What do you think?
Rate this book
Ruthless #1
Ruthless Heart
He was the boy I loved. Now, he’s the man who wants me dead. Nero Barretti is a Mafia prince. Ruthless. Revered.
And the man who controls my fate. For ten years, I’ve been running from our past, but now there’s no escape.
To save my family, I’ll have to risk it all. An impossible bargain. An unstoppable passion. But there’s a thin line between hate… And desire.
And the man who controls my fate. For ten years, I’ve been running from our past, but now there’s no escape.
To save my family, I’ll have to risk it all. An impossible bargain. An unstoppable passion. But there’s a thin line between hate… And desire.
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 13, 2022
About the author
Roxy Sloane
57 books2,899 followersWant Roxy's Hot stuff?
Get Freebies, Sneak Peeks, news & more hotstuff!
SIGN UP NOW!
Roxy Sloane is a romance junkie with a dirty mind. She lives in Los Angeles and loves writing sexy, complex stories about pushing the boundaries and risking it all.
Get Freebies, Sneak Peeks, news & more hotstuff!
SIGN UP NOW!
Roxy Sloane is a romance junkie with a dirty mind. She lives in Los Angeles and loves writing sexy, complex stories about pushing the boundaries and risking it all.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 329 reviews
August 1, 2022
this book is just …okay. both nero & lily lowkey annoy the shit out of me. i find the plot basic, bc it’s rlly predictable (even the cliffhanger, i was expecting it). it’s literally a miscommunication troupe throughout the ENTIRE FUCKING BOOK. LIKE PLEASE JUST FUCKING TALK TO EACHOTHER. jesus fucking christ. also we fuckinf GET IT lily is good at being a fake socialite bitch. no need to keep fucking mentioning it over & over again. nero also wanting to prove his wealth irritates the shit out of me. also i’m so sorry but him referring to his… yk… as his beast is just fucking killing me. like actually fucking killing me every time i read that shit i fucking die of laughter. it’s lowkey very cringe in a lot of parts & j made me excited for it to end. ok so as i’m writing this i’m realizing i really did not like this book at all LOL! anyways… did i find the book mid, cringe, dragged out, and annoying? yes. am i still going to read the second book? also yes.
May 8, 2024
Look, I think this was well written and the author clearly has an audience who loves this. I just can’t get into mafia smut. C’est la vie friends! But…99 on my reading challenge! Yay!
January 29, 2023
interesting premise, terrible execution.
April 17, 2023
I would give this a 4 based on vibes...but I am concerned mathematically about it. It's written that 10 years before this book starts he was 19-20....but it's also written that ten years before the start of the book, she was 16. And that at the time they were dating and "in love"
Yes this man does need to go to prison...but not for the killing, blackmail and other mafia crimes.
Yes this man does need to go to prison...but not for the killing, blackmail and other mafia crimes.
May 7, 2023
This is so-so as Mafia romances go. Where the plot is fairly predictable and the characters are not fully explored. But it’s entertaining enough for when you want a quick in between read that’s got a dirty talking Don and a feisty heroine. The chapters are
Nero has undercurrents of violence but I like other Mafia romances I’ve read, we don’t really get to see his menacing nature, we’re just told about it, which makes him extremely un-menacing.
Lily has the potential to be a fighter, but her neediness fit Nero ruins it, and however much she insists that she’s scared for her and Teddy’s lives, it never seems believable.
I liked how Chase was incorporated into the story, and it’s obvious he’s going to be instrumental as the trilogy continues.
I’m in no rush to read the next book, which is a shame, because I really wanted a good Mafia romance .. they’re few and far between!!
Nero has undercurrents of violence but I like other Mafia romances I’ve read, we don’t really get to see his menacing nature, we’re just told about it, which makes him extremely un-menacing.
Lily has the potential to be a fighter, but her neediness fit Nero ruins it, and however much she insists that she’s scared for her and Teddy’s lives, it never seems believable.
