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Underbelly Enchanted #1

The Tallest Tower

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I hate Felix Malone with all my heart and soul.

He’s the second born son of a murderous don.
The newest leader of the Malone mafia family now that his father is dead.
But if I could have hoped a change in management would mean a positive shift for the notorious crime family, then I’m proven wrong as Felix quickly settles into his new role and lays scourge on New York City.

He believes he’s not as bad as the man who came before him, purely because the women he beds survive the night.

But Felix is just a different kind of evil.
All smiles and jokes, drawing women in with his god-like body and trapping them with his roguish charm and fast wit.

But I’m the one woman this devil incarnate won’t woo.

He wants my attention.
I want his head on a spike
.

We’re not the same.
And locking me away in the tallest tower proves he cannot be redeemed.

Felix needs to be taught a lesson. And I’m the perfect woman to bring this beast to his knees.


The Tallest Tower is a sizzling hot, forced-proximity, reverse grumpy sunshine contemporary romance, and can be read as a complete standalone.

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 12, 2024

574 people are currently reading
703 people want to read

About the author

Emilia Finn

109 books1,555 followers
Emilia Finn is an Amazon Top 20 bestselling, Australia-based author with more than 55 books written and published to date.

She's a mom, a coffee addict, a collector of quirky coffee mugs, and before she had kids, she was a real-life full-contact fighter.

Her experience on the fight circuits helped her pen her first ever book—Finding Home—featuring a world champion MMA fighter Bobby Kincaid, and his leading lady and equal in every way, Kit Reilly. What was only supposed to be a once off experience instead turned into a career for Emilia, a thriving empire, and a daily grind she never wants to be rescued from.

Join Emilia's mailing list for exclusive material and new release alerts.

Website➜ https://www.emiliafinn.com

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5 stars
635 (61%)
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269 (26%)
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96 (9%)
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23 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
Profile Image for Luna  ♡.
663 reviews248 followers
September 19, 2024
»Do you want to fuck her, Lix? Rule with her? Or keep her from slitting your throat?«
»Why not all three?«

★ ★ ★

❥ 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆
I liked her but she felt flat sometimes. She is intelligent, ambitious and confident.

❥ 𝑭𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒙
He was kinda messy? I didn‘t really understand his character. Sometimes he was the badass mafia boss and then the cute little puppy.

✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
This was an okay read I think. I had my problems with the plot and the characters to be honest. Everything felt messy and without a clear red line. It‘s no typical dark mafia romance.
Christabelle and Felix were cute together but missed the moment they fell in love. The chemistry was not that good and the whole love story felt flat.
I kinda enjoyed the plot because it was interesting most of the time. The plot twist was unexpected and I was shocked. Sometimes I was confused cause Felix has a lot of family and all their names were mentioned on one page - they could have been introduced better.
Still the story was messy and without much depth. It was entertaining but nothing more.

𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
Maybe.

𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓
plot: 3/5
spice: 1/5
humor: 3/5
couple/tension: 3/5
world building: 4/5
happy end?: yes

𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬
possessive and protective hero, forced proximity, instant attraction, enemies to lovers, secrets and lies, journalist x mafia boss, rich heiress, kidnapping, traumatic past

𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲
ages: Christabelle (27) and Felix (34)
cheating: no
sharing: no
kinks: no
Profile Image for Monique Delaney.
266 reviews3 followers
January 27, 2024
Impressively good mafia romance

First things first:
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶/🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶(3/5)
Violence gore (3/5)
Medium burn 🔥
M/F
Interconnected Standalone (book 1 of a series)
Tropes: mafia, reporter/journalist, wealthy socialite, forced proximity, dominant/Protective guy, kidnapping

Premise in a nutshell: Billionaire socialite newspaper heiress decides to start headlining her newspaper with articles that center on the Malone crime family and the Don of the family needs her to stop spotlighting his brothers and move on. But his request for her to stop escalates to kidnapping when she turns out to be stubborn, smart and determined.

Thoughts: I'm going to keep it simple. I loved it. The writing style in this is beautifully done. I read over 400 books last year so suffice it to say after a while the really decent quality writing tends to shine amongst all the rough. This was good quality writing. Not just the writing style and tone, but the story line as well managed to be unique and interesting and not as predictable as normal. There was a freshness to it.

There is some triggering content, this is a mafia romance so it goes without saying it gets a little dark and gritty at times. The first couple chapters were a bit stunning to be honest. Seeing how the father treated his sons, employees, women and girls was graphic and horrific in a way I didn't expect. Be forewarned. If you want a list of triggers, you can scroll down, if you don't have triggers, it's best to go into this blind and let the story take you for a ride.

