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theromanceescapebookclub's review against another edition
5.0
This book is very good. I have read this author before. If you are looking for mafia romances, she is one of my go to authors But I strongly encourage you to check your trigger warnings before reading this book.
gardenfairyreads's review against another edition
2.0
why does it seem like dante literally doesn't even love valentina
denissereads's review against another edition
5.0
This book made me go crazy, I finished it in record time because I enjoyed it so much! I loved the way the main characters were with each other, and the fact that they were a team and helped each other when in need made me love them more. I’m not going to spoiler the story, but I’ll say that even though they had their problems in communication somehow, from my point of view, they were respectful of the other no matter what. Valentina was a stubborn woman and Dante as cold as you can get. But still you could see how they just work as a couple.
Overall, this story had my undivided attention and I loved it, so obviously I recommend it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars because finally the woman had courage and had her own believes that she fought for it.
sofia_santana's review against another edition
dark
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? No
3.0
taries's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
uehfiwo's review against another edition
4.0
It was pretty good but the story felt out of place. Valentina and Dante felt like such minor characters from the first book. I wasn’t that invested in their relationship but was looking for the connection to the characters from the main family.
cecilielaugesen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
My main problem with this was Valentina… She was annoying, frustrating, insensitive and delusional.
1. Married a guy she KNEW was gay, because she thought SHE could turn him not gay anymore.
2. Is furious with Dante and keeps saying there is something wrong with him because he can’t just get over his dead wife whom he loved deeply. Again because now he has her, so he really shouldn’t keep dwelling on the dead love of his.
1. Married a guy she KNEW was gay, because she thought SHE could turn him not gay anymore.
2. Is furious with Dante and keeps saying there is something wrong with him because he can’t just get over his dead wife whom he loved deeply. Again because now he has her, so he really shouldn’t keep dwelling on the dead love of his.
3. ALL she thinks about and talks about for the better part of the book is sex. Especially when talking to her best friend who is actively being raped and beaten, Valentine is constantly whining that Dante won’t touch her.
4. She’s oblivious to the (mafia) world around her. But apparently she is so much better and smarter than everyone else, so it doesn’t matter. And while she borderline looks down on all the other women being abused(again because she thinks she’s too strong to let a man abuse her) she caves to Dante SO easily, like????
5. She is very resentful, she has the WORST life ever because she was married to a (gay) man who didn’t love her. - I know that’s not the ideal situation, but again she thinks she has it harder than everyone else, and it’s just not fair….
6. She led them into an ambush, and then SHE is mad that he won’t just forgive her. Without her doing anything whatsoever to earn forgiveness, besides trying to seduce him and have sex.
7. She was a lot more tolerable towards the end, but it felt like it came out of nowhere with no actual character development.
7. She was a lot more tolerable towards the end, but it felt like it came out of nowhere with no actual character development.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, Gun violence, Sexism, Murder, Gaslighting, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Infertility
cala_p's review against another edition
4.0
Doing a reread of the series after so long, and seeing I have no review for this book pains me so here we go:
The first time I read this book, I rated it 3 stars and disliked it. Maybe it was due to being new on the mafia romance train, and coming off of Luca and Aria’s story, this one felt like a let-down. Maybe cause second marriages in romance isn’t a trope I like. Given that so many people enjoyed their story, I always felt like I was missing something, and with the recent sequel from them, they clearly have more to show.
Again, that was my first read. My second read, years later when I’m more appreciative, has shown me how great this book is! Young Valentina, widowed after the death of her gay husband goes into her new marriage to Dante as fresh as her first one. Given the death of his first-wife, he doesn’t take to a new wife easily. Dante is the definition of cold and emotionless. He says he cares, but shows it in very little ways. I admire Valentina for putting up with it for so long. I feel like I would be Gianna and just would have fought him for affection at every turn.
While the book ends on an HEA, I do look forward to the next one because I can see how much story they still have. This ended with the “I will be better”, so now let’s see him be better!
The first time I read this book, I rated it 3 stars and disliked it. Maybe it was due to being new on the mafia romance train, and coming off of Luca and Aria’s story, this one felt like a let-down. Maybe cause second marriages in romance isn’t a trope I like. Given that so many people enjoyed their story, I always felt like I was missing something, and with the recent sequel from them, they clearly have more to show.
Again, that was my first read. My second read, years later when I’m more appreciative, has shown me how great this book is! Young Valentina, widowed after the death of her gay husband goes into her new marriage to Dante as fresh as her first one. Given the death of his first-wife, he doesn’t take to a new wife easily. Dante is the definition of cold and emotionless. He says he cares, but shows it in very little ways. I admire Valentina for putting up with it for so long. I feel like I would be Gianna and just would have fought him for affection at every turn.
While the book ends on an HEA, I do look forward to the next one because I can see how much story they still have. This ended with the “I will be better”, so now let’s see him be better!
junyan's review against another edition
2.0
It would be so much better if we’d gotten Dante’s pov. I cannot figure out what’s going on in his mind, I don’t even know if he love Val or just care for her like she said at the end. Dante’s not a talker, he seldom speaks out or shows his feelings evidently, and the absence of dual povs literally make the whole plot and emotions build more confusing.