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Manhattan Mafia #2
Make Me
Dario Lucari kidnapped me when I was just a bride sold for territory…and made me a captive wife.
He will never free me. I am his property and he lets me know that every time he hurts me.
My hate for him burns hotter than the embers of love. But for how long?
***
Make Me is the second book in the trilogy.
He will never free me. I am his property and he lets me know that every time he hurts me.
My hate for him burns hotter than the embers of love. But for how long?
***
Make Me is the second book in the trilogy.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2022
389 people are currently reading
786 people want to read
About the author
C.D. Reiss
112 books9,647 followersCD Reiss is a New York Times bestselling author. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn't pick up she's at the well hauling buckets.
Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master's degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.
She's frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn't ever gotten her out of chopping a single cord of wood.
If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.
***NONE OF MY BOOKS ARE SAFE***
Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master's degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.
She's frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn't ever gotten her out of chopping a single cord of wood.
If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.
***NONE OF MY BOOKS ARE SAFE***
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
May 29, 2022
Oh man. I love this stuff. CD Reiss writes some messed up moments in flowery, poetic ways. Make Me had some disturbing, shocking parts, lots of action, and of course it brings the heat. I especially loved a scene I'll call "Nothing", otherwise known as the moments surrounding Sarah finding a ring. That was seriously spicy, mixed in with real feels!
In this second book in the series, Dario is starting to shift his priorities, all for the love of a woman, even when he doesn't understand the meaning of love. And Sarah goes through a lot of change as well, she's evolving and blossoming, becoming her own woman. And she's determined to show love as a strength. Hold on to your seats while reading because there's a lot going on and this ride isn't over yet!
In this second book in the series, Dario is starting to shift his priorities, all for the love of a woman, even when he doesn't understand the meaning of love. And Sarah goes through a lot of change as well, she's evolving and blossoming, becoming her own woman. And she's determined to show love as a strength. Hold on to your seats while reading because there's a lot going on and this ride isn't over yet!
Want to read
October 15, 2020October 14, 2020
Have You Ever Had Just A Hint....
A Whiff Of An Idea...
A Bit Of A Tease...
Allowing Your Imagination Run Free...
Well, The First Book Of This New Series...
Take Me, Is Still In The Making...
Yet, Ideas Run Rampant In My Head...
I Know Of Danger, Darkness, Others...
These Things Could Be Part Of This Tale...
So, I Will Wait...
Happily...
I Dare You To Turn Me Away...
Just Try And...
Make Me-February 16, 2021
Take Me
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Make Me
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Break Me
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
Have You Ever Had Just A Hint....
A Whiff Of An Idea...
A Bit Of A Tease...
Allowing Your Imagination Run Free...
Well, The First Book Of This New Series...
Take Me, Is Still In The Making...
Yet, Ideas Run Rampant In My Head...
I Know Of Danger, Darkness, Others...
These Things Could Be Part Of This Tale...
So, I Will Wait...
Happily...
I Dare You To Turn Me Away...
Just Try And...
Make Me-February 16, 2021
Take Mehttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Make Me https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Break Mehttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
June 2, 2022
Dario and Sarah’s relationship is still tumultuous and filled with threatening outside influences. But can Dario keep her safe? Will Sarah want to stay with him when he teaches her the ways of the world?
I can’t wait to see what happens next!
I can’t wait to see what happens next!
May 31, 2022
Reiss is back in all her glory with
Make Me,
book two in the Manhattan Mafia Trilogy. Queen of suspense and cliffhangers that leave you wanting more, this one grasped hold of me over and above that of
Take Me
. And that’s saying something! And I know I’ve said it before; dark romance isn’t exactly my thing, but when you read Reiss’ unique prose, that’s it. Trying to put the book down for a fraction of a second becomes an effort.
Sarah and Dario share their feelings with no holds barred. Sentences flow into paragraphs and chapters with such an easy unease that there were moments when I wondered what had hit me. Saying I loved it would be a colossal understatement. When I'd reached the around 50%, Reiss had me tied up in knots. Not Dario’s, of course! But a gal can wish, can’t they?
Sarah wants more of everything. She’s learning quickly; she’s inquisitive, and if Dario doesn’t take no for an answer, just wait for hers! Also, she's accepted the truth, growing from strength to strength and more importantly, whatever goes down, her wishes will become Dario’s command. The Sarah I was waiting for didn’t let me down. A tremendous warrior to watch through and through!
Dario. Ooh, my goodness—he’s coming to terms with a weakness he never thought he had in him. He knows it could be his downfall; he is well aware of the consequences, but there is no going back, only forward. Revenge is his sweet dish, but the way he wants to take the Colonia down made my hair stand on end. Deservedly so? No question about it. And talking about questions. Reiss tidied the ones I had in Take Me without compunction.
Reiss gives me the impression that she’s in her element when it comes down to Mafia romance. Her expressive writing is mind-blowing; her well-thought-out plot is movie-worthy. The steamy scenes—blinking heck, scorching isn’t even in it. If I were to say that I couldn’t wait for the conclusion of Sarah and Dario’s thrilling story, I’d be telling a fib. So, roll on Break Me and once again, bravo, Reiss!
Sarah and Dario share their feelings with no holds barred. Sentences flow into paragraphs and chapters with such an easy unease that there were moments when I wondered what had hit me. Saying I loved it would be a colossal understatement. When I'd reached the around 50%, Reiss had me tied up in knots. Not Dario’s, of course! But a gal can wish, can’t they?
Sarah wants more of everything. She’s learning quickly; she’s inquisitive, and if Dario doesn’t take no for an answer, just wait for hers! Also, she's accepted the truth, growing from strength to strength and more importantly, whatever goes down, her wishes will become Dario’s command. The Sarah I was waiting for didn’t let me down. A tremendous warrior to watch through and through!
Dario. Ooh, my goodness—he’s coming to terms with a weakness he never thought he had in him. He knows it could be his downfall; he is well aware of the consequences, but there is no going back, only forward. Revenge is his sweet dish, but the way he wants to take the Colonia down made my hair stand on end. Deservedly so? No question about it. And talking about questions. Reiss tidied the ones I had in Take Me without compunction.
Reiss gives me the impression that she’s in her element when it comes down to Mafia romance. Her expressive writing is mind-blowing; her well-thought-out plot is movie-worthy. The steamy scenes—blinking heck, scorching isn’t even in it. If I were to say that I couldn’t wait for the conclusion of Sarah and Dario’s thrilling story, I’d be telling a fib. So, roll on Break Me and once again, bravo, Reiss!
May 31, 2022
This is prime time CD Reiss. She leads her readers to the precipice and shoves them off the edge.
