There were always whispers about my roommate at Hillcrest Academy.The wealthiest of the wealthy sent their kids to our boarding school, and Brooke Bennett had been at the top, though I never quite knew why. She was fun and outgoing, but she kept quiet about her family. The only things she showed me were photographs of her brothers.I became fascinated with her second-oldest brother. Kai Bennett.He … second-oldest brother. Kai Bennett.
He was the most of them all. Smoldering. Hypnotic. Alluring.
Kai had eyes that pulled me in and a face that haunted my dreams.
Then I met him.
He came to our school with their father, and that’s when I learned what kind of family Brooke came from. They were mafia, and Brooke’s oldest brother was dead. Her father said accident, but Brooke said murder.
Three months later, her father died, and Kai became the head of the Bennett Family. Brooke left Hillcrest for good, and that was the last time I saw her.
Fourteen years later, I’m staring at her face on the television. Brooke is missing.
Two days later, Kai Bennett kidnaps me.
** This is a 120k full-length standalone.
more
This was the first mafia book I’ve read in awhile. And it could very easily be my favorite. Along with the danger, suspense and sexy times there were also a few laughs. I really hope to see a book about some of the other siblings.
I absolutely freaking loved this book. I couldn’t put it down I’m just glad I didn’t work the next day or I would have been dragging butt.
Loved Kai & Riley’s story! Only a smart, strong-willed, no-nonsense girl like Riley could ever take on Kai Bennett. This was full of drama, action, fighting, and also feelings both were trying hard to ignore & deny. Loved the siblings and Riley’s friends. A great page-turner!
Move over Carter Reed there is a new mafia hottie!! Enter Kai Bennett, swoon! I love Carter and for me to say Kai is more, than that is huge. This books has all of the feels. I hated Kai, for like 3 seconds, then it was instant love!
Riley is a very strong female lead. She is out weak, she can handle herself, she is gorgeous, funny and an overall amazing woman. She is by far one of the strongest women in the Tijan universe.
I have read this book twice. The second time was so much better, I don’t even know how that is possible!! I definitely have a book hangover from this one!
I hope there will be more in the future, it is just too good to be a standalone. I highly recommend this book. Kai is my new book boyfriend!!
I’m of two minds about Bennett Mafia. I absolutely loved the mafia story, the ins, and outs, the secrets, the betrayals; all of the things I come to expect from these kinds of books. However, as much as I enjoyed Riley and Kai together, I would have liked to see more development of their relationship. I did believe in them, but I felt like the romance was lacking a little.
Riley was a fierce female. She had a fractious beginning, but took those scars from her past and used them to hone herself into a force for a good while operating in the shadows. I think what I appreciate most about Riley was that she had an acute sense of right and wrong, but was still able to see past the action to the person and their motivations. It may have taken her some time, but she was able to see that things weren’t always black and white, and often things appeared one way from the outside but were completely different from the inside. She was a powerhouse, and as much as Kai needed someone as strong as she was to complement him, she needed someone as powerful him to stand up to her.
Kai continually surprised me. The brush with which he had been painted in the beginning didn’t reveal his authentic self. As his true personality and the real motivations behind his actions came to light it was apparent he was much more complex than I’d originally expected. The complexity of Kai’s situation was heartbreaking, and as much as I didn’t want to feel any sympathy for the ruthless mob boss, I just wanted to nurture and protect that little boy who’d never experienced the love he should have and had to step into such a perilous role as little more than a child.
Kai and Riley were fantastic together; they were both headstrong and independent in ways that shouldn’t have been compatible but ended up being extremely complementary. I could feel the chemistry between them and felt a sense of relief when they finally acted on it. I would have loved to have seen the emotional part of their relationship more fully fleshed out, in lieu of some of the excessive sex scenes. I did find myself skimming through those sections, as the felt gratuitous and repetitive to me.
Classic Tijan. I see why so many compare their love for Kai to Mason from the Fallen Crest series. This book is outstanding. Tijan has the ability to build a whole world and immerse the reader. I could not put this book down. Tijan is a one-click author for me. For life.
5 Mafia Stars
Review by Lisa
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
Tijan has outdone herself!. Bennett Mafia is outstanding. Being an absolute fan of everything that Tijan writes, I was a little skeptical reading another mafia story. I didn’t think it would live up to or compare with Carter Reed. Let me tell you, I was so wrong to even think that. This story was both amazing and different.
This is one of those stories that grabs you and sucks you in. Be warned, you will pull an all-nighter and nothing will be done around you. You are sucked into the world of the most powerful family there is.
I won’t go much into the story detail because there is just so much in this one. The twists and turns and the feeling that these words evoke jumps off the page. It is so well written that you are never left questioning anything. You will be left with a major book hangover at the end.