I liked how Chase was incorporated into the story, and it’s obvious he’s going to be instrumental as the trilogy continues.
I’m in no rush to read the next book, which is a shame, because I really wanted a good Mafia romance .. they’re few and far between!!
May 22, 2023
I actually really loved the complexity of this story, there's both not that much and so much going on all the time. Watching these two people, who clearly love each other, fight what they feel in a slow burn for the ages was incredible. The author did a great job adding in their history as the story went in, letting us learn a little as we went on.
The end definitely left us in a cliffhanger, so be prepared to read the next two books if you want the whole story.
Overall a quick and enjoyable read. My only complaint is that it needs some serious editing. I read the ebook, so the actual physical copy may be better, but there are multiple grammar mistakes and missing it added words. There's a whole couple pages that are repeated, but have things playing out slightly different.
The end definitely left us in a cliffhanger, so be prepared to read the next two books if you want the whole story.
Overall a quick and enjoyable read. My only complaint is that it needs some serious editing. I read the ebook, so the actual physical copy may be better, but there are multiple grammar mistakes and missing it added words. There's a whole couple pages that are repeated, but have things playing out slightly different.
June 13, 2022
Ruthless Heart by Roxy Sloane is book four in the Flawless Series. This is the story of Nero and Lily. This was another page turning read just like the previous books. Lily was just 16 when she gave her self and heart to Nero who was the son of Roman Barretti a mafia boss along with being her father's boss. Lily's father was the accountant who ended up turning Roman into to the police. Now in their present day (10 years) Lily mother left, her father has died and she just has her brother. Lily is working in Las Vegas as a waitress trying to make it. Nero is now the mafia boss who is no longer the nice boy she knew but a dangerous man. Nero happens to spot her one day and that when their story begins again. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
September 12, 2023
This is a Kindle unlimited series, and as much as I liked it I don’t think I would be willing to put that much time into the plot. I felt that this should have been a one book deal.
The characters were very hot and cold the whole time and when it was hot it was hot. Female MC an be strong at times, but makes stupid decisions that sabotage her relationship with male mc. Book 1 ends in the middle of one of these poor decisions.
Make MC needs to decide what he wants. Is he hot or is he cold? Right now he has major mood swings that just leave the reader feeling like he’s a mess.
The characters were very hot and cold the whole time and when it was hot it was hot. Female MC an be strong at times, but makes stupid decisions that sabotage her relationship with male mc. Book 1 ends in the middle of one of these poor decisions.
Make MC needs to decide what he wants. Is he hot or is he cold? Right now he has major mood swings that just leave the reader feeling like he’s a mess.
June 13, 2022
Wow Roxy Sloane has done it yet again!! It's so intense and steamy I just love Lilly and Nero I can't wait to read what happens next!!
It's ends in a cliff hanger!!
It's ends in a cliff hanger!!
January 8, 2024
Forced marriage can be even better than arranged marriages sometimes. What do these men think they’re playing at? “I despise her so much I’m going to make her suffer by being with me” (which I’m sure men do very easily as they are insufferable) but then can’t resist her?
Read
October 2, 2023Dnf - wasn’t a fan of the writing
May 23, 2023
Interesting enough and a quick read. The typos and mistakes in writing threw me off towards the end of the book though. (A paragraph starts then it just stops, and we jump back to the beginning of the paragraph written in a different way. Almost like she rewrote it and forgot to hit backspace on the previous version).
August 15, 2023
Okay, okay... I read this about a week ago and sat on it, trying to decide how I felt. I should also admit that I'm on the 3rd/last book in the series now, so I can't say I wasn't interested enough to immediately start the next book each time the prior ended. This review is spoilery, FYI, but I'm not hiding it.
