Luciana Rossi is untouchable, the Principessa of the Zanetti Famiglia, until one day she becomes extremely vulnerable. Unsure of who to trust, or where to turn, she follows the man that she’s had a connection with since childhood. Gavino Santoro is hungry. He craves power, control, and Luciana. Taking over the Zanetti Famiglia has been his goal since he began climbing the ranks of one of New … of New York’s most powerful families.
Now that the power he craves is within his grasp, he needs the wife that will complete his image of being the new Zanetti Boss. Even if he has to lie and manipulate the beautiful woman to bend her to his will.
Two people doomed by circumstance. An organization in upheaval. Nothing but uncertainty in the future. Morality is nothing but a concept. This is the beginning of the Zanetti Famiglia’s new empire.
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Entertaining and enjoyable!!
the new Boss
I read this via my ku subscription but I also own a signed copy (I just didn’t want to open the pages) It is book 1 of the Zanetti Famiglia series.
Triggers:
murder, human sex trafficking, memory of attempted child sex abuse
Spoilers:
Luciana, Zanetti family princess. after her father is killed she finds herself in a difficult situation.
Gavino, ambitious. Willing to do what it takes to be boss in the mafia family. He grasps the opportunity to seize power.
I liked Gavino. He is what you expect from a mafia boss. Dominant. Cruel. Blunt. Luciana, to me, was annoying. Girl grew up in a mafia household and nothing was a secret. Her alleged innocence about things was ridiculous. (She gets on her knees to hurry the guy along)
Gavino 4, story 4, Luciana 3
Becoming the Boss is the first book in the Zanetti Famiglia series. Gavino Santoro is the new boss of the Zanetti Famiglia and Luciana is the daughter of the boss whom Gavino has taken over.
Their story has drama, anguish and LOTS of hot steamy scenes!!!
Great start to this series. I can’t wait to read more.
Took me 6 days to read this book… even books two or three times the length I’ve never taken that long to read a book. Why did it take so long? I found other things to do than read this book because I just cringed through most of it and had absolutely NO connection with either of the main characters no matter how hard I tried to really care what happened to them. I really only didn’t DNF this because I was reading it for a book group that is reading it for this month. The circles of thought processes and restating their feelings of how she fell in to the trap that her mom had warned her about but she can’t help it because she loves Gavvy (really his dick but it’s ok– for the h) or how he wants to love her but it’s for her safety that he doesn’t so let me just act like an ass (for the H) *insert eyeroll*… I had to skim through it for the last 10 percent just to be done. SMH. If you don’t talk to anybody and only have sex with them, because really that’s all they did, tell me how there is love there? Just not believable at all even with all the dark and twisted mafia books I have read. Don’t recommend at all (even though not gonna lie the sex scenes which were plentiful were pretty good), not sure I even care enough to finish the series that is not the norm for me.
I am a HUGE Hayley Faiman fan, and somehow I totally missed this series being released. I was scoping KU and found this book and jumped at the chance to read it. I am so happy I did.
Becoming the Boss is the first book in the new Hayley Faiman series Zanetti Famiglia and wow what a start. Gavino and Luciana are a match made in hell. Gavino will do anything to become the newest mob boss and he has made sure that will happen. Luciana is the princess of the family he will be taking over and the latest casualty in the blood bath that is about to hit the street.
What goes down in Becoming the Boss is an interesting story on the mafia and on how a guy can come up from the bottom can take over and become king.
Omg ! Another winner for Hayley Faiman.
Omg! loved it!
What a way to start a new series.From the very beginning of this story we were hooked.I have to say that this was one of those stories that had you on edge the entire time it was edgy and suspenseful and had your heart going out to Luci time and time again.
This story is not for the faint of heart as Gavino is a complete A- hole in my book.We found him to be possessive and protective,dangerous,brash,insensitive,all about ownership and possession,dominate in all aspects of his life and every now and then we saw he was capable of feeling something and showing kindness but not often.This is a character you love to hate but, you are hoping the love of a good women and loving one in return will make you into a semi decent human being and we kept hoping and praying. Gavvy as Luci calls him is the perfect mob boss but, makes a nightmare for a husband but, one thing is for sure he will do everything in his power to protect what is his even if it means giving his own life.
Luci- Luci was a mafia princess but,she is to soft for the mafia life not only that she hates everything about it but, there’s no escaping the life she was born into.My heart went out to this women as her life was a nightmare and she lived a life that every aspect of her life was controlled day in and day out and she is now thrust into the arms of a man who has a dominate personality 24/7.It amazed me with the life she lead so far that she remained sweet, kind ,caring and loving never turning into a bitter women.I think for some they found her to be a weak character and one the cries and whines all the time but, for me I think life has just caught up to her and she has just become and emotional wreck but, we do see a bit of fieriness and disobedience every now and then.We loved her because in her own way she pushed and pushed to be seen something other than a possession.
