| Title | : | Condemned to Love (Mazzone Mafia, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
| Publication | : | First published January 31, 2021 |
Will one life-altering night unite or destroy them?
Bennett Mazzone grew up ignorant of the truth: he is the illegitimate son of the most powerful mafia boss in New York. Until it suited his father to drag him into a world where power, wealth, violence, and cruelty are the only currency.
Celebrating her twenty-first birthday in Sin City should be fun for Sierra Lawson, but events take a deadly turn when she ends up in a private club, surrounded by dangerous men who always get what they want.
And they want her.
Ben can’t believe his ex’s little sister is all grown up, stunningly beautiful, and close to being devoured by some of the most ruthless men he has ever known. The Vegas trip is about strengthening ties, but he won’t allow his associates to ruin her perfection. Although it comes at a high price, saving Sierra is his only choice.
The memory of Ben’s hands on her body is seared into Sierra’s flesh for eternity. She doesn’t regret that night. Not even when she discovers the guy she was crushing on as a teenager is a cold, calculating killer with dark impulses and lethal enemies who want him dead.
Understanding the risks, she walks away from the only man she will ever love, stowing her secrets securely in her heart. Until the truth becomes leverage and Sierra is drawn into a bloody war—a pawn in a vicious game she doesn’t want to play.
As the web of deceit is finally revealed, Ben will stop at nothing to protect Sierra. Even if loving her makes him weak. In a world where women serve a sole purpose, and alliances mean the difference between life and death, can he fight for love and win?
A STAND-ALONE DARK MAFIA ROMANCE.
Condemned to Love (Mazzone Mafia, #1) Reviews
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4 Stars
What can I say...
Mafia books are one of my major romance weaknesses and I gobbled this thing up like a teenage football player having a growth spurt.
Was the plot a complete hot mess? Yup.
Was the drama WAAAAAAAAAAY over the top? Yes.
Was the heroine kinda weak and dumb sometimes? Yep.
Was the hero problematic in a lot of ways? Yeah, again.
But I just don't care right now.
I have been battling one of the worst books sumps of my life so far this year and this book (and series in general, really, since I have already finished this book two as I write this) gave me the binge-and-read-in-bed-all-day glory I have been missing in my life for weeks.
I was entertained. I was happy. Recommend to anyone craving a soapy mafia romance. -
Sometimes I'm a nice person and don't rate books I DNF, but this book is so fuckin gross I'm choosing to be mean and give it 1 star.
Some people can get past the following:- awkward writing (it's subjective so I'll give it a pass)
- A heroine who refuses to trust her instincts and lets herself become TSTL
- A girl who under threat of vicious rape, decides oh man yknow what, my crush is offering to fuck me so I don't get raped... while this is not ideal, let's make the best out of a bad situation and have a great time. Who cares if all my would-be rapists are watching! Also after we're done here let's go for an all night fuckfest at his hotel! And y'know what's a great idea to cap off this perfect night? Anal!!!
- Girl then wakes up in the morning and is like ooooo hello lover ;) and he's like fuck off hoe in a really awkwardly mean way
- Then my favourite trope of all time!!! Surprise pregnancy!!!! (I wish shit like this was disclosed in the summary so I could avoid this nonsense)
- Girl follows the obviously very dangerous baby daddy to a fuckin warehouse, is sketched out but is like the truth is more important than this very scary situation! Must find him so we can kiss over this baby news!
- Luckily she sees a dude being tortured and comes to her senses and dips outta there
- When homeboy finds out he a) breaks into her house, scares the shit outta her b) strangles her c) just generally treats her like shit d) acts like it's nbd that he tortures people, it's way more important that she kept his kid from him! how fuckin dare she right?
- He’a like mmmm she’s hot but also fuck her!!!
- Then decides that she and the kid are moving to New York with him because damnit he's been denied his child! that shit won't stand any longer!!!
As I said, some people can get past this shit. However, I can.not. I know some of y'all get off on heroes being vicious and fucking mean to heroines, but degradation, humiliation and abuse (verbal and physical) ain't my kink.
Honestly this reminded me of a poorly written version of some Darkest Temptation shit, and we all know how well that went for me....... -
Top notch Mafia romance!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💜💛💚
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📗
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 👤👤👤👤👤
The setting: Las Vegas, Chicago, New York
The Hero(s): Bennett Carver Mazzone - Bennett Carver grew up as the only son of a drug addict and was dragged out of Chicago by his Mobster father Anthony Mazzone when his half brother was gunned down in New York. He is heir to the throne of the Mazzone famiglia and has big plans for the future of the Italian mafia.