The free fall is simply glorious! Manhattan Mafia is a deliciously dark Mafia morality chain centered around The Colonia - a crime family dedicated to traditions so creepy that it naturally follows that the center piece of their operations is sex trafficking - and set in a dream like version of New York where an anxious unease lurks in the shadowed doorways and dark alleys. Dario will turn you inside out with his dirty talk and quest for vengeance. Or is it absolution? It all hinges on Sarah Colonia, the daughter of his sworn enemy, shaking the scales from her eyes and seeing the world clearly for the first time. She blossoms before our eyes growing from sheltered handmaiden to warrior queen. Their connection is scorching hot, brought to life by Reiss' always magical prose which sets the many moods of this story. Reiss effortlessly shifts moods from the relentless staccato of an especially gritty New York on the verge of war to the dreamy, willow the wisp castle in the forest that shelters our lovers. It all works so seamlessly. It's harrowing and horrifying, seductive and even soothing.
Simply put, this wrecked me in the best way.
#onehandedoneclick
The free fall is simply glorious! Manhattan Mafia is a deliciously dark Mafia morality chain centered around The Colonia - a crime family dedicated to traditions so creepy that it naturally follows that the center piece of their operations is sex trafficking - and set in a dream like version of New York where an anxious unease lurks in the shadowed doorways and dark alleys. Dario will turn you inside out with his dirty talk and quest for vengeance. Or is it absolution? It all hinges on Sarah Colonia, the daughter of his sworn enemy, shaking the scales from her eyes and seeing the world clearly for the first time. She blossoms before our eyes growing from sheltered handmaiden to warrior queen. Their connection is scorching hot, brought to life by Reiss' always magical prose which sets the many moods of this story. Reiss effortlessly shifts moods from the relentless staccato of an especially gritty New York on the verge of war to the dreamy, willow the wisp castle in the forest that shelters our lovers. It all works so seamlessly. It's harrowing and horrifying, seductive and even soothing.
Simply put, this wrecked me in the best way.
#onehandedoneclick
May 31, 2022
Well, hot damn did CD Reiss up the stakes in this book!
Make Me is book two in the Manhattan Mafia trilogy, so you know that this won't get all tied up yet. This is the "middle child" book and comes with lots of high paced action, sinfully delicious sex and twists leading the charge. It's no holds barred. It's sexy af and we see Sarah start to come into her own with Dario leading the way.
"..if I ever leave you, you'll know how to decide what to do and who to be. You'll be strong enough to save yourself when I can't."
After the cliffhanger of book 1, I had to wonder if this relationship was all just a game. But mafia and families work in different ways. Dario may have already been married, but he is falling in love with Sarah and wants to make it real. Sarah has been raised one way and it's to serve others. She doesn't know about the outside world, but Dario is going to make damn sure that she knows how to survive.
As with all books that belong to series, I love that we get to see character growth. Sarah is thrown out to the world and Dario is helping her see her worth. She has a lot to learn, but just the growth she showed in this book was tremendous. Also, can we talk about the sexy times? Because these two get it and it's hot AF. They become one and protective of one another and the families are going to have to watch out for them. One is a target, but the other is the bullseye. Who's going to win this round?
Can't wait for Sarah and Dario to drive this one home in the final book. I'll be waiting (not so) patiently.
Make Me is book two in the Manhattan Mafia trilogy, so you know that this won't get all tied up yet. This is the "middle child" book and comes with lots of high paced action, sinfully delicious sex and twists leading the charge. It's no holds barred. It's sexy af and we see Sarah start to come into her own with Dario leading the way.
"..if I ever leave you, you'll know how to decide what to do and who to be. You'll be strong enough to save yourself when I can't."
After the cliffhanger of book 1, I had to wonder if this relationship was all just a game. But mafia and families work in different ways. Dario may have already been married, but he is falling in love with Sarah and wants to make it real. Sarah has been raised one way and it's to serve others. She doesn't know about the outside world, but Dario is going to make damn sure that she knows how to survive.
As with all books that belong to series, I love that we get to see character growth. Sarah is thrown out to the world and Dario is helping her see her worth. She has a lot to learn, but just the growth she showed in this book was tremendous. Also, can we talk about the sexy times? Because these two get it and it's hot AF. They become one and protective of one another and the families are going to have to watch out for them. One is a target, but the other is the bullseye. Who's going to win this round?
Can't wait for Sarah and Dario to drive this one home in the final book. I'll be waiting (not so) patiently.
June 5, 2022
So in this book we find out about some of the secrets that were sort of revealed at the end of the first book. I have to be honest, there is a lot of violence and some of it is not so pretty - but that should be expected from a dark mafia romance. It always amazes me how she can create these worlds that are unlike anybody else’s. I enjoyed this book and I’m anxiously awaiting the finale which looks to be pretty interesting.
June 13, 2022
Make Me by CD Reiss is the second book in the Manhattan Mafia and after the way the first book ended, I could not wait to start this one. This is a trilogy and must be read in order for best enjoyment and to understand the story. You can find my review for book one, Take Me, here. I loved it as well and highly recommend this series.
When you start the book you get a quick look at what is coming and then go to back where we left off in book one and let me tell you, be ready for quite the ride! Dario and Sarah are connected in so many ways and their chemistry is undeniable and off the charts. But above all that, this was also Sarah’s book. It showed her growth and understanding of the world she came from and her choices. And the best part, Dario was with her every step of the way. And the commitment they had to each other; it was everything. Dario was protective, caring and yet he was as ruthless as needed to protect the woman he loves. This book is full of surprises and twists and that ending! I loved it and I cannot wait to see where it all ends.
Happy reading!
When you start the book you get a quick look at what is coming and then go to back where we left off in book one and let me tell you, be ready for quite the ride! Dario and Sarah are connected in so many ways and their chemistry is undeniable and off the charts. But above all that, this was also Sarah’s book. It showed her growth and understanding of the world she came from and her choices. And the best part, Dario was with her every step of the way. And the commitment they had to each other; it was everything. Dario was protective, caring and yet he was as ruthless as needed to protect the woman he loves. This book is full of surprises and twists and that ending! I loved it and I cannot wait to see where it all ends.
Happy reading!
October 29, 2022
I want him. I want him. I want him. I want him. I want Dario Lucari more than I want pizza bianco right now. And I really, really, really fucking want pizza bianco. I think it might be my new obsession. Dario and pizza oh how delicious.
I feel like my brain is rattling in my head. Like it’s come a little bit loose and it’s been bashed about.
Take Me ended on a bombshell. Make Me ends with the world on fire. Dead in a donut shop, what a way to go!
