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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
5 Ruthless Stars!Who ran the world? The Five Families. The Chicago mafia. Crime syndicate. Whatever you wanted to call it. We were it. It… owned us.
First of all, let me tell you—I ugly cried almost throughout this book.
I BR this with the awesome Rachel (LoverofTBR), and we had an exceptional time, getting our souls shattered. We were speculating about two certain characters throughout this book, and those two stole our hearts. This book brought a lot of explosions, and we were crying together, laughing together—we had a fucking blast!They wouldn’t approve. It was one of their many rules. And only they knew the real reason they didn’t want any of us together.
If you've read Royal Bully, you know how Asher was assigned to break the love between Junior and Serena. He had to make them hate each other to save both their lives because in the Family when rules are broken, the penalty is death.
Now, Serena Abandonato, daughter of Nixon and Trace, the new Queen of Elite University, heir to the Abandonato family and Junior Nicolasi, the only son to Phoenix and Bee, King of Elite University, heir to the Nicolasi family, hates each other. The two heirs of the Family, once so in love, now only spit hate at each other. But hatred is just as strong of an emotion that love is. And what love couldn't do for them, hate will.“One day… I’m going to kill you.” He said it like a promise.
And I answered in truth. “You can’t kill what’s already dead.”
For a brief moment, I felt his fingertips graze mine.
Junior was such a robust character. He was the pure cold and violent mafia man, but at the same time, he showed genuine emotions and loyalty to the ones he loved. Serena was just the same; she took no shit from anyone, gave as good as she got, loyal to the core; she was the real Queen. But if we look at them together, their hate was just as strong as their love. They were indestructible.“I’ll hate you for as long as we both shall live,” I uttered the mantra we’d been repeating to each other for years.
“Hate you,” she repeated in a soft voice. “For as long as we both shall live.”
And so, the hurt continued.
While this book is filled with angst and will break your heart, don't underestimate RVD's writing power because the strength of this family is magnificent in every way. You will cry with them but also laugh with them during their family dinners.Breaker just rolled down the window and grinned. “I’m the impressionable young one, like the Skywalker to your Kenobi.”
“For the last time, it’s Obi-Wan Kenobi!” Junior shouted back at him.
Breaker paused and then grinned. “These things, I forget, Master Yoda.”
This book had me feeling all the emotions! I thought I was prepared to go into this book, but then all the hate hit me like a ton of bricks. Every chapter had me feeling something different. I was, crying, laughing, screaming in anger, blushing, stressing...as you can see, I felt everything! But that is the magic of books, isn't it? Some authors know how to write a real love story, how to tug at the strings of your heart, and make you bleed. Break your soul and then mend it by showing us how strong love is. That's RVD for you!It was for the best, her hate. Because if I had her love—I wouldn’t be able to become the monster my dad needed me to be—the monster she needed me to be—to keep her safe.
If you're looking for a book, full of love and hate...full of angst, this is the book you want to pick up. You won't only fall in love with the main characters; the side characters will also steal your heart. Better yet, read the EE series and fall in love with the best men and women of this Family.While we were still connected, he looked down at me, his aqua eyes flashing as he whispered, “You will always be worth it, Serena. Always.”
A fair warning, though; Brace yourself!Blood in. No out.
This was 2.5 for me. I like the writing. It really gets the feels. The base of this book to me is about love, and what it does to a person when you don't have that love, or you've experienced and lost it in a certain way. With these two characters, they can't be together, but they have snuck around before. It's like having the ice cream and then being told you can never have it or you die from allergies or something. But the ice cream is always there, baiting and wanting you just as much as you want it.
Because of this, it made me care for the characters. Especially Serena. I'm just in tune with her. I like her psycho ways, I get her. I understand what she does and why she does it and I like that she's got a vulnerable side as well.
But the rest of the book is just, meh for me. The Mafia isn't like this, and it was so unrealistic to me. But that really wasn't something that was too bad to me because this is the author's world. I'm just visiting and that's fine. That didn't play on my rating or whether I completely enjoyed it. I pushed through it. Italians are, somewhat like this. We don't give one another the middle finger whenever we want, but she has the temperament down pat. It was just, weird to me. Like I just didn't like their world. And I kept expecting something big to happen within the world and everything and it just, never happened and it left me highly disappointed. That's why the rating is lower. This was supposed to build up to something, but it just didn't. And the way they torture and stuff, and so often?? I just didn't get that and I didn't like that. Another star knocked off.
