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Mafia Elite #1

No Way Out

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An action-packed mafia romance about secrets, arranged marriage, and redemption by USA Today Bestselling author Amy McKinley.

Max’s endgame is clear—take back what’s rightfully his and punish those who have wronged him.

Under the guise of assassin Matteo Trambino, Max infiltrates a vital arm of the Chicago Mafia to protect his Sicilian mentor’s granddaughter, Liliana, from her dangerous father. What should be easy changes when they come face-to-face, and he realizes he can never walk away.

Born into one of the most powerful families in the Cosa Nostra, Liliana Brambilla is a pawn in her father’s bid for power, unable to leave until he sets her free. The only means of escape is trading one prison for another in the form of her father’s choice of husband.

When her father assigns a new bodyguard, her trust is tentative. She thinks he’s her enemy. The truth is, Max is her savior.

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 30, 2021

279 people are currently reading
1982 people want to read

About the author

Amy McKinley

38 books572 followers
Amy McKinley is the USA Today bestselling author of the romantic suspense thriller Gray Ghost Novels, Deadly Isles Special Ops, Mafia Elite, Moonlit Destination, Five Fates paranormal romance, and several standalone titles. Her edge-of-your-seat books are filled with surprising twists and just the right amount of heat and danger. She lives in Illinois with her husband, two daughters, two sons, and three mischievous cats. You can find her at www.AmyMcKinley.com

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5 stars
279 (50%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
Profile Image for Dora Koutsoukou .
2,282 reviews726 followers
February 12, 2022
Part 1

3,5 💘⚡️💥⭐️s

First of all I have to say that there is a group of 3 mafia princesses friends that are fearless and so feisty!!! They definitely picked up my interest!!! Lil, Sofia and Em.

The first (standalone) instalment had Lil and Max’s story.
It had action, suspense, romance, chemistry, twists and turns.
Very well written, nice development, likeable characters, dual pov.

I enjoyed it and I will read the next part!

1,016 reviews15 followers
November 17, 2021
Liliana Brambilla is the daughter of one of the Five Families in the Cosa Nostra, they are all Italian-Americans and are all a part of the Mafia and because Liliana is a Mafia Princess, she is known to be untouchable to those around her, as much as they may want to. Max is another member of the Mafia, however, he has been brought up by the Sicilian branch of the families and knows Liliana’s grandfather, but when he goes to America to infiltrate into an arm of the five families, he changes his appearance and his name to Matt Trambino so that his identity remains a secret, all so that he can protect Lilliana.

Liliana has graduated from college and returned to the fold and her family home, however, life isn’t as straight forward or as pleasant as it seems from the outside, the only saving grace is that she has her small circle of best friends who would do anything for each other and in the past have. To anyone outside of that circle though, her life is perfect, a loving family and wants for nothing, but behind closed doors, she is trapped and will only gain her freedom when her father deems it the right time. Max’s plan is right on schedule, he is disrupting the branch of the family he has chosen in order to become vital in their day to day running, this all changes when he becomes her bodyguard, he realises that the feelings he had from looking at her photograph were nothing compared to real life.

Lilliana is introduced to her new bodyguard, or as she sees it, another soldier under her fathers thumb, but can she trust him to keep her safe, or will her father marry her off to the person who can offer him the best deal in exchange, moving her from one gilded cage to another first? This is an action packed dark romance with an undercurrent of violence which will keep you engaged and on your toes as a mix of truth, lies and secrets threaten to tear apart the life of a young woman who only wants her independence and the ability to be free.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews128 followers
Want to read
January 17, 2023
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/28/2022)! 🎁
Profile Image for Katie.
2,260 reviews15 followers
September 2, 2021
No Way Out
By Amy McKinley
5 stars


What a way to kick of a new series! I love this author there’s no denying it so I was really excited when I saw this new release from her and wow what an amazing read! I was hooked from beginning to end. I love mafia romance and this was the perfect example of that genre! Action, tension, angst, romance – this book had it all and more! I LOVED Max – oh my gosh he was totally swoon worthy! Liliana really surprised me actually, I didn’t expect her to eb so strong but she was amazing! She held her own when she needed to. I absolutely loved both of them together and their story was so exciting to read! I can’t wait for more from this author!
Profile Image for Jamie.
2,101 reviews97 followers
August 21, 2021
Such a great book!!! Max and Lil have such a great story!

