Dante – The Boss – Cavallaro’s wife died four years ago. On the verge of becoming the youngest head in the history of the Chicago mafia, Dante needs a new wife and Valentina was chosen for the role.
Valentina lost her husband, too, but her first marriage had always been for show. When she was eighteen, she agreed to marry Antonio in order to hide the truth: that he was gay and in love with an … with an outsider. Even after his death, she kept his secret, not only to preserve the honor of a dead man, but also to protect herself. But now that she’s about to marry Dante, her castle of lies threatens to crash. Dante is only thirty-six but already feared and respected in the Familia, and he’s notorious for always getting what he wants. Valentina is terrified of the wedding night that might reveal her secret, but her worries prove unfounded when Dante shows her the cold shoulder. Soon her fear is replaced by confusion and indignation. Valentina is tired of being ignored. She’s determined to get Dante’s attention and desire, even if she can’t get his heart that still belongs to his dead wife.
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Dante was to be the new Capo, but need a wife. He was avoiding this because his first wife had passed. Valentina’s husband was killed. The marriage arranged. Yet Dante still a cold fish. She tried everything. Until one night she blurted out do much truth. She moved into the guest room after a fight and his hurting words. Can Val defrost his bitter lonely heart? Will Dante finally see the live in front of him. That he was given a second chance. ,
I love the order Cora Reilly writes this series. Each one is linked with the previous books so the overlapping timeline is nice to follow as you see each from different perspectives. But these books are it’s own stories.
Dante and Valentina have such a tumultuous marriage in the beginning. As this is both their second marriage they both have different expectations. Dante’s stays true to his persona and Val still seeks love. I was thrilled to see them open their hearts even if it took an almost tragedy for him to finally open up.
I can’t say this enough but this is a must read!!
Dante and Valentina’s story is the second stand alone in the series. They are both widowed and need follow duty by being married. What starts as duty turns to something more especially after Dante learns her secret.
‘Bound by duty’ is the second book in the ‘Born in blood mafia chronicles’ series. After reading and loving the first book so much, I went straight to this book after finishing the first book. And it didn’t disappoint me!!
This story is about Dante – The Boss – Cavallaro and Valentina. We met both in the first book. Dante Cavallaro will be the next boss of the Chicago mafia and because of his young age and his soon new position, his father wants him to marry again. It has been four years now that his wife dead and it’s time for a new wife. Valentina is the ‘lucky’ woman choosing for this position. (She’s the niece of Aria. Who we know from the first book.) Her family is very happy about this honor, because Valentia is no blushing girl anymore but a widow.
Valentina knew that one day she had to remarried again but she didn’t expected it to be so soon! She had hoped that she would have more time before she had to face her problem. Because how can she hind the fact for her new husband that she’s still a virgin after four years of marriage? That she lied to her own family and The Familia. That her husband Antonio and she deceived them by not telling the truth that Antonio was gay.
But all her fears are for nothing because on her wedding night, Dante doesn’t want to have sex with her, he just want to sleep!! Although a part of Valentina is relieve that she will not be forced to have sex with her new husband, another part of her wanders why her second husband doesn’t want her. What is wrong with her that even after a second wedding night she’s still a virgin??! And does she really wants to stay a virgin forever? But how do she (an inexperience woman) seduce someone how is as cold as Dante.
After a few tries, Valentina succeed in seducing Dante and for a while she thinks that everything will be alright. But then some things happen what make her think that maybe she must stop looking for love and just except that in a Mob marriage there is no room for love. Or was she wrong?
Although Dante is one of the coldest man I have read a story from I still enjoyed this story because although Dante is cold he was never cruel to Valentina. He just decided that love was not something that he wanted to do anymore, when this is just something that Valentina hopes for! Like I said before I really enjoyed this story. Dante is very different then Luca. But that was not bad. I’m sure looking forward to the next book in this Mafia series!
Dante stole my heart. I freaking loved him and how mysterious he is. He’s such a unique character, you can’t help but want to get into his mind. Val is so strong and definitely one of my favorite heroines. This book makes you feel things. It gets you excited , aggravated , angry, hopeful. Dante lost the love of his life to cancer. He marries Val strictly for mafia business. He needs an heir. It was frustrating at times to read because you can’t help but feel sorry for Val. She was married to a man that was gay and thinks this is her second chance at real love. She had no idea what she was in for. This book was an amazing read. What I loved most about it was that Dante and Val stayed true to their characters. It wasn’t that love at first sight type of thing. All I can say is that it was epic. You can’t help but want to read more of them.
Bound by Duty by Cora Reilly is a mafia romance that I listened to on audio narrated by Ava Lucas. This is the second book in the Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles.
This is the second book of Cora’s that I have read and it definitely won’t be my last. I am really enjoying this series so far. I really enjoyed the push and pull between Valentina and Dante throughout the story. I loved how strong Valentina. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t going to let Dante push her to the side. I can’t wait to dive into the next book in the series Bound by Hatred so I can get Gianna and Matteo’s story.