I absolutely could not wait to find out what Christine was going to do with this story. The beautiful Sarah Colonia taken from her controlling family who still live in a dark world where men rule and women are there to serve them. Dario Lucari, is he a saviour or a monster?
What about Nico? What about Dafne? Willa? How much angst and torture would CD Reiss put me through before I could breathe and stop my brain from spinning in my head? The answer, is…lots! I still can’t breathe!
The sex is hot. The writing is stunning. The plot is twisted and intriguing. And now we must wait for answers. I love a cliffy!
“I stole a block of marble and brought home a work of art, carved by a genius.”
“Men are the most patient predators in the animal kingdom, and Dario Lucari is at the apex.”
“The shape of the pain has a dozen points, like a stamp on a certificate or a volatile star. The pleasure is rounded, yielding, curved, and sloped like an approaching tidal wave.”
“I trace my thumb along her neck. Tomorrow I may live in a world where I am separated from this collarbone. This throat. This chin. If only happiness stuck to a soul for as long as anger does.”
“I will stand beside him, with him, and for him. I will sin in his name. I will not leave him behind.”
Holy smoking book hangover.
Addendum - with the end of the series nigh, I decided to re-read Take Me and Make Me. I honestly forgot how stunning the writing is. I highlighted the crap out of it. The words, oh my god, the words, they are just so perfect. The way CD Reiss can describe a scene so clearly or a noise, or just about anything. She’s a master of her craft.
I’d also forgotten about how a hard man like Dario Lucari morphs from a man hell bent on revenge when he is with Sarah. He softens, he smiles, he becomes soft and pliable like dough. I love him even more with my re-read.
Still, I can’t get My Sarah by Thin Lizzy out of my head.
I feel like my brain is rattling in my head. Like it’s come a little bit loose and it’s been bashed about.
Take Me ended on a bombshell. Make Me ends with the world on fire. Dead in a donut shop, what a way to go!
I absolutely could not wait to find out what Christine was going to do with this story. The beautiful Sarah Colonia taken from her controlling family who still live in a dark world where men rule and women are there to serve them. Dario Lucari, is he a saviour or a monster?
What about Nico? What about Dafne? Willa? How much angst and torture would CD Reiss put me through before I could breathe and stop my brain from spinning in my head? The answer, is…lots! I still can’t breathe!
The sex is hot. The writing is stunning. The plot is twisted and intriguing. And now we must wait for answers. I love a cliffy!
“I stole a block of marble and brought home a work of art, carved by a genius.”
“Men are the most patient predators in the animal kingdom, and Dario Lucari is at the apex.”
“The shape of the pain has a dozen points, like a stamp on a certificate or a volatile star. The pleasure is rounded, yielding, curved, and sloped like an approaching tidal wave.”
“I trace my thumb along her neck. Tomorrow I may live in a world where I am separated from this collarbone. This throat. This chin. If only happiness stuck to a soul for as long as anger does.”
“I will stand beside him, with him, and for him. I will sin in his name. I will not leave him behind.”
Holy smoking book hangover.
Addendum - with the end of the series nigh, I decided to re-read Take Me and Make Me. I honestly forgot how stunning the writing is. I highlighted the crap out of it. The words, oh my god, the words, they are just so perfect. The way CD Reiss can describe a scene so clearly or a noise, or just about anything. She’s a master of her craft.
I’d also forgotten about how a hard man like Dario Lucari morphs from a man hell bent on revenge when he is with Sarah. He softens, he smiles, he becomes soft and pliable like dough. I love him even more with my re-read.
Still, I can’t get My Sarah by Thin Lizzy out of my head.
August 22, 2023
After the cliffhanger at the end of book 1, I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.
This installment in the Manhattan mafia series, just keeps getting better.
Fast paced, full of twists and surprises, this dark hot mafia romance is totally unapologetic in how Sarah and Dario’s story continues to grow and evolve. Here we begin so see just what Sarah is made of and what she’s capable of doing. She takes center stage as she shows there’s more to her than anyone believes.
What happens and how it all plays out with Dario and his secrets?… well, you’ll have to read and find out what happens!
Another epic cliffhanger and I’m needing book 3 now!
This installment in the Manhattan mafia series, just keeps getting better.
Fast paced, full of twists and surprises, this dark hot mafia romance is totally unapologetic in how Sarah and Dario’s story continues to grow and evolve. Here we begin so see just what Sarah is made of and what she’s capable of doing. She takes center stage as she shows there’s more to her than anyone believes.
What happens and how it all plays out with Dario and his secrets?… well, you’ll have to read and find out what happens!
Another epic cliffhanger and I’m needing book 3 now!
May 31, 2022
I know exactly which video she means.
Where I made her strip naked.
And kneel.
And beg for water.
And take off the one bit of clothing she begged to keep.
The greenhouse comes up. I lean over the keyboard, fast forwarding so I don’t have to confirm what a monster I am with an unwilling woman kneeling into my crotch.
He is an ass hole big time
I really dont care about what happened to him at all
The first book broke my heart for sara
She was a kid in the mind and he know it and yet keep his plans
So i am have any concerns for him at the end of this book?
No
Big one
He is a pig and didn't deserve her
Where I made her strip naked.
And kneel.
And beg for water.
And take off the one bit of clothing she begged to keep.
The greenhouse comes up. I lean over the keyboard, fast forwarding so I don’t have to confirm what a monster I am with an unwilling woman kneeling into my crotch.
He is an ass hole big time
I really dont care about what happened to him at all
The first book broke my heart for sara
She was a kid in the mind and he know it and yet keep his plans
So i am have any concerns for him at the end of this book?
No
Big one
He is a pig and didn't deserve her
June 29, 2022
Not impressed
Boring conversation. Let's have sex. I'm going to teach you something. Leads to sex. Sarah whines. Then they have sex. And so on , and so on...
Boring conversation. Let's have sex. I'm going to teach you something. Leads to sex. Sarah whines. Then they have sex. And so on , and so on...
June 1, 2022
CD Reiss's Manhattan Mafia, a dark romance trilogy, continues in book 2, Make Me. After that bomb detonated at the end of the previous book, Take me, I knew I was in for an emotional ride when Dario Lucari and Sarah Colonia- his stolen, disillusioned bride's story continued on here in this story. She was the innocent, crown jeweled princess of his enemy and Dario was hell bent on ruining, then discarding her, but life had other plans for them.
Sarah resembled someone who might have been dropped headfirst into this modern day world from another time in the distant past- a sheltered life where women knew absolutely nothing except how to be obedient and not question anything. Now, the hatred she felt towards her capture after being taken from the life she once knew was shifting into something deeper the longer she lived with him. Could love be far behind?
