| Title | : | Mafia Darling (The Kings of Italy, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 292 |
| Publication | : | First published January 31, 2022 |
In my world, loyalty is everything. I shouldn’t have let her get close. I shouldn’t have let her get under my skin.
But that doesn’t mean I’ll let another take her from me. He’ll pay with his life, because nothing will keep me from reclaiming what I lost.
Francesca is mine and I’m keeping her.
FRANCESCA
I found a dangerous man who makes me burn with need, a man I can’t live without . . .until he accused me of betrayal and sent me away.
Then I was kidnapped by his rival. Fausto thinks he can rescue me and have me begging at his feet once more. But I’m done begging.
This time, it will be the king who breaks.
******
MAFIA DARLING the second part of the Italian Kings duet, NOT a standalone.
If you like feisty heroines, heroes who are a little bit cruel and a lot filthy, and plenty of heat, then welcome to Mila's twisted world. Don't say you weren't warned!
Mafia Darling (The Kings of Italy, #2) Reviews
-
Man, I'm not sure how to rate this.
I have been looking forward to this book so much that I was checking amazon on the daily the last few weeks to see if it dropped yet, despite the fact that I'd already per-ordered it. So, I'm not sure if this is a case of too high expectations or what...but this was a super disappointing reading experience for me.
Outside of some solid smut scenes, this book lacked almost everything I loved about the first book.
Fausto completely lost his edge and instead seemed content to let Francesca lead him around by his dick. I mean, he let her dictate almost everything - even the way he handled sensitive mafia business, and it just didn't jive in my opinion. He felt less like a mafia king badass and more like a lost puppy begging for a sniff of a specific dog's butt.
Not even some decent groveling was enough to save this one for me.
I would go into more detail, but alas, the bummer is just too fresh.
Maybe I will feel differently after some time and a second read. But until then...Oh well. Next! -
idk why i read this when i did not like the first book at all, so thats my fault
but i just had to see how the hero was going to make up for the nasty things he said to the heroine at the end of book 1. i was ready to see him grovel and the heroine make him work for forgiveness but he really didn't have to do much for her to get over it.
both these characters were pretty pathetic :/ -
***4.5 STARS***
Excellent ending to a wonderful story. I highly highly recommend this mafia story. -
1.25⭐️
this duet was, in my opinion, a fucking mess. i don't see the hype because all these tropes are basic for mafia romances. there are 500 other mafia books with better writing.
the heroine boohoo feels betrayed so the hero changes for her boohoo. i skimmed most of this book because i just couldn't. what horny teenager wrote this? rolling my eyes big time right now.
idk even the smut was bad maybe because i couldn't connect to the characters or the story, but honestly, this mafia duet is so unoriginal and cringy, it's not worth it. -
2.5 stars ⭐️
Gonna keep it short cause I’m just heartbroken over the fact that this book didn’t deliver what it was supposed to.
Book 1 was one of my fav 4 star reads of 2021 and I was highly anticipating this release (to the point where I kept on checking author’s insta to get updates on release) but sadly, this was lacking everything which I loved in the first book.
I didn’t like how Fausto turned up to be in this book, he lost his edge and I hated how he let Frankie dictate almost everything?? I also didn’t like how he was handling affairs and he just lost the “cold, leader” trait for me and became someone who looked weak. He also sounded so misogynistic which was a total turn-off🥲🥲
Maybe I didn’t like this much cause of my expectations or maybe cause it was just lacking plot. There was so many loose threads in the book and sometimes things just didn’t make sense to me and I had to reread to find out what’s happening.
Tho the book was very steamy (which i still skimmed thru cause it was meh) the lack of plot, the messiness and just things all over the place didn’t save this book for me. -
This series definitely didn't have to be a duet, but I was so entertained throughout these two books. Book one left on a cliffhanger, so we pick up with this one. Fausto is definitely a "touch her and you die" hero and is so possessive over Francesca. I loved their dynamic and how Francesca would stand up to Fausto and make him think about what he was doing. While he was a mafia boss, Francesca made him think about how people felt and being fair instead of being an emotionless killer. I do feel like this one had a little more action and plot than the first one, which I enjoyed! I'm excited to see what's going to happen in the next book with new main characters!
-
Boooooooo
I hate this when this happens I'm sorry but idk why this just didn't hit it.
The first book has me in a chokehold and this one was upsetting because....high standards.
