From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken comes a new story in her Mafia Royals series…One of the first rules they give you when you’re undercover—never fall for the enemy.I didn’t just fall for the enemy.I became what I was supposed to hate.What’s worse: I fell in love with one.I live a double life, and both sides know it’s only a matter of time before I’m forced to … to choose.Rebirth through mafia blood.Or death at the hands of the very government I swore to protect.I have one more job before my time’s up.I just wish it was anything but babysitting a mafia princess who’s half my size but knows how to pack such a brutal punch I worry about my ability to have children.Tin’s small but terrifying.And I’m her new bodyguard while we all go on a much-needed vacation.I just have to stick to the plan.And remember rule number one.And stop kissing her.Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.Reviews for Mafia King:“I knew when I read the blurb I couldn’t wait to read it and it did not disappoint in the least. This was so good! I’d definitely recommend it.” – Give Me All the Books“Love me some Mafia Royal. Rachel Van Dyken has done it again! 5 star and a must read!” – Reads to Breathe“This is a well written flawless fast paced story, which is filled with angst, secrets, loyalty, engaging and relatable characters, and love, which all leads to a steamy and enjoyable all-consuming read.” – Wendy’s Book Blog“For a novella there was a lot packed into these pages. I never tire of these five families!” – Mom’s Guilty Pleasure“This novella is filled with love, friendships, angst, twists, secrets and humour and I am certain that like me, you’ll not want to put this story down once you’ve started reading it.” – Literary Lust
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I love that the next generation is just as fierce if not more as their parents. The family sticks together and is beyond loyal to each other. I don’t even think there was a choice for Tank to fall for Tiny. I can’t wait for Max and Izzy!! Blood in no Out
Mafia King by Rachel van Dyken is part of her Mafia Royals series and it was utterly DELICIOUS and DECADENT!
Tank had me HOOKED from start to finish! Grumpy and growly and HOT. Dedicated, loyal, yet torn, wanting to do the right thing, but figuring out what is the right thing perhaps proving to be a bit more difficult than he’d hoped.
Kartini, Tiny, she is a firecracker! I loved her sass, her wit, her desire to love and be loved, for more than what she was seen to be, and rather, actually be accepted for who she truly is.
This is fast paced, this is intense, and there is a lot of drama and intrigue and tension that keeps you on the proverbial edge of your seat! The CHEMISTRY sizzles, and the love and friendship and the struggle between family and duty, all of it gets explored and really gives you all of the FEELS.
Whether you’ve read others in this series or not, Mafia King is bite-sized and gripping and SHMEKSHAY and you’ll devour it in one sitting! So, dive in!
This is another novella for the Mafia Royals, and I loved Tiny and Tank’s story, it was short but with so many things going on that you wished for more, I wished it was a long read, I wanted more depth for these characters, but I0m sure I will be seeing them in the next installments. Yes, you get to see some of your beloved characters, and I would consider reading this one a must if you love the whole series.
And not the kind you wear on the beach! These two characters have been dancing around each other in RVD’s Mafia Royals for pages and pages. I loved seeing both Tank and Kartini come into their own in the chapters of this novella. Tank is a man torn by two loyalties. Kartini has never been taken seriously by the rest of her mafia cousins, she yearns to be seen and not just as a princess. He is the man for the job.
“One day, you’ll have to decide if you’re willing to burn the world for one person or if your job means so much to you—your past—that you’re willing to f*** up your future. That’s your crown. That’s your baggage. That’s your cross to bear.”
Together they burn that world to embers.
A quick read, definitely tied into the Mafia Royals series so you should read those prior to reading this – just so you understand the character dynamics.
This is a novella but it’s completely a standalone as are all 1001 Dark Nights reads so no worries if you haven’t read the other books in the series.
This was one of those books when you start you literally cannot stop reading! The push and pull between Tank and Tiny!! You need answers and you want them now! It was such a good read. I enjoyed getting to see the other characters that many will be familiar with from previous books.
It was great seeing exactly what would happen for them and how it would play out. She’s feisty and he’s been assigned to be her bodyguard what could possibly go wrong. Mix in some smoldering attraction between them. I loved it and cannot wait for more from the author she does Mafia to an utter perfection.
Watch out for Tank and Tiny! If you’ve read any of the books from Mafia Royals series, you’ve met Tank before. However this book can be read as a standalone. Watch out! You will be hooked and want to read more! Tank’s double life as FBI agent and bodyguard to a mafia princess is coming to a head and he must make a decision on his path. You get a tantalizing glimpse into the awesome world Rachel Van Dyken has created. Mafia King is another example of Rachel’s outstanding storytelling that you won’t want to miss. Loved this!
