Very entertaining! I only have one small criticism which is Mia was supposed to be a hard ass who hates her abusive father. I was very disappointed when she wouldn't let Nico take care of her problem then each time Dad called her in she would "think" how she wished she had help. She knew she couldn't protect herself when her Dad is surrounded by all his men just waiting to do his bidding. It was still very good and I'll read it again in the future. I can't wait for Luca's book! ( )

Link to full review below! Overall, a pretty good mafia story if you like your mafia men to be a bit more 'authentic'. See full review on The Book Disciple ( )

I always enjoy reading mafia books set in Vegas. They always make me think of the golden age of glitz and glamour that was the '60's . And apparently I'm not the only one. Nico loved that era, too and tried to live in it a little. I liked that although the world would see him as a bad Mafioso, who does nothing but commit crimes and brutalize people, he was actually a little more in the whitecollar crime business. He didn't hurt unless strictly needed. Mia, on the other hand, seemed ready to do anything to stay as far from the crimes of her mafia family. She was definitely her own person in her punk princess way. I can't really see them standing together and someone thinking that they made a perfect pair in sight alone, but deep down they were perfect for each other. Looking forward to more in this series, because Ms. Castille never writes anything but awesome stories with characters that you want to be friends with (and sometimes a lot more than just friends).

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. ( )

Nico by Sarah Castille
Ruin and Revenge #1

Hot alpha males abound in this book and each one deserves to have his story told! I applaud Ms Castille for creating a book that does not make the Mafia a nice place but a place that some call home and why they might do so.

In some ways Mia Cardano and Nico Toscani have a bit of the Romeo and Juliet going on for them since they are from feuding (Mafia crime) families and even have a blood feud going on BUT in other ways the two are so much stronger than Shakespeare’s hero and heroine and their story a whole lot darker. Neither have had an easy life and both have expectations put on them by their families that do not go along with their own. They walk a tightrope that should a misstep be made while crossing could be the end of them.

Mia is smart, strong, savvy, sensual and a handful unwilling to be the “Mafia Princess” or even pretend to play the part – she pays for that. Nico has a crew that he trusts and is high up in the Toscani family BUT with his father dead and others in the family holding the power-seat he believes he should be in things are a bit dicey from time to time.

Set in Las Vegas with more than one Mafia family wanting to be the only player there is a lot going on. This first book sets things up for the power plays that will no doubt occur in the future books of the series and also provides a HEA for Nico and Mia.

I loved this book, look forward to reading the next in the series and would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. This is my honest review.

5 Stars ( )

A great new series by Sarah Castille.
A complex Mafia story involving the Cardano family and the Toscani's.
Mia Cordano is working hard with her computer security business, she likes to dress like a punk rocker, her clothes are very badass and so is her attitude, but for all this she still is a Mafia princess and her father, Don Cordano, a evil man who will use his daughter to get what he wants, even violence, has made a deal with Don Toscani promising Mia will marry his son Tony. She refuses.
She hates Tony but has met Nico Toscani before, a bastard son from the first Toscani, when she worked on security in his casino, she goes to him for help and makes him a proposition, they marry and later get an annulment. A first he refuses but later changes his mind, so they get married.
Mia never wanted to marry into mob but after a time she falls in love with Nico and a devastating secret she's been keeping threatens their fragile marriage.

There's plenty of thrills and suspense in this exciting Mafia/romance, and the chemistry between Nico and Mia is amazing. The story had a very well developed plot, the action was breath taking at times, it was a hard book to put down. I'm very much looking forward to the next Ruin & Revenge novel, and I highly recommend this book! ( )