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Triggers

Rape/non consent of underage girls and women (graphic on page) (not between main female character and main male character)

Traumatic childbirth/hemorrhaging (graphic on page)

Murder of women and girls (graphic on page)

Child abuse both physical, mental and sexual (both on and off page)

Torture (on and off page)

Kidnapping/held without consent

General crimes associated with the mafia (drugs, weapons, trafficking)
Profile Image for Sandra R.
3,351 reviews47 followers
February 22, 2024
An intense and passionate insta lust to insta love romance. Unfortunately, I have no clue how or why the H/h actually fell for each other. One minute CC was Felix's prisoner and the next they were all over each other like a rash. I admit their romance and chemistry was off the charts and was excellent writing, but a step somewhere was missed. Their attraction didn't make practical sense to me. But - it is a fictional romance, and she gives readers that in spades.

Minka and co flying that huge distance off the cuff was unrealistic. Yes, I know it's dramatic and readers love those characters. Surely a ruthless, tough, rich, millionaire mafia don living in New York would have click of the finger access to his own private mob doctor? Instantly be in charge and take control asap? (Trying not to spoil.)

As the hero was raised within the mafia from birth, I thought his character didn't seem consistent. One minute marshmallow lover and fun loving brother, next minute ruthless torturer...

I would have loved him cold blooded throughout, as that would have made more sense for the character. I know readers wanted none of that though. This book has been much anticipated.

Also, typical lead characters for this author :- speech the same as previous H/h's, mannerisms the same, snappy Aussie banter the same. Even though they're supposed to be American. Previous H/h's as side characters. The twist near the end was unexpected. Not a fan at all, as it wrapped events up in a too neat bow.

I did enjoy reading this book and couldn't put it down, so I'll certainly pick up the next book. Hopefully that brother will be bad...? Lol.

(My final thought :- I wish the author had created only fictional cities and kept the country in which they are set anonymous for this fabulous 'Roller' world she's created. Keep the readers guessing.) 😍
Profile Image for Jennifer Leigh (jenjenbookfan).
1,411 reviews30 followers
January 12, 2024
The Tallest Tower is the first book in the new Underbelly Enchanted series by Emilia Finn, which features Felix Malone’s story. When an overzealous reporter, Christabelle Cannon seems determined to bring down the remaining Malones, Felix is forced to get creative in order to stop her from harming his brothers’ reputations. He just doesn’t count on feeling a connection with her. Will she be his chance at happiness, or will she be the key to his downfall?

If you’re a fan of Emilia Finn’s books like I am, you may have met Felix in the Mayet Justice series as the annoying Mafia boss brother of Detective Archer Malone. I was so excited to visit the darker underworld to peel back the layers on the enigma that is Felix! He’s such a complex character! One minute he’s all witty banter and innuendo, and the next he’s the ruthless mafia boss ready to kill in order to protect his family. He was born into a life he never wanted, but he will do whatever needs to be done to ensure his brothers are happy. He may be a villain by most people’s standards, but I couldn’t help but love him. The true villain is their father who’s actions were beyond description in their horror. This story was an exciting ride full of twists and turns, drama, angst, action, emotion, passion, and loyalty. As a fan of the Mayet Justice series, I loved seeing Minka, Archer, Cato, and Tim show up from Copeland City. However, plenty of context was provided that you can definitely enjoy this book as a standalone! I was so shocked by the direction this plot went at times! What an awesome book!! I can’t wait for the next one!!

I received an advanced review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶️

#NowLive #TheTallestTower #UnderbellyEnchanted #emiliafinn #Abduction #AlphaholeHero #Angsty #AntiHero #BadBoy #CaptiveRomance #DarkSecrets #enemiestolovers #ForcedProximity #GrumpySunshine #HatetoLove #JealousPossessive #Mafia #Protector
Profile Image for Maria (Ri).
5,144 reviews15 followers
February 4, 2024
Unexpected

I have read a lot of books from this author. Some I've liked more than others, but all wonderfully crafted. I hadn't even read the blurb of this book, just automatically downloaded it based on the author. Color me surprised, because this book was FANTASTIC. From the first page to the last, I was sucked into this story. I hadn't realized that it was going to be connected with Minka's story (which ironically was not my favorite of the books) which turned out to be a good thing because I would have likely pushed this book down on the TBR, since the original characters didn't have a hold on me like the Men of Checkmate series. Since I basically went in blind, the was more than just a pleasant surprise.

This was darker and had a different feel to it compared to other books from her. I've got to say, I really liked it darker. It added an authentic feel to a world (Mafia) that, in my opinion, NEEDS to be darker. Its always silly to me to have a tame Mafia romance. This author took it up a few levels, and I'm hear for it.