Liliana is such a strong female lead. She didn't back down to anyone and kept her head when she needed to. Max is an alpha male that finds himself becoming possessive over Lil. I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow and blossom.

Loved all the twists, turns, and angst in this one. I devoured this book and couldn't put it down! So good!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Laura.
387 reviews24 followers
November 10, 2021
“War is coming, and you will be my sacrifice.”

Bullets will fly.
Fist will clash.
Blood will spill.

A change is always bound to cause a few ripples of power play...

After all, being a Mafia princess wasn’t a walk in the park.

Liliana knows her life is a ticking time bomb and soon enough her father’s plan for her all becomes clear. Fearing for another life trapped behind golden bars, Liliana pulls her resources together, but her plan is about to fall into the hands of her bodyguard.

But, it seems that Matteo is far more than what he seems...and more deadly with a long haul game already in motion...and Liliana is the key into seeking what he wants.

She was supposed to be a pawn. That was it. I wasn’t supposed to fall so hard for her.

I loved this whole different take on a Mafia style read!

There are strong female characters that form this perfect deadly unit, each knows the life they have been born into and what is expected of them...yet there are no whimsy princesses...they’ve been trained to kick-arse and by all means they will not go down quietly.

And the males….well yes they are deadly and delightfully sinful all at once. I can’t wait to see how this series will grow and develop. The storyline is very twisty, shadows in the dark and will keep you engrossed for more.

“Remember what we always say-”

“-make fate your bitch. Yeah, I haven’t forgotten.”



Profile Image for Ember Daley.
273 reviews4 followers
August 30, 2021
Amy is easily one of my favorite authors for these types of books!! Max and Liliana are so well written. I devoured this book in just a night.
159 reviews3 followers
October 26, 2021
Amy McKinley has proven once again that she is one of the best romance writers out there today. The way the characters interact gives the reader the ability to perfectly imagine them in real life. The scene set up is so realistic and thought out that the events seem to be happening right in front of your eyes.
Arranged marriages are a way of life in some cultures especially for those with daughters looking to increase their family fortune or power. So, it is no surprise that Benito Brambilla only keeps his daughter around for just that purpose, after all the mafia is a dog-eat-dog kind of world. Though enter Max who comes in with a suspicious background looking to mess up whatever plans Brambilla and is dad Antonio have in the works. At first it was a save Liliana scenario and reconnect her with her grandpa on her mother’s side and bring Antonio down for what he did to Max and his mom. As the tangled web starts to unweave more secrets slip out and more truths come to light. After all who really is Max? Who killed Liliana’s mother? Are Max and Liliana destined to be another casualty of a long-standing mafia war between two of the five families? This is a must-read book that will answer all these questions and leave you hungry for more. I cannot wait to dive into the second book in this series, they are that good!
Profile Image for Lorrene Huisman.
519 reviews13 followers
September 5, 2021
Do you want a book that grips you, and doesn't let go even though how hard you fight to get away? Then my friends, you have found the right book to read, no doubt! This quickly became a favorite for me. No lies here, the author is one of my personal favorites, she writes such good novels, I always come back for more, this one was worth the wait though for sure! It literally blew me away countless times while reading!

Where should I start? There is so much I could tell, and want to tell, but you should truly experience this book for yourself. Let me start with Liliana who is our female lead in this gripping read. She brought on her own saucy spice and made the perfect mixture for love and temptation through out this novel. She does not have an easy life being the daughter of the head of the Mafia. She is undervalued by her father through out the book, she feels she can gain respect if she does a marriage to his pleasing. Is her happiness to be sacrificed really worth to win her fathers love? Perhaps there was more unknown to the story of what she truly wants than she lets on?

