Damiano De Luca

If you love Mafia books, you need this book!

Holy hell all-mighty!!
Parker S. Huntington stole my heart with one of the best reads of 2019!
Damiano De Luca far exceeded my every expectation, with the artful writing style, that’s is clearly an oh to the literary greats! So, lyrically incline notes, that send your soul on a magnificent high of beauty, heat and oh that enchanting banter. I’ve yet to find in another author thus far!

A Spellbinding work of sheer art that can only be described as her best work to date!!

OMG!!! What a book! The continuing story of Damiano/Damien and his rise in the mafia world and his pursuit of his first and only love Renata. After the prequel Renata Vivaldi, the story jumps ten years later. Confusion, mystery, deceit, lies, manipulation, pain, sorrow and the master chess player above them all calling the moves in secret. Revelations, truth, confessions all play havoc in their relationship and in the lives of the other five mafia families. THIS IS A MUST READ. Do not pass this up you will not be disappointed.

I really loved this book, I have read quite a few form this author and would thoroughly recommend her

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Another amazing story from the Five Syndicates!
DeLuca and Vitali are a match made in Heaven, or wherever they match up Mafioso.
I love a second chance and a slower burning story and this gave me everything and then some.
Huntington has been weaving the bigger picture for us, and finding out exactly what it was and who was behind The Benefactor was absolutely mind blowing.
The strategy and cunning were just brilliance on Huntington’s part.
That ending? All the warm fuzzies.
Knight & Day at their absolute best.

Once upon a time, they were snarky housemates with a secret bookclub where they bared their souls to each other. Then threats were made and Renata left to protect Damiano, and settled into a hidden life of ordinary adulthood. Now they have a second chance at love and happiness … if they can overcome their past and overcome the mystery swirling around them. u2060
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The funeral of a beloved leader brings their worlds into each others orbit for the first time in 10 years. While the past is as confounding as ever, the one thing that’s still clear is that Damiano and Renata belong together. They support each other and are a team through and through. Though another relationship could end terribly, they both take the leap.u2060
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The only thing standing in their way now is the Benefactor, who remains a mystery and haunts Damiano even now. Their happiness isn’t guaranteed until all is revealed, but when the secrets are out, they have the power to ruin everything.u2060
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Damiano and Renata are an outstanding couple who are full of unconditional love, complete support, and heartwarming confessions. They had me rooting for them from the very beginning and their journey left me reeling.u2060

They meet again………..now who is going to destroy who first?

Damiano De Luca is the second book to this story so you really do need to read Renata Vitali first in order to make sense of some of what happens in this book. With that being said there were definitely too many flashback scenes in this book and it was annoying to me. It almost felt like the author had to meet a page count and flashbacks was an easy way to do it, as some did not really add to the current scene. But it was nice to see what was going to happen between Renata and Damiano when they meet years after she left. The question will be why she left in the first place. Damiano is has become a very strong man who is not all that nice, or so it may seem on the outside to most people. The tension between Renata and Damiano is palpable but there was just a bit too much drama for me to really get into the story fully. In the end I liked the story but was not completely enamored of it.

I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are all my own.

I am one of those bloggers who love exposing myself to new authors. I want to experience the different dynamic of love written by other authors. I want to challenge myself to new genres. I absolutely adore introducing myself to new authors. I love falling in love with more characters and possibly claim all the book boyfriends. Hahaha. I am a greedy whore. My exposure to new authors led me to Parker S. Huntington and Damiano De Luca. Wow, what a book. Damiano De Luca brings emotion with highly charged mafia read you want a bite of. Absolutely addicting. Utterly capturing. Where the hell have I been? How am I read Parker S. Huntington for the first time? Holy Smokes, I am so blown away.

Damano De Luca is heart fluttering mafia romance with an engaging storyline. I am new to Parker Huntington but she managed to attract my attention with Damiano De Luca. Heart Clenching. Damiano De Luca is a second chance mafia romance with pulse hitting and angsty feelings from beginning to the end. Damiano De Luca will touch with all the feels. Damano De Luca will ignite you with drool worthy and sexy read. The writing so magnificent, The characters so incredible. Damiano De Luca will ignite your heart.

