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Family Ties
SHE’S THE TEMPTATION HE CAN’T RESIST
Gina Leonardi is seventeen and romantic. She wants to be an ordinary girl with a normal life, but it’s next to impossible. Her family is in the Mafia. She fights for her rights, mutinying against the world where men treat women like accessories.
HE IS EVERYTHING SHE HATES
Renzo Castellano is twenty-nine. He is a true Cosa Nostra. He has no room for sentiments because business always comes first for him. Taking care of a rebellious teenage girl is the last thing he wants.
A chance encounter shatters their worlds because it’s not always business; sometimes, it’s strictly personal!
Gina Leonardi is seventeen and romantic. She wants to be an ordinary girl with a normal life, but it’s next to impossible. Her family is in the Mafia. She fights for her rights, mutinying against the world where men treat women like accessories.
HE IS EVERYTHING SHE HATES
Renzo Castellano is twenty-nine. He is a true Cosa Nostra. He has no room for sentiments because business always comes first for him. Taking care of a rebellious teenage girl is the last thing he wants.
A chance encounter shatters their worlds because it’s not always business; sometimes, it’s strictly personal!
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2023
43 people are currently reading
1113 people want to read
About the author
Nat Chelloni
2 books72 followersI'm a TV personality, a screenwriter, a film critic, an avid book reader across all genres, and a self-published author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
February 14, 2023
Family Ties is the second book in Nat Chelloni’s mafia romance series, and it follows Gina and Renzo. I was excited for Gina’s story, as we met her in the first book, and I loved her character. I’m not generally a big mafia romance reader, though I’m not sure why. I always enjoy them, and Chelloni writes such compelling stories. I wasn’t disappointed. The story is slow-building, sexually tense swoon-tasticness!
The story takes place mainly in the Northeast, which is where I live. It was so fun to read about cities and places that are familiar to me, and I think I connected to the story a lot because of it. The plot focuses a lot on family and being part of the mafia lifestyle. Both are complicated and messy, and the rules and moral codes are very nuanced. Every major decision is a high-stakes decision with potentially disaterous results, and Renzo and Gina experience this with their families and the business.
I love me a strong, protective alpha hero, so I easily fell in love with Renzo. The way he treats Gina from the very beginning of the story is so sweet and caring and patient. Yet, as a mob leader, he is serious, and he let’s nothing get in his way. He is the youngest mob boss, and he’s known for his business savvy and ruthlessness, and we see it several times throughout the story. He’s also really smart, and his insight proves invaluable in business and his personal life. He’s a great character, complex and layered, and he has an interesting arc.
Gina has strong beliefs and often rebels against the mafia lifestyle she was raised in. She craves independence and feels stifled in her overprotective family. The hypocrisy and double standards she experiences frustrate and anger her to no end, and I don’t blame her. The last thing Gina wants is to be attached to a mobster, but, like Renzo, she can’t resist her feelings. I thought her character was very interesting. She has a lot of conflicting feelings, which I totally related to. She wants to appease her family and maintain her strong bond with them, but they want different things for her than she wants for herself. Ultimately, Gina just wants to be loved and accepted for who she is, flaws and all, and she fights to be heard among all the other loud voices in her life.
Gina and Renzo have a great connection from their first meeting, and as they grow closer (and some time has passed), their chemistry sizzles. They have a wonderfully slow-building and burning love story that begins as a friendship that turns into a marriage of convenience, which turns into so much more. I enjoyed the progression of their relationship and the growth of both characters as they fall in love and open themselves up to each other more. I also love that Renzo falls first. He is usually so in control, but he falls hard for Gina, and it was fantastic to see this strong, powerful, and sometimes ruthless man turn into a puddle of mush for the woman he loves.
Like the first book in the series, this story has a lot of intrigue and tense moments. With murder, nefarious plots, unwanted attentions, possible stalking, imprisonment, and more, Renzo and Gina face many obstacles, as do their families. And family is a strong theme and component of the story. Gina’s relationships with her brother, mother, and father are all tested in different ways, and Renzo’s relationship with his family is also challenged, though not in the same ways as Gina’s. It all makes for an interesting plot and an immersive read!
Special thanks to Nat Chelloni for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
The story takes place mainly in the Northeast, which is where I live. It was so fun to read about cities and places that are familiar to me, and I think I connected to the story a lot because of it. The plot focuses a lot on family and being part of the mafia lifestyle. Both are complicated and messy, and the rules and moral codes are very nuanced. Every major decision is a high-stakes decision with potentially disaterous results, and Renzo and Gina experience this with their families and the business.
I love me a strong, protective alpha hero, so I easily fell in love with Renzo. The way he treats Gina from the very beginning of the story is so sweet and caring and patient. Yet, as a mob leader, he is serious, and he let’s nothing get in his way. He is the youngest mob boss, and he’s known for his business savvy and ruthlessness, and we see it several times throughout the story. He’s also really smart, and his insight proves invaluable in business and his personal life. He’s a great character, complex and layered, and he has an interesting arc.
Gina has strong beliefs and often rebels against the mafia lifestyle she was raised in. She craves independence and feels stifled in her overprotective family. The hypocrisy and double standards she experiences frustrate and anger her to no end, and I don’t blame her. The last thing Gina wants is to be attached to a mobster, but, like Renzo, she can’t resist her feelings. I thought her character was very interesting. She has a lot of conflicting feelings, which I totally related to. She wants to appease her family and maintain her strong bond with them, but they want different things for her than she wants for herself. Ultimately, Gina just wants to be loved and accepted for who she is, flaws and all, and she fights to be heard among all the other loud voices in her life.
