A mafia romance about love and loss by Rachel Van Dyken, the number one New York Times bestselling author of the Eagle Elite series.…When you awaken in the morning’s hushI am the swift uplifting rushOf quiet birds in circled flight.I am the soft stars that shine at night.Do not stand at my grave and cry;I am not there. I did not die.— Mary Elizabeth Fyre“I’m sorry for your loss.” I would rather … Fyre
“I’m sorry for your loss.” I would rather be tortured for an eternity than hear those damn words from one more person, as if Claire, my dead fiance, was a cell phone or car keys.
How about, I’m sorry your life is over.
I’m sorry you want to die too.
I’m sorry you see her in your dreams and wake up only to relive the nightmare.
I’m supposed to be the strongest of them all. Ash Abandonato, ruler, assassin, made man, brother, friend—instead, I hurt everyone I touch in hopes that they’ll feel even a sliver of the pain that bears down on my shoulders.
I didn’t lose.
It was taken from me.
And it’s all her fault, Annie Smith.
I daydream about her death.
And then I close my eyes, and I see her soft smile. I feel her touch, her kiss—it was a mistake what we did that night, but I can’t take it back, and now she’s under my father’s protection—my protection.
My worst enemy.
The woman I’m the most attracted to.
I can’t decide if I want to strangle her or kiss her, and now that she’s stuck in my life, my only goal is to make her feel the same loss I do and destroy her in the process.
I’ll trick her with my touch.
Seduce her with my kiss.
And in the end, when my enemy is at her most vulnerable—I’ll bring down an entire Empire and continue my reign as King.
Bow down, I’ll say as I bring the Five Families to their knees.
Blood in.
Never out.
Damned.
more
FIRST IMPRESSIONS I have fallen into the rabbit hole. 22% in & my day is shot. #sorrynotsorry. Goodness the feels will grab you at the start & your mind will mess with you to utterly depths. More of my thoughts to come…
MY 4.5 STARS REVIEW:
Holy S#K! Once again Rachel Van Dyken sucks you deep into the world of the Eagle Elite with the Mafia Royals. The next generation continues to break me on levels I would not expect. Ash Abandonato and Annie Smith’s story was lit.
OH. MY. ASH. This was a ride that was filled with so many feels & oh so many emotions. He was broken and the necessity to move on was not an easy feat and affected everyone around him. Just when you think you know…something unexpected gets thrown into the mix. The truth and reality hurts. This is a world you must be able to adjust and live in while always be strong in whatever you may face.
“You have. You love. You lose. And then you live-the universe gives you no other choice but to wipe your tears, take a breathe, and manage one small step and then another. One day ‘all you can do’ turns into what saves your soul.”
To add you cannot help but fall for the different family scenes, dynamics, and values when it comes to each other that will have you giddy, LOL, but afraid and hesitant at the same time. I had a feeling this read was going to gut me and wanted to savor each word and moment. Get ready to be blown away!
Now this is the RVD mafia I know and love. It was gritty, intense, and had some plot twists I didn’t see coming. The book gripped me from the very beginning, I’ve been waiting for Ash’s book since Ruthless Princess came out. I was a little worried it would be Chase’s story all over again, but boy oh boy it totally was not, in fact I didn’t see any of these little plot twists that RVD wove in coming. It was a masterpiece I could not put down. I absolutely loved Annie. She quickly became one of my favorite characters in this series. Can’t wait for the next book!
**received an ARC for an honest review**
A story of love and loss, angst and lies, DESTRUCTIVE KING by Rachel Van Dyken will break you. Ash and Annie’s story has so many ins and outs, trials, and twists that you will be on the edge of your seat from Chapter One. The way RVD writes their story is incredible – it is most definitely a roller coaster ride and you’ll want to prepare by grabbing a glass of wine or even the entire bottle.
Grief is a powerful thing, and the way Ash’s grief and anger leap off the page makes this newest RVD novel a must-read. If you’ve experienced a loss, you will understand the depth of Ash’s pain and how he copes with that pain. Although Ash may come from a powerful family and is powerful in his own right, the pain is searing and hard to come back from.
