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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Where to start? Toxic is everything I hoped it would be and more. It’s a heartbreakingly beautiful story that’s got all the angst, steaminess, and drama you could want and expect from Cole. This book is another complex masterpiece by this author, and you are not going to want to miss it.
The story starts off when Dante and Bridget are still in high school. They’ve sort of got a thing happening between them, but for rather silly and immature reasons nothing happens. If you’ve read the original Mafia Wars series, then you’ll be a bit familiar with their backstory, but in Toxic we get everything. It turns out that while Dante was so insistent upon ruining anything before it even really had a chance to begin with Bridget, doing so and then Bridget finding someone else in Chicago doesn’t sit well with him either. However, she’s already fallen head-over-heels in love with Sean by that point, and eventually they marry and start a family. Fast forward to the present, and Bridget’s a widow having lost Sean five years before in the most brutal way possible. One fateful night, Bridget goes to an underground club with her friend Cara where things happen, and Dante basically saves her from a guy getting way too physical with Bridget. From that night forward, their relationship changes, and they go from estranged friends to something much more. During the course of the book, secrets come to light, and we get answers to all those unanswered questions from the previous series where Bridget was concerned.
Oh this story! I’m not sure where to even begin. It’s all so complex, and there’s a lot to unpack both with Bridget’s and Dante’s pasts individually and separately. There’s always been that connection between them, though. They’ve been in each other’s lives since forever, and their history is filled with a lot of heartache but friendship, too. For me, this book is about fate having its own ideas for two individuals, and the drama that surrounds them along their journey together is nothing short of addictive and compelling.
There’s a great pain that courses through this book, but it’s there in the Mafia Wars series, too. It all stems from Sean’s death and what Bridget has had to endure, and that fierce ache for what’s happened to Sean dictates so much of these characters’ actions, but no one more so than Bridget who’s been left broken and terrified after the vicious way her husband left her widowed. How can someone come back from such a thing intact? That’s the crux of the matter for Bridget and her palpable pain is ever present. That pain leads to fear, which informs every bit of Bridget’s motivations since what happened with Sean. After everything, it’s a sort of miracle that she’s been able to persevere. But now things are changing, and she’s going to have to change along with it all.
Then there’s Dante, and he’s pined for Bridget all these years. He’s a surprisingly understanding and sweet character at least where Bridget is concerned, and he’s such a swoonworthy character. At the start of the story, he comes off as arrogant and uncaring, but as the book develops so does he. Something I absolutely adore about Cole’s books is that she’s able to create these characters where she expertly weaves in these good and bad things about them, but then as a reader you fall in love with all the parts of them. I have literally loved everyone of her main characters, and with Toxic it’s no different, especially where Dante’s concerned. I couldn’t get enough of him.
This is an absolute must read and a phenomenal start to this series. I haven’t had a book hangover this bad since Cole’s last book, and I cannot wait for Gianni and Cara’s story next.
The story starts off when Dante and Bridget are still in high school. They’ve sort of got a thing happening between them, but for rather silly and immature reasons nothing happens. If you’ve read the original Mafia Wars series, then you’ll be a bit familiar with their backstory, but in Toxic we get everything. It turns out that while Dante was so insistent upon ruining anything before it even really had a chance to begin with Bridget, doing so and then Bridget finding someone else in Chicago doesn’t sit well with him either. However, she’s already fallen head-over-heels in love with Sean by that point, and eventually they marry and start a family. Fast forward to the present, and Bridget’s a widow having lost Sean five years before in the most brutal way possible. One fateful night, Bridget goes to an underground club with her friend Cara where things happen, and Dante basically saves her from a guy getting way too physical with Bridget. From that night forward, their relationship changes, and they go from estranged friends to something much more. During the course of the book, secrets come to light, and we get answers to all those unanswered questions from the previous series where Bridget was concerned.
Oh this story! I’m not sure where to even begin. It’s all so complex, and there’s a lot to unpack both with Bridget’s and Dante’s pasts individually and separately. There’s always been that connection between them, though. They’ve been in each other’s lives since forever, and their history is filled with a lot of heartache but friendship, too. For me, this book is about fate having its own ideas for two individuals, and the drama that surrounds them along their journey together is nothing short of addictive and compelling.
There’s a great pain that courses through this book, but it’s there in the Mafia Wars series, too. It all stems from Sean’s death and what Bridget has had to endure, and that fierce ache for what’s happened to Sean dictates so much of these characters’ actions, but no one more so than Bridget who’s been left broken and terrified after the vicious way her husband left her widowed. How can someone come back from such a thing intact? That’s the crux of the matter for Bridget and her palpable pain is ever present. That pain leads to fear, which informs every bit of Bridget’s motivations since what happened with Sean. After everything, it’s a sort of miracle that she’s been able to persevere. But now things are changing, and she’s going to have to change along with it all.