Gina and Renzo have a great connection from their first meeting, and as they grow closer (and some time has passed), their chemistry sizzles. They have a wonderfully slow-building and burning love story that begins as a friendship that turns into a marriage of convenience, which turns into so much more. I enjoyed the progression of their relationship and the growth of both characters as they fall in love and open themselves up to each other more. I also love that Renzo falls first. He is usually so in control, but he falls hard for Gina, and it was fantastic to see this strong, powerful, and sometimes ruthless man turn into a puddle of mush for the woman he loves.
Like the first book in the series, this story has a lot of intrigue and tense moments. With murder, nefarious plots, unwanted attentions, possible stalking, imprisonment, and more, Renzo and Gina face many obstacles, as do their families. And family is a strong theme and component of the story. Gina’s relationships with her brother, mother, and father are all tested in different ways, and Renzo’s relationship with his family is also challenged, though not in the same ways as Gina’s. It all makes for an interesting plot and an immersive read!
Special thanks to Nat Chelloni for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
March 25, 2023
4.5 ⭐️'s
This was my first book from Nat Chelloni, and it won't be my last! If you love a slow burn, age gap, mafia romance with a marriage of convenience, then you absolutely need to read this book!
This book is Renzo and Gina's story about two people who have mutual respect for each other, which leads to so much more......unexpectedly. What do you expect to happen when two people who have so much sexual chemistry are pushed together..... the inevitable, of course!!
I loved the banter between Gina and Renzo, but the chemistry and love drew me into the story and wouldn't let go. I was definitely invested in this story and didn't want it to end!!! I need more Renzo and Gina!!!
This was my first book from Nat Chelloni, and it won't be my last! If you love a slow burn, age gap, mafia romance with a marriage of convenience, then you absolutely need to read this book!
This book is Renzo and Gina's story about two people who have mutual respect for each other, which leads to so much more......unexpectedly. What do you expect to happen when two people who have so much sexual chemistry are pushed together..... the inevitable, of course!!
I loved the banter between Gina and Renzo, but the chemistry and love drew me into the story and wouldn't let go. I was definitely invested in this story and didn't want it to end!!! I need more Renzo and Gina!!!
March 28, 2023
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ /5
“I don’t need any pick-up line because I already picked up the best prize.”
First off I want to say thank you to the author, Nat Chelloni for sending me this ARC for Family Ties.
I am a big fan of mafia romance books along with the other tropes and I really enjoyed reading about Renzo and Gina’s relationship. To start off, Gina Leonardi can be described as someone who has a different outlook on life as she feels trapped in the mafia world she was born in. She has side to her where she just wants to be a normal girl and do normal things but there are things with being in this world that is stopping her. Renzo Castellano is is mafia boss who makes sure he gets his jobs done and play no games about his business. When it comes to Gina, he is literally the sweetest person ever and would literally do anything for her! Their moments together were so good from start to finish in the book and the slow burn made it even better. The tension between them was immaculate. When it came to the part about their arranged marriage, Renzo was the best husband to Gina as he respected what she wanted to do which included her freedom to do as she pleases. The mafia aspect book was a little different from what I read in mafia books but overall it was really interesting to see how it played out. Gina and Renzo are now one of my favorite mafia couples and I am glad I had the opportunity to read about them!
Tropes:
- mafia romance
- slow burn
- age gap
- arranged marriage
- romantic suspense
- family saga
“I don’t need any pick-up line because I already picked up the best prize.”
First off I want to say thank you to the author, Nat Chelloni for sending me this ARC for Family Ties.
I am a big fan of mafia romance books along with the other tropes and I really enjoyed reading about Renzo and Gina’s relationship. To start off, Gina Leonardi can be described as someone who has a different outlook on life as she feels trapped in the mafia world she was born in. She has side to her where she just wants to be a normal girl and do normal things but there are things with being in this world that is stopping her. Renzo Castellano is is mafia boss who makes sure he gets his jobs done and play no games about his business. When it comes to Gina, he is literally the sweetest person ever and would literally do anything for her! Their moments together were so good from start to finish in the book and the slow burn made it even better. The tension between them was immaculate. When it came to the part about their arranged marriage, Renzo was the best husband to Gina as he respected what she wanted to do which included her freedom to do as she pleases. The mafia aspect book was a little different from what I read in mafia books but overall it was really interesting to see how it played out. Gina and Renzo are now one of my favorite mafia couples and I am glad I had the opportunity to read about them!
Tropes:
- mafia romance
- slow burn
- age gap
- arranged marriage
- romantic suspense
- family saga
March 21, 2023
Gina Leonardi has a bright future, if only she could put some distance between herself and her controlling mafia family. Being the granddaughter of a powerful Cosa Nostra don can be stifling, but she’s taken some well-meaning advice from a “family” associate and parlayed her degree into a job in lighting design. Her gratitude towards handsome, wisdom-dispensing Renzo Castellano, turns sour with betrayal when she learns that she must marry the de facto boss of the Castellano family.
Family Ties is a long anticipated follow up to debut mafia romance, A Favor for a Favor. Nat Chelloni welcomes us back into the homes of New York’s mafia families: the Leonardis and the Castellanos. Gina and Renzo were bound to cross paths travelling in the same circles, but their flirtatious attraction and smouldering slow burn belies their age-gap and different life goals.
Renzo is sexy and protective and well equipped to handle his enemies, but falls so hard for Gina that it drives him nearly out of his mind. I’ve always enjoyed the “he falls first” trope and Renzo’s torture is really quite fun! I loved how he was both the perfect gentleman and husband for Gina and also the ultimate crime boss.
Gina is rebellious but not too bratty. I adored Gina for transitioning from rebellious mafia princess to stalwart lover. They were both exactly what each other needed and I could feel their chemistry and longing, even when they were lying to themselves about what they wanted!
Mafia romance capitalizes on crafting a perfect mate out of a hardened criminal and this one truly delivers on that fantasy. An exceptional read!
