Rallenti: A Mafia Romance (The Battaglia Mafia Series)

I really enjoyed this book, I haven’t read the main series and was just dipping my toes by picking up this side story. Now I’m curious to read more, this author can write her a** off. Wow!

Rallenti is a quick lighthearted read that nicely compliments the Battaglia Series. Sienna Mynx did a good job of creating a new storyline to coincide with the main books of the series. Although there are cameos from several characters in the previous Battaglia books, this novella is Kyra’s story. Kyra, a young woman of Nigerian descent, has hopes of becoming a shoe designer for Mirabella’s. She struggles with pursuing her dream against her family’s expectations of her. Kyra jumps at the chance to use Renaldo, an enforcer to the Battaglia clan, as her big break to move up at Mirabella’s. Fate would have it that Kyra and Renaldo end up helping each other in ways they never could have predicted.After reading other reviews of Rallenti, I realized that some readers were disappointed because they either did not like Kyra’s character or wanted to learn more about Renaldo story. I actually found both to be aspects that made the story work. For example, Kyra is twenty-three and was raised with a relatively traditional Nigerian family. Where her actions and decisions probably made some readers dislike her as the main character, Mynx stayed true to her description. She was carefree, naïve and fearless all the things that most people her age embody on their journey towards self-discovery. Mynx clearly shows the contrast in culture and upbringing between Kyra and Renaldo in a way that is engaging but also explains the attraction between the two characters. Although they are four years apart in age, their differences in lifestyles are a major part of what they find so intriguing about one another.I believe Sienna Mynx stated while talking about the Battaglia Series that the only couple she was invested in was Don Giovanni and Donna Mirabella. This explains why although this story gives the reader a glimpse into Renaldo’s world it is not his full story. There is still so much that is not shared about Renaldo’s family and background that if revealed may cause the reader to become more invested in him than the main characters of the series. In order to maintain the premise of the entire series, it could not be all about Renaldo. In my opinion, this is why this story works well as a novella and with Kyra being the main character. It gives the reader just enough details to act as an appetizer to wet their palate for the next main book in the series while at the same time entertaining enough to make the reader want more.

I just started reading this series this month and have been totally swept away... This story falls right before the last book, Amore. Understanding that this is a short story, there are obviously some elements that may be sacrificed, so some of the details are lost, but it doesn't take away from the story as a whole. I liked the characters. Yes, the heroine is kind of flaky at times, but I think this is part of her 'artsy' persona? I know I can be the same way sometimes...There were some parts that threw me, like when she head back to the hotel, I had a wtf moment. I think it was jarring because it didn't fit my idea of the progression of the story, it felt like, 'they need to hook up fast, we're running out of story' but when I thought about it, it was consistent with the heroine's impetuous nature, and of course Renaldo is the exact opposite, not taking actions/risks that could benefit him personally. So I actually ended up liking that part. I liked learning about Renaldo. I loved the concept of 'Rallenti' super hot! Something new added to the love scenes. I really admire the way Ms. Mynx is able to give all the men in the series their own individual sexual style, keeps things interesting...I will read this again, as I will the whole series. I know I was so obsessed with seeing what happened at the end that I didn't take time to enjoy the journey. I liked the opposites attract aspect of the relationship. This is a great quick read before concluding the series.

Spoiler Alert! This is an excellent installment in the Battaglia Mafia series. Renaldo Cracchiolo is a gorgeous tall, dark, handsome Sicilian who is drawn to a beautiful young Nigerian New Yorker, Kyra who is recently laid off by Mirabella Enterprises. The company is closing its New York Headquarters and headed for Paris & Milan. Kyra, a temp Receptionist and amateur shoe designer wants to follow the company abroad, especially when she meets Renaldo, a Mafia Bodyguard on assignment in New York to Catalina & Marietta Battaglia. He takes his role very seriously and refuses to allow himself to be distracted by beautiful women, with the exception being Kyra. The romance is sweet and works well with the Battaglia Mafia Series. It's actually a novella of the series, following Book 4: La Famiglia and preceding Book 5: Amore. Renaldo is a soldier first, and he is willing to sacrifice his own personal happiness for the sake of his pact to the brotherhood. But when Kyra's ex begins stalking her, Renaldo strikes back with a vengeance that could jeopardize his future with his new found love and his ties to the Battaglias. Kyra faces some hard learned lessons about love and career choices which will lead her down a dangerous path. Ultimately, she will be led to the heart of the Battaglias, and receive the opportunity of a lifetime, to join with her idol, the fierce African American Designer, Mafia Donna Mirabella Battaglia and find a way to be with the love of her life, Renaldo. Bravo!

I wanted more, no, I needed more of this storyline, but I suppose Sienna Mynx know's how to wet an appetite to get you to buy into this Sicilian mafia series and she knew how to infused a juicy preliminary short story Rallenti (slow down) to use, which I have bought into, well and truly. I'm really not one to like foreign accent, but I am intrigued and I have been enticed to start buying up this whole sequel to read, as Sienna Mynx has suckered me into with this introduction of this prelude to the series. This is not my first time reading a book by this author and Sienna Mynx is one of my favourite authors, her writing skills are very much, top notch! And reading this book has proven to me how skilled she is at her art, as she has teased my imagination into wanting more information about the Battaglia mafia storyline. If you want more info on this book, get it! It is free! Read for yourself, I most certainly recommend this book.

I loved this book my first from this author I was interested to find out more and was pleasantly surprised at how fun and easy this book was to read I always just thought names would be hard to pronounce ect and kept away why I don't know because I really enjoyed this book and this won't be my last I will happily pay for this author again and would recommend others also to read her work 🔥👌🏼Well paced and good story line some parts were very steamy bringing it all to life 😜

Absolutely loved learning more about Renaldo. This was a good short novella introducing us to new characters that I hope Will be featured in future books

This novella is worth the read and is an insight into the relationship between Renaldo and Kyra, so it just brought their characters to life for me. I would love to read a novella about Carlo and Shea, so if you can Sienna write a beautiful story on them I'm sure I'm not the only one who would love it, and recommend this brilliant series to all!!!

Love the book how it comes together. Very seductive the male character is and deadly. Well written and gripping. Characters are good