Being sent to a boarding school that is for the most powerful and wealthy families, Riley is paired with Brooke Bennett. At the time Riley had no idea just who she was rooming with. As time goes by, however, things happen and the truth comes out.
I loved the suspense in this story. It kept me on the edge until the very end. Simply amazing!
Clouded in a heavy darkness, within a world unlike any other I have read before, I was captivated within the first few pages of reading this explosive story. Soon I realized that I became a prisoner within this story, much like the characters themselves, struggling to make peace with the demons and the darkness they each faced.
Rich and highly developed, this story was weaved together perfectly, taking the reader for a fast moving and exhilarating ride. Calculating, ruthless and complex characters made for an addictive read, offering what I believe is Tijan’s best work to date.
This book had me feeling as though I was being held captive within the pages, unlike any other book I have read before, in the best possible way.
If you are looking for a dark, gut-wrenching story about redemption, and what it is to live with ghosts… This is the book for you!
As Always, Happy Reading!
“5/5 Beaming Brains!” – Lit-Up My Mind
Holy hell! I finished this book yesterday and I’m still reeling! I woke up thinking about these characters! So many levels of emotions, but no matter which emotion I was on at any given time, it was INTENSE! I rarely cry while reading, but at one point, I gasped and tears exploded! So much going on, so many subplots, put it was easy to follow and kept me reading! I couldn’t put this down! Make sure you have time to carve out of your schedule when you pick this one up, because everything else will become an afterthought!
THIS book! Holy Hell!
Gripping, intense, suspenseful, intriguing, complex, angsty, HOT… just a few words to describe this story!
Tijan blew me away with her words, and I devoured every single one of them!
Review by Lys
I fell in love with Tijan’s writing, when I first read (I’ve done many re-reads) the “Fallen Crest High” series. I also have a major weakness for “made” men, so I figured this book would be perfect for me.
This story starts out with Riley becoming best friends with Brooke Bennett, at boarding school. Riley doesn’t know very much about her new friend, but she does know that Brooke has a lot of brothers and her family seems to be a very “big deal”. She is especially interested in the picture Brooke has of Kai, the second oldest brother…
Bit by bit, we get fed tiny bits of information and things started to become clear to me (and to Riley) as to who the “Bennett” family really is. There were still lot’s of questions left open though…
When people within the Bennett family start dying, Riley is pulled out of school by her brother Kai… It’s the end of a lovely friendship…
Now years later, mafia princess Brooke has gone missing and Kai and his brothers have kidnapped Riley, because they are sure she has the answers to some very important questions
Riley is not some whiny desperate heroine…she knows how to take care of herself, but even she has to admit defeat. What’s worse though, is dealing with the attraction she feels towards Kai. She has always had a bit of a thing for him and turns out that she is not the only one feeling the sparks between them…
I really enjoyed this one. Riley was a strong heroine and Kai was deliciously dark and broody. The storyline was also very interesting. That said, I did get a bit confused at the beginning about what was going on, the time jumps had me scratching my head a bit as to what was happening. Thankfully it didn’t take me too long to figure things out, but still….the confusion was real.
If you’re a mafia fan like me and love your heroines strong and feisty and your heroes a bit dark, you should definitely check this one out.
My reviews are posted on Wendys Wycked Words
Dark, Deadly & Unpredictable!!
(Read using Kindle Unlimited)
I found this book to be clever in its storyline & how the plot unfolded, especially around Kai’s planning!! I liked all the Bennett siblings although Tanner came across as a douche at times Riley, for all of her strong morals, past neglect, hatred of her Father’s abuse of her Mother etc caved like a house cards in face of Kai’s seduction, her own lust & their mutual attraction!
This is a dark & bloody book – it’s about the Mafia so it was bound to be, I didn’t think it was overly gratuitous though! Each of the main characters have flaws, some bigger than others, but they all have redeeming qualities too which is what makes this such an unpredictable & enthralling resd!! I did think, shockingly, that there was an over abundance of sex throughout the book, but at least it was well written & hot
I definitely recommend picking this book up, the read is definitely worth your time!!
Debbie, 1970, UK
BENNETT MAFIA is hands down the best Mafia books I have ever read!
Utterly spellbinding, and so beautifully written I was completely moved by the words, yet so utterly hypnotized by the sheer depth and feel of the storyline at the same time. almost as those you’re looking into a film that is flashing before your very eyes. With the words just bleeding off the pages, you have no choice but to devour and consume them. Till your in that TIJAN high of marvel and grace!!!
OMFG just AMAZING!!!! FYI I’m still swooning over Kai!
ABSO-BLOODY-LUTELY AMAZING!! I need the audiobook!!