I loved the character Max. He was your hot and very sexy character, that literally brought on the lust with every word he spoke. He has been assigned a job to do, and at first glance it seems to be an very easy job, but that proves otherwise into the matter. To silence the head of the Mafia is one thing, but throw in the beautiful and amazing Liliana and basically all shit can and will hit the roof!

Max and Liliana really made my kindle sweat with anticipation and chemistry, Not to forget the steam and sexiness' these two brought when they shared a scene together they were remarkable characters in every which way and form. The suspense they had face together, plus the fact of trying to avoid not to rip each others clothes off for the greatest passion ever to be experienced, there was so much more going on aside from that as well. The book literally had me hooked all the way through.

I LOVED this book so very much! It was an amazing read from start to finish, and I am still left wanting more by the end. It was a must read, and that is certainly a true fact and n questions asked. This was so good, it had everything I needed and wanted in the novel and more. I would expect nothing less than what I got from this amazing author I have come to love and admire so much. Wonderful read truly!
Profile Image for Stephanie Runyon.
416 reviews11 followers
September 9, 2021
Amy McKinley’s No Way Out is one of the most character intense stories I have ever read. The story of the Chicago’s Italian-American Mafia families showed how they had their own political agendas. Lilianna Brambilla’s role as a Mafia “princess” made her an asset to her father. Benito Brambilla’s power was crumbling from the destruction of several warehouses he used to store drugs. The Council of the Mafia frowned upon drug dealings, but Benito did not care.

Max Caruso’s, along with his cousins, directions are to protect Lilianna and to reintroduce her to her Grandfather VIncenzo. After her mother had died, Benito refused to allow any contact with VIncenzo. Max infiltrates Benito’s home as Matteo “Matt” Trambino, with a reputation for being a hitman for the original families that never failed to get a job done. Benito assigns Matt to guard Lilianna. After a dinner with the Mexican cartel and Matt protecting Lilianna from the unwanted attention of an ambitious youngster, she begins to trust him. She also feels something different about Matt, but dismisses her underlying feelings, knowing her father would never allow her to date an employee. Little does she know, but Matt has grown a much larger attachment to her and intends to get her out of the prison life she lives. When Antonio Caruso strikes a deal with Benito, Lilianna goes into panic mode. She was to marry the oldest son of the Caruso family, Tony. Suspected of killing his previous fiancé, Tony is despised by Lilianna. She fakes her escape and finds herself losing her thoughts of control when Matt foils her plans.

This is a stellar 5-star thrilling romance. The alternating narrative between Max and Lilianna is seamless. I loved how McKinley was able to bring the characters alive with rational thoughts and how easy it was to connect with them. The outward appearance of Lilianna was a farce of someone that feared nobody, but underneath she ran on fear. The amount of weaponry she carried with her everywhere was overkill, which in her shoes, I probably would have done the same. Living in a house where your mother died, and being treated as property by your father, would break just about anyone. The ending of this book fits and doesn't feel rushed like other romance novels tend to be.


Profile Image for Angela.
8,695 reviews122 followers
September 1, 2021
5 Stars

ALL THE FREAKING STARS!!!! OMG!!! Amy McKinley has outdone herself, AGAIN!!!!
No Way Out is the incredible first instalment in the Mafia Elite series by the supremely talented Amy McKinley. I know I keep saying this with every new release of hers, but this is definitely a new favourite for me.
It is a fantastic mafia romance/romantic suspense, with plenty of action, violence, danger, drama, mafia politics, intrigue, tension, chemistry, sizzle, secrets, revenge, and emotion.
I fell for Max and Liliana right from the beginning- they were such great characters- quite complex, fully developed individuals with depth and their own unique quirks and flaws.
I really don’t want to give too much away and spoil the story for you… But will leave you with this little tidbit. Max has an agenda that has taken a lot of time and planning to finetune before he can now, finally, let it all unfold. He has been tasked with protecting his mentor’s granddaughter, on top of his own plans to exact a little revenge and right past wrongs. He never expected that he would be so drawn to the young woman he was sent to protect. Having more in common with her than he first thought. But she is no defenceless flower, as he soon discovers- she’s one kick-butt mafia princess. But with secrets, agendas, politics, and sinister intentions- it’s not long before they are neck deep in a dangerous situation. It definitely made for an intense, suspenseful, edge of my seat read!!! Another gem to add to Ms. McKinley’s crown!
She had me at Mafia romance- the rest was all a wonderful bonus!!!! You definitely won’t want to miss this exciting story…
Happy Reading!