I am leaving this review voluntarily after being sent a free book
This may of been a quick read, but boy does it pack a punch. This was a perfect “tiny” interlude into a mafia world new readers would be crazy not to dive into and old readers already pledged their allegiance for life a long time ago.
This novella with all our favourites proves that a wedding is never just a wedding in this world, and size doesn’t make someone any less mighty.
One click immediately, you don’t want to miss it.
5 STARS
This novella was fast-paced but trust me when I say you’ll not be disappointed! Tiny and Tank have a complicated relationship, but that’s what makes them so entertaining. Love their banter and their chemistry is palpable. Their story is part of the Mafia Royals series but can be read as a standalone. Mafia King by Rachel Van Dyken is an EPIC read that will join the ranks of the BIBLIO-ARISTOCRACY!!!
Ahh another absolutely fantastic addition to the phenomenal mafia world, Rachel Van Dyken never fails to amaze me!!
“I’m not a Knight in shining armour. I’m more villain, who’s always pretending to be the hero”…………..”But now I know who I am. Because of you”
Tank and Kartini will have you hooked on every word from the very first page, the push and pull between these characters as they navigate through the love hate relationship definitely have you wanting to knock both heads together haha
With twists and turns, anger and heartbreak this is definitely another absolute must read…..but then every single book this author writes is a must read and I cant wait to see what comes next!!
TANK AND TINK ARE HERE.
I know.
Shouty letters.
It was necessary. This novella was adorable and sexy and just, perfect for these two. This book has the deceit and the dark. It has the light and the swoon and Lordy it has the knives and fighting. You literally laugh one page and are on edge the next. I ate it up in one sitting.
This can be read as a standalone and if the perfect way to dip your toes into this world if you haven’t previously. If you haven’t, at the end of this you are going to want to read a whole lot of more.
This novella is a perfect look into the world of the Mafia world that Rachel has crafted and you are going to love every word.
Rachel Van Dyken delivers a fast-paced, steamy novella with a romance that I couldn’t get enough of and a couple that I loved! Tank and Tiny were amazing. I loved their chemistry, banter and every interaction. The story is steamy and spicy in all the right places with amazing writing to carry it through. Despite being a novella the story is well done and left me satisfied. Definite quickie book recommendation!
5 Stars
Absolutely loved it!
As always Rachel your mafia reads are just perfect. I could not put the book down. Getting a story on Tank and Katrini was everything. Another must read!
4.25 stars!! Mafia King is part of the Mafia Royals series by RVD, but can definitely be read as a standalone so you can figure out if this world is for you. I recently got caught up on this series, so reading this in order was perfect timing for me and just added to this whole world which I ABSOLUTELY LOVE!!
Tank is working for the Families, but he also works for the FBI. He’s been toeing the line for the last couple of years and things are about to come to a head. He’s been Kartini’s bodyguard and these two just banter and play off one another like something else. But something changed with her almost a year ago and she just hasn’t been the same.
Kartini Abandonato is a total daddy’s girl. She may be Tiny, but she has spunk and she’s been training with her dad Sergio since she was 5. Wouldn’t expect anything less with this family, would you? But that training led to something that changed who she was when she was 17.
These two have chemistry, but they fight like cats and dogs. That’s what makes them so exciting and like I want to get to know them better and see what they have together. They kind of come from different worlds. Or do they? Tank only requires loyalty, and it seems he has found it with the 5 families. Will the FBI prove him wrong or will something else come to a head?
He didn’t want to tell me that we were all villains because who would you believe? The one with the badge, or the one with the gun pointed at her head?
I loved this fast paced nugget of a story and the taste you get of this world if you haven’t been a part of it yet. Start here and dive in. It’s sexy. It’s fun. It’s filled with banter and danger. It’s the perfect in between story for fans of this world and a great place to start for new readers. It’s filled with promise of what’s to come. While I do love Tank and Tiny, I love the whole family and cannot wait for more.
Blood in. No out!
This was my favorite of the series so far! Tank and Tiny are perfect for each other, and I loved their love story.
There is just something about this author’s writing style that one can feel the energy as the words are read and the pages turn and I just cannot get enough of this mafia world. Tiny, aka Kartini, and Tank have been dancing around each other for years and finally push has come to shove as Tank must choose where his loyalty lies and Tiny is going to give him everything she has. The attraction between the two is incendiary and having to spend two weeks together on the family vacation will test them both. If you are not familiar with this series, then this is the perfect way to get your feet wet and once you do, you will definitely be diving into the rest of the series. Overall, this is one storyline that will sweep you up and keep you submerged in the best way possible. I highly recommend this book and look forward to more!