Otherwise, I love the cover, I like the way that the author writes. And the way that she describes love and the way the characters are motivated through things because of this I did like as well. It definitely had good potential, and I don't regret getting the book honestly. But it's not a series I'd continue. But I will follow the author.
Because of this, it made me care for the characters. Especially Serena. I'm just in tune with her. I like her psycho ways, I get her. I understand what she does and why she does it and I like that she's got a vulnerable side as well.
But the rest of the book is just, meh for me. The Mafia isn't like this, and it was so unrealistic to me. But that really wasn't something that was too bad to me because this is the author's world. I'm just visiting and that's fine. That didn't play on my rating or whether I completely enjoyed it. I pushed through it. Italians are, somewhat like this. We don't give one another the middle finger whenever we want, but she has the temperament down pat. It was just, weird to me. Like I just didn't like their world. And I kept expecting something big to happen within the world and everything and it just, never happened and it left me highly disappointed. That's why the rating is lower. This was supposed to build up to something, but it just didn't. And the way they torture and stuff, and so often?? I just didn't get that and I didn't like that. Another star knocked off.
Otherwise, I love the cover, I like the way that the author writes. And the way that she describes love and the way the characters are motivated through things because of this I did like as well. It definitely had good potential, and I don't regret getting the book honestly. But it's not a series I'd continue. But I will follow the author.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I adore the Eagle Elite series, but for some reason, this book kinda fell flat. It was good, don't get me wrong, but when it got to the resolution, it was like *sad trombone* time.
I prefer a little more complication when it comes to the EE series, so I'm probably just spoiled.
I still give it a 3+ though, so it could've been WAY worse. ;-)
I prefer a little more complication when it comes to the EE series, so I'm probably just spoiled.
I still give it a 3+ though, so it could've been WAY worse. ;-)
I can't even describe how it felt to get back into RVD's mafia romance world! This story was intense and it has me both excited and nervous for what's to come.
Method: audiobook
Rating: 4/5 stars
H rating: 4/5 - Junior. Oh my lanta..I loved your love for her..when your heart broke, mine did too.
h rating: 4/5 - Serena. Girlfriend you are a damn badass and I loved your love too..your heartache too.
Drama: 5/5 - From the mafia rules to the enemies to Claire to heartbreak.
Thoughts: I was NOT sure that I would like this book and at first I actually thought this was about Asher and Claire, but I was HAPPILY surprised that it was about Junior and Serena. I loved that surprise. I did feel a bit lost with this whole world, but I was also busy while listening to this audiobook, so I may have missed a few parts.
I recieved an ARC of this from Valentine PR on behalf of the author. My opinion is my own and has not been influenced.
This kept me up to 5am. I loved every minute. I laughed, I cried. I still wanna be Tex Campisi.
But Junior and Serena put me through the ringer. I can't believe Rachel Van Dyken. She's not afraid to go there. In any aspect. She's the queen of Mafia romance. I love this world. I've been in it for years and would happily spend just as many still here.
This is a standalone series that's connected to RVD's Eagle Elite series. You don't have to read that, although I cannot recommend it enough.
This childhood friend to enemies to lovers story is full of passion and emotion. I was sucked in and couldn't sleep until the last word. Even then, I'm already looking for time to reread this.
Blood in. No out.
I don't even want it. What I do want is Breakers story. Right now.
This kept me up to 5am. I loved every minute. I laughed, I cried. I still wanna be Tex Campisi.
But Junior and Serena put me through the ringer. I can't believe Rachel Van Dyken. She's not afraid to go there. In any aspect. She's the queen of Mafia romance. I love this world. I've been in it for years and would happily spend just as many still here.
This is a standalone series that's connected to RVD's Eagle Elite series. You don't have to read that, although I cannot recommend it enough.
This childhood friend to enemies to lovers story is full of passion and emotion. I was sucked in and couldn't sleep until the last word. Even then, I'm already looking for time to reread this.
Blood in. No out.
I don't even want it. What I do want is Breakers story. Right now.
“He’s wrong, you know,” Junior said in between kisses. “You’re mine, and you will always be mine.”
“I’m here because that’s what friends do and no matter what happens between us, you have always been and always will be, my best friend.”
“My soul mate.
My everything.
The other half of my dark, twisted heart.”
“Because I do,” I told her softly. “Because I fucking worship the ground you walk on. Would sacrifice my body just to honor yours.”
I love a good mafia book!
My favorite thing is probably the fact that Serena is such a badass in this and she didn’t take shit from anyone. Her and juniors love was the cutest most heartbreaking thing ever, you could feel their longing and emotions through the book. This series is so good you won’t be disappointed!
