They didn’t come from the same world … high society from the upscale suburbs.
He’s a drug dealer from New York’s slums.
They just weren’t meant to be … until they were.
What would it take to change a life—an entire perspective? All the things you thought you knew and wanted?
For them, it took thirty-six days.
And the privilege of meeting each other.
They shouldn’t be.
They don’t fit.
Love doesn’t care.
Note: Privilege is book one in a three-book trilogy following the same couple.
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Privilege is another Bethany-Kris winner where we now hear the story of Lucia Marcello and Renzo Zulla. This story was deeply romantic but also filled to the brim with drama and an angst-filled intensity that could be felt off the pages. It is sort of a Romeo and Juliet/Opposite attract story and I for one could not get enough!
When Lucia and Renzo meet there is a chemistry that cannot be denied. It was sexy and intense and I was addicted from the beginning. It was so great being back in the Marcello fold seeing the characters I love, including Lucian, Andino and John. I loved the connection that Lucia and Renzo had and their need to be with one another. It was deeply romantic and yet the hurdles they were put through was intense. I seriously can’t wait for more! 4 stars! ~Ratula
5+ Stars
A fast paced Mafia Romance surrounding a privileged princepessa and a man who her family consider trouble. The ending is a ‘HFN’ with Lucia and Ren enjoying a moment of freedom. Can’t wait to read the next book Harbor which I believe is due out soon.
Lucia…the spoiled principessa. Renzo…the foot soldier from the wrong side of the tracks. They shouldn’t work, but boy do they ever. Maybe its because Lucia isn’t quite as innocent as she seems, or maybe Renzo is a boss in the making…because he is definitely an alpha male…regardless, he goes after what he wants, and that’s Lucia. Renzo reminds me so much of Cross from the Cross + Catherine books. I can’t wait to see more from him.
Lucia surprised me in the way she stood up for herself, especially to Lucian; who, by the way, really surprised me with his attitude and actions. I think he’s forgotten he hasn’t always lived a life of privilege and can relate to Renzo more than he realizes.
I can’t wait to see where BK is going with this couple. I see good times and bad, smiles and tears, heartbreak and hea in their future!
What a start to a trilogy. A story of young love that has a sort of Romeo and Juliet vibe. She, 18, from the wealthy, privileged mafia life and he, 20, from the wrong side of the tracks, a lowly foot soldier. Two people that should have never met yet did and formed a deep and bidding connection. Young love is intense, passionate, and addictive. It goes against the rules when opposites attract. And at times, it creates casualties for both.
I absolutely could not stop reading when I started this love story. It was a story that grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go. I didn’t expect to love Renzo like I did. His life is so incredibly difficult yet he rise to the occasion. His family responsibilities are what he lives for. He does what he does for their sakes and is completely committed to his sister and his little brother. And while no one really knows the real Ren, Lucia is able to see through the masquerade of his life. Lucia, from the well connected and wealthy Marcello family, is the good girl, the girl who followed rules, who never gives her parents a worry and who has her life all planned. But when fate intervenes and she met a sexy, handsome bad boy, her heart and her life will never be the same. But she goes against her family when she is warned to stay about from Renzo and going against the Family comes with consequences. And Lucia Marcello will learn just how ruthless her father, Lucien, can be.
This author writes with uncontrolled passion. You can feel the love and the intensity of each character. I am completely obsessed with how Renzo and Lucia will overcome the obstacles set before them. Her family and his family commitments are all mixed to create a perfect storm. The cliffhanger at the end of the story brings much trepidation as it will also bring fireworks when the next story will begins. I can’t wait for more Renzo and Lucia!!!
So heartbreaking for the whole story!!! Ren and Lucia are the example of young love. This did have a Romero and Juliet feel to it.
What broke my heart was how Ren did what ever he could to support his younger siblings. It just seemed the world was against him. Lucia was girl who grew up rich, but wanted to help others. Didn’t really care about material things.
You get a since of their story in John’s book. Even then I want to just read more about Renzo and Lucia. I knew then this was going be a sad book
PRIVILEGE (RENZO + LUCIA BOOK 1)
By Bethany-Kris
5
What can I say about book 1 in the Renzo + Lucia trilogy?! Privilege took my breathe away. It was just WOW! It brought me back to my life as a teenager and put me in the feels. I’m sure most of you remember defying your parents wishes and followed your feelings without any regard to anyone else’s. This book was that and then some.
Lucia is a Marcello. If you are familiar with Bethany-Kris then you know the type of family she comes from. As the youngest daughter of Lucian Marcello, she is a spoiled princepessa. She was raised in a two parent household and born into privilege and wealth. Renzo Zulla did not have the same upbringing. Poor and struggling but with more than enough street smarts to get him and his siblings by. One would say opposites attract in this novel but I don’t think it’s so much that they are opposite just clueless to each others worlds. Ren opens Lucia’s eyes to things she may never have seen because of her upbringing.
