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Made #1
The Sweetest Oblivion
She’s a romantic at heart, living in the most unromantic of worlds... Nicknamed Sweet Abelli for her docile nature, Elena smiles on cue and has a charming response for everything. She’s the favored daughter, the perfect mafia principessa... or was. Now, all she can see in the mirror’s reflection is blood staining her hands like crimson paint. They say first impressions are everything...
In the murky waters of New York’s underworld, Elena’s sister is arranged to marry Nicolas Russo. A Made Man, a boss, a cheat—even measured against mafia standards. His reputation stretches far and wide and is darker than his black suits and ties. After his and Elena’s first encounter ends with an accidental glare on her part, she realizes he’s just as rude as he is handsome. She doesn’t like the man or anything he stands for, though that doesn’t stop her heart from pattering like rain against glass when he’s near, nor the shiver that ghosts down her spine at the sound of his voice. And he’s always near. Telling her what to do. Making her feel hotter than any future brother-in-law should. Elena may be the Sweet Abelli on the outside, but she’s beginning to learn she has a taste for the darkness, for rough hands, cigarettes, and whiskey-colored eyes. Having already escaped one scandal, however, she can hardly afford to be swept up in another. Besides, even if he were hers, everyone knows you don’t fall in love with a Made Man... Right?
In the murky waters of New York’s underworld, Elena’s sister is arranged to marry Nicolas Russo. A Made Man, a boss, a cheat—even measured against mafia standards. His reputation stretches far and wide and is darker than his black suits and ties. After his and Elena’s first encounter ends with an accidental glare on her part, she realizes he’s just as rude as he is handsome. She doesn’t like the man or anything he stands for, though that doesn’t stop her heart from pattering like rain against glass when he’s near, nor the shiver that ghosts down her spine at the sound of his voice. And he’s always near. Telling her what to do. Making her feel hotter than any future brother-in-law should. Elena may be the Sweet Abelli on the outside, but she’s beginning to learn she has a taste for the darkness, for rough hands, cigarettes, and whiskey-colored eyes. Having already escaped one scandal, however, she can hardly afford to be swept up in another. Besides, even if he were hers, everyone knows you don’t fall in love with a Made Man... Right?
384 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2018
About the author
Danielle Lori
10 books16.5k followersDanielle Lori's novels incorporate morally questionable heroes, electric hate to love relationships, and sometimes sweet but mostly sassy heroines. She has written in both the fantasy subgenre as well as contemporary, but will never stray from romance.
A normal day for her includes coffee, bodice rippers, and 1990s chick flicks. She lives in small-town Iowa with her husband, son, and too many dogs.
UPCOMING RELEASES: MY DEAR HUSBAND, THE VINTAGE CLUB, & THE PUREST ADDICTION (MADE #4)
Website: https://daniellelori.com
Email: authordaniellelori@gmail.com
Facebook page: @authordaniellelori
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cO0fB9
Instagram: @danielleloriwrites
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 26,714 reviews
January 5, 2025
#10 Reread — Jan 2025 - ೃ⁀➷ ♾️+ stars
First book of the year and what a way to begin 🫦 Rereading NicoElena diaries will never get old 🙏 they’re tethered to my soul it’s true, I claim them.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#9 Reread — July 2024 - ೃ⁀➷ ♾️+ stars
My little arsonist and his walking weakness 🔐💋💋
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#8 Reread — May 2024 - ೃ⁀➷ ♾️ stars
It’s missing NicoElena hours ☹️
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#7 Reread — March 2024 - ೃ⁀➷ ♾️ stars
Alexa play soaked by shy smith 🫦
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#6 Reread — December 2023 - ೃ⁀➷ ♾️ stars
Ending this year with the best high 💅
***
Taking a hit of nicoelena after every minor inconvenience 🙏
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#5 Reread — October 2023 - ೃ⁀➷ ♾️ stars
My NicoElena phase always comes back like clockwork
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#4 Reread — August 2023 - ೃ⁀➷ 5++ stars
Bc of me being in a review slump and slapping ‘Rtc’ after almost every review recently, I’m beingforced asked nicely to finally release this one into the ether, I'm only back for this one so watch me retire for the next year 😙😙
This isn’t gna be a very coherent review and everything is gna be all over the place but I bout near bust a metacarpal making this long asf review so enjoy <333
*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Imagine this: You go to a theme park and try all the rides to find your favourite. And then once you do? You wanna go again and again and again right? This is me with TSO.
It gives me the same thrill and giddiness every single time. I know exactly what’s gna happen when and the familiarity of it combined with the knowledge that I am guaranteed to love it?? It’s a drug. And even tho I’ve read it four times already, you’ll still find me looking forward to it, knowing the rush it’s gonna give will get me higher than a kite 💃🕺 And it serves delivers PROVIDES every damn time. That’s NicoElena for you 😌👑💅
Ugh If you can’t tell by now I love this book. And I wanna reread it AGAIN already 😭
One thing I love abt the book is that they have some sort of interaction within the first few pages. Like I will always always always want to start from page 1 and not three chapters in yk?
I have so many fav scenes & chapters in this book it’s hard to pick out a few to focus on when I love everything in the book (also the reason I’ve got 500+ highlights…)
Also this book has the BEST cast of characters I’ve read in a DR standalone. Luca, Benito, Dom , Nonna, Lorenzo. They all had memorable roles in the book. Omfds lorenzo deserves his own book pls the way he was blushingghhhh while talking to Elena 🤭😋 so cuteeeee
One thing I can say with my chest is that Nico fell first and harder than Elena. It’s just the truth. He fell for her since day DOTTT. He was obsessed w her since the first moment he laid eyes on her 🤭 also omfds when he got so touchy bc she was sweet to everyone but him aksgjdhdj isn’t he adorableeeee 🥹
╰┈➤ ❝ “Nico, what if the Three Fates were real and I’d been destined for another?”
He slipped his hands into his pockets, his gaze igniting with a spark. “I guess I’d have to find those Fates and burn them to the ground.” ❞
i wanna wear his initial on a chain around my neck 💋
Everything about Nicolas Russo has me in a chokehold:
♥︎ Nico and his hair fisting- no bc when he wraps his fist in her hair twice?? Brb going to part my hair with a chainsaw rq ✋
♥︎ Nico and his tats. 🫦🫦
♥︎ His hand necklaces
♥︎ Nico and him rubbing a hand over his mouth when he’s particularly amused is so hot idc idc. 🤰
♥︎ Nico and his tongue running over his teeth. Like this shouldn’t be as attractive as he makes it-
♥︎ His J/P streak?? My feminism: 🚮
♥︎ His itchy burning hatred for Elena’s ring 💘💘💘💘💘
♥︎ His animosity towards the word ‘platonic’ kahsjdhdj
♥︎ His silent love for Elena’s pink aesthetic
♥︎ His encyclopaedic knowledge of cars
♥︎ Him getting his hands dirty (by working on his car ofc 🤭)
It’s the way everyone used Elena but Nico was the only one that just cared about *her* that has my whole fking heartttttt 🤧💘💕
*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Elena is one of my favourite fmcs ever. I loveeee her sfm. She’s adorable, witty, softhearted but guarded, has manners but throws them out the window whenever Nico enters the chat. She finds him safe enough to not analyse her words her actions and allows herself to just live in the moment with him. That’s the thing I love the most, it’s that she basically uses him as a punching bag lmao. But dw Nico doesn’t let anything slide when it comes to her and her assumptions kagdjfhdjdhkdhdkdhdk 💃🚂
🌸 Her friendship with her sister >>>
︎🌸 Her fashion sense and her love for pink. 💅
🌸 Her itty bitty ugly fifty cent ring.
🌸 Elena being cute and domesticating Nico navshksdj. 💗🙏💕💘💞🦋
🌸 Elena being a shallow party-loving queen. I love to see it. 👑
🌸 Elena being docile but feisty with Nico is so yummy 😋
🌸 Elena teasing himmmmm jshjdhdjd it hits every damn time 🙏
🌸 Elena caring abt her family and being an overprotective mama bear when they’re hurt 🥹🥹
Soft characters are my weakness. I’ll always love them defend them protect them
Elena isn’t that typical stubborn bratty fmc which is what made me love her. She’s soft and sweet and genuinely cares for others but she’s not stupid or weak willed either. Her personality is rare and rlly unique in that way. She does exactly as she wants when she’s around Nico.
She doesn’t get enough acknowledgement for staying so firm over her decision to fix what happened.
The way she has more integrity than most fmcs nowadays 🙏 she promised herself she was going to fix that mistake and she KEPT it — SHE FOLLOWED THRU TILL THE BITTER END. She did it bc her morals wouldn’t allow her to just ignore it. Once she made her mind up she wouldn’t give in to pressure from anyone. That’s another thing I love about her. It also translates into the promise she’s now made to stay with Nico and how it’s basically written in stone that they’re staying together forever. Nico and Elena are both very similar in that aspect which just reinforces their soulmatery if you ask me 🧿🧿
I love the fact that there was no ‘body betraying me’ bs. I love that she owns up to whatever she feels for him even if it is to herself. Her inner monologue didn’t annoy me once. Which I can admit is surprising bc of all the resistance she puts up but idc I love her for it.
Elena is so like me fr she pretends to like reading history books in front of everyone but is a romantic at heart likeeeeee ?! pls we are basically the same person 🤭
Elena every time she felt needy for his attention while he was working:
*ੈ✩‧₊˚
When he does this??? :
╰┈➤ ❝ “A hint of a smile pulled on his lips, and he wiped at it with a thumb before sliding his hand back in his pocket. ” ❞
It’s the hottest fucking thing ever pls i didn’t know this could be as hot as it was- it fr got me on my knees barking for him ✋
╰┈➤ ❝ “Do you know what assuming gets you?”
“Killed?” I breathed.
His eyes fell to my lips. “Smart girl.” ❞
No bc if he’s not setting a petrol station on fire bc the owner messed w u, he can eat shit 🧚♀️ Nico Russo will forever reign unmatched i fear
╰┈➤ ❝ “I swear to God, Elena, if I find out you’ve let some man touch you, I will deliver his hands to you in a box.
And I do not. Fucking. Bluff.” ❞
My sanity: 404 not found
When he starts looking for the pink in her outfits?? my goodness my heart be doin backflips and cartwheels 🏌️♂️🤸🏻♀️🕺
My man is hilarioussss asf:
╰┈➤ ❝ “It was only business advice, from one man to another,” he seethed, standing.
“If I wanted business advice from a man poorer than me I would have asked for it.” ❞
He's so fucking savage I cantttttttt 💀✋✋✋
Him pushing her in the pool bc he was jealous >>> we love a petty king 👑
Her keeping her mouth from Nico and not letting him kiss her and then him getting pressed about it BUT THEN WHEN THEY FINALLY KISS- *proceeds to make pterodactyl noises*
There’s just something about that shit in books I’m telling u, it’s intoxicating 👹👹
╰┈➤ ❝ “Nico, I’m so sore.”
“Fuck, baby, I’m sorry.” ❞
Him calling her baby simply sent me to another dimension and then what came after this?? Got me clutching my sheets slhdiffjdbd
That moment when Nico started to appreciate Elena for her as a person and fully taking in the expressions on her face? It made me so weak for him I can’t even describe it properly but it felt like my heart soared, my grin grew so big my cheeks hurt, and my serotonin levels shot so highhhhh- it was just satisfaction personified 🙏
*ੈ✩‧₊˚
The chemistry. the push and pull. the SEXUAL TENSION 🗣️ — there’s nothing, NOTHING that can beat what they have. Every interaction every word every silent communication claimed a piece of my heart and I’m afraid I’ll never get them back (i don’t want them back either 🤭🦋✨💞)
The secret silent glances across the room?? Got me GAGGED.
The soft touches? The.. *rough* touches??? Helpppp I’m so fucking in love.
The small moments, THE SMALL MOMENTS 😭 Chapter 42/43/45 u will forever be famous 🙏👑 They were the sweetest most scrumptious parts of this book. Like the smut was ofc 10/10 but I will take softness over excessive smut all day every day but the author really found the perfect balance between the romance and smut. It was perfectttttt- for an Insta lust book, this is the blueprint. The slow burn is done so well. Every interaction between them leaves me FEELING something anything everything.
Every scene every chapter is something new. It’s not just tropes thrown in to please the reader. It’s always refreshing to read how they interact in different settings. I love it.
╰┈➤ ❝ “You make me fucking crazy.”
“Don’t blame me for your psychosis.”
“You are my psychosis.” ❞
Side note:
Dominic and Nonna were the MVPs of this book. If Dominic doesn’t get a book Imma start crying.
Also, I want a bonus scene of them watching Yankees vs. Red Sox. I can just imagine the top tier banterrrr
Songs: 🎧
Fantasize — Ariana Grande
Talent — event
Let’s smoke — breezy
Yad (English version) — Vanna Rainelle
What it is (solo version-sped up) — Doechii
Nasty — CVIRO & GXNXVS ft. Jean Deaux
Good to be bad — Talii
Intrusive thoughts — grant Knoche
Focus — Ariana Grande
Pretty brown eyes (oh my) — H33RA
Yad (sped up)
Off to the races (sped up) — Lana del Ray
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
ugh, this book ruins me every time I read it. I read my favourite chapters more than three times in this reread alone 😭 NicoElena has become more than an obsession atp 🙏
#3 Reread — June 2023 - ೃ⁀➷ 𝟱+ 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
I still don’t have the proper words to explain why I love NicoElena sm but maybe on my third reread you’ll get a proper review??
