I enjoyed this despite it not being up to par with other mafia books I’ve read. FMC is quirky and MC is just cold af and unlikeable at times, especially since he’s so hung up on his dead wife (which we later find out, is a bitch). MC has lots of anger & guilt in him that he just views everything with mistrust, not to mention he didn’t try as much to welcome FMC into their lives (just threw her in expecting her to know to be a mother the next day AND getting mad at her for trying). Honestly, there are few things that made me like the book enough to finish it off and not DNF it. Don’t know if I should read the rest of the series, although I read one other book.

Hey Lovelies

First things first, thank you to Isa Oliver for allowing me to read this wonderful book.

This book got me out of a reading slump. I was so glad that I got the opportunity to read and review this book. I cannot wait for book 2. Not to mention I was man down with illness things and well it was perfect for the long nights.

Let’s take care of housekeeping first. Please check the trigger warnings, although book one is tamed, I do believe that book 2 is a little darker and I cannot wait for it. Remember your mental health matters.

I must start off by saying Isa are you an animal lover because Wilbur was the star of the show. As the local crazy cat lady, I approve and honestly loved the fact that he played a major role. Also, the fact that he was a support animal to Clara was perfect. I totally get that Wilbur was giving Lorenzo the stink eye, my own fluffs give my fiancé the stink eye.

Anni, I felt at the end was a strong female character, but boy in the start of the book I had the same feelings as Lorenzo towards her. Her character development was chef’s kiss. Honestly starting as this young semi-innocent woman to this beautiful strong woman who was basically running the household and accepting her husband for who he is and accepting his children as her own was wonderful.

Lorenzo, the word alphahole comes to mind. He irked me when he wouldn’t trust her, and I get it he is a made man and he has to suspect everyone, but he could have given her a bit of grace. His history with Rita also plays a major role in their relationship and I feel that he was a bit insecure in that fact and rightly so. He could have trusted Anni more on the Clara’s issues because that poor girl was struggling with her grief. However, that being said he did have a possessive side towards Anni, and boy did he make my lady bits melt with the smegsy scenes.

The families oh my gosh Ma Veneti was a hoot in this book. I do love me a psycho mother-in-law. Well except mine but that is another story altogether. I felt that Anni’s family was very progressive in how they run the business and involved Anni. Whereas Lorenzo’s family was the stiff traditionalist that had to have things done a certain way. I can see why Aloysius would be the bad guy in the story. I didn’t see it at first but slowly as the book went on, I had my aha moment and was like I knew it I knew it I knew it. I am glad that through thick and thin that Lorenzo and Anni ended up being happy in their marriage and that they got their little happy ever after.

Now I personally cannot wait for the rest of the books in this series.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I hope you do to.

Xoxo
E

This story follows Anni and Lorenzo. Anni is a wild child and free spirited woman who is kind of obsessed with her cat Wilbur. Lorenzo is a made man, an underboss in Chicago. He’s stubborn and cold. He’s also a widower with two young children who are all grieving the loss of their wife and mother in different ways. I adored Anni and the way she was with the children but goodness was she frustrating at times. I also loved Lorenzo but man was he stubborn and set in his ways because of grief. They would take several steps forward only to go right back to square one but the author did a fabulous job telling their story. I couldn’t wait for them to figure it out and once they did