(This is an ARC review from an author-gifted copy.)
Family Ties is a long anticipated follow up to debut mafia romance, A Favor for a Favor. Nat Chelloni welcomes us back into the homes of New York’s mafia families: the Leonardis and the Castellanos. Gina and Renzo were bound to cross paths travelling in the same circles, but their flirtatious attraction and smouldering slow burn belies their age-gap and different life goals.
Renzo is sexy and protective and well equipped to handle his enemies, but falls so hard for Gina that it drives him nearly out of his mind. I’ve always enjoyed the “he falls first” trope and Renzo’s torture is really quite fun! I loved how he was both the perfect gentleman and husband for Gina and also the ultimate crime boss.
Gina is rebellious but not too bratty. I adored Gina for transitioning from rebellious mafia princess to stalwart lover. They were both exactly what each other needed and I could feel their chemistry and longing, even when they were lying to themselves about what they wanted!
Mafia romance capitalizes on crafting a perfect mate out of a hardened criminal and this one truly delivers on that fantasy. An exceptional read!
(This is an ARC review from an author-gifted copy.)
January 20, 2023
This is the second book by this author for me and definitely not the last. I love mafia romances and Nat Chelloni writes one of the best mafia stories.
Her stories are not only romances, she describes the entire mafia world in detail. The story and the people are in the foreground and it's incredibly exciting and interesting to read about this exciting and complicated life. I love that this story is not mainly about the lovers, but actually an exciting mafia story.
Yes, this book is of course, a love story and not just any kind of romance, but an incredible emotional and beautiful one.
Gina Leonardi is a stubborn, smart, talented and beautiful girl, who can't handle the thought that she belongs to a mafia family and tries to rebel at every step.
She hates everything in the mafia world and can't handle the knowledge that her family is made up of criminals.
She tries to rebel and the result almost ends in a disaster.
Renzo Castellano is twenty-nine.
A young mafia boss, or the head of the family as it is called in the mafia world. After taking over the title from his sick father, he's trying to lead the family as well as possible.
He is dedicated to his "job", but she is not happy.
He thought he would have more time before the responsibility fell on him, but he's been preparing for this moment all his life and he has no other choice. No one in this world has.
But something is missing in his life and he just needs to figure out what it's.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a very emotional and action-packed story.
❤️ What to expect: ❤️
- Marriage of convenience
- Age-gap
- Slow burn
- Friends-to-lovers
Her stories are not only romances, she describes the entire mafia world in detail. The story and the people are in the foreground and it's incredibly exciting and interesting to read about this exciting and complicated life. I love that this story is not mainly about the lovers, but actually an exciting mafia story.
Yes, this book is of course, a love story and not just any kind of romance, but an incredible emotional and beautiful one.
Gina Leonardi is a stubborn, smart, talented and beautiful girl, who can't handle the thought that she belongs to a mafia family and tries to rebel at every step.
She hates everything in the mafia world and can't handle the knowledge that her family is made up of criminals.
She tries to rebel and the result almost ends in a disaster.
Renzo Castellano is twenty-nine.
A young mafia boss, or the head of the family as it is called in the mafia world. After taking over the title from his sick father, he's trying to lead the family as well as possible.
He is dedicated to his "job", but she is not happy.
He thought he would have more time before the responsibility fell on him, but he's been preparing for this moment all his life and he has no other choice. No one in this world has.
But something is missing in his life and he just needs to figure out what it's.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a very emotional and action-packed story.
❤️ What to expect: ❤️
- Marriage of convenience
- Age-gap
- Slow burn
- Friends-to-lovers
February 8, 2023
Family Ties can be read as a standalone novel. However, you may have your curiosity piqued and will want to read Nat Chelloni’s first book, A Favor for a Favor.
I adore Gina from the first book. She’s a romantic with big visions of living an ordinary life. She’s a troublemaker and a rebel, much to her Mafia family’s dismay.
Renzo is a key player in the Mafia world and everything Gina abhors. He’s no-nonsense, practical, and easygoing.
But small encounters have Gina falling under Renzo’s guidance, a quasi-mentorship. He sees her wild spirit and tries to help her achieve her goals in the confines of their world, but he never snuffs out her spirit and wiles.
You’ve been warned this is a page-turner, a culmination of mysteries and shifting business deals that pins Gina in an unfavorable position and leaves Renzo little room to save them.
I love the relationship between Renzo and Gina. I adore Gina’s strong principles. Renzo, this man 𝒊𝒔 romance, his character is unshakable, and his dedication to Gina is eternal. The shift in their personalities to accommodate one another is the blueprint of soulmates.
*I shamelessly begged Nat for more of Gina and Renzo, so let’s see what happens. 👀
Rate: 5☆
POV: 3rd/Dual
HEA: ☑️
Tropes: arranged marriage, age gap, slow burn, friends to lovers, + mystery suspense.
[ARC generously provided by author. This is my honest review.]
I adore Gina from the first book. She’s a romantic with big visions of living an ordinary life. She’s a troublemaker and a rebel, much to her Mafia family’s dismay.
Renzo is a key player in the Mafia world and everything Gina abhors. He’s no-nonsense, practical, and easygoing.
But small encounters have Gina falling under Renzo’s guidance, a quasi-mentorship. He sees her wild spirit and tries to help her achieve her goals in the confines of their world, but he never snuffs out her spirit and wiles.
You’ve been warned this is a page-turner, a culmination of mysteries and shifting business deals that pins Gina in an unfavorable position and leaves Renzo little room to save them.
I love the relationship between Renzo and Gina. I adore Gina’s strong principles. Renzo, this man 𝒊𝒔 romance, his character is unshakable, and his dedication to Gina is eternal. The shift in their personalities to accommodate one another is the blueprint of soulmates.