The suapense, the connection/chemistry/banter, and the twist that ties everything together? Superb. Jest the right amount of steam. There are plenty of ways that this book will lead to many more. I've got to say, I'm 1000℅ invested. This book is an example of why I like books over people.

Profile Image for Shelby Manuel.
Author 10 books94 followers
May 21, 2024
Wowww! This mystery/thriller was everything I needed.
Okay, I’ll be honest, the first chapter almost made me stop. It got SO dark SO quickly that the 🩸 was making me queasy.
I’ve never been so glad that I kept reading. I was also a bit confused when we met Cece (which is the only nickname of hers that I like) because I assume the love interest was going to be Savvy.
I ended up loving Cece though! I knew she was hiding a lot, and I suspected a few things…BUT THAT PLOT TWIST! ‼️
Wow this book had me gripped! Plot heavy, and pretty low, tame spice, but so enjoyable.
Felix was such a sweetheart. I mean…he was kind of an idiot, and sadistic, and goofy, but I adored him. I can’t wait to read the next book about Micah!
I’m so glad I found this author ♥️
Profile Image for BookLover.
654 reviews4 followers
January 16, 2025
Could've Been Better

I was looking forward to Felix's story but this one just didn't vibe for me. The first 80% was boring as, sorry. I enjoyed getting to know Felix, I really did and I view him differently now. He's the protector of his brothers even though they don't realise it. Whereas Christabelle as a character lacked, as did the story in general. The only reason I'm giving this 3 stars is that it picks up in the last 20%. I feel there's more to this story and it's a shame the author couldn't get it told.
11 reviews1 follower
February 27, 2024
Oh Felix ❤️

I’m so excited the Malone brothers are getting their chances to tell their stories! I’ve loved getting to know them through Minka and Archer but I always knew there was more to Felix. Another great story from Emilia that brings such a complex man and his love to life. Can’t wait to read the next one!
88 reviews1 follower
February 18, 2024
Absolute Page Turner

I loved every word of this book. Emilia does a fantastic job of taking us deeper into the Malone family and what their lives were like growing up in the mafia. We get to appreciate the brothers for who they are now more and understand their protection for each other. We also get to see a softer side to Felix and learn he’s more than just unhinged. Some of our favorite Copeland residents also make an appearance. I love how the start of this new series began and how this book ended. I’m on the edge of my seat until the next one!
759 reviews1 follower
February 21, 2024
I read Sinful Justice and was not disappointed with this standalone book. The FMC, Christabelle, is smart but can't resist the MMC, Felix’s charm. In the process, she uncovers the truth about his past while her secrets are revealed.
Profile Image for Detra Newhouse.
70 reviews
January 31, 2024
The Tinman DOES Have a Heart!

Freaking Emilia Finn has done it again! She’s made me laugh, cry a little, angered me (Tim Senior should have been tortured BEFORE he died naturally!) and has surprised me. Felix came on the scene way back in one of the Mayet Justice series, and when he did he wasn’t a very likable person. He quickly grew on me, though, and now in THIS book we get to see what really makes him tick and do the things he does. Whether he’s being a brutal murderer, cracking jokes, a disgusting pig or how weirdly he loves Minka, we truly understand him now. We get a lot more of the boys’ backstory, specifically surrounding their father, and get to peek into how Felix lives his daily life when he’s not in Copeland irritating the heck out of Minka (which is ALWAYS hysterical to me). We also get to see him figure out that he has a heart after all and that he’s given it away without really even realizing it at first. If you’ve followed the Mayet books, and whether or not Felix became loved (or even just liked) person, you’ll love this book and I’m sure the series.
718 reviews
February 4, 2024
Felix is *chef’s kiss*

When Felix came crashing into Copeland so many books ago, he was such an incredible jerk. As time passed and we saw glimpses of him and his love, my heart started to cling to hope. I loved getting inside his head and heart in such an intimate train wreck. His impulsive and consuming need for Christabelle, and her reciprocating desire to make her own choices was a delicious tug of war. All the deep lines and revelations were superb. Another huge applause for a book that consumed me!
632 reviews4 followers
February 5, 2024
Great new series!

