Series: Chicago Mob #1
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Also by this author: Mobster's Bones (Mobster's Series Book 5)
Goodreads
If you have read the Mobster Series, you will definitely recognize the characters. The setting is La Bella Regale Casino in the heart of Chicago.
Carlo Caruso runs the family businesses. The son of mob boss Ennio Caruso, Carlo knows his place and he is up to the challenge of taking care of both the casino business and the not-quite-legal “other” business, all without drawing unwanted attention from the authorities. But when a group of cult extremists, headed by a guy who calls himself Priest, decides to target his family’s casino as a den of sin while attempting to recruit for their cause, Carlo may be in for a challenge he has never been trained for.
Anya was born inside the walls of a cult and has never known anything different. Anya’s beauty has always stirred the wrong kind of attention from the leader and then, when he was gone, his son. Anya has had a complicated and volatile relationship with Priest since she was a little girl toddling around in the religious commune. She knows she deserves better but has no idea how to go about getting it.
Can Carlo and Anya overcome their upbringing and find love?
“I can’t change it. Sometimes you just have to live with it.” ~Anya, Mobster’s Gamble
Mobster’s Gamble
Amy Rachiele
Mobster’s Gamble is so much more than just another mafia book. What really kept me reading this book was Anya and her struggle with the cult. Her story was so emotionally gripping! Her reactions were difficult to read, but ultimately felt believable for someone in her situation. However, the story itself moved WAY too fast. Anya jumps into bed with Carlo so fast and then they are in love and you’re kind of like “Wait! You just left a cult where you were sexually, physically, and emotionally abused for your entire life.”. It just sort of killed what started off as a really believable experience. I thought Carlo wasn’t really explained either. So much time is spent of Anya (which was GREAT) but then so little time is spent exploring Carlo. It made him a very static character which made the relationship between the two even more difficult for me to get behind. So, why 3 stars? The idea of this book is solid and I think it had potential if it were fleshed out more. I have enjoyed Amy’s other Mobster books as well!
- POV: Dual
- Tears: no
- Trope: Mafia/Mob, Damsel in Distress
- Triggers: sexual, physical and emotional abuse
- Cliffhanger: No
- HEA: View Spoiler »
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Elite by Rachel Van Dyken, Nero by Sarah Brianne, Crows Row by Julie Hockley…then you will probably like Mobster’s Gamble
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