Thank you, Amy McKinley!
Profile Image for Ayla Eddy.
148 reviews5 followers
September 20, 2021
No Way Out (Mafia Elite Book 1) by Amy McKinley was a captivating book from the first page. The book is filled with developed characters that keep you wondering what they will do next as the story plays out. It is my first read and not going to be my last read by Amy McKinley. The way she writes her characters it is easy to feel for them whether is it pity, hate, or love. I simply could not put the book down. I just had to keep reading to find out more.

Lilliana is a mafia princess, but not your average one. She is a strong female lead that is determined, skilled, and not a damsel in distress. With a rough life that holds no escape except as a pawn to ensure her father’s power. She has a group of girlfriends that are more like sisters to her and always there to support her. Under her father’s care she is nothing more than a pawn to be played at the right time for his selfish desire for power. She wants nothing to do with being his bargaining chip, but how will she find freedom? Trading one caged life for another to a man of his choosing? Or is there another way?

Life changing events for the ever-cruel Brambilla boss set a new start to things in the mafia world. Enter assassin Matteo Trambino the guise Max takes on with his plan of his own devised to save her from her dangerous father. As the new bodyguard to Lil, he witnesses firsthand the life the mafia princess lives. It drives him even more to follow through with his mission, even if parts of that may be changing as the story progresses. Will he succeed in what he has been sent to do or will he fail?

An amazing read that I would recommend to anyone!
Profile Image for Amy Brennan.
175 reviews2 followers
September 3, 2021
Have you ever had that feeling that has you doubting deep down that you are where you should be, whether that be physically, mentally, or emotionally? Our main female character Liliana ‘Lil,’ feels that way every single day. Trapped in what might as well be a prison of a home, with her father that literally just regards her as property, she struggles through the losses she’s experienced, and with the knowledge that her future isn’t her own, rather, will be decided without her best interests at heart.

Enter our hero, Max, under the guise of being a hitman for the families within the Mafia, who believes he has learnt all the information he needs to be able to complete the mission that was assigned to him by none other than Liliana Brambilla’s grandfather, Vincenzo. That mission, my friends, is to protect Lil at all costs. Little does Max know, he has bitten off more than he can chew, but loves every bite, nonetheless.

As was the case with other novels by Amy McKinley, I couldn’t put this down. It was a change of pace from the past few I have read from her, and the second Mafia novel I’ve indulged in, and I have to say, this one really did it for me. It had more twists and turns than I was expecting, and in turn, had me staying up way past my bedtime, not only to read, but to maybe entice the events in the novel to inspire my dreams, and the emotional waves I experienced, from goosebumps, to laughter, was everything I was expecting from her, and more. So very much looking forward to the next installment in the Mafia Elite series. Highly recommend!
737 reviews9 followers
September 6, 2021
No Way Out is the first book in The Mafia Elite Series by Amy McKinley. I have read other books by this same author and have loved them all. Not only is her style of writing great, but she has a way of capturing your attention and making you want to read the book from cover to cover no matter how many chores or errands you have.

Liliana is a Mafia Princess who is being used as a pawn in her father's quest to remain powerful among the five families in Chicago. He has never had much warmth or affection for her and it got worse after her mother passed away. She has grown up believing that her Mother's father wanted nothing to do with her, but he has been keeping tabs on her the entire time. Liliana knows something big is about to happen, but she can't quite figure out who all is involved and what their roles are in the game.

