I stole my trophy wife
Her father killed my brother, so I took Carmela hostage. I didn’t know how to execute my revenge, but when the innocent little honey attempts to bargain for her father’s life, I devise the perfect plan. I won’t just take my revenge. I’ll savor it. She’s desperate to save her father. Her offer: One night. No strings.My counter-offer: The rest of my life, no strings, but … strings.
My counter-offer: The rest of my life, no strings, but plenty of rope.
I need a mother for my two kids. A wife to warm my bed. A lover to break.
That’s Carmela.
I thought my only battle would be between us…in the bedroom.…but marrying her incited a war I never saw coming.
If I don’t win…I lose everything.
I lose her.
CARMELA
He kidnapped my father, so I offered myself as payment.
Michael Costa, my new husband, is many things. He’s one of Boston’s most powerful gangsters. He’s a devoted single dad. A fantastic lover. A beautiful contradiction. A monster cut from the same cloth as my ex.
I don’t trust him.
I never meant to love him.
But I’m falling for his kids. Now I’m bound to him because I can’t bear to leave them. And he’s promised me what’s been denied to me all my life—a baby.
Our marriage might’ve been a happily-ever-after, until my ex showed up.
He’s out for blood, threatening my imperfect, messy, beautiful life with Michael.
Nick is my worst nightmare.
Michael is my forever.
But somehow…I lose no matter who I end up with.
Author’s note: Taken is NOT a love triangle. It is a single dad, standalone dark mafia romance. This is book #2 of Sinners of Boston series. However, these books can be read in any order.
This Beauty and the Beast-inspired dark and titillating romance is not for the faint of heart, but if you like over-the-top alpha heroes, troubled heroines, and impossibly evil villains, you’ll love this book. Deals with sensitive subjects some might find triggering
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As mafia romances go, this one was good. In Michael you find the mafia man that he is, but also the real guy inside who realizes that there is more than meets the eye with Carmela. It doesn’t take long for him to piece together her dark past. And even in the eyes of forcing her into marriage, he takes the time to read her and be cautious in approaching her. Carmela is a strong loyal woman. She is the perfect match to take on Michael’s challenge to save her dad. While stand alone, I think this would be best read after the first book, Arranged.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
You don’t have to read Arranged to enjoy Taken but I’d recommend it. The first book gives you the framework for the second. Michael and Carmella are an unexpected couple yet they work so well. Michael’s rage at how Carmella was abandoned by everyone to her abusive ex is very understandable. Carmella fearing love and what Michael may turn into is also very understandable. There is a lot of violence which isn’t really unexpected as the book explains that Boston is in the beginnings of a street war. Trigger warnings: Besides violence in general there is mentions of rape and abuse, there are scenes where a women is abused. The backstory involves a lot of abuse both physical and mental. Stalking is also mentioned.
Taken is better than Arranged in my opinion. Michael and Carmella are both adults who have been through a lot and meet on much more even ground than the couple from the previous book. The arc of the story from Michael and Carmella’s initial distrust to their eventual acceptance of love is well written and very believable. The way the book shows that light BDSM is consentual and very very different than what happened between Carmella and Crash is so well written. There’s no preachy speech just the example of how Michael treats Carmella versus Crash. Carmella’s journey from victim to fighter is equally well written. The sex scenes are very steamy and help the plot pacing. I highly recommend this series and this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Carmela is desperate to save her father from the gangster holding him, probably torturing him, and who wants him dead. Michael Costa is determined to break the man who murdered his brother, the last thing he expected was for his daughter to offer herself in exchange for her father’s life. Michael wants more than one night, he wants a mother for his children. Carmela agrees to marry Michael, a man she knows is just as dangerous to her as her ex. She didn’t realize she would actually fall for Michael.
Wonderful characters, well written and fascinating. Lots of violence, and action in a plot with some suspense along with some surprising, and unexpected twists to keep you guessing. Fantastic book.
I am voluntarily leaving an honest and non-incentivized review of this ARC.
This is a dark mafia romance. It has a sexy OTT hero and an extremely evil villain. The story line will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Carmela and Michael have a bit of a twisted relationship, and a lot of bad history, so for them to marry didn’t seem like a good idea. However, as they learned more about each other, I think they make the perfect, or as close to perfect as they can be. There are dark elements to this story, but nothing too drastic in my opinion. Michael is there for Carmela when she needs or the most, and they get their HEA!