Then there’s Dante, and he’s pined for Bridget all these years. He’s a surprisingly understanding and sweet character at least where Bridget is concerned, and he’s such a swoonworthy character. At the start of the story, he comes off as arrogant and uncaring, but as the book develops so does he. Something I absolutely adore about Cole’s books is that she’s able to create these characters where she expertly weaves in these good and bad things about them, but then as a reader you fall in love with all the parts of them. I have literally loved everyone of her main characters, and with Toxic it’s no different, especially where Dante’s concerned. I couldn’t get enough of him.
This is an absolute must read and a phenomenal start to this series. I haven’t had a book hangover this bad since Cole’s last book, and I cannot wait for Gianni and Cara’s story next.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Murder
That’s your I got to feed the mafia wars series by Maggie Cole. At the very end of the series I cannot wait for this been off on New York. I’ll absolutely love that we get to go back and revisit some characters from the original series.
Maggie has a way of writing mafia books unlike authors that I have come across. She grips you from beginning of the story right to the end but she also has a way of getting you to invest into these characters. Where you will want to know what’s gonna happen 510 years down the road or even what’s going to happen in the next book in the series are they gonna pop up and pay visit are we going to see it the same event from a different perspective in another book.
I am a sucker for a second chance romances. And that is exactly what toxic was the second chance romance between Dante and Bridget. I will say this the story spans a really long timeline in the amount of pages the book has. So the stories spans about 22 years. So you do get to see a lot of characters development which I enjoyed. Now Dante and Bridget had insane chemistry and when we finally see that come together it is burning off the pages.
Toxic is the first book in the mafia wars New York series. You can read it without having read the original mafia war series and still enjoy it. However if you do want a better understanding of some of the characters mentioned in the story I do suggest reading the original mafia wars.
Maggie has a way of writing mafia books unlike authors that I have come across. She grips you from beginning of the story right to the end but she also has a way of getting you to invest into these characters. Where you will want to know what’s gonna happen 510 years down the road or even what’s going to happen in the next book in the series are they gonna pop up and pay visit are we going to see it the same event from a different perspective in another book.
I am a sucker for a second chance romances. And that is exactly what toxic was the second chance romance between Dante and Bridget. I will say this the story spans a really long timeline in the amount of pages the book has. So the stories spans about 22 years. So you do get to see a lot of characters development which I enjoyed. Now Dante and Bridget had insane chemistry and when we finally see that come together it is burning off the pages.
Toxic is the first book in the mafia wars New York series. You can read it without having read the original mafia war series and still enjoy it. However if you do want a better understanding of some of the characters mentioned in the story I do suggest reading the original mafia wars.
This is the start of the NYC Mafia Wars series,and it did not disappoint! The first is about old friends Dante and Bridget,there's always been a connection between the two,the fire in both their eyes,the want,the need but Dante ruined a good thing when he saw it,and he lost. Being who they are,the family ethics prevent them from even contemplating having any semblance of a relationship but the pull is too much. Bridget is the epitome of a mama bear,vowing to do everything to protect her family,and keep them safe from all the bad in their dark world.
This series has started out as it means to go on,full of action,full of dark,full of everything that there is to offer and I loved every minute! I have a feeling everyone will fall in love with the Marino's and I can't wait to see what comes next!
This series has started out as it means to go on,full of action,full of dark,full of everything that there is to offer and I loved every minute! I have a feeling everyone will fall in love with the Marino's and I can't wait to see what comes next!
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault
Minor: Gun violence
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Mafia Wars: Toxic
Dante and Bridget face so many issues in their story. I love the way Maggie weaves a tale and interconnects her books. They can all be read as standalones but the storyline throughout the first series and Toxic was amazing. I’m waiting on pins and needles for the next book because I can’t wait to see which direction we go from here. Maggie Cole has a gift when it comes to character and plot development. I highly recommend her books to anyone who likes mafia storylines, strong FMC and alpha heroes.
Dante and Bridget face so many issues in their story. I love the way Maggie weaves a tale and interconnects her books. They can all be read as standalones but the storyline throughout the first series and Toxic was amazing. I’m waiting on pins and needles for the next book because I can’t wait to see which direction we go from here. Maggie Cole has a gift when it comes to character and plot development. I highly recommend her books to anyone who likes mafia storylines, strong FMC and alpha heroes.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes