he doesn’t make her O in the beginning. I know this is more true life, but it’s a story that we want to fantasize about! And the scenes were blah… I get it, it’s smut, but build up the tension the chemistry.
4. Do some research on the Italian mafia. Underboss is higher than a capo, yet everyone is a underboss and the ranking officer is a capo…. Dios mio.
April 30, 2022
Okay I’m surprised I finished this book in one day, I didn’t enjoy it that much neither did I hate it, but the scene where lucien said “ She was beautiful, but more than that, she was my queen, my beautiful principessa. “ had me screaming😩, I didn’t enjoy it because there were no plot just smut and not to mention the 17 pages of straight smut, like they fucked once on their wedding night and then they started doing it every three pages like chill bro she’s yours😭, anyways I started reading this book just for the scene where he accidentally sees her ✨enjoying herself✨in the bathroom and that was my favorite scene, also when they where watching a ballet opera and then she gets on her knees OH MY GOD I LOVED THAT SCENE, overall it was not that bad and the smut was kinda good so yeah idk
March 24, 2023
I wanted to love this book so much..but I just didn’t
I love a mafia romance just like any other book girlie. But this one fell flat for me and I’m so sad to say it. I felt like some parts of the book had too much detail whereas others lacked it where it was needed. I feel like I would have liked Olivia if she had more of a backbone, she was after all, the daughter of a mafia underboss and I feel like she shouldn’t have been such a limp noodle half the time, whispering questions so often and giving the 👉🏻👈🏻 vibe. Get your shit together woman, you knew what you were getting into and you have been in this mafia world your whole life, granted, the treatment her parents gave her could have affected that but wouldn’t that make you more prone to hiding your emotions so you don’t let the people that hurt you see you hurt or vulnerable? I dunno, I just wasn’t sold on her. She could have been a great character and had great character development through the book but she only got feisty in the second to last chapter when it was most inconvenient. Read the room bestie. READ THE MF ROOM!
Lucien was okay? I guess. Chapters with his pov sometimes didn’t make sense to me in the way of the plot line or character development and I struggled to get through the last few chapters because of this. He didn’t want to open up to his wife about stuff from his past, or he blurted them out right after sex and it just felt like it was missing the intimacy or the vulnerability that I so badly wanted. Also I am banning the words passive/impassive from my vocab for the foreseeable future. We get it Lucien doesn’t have emotions, and his idea of a smile is a mouth twitch. I get that he’s this cold hearted mf, but calling your wife a whore and a slut when she has only been with one man and it’s you is a red flag to me and not the sexy kind. Also the foot fetish that he suddenly discovered he had after seeing his wife’s to be toes for like 10 minutes that one time? Really? It’s stuff like that that made me just second guess the character and put me off of it.
I felt like the story near the end was a bit too rushed and it was too convenient. I would have liked to see some conflict or uncertainty, especially if there’s going to be a second book about Lucien and Olivia.
I’m not saying that this book is bad, but it just wasn’t for me.
I love a mafia romance just like any other book girlie. But this one fell flat for me and I’m so sad to say it. I felt like some parts of the book had too much detail whereas others lacked it where it was needed. I feel like I would have liked Olivia if she had more of a backbone, she was after all, the daughter of a mafia underboss and I feel like she shouldn’t have been such a limp noodle half the time, whispering questions so often and giving the 👉🏻👈🏻 vibe. Get your shit together woman, you knew what you were getting into and you have been in this mafia world your whole life, granted, the treatment her parents gave her could have affected that but wouldn’t that make you more prone to hiding your emotions so you don’t let the people that hurt you see you hurt or vulnerable? I dunno, I just wasn’t sold on her. She could have been a great character and had great character development through the book but she only got feisty in the second to last chapter when it was most inconvenient. Read the room bestie. READ THE MF ROOM!
Lucien was okay? I guess. Chapters with his pov sometimes didn’t make sense to me in the way of the plot line or character development and I struggled to get through the last few chapters because of this. He didn’t want to open up to his wife about stuff from his past, or he blurted them out right after sex and it just felt like it was missing the intimacy or the vulnerability that I so badly wanted. Also I am banning the words passive/impassive from my vocab for the foreseeable future. We get it Lucien doesn’t have emotions, and his idea of a smile is a mouth twitch. I get that he’s this cold hearted mf, but calling your wife a whore and a slut when she has only been with one man and it’s you is a red flag to me and not the sexy kind. Also the foot fetish that he suddenly discovered he had after seeing his wife’s to be toes for like 10 minutes that one time? Really? It’s stuff like that that made me just second guess the character and put me off of it.
I felt like the story near the end was a bit too rushed and it was too convenient. I would have liked to see some conflict or uncertainty, especially if there’s going to be a second book about Lucien and Olivia.
I’m not saying that this book is bad, but it just wasn’t for me.
June 6, 2023
Another book that I found on BookTok that I had to read to check out. This book, I started to read when going on a quick road trip with a friend. I was going with her to pick up her mom and drive back to where she lives. This book was so different that I couldn't put it down. Let's talk about the two main characters a bit as this book is A LOT!
Olivia Barone had to mask her personality so much to be the perfect mafia princess. She had arranged marriage since she was an infant to a guy who was a teenager at the time. CRINGE WORTHY. Her mom literally starved her and if she did anything outside the rules that were so tight her dad would abuse her. She was told that her being a virgin until she wedded her arrange groom was for the mafia greater good. This girl had so many issues that I couldn't wait for her personality to really shine and I hopped that it would happen in this book. I was not disappointed. There is a quote in the book that when the groom says it you know that he was not going to let her hide her true potential but her true personality. Lucien Esposito is an extreme Bad Boy. He has so many layers to his personality and so much past that shape him and in this book you get to peal back each layer of that onion to see glimpse of his personality. That you get to see when it comes to Olivia. Ahh...I wish there was more books on these two characters because I fell in love with them.
This plot of the book is so perfect. It had so many turns and the author did an amazing job on not revealing everything but leaving little hints. Especially when you are in the mind of one of the main characters. There were places where I wanted to scream at some of the characters and things that I thought was going to happen that didn't. But then find out later explanation of why it didn't. I love the romance in this book though I feel like it was a little rush from oh I like you to oh my goodness I love your every being. But it's normal in a romance novel. This book is the perfect combination of mafia romance and dark romance. Also let's talk about the smut scenes. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher nearby when you read because it's spicy and heat. To some scenes are so hot you will be on fire.
I highly recommend this book if you like the mafia tropes that come with romance novels. You won't be disappointed as this book has action, romance, and smut.
Olivia Barone had to mask her personality so much to be the perfect mafia princess. She had arranged marriage since she was an infant to a guy who was a teenager at the time. CRINGE WORTHY. Her mom literally starved her and if she did anything outside the rules that were so tight her dad would abuse her. She was told that her being a virgin until she wedded her arrange groom was for the mafia greater good. This girl had so many issues that I couldn't wait for her personality to really shine and I hopped that it would happen in this book. I was not disappointed. There is a quote in the book that when the groom says it you know that he was not going to let her hide her true potential but her true personality. Lucien Esposito is an extreme Bad Boy. He has so many layers to his personality and so much past that shape him and in this book you get to peal back each layer of that onion to see glimpse of his personality. That you get to see when it comes to Olivia. Ahh...I wish there was more books on these two characters because I fell in love with them.
This plot of the book is so perfect. It had so many turns and the author did an amazing job on not revealing everything but leaving little hints. Especially when you are in the mind of one of the main characters. There were places where I wanted to scream at some of the characters and things that I thought was going to happen that didn't. But then find out later explanation of why it didn't. I love the romance in this book though I feel like it was a little rush from oh I like you to oh my goodness I love your every being. But it's normal in a romance novel. This book is the perfect combination of mafia romance and dark romance. Also let's talk about the smut scenes. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher nearby when you read because it's spicy and heat. To some scenes are so hot you will be on fire.
I highly recommend this book if you like the mafia tropes that come with romance novels. You won't be disappointed as this book has action, romance, and smut.
July 8, 2023
- the author starts off the book by writing her character as a headstrong woman who rebels against her parents and their abuse but when she meets the male lead all of that goes out the window and she becomes this demure damsel in distress with no thoughts of her own who cowers when someone even so much as looks at her
- there was no build up to the male leads plans for the mob boss seeing as it’s revealed within the first like 6 or so chapters. but the plan isn’t even carried out the 3rd to last chapter of the book leaving the author to fill the rest of the space between with unnecessary sex scenes. i mean… chapter after chapter there’s just unnecessary smut that doesn’t build any necessary pillars in the development of their relationship or the storyline lol
- also, i hate when authors make their characters have these epiphanies that are based in nothing and have quite literally no foundation. she’s all “i crave power, who have i become” when she’s the same bland character she was when the book started. no character development whatsoever.
- again, the smut is so overdone that it wasn’t even enjoyable at a certain point and i started skipping through the chapters when they inevitable decided to go at it again for the next 3 pages
- they were both annoying in their own way with him being described as this “ruthless and cold” underboss who commanded power when in reality he was powerless and everyone knew it because they tried him multiple times throughout the course of the book, especially where his wife was concerned. she just had no backbone.
- there was no real problem in this book and i couldnt sympathise with the male leader. this book would have benefited greatly from some flashbacks
- duran and viktor for the win because they seemed to be the only bitches in this book with some common sense fr
- 1 star is included for the brown puss/nip representation. a win for the brown girls i guess
- there was no build up to the male leads plans for the mob boss seeing as it’s revealed within the first like 6 or so chapters. but the plan isn’t even carried out the 3rd to last chapter of the book leaving the author to fill the rest of the space between with unnecessary sex scenes. i mean… chapter after chapter there’s just unnecessary smut that doesn’t build any necessary pillars in the development of their relationship or the storyline lol
- also, i hate when authors make their characters have these epiphanies that are based in nothing and have quite literally no foundation. she’s all “i crave power, who have i become” when she’s the same bland character she was when the book started. no character development whatsoever.
- again, the smut is so overdone that it wasn’t even enjoyable at a certain point and i started skipping through the chapters when they inevitable decided to go at it again for the next 3 pages
- they were both annoying in their own way with him being described as this “ruthless and cold” underboss who commanded power when in reality he was powerless and everyone knew it because they tried him multiple times throughout the course of the book, especially where his wife was concerned. she just had no backbone.
- there was no real problem in this book and i couldnt sympathise with the male leader. this book would have benefited greatly from some flashbacks
- duran and viktor for the win because they seemed to be the only bitches in this book with some common sense fr
- 1 star is included for the brown puss/nip representation. a win for the brown girls i guess
March 18, 2023
I recently discovered the Saints Series and the Sinners series, which had me falling in love with mafia romances. Then I read this book and it reminded me why I tend to stay away from this trope. I did not enjoy this book at all and only finished it to see if Lucian would end up with any redeeming qualities - he did not. I was hoping he was one of those people who are hard and cold to the outside world, but all warm and fuzzy for his woman. Lucian was cold and then cold some more. The things he did and said to Olivia was just uncalled for in a lot of parts. They did show in internal struggle he was having, and although he apologized to Olivia for some of his behavior, he still didn't give off the vibes of someone who would burn the world for his girl. When he found out his enemy molested his wife while he was busy almost getting a blowjob in the bathroom with another woman, his rage wasn't what it should have been. Instead he paraded her in front of said creep multiple times. I got this book based on a TikTok about the part when Olivia had a nightmare and was outside his office because she needed him. I expected something heartwarming with him stopping everything to comfort his wife. All he does is take her to their room and then tell her she shouldn't let her family get to her like that and that she needs to be stronger. Gee thanks!! Then there was that whole thing about him inspecting her vagina after they had sex to see their fluids all mixed up together. WTAF is that!? So disappointed because it had so much potential.
July 28, 2023
The worst/most confusing thing about this was how he was always talking about how awful his father was and how he abused and r-ped his mother but he still cares so little about consent?? Like if thats such a big deal to him, you would expect that he cared about making sure she wanted it, and about not forcing anyone into sexual situations they dont want... But he only brings up consent ONCE (when he's planning on being really really rough) and then instead of after care he insults and embarrasses her.. And he's super vocal about forcing woman into arrenged marriages and that they should just submit to their husbands without complaint. Which makes me think that his only takeway from his parents relationships is that if the woman screams bloody murder then its not okay... Literally the lowest fucking bar possible.
And he was always talking to her like she was a misbehaving child??? In their day to day life! Its one thing if it's during play time, there it's just part of the "scene" but he legitimately thought it was ok to speak to her like that and she was super fine with it!??
Also the age gaps in here were all so disgusting.
"Sometimes I forgot that he hadn’t changed, he hadn’t become less monstrous now that I was in love with him." Like yes he's a murderer and violent mafia underboss, but why tf is he monstrous TO HER??
Maybe this is some people's cup of tea... But if you want a story about a bad man who is bad to everyone and also to his wife, why would you make killing-his-abusive-father one of his personality traits?? Makes no sense.
And he was always talking to her like she was a misbehaving child??? In their day to day life! Its one thing if it's during play time, there it's just part of the "scene" but he legitimately thought it was ok to speak to her like that and she was super fine with it!??
Also the age gaps in here were all so disgusting.
"Sometimes I forgot that he hadn’t changed, he hadn’t become less monstrous now that I was in love with him." Like yes he's a murderer and violent mafia underboss, but why tf is he monstrous TO HER??