“Him and her.
Until the end …
Ride or fuckin’ die”
Young love, heartache and rebellion. It all makes such a wonderful story. Though this is only book 1 of a 3 book series BK does not leave us hanging but more or less anticipating the next one. She ends the book at the perfect time which leaves you wondering but not going crazy. Haha
I highly recommend this book. Make sure to add this to your tbr. You will not regret it! I know 2019 is just around the corner but I can already see that this will be in my top 5 reads of the year. It’s just that good. Bravo, BK you’ve done it again.
Bethany-Kris has yet to ever disappoint me! Seriously every time I read a book with her name on the cover I am incredibly pleased and just plain tickled that Mrs. Kris continues to give us these amazing stories with characters that you ache for! These two main characters, Renzo and Lucia could not be any more different. Yet, no girl could walk away from Renzo’s sweet soul, his heart… he just stole my heart from every other Kris man. Yes, I’m telling you all that Renzo has stole my heart from all the other men Bethany-Kris has written about and that is hard when Cross is in that category… but I just can’t get over the heart Renzo has. Not only does he move heaven and earth for his woman but he loves his family and just works so hard for them. I just can’t stand up against that, my heart has no control when I see a man love his family.
Anyway, Privilege starts off with a bang! I’m just thrilled that this is the start of another trilogy. I do love how Mrs. Kris switches up what we normally get… in Privilege we have a mafia princess who has never had to work for a thing and a man who’s starting at the bottom and (financially) has nothing. I was really thankful that Lucia wasn’t some spoiled entitled brat but she was really caring and a loving person. Mrs. Kris outdid herself here… I can normally guess how the story is going to go but I didn’t see how this one was going, however, we are at the start of three books. The drama was intense! Really it can’t be anything but when you have a lowly foot soldier and a mafia princess falling for each other. They were so passionate.
I always recommend Bethany-Kris books when someone is looking for organized crime stories. You can’t go wrong when you’re looking for illegal activities that skirt that rules, passion that ignites your reader and characters that you’ll either love or love to hate! Mrs. Kris’s writing is purely perfection. She’s creative and descriptive. These are always compulsive reads. I can tell you that I felt quite confused when seeing the way Lucian forbade her to be with Renzo. I had always loved Lucian in the previous books. However, Kris gives us well-rounded people… even bosses are fathers! I seriously can’t wait for more of this drama and love!
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… my opinions.
Oh Renzo. He’s never had it easy. Born to a junkie mother and gambling alcoholic father. Both parents never around to help care for him or his siblings. At an early age he’s had to take on the role of brother and parent. Always doing what he needed to do to provide shelter and food for his siblings. Their needs always came first no matter what. He is such a great brother and my heart broke for him. He deserved someone good like Lucia.
Lucia was born into money and never had to struggle a day in her life. Lucian’s youngest daughter and the most spoiled but she was also sweet and kind. She cared for her family and didn’t judge when she met Renzo. She saw him for who he was and not what he had or didn’t have.
First love. We’ve all been there. Rebelled to be with the one we loved despite our parents threats and warnings.
Another great read from BK. She is one of my favorites and never disappoints. The way she introduces you to characters and tells their stories. A big perk? She doesn’t keep you waiting and wanting for a long period of time before you get the next book in a series <3
Where do I start with this review…… OMG WTF did I just read is my first thought because HOLY HELL I have read a lot of books that are mafia and forbidden love and the struggles the couple goes through but this story is about a young couple who struggles with reality of coming from two different worlds.
Renzo and Lucia’s story is one full of suspense, different worlds colliding, and true love. I just loved this couple because they both come from different worlds where Renzo comes from poverty and does what he has to do to provide for his family and Lucia comes from wealth and a mafia princes at that. Lucia wants for nothing and does as she is told where as Renzo comes from the wild side and does what is necessary to take care of his family.
Then they meet and their worlds collide and they both know it is going to be hard to be together but it is worth the fight. Lucia’s father is a ruthless bastard that will do anything to keep these two away from each other but Renzo is determined to do whatever is necessary to stay with Lucia.
This is a trilogy about Renzo and Lucia and this first book sets the stage for whats to come and I will tell you this couple is in for the ride of their lives because money trumps everything and when Lucia’s father finds out about Renzo and how he is from the wrong side of the tracks he is determined to keep his daughter away from him at any cost. This is a MUST read Trilogy and I can’t wait for book two because I need to know what is going to happen to these two.