*I shamelessly begged Nat for more of Gina and Renzo, so let’s see what happens. 👀
Rate: 5☆
POV: 3rd/Dual
HEA: ☑️
Tropes: arranged marriage, age gap, slow burn, friends to lovers, + mystery suspense.
[ARC generously provided by author. This is my honest review.]
August 1, 2023
Omg! I was just mind blown by how intriguing and amazingly written this book was. It had me wanting more so much so that I could not put it down. I loved Dom and Julia’s book but Gina and Renzo my God was this one so much better. Their love story was just amazing, you could see from their interaction at Julia’s wedding that they had a connection that created a bond between them. It might have taken a while to build up their romance (that slow burn was no joke) but it was well worth it and made so much sense why Gina was reserved in her feelings. But Jesus the way Renzo fell head over heels in love so quickly that it was killing him when she wouldn’t reciprocate those feelings right away. That ending was brutal but I’m so glad that happened for Gina and Renzo because it made them so much stronger as a couple. Thank you Nat for giving me this as an ARC reader (all thoughts are my own) so appreciate it and I will be rereading it for the next few months. Everybody go and read this, you will not regret it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2025
Це була моя перша книга цієї авторки, і я точно читатиму її книги ще.💎
Пара: Ренцо & Джина
Тропи:
⋆ мафія
⋆ шлюб за домовленістю
⋆ різниця у віці (11 років)
⋆ вимушена близкість
⋆ від друзів до закоханих
⋆ slow burn
Зазвичай я рідко читаю книги, написані від третьої особи, але ця мені дуже сподобалася!
Я повністю закохалась в історію Ренцо та Джини з перших сторінок.
Ренцо Кастеллано – справжній мафіозі до глибини душі. Після довгих років він знову бачить її на весіллі.
Мені сподобалось як вона йому нагадала про себе, коли думала що тато її побачить як та палить. Це було мило.🥹
" Фух, це ти. Ти мене дуже налякав. Сподіваюсь ти не р��зповісиш моєму батькові?
- Хто твій батько?
- Ти не па'ятаєш мене, Ренцо? Я Джина Леонарді. Племінниця Джулії, я завжди ходила за тобою, коли ви з Річчі були з нею, та одного разу ми навіть ходили разом в боулінг."
Доречі про Джулію теж є книга. І тепер я планую її теж читати.🙈
Знову вони зустрічаються, і час поїздки до Лас-Вегаса Ренцо рятує її з непростої ситуації.
І скажу що вони обоє постійно стикаються, хімію між ними можна було чути за кілометр.
І між ними було щось подібне до дружби, і коли в Джини викникає проблема, вона пригадує що Ренцо їй говорив подзвонити і він їй допоможе.
Але Джина не мріє про життя дружини мафіозі. Вона не хоче бути черговою жінкою, якій зраджує чоловік. Її мета – побудувати власну кар’єру.
Ренцо, безумовно, гарячий і харизматичний чоловік, але він частина світу, від якого вона намагається втекти.
Він робить все щоб її врятувати від шлюбу, і визивається добровольцем , вона ображається на нього, каже шо він брехав, і зрадив її, але врешті-решт він розповідає що іншого вибору в нього не було, та вона погоджується типу на "фальшивий шлюб" і ситуація стає ще більш заплутаною.
І ось уже в цій грі на кону не тільки їхні життя, а й їхні серця.
Ренцо та Джина склали чудову пару з неймовірною хімією. Ренцо був розумним, холоднокровним і бездоганним мафіозним босом, але водночас для Джини він став найніжнішим і найдобрішим чоловіком. Мені дуже сподобалося, як він ставився до неї – з терпінням, турботою та захистом. Особливо сподобалося, що він поважав її бажання бути собою та робити те, що їй подобається, адже саме цього Джина прагнула найбільше.
Джина повністю прийняла Ренцо, і мені сподобались її слова.
"Я не засуджую тебе. І не намагаюсь змінити, тому що знаю, що ти не можеш змінитись, навіть якщо дуже захочеш."
Кінець книги мене реально здивував, 7 місяців🥺
І як вони тримались коли вперше зустрілись, я плакала разом з героями.😭
Також мене приємно здивувала родина Джини, бо вони її захищали, і до останнього казали що зроблять все щоб розірвати весілля з Ренцо, якщо вона не хоче.
І брат, і її тато, і мати були повністю на її стороні.
В мафіозних романах це зустрічається рідко.
"Деякі речі, не діляться тільки на чорне та біле. Іноді кохання достатньо, а іноді ні. Все залежить від людини."
Епілог просто пушка, там було бувквально декілька речень.
Але все таки вони показали який є Ренцо.
І я в захваті.😍
Мені дуже сподобалась книга, вона принесла мені якийсь вайб першого покоління Кори Рейлі, хоча схожого нічого не було, але по відчуттям, було так коли ти починаєш книгу і розумієш що вона стане твоєю улбленою, тому рекомендую!❤️🔥
Пара: Ренцо & Джина
Тропи:
⋆ мафія
⋆ шлюб за домовленістю
⋆ різниця у віці (11 років)
⋆ вимушена близкість
⋆ від друзів до закоханих
⋆ slow burn
Зазвичай я рідко читаю книги, написані від третьої особи, але ця мені дуже сподобалася!
Я повністю закохалась в історію Ренцо та Джини з перших сторінок.
Ренцо Кастеллано – справжній мафіозі до глибини душі. Після довгих років він знову бачить її на весіллі.
Мені сподобалось як вона йому нагадала про себе, коли думала що тато її побачить як та палить. Це було мило.🥹
" Фух, це ти. Ти мене дуже налякав. Сподіваюсь ти не р��зповісиш моєму батькові?
- Хто твій батько?
