Crown of Blood - Jennifer Smith

This story launches straight into the action and maintains that energy from beginning to end. Even with the quick pacing, the plot stays solid and fully developed, making it impossible to put down.

Dante is a ruthless mob boss, but something about Isabella gets under his skin instantly. He goes from zero to one hundred with her — in feelings, in protectiveness, in sheer intensity. Watching him wrestle with those emotions, fighting the pull even as he gives in to it, was fascinating.

Isabella feels that spark too, and she’s just as stubborn about trying to resist it. But her relationship with his daughter melted me. The way she cares for her with such immediate tenderness makes their connection even sweeter and adds a beautiful softness to the story.

Honestly, I don’t know what hit my heart harder — Dante with Isabella or Dante with his daughter. They’re two completely different relationships, yet his devotion in both is so deep, so fierce, it’s hard to put into words.

I was here for all of it: the drama, the humor, the moments of doubt, the danger, the emotional hits. This story delivers everything you want in a great mafia romance — intensity, heart, and a love story that burns.

I received an ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

But what we had - what I thought was love - doesn't touch what I feel for you.