Side note: I’m convinced the song ‘what it is’(solo version) by Deochii was made for NicoElena 💅
#2 Reread — May 2023 - ೃ⁀➷ 𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀
#1 Read — August 2021 - ೃ⁀➷ 𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀
First book of the year and what a way to begin 🫦 Rereading NicoElena diaries will never get old 🙏 they’re tethered to my soul it’s true, I claim them.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#9 Reread — July 2024 - ೃ⁀➷ ♾️+ stars
My little arsonist and his walking weakness 🔐💋💋
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#8 Reread — May 2024 - ೃ⁀➷ ♾️ stars
It’s missing NicoElena hours ☹️
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#7 Reread — March 2024 - ೃ⁀➷ ♾️ stars
Alexa play soaked by shy smith 🫦
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#6 Reread — December 2023 - ೃ⁀➷ ♾️ stars
Ending this year with the best high 💅
***
Taking a hit of nicoelena after every minor inconvenience 🙏
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#5 Reread — October 2023 - ೃ⁀➷ ♾️ stars
My NicoElena phase always comes back like clockwork
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#4 Reread — August 2023 - ೃ⁀➷ 5++ stars
Bc of me being in a review slump and slapping ‘Rtc’ after almost every review recently, I’m being
This isn’t gna be a very coherent review and everything is gna be all over the place but I bout near bust a metacarpal making this long asf review so enjoy <333
*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Imagine this: You go to a theme park and try all the rides to find your favourite. And then once you do? You wanna go again and again and again right? This is me with TSO.
It gives me the same thrill and giddiness every single time. I know exactly what’s gna happen when and the familiarity of it combined with the knowledge that I am guaranteed to love it?? It’s a drug. And even tho I’ve read it four times already, you’ll still find me looking forward to it, knowing the rush it’s gonna give will get me higher than a kite 💃🕺 And it serves delivers PROVIDES every damn time. That’s NicoElena for you 😌👑💅
Ugh If you can’t tell by now I love this book. And I wanna reread it AGAIN already 😭
One thing I love abt the book is that they have some sort of interaction within the first few pages. Like I will always always always want to start from page 1 and not three chapters in yk?
I have so many fav scenes & chapters in this book it’s hard to pick out a few to focus on when I love everything in the book (also the reason I’ve got 500+ highlights…)
Also this book has the BEST cast of characters I’ve read in a DR standalone. Luca, Benito, Dom , Nonna, Lorenzo. They all had memorable roles in the book. Omfds lorenzo deserves his own book pls the way he was blushingghhhh while talking to Elena 🤭😋 so cuteeeee
One thing I can say with my chest is that Nico fell first and harder than Elena. It’s just the truth. He fell for her since day DOTTT. He was obsessed w her since the first moment he laid eyes on her 🤭 also omfds when he got so touchy bc she was sweet to everyone but him aksgjdhdj isn’t he adorableeeee 🥹
╰┈➤ ❝ “Nico, what if the Three Fates were real and I’d been destined for another?”
He slipped his hands into his pockets, his gaze igniting with a spark. “I guess I’d have to find those Fates and burn them to the ground.” ❞
i wanna wear his initial on a chain around my neck 💋
Everything about Nicolas Russo has me in a chokehold:
♥︎ Nico and his hair fisting- no bc when he wraps his fist in her hair twice?? Brb going to part my hair with a chainsaw rq ✋
♥︎ Nico and his tats. 🫦🫦
♥︎ His hand necklaces
♥︎ Nico and him rubbing a hand over his mouth when he’s particularly amused is so hot idc idc. 🤰
♥︎ Nico and his tongue running over his teeth. Like this shouldn’t be as attractive as he makes it-
♥︎ His J/P streak?? My feminism: 🚮
♥︎ His itchy burning hatred for Elena’s ring 💘💘💘💘💘
♥︎ His animosity towards the word ‘platonic’ kahsjdhdj
♥︎ His silent love for Elena’s pink aesthetic
♥︎ His encyclopaedic knowledge of cars
♥︎ Him getting his hands dirty (by working on his car ofc 🤭)
It’s the way everyone used Elena but Nico was the only one that just cared about *her* that has my whole fking heartttttt 🤧💘💕
*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Elena is one of my favourite fmcs ever. I loveeee her sfm. She’s adorable, witty, softhearted but guarded, has manners but throws them out the window whenever Nico enters the chat. She finds him safe enough to not analyse her words her actions and allows herself to just live in the moment with him. That’s the thing I love the most, it’s that she basically uses him as a punching bag lmao. But dw Nico doesn’t let anything slide when it comes to her and her assumptions kagdjfhdjdhkdhdkdhdk 💃🚂
🌸 Her friendship with her sister >>>
︎🌸 Her fashion sense and her love for pink. 💅
🌸 Her itty bitty ugly fifty cent ring.
🌸 Elena being cute and domesticating Nico navshksdj. 💗🙏💕💘💞🦋
🌸 Elena being a shallow party-loving queen. I love to see it. 👑
🌸 Elena being docile but feisty with Nico is so yummy 😋
🌸 Elena teasing himmmmm jshjdhdjd it hits every damn time 🙏
🌸 Elena caring abt her family and being an overprotective mama bear when they’re hurt 🥹🥹
Soft characters are my weakness. I’ll always love them defend them protect them
Elena isn’t that typical stubborn bratty fmc which is what made me love her. She’s soft and sweet and genuinely cares for others but she’s not stupid or weak willed either. Her personality is rare and rlly unique in that way. She does exactly as she wants when she’s around Nico.
She doesn’t get enough acknowledgement for staying so firm over her decision to fix what happened.
The way she has more integrity than most fmcs nowadays 🙏 she promised herself she was going to fix that mistake and she KEPT it — SHE FOLLOWED THRU TILL THE BITTER END. She did it bc her morals wouldn’t allow her to just ignore it. Once she made her mind up she wouldn’t give in to pressure from anyone. That’s another thing I love about her. It also translates into the promise she’s now made to stay with Nico and how it’s basically written in stone that they’re staying together forever. Nico and Elena are both very similar in that aspect which just reinforces their soulmatery if you ask me 🧿🧿
I love the fact that there was no ‘body betraying me’ bs. I love that she owns up to whatever she feels for him even if it is to herself. Her inner monologue didn’t annoy me once. Which I can admit is surprising bc of all the resistance she puts up but idc I love her for it.
Elena is so like me fr she pretends to like reading history books in front of everyone but is a romantic at heart likeeeeee ?! pls we are basically the same person 🤭
Elena every time she felt needy for his attention while he was working:
*ੈ✩‧₊˚
When he does this??? :
╰┈➤ ❝ “A hint of a smile pulled on his lips, and he wiped at it with a thumb before sliding his hand back in his pocket. ” ❞
It’s the hottest fucking thing ever pls i didn’t know this could be as hot as it was- it fr got me on my knees barking for him ✋
╰┈➤ ❝ “Do you know what assuming gets you?”
“Killed?” I breathed.
His eyes fell to my lips. “Smart girl.” ❞
No bc if he’s not setting a petrol station on fire bc the owner messed w u, he can eat shit 🧚♀️ Nico Russo will forever reign unmatched i fear
╰┈➤ ❝ “I swear to God, Elena, if I find out you’ve let some man touch you, I will deliver his hands to you in a box.
And I do not. Fucking. Bluff.” ❞
My sanity: 404 not found
When he starts looking for the pink in her outfits?? my goodness my heart be doin backflips and cartwheels 🏌️♂️🤸🏻♀️🕺
My man is hilarioussss asf:
╰┈➤ ❝ “It was only business advice, from one man to another,” he seethed, standing.
“If I wanted business advice from a man poorer than me I would have asked for it.” ❞
He's so fucking savage I cantttttttt 💀✋✋✋
Him pushing her in the pool bc he was jealous >>> we love a petty king 👑
Her keeping her mouth from Nico and not letting him kiss her and then him getting pressed about it BUT THEN WHEN THEY FINALLY KISS- *proceeds to make pterodactyl noises*
There’s just something about that shit in books I’m telling u, it’s intoxicating 👹👹
╰┈➤ ❝ “Nico, I’m so sore.”
“Fuck, baby, I’m sorry.” ❞
Him calling her baby simply sent me to another dimension and then what came after this?? Got me clutching my sheets slhdiffjdbd
That moment when Nico started to appreciate Elena for her as a person and fully taking in the expressions on her face? It made me so weak for him I can’t even describe it properly but it felt like my heart soared, my grin grew so big my cheeks hurt, and my serotonin levels shot so highhhhh- it was just satisfaction personified 🙏
*ੈ✩‧₊˚
The chemistry. the push and pull. the SEXUAL TENSION 🗣️ — there’s nothing, NOTHING that can beat what they have. Every interaction every word every silent communication claimed a piece of my heart and I’m afraid I’ll never get them back (i don’t want them back either 🤭🦋✨💞)
The secret silent glances across the room?? Got me GAGGED.
The soft touches? The.. *rough* touches??? Helpppp I’m so fucking in love.
The small moments, THE SMALL MOMENTS 😭 Chapter 42/43/45 u will forever be famous 🙏👑 They were the sweetest most scrumptious parts of this book. Like the smut was ofc 10/10 but I will take softness over excessive smut all day every day but the author really found the perfect balance between the romance and smut. It was perfectttttt- for an Insta lust book, this is the blueprint. The slow burn is done so well. Every interaction between them leaves me FEELING something anything everything.
Every scene every chapter is something new. It’s not just tropes thrown in to please the reader. It’s always refreshing to read how they interact in different settings. I love it.
╰┈➤ ❝ “You make me fucking crazy.”
“Don’t blame me for your psychosis.”
“You are my psychosis.” ❞
Side note:
Dominic and Nonna were the MVPs of this book. If Dominic doesn’t get a book Imma start crying.
Also, I want a bonus scene of them watching Yankees vs. Red Sox. I can just imagine the top tier banterrrr
Songs: 🎧
Fantasize — Ariana Grande
Talent — event
Let’s smoke — breezy
Yad (English version) — Vanna Rainelle
What it is (solo version-sped up) — Doechii
Nasty — CVIRO & GXNXVS ft. Jean Deaux
Good to be bad — Talii
Intrusive thoughts — grant Knoche
Focus — Ariana Grande
Pretty brown eyes (oh my) — H33RA
Yad (sped up)
Off to the races (sped up) — Lana del Ray
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
ugh, this book ruins me every time I read it. I read my favourite chapters more than three times in this reread alone 😭 NicoElena has become more than an obsession atp 🙏
#3 Reread — June 2023 - ೃ⁀➷ 𝟱+ 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
I still don’t have the proper words to explain why I love NicoElena sm but maybe on my third reread you’ll get a proper review??
Side note: I’m convinced the song ‘what it is’(solo version) by Deochii was made for NicoElena 💅
#2 Reread — May 2023 - ೃ⁀➷ 𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀
#1 Read — August 2021 - ೃ⁀➷ 𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀
April 12, 2023
4/11/23: a mafia fave reading moment…
4.5 Stars Upgraded to 5 Million Stars...because I re-read it SO many times...
So, full disclosure:
I've been GR friends with Danielle Lori for years now; however, I didn't actually realize this was by her until after I one-clicked it. Cause I have Echelon 10 level of one-clicking skills up in here, people. But anyway, as I was saying. I didn't know this was by Lori until after I bought it.
And then of course I got nervous.
Cause I don't like disliking books by friends. And I don't like the feelings of guilt if I rate said books poorly. And perhaps most aptly, I hate the inner disquiet associated with deciding if I should "pretend" I didn't read said books so I don't have to diss a friend's hard-earned content or the always tempting "rate it higher just to be nice," which I never do. Both options feel dishonest.
So I usually avoid this awkwardness by being a mature and well-adjusted adult.
Also known as steering completely clear of all friend reads and burying my head in the proverbial Sands of Shame like prepubescent ostrich.
But thank FUCK I adored this thing, which I 100% did.
In fact, now I am left regretting that I didn't kiss Miss Danielle's ass a little more over the years so I could score free ARCs and ride on her coattails of awesome.
Just kidding.
But really though.
I was hooked by page one here and ultimately read this in one sitting. Lori writes sexual tension like a champ and the chemistry between her H and h was out of this world. The ending fell off a little bit for me (thus 4.5 stars and not 5), but I still loved the hell out of this thing and will now endeavor to read all the other books Lori has out right now.
So, full disclosure:
I've been GR friends with Danielle Lori for years now; however, I didn't actually realize this was by her until after I one-clicked it. Cause I have Echelon 10 level of one-clicking skills up in here, people. But anyway, as I was saying. I didn't know this was by Lori until after I bought it.
And then of course I got nervous.
Cause I don't like disliking books by friends. And I don't like the feelings of guilt if I rate said books poorly. And perhaps most aptly, I hate the inner disquiet associated with deciding if I should "pretend" I didn't read said books so I don't have to diss a friend's hard-earned content or the always tempting "rate it higher just to be nice," which I never do. Both options feel dishonest.
So I usually avoid this awkwardness by being a mature and well-adjusted adult.
Also known as steering completely clear of all friend reads and burying my head in the proverbial Sands of Shame like prepubescent ostrich.
But thank FUCK I adored this thing, which I 100% did.
In fact, now I am left regretting that I didn't kiss Miss Danielle's ass a little more over the years so I could score free ARCs and ride on her coattails of awesome.
Just kidding.
But really though.
I was hooked by page one here and ultimately read this in one sitting. Lori writes sexual tension like a champ and the chemistry between her H and h was out of this world. The ending fell off a little bit for me (thus 4.5 stars and not 5), but I still loved the hell out of this thing and will now endeavor to read all the other books Lori has out right now.
