From USA Today bestselling author Parker S. Huntington comes a steamy, slow-burn love story full of second-chance romance.“If ever I am gifted the opportunity to betray you, I’ll take it. If life hands me the chance to destroy you, I will. Today. Tomorrow. Ten years from now. I will always seek revenge. And you will never stop looking over your shoulder.”Ten years ago, I crushed Damiano De Luca’s … shoulder.”
Ten years ago, I crushed Damiano De Luca’s heart,
vowing false promises I never delivered.
The revenge? Didn’t happen.
The destruction? As if I could.
Betrayal? Not. A. Chance.
We were 18 when I left, taking my secrets with me.
Now at 28, there’s no trace of the jaded mafia prince with the protective streak.
He’s crueler. Colder. More calculated than ever.
And he’s glaring at me from a funeral pew,
looking at me and my wedding ring like we should be the ones buried six feet under.
The war is back on, but I’m not that teenaged girl anymore.
This time, there will be blood.
And it won’t be mine.
Damiano De Luca is a full-length standalone novel in The Five Syndicates mafia romance series.
more
One of my favorite authors of Mafia Books and Damiano De Luca is now my favorite Mafia Bad Boy of all the previous ones she has written about. This book is supposed to have an HEA and while I did not think Ms. Huntington would lie to her readers, there were so many twists, turns, surprises and scarey moments that I was second guessing whether Damiano and Renata Vitali would realize that they were perfect for each other. Ten years have passed since they fell in love as teenagers and neither will admit that love is what they found with each other. Just like the chess set in Renata’s mother’s house, they seemed to move around each other on a chess board never sure whehter the next move would eliminate their chance to be together. Do not miss this book! While it can definitely be read as a standalone story, previous readers of Parker Huntington’s books will see familiar story lines from previous stories that will finally all start to come together in a clear storyline. As usually, I eagerly look forward to the next book in this “Series”.
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest and totally voluntary review.
It has been ten years since Renata Vitali and Damiano De Luca have crossed paths. Time has passed and has changed these two characters immensely but one thing that has not changed, their love for one another. Is this their second chance? Is one even possible? This book is another great book, strong story and contains everything to capture your undivided attention from start to finish. I have realized that I have not started at the beginning of the series with the prequel Renata Vitali. I will be going back. I would recommend that you read the prequel before this one just so that you can pick up and savor the breadcrumbs that the author leaves along the way in this book. Enjoy!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It’s the first book that I read of Parker S. Huntington, to tell the truth what catches my attention was the cover, later I discovered that it was part of a series and although there is a prequel about this couple, even so I decided to read it as an standalone, isn’t necessary read all the other books to get into this one, (although I imagine the prequel will finish filling the small gaps in the story) Something I have to say is that, personally, I feel that the cover doesn’t fit with the story, based on that I expected a different story, but that doesn’t mean that I didn’t like it, because actually I LOVED it.
Lately I’m very much into the mafia books, because apparently my current selected readings are of mafia theme, and I really love it. I thought I would find a story of a heartless man, thirsty for revenge, cruel and without mercy, instead I got Damiano De Luca, a man in love to the bottom, with only one goal in mind to get, protect and please the woman he loves, even if he wants to appear distant and have a cold head because of his position, he cannot deny who much he needs Renata. On the other side is Renata Vitali, a girl with loving resentment but still with a love so deep that she cannot but surrender to it, but not before fighting since she has her very particular temperament. Both try to hide that they don’t care about each other, but they can’t help it, when it’s love, it’s just love
Has some flashbacks where (if you don’t follow the series like me) you understand things, behaviors and decisions and get curious about the previous books. This is a story that catches you from the beginning, I mean it, you don’t even start the book yet and you’re already loving every written word, I loved the way each chapter starts and the author’s narrative, the views of each character is very sharp and defined, I loved each part, and although it was not the story I expected to read, it left me feeling good and of course, wanting to read more about this author
Holy I loved this book! Damiano and Renata have a bit of a rough start, as I hope you read in the previous book. Friends turned to lovers turned to possible enemies. A love that shouldn’t of been, a Vitali and a De Luca, the head mob princess with a low grade up and coming mob king. These two just made me giddy, Damian made me fall in love with him, and Renata made me love the both of them.