- Ти не па'ятаєш мене, Ренцо? Я Джина Леонарді. Племінниця Джулії, я завжди ходила за тобою, коли ви з Річчі були з нею, та одного разу ми навіть ходили разом в боулінг."
Доречі про Джулію теж є книга. І тепер я планую її теж читати.🙈
Знову вони зустрічаються, і час поїздки до Лас-Вегаса Ренцо рятує її з непростої ситуації.
І скажу що вони обоє постійно стикаються, хімію між ними можна було чути за кілометр.
І між ними було щось подібне до дружби, і коли в Джини викникає проблема, вона пригадує що Ренцо їй говорив подзвонити і він їй допоможе.
Але Джина не мріє про життя дружини мафіозі. Вона не хоче бути черговою жінкою, якій зраджує чоловік. Її мета – побудувати власну кар’єру.
Ренцо, безумовно, гарячий і харизматичний чоловік, але він частина світу, від якого вона намагається втекти.
Він робить все щоб її врятувати від шлюбу, і визивається добровольцем , вона ображається на нього, каже шо він брехав, і зрадив її, але врешті-решт він розповідає що іншого вибору в нього не було, та вона погоджується типу на "фальшивий шлюб" і ситуація стає ще більш заплутаною.
І ось уже в цій грі на кону не тільки їхні життя, а й їхні серця.
Ренцо та Джина склали чудову пару з неймовірною хімією. Ренцо був розумним, холоднокровним і бездоганним мафіозним босом, але водночас для Джини він став найніжнішим і найдобрішим чоловіком. Мені дуже сподобалося, як він ставився до неї – з терпінням, турботою та захистом. Особливо сподобалося, що він поважав її бажання бути собою та робити те, що їй подобається, адже саме цього Джина прагнула найбільше.
Джина повністю прийняла Ренцо, і мені сподобались її слова.
"Я не засуджую тебе. І не намагаюсь змінити, тому що знаю, що ти не можеш змінитись, навіть якщо дуже захочеш."
Кінець книги мене реально здивував, 7 місяців🥺
І як вони тримались коли вперше зустрілись, я плакала разом з героями.😭
Також мене приємно здивувала родина Джини, бо вони її захищали, і до останнього казали що зроблять все щоб розірвати весілля з Ренцо, якщо вона не хоче.
І брат, і її тато, і мати були повністю на її стороні.
В мафіозних романах це зустрічається рідко.
"Деякі речі, не діляться тільки на чорне та біле. Іноді кохання достатньо, а іноді ні. Все залежить від людини."
Епілог просто пушка, там було бувквально декілька речень.
Але все таки вони показали який є Ренцо.
І я в захваті.😍
Мені дуже сподобалась книга, вона принесла мені якийсь вайб першого покоління Кори Рейлі, хоча схожого нічого не було, але по відчуттям, було так коли ти починаєш книгу і розумієш що вона стане твоєю улбленою, тому рекомендую!❤️🔥
July 8, 2024
Unlike the first book, this one spared us a heroine who isn’t inherently stupid or annoying. It's okayish enough, but the lack of an epilogue about the MCs leaves me feeling like I missed the final chapter of a so-so soap opera.
April 6, 2023
it’s no surprise that i absolutely loved this book. nat chelloni has an exceptional way of writing and engaging the readers into the story and i was so impressed with family ties.
from the very beginning, i adored the interaction between renzo and gina. the tidbits of dom and julia from the start were so heartwarming, because they’re one of my all time favourite couples.
the mystery and mafia plot playing out was so intriguing to read about. the story definitely grabbed my attention and held it towards the very end.
renzo was such a gentleman. sigh. but i loved the possessive side of him and how caring and thoughtful he was towards gina. gina had an explosive personality, she was a rebel who fought her own battles and was mature enough to stand her own ground, which i really admired about her character.
this was the slowest burn i’d ever read but every second was so damn worth it! once renzo and gina got together, it was so easy and natural for them and it played out really well in the story.
this book had mafia and romance in equal parts and was such a great read! i’d say this book got me out of a reading slump too because i couldn’t stop reading once i was into it, and also it was a fresh standpoint on mafia romance because of the incredible storyline.
from the very beginning, i adored the interaction between renzo and gina. the tidbits of dom and julia from the start were so heartwarming, because they’re one of my all time favourite couples.
the mystery and mafia plot playing out was so intriguing to read about. the story definitely grabbed my attention and held it towards the very end.
renzo was such a gentleman. sigh. but i loved the possessive side of him and how caring and thoughtful he was towards gina. gina had an explosive personality, she was a rebel who fought her own battles and was mature enough to stand her own ground, which i really admired about her character.
this was the slowest burn i’d ever read but every second was so damn worth it! once renzo and gina got together, it was so easy and natural for them and it played out really well in the story.
this book had mafia and romance in equal parts and was such a great read! i’d say this book got me out of a reading slump too because i couldn’t stop reading once i was into it, and also it was a fresh standpoint on mafia romance because of the incredible storyline.
January 13, 2023
Dear author you can't stop surprising me with your unique writing style!
The delicious age gap,arranged marriage romance in Family Ties is leading by Gina Leonardi the rebellious mafia princess, who is tired of the mafia life that surrounding her,and how all thinks that the women have no voting rights for nothing.
I really like how her relationship with Renzo Castellano the mafia boss started,first with friendships and then little by little development into something soo beautiful and strong between them.
Renzo was a sweetheart, not like the mafia men that I'm used to,maybe that is what make me like him so much.
He is perfect with hes caring side and ahh the possessivnest that he hase toward Gina was for sure amazing to read.😌
The delicious age gap,arranged marriage romance in Family Ties is leading by Gina Leonardi the rebellious mafia princess, who is tired of the mafia life that surrounding her,and how all thinks that the women have no voting rights for nothing.