January 8, 2022
DISCLAIMER: racist author, i don’t support her and you shouldn’t either
i get the hype now. it’s been a hot minute since i read anything mafia related and this book just proves how much i love the genre.
reading this book was like an addiction. i could not stop. i was so enthralled from the beginning all the way to the end. Nico…omgg he’s so sweet 🥲🥺 i fucking love this male thot. if he ain’t burning up a gas station for me? i don’t want him. Nico is the standard at this point. Say what you want. he’s a dirty liar and a cheat but at least he has a good heart 🥺💞
did the feminist and we die while reading this book? abso-fucking-lutely and what about it? 🤨
as can be expected, reading this book felt like being hit from the back, upside down, in a car, on the way to a funeral. it was all over the place but absolutely worth it.
at times i had to take a breather break. at one point i was reading this book on the couch in my living room and thought i dropped my iced tea on my lap…that wasn’t ice tea ladies. after reading some chapters before bed, i couldn’t escape.
this Nico motherfucker showed up in my dreams and smack my ass like a drum like i wanted him to.
and even besides Nico, i loved these characters. the Abelli family is hilarious. Nonna is such a mood and had me gasping for air at times 😂
only getting 4 stars because i hate the miscommunication trope but other than that this book ate me out like a starved man
i get the hype now. it’s been a hot minute since i read anything mafia related and this book just proves how much i love the genre.
reading this book was like an addiction. i could not stop. i was so enthralled from the beginning all the way to the end. Nico…omgg he’s so sweet 🥲🥺 i fucking love this male thot. if he ain’t burning up a gas station for me? i don’t want him. Nico is the standard at this point. Say what you want. he’s a dirty liar and a cheat but at least he has a good heart 🥺💞
did the feminist and we die while reading this book? abso-fucking-lutely and what about it? 🤨
as can be expected, reading this book felt like being hit from the back, upside down, in a car, on the way to a funeral. it was all over the place but absolutely worth it.
at times i had to take a breather break. at one point i was reading this book on the couch in my living room and thought i dropped my iced tea on my lap…that wasn’t ice tea ladies. after reading some chapters before bed, i couldn’t escape.
this Nico motherfucker showed up in my dreams and smack my ass like a drum like i wanted him to.
and even besides Nico, i loved these characters. the Abelli family is hilarious. Nonna is such a mood and had me gasping for air at times 😂
only getting 4 stars because i hate the miscommunication trope but other than that this book ate me out like a starved man
March 8, 2021
The most crucial lesson I've learned from reading Mafia romances: The Mafia has no room for ugly people 😭 386 pages and not one average person to be seen.
August 28, 2021
it was supposed to give.... but it did not give... what needed to be gave... to be highest of giving
September 29, 2021
forget the fact that he’s a murderer, liar, and cheat; i could never trust him if my man wore a literal dress shirt and tie during sex
June 17, 2018
“Nico?”
“What?”
“Your come is running down my thigh,” she whispered. Fuck. That was the hottest thing I’d ever heard.
My dick throbbed. I found the wetness dripping down her leg. Running a finger upward, I pushed it back inside her.
Watch the fuck out for this author. I'm calling it.
________
♪ The sound of panties dropping ♪
I spent a lot of time contemplating whether I should say yes to the review request when the author reached out to me, and I found myself coming back to that magnificent cover. Then I read the blurb and this seeped into me slowly. I found myself needing to know.
Best. Decision. *gif of Alex dancing awkwardly to The Sweetest Oblivion shrine*
Before I get into the plot, or the writing and even the characters. I want to take a moment and appreciate the sexual tension that resides in this one novel. There are some books out there, like this one that can single handedly make the whole room a sauna. I needed to put my kindle down a couple of times and just splash myself with water because hot damn.
The Sweetest Oblivion revolves around a girl named Elena Abelli. Elena is sweet on the outside because she needs it to survive being apart of a family that is a core member of New York's Cosa Nostra. Or, simply known as the Mafia. Elena's sister is set to marry Nicholas Russo, who is a boss of another family apart of the Mafia. When the two meet, sparks fly but both are too stubborn to face it. What happens after is a tale of love, loss, laughter and a whole lot of lunches.
The tension is palpable on the pages, you can practically feel the stares across the room. I wouldn't necessarily call this a slow burn in terms of romance, but I would say it burns slowly and beautifully so. It's safe to say that Danielle Lori has now become one of my one click authors and I'm keeping an eye out for any more additions to this series, because god knows I'm thirsty for it.
♛Made Men♚
I forgot how much I missed Mafia Romance, the drama and angst. All those hot to touch men. This book really made me want to say fuck the whole reading schedule and read more Mafia romances, it also restored hope in FM romance for me. So that's a plus ++
I loved that between the romance and the sexual tension, we also got little nuggets of awesomeness from the families. Although they are fucked up and completely abnormal - what do you expect?? I love the banter that we saw from side characters and all the walk ins on awkward situations. The humor was something I really enjoyed as well. I definitely want to read on and see how the other characters turn out. I'm secretly hoping Gianna and Christian get together, and I want to see Adriana and how she turns out! I'm so invested in these families and all it took was one book.
I didn't want this one to end, I wanted to stay in Elena's world and see how the rest of the story unfolds. The pacing was so intricately galvanized that you needed to read on. I stayed up reading till 4AM one night and I didn't even realize until I looked at the clock.
Goes without saying, but this is one for the shelves.
🂱 The Romance 🂱
The writing in this book was what made the love story stand out. The prose was straight off the bat stellar and once I was in the world, I couldn't get out. Even though this was a new author for me, I'm so glad I gave this a chance!
I think the only thing that threw off that one star, although I'd say it's closer to 4.5 stars (thanks Goodreads) was that some dialogue threw me off. Without going into too much detail, there was some instances between some of the men and other girls that made me go "Okay... but no??". Maybe that's just the feminist side to me - regardless, I can't lie when I say that was the only small thing that fell short.
Looking beyond that, the romantic elements between Elena and Nico were damn near perfect. We got to see the growth of the relationship emotionally and physically.
I enjoyed that we got to see both POV's because it was essential to know that it wasn't just one sided. There was a distinct voice of character that each had. Overall, it was a really good read and I enjoyed myself!
“What?”
“Your come is running down my thigh,” she whispered. Fuck. That was the hottest thing I’d ever heard.
My dick throbbed. I found the wetness dripping down her leg. Running a finger upward, I pushed it back inside her.
Watch the fuck out for this author. I'm calling it.
________
♪ The sound of panties dropping ♪
I spent a lot of time contemplating whether I should say yes to the review request when the author reached out to me, and I found myself coming back to that magnificent cover. Then I read the blurb and this seeped into me slowly. I found myself needing to know.
Best. Decision. *gif of Alex dancing awkwardly to The Sweetest Oblivion shrine*
Before I get into the plot, or the writing and even the characters. I want to take a moment and appreciate the sexual tension that resides in this one novel. There are some books out there, like this one that can single handedly make the whole room a sauna. I needed to put my kindle down a couple of times and just splash myself with water because hot damn.
The Sweetest Oblivion revolves around a girl named Elena Abelli. Elena is sweet on the outside because she needs it to survive being apart of a family that is a core member of New York's Cosa Nostra. Or, simply known as the Mafia. Elena's sister is set to marry Nicholas Russo, who is a boss of another family apart of the Mafia. When the two meet, sparks fly but both are too stubborn to face it. What happens after is a tale of love, loss, laughter and a whole lot of lunches.
"It was Cosa Nostra etiquette to pretend we were the classic example of a white-picket-fence family. Even if our homes were surrounded by an iron gate and security instead."
The tension is palpable on the pages, you can practically feel the stares across the room. I wouldn't necessarily call this a slow burn in terms of romance, but I would say it burns slowly and beautifully so. It's safe to say that Danielle Lori has now become one of my one click authors and I'm keeping an eye out for any more additions to this series, because god knows I'm thirsty for it.
♛Made Men♚
"My family could be as pissed as they wanted, but I’d appreciate at least one fucking thank-you for stopping a bloodbath from ruining a perfectly good Sunday."
I forgot how much I missed Mafia Romance, the drama and angst. All those hot to touch men. This book really made me want to say fuck the whole reading schedule and read more Mafia romances, it also restored hope in FM romance for me. So that's a plus ++
I loved that between the romance and the sexual tension, we also got little nuggets of awesomeness from the families. Although they are fucked up and completely abnormal - what do you expect?? I love the banter that we saw from side characters and all the walk ins on awkward situations. The humor was something I really enjoyed as well. I definitely want to read on and see how the other characters turn out. I'm secretly hoping Gianna and Christian get together, and I want to see Adriana and how she turns out! I'm so invested in these families and all it took was one book.
"I only spoke Italian when I wanted to curse. I hardly ever swore, except for damn, hell, and maybe ass with a hole on the end now that I’d met Nicolas."
I didn't want this one to end, I wanted to stay in Elena's world and see how the rest of the story unfolds. The pacing was so intricately galvanized that you needed to read on. I stayed up reading till 4AM one night and I didn't even realize until I looked at the clock.
Goes without saying, but this is one for the shelves.
"Burn that shirt.” He then left without another word. I glanced down at my pink Yankees t-shirt. I guessed Nico was a Red Sox fan. We really wouldn’t work out now."
🂱 The Romance 🂱
The writing in this book was what made the love story stand out. The prose was straight off the bat stellar and once I was in the world, I couldn't get out. Even though this was a new author for me, I'm so glad I gave this a chance!
"He took his time licking me, like he was doing it for himself and not me."
I think the only thing that threw off that one star, although I'd say it's closer to 4.5 stars (thanks Goodreads) was that some dialogue threw me off. Without going into too much detail, there was some instances between some of the men and other girls that made me go "Okay... but no??". Maybe that's just the feminist side to me - regardless, I can't lie when I say that was the only small thing that fell short.
Looking beyond that, the romantic elements between Elena and Nico were damn near perfect. We got to see the growth of the relationship emotionally and physically.
I enjoyed that we got to see both POV's because it was essential to know that it wasn't just one sided. There was a distinct voice of character that each had. Overall, it was a really good read and I enjoyed myself!
"I wanted to fuck her and ruin her for anyone else. I wanted to crush her wings and then put them back together again so she’d become dependent on me. I wanted her to need me. That dark, possessive, and dangerous feeling crawled through me every time she crossed my path. Elena Abelli was my vice, and fuck if I’d let it kill me."
January 18, 2021
5 stars
k first of all,
1. i want the Abelli family to adopt me cuz they're all my type of crazy.
2. Nonna is my spirit animal.
3. i would love to play referee whenever there's a Nonna vs. mama fights
4. Nico can just marry me. i'll wait.
5. Elena can be my best friend.
6. if Nico pushed me into a pool i would gladly thank him (jk i would push him too and then run for my life).
7.Nico doesn't have to kill me cuz when he says things like this:
boom. dead.
now y’all are probably wondering why i find the threat of maiming hot. but this is Nico. that dude is a crazy mofo.
but in all seriousness, this has one of the BEST sexual tension i've ever read . it was also so never-ending in the beginning that even i was more frustrated than the MCs. so yes, this was kind of a slow burn and I LOVE IT.
honestly this book just shows that you don't need to have a lot of sex scenes to make a book hot !!!
Elena was just so funny to me. i loved her subtle humor and innocence. to be honest, i usually loathe when all the characters in the book praise the h on how hot and perfect she looks because it usually ends up giving me Mary Sue vibes, but i didn't really mind it here because Elena was so loveable and Nico was too! he's not the asshole H you wanna smack in the head from time to time, he's the kind you just wanna hug and secretly (or not so secretly) want as your husband in real life.
some might be turned off by the fact that Nico was engaged to Elena's sister in the beginning, but don't worry, it was arranged and they didn't even know each other. so, i don't think there was cheating here cuz come on, this is a mafia story. of course it's gonna be crazy.
anyways, i'll 100% reread this a billion times in the future and can i get more Elena and Nico pls? kinda obsessed with them.
fave scene:
k first of all,
1. i want the Abelli family to adopt me cuz they're all my type of crazy.
2. Nonna is my spirit animal.
3. i would love to play referee whenever there's a Nonna vs. mama fights
4. Nico can just marry me. i'll wait.
5. Elena can be my best friend.
6. if Nico pushed me into a pool i would gladly thank him (jk i would push him too and then run for my life).
7.Nico doesn't have to kill me cuz when he says things like this:
"I swear to God, Elena, if I find out you've let some man touch you, I will deliver his hands to you in a box." I swallowed. "And I do not. Fucking. Bluff."
boom. dead.
now y’all are probably wondering why i find the threat of maiming hot. but this is Nico. that dude is a crazy mofo.
but in all seriousness, this has one of the BEST sexual tension i've ever read . it was also so never-ending in the beginning that even i was more frustrated than the MCs. so yes, this was kind of a slow burn and I LOVE IT.
honestly this book just shows that you don't need to have a lot of sex scenes to make a book hot !!!
Elena was just so funny to me. i loved her subtle humor and innocence. to be honest, i usually loathe when all the characters in the book praise the h on how hot and perfect she looks because it usually ends up giving me Mary Sue vibes, but i didn't really mind it here because Elena was so loveable and Nico was too! he's not the asshole H you wanna smack in the head from time to time, he's the kind you just wanna hug and secretly (or not so secretly) want as your husband in real life.
some might be turned off by the fact that Nico was engaged to Elena's sister in the beginning, but don't worry, it was arranged and they didn't even know each other. so, i don't think there was cheating here cuz come on, this is a mafia story. of course it's gonna be crazy.
anyways, i'll 100% reread this a billion times in the future and can i get more Elena and Nico pls? kinda obsessed with them.
fave scene:
“He nipped my bottom lip. “You make me fucking crazy.”
“Don’t blame me for your psychosis.”
“You are my psychosis.”
“Rude,” I breathed against his lips.”
January 5, 2023
This review might contain slight spoilers (but don't you worry, this book doesn't really have a plot so you'll not be spoiled much ;))
When something was overhyped, it was always a letdown.
Where should I even start? Should I even start? Or should I keep thinking and regretting that moment of my life where I decided to read all the hyped romance novels? After reading this book I have come to a conclusion: mafia romances are not meant for someone like me, someone who can't see women being shown like their choices does not matter. We don't even think about that word that starts with f and has men in between and ends with ism (I'm definitely not talking about feminism because according to this book (or you can say in the mafia world) this word does not exist).
Look I might have considered about liking Nicolas but because the following sentences exists I will forever hate him:
“Keep opening your mouth, I’ll assault you.”
“I swear to God, Elena, if I find out you’ve let some man touch you, I will deliver his hands to you in a box.”
Look I really like male characters who gave birth to the "touch her and you'd die" trope but this is an actual threat he made. And he was just his sister's fiance at that time. He said this because ofc he could.
I wanted to fuck her and ruin her for anyone else. I wanted to crush her wings and then put them back together again so she’d become dependent on me. I wanted her to need me.