This is Damiano De Luca and Renata Vitali’s story after a 10-year gap from the time that she left him when they were teenagers. She never stopped loving him, but wanted him safe. He likewise never stopped loving her, but didn’t understand why she walked out on him. They are brought together again at a funeral they both attend, and all of those unresolved feelings are stirred up. If they want a future with each other, it will not be an easy task to overcome the outside interference and the baggage they have held onto for the past ten years. Is it worth taking such a chance? Can they have the life they were kept from having?
This book will definitely draw the reader in, especially as strong emotions are woven throughout the story line. The characters are well-defined and make quite a vivid impression. The book is well-written and definitely worth reading, even if you decide to skip the prequel, “Renata Vitali: A Prequel to Damiano De Luca”.
This is the story of Damiano De Luca and Renata Vitali. While this book can be read as a standalone, I strongly suggest reading the prequel first (Renata Vitali). The prequel tells the story of how they met, fell in love as teens, and sets the stage for the emotional depth of their decade-old re-connection in this story.
This story picks up ten years after Renata left Damian. She attends a funeral as a representative of the Vitali family, where she reconnects with Damian. Regardless of how hard she has tried over the years, she can’t deny the strong feelings for the first and only man she’s ever loved. But the mafia mindset and life is tough to overcome and together, they have to break down their interior walls and learn to trust each other as they once did when their relationship began.
I loved Damian. Loved. Him. He is strong, powerful, and determined. Everything the head of a syndicate family should be. But most of all, he’s a man who has never given up on the woman he loves. Ren, at times, frustrated me, but I understood the source of her resistance to open up. Had she changed her thinking from one page to the next, it would have been out of character. A lifetime of history cannot be wiped in a moment, and the author does a stellar job of showing each character’s internal struggle to break free and trust enough to take a leap into the unknown.
While the story is set in a mafia world, the violence and darkness often found in the genre don’t take center stage here. There are twists and turns and a few surprises that will keep you on edge, but through it all, the author never loses sight of the romance and keeps Ren and Damian at the forefront. The story wraps up with enough of a jump into the future to let you know their romance is rock solid. And I couldn’t stop smiling.
As a side note, there are flashbacks in this story. And while some readers might not like that, those scenes recap critical story elements from the prequel and their inclusion make it possible to read this book as a standalone. As a bonus to prequel readers, some scenes are written in an alternative POV so readers get insight into the other character’s mind during those moments.
I highly recommend this story and am anxious to dive into the other books in this world.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout but loved it so much I purchased it for my library.
This is a wellwritten book filled with a thrilling storyline and wonderful characters. I loved the chemistry between Damiano and Renata. Will definitely check out the next book in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
“The dark king never sees her coming” – suspenseful and full of intrigues
“(…) Don’t trust everything you see. Even salt looks like sugar.(…)” With this sentence you could describe the twisted world in which Renata and Damiano were trying hard to resist growing feelings between them. Where Damian pursue Renata relentlessly wanting her back. Were they really powerful pieces of chess or simply the pawns in someone else’s game? Broken trust, being lied to and being betrayed can shatter hearts, especially when we love the other person. Can they go back to what they were before or is it too late?
This book gave me all the feels, made me fall in love with Damian and Renata. It was sometimes painful to see how they had to struggle and carefully navigate in the world build on lies, deception, intrigues and constant battle for power and dominance. The world that didn’t allow for showing any feelings because they were suppose to be sign of weakness. Fantastic plot, great writing style, perfectly shaped characters and I’m not talking only about main protagonists. I loved this book and for sure will read more from this author.
This Dark Mafia Romance and Second Chance between Damiano and Renata was swoon worthy!
I liked the way the author focused on the relationship between Renata, the Mafia Princess and Damiano, next in line Mafia Dom.
The dual POVs both past and present were done well and easy to follow. Well written, concise, to the point, and very very intensely romantic!