Please note that I did receive an ARC of this book, and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This was the second book I have read by this author and I am officially hooked on her! This story sucked me in from the very first sentence and I stayed up til the wee hours of the morning to finish it.
The story starts off with Carmela sneaking into Michael’s house during his daughter’s birthday party, which is extremely dangerous given his mafia ties and the fact that her father had killed her brother. She is there to bargain for his life back but she never expects Michael to demand her hand in marriage in exchange for her father’s freedom. She knows she can’t ever love Michael but she could love his kids and she wants her father safe so she agrees to the deal. The more time they spend together the more Michael slowly wins her over. When a demon from her past shows up threatening the future he is trying to build, Michael will risk everything to save his wife.
Carmela is officially one of my favorite lead heroines of the mafia world. She is so fierce and so brave, she was willing to trade her future for her dad’s safety. In fact throughout the whole story she is constantly putting others before herself and willing to put herself at risk. I will admit that in the first book of the series I struggled to like her based off her actions but she definitely redeemed herself in this one. Michael on the other hand was one of my favorite characters in the previous book and I was almost shocked by him in this book. In the previous book we saw a softer side to him but in this book we see his alpha male side and it is HOT! His love and protectiveness for his kids is drool-worthy and I loved seeing his inner battle when it comes to his feelings.
The plot itself was super intense and had so many layers that it kept me hooked until the end. The chemistry between the two leads was off the charts and it was easy to root for them. I loved the interactions between the two main characters but I also loved when Carmela was interacting with the children too. I loved the way she supported them through some of their struggles. It was truly an amazing story.
I definitely recommend this story! I do recommend reading arranged first so you have the back story of these characters but it isn’t required.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A delicious mafia beauty and the beast. With a twist.
The beast comes with two kids.
So, Carmela volunteers to take her father’s place, only, Michael has very different plans for her instead.
Dark, mafia drama, and MC Rage machine drama (her bad ex). It’s one wild ride. Better hang on.
Recommend.
Michael turned out to be much darker and dangerous than I thought he was from reading the first book in the series. It actually added depth to him and to the story. Michael is a devoted father and a very dangerous but sexy man. Carmela is a beautiful woman, inside and out, with a traumatic past. Their story is sexy, sometimes hard to take and also beautiful.
Carmella Ricci just got out of a dangerous relationship with one of the areas toughest motorcycle club, Rage Machine, members, Nick, known as “Crash”. He was abusive, controlling, and will not give her up.
Michael Costa is part of the Costa Crime Family that runs the area. Their Don, was sent to jail, and now Vinn runs the Family. Michael is high on the Family platform, and can make major decisions.
When Carmella’s father is taken by Michael, because her father killed Michael’s brother, she crashes his daughters birthday party, just to find Michael, and try to have him let her father live. Carmella offers herself to Michael in exchange for her father’s life. Michael agrees, and tells Carmella, she will have to marry him, and never see her family again, then her father will live. Carmella reluctantly agrees. She adores Michael’s children, and since their birth mother has passed away, she will try to be there for them.
When Michael’s Family meets with Rage Machine/Legion to make a deal to work together on some projects, Carmella freaks, knowing that Nick will be there, and tries to get away before Nick finds her. Nick finds her, and is angry she left. He hits her and chokes her. When he finds out she is married to the Mob, he is livid! He wants her back, and will do anything to get her back. Michael finds out Carmella was hurt, and goes after Crash for hitting his wife! They get into a confrontation, and vow to kill each other.
Soon, a girl from Michael’s club Sanctum is killed, and Anthony Costa, the Don’s son, disappears, Michael knows who is behind the trouble. He does everything in his power to get Anthony back. While he is trying to locate Anthony, Carmella is taken n front of his kids. When Michael finds out Carmella is missing too, he calls the Calvary and hunts Crash down. He vows to end Crashes life, and get Carmella and Anthony back.
This book is a dark story, and not for the faint of heart, but it is an excellent read! Once I began reading it, I could not put it down! I highly recommend this book!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Great dark romance
It’s an excellent and very well written dark romance, with characters tortured in a mafia and gang world and in which it is even surprising to find love
The story begins in a surprising way with Michael who blackmails Carmela to marry him, against the life of her father whom he holds prisonner. She will have to take care of his children who get on well with her. She has just gotten out of an abusive relationship (an extreme one) and she decides to say yes to save her family and save her sister who ran away with Michael’s best friend. But living with a mafia chief with little vanilla sexual inclinations, with her ex who returns to harass her, while preserving children, is complex for Carmela, and her strength of resistance, gradually, bends Michael who reveals himself to her also giving her other perspectives even if her fear of the reactions of men remains an obstacle.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
This is the second book in the Sinners of Boston series. It can be read as a standalone; there are characters from the first book. Carmela is a Mafia Princess with a past. When her father is held captive by Michael Costa, Carmela tries to make a deal with Michael. After all, they’ve run in the same social circles, she’s looked after his two kids, he’s kissed her cheek! Sounds cute so far? Nope. There’s a coerced marriage, some light bondage, a psycho ex, kidnapping-the best ingredients of a Mafia story. Michael is a perfectly possessive man who falls in love with Carmela & melted my heart. Carmela will do anything for family. Their strength is in their commitment and loyalty, no matter how they came together. Loved their story.
I received a copy of this book. My honest opinion is voluntarily provided.
When I first started to read this book I knew there was one before it and so I decided to read it first. So glad I did because it gave me a little more background to Michael and Carmela and so stopped the confusion. A good mafia story with plenty of alpha Michael and feisty Carmela. A blast from the past threatens to upset the apple cart and a mystery is solved as to why Michael’s brother was killed. Intriguing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Carmela wants to save her father. Michael has always wanted Carmela. So Michael make a deal with Carmela, she is his forever and Michael will let her father go. Sounds like a simple story, but wait Carmela’s ex is not going to go along with that. The amount of stuff that happens to Carmela and Michael to get a happily ever after is astonishing. This book is what I would characterize as a romantic suspense. It kept me on my toes and I loved the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Vanessa Waltz did an amazing job writing Taken! It keeps you at the edge of your seat the entire time. Michael and Carmela are explosive. She can hold her own even with everything she has been through in the past. Michael needs a mom for his kids and finds Carmela the perfect fit. Neither expected to fall in love. Definitely recommend this book!
This series is intense. Carmela’s backstory is disturbing, but she shows great courage, strength and determination, despite the cards she’s been dealt. Michael, well he is an awesome dad, but his mob boss side is very cold and scary. However, he has a good heart that Carmela will bring out. There are some very intense moments, and lots of action. You will not be able to put this book down once you start reading, its so good.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love a mafia romance.
Carmela was arranged to marry Alessio in “Arranged” but he didn’t want Carmela he wanted her sister Mia but when Carmela went “missing” it was the perfect opportunity to go for the sister.
Michael forced Carmela to marry him in order to save her father. When Nick (Crash) found out that Carmela was married to Michael he flipped his lid because she belonged to him.
This was such a great read. Not as dark as you would expect, but it may be to others as there is some bloodshed.
I volunteered to read an advance reader copy.
Hostages
I absolutely love it when the hero falls to his knees for the heroine! There’s violence and villains, families and love. Boundaries are tested. How far are you willing to go for someone you love? This intense but steamy story is a must read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Deal with the Devil
Carmela sneaks into Michael’s house where his daughter’s birthday is being held. She’s trying to get him to release her father, but he negotiates a deal that she can’t refuse She has to marry him to look after his kids and he will release her father….oh and he wants to know where her sister and Alessio are
Now she finds herself married to the man himself and her past is trying to come back and knock her back a peg and she finds herself slowly falling in love with Michael’s kids and himI loved this story as it’s exactly what I expect when I read a Mafia/MC story – it has violence, suspense, action and sometimes “pulling out your hair” characters I was a little frustrated with Carmela for a few minutes but I got over it…luckily
I received an advanced copy via Booksprout and I voluntarily leave my honest review and I hope we get Anthony’s book next, as I need to know what happens next
A wonderfully steady-paced dark mafia romance. The characters are perfect for each other and go through quite a lot in this book that is packed full of drama, suspense and romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved this book, Michael is hardcore Mafia, Carmela is a ravishing beautiful woman. Michael hates her family for killing his brother and Carmela will be payback for the anger he harbors against her and her family. He will take her as his wife, he needs someone to take care of his two small children, only it backfires on him when she turns out to be the perfect sweet mother figure he needs for the children. I loved watching and waiting for this relationship to develop. When Carmela’s past comes back to haunt her it is definitely a page-turner. There’s also some hot raw sex going on between these.