“You’re not even going to say you won’t rape me?” She sounded annoyed, bringing her drink to her lips while looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows. I admired the view with her. “No.” “Why not?” ���Not very good at keeping promises.”
Two minute silence for my eyes and my brain cells.
Just look at the hypocrisy of the mafia world. Males can sleep with any woman they can/want but they wanted a VIRGIN wife. Like they would kill whoever had touched their wives if they weren't a virgin. I'm sorry but I can't even try to like people (mostly men) who have not an ounce of shame, who think that they are the kings of the world, and who don't give a fuck about a woman's respect.
Like I said, mafia romances aren't meant for someone like me.
And Elena - what a bitch. I really tried to sympathize with her but she's really not worth it. She's not even worth my pity. Wait let me open the dictionary to find some adjectives to describe her. Selfish, obnoxious, arrogant, narcissist, self centred, conceited, stuck up, vain, annoying
These were some random words I found. I'm sure there are other words that would exactly describe her but neither do I have the time to search for them nor would Goodreads allow me to complete this review after a certain limit (and they increased the word limit!).
Do you know how to fall in love in the mafia world? Well follow the following steps:
• Fantasize about your sister's fiance (I feel sorry for you if you don't have a sister (actually I don't. sisters are the worst (I'm totally not a sister to my brother (let's stop right here))))
• Fantasize more until he MAKES you his fiance (MAKES is a keyword if you didn't notice because you would never have a choice)
• Fuck him and then run away to perform some charity
• Get caught, make up with him and then marry him.
Voila! We have a happy ever after.The end. I'm pretty sure this works. Well if it doesn't then most probably you're dead for "crossing the lines".
When something was overhyped, it was always a letdown.
Where should I even start? Should I even start? Or should I keep thinking and regretting that moment of my life where I decided to read all the hyped romance novels? After reading this book I have come to a conclusion: mafia romances are not meant for someone like me, someone who can't see women being shown like their choices does not matter. We don't even think about that word that starts with f and has men in between and ends with ism (I'm definitely not talking about feminism because according to this book (or you can say in the mafia world) this word does not exist).
Look I might have considered about liking Nicolas but because the following sentences exists I will forever hate him:
“Keep opening your mouth, I’ll assault you.”
“I swear to God, Elena, if I find out you’ve let some man touch you, I will deliver his hands to you in a box.”
Look I really like male characters who gave birth to the "touch her and you'd die" trope but this is an actual threat he made. And he was just his sister's fiance at that time. He said this because ofc he could.
I wanted to fuck her and ruin her for anyone else. I wanted to crush her wings and then put them back together again so she’d become dependent on me. I wanted her to need me.
“You’re not even going to say you won’t rape me?” She sounded annoyed, bringing her drink to her lips while looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows. I admired the view with her. “No.” “Why not?” ���Not very good at keeping promises.”
Two minute silence for my eyes and my brain cells.
Just look at the hypocrisy of the mafia world. Males can sleep with any woman they can/want but they wanted a VIRGIN wife. Like they would kill whoever had touched their wives if they weren't a virgin. I'm sorry but I can't even try to like people (mostly men) who have not an ounce of shame, who think that they are the kings of the world, and who don't give a fuck about a woman's respect.
Like I said, mafia romances aren't meant for someone like me.
And Elena - what a bitch. I really tried to sympathize with her but she's really not worth it. She's not even worth my pity. Wait let me open the dictionary to find some adjectives to describe her. Selfish, obnoxious, arrogant, narcissist, self centred, conceited, stuck up, vain, annoying
These were some random words I found. I'm sure there are other words that would exactly describe her but neither do I have the time to search for them nor would Goodreads allow me to complete this review after a certain limit (and they increased the word limit!).
Do you know how to fall in love in the mafia world? Well follow the following steps:
• Fantasize about your sister's fiance (I feel sorry for you if you don't have a sister (actually I don't. sisters are the worst (I'm totally not a sister to my brother (let's stop right here))))
• Fantasize more until he MAKES you his fiance (MAKES is a keyword if you didn't notice because you would never have a choice)
• Fuck him and then run away to perform some charity
• Get caught, make up with him and then marry him.
Voila! We have a happy ever after.The end. I'm pretty sure this works. Well if it doesn't then most probably you're dead for "crossing the lines".
January 9, 2023
☆⋅⋆ ─── 1st read 2020: 3.5 stars
☆⋅⋆ ──── 2nd read 2023: 3.5 stars
Nico is still hot and Elena is even more unseasoned and annoying the second time reading this book, but the sexual tension between these characters is like no other. Nonna and the Abelli family (not you Elena, never you) single-handedly carried the comedic aspect of this book.
Can't wait to read Sebastian's book in 2045 xx
original review
Nicolas Russo, if you read this, i’m free on thursday night and would like to hang out. You can push me into the pool if you want to, just hang out with me please.
Nico sweetie, is your back hurting? It must be heavy to carry the whole book on your own.
Lori, Danielle. The Sweetest Oblivion (Made Book 1) (p. 136). Danielle Lori. Kindle Edition.
The Sweetest Oblivion taught me two lessons:
I don't have to say a lot to Nico, because let's just agree that this motherfucker is perfect. If he shoots you in the head, it's because you deserved it. That guy can get it. I know it, you know it and he knows it. The heroine, Elena, on the other hand is a different story. For the life of god, I couldn't connect with her 80% of the book, but she was exceptionally annoying in the first 30%. Because I'm all about numbers at the moment: we only saw Nico's POV 12 times, not even 12 chapters. His POV was sometimes a couple of pages between Elena's chapters. That was not nearly enough.
Never been a huge fan of sweet & docile girls who can only say yes and amen. I liked that Elena wasn't like that with Nico. She actually talked back to him and some of their banter were good, but otherwise her personality wasn't doing it for me. I was waiting for anything to happen in the first 30-40% and because nothing did, I had time to dissect Elena's personality. So leaders of the Elena Abelli protection squad look away.
What's with all the inner monologues?! Especially the ones about never falling in love bla bla bleh. I called bullshit on it from miles away. In general the first third of the book had too many monologues & stares and not enough talk. Next thing, what's with all the "Pink" stuff?! Pink lips, pink dress, pink shoes, pink thong, pink everything. We get it girl, you're Barbie but with black hair. What else is there to say? Oh yes, how about that Elena is probably the hottest girl in New York and every guy who looks at her has it bad. Not a single guy who can't resist "the sweetest ass of New York". Nico's words, not mine. Every time I read this trope where the girl is way too beautiful that everyone loses their fucking mind around her, I want to smash my head into concrete. And lastly, the way how Elena constantly thinks that she needs to stay away from Nico because he is her sisters fiancé, but when there is the chance she's basically throwing herself at him and lusting about him 24/7. I can't blame her, because Nico is just that HOT and DELICIOUS, but at the same time something about that did not sit well with me. I started to warm up to her more the more the story progressed and I started to like her when she made amends with her past mistake, but it's just not enough if you found the heroine for the majority of the book irritating.
My question is: did I not connect with Elena because she was annoying or because I want Nico for myself? The jury is still out.
My rant is over. It seems like I didn't like the book the way how this review is going so far, but there were two things that made this book worth reading: Nicolas "Ace" Russo and the sexual tension .
Nico and Elena made the phrase "to cut the tension with a knife" their bitch. I absolutely agree with everyone that the sexual tension in this book was just something else. It was so palpable, you could touch, feel and smell it. With every interaction I was holding my breath, I didn't know what would happen next. The cat and mouse game was strong here and kept me on my toes. And when they finally get it on omfg it was scoring hot! If Nico fucks your girlfriend, it's on YOU and NEVER on him!
Can I say that I adore Nonna? She's the best. I could read about her and Mama Abelli fighting all day and never get bored. Never was a mother dissing her daughter as much fun. Nonna can insult me any day and I'd say thank you.
Besides the Abelli women, I really liked all the side characters as well. I'm really intrigued about Christian and can't wait to read the next book which is about him and Gianna. When it comes to her, I'm pretty sure there is more behind the girl who takes drugs and laughs way too loudly.
While this book didn't exactly meet my expectations, I'm still glad that I read it, because it gave me Nico. Additionally it was refreshing, cause it's not your typical arranged-marriage mafia book with a virgin heroine. Danielle Lori gets bonus points for writing angst the way she did it without including cheating. That’s how you do it.
┍━━━━━━━━»•» «•«━┑
MADE SERIES
#1 The Sweetest Oblivion – 3.5 stars
#2 The Maddest Obsession – 5+ stars
#3 The Darkest Temptation – 4.25 stars
┕━»•» «•«━━━━━━━━┙
☆⋅⋆ ──── 2nd read 2023: 3.5 stars
Nico is still hot and Elena is even more unseasoned and annoying the second time reading this book, but the sexual tension between these characters is like no other. Nonna and the Abelli family (not you Elena, never you) single-handedly carried the comedic aspect of this book.
He nipped my bottom lip. “You make me fucking crazy.”
“Don’t blame me for your psychosis.”
“You are my psychosis.”
“Rude,” I breathed against his lips.
Can't wait to read Sebastian's book in 2045 xx
original review
Nicolas Russo, if you read this, i’m free on thursday night and would like to hang out. You can push me into the pool if you want to, just hang out with me please.
Nico sweetie, is your back hurting? It must be heavy to carry the whole book on your own.
“I swear to God, Elena, if I find out you’ve let some man touch you, I will deliver his hands to you in a box.”
Lori, Danielle. The Sweetest Oblivion (Made Book 1) (p. 136). Danielle Lori. Kindle Edition.
The Sweetest Oblivion taught me two lessons:
1. Expectation's a BITCH. After all the praises I've seen about this book, my expectations were ginormous and that's never a good thing. I enjoyed the book, but I didn't love it.
2. You need both main characters to make a good story. It doesn't matter how obsessed you are with one of them, if the other doesn't do it, all is lost.
I don't have to say a lot to Nico, because let's just agree that this motherfucker is perfect. If he shoots you in the head, it's because you deserved it. That guy can get it. I know it, you know it and he knows it. The heroine, Elena, on the other hand is a different story. For the life of god, I couldn't connect with her 80% of the book, but she was exceptionally annoying in the first 30%. Because I'm all about numbers at the moment: we only saw Nico's POV 12 times, not even 12 chapters. His POV was sometimes a couple of pages between Elena's chapters. That was not nearly enough.
Nico didn't treat me like glass. He shattered the reflection of an empty life staring back at me. He taught me how to soar.
Never been a huge fan of sweet & docile girls who can only say yes and amen. I liked that Elena wasn't like that with Nico. She actually talked back to him and some of their banter were good, but otherwise her personality wasn't doing it for me. I was waiting for anything to happen in the first 30-40% and because nothing did, I had time to dissect Elena's personality. So leaders of the Elena Abelli protection squad look away.
What's with all the inner monologues?! Especially the ones about never falling in love bla bla bleh. I called bullshit on it from miles away. In general the first third of the book had too many monologues & stares and not enough talk. Next thing, what's with all the "Pink" stuff?! Pink lips, pink dress, pink shoes, pink thong, pink everything. We get it girl, you're Barbie but with black hair. What else is there to say? Oh yes, how about that Elena is probably the hottest girl in New York and every guy who looks at her has it bad. Not a single guy who can't resist "the sweetest ass of New York". Nico's words, not mine. Every time I read this trope where the girl is way too beautiful that everyone loses their fucking mind around her, I want to smash my head into concrete. And lastly, the way how Elena constantly thinks that she needs to stay away from Nico because he is her sisters fiancé, but when there is the chance she's basically throwing herself at him and lusting about him 24/7. I can't blame her, because Nico is just that HOT and DELICIOUS, but at the same time something about that did not sit well with me. I started to warm up to her more the more the story progressed and I started to like her when she made amends with her past mistake, but it's just not enough if you found the heroine for the majority of the book irritating.
My question is: did I not connect with Elena because she was annoying or because I want Nico for myself? The jury is still out.
Why must everything have a happily ever after? Aren't the most memorable, poignant moments of history tragic?
My rant is over. It seems like I didn't like the book the way how this review is going so far, but there were two things that made this book worth reading: Nicolas "Ace" Russo and the sexual tension .
Nico and Elena made the phrase "to cut the tension with a knife" their bitch. I absolutely agree with everyone that the sexual tension in this book was just something else. It was so palpable, you could touch, feel and smell it. With every interaction I was holding my breath, I didn't know what would happen next. The cat and mouse game was strong here and kept me on my toes. And when they finally get it on omfg it was scoring hot! If Nico fucks your girlfriend, it's on YOU and NEVER on him!
Can I say that I adore Nonna? She's the best. I could read about her and Mama Abelli fighting all day and never get bored. Never was a mother dissing her daughter as much fun. Nonna can insult me any day and I'd say thank you.
Besides the Abelli women, I really liked all the side characters as well. I'm really intrigued about Christian and can't wait to read the next book which is about him and Gianna. When it comes to her, I'm pretty sure there is more behind the girl who takes drugs and laughs way too loudly.
My mamma held the door open, her eyes narrowing as she examined me. "One day with the Russo and I think my daughter's gone stupid."
"With your genes?" Nonna muttered, walking inside. "What else did you expect?"
While this book didn't exactly meet my expectations, I'm still glad that I read it, because it gave me Nico. Additionally it was refreshing, cause it's not your typical arranged-marriage mafia book with a virgin heroine. Danielle Lori gets bonus points for writing angst the way she did it without including cheating. That’s how you do it.
┍━━━━━━━━»•» «•«━┑
MADE SERIES
#1 The Sweetest Oblivion – 3.5 stars
#2 The Maddest Obsession – 5+ stars
#3 The Darkest Temptation – 4.25 stars
┕━»•» «•«━━━━━━━━┙
December 2, 2024
4.5⭐️ I need a Nico Russo. Good lord this man. I genuinely have no words. That’s it. He is the new standard. Mafia men are elite. No notes. I read this in less than 24 hours and have already started book 2. I fear I’m obsessed and there’s no turning back.
Nico and Elena have my whole entire heart. POWER FUCKING COUPLE.
This man literally blew up a gas station with the owner inside it because he put his hands on her.