Max, aka Matt, is sent by Liliana's grandfather to protect her from her father's evil ways. His main objective aside from protecting his mentors family is to get revenge for the wrongs done to his family and to take back what should rightfully be his. He infiltrates the Brambilla family by posing as a highly sought after assassin and is brought on to protect Liliana by her father. Max sees this as a job and nothing more until he meets the object of said job face to face. From that moment he knew that there was no walking away even once the job was over. With so many players in the game and not being sure who to trust, will he be able to make Liliana realize he is on her side?
Profile Image for Kerry  carr.
1,966 reviews26 followers
April 14, 2022
This is a great start to the series. I love Mafia romances and this one is definately a great one. The story was easy to read. Some Mafia stories can get confusing with the different families  but the author makes the families easy to follow. Liliana is an amazing character. I love her fighting spirit and how strong and determined she is to save herself. Max is your typical alpha who is out to regain what was taken away from him by destroying the people in his way and protecting the people he loves.

Liliana is the daughter of the Mafia boss Benito. Even though she looks and acts like a proper Mafia princess the reality is much different. All she is to her father is a possession, something he can use to get what he wants out of life. Liliana  is desperate to leave and get out from under her father's rule but her only hope is to change one guilded  cage for another by marrying someone her father chooses.

Max has been sent in undercover by Liliana's grandfather. His mission is to get Liliana away from her father and keep her safe. Hopefully taking down her dad's drug business in the process so that he can regain what should be rightfully his. What Max didn't expect was to fall for the Mafia princess. Now he had a problem can he keep his cool and stop himself from showing his feelings while at the same time protecting her from danger? Or will his cover be blown resulting in putting himself and Lilian in danger.
Profile Image for Jennifer Pierson.
11.7k reviews188 followers
August 28, 2021
HOLY BRILLIANT HELL! I LOVED LOVED LOVED No Way Out like you wouldn't believe. Not only is it a mafia romance (totally my jam), but the heroine was a bada** along with her group of friends so the #GIRLPOWER was top notch. Liliana was a mafia princess whose father despised her so much that her life wasn't so great, well, until she was able to go away to college. He's made it quite clear that she's his tribute for the family so he can stay powerful, but luckily, her grandfather has an inkling of things going on so he gets Max to help him out. See, Liliana's father told her that her grandfather wanted nothing to do with her, and probably had something to do with her mother's murder, so when she didn't hear from said grandfather, what was she supposed to think?! Unfortunately, her moment has come to be sacrificed for her father, and while she had a plan in place, so did Max so he ends up taking in order to marry her in the next three days. The twists are out of control at this point so my f-bomb dropping is loud as I was on the edge of my seat waiting for things to go sideways which they did. And luckily, Liliana realized Max was there for her quickly because they were perfect for each other. However, not everyone is happy about the marriage so will Max be able to keep her safe?! This is a great start to what I suspect will be EPIC, so I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
513 reviews7 followers
September 4, 2021
No Way Out is the first book in Amy McKinley’s Mafia Elite series. I’ve really enjoyed reading some of McKinley’s other books – the action romance series Gray Ghost and the romantic Moonlit Destination series – so was excited about a new series to get into!
No Way Out is an action-packed page-turner from the word go. Max has been set a dangerous mission, and one that speaks to his own troubled past. He has to maintain his new identity to get close to his target, and avoid attracting too much attention. McKinley treats us to plenty of details along the way, whilst keeping some twists to drop later in the book.
As usual in McKinley’s writing, we have a fantastic heroine in Liliana. Although often in need of a bit of rescuing, McKinley’s heroines always hold their own and bring something unique to the table. Liliana has much to come to terms with about her family and Max is well placed to help her if she can trust him, but understandably she is very careful about where she places her trust.
I’ve not read much mafia fiction previously, so this was a great insight into the world. If you’ve enjoyed McKinley’s other action romances, or are a fan of mafia romance, this is definitely worth a read!
This book gets five stars from me. I can’t wait to read more of the series when they come out.
Profile Image for Debi.
1,135 reviews6 followers
September 8, 2021
No Way Out (Mafia Elite, book 1) by Amy McKinley

5 Stars

WOW!! She has done it again! This book was everything and more of what I was expecting from this author and her new series. I loved reading every single word in this story. I was completely wrapt up in it from the first chapter. I have come to realize I love the mafia style stories, especially when they are written like this. The secrets, the twists to the story that just flow out while reading that become those awesome wow moments. The many characters that I never had a problem sorting out while reading. The absolute bada** lead characters that left an impression, making them a lead couple I will never forget. The best friends, Oh my goodness I love them, they actually cracked me up alot of times while reading. The cousins… oh i hope there will be so much more with the best friends and cousins.

