Wilted Orchid: A Dark Mafia Romance

I loved the storyline and characters and there growth throughout the book, especially Sal. I am however a bit disappointed by not having more about what happened to Marco. He was in it from the start and throughout the book, yet we didn't see much of what actually happened in the warehouse. It would have been nice to have Sal's and Armani's POV on that and maybe a bit more action from it. It felt a bit flat when it was skipped and just said later on 'they are dead' . But it was a good read and would recommend.

This book follows Valentina Rossi, Mafia princess of the La Cosa Rosta. Valentina was the completely sheltered daughter, her innocence and naivety to her father and brothers was quickly ended when The Don of The Outfit claims his part of the treaty. Salvage Morretti is the Don and his hatred for the Rossi family is fierce.It took me a while to warm up to Sal but my love for the brooding guys won out.I really love that each relationship goes at its own pace, there aren’t as many spice scenes as the previous books but the ones that are included definitely turn up the heat.I love a reverse harem with twins so I was instantly excited for Armani and Fausto. I love the differences in their characters personalities and the comparison between them and Salvatore. Although these can be read as a standalone the Easter eggs along the way, the overlapping characters and just the threads weaved between them make these a perfect binge read. They’ve allowed me to stay in the safety of a world I love but try out new authors too.

Stars given on level of engagement;5 stars - less than a day to read because I cannot put it down. I only give 5 stars if it has managed to engage extra emotions from me - extreme lol moments or real teary moments etc. A 5 stars book tends to have me raging about cliff hangers and (legally and not creepily) stalking the author for release dates.4 stars - 2 days to read or less. A book that I have quite enjoyed reading, feisty MC and some racy scenes with thier romantic interest. I would definitely follow a series and author for 4 star books.3 stars - takes around 2/3 days to read, usually because I have become distracted and less engaged in some sections but by the end the end I have enjoyed the overall story and would read any sequels.1/2 stars not given, as I have usually returned it without finishing as I'm not engaged. .

Another book in the shared Mafia Wars wold. I really enjoyed this book. It was another great story with a strong FMC and three guys who make her their queen.Unlike the previous girls who fall victim to the Mafia Wars. The other girls where told about their fate by their family, whereas, Valentina is completely thrown in the deep end head first. She is suddenly taken from the life knows and thrust into an arrangement she didn’t not ask for.The difference with Valentina’s story is that she actually gets the chance to fall in love with her guys - Salvatore, Armani & Fausto - before she is married. I like this change as is was a different perspective and look on things.Armani & Fausto are twins who instantly have an attraction towards Valentina. Things heat up pretty quickly between the three. However, on the other hand Salvatore’s affection for Valentina is somewhat slower. He’s closed off in the begging but as the events unfold he starts to open his heart back up to the possibility of love. When I say he opens up I mean Valentina worms her way into his once darkened heart. It was nice to see how they all developed and came together in the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed Valentinas journey and wish I could have had more. It was different from any of the other Mafia wars books so far and I couldn’t put it down. It was great to see the small appearances from the other books and see how the books intertwine. Valentina was so sweet and I loved her innocence but also her fire. The twins were hot 🔥but I wish we could have had a bit more of Sals journey with Val. However it was still another amazing book to the series and just shows the talents of the author as I was hooked from the start!

I really enjoyed Wilted Orchid. Valentina is barely 18 and has grown up extremely sheltered from the Mafia world. She has lived alone since her mother died and barely has much of a life apart from going to school. She's kidnapped by the Morettis from school on her 18th Birthday and is thrusted into the Mafia world to fulfil the pact that her Dad entered into 10 years previous.The Rossi family and the Moretti family have hated each other for years so it was always going to be interesting when Valentina was to be sent to be married to them.I instantly loved the twins and their relationship with Val. They were lovable and very attentive. They also helped open her eyes to new experiences and pleasures.Sal was complicated and seeing what he went through 6 months prior helped me have some compassion for his distance to Val, but at times he was awful.There are threats to Val from her ex and Sal's secrets. This is a great addition to the Mafia Wars series.

Meeting, living and breathing Valentina made this book for me. She was funny, awkward, self-conscious yet totally bada$$. What would otherwise be quite a heavy-hitting subject matter was made infinitely lighter with Valentina's internal monologue and satirical commentary. Well written, mature yet believably young as a lead female character.The “Irish triplets” were more predictable in their behaviour, but pleasantly entertaining to follow. The story didn't delve overly deep into their psyche, but it was made up for by focusing on Valentina's tribulations. All in all, a very enjoyable read.

That was a dark book.And although not my favourite in this series, it’s still a good book.The enemies/lovers genre is in evidence here. The eldest Moretti son is marrying the bitter enemy of his family. Hate flows through his veins. His brothers are more receptive to her, but they still treat her with distrust and contempt.The twist near the end had me almost throwing my kindle, and I think begging for forgiveness should have lasted longer.