Liliana Scuderi has been in love with Romero from the moment she first saw him. After her sisters were married off for tactical reasons, she hopes she might be allowed to choose a husband for herself, but when her father promises her to a man more than twice her age that hope is crushed. No begging can make him change his mind. Romero has always ignored Lily’s flirting. Her age and status made … status made her off-limits but even someone as dutiful as him has only so much control. Wanting her when she’s supposed to marry another man could mean war between New York and the Chicago Outfit, and Romero has always put the Cosa Nostra first.
Lily suspects her sisters and Romero would risk everything for her, but is her happiness worth that much? Is love worth a war between the Cosa Nostra and the Outfit?
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4.5 Stars!!
This story is age gap and forbidden love. Liliana have a huge cruch on Romero, but she is too young for him. As she grows older, so does their relationship. Lily’s feelings for Romero grows deeper. Much more profound. But their love can never be. Romero is only a soldier and Lily is promised to someone else.
Romero is the perfect hero. He is very tender and reliable. I love how he interacted with Lily. He really cares for her. He is more sweet and romantic than Luca and Matteo. You could feel his longing for Lily. Their connection was intense. They were meant to end up together.
This story has been a long time coming in the ‘Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles’ series, finally the story of precocious Liliana and Aria’s stoic guard Romero.
We know from prior books this couldn’t go smoothly. Lily is Aria and Gianna’s baby sister, and we see in books prior that she develops an intense school-girl crush on the reliable and level soldier Romero, second only to Matteo when it comes to being Luca’s trusted go-to guy.
I honestly wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about Lily- in some of the prior books, I found her to grate me a bit with her crush and her immaturity given how serious things are bothered me (yes, I know, she’s also a kid)- and, at first, we get some of that in this book, too. The book spans many years, so we see how things evolved over time, and as Lily matures, I come to adore her. The stakes of her world are a bit different than Aria’s so she’s more light hearted, and like Gianna she has some stubbornness and determination but she’s softer and less bullhead (and for me, thus, less frustrating)- in all, she’s got some of the traits of her sisters combined in a wonderful package. And, unlike her sisters, she’s had to endure her father’s treachery longer, even though she doesn’t make him as angry as Gianna. As such, she has this resilient, and quiet strength that I didn’t anticipate but greatly admired.
And Romero- swoon. He’s more level-headed, reliable, and tender than Matteo and Luca- he’s the rationale, stoic guy of the bunch. I already loved him from the way he interacted with Aria, and here we get to see so much more of who he is- and the way he cares of Lily, even in resisting here, is adorable. He’s a bit more openly amorous, kind, and romantic once the relationship kicks off than the other guys- which is a welcome shift. He’s truly swoon worthy, and you can see how Lily loves him and why Luca trusts him- you want someone like him on your corner, he fights for those he cares about.
Bonus- we get more of Aria-Luca and Gianna-Matteo, and Gianna has some nice moments here where I actually liked her being hard-headed, so Gianna fans will also appreciate it.
Unlike the other books, this doesn’t start with an arranged marriage between our two characters. The tropes here are more age gap and forbidden love. Romero can’t help to start to notice Lily as she becomes a woman and pursues him, and Lily’s infatuation with Romero grows into a more meaningful and soulful connection. Romero fights it, we’ve got the push and pull, but we know they are both into each other and it is only inevitable. The issue, of course, is that this can’t end well- Romero has been warned off of Lily by Luca who can see her interest, Romero is only a soldier, and ultimately Lily also ends up being promised to a much older man by her scumbag dad. Romero has to start to choose between his loyalty to Luca and the Famglia, the life he’s always wanted, and his budding love for Lily. Her engagement catalyzes the story in a really powerful way- it is heartbreaking, riveting, romantic, and climatic. The book really excels in this section- you feel the longing and pain, you feel their connection. Very Romeo and Juliet. Man, I can’t wait for their dad’s demise. I hope Romero, Matteo, and Luca destroy him.
Overall, I loved this, another great addition. Romero and Lily won’t replace Aria and Luca in my book, but I’d be excited to read more about them!
Bound by temptation is book # 4 in the The Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles saga this is about Lili and Romero. In it we see a Liliana already grown and very different from the one we met in previous books. She is a protective girl who has to take responsibility from a very young age making her a woman determined to be happy and get the man she wants who is Romero. He is a character who from previous books shows his loyalty to the Famiglia but proving that Lili is a great temptation for the wing that cannot resist.