Watching him fight his way out the other side, so to speak, is a beautiful and emotional journey. Once again, RVD throws some major plot twists inside their love story – some you may see coming and others will have your jaw dropping to the floor.
Don’t worry that Destructive King will be too sad, there are moments of levity and humor. It’s always a treat to read the mafia gathering scenes, such as the large family dinners – including food, knives, guns, wine.
Rachel Van Dyken has done it again – she’s written a hard-fought love story that keeps you hooked from beginning to end.
Ash and Annie’s story was so much more than I imagined. This book is heavy, at times heartbreaking, and has twists that I did not see coming. But we get Rachel Van Dyken’s moments of comic relief just when we need it while you are hanging on for the roller coaster ride that is this book. The push and pull of Ash’s feelings just make this book so different than the other mafia books Rachel has written.
The characters couldn’t have been better written. And Ash and Annie couldn’t be better suited for each other. Ash was a big jerk for most of it but can we really blame him and Annie is so sweet but surprises you when you least suspect it. The cousins, Tank and the OG Eagle Elite characters make appearances and just make us love them even more.
*5 Stars*
ARC kindly received in exchange for an honest review.
I love RVD’s mafia books. I finally caught up on them all in 2020, and have been reading each of these Mafia Royals books as they release. I can’t get enough of this world.
I was really interested in seeing how Ash and Annie’s story would play out. I always thought there was some interest there from both sides, but given what Ash has been through in the previous books, and his behaviour, I really wasn’t sure how things could turn around for them.
I really liked Annie, and I loved her progression throughout the story. Some things that happened in the book, I kind of guessed, some others had me surprised, but there is one huge plot twist at the end where I was like OH HELL NO! Ash struggles through this demons in this book, but the real Ash, underneath it all? When he comes out to play, he’s amazing. And put them together, and it’s a really nice coupling.
I loved all our mafia family moments, and I was laughing out loud at some little snippets. I nearly cried in some parts too, so there’s definitely a bit of everything in this one. I love this world and all its intricacies, its like coming home, all the craziness, emotion and hilarity included.
I can’t wait for more from this series, or more from this world. As always, highly recommend.
I don’t know about you but I have been waiting desperately to get my hands on this one. Ash had fascinated me from book one, he is the very definition of a tortured hero.
Rachel does not hold back ever and she brings it in spades. Her revelations come at you leaving you shaking your head thinking how did I miss that or he did not just say that. I was held in the palm of her hand speechless and in awe of her writing.
Annie is like a silent assassin, you think you know her but we have only scratched the surface previously of what she is capable of. I loved seeing other peoples reactions to her change and I rejoiced when she finally saw her own worth. There is no hiding from the pain Ash is in and that was hard to read but it is such a necessary part of their story. One thing is for sure it will either bring them together or blow up everything.
As the books have progressed I am convinced the dads are the ultimate matchmakers. I enjoy how the threads of each book are seamlessly woven together and we learn a little more with each one. My only complaint is that these books are never long enough as I could linger in that world forever.
A mafia romance about love and loss by Rachel Van Dyken, the number-one New York Times bestselling author of the Eagle Elite series
Chase Abandonato has a son, Ash Abandonato who is on the darker side of the family. He enjoys his kills. Ash wants people to suffer, he is darkness. Ash is the enforcer in the Abandonato Famiglia. Ash is the one charged with the protection of the family, of getting their enemies to talk and with killing them.
Annie Smith – after losing her adopted parents, Annie moves in with Senator Chase Abandonato and his family, Ash lives in the huge pool house, outside of the family home.
Annie’s background is a bit unclear. Although she knows she means something to the Abandonato family. Chase does look after her as another daughter. Chase see’s how Ash treats her and he knows Annie needs love and kindness, not darkness that her son brings.
Ash has lost his soulmate Claire a year ago in a car crash. Ash doesn’t want to see himself be with someone good, someone kind. Ash just wants to dwell in his misery.