I was introduced to Renata and Damian in Renata Virali. I was so fascinated by their push and pull chemistry. These two brought out steam, emotion and passion that truly lit flames to my kindle. I was worried by my kindle malfunctioning with all the heat. Renata is strong, tenacious and brash. Damian is calculating, intelligent and alpha to the core. These two created flames every single page. They absolutely sizzled.

Damiano De Luca introduced me to Parker S. Huntington. I want to read all her books now!!!

ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.

Damiano Ceases Control Of The De Luca Syndicate, But Renata Remains In Hiding. The Truth Is Evasive When The Pair Comes Face To Face At A Funeral Ten Years Later!

Renata Vitali, twenty-eight, has lived the past ten years in hiding. As the mafia princess from the untouchable Vitali family, she has other options. But a tyrannical father and a distant mother didn’t exactly raise Renata in a warm, welcoming environment. She was raised in a bed of lies, and truth is a fleeting fantasy. Renata even begins to believe the lies she tells herself. Though well-trained in mafia etiquette and capable of holding her own against powerful mafia leaders, she wants nothing more to do with the Vitali family name and the five syndicates that they represent. She doesn’t have the fortitude to continue living every moment on the edge, with every word, gesture, and idea carefully calculated. She wants normal, even if it is subpar. Fortunately for her, her family is powerful enough to pull off her disappearance and keep her whereabouts under wraps. Otherwise, she might have to face Damiano De Luca’s anger.

It began in Texas ten years ago. Banished to the De Luca territory for her crime of witnessing her father’s indiscretions, Renata found herself entirely alone with no one to trust. No one even to talk to. After months of isolation, the crazy De Luca leader’s son Damian finally reached out to her. They were both lonely. Both victims of their horrible, unconventional childhoods. They hated one another, despite their immediate attraction. A Vitali could never trust a De Luca and vice versa, so they couldn’t even be friends. Yet through literature they bonded and eventually were forced to admit that they were deeply in love. He was her first love, but almost as soon as Renata found the first thing that brought happiness to her life, it was taken away in the form of a threat. Angelo De Luca, Damiano’s crazy father, threatened her, suggesting he would kill Damiano. She was only eighteen and saw only one choice. To protect Damiano, she created an argument and fled, knowing he would never let her leave him otherwise. Damiano had every reason to hate her for the lies she told him and the threat she made when she walked out on him. But she didn’t put it past him to look for her anyway, so she asked for her mother’s help to hide.

Renata lies to herself about the reasons for this drastic measure and why she keeps up the charade. The real threat came to an end nine years ago, when Damiano dethroned his father, yet she is so used to a life of hiding behind a mask of lies that she can’t seem to let go. She is frozen with terror at the idea of facing her biggest fear – that Damiano De Luca won’t forgive her lies, won’t understand her reasons for running from him. He has no reason to forgive her.

Damiano De Luca, twenty-nine, has worked tirelessly to restore the De Luca syndicate since he took over the job of leading it. It took him years of planning and patience to pull off the transfer of power. He is rich beyond comprehension and a powerful mafia boss. He is a born leader; thankfully he didn’t inherit the well-known De Luca tendency towards madness. He has a bright future and the real opportunity of restoring the De Luca syndicate’s reputation among the five syndicates if he can earn their trust and respect. What he doesn’t have, though, is Renata. He knows her accusations didn’t add up. There is something he is missing, some piece of information that would explain her actions, because he knows she loved him just as much as he loved her. Ten years later, no woman holds a candle next to her. He is clearly unhappy. His best friend and underboss urges him to move on and give up his search.

Ten years later, when Damiano as head of the De Luca family attends a funeral for an important figure in the Romano syndicate, he never anticipates he will see her. After years of searching, he assumed Renata had disappeared with the help of her powerful family, yet here she is representing her family at a very conspicuous mafia event. She exchanges a polite greeting with him, but it isn’t enough. She owes him an explanation and he expects to get it.