I really like how her relationship with Renzo Castellano the mafia boss started,first with friendships and then little by little development into something soo beautiful and strong between them.
Renzo was a sweetheart, not like the mafia men that I'm used to,maybe that is what make me like him so much.
He is perfect with hes caring side and ahh the possessivnest that he hase toward Gina was for sure amazing to read.😌
April 4, 2023
I made the mistake to start this book very late at night. My intention was to read a chapter and continue it the next day without realizing i’ve had a page tuner on my hands.
From a very young age Gia Leonardi knew her family were part of the mafia but she didn’t want anything to do with the life. She only wanted her independent and be able to decide her own future. Never did she thought that she will have an arranged marriage with Renzo Castellano. Renzo was my favorite out of the two. I loved his loyalty, careness and possessiveness towards those he loved. The slow burn in this book almost killed me. Other than that, I highly recommend it.
Overall, this age gap,friend to lover, arranged marriage and mafia book is a most read. I can’t praise enough Nat’s style of writing.
From a very young age Gia Leonardi knew her family were part of the mafia but she didn’t want anything to do with the life. She only wanted her independent and be able to decide her own future. Never did she thought that she will have an arranged marriage with Renzo Castellano. Renzo was my favorite out of the two. I loved his loyalty, careness and possessiveness towards those he loved. The slow burn in this book almost killed me. Other than that, I highly recommend it.
Overall, this age gap,friend to lover, arranged marriage and mafia book is a most read. I can’t praise enough Nat’s style of writing.
March 19, 2023
“𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒎. 𝑺𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆.”
“𝑰𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒆?”
“𝒀𝒆𝒔, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔.”
[3.5 ⭐️]
This was my first book from this author and I will for sure read more of her books in the future. I don't read many books with 3rd person but I actually enjoyed reading this! Renzo and Gina were a good couple and had a great chemistry 😊 Renzo was smart, cold and great mafia boss but he was the sweetest man toward Gina. I love the way he was with Gina! How patient, caring and protective he was. Loved how he respected what she wanted to be and do and how he loved her for who she really was, because that's all Gina every wanted 🥹 Giana was rebellious because she wanted normal life, wanted people to love her for who she was and wanted to decide how to live her future, but she wasn't rude or bratty. They had many cute moments and I love how both characters changed to better versions of themselves while falling in love! Also love how close her and her brother become after the start and how he was always there for her 🫂 The story had a good suspense and also had a lot of mafia plot going on aside from romance, but there were many mafia family names to keep up with 😅
“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒅𝒊𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔. 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆. 𝑨 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆.”
Book Tropes 📝
— age gap
— slow burn
— arrange marriage
— romantic suspense
[ Thank you so much Nat Chelloni for the ARC! Book will be available March 31 ❤️ ]
Timeline and their age may or may not be confusing so I will break it down for you! They meet etch other once in relative weeding where she was 17 and he was 28! Then they meet months later by accident in Las Vegas, she was 18 and he was 29, he helped her and then they talk about stuff and after that meeting and talk both start devoting feelings! After several months they meet again and that where their story really started, she was 19 and he was 29 and when they got married, she was 19 and he was 30!
“𝑰𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒆?”
“𝒀𝒆𝒔, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔.”
[3.5 ⭐️]
This was my first book from this author and I will for sure read more of her books in the future. I don't read many books with 3rd person but I actually enjoyed reading this! Renzo and Gina were a good couple and had a great chemistry 😊 Renzo was smart, cold and great mafia boss but he was the sweetest man toward Gina. I love the way he was with Gina! How patient, caring and protective he was. Loved how he respected what she wanted to be and do and how he loved her for who she really was, because that's all Gina every wanted 🥹 Giana was rebellious because she wanted normal life, wanted people to love her for who she was and wanted to decide how to live her future, but she wasn't rude or bratty. They had many cute moments and I love how both characters changed to better versions of themselves while falling in love! Also love how close her and her brother become after the start and how he was always there for her 🫂 The story had a good suspense and also had a lot of mafia plot going on aside from romance, but there were many mafia family names to keep up with 😅
“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒅𝒊𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔. 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆. 𝑨 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆.”
Book Tropes 📝
— age gap
— slow burn
— arrange marriage
— romantic suspense
[ Thank you so much Nat Chelloni for the ARC! Book will be available March 31 ❤️ ]
Timeline and their age may or may not be confusing so I will break it down for you! They meet etch other once in relative weeding where she was 17 and he was 28! Then they meet months later by accident in Las Vegas, she was 18 and he was 29, he helped her and then they talk about stuff and after that meeting and talk both start devoting feelings! After several months they meet again and that where their story really started, she was 19 and he was 29 and when they got married, she was 19 and he was 30!
February 15, 2023
This book is a slow burn, arranged marriage and mafia romance. I wasn't sure about this book at first, but it grew on me though.
The chemistry between Renzo and Gina was off the chain and keep me hooked, you just want good things for them and I love they are so different and honest with each other. It was really sweet how they both pretended nothing was going on but kept getting drawn back to each other anyway.
The chemistry between Renzo and Gina was off the chain and keep me hooked, you just want good things for them and I love they are so different and honest with each other. It was really sweet how they both pretended nothing was going on but kept getting drawn back to each other anyway.
January 9, 2023
❤️ Marriage of Convenience
❤️Slow Burn
❤️Friends to Lovers
❤️Age Gap
Like a sensual tango performed under the sound of flying bullets, Family Ties by Nat Chelloni leads us gracefully through the steps of an epic love story set on fire in a dangerous mafia world.
Renzo Castellano and Gina Lombardi aren't supposed to be anything to each other until one fateful night brings them together and the best laid plans go awry. Consequently, Renzo and Gina end up in a marriage of convenience that tests their feelings and loyalties.