Goodbye.
Nico and Elena have my whole entire heart. POWER FUCKING COUPLE.
This man literally blew up a gas station with the owner inside it because he put his hands on her.
Goodbye.
September 24, 2021
This book was just... bad. The writing was terrible, the plot was BORING, the characters were unlikeable, and most importantly the mc's were just not a ship. Elena and Nico's relationship was ALL lust. They had ZERO chemistry. No banter, no nothing. I don't even remember them having an actual conversation but Nico was just like, "she's mine" and we were supposed to ship??? No thank you. I could have liked the book despite this if the plot was interesting, but no. The plot was so dry, literally zero exciting things happened. Overall, this book was really bad and I wouldn't reccomend.
December 13, 2020
4.5
Don't you love when you dive into a new author's work and fall in love with their writing immediately? When you know that you're going to love the story from the beginning? That's what happened to me when I read The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori. I'd been searching for a good mafia romance with a crazy family involved, and within the first couple of chapters, I knew I found exactly what I was looking for!
Elena Abelli, a.k.a. The Sweet Abelli, is the daughter of one of the Don's of New York's Cosa Nostra. Her little sister has been promised to another Don named Nicholas Russo. Her father told Nico that his oldest daughter was not suitable for marriage, so he agreed to take the younger Abelli. Once he lays eyes on Elena though, he begins to regret that decision.
Elena is drawn to Nico right away much to her dismay. She tries to go about her life and ignore him, but that doesn't exactly work out as planned. The spark between the two of them is undeniable. Nico can't leave her alone, and it becomes harder and harder to ignore his desires.
Her sister is in love with someone else, but none of that matters to her father. What he says goes. Besides, the deal has been made. Neither can back out of it now without consequence. Is Elena doomed to watch her sister live out her life with the only man she's ever had true feelings for?
The Sweetest Oblivion is a captivating mafia romance that kept me up all night long reading. It's well written, violent, and steamy. The romance is a bit of a slow burn, but the sexual tension and the payoff in the end are topnotch.
Elena and Nico have amazing chemistry! The intensity between the two of them is insane. In fact, it is so well done that it's what stood out to me most about the book. Their feelings for each other poured off the page, and every moment between them made me feel the need to fan myself.
I adored almost the entire cast of characters in this story. Elena's morally challenged family is probably my second favorite thing about the book, and I can't wait to read more about them in the future. Overall, Danielle impressed me, exceeded my expectations, and now, she has a brand new fan!
Mafia romance fans, this one is for you!
ARC generously provided by the author for an honest review.
Don't you love when you dive into a new author's work and fall in love with their writing immediately? When you know that you're going to love the story from the beginning? That's what happened to me when I read The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori. I'd been searching for a good mafia romance with a crazy family involved, and within the first couple of chapters, I knew I found exactly what I was looking for!
Elena Abelli, a.k.a. The Sweet Abelli, is the daughter of one of the Don's of New York's Cosa Nostra. Her little sister has been promised to another Don named Nicholas Russo. Her father told Nico that his oldest daughter was not suitable for marriage, so he agreed to take the younger Abelli. Once he lays eyes on Elena though, he begins to regret that decision.
Elena is drawn to Nico right away much to her dismay. She tries to go about her life and ignore him, but that doesn't exactly work out as planned. The spark between the two of them is undeniable. Nico can't leave her alone, and it becomes harder and harder to ignore his desires.
Her sister is in love with someone else, but none of that matters to her father. What he says goes. Besides, the deal has been made. Neither can back out of it now without consequence. Is Elena doomed to watch her sister live out her life with the only man she's ever had true feelings for?
The Sweetest Oblivion is a captivating mafia romance that kept me up all night long reading. It's well written, violent, and steamy. The romance is a bit of a slow burn, but the sexual tension and the payoff in the end are topnotch.
Elena and Nico have amazing chemistry! The intensity between the two of them is insane. In fact, it is so well done that it's what stood out to me most about the book. Their feelings for each other poured off the page, and every moment between them made me feel the need to fan myself.
I adored almost the entire cast of characters in this story. Elena's morally challenged family is probably my second favorite thing about the book, and I can't wait to read more about them in the future. Overall, Danielle impressed me, exceeded my expectations, and now, she has a brand new fan!
Mafia romance fans, this one is for you!
ARC generously provided by the author for an honest review.
January 27, 2025
Before I start the review, here's a sneak peek
“𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗺𝗲?”
𝗜 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿. “𝗡𝗼.”
“𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁?”
“𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀.”
Yes he is the hyped Nico Russo, our beloved MMC.
Hyped books have never gone well with me and I've always concluded it's just me and not the book. But that's not the case here and I'm sure of it. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗲, 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸.
You might be thinking that an almost 400 pages full length mafia romance must be really engaging, if not for the romantic aspect then at least in terms of plot. Well, let me just spill the tea, nothing actually happens in the book. Trust me 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀. The author made the entire forbidden romance trope (fmc × her sister's fiance) as the main plot and ended it by bringing them together and calling it a day.
Plot? It definitely won't be visible through the naked eye. And forced proximity? Rather forced lust. Enemies to lovers? What's that even? I used to come up with a better plotline and excel in my story telling competitions when I was a second grader than what this author served in this book. Or maybe that's the thing— she didn't serve anything at all.
Let's get an insight of how downright ridiculous our beloved characters are.
𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗼 - What do I say about the man himself anymore? He was nothing but a misogynistic prick with double standards who uses rape as a threat.
➳ "𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵"
➳ “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲, 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂?”
➳ "𝗬���𝘂 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲"
That's his reaction in context to elena not being a virgin. The sheer audacity to ask that when he fucked his maids, his stepmom, even his fiancee's brother's girlfriend and multiple other women? 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗠𝗖 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱. 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀.
The fact he pushed elena into the pool in public just because he found her talking to another man is creeping me out especially when he was engaged to her sister at that point. Let's not forget the mortifying fact that 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗺𝗼𝗺 𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮. It doesn't matter if he regrets it but that's a line I wouldn't expect any author to cross unless it's penelope douglas (no offense).
And here comes the craziest part,
➳ "𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘁, 𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮'𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗻."
No way he mentioned that he got reminded of elena's bare ass while looking at his stepmom's and got hard all over again. 𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦.
➳ “𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵, 𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂.”
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘕𝘪𝘤𝘰 𝘙𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘰, 𝘐 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘵.
𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗮 𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶 - I fought tooth and nail just to find a reason as to why I shouldn't hate you but it turns out you're nothing but a 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝘅𝘆𝗴𝗲𝗻. I've never hated the colour pink but after reading this book I'm glad I never liked it either. Because the only personality trait that Elena Abelli possesses other than being 𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰, 𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰, 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗯𝗻𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 is her obsession with pink. She has no sense of self respect and lets nico boss around her like she's nothing more than a ragdoll.
It's the lack of regards and respect you have towards your sister that provoked me. Lusting and pulling out immature moves just to get the attention of your sister's fiance is unscrupulous. I'm holding nico just as accountable too but coming from the sister of the fiancee disgusted me even more. The fact that she kept provoking him only to get his attention knowing it's inappropriate is sending me.
➳ "𝗜 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲 . 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁. 𝗦𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗺 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽-𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁."
Elena love, are you doing fine in your head? Because how in the ever loving fuck can you seek solace in the fact that you'd be his only wife even if he goes around sleeping with other women?
➳ "𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗲—𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮’𝘀 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗼𝗯𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀."
Did she just say her mother was drooling over nico and that her mom might as well have taken off her panties and thrown at him? 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.
I can't with either of the characters. Both of them have the emotional intelligence of a twelve year old and couldn't be anymore immature. They're nothing more than walking headaches who were hell bent on testing what-was-left-of-my-last-shred-of-patience. This was in no way a mafia romance because that side was never shown.
There are many other things that bothered me about this book namely,
➳ Lack of sisterly bond between Elena and Adrianna.
➳ Nico acting like an immature brat and using the maid he slept with to make elena jealous.
➳ Elena not only represented stereotype but she butchered it.
➳ Nico treating his stepmom Gianna like shit when she was nothing but nice to him.
➳ Sex scenes were underwhelming.
➳ Nico literally slept with every women he's ever seen (his stepmom, maids, elena's brother's gf, and some of the other women he slept with were even shared with his cousin and that's beyond gross)
➳ He's a manwhore himself but has an issue with elena not being a virgin.
➳ Next level of misogyny and double standards.
➳ Nico threatening to rape Adrianna, his former fiancee.
➳ Elena being a pushover and doormat.
Lastly, Speaking of the romantic aspect, that was non existent because It wasn't the forbidden romance that's taking place between the characters rather it's 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁. I didn't come across any "romantic" scene without having them lusting towards one another throughout. I'm probably in the minority over here but genuinely speaking, I'll never understand the hype for this book.
The only best part about this book was I got to buddy read it with Fiza and Anshi. Our hate rants were everything. Also I should've taken afy's warning seriously when she said "screw the hype, it's a one star read" and guess what? It was and you won the bet (yet again). <3
“𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗺𝗲?”
𝗜 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿. “𝗡𝗼.”
“𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁?”
“𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀.”
Yes he is the hyped Nico Russo, our beloved MMC.
Hyped books have never gone well with me and I've always concluded it's just me and not the book. But that's not the case here and I'm sure of it. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗲, 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸.
You might be thinking that an almost 400 pages full length mafia romance must be really engaging, if not for the romantic aspect then at least in terms of plot. Well, let me just spill the tea, nothing actually happens in the book. Trust me 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀. The author made the entire forbidden romance trope (fmc × her sister's fiance) as the main plot and ended it by bringing them together and calling it a day.
Plot? It definitely won't be visible through the naked eye. And forced proximity? Rather forced lust. Enemies to lovers? What's that even? I used to come up with a better plotline and excel in my story telling competitions when I was a second grader than what this author served in this book. Or maybe that's the thing— she didn't serve anything at all.
Let's get an insight of how downright ridiculous our beloved characters are.
𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗼 - What do I say about the man himself anymore? He was nothing but a misogynistic prick with double standards who uses rape as a threat.
➳ "𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵"
➳ “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲, 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂?”
➳ "𝗬���𝘂 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲"
That's his reaction in context to elena not being a virgin. The sheer audacity to ask that when he fucked his maids, his stepmom, even his fiancee's brother's girlfriend and multiple other women? 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗠𝗖 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱. 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀.
The fact he pushed elena into the pool in public just because he found her talking to another man is creeping me out especially when he was engaged to her sister at that point. Let's not forget the mortifying fact that 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗺𝗼𝗺 𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮. It doesn't matter if he regrets it but that's a line I wouldn't expect any author to cross unless it's penelope douglas (no offense).
And here comes the craziest part,
➳ "𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘁, 𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮'𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗻."
No way he mentioned that he got reminded of elena's bare ass while looking at his stepmom's and got hard all over again. 𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦.
➳ “𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵, 𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂.”
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘕𝘪𝘤𝘰 𝘙𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘰, 𝘐 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘵.
𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗮 𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶 - I fought tooth and nail just to find a reason as to why I shouldn't hate you but it turns out you're nothing but a 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝘅𝘆𝗴𝗲𝗻. I've never hated the colour pink but after reading this book I'm glad I never liked it either. Because the only personality trait that Elena Abelli possesses other than being 𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰, 𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰, 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗯𝗻𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 is her obsession with pink. She has no sense of self respect and lets nico boss around her like she's nothing more than a ragdoll.
It's the lack of regards and respect you have towards your sister that provoked me. Lusting and pulling out immature moves just to get the attention of your sister's fiance is unscrupulous. I'm holding nico just as accountable too but coming from the sister of the fiancee disgusted me even more. The fact that she kept provoking him only to get his attention knowing it's inappropriate is sending me.
➳ "𝗜 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲 . 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁. 𝗦𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗺 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽-𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁."
Elena love, are you doing fine in your head? Because how in the ever loving fuck can you seek solace in the fact that you'd be his only wife even if he goes around sleeping with other women?
➳ "𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗲—𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮’𝘀 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗼𝗯𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀."
Did she just say her mother was drooling over nico and that her mom might as well have taken off her panties and thrown at him? 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.
I can't with either of the characters. Both of them have the emotional intelligence of a twelve year old and couldn't be anymore immature. They're nothing more than walking headaches who were hell bent on testing what-was-left-of-my-last-shred-of-patience. This was in no way a mafia romance because that side was never shown.
There are many other things that bothered me about this book namely,
➳ Lack of sisterly bond between Elena and Adrianna.
➳ Nico acting like an immature brat and using the maid he slept with to make elena jealous.
➳ Elena not only represented stereotype but she butchered it.
➳ Nico treating his stepmom Gianna like shit when she was nothing but nice to him.
➳ Sex scenes were underwhelming.
➳ Nico literally slept with every women he's ever seen (his stepmom, maids, elena's brother's gf, and some of the other women he slept with were even shared with his cousin and that's beyond gross)
➳ He's a manwhore himself but has an issue with elena not being a virgin.
➳ Next level of misogyny and double standards.
➳ Nico threatening to rape Adrianna, his former fiancee.
➳ Elena being a pushover and doormat.
Lastly, Speaking of the romantic aspect, that was non existent because It wasn't the forbidden romance that's taking place between the characters rather it's 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁. I didn't come across any "romantic" scene without having them lusting towards one another throughout. I'm probably in the minority over here but genuinely speaking, I'll never understand the hype for this book.
The only best part about this book was I got to buddy read it with Fiza and Anshi. Our hate rants were everything. Also I should've taken afy's warning seriously when she said "screw the hype, it's a one star read" and guess what? It was and you won the bet (yet again). <3
March 16, 2021
Re-read
It's not even rational how bad I want Nico...
Okay just realised this is my 200th book 🥳🥳🥳 and couldn't be prouder of my choice and fate 🥺💕💕
🌟5-unplatonic-allthingspink-stars🌟
Sir Nicolas Russo you caught me, didn't you !!!!
Bcz Same 🥺😑 that's what I was thinking while reading this book.
Author's Writing Style:
My FIRST Book of Danielle Lori
Definitely, it won't be my last
I feel like after the Crossfire series by Sylvia Day, Daniel Lori is the first author I've found who describes The Hero The Heroine and world-building this beautifully, with so much rhythm, melody,
details and fineness.