Dario was an attractive, alpha anti- hero- a hard man with a softer side that Sarah didn't expect and was surprisingly addicted to his dominating, dirty roughness which excited her more than it should have. He was determined to teach her everything about the monsters from her former life while making sure she could survive without him if it came down to that. Sarah was a bright spot in his constant darkness, intelligent with a childlike innocence in a beautifully sexy package that he craved and was sworn to protect. It was getting to the point where he could hardly say no to whatever she asked for while trying to shield her from the harsh reality of both of their worlds. He never felt like this before- was it clouding his laser-like focus?
Make Me had all the ansgty drama and delicious steam I've come to expect and love in a Mafia romance. The shocking, heart pounding suspensefulness as the warring factions plotted against each other, trying to lure one another into the secret traps they'd set around the city. I love that CD Reiss doesn't sugar coat anything in her dark, sometimes violent, created worlds. I throughly enjoy any deep dive into the corners of her mind's depravity and welcome whatever she'll put me through- namely, the wringer and more than enough threads for me to be left clinging to. As expected, Ms. Reiss has succeeded in her evil plot- the one that makes me want that last book in this trilogy right now. I was given an early copy of this book to read and this my honest review of it.
Sarah resembled someone who might have been dropped headfirst into this modern day world from another time in the distant past- a sheltered life where women knew absolutely nothing except how to be obedient and not question anything. Now, the hatred she felt towards her capture after being taken from the life she once knew was shifting into something deeper the longer she lived with him. Could love be far behind?
Dario was an attractive, alpha anti- hero- a hard man with a softer side that Sarah didn't expect and was surprisingly addicted to his dominating, dirty roughness which excited her more than it should have. He was determined to teach her everything about the monsters from her former life while making sure she could survive without him if it came down to that. Sarah was a bright spot in his constant darkness, intelligent with a childlike innocence in a beautifully sexy package that he craved and was sworn to protect. It was getting to the point where he could hardly say no to whatever she asked for while trying to shield her from the harsh reality of both of their worlds. He never felt like this before- was it clouding his laser-like focus?
Make Me had all the ansgty drama and delicious steam I've come to expect and love in a Mafia romance. The shocking, heart pounding suspensefulness as the warring factions plotted against each other, trying to lure one another into the secret traps they'd set around the city. I love that CD Reiss doesn't sugar coat anything in her dark, sometimes violent, created worlds. I throughly enjoy any deep dive into the corners of her mind's depravity and welcome whatever she'll put me through- namely, the wringer and more than enough threads for me to be left clinging to. As expected, Ms. Reiss has succeeded in her evil plot- the one that makes me want that last book in this trilogy right now. I was given an early copy of this book to read and this my honest review of it.
June 4, 2022
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.
Dario Lucari kidnapped me when I was just a bride sold for territory...and made me a captive wife. He will never free me. I am his property and he lets me know that every time he hurts me. My hate for him burns hotter than the embers of love. But for how long?
Make Me is the second book in the Manhattan Mafia Series from C.D. Reiss. You need to read Take Me first or you are going to be really lost as this book picks up right were Take Me left off. I just though the first book was quiet the ride but Make Me is a book that is like getting on a rollercoaster and it never ever stopping. As you know Sarah is a sweet innocent girl when she is taken and Dario is caught in the very middle of a mafia war when he decides to take Sarah. Sarah however is not the only woman in his life even if he does want to make Sarah his wife in every sense of the word. I really felt for Sarah This poor girl is so sheltered she isn't even sure about a lot of things in the world we live in. Certainly not about technology and other things. This book is really good and had me on the edge of my seat and I just never wanted to put it down. I loved this book so much and I can not wait to get the other one in my hand. Don't even think about reading this series. Just do it!!! You will not regret it at all.
Dario Lucari kidnapped me when I was just a bride sold for territory...and made me a captive wife. He will never free me. I am his property and he lets me know that every time he hurts me. My hate for him burns hotter than the embers of love. But for how long?
Make Me is the second book in the Manhattan Mafia Series from C.D. Reiss. You need to read Take Me first or you are going to be really lost as this book picks up right were Take Me left off. I just though the first book was quiet the ride but Make Me is a book that is like getting on a rollercoaster and it never ever stopping. As you know Sarah is a sweet innocent girl when she is taken and Dario is caught in the very middle of a mafia war when he decides to take Sarah. Sarah however is not the only woman in his life even if he does want to make Sarah his wife in every sense of the word. I really felt for Sarah This poor girl is so sheltered she isn't even sure about a lot of things in the world we live in. Certainly not about technology and other things. This book is really good and had me on the edge of my seat and I just never wanted to put it down. I loved this book so much and I can not wait to get the other one in my hand. Don't even think about reading this series. Just do it!!! You will not regret it at all.
May 31, 2022
4.5 stars
As always, I can count on this author to take me on a wild ride. In this second installment, things have shifted from just a path to revenge with little regard to the consequences, to one where the characters have their priorities challenged. Don't get me wrong, the revenge is still there. Boy howdy is the revenge still there. There are times that this author scares me a little at how adept she is at creating these scenes because things like "hollowing" are the stuff of nightmares. It is like a horror film and I can't look away, instead, I am peaking through my fingers.
I knew going into this from the way that the author left the last book that it was going to be intense. I was correct in that assumption. Dario is still Dario, but he is growing as a person and I am liking those moments of vulnerability juxtaposed with his lethalness. Sarah also grew in this one. I liked that she was finding her spine and realizing the stakes of what was important. Even in her discomfort, she was seeing all the pieces as they were starting to fall into place. Their connection was fire and, dear lawd, were the steamy times HOT...
This ends on another critical spot of the story. I cannot wait to see how the author intends to bring this full circle because as things stand right now, I am not seeing very good things for Dario and Sarah.
As always, I can count on this author to take me on a wild ride. In this second installment, things have shifted from just a path to revenge with little regard to the consequences, to one where the characters have their priorities challenged. Don't get me wrong, the revenge is still there. Boy howdy is the revenge still there. There are times that this author scares me a little at how adept she is at creating these scenes because things like "hollowing" are the stuff of nightmares. It is like a horror film and I can't look away, instead, I am peaking through my fingers.
I knew going into this from the way that the author left the last book that it was going to be intense. I was correct in that assumption. Dario is still Dario, but he is growing as a person and I am liking those moments of vulnerability juxtaposed with his lethalness. Sarah also grew in this one. I liked that she was finding her spine and realizing the stakes of what was important. Even in her discomfort, she was seeing all the pieces as they were starting to fall into place. Their connection was fire and, dear lawd, were the steamy times HOT...
