AUTHOR: Victoria Paige

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Matteo and Sera…

Sera is on the verge of an arranged marriage to fulfill her duty for her mafia family. Only she has crush on her best friend’s brother, Daniel. They’re friends but he just doesn’t seem to see her that way. But when bad boy Matteo, who works with Daniel, throws out the idea of fake dating to help her get Daniel’s attention, she can’t help but to entertain the thought.

The more time Sera and Matteo spend together the less fake things feel. And Daniel is constantly putting out mixed signals. When the man her uncle has been in talks with about an arranged marriage causes problems, things take a turn.

Sera is drawn to Matteo and all of his bossy possessiveness. But Matteo is holding on to some crucial information that may just throw a wrench in their growing relationship. Some groveling is a must. These two are meant to be even if things get a little convoluted for them along the way. This mafia romance is not on the dark side but sill has plenty of danger and spice that’s a must.

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Luca and Natalya…

We first met Luca as Sera’s uncle in book one of this series. And we met Natalya at the end of that book when Luca helps rescue her from a dangerous situation. There were definitely hints at these two then so I was looking forward to their story. And what a rollercoaster of a story it was.

These two came together in an arranged marriage that benefitted both of their mafia families. And even with their age gap, they seemed to be ready to make things work. Everything starts off great for them as they get married and honeymoon in Paris. Luca is the doting new husband and Natalya is definitely falling for his charms. She seems to get a side of him that others don’t see.

Of course heirs are important in this type of arrangement and Luca is ready to start right away. But as soon as they get that positive result, things start to change. Luca starts putting more and more distance between them and setting some surprising expectations. Natalya wants to have a real life with him and hopes to one day open up about the secret side of her she’s been hiding.

I don’t want to spoil some big twists. So I’ll just say there are some tragic events that happen that have life altering aftereffects for everyone. Be prepared for a love/hate relationship with Luca and to root for Natalya’s strength through everything. This is was great book in the series that surprised me.

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Nico and Ivy…

This one might be my favorite of the series so far. We met Nico and Ivy both in book one. Nico is Matteo’s brother and Ivy is Sera’s best friend. There was definitely some tension between these two even then, but more of the antagonistic kind than the romantic kind. Their story runs parallel to Luca and Natalya’s book for part of it.

Ivy is a social media influencer and marketing genius who’s working alongside her cousin to make a name for their fashion line in the states. When thugs walk into their warehouse to cause problems, she uses her martial arts skills to put them in their place. That seems to be the turning point that causes Nico to see her in a whole new light. And he’s ready to put his underworld sources in place to protect her from what could be coming her way.

We get more backstory on how the hostility started between these two. And as they spend more time together and learn more about their troubled pasts they grow closer. It’s time for Nico to succumb to the family curse of obsession.

He’s a blend of caring, protective, possessive, and dangerous. She’s fierce and feisty and ready to take on anything. They have each other’s backs no matter what. I loved these two together and how they helped to heal and complete each other. Definitely my favorite couple so far. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book with all the hints dropped in this one.