Finn's first book in the mafia world and it does not disappoint! Felix is sunshine guy with a dark edge and Christabelle is just enough of a grump to even him out. Great banter and a surprise twist!
Profile Image for ~lil maso~.
1,931 reviews49 followers
January 10, 2024
Reviewed by Robyn for Saucy Reviews on Kinky Korner

The Tallest Tower is the first book in the Underbelly Enchanted series and the first book I have read by this author—big mistake on my behalf as I absolutely loved this book and the writing style! I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

Like most stories, there are some wonderful characters and some shocking characters who are bad to the bone. In this story, we have both, but there are also some characters who hide behind cleverly crafted facades. 🤐 I’ll say no more except that the twists and surprises in certain characters really enhanced the story, making it super exciting.

Felix Malone, I liked straight away. Yes, he’s the head of his mafia family, but it wouldn’t be his first choice of career. He’s very good at what he does and, unlike his evil father, does have a moral compass. The strength and support from and for his four other brothers is enormous.

Christabelle Cannon is a newspaper journalist, first and foremost. I didn’t like her very much in the beginning, but she did grow on me. It simply took getting to know the real Christabelle, then seeing how much she undertook to understand the Malone family made me realise how honest she is with herself.

I loved the way things turned around in the storyline and how brilliantly written it was, too. I am looking forward to the next book already.

*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*

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153 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2024
OMG….i didn’t want to love Felix…but….

This book….i was one of the ones who wasn’t ready to accept a new series….but once again you sucked me into a world and a romance that made my heart happy. Now I’m ready for Micah’s story; and ready for Tim the second to man up; and for Cato to make me cackle throughout….then way later, Cato can find his own happy. Keep writing Emilia 🥰
Profile Image for Susan.
441 reviews1 follower
January 6, 2024
Felix Malone is the head of his mafia family doing what needs to be done to protect his brothers and family. He didn’t ask for this job, but after his horrible father died, someone’s got to do it. Christabelle Cannon is the picture perfect New York socialite, daughter of a media mogul, and reporter who keeps targeting the Malone Family. Felix is annoyed by her, then intrigued so he lets his crazy loose and brings her to his home. What could go wrong?!

I’ve been intrigued by Felix in the Mayet Justice series and learning more about what makes him tick made his character even more fascinating. I thought I would hate to love him, but now I just love him. He’s not a nice guy, but he’s not evil incarnate either. There were a few plot twists that I didn’t see coming, which kept me up all night reading!

I love how Emilia’s worlds are so interconnected. It was cool to see the Malone brothers interact (they are hilariously competitive) and several references are made to events in the Gilded Knights series. Finn is a master at weaving emotionally charged stories, whether featuring MMA stars, band members, first responders, medical examiners, thugs, or mafia, her novels are must buys! Written with Finn’s signature humor and heart, The Tallest Tower is a standalone in the new interconnected Underbelly Enchanted series. It is not a dark romance, per se, but it is a mafia book and some themes may be too much for sensitive readers so check trigger warnings. You will definitely find yourself rooting for the villain!
2,298 reviews91 followers
January 10, 2024

I wrote this review for Saucy Reviews on Kinky Korner.
The Tallest Tower is the first book in the Underbelly Enchanted series and the first book I have read by this author—big mistake on my behalf as I absolutely loved this book and the writing style! I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

Like most stories, there are some wonderful characters and some shocking characters who are bad to the bone. In this story, we have both, but there are also some characters who hide behind cleverly crafted facades. 🤐 I’ll say no more except that the twists and surprises in certain characters really enhanced the story, making it super exciting.

Felix Malone, I liked straight away. Yes, he’s the head of his mafia family, but it wouldn’t be his first choice of career. He’s very good at what he does and, unlike his evil father, does have a moral compass. The strength and support from and for his four other brothers is enormous.

Christabelle Cannon is a newspaper journalist, first and foremost. I didn’t like her very much in the beginning, but she did grow on me. It simply took getting to know the real Christabelle, then seeing how much she undertook to understand the Malone family made me realise how honest she is with herself.

I loved the way things turned around in the storyline and how brilliantly written it was, too. I am looking forward to the next book already.
Profile Image for Kathleen A Harris.
179 reviews5 followers
January 24, 2024
Surprising twist, enjoy!

I am a big fan of Emilia Finn but I almost did not read this book. I am not a fan of mafia romance and when I read the prologue in this book I was ready to shut this down. I persevered I found I truly enjoyed Felix's story. He is a complex character who knows how to love, he just doesn't always show it in whay society deems an acceptable fashion. Throw in Christabelle's hidden agenda and you have one great explosive love story.
6 reviews
January 26, 2024
Emilia does it again…another amazing book!

Every book Emilia Finn writes, becomes my favorite book! Absolutely loved reading Felix and Christabelle’s book! Can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out!
19 reviews1 follower
January 12, 2024
The Malones are here!

