Rule One: Do not say no to Luciano Salvatore. Rule Two: See rule one.Carmen never knew she had boundaries, but when the young prostitute is called to Salvatore, the infamous mob boss, she learns that even a whore can be violated: mind, body, and soul. Lucas dreamt of a mobster’s life. He wanted the cool suit, the expensive car, and the respect. His dreams take a pounding when he picks up the … dreams take a pounding when he picks up the badly bruised Carmen from Salvatore’s mansion. He starts visiting the injured woman, and despite the gruesome circumstances, the chemistry between them grows into something neither of them can resist.
Then Salvatore calls for her again.
How do you conquer the monsters under your bed? Especially when you’ve let them crawl up and share it?
This is a prequel to the Russo Saga but can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Publisher’s Note: This is a dark, steamy Mafia romance that is not for the faint of heart! It may contain triggers for some readers. There are harsh scenes and elements of power exchange.
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Carmen had come to the United States with her Uncle, wanting a better life than living on a farm in the mountains of Columbia. When her Uncle was hurt in a work accident and eventually died, Carmen was led to believe she had broke her parents heart and they would never forgive her or want her to return. That left her with little option of making her way and being able to survive. That’s how she wound up working the streets until she moved in with Matron and her girls. Unfortunately, they were all owned by Luciano Salvatore and she was soon to learn what the price for that was to be.
Lucas left his parents and their farm in Iowa wanting something more. He was the driver for the organization for two years and he wanted to move up so he could receive the respect and privileges that came with it. When the time came for him to participate and take the next step of being involved, his reaction was not what he or anyone else expected.
If you have trigger issues with caning, humiliation, or rape then be warned. There are some scenes and consequences that are chilling. That being said, I was immediately thrown into this world again within the first chapter and found myself leaning forward and mentally putting myself in a bubble with all that was going on with this story and it’s characters. Speaking of which, you’ll either love them or love to hate them, but Nicolina Martin will not let her readers sit passively with one of her works. By the end of the book, my stomach and hands had finally stopped shaking and my heart had calmed down. This was a heart breaking, heart warming story that left me wondering what was coming next. Congratulations Nicolina for a five star review. I was given a copy of this ARC and am giving my honest, voluntary review.
Shame is well written and thought provoking with a realism that reminds us of the seamier side of any American city. The main characters are well thought out and fit well in defining roles at the start of the book. As you continue to discover the person they carry deep inside you begin to see their full character blossom and grow. Luciano is everything we don’t want to know and hate about the mafia. Carmen and Lucas’ characters pull so deeply on our emotions that you feel as if you are on a rollercoaster ride throughout the entire book, as you root for a HEA. The depth of innocence vs experience, love vs hate in the relationships between these three characters is simply amazing and very defining. I highly recommend this book 5+++!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Gritty Romance – Tough Situation!!
Mr. Salvatore rules with an iron fist, and sometimes a belt. When a young woman “owned” by him comes to his attention, the young chauffeur delivering her takes note also….
Believable characters, tough backstories, and an incredibly touching journey!!
*** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book ***
Book 3 in the Russo Saga and the author took us on a thrilling ride that is dark, steamy, twisted, and emotionally deep. It is an on the edge of your seat riveting read that hooked me from the first page and will touch on every emotion known. The characters have amazing chemistry and you will either love or hate them and at the same time cannot get enough. A truly emotionally deep read that will leave you wanting more of the Russo family. This is a MUST READ!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This books was sooooo intense from the very beginning! It was angsty as hell, but as the other books in this saga, it kept me completely glued to its pages. I couldn’t put it down. It had a bit of everything, well interlaced in the story and the characters are described so vividly, it felt as if I was seeing them. I definitely am a Nicolina Martin fan and need to continue reading this series.
Carmen and Lucas both work for Luciano. Lucas wants to move up in the criminal organization, but he is a complete opposite to Luciano, and this is evident in how they think of and treat Carmen. This is very dark story and there are lots of possible triggers for people due to what Luciano does to Carmen. Carmen and Lucas for a strong bond and want to protect each other. Luciano enjoys inflicting pain on people and wants to break people. There is a lot of violence in this story but there is love and friendship as well. It’s a very well written story and I suggest people start at the beginning with “Heat” if at all possible, with this story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
You must remember this book takes place before book 1, I totally didn’t read that part I was too keen to get started then got really confused lol! This is way grittier than book 1 & 2 as we find out why even Nathan and Eric fear Salvatore and yikes I fully get it, he is a cruel man who loves power and to dominate every situation and feed on people fearing him. Carmen is a young strong women who travels have brought her to the Matrons house where she she is a working girl, little does she know she is about to find out how strong she must be when she is summonsed to Salvatores house. There is plenty of power struggles, brutality, hopelessness yet also hope, love and the will to be free that will addicted to seeing what will happen next. Now I can’t wait for the next book to come out!!!
So far this was the hardest in the series just foot the simple fact that there was so much going against these two I wasn’t sure they were going to make it. Like always this author makes it all worth while in the end.