This ends on another critical spot of the story. I cannot wait to see how the author intends to bring this full circle because as things stand right now, I am not seeing very good things for Dario and Sarah.
June 3, 2022
Make Me is the second chapter in Dario & Sarah's bumpy journey, and it starts right back up where the first book, Take Me, left off which means YOU MUST READ THEM IN ORDER. Dario has really stepped in it, and he's super lucky that Sarah is a great girl with a big heart who forgives easily. I'm not going to lie though, I do wish she would have put him through the paces because of his questionable decisions but you know, not my journey LOL! These two are insanely hot together in their sexy time antics, and Dario is starting to realize that he's catching feelings along the way. Of course this is a mafia book so the action, suspense, and twists coming in hot & had my heart racing while I was on the edge of my seat. The best/worst part (however you choose to view it) is there's more to this story. Now, I'm all for more, but here's the "worst" part, I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK. I LOVE this brilliant & talented author so much that I'm already dying inside for the concluding chapter. HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
June 3, 2022
When Sarah was taken from the only life she had ever known all she wanted to do was to return but as finds herself adjusting to a life where she has the independence to make her own decisions she is torn between the feelings she has for her family and her feelings for Dario.
When Dario brought Sarah into his life, she was supposed to be a means to an end, but she has now become the meaning of his life. He is determined to protect her and that means giving her the power and strength that she needs to ensure that she is a force to be reckoned with.
The chemistry between them radiates off the pages, the surprises keep coming and the suspense continues to amp up and leaves you wondering what the future holds for this captivating couple.
When Dario brought Sarah into his life, she was supposed to be a means to an end, but she has now become the meaning of his life. He is determined to protect her and that means giving her the power and strength that she needs to ensure that she is a force to be reckoned with.
The chemistry between them radiates off the pages, the surprises keep coming and the suspense continues to amp up and leaves you wondering what the future holds for this captivating couple.
August 28, 2023
Loved this one. 4.5 for sure
May 31, 2022
This book has had me on the edge of my seat throughout. It is so incredibly intense, almost nerve wracking as events pile on event, where the violence of the Colonia seems to know no bounds, and where the love burning between Sarah and Dario increases with each page.
As always, CD Reiss writes with mature assurance and confidence in her story telling and I have been swept along, a willing participant.
Sarah is growing stronger and more informed. She is a force, building in strength and determination. Dario, too, is accepting changes and adapting. Part 2 of this trilogy has been a tough read at times, but totally unputtdownable. Absolutely thrilling. 💖💖💖💖💖💖
As always, CD Reiss writes with mature assurance and confidence in her story telling and I have been swept along, a willing participant.
Sarah is growing stronger and more informed. She is a force, building in strength and determination. Dario, too, is accepting changes and adapting. Part 2 of this trilogy has been a tough read at times, but totally unputtdownable. Absolutely thrilling. 💖💖💖💖💖💖
June 1, 2022
Epic!!!
Book two was EPIC and gave me all the feels!
I absolutely LOVED it! Oh the feels and the chemistry! This book has it all!
Book two kept me engaged the entire time! The intrigue, heat and all the moving parts left me speechless!
I can’t wait for the final book in this series!
This story is a must read!
No spoilers with my review!
If I could give more then 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ I would!
Book two was EPIC and gave me all the feels!
I absolutely LOVED it! Oh the feels and the chemistry! This book has it all!
Book two kept me engaged the entire time! The intrigue, heat and all the moving parts left me speechless!
I can’t wait for the final book in this series!
This story is a must read!
No spoilers with my review!
If I could give more then 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ I would!
October 23, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.2 stars
Book 2 of the trilogy, and it’s still really freaking good! 🙌 The story picks up beautifully from Take Me and keeps that same emotional grip... the kind that pulls you in and refuses to let go. ❤️
I’m holding off on a full breakdown until I finish the last book, but so far this series is delivering big-time on both heart and intensity. Can’t wait to see how it all wraps up! 📖🔥
Book 2 of the trilogy, and it’s still really freaking good! 🙌 The story picks up beautifully from Take Me and keeps that same emotional grip... the kind that pulls you in and refuses to let go. ❤️
I’m holding off on a full breakdown until I finish the last book, but so far this series is delivering big-time on both heart and intensity. Can’t wait to see how it all wraps up! 📖🔥
November 21, 2022
Love this book! Left off at a big cliff hanger and have to wait until October 😩
May 31, 2022
Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️
CD Reiss’s Make Me, book 2 of her Manhattan Mafia series, is a force of nature. That is probably an exaggeration, but there is something incredibly unique about this mafia romance even beyond her DiLustro Arrangement trilogy. I’m entranced with Reiss’s characterization of Sarah. As I read her books, I can’t help but consider Reiss’s political identity, laid bare on Twitter. As a former student of literature, I must consider Sarah’s evolution in light of Reiss’s social justice. Make Me is all things Reiss: heavy-handed in her eroticism, intoxicating action, a tyrannical world, a dominant, authoritative, dominant hero. These are the hallmarks of her stories. But it’s her capacity for drawing heroines in the shadows of these book traits that beguile you as a reader. In many mafia romances, the heroine can get lost in the larger-than-life alpha-hero. In this series and her last, the heroines take up the most space and overpower the trajectories of their heroes. They ask for more and rewrite the script on the traditional mafia romance.
In Make Me, Sarah’s journey involves understanding a world that has been kept from her. Each chapter involves another revelation of her world, and information is seen as a commodity for her autonomy. As if mimicking the challenges of our world, by the end of this book, we find Sarah standing in that power, making choices outside of Dario and her past. Reiss creates this anxiousness about Sarah’s lack of experience, especially at the book’s cliffhanger, but it’s clear that her superpower is her intuition. And you can’t help but wonder if that intuition, the sense often attributed mostly to women, will be the thing that saves the hero from himself and both of them from her past.
I’m intrigued and left ready for more of the Manhattan Mafia trilogy. I’m curious about the future of Dario and Sarah, to be sure. However, I’m more interested in Sarah’s ultimate power in this story. She’s already one of my favorite Reiss heroines.
CD Reiss’s Make Me, book 2 of her Manhattan Mafia series, is a force of nature. That is probably an exaggeration, but there is something incredibly unique about this mafia romance even beyond her DiLustro Arrangement trilogy. I’m entranced with Reiss’s characterization of Sarah. As I read her books, I can’t help but consider Reiss’s political identity, laid bare on Twitter. As a former student of literature, I must consider Sarah’s evolution in light of Reiss’s social justice. Make Me is all things Reiss: heavy-handed in her eroticism, intoxicating action, a tyrannical world, a dominant, authoritative, dominant hero. These are the hallmarks of her stories. But it’s her capacity for drawing heroines in the shadows of these book traits that beguile you as a reader. In many mafia romances, the heroine can get lost in the larger-than-life alpha-hero. In this series and her last, the heroines take up the most space and overpower the trajectories of their heroes. They ask for more and rewrite the script on the traditional mafia romance.