The story felt so scattered all over the place.
Francesca’s anger would not last much longer. Soon I would coax her back into riding my cock
He really didn't give two shits if she loved him at a point
All he wanted was her to ride his dick.
“But I think you need a reminder of who owns you. Come here.” I pointed to my feet.
When she tried to take another step, I said, “No, Francesca. Crawl to me.”
The respect i have for this man knows no bounds.
“I am not going to be a good little housewife, waiting for you at the end of every day with a cocktail and dinner on the table. If that is what you picture our marriage being like, you might as well take your ring back.”
“I wasn’t thinking that before,” I said with a sly smile, “but I am now. Will you do it naked?” I let my gaze travel the length of her. “Yes, I like that very much.”
Do you think i can ever not like this man?
“I swear to God, Fausto. If I find out you were using me to breed more Ravazzani babies—”
“You’ll what?” His brow arched. “Come right here on the spot? You know the idea of it gets you hot.”
I mean....why not daddy.
“That is the difference between us, you miserable pig. My woman doesn’t make me weak. She makes me stronger, so strong I am willing to slit your throat right here in front of all these men.”
He did love her tho.
Fausto cut a man's finger because he touched her.
*Shudders*
But yeah whatever
First book was ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
This one kinda let me down -
3,8. I liked how the story was telling. The female character in this book was so annoying…
This series at all was okay. -
2.75
Not sure what to say. I saw the bad reviews but I still read it. Curiosity kills the cat 😂🤡
The h became very annoying. Her stubbornness and unyielding character was interesting in book 1 but it became infuriating later on in this book. Her inability to control her lust is such a mess. She is one of those characters who fits archetype where she thinks ‘I can change him.’ SHE IS SO SEGGS CRAZED. She even begged for his dong even when she was still angry. 🦐
The H becomes p*ssy whipped but at least he listens to his wife now. He is still a control freak and misogynistic. He also made the h promise to give him 4 children when she told him to keep her kidnapper alive for her sisters. During seggs, he made her crawl on the floor even though she was pregnant. 🦗🦟🦗🦟
The sisters were extremely nosy and a pain in the ass. They went down the dungeon and lied to Giulio that the h consented to them going there. After leaving the dungeon, they came out scared and forced the h to save the man in the dungeon. Btw the man is the h’s kidnapper and is dangerous. So ridiculous. Instead of siding with your sister, you side with her kidnapper. The sister literally raised them. The decision to sustain the kidnapper’s life caused the H to get shot and the kidnapper escaped. Wth. 😑💀💀
The get married but the relationship isn’t very equal even if the h believe that it is. The hero usually gives in only after he gets seduced by the h. By the end of the book, they would send 🍆 💦 ❤️ emojis to the to one another.
My fav character is still Giulio, I couldn’t stand anyone else. -
5/5 stars and 3.25 on spice (giving it a little bump cause was not expecting the little primal action we got)
I think by now I've exhausted every single attempt to get people to read this duet. If you love mafia romances then this is one you must read. The entire duet was well written, had great pacing, and the smut was divine. Fausto can literally chase me anytime he pleases.
You must go into this duet knowing that Fausto is a grade a asshole - like you want to punch him in the face.
Mafia Mistress left us with a cliffhanger...Frankie is knocked up, Fausto accuses her of being a gold digger and in the end she gets kidnapped. Honestly, pretty normal stuff for mafia romances. Mafia Darling picks up right there and Frankie and Fausto are reunited pretty quickly.
Frankie for me stole the show. While sometimes MCs like Frankie can annoy me because they're naive, she made up for it for giving him shit 24/7 and not forgiving him very quickly. Her one lines and sarcasm throughout the book was exactly what we needed to like her character more.
Like I said before - Fausto is an asshole in book 1 but he had great redemption arc for his character especially around his son Giulio. I would have liked to see a little more groveling on his part but I was satisfied.
Finally, lets discuss the elephant in the room. The pregnancy trope. A hot topic that truly divides the nation. If you absolutely can not stand that trope, like you won't even entertain it then don't read this book. I never understood why people hate a trope so much but insist on reading a book with that trope and then just straight up drag it. You were warned...so...anyway...This book does the pregnancy trope so well that its not the focal point at all. Honestly forgot she was pregnant except for her raging hormones and how horny she got.