The heroine: Sierra Lawson - youngest daughter to the CEO of Lawson Pharmaceuticals. Sierra was treated badly by her father since her birth was an accident and her sister Saskia was the favored daughter, who also never had a kind thing to say to Sierra.
The Love Story: Ben knew Sierra when she was thirteen and he dated her sister Saskia. He doted on young Sierra. She met him again on her twenty first birthday when her and her friends were partying in Las Vegas. Sierra got into a bit of trouble with some dangerous men and Ben helped her out of it.
I loved the story and Siobhan Davis is great at writing dark romance with an exciting storyline. The character building was terrific and I loved that this book was a standalone. It was long enough to tell the entire story and tell it very well. I couldn’t put it down. There are a bunch of secrets and lies and dangerous situations. I just love it how authors can make so many seemingly unconnected events mesh together into a fantastic story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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boooooo. the writing of this and the set up were actually surprisingly solid but when our main dude starts throwing punches at people who don't deserve it and threatening to assault the heroine i had to tap out. i don't think i'm getting more sensitive in my old age but i've been having a rough go of it when looking for new dark romances. yeet.
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A tstl heroine who purposely puts herself in a dangerous situation where she was raped and dehumanised, but eh, it's romantic cos the hero is hot. 🙄
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A new stand-alone dark mafia romance. AVAILABLE NOW.
Download:
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https://amzn.to/39d8nDo
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http://amzn.to/3a0SmQ3
AU➡️
http://amzn.to/3iFRZOF
CA➡️
http://amzn.to/2Nuw55A
Universal➡️
https://smarturl.it/CondemnedToLove
Read a sample (Prologue and Chapters 1 - 3):
http://bit.ly/3irUOD0
Watch the trailer:
https://smarturl.it/CondemnedToLoveTR -
I'll just be over here with my unpopular opinion on how trash this book was lmao... (Aren't we tired of these fake alpha males who are actually just controlling, borderline emotionally abusive, and overpower these weak-ass doormatty heroines who think some sassy one-liners make them strong?)
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4,5 ❤️❤️❤️❤️⚡️💥⚡️🌟🌟🌟🌟s❣️❗️❣️❗️
A very intriguing and intense mafia romance read!
Ben and Sierra were strong and feisty characters, perfect for each other, their connection was potent, their chemistry was explosive, and their journey was angsty, steamy and suspenseful.
Very well written and developed, dual pov, it kept my interest throughout the story, it was full of twists, secrets, betrayals, deceits, revelations and love!
I was excited when I found out that some of the characters from this story will get their own books!!!
Buddy read with Anna Valsa and Tzelina ❤️📖❤️ -
Condemned To Love is a full-length Standalone in dual POV with several tropes
I wanted to love this book, however; it fell flat for me. I do like it, just not love. It stems from that I am very picky when it comes to mafia romance, especially Italian mafia. If you want to branch into mafia romance, start with this book.
Sierra aka Firefly had a crush on Bennett at the age of thirteen when Ben was dating her sister. One day Bennett disappeared, and he has been pushed aside until 8 years later when he saves her from a potential nightmare in Vegas. After a night together he pushes her away, so she doesn't get involved in his world. Six years later, they reconnect under a particular situation.
Sierra’s family has a ton of secrets, Ben is a typical possessive alpha male, also not your old school Italian Don. Sierra is stubborn and tries to embrace the mafia lifestyle. I give her credit, she is far from meek and wants to know everything.
There are many twists, drama, and suspense. On my dark scale, it's a medium gray. Again I am picky when it comes to the Italian mafia, they are usually brutal. I expected more. Don't get me wrong there are some brutal parts, but some were glossed over. The steam scale is three out of five. We know they had a night in Vegas. But we don't read the details after they got to his hotel room. We learn some details throughout the book. Don't let this discourage you to read this book. It's still a good story. -
I picked up this book because it’s supposed to be dark mafia romance. I got mafia but was it dark? Not in my opinion. Sadly this story was all over the place. The OTT drama being the main focus I’m sad to admit. Sierra and her sister Saskia. Ahhhh. It was just too much. The same repetitive drama.
