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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
I was impatiently waiting for this book for a few months and it was definitely worth the wait! This is the first book of the Mafia Ward NY series and it is an wild, emotional roller coaster that you do not want to miss. I love Dante and Bridget backstory and they have such a loving relationship. I also love how Dante would do anything for her. Maggie Cole writes intense and addicting books and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series.
I can't think of a better way to start off this series!! Check your triggers. I love how the story finally answers so many questions left from the O'Malley's storyline. Everyone gets what they deserve and Brig gets her family back :) BRAVO!! Can not wait for the next one.
I didn’t realize this was a spin of from a previous series so some parts I felt a little confused and could tell it was stuff from previous books. But other than that I enjoyed the book. I really loved Dante, I didn’t connect to much with Bridget but again still enjoyed it. I like how it was over 24 years and they were in their 40s, I will definitely be reading Gianni & Cara story.
•Trope - Second Chance / Friends to Lovers / check TWs
•Spice - 3/5
•Trope - Second Chance / Friends to Lovers / check TWs
•Spice - 3/5
"They aren't you. I keep looking for someone to shock me and replace you, but they never do. I'm not a stupid teenager anymore. I'm not losing you again. And this time, I'm going to be everything you need. So all I need to hear from you right now is that you'll give me a chance."
I’m sorry. I love toxic males in books (only in books) actually you know what? I’m not sorry. I fell for Dante throughout the book even though he was a total asshat at times. Now you might be asking “Bai, if he’s toxic, why do you love him?”
HE PUT APPLE PIE ON THE MENU AT HIS ITALIAN RESTAURANT BECAUSE HE KNEW SHE LIKES IT. He also called her “dolcezza” and I love pet names in a different language.
Both Dante and Bridget made their mistakes, but I loved how flawed they were. I enjoyed seeing them grow from when they were teens to adulthood. And even in their adulthood they were still screwing up and learning from their mistakes. She was a woman holding onto her fears, and he was a man holding onto his love.
It was definitely an enjoyable read with nice spice! I can’t wait to read the next book!
HE PUT APPLE PIE ON THE MENU AT HIS ITALIAN RESTAURANT BECAUSE HE KNEW SHE LIKES IT. He also called her “dolcezza” and I love pet names in a different language.
Both Dante and Bridget made their mistakes, but I loved how flawed they were. I enjoyed seeing them grow from when they were teens to adulthood. And even in their adulthood they were still screwing up and learning from their mistakes. She was a woman holding onto her fears, and he was a man holding onto his love.
It was definitely an enjoyable read with nice spice! I can’t wait to read the next book!
Toxic is the first book in the newest series by Maggie Cole but it is connected to her "Mafia Wars" series, so if you enjoyed that book then, I think that you will really enjoy this one here. I was so in for this one here, I really don't know why I waited....oh yes I do, I knew it would be ANGSTY. We have seen this relationship teased over the last few books of the "Mafia Wars" series and I was curious to see where this author would take it. I have to say the moment that I started this one I couldn't put it down at all. Its definitely an easy book to stay up late night reading with.
The gist of the story is that, our hero and heroine: Dante and Bridget have been hooked for each other since they were teenagers. But Dante drove Bridget away and burned his bridge with her, and when he was ready, she had met her husband Sean O'Malley. Now its been almost two decades later, Bridget is a widow after seeing her husbands murder and being raped by his tormentors, and her children's lives were threatened and she left Chicago and their family. But now her children are teenagers, and hate her because she is keeping secrets to keep them safe. Dante is back in her life, forcing her to live life again but she knows her enemies are out there if she breathes a word to anyone of the truth, but will her love for Dante be enough or will the secrets be their undoing?
There was something so magnetic about this romance and I just never wanted their story to end. My heart broke for Bridget. Now we see glimpses of this in the later books of the Mafia Wars, but I was eager to see her find a HEA, she really deserves it. You can see how torn she is in the secrets, and this isn't something she can easily reveal because the families are finding traitors everywhere and she doesn't know who she can actually trust. Dante is such a solid rock for Bridget, she is struggling to live life and now she doesn't know if she let go of the past and especially Sean to embrace what she could have with Dante.
The manner in which the author wrote this story was super brilliant and I an not sure why I waited so long on this one here. I absolutely loved it and I am eager to pick up the second book. I know that one is going to be a doozy though haha However, Toxic was beyond beautiful and really captured the essence of what makes mafia so great and the layers of emotion that was delivered was so beautiful. If you are a fan of mafia romance, and have yet to read this author...you need to get your booty in gear!
The gist of the story is that, our hero and heroine: Dante and Bridget have been hooked for each other since they were teenagers. But Dante drove Bridget away and burned his bridge with her, and when he was ready, she had met her husband Sean O'Malley. Now its been almost two decades later, Bridget is a widow after seeing her husbands murder and being raped by his tormentors, and her children's lives were threatened and she left Chicago and their family. But now her children are teenagers, and hate her because she is keeping secrets to keep them safe. Dante is back in her life, forcing her to live life again but she knows her enemies are out there if she breathes a word to anyone of the truth, but will her love for Dante be enough or will the secrets be their undoing?
There was something so magnetic about this romance and I just never wanted their story to end. My heart broke for Bridget. Now we see glimpses of this in the later books of the Mafia Wars, but I was eager to see her find a HEA, she really deserves it. You can see how torn she is in the secrets, and this isn't something she can easily reveal because the families are finding traitors everywhere and she doesn't know who she can actually trust. Dante is such a solid rock for Bridget, she is struggling to live life and now she doesn't know if she let go of the past and especially Sean to embrace what she could have with Dante.