Will Annie be able to be that light for Ash? Will Ash be able to forgive himself for what happened to his love Claire?
I did receive a free ARC copy of this book. I am freely leaving an honest review.
6 Stars
After reading Scandalous Prince I was very excited for this but what I got with Destructive King was more than I expected. As I was reading this and getting deeper sucked into the world as I tend to do every time I’m reading RVD’s mafia world I was sure this was a simple 5 star read. It had everything I wanted. Angst, family, tension and absolutely beautiful writing. But something happened. I got plot twisted. I gasped. Audibly. And then I knew. I had no choice but to give this an extra star. Now I’m obsessed with the world of Eagle Elite and the Mafia Royals and I have been for years and I don’t think that will ever change. And I thought I knew what was happening; With Ash and all his angst. With Annie. But I didn’t. And I was shocked. The was a masterpiece in suspense. In Mafia romance. I volunteered to read and review an early copy of this. All opinions are my own.
How does anyone start to review a book like this?, a book that is so emotionally and heartbreakingly beautiful that words just can’t do the justice to how it makes you feel!
Rvd produces another heart stopping, million star read with twists that no one will see coming! A story that you will feel right down to your soul and dare I say her absolute BEST work yet!!
I always knew Ash’s book would be something special he is after all chase’s boy through and through but I wasn’t ready for all that he is, and he is so much more than you could ever imagine!
I was sucked straight back into the Mafia world from the very first page and even now a few days after finishing im still in it ,this is a book that never leaves you, Ash and Annie’s story is raw and heartbreaking but also hot and steamy they are complete perfection they absolutely belong! But the pathway of their story is far from easy and grief is the enemy.
“Love is war. Get ready to battle”
I’m sure I’ve more than likely said this before but Rachel Van Dyken really is something special everytime she write she produces something truly magical for the reader to devour and I for one am blessed to have her words in my life.
“Until the stars fall”
BLOOD IN, NO OUT
4.5
Destructive King had been my most anticipated book in the series because I was extremely excited to know more about Ash & Annie after what happened in the previous books.
Destructive King tells the story of Ash & Annie after the incident. Both of them couldn’t really comprehend what really happened between them and then they got separated for months. After they got reunited once again, that was when they started to develop something more.
In this book, Annie is such a selfless sweetheart with a strong personality and I completely adore her. Whereas for Ash, his life was a bit mess after losing Claire and I truly felt his grief which breaks my heart. Even so, I didn’t expect to love Ash’s character in this book even tho he’s a bit of a jerk and yet Rachel managed to make him into someone who is perfectly imperfect. Furthermore, we can feel the chemistry & intensity between these two characters which makes it so interesting. Even more, I liked that their relationship was slow burn rather than instant because we can slowly see the development between these two.
On the other hand, everything about this book got me so emotional because it is filled with angst, heartbreak, betrayal, and many more. Not only that, we finally get to see some of the hidden truths and not gonna lie, I didn’t expect the plot twist at all.
Basically, Destructive King has proven that Ash & Annie are meant to be together from the very start. Annie is no rebound nor sloppy second. They are literally soulmates and now, they are officially my favourite couples in the entire series
Overall, I extremely enjoyed this book and I think Rachel did an amazing job in delivering their story where everything was handled perfectly. I can’t even describe how much I loved this book The only reason why I gave this book 4.5 stars is because I felt like it’s not enough for me. I need more of them Even so, I truly recommend everyone to read this book because it’s totally worth it!
Mafia shmafia. I’m not much for a mafia romance. Or I wasn’t, but RVD has made me a new fan. Because what the holy hit man did I just read?!! I’ve waited days to write a review, and I’m still gobsmacked.
Annie Smith was taken in by the Abandonato family as an adolescent when she lost her adoptive parents. She stays in the background, always observing but feeling like an outsider despite the kindness of Chase and Luc. She sees a lot from her vantage point. She’s watched Ash Abandonato fall in love, tragically lose his fiancée, and spiral down into a dark abyss of anger and rage.