The Mafia Royals series is fast becoming my favorite of RVD’s. The emotional turbulence, the dark and gritty violence, the complex and flawed characters, and this unbreakable and intense family bonded by both blood and honor. I just love this world she’s created- and I have long since been waiting to sink my teeth into Tank and Kartini’s story.
Tank in particular was so entrancing to me- a man with one foot in this unlawful mafia world, and one firmly planted out. But this family demands loyalty- it’s the one law they do live by, and Tank is ready to step across the line in the sand with one crucial task- protecting mafia princess Kartini. A task she doesn’t make easy, and further complicated by the next generation wedding trip.
Truth be told, Rachel’s writing is so immersive and so emotionally complex, I wasn’t sure if she could replicate the emotional fervor, angsty, and tensions with a shorter page count in a novella. Not because she’s not brilliant, but because these stories have unfolded like a fine wine- delicious upon first sip, but increasingly flavorful and complex with every passing sip. But she still captures the magic here- in a way that I think both fans of the series will enjoy but new fans will also find accessible. This is a great taste of the Royal mafia world and its inhabitants, their unique and engaging familial dynamic, and the bold and passionate writing style of RVD.
My only complaint is just that I love them so much, I wanted more. Kartini has so many nuances, and Tank is man that has been living in two worlds, so there is a lot to them. We get their essence here, a scorching chemistry and a strong emotional intimacy, and we get a great window into this world. Rachel, even in a novella, finds a way to so clearly articulate how these two are soul mates, destined to be the perfect match. And I just wanted to spend more time with them- know more of their story, dismantle their hearts (metaphorically of course) a bit more. A great indication of RVD”s character writing- how thirsty she makes me to spend even more time in their heads.
All in all, a beautiful edition of the Royal Mafia’s world, and now I’m even hungrier for the next book in the series!
Mafia King is a novella in the Mafia Royals series featuring Kartini and Tank.
Tank De Lange is a familiar character, having appeared in the previous titles of this series. He’s an FBI agent who is also working with the families and will soon have to decide where his loyalties lie.
Kartini Abadonato otherwise known as Tiny is the daughter of Sergio Abadonato who’s story was featured in Empire. Kartini may be small in stature, but she has a large personality. She’s sassy, spunky, fierce, intelligent, and strong and knows how to protect herself. She’s a daddy’s girl at heart, and loves nothing more than to push Tank’s buttons.
The banter between this pair is fun, and flirtatious and their chemistry is undeniable, with the sparks oozing from the page.
Mafia King, is a fast paced and enjoyable read with equal parts heat, heart and humor that I’ve come to expect from Rachel Van Dyken.
If you’re a fan of the Mafia Royals series, you are sure to enjoy the cameos from previous characters with interactions and dialogue that is not only engaging but full of threats, jokes and humor galore!
I loved Tank and Kartinis story. These two had plenty of chemistry and plenty of secrets but both have a choice to make. Katrini broke my heart and I understood why she was so rebellious.
Tank is walking a fine line balancing the jobs he has been tasked with by both of his bosses. Keeping both sides happy is a challenge and he knows that at some point he will have to choose which side he belongs to.
Kartini “Tiny” Abandonato went from sweet, Daddy’s girl to rebellious, attention seeker nearly overnight. She is headstrong, confident, but is also struggling to come to grips with a specific event that she thinks no one will understand.
Knowing something is up with Tiny, her father tasks Tank with babysitting while the family is on an extended vacation. What could go wrong? Except that Tiny loves to get a reaction from Tank, and Tank knows exactly which buttons to push with her as well. These two are all bark and what starts as fairly innocent banter (I mean, how innocent is mafia banter ever?) quickly builds into chemistry that is palpable.
This was a great addition to the Mafia Royals world. I loved getting more from Tank, as well as the insight into Tiny’s acting out. It didn’t feel quite as dark or ruthless as some of the others in the series, but is a great introduction to what these families are capable of. The choices Tank and Tiny face define who they were raised to be, as well as who they have chosen to become. Though this reads well as a standalone, I loved the interaction with favorite characters from the series and can’t wait for more of the novels that are upcoming.
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Tank and Tiny have been tap dancing around each other as their connection grows. Tiny is struggling with where she fits within the family when she finds herself being made which haunts her. It’s been a year and she won’t let anyone in and the walls she has erected are strong. Tank is at a crossroads with the FBI and his mafia family, which path will he choose? But what he really wants is to break through to Tiny and know what changed, why is she so sad now. A trip to Cabo with the entire family becomes the turning point they both need. Will they end up on the other side together? I love Tank and Tiny with all their crazy banter and intense chemistry. This was a perfect journey for them both. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.