I'll preface this by saying that I love romance, I love horror, I obviously enjoy some dark romance, I love love enemies-to-lovers, aaaaaand I don't always have the best taste in literature, if my favorites are any indication (I'm a simple girl, not much brain here, ie easy to please). I'm also weirdly okay with questionable "romantic"/sexual situations, which this series is chock full of, though I'd say there's consent involved in all of these. Some of my favorite books involve two people that really don't like each other but still eventually (and predictably) fall into bed/love together. I'm sure there's something that happened in my childhood (or in my entire generation's childhood, since we all seem to be keen on the tsundere/enemies-to-lovers romance thing) that influenced me into liking this type of thing so much, because even my personal relationships have leaned that way. There's just something so satisfying (to me) about a romance where the two people are warring with feelings of hate/dislike but still manage to fall for one another. I think it's so much more intense, interesting, exciting, hot... Anyway, this entire paragraph has been a tangent that I'm sure no one will read.
I started this series kind of new to the mafia romance sub-genre (I guess it's actually more of a full blown genre these days), but I've been sniffing around it for a while now. I hated 365 Days will a full-blown passion, but I still like some of this stuff, so I read the blurb for this book and thought hey, that sounds like my thing. Sure enough, it kind of was...
Our main FL is... I honestly don't even remember her name, hold on lemme look.........LILY! That's her. It should have stuck, Lilith/Lillith is one of my favorite names to use. Anyway, Lily is a frustrating character. Now, she's not the worst I've read, but she did some things that really made me make an angry face, pull my hair, or just sigh in exasperation. She's portrayed as this strong girl that went through all these hardships throughout her life because her dad ratted out the mafia king and thus propelled their family into witness protection and less fortunate financial status, but you'd never know this girl had to make any tough choices. She constantly makes poor decisions throughout the series, the most glaring one regarding communication. This.girl.does.not.know.how.to.communicate. Aside from that, I didn't hate her, she's just annoying.
Now for our ML, Nero... He's basically the quintessential booktok bad boy/villain everyone wants right now, and I can't say I'm not right there with them, even if I don't love some of his quirks. He's tall, he's muscley, he's hot, he's a dick, he's made questionable tattoo decisions (really Nero, tribal), and he's all dommy and bossy. He's mostly my type, so sure, I like him, I'll admit it, I'm part of the cliche right now, I'm okay with that. Y'all can keep your weirdo Christian Grey, thanks. I love a good bad boy with a soft heart and controlling tendencies, and Nero delivers, though he's got plenty of things to not love. I'm well aware these guys that I think are hot in books I would probably hate in real life, but that's not a shock, and I'd probably still go for them anyway.
Anyway, the "story". Lily and Nero used to be a thing back when they were young, like high school age. Lily was rich, Nero was the mafia boss's son, and they fell in love. Eventually Lily's dad ratted on Nero's father (Roman, I think?) to the FBI, got him sent to prison, so she and her family were whisked away suddenly one night into witness protection. She was unable to say goodbye to Nero, who annoyingly assumes the worst: that she betrayed them along with her father. Lily and her fam are now middle class, parents marriage begins to fall apart, mom splits, dad passes, and soon she and her younger brother are the only ones left of their traitorous family. Her brother goes off to college, supposedly blissfully unaware of what all happened because he was so young, while Lily moves around trying to keep them both under the radar so Nero will never find them.
I will say, I appreciate that the story picked up pretty much right away. There weren't chapters of her running to slog through; Nero shows on page one and immediately finds her, though it's coincidental. He love/hates her because of the assumed betrayal, instead of just asking her what happened, and she of course doesn't explain anything to him.
That right there is the most annoying part of this damn series: MiScOmMuNiCaTiOn.
This is a constant issue throughout the series, even in the final book, and it is mind-numbingly, teeth-grindingly, hair-pullingly fucking annoying. I mean, the entire premise of this book is set upon one, with Nero assuming she was part of the betrayal. I get that they were both kids, but they were in love. I mean, I'm old now, but I was that age once, and your first love can be mind altering. In a situation like this, I find it really impossible to believe she wouldn't have found some way to reach out to him. If I'd been in her position, I would have - I was a total idiot at 16, especially for love, so I probably would have burned my family to the ground for it.
