3.5*

Book Rating:

i am begging cora to end luca’s storyline ... i’m so tired of this man

Meh. Don't love it. Don't hate it.
I really wish Amo had more development. She's super into family, but as a reader, I know nothing about her family. Except Amo used to play video games. Daddy is ruthless. Mommy is soft.
Very surface level.

0.5 stars.

Just wanted to say before you start reading this (for whatever reason) that these are MY opinions and it’s completely fine if you disagree with them, just don’t go on hating on me because of that.
Honestly speaking, I started reading this with an open mind and with low expectations after some messes in this Mafiaverse. I really, really tried liking Marcella and Maddox and tried sympathizing with them but the one word I have to describe this whole experience is: annoying.
Marcella is CONSTANTLY annoying and saying things like “I’m not vain, I’m not a spoiled princess” blablabla and then proceeds to worry more about how nice the teeth of the person who’s kidnapped are than about the fact they kidnapped her??? And her worrying more about Maddox smoking in the room than about other stuff in that moment?
I found it weird how Marcella was trying to ‘seduce’ and ‘manipulate’ Maddox into doing what she wanted but she couldn’t even use the word for oral sex. Not to mention the moment when someone CUT a piece her ear off and she was more worried about being ugly and about what other people would say than about the fact she LOST A PIECE OF HER EAR?????
Maddox was pretty inconsistent too. Out of nowhere he decided to change his whole perception on life and give up on his revenge, one he was working on for YEARS, for a girl who he knew was trying to manipulate him. I understand he was in love but it happened way too fast.
Even Luca did something weird; trusting Maddox with a motorcycle just because Marcella asked him too. It was kind of out of character for him, in my opinion.
Overall, AMO WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE BOOK I ABSOLUTELY LOVED HIM AND CAN’T WAIT FOR HIS BOOK.

Damn this book changed my way of looking at MC clubs thats for sure.
I was hooked from the start and damn i definitely approved with Marci's feelings for Mad cause DAMN Cora you wrote him well.
Definitely had a few moments during Marci's "Stay" where I really worried what was going to happen next and this book certainly had me by the lady nadz with all the chaos. But god it was good!

Definitely need more MC&Mafia combinations because Hell Yes!!!

2.5/5

I did not care for this story or the couple, it was alright I guess... I am going to skip over to Amo's book

*3.75*
Honestly, hard to rate. This felt like the darkest romance in this world and that’s saying something. I honestly was shocked that it went places it went. I was completely hooked and screamed quite a bit there at the end. But upon reflection, the relationship just wasn’t as easy to buy into as her others and I felt like some of Maddox’s actions seemed really inauthentic. I’ll read part 2 soon, but honestly wish part 2 didn’t exist.

I was really nervous to read this book because of the plot but my curiosity won the battle and I just ended reading it all at once (as I did with all Cora's books). I didn't have big expectations and here it goes my review (a VERY long review):
Firstly, for me, the best part of the book is Marcella's personality. I love that she isn't just a stereotyped bad girl or just a spoiled and futile princess; she has dreams, ambitions and is very smart and strong and the depth of her character is very crucial. In contrast, I felt like Maddox didn't had the same construction and his character was much more superficial, specially because his only and one thought was Luca.
Honestly, I really hate the kidnapping plot in general and in this book it was no different. It was hard to read the scenes of Marcella being humiliated and hurt by the MC and I was so scared for what else they would do. My heart was pounding in the part where Earl cut her ear. The "salvation" (with much necessary quotation marks) was the fact that Maddox never wanted to hurt Marcella in any way, but YET she got hurt both physically and mentally and he waited forever to realise that his MC was rotten to the core and Marcella was in danger with them.
Another thing that bothered me was the way their relationship was developed. I felt like the lines between "He/she is the enemy, I'm gonna seduce her for advantage" and "I love you and would die for you" were very abrupt and there were lots of terrible moments (like the way she lost part of the ear one night and was having sex with Maddox like nothing was wrong in the next morning). I really hope this changes in the next book.
Last but not least, I need to talk about the Vitiellos. Even with not many scenes, we can see how deeply they care about each other and the faith Marcella had in her father was amazing. I was glad to see Luca being such a good father and actually letting Marcella gets involved with the Famiglia business (another thing I want to be more explored). And let's talk about the way Amo was ready to give his position of next capo to his sister even if he was prepared for it his whole life (their relation is everything). I'm ready to see the Vitiello siblings prosper and rule New York fully (and if course, seeing Amo all grown up made me more anxious for his and Greta's book).
In general, it was a okay reading with ups and downs and nothing more. Let's wait for part II.