The manner in which the author wrote this story was super brilliant and I an not sure why I waited so long on this one here. I absolutely loved it and I am eager to pick up the second book. I know that one is going to be a doozy though haha However, Toxic was beyond beautiful and really captured the essence of what makes mafia so great and the layers of emotion that was delivered was so beautiful. If you are a fan of mafia romance, and have yet to read this author...you need to get your booty in gear!
Toxic (Mafia Wars New York) is a continuance with Maggie Cole's Mafia Wars series switching to the New York Italian Crime Family Marino.
This is by far one of the best Mafia Series books I have read and author Maggie Cole knows how to bring life to the underworld. Everyone is going to want a man like Dante in their life and wish to forgive the idiots that we call those teenage boys when they turn into amazing men.
Dante is charming, arrogant when needed, cocky and dominate.
Bridget is beautiful, lost, scared, stubborn and strong
Their history together has evolved and changed over 2 decades
If I could I would give this 10 stars.
This book has characters from the other Mafia Wars series books and it would help to read the other series in the Mafia Wars to understand all the interconnections between the families. Its not required to read them to understand what happens since this starts new spin off starting in New York.
If you want to read the Mafia Wars from the beginning start with the Ivanov's then go to the O'Malley's and then Marino Families. (In order below)
(Ivanov's Books)
Wrapped in Perfection (Last Book in Its Complicated Series)
Ruthless Stanger Maria Wars
Broken Fighter
Cruel Enforcer
Vicious Protector
Savage Tracker
(O'Malley Family Books)
Unchosen Ruler
Perfect Sinner
Brutal Defender
Deviant Hacker
Ruthless Hunter
(Marino Family Books)
Toxic
This is by far one of the best Mafia Series books I have read and author Maggie Cole knows how to bring life to the underworld. Everyone is going to want a man like Dante in their life and wish to forgive the idiots that we call those teenage boys when they turn into amazing men.
Dante is charming, arrogant when needed, cocky and dominate.
Bridget is beautiful, lost, scared, stubborn and strong
Their history together has evolved and changed over 2 decades
If I could I would give this 10 stars.
This book has characters from the other Mafia Wars series books and it would help to read the other series in the Mafia Wars to understand all the interconnections between the families. Its not required to read them to understand what happens since this starts new spin off starting in New York.
If you want to read the Mafia Wars from the beginning start with the Ivanov's then go to the O'Malley's and then Marino Families. (In order below)
(Ivanov's Books)
Wrapped in Perfection (Last Book in Its Complicated Series)
Ruthless Stanger Maria Wars
Broken Fighter
Cruel Enforcer
Vicious Protector
Savage Tracker
(O'Malley Family Books)
Unchosen Ruler
Perfect Sinner
Brutal Defender
Deviant Hacker
Ruthless Hunter
(Marino Family Books)
Toxic
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:
Complicated
I finally caved and read this after seeing a million ads for it. I was wary because while the snippets sounded good I’m so used to being disappointed when I read the book.
This had a lot of things I liked and a lot I didn’t like.
I didn’t like how Dante behaved with Bridget when they were kids. I did like that she wasn’t a doormat about it though. She gave him multiple chances and when she was done…. She. Was. Done. I appreciated that backbone.
I didn’t like that she married Sean though. Dante went through lots of women. Not serious about any of them because he pined for h. It was nice to see H pining away for once instead of the usual other way. However, I just prefer more straightforward romances. I didn’t want her to marry anyone else and 20 years pass before she and Dante get together.
I didn’t like that she so stupidly and stubbornly held that awful secret for so long and that she insisted on being such a fucking martyr.
I did like that Dante never stopped pining for her however - as realistic as it may be - it didn’t stop him from banging tons of other women.
By the time her secret is revealed most of action killing the bad guys has already passed. I know this series must be connected to her other mafia series but I haven’t read all those so I’m not sure if it’s an overlap but it feels like it must be.
Ultimately the thing that irked me the most is I wanted Dante to be more forceful about their relationship. I’m all for respecting boundaries IN REAL LIFE … but this is a book. Give me the possessive alpha H who will stop at NOTHING to have and keep his h.
This had a lot of things I liked and a lot I didn’t like.
I didn’t like how Dante behaved with Bridget when they were kids. I did like that she wasn’t a doormat about it though. She gave him multiple chances and when she was done…. She. Was. Done. I appreciated that backbone.
I didn’t like that she married Sean though. Dante went through lots of women. Not serious about any of them because he pined for h. It was nice to see H pining away for once instead of the usual other way. However, I just prefer more straightforward romances. I didn’t want her to marry anyone else and 20 years pass before she and Dante get together.
I didn’t like that she so stupidly and stubbornly held that awful secret for so long and that she insisted on being such a fucking martyr.
I did like that Dante never stopped pining for her however - as realistic as it may be - it didn’t stop him from banging tons of other women.
By the time her secret is revealed most of action killing the bad guys has already passed. I know this series must be connected to her other mafia series but I haven’t read all those so I’m not sure if it’s an overlap but it feels like it must be.
Ultimately the thing that irked me the most is I wanted Dante to be more forceful about their relationship. I’m all for respecting boundaries IN REAL LIFE … but this is a book. Give me the possessive alpha H who will stop at NOTHING to have and keep his h.