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belle13's review
This is my own fault, I knew exactly how this would go. It could have been so good - she was not part of a mafia family and was much more independent. The start moved way too fast and I also found it really hard that the author didn't describe any of the characters' physical appearances. I was done after the first spicy scene (they literally did not know each other) it was so so r*pey a gross.
stucknbooks14's review
4.0
Trigger Warnings include:
sexual assault
If the blurb didn’t sell me, the prologue sure would have! When Amelie’s betrothed can no longer marry her, Luca swoops in and does what he needs to for his family. Amelie’s very first instinct is to push Luca away, no matter why he’s close. Both figuratively and literally. Amelie isn’t part of the life Luca lives, so he’s extremely sympathetic and possessive of her. To keep her safe, Luca takes Amelie to a small town in Italy. Except she’s not safe there either. But that close proximity causes the tension between them to snap. There’s a kindness to Luca I wasn’t expecting. And it’s obvious Amelie wasn’t either. Even though they were forced into the situation, they really do want to try to make it work. Until the truth comes out, and Luca snaps. But Luca will stop at nothing to not just win her back, but find a place in her heart. Luca wants Amelie to feel safe and free, even if it means he’ll lose her forever. They take the time to properly show each other what they mean to each other. To share the love between them. And ya’ll a love letter?! I definitely wasn’t expecting that!
My Favorite Quotes:
• ‘I see through that mask-and I’m going to rip it off.’
• “I see you, Amelie. All of you.”
• “Dirty little wife.”
• “I need you to erase that. So I remember you.”
• “When I get home tonight, my c!m better still be on your skin. Between your thighs. I own you, Amelie.”
• ‘You changed me, and I’m so thankful for that. Even if it was painful.’
• “I won’t refuse you. Ever.”
• “You’re my person.”
• “You are the women I will cherish for the rest of my life, because I am in love with you.”
• “I quite liked calling you wife. Fiancée is nice, though. Betrothed. Beloved.”
7/10 Arranged Marriage
7/10 Dirty Birdy
6/10 Forced Proximity
8/10 Mafia Romance
6/10 Second Chance
sexual assault
If the blurb didn’t sell me, the prologue sure would have! When Amelie’s betrothed can no longer marry her, Luca swoops in and does what he needs to for his family. Amelie’s very first instinct is to push Luca away, no matter why he’s close. Both figuratively and literally. Amelie isn’t part of the life Luca lives, so he’s extremely sympathetic and possessive of her. To keep her safe, Luca takes Amelie to a small town in Italy. Except she’s not safe there either. But that close proximity causes the tension between them to snap. There’s a kindness to Luca I wasn’t expecting. And it’s obvious Amelie wasn’t either. Even though they were forced into the situation, they really do want to try to make it work. Until the truth comes out, and Luca snaps. But Luca will stop at nothing to not just win her back, but find a place in her heart. Luca wants Amelie to feel safe and free, even if it means he’ll lose her forever. They take the time to properly show each other what they mean to each other. To share the love between them. And ya’ll a love letter?! I definitely wasn’t expecting that!
My Favorite Quotes:
• ‘I see through that mask-and I’m going to rip it off.’
• “I see you, Amelie. All of you.”
• “Dirty little wife.”
• “I need you to erase that. So I remember you.”
• “When I get home tonight, my c!m better still be on your skin. Between your thighs. I own you, Amelie.”
• ‘You changed me, and I’m so thankful for that. Even if it was painful.’
• “I won’t refuse you. Ever.”
• “You’re my person.”
• “You are the women I will cherish for the rest of my life, because I am in love with you.”
• “I quite liked calling you wife. Fiancée is nice, though. Betrothed. Beloved.”
7/10 Arranged Marriage
7/10 Dirty Birdy
6/10 Forced Proximity
8/10 Mafia Romance
6/10 Second Chance
hannas_heas47's review
4.0
Yowsa…. Hawt cover alert! The blurb and genre drew me in and this was a first read by this author.
What did I like? Amelie was an innocent caught up in an agreement made between her father and a mob boss. Set to marry a man she barely knew and after those plans were a wash she was gifted to the bastard son. Amelie and Luca both bound by duty strive to find something they both need. This was a first in a series and a HEA.
Would I recommend or buy? This was real light hearted mafia and even though Luca does have his moments he seems more like a lost soul than cold. Amelie is pretty much sold to the Desantis family so even in her gilded cage she is cattle. Both are great characters, but let’s be honest here …I would rather have Wilder. Even dead he speaks volumes throughout the story. His story was highly influential throughout the book and it made it seem like Luca and Amelie were secondary characters. I would definitely recommend to mafia lovers, it was still fun watching these two come together. I’m off to start the next book… thanks to kindle unlimited!
What did I like? Amelie was an innocent caught up in an agreement made between her father and a mob boss. Set to marry a man she barely knew and after those plans were a wash she was gifted to the bastard son. Amelie and Luca both bound by duty strive to find something they both need. This was a first in a series and a HEA.
Would I recommend or buy? This was real light hearted mafia and even though Luca does have his moments he seems more like a lost soul than cold. Amelie is pretty much sold to the Desantis family so even in her gilded cage she is cattle. Both are great characters, but let’s be honest here …I would rather have Wilder. Even dead he speaks volumes throughout the story. His story was highly influential throughout the book and it made it seem like Luca and Amelie were secondary characters. I would definitely recommend to mafia lovers, it was still fun watching these two come together. I’m off to start the next book… thanks to kindle unlimited!
laineypops1990's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I did find it very choppy but the story line was good. Luca and Amelie where so good together and I love how Amelie found her spark at the end.
sammylouisereads's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
arisuaru's review
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
erikawastaken's review
2.0
This book had so much promise but fell short on the execution.
When we are first introduced to Amelie in the Fallen Royals books, she is the bitchy cheerleader stereotype who is trying to steal Caleb away, then in Lux’s book, we backtrack, and she is now the perfect “go along to get along” daughter, who barely speaks. Whelp, now she’s a headstrong spitfire who is fighting her arranged marriage.
The first half (three quarters?) of this book is a hot mess and filled with waaaaay too many things. By the time we get to the big reveal and Luca’s subsequent crappy, “I’m hurt, so I’m going to be an a-hole” behavior, I just didn’t care about the characters.
Had the scenes between the failed wedding and the marriage certificate arriving actually been Amelie accepting her fate and acting like her character in Wild Fury, with Luca & Amelie falling in love and getting to know each other, the second half of this book would have been exciting and tension-filled.
There really was just no build in this novel. We are rushed from scene to scene, interaction to interaction, and just have to take characters at their word, rather than seeing anything they are saying in action.
When we are first introduced to Amelie in the Fallen Royals books, she is the bitchy cheerleader stereotype who is trying to steal Caleb away, then in Lux’s book, we backtrack, and she is now the perfect “go along to get along” daughter, who barely speaks. Whelp, now she’s a headstrong spitfire who is fighting her arranged marriage.
The first half (three quarters?) of this book is a hot mess and filled with waaaaay too many things. By the time we get to the big reveal and Luca’s subsequent crappy, “I’m hurt, so I’m going to be an a-hole” behavior, I just didn’t care about the characters.
Had the scenes between the failed wedding and the marriage certificate arriving actually been Amelie accepting her fate and acting like her character in Wild Fury, with Luca & Amelie falling in love and getting to know each other, the second half of this book would have been exciting and tension-filled.
There really was just no build in this novel. We are rushed from scene to scene, interaction to interaction, and just have to take characters at their word, rather than seeing anything they are saying in action.