As Family Ties is set in the same world as A Favor for A Favor, we get to see some of the characters from that book too, due to this the reading felt like visiting a long lost friend. Also the mafia aspect, specifically the crime family dynamics monopolizes a great part of the book, we get a lot of insight from that point of view, which is undoubtedly unique and distinctive. Furthermore, the relationship between Gina and Renzo being the focal point of the story is often challenged by the vicious world they live in, hence more drama throughout the establishment of their connection and the building of their relationship as a married couple.
All in all, this little book brought a kaleidoscope of emotions in me, the tension and the angst was spectacular. It gave me everything I wanted from a mafia romance book!
📌ARC REVIEW
❤️Slow Burn
❤️Friends to Lovers
❤️Age Gap
Like a sensual tango performed under the sound of flying bullets, Family Ties by Nat Chelloni leads us gracefully through the steps of an epic love story set on fire in a dangerous mafia world.
Renzo Castellano and Gina Lombardi aren't supposed to be anything to each other until one fateful night brings them together and the best laid plans go awry. Consequently, Renzo and Gina end up in a marriage of convenience that tests their feelings and loyalties.
As Family Ties is set in the same world as A Favor for A Favor, we get to see some of the characters from that book too, due to this the reading felt like visiting a long lost friend. Also the mafia aspect, specifically the crime family dynamics monopolizes a great part of the book, we get a lot of insight from that point of view, which is undoubtedly unique and distinctive. Furthermore, the relationship between Gina and Renzo being the focal point of the story is often challenged by the vicious world they live in, hence more drama throughout the establishment of their connection and the building of their relationship as a married couple.
All in all, this little book brought a kaleidoscope of emotions in me, the tension and the angst was spectacular. It gave me everything I wanted from a mafia romance book!
📌ARC REVIEW
January 28, 2023
Another page-turner from Nat Chelloni. So hot, so swoony, and slow-burn. Don't even make me start talking about Renzo Castellano, a mafia boss I can guarantee you will never forget.
It's romantic suspense at its best, an exceptional treat for genre lovers and beyond.
ARC kindly provided by the author.
It's romantic suspense at its best, an exceptional treat for genre lovers and beyond.
ARC kindly provided by the author.
April 7, 2023
So so good.
I have to say, I love Nat's brain and the fantastic stories she tells. Family Ties it the second book in her mafia series and it was just as amazing as the first. Rinzo and Gina are so cute together.
Rinzo is protective of Gina from the get go. Even when he tried to convince himself she was too young, she still buried herself under his skin and there was no way he could stay away for long.
Gina wanted nothing to do with a mafia guy, or lifestyle but couldn't shake Rinzo. He may have been exactly what she never wanted but turned out to be exactly what she needed in every way.
There love is beautiful. They would do anything for one another. This is definitely a slow burn but still scorching hot. Highly recommend, especially if you are a lover of dark/mafia romance.
A huge thanks to Nat for allowing me the opportunity to receive an ARC copy of this book. Now I need it signed and on my shelf. This review is completely voluntary and one thousand percent my feelings about the story. I hope you give it a chance as it is an amazing read.
I have to say, I love Nat's brain and the fantastic stories she tells. Family Ties it the second book in her mafia series and it was just as amazing as the first. Rinzo and Gina are so cute together.
Rinzo is protective of Gina from the get go. Even when he tried to convince himself she was too young, she still buried herself under his skin and there was no way he could stay away for long.
Gina wanted nothing to do with a mafia guy, or lifestyle but couldn't shake Rinzo. He may have been exactly what she never wanted but turned out to be exactly what she needed in every way.
There love is beautiful. They would do anything for one another. This is definitely a slow burn but still scorching hot. Highly recommend, especially if you are a lover of dark/mafia romance.
A huge thanks to Nat for allowing me the opportunity to receive an ARC copy of this book. Now I need it signed and on my shelf. This review is completely voluntary and one thousand percent my feelings about the story. I hope you give it a chance as it is an amazing read.
March 31, 2023
This is the second book in this series, but can be read as a standalone. It is a contemporary, mafia, age-gap, marriage of convenience, friends to lovers, slow burn romance that will leave you absolutely in love with its MC’s, Gina and Renzo.
I loved the writing, flow, character development, relationship development, storytelling, and storyline. This book has so much intrigue that it keeps you deeply enthralled in the story. I especially love romance reads, but I also loved how in this story the mafia aspect takes the drivers seat, and the romance kinda takes the passenger, and I must say, it really works!
Gina was raised in a mafia family, but is not a huge fan, I simply love her rebellious tendencies. Renzo is a mafia boss with a protective nature that I adore. I loved the wicked chemistry and steam between these two. I also loved the magnetic pull that they have toward each other.
I loved this book and would definitely recommend it for mafia lovers. I am super excited to see what’s next in this series.
I loved the writing, flow, character development, relationship development, storytelling, and storyline. This book has so much intrigue that it keeps you deeply enthralled in the story. I especially love romance reads, but I also loved how in this story the mafia aspect takes the drivers seat, and the romance kinda takes the passenger, and I must say, it really works!
Gina was raised in a mafia family, but is not a huge fan, I simply love her rebellious tendencies. Renzo is a mafia boss with a protective nature that I adore. I loved the wicked chemistry and steam between these two. I also loved the magnetic pull that they have toward each other.
I loved this book and would definitely recommend it for mafia lovers. I am super excited to see what’s next in this series.
April 14, 2023
Headstrong Gina Leonardi wants to live life on her own terms but that is beginning to prove difficult when her family is in the Mafia and women’s rights are non-existent.
Ruthless mob boss Renzo Castellano represents everything Gina despises but from their first encounter, their mutual attraction is undeniable. Both try to resist for differing reasons but when a mob arrangement requires them to form an alliance, how long can they hold out?...
