My only consolation was that I doubted he could break me more than I already had been all those years ago. So, HERE HERE to a romance that was unexpectedly sweet, so so loving, healing, and could actually go the distance.

Kiara has been through so much in her short life and the people who were supposed to protect her just didn't. And after reading her story I will always be #TeamCamorra. For all the Famiglia's "grand statements" about cherishing their women and keeping them safe they seem to do a pretty shitty job of it. From my assessment Kiara was pretty much on her own the day Luca shot her father for being a traitor. Then there was the intense trauma that Kiara suffered under the hands of her uncle. It all shaped her into the person we meet at the beginning of the book. However, what I will say is, even in the beginning when Kiara was hesitant, intensely shy, and fearful, she had a quiet strength within her that couldn't be denied. As much attention as you deserve, Kiara. You are too beautiful to lurk in the shadows. And as my wife, you will have to get used to the spotlight.”And yet even though he was 100% full Remo he still captured my heart with the clear love and loyalty he held for his family. Like that scene when Nino tells Kiara to get Remo and Remo immediately goes to him? PERFECTION. Or how at her wedding Remo could sense that Kiara couldn't handle dancing with her Uncle and immediately sought to eliminate what was making her uncomfortable. Remo has a lot of depth you've just gotta dig really really deep to find it. And when it came to the smut.. whoowee this man really knows how to get a girl worked up. There were times when I was like Mr Sir you had no right to be that hot.

What I thought author Cora Reilly did a really great job with was showing that trauma doesn't just magically go away. Kiara had a very brutal past and that didn't just disappear. Instead we saw Kiara slowly come to realize she didn't need to be in "fight or flight" mode anymore. This was both a burgeoning love story between Nino and Kiara, as much as it was a story of Kiara reclaiming herself. Standing a few steps in front of the bed, my eyes swept over the white sheets—sheets my family expected to the see stained with my blood in the morning. This is an over-the-top, slow burn mafia romance that features the arranged marriage trope between two different mafia families. The way they simply took responsibility for everyone and made a stabby and wholesome family?? my heart- 😫❤️‍🩹🤞 Not only that but it was pretty cute seeing Nino just totally miss any and all social cues Kiara threw his way. There were definite moments where I imagined him staring at her like this:

not him being "confident" that no man would dare make a move on his wife but in meantime while she gets her "shit together" he can and i quote "we agreed that I seek pleasure elsewhere, Kiara. Or did you change your mind?” just imagine not being man enough to keep it in your pants during only one freaking day of marriage knowing that your wife can’t do it and already thinking about how to get it from elsewhere🤮 Peace and love.” Remo’s mouth twisted as if he was going to start laughing. “We’ll suggest a marriage between our families. It worked between the Outfit and the Famiglia for a while.”

I could totally see why Kiara fell for Nino, but I didn’t understand it so much the other way around. It seemed to me like Nino mostly felt a duty to her as a husband, and that’s why he treated her as well as he did. But he would have probably treated anyone that way if he were married to them; it wasn’t because of Kiara specifically. And that’s what I didn’t like. So agreeing to be one part of the marriage treaty isn't exactly an issue until the wedding night. When he learns something about his new wife that makes him see red and stimulates his deadened heart. However, I feel like once they became more romantically involved, it became all about sex. Their interactions were all tied in with physical intimacy, and that’s not something I like. I need more emotional intimacy, which I suppose was impossible with Nino being who he is. But still. And OH. MY. GOD. I can't wait for the all the upheaval that Remo's plan is going to cause in the next book! Remo falling in love and being taken down a peg or two by a woman is going to be epic, LOL. You know, for a psychotic killer, Nino is super sweet, affectionate and patient. Seriously, after reading a few of the Necessary Evils books by Onley James, I’m starting to think that sociopathic men is where it’s at.

This story tells the tale of Nino Falcone right-hand man of his brother who is Capo of the Camorra and Kiara Vitiello, cousin of the Capo of the New York Famiglia these two are to join for peace between the two powerful families. You realize you are human too, right?” “I always got the impression that you and I had little humanity left.” Six years had passed, but the memories still woke me at night. I was scared of being close to a man, to any man, especially this man—my husband.

Nino's duality has such a calming, comforting effect on me: like the cold, serene and deadly expanse of the ocean, he is only susceptible to one natural phenomenon: earthquake named Kiara, and I loved to watch the effect of disturbances she caused.I think Kiara will definitely be a hit or miss heroine for some people. She's not really that bold, outspoken, or take charge. However, it made sense for her character, and I really loved seeing her come out of her shell. She starts out pretty much scared of her own shadow not able to trust in anyone. By the end of the book she is able to form solid connections with the Falcone brothers and learns to put her trust in Nino.