Chiara was raised into the mafia world the hard way. Enduring the assault at the hands of her father until she was kidnapped and forced to marry a mob boss. One she’s sure is even worse than her father.Ricca never backs away from a challenge. When the woman he kidnapped sneers he would never own her, he’s more than happy to prove her wrong. It doesn’t matter he is being forced into this marriage … into this marriage by The Syndicate, to cover-up the kidnapping.
An enemy is forging a plan to take Ricca down. Can a marriage, even one forced by the decision of others, turn into a solid band of trust, loyalty, and eventually love? Or will either one—or their enemy—rip out their heart to stop it from beating? Dive into this Mafia Romance where the value of human life is worth less than loyalty.
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I loved this book!! I don’t know how Schmidt does it but I love every book more than the last!
Chiara has been through hell and back and determined no man is going to own her even the man who kidnapped her and later forced to marry. What she wasn’t counting on was falling for her husband. Ricca isn’t the devil she thought he was. He’s nothing what her father made her believe growing up. Not all made men are the same!
Chiara is one bada$$ woman who at times I was scared for Ricca and his three ducklings!
I loved this book so hard and can’t wait for more!!
I loved this book! Ricca kidnapped Chiara and the Syndicate forced him to marry her. It turns out to be a wonderful match! Ricca and Chiara worked so well together! They both are ruthless and sweet and I loved every moment of it! The characters were entertaining and the story flowed really well!
Ugh…I can’t believe I finished this book already, I really wanted to drag it out but I couldn’t put it down. I really loved how both Ricca and Chiara were able to make a bad situation and make it into something great. Their story was filled trust issues and humor, it wasn’t always easy but they sure made it seem that way. I highly recommend this book, and suggest that you give it a whirl.
Ricca is a mob boss and one that is know to act irrationally, his latest stunt got him married. Now he is stuck with a woman that keeps him on his toes. He is realizing though that she fits him perfectly and maybe “stuck” is not the word to use…
Chiara has managed to live through a horrible childhood and thinks she is marrying into more of the same. But the more time she spends with her husband, the more she starts to second guess everything.
Will this be a good match for them or will it destroy what is left of their soul??
I didn’t know I needed this story! Having read all of this authors books with Ricca as a secondary character, I was okay with him remaining there; but I am beyond glad that this author decided to give him his own story.
Ricca is a strong, dominate character that proves what it means to be Alpha and Mafia. I loved his strong hand with everyone but most importantly with his love. She was bold and strong as well and the perfect match.
I loved the plot of this story and could not stop reading. It can be read as a standalone but I encourage you to read all of these books, you will not be disappointed. I received an ARC and I am leaving an honest review.
Ricca & Chiara are dominant, explosive, powerful, sexy and oh so good together!
Kidnapped , arranged marriage, the mob, lies and too much attraction to handle.
Ricca kidnapped Chiara to get standing in the mob and teach her father a lesson but now the plans have changed . Ricca never thought that the woman he took would be so much like him and more. The moment that he realizes that he may not break her but have a worthy adversary and partner is the magic ! Chiara has lived the life of a mob daughter and believe me when I say she has not come out unscathed . She has been demined , abused and used as a pawn and that is just by her own father. She is now able to take everything that she has watched and learned and put it to good use. First impression of Ricca is that he is just like every other man of power and standing but she soon realizes he may be that and oh so much more…something that she needs!
Great Story!!
~~Michele McMullen
This author has a really easy writing style that I just enjoy so much. I am never bored or felt the need to skip pages. There are some really interesting side characters that I look forward to getting to know better.
: https://shahlas-world.blogspot.com/2019/01/enjoyed-this-book-immensely.htm
Esther E. Schmidt
** spoiler alert ** Her upbringing leaves Chiara leery of trusting a mafia man. Ricca is known for being a hard man. Their marriage is arranged. Will Chiara learn to trust Ricca? Will Ricca be open to allowing full trust between them?