Still love this duet and thats the hill ill die on
(i did read the ARC for this and this is my honest review )
kinky stuff:
age gap
praise kink
degradation kink
lite blood kink
primal kink
breeding kink
booty slaps
booty play
role play
daddy/LG play -
I would always be his puttanella, even with a ring on my finger.
Yeah, honey… not sure if that’s a good thing.
—
This was aight. I didn’t think it was particularly sexy or interesting. I liked the first one much better. Neither Fausto nor Frankie were sympathetic characters. I didn’t like them and I couldn’t connect to them. I was never engaged— I kept having to force myself to get through this. Not what I expected at all. I’m sorry, Mila Finelli!
—
P.S. Gia is such an annoying, stupid bitch. We better not get her story next. I’m absolutely uninterested. Team Emma. -
Phew! Finally! Mafia Darling is done. A hard book to finish. Do not get me wrong. The writing of Miss Finelli is wonderful and addicting. I just wish she can invest more into a likeable heroine.
Francesca is annoying, spoil, OTT drama queen. In Mafia Darling she has not changed. She is still shallow character. Miss Finelli intended the story to be push and pull between dominating hero and submissive, smart heroine.
While Fautso nails his part as broody, scary, dominating hero, sadly Francesca is more suitable to be his teenage daughter.
The next book in this series is about Gia. She is not fared well. She is more childish than Francesca. I am not sure I want to pick up Gia's book.
Overall, I enjoy the writing but not the heroine.
3 stars -
2nd and final book.
Well both of these books took me on a rollercoaster.
I've cringed at some of the dark scenes taken place in the dungeon, to crying tears of joy when the son comes out as gay and Fausto the father and Mafia Don let's him leave the family fold to forge his own life with the man he loves.
At times I was trying to read as fast as I could just to get to see what happens next .
Finding out who Fausto could trust and who betrayed him. Francesca getting pregnant by Fausto in the first book but he ends up kicking her out saying she has betrayed him because she kept his sons secret. He realises he made a massive mistake when she is kidnapped but this girl is made of strong stuff and gives him hell for it when he gets her back.
A HEA but with a snippet of the next books to come out in August that involves Gia which is Francesca,s sister and Francesca,s kidnapper Enzo, should be an interesting read that for sure. -
The continuation of book 1 Mafia Mistress and this time Francesca took charge. Fausto had to work to win her back with a little grovel and meaningful gestures. I liked that she didn’t give into him too easily and the story took its time with building their relationship on a deeper level since book one was more about their attraction and lust for one another. Now there was feelings involved and it did wonders to these two characters.
Their connection and chemistry just kept getting stronger and hotter.
Fausto’s son Guilio was a fab character and his friendship with Francesca was just as good as it was in the previous book. His relationship with his father also evolved and the final couple of chapters showed it beautifully.
My only issue was the mafia storyline. It was so slow at times but thankfully the overall story overshadowed it.
Mafia Darling was amazing and concluded Francesca and Fausto’s story very well. I’m definitely going to continue. I enjoy a villain getting a story and perhaps redeeming himself so I can’t wait to read Enzo’s book.
4 La Donna Stars -
Why did I love this? oh I KNOW! i love chaos and when the guy is a SIMP!
Though, not gonna lie I really liked the characters in this! i love badass, strong women (aka Frankie the main character). Also the love interest and side characters were so good!
The first book was pretty good but the second book is where it HIT! loved it lol!
Guilty pleasure for sure. There are defs somethings that are questionable in this duology but it’s a mafia book…kinda what you sign up for when reading these!
THE SMUT WAS HOT HOT HOT
I’m excited for Enzo and Gia’s story !! but it doesn’t come out til august :(
-
This started out great, then at some point it became messy.
Without going into too much detail, the plot was all over the place, and I was left with more questions than answers. There were a loot of plot holes. It felt like the book was hastily put together, which is sad because it had so much potential, and the first book was one of my favorite reads this year.
At some points I was even confused as to who was talking because the author decided to forgo using dialogue tags on a lot of parts. You can definitely see the shift in the writing quality from start to finish. It deteriorates as you near the end.
At least the sex scenes were good, so there's that. -
Him- *breathes in Italian*
Her- *gets wetter than the Pacific ocean*
Me- *🤦🏼♀️*
Aside from some unnecessary sex scenes, this one was slightly better than the first. I liked his character development but I still hate both of them. The fmc was annoying most of the time, making stupid decisions even tho she knew the risks, still she did them.