Apt to say I have become a fan of hers just by reading one book.
Usually, it takes me 2-3 books after I feel like I love the author. But with her just after 2-3 chapters, I knew I'll feel in Love with her writing
And did I fall in love!
So definitely no stopping here.
The Chemistry :
The sexual tension was right there from page one. I love Nico's every inner monologue.
I was craving for them. I love how wickedly he thinks of Elena.🙊
Unfortunately for us his POVs were handful.
So this is the only complaint I have.
I wish both Elena and Nico's POVs were more equivalent in number.
They are my new favorite couple. The little mind games were top of the world 😆 I will undoubtedly re-read this book countless times and also I will wish that I could read it for the first time.
Their romance made me burn. It was a slow burn and Ms.Lori made sure we readers became thirsty just for one simple kiss.
And Trust me Ms.Lori it worked. You made me almost lose my mind. The sexul frustration was pouring out of the book. I've never read a build-up and development like this one 😇.
Elena:
Girl, you made me proud of my long hair 🙈
okay let's not go there......
Elena made me realized that just like I have a kink for villains, I also love my villains with the most Goodie Good---est girl possible .
I love the Good Girl but not the doormat, not someone who fell at Hero's feet.
Elena, the sweet Abelli, is the perfect combination of sass, beauty, wit but also she had manners, compassion, and kindness.
Yup, she has done somethings that I myself can't agree with, but then again who is perfect and flawless?
If we don't have our share of dumb moments then we aren’t humans
But I love that she hold onto her conscience and lead her life according to that.
Nicolas Angelo Russo
(Father of my unborn child)
The first pov I read of this guy and I was hooked!! I fell in love with the claim he had over Elena.
He is protectiveness and Jealousy is the biggest turn on for me in this book.
I have no doubt Nico will tear apart the world for Elena and I can't demand anything more from this guy.
My kinda ideal man 🥺💕💘
Also
Is it even healthy to be turned on by this?
Okay...pls Don't answer
Nico calling Elena Baby
My heart-
I think hearing any form of endearment from made man hits different 💘💘💘💘
He is everything forbidden
If you know me you know I love forbidden and as sinister as possible 😇
So yup Nico is my man 🥰
Special Mention -Nonna and all things Abelli
And
Yeah
From now on Love is all things black and pink for me 💕
Happy reading xoxo
It's not even rational how bad I want Nico...
"I wondered if she was on the pill, and in a disturbing way kind of hoped she wasn’t. I wanted an irrevocable tie to this woman. I wanted to write my name on her skin, to do all kinds of fucked-up shit so she knew she was mine. Like lock her in my room and hand-feed her. With indifference, I finished my cigarette and contemplated the logistics of that."
Okay just realised this is my 200th book 🥳🥳🥳 and couldn't be prouder of my choice and fate 🥺💕💕
🌟5-unplatonic-allthingspink-stars🌟
"When something was overhyped, it was always a letdown. I guessed the joke was on me because this was not one of those times."
Sir Nicolas Russo you caught me, didn't you !!!!
Bcz Same 🥺😑 that's what I was thinking while reading this book.
Author's Writing Style:
My FIRST Book of Danielle Lori
Definitely, it won't be my last
I feel like after the Crossfire series by Sylvia Day, Daniel Lori is the first author I've found who describes The Hero The Heroine and world-building this beautifully, with so much rhythm, melody,
details and fineness.
Apt to say I have become a fan of hers just by reading one book.
Usually, it takes me 2-3 books after I feel like I love the author. But with her just after 2-3 chapters, I knew I'll feel in Love with her writing
And did I fall in love!
So definitely no stopping here.
The Chemistry :
"Chest to chest. Heartbeat to heartbeat. My pink dress to his black dress shirt and tie. We were so different, I realized then. Big and small. Hard and soft. Demanding and docile."
The sexual tension was right there from page one. I love Nico's every inner monologue.
I was craving for them. I love how wickedly he thinks of Elena.🙊
Unfortunately for us his POVs were handful.
So this is the only complaint I have.
I wish both Elena and Nico's POVs were more equivalent in number.
He nipped my bottom lip. “You make me fucking crazy.”
“Don’t blame me for your psychosis.”
“You are my psychosis.”
“Rude,” I breathed against his lips.
They are my new favorite couple. The little mind games were top of the world 😆 I will undoubtedly re-read this book countless times and also I will wish that I could read it for the first time.
I sat there with my arms around his shoulders, my breath fanning his throat. His presence soaked through my skin with each inhales. His touch and taste and smell sank so deep they filled the cracks of my heart. He was becoming a drug, an addiction I would have to feed every day. From the recent hit, euphoria filled my veins and relaxed my limbs.
He was an infatuation, a craving, a need, and I was sure it was unrequited. But as my fingers ran down his tie and rested on his chest— Bu-bum.
Bu-bum.
Bu-bum.
His heartbeats raced for me.
Their romance made me burn. It was a slow burn and Ms.Lori made sure we readers became thirsty just for one simple kiss.
And Trust me Ms.Lori it worked. You made me almost lose my mind. The sexul frustration was pouring out of the book. I've never read a build-up and development like this one 😇.
Elena:
Girl, you made me proud of my long hair 🙈
okay let's not go there......
Regardless of what I was born into, I’d always thought of myself as a moral and honest person. Maybe my roots were too deep, or maybe love gave a woman a reason to let her dark colors shine because I suddenly knew I would lie, cheat, and steal for this man.
I would burn the world for him.
He was King of the Cosa Nostra.
And he was all mine.
Elena made me realized that just like I have a kink for villains, I also love my villains with the most Goodie Good---est girl possible .
I love the Good Girl but not the doormat, not someone who fell at Hero's feet.
Elena, the sweet Abelli, is the perfect combination of sass, beauty, wit but also she had manners, compassion, and kindness.
Yup, she has done somethings that I myself can't agree with, but then again who is perfect and flawless?
If we don't have our share of dumb moments then we aren’t humans
But I love that she hold onto her conscience and lead her life according to that.
Nicolas Angelo Russo
(Father of my unborn child)
Whiskey and flame. Sleepless nights. Tattooed skin, white t-shirts, and rough hands. Love and lust and happiness. He was everything.
The first pov I read of this guy and I was hooked!! I fell in love with the claim he had over Elena.
He is protectiveness and Jealousy is the biggest turn on for me in this book.
I have no doubt Nico will tear apart the world for Elena and I can't demand anything more from this guy.
My kinda ideal man 🥺💕💘
I wanted to fuck her and ruin her for anyone else. I wanted to crush her wings and then put them back together again so she’d become dependent on me. I wanted her to need me. That dark, possessive, and dangerous feeling crawled through me every time she crossed my path.
Also
A breath of shock escaped me when his rough palm gripped the side of my throat and he pulled me to him. His lips pressed against my ear.
“You look like a slut in that dress, Elena.”
Is it even healthy to be turned on by this?
Okay...pls Don't answer
Nico calling Elena Baby
My heart-
I think hearing any form of endearment from made man hits different 💘💘💘💘
He is everything forbidden
If you know me you know I love forbidden and as sinister as possible 😇
He was comfort, security, and need, all in one.
It had a name.
Home.
So yup Nico is my man 🥰
Special Mention -Nonna and all things Abelli
I’d always imagined love as a concept—a genuine smile, a couple holding hands, a life partner. Now, I knew it was more dimensional; a maddening, possessive, and overwhelming presence that bloomed in your chest, with the power to make you feel so alive or shatter you to pieces.
And
Yeah
From now on Love is all things black and pink for me 💕
Happy reading xoxo
October 28, 2023
I would burn the world for him. He was the King of the Cosa Nostra, and he was all mine.
It was so much fun to read it again! I'm upgrading it from 4 to 5 stars because WHY NOT! IT'S SO GOOD! ✨
CHARACTERS: ♠️
Elena Abelli: Beautiful, Sweet, Confident. The girl every man wanted and a Romantic! She wanted a Happy ending and believed in love! 💓
Nicolas Russo: Dangerous, Handsome, Intimidating, and the most feared man in Cosa Nostra! He was crazy for Elena!
— It all started with Nico being Adriana's (Elena's sister) fiancé! There was instant lust, and both Nico and Elena were attracted to each other! It was a Forbidden Romance at first! Before the wedding, Adriana got pregnant, and Elena was promised to Nicolas!
— I enjoyed every single scene, and it was just too good! The sexual tension in the first chapters, how they both were trying to control themselves! 🫣 They both knew it was inappropriate but were strongly attracted to each other! After Elena went to live with Nico, every scene was just so 🔥.
I’ve never seen a woman in the Cosa Nostra blush until you.
Nico was infatuated with Elena! He was crazy about her and so possessive! Yet he had a soft and gentle side and treated her with respect and care! He couldn't stop thinking about her and followed her every move! 🥰
I needed him. More than morality or honesty.
Elena was equally obsessed with him! She was fascinated by him and desperately wanted his attention! She was really mature, not annoying at all, and knew how to stand her ground! She was also possessive of Nico! 🥵
I had to know I wasn't a substitute for some lost love. I had to know she wasn't pretending I was someone else.
There was a lot of miscommunication! Nico was insecure, and it's not something we often see in books! Nico thought Elena was still in love with someone (because she ran away six months ago), and this always made him angry and doubt himself! He thought Elena was not loyal, and he desperately wanted her to love him! 🥺
I wanted to be the best thing he'd ever had. To make him burn as much as he made me. I wanted him to want only me with a raw ache.
Elena was also insecure! She didn't want to love Nico because she believed he would never love her back! Though she knew he disliked the ring on her finger, she felt guilty for what happened six months ago and wanted closure for herself! 🙂
— I'm glad they ignored all of this and loved and cared for each other! The ending was so nice! I was so happy that Nico forgave Elena quickly and trusted her! It had the best ending! ☺️💕
Also, I reallyyyy want Tony's book! I don't know why, but I find his character so cool! Though we'll never get his book, and he was with Jenny, but A READER CAN ONLY WISH! 😀🤷🏻♀️
All the scenes of Elena with her Nonna and Mamma were so funny, and I really liked her family (well, not her father and uncles)! Her cousins were cool too! Nvm, we won't get Dominic's book either 😢
And reading the bits of Gianna & Christian again was fun! I didn't really pay any attention to them when I've read this book for the first time but GIANNA'S MY FAVOURITE! 💕
Favourite Lines:
“I swear to God, Elena, if I find out you’ve let some man touch you, I will deliver his hands to you in a box.” “And I do not. Fucking. Bluff.”
[ ISTG I WAS LITERALLY LIKE 😧 ]
“Why are you staring at me?”
“Maybe I want to.”
[ CUTE! 🫠😍 ]
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
“That much I can promise you, Elena.”
[ I love reading these type of dialogues in Mafia books! 🥹 ]
“Nico, I’m so sore.”
“Fuck, baby, I’m sorry.”
[ Gentle, told ya 🥰 ]
“Hit a woman in front of me and you won’t be alive to do it again,” Nico growled.
[ THIS MAN 😭😭😭 ]
Reviews:
The Maddest Obsession
The Darkest Temptation
It was so much fun to read it again! I'm upgrading it from 4 to 5 stars because WHY NOT! IT'S SO GOOD! ✨
CHARACTERS: ♠️
Elena Abelli: Beautiful, Sweet, Confident. The girl every man wanted and a Romantic! She wanted a Happy ending and believed in love! 💓
Nicolas Russo: Dangerous, Handsome, Intimidating, and the most feared man in Cosa Nostra! He was crazy for Elena!
— It all started with Nico being Adriana's (Elena's sister) fiancé! There was instant lust, and both Nico and Elena were attracted to each other! It was a Forbidden Romance at first! Before the wedding, Adriana got pregnant, and Elena was promised to Nicolas!
— I enjoyed every single scene, and it was just too good! The sexual tension in the first chapters, how they both were trying to control themselves! 🫣 They both knew it was inappropriate but were strongly attracted to each other! After Elena went to live with Nico, every scene was just so 🔥.
I’ve never seen a woman in the Cosa Nostra blush until you.
Nico was infatuated with Elena! He was crazy about her and so possessive! Yet he had a soft and gentle side and treated her with respect and care! He couldn't stop thinking about her and followed her every move! 🥰
I needed him. More than morality or honesty.
Elena was equally obsessed with him! She was fascinated by him and desperately wanted his attention! She was really mature, not annoying at all, and knew how to stand her ground! She was also possessive of Nico! 🥵
I had to know I wasn't a substitute for some lost love. I had to know she wasn't pretending I was someone else.
There was a lot of miscommunication! Nico was insecure, and it's not something we often see in books! Nico thought Elena was still in love with someone (because she ran away six months ago), and this always made him angry and doubt himself! He thought Elena was not loyal, and he desperately wanted her to love him! 🥺
I wanted to be the best thing he'd ever had. To make him burn as much as he made me. I wanted him to want only me with a raw ache.
Elena was also insecure! She didn't want to love Nico because she believed he would never love her back! Though she knew he disliked the ring on her finger, she felt guilty for what happened six months ago and wanted closure for herself! 🙂
— I'm glad they ignored all of this and loved and cared for each other! The ending was so nice! I was so happy that Nico forgave Elena quickly and trusted her! It had the best ending! ☺️💕
Also, I reallyyyy want Tony's book! I don't know why, but I find his character so cool! Though we'll never get his book, and he was with Jenny, but A READER CAN ONLY WISH! 😀🤷🏻♀️
All the scenes of Elena with her Nonna and Mamma were so funny, and I really liked her family (well, not her father and uncles)! Her cousins were cool too! Nvm, we won't get Dominic's book either 😢
And reading the bits of Gianna & Christian again was fun! I didn't really pay any attention to them when I've read this book for the first time but GIANNA'S MY FAVOURITE! 💕
Favourite Lines:
“I swear to God, Elena, if I find out you’ve let some man touch you, I will deliver his hands to you in a box.” “And I do not. Fucking. Bluff.”
[ ISTG I WAS LITERALLY LIKE 😧 ]
“Why are you staring at me?”