I enjoyed this story very much even though it is a predictable but long-awaited romance with happiness.
Ever since I read Bound by Honor, I was curious to see how Lily’s story was gonna unfold. Thankfully, Bound by Temptation surpassed my expectations and delivered a great “forbidden” friends to lovers and age-gap romance.
I really love Lily and Romero as a couple because they just seem to fit. I think they are the “softest” characters in the BIBMC world, but that doesn’t mean they are weak. On the contrary, they are strong and did the impossible to be together and get the happy ending they deserve.
It was also really sweet to see how much Romero respected Lily and didn’t dismiss her thoughts just because she is younger. What made me love this book even more was their dynamic and how natural their relationship was. They were sure of their feelings and didn’t let unnecessary drama get in the way.
I have to mention that one of my favorite things about BBT was seeing Luca’s loyalty to those he loves. In a situation where he could have easily disposed of Romero, he chose to trust one of his closest friends and help him. It’s nice seeing that Luca’s compassion goes beyond his relationship with Aria.
Even though the pacing felt off sometimes, this is a great book and definitely my favorite one in the Born in Blood series.
And here we go, the second (and also the last one) of Cora’s books that will get only two stars from me. Really, it’s the only of Reilly’s books in which the main hero is not a cruel Alpha-ish. Romero is actually kinda sweet. And so is Lily.
But there is something that really makes me so sick of her. She is just a teen. Cute teen with a big crush on the main hero. She is determined to marry him, which is sweet… but it’s very similar of Matteo’s interest with Gianna – it completely makes no sense at all. Obviously, it may be caused by simple teen affection… but after not seeing him for so much time (from Aria’s wedding?) it should slowly disappear, not become stronger. In theory, due to psychologists.
But here, magic happens.
However, still the plot manages to surprise at a few moments. That’s one of a few Cora’s traits that make her writing unique. She always manages to surprise the reader.
So even if I gave only two stars, I would still recommend it to anyone, because guys… that book is a must-read to get to other of her books, which from now on get only better and better, I promise.
Romero and Liliana were such an adorable couple and I love that they fell in love with each other without an arranged marriage or other Mafia tropes and I really enjoyed it.
It was the turn of the smallest of the Scuderi sisters, the young Liliana, a beautiful young girl who has always felt a loving attraction to Romero, Aria’s bodyguard and one of Luca’s most trusted men.
Unfortunately the time has come when I can’t tell you much anymore because everything would be Spoiler from the first books, I’ll just tell you that it’s a very good story with a wonderful male character Romero’s way of caring for and protecting Lili is impressive, he literally He would give his life for her, he loves her in such a way that he doesn’t care about anything, even losing her but keeping her alive and safe and even going against what was most important to him before Lili “La Famiglia” and blindly obeying Luca his Capo and Friend, I highly recommend them, the series has dreaded me trapped since the first book and I can not stop reading to my bad boys but with that huge heart.
I have been loving this series that is no surprise as I am a fan of mafia romances, but this book fell flat for me. The couple for me started out not very good, and by the end at least I found redeeming qualities this is still one of my least favorites couples in the series.
I’m loving these series so much!
The story of Lilly and Romero is exciting, suriprising, hot, tragic and hopeful, the whole story is. I really liked the interaction between the Scuderi sisters and the Vitello brothers, and Romero is great too.
All the characters have a different personality and are very well portrayed. Matteo and Gianna are still my favourites.
Things are getting really hot, dangerous and interesting between Chicago and New York. I’m going with Bound by Love next.
Bound by Temptation is the fourth book in the Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles by Cora Reilly.
My golden cage had become a bit smaller, even though that had seemed hardly possible before.”
This is about the awaited Liliana Scuderi and Romero. If you have been keeping up with the series, Lily is the youngest sister out of the three Scuderi women from the Chicago Outfit.
“I’d hoped I could marry for love now that my sisters had already been married off for tactical reasons.”
As the only woman left in the family since her older sisters are married off in the New York Famiglia, Lily is expected to be honorable and do her duties without questions. With both sisters out of the household, Lily’s freedom decreased even lower than before. Since she was fifteen years old, she has harbored a serious crush on the New York Famiglia’s soldier, Romero.