I could literally go on and on about this book, as well as this author. If you have not read any of her books yet...Grab this one, I promise it has every little thing you ever wanted while reading.

I was left with a huge question when I finished this book, someone that was mentioned way back in the beginning. I'm so hoping that since book 2 is Enzo and Sophia that I'll get my answer. I CAN NOT WAIT!!!

Deserves so many more than 5 stars!! I loved it!!!
Profile Image for Angela Shirley.
941 reviews6 followers
September 12, 2021
I was there to protect the main man's daughter but in the end I could not just walk away when it was over.

Max is a bad a## assassin and has a plan but putting that plan into place could be tricky, but Max never thought his plan would come unstuck by a woman. Although by the end Lily is not just any woman she is the one who holds his heart.

Lilliana is a princess in a world of pain and horror, she is only a possession to her father and a pawn in his deadly game within the mafia. She is determined to leave but under the rules of the group she has to be released and that normally means trading one prison for another prison but in walks Max as her bodyguard but can he be her escape?

I love this author, there is nothing this woman writes that does not have you eagerly turning the pages to read what will be uncovered within the story. I feel that all her female characters have this air of vulnerability but also underneath the surface is a strong, powerful characters which Lilliana is definitely. With the chemistry between the two main characters just jumps off the page and you are willing them through the distractions that come up in the book along the way.

The story is a powerful one and the way Amy weaves through all the horrors and tension to create a love story is brilliantly and a is a great addition to the new series.
679 reviews5 followers
September 17, 2021
No Way Out (Mafia Elite #1)by Amy McKinley

5 out of 5 stars

I have read a few of Ms. McKinley’s books and she hasn’t disappointed me yet. The characters are strong they have to be in their world. I love the little quirks and the way they play off each other makes them some what real. This book had it all action, tension, betrayal, romance.

Max infiltrates a vital part of the Chicago Mafia to protect his Sicilian mentor’s granddaughter, Liliana, from her dangerous father under the guise of assassin Matteo Trambino.
Liliana Brambilla was born into one of the most powerful families in the Cosa Nostra, she is a pawn in her father’s bid for power the only way to escape is to marry the man her father picks.
Liliana’s father assigns her a new bodyguard, Matteo (aka Max) she doesn’t trust him and she thinks he is the enemy since he works for her father. But the truth is since the came face-to-face, he realizes he can never walk away.
Can Liliana escape her father with the help of Max? Will Max be-able to punish those who have wronged him and take back what’s rightfully his? Can these two over-come their pasts to have a future?
You need to read this great story…
Tracy

@tracym
Profile Image for Teresa Juckett (Love Dark Reads) .
2,520 reviews44 followers
September 1, 2021
This was definitely a fantastic story anytime there's a story involving mafia, strong sexy men I'm here for it. This was by a new arthur for me and I'll be checking out her other book's. This is Bk1 to a new series and yeh the 1st couple of chapters were a lil slow it soon picked up the pace once the h got a view of the H lol.
Liliana is something else I love when the arthur writes a strong female character in a story, because let's face it we all want to strive to be like that or I do lol. This girl never had a damsel in distress moment that she wasn't trying to figure a way out of and the way she got out of those wrist ties...you go girl I need to remember that😂.
Maximus or Matt is one tall, dark, sexy man who's one of her fathers new guards he's there to protect her. She feels an attraction to him which she knows can't happen plus she wants to trust him when he tells her he wants to help her can she?
There were so many twists and turns when thing's started firing up and lord the secrets that kept coming out one after another had me like😳 I did not see that coming.
This is the 1st book in the series and I can't wait to see what secrets are revealed in the next.
Profile Image for Rosanna Ingram.
669 reviews5 followers
September 6, 2021
Amy McKinley is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors!