In Make Me, Sarah’s journey involves understanding a world that has been kept from her. Each chapter involves another revelation of her world, and information is seen as a commodity for her autonomy. As if mimicking the challenges of our world, by the end of this book, we find Sarah standing in that power, making choices outside of Dario and her past. Reiss creates this anxiousness about Sarah’s lack of experience, especially at the book’s cliffhanger, but it’s clear that her superpower is her intuition. And you can’t help but wonder if that intuition, the sense often attributed mostly to women, will be the thing that saves the hero from himself and both of them from her past.
I’m intrigued and left ready for more of the Manhattan Mafia trilogy. I’m curious about the future of Dario and Sarah, to be sure. However, I’m more interested in Sarah’s ultimate power in this story. She’s already one of my favorite Reiss heroines.
June 8, 2022
Dario and Sarah still have a rollercoaster of a relationship but omg when will they ever be at peace?!!! It seems like every time they turn its always a problem and them fighting a new enemy fighting for their lives. It seems like Dario doesn’t have enough ammunition to protect her and keep her safe because there os always some k e coming out from a corner trying to eliminate them. I can’t wait to see how this ends because its obvious that people underestimate at times the things Sarah can do.
March 26, 2025
More smut than plot, if there was less would have been 5 stars for me
June 1, 2022
Just when certain questions were answered know I have more then before so I can’t wait for the last part of the trilogy. I’m loving Sarah in this part of the trilogy cause she is coming into herself and is finding her voice when she never thought she could have one and Dario for all the times I want to kick him is finally seeing kinks in his armor when it comes to Sarah
November 4, 2022
Wow! Dario & Sarah Experience A Honeymoon-Type Phase As Their Story Continues. Their Dark Mafia Romance Is An Intense Read. It Is A Roller Coaster Ride Filled With Twists & Turns You Won’t See Coming. Secluded In Their Safe House, They Explore Their Feelings & Learn About What It Means To Be In Love. Sarah Might Change Dario, But His World Changes Her, Too.
ABOUT THE MANHATTAN MAFIA SERIES:
This is book two of the Manhattan Mafia trilogy. It is Dario and Sarah’s story.
The Manhattan Mafia includes:
1. Take Me
2. Make Me
3. Break Me
This series is a spinoff of The DiLustro Arrangement, a mafia trilogy that follows Santino and Violetta DiLustro’s story.
The DiLustro Arrangement includes:
1. Mafia Bride
2. Mafia King
3. Mafia Queen
FROM TAKE ME, BOOK 1:
The story opens in Autumn. Dario last saw Santino and Violetta in August. They had come to an agreement that allows Dario to borrow some of their men. Using the Cavallo men – Vito and Gennaro – will help Dario to implement his plan for the Colonia without detection.
The Colonia left the old country and settled in New York over two hundred years ago, but they live in the shadows. They are ghosts – they live outside of the law. Technically, they don’t exist.
Sarah Colonia, twenty-one, is ready for her wedding day. It was nearly a year ago that her father had taken her to Armistice Night. The annual event brings together the most important families of the underworld for an evening where differences are put aside. That was a momentous night for both Sarah and for the Colonia. It was the first time that the Colonia had been in attendance, and it was a public statement of the ultra-secretive organization’s intention to come out of the shadows. That Sarah accompanied her father to the event was a statement as well. Her father, Peter Colonia, was looking to form a strategic alliance with another family to help bring his people public. That led to Sarah’s betrothal to Sergio Agosti. Their marriage will be a political union.
Being a Colonia means that Sarah has been sheltered. While she was raised to be obedient, her brother Massimo likes breaking all the rules. He can get away with it, but if Sarah missteps, she gets a correction. Massimo is anxious for Sarah’s wedding day so that he can move up in the family. With Sarah married, he will officially be named successor to his father, Peter Colonia, on the next Armistice Night. Sarah will miss her little brother.
She faces a lot of unknowns in her married life. Her own mother, Mary Ballardo-Colonia, died years ago, but Sarah has been instructed on what to expect on her wedding night. She knows little of the world, however. Her days are spent with other Colonia women, cooking and keeping her father’s home. She has never been in public without an escort. Neither has she been to a store or a restaurant. Her entire life has revolved around her own people and Precious Blood, their church. But an outside wedding won’t bring the groom into the Colonia. It will cast Sarah out. Life as she knows it is over.
Dario Lucari, cold and calculating, has spent his life preparing to take down the Colonia. He has patiently accumulated the wealth needed to fund his operations, and after years of tireless work, he is about to take that first important step in his grand plan for revenge. His mother never deserved the death the Colonia dished out, and he won’t rest until their criminal organization is destroyed. They have no idea who he is or what motivates him, so they won’t see him coming. The first step in his plan involves humiliating Peter on his daughter’s wedding day. Sarah represents all that Dario detests, and bringing her to her knees will give him a sick sense of satisfaction. Dario has a few rules for the Colonia princess. Rule one: no questions. Rule two: obey. Rule three: give complete answers. Rule four: be loyal. Rule five: she belongs only to Dario.
Dario’s little slave was taught to obey, so he counts on her obedience as he furthers his plans. Little does he realize Sarah is about to turn his world upside down. As he uses her to advance his plans, the Colonia try to get their own justice. The book ends in an angsty cliffhanger.
The story is well-written and plot-driven. It is complex and layered. There are some circular conversations that occasionally get confusing or drag, but otherwise, it is a good read. The story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Dario and Sarah. I rate this book 4.5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
IN THIS BOOK:
As book one closed, Dario and Sarah knew they had something real despite their rocky beginning. Nico was still secretly embedded with the Colonia, playing lookout for Dario. Nico was determined to stay and help finish the job, but Oria was panicked about his safety. The original plan was to send Sarah away, so when Dario continued to delay, Oria finally took matters into her own hands. Willa showed up at her request, causing chaos just when the Colonia zeroed in on their location. When Sarah discovered that Dario was legally married to Willa, she began to question everything she thought she knew.
As this book opens, weeks have passed since Sarah was kidnapped. Dario meets with Massimo to appease Sarah’s request for peace. It goes against everything he has worked for since age thirteen, but Sarah has changed him in the twelve days that have passed since Willa returned from the island.
