I hungered to be seen. There were three things I knew about Capo Macchiavello:He was gorgeous. He was reclusive.He was considered one of New York’s most savage animals. And he wanted me as his wife. A simple arrangement – you do for me, I do for you. Nothing owed, no expectations. Except for one: never leave. Life was never that simple, though. By the age of twenty-one, I was parentless, … though. By the age of twenty-one, I was parentless, jobless, and homeless, and I had come to learn the hard way that nothing was ever free. Even kindness comes with strings.
Capo might’ve been the only man to ever see me, but I had made a vow to myself: I would never owe anyone anything. Most of all, the man I called boss.
I killed to stay hidden.
Mariposa Flores thought she owed nothing to no one, but she owed everything…to me, the ghost the world had once called The Machiavellian Prince of New York.
Machiavellian is the first of three books set in the savage world of the Gangsters of New York series.
more
He gave his life for hers, but she didn’t remember him.
Vittorio Lupo Scarpone is the Pretty-Boy Prince, the oldest son of Arturo Lupo Scarpone, head of the Scarpone family, one of the five families of New York. He has one younger brother that he does not get along with. They share the same father but have different mothers. When Vittorio decides to protect a young girl, he puts his own life in jeopardy and his father has no problem using his own son as an example that you do not cross him. Vittorio reinvents himself with help from The Fausti Family, a family that no one crosses in New York., and now he is out for vengeance and retribution for what he went through that night in the alley. He is now a ghost and known as Mac Machiavello.
Mariposa has been in the system since she was ten years old and lost the only family she could remember. Now that she has aged out of the system, she is struggling to make rent, buy food, and wear decent clothes and shoes that fit. She is hungry, cold, and on her own for the most part. She finds herself standing in front of a fancy restaurant looking in dreaming about the steak when a man dressed very nicely gets out of a car that pulls up in front of the restaurant and she notices how everyone in the area stares at him and the man from the restaurant that just gave her a hard time about looking in the windows, falls over himself to greet the man that just arrived. She can’t help herself she is drawn to this man and can’t seem to forget him.
I really liked this story, it’s packed with action, secrets, betrayal, and vengeance. The characters are brutal, entertaining, and well written. Vittorio and Mariposa have a history, but they have not seen each other in years. That doesn’t lessen the draw they have to each other, nor does the age difference between them. Mac believes that he has no heart, but unbeknownst to him, a young girl stole his heart when he was a teen and never returned it. She still holds it after 18 years. They find each other again after Mariposa decides that she is done struggling to survive and wants to find a way to live and poses as someone else. I give this story a 5-star review and recommend it to readers that love to read mafia, vengeance, survivor, or suspense stories with a twist. I look forward to more of the Gangsters of New York
Wow. This book had an unbelievably intense start, Mafia style. I thought the backstory at the beginning would give me insight, but all it did was add to the suspense.
Mac/Capo. How do I describe him perfectly? You know how a man tells a woman he would do anything for her…Mac takes it to heart whether doing that something is in the negative or positive. Talk about sacrificial and extreme love. But then, that’s Mafia Book Boyfriends for you.
Mari was strong and independent, despite that life threw her for so many loops, which could have made her loose those qualities.
The chemistry between Mac and Mari was palpable, full of life and fire. They were kind to each other, patient with each other, and that left me with a feeling of want.
The story of #MacMira was full of suspense, passion, and the evolving of a wonderful relationship between two unlikely partners. A page turner that kept me all night till I was done. I’m very much ready to dive into the two upcoming standalones in the series.
I’m not even sure where to begin. If I had to describe Machiavellian in three words I would say gripping and compelling and sexy.
Capo (a man known by different names to different people) is a deliciously powerful, but reluctant Alpha hero. What I mean by that is I don’t think he would consider himself a hero. He’s done a lot of questionable things in his life. But all of that is washed away by the one honorable thing he did as a young man. That one honorable act seals his fate, but it makes all the difference because it eventually leads him to Mariposa – his butterfly – and his salvation.
The connection between Capo and Mariposa is immediate, intriguing, and hot! There is so much more to their history than even she is aware of when they first meet, and unravelling that little mystery is at the heart of this incredibly romantic story that will take you from the mean streets of New York, to the beautiful Italian countryside, to the breathtaking Greek coast and back again. Set against the backdrop of organized crime, Capo’s world is sophisticated, lavish, brutal, and often cut-throat. As Mariposa learns to navigate this new world he pulls her into, she discovers their true connection and also the true power of love.