Ava did an amazing job on the narration. She really knows how to bring a story to life.
I would recommend this book if you like mafia romances or arranged marriages.
The Next Step PR Reviewer
Entertaining, sexy and interesting. I love that every couple of the Mafia Chronicles are different and every character has different thoughts, feelings and ways to face their hard reality.
Here Valentina and Dante have to face more adult issues. As alwasys lots of hot sex and a difficutl relationship but very enjoyable.
I loved the two main characters. Of course, I am not familiar with their world but I felt like I lived there and understood it. Great storytelling, Brava!
Bound by Duty is the second book in the Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles by Cora Reilly.
“Why had Dante Cavallaro chosen a widow instead of a young innocent bride?”
After Bound by Honor, I was really excited to read this one and this is in the Chicago Outfit. I was excited to learn more about this Mafia family. This was another arranged marriage but this one is more of a power move in the Outfit to make the future Boss more powerful.
“What you’re looking for, I can’t give you. The part that was capable of it died with my wife, and it won’t come back.”
Dante Cavallaro and Valencia were both previously married before and are now widowers. Dante’s wife passed away four years ago and by the Mafia’s tradition’s, that should have been enough time for grieving and to move on. Valentina’s husband passed away recently, but she is still young so she is expected to re-marry. Valentina’s past marriage was a marriage of convenience while Dante married for love.
“Fear, hatred, and respect are the three most important feelings a Capo must instill in other people.”
As their first few nights of marriage, Valentina realizes that Dante has absolutely no interest in claiming his rights as her husband or getting to know each other. Dante is known as the “Ice Prince” or “Cold Fish” as he never shows his emotions. He is absolutely so aloof that it was frustrating but Valentina is determined to win his attention.
“Hatred and fear have no place in marriage.”
This was fantastic. This was heartbreak and determination all in one. This was a learning and growing up. This was doing something out of your normal norm. I loved this and it had me in all kinds of emotions. Cora Reilly nailed it.
“There was something dark and feral behind his ice prince demeanor.”
Oh Dante and Valentina…
My favorite book from this series….
Both widowed they have for duty to marry. Dante Cavallaro is the Chicago Outfit boss and Valentina is going to be his wife.
Dante is know as being a cold fish, always calm and capable to hold his feelings.
Valentina is strong, stubborn and although she knows that her second marriage was for duty she wants to make the best of it and is a hopeless romantic.
The beginning of their marriage is turbulent, they both have different expectations. Valentina wants a real marriage this second time around and everything that goes with it.
Dante still not over his first love, sees Valentina as a wife and don’t want nothing more.
Life happens, sometimes things you were not expecting but you go with it and maybe its for the best?
One things about Valentina, she’s stubborn and i think it was necessary and perfect for Dante.
A widow who keeps secrets. A widower who has not recovered from the loss of his great love. A marriage for convenience. And a long way to the heart of Chicago’s Capo.
The second volume of the series Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles tells the trajectory of Valentina and Dante Cavallaro. He, colder than an iceberg, makes the most rational choice of wife, just for duty. She hopes to get in the second marriage the happiness that was denied her in the first. But when she comes across this icy man, she begins to wonder if she will ever be happy.
If you’ve been searching this book for some time, you may have already found other reviews. Here is the answer to some of the questions you may have. Yes, the book is good. Yes, Cora’s writing is still great, she knows how to tell a story like no one else. No, the book is not too hot. It has a considerable amount that may not please those who do not like this kind of scene. But it’s consistent with the plot, it’s scenes that make sense within the context. Many say that Valentina is too submissive, but let’s remember that we are talking about Mafia Romance. Theoretically, there is no room for empowerment in this context. But, it still occurs.
Both in the moments when Valentina says no or questions Dante, as on the occasion that asks to work in her husband’s business, as when Valentina cunningly helps Bibiana solve her problems at the end of the book. And Dante, as his sister says was always closed, never apologized or said I love you, and after the loss of his first wife became even more closed. So do not expect magical, incoherent and sudden changes in this mobster behavior. They will not occur. But if you do a careful reading, you will realize the subtle ways in which Dante demonstrates his love and concern for Valentina. And that makes this book great and awesome.
Each achievement in life happens one step at a time. Even with women’s rights. So I wonder why people make so many negative book reviews on this subject, saying that the achievements or changes in this couples’ behavior were either too weak or too small or they said they expected something else. It’s Mafia Romance. You can not expect not to be a little sexist. Want to understand how the whole thing works? Go watch the Godfather to understand and think about the context and if you do not like it, read another type of book. You have every right to dislike the theme. Now, to criticize well-written and well-developed work because you hope that in a sort of magic the Capo’s wife would change the whole secular tradition of the Mafia? It has no coherence. Spare me. Spare yourself. Spare us.
This is a high rating for me. It was not a typical erotic romance, and I was more vested in the characters than I often am.