I didn’t like Sierra. She kept saying she wasn’t naive but to me she was. Naive and immature. Ben was ok. I like alpha heroes but here it felt like Ben was trying to hard to be just that and it came off being corny. The only reason I kept reading was because of the side characters. Leo, Natalie and Alessandro. I’m glad they’ve their own book. I’m hoping they’ll be better than this one cause it was a disappointment. -
There’s a reason Siobhan Davis is at the tippy-top of romance: she never fails to deliver.
Condemned to Love is no exception! It was action-packed, full of surprises and reveals, and most importantly, sexy steamy romance.
I really appreciated how real her mafia characters felt. They weren’t good dudes pretending to be criminals - they did some bad stuff. But you loved the hero Bennett Mazzone anyway.
That sense of menace really spiced up the suspenseful scenes, particularly when heroine Sierra Lawson is taken down to the basement of a Vegas club by some truly nasty gangsters.
I also have a soft spot for love stories that span a long time horizon - Siobhan handled the time jumps well, making the story feel epic in scale, with plenty of room for the characters to change and grow.
Five stars! Loved it!! -
Short summary: Where is bleach where you need it?
Longer summary: . . .nope, still looking for bleach.
Despite the fact that mafia romance is the ultimate hit&miss for me, I was excited for this book. Maybe I should've gathered that it wouldn't be my cup of tea from the summary but ironically, it was the summary that made me so excited in the first place.
I'm not exactly sure what kept me powering through many, m a n y pages of this story. Be it morbid curiosity or some kind of stubborn hope that it'd get better (narrator's voice: it did not, in fact, get better), the fact remains that due to some parts of the plot, I simply wasn't able to enjoy it.
The general messiness and bad pacing (as in, the sheer length of this! I could've cut this book in half and it would've served the story better) weren't the deal-breakers for me here, although they certainly did not help.
But THESE were total deal-breakers: -
I want my very own Ben!! Gah! I loved everything single thing about him. The alpha-badass vibes were strong with this one. I thoroughly enjoyed his character development over the course of the novel.
Siobhan Davis has proven herself to be a truly versatile author. I’ve now read a contemporary romance, MM, and mafia romance from her and she continues to WOW! CTL is not only full of action, angst, and steam, but it’s meticulously constructed and so well written.
I absolutely enjoyed every moment of this thrilling read. This book features so many amazing secondary characters. Looking forward to reading more about this cast of characters! Definitely recommend this book to mafia lovers or anyone who loves an alpha who loves their woman more than life!!
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This was a very solid Mafia romance. I was nervous when I discovered it was a one night stand turned into a Secret Baby situation. Also sister's ex-boyfriend and age gap thrown in for good measure.
Full disclosure I was only reading this one because I heard about book 3, which is about Sierra's sister and I really wanted to read that one. And this series is pretty heavily intertwined. So I decided to read in order.
But, my rule is that Secret Baby is allowed in a Mafia scenario and especially since the way the heroine finds out about said mafia connections is extremely traumatic... I was totally on board with her running for the hills. Any sane woman would.
I was also on board for Ben being righteously angry because of his history without a father. He is very possessive and he felt tricked. They way they both forgive each other and try to move on is really great.
This was sexy and well paced and I am on to the next one.
5 Stars
3.5 on the spice scale -
FIVE CONDEMNED STARS for Sierra and Ben 💛🖤💛🖤!!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
PHENOMENAL!!!
MASTERPIECE!!!
Siobhan surprised me once again with her writing skills, interesting characters, and a tense plot that made me read this book in one breath.
This book is in many ways similar to her previous books, but again so different that it makes it so interesting to read.
"Condemned to Love" is a mafia romance with age-gap, friends to enemies to lovers, second chance tropes, and the much more whose tense plot will keep you awake all night.
Sierra is a female character who learned from an early age how to deal with constant bullying from her family members and because of that she has grown into a strong young woman who is independent and always ready to fight for herself and her future.
My Ben...
I mean, Sierra's Ben!
Ben is a male character that you'll love from the beginning because of his friendship with Sierra.
Although in some parts his behavior towards Sierra changes and it even becomes a bit cruel, that's actually an illusion which he creates to protect himself from the feelings he has for her.
Because feelings and love make him vulnerable which he wants to avoid at all costs.