Ash is a big hot mess, understandably. But he blames sweet, innocent Annie for his loss and is less than kind to her. Of course, Annie gives him a lot of latitude for his behavior, considering, but when his feelings begin to grow into more where Annie is concerned, that’s when things really get interesting.
There are two main aspects of this story, the mafia plot, which is just, whoa!, and the romance that is quite possibly is the biggest angst-inducing roller coaster I’ve ever ridden. Just when I thought it would finally be smooth sailing, boom! Another monkey wrench gets thrown into the works. And the mafia storyline had twists I never saw coming! Gah! See the aforementioned gobsmacked.
This is one of those reads that I just couldn’t put down, and I flew through the whole thing in one sitting. The characters easily stole my heart and the riveting storyline with its shocking surprises kept me reading late into the night. If you’re looking for a fascinating, unique romance that will hold you in its thrall and give your heart an invigorating workout, you’ll find it here. Run to the 1-Click and dive into this dark, steamy, hypnotizing world!
I’m kind of speechless at the moment. I just finished reading this and I knew Rachel was gonna drop some bombs but I didn’t expect that many! I have had my suspicions about Claire and I’m glad some of them were validated. Ash’s growth and development from Royal Bully to Destructive King was massive and I loved his story. He came into his own and realized his purpose and his true love. I loved Annie, she was quietly strong and perfect for Ash. I can’t say too much because I don’t want to give anything away but this book was worth the wait and I love RVD’s writing so much! I felt a barrage of emotions throughout this book and can’t wait for everyone to read it!
I have said it before and I will say it again, Rachel is my go to author! She is so talented and such an amazing author! I would recommend her to anyone!! Her latest book mafia book is no exception and Ash and Annie’s story was so much more than I expected!! Destructive King gave me all the feels, as well as answering questions left from previous books!
I truly felt terrible for Ash and the horrible, heartbreaking loss he couldn’t forgive himself for. He became angry, mean and blinded by pain. He was lost.
The story flowed seamlessly and at times I wanted to hug him but in the next I wanted to throttle him! Ash did not want to like Annie so he blamed her for his loss.
Annie has her own problems and demons to fight, however she still looks out for Ash. I adored Annie, she was so strong had every right to hate Ash but she didn’t. Annie was a good person, she looked out for those she loved, even when they didn’t deserve it.
I highly recommend this intense, heart wrenching, mafia romance!! If you like fast paced, action packed , enemy to lovers mafia romance this is the perfect book for you!!
Destructive King is the third book in the Mafia Royals series by Rachel Van Dyken. You do not have to read Rachel’s Eagle Elite series to fall in love with the mafia. I have only read half myself, I will get to the first half one day. I do recommend starting the Mafia Royals series with Royal Bully though especially that one before reading this book. It’s a novella freebie! I can’t really get into the story without spoiling anything so…
I have had a special place in my heart for Ash since Royal Bully. I have slowly been falling for the asshole throughout the series. I get it Annie, I do.
Ash is lost. Annie is lonely. He was a king. She was an orphan. Claire was his fiancé while Annie was her best friend. Ash blames Annie for his love’s death and now he was her protector. He was both sinner and saint. He wanted to ruin her while keeping her safe. It’s was a mindfuck for sure. He had to the toe the line but one day he had to cross the line. Until then he was mean. The devil. She should be running like the scared bunny that she was months ago but now? She held her head up high and wanted to bring him to his knees.
I loved this book so fucking much. Annie is a badass under those pearls of hers. Ash is well, Ash. He was who he was and that’s why I love him. He knows who he is and owns it. Is Annie strong enough for The Family? The one that brought her in. The one with Scary Dad at the head of the table. The family full of bosses and cousins with guns, knives, fists who would kill to protect their own. Seriously, they are more than badass. They are epic.
Overall, it’s full of hate, wine, family, blood, laughter, fights, love, and twists. Damn, how I love the oh, fuck moments and RVD always delivers. Blood in, no out.