SUch a page turner! You just wanna find out what happens
I really enjoyed this one. Dante and Valentina’s story will grab you from the beginning and the secrets and twists will you until the end. Great narration. Can’t wait to read the next one in this series.
The Ice Prince is going to break Valentinas heart… AGAIN!
Wow!! The angst and suspense in switching to The Chicago Outfit from the New York Mob just about did me in!!
Valentina has been widowed, and then ordered to marry Dante Cavallaro, the new Capo in The Chicago Outfit and a widower himself. But something about Valentina’s situation just struck me differently, sent my spidey senses to twitching if you will. When I found out early on she was still a virgin, and then later that she wasn’t allowed to view her dead husbands body, I had far too many questions, and then of course Cora had to go and wrench my heart in two so I wasn’t paying attention like I should have been.
Dante Cavallaro, the new Capo for The Chicago Outfit lost his wife to cancer, and must replace her. Valentina is the perfect fit. Young enough to bear children, but not young enough to look like he’s robbing the cradle like Matteo Vitiello is. Dante just didn’t count on Val’s fire, and when he finds out why she was a virgin he thinks to force more answers out of her, but Valentina is loyal to a fault.
The angst in this book almost did me in. I couldn’t stand to see both of them in so much pain, and it wasn’t even really a lack of communication, it was simply a lack of healing on both their parts. Dante having to make the decision he did in regards to his wife’s cancer is racking him with guilt, and Valentina losing Anthony as young as she was, no matter the status of their relationship has not allowed for any real healing.
This book floored me!! Every time I don’t think Cora Reilly’s books can get any better, she stretches just a little bit farther!! I am on pins and needles getting ready to start Bound By Hate!
Another reread and this one is one of my least favourites in the series just because it contains one of my most hated tropes the perfect dead-ex wife.
It’s one that always annoys me the second wife having to overcome their perfect predecessor and I always feel that they seem to come across as a consolation prize.
This is another arranged marriage story this time Dante Cavallaro who is due to take over from his father as head of the Chicago outfit.
He needs a wife and chooses a young widow of the family twenty-three-year-old Valentina.
It’s a marriage of convenience but Val is hopefully optimistic especially after her sham of a first marriage.
She hopes that given time they can become closer and connect even if Dante does come across as a real cold fish.
It’s quite apparent to her after they marry that Valentina is competing with a ghost and Dante has no intentions of allowing her close.
Valentina finds herself for the second time in a situation where her husband doesn’t want her.
So I especially had a problem with how closed off and cold Dante was towards his new wife.
I felt that she did all the running and he was really quite inconsiderate and cold towards her, I mean the way he took her virginity was cold man.
Even when he does come around I wasn’t fully convinced of his affections and to me, Valentina does seem like second best for him and I hated the fact that he never apologies properly to her for his many thoughtless actions.
Despite the above, this was an easy read that I did mostly enjoy it just wasn’t my favourite of the series.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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I love Valentina; she is such an amazing and independent character and I really love how she play her role in the mafia world but wants to do something more and she is more than capable of that. I can’t say Dante is my favorite mafia male but has a place in my heart either way. Anyway, they are a great couple.
Spanish & English Opinion – 4.5
ESP ::
Segunda vez que leo el libro y me encanta porque lo percibo con puntos diferentes cada vez que lo releo.
Una vez más, creo que lo mejor que se puede hacer es leer el libro sin spoilers. Pero van de nuevo los puntos esenciales (en caso de que la curiosidad sea máxima):
1) Hombre alfa con heroína súper lista y fuerte. Ella me encanta porque tiene ideas muy actuales y es inteligente.
2) Hay angustia en el romance y hay diferencia de edad. Relación super hot
3) Conocer el mundo de la mafia de Chicago. El Outfit y tener personajes secundarios favoritos. ¿El mío? Bibiana. Me urge su historia.
ENG ::
This is the second time I read this book and no matter how many times I read something from Cora, I appreciate it under a different perspective. It almost feels like reading a new book every time.
Again, I would like to state that jumping into the reading without spoilers is the way to go, but, in case someone needs some info, here are the main things to know:
1) Alpha male and strong independent heroine. I love Val because she’s a contemporary woman. Her beliefs and way of thinking is really cool and Dante also has this line. I really like that.
2) Angsty romance with age gap and unrequited love at the beginning. Hot scenes and lots of chemistry!
3) Gwtting to know the Outfit, Chicago’s mafia world and amazing secondary characters. My fave? Bibiana. I really want her book to happen!
Absolutely adore Cora Reilly’s books! Can’t wait for more!
I really enjoyed these two and thought they were a great match together. Valentina is one of my fave female character sshes strong and resilient and she was so much fun to read about. I love how she knew what she wanted in terms of Dante and went for it. And I love their relationship. I really would have liked to have seen how Dante thought but I can’t wait for his book to come out. These two are thr kind and queen of the outfit.