AllesandroI’m Il Padrone, the Master of this Family, and Emilio will learn his place. I’ll bathe in his tears and watch as he humiliates himself. It’s all for my pleasure. I own it all and he’s just another addition to my collection.EmilioIl Padrone calls me his toy. His property. He says I can earn the right to be higher in his organization if only I submit. If only I change who I am. I may be … who I am. I may be younger, but he hasn’t seen the likes of me before.
Just how twisted can a tale of vengeance become?
Trigger Warnings: This is a dark MM Mafia with graphic violence and extreme sexual situations.
Book 1 of the Vendetta Series, ends on a cliffhanger
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At first I thought this would be a run of the mill Mafia story but oh no…this is so much more! It follows the story of Emilio who is sold to a Mafia boss by his brother but then everything takes on a twisted story. It hot and kinky and the characters are deep and draw you into their world and their story. This is a series and 5 books are currently available.
Well written dark, and honestly read the warnings! Gripping storyline, truly mafia themed book. I’m looking forward to book two. Did I mention dark? Heed the warnings.
MASTERFUL!!!
Ok. For starters, Holy Cliffy!!!
That ending was so engrossing and impactful that I can’t wait to dig right in to the next installment while gushing and recommending everyone read this, like yesterday!!!
2nd, the darkness of this read was my kind of perfection. The way that IL Padron is meticulous and calculating to his end-goal was chilling and I am in awh.
Love, Love, Loved!
More, More, More!!
Read. Read. READ!!!
You are My Mistress of Dark & Kink Leigh Kenzie
Super read by Leigh Kenzie Leigh Kenzie if you like Mafia and kink! Heed the book warnings as it’s not for everyone but I loved it! Great characters with lots of dominating sex as Allesandro moulds and nurtures his ‘family’ to serve him. There are some underlining feels for both character and reader which draws you into their world.
So far, I haven’t found any character to “like” in this story, but I wasn’t able to stop reading it either. Alessandro has some dark and twisted ways to ensure he gets loyalty from his boys and he doesn’t hesitate to use his power to get whatever he wants from them. He’ll freely admit that to you as the reader and dare you to come along for the ride. Emilio says he has the will to resist and he has a good reason for being in the position he is in, but the darkness is reaching out for him in this book and it appears he may very well be sucked into it too deeply to get out. Just like him, I too have been enticed in and want to stay in this world and see where things are going. There are several other intriguing characters off to the side that I can’t wait to find out more about as well. Onward, into book two!
Wow. I expected this book to be dark but I never imagined it would be like this. It’s not an easy read at all.
Emilio is so sweet and naive, seeing him being tortured, humiliated, ripped of his dignity and innocence, it was so damn painful, I can’t imagine going through what he did. Il padrone well, he’s ruthless, heartless and merciless. Everyone is expendable to him, no matter their status or relationship to him. He wants to break and to be in control of Emilio, he gets off on his pain and fear, it’s sick and twisted. He destroyed his life, leaving nothing but ashes so that he doesn’t have a place to run if he ever tries to escape from him.
Alessandro and Luca’s dynamics are a bit weird, he says they are best friends but he uses him like a toy to do his bidding and play another of his sick little games. It was strange.
I liked the plot, it’s really dark, definitely not for everyone, and this authors writing is really good, I just wished she explored a bit more the characters, their story. I feel like I couldn’t really connect with them, specially Alessandro.
Things got more interesting at the end, I feel like the real action is coming in the next book. So if your brave enough, I dare you to read this series.
Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review. Allesandro is a dark and dangerous man who takes pleasure from infecting pain on his toys has crime boss know one is off limits. What kinda brother gives you to a sick and twisted man. Is this new toy going to be to much for Allesandro and the loyal Luca.
Emilio can’t believe the things he is willing to do to protect his brother, after hearing his “master” talk with his second. As a smart guy Emilio is determined to play these two men to his avenge, never dreaming the ultimate betrayal from Radcliff at the end. Is someone willing to save Emilio or is his fate sealed already. Cliffhanger (UGH) the pain is real with this book,a lot of trigger warnings if you are not into the Stockholm syndrome type theme, lets just say a great steamy book that will make you long for more of this book that is filled up with heat.
3.5 Stars
So, here’s the thing, I pride myself on reading a bit of everything. If the blurb appeals to me, and I have the time, I’ll probably try it at some point or another. When Il Padrone first came out, I was swamped and couldn’t get to it, but then the request for book 2 came and I decided to try them out. Please mind the trigger warnings (which aren’t nearly enough, especially for this book, imo) because this book is DARK and deals with graphic violence and extreme sexual situations, some that I will admit I had to skim through.
I felt sorry for Emilio, thrown by circumstance and his brother, into a horrible situation, becoming Il Padrone’s ‘toy’. Emilio is tortured, humiliated, forced to submit not only to Allesandro but his second in command, Luca, who I still don’t know what to think about, and somehow, he learns to survive and find some kind of enjoyment in what he goes through. I didn’t like Allesandro at all. He’s a monster and so far, I haven’t found any redeeming qualities in him. Being handsome is definitely not enough in his case.