I have never cringed so much during sex scenes like I did in a CERTAIN one. I'm looking at you. The writing and the dialogs were not it for me. They felt really off. Giulio is still my favorite babes. I'm really glad he got to make his own decisions.
And Enzo (it was me who got wetter than the Pacific ocean). There weren't much scenes with him, but damn if I didn't fall in love with him.
PS: so fucking glad to be rid of this 😩 -
unfortunately, disappointing
December 16, 2021
My Pal Val Got Me Hooked Into This Duet...
The Ending We Want Is Coming February 8, 2022...
Tick, Tick, Tick...
Can We Make Time Go Faster...
Mafia Mistress (The Kings of Italy, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mafia Darling (The Kings of Italy, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
-
Well.. I was not expecting that..
This second half of the duet was truly transformational. For both Fausto and Frankie. I was very moved by this one.
The evolution of who they are as a couple.. starting with an epic grovel from Fausto.. Frankie really comes into her own and they both grow together so much...
Still sexy and just a bit crazy but.. my heart is so full..
And what happens with Guilo... I was not prepared.... just excellent..
I am truly so excited to see what happens with other characters in this series.
5 stars
4 on the spice scale. -
Well that de-escalated quickly
-
Whew bitch do I have a lot to say about this one! We pick up right where we left off on that cliffhanger. Shit has officially hit the fan and I was on the edge of my seat. I’m mad at Fausto and yet I kind of feel bad for him because he’s drowning in regret over what happened. Let me tell ya, Frankie does not let up off his neck either. Sis made him work his ass off to get her back, A QUEEN
I absolutely adored the arc of both of these characters. We see Frankie grow into this strong & powerful woman who initially came to Italy a defiant 18 y/o girl that now quite literally has the Capo wrapped around her finger. Fausto comes a long goddamn way too, he’s the definition of I hate everyone but you TO THE T OMG. He went from taking orders from no one, what he say goes to putting Frankie & his son first & business second. This man had me blushing and screaming the whole way through this book. The groveling was top tier, did I want a little more? Yes? Does it change how I feel overall? Nope.
God I’m so obsessed I can’t even really put into words how much I loved this duet. We watch them go through so many different things I truly was attached to them to the point of tears at their HEA & I felt like I was apart of their family. The pace of both of the books was literally PERFECT. Everything happened when it needed to, no details were skipped over, no unfinished business and yet I felt like everything ended way too soon. If I could read this book forever I really would. I mean I’m about to make it my whole personality trait so get ready.
I really really hope we get to see more of them in the rest of the books in the series because GODDAMN. I can’t wait to see where Mila takes this world. I NEED a book for Giulio I was literally DIE, I won’t be well. Mila you have gained a fan in me & I will eat up anything you put out. -
DNF @15%. No rating.
-
It was so bad. Total waste of time, will not recommend.
I wanted to give this one a go because I’m a sucker for surprise pregnancy but it wasn’t great at all. -
The second book in the kings of Italy series. It picks up right where book one left off and follows Fausto and Francesca’s relationship. Frankie gets saved from Enzo Fausto’s biggest rival and agrees to marry Fausto. Everything seems back on track until Enzo’s men help him escape from Fausto’s dungeon where he was being tortured and Fausto is shot by a hitman.
I loved Fausto’s character development! We got to see more of sweet Fausto and see his romantic side. I loved seeing Frankie stand up and step into the role of donna and take over some of the businesses and men while Fausto was recovering. I'm happy they got the happy ending they deserved. -
i feel like this series probably could have been just one book if it was condensed a bit more. however, this was still really fun. i feel like the hero probably could have groveled more for what he did at the end of book 1.
overall great conclusion to the duet and i will immediately be reading the next one -
This book picks up right where the first book in the duet leaves off on a cliffhanger. So definitely not a standalone read here. I read the duet back to back in a day and definitely loved the first book more. I didn’t think this second book was needed and a lot that happens I just was not a fan of. Some good came from it though but I feel like it could have been added to the first book instead. The characters definitely change in this read, Fausto in particular (which I much prefer Fausto of book 1). We do get more POV chapters in this book of side characters, so I guess maybe this series will continue?
-
Read on KU. I loved how much he had to grovel to get back into her good graces. I'm intrigued by the Gia and Enzo story!!!!! The first book was surreal enough but book 2 took it to a next level. A 19yo suddenly has enough knowledge to run multiple businesses of her grown man husband's?!? And her sister suddenly exercises power over the don's hostage?!? Like LOL. I know this was a set-up for the next book, but it didn't sit well with me. Nonetheless, I loved this story. Loved their company.