Maybe this is some people's cup of tea... But if you want a story about a bad man who is bad to everyone and also to his wife, why would you make killing-his-abusive-father one of his personality traits?? Makes no sense.
August 19, 2023
I’m hella mad that this book didn’t live up to the hype and I don’t know where to go from there. Anyway, I won’t spoil it.
The plot - so it’s an arranged marriage mafia romance. There are some triggers so CHECK YA FUCKIN TRIGGERS PEOPLE. Of course your standard tropes include forced proximity, age gap romance and… well to be honest that’s kind of it. Not really enemies to lovers or grumpy X sunshine… just 2 fucked up people i guess. I don’t know. The smut was meh really…. Okay so like a 3/5 on the spice scale for frequency but honestly it made me feel gross to read it. It is a HEA in a series of interconnected standalones, but it was mid at best. It felt like the end was rushed and it seemed the author couldn’t wait to get to the HEA when they’d spent all this time building up to it. Like a ruined orgasm, it was anti-climactic.
The MC - it pisses me off that this FMC has my first name. I was expecting to drool and be ON THE FLOOR with the smut and the dirty talk but wow…. Just one FMC who needs therapy and a personality transplant. Going from loving her husband to screaming and crying? Embarrassing at best.
The male counterpart - is it any surprise that I didn’t like Lucien either? I get his role, the typical mafia made man. Look, I’m no stranger to him. But not an ounce of warmth? Also, if I read his eyes being compared to ice once more, I might stab an ice pick through my eye. SHUT UP. WE GET IT. MAN FEEL NOTHING. Ya boring, get over it.
The plot - so it’s an arranged marriage mafia romance. There are some triggers so CHECK YA FUCKIN TRIGGERS PEOPLE. Of course your standard tropes include forced proximity, age gap romance and… well to be honest that’s kind of it. Not really enemies to lovers or grumpy X sunshine… just 2 fucked up people i guess. I don’t know. The smut was meh really…. Okay so like a 3/5 on the spice scale for frequency but honestly it made me feel gross to read it. It is a HEA in a series of interconnected standalones, but it was mid at best. It felt like the end was rushed and it seemed the author couldn’t wait to get to the HEA when they’d spent all this time building up to it. Like a ruined orgasm, it was anti-climactic.
The MC - it pisses me off that this FMC has my first name. I was expecting to drool and be ON THE FLOOR with the smut and the dirty talk but wow…. Just one FMC who needs therapy and a personality transplant. Going from loving her husband to screaming and crying? Embarrassing at best.
The male counterpart - is it any surprise that I didn’t like Lucien either? I get his role, the typical mafia made man. Look, I’m no stranger to him. But not an ounce of warmth? Also, if I read his eyes being compared to ice once more, I might stab an ice pick through my eye. SHUT UP. WE GET IT. MAN FEEL NOTHING. Ya boring, get over it.
July 13, 2023
I went back and forth between four stars and five... but decided to go with five. The only reason I was considering less is because of the many time jumps. I am not a fan of having multiple time jumps where weeks and months have gone by because it takes away from the story to me. Like sooo much happens in weeks and months and it's a bit of a let down, like you've missed so much.
That being said, despite the time jumps, the story does flow really well. I appreciate how the two characters came together and how right from the beginning Lucien is protective of his wife, regardless of the fact that he was convinced they would never be in love.
Personally, I loved the smut. I saw reviews complaining about the amount of smut but I didn't mind. I definitely felt there was enough plot to make up for it. Honestly, it had more plot than most of the mafia books out there...
That being said, I do wish that there was more to Carlo's death. Like the entire book was leading up to it, and then after everything he had done (like assaulting Olivia) and he just seemed to die to quick. I usually expect at least a little torture in mafia books.
I'm not sure why there are so many bad reviews for this books. If you love smutty mafia books with a damaged fmc, and an mmc that is protective and possessive this is a good read.
That being said, despite the time jumps, the story does flow really well. I appreciate how the two characters came together and how right from the beginning Lucien is protective of his wife, regardless of the fact that he was convinced they would never be in love.
Personally, I loved the smut. I saw reviews complaining about the amount of smut but I didn't mind. I definitely felt there was enough plot to make up for it. Honestly, it had more plot than most of the mafia books out there...
That being said, I do wish that there was more to Carlo's death. Like the entire book was leading up to it, and then after everything he had done (like assaulting Olivia) and he just seemed to die to quick. I usually expect at least a little torture in mafia books.
I'm not sure why there are so many bad reviews for this books. If you love smutty mafia books with a damaged fmc, and an mmc that is protective and possessive this is a good read.
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