Sierra and Ben's relationship was complicated from the beginning because of the different lives they lived and the secrets they hid from each other.
But in the end, their love overcomes all barriers and proves to them how it makes them stronger rather than weak and vulnerable.
If you're looking for a mafia romance and you also love Siobhan's writing style, then you MUST READ THIS BOOK next!!!
Highly recommended!!!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book. -
This book pic my attention at the beginning. I didn’t want to finish this reading. It was so entertaining and well written, the scenes wow.
I loved this book! -
2.5 stars
Definitely a soap opera.
Had its good (not a lot) and its bad.
OTT and cheesy at times, and the beginning had some real "WTF" kind of moments, very unrealistic.
But it kept me reading.. so I guess it was entertaining. -
ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG:
ABSTRACT BOOKS
Star Rating : 4.5 / 5 Stars
POV : Dual
Cliffhanger : None
Hero : Ben. Hard and ruthless , he was a mafia Leader.
Heroine : Seirra. She was the sweet girl who had a crush on Ben when she was younger but now has matured into an amazing and sassy woman who still feels something for the boy she fell in love with.
Pace of the story : Moderate
Angst Rating : 7/10
Heat Rating : 7/10
Triggers Involved : Kidnapping
Plot Summary :
Sierra Met Ben when she was a teenager. He was the older boy who was her sister's boyfriend. The only person who actually understood her. She wanted him since but couldn't do anything since he belonged to her sister. That is until he disappeared without any trace. Soon she moved on with her life.
Now years later , she finds herself in a very difficult situation and comes face to face with Ben. The boy she grew to love has now matured into a hard ruthless leader and apparently the only one who can save her. Old feelings start to resurface , but what they don't realise is that they both are mere pawns in a much bigger game.
Overall Opinion :
I absolutely loved this one!! I am a huge fan of this author and she has killed me numerous times with her amazing contemporary romances as well as the reverse harem ones , but he'll I wasn't prepared for her to slay me in the mafia genre too! She introduced me to this new world and now has me all addicted and salivating for my next fix!
The book was simply phenomenal. I won't say it was very dark since I have read much darker books , but it was more like a contemporary mafia Romance with sprinkles of darkness in a few places! The book spanned over a large timeline and I was happy that the author made us read all the event's in such a thorough way , she didn't skip anything and I that was my favourite part of this book. It was one hell of a ride and i would definitely recommend this book to all the mafia Romance lovers out there!!
I am addicted to this new maida world and I really hope that she gives us the next book soon!
Final Verdict :
Amazing as always!
It wasn't a dark mafia Romance , more like a contemporary one with sprinkles of darkness in some places.
The plot was phenomenal , I loved the plot twists!
A must read for all the mafia Romance lovers out there!
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AHHHH!! Siobhan Davis just killed me with Condemned to Love!!! Bennett and Sierra were absolutely amazing!!! This book was incredible!! The passion and the tension was fantastic!! I am so obsessed with this couple and the sexy, angsty and thrilling world she created. I never wanted this story to end!! What an amazing amazing story!!
Gah!! When you think of Mafia "antihero heroes" Bennett Mazzone should be at the top of your list!! He is edgy, dark and dangerous but so protective of Sierra. I loved him so much! Likewise, Sierra was truly pure and full of light and yet she had a backbone of steel!! I loved their banter and connection and felt their love and chemistry come off the pages!!
Like all of Davis' stories, Condemned to Love was outstanding. It was an epic thrill ride that was full of surprises, twists and turns with a couple like no other. I loved this story so much and hope that this is not the last we see of them and this incredible new world! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula -
***5 "Now and forever!!!" stars***
#OUT NOW
"I never thought I'd ever see him again.
I never thought I'd need him to rescue me.
And I certainly never thought I'd grow to fear him."
I'm so impressed with this story!!!
Something that you might don't know about me is that I'm a huge mafia romance lover and I'm chasing these kind os stories like a crazy woman, and with this book, Siobhan Davis had proven to me that she can do the mafia world as well as the rest of the genres that she has alread tried and succeed!!!
I'm literally obsessed and I can not wait to read more stories from Siobhan's new world!!!
"Why do I have to crave a man who would sooner crush me than treat me with any kindness?"
Bennett and Sierra were the perfect match I'm telling you!!!
They had so many obstacles standing on their way from the very first moment, but what no one can question is the feelings that were brewing between them since Sierra was just a teenager...
