A slow-burn mafia romance with fully fleshed-out characters and an evolving plot/world that makes me excited for future books in the series. One of the better-written mafia romances I’ve ever read.

Elena is the eldest daughter in the Abelli family, her father a Don for the Italian Mafia. In order to seal an alliance between her family and another Italian crime family, it is decided that one of the Abelli daughters will marry Nico, the new head of his outfit due to the untimely murder of his Don. While it should be Elena arranged to marry since she is the eldest, her younger sister is chosen instead because their father--unbeknownst to Elena--has promised her to someone else.

The wedding preparations begin, but when Elena and Nico meet, it's clear there is something between them. Sparks fly and as the tension between the two of them builds, Elena begins to wonder if the Mafia life might be something she could actually be happy living.

Danielle Lori's writing is fluid and engaging, her characters well developed and full of their own stories and motives. Too often, I read Mafia Romances that the authors try to balance the dark themes this genre comes with alongside the romance, but they fall short, resorting to pulling their punches, afraid to have their characters be true anti-heroes. Lori does not fail here. This book was the perfect amount of dark, spicy, and ended in a wonderful HEA. You'll fall for Nico, root for Elena, and beg Lori for more books set in this violent, sexy world.

UPDATE: Book two, The Maddest Obsession is EVEN BETTER, and immediately topped my list of favorite Mafia Romances of all time. So, please keep reading this series, Christian and Gianna in book two are on another level!