Liliana is a mafia princess. Her father mistreats her and is using her as a pawn to retain power. When she is issued a new bodyguard she will remind everyone that she is not a gentle flower that can't handle herself. But, when she finds herself in quite the predicament...is her bodyguard trustworthy or is he just another one of her dad's pawns?

Max is enlisted by Liliana's grandfather to protect her while also having his own agenda to take care of. But, when he meets Lil...he finds himself attracted to the kick-ass princess. But, as it always is with the Chicago mafia...there are secrets, hidden agendas, violence, and mafia politics at play. Can he get Lil to trust him enough to see that he is there to help her? Or have years of suffering at her father's hands hardened her to believing anyone is on her side?

I loved this story. I am a huge fan of McKinley...so add in a mafia element and I was in. But this story just blew me away. Liliana is a strong heroine that could go toe-to-toe with Max and hold her own. Another great book my Amy McKinley!
Profile Image for AnnaMeansFun.
824 reviews206 followers
October 31, 2024
I’m honestly quite confused by the rating this book has.

It is way too short for any of the storylines to develop properly and make me care about anything that happens.

It’s barely 200-something pages long, everything happens within a span of a week or two. And I mean EVERYTHING.

Somehow, the characters manage to meet, fall in love, get married, reveal a whole bunch of big secrets and they do all of that in between of getting kidnapped, rescued, kidnapped some more and avenged. Oh and they still have time to make pretty big changes in the mafia hierarchy.

That leaves actually no time to build any tension, to develop any character arc, to establish any emotional connection, to take any of it seriously and so it all feels just… silly.
Profile Image for Deb Robinson.
290 reviews
November 9, 2021
I just finished No Way Out. Wow. How so many families intermix and become enemies and allies. Lilianna is the daughter of mafia boss Benito. She is property and nothing else. She is to be used as a pawn to ensure alliances and power are gained. In the background forces from another side are trying to bring Benito down and save Lilianna in the process. This book had so many twists and turns. Just when you thought you knew what was going to happen, you get turned in a different direction. Author Amy McKinley did an excellent job bringing you into the mafia world. Going to be reading book 2. That’s a guarantee.
Profile Image for Molly Garcia.
51 reviews
May 22, 2022
Character development wasn’t there, so I didn’t care what happened with the characters. Oh no, she gets kidnapped? Don’t care. Oh no, her dad isn’t her real father? Literally couldn’t care less.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lauren Schnoebelen.
791 reviews9 followers
September 6, 2021
Ever since returning home from finishing college, the freedom Liliana felt has quickly disappeared before her eyes. She might be a Mafia princess but inside her father’s home she is nothing more than another pawn in his ever growing quest towards power. When a series of attacks on the family’s warehouses causes her father to bring in a hitman from Sicily, her only hope is that maybe he’ll be different from dozens of guards around the house she can’t trust. When all she wants is a possible ally, Liliana might be in for more than she expected because Max has come with his own agenda and none of the Mafia bosses will be safe.