Sierra had a big crush on Ben when she was just 13 and he was 20 and her big sister's boyfriend...
But he was always had a weakness toward the little girl with hearts on her eyes!!! And I'm not meaning it in a pervent way!!!
Then overnight everything changed and Ben just vanished from both sisters's lives!!!
"I've got to stop nurturing stupid fantasies when it comes to that man. He has never been mine, and he never will be, and that's a good thing, right?"
Eight years later, in a fun trip on Vegas, Sierra is getting in a very dangerous situation out of stupidity of one of her best friends... Thankfully for her, Bennett Mazzone is present and he is getting her out of this situation, but none of them are getting unscatched of this development...
Sierra's hopes are rising, but Ben is shutting them down very quickly and abrupt...
But then Sierra's life is taking an unexpected turn and when she is realizing that Ben is not the man she thought he were, she is deciding to stay clear from him, once and for all!!!
"I hate him. He's a predator of the worst kind."
"I can't let Sierra distract me. Not now, not ever."
Six years later, both Ben and Sierra have their own lives...
Ben is getting more and more powerful each day and he is about to become the head of the New York's Famiglia.
Sierra had been freed from her father's shackles and she is leading a life away from danger while she is treasuring the most important thing in her life with all of her powers...
These two moved on, but they never forgot each other and they are about to meet again...
This time for good and under different circumstances!!!
Their lives are bound for ever, but could they make it after all???
Can Sierra enter a dangerous world in order to be with Ben???
Will Ben allow to himself to have a weakness that his enemies can step upon it???
"My feelings for Ben are a clusterfuck of epic proportions."
"Love is off the table. I don't have time for it, and I can't afford the distraction."
I Loved this story so much!!! I loved every aspect of the book!!!
I loved all the mystery, the secrets, the lies, the hard decisions....
I loved the romance between our two main characters...
And of course, I loved many other secondary characters that I would love to read more about them someday...
"Dangerous men always have dangerous enemies. If anyone found out, they could use you against him."
Ben was a dreamy man!!! I can totally understand Sierra's thirteen year's old self!!!
Yep, he was ruthless on his line of work, but with Sierra and the ones that he loved was so thoughtful, caring and giving... He was a protector and he could do anything for his family and that was admirable!!!
I loved Sierra. I loved how different she were!!! I loved that she was feisty and courageous... I loved that she was kind os badass when the time was needed. I believe that Ben underestimated her power in the beginning, but then he appreciated it and embraced this feeling inside of him. A feeling that Sierra had felt from the very first moment...
These two were so perfect together!!!
"I hate the power Ben has over me. I hate I'm the one granting him that power."
"Sierra is dangerous for my sanity. She has infected my brain and infiltrated my body and every day is a battle to stay away from her."
I love Siobhan Davis's stories!!!
She is getting under my skin every single time, but I'm claiming "Condemned To Love" as my most favorite story of hers!!!
Told you already, I'm a huge mafia slut!!! What can I say???
Now, please, please, Siobhan!!! Just give me Natalia & Leo and Alessandro & Serena!!! I need more of this bunch's adventures!!!
Thank you Siobhan for another amazing ride!!!
"Fate has altered, and our axis has tilted. Whether is for the better or not is yet to be determined, but we both know there is no going back."
**I received and ARC for the exchange of an honest review** -
This book was fire 🔥 it’s definitely one of my favorite reads this year. Siobhan just always brings her A game and just delivers yummy goodness on a silver platter. I was not expecting to see some of the tropes that we saw in here but I was here for it! Ben and Sierra had some pretty intense chemistry even before they got together. Ben was hot and an Alpha man. He was equal parts jealous/ possessive and the sex scenes were hot!!! I loved that Sierra was strong in her own right and didn’t let people walk all over her. She was a perfect match for Ben. I’m definitely eager to read more of this world and was intrigued with some of the side characters and what their stories may be.
This story was written really well, I could not put it down. It sucks you in from page one. So if you’re looking for dark mafia romance then this book is for you. Do not sleep on it! Pick it up and go along for the ride! You will not regret it.
* I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. -
the h is not very bright
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“No begging, Firefly. “
He whines my hair around one of his hands, tilting my head back a little.
“My Queen never begs.”
Gah! I was shocked over how good this book was. I’ve only read one series by Siobhan Davis, The Sainthood Series and while I enjoyed it, it wasn’t my favorite.