Bella di Corte is a masterful artist who’s created lush scenes and vibrant characters with her words. I know people say this all the time, but I honestly could not put this book down! I had to find out what happened next, and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Gripping, compelling, sexy, and oh so entertaining!
My first Bella Book and wow what a debut! Well written characters that made me totally invest in their lives, twisty intricate plot that kept me guessing, and a completely subversive world that made me just want more more more! Mac/Capo is everything you could want in an alpha male and Mari is the independent innocent heroine made to tame him. Wish I could give it 10 stars! Just amazing!!
This book is Bella’s debut novel and I must say…she has impressed the hardcore mafia lover in me.
I saw this book on my explorer page and was curious cuz it had a lot of rage going on over it and normally I am very picky about my mafia romances but this one caught my attention with its synopsis.
Mariposa is such a beautiful name …I love it!!!
Her character is made to be regal, full of kindness and strength and understanding even though she is very poor.
She has been through so many tragedies that is hard for her to owe anyone anything…she couldn’t trust anyone but she still tries her best at everything.
I love her because of how her character developed through out the book just like a caterpillar changing into a butterfly.
Capo or Amadeo is your typical mafia man but what I love most about him is that he is honest and doesnt beat around the bush. he is cold,loyal, honourable yet ruthless and possessive to the core over our precious Mari.
They are bounded by loyalty in an arranged marriage and I love how their romance was just the right pace with all the slow moments and emotions creeping up to them.
It was just the right speed for their progressing love.
They were both loyal to eachother and owed nothing but loyalty to the other until death do them apart.
The start was a little boring for me but it actually helped me understand the plot lines in a better way.
It was an exceptional read and the whole book was written to attractive readers but chapter 31 was what i loved the most.
It was the defining moment for both of their loves and made them realize just how much more deeper their connection was and i am all for it.
He was the lone wolf and she was his butterfly.
She was the innocent girl who changed his life.
If you like books with age gap , alpha male and innocent girl , mafia romance and steamy scenes with a lot of mystery and angst ….this is the book for you.!!
Ratings:-
/5
And
.5/5
A very long read for me but worth all the pages!
I love that this book went deeper than your normal Mafia romance love story. There’s world and character building and development that you can find in this book. The author took her time and focused on the relationship building too which made this book feels like it’s not gonna end, LOL.
Yeah, I don’t really like long books. Most of the time they end up being redundant and/or boring, however, after reading the whole book, I can see why the author had to not cut down scenes. Most of them are vital to the whole plot and it helps make you experience what the characters are currently experiencing/feeling. That’s an amazing story telling.
Overall, I adore this book but I’m not sure about the next book. Cash Kelly didn’t appeal to me at all. Maybe Harrison? We will see.
ETA: After reading book 2 and bow reading book 3, I found myself in love in this series and all the characters, side and main ones. There’s something in the way the author writes her characters that while building them up, you’re slowly falling in love with them.
I got sucked into this story hard! I thought it would be too long but it was perfect. How they met, what they went through, alll the people behind and against them. Those moments in Italy…. That ending…. my heart was stomped on so many times. I was crushed, I was hurt, but I’m the end… it was the most beautiful story! I can’t wait for the second book!
Sometimes two lives are so intertwined, you can’t help but wonder if it’s fate.
I truly LOVED this story. This was my first Bella Di Corte novel and I’ll definitely be continuing on with Marauder and Mercenary at the very least. The story was wonderful, lots of twists and turns that kept me glued to my kindle until the end. Likewise, the characters were well developed to the point that you feel invested in them, their struggles, as well as those they care about. Mariposa was both sweet, hard, and amazingly innocent considering the life she lead. It was wonderful to see her mature and come into her own, once she understood her “Capo” had her back. Vittorio Lupo Scarpone aka Mac aka Capo was both a product of his extremely violent environment, but still managed to have goodness in him. The desire to protect, even at his own personal risk. Even when all you’ve known is betrayal by the people who should be closest to you. Even though their story story seems to be fate, they both have to work hard to find their happiness and their happily ever after. Highly recommend!