Renata and Damiano share a heartbreaking love story. They lose one another for ten years, neither living a happy life, and fate brings them together again for a second chance. But earning trust once it has been shattered is not easily accomplished. The couple furthermore has the complication of their families and the syndicates pulling them in different directions. The couple excels in flirty banter and literature discussions, which contribute to the explosive sparks that reignite their passion. Renata and Damiano are easy to love. They deserve their satisfying HEA!

There are a few errors, inconsistencies, and issues to note. First, Renata is so resistant and stubborn in admitting her feelings for Damiano and agreeing to give him a chance that it becomes tiresome. Next, it is stated twice that Renata spent fourteen months in Texas, then later represented as eighteen months or so (fourteen months makes more sense and is more in line with the prequel). A dinner is mentioned, which feels relevant, but is skipped over entirely. It feels like a chapter is missing. Additionally, one point of view is mislabeled, and there are some formatting inconsistencies. Further, Renata’s summer ends at the end of September. Most schools start around Labor Day if not earlier. Having most of September off feels incorrect. Finally, it feels as if there are missing threads in the story. This might be in part to an ambitious plot. For example, Cristian is absent from the prequel, but he is Damian’s closest friend from childhood. Here, Renata says she never liked him, but she supposedly didn’t talk to anybody in Texas other than Damian – and that was at home, not school. Cris is portrayed as a potential obstacle for Damian and Renata, but the storyline dies out. It is not known if Damian’s relationship with him is impacted – and Cris is notably absent from the epilogue. Similarly, there are hints about Damian’s father stirring up trouble, but that storyline dies out, too, without any explanation. There was little Damian’s father could do, yet he had a phone and there were warnings about Damian losing support in the syndicate. Between his father and Cris, it looked like trouble was coming from within but nothing became of it. There are other examples, too. Many of the mafia-related storylines are brushed over in their conclusions. Renata and Damiano are in the thick of things, but the resolution of problems is more or less taken for granted. Careful proofing and editing would have tightened up the details and taken this book to the next level (although the story is still good as is, it needs to be pointed out).

My review of the prequel “Renata Vitali” highlighted some problematic parts from that book. While that review stands on its own, it should be noted that a few things highlighted in that review are resolved in this book.

This book follows the prequel “Renata Vitali,” which is the story of when Renata and Damiano fell in love, but it can be read as a stand-alone. It is interconnected with other books in The Five Syndicates series. The epilogue does a wonderful job of pulling them all together with a very satisfying HEA. By a quick glance, seven chapters are taken directly from “Renata Vitali,” and two additional chapters are also taken from it but in an alternate POV, so that perhaps one third or so of “Renata Vitali” reappears here. For those that haven’t read the prequel, these flashbacks help to set the scene. For those that have just completed reading the prequel, it becomes a little difficult to distinguish in your mind where one book ends and another begins.

The plot and characters are complicated and multi-dimensional. The plot is complicated; it is nice to see it all come together in the end, but a more detailed resolution would have been appreciated. The characters are endearing. Renata and Damiano are both sympathetic figures. The layers of lies adds an interesting aspect to them even in their youth. Eleven of the forty-six chapters are in Damiano’s POV, so most of the book is written in Renata’s voice. I give this book 4 stars.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I was totally bummed after I read this, I know that I am so in the minority but I am ok with that. So I first read the prequel Renata so that I knew what to expect and I wasn’t excited about that I was bored to be completely honest and I do try to be in my reviews, and I dislike giving bad reviews but it is what it is. Anyhoo so I read the prequel which after reading the reviews many said I should to familiarize myself with but then as I was reading this book the flashbacks were unnecessary if reading it. And they drove me up the wall, plus I am sorry but I found this book boring and I tried to get into but I did read it til the end and this well the prequel was the first I have read from this author and I do not forsee me reading another of her books..If you really want some good mafia books then read Cora Reilly’s she is my all time favorite with mafia books.. I was so disappointed after reading so many good reviews and so excited and longing to read it..huh I want my time back I have so many others I could have and should have read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.