This? Condemned to Love?! I thought this book was a phenomenal mafia book. I wasn’t even supposed to be reading it since I was in the middle of the ACOTAR series and I have two ARCs to read BUT I read the first two chapters of this book and I was honestly hooked. I stayed up all night and then finished it in just under a day. It truly is what I expect out of a good mafia story. Secret baby trope and how the main male character was a legit good man and loved his woman, his Firefly.
Sierra gets pregnant under a one night stand with her sisters ex-boyfriend. She accidentally gets pregnant and when she’s about to tell Ben, she finds out that he has been working for the mafia through all the years that she hasn’t seen him. And she flees, NOT wanting that for her child’s life.
Fast forward more years when her son is 5-6 years old, Ben finds Sierra and the shock of his life happens when he realizes that he has a son and he was kept from him.
Ben desperately wants to be in his sons life and be the father that he knows he can be and does everything he can to protect Sierra and his son now knowing what kind of life he lives, Sierra definitely protests everything along the way. She’s a feisty heroine and a good mama bear.
It’s a push and pull relationship. There’s definite tension and sexual desire between both of them. It’s obvious that they both have an instant connection and love for each other but it’s just really hard when Sierra wants no part of the mafia life and Ben is trying to get through her head that she had a baby with a man in the mafia so she better deal with it whether she wants to or not.
This book does not come without drama. It’s definitely some good juicy mafia tension and explodes at the end of the book. Not giving anything away, this is definitely a book I’d recommend to all mafia lovers. -
I’m really surprised that I liked this as much as I ended up liking it because the beginning was difficult for me. Sierra was careless not trusting her gut with her friends and ended up in a really bad situation that could’ve been much worse. Then, she allowed herself to follow Ben into his torture chamber basement. I was convinced Sierra was a dumb bitch and I can’t relate to a dumb bitch. But then, as the story went on, Sierra really made the moves she needed to as a parent. My faith was restored in our heroine.
This story hit all of my romance reading g spots; possessive hero- check, damsel in distress-check, ow drama-double check because Saskia is a serious ‘C U Next Tuesday’. Heroine provoking Hero’s jealousy, check! Dominant Hero with a beautiful heart, Check! This was my first Siobhan Davis and I’m happy to say it won’t be my last. This was more than just a romance. This was a start of a whole new world and this book set the table for who was whom in their Italian mob. I’m excited to continue the series! -
DNF @ 67%. This had some parts I liked but I just lost interest. The way things went down in Vegas with Ben & Sierra was odd. She almost gets gang raped by Russian mobsters but ends up having a fucking marathon with Ben whom she is seeing for the first time since she was a kid. He saves her from the situation but then just uses her and throws her away. I enjoyed the story when their bickering went back and forth. I liked that she was tough with him and gave it as good as she got it. Once he moves her to NY and becomes Mr I Love you and there's no one else for me after being so anti love, I got bored. It was such a quick switch, I would've liked to see the character development
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Siobhan Davis never disappoints with the way she can weave a story that how you anticipating the plot twist to where you can't turn pages fast enough. I loved this slightly different take to an arrange marriage mafia trope. This book will hook you from page one and make you fall in love.
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Mafia romance has always been my favorite sub-genre, so pair that with one of my favorite authors of all time and Condemned to Love is literally a dream- I’ve been dying for Siobhan to take a crack at mafia, and she does not disappoint! This is everything I want in a mafia romance! Sexy, dangerous, intriguing, and wildly entertaining- Condemned to Love is the swooniest mafia romance I have ever read. Somehow both dark and sweet, gritty yet emotional, intimate yet action packed, I could not put this story down! I am addicted to Ben and Sierra- I want to live in this mafia world forever.
Like all Siobhan stories, this one is FULL of surprises, this story is action packed with tons of twists, danger, betrayal, and jaw dropping surprises, and I’m not going to give you a single hint! But these characters, I just LOVED them. Siobhan is one of my favorite heroine writers of all time- she brings such nuances and layers of strength to the women in her stories, and Sierra is one of my favorites she’s written. She’s everything I want in a mafia leading lady- she’s tender, empathetic, sweet, exuding a charming vulnerability and open heartedness. She’s the “light” of the story- but she is far from weak. There’s a solid tenacity that underscores her light- this is a woman who won’t compromise on her beliefs, and who refuses to be walked over- she has steel when she needs it, and softness when she doesn’t. I love her contrasts, and I loved her open heart.