Trope: Age-gap/mafia romance
Story: /5
Angst: /5
Smexy: /5
I absolutely loved this book. It made my laugh, it made me cry, it made me feel every single emotion. It grabbed hold of me from page 1 and didn’t let go until the end…and still I wanted more! I was not ready to let go of these characters.
Machiavellian has become my favorite book. I just loved these characters so much, not just the main characters (the H & h), but all the secondary characters who added so much to this story. Even the villains were perfectly villainous.
This is one you will want to re-read over and over. I have….read the e-book at least 5 times since my first read. I even bought the audio (and I’m not an audio fan) but this one was great. Loved the voices of the narrators….they were perfect. And to complete the set, I even bought an autographed print from the Author (Bella Di Corte). She has fast become my favorite go-to author. I av read several of her books and love them all.
Mac is the eldest son of the Scarpone family; the next in line take over the family “business”. But his father thought he was too pretty to be the hardened mob criminal he would need to be to lead the family. So, naturally, his father set him up to be killed so his younger brother could step in to take his place. Plot twist #1: He didn’t succeed in killing him.
After the failed assassination attempt, Mac went into hiding and begun to slowly build up his own mafia empire; he became “The Ghost”.
Mari has lived a hard life; both parents were killed when she was a child and she is barely scraping the bottom the survival barrel to make it through life. Through a series of events, she came into possession of a certain party invitation that would eventually lead her into the arms of Mac. He needs a wife and she needs a roof over her head and 3 steady meals a day.
Plot twist 2: Mac knows Mari and is involved in the murder of her parents and the only reason why Mari survived.
They have navigate the dangers of the mafia world together as Mac slowly and methodically brings down his father’s reign. When his father realizes that Mari is really the long-lost (and supposedly dead) daughter of the family he ordered a hit on, her life is on the line. Mac must carefully orchestrate everything just right to ensure his father is eliminated and he saves his wife’s life.
Mac is an alpha introvert extrovert (yep, I typed that right). He wants the control but he is a leader that is okay with staying in the shadows. Mari is a strong-willed woman that takes crap from no one. Mac and Mari together is nothing short of extraordinary. Their chemistry in and out of the bedroom is commanding and dramatic.
As one of my all-time favorite dark mafia books, I have read Mac more than once. It was my first taste of Bella Di Corte’s work and I was hooked! Highly recommend!
A love to diie for, and they did… in one form or another. Love can cause that. I could read the labor of love Bella Di Corte poured into this story. Her words demonstrated the height and depth and width of love. Although a harsh look at life, it was always a compelling story.
I am rarely at a loss for words. This story hooked me from the first page. To say I loved it is too weak. It haunted me, pulling me, and messing with my brain until I could pick it up and read it through my days.
It’s a dark, twisted fairytale of redemption and sacrifice, loyalty and trust. A true feat of Machiavellian deception and revenge. The Wolf meets his Butterfly and learns how to love and live in true fairytale fashion.
I wanted to read this a couple weeks ago, but the author’s foreward to the reader tied in her book series that follows the Fausti famiglia saying that the storyline of this book series falls between book five and book six of that series. Even though you can read one without the other, several of the characters brought up are from the other book series. So I stopped and went to read the Fausti series which, as I’m writing this, stops at book five with book six being released in a few weeks. Perfect timing, I get to go back to reading about the Scarpone family which is one of the five families of New York according to the family tree, or the bio, at the beginning of this book.
Phew!
Okay, so the family name means The Wolves. Families are linked by Tito Sala (married to Lola Fausti) if you have read the other series. But, the Scarpones are based in New York and are one of the five families there.
Main characters: Vittorio, aka il Capo Macchiavello, son of the head of the family, and brother to a snake aka asshole who ruined his life during the prologue. Fast forward 18 years and we have Mariposa, aka Marietta, who has ill luck at the offset:. Poor, hungry, jobless, and homeless.
When these two lives become intertwined, It is found out that their lives actually intertwined starting 18 years ago. So much so that when getting into a “business arrangement” they in the end owe each other.
It’s a really sweet read all in all. It has bits of suspense, dark parts, but over all the main them is love. How their love grows and builds with each other.
It was an excellent read!! I loved it… surely one of my top reads!
How to put into words? The love! You can feel it.