At that time, Dario and Sarah had relocated to a safe house outside of the city center. There they might have found refuge from the outside, but with Sarah’s trust shattered, they had much to overcome. Willa wanted to stick to the plan and take Sarah away, and Oria still wanted Nico back. Dario had work to do to finally bring the Colonia down, and their destruction was necessary not just because of his quest for vengeance, but because Sarah would never be safe until that happened. Meanwhile, Sarah was a fish out of water. She understood little about the modern world, and it was clear that she would never be safe in the world – with or without Dario – until she learned the ropes.
When the Colonia finally clear out of Dario’s building in the city, they leave a warning for Dario, heightening his concern for Sarah’s safety. He finds himself in unchartered waters as his feelings begin to overstep his sense of control. Things get ugly, and Sarah cannot be protected from the truth. She wants a happy ending with Dario. She wants peace. And she begins to sense her own power to make things happen. The story ends with a gut-clenching twist as everything turns upside down.
Wow! Dario and Sarah experience a honeymoon-type phase in their secluded safe house, exploring their feelings for one another and learning about what it means to be in love. The couple has good chemistry. Sarah might change Dario, but his world changes her, too. She tests her own power in her journey of discovery. Sarah is naïve in many ways, but she is also astute and quick to learn. When she doesn’t have help, she takes learning into her own hands. She is driven, undaunted by the unknown. It is the quiet before the storm. The story comes full circle when it catches up to Dario and Massimo’s meeting twelve days later. It has the potential to end the tensions between the warring sides, but things go sideways instead.
A few issues merit mention. *Spoilers* First, there are several lapses of judgment that feel inauthentic, particularly as it pertains to safety measures. There is also some circular reasoning. Next, there are a few pieces of evidence that are too conveniently overlooked. The nature of Dario and Willa’s relationship is initially portrayed more as a business arrangement, but later there are hints of it being more. It is inconsistent and begins to feel inauthentic. At one point, Willa tells Sarah that she doesn’t know everything – just the stakes. That is never explained, so I can only assume that will lead to some surprising revelations in book three. Finally, there are some scenes between Dario and Sarah that feel a bit overly dramatic.
Dario and Sarah’s dark mafia romance is an intense read. Dario doesn’t claim to be a good man. In fact, he is shockingly cruel. He lacks emotion and empathy – at least when it comes to the Colonia. Sarah gets none of his pity or compassion, yet she doesn’t buckle. Her loyalty to her people wins Dario’s reluctant admiration. One might describe her as a coward for obeying him, but it also takes great strength. There is a tiny rebel hidden inside of her that hopes to venture out – a hint of what may come. Dario, too, has another side, though he tries to remain focused. His true intentions with Sarah are unclear, so it keeps you flipping through the pages and looking for answers.
Dario and Sarah’s story is a roller coaster ride filled with twists and turns you won’t see coming. The story is well-written and plot-driven. It is complex and layered. The story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Dario and Sarah. I rate this book 4.5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
ABOUT THE MANHATTAN MAFIA SERIES:
This is book two of the Manhattan Mafia trilogy. It is Dario and Sarah’s story.
The Manhattan Mafia includes:
1. Take Me
2. Make Me
3. Break Me
This series is a spinoff of The DiLustro Arrangement, a mafia trilogy that follows Santino and Violetta DiLustro’s story.
The DiLustro Arrangement includes:
1. Mafia Bride
2. Mafia King
3. Mafia Queen
FROM TAKE ME, BOOK 1:
The story opens in Autumn. Dario last saw Santino and Violetta in August. They had come to an agreement that allows Dario to borrow some of their men. Using the Cavallo men – Vito and Gennaro – will help Dario to implement his plan for the Colonia without detection.
The Colonia left the old country and settled in New York over two hundred years ago, but they live in the shadows. They are ghosts – they live outside of the law. Technically, they don’t exist.
Sarah Colonia, twenty-one, is ready for her wedding day. It was nearly a year ago that her father had taken her to Armistice Night. The annual event brings together the most important families of the underworld for an evening where differences are put aside. That was a momentous night for both Sarah and for the Colonia. It was the first time that the Colonia had been in attendance, and it was a public statement of the ultra-secretive organization’s intention to come out of the shadows. That Sarah accompanied her father to the event was a statement as well. Her father, Peter Colonia, was looking to form a strategic alliance with another family to help bring his people public. That led to Sarah’s betrothal to Sergio Agosti. Their marriage will be a political union.
Being a Colonia means that Sarah has been sheltered. While she was raised to be obedient, her brother Massimo likes breaking all the rules. He can get away with it, but if Sarah missteps, she gets a correction. Massimo is anxious for Sarah’s wedding day so that he can move up in the family. With Sarah married, he will officially be named successor to his father, Peter Colonia, on the next Armistice Night. Sarah will miss her little brother.
She faces a lot of unknowns in her married life. Her own mother, Mary Ballardo-Colonia, died years ago, but Sarah has been instructed on what to expect on her wedding night. She knows little of the world, however. Her days are spent with other Colonia women, cooking and keeping her father’s home. She has never been in public without an escort. Neither has she been to a store or a restaurant. Her entire life has revolved around her own people and Precious Blood, their church. But an outside wedding won’t bring the groom into the Colonia. It will cast Sarah out. Life as she knows it is over.
Dario Lucari, cold and calculating, has spent his life preparing to take down the Colonia. He has patiently accumulated the wealth needed to fund his operations, and after years of tireless work, he is about to take that first important step in his grand plan for revenge. His mother never deserved the death the Colonia dished out, and he won’t rest until their criminal organization is destroyed. They have no idea who he is or what motivates him, so they won’t see him coming. The first step in his plan involves humiliating Peter on his daughter’s wedding day. Sarah represents all that Dario detests, and bringing her to her knees will give him a sick sense of satisfaction. Dario has a few rules for the Colonia princess. Rule one: no questions. Rule two: obey. Rule three: give complete answers. Rule four: be loyal. Rule five: she belongs only to Dario.
Dario’s little slave was taught to obey, so he counts on her obedience as he furthers his plans. Little does he realize Sarah is about to turn his world upside down. As he uses her to advance his plans, the Colonia try to get their own justice. The book ends in an angsty cliffhanger.
The story is well-written and plot-driven. It is complex and layered. There are some circular conversations that occasionally get confusing or drag, but otherwise, it is a good read. The story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Dario and Sarah. I rate this book 4.5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
IN THIS BOOK:
As book one closed, Dario and Sarah knew they had something real despite their rocky beginning. Nico was still secretly embedded with the Colonia, playing lookout for Dario. Nico was determined to stay and help finish the job, but Oria was panicked about his safety. The original plan was to send Sarah away, so when Dario continued to delay, Oria finally took matters into her own hands. Willa showed up at her request, causing chaos just when the Colonia zeroed in on their location. When Sarah discovered that Dario was legally married to Willa, she began to question everything she thought she knew.