Idk what it is but I keep wanting to like mafia fiction, especially mafia romances, but they always seem to fall a bit flat for me. I really enjoyed the beginning where Max is assigned as Liliana’s bodyguard and the tension that builds from there. Liliana’s perspective was probably my favorite but honestly I think it might have been because her two friends were the characters I enjoyed reading about the most. The incorporation of arranged marriage was a trope I haven’t read from before and honestly I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I provided for a lot more variety in the story line and caused a number of fun twists. The steamy scenes were decent but kind of a let down for me. There was a point in the very beginning when Liliana held a knife to Max’s throat when they first met to make sure he knew she wasn’t helpless. When she did this, he made a comment about it being hot or kinking or something like that so it made me think cool, we have that kink going and I haven’t read that before so this could be really fun. Sadly, that wasn't the case though the first couple of scenes were pretty good. I don’t see myself reading further in this series. I appreciated that there weren’t any miscommunication tropes in this book which is pretty common in a lot of romance and the big conflict had to do with the drama surrounding Mafia politics rather than the couple which I really appreciated. Not sure if I’ll read anything from this author in the future but I wouldn’t say I’d say turn something down that piqued my interest.
1,813 reviews11 followers
August 31, 2021
Started slow but finished with a bang. The first few chapters were a little plodding and slow but it soon picked up with a fast paced race to the end. Lots of action, danger and intrigue with a new made man taking his place with the Chicago Five Families. He’s a legacy with a vengeance and on a mission. I really liked Max as the baddie boss-in-the-nmaking with his dangerous skills and handsome face. His insta for our fabulous heroine Liliana was a little much for me. Lil was terrific as a woman with a horrible father but fabulous gal pals and family friends. I loved her fight and passion. Her group of peers are excellent as they band together to right wrongs and get the truth about a loved one. This next generation of the Five are so much better than the ones now in power. And they’re looking to take over. The attraction was instant between Max and Lil and the love soon followed and by the end I was thrilled by this sexy couple. I was a little put off by the materialistic elements at the beginning and later when I wanted details there were none. I mean, delicious Max would have given his bride a huge ring but there was nothing. What started out as descriptions of everything Lil wore down to her lipstick ended with not much when I wanted to know. Anyhoo. I like the villains versus the good guys in the story with a few surprise twists. The gal pals were fabulous as they held their own and banded together for right. Tough, deadly and beautiful! A few pairings are obvious for future stories. Lots of hot hunks to come in this series and I’m looking forward to the next installment. Worth the read!
Profile Image for Joyffree.
3,414 reviews62 followers
August 28, 2021
Lil is death disguised in Prada
She gives strong heroines a whole new definition
I don't believe she ever had a "damsel in distress" moment even when the odds were stacked against her
She took a breath and looked logically at the situation
Max was the same though he was always 10 steps ahead of the enemy it seemed.

I did have a little trouble the first few chapters and was not really falling into the story as I prefer - but it was like the pieces just suddenly clicked into place next thing I knew it was time to say goodbye - for now

Lots of action - not heavy dark crimson descriptive kind - more fade to black with some subtle gunfights and light on-screen combat
Packed with great characters
A strong series foundation was set - I could have used more detail during some scenes and with regards to backgrounds but that is a"me" thing. I am hoping my questions will be answered as the series progresses
Some quick capitulation between our heroine and hero - It wasn't the "oh I'm wet but I hate you" 🙄 that drives me insane. Our heroine was stronger than that and our hero had more respect for the woman he was claiming. They both knew the score going in and also they knew it wasn't really a choice - the chemistry was already there - why fight it?
I enjoyed them a definite powerhouse couple
Oh and OMG 😲
Wait till the skeletons come out of the closets
Again different flavor than my normal but definitely an author/series I will be following
Not dark perse, strong characters, solid storyline
Profile Image for Tori .
189 reviews2 followers
December 31, 2021
O.MG. This book captivated me from the very beginning. I was sucked in so fast it made my head spin. The writing was so beautifully done, descriptive, and flowing that it all played out like a perfect movie in my head. I felt like I was there witnessing everything in real-time. There were so many characters to keep up with but I loved every minute of learning about each new character and seeing how they all fit in to create this absolutely chaotic mafia world.

I haven’t gotten too much into mafia romance before but this series is gonna make me want more of it I can already tell just from this first book.

This book was very much a fast-paced page turner with twists I did not see coming which was nice cause I love a good surprise and they just kept on coming. I felt so many emotions while reading this from fear to rage and worry to even love. This book was so good I adored the way the relationship unfolded so genuinely and perfectly. It is one of those relationships where it is just meant to be no matter how you look at it and I cannot wait to devour the rest of the books in this series. Amy Mckinley has a way of writing intense fight scenes that actually scared me then turning it around and write an equally captivating romance scene that makes me feels all the angst and as if im the one fighting to fall for the sexy mystery Mafia guy. Uhhh this was just so good. If you want fight and fury read this. If you want passion and power read this. If you want true love that you'd go to the ends of the earth fighting for read this. Its got it all.
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