“Maybe I want to.”
[ CUTE! 🫠😍 ]
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
“That much I can promise you, Elena.”
[ I love reading these type of dialogues in Mafia books! 🥹 ]
“Nico, I’m so sore.”
“Fuck, baby, I’m sorry.”
[ Gentle, told ya 🥰 ]
“Hit a woman in front of me and you won’t be alive to do it again,” Nico growled.
[ THIS MAN 😭😭😭 ]
Reviews:
The Maddest Obsession
The Darkest Temptation
January 16, 2025
the floors would be swept, the food would be cooked, the laundry would be folded, the bathrooms would be cleaned, and i would be on my knees. wait, what?
October 2, 2021
two stars for the ponytail pulling only
November 19, 2021
Nicolas Russo & Elena Abelli. that’s it. that’s the review. i’m obsessed & cannot fully articulate just how much with words so JUST READ IT.
“everyone knows you don’t fall in love with a Made man.. right?”
“everyone knows you don’t fall in love with a Made man.. right?”
November 15, 2021
***4.5***
Reread November 14, 2021
“ Whiskey and flame. Sleepless nights. Tattooed skin, white t-shirts, and rough hands. Love and lust and happiness. He was everything.”
I have seen this book on so many of my friend’s reading lists and so I became curious. What’s all the fuss about? Never heard of the author before but I love a good mafia romance, so what the hell?
Oh.my.goodness. this book was so good. From the first word to the last I was glued to the pages. From their first glance the chemistry between Elena and Nico was electric although he was engaged to her younger sister. No cheating though...it was an arranged marriage as is the way among La Cosa Nostra but like a moth to a flame Elena and Nico could not be apart. It was heartwarming to read their story and see how they could not not be together.
The story was so well written and although it was a slow burn the sexual chemistry between the hero and heroine was blazing hot. I can’t wait to dive into more books by this amazing author.
I HIGHLY recommend it.
Reread November 14, 2021
“ Whiskey and flame. Sleepless nights. Tattooed skin, white t-shirts, and rough hands. Love and lust and happiness. He was everything.”
I have seen this book on so many of my friend’s reading lists and so I became curious. What’s all the fuss about? Never heard of the author before but I love a good mafia romance, so what the hell?
Oh.my.goodness. this book was so good. From the first word to the last I was glued to the pages. From their first glance the chemistry between Elena and Nico was electric although he was engaged to her younger sister. No cheating though...it was an arranged marriage as is the way among La Cosa Nostra but like a moth to a flame Elena and Nico could not be apart. It was heartwarming to read their story and see how they could not not be together.
The story was so well written and although it was a slow burn the sexual chemistry between the hero and heroine was blazing hot. I can’t wait to dive into more books by this amazing author.
I HIGHLY recommend it.
Read
July 19, 2023problematic author!
— 4 stars ✰
"because you'll fall in love with her
and she won't love you back"
lowkey highkey enjoyed this much more than i thought i would, ngl. it was interesting from the start and let me tell you.. nico mf russo 😮💨
when he said "smart girl" it was over for me, when he said "i swear to god, elena, if i find out you've let another man touch you" i died, when he said "hit a woman in front of me and you won't be able to do it again" i was rolling over in my grave 👏🏼 the feminism leaving my body like 🫠🫠
the TENSION in this book, i was baffled by how much self control they had.. couldn't be me. when elena admitted being tempted by him, i saw myself in her.. girl, you're not alone. i would've worn those tiny shorts too, let's be real here
i lived for the jealousy scenes, he was so invested in her love life & the way he thought elena was in love with another man had me spiraling 💀 ugh, how he always glanced at her from across the room?? 🤌🏼 let't not forget when he pushed her into the pool because she wouldn't stop talking to christian
gianna >>> i love this woman and i'm so ready for her book
how does this book only have 380 pages but the perfect pacing? so much has happened already by the 50% mark but istg it didn't felt rushed at all. the slow burn was burning but it was worth the wait!!
— 4 stars ✰
"because you'll fall in love with her
and she won't love you back"
when he said "smart girl" it was over for me, when he said "i swear to god, elena, if i find out you've let another man touch you" i died, when he said "hit a woman in front of me and you won't be able to do it again" i was rolling over in my grave 👏🏼 the feminism leaving my body like 🫠🫠
the TENSION in this book, i was baffled by how much self control they had.. couldn't be me. when elena admitted being tempted by him, i saw myself in her.. girl, you're not alone. i would've worn those tiny shorts too, let's be real here
i lived for the jealousy scenes, he was so invested in her love life & the way he thought elena was in love with another man had me spiraling 💀 ugh, how he always glanced at her from across the room?? 🤌🏼 let't not forget when he pushed her into the pool because she wouldn't stop talking to christian
gianna >>> i love this woman and i'm so ready for her book
how does this book only have 380 pages but the perfect pacing? so much has happened already by the 50% mark but istg it didn't felt rushed at all. the slow burn was burning but it was worth the wait!!
November 27, 2024
So apparently, I like mafia men! Who would have thought!
Shelved as 'dnf'
May 7, 2021DNF at 59%.
Another mafia book which I could not bring myself to care for. I still do not understand the purpose this story served, where the plot was going or the personalities of our characters.
Onto the next one.
Another mafia book which I could not bring myself to care for. I still do not understand the purpose this story served, where the plot was going or the personalities of our characters.
Onto the next one.
December 2, 2024
4.5 ★'s
I understand the hype around this. This was so mesmerizing, one page in and I was transformed into this new world of mafia, dangerous men and secrets.
✧ “I hadn’t known it was possible to want something so much and to fear it in equal measure.” ✧
When I saw that Iqra has reread this one 9 times, I knew I had to give it a try and damn am I happy I did.
The writing was so completely immersive it was hard to put this book down.
It's so intense, sexy, exciting with a sense of danger.
I imagine it's fairly easy to write a good sex scene, but to build chemistry and tension that truly oozes of the page, writing scenes that have my heart racing by them just sitting in the same car, it's no small feat. It mostly comes down to none other than Nico Russo. 😮💨
When I say I want an obsessive, dangerous man, this is what I mean.
✦“The man was rude, arrogant and slightly psychotic. The logical part of me didn’t like him. But the carnal part - God, did it want to give him anything he wanted.”✦
I loved seeing how the meticulous mafia don got reckless over Elena. Their shared hidden obsession with each other. Them constantly seeking each other out. Their natural way to challenge and taunt each other. His threats and demands, Elena constantly disagreeing. It's too good.😩
✧ “Why are you staring at me?”
“Maybe I want to." ✧
I will say, Elena is honestly nothing special. She's kind, sweet, can be selfish. She's giving very much beautiful girl-next-door vibes(but happens to be a part of a mafia empire). I didn't mind it throughout the book though as Nico's personality is big enough for the both of them lol. However, didn't love how Elena's story was concluded which is partly why I'm docking a star. As the majority of this book was from Elena's perspective we got to know her feelings of being stuck in her 'good girl' personality and the expectations on her coming from a well renowned mafia family. I wish we've gotten to see her come into herself more. All she really got out if it was a relationship which is all good and dandy - but would've liked to see some more growth and space for her to build something for herself.
All in all, loved it - can't wait to devour the rest of the series🤓
✧ “You’re dreadfully totalitarian today.”
“Just shy of psychotic, then?” His eyes sparked. “Guess I’d better up my game.” ✧
____________
⌞Pre-read:⌝
I've been obsessed with seeing all of Arina's updates on this one, so I had to bump it up the tbr to know what it's all about. 🙂↕️
I understand the hype around this. This was so mesmerizing, one page in and I was transformed into this new world of mafia, dangerous men and secrets.
✧ “I hadn’t known it was possible to want something so much and to fear it in equal measure.” ✧
When I saw that Iqra has reread this one 9 times, I knew I had to give it a try and damn am I happy I did.
The writing was so completely immersive it was hard to put this book down.
It's so intense, sexy, exciting with a sense of danger.
I imagine it's fairly easy to write a good sex scene, but to build chemistry and tension that truly oozes of the page, writing scenes that have my heart racing by them just sitting in the same car, it's no small feat. It mostly comes down to none other than Nico Russo. 😮💨
When I say I want an obsessive, dangerous man, this is what I mean.
✦“The man was rude, arrogant and slightly psychotic. The logical part of me didn’t like him. But the carnal part - God, did it want to give him anything he wanted.”✦
I loved seeing how the meticulous mafia don got reckless over Elena. Their shared hidden obsession with each other. Them constantly seeking each other out. Their natural way to challenge and taunt each other. His threats and demands, Elena constantly disagreeing. It's too good.😩
✧ “Why are you staring at me?”
“Maybe I want to." ✧
I will say, Elena is honestly nothing special. She's kind, sweet, can be selfish. She's giving very much beautiful girl-next-door vibes(but happens to be a part of a mafia empire). I didn't mind it throughout the book though as Nico's personality is big enough for the both of them lol. However, didn't love how Elena's story was concluded which is partly why I'm docking a star. As the majority of this book was from Elena's perspective we got to know her feelings of being stuck in her 'good girl' personality and the expectations on her coming from a well renowned mafia family. I wish we've gotten to see her come into herself more. All she really got out if it was a relationship which is all good and dandy - but would've liked to see some more growth and space for her to build something for herself.
All in all, loved it - can't wait to devour the rest of the series🤓
✧ “You’re dreadfully totalitarian today.”
“Just shy of psychotic, then?” His eyes sparked. “Guess I’d better up my game.” ✧
____________
⌞Pre-read:⌝
I've been obsessed with seeing all of Arina's updates on this one, so I had to bump it up the tbr to know what it's all about. 🙂↕️
January 15, 2025
BAHHAHAHAH WHAT THE FAAAAACK 🦅🦅🦅
꧁༒☬𝓢𝓹𝓸𝓲𝓵𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓪𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓭 ☬༒꧂
There was no spolier memorable enough to hold back. Trust me, you're not missing out on anything but BS.
If you're a fan of this book, either don't read this long-aah-rant packaged with hate; or remove whatever rose-tinted glasses you're viewing this book with and listen up. I didn't judge this book alone. I read this with two others who don't hate books unnecessarily aswell.
Fiza and Krisha. Thank you, losers for reading this with me and pushing through. Check out their reviews asw!!
And afy too, for hyping us up. 🫶🏻🥹💋
Now, moving on to our long awaited review.
Let's get started. *cracks knuckles*
If our main characters, Elena and Nicolas weren't hot, their "attraction" and the plot wouldn't have existed.
Oh, wait. Pfftt, there was no plot. Silly me.
🙄
From the non-existent plot of this book, to the miscommunication trope, to Elenas comebacks that had a stricking similarity to a grandmother who was diagnosed with a narcissistic personality; I hated this novel with my whole body.
Elena, Elena, Elena....
Y'all better back tf up if you liked this bland ahh b*tch because I'm so mad, you're going to feel my heat through this review. Just like the heat that travelled bw her legs 555 times in this book.
No, really, what was so good about this one?
1. She couldn't stand up for herself and had a backbone that was bendable as a snake's.
2. She had the self-respect of Y/N from wattpad.
3. She couldn't cook and I meant for herself, not for the man. Even I can cook eggs, tfaq.
4. Her comebacks were so painful, my eyes stung.
5. Her survival instincts is that of a garden snail. I can't even imagine her surviving Minecraft.
6. She herself didn't even know what to do with herself 99% of the book.
The only thing she was good at was pink and her fits.
Atleast her fits were sexy. So, yay?
Anyways,
I had already tried my best to ignore how feminism was banned in this book (and failed) but what I couldn't ignore is the fact that even the women were against women. Like, what?
It was almost embarrassing how Elena stated that she had a "mother hen personality" but that personality only showed up when it came to her brothers.
When it was Adriana (her sister), she actually went, I quote,
"A good sister would have gone to ask her why she was upset, but I was beginning to learn I was a selfish one." 😀
Let's not forget how she only blamed Gianna (who was nothing but nice to her) for sleeping with Nicolas, and got jealous of her. Yet she didn't mention once—in her barely-bearable monologues— how Nicolas was at fault too.🧍♀️
Now, moving along to the so-called Nicolas. The guy hates being called Nicolas and prefers Nico, so I'm going to call him Nicolas.
If you give me an option to date a brick wall, or this man—watch me make out with the wall.
Honestly, babes. What was so attractive about this guy? He was literally described as the most cliched mafia character in mafia characters.
His insecurity bled all over the book; I had to put it down because it burned my hands.
Or was it because the book was boring? Don't remember. And honestly? I couldn't care less.
The whole book was forgettable.
I actually had hope for Nicolas when he burnt down the gas station and everything. That was so hot, even I admit that. Hello?? I'm the biggest simps of simps for protective men? 🥵
But then he took a full on 360, making me want to kiss his jaw. With my fist.
I mean, c'mon, he wasn't hypocritical at all. After sleeping with his step-mother, his maid, and Elena's brother's girlfriend. All he says is,
"You realize you have gave him something that belongs to me, don't you?" (it's her virginity)
Not hypocritical AT ALL.
And what was all that jealousy and miscommunication over a plastic ring? Y'all think that's hot?
No. It's pathetic, babes. Raise your fcking standards. 😂
He kept dodging questions about sleeping with other women when Elena asked, and made her apologise for everything when he could've just FRICKING TALKED.
But nooo. Nicolas Angelo Russo never communicates commonsense does he? The guy said, "Assuming can get you in trouble," then proceeds to assume Elena has another man she loves.
Did he really expect my kitty to go 🙀 at that??? MAKE IT MAKE SENSE FFS.
Not only does he assume, then he goes and mess it up more by saying,
"Because innocent or not, if the man wasn't dead and he crossed my path, his lifeless body would be unrecognizable."
Now, if y'all ladies still think that's hot, just imagine Nicolas Russo as an ugly man with three hair strands like The Wimpy Kid and he actually did kill your innocent lover. 🧍♀️
Not so hot anymore huh?