“Could I risk everyone’s happiness for my own?”
Romero is Luca’s most trusted soldier so she is around the Scuderi women more often than not. He has pledged his life to the Famiglia and the only way out is being deep down under. Lily was always easy to avoid when she was younger, but eighteen years old Lily is different and the temptation is at its finest.
“Love was worth every risk.”
This was a forbidden love seeing as Lily is from the Chicago Outfit and Romero is a soldier in the New York Famiglia and their love would be frowned upon. I have been waiting for Lily and Romero’s book. And wow, Romero is a total crush even for me. These two are just so adorable. I can’t wait for the next one in the series.
“I went against his direct orders after all. That’s still a crime.”
In a Mafia world, a young princess is in love with a simple soldier.
Both of them live a wonderful and happy affair being close doors.
But one day the mean and scary princess’s father decided to marry off his daughter to an old and ugly man.
Lilliana and Romero are perfect for each others. They are tempted by one another and decide to fully live their love story during a hot summer at the Hamptons.
But reality catch them fast. Life in the Mafia world is cruel and has no place for love or happily ever after.
I love how pure and honest their love story is. I didn’t expect the end of the book and had to catch my breath while i finished the book.
Liliana Scuderi has grown up. The girl who before had the bad habit of flirting with the soldiers turned into a woman who knows how to behave. Or almost. Because continuing to provoke a certain soldier, when visiting her sisters in New York, is not the ideal behavior for the daughter of the Outfit’s consigliere. And after unexpected events that will break the structure of the Scuderi family once in a while, a disconcerting confession and request made by her mother will further fuel Lily’s desire to pursue happiness. Even if it seems unobtainable.
Romero is one of Famiglia’s best soldiers. Guard Coasts of the wife of Capo, he is an honorable man, who keeps his word and is faithful to his oath. Until he has his reason and his heart tempted by Liliana Scuderi. What at first seems simply lust shows itself much deeper, and the temptation to surrender body and soul to one of the princesses of Chicago’s Mafia seems impossible to avoid. He resists to the limit of his honor, but will he be able to control his own heart?
Romero is the highlight of the book. His conflict between reason and emotion, his suffering for breaking his oath and losing some of his Capo’s trust, his deep love and devotion for Liliana put him at a crossroads. Nothing is simple in his situation and fighting for his happiness can mean the beginning of a war. Liliana seemed very immature toward her sisters. Her character was consistent at the beginning of the narrative, despite the losses suffered, but her thoughtless attitude, though courageous at the end of the book, did not convince me or fulfill my expectations. If you already hate Rocco Scuderi in the previous books get ready: your anger will reach a whole new level. And with promises to increase even more in the next books of this and other series. Fabiano appears little in this book, made me even more curious and continues to gain space in my heart. I hope I will not be disappointed in the future.
If you are a romantic type, who think that love is worth everything, this book is for you. If you like a totally passionate man willing to do everything to protect the love of his life, this book is for you. The end we already know is a little cliché, which does not detract the book at all. However, I expected a longer, more developed book. Although I liked the work, it seems that it lacked space to develop the narrative better.
This is one of the sweetest books that Reilly has written with the most conflict. It revolves around Aria and Gianna’s youngest sister Liliana (Lily), and the Familia’s soldier Romero who Lily has had a crush on since laying eyes in him five years prior.
Romero is a sweet, gentleman who has always treated Lily as a child who he needs to protect for the sake of Aria and as Luca’s soldier, but after seeing her after a few years and how much she has grown up, he is unable to stop himself from fantasising over her. For Romero his loyalties will always lies with the Familia, but he has always played by the rules and never put his own wants above their cause until Lily.
What first starts off as puppy-love, quickly grows in to something forbidden, from quick stolen kisses to sneaking in to each other’s rooms after dark, the two quickly become infatuated with one another and Lily wishes for nothing more than to pursuit her own happiness for once.
It is very easy to fall in love with these two and root for their happiness as they’re gentle, loving characters. I waited for these two to get together since bound by Honor so for Reilly to bring this pair to life after three books, made me so happy. A sweet read that everyone will enjoy.
Loved the entire series.
Horrible editing!!