Overall, the book is well-written and while it’s maybe too dark for my liking, I’m going to continue with the series in the hopes that Emilio comes out on top somehow in the end.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement. ***
Dark mm mafia? Count me in!
I liked reading this book, Emilio was an interesting character and loved how he handled his situation. Bit kidnapping with Stockholm Syndrome – I mean just a taste, but I hope the next book will be better in the romance/erotica scene.
Il Padrone aka Allesandro aka Master, I don’t know what to think about him, he was a bit empty for me in this book, and his darkness and BDSM scenes weren’t as dark as I hoped. For a newbie to the darkness it will be a good book, but I like my dark books way more darker.
Luca was a great side character, and the threesome…wow! But the best – and the worst – that cliffhanger! Really?!?! Gaaaawd, I need the next book right now! That was a killer twist at the end! I really can’t wait to know what happens next, I want to see more Allesandro/Emilio scene, more darkness, and I’m really curious to see what Emilio will do.
It was a really great book, but not dark enough for me.
This was dark, depraved and thrilling.
Absolutely in love with this!
This was my first read by this author and what a book it is! The story of Allesandro, a Mafia leader and Emilio, a young man who comes into his life in an unusual way, is a powerful story. I’m a lover of Mafia style books and this doesn’t disappoint. Quite a bit goes on in this book, some of it a bit cringe worthy, yet I loved all of it.
Allesandro takes Emilio “under his wings” so to speak, but Emilio isn’t sure why his life has so drastically changed. How will he ever get away? And even better, does he want to?! These characters both are conflicted yet you can feel some sort of attraction between them. Allesandro is most definitely in charge and wants Emilio to bow to him. While Emilio is perceived as nerdy and shy, I know there is a part of him that is not a complete push over and he will do what it takes to survive.
I enjoyed this story and can’t wait to read the next book to find out what happens. If you are a lover of MM and Mafia, then this book is for you!
Yes, this is a dark romance. Very dark. Mind you I have read darker. I’m not going to get into the blurb. That’s already available to read.
First off, the portrayal of Alessandro as a mafia boss kingpin with no conscience, no empathy, no sympathy, and no scruples is brilliantly executed. He stayed in character the whole time. Trying to make this man fall in love is going to be the battle of all battles, because this kind of man is not going to go quietly. Ever. I especially loved the glimpse of him when he was in “boss” mode with the other “family” and his underlings.
Read more here: https://maggieblackbird.com/2020/08/21/leigh-kenzie-il-padrone/#more-16660
Alessandro is head of the mafia family. Holding everything together. He’s vicious and cruel but never lies and is righteous to the loyal ones.
Emilio a geek, with a high i.q. His dirty brother gives him away to the mafia boss.
Allesandro will train him to be his boy, one of his many.
What follows is some dirty, humiliating, painful, power display. I loved it all.
Beside the training of Emilio we get a look into Allesandro’s business and how he runs it with a hard hand.
All well put together and very entertaining. I would have loved some more affection, it felt a bit distant, I know it’s the head of a mafia family and it should be so, still. Maybe book two will give this. A captivatingly written narrative, steady-paced, the hurt was palpable, well done!
I hate cliffs wholeheartedly, this one was quite acceptable. Can’t wait for book two.
A rare treat when I’m torn over whether to loathe or love one of the main characters even after I close the pages
Alessandro …
I can’t stand him, really really loathe his arrogant better than you attitude
At the same time, I respect his devotion to his boys (yeah that was a total WTH revelation).
I have to concede a point to him as that is an absolutely brilliant ploy.
Cliff, you are like a roach just scurrying around, thirsty as he ll .
I hope you meet the boot!
Emilio, I want to cry for you. Everything you had stolen from you. The future you never knew was even plausible – destroyed by a loathsome disgusting thing (this is another revelation that was a real holychit moment)
Believe in you don’t let them make you less
Take back what is rightfully yours
Luca, I worry about you.
I was captive from the beginning with this read
All kinds of mind games and twisted desires
Il Padrone is a heartless cold void of a human, not even sure he has warm blood running through his veins. He rules with a heavy hand and no compassion. He enjoys possessing things and people, tormenting his toys ’till their tears quench his thirst. He likes them malleable – not broken mind you but definitely cracked.
(Can you tell I’m not his biggest fan? )
I wish we had a little more time with confrontation and acceptance.
I know I’m being greedy but I would have enjoyed some more time, more …
This first in series sets a pretty solid foundation for the reader.
Who the cast is
Why they are the way they are – I admit this area is touched on enough to pique our curiosity and get us questioning methods/motives
Some of the conflicts are introduced. Again enough to give us groundwork but not enough to satisfy
This ends with an eye-popping betrayal and all kinds of WTH revelations