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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mafia book that wasn’t TOO dark? slay!
D. Scott is a new author to me, but I can already tell I’ll be checking out more of her work. I like her writing style, and let’s be real—I’m always down ten toes for a mafia Arranged Marriage . But when it comes to mafia romance, the mafia has to mafia, okay?
Let’s talk about Trouble, the MMC. He was giving what he needed to give—about business only until that woman had him folding like a lawn chair. I love that kind of chaos. And Storm? Sis understood the assignment. She stepped into her role as the dutiful mafia wife with her eyes (mostly) open. But girl—why would you sign a contract without reading it? And why agree to having no niggas without making sure he agreed to having no bitches? Absolutely not. We going band for band, sir. Don’t piss me off.
That said, I really appreciated how Storm wasn’t just a mafia wife—she had goals. She was about her business and she went to school. That detail impressed me. I just wish the author had used it in a way that pushed the story forward instead of it being a throwaway detail.
Now, here’s where things started to fall apart for me. This book felt like it started in the middle of the story. With a storyline this layered, we needed way more backstory and development. Telling a story like this in just 190+ pages? That’s lazy writing. We need development and a proper character arc. A stream of well-placed, detailed flashbacks would’ve hit hard. But with the way this story was paced, and with so many extra storylines tossed in, guess what happens to the romance?
Yep. It suffers.
I live for a “he falls first and hard” MMC, but baby…after they were apart for months? How did we even get there? They barely spent time together on page, and the time they did spend was off-page. Again—lazy. If you want me to believe in their relationship, you have to show me their journey, not just tell me it happened.
The mafia vibes were solid, but they completely overshadowed the romance, which should’ve been the heart of the story. The mafia should’ve been secondary, and here, it took over. I also expected Trouble to be more gritty and unhinged—he’s supposed to be the boss—but his moves didn’t always give that energy. And when it comes to the secondary storyline, scenes were mentioned but not fleshed out on page. That’s a problem. If you’re going to tell us so much, why not just put those moments on the page?
The book moved at lightning speed and lacked structure. Key elements—development, backstory, and fully realized scenes—were missing. And that’s what’s holding this story back from being great.
That said, D. Scott definitely has talent. Her storytelling is entertaining, and I loved the family dynamics. I can’t wait to read the brothers’ stories. But going forward, I hope the author centers the primary romance and gives it the time and development it deserves—alongside the secondary mafia plot.
Overall, the book has great bones, but the execution needs work. I’ll be looking for more from this author because I believe she has the potential to blow us away.
Let’s talk about Trouble, the MMC. He was giving what he needed to give—about business only until that woman had him folding like a lawn chair. I love that kind of chaos. And Storm? Sis understood the assignment. She stepped into her role as the dutiful mafia wife with her eyes (mostly) open. But girl—why would you sign a contract without reading it? And why agree to having no niggas without making sure he agreed to having no bitches? Absolutely not. We going band for band, sir. Don’t piss me off.
That said, I really appreciated how Storm wasn’t just a mafia wife—she had goals. She was about her business and she went to school. That detail impressed me. I just wish the author had used it in a way that pushed the story forward instead of it being a throwaway detail.
Now, here’s where things started to fall apart for me. This book felt like it started in the middle of the story. With a storyline this layered, we needed way more backstory and development. Telling a story like this in just 190+ pages? That’s lazy writing. We need development and a proper character arc. A stream of well-placed, detailed flashbacks would’ve hit hard. But with the way this story was paced, and with so many extra storylines tossed in, guess what happens to the romance?
Yep. It suffers.
I live for a “he falls first and hard” MMC, but baby…after they were apart for months? How did we even get there? They barely spent time together on page, and the time they did spend was off-page. Again—lazy. If you want me to believe in their relationship, you have to show me their journey, not just tell me it happened.
The mafia vibes were solid, but they completely overshadowed the romance, which should’ve been the heart of the story. The mafia should’ve been secondary, and here, it took over. I also expected Trouble to be more gritty and unhinged—he’s supposed to be the boss—but his moves didn’t always give that energy. And when it comes to the secondary storyline, scenes were mentioned but not fleshed out on page. That’s a problem. If you’re going to tell us so much, why not just put those moments on the page?
The book moved at lightning speed and lacked structure. Key elements—development, backstory, and fully realized scenes—were missing. And that’s what’s holding this story back from being great.
That said, D. Scott definitely has talent. Her storytelling is entertaining, and I loved the family dynamics. I can’t wait to read the brothers’ stories. But going forward, I hope the author centers the primary romance and gives it the time and development it deserves—alongside the secondary mafia plot.
Overall, the book has great bones, but the execution needs work. I’ll be looking for more from this author because I believe she has the potential to blow us away.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
I always love a good Mafia, arranged marriage, grumpy-ish/sunshine story. Trouble came into it saying business only but it didn’t take long for him to accept his attraction to his new wife and want to make it real. I’m still not quite sure how we got there because he literally avoided her for months after the wedding. But nonetheless I was glad we got there. And once we arrived….baby, Trouble said PLAY WITH SOMEBODY ELSE, NOT ME WHEN IT COMES TO MINE! I liked that Storm wasn’t the typical Mafia princess. Though a bit sheltered she still had ambitions and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. I loved the relationship between the Jennings brothers and can’t wait to read more about Jax and Judah. Especially Judah. This was an easy-ish love story, some mild drama, but generally felt low angst/tension.
I was barely 20% in and I knew I was hooked. The Quiet Storm and Forever Trouble were the cutest drink names.
Mr. Talk You Through it chillllleeee yes he was talking her through it on these pages.
Her rapping Jeezy took me out but it helped Jrue see Storm was way more than what meets the eye. I read this book on my flight and chileeeeee I had a great time lol. I love me a good arranged marriage book.
Jrue gave my man my man energy this entire book and is now a favorite book bae.
I loved watching their love and chemistry bloom naturally. I loved watching a man be a real man and not cower. I loved Jrue but I also loved me some Judah. I want a book for Judah and a book for Jaxon lol I couldn’t get enough.
What started as an arranged marriage to end a six-decade mafia war quickly turned into something real. The chemistry between Trouble and Storm? Instant. But with bloodshed between their families, neither of them wanted to admit it.
I adored how Trouble never played about Storm. He respected her, protected her, and made it known that enemy or not, nobody was allowed to come at his wife sideways. Now Storm… whew. My good sis was moving a little reckless 😭. Like why would you even think you could talk to other men while married to a man named Trouble?
Overall, this book delivered! Mafia drama, forbidden tension, and a man who stands on business when it comes to his woman? Highly Reccomend
I adored how Trouble never played about Storm. He respected her, protected her, and made it known that enemy or not, nobody was allowed to come at his wife sideways. Now Storm… whew. My good sis was moving a little reckless 😭. Like why would you even think you could talk to other men while married to a man named Trouble?
Overall, this book delivered! Mafia drama, forbidden tension, and a man who stands on business when it comes to his woman? Highly Reccomend
challenging
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An arranged love.
Love isn't necessarily left out of an arranged love.
Love isn't necessarily left out of an arranged love.