Plot : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Story :⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice :🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rating :⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tropes : enemies to lovers, enemies to benefits to lovers?
Pacing : it was perfect.
Characters : i) Christian allister — Hello to this man, the book literally starts with him in a therapy session, but then the story starts and little by little we see his pov, as well as gianna’s, and this man is whipped, but hates it, and obsesses over her for years, watching his girl become someone else’s twice and then finally making her his in his own way. Christian went through so much, and that explains his behaviour, his obsession, his love, his feelings for Gianna. He likes his stuff to be organised, and neat. he also f•••• the same woman thrice. He does not speak his feelings out loud, my man is emotionally contispated, it comes off in small bursts, uhm, violent bursts. if someone so much as insulted his woman, this man won’t hesitate to literally 💀 them
(like he should 🤭) Christian made me want to dig deeper and know more about him, and as I turned the pages, I knew that there’s more for this man, than he lets on. and i was right. God, he went through so much, the way he tells her about his past, made me just want to hug him, and also show him, my feelings didn’t change because he revealed his darkness to me. i’d devour it. (reading too much dark romance makes one colour blind, and officially, i’m joining that club🤭) Christian is cold, but he’s not the type to not feel anything. He observes, feels deeply, makes sure his girl is cared for. He obsessed over her for years, that made my heart melt. He made sure that she knew that she was the only woman he’d kissed in his life. (because he never kissed I loved Christian so much. I think, now that I look back, everything clicks into place. all the little details, the three card on the book cover, and the obsession, his need to keep her close. Gianna is the light of Christian’s life, and now i’m jealous.
ii) Gianna Russo / Marino / Allister — this woman, God, I loved how brave, witty, soft, and kind she is. the banter between her and Christian made me laugh, this woman did not make it easy for him. she constantly tested him, and I was here for all of it. She gave her expensive sandals to another woman in the cell she was visiting, she gave food to someone because he was hungry. she did random things, but made them look so beautiful. Gianna did not bend, and follow the rules, and commands that were tossed on her by ace. she did what she wanted, and I love her for it. even if that got her in danger.
What I loved : I loved the story, the plot kept me going. I thought i’d not read this book, but Danielle writes so well, mystery mixed with perfect revelation, and keeping the readers guessing, dropping hints, and making me question whether I got it right or wrong. this was my first book by Danielle, and I loved, loved it, I reversed read this series, guess, when my sweetest oblivion paperback arrives, i’m gonna read that next!
What I struggled with : literally nothing. I loved reading this book completely. it was worth it.
Loveable characters or not : Loveable, and Christian : so much more. He is my new favorite book boyfriend.
Strong character development : yes.
Plot driven / character driven : plot driven. 101% 🤌🏼🫠
Favorite quotes/ highlights :
Similar authors : I am sure. I have never read a mafia series as good as this one, so, i’d read other books by the same author in this series.
Similar book recommendations : Bound by hatred by cora reilly. (it’s an enemies to lovers, mafia arranged marriage romance, book 2 in the born in mafia chronicles series) it was a good book.
Any other details : tbh, this book exceeded my expectations, and I loved it so much, I only put this book for so long, until I was too curious and had to pick it up again to keep reading, god I love this book, so much. best mafia romance read of this year. what a book to end my 2025! 💕😌