But BEN- oh Ben. He’s the swooniest mafia man I’ve ever read. I love how Siobhan constructs him- she lets him have the framings of a mafia boss- the darkness, the possessive alpha dominance, the capacity to do deplorable things- but this doesn’t define him as a character. Because Ben is still a hero-in really nuanced and interesting ways that contrast with the trope standard. AND HE IS SO DREAMY. Sexy, dark, and dangerous- just enough edge to keep us on our toes. But Siohan gives him nuance, makes him more defined than just a “mafia boss” archetype. He’s also incredibly self-aware emotionally, progressive in his leadership, and he loves with a charming romantic streak that has me sighing with delight. Unlike other mafia heroes who lack the capacity to love, Ben has it in spades- he just chooses to repress it, out of stoic responsibility and a grounded understanding of the perils of his life. But his firefly, the sweet little Sierra, arouses his protective instincts, thrusting a man capable of an epic love to confront fate. And when this man's full emotional range is unleashed- HOLD ON TO YOUR OVARIES! Total dark hero dreamboat.
These two are So hot together-and Siobhan so smartly invests in their shared history so we really understand the emotional intimacy between them. They share a solid and enchanting connection that just cannot be severed- irregardless of time, adversity, or difference. They are magic together- there’s a dynamic pull between them that I felt jump off the page, and it is just SO romantic. And so well matched. Sierra just wants to be SEEN, to have a love that is healthy, that is pure- and what irony that she finds herself loving a man who once belonged to another and now has erased love as a possibility. Her capacity to love wholly, nonjudgmentally and unconditionally, makes her the perfect match for our mafia man, Ben- a man who has always seen her for the beautiful creature she is, and a man who makes sacrifices for her in ways no one else will, just when she needs it. AND THEY ARE HOT- sexy, but also really tender and sweet in places. I could not get enough of them and this world- and there are some secondary characters that are just begging to have their own stories- I just want Siobhan to dwell in this mafia world forever.
This story seems to be written with so much thoughtful care- a carefully architected and well paced plot that twisted and turned and had me hanging on the edge of my seat, interesting and unexpected characters whose emotional journeys captured my heart, and intentional, and clearly well researched, mafia world building that consumed and enchanted me. Siobhan Davis and mafia were a pairing clearly meant to be, and I, for one, am desperate for more! Condemned to Love was delicious and delightful romantic entertainment- more more more! -
SO COMPLETELY CAPTIVATING! EXHILARATING!
This book is without a doubt, one of my TOP READS for 2021!!!
I've been reading Siobhan Davis' books for almost 4 years now and I love her work! Yet I can honestly sit here and say that never has one of her books captured me so entirely before! Start to finish! Every single moment in between! ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Never a single dull moment, it was unputdownable!
Let me also mention that I don’t normally read mafia romance! I have pretty high expectations for mafia romance and I’ve just read so many that didn’t fulfill those! Siobhan took those expectations and blew them to smithereens. It has everything you would think a mafia romance should have! Darkness, blood, corruption and sex! Of course, you also have the classic Siobhan twists and surprises that I've come to love from her books!!! Yea, she didn't just meet those expectations but exceeded them!
*I want to be very careful to keep all secrets within the pages of the book so I didn't offer much on the characters or any of the plot! Just know that if you LOVE mafia romance and you enjoy authors who don't hold back with their writing...READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!
#REREAD SEPT 9TH in anticipation of FTL coming September 30th! -
Warning! There is some serious sibling rivalry in this book.
And drugging your bodyguard on your 21st birthday so you can party with your friends in Vegas well, how bad could it be really, it will be ok, right? Let me just say WRONG, in so many way's, especially when the Mafia own's the club you and your friends decide to party in.
AND IT REALLY DOSEN'T MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE WHEN YOUR DAD HATE'S YOU.
Their is some shady stuff going on in this book and Sierra and Ben are smack bang in the middle of it.
And there in lies the fun. Happy Reading 😇📚📚📗📒📙📖 -
DNF @32%
"A smirk creeps over his mouth. “How the hell do you plan to marry two women?”
“I’ll become a Muslim and move to Africa,” I dryly state."
I was on the fence with this book and this racist ass statement solidified it for me.