Overall we loved this story from cover to cover.The story was heart felt and surprising and exciting and suspenseful and so dark and dangerous and a bit surprising but, one thing for sure is that I am so grateful that I was not born into a mafia family but, Luci was strong enough to fight for what she rightfully deserved and proved that she will make one hell of a regina to a mob boss and men will envy Gavino in every way that he was able to snag and women who is beautiful inside as well as she is on the outside and will be his sunshine in his very dark world.
Luciana Rossi is very inquisitive. Gavino Santoro is working his way up in the organization. The world they live in is not a pretty one. It’s a world where there’s a fine line between legal and illegal. There’s also a fine line between love and business.
Gavino made it very tough to find anything endearing about him. That just shows how good this author is at creating her characters. He’s the perfect bad boy alpha male. Luciana is a woman in a family where women only seem to have one purpose. Controlling also comes to mind when I first see them trying to coexist.
Franco may be a secondary character but I became curious about him early on. He helps in making me wonder more about The Man. There’s one scene where he’s talking with Gavino and it’s like he’s trying to convince us at the same time he’s trying to convince Gavino. I think that was the point where the author grabbed my attention – I want to know what’s in store for Luciana. I also found myself wanting to listen in. Foreign languages to me are like fire and ice – they don’t mix. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting to listen to it. The ending left me wondering where this series is going to take me next.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
I received this book as an ARC in return for an honest review.
When Hayley Faiman announced that she was working on a new mafia romance, I knew I had to get my hands on it. In Becoming the Boss, Hayley brings her rugged and crass alpha male character but dressed up in a sleek suit and designer shoes. Gavino Santoro is the definition of a self-made crime boss with a swoon-worthy swagger.
Lucianna Rossi is the unconventional Principessa of the Zanetti Famiglia who finds herself the focus Gavino’s attention. Lucianna and Gavino soon find themselves fighting an undeniable attraction while maneuvering the drama of living in a crime syndicate.
Becoming the Boss is a smart, seductive read that immerses you into a crime world you will be craving long after it’s over.
I honestly can’t think of anyone who does mafia quite as magnificently as Hayley Faiman does. I was totally hooked to her Bratva series so when I found out she was writing Italians I was ready to explode in excitement. That sentence sounded less gross in my head. Metaphorical explosion, I’ll leave the real ones to the mob bosses. Annnnywhoooo, metaphorical explosions aside I was so freaking into this book.
I dare say Gavino is even more rough than her Russians ever were. The man is brutally harsh, quite frequently a complete a#$*@le and yet still there is something buried deep within him that pulls you to him. There are glimpses of a true heart buried beneath that hardened exterior that are reserved almost solely for Luciana. Where Gavino is all rough edges and sharp barbs Luciana brings a softness that truly should not be mistaken for weakness. This women has endured things many cannot even imagine being born a mafia princess.
There’s not much sweetness to be found between these two. They reside in a dark and dangerous world where death seems an almost daily occurrence. But what exists between them is so powerful no sweetness is needed to make you fall in love just as hard as they do.
Hayley Faiman has done it once again , she has got to be one of my favorite authors love everything she writes including this one . Luciana and Gavino are both interesting characters I wish we got to know more about Gavinos history he did make me mad a couple of times with how he was with the heroine but I grew to fall for him . Luciana showed alot of growth really after everything she has been through she needed something someone to take all the pain she endured away , but she could also hold her . Becoming the Boss is also filled with some steamy scenes that had me fanning myself really liked the chemistry between the hero and heroine they shared a strong connection . I did feel alot of emotions through out the book happy , sad , and angry . I hope to see more of the secondary characters so can’t wait to see how Lucianas cousins story go .
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
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hero=10 heroine=10 secondary characters= 10
Chemistry=10 steam=10 romance= 6
humor=2 darkness level=4 action= 4 mystery= 4
enjoyment=10 angst= 3 story line= 10 Story ending=10
character development=10 pacing=10
cover= 10 Blurb =10 Stars = 5
Is this part of a series =yes
Can it be read as a standalone = yes
would I recommend this book=yes
would I re read this book= yes
would I read future books by this author= yes
5 Stars
This complex world that Luciana was born into and Gavino is trying to conquer is not for the faint of heart. When you are a part of the Zanetti Famiglia loyalty is all that matters and love and happiness are never a priority. When circumstances change and Luciana is forced into Gavino’s world as “his” everything changes. You will feel the intensity that is a part of every scene and every interaction that happens throughout this book. Ms. Faiman has created a story about loyalty, trust, need and love, in a world full of danger and bloodshed. In a world where power is all that matters and happiness is never expected, you will find a love story that beats the odds.
Cara – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog