Emilia-All I’ve ever wanted was to marry for love.But girls like me don’t have that luxury.We are used as pawns in a game we can’t control.The game? It’s called Mafia. I was foolish enough to try to change the rules? and I lost.Luca-She was promised to me years ago.And he dared to take her from me.Dared to touch what was mine.I put an end to that.I hope he’s enjoying the view from his dirt … room.Emilia-My beloved’s killer placed a ruby ring on my finger and called me his queen. But that red gem symbolizes something different for me. It represents the blood shed by those I love most.Hell was empty the day we wed.Because the devil was standing before me and said “I do.”Luca-I saw her as a possession.A shiny toy I didn’t want other boys to play with.But she’s so much more.Beautiful and brave and strong and broken all at once.She tastes like everything I’ve ever wanted.Emilia-Hidden and patient.I wait for the perfect time to seek my revenge.But slowly, I feel him possessing me.His heart is full of darkness? and I still want every inch of him.Hard as I try, I can’t escape loving this beautiful monster.Luca-I’m waiting patiently because I already know that she’s mine.Mine in a way that no one will ever understand.Even if she hasn’t yet realized it.For love, I’d do anything. For her, I’d do everything.
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I absolutely loved the blurb for Waiting for My Queen by Georgia Cates and was excited to read it. A mafia arranged marriage story that was an enemies to lovers romance with a hero who knows what he wants and is determined to get it at any cost and a heroine who might just bring him to his knees. Luca is not a good man. He is cocky, does as he pleases and is one very determined man. No is not a word he knows. Emilia was raised to firmly know her place, but the heart wants what it wants. When that is taken from her, revenge is all she seeks. But Luca and Emilia may have always been destined to be together, despite what they truly feel for the other.
This was not a sweet romance, but some things can’t be ignored. Luca is determined to own Emilia and Emilia is determined to bring him down. But suddenly they find themselves wanting the impossible. Their chemistry is intense, but can they move forward after everything that has happened? A hot and steamy battle of wills that will keep you engaged from start to finish!
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
3.5 Stars for this mafia bad boy.
Luca Rossini has out-waited his patience for his betrothed to become of age and now that the time has come, her plans involve marrying someone else.
Emilia Bellini is beautiful, petite and has fallen in love with the wrong man. Her betrayal to the Rossini family lands her in an unsettling predicament.
An arrange marriage built on revenge and pride and ends with a smoldering hot HEA! What a start to a wonderful story. This book quickly jumps from hate to love in the blink of an eye. I have been a fan of Georgia’s writing in the past, but this story concentrates too much on Luca’s dishonesty and I wanted a little more defiance out of Emilia. I’m glad I waited it out and saw it through because the end of this book answered my prayers and I was so happy to get to all the action I’d been looking forward to. I would’ve prayed for that action to have continued throughout the whole book.
Waiting For My Queen was an emotionally captivating read from start to finish. Luca and Emilia’s angsty, raw, and passionate love story kept me on my toes with my Kindle clenched tightly in my hand. With every fiery glance, barbed exchange, or soul searing kiss I was pulled deeper into their story as what grew between them slowly evolved into something neither expected. Luca was the perfect antihero and I loved that Emilia matched him step for step with her resilience and fiery nature. I couldn’t get enough of this complicated, sexy, and angsty slowburn and hope that this is not the last I’ve seen of the Rossini/ Belinni families.
Georgia Cates. Mafia romance.
The two are almost one in the same. You cant talk about mafia romance without talking about Georgia Cates.
Emilia and Luca’s story is fast paced, angsty, emotional, raw and .. Well. HOT.
Taking you through so many twists and turns, set in the 70s – you almost forget the ‘different’ world of the past. And the playlist is TO. DIE. FOR.
Luca is .. Well. A handful. He’s got his vices and you really want to smack him. Multiple times. But there’s just something about him that has you secretly rooting for this guy. And you want things to work out with his Emilia. Who is also a handful. Strong and smart, she captivated our dark hero from the very beginning.
I loved this book. My only complaint was that it ended far too quickly. There ARE some subjects that may be triggers for some readers. But if you’re like me, love mafia romance and other authors in this genre – You will NOT be disappointed.
I highly recommend this book..And all of other Georgia Cates’ books. Her writing draws you in and keeps you riveted to your ereader from beginning to end.
Luca is the man you love to hate. He is arrogant but you can’t stay away. Emilia is a fighter against her destiny and birthright. She is just as determined not to marry Luca. Problem is, she’s already his and there is nothing she can do about it. Sparks fly between this couple and the scenes are steamy hot. A great mafia read.
I’ve enjoyed reading other Georgia Cates romances and was very much looking forward to Waiting for My Queen. The writing definitely kept me reading but after finishing GC’s latest, I’m not sure what I’m feeling about Luca. There’s definitely a chemistry between Luca and Emilia. I’m thinking I need to immediately reread this dark mafia romance.
Emilia and Luca are a fiery tornado ready to tear through your heart and leave you baffled by how you got here. It’s a mafia, arranged marriage, enemies-to-lovers story filled with hate and love entwined in a delicious pattern that will have you ping-ponging back and forth about how you feel. It’s also set in the 70’s which gives it an interesting vibe – there are neat little tidbits about clubs and music, but the time setting is also subtly woven into the attitudes of the characters and their reality.
Cates has sculpted a beautiful landscape and filled it with characters that grab your attention. Luca was such a conundrum – at first he horrified me. Gradually I started liking him, but I held onto reservations that were slowly chipped away. His redemption is earned, not given.
Emilia finds herself in an impossible, devastating position. She does not flounder or break – she fills herself with steely determination and approaches it with a strategic resolve that left me with no doubts about strength of her character. While she is just as ruthless as the men around her, she is not heartless and has compassion for other people – even the man who stole her away from the life she wanted.
Engaging in a battle of wills, Emilia and Luca are quite the experience. The progression of their relationship was not linear – they see-saw back and forth as they wrestle with their feelings and work out the kinks in their relationship. Once they work out their dynamic, they make an incredible team. There is no forced drama here – they are smart, sensible people who do what needs to be done to secure their future and happiness together.
I have always been a fan of the Mafia romances. This one said it was dark but I didn’t find it dark in comparison to others I’ve read. Ms. Cates does an incredible job with the main characters of Luca and Emilia. They come from opposing crime families and they were betrothed at an extremely early time in their lives.there are obstacles Luca must overcome to claim his wife. She feels nothing but hate for him. Thank you Georgia for guiding me through the progress of this relationship it was quite a ride. I loved watching Emilia go from hating Luca to loving him and him also falling in love with her which he felt would show as a weakness on his part. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
3.5 stars
Waiting For My Queen is a dark mafia romance by Georgia Cates. It is an arranged marriage, enemies-to-lovers, standalone romance. It has betrayal, action, angst, drama, revenge, and sizzling hot chemistry.
Their relationship is complicated. Luca and Emilia are promised to one another in an arranged marriage to unite two powerful families. This is not what Emilia wants, she dances to the beat of her own drum. She has ideals of marrying for love but if Luca has anything to say about it, that will never happen. Luca is an alpha-hole bad guy, not to be messed with. He gets what he wants at all costs. When Luca finds out about Emilia’s plans, he sets things into motion to make sure their union happens. He is determined to make Emilia his and have her fall in love with him. Emilia is determined to make Luca pay for what he’s done. Bring on the love/hate relationship. This kept the storyline entertaining with witty banter that was never lacking heat and sparks!
This book was a good read. It isn’t as dark as some mafia romances get but that was refreshing for me. I enjoyed the push/pull, banter, and high level of steam. It has a good plot and interesting characters. You will probably hate to love Luca but he has redeemable qualities, in my opinion. Emilia was strong yet not afraid to be vulnerable and had a sassy mouth. The book started off with a bang and kept my interest until the end. I would recommend reading it if you like mafia romances and strong alpha heroes.
****ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.****
Waiting for my Queen kept me up reading into the wee hours of the morning. Mafia/arranged marriages have been my thing here lately. I really liked Emilia and Luca’s story. Their story was a little different that what I’m used to you. It’s set in the 70’s which is different and I loved it. This is a fast paced, hot read with characters that I ended up loving in the end. I highly recommend this book.
Happy Reading Everyone!!!
So what happens when your marriage is decided for you at a young age? Oh, did I mention that they were born into a Mafia family and the marriage was designed to bring together the top two Mafia families? However, when one party objects to the pre-arrangement and the second party objects to the first party, it makes for one helluva story. Georgia Cates delivers on one part by building up angst but I was hoping and expecting more turmoil.
~~ 4 CRAZY FOR KING LUCA STARS! ~~
“I finally have her. And I’ll burn the world down to keep her.”
The arranged marriage mafia trope is my KRYPTONITE so when I discovered that Georgia Cates was penning a revenge to lovers mobster tale, my heart skipped a beat. And holy moly did WAITING FOR MY QUEEN sweep me off my feet!
PREMISE:
From the time that Emilia Belinni was a wee baby she was promised to be Luca Rossini’s bride. This arrangement was forged two decades earlier, in order join their two powerful crime families, and was set in stone. Problem was, this mafia princess has already given her heart to her childhood best friend, Nicolò. But her foolish proclamations of love for the son of a lowly soldier are of little consequence to Luca. And when she turns 21, he is determined that this marital agreement be honored AT ALL COSTS.
And what a hefty price it is!
After a bloodbath ensues, this ruthless mafia king forcibly stakes his claim on his queen and wedding plans are set in motion. But Emilia is hardly a gushing bride-to-be and angrily vows to exact cold blooded revenge on her betrothed. But as much as she hates this big, dark, forbidding man, unbridled passion explodes between them and she glimpses an underlying tenderness in Luca that ever so slowly thaws her icy veneer. And once their wedding vows are exchanged she finds her traitorous heart ripped in two, torn between forbidden desires and her sworn vengeance. Can she truly be falling for this cruel-hearted mobster who her family’s bent on destroying?
MY MUSINGS:
WAITING FOR MY QUEEN captivated me from the first page to the last! I just love enemies to lovers mafia stories…there’s just something about them. The age-old family legacies. The violence. The angst. The vitriol. The simmering sexual tension. The fiery hatred/obsessive, all-consuming love. This book had all that and then some!
While this tale starts with a bang, overall this novel is not dark and gritty compared to many others in the same genre. And in fact, and there is an underlying sweetness to this love story that caught me a bit off guard. But in hindsight, I feel that this approach is refreshingly different and the right one for these characters. And YOWZA! To say that this couple has combustible chemistry is an understatement! I couldn’t get enough of the rapid-fire banter between Luca and Emilia, and love how these two walk a thrilling tightrope between love and venom, passion and pathos.
“His heart is full of darkness, and I hate myself for still wanting every inch of him.”
As their romance evolves, I was GLUED to my Kindle. Completely riveted by every fiery barb they hurled one another’s way. Every blistering look they exchanged. Every soul burning kiss they breathlessly melted into. Gah these two just OWNED me! But can the sins of the past be so easily forgiven? And will the promises forged in blood lead to happily ever after…or will the cruel hands of fate intervene once again?
As far as antiheroes go, Luca is surely a WICKEDLY DELICICIOUS ALPHAHOLE who you love to hate! Yet in all honesty, despite the author’s warning that we might loathe Luca, I never could bring myself to fully revile the guy. I mean, sure, this formidable baddie mobster did some despicable things in order to ensure that he got what was owed to him, and would do whatever it took to bend his beautifully bewitching bride to be to his will, but as it turns out, she’s the one who ultimately brought him to his knees.
Sighhhh…there was just something about Luca that MESMERIZED me. He emanated such power and dark dominance and raw primal sex appeal yet beneath his brutish exterior his heart beat for only one woman. Emilia. His QUEEN. A precious jewel he would do anything to possess and protect! I adored his jealous and possessive streak but at the same time he was NOT infallible and had some definite vices that painted this mafia king in intriguing shades of gray. But can he prove that he is capable of true redemption worthy of his queen’s love?
And I absolutely adored this heroine! “Beautiful and brave and strong and broken all at once,” Emilia enchanted me from the get-go. There were many complex layers to this fiery, fiercely resilient prima ballerina who was destined to wed a man she did not love. But being born into a family like hers, allegiances were made decades earlier that mapped out this good Catholic girl’s life. Allegiances that if severed would result in dire consequences. And that’s just what befalls her when she dares to rebel! And in the wake of a devastating massacre that shatters her entire world, this mafia princess finds herself bracing for a future that is out of her control but she is hardly willing to be a sacrificial lamb. On the CONTRARY, she sets out to avenge the atrocities that have befallen her and her family.
“Becoming his wife means that I’ll be going to war. And my marriage will be the battlefield.”
But then to her shock and dismay, she develops feelings for this deplorable monster who she’s sworn to destroy. Luca might be able to conquer her body, but can she ever truly surrender her heart and soul to him?
All in all, this is a very entertaining, sensual and fast paced read. Georgia Cates’ writing is exquisite, the character development top notch, the passionate interludes electrifying, and the story craftsmanship stellar. Admittedly, there were a few areas in the plot that I thought were underdeveloped and there were definitely some missed opportunities to infuse the story with more dark suspense, dramatic urgency and pulse-pounding excitement. Yet, ultimately, I was completely and utterly transfixed by Luca and Emilia’s tempestuous love story.
BOTTOM LINE:
WAITING FOR MY QUEEN is a spellbinding Mafiasco tale about sin and redemption, tradition and sacrifice, and a timeless love that stands the test of time!
Luca my strong over the top Alpha
I know a lot of people will think Luca is a horrible man. But in my mind he is a hot alpha who is claiming what was promises to him. Yes I know he did some horrible things to obtain what was promised to him, but I still love him. Love his over the top alpha tendencies. Emilia, man I love her so much she’s such a firecracker and she doesn’t let Luca over power her strong will, and I love how she will stand up to anyone when needed.
I really loved all the characters in the book, I really hope we get more books from these characters. I really would like a book about Gemma and Stephan. And see what will happened to the offsprings possible a book about them too …
Waiting for my Queen
by Georgia Cates is a unique spin on a mafia romance and it’s set in the 70’s. I’m a HUGE fan of mafia romances and was so excited to read one from Ms Cates! She is such a fantastic storyteller. And her characters are definitely one of a kind!
I was immediately drawn into this dark, mafia romance of Emilia and Luca. I had to know how I was going to learn to like the anti-hero, Luca? At first I didn’t like him, but damn if that man didn’t grow on me and find his way into my heart. He’s definitely not the typical Georgia Cates hero.
I ADORED Emilia! She’s so strong, and sassy. She’s determined and the perfect counter part for Luca.
Georgia Cates gave us a 5 star dark mafia romance that I devoured and couldn’t get enough of. If you enjoy mafia romances this one is a must read!
I always enjoy Georgia Cates books. Waiting for my Queen was no exception. Mafia themed with a man you want to hate but love. The story between Luca and Emilia is one you won’t want to miss! Great steamy dark romance!
I can’t believe I’m even saying this given the events at the beginning of Waiting for my Queen, but I feel like MC Luca could have been meaner. There, I said it. He starts off as a horrible alpha-hole that seems like he is beyond redemption, which in all honestly is my favorite type of MC. However he quickly goes from horrible to redeemable. I guess what I’m trying to say is I wanted more conflict between him and the FMC, Emilia. They both started off great and as the perfect enemies to lovers couple. I would have preferred if they had made up/fallen in love towards the end of the book. I did appreciate the unique setting of the late 1970s and all of the musical references from that time period, that was a nice change of pace. This was my first Georgia Cates book and I’ll definitely read more of her books in the future!
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
This is a great mafia romance.
This is the story of Luca Rossini & Emilia Bellini. Total action from the beginning of this story. Two mafia families, Luca and Emilia betrothed to one another since they were small children. They are to be wed and create the heir to the Rossini family. Emilia loves another. Then tragedy hits on her wedding day. Her betrothed is responsible. Can you ever forgive someone that caused this kind of grief? Emilia is all about revenge. Will that change as time goes by? Luca and Emilia are wed. She is also pregnant. Each are determined to have the other fall in love with them. Emilia calls Luca a monster. She does everything in her power to degrade him. There are misunderstandings between them both in this story. It’s a slow burn between the two of them. It is a well written book. Can’t wait for another book from Georgia Cates. I love her work.
Emilia wanted to be loved but being who she is she wasn’t supposed to get that she tried and Luca took it from her now she is his and she wants to hate him she wants to get her revenge but slowly she is falling for him and realizes he has loved her , possessed her and owns her in the most erotic and amazing ways
Cates takes us back to the 1970’s Chicago Mafia families where a promise of marriage between two Italian families only can mean marriage. When Luca takes out Emilia family’s male line and the man she loves to keep the promise of marriage to her, revenge is all she wants. Luca takes Emilia to be his and works to build a relationship that was born in blood. The push and pull between these two strong characters as they learn to navigate their relationship is what propels the story forward. I hope to see more of different families from this time frame from the Cates in the future.
What a storyline! I really didn’t know what to expect from this book, especially after the warning the author gave us, but I really got into it and couldn’t put it down! Emilia has been betrothed to Luca since birth, but never really sees him and therefore falls in love with another. When her father tries to do the right thing and buy her out of the contract, he is relived when Luca accepts, although angry about it. Plotting, Luca does the unthinkable on Emilia’s wedding day, and the original contract goes back into play. While Emilia starts out her relationship to Luca solely out of revenge, the lines get blurred the more they get to know about each other and where Luca was originally the bad guy, we see him start to experience remorse and be more thoughtful. The drama and action in this story was wild and I was on the edge of my seat reading to see what happened next. I can’t wait to see if we get another book following either siblings because I would love to see it continue on!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.