I am a sucker for an Esther E Schmidt book and this one didn’t disappoint. I absolutely loved how Ricca is this tough alpha male, but he was determined to be there and help Chiara. I didn’t blame Chiara for her reactions to certain things and loved that she was determined to fight and not give up. Great read!
This has to be one of my favorite books by Esther! Ricca is badass, a ruthless guy who will grab your heart and toss it around until it consumes you. Chiara is the perfect partner for Ricca and is ruthless in her own way as well. I read this book in one sitting as I couldn’t put it down. I just hope there’s more to come in this series!
Ms. Schmidt has given us a fantastic Mafia storyline, with characters that are funny and charming while tough as nails. Ricca and Chiara are a match made in Mafia heaven and the “three ducklings” are a hoot as well as being lethal. That is one thing you can always count on with Ms. Schmidt’s book, you have humor, suspense and romance all wrapped up into great storylines. Kudo’s for another job very well done.
Ricca kidnapped Chiara as a revenge tactic which caused the Syndicate to become very irate. So, they forced them into an arranged marriage to save face. These two do not love one another but they will admit to an attraction with a strong sense of duty, which helps smooth the way in the beginning. You know the old saying that opposites attract, well these two are a prime example. They complete each other. Ricca is cold, impetuous and hot headed. He often acts before he thinks things through. As for Chiara, she is tough, beautiful, a thinker and a planner. She considers all the options before carrying out a plan. But together they are off the charts hot and totally lethal, a force you don’t want to mess with. However a few of their enemies didn’t get the memo and boy oh boy is that exciting.
Ricca and Chiara’s story is as magical as it is deadly. This is a quick read that will have you on edge of your seat as well as smiling through out, even when these two hand out their own kind of justice. 2 Thumbs Up for a fantastic 5 star read and I sincerely hope to see more books involving this marvelous cast of characters.
Ricca has been one of my favorite characters since I first read Afon. I love how you have found the perfect match for him in Chiara. Im completely in love with Ernesto, Armino snd Fausto and hope you write books for the “three ducklings”. Thank you for giving Ricca and Chiara their sizzling and very razorsharp happily ever after.
Is it possible to kidnap your wife then actually fall in love with each other? Or will she really try to feed you to the dogs? Ricca’s story will have you wondering about this.
I loved it! I could’ve read about these characters for another 50 or so chapters. You’ll find yourself laughing at conversations & cheering for everyone.
Can’t wait for the next book.
If you like mafia books, you do not want to miss this one. Ricca and Chiara were both born into the mafia. Ricca’s dad was a member of the Syndicate and Chiara’s dad was a mob boss that assaulted her until she was kidnapped and forced to marry Ricca.
I loved how Chiara brought out a new softer side in Ricca but Chiara is my hero. An amazing survivor who demonstrated her loyalty and then love to Ricca.
It’s all here, mobsters, chemistry that is palpable, lots of hot sex, guns, knives, blood, murders and an evolving love story. Esther Schmidt you have once again provided a story that will hold you captive!
I highly recommend this book.
Honest review given for ARC.
Ricca is the first book in a new series by Esther E Schmidt and I absolutely love it. Ricca and Chiara are definitely two halves of a whole. Both having grown up in the Mafia lifestyle and seeing and doing things that would make weaker men look away. Forced into marriage, these two will discover that to have a future you must come to terms with the past. I’m so excited to see where is next. I already know it’ll be amazing.
When you’re the daughter of a man in the mafia, your choices are not your own. Chiara has learned this lesson the hard way as well as many others. When she is forced to marry the man that had kidnapped her she assumes she’s left one form of hell for another….but what if she’s wrong? Ricca trusts few people, well three to be exact and doesn’t expect to trust or receive loyalty from his new wife….but what if he’s wrong? What these two consider foreplay on their wedding night, yeah pretty sure that not what most of us do! I loved watching the relationship between these two grow, but I also enjoyed her developing friendships with Armino, Ernesto and particularly Fausto. Another great thing – an awesome epilogue that carries over some humor from the beginning of our story – LOVED it!
Another fantastic book from Esther E Schmidt. She continues to give us fast paced stories with interesting characters we care about and bits of humor that entertain us.