“I’m here because that’s what friends do and no matter what happens between us, you have always been and always will be, my best friend.”
“My soul mate.
My everything.
The other half of my dark, twisted heart.”
“Because I do,” I told her softly. “Because I fucking worship the ground you walk on. Would sacrifice my body just to honor yours.”
I love a good mafia book!
My favorite thing is probably the fact that Serena is such a badass in this and she didn’t take shit from anyone. Her and juniors love was the cutest most heartbreaking thing ever, you could feel their longing and emotions through the book. This series is so good you won’t be disappointed!
This is the first full length book of the Mafia Royals series, a spin off of the Eagle Elite books. Now you do not have to read the Eagle Elite books in order to read this series since it focuses on the kids and things are quickly explained about the past, however I loved that series so I would suggest you read it if you have the time as that series is 16 books and novellas and they are amazing! Anyways we meet Serena and Junior in Royal Bully, which is free on all platforms and is Asher and Claire's book, but is not necessary in order to understand the tumultuous relationship of Serena and Junior.
Serena and Junior have grown up together as their families and their friends families all run the Italian and Russian mafia. Their parents have many rules, but one of the biggest rules for the children is they can not be together romantically. The one thing as strong as love is hate and there is a thin line between the two that Serena and Junior keep crossing. The two used to be happy and in love, although they had to keep it hidden. After a a specific event happens the two become enemies and just want to kill the other and make the other suffer. After all it's hard to stand someone who has broken your heart. The only problem is they have to continuously work together to rule Eagle Elite University with their other close friends and are supposed to take after their dads in leading the families of the Mafia. As much as the two hate each other they can't stop themselves from loving each other and wanting to be together. Serena and Junior along with the other mafia children have to decide what is the right course of action for their generation. Will they continue on leading the families as their parents have or will they try to fix the cracks that have started showing as their parents ruled? Serena and Junior reminded me of Tex and Mo's story (Elicit) of the friends to enemies to lovers and I really enjoyed their story too.
You do end up meeting more of the other mafia children and I am looking forward to reading their stories. This is the first book of the new series so part of this book is setting up the stories for the other books of this series. There are some explicit sex scenes that are just super steamy hot and being a mafia book their is going to be violence. I think Rachel really showed how sexy she can write a book while still keeping the story line and characters front and center.
This book is part of the mafia which means it is a dark book, but it has humor and love entwined through the darkness which shows the light that family and friends that become family can sometimes bring. I enjoyed the nods to the Eagle Elite series and the fact we get to see those characters as parents and all the family dinners that haven't changed, but instead added more to the table. I loved Serena explaining the two twirls because that was just one of my favorite quotes of this book. I loved just how normal they try to be even though they are in the mafia. I would definitely recommend this book!
Serena and Junior have grown up together as their families and their friends families all run the Italian and Russian mafia. Their parents have many rules, but one of the biggest rules for the children is they can not be together romantically. The one thing as strong as love is hate and there is a thin line between the two that Serena and Junior keep crossing. The two used to be happy and in love, although they had to keep it hidden. After a a specific event happens the two become enemies and just want to kill the other and make the other suffer. After all it's hard to stand someone who has broken your heart. The only problem is they have to continuously work together to rule Eagle Elite University with their other close friends and are supposed to take after their dads in leading the families of the Mafia. As much as the two hate each other they can't stop themselves from loving each other and wanting to be together. Serena and Junior along with the other mafia children have to decide what is the right course of action for their generation. Will they continue on leading the families as their parents have or will they try to fix the cracks that have started showing as their parents ruled? Serena and Junior reminded me of Tex and Mo's story (Elicit) of the friends to enemies to lovers and I really enjoyed their story too.
You do end up meeting more of the other mafia children and I am looking forward to reading their stories. This is the first book of the new series so part of this book is setting up the stories for the other books of this series. There are some explicit sex scenes that are just super steamy hot and being a mafia book their is going to be violence. I think Rachel really showed how sexy she can write a book while still keeping the story line and characters front and center.
This book is part of the mafia which means it is a dark book, but it has humor and love entwined through the darkness which shows the light that family and friends that become family can sometimes bring. I enjoyed the nods to the Eagle Elite series and the fact we get to see those characters as parents and all the family dinners that haven't changed, but instead added more to the table. I loved Serena explaining the two twirls because that was just one of my favorite quotes of this book. I loved just how normal they try to be even though they are in the mafia. I would definitely recommend this book!