The mafia boss and the newspaper heiress. It's an unlikely pairing. But, they both similarly hold secrets. He is crude, violent, and prone to fits of rage, but the sweet smile and "darling" rolling off his lips will get a girl every time. She is smart, beautiful, and has a stubborn streak that almost kills her. The secrets they both keep will keep you guessing until the very end.

We get a peek into what it was like growing up as a Malone, and with that, we gain some understanding as well. With more pieces of the Malone puzzle and a few visits from some of our most favorite Copeland residents.

The fire between Felix and Christabelle will have you turning the pages wanting more. You'll want the bad guy to get the girl in the end, but will there be a happy ending?

This first book in the Underbelly Enchanted series is a great start. We are thrown into the world of the Malones we already love. You will be counting down the days until the next release as soon as you read, The End.





Profile Image for Jennifer Berry.
149 reviews6 followers
January 21, 2024
Wow!

I was so prepared to hate Felix from the start for all the bad things he's done, but this book has flipped that around for me. While I can't quite say I love him yet, he's definitely growing on me. And Christabelle, she surprised me so many times. The first big revel in the story literally made my mouth drop open in shock, and the revelations just kept on coming. As always, I can't wait for Emilia's next book so I can find out what happens next.
Profile Image for SmuttyEverAfter.
441 reviews
January 21, 2024
Emilia Finn absolutely crushed this one! I hated Felix when we first met him in the Mayet series and was starting to slowly come around as we would get glimpses of his protective side. I completely fell in love with Felix by the end of this book! Loved his banter and chemistry with Christabelle. He might be one of my fave MMCs that Emilia has written, but no one will top Kane Bishop. Can’t wait for the next installment of this series! So so good!!!
Profile Image for Lisa.
236 reviews8 followers
January 23, 2024
great book

I loved the Mayet book oks, so I was all in on the rest of the Malone stories. This one surprised me. I didn’t see the twist coming. Great story a d characters❤️ Felix gets under your skin!
Profile Image for Laura Gardner.
32 reviews
January 24, 2024
Oh emilia.
Every single time you pull me in again. And ever time I end up laughing, crying and cursing at my kindle. I already knew I would love Felix but he might be up there with Bobby and kane in the book husband league 🤣❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
221 reviews7 followers
January 18, 2024
Changed my opinion of Felix…

If you’ve read the Mayet Justice books and you are like me, you probably wondered how on earth Emilia Finn could redeem a man like Felix Malone…and yet she masterfully does it! Okay - I confess, I knew she could, which is why I didn’t hesitate to dive into this book.

The prologue was a difficult read. We get to see how Tim Malone, the second, was just pure evil. We move forward to present day and meet Christabelle, who is stubborn to a fault. But it took her only a little bit of time before she melted her heart to Felix. And then she finds herself in a real pickle… What can I say about Felix except there’s so much more to him than meets the eye. He is impulsive and crass, but loves his family fiercely. Lots of twists and turns in this plot, so buckle up! I’m always eagerly awaiting the next Emilia Finn book!!!
Profile Image for Chantal promnick.
23 reviews
January 20, 2024
Emilia Finn you did it again brilliant
This book was amazing you felt like you were on a nice straight path and then whiplash it was what happened where did that come from. Let’s just say blew my mind.
Loved, loved, loved it. Felix you handsome, sexy, deeply feeling, very special man I don’t hate you anymore.
This book is beyond 5 starts with so many feelings and twists and turns I highly recommend you to read it. You won’t be disappointed it’s a page turner.
33 reviews
January 23, 2024
Oh Felix...

This one was definitely one of the best! Surprises I didn't see coming, characters I already love, some tough moments and some funny moments all in one book. Can't wait for the next one!
Profile Image for Jamie Seachrist.
51 reviews
January 17, 2024
Emilia knocks it’s out the park again

This is another amazing book from Finn, this is the first book in the new underbelly series and i can’t wait for the next one… Felix is the guy we want to hate, we want to hate his snarky I’m the best, bow down to me attitude. But emilia paints him in such a way that you love to hate him but also love to love him at the same time. This book is written beautifully as always from Finn, it is everything you would expect to have in one of her books. And just when you think you can’t add any more finn book boyfriends she makes you fall in love with the asshole we all hated, Felix lol. I’m in a book hangover… again. Nothing hits like a book from her.
9 reviews
January 21, 2024
Well Dang It!!

I didn’t think I could fall for the bad guy; literally a VERY bad guy. But dang it, I love Felix so much. Such a complex character that is very well written. I hated to love him, but I do…I love him so very much. Thank you for another great story, yet another character to love, and another series to enjoy. Bravo Emilia!! Thank you for another great book.
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