As this book opens, weeks have passed since Sarah was kidnapped. Dario meets with Massimo to appease Sarah’s request for peace. It goes against everything he has worked for since age thirteen, but Sarah has changed him in the twelve days that have passed since Willa returned from the island.
At that time, Dario and Sarah had relocated to a safe house outside of the city center. There they might have found refuge from the outside, but with Sarah’s trust shattered, they had much to overcome. Willa wanted to stick to the plan and take Sarah away, and Oria still wanted Nico back. Dario had work to do to finally bring the Colonia down, and their destruction was necessary not just because of his quest for vengeance, but because Sarah would never be safe until that happened. Meanwhile, Sarah was a fish out of water. She understood little about the modern world, and it was clear that she would never be safe in the world – with or without Dario – until she learned the ropes.
When the Colonia finally clear out of Dario’s building in the city, they leave a warning for Dario, heightening his concern for Sarah’s safety. He finds himself in unchartered waters as his feelings begin to overstep his sense of control. Things get ugly, and Sarah cannot be protected from the truth. She wants a happy ending with Dario. She wants peace. And she begins to sense her own power to make things happen. The story ends with a gut-clenching twist as everything turns upside down.
Wow! Dario and Sarah experience a honeymoon-type phase in their secluded safe house, exploring their feelings for one another and learning about what it means to be in love. The couple has good chemistry. Sarah might change Dario, but his world changes her, too. She tests her own power in her journey of discovery. Sarah is naïve in many ways, but she is also astute and quick to learn. When she doesn’t have help, she takes learning into her own hands. She is driven, undaunted by the unknown. It is the quiet before the storm. The story comes full circle when it catches up to Dario and Massimo’s meeting twelve days later. It has the potential to end the tensions between the warring sides, but things go sideways instead.
A few issues merit mention. *Spoilers* First, there are several lapses of judgment that feel inauthentic, particularly as it pertains to safety measures. There is also some circular reasoning. Next, there are a few pieces of evidence that are too conveniently overlooked. The nature of Dario and Willa’s relationship is initially portrayed more as a business arrangement, but later there are hints of it being more. It is inconsistent and begins to feel inauthentic. At one point, Willa tells Sarah that she doesn’t know everything – just the stakes. That is never explained, so I can only assume that will lead to some surprising revelations in book three. Finally, there are some scenes between Dario and Sarah that feel a bit overly dramatic.
Dario and Sarah’s dark mafia romance is an intense read. Dario doesn’t claim to be a good man. In fact, he is shockingly cruel. He lacks emotion and empathy – at least when it comes to the Colonia. Sarah gets none of his pity or compassion, yet she doesn’t buckle. Her loyalty to her people wins Dario’s reluctant admiration. One might describe her as a coward for obeying him, but it also takes great strength. There is a tiny rebel hidden inside of her that hopes to venture out – a hint of what may come. Dario, too, has another side, though he tries to remain focused. His true intentions with Sarah are unclear, so it keeps you flipping through the pages and looking for answers.
Dario and Sarah’s story is a roller coaster ride filled with twists and turns you won’t see coming. The story is well-written and plot-driven. It is complex and layered. The story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Dario and Sarah. I rate this book 4.5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 20, 2022
I am sorry but Sarah is not only naive she is an utter and complete idiot. I can not believe how someone could be so in love with her…
January 5, 2023
Too slow ends on a cliffhanger and I don’t wanna pay for the next one
June 4, 2022
Shel: Make Me picks up immediately where Take Me left off and since it's been a while, you may want to cycle back to book one to jog your memory or maybe you've read book one recently or have a superior memory and can jump right into the action of Make Me.
Shel: In this second book, Sarah and Dario continue in their completely messed up, but somehow totally makes sense in my skewed world, romance as their embattled mafia world continues to get more and more twisted and dangerous. As per usual, C.D. Reiss manages to amp up the tension, while also lulling me into this sense that these two are totally going to make it through this. I vacillate from wanting to cover my eyes because I know the bad stuff is coming and wanting to rush through the pages to see what's happening next and how tortured I'm going to be by it. By the end I was equal parts horrified and hopeful about what lies ahead in the final book--though I suspect that things are going to get crazier and harder to read before I get to the end.
Shel: I know that I sound like a record on repeat when I talk about Reiss's prose but it's something that always stands out to me. Her prose is so spare and yet somehow poetic. She manages to create these vivid scenes and characters using the fewest words possible, which always makes me fly through her books feeling simultaneously satisfied and wanting more. Even with her standard style, the worlds she creates in each of her series is distinctive and memorable and always leaves me wanting more stories, more characters, more of what her twisted brain can dream up next.
Shel: While I'd love for Break Me to be here tomorrow, I am more than willing to wait to see how Reiss makes Sarah into the fierce baddy that she's becoming, continues to transform Dario into more of who he is --so strong and yet so soft for her, and gives an ending that will inevitably make me feel conflicted while also feeling happy that they ended up with each other. So yes, of course I want Break Me in my hands right now, but I'll wait because I know it'll be worth it.
Shel: In this second book, Sarah and Dario continue in their completely messed up, but somehow totally makes sense in my skewed world, romance as their embattled mafia world continues to get more and more twisted and dangerous. As per usual, C.D. Reiss manages to amp up the tension, while also lulling me into this sense that these two are totally going to make it through this. I vacillate from wanting to cover my eyes because I know the bad stuff is coming and wanting to rush through the pages to see what's happening next and how tortured I'm going to be by it. By the end I was equal parts horrified and hopeful about what lies ahead in the final book--though I suspect that things are going to get crazier and harder to read before I get to the end.
Shel: I know that I sound like a record on repeat when I talk about Reiss's prose but it's something that always stands out to me. Her prose is so spare and yet somehow poetic. She manages to create these vivid scenes and characters using the fewest words possible, which always makes me fly through her books feeling simultaneously satisfied and wanting more. Even with her standard style, the worlds she creates in each of her series is distinctive and memorable and always leaves me wanting more stories, more characters, more of what her twisted brain can dream up next.
Shel: While I'd love for Break Me to be here tomorrow, I am more than willing to wait to see how Reiss makes Sarah into the fierce baddy that she's becoming, continues to transform Dario into more of who he is --so strong and yet so soft for her, and gives an ending that will inevitably make me feel conflicted while also feeling happy that they ended up with each other. So yes, of course I want Break Me in my hands right now, but I'll wait because I know it'll be worth it.
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