Quotes:
I’d never seen another person so full of rage, so full of uncontrollable sadness that you couldn’t help but feel it every time you were in their presence.
“Break any of my rules… and I will fucking destroy you.”
How could a man so beautiful be so cruel?
“I hate you,” I whispered.
“Finally, something we can agree on.” He pulled back. “Now get the hell out of my car.”
“I think he’s trying to communicate,” Kartini whispered. “Quick, if he starts beating his chest, look away, or he’ll see it as a challenge to his dominance.”
I flipped her off with both hands.
“Look at the male homo sapien as he uses his fingers to communicate what his words cannot… interesting, very interesting.”
Rachel Van Dyken in my opinion is the queen of mafia romance and Destructive King, is no exception. The third title in the Mafia Royals series, this series focuses on the children of the Eagle Elite and it’s a consuming and captivating romance with plot twists galore.
Asher is a Chase and Luc’s self-destructive son. He’s dark, dangerous, ruthless and riddled with grief and guilt and determined to seek vengeance.
Annie is a complex character. She’s survived a life filled with pain and abuse, but she’s resilient, strong and intelligent and determined to survive her time in the Abandonato household.
The chemistry is undeniable in the story and there is a definitely a fine line between love and hate. Both the hero and heroine have their demons and their romance is not only intense, but complicated, raw, and emotional.
I’m just as captivated by this series as I was by the original generation and cannot wait for the next addition to this series.
This book!!!! What a rollercoaster ride! I was gutted when I read Royal Bully! I have been waiting for Ash’s book ever since. Let me tell you, it was worth the wait! I don’t want to say much because I don’t want to give anything away! I could not put this book down and didn’t want it to end! This book was so full of action and was a fast paced read. You don’t necessarily need to read the other books before this one, but I highly recommend it to get the full experience. I would definitely read Royal Bully before. I would absolutely recommend this book!
Received an arc for a honest review.
Gut-wrenching, heart pounding, intense. Ash delivers all of that and more. He is tortured by the loss of the love of his life, drowning in his own grief. Annie sees the man behind the gruff, mafia killer exterior. It’s her challenge to be his friend while she loves him. Of course, Ash doesn’t make anything easy so will he ever see Annie in a different light? Can he push through his grief? I devoured this story. I felt Ash’s pain and Annie’s frustration. Of course, being in a mafia family, there is other drama and suspense added into the mix which makes it even harder to navigate love and loss. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
***5 “Until the stars fall…” stars***
“Life hurts a lot more than death.” -Anonymous
How am I going to start writing this review???
Of course, I loved AND this story on the Mafia Royals series and I’m kind of addicted of this crew and their adventures!!!
It was finally Ash’s turn, a tortured hero that he was carrying his own cross to bare and sweet and peaceful Annie’s and I was anticipating this story so much!!!And Rachel for once again delivered a very beautiful and eventful story that was getting under your skin!!!
“Sometimes being lost… is the only way to be found.”
If you have read the previous books in the series, you will know that Asher had suffered a great loss… He lost hισ significant one, his other half and he was living in pain and devastation…
Annie was a sweet and very closed off girl who used to be Claire’s friend and she was under Ambandonatos’s protection…
Annie was with Claire, the day that she died and Asher for a reason is accusing her for his loss… And he wants nothing than revenge, even though he is having weird reactions toward Annie since the first moment that she had entered his life!!!
“Hate was a weird emotion. But hate for the woman who you held responsible for your fiancee’s death? Impossible to explain. It could only be felt. And I hated that every time I felt it -it felt wrong.”
This was a very wild ride full of antsy and hard moments!!!
Ash was hurting and in a way he has stuck on the past… and he is refusing to see what is right in front of him.
Annie is also devasting because of Asher and the way that he is resenting her all the damn time… The truth is that Ash had hurt this girl very much and he keeps hurting her in every opportunity he is having…
His actions and reactions are frustrating as hell… He wants to make her pay, but at the same time, he is protecting her…
Both Annie and us, we are about to have a very wild and frustrating ride!!!