See, I have nothing against smexy, fictional killers. I love them. I love them to a point where I'd be as submissive as Elena (I wouldn't), But if he's a killer who kills innocents? *dials 911*
And let's take a moment to speak about how he speaks of Elena as an object. And wallah, I'm not making this up.
"I wanted it, but I couldn't let myself have it. Nonetheless, now that I knew she belonged to another man,"
Bro just stop talking, please. 🙏🥹
Towards the end it was just so damn frustrating. He kept treating Elena like a little child. I mean, she was acting like one, so I can't even deny it. At one point I went, "I wouldn't be surprised if she called him Daddy."
Lastly, the writing. THE WRITING?
What a joke thing. There were moments where I winced and had to look away from my tablet to take a deep breath and continue.
Mafia politics? Non-existent like the plot. I was fricking robbed. The author is a racist too, so I don't even feel bad for shtting on this.
0.5 stars for the gas station scene and 0.5 stars for the smut.🤚
I can't belive some of y'all has the audacity to compare this book with the Dark Verse. I'll bite you like a dog istfg.
*sighs and plops down on the bed while panting*
I'd like to apologise to Iqra, Rowan, Libia, Rhea and Smruthi for my heavily, heated review. I was just too hurt after so many promises. Thank you guys for the recommendation. This review is nothing against y'all and I'm so happy you guys loved it!❤️
꧁༒☬𝓢𝓹𝓸𝓲𝓵𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓪𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓭 ☬༒꧂
There was no spolier memorable enough to hold back. Trust me, you're not missing out on anything but BS.
If you're a fan of this book, either don't read this long-aah-rant packaged with hate; or remove whatever rose-tinted glasses you're viewing this book with and listen up. I didn't judge this book alone. I read this with two others who don't hate books unnecessarily aswell.
Fiza and Krisha. Thank you, losers for reading this with me and pushing through. Check out their reviews asw!!
And afy too, for hyping us up. 🫶🏻🥹💋
Now, moving on to our long awaited review.
Let's get started. *cracks knuckles*
If our main characters, Elena and Nicolas weren't hot, their "attraction" and the plot wouldn't have existed.
Oh, wait. Pfftt, there was no plot. Silly me.
🙄
From the non-existent plot of this book, to the miscommunication trope, to Elenas comebacks that had a stricking similarity to a grandmother who was diagnosed with a narcissistic personality; I hated this novel with my whole body.
Elena, Elena, Elena....
Y'all better back tf up if you liked this bland ahh b*tch because I'm so mad, you're going to feel my heat through this review. Just like the heat that travelled bw her legs 555 times in this book.
No, really, what was so good about this one?
1. She couldn't stand up for herself and had a backbone that was bendable as a snake's.
2. She had the self-respect of Y/N from wattpad.
3. She couldn't cook and I meant for herself, not for the man. Even I can cook eggs, tfaq.
4. Her comebacks were so painful, my eyes stung.
5. Her survival instincts is that of a garden snail. I can't even imagine her surviving Minecraft.
6. She herself didn't even know what to do with herself 99% of the book.
The only thing she was good at was pink and her fits.
Atleast her fits were sexy. So, yay?
Anyways,
I had already tried my best to ignore how feminism was banned in this book (and failed) but what I couldn't ignore is the fact that even the women were against women. Like, what?
It was almost embarrassing how Elena stated that she had a "mother hen personality" but that personality only showed up when it came to her brothers.
When it was Adriana (her sister), she actually went, I quote,
"A good sister would have gone to ask her why she was upset, but I was beginning to learn I was a selfish one." 😀
Let's not forget how she only blamed Gianna (who was nothing but nice to her) for sleeping with Nicolas, and got jealous of her. Yet she didn't mention once—in her barely-bearable monologues— how Nicolas was at fault too.🧍♀️
Now, moving along to the so-called Nicolas. The guy hates being called Nicolas and prefers Nico, so I'm going to call him Nicolas.
If you give me an option to date a brick wall, or this man—watch me make out with the wall.
Honestly, babes. What was so attractive about this guy? He was literally described as the most cliched mafia character in mafia characters.
His insecurity bled all over the book; I had to put it down because it burned my hands.
Or was it because the book was boring? Don't remember. And honestly? I couldn't care less.
The whole book was forgettable.
I actually had hope for Nicolas when he burnt down the gas station and everything. That was so hot, even I admit that. Hello?? I'm the biggest simps of simps for protective men? 🥵
But then he took a full on 360, making me want to kiss his jaw. With my fist.
I mean, c'mon, he wasn't hypocritical at all. After sleeping with his step-mother, his maid, and Elena's brother's girlfriend. All he says is,
"You realize you have gave him something that belongs to me, don't you?" (it's her virginity)
Not hypocritical AT ALL.
And what was all that jealousy and miscommunication over a plastic ring? Y'all think that's hot?
No. It's pathetic, babes. Raise your fcking standards. 😂
He kept dodging questions about sleeping with other women when Elena asked, and made her apologise for everything when he could've just FRICKING TALKED.
But nooo. Nicolas Angelo Russo never communicates commonsense does he? The guy said, "Assuming can get you in trouble," then proceeds to assume Elena has another man she loves.
Did he really expect my kitty to go 🙀 at that??? MAKE IT MAKE SENSE FFS.
Not only does he assume, then he goes and mess it up more by saying,
"Because innocent or not, if the man wasn't dead and he crossed my path, his lifeless body would be unrecognizable."
Now, if y'all ladies still think that's hot, just imagine Nicolas Russo as an ugly man with three hair strands like The Wimpy Kid and he actually did kill your innocent lover. 🧍♀️
Not so hot anymore huh?
See, I have nothing against smexy, fictional killers. I love them. I love them to a point where I'd be as submissive as Elena (I wouldn't), But if he's a killer who kills innocents? *dials 911*
And let's take a moment to speak about how he speaks of Elena as an object. And wallah, I'm not making this up.
"I wanted it, but I couldn't let myself have it. Nonetheless, now that I knew she belonged to another man,"
Bro just stop talking, please. 🙏🥹
Towards the end it was just so damn frustrating. He kept treating Elena like a little child. I mean, she was acting like one, so I can't even deny it. At one point I went, "I wouldn't be surprised if she called him Daddy."
Lastly, the writing. THE WRITING?
What a joke thing. There were moments where I winced and had to look away from my tablet to take a deep breath and continue.
Mafia politics? Non-existent like the plot. I was fricking robbed. The author is a racist too, so I don't even feel bad for shtting on this.
0.5 stars for the gas station scene and 0.5 stars for the smut.🤚
I can't belive some of y'all has the audacity to compare this book with the Dark Verse. I'll bite you like a dog istfg.
*sighs and plops down on the bed while panting*
I'd like to apologise to Iqra, Rowan, Libia, Rhea and Smruthi for my heavily, heated review. I was just too hurt after so many promises. Thank you guys for the recommendation. This review is nothing against y'all and I'm so happy you guys loved it!❤️
August 17, 2021
4.5 ⭐️
Mafia men are hot as fuck why am I only finding this out NOWWWWW.
Nico Russo can have me idgaf about anything else
READ THIS BOOK it’s so good!!
Warning though: You might not like the long stretches of inner monologue at the beginning, but at least you learn more about what goes on in nico’s head (that’s what the half star deduction is for—the monologue because ugh I had to skim some)
Mafia men are hot as fuck why am I only finding this out NOWWWWW.
Nico Russo can have me idgaf about anything else
READ THIS BOOK it’s so good!!
Warning though: You might not like the long stretches of inner monologue at the beginning, but at least you learn more about what goes on in nico’s head (that’s what the half star deduction is for—the monologue because ugh I had to skim some)
January 6, 2025
Nico Russo 😮💨🥵😍
That’s it. That’s the review.
────⟡⋆˙✩ ⋆˙⟡────
My first read of 2025! It’s been a while since I’ve read anything mafia-related so I’m excited 🤭
That’s it. That’s the review.
────⟡⋆˙✩ ⋆˙⟡────
My first read of 2025! It’s been a while since I’ve read anything mafia-related so I’m excited 🤭
May 4, 2021
*Re-read and it's even better the second time*
This was everything I didn’t know I needed.
This was everything I didn’t know I needed.
June 22, 2024
Re read June 2024⬇️
It’s been ages since I’ve read a mafia book and this one was so good and addictive. I have to say this book had one of the hottest sexual buildups I’ve read. Even though the MC didn’t like each other at first, their chemistry was undeniable. Another thing I loved about this book was the “cosa nostra” how true it stayed to the kind of lifestyle the made men lived not just for them, but for their women.
Our H Nicolas, was a brutal unapologetic Don set in his traditional ways, but with our h Elena, he found himself making exceptions. I liked Elena I thought she was perfect for Nicolas. She knew the life too with her father being a Don as well. I like that she was girly always in her heals and her dry sense of humor (I think she got it from her Nona) lol!
I’m gonna say again this book was a slow burn but so so good and that first kiss wow! You’ll understand if you read it! There was some miscommunication between Elena and Nicolas but it was never frustrating for me, and it never kept them apart. I loved all the characters from both sides of the family and I hope they all get their own story. I really really hope Sebastian gets his own book!
The only thing that was missing for me was a bit more action. But it was dam near perfect. One of my favorite of the year for sure. Can’t wait for Gianna and Christian book! ♥️
”Lust will be the death of us”-unknown
It’s been ages since I’ve read a mafia book and this one was so good and addictive. I have to say this book had one of the hottest sexual buildups I’ve read. Even though the MC didn’t like each other at first, their chemistry was undeniable. Another thing I loved about this book was the “cosa nostra” how true it stayed to the kind of lifestyle the made men lived not just for them, but for their women.
Our H Nicolas, was a brutal unapologetic Don set in his traditional ways, but with our h Elena, he found himself making exceptions. I liked Elena I thought she was perfect for Nicolas. She knew the life too with her father being a Don as well. I like that she was girly always in her heals and her dry sense of humor (I think she got it from her Nona) lol!
I’m gonna say again this book was a slow burn but so so good and that first kiss wow! You’ll understand if you read it! There was some miscommunication between Elena and Nicolas but it was never frustrating for me, and it never kept them apart. I loved all the characters from both sides of the family and I hope they all get their own story. I really really hope Sebastian gets his own book!
The only thing that was missing for me was a bit more action. But it was dam near perfect. One of my favorite of the year for sure. Can’t wait for Gianna and Christian book! ♥️
“I am as bad as the worst, but, thank God, I am as good as the best” - Walt Whitman
December 17, 2024
~ 4 ☆
Nico? yes daddy Nico? yes daddy Nico? yes daddy Nico? yes daddy Nico?Nico? yes daddy Nico? yes daddy Nico? yes daddy Nico? yes daddy Nico?Nico? yes daddy Nico? yes daddy Nico? yes daddy Nico? yes daddy Nico?
This 6 feet something controlling pussy-pleasing dadddddy had my throat pulsing like a drum and dripping sweat through my hairline?!! bro had me wanting to turn into a feral animal at 3am and grrrrrrrr for him. Elena is stronger than me ! cause if someone like Nico approached me and said the things he said in this book I'd fold instantly! , I feel like need to summon the ancestral power to land in the mafia world and get to him.
let me just...
—but why did I tear my pillow in half when Elena's cousin tried to smack her face, but then Nico grabbed his wrist and laid down the law, saying "Hit a woman in front of me and you won't be alive to do it again."
Nico .... the day I catch you...
Elena! the woman that u are! homegirl really said ''I don't cook i don't clean but let me show you how i got this ring. anyway, i don't blame her for the way she acted in this book because I probably would too, but why was homegirl keep saying ''I am unexperienced, you married a virgin blah blah '' THEN PROCEEDS to do entire gorilla split on the dick?
akaksjhf girl were you tryna do jumping jacks on the D? 😭
—this is kinda of a slow burn but when the smut hits??!! every scene with her and Nico had my back arching like a cat and frothing at the mouth!🔥. I also really loved the family dynamic in this book, like everyone was so funny and dramatic and had me giggling here and there. I really hope some of the side characters get their own book like Christen, Tony, Dominic, Sebastian, Ginna etc . I'm forgetting more..
I am only rating it 4 stars though because of two things
1. Adrinna gave me nothing in this book. She needed more development. How old is she anyway? I didn't care for her crappy love story with the gardener. She was weird. she was giving 'Dork Diaries'
2. I didn't like the miscommunication trope. I also feel like we still don't know much about Nico and his background.
but other than that, amazing! ...I can see why Iqra is re-reading this all the time 😭
This 6 feet something controlling pussy-pleasing dadddddy had my throat pulsing like a drum and dripping sweat through my hairline?!! bro had me wanting to turn into a feral animal at 3am and grrrrrrrr for him. Elena is stronger than me ! cause if someone like Nico approached me and said the things he said in this book I'd fold instantly! , I feel like need to summon the ancestral power to land in the mafia world and get to him.
let me just...
—but why did I tear my pillow in half when Elena's cousin tried to smack her face, but then Nico grabbed his wrist and laid down the law, saying "Hit a woman in front of me and you won't be alive to do it again."
Nico .... the day I catch you...
Elena! the woman that u are! homegirl really said ''I don't cook i don't clean but let me show you how i got this ring. anyway, i don't blame her for the way she acted in this book because I probably would too, but why was homegirl keep saying ''I am unexperienced, you married a virgin blah blah '' THEN PROCEEDS to do entire gorilla split on the dick?
akaksjhf girl were you tryna do jumping jacks on the D? 😭
—this is kinda of a slow burn but when the smut hits??!! every scene with her and Nico had my back arching like a cat and frothing at the mouth!🔥. I also really loved the family dynamic in this book, like everyone was so funny and dramatic and had me giggling here and there. I really hope some of the side characters get their own book like Christen, Tony, Dominic, Sebastian, Ginna etc . I'm forgetting more..
I am only rating it 4 stars though because of two things
1. Adrinna gave me nothing in this book. She needed more development. How old is she anyway? I didn't care for her crappy love story with the gardener. She was weird. she was giving 'Dork Diaries'
2. I didn't like the miscommunication trope. I also feel like we still don't know much about Nico and his background.
but other than that, amazing! ...I can see why Iqra is re-reading this all the time 😭
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