Can't wait for the next book!! -
Siguiendo la línea de la primera parte. No se me ha hecho pesado, ni monótono y lo cierto es que los personajes secundarios solo hacen que mejorar.
Intuyo tercera entrega y al ver la portada de la cuarta, ya digo que seguiré con esta saga. -
Honestly friends don’t waste your time
-
EDIT: For spelling errors
The first book of this duet intrigued me enough to pick up the conclusion. If you like mafia books and similar plot threads and bad guys with good hearts to the ones they love, this is for you. I actually want to give this book between 2-3 stars but I rounded up. This is a series I picked up on my own without any recommendation. Had this been my first foray into the mafia genre, I believe I would have given it one star but since I am more acquainted with these tropes, I realized this is a typical mafia book.
The annoying:
Frankie not truly understanding the danger. Even after Fausto is shot, she insists on going to the hospital and visit him. I do not know what it is about female authors writing females that are just dense. I get that some women are, and men, but this is a very familiar theme that is frustrating to say the least. I can chalk it up to age but only if that had been the first time something bad happened. After her kidnapping, you think she would get it. This is my biggest critique of this book: Frankie's lack of awareness/understanding of what Fausto says. She should have trusted him given his experience.
Missed opportunity to have a gay person be leader of a mafia family. I understand Giulio did not want it but this would have been a good to have that representation and written him as gay but ruthless. This is a double edged sword so I will say later why I liked he got kicked out. In this case, if Fausto can force the other families to not hunt his son, after announcing to everyone Giulio is gay when it is considered a death sentence, why can't he force progress over the years? Giulio even visits later on. It feels like a plot hole that Giulio could not have had more contact with Fausto and Frankie and work the more legitimate businesses. If Frankie, with zero experience, can do that, Giulio should have been able to. Author's mistake in this case.
The story did drag at times. The pacing felt off. We got moments of action/excitement followed with ho hum details of Frankie and Fausto's dynamic. I think if Enzo and other families had been given more to do than just be the villain, it would have been more interesting. How awesome would it have been if Enzo was someone we could have fully rooted for? Or if we got to know Vic and his family more to make Vic's death even worse for betraying Fausto? From what is seems like, Vic was just caught in between two powerful men. This is not explored often enough. It is just these mafia leaders who have no regard for others and people get caught up in it. I actually think Vic should have been a main character so we would have been gutted by his death.
The Good:
It takes place in Italy and deals with a mafia branch that is not the Cosa Nostra or Camorra.
I liked that there was the threat of police, prison, and multiple assassination attempts. The acknowledgement that men in his position do not live long was a nice touch along with him being safer at home verses going out with him men to do jobs. It seems more in line with what we know of the mafia and their activities.
Kicking Giulio out of the mafia for being gay. This was not the only reason. At the heart of it, Giulio did not want the life of his father but the impetus being that he could not be with the man he loved. As mentioned above, the author backtracks on this in the epilogue which lowered the stakes of what happened, but I still appreciate the realities of mob life in this gesture. Too often authors just ignore their own rules.
Fausto being a bad guy. What he did to Frankie in book one (leaving her on the boat, locking her in the dungeon, and then banishing her), made me believe this guy could be in power and enjoys it. I said that we should have learned more about Vic since it seems that he became a pawn in a war. While that was a missed opportunity, it shows what a jerk Fausto is. Unlike Enzo, who is not that likeable, on the surface it seems that Vic was a typical family man working for the mafia. Fausto butchering him and then taking away protection from Vic's family after his death is the perfect move. Does it make Fausto less in our eyes? It does but if you were expecting a powerful mafia leader to have a softer heart, that is the author's choice to romanticize people who should not be romanticized. As it stands, Fausto getting away with giving a stern warning to the other families about Giulio contradicts some of this along with giving Frankie a high level position because she wanted it. For romance, it should because the author still wants us to root for them. On the other hand, it shows the author cannot fully commit to an action she set in motion.
I know if the author gave us a bigger world and more books with these characters, I will probably get more critical. I can ignore some of the bigger issues with a smaller, contained story that ends in just two books. For fans of the mafia genre, and want to read about something besides the typical US mafia families, this is a decent read.