Mari is a beauty but don’t ask her. Capo…oh you made me melt! I was confused at first, but with a little patience and it all comes out. Capo is a calculated man and in time he will reveal. I cried multiple times reading as their love grew even before they admitted it you could feel it!
I. Fell. So. Hard!!!!
The way this author can twist your insides as she weaves a spellbinding story is spectacular! She has such a talent for creating a perfect world of danger, intrigue, sex, surprise, and softening. There’s a beauty in seeing this sort of hard, cold man soften for the woman he falls in love with, and she writes it so well! I fell and fell and fell for Capo over and over again.
The beginning of this book was like a knife to the heart. The struggles and the lack of life and love Mariposa dealt with was gut-wrenching. Her desperation mingled with my trepidation, having me on edge for where her choices would take her. Her shoes made me want to sob! And everything Capo had been through and become! He was ruthless and captivating in his thirst for revenge and efforts to protect. A gangster through and through, and in the best ways. I don’t want to give anything away, but my heart had no hope when it came to him. It felt like SO MUCH! This book was SO MUCH! I couldn’t have guessed (though I should have with this author) how much more intense this book would become as their entangled story unfolded. Every page gripped me harder, its fingers digging into my chest, refusing to release me until the last word.
I think I love Capo more than Brando Fausti. *ducks and covers*
I couldn’t get enough of this story. I didn’t want it to end. I highly recommend it to all mafia romance lovers.
I received a complimentary of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Stars
Now that was a good story to listen to, by audiobook. The narrators do a great job of making you feel the emotions or lack of emotions from the characters. Looking for a good mafia story with many twists and turns, many hidden connections, secrets secrets and more secrets. It was not a book to lightly listen to though, you need to follow the story closely to understand. I was hooked to see where the story was going.
Mari starts out living on the streets doing everything she can to make a life for herself without letting life pull her down. A few close friends she considered family who want to help her but aren’t really in the place either not that she would take the help. Strong and confident. When an opportunity falls in her lap, she takes it. This is life after all. Will she be able to live with the choices she has made?
Mac is doing what he can to rebuild himself and take the revenge that he seeks from his family that almost to kill him. He is very calculating and emotionless when dealing with things, until he see here again. The one thing that could bring him to his knees. In his signature way, he manages to contract her to him, not willing to let her get away again.
Could Mari be the one thing to bring love back to his life? Will Mari keep her spunk or will the mafia ways drain her of the life she fought so hard for? Will there be a HEA for Mari and Mac?
I received a copy of this audiobook from Netgalley to review.
I hungered to be seen. There were three things I knew about Capo Macchiavello: He was gorgeous. He was reclusive. He was considered one of New York’s most savage animals. And he wanted me as his wife. A simple arrangement-you do for me, I do for you. Nothing owed, no exceptions. Except for one: never leave. Life was never that simple though. By the age of twenty-one, I was parentless, jobless, and homeless, and I had to come to learn the hard way that nothing was ever free. Even kindness coming with strings. Capo might’ve been the only man to ever see me, but I had made a vow to myself: I would never owe anyone anything. Most of all the man I called boss.
I killed to stay hidden.
Mariposa Flores thought she owed nothing to no one, but she owed everything…to me, the ghost the world had once call the Machiavellian Prince of New York.
I listened to this book. The narrators did an amazing job on this one. This is a mob boss book but it deals more with the people involved than it does with the origination itself. I loved these characters too. Machiavellian is a man that is living his life as a ghost. This is a man who is determined to save Mari’s innocence from the ugly world that we live in. This may start out as a marriage of convivence with terms that they both agree too because Mac is trying to take back what was stolen from him in the form of revenge. Can these two find their way to love and happiness and a forever? You have to read to find out. I loved listening to this one so much.
Audiobook Review
Machiavellian by Bella Di Corte is a mafia romance with a difference.
Mac despite his tough exterior, has a very soft centre and the eventual love story between him and his wife is beautifully sweet with the added spice that mafia romance serves up!
The narration team of Kae Denino and Armen Taylor brought this sometimes violent story to life(or death)!
Mariposa and Capo Machiabello’s story is yes a mafia romance, new series Gangsters of New York, the story was engaging, the characters definitely had a lot going on at once, I reviewed the audiobook, the narrators Kae Denino and Armen Taylor did a good job, the editing was good and their performance was good based on what the story had to offer.