This has just became my top favorite from Tijan’s library. OMG, can’t wait to listen and experience through the audiobook.
This book has it all, and kept on the edge of my seat at every corner. It was passionate, sexy, suspenseful, action packed and with two main character to die for. I absolutely love every second of it. I felt as part of their fabulous world and the experience was fantastic.
The writing was flawless and the storyline phenomenal. I loved it and highly recommend that you give this story a try.
Mafia romance will always appeal to me more than any other romance trope. It probably leads back to my thing for the anti-hero, the bad boy, and the ones that color outside the lines. Tijan wrote a really good one here with “Bennett Mafia”, it’s fast-paced, edge of your seat, and full of chemistry. Kai and Riley are intense together, you have to read this one!
Bennett Mafia is nothing like any book Tijan has written. The story line is original. Characters are entertaining especially Brooke. I love the dynamic between the Bennett siblings. I wasn’t a big fan of Kai’s until I got to know him better. He’s fiercely protective of his loved ones and would do anything to ensure their safety. Riley is my kinda girl. She’s loyal but sassy and doesn’t take crap from anyone. The chemistry between her and Kai is smoking! Their banter is just too fun but there were moments that tugged on the heart strings but I’m glad there was a HEA.
Well… Christ on a cracker! Tijan is one author that shocks me every single time! The way she writes a story is nothing short of perfection! It’s amazing! Kai and Riley are just everything I could have wanted and then some! I have a bit of a weakness for mafia books. The danger and sex that that oozes out of these pages is everything! Everything about Bennett Mafia is strong and fierce. Riley may be my favorite Tijan female character ever. She’s so strong. She has this uncanny ability to make her people amazing and fierce. The writing in this story is topnotch. It’s rough and hard. But it’s all so worth it!
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.
Check out my Blog: Next Book Review
Check out my Facebook Page: Next Book Review Facebook
“I had not been prepared for Kai Bennett. Then again, how could I? It’s not normal. He’s not normal.”
The above quote sums up my feelings completely. Bennett Mafia was so damn good I can’t even put it into words…but I will try. I was enamored with Kai from the beginning. He is ruthless, calculated and seductive. Always a few steps ahead of everyone and every situation. Riley is smart and pretty badass but is also a little lonely underneath it all. One thing she isn’t is a pushover. Both are mysterious, both have walls, both are loyal and both are dangerous in their own way.
“This darkness wasn’t going anywhere. It slithered in me, like a snake, and I knew then that I’d never be able to get it out of me.”
I could not figure out which direction the story was leading. It definitely kept me guessing what the next move would be. I laughed at parts, I cried at parts and I was also given the shock of a life time. My heart freaking dropped….there was no way I was reading the words correctly…that DID NOT JUST HAPPEN!!! That kind of shock. I highly recommend this book!! I did not want to put it down and couldn’t get enough of Kai and Riley.
“If he owned me, I would own him too. It’d go both ways, or I would burn everything down around us.”
~ Read on behalf of Two Darlin Dolls and a Book Review Blog
I love a good mafia book and this one was definitely one of those reads that will leave you guessing until the end on which way it will go. It had all it needed : a gritty, dark, raw and emotional story! This was actually my second read from this author but the way she writes; it just pulls you in further and definitely won’t be my last read from her. I truly hope we get some other books by other characters in this book though.
Riley has had a terrible youth but when she’s shipped away to boarding school, it may be the one thing she needs to get back on her feet but when she finds out who her new roommate really is, things will change. Now years later, she has a roof over her head and a good steady job but when she sees the news of her old roommate that has now gone missing, things are about to get even more messy. When Kai kidnaps her to be able to find his sister, there’s this history between them that keeps making it hard for him to stay away and every day that undeniable attraction between them grows even deeper. In all the turmoil of the Bennett empire, there’ll be secrets laid to bare and alliences broken. Will Kai be able to bring back the peace that’s needed?… And will Riley be able to get the answers she deserves?…
Kai Bennett was definitely a force to be reckoned with. He is the master, the head of the household and the ruler of the family. He is strong and silent, and he is vicious. He is the type of guy whose bad side I never want to be on. However, he is just as sexy as he is scary.
I had no idea how many secrets were involved with the story, but the more that I kept reading, the more intrigued I was and the more my questions were answered. I had no idea which way it was going to go, by Tijan took this world and turned this dark and scary place into a love story somehow- I call that pure brilliance!
Riley was a great female lead that also had her own secrets. She handles herself and I love how to sort of challenges Kai at every turn (even though let’s face it, he is already five steps ahead of her.)
The two of them together are dangerous yet they work. They are each other’s weaknesses, and each other’s strengths. This was an excellent mafia read and I am dying for more! I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it if you love Mafia reads as much as I do!