“Don’t know why you keep trying. It’s like you think you see something in me that you can save when I don’t want saving. I don’t need rescuing. And I would never pick you out of all people to be my hero, even if I did.”
“My heart cracked in half.
He stole it then.
He stomped on it.
He wrecked it like he wrecked everything.
And I let him…”
I loved Asher since “Bully Royal”, even though his story was Claire didn’t make me swoon!!!
From the other hand, he and Annie, even though so opposite between them, they were perfect for each other…
Where he was dark, she was light…
Where he was rough, she was soft…
Where he was mean, she was kind….
They were the perfect couple where they could balance each other. And even thought they hade taken their sweet time in here while tormenting me, I wouldn’t change anything in this story!!!
“I’d wanted to hurt her. I’d wanted to embarrass her. Take her heart and stomp on it, then kiss it better and fuck with her head. And because I was still so messed up, I’d forgotten my own plan. I’d fallen. Bit by bit.”
“Maybe that’s the danger with your stupid white horses… men come riding in on them pretending to be your savior, and it’s too late… too late to realize that they were the villain the entire time.”
Rachel Van Dyken is an expert on Mafia romances full of suspense and turns that you could never imagine and I’m trusting her completely with her stories…
This crew that she had created in here and on Eagle Elite series is the best and it’s always giving you so much pleasure to be on their company….
Yep, there are secrets and weapons and bloodthirsty characters in here, but they are a united team that can offer you suspenseful and funny moments at the same time…. They are a crew who knows how to love fiercely and how to be loyal to each other…
I really never want to end this mad world!!! Thank you, Rachel for these crazy, but beautiful rides that you are offering me with your mafia dudes and ladies!!!
“You have. You love. You lose. And then you live -the universe gives you no other choice but to wipe your tears, take a breath, and manage one small step and then another. One day ‘all you can do’ turns into what saves your soul.”
**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**
Oh Ash! Oh Annie! My heart just hurt for you two. As much as Ash tried to push Annie away, she just couldn’t seem to stop trying to bring him back from Hell. Ash suffered a devastating loss. Wasn’t sure how he was going to go on. And he was so angry. Angry at Annie. He blamed her for his misery. But at the same time, he can’t seem to stay away from Annie. Annie lost a friend and much, much more. She’s an orphan, who took refuge with the Abandonato’s. Chase and Luc provided a home for her. But she still feels lost and also feels she does not belong. Because she is under their roof, she is under their protection. Or Ash’s anyway; even though he hates her. We have all our favorite mafia bosses, wives and cousins in this book. So we get some laughs between these families. They just have such a bond that is unbreakable. Having knives and guns at the dinner table is normal for these families. So make sure you pass the wine. Eventually, Ash and Annie have a break through and so much becomes clear to both of them. When the family is threatened, the King must step up. Can he protect everyone and his heart too? The Mafia Royals series is about the kids of the bosses from the Eagle Elite series. You don’t have to read the Eagle Elite books first, but I would highly recommend that you do. Rachel does an amazing job writing these books. They are entertaining. They grab you from page one all the way to the last page. Blood in. No out.
“Everyone let’s go in their own way. Don’t walk down my path-it’s a lonely one, full of sadness. Take the fork in the road, the one that’s harder-the one that end’s in closure, in forgiveness” —Ash
I love a love-hate relationship. It’s always angsty, passionate, volatile, with a touch of melancholy. Ash and Annie fit the bill perfectly. His destructive spiraling and revenge on Annie is mixed with secretive desire as well. Annie’s love for Ash is filled with guilt, compassion, and hate. Their pull towards one another is always blocked by a ghost of their past.
I loved every part of Ash and Annie. The author created fantastic banter that was vicious, empathetic, and humorous. The secondary characters, “the kids” and “the dads”, all played vital roles in seeing and knowing that Ash and Annie belong together. The road to Ash and Annie was complicated and destructive but it turned redemptive and loving.
This was a great way to start the new year off. This book was filled with fireworks, battles, secrets, longings and epiphanies.