Anyway, he's a mean asshole to her in the first book because he wants her but doesn't trust her because of what happened. He threatens her and lets his asshole right hand, Chase, toss her around. She and Nero are locked up in a house living together, but it's not like they talk, so they of course don't hash out what happened and get past it. I was screaming at the book, begging them to communicate, but nope. They do some sexy time, because he's got that magical D and she's got that sweet V, so we hear about that constantly. I like smut but this got a little old sometimes, though not 50 Shades inner goddess annoying, thank fucking god.
I honestly enjoyed the slow burn and the gradual opening up to one another. I knew it wouldn't last because of all the dumb shit she hadn't told him about, but I liked it while it lasted. I feel like the more hard won it is, the sweeter, so I wanted it to drag on. However, when the miscommunication is revealed, it caused such a shitshow that I just had to roll my eyes.
Anyway, I didn't plan on rehashing the entire plot, because honestly each book blended into the other and I don't exactly remember what happened in which book, so I'll end it here. This felt kind of wattpady, like some others have said, but I guess you could say that about most books of this type.
I liked this book, I kind of guiltily like this series, but I know there has to be better mafia romance types out there, so I'm giving it a 3 because miscommunication is fucking annoying and shouldn't drive the entire plot of a series.
I'll preface this by saying that I love romance, I love horror, I obviously enjoy some dark romance, I love love enemies-to-lovers, aaaaaand I don't always have the best taste in literature, if my favorites are any indication (I'm a simple girl, not much brain here, ie easy to please). I'm also weirdly okay with questionable "romantic"/sexual situations, which this series is chock full of, though I'd say there's consent involved in all of these. Some of my favorite books involve two people that really don't like each other but still eventually (and predictably) fall into bed/love together. I'm sure there's something that happened in my childhood (or in my entire generation's childhood, since we all seem to be keen on the tsundere/enemies-to-lovers romance thing) that influenced me into liking this type of thing so much, because even my personal relationships have leaned that way. There's just something so satisfying (to me) about a romance where the two people are warring with feelings of hate/dislike but still manage to fall for one another. I think it's so much more intense, interesting, exciting, hot... Anyway, this entire paragraph has been a tangent that I'm sure no one will read.
I started this series kind of new to the mafia romance sub-genre (I guess it's actually more of a full blown genre these days), but I've been sniffing around it for a while now. I hated 365 Days will a full-blown passion, but I still like some of this stuff, so I read the blurb for this book and thought hey, that sounds like my thing. Sure enough, it kind of was...
Our main FL is... I honestly don't even remember her name, hold on lemme look.........LILY! That's her. It should have stuck, Lilith/Lillith is one of my favorite names to use. Anyway, Lily is a frustrating character. Now, she's not the worst I've read, but she did some things that really made me make an angry face, pull my hair, or just sigh in exasperation. She's portrayed as this strong girl that went through all these hardships throughout her life because her dad ratted out the mafia king and thus propelled their family into witness protection and less fortunate financial status, but you'd never know this girl had to make any tough choices. She constantly makes poor decisions throughout the series, the most glaring one regarding communication. This.girl.does.not.know.how.to.communicate. Aside from that, I didn't hate her, she's just annoying.
Now for our ML, Nero... He's basically the quintessential booktok bad boy/villain everyone wants right now, and I can't say I'm not right there with them, even if I don't love some of his quirks. He's tall, he's muscley, he's hot, he's a dick, he's made questionable tattoo decisions (really Nero, tribal), and he's all dommy and bossy. He's mostly my type, so sure, I like him, I'll admit it, I'm part of the cliche right now, I'm okay with that. Y'all can keep your weirdo Christian Grey, thanks. I love a good bad boy with a soft heart and controlling tendencies, and Nero delivers, though he's got plenty of things to not love. I'm well aware these guys that I think are hot in books I would probably hate in real life, but that's not a shock, and I'd probably still go for them anyway.
Anyway, the "story". Lily and Nero used to be a thing back when they were young, like high school age. Lily was rich, Nero was the mafia boss's son, and they fell in love. Eventually Lily's dad ratted on Nero's father (Roman, I think?) to the FBI, got him sent to prison, so she and her family were whisked away suddenly one night into witness protection. She was unable to say goodbye to Nero, who annoyingly assumes the worst: that she betrayed them along with her father. Lily and her fam are now middle class, parents marriage begins to fall apart, mom splits, dad passes, and soon she and her younger brother are the only ones left of their traitorous family. Her brother goes off to college, supposedly blissfully unaware of what all happened because he was so young, while Lily moves around trying to keep them both under the radar so Nero will never find them.
I will say, I appreciate that the story picked up pretty much right away. There weren't chapters of her running to slog through; Nero shows on page one and immediately finds her, though it's coincidental. He love/hates her because of the assumed betrayal, instead of just asking her what happened, and she of course doesn't explain anything to him.
That right there is the most annoying part of this damn series: MiScOmMuNiCaTiOn.
This is a constant issue throughout the series, even in the final book, and it is mind-numbingly, teeth-grindingly, hair-pullingly fucking annoying. I mean, the entire premise of this book is set upon one, with Nero assuming she was part of the betrayal. I get that they were both kids, but they were in love. I mean, I'm old now, but I was that age once, and your first love can be mind altering. In a situation like this, I find it really impossible to believe she wouldn't have found some way to reach out to him. If I'd been in her position, I would have - I was a total idiot at 16, especially for love, so I probably would have burned my family to the ground for it.
Anyway, he's a mean asshole to her in the first book because he wants her but doesn't trust her because of what happened. He threatens her and lets his asshole right hand, Chase, toss her around. She and Nero are locked up in a house living together, but it's not like they talk, so they of course don't hash out what happened and get past it. I was screaming at the book, begging them to communicate, but nope. They do some sexy time, because he's got that magical D and she's got that sweet V, so we hear about that constantly. I like smut but this got a little old sometimes, though not 50 Shades inner goddess annoying, thank fucking god.
I honestly enjoyed the slow burn and the gradual opening up to one another. I knew it wouldn't last because of all the dumb shit she hadn't told him about, but I liked it while it lasted. I feel like the more hard won it is, the sweeter, so I wanted it to drag on. However, when the miscommunication is revealed, it caused such a shitshow that I just had to roll my eyes.
Anyway, I didn't plan on rehashing the entire plot, because honestly each book blended into the other and I don't exactly remember what happened in which book, so I'll end it here. This felt kind of wattpady, like some others have said, but I guess you could say that about most books of this type.
I liked this book, I kind of guiltily like this series, but I know there has to be better mafia romance types out there, so I'm giving it a 3 because miscommunication is fucking annoying and shouldn't drive the entire plot of a series.
June 17, 2022
What a good read! Intense and plot rich, we have Lily and Nero, who had been young livers, estranged by loyalty to family and betrayal. Lily's lot has been so very hard as she works to protect and look after her brother Teddy, knowing that, at any time, her family's past could catch up with her...and thatqhat happens.
Filled with moral and emotional dilemmas, for both Lily's and Nero, we have a passionate story which has the sword of Damocles hanging above their heads, knowing that it will, inevitably fall. Ending on a cliffhanger, I cannot wait to see what happens next! 💖💖💖💖💖
Filled with moral and emotional dilemmas, for both Lily's and Nero, we have a passionate story which has the sword of Damocles hanging above their heads, knowing that it will, inevitably fall. Ending on a cliffhanger, I cannot wait to see what happens next! 💖💖💖💖💖
February 23, 2023
Lily and Nero annoyed the crap out of me! One of my biggest pet peeves in a book is a lack of communication. It's one thing that irritates me to no end! So this book was an entire story of nothing but miscommunication. The plot was boring at best. Lily and Nero were not likable. I just got so irritated with them. Had they just spoken to each other, everything would have been fine. Everything happened exactly how I knew was going to happen. Nothing surprised me. Honestly, not sure I'll continue the rest of the series 🙄
January 4, 2024
I don’t know that I have the words to describe how awful this was. It got to a point where I started to read it like you’d watch a train wreck more than reading it for any sort of entertainment. When the MMC said “Daddy’s home” during an intimate scene I about perished with second hand embarrassment.
June 13, 2022
Book 4 in the series and wow! Love that this is so fast paced and I’m loving Lily and Nero’s story! This series is a mafia style storyline and done really well! Keeps you hooked and yep, there’s a cliffhanger!
May 9, 2023
Loved this book
First time I've read this author but definitely not the last. I love this story so much! That cliffhanger at the end Whew. Ready to start reading the next book. Definitely recommend
First time I've read this author but definitely not the last. I love this story so much! That cliffhanger at the end Whew. Ready to start reading the next book. Definitely recommend
January 29, 2023
The writing style is juvenile. Reminding me a lot of my Wattpad days. Lots of typos and mistakes in the writing.
May 19, 2023
I read this book in a couple hours, could not put it down. The story just kind of hooked me in. Downloaded the next book and might just not sleep tonight
September 27, 2024
I like the book in the beginning it was well written the FMC was a little annoying with the going back and forth on what to do but it was understandable giving the circumstances. The slow burn was juicy and when they finally get together it was “yay!” The spice was good! If you like dirty talk Nero knows just what to say to you 🤣. Now the reason for the two starts is because of the FMC she a bit too whiny and immature. They both pissed me off in a sense if they just spoke to one another the problems she / they had wouldn’t be that serious. I did skip ahead and looked into the other books in the series about Nero and Lily and apparently she don’t get any better and I just couldn’t finish the series because of it. I know this review is kinda all over the place but I hope it helps! 😄
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2024
This is intense, spicy and emotional. Loved it
Solid, good introduction/ first book in the series. Super fast read never boring and not clique either.
Neural, the MMC, is dark, and doesn’t know who he is. He found Lily, our FMC, whose father has betrayed Nero’s family, and she will have to pay for those misdeeds. The whole book, Lily is trying to find a way to save herself, and her brother will also not falling in love with Nero , oh did they were childhood sweethearts? All the attention! I love the relationship of convenience, and I can’t wait for the next book.
I just love Lily and Nero. I can’t wait to read what happens next.
This book ends in a cliffhanger.
Solid, good introduction/ first book in the series. Super fast read never boring and not clique either.
Neural, the MMC, is dark, and doesn’t know who he is. He found Lily, our FMC, whose father has betrayed Nero’s family, and she will have to pay for those misdeeds. The whole book, Lily is trying to find a way to save herself, and her brother will also not falling in love with Nero , oh did they were childhood sweethearts? All the attention! I love the relationship of convenience, and I can’t wait for the next book.
I just love Lily and Nero. I can’t wait to read what happens next.
This book ends in a cliffhanger.
June 29, 2023
A great enemies to lovers mafia romance for sure, can’t wait to read the next two books after that ending! Nero takes his childhood love who he thinks betrayed his family (mafia family) yet he can’t just unalive her like he should bc he still loves her and well chaos ensues in the best way;) I love their chemistry and tension so much, def recommend for a good mafia time!
August 22, 2023
obsessed
First of all, PAGE ONE 🥵 🥵 🥵
This story is intense and spicy and emotional. I am loving it!
I forgot that it’s a trilogy so waiting until 81% makes sense.
Immediately running to book 2.
First of all, PAGE ONE 🥵 🥵 🥵
This story is intense and spicy and emotional. I am loving it!
I forgot that it’s a trilogy so waiting until 81% makes sense.
Immediately running to book 2.