One to keep and enjoy over and over!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sooooo good! I really enjoyed this book. I like her style of writing a lot. I enjoy the quotes too. Get ready for a rollercoaster ride of up and downs with a few twists and turns. I rooted for Damiano and Renata, they make such a great couple. Their chemistry is off the chart. He’s such a commanding alpha with a sweet and sensitive side. Although this book is not full of sex scenes, there’s enough tension and heat to make up for it. However, I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to more. (I love sensual hot sex scenes). Great book, I’ll definitely read more from this author.
Holy Cow!!!!! This book was intense!!!!! I loved every word of it!!!!! Best Mafia romance book of 2019!!!!! Damien and Renata are AHHHHMAZING!!!! I could NOT put this book down!!!!!
Parker Huntington is a new to me author and I am HOOKED!!!!
I started with the prequal Renata Vitali and jumped right into this book and I could not put either of them down. I love her writing style and her storytelling. And was captivated by her characters. Ren and Damian stole a piece of my heart. They were two lost young teens in a world they didn’t have a choice but learn to survive in. And when they were pretty much thrown together they found something in each other they didn’t know they needed or know they were missing. And Huntington did a beautiful job telling the story.
This book is full of angst, twists and turns you didn’t see coming, and sexual chemistry off the chats. And even though Ren is vulnerable at times. I love that her strength shines bright throughout this story. I can’t wait to dive into other books by this author.
Intense and powerful struggle between two families in a hard world.
Renata has stepped up to help her Maman and in doing so is brought back to Damiano, the man she left ten years ago. Push and pull of love that never stopped threatens her sanity but is it a bad thing to love?
Don’t miss as Damiano and Renata work out what happened years ago.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Loved the book it was great the story was well written and the characters were interesting. Princess Renata and Prince Damiano are older now and have only come together for a funeral when Damiano noticed Renata had a wedding ring on. The heart aches, betrayal the twists and turns. Their hearts will always belong to each other. But do they get a HEA
Thank you for allowing me to review this book it was great.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was really good. I read Renata Vitali right before this so some parts were repeated but I really liked it, especially the epilogues!
This book had me hooked from beginning to end, no way to put it down. Damiano and Renata grabbed my heart and mind and had me on a tight grip the entire book. After 10 years since Renata left. Damiano is head of the De Luca Syndicate, an incident makes them cross paths again, the feelings are still there but the possibility to a second chance seems far, they have to overcome obstacles and the most important thing, trust in each other. This book blew my mind, the characters are amazing, the plot had me on edge. I loved it.
10 years to come face to face with the only other person they loved, one hid her heart behinds walls of fear and lies, one spent millions looking for his mate but Ren spent time and resources to hid from Damien and his hunters. Now when a capo and twin brother of one of the Syndicates, Ren and Damian see each other but it’s not hate that they feel but more but Ren still fears her feelings and Damien will pull out all the stops to show his princess, his Knight that he hasn’t stopped his love and still has her back even when she covers his back but denies it. Many more lies are said, truths will eventually be revealed and how Ren was a pawn in the war of her parents and to get the Syndicates to come together. Told in both POVs but mostly from Ren’s and a HEA.
Parker S. Huntington’s mafia world has totally consumed me! I loved this book so much! Damiano and Renata were perfect. There was heat and tension and tenderness and absolute magic in their love story. I loved the depth this book had. It wasn’t just sex and violence. I mean, it was that. But it was so much more. The quotes that tied each piece of the story together were genius. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
Damiano De Luca might be my new favorite man out of the group of men Parker S Huntington has written about so far (don’t tell the others).
But honestly this book was truly amazing. I loved both Damian and Renata; they are fierce and loyal, and love so deeply.
Their story is not rainbows and butterflies. This is a second chance romance filled with lies, deception, and pain around every corner. But as always Parker S. Huntington writes these types of stories so well. I was sucked in from the very beginning and couldn’t stop reading until I finished it.
Highly recommend!
I am blown away by this amazing book. Word for word, page for page, it kept getting better and better the more I read. Love, love, loved Damiano and Renata. Can’t wait for more books.