Absolutely loved it! Definitely a dark read and the ending was not what I expected at all!
This is a difficult book to read. The ground is absolutely covered in triggers. There is no safe space, as the specter of Salvatore hangs over every moment. Any brief respite is still marred by the knowledge he may appear at any moment. Personally, I wouldn’t consider this a romance novel were it not for the ending. Up until that point, it was more thriller than romance. This isn’t a sweet story, though there are sweet moments. It isn’t an easy read, but it did capture my interest and kept a firm hold on me to the very end. This author is a talented storyteller and I very much look forward to reading more from her.
This was an intersting book! First book I ever read of hers.
This book filled with lust, love, shame and revenge!!
This book was amazingly dark. Looking in on the early years of the monster that is Salvatore was enlightening. Carmen was so resigned to her fate but Lucas was willing to risk it all for the girl he love. Great read.
This is book 3 in the Russo saga, I haven’t read the other two books since they’re standalone’s. This story is about Carmen a young woman who came from another country and has ended up working as a call girl. The story is pretty sad and kinda dark I did enjoy the characters in the stories but some how I just didn’t understand or agree with some actions taken by the characters. I felt the story still had some missing plot holes that needed to be filled. Otherwise I really enjoyed the story and I will go back and read the other stories in the series.
The Russo Saga continues and it just keeps getting better and better and sucks you right in to this dark and disturbing world of these ruthless men and god help me I cant get enough I love them all but Salvatore he has my complete attention and that’s his goal he is cruel and ruthless a true sadist that you cannot take lightly and he is fixated on Carmen and what he puts her through will have you gasping. She is such a strong character with such a huge will just to survive her life, the strength this woman has and the fire in her is amazing.
Lucas wants the mob life more then anything but things change and he has such a beautiful determined soul to make things right but you know how do you fight the mob. The writing is perfection and so well written you cant get enough and crave more like your next breath, the Russo men are not to be ignored and they are hotter then hot and super sexy and so worth your time.
Carmen and Lucas’s story is gut wrenching, emotional, and a journey of two damaged souls.
Brought together by the vicious Luciano, do they dare to dream of something more and better in their lives? This book will pull every emotion out of you twist it up and deliver it back! But it is worth every minute you invest in reading it! Be warned it gets dark in places and Luciano ……well he’s like being captivated by your darkest fear but unable to walk away from the temptation of more!
I love Salvatore in spite of him being a dispicable person. Carmen, the prostitute that has been summoned by Luciano learns about the pain and humiliation that gets Salvatore off and it isn’t pretty. Lucas is the driver that is tasked with delivering Carmen, then taking her away when her job is finished, and he begins to care for Carmen. I was worried that Carmin might not survive her encounters with Luciano or be destroyed mentally by his twisted sexual and mental treatment. Carmen and Lucas were both too strong to be destroyed but are affected none-the-less. Without giving away anything, I can say I was captured by the sex and degradation of Carmen by Salvatore and the gentle care and affection of Lucas for Carmen. I did not see the final ending coming but was thrilled by it!
I want more of the twisted but unresistable sexual appetite of Mr. Salvatore and those around him.
Love the Russo Men. This is Carmen’s story. She meets the beast, Luciano Salvatore, and is hooked in his web just as much as everyone else. Luciano is my favorite of the bunch and in this story we see much more of him and get a glimpse of his inner workings. We also see alot of the beast poor Carmen has to endure. But love finds a way and that way is one of his men. It’s hot, very gritty and raw. I was grabbed from the very beginning and love how it ended. Against all odds the horrible fate of two love birds gets molded into a new beginning. Very good read. Love me some Salvatore’s!
Dangerously Dark and Amazing!
This book was a tremendously dark and twisted roller coaster ride to hell and back. With so many emotional ups and downs from anger, hate, loathing and eventually love. The main characters are already damaged souls and somehow seem to continue to fall into a cycle of destruction and ruin.
Carmen is a very strong female with a lot of strength and fierceness. She never lets any man break her even though they come very close. Lucas comes off as very soft and loving but he also inhibits his own form of fierceness and loyalty. A lot of dangerous situations surround Carmen and Lucas but they come out of the storm stronger than ever.
Fantastic story and writing. There are many characters that you loathe and hate but there also plenty that you route for and fall in love with.
I can’t wait for more of these great characters stories.
Highly recommend.
OMG, this book is not for the faint-hearted, the deep feelings that carry this story insanely well are found at both ends of the spectrum. Tricky topics are relentlessly addressed and sensitively developed and wonderfully solved. A rollercoaster of emotions, knots and butterfly in the stomach, the absolute best and most oppressive up and down of emotions.
Great!
Dark and gripping story
—>>> When Luciano Salvatore calls, no one dares to say no. Especially when you are one of his possessions, including the women who are fetched to satisfy his sadistic urges.
Carmen is a young girl who has a spirit which cannot be broken, even by Luciano – and he tries, believe me. She is a true survivor and manages to outwit the monster who has her and many other women at his beck and call and find love in an unexpected place with Lucas.