July 3, 2023
3.5
Never said I read quality books
Never said I read quality books
June 18, 2023
I’m pretty sure there was a plot somewhere in here—
I feel committed to finish the series though so here I go I guess
I feel committed to finish the series though so here I go I guess
October 16, 2023
Boooooooooooooooooo
January 19, 2024
Poor execution
Couple had no chemistry
They had a decade old history but there was no flashback scenes about whey they first fall in love just few mentions that they were dating in their teens
The plot was predictable boring with same old mafia elements
Hated the mcs. Not even a single likable character
Should have stayed in the drafts!!!
Couple had no chemistry
They had a decade old history but there was no flashback scenes about whey they first fall in love just few mentions that they were dating in their teens
The plot was predictable boring with same old mafia elements
Hated the mcs. Not even a single likable character
Should have stayed in the drafts!!!
June 7, 2022
Wow, what a fabulous read! Once again, Roxy Sloane had me reading this novel non-stop from beginning to end in one sitting. This is Lily and Nero Barretti's story--it's dangerous, it's suspenseful, it's violent, it's steamy, and if you're looking for an edge-of-your-seat read, this is it. 5 stars!
Roman Barretti was the head of a Mafia empire in New York, and Lily's father was his accountant, the man who cooked his books. Lily was 16 when she gave herself to Nero, Roman's son, and the boy she loved, but it all came to a quick end when Lily's father turned his back on the Barrettis' criminal enterprise, testified against Roman and sent him to prison for 20 years. Lily, her parents and her younger brother, Teddy, all went into the Witness Protection Program, and, as the novel opens, 10 years have passed since then, and Lily, now working as a waitress in a seedy Las Vegas strip joint is spotted by Nero Barretti, now head of that Mafia empire his father once rules, one that has no problems going after those whose family has betrayed them.
When Nero learns that Lily's dad died from cancer 7 years earlier, her mother had left them long before that, and all that's left of Lily's family is Lily and her brother, she expects that they will soon both be killed, and the plan she comes up with to get Nero to keep both herself and Teddy alive is a good one, but can she pull it off? Does she still harbor feelings for Nero? Does he still harbor feelings for her? What will happen when the FBI approaches her to follow in her father's footsteps and take down Nero and his organization forever?
Since I don't do spoilers, you're just going to have to read this thrilling novel of romantic suspense for yourself, and just a warning--it does end in a cliffhanger. Luckily, you won't have long to wait--the next book in this series will be published only one month after this one. If you don't like cliffhangers, I suggest you pick up this novel now, and don't start reading it until the next one publishes. This is one terrific read and I'm happy to recommend it.
I received an advance reader copy of this novel from the author. The opinions stated in this review are my own.
Roman Barretti was the head of a Mafia empire in New York, and Lily's father was his accountant, the man who cooked his books. Lily was 16 when she gave herself to Nero, Roman's son, and the boy she loved, but it all came to a quick end when Lily's father turned his back on the Barrettis' criminal enterprise, testified against Roman and sent him to prison for 20 years. Lily, her parents and her younger brother, Teddy, all went into the Witness Protection Program, and, as the novel opens, 10 years have passed since then, and Lily, now working as a waitress in a seedy Las Vegas strip joint is spotted by Nero Barretti, now head of that Mafia empire his father once rules, one that has no problems going after those whose family has betrayed them.
When Nero learns that Lily's dad died from cancer 7 years earlier, her mother had left them long before that, and all that's left of Lily's family is Lily and her brother, she expects that they will soon both be killed, and the plan she comes up with to get Nero to keep both herself and Teddy alive is a good one, but can she pull it off? Does she still harbor feelings for Nero? Does he still harbor feelings for her? What will happen when the FBI approaches her to follow in her father's footsteps and take down Nero and his organization forever?
Since I don't do spoilers, you're just going to have to read this thrilling novel of romantic suspense for yourself, and just a warning--it does end in a cliffhanger. Luckily, you won't have long to wait--the next book in this series will be published only one month after this one. If you don't like cliffhangers, I suggest you pick up this novel now, and don't start reading it until the next one publishes. This is one terrific read and I'm happy to recommend it.
I received an advance reader copy of this novel from the author. The opinions stated in this review are my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 329 reviews