Family Ties is the second in Chelloni’s mafia romance series but reads as a standalone novel. Although the novel is primarily concerned with the romance between Renzo and Gina, it would be disingenuous to label it as such; this is a polished narrative that takes the reader deep into the heart of mafia machinations without being either overly complex or a ridiculously stereotypical mob homage.
From the beginning, the chemistry between Renzo and Gina is unmistakable, simmering into an outright sizzle without cringe or gratuity. Chelloni writes several tantalizing and credible situations for their paths to cross and with each chance meeting, their attraction to one another is exposed a touch further until it crackles from the page.
Further, both main characters are written with depth and individuality, Renzo especially. He is everything a reader wants him to be but there is a real, clear sense of a compelling and often conflicted personality.
Gina is depicted with just the right amount of late teenage naivety, rebellion, and guile. The contrast between her emotional volatility and Renzo’s outward restraint is well-balanced and both evolve believably as they navigate each other and the affairs of the mob.
And, as nail-biting as Gina and Renzo’s will they, won’t they storyline proves, the secondary plotline involving mafia business is equally as gripping. Nicely involving, and convincingly detailed, Chelloni effortlessly inhabits the world she writes about. It’s hugely entertaining and driven by an intriguing bunch of understated yet unmistakably authentic characters.
Not only is the sexual tension between Renzo and Gina riveting, Chelloni expertly builds pressure in other areas of the novel; an uneasy sense of foreboding begins to accelerate just after three-quarters through. This is due, in part, to the absorbing plotline but also to Chelloni’s narrative structure.
From the beginning, she gives Renzo and Gina’s perspectives in switching chapters, but, as the novel progresses and both characters are involved in many of the same scenes, she uses their viewpoints retrospectively so the reader is given a fully rounded picture of the emotional processes and reactions that each is experiencing to an identical scenario.
However, when it comes to the duplicitous dealings of the mob, although the reader is given enough little hints of foreshadowing, Chelloni wisely holds back small yet key reveals which, again, add to the suspense because there is an air of unpredictability with Renzo.
Indeed, it is this uncertainty that provokes an unexpected twist between him and Gina just before halfway. It forces them together but not in the way the reader expects and personally, my plot preconceptions for their trajectory were overturned. I was a bit wary of where Chelloni was taking them but it’s an astute move and she toys with them just long enough not to blunt reader anticipation.
There are a few convenient moments in the novel, and I did wonder if Gina should be a little older, but that’s probably because I have a daughter the exact same age!
Chelloni has done it again and produced a sophisticated, sexy, and thrillingly good mob novel. Highly recommended.
Ruthless mob boss Renzo Castellano represents everything Gina despises but from their first encounter, their mutual attraction is undeniable. Both try to resist for differing reasons but when a mob arrangement requires them to form an alliance, how long can they hold out?...
Family Ties is the second in Chelloni’s mafia romance series but reads as a standalone novel. Although the novel is primarily concerned with the romance between Renzo and Gina, it would be disingenuous to label it as such; this is a polished narrative that takes the reader deep into the heart of mafia machinations without being either overly complex or a ridiculously stereotypical mob homage.
From the beginning, the chemistry between Renzo and Gina is unmistakable, simmering into an outright sizzle without cringe or gratuity. Chelloni writes several tantalizing and credible situations for their paths to cross and with each chance meeting, their attraction to one another is exposed a touch further until it crackles from the page.
Further, both main characters are written with depth and individuality, Renzo especially. He is everything a reader wants him to be but there is a real, clear sense of a compelling and often conflicted personality.
Gina is depicted with just the right amount of late teenage naivety, rebellion, and guile. The contrast between her emotional volatility and Renzo’s outward restraint is well-balanced and both evolve believably as they navigate each other and the affairs of the mob.
And, as nail-biting as Gina and Renzo’s will they, won’t they storyline proves, the secondary plotline involving mafia business is equally as gripping. Nicely involving, and convincingly detailed, Chelloni effortlessly inhabits the world she writes about. It’s hugely entertaining and driven by an intriguing bunch of understated yet unmistakably authentic characters.
Not only is the sexual tension between Renzo and Gina riveting, Chelloni expertly builds pressure in other areas of the novel; an uneasy sense of foreboding begins to accelerate just after three-quarters through. This is due, in part, to the absorbing plotline but also to Chelloni’s narrative structure.
From the beginning, she gives Renzo and Gina’s perspectives in switching chapters, but, as the novel progresses and both characters are involved in many of the same scenes, she uses their viewpoints retrospectively so the reader is given a fully rounded picture of the emotional processes and reactions that each is experiencing to an identical scenario.
However, when it comes to the duplicitous dealings of the mob, although the reader is given enough little hints of foreshadowing, Chelloni wisely holds back small yet key reveals which, again, add to the suspense because there is an air of unpredictability with Renzo.
Indeed, it is this uncertainty that provokes an unexpected twist between him and Gina just before halfway. It forces them together but not in the way the reader expects and personally, my plot preconceptions for their trajectory were overturned. I was a bit wary of where Chelloni was taking them but it’s an astute move and she toys with them just long enough not to blunt reader anticipation.
There are a few convenient moments in the novel, and I did wonder if Gina should be a little older, but that’s probably because I have a daughter the exact same age!
Chelloni has done it again and produced a sophisticated, sexy, and thrillingly good mob novel. Highly recommended.
April 9, 2023
The second in Nat Chelloni's mafia romance series brings us to the "Wedding of the Year" between Domenico Bonacci and Julia Leonardi who I met in A Favor for a Favor. At the wedding a beautiful and mouthy teenager bums a cigarette from an intrigued future young Don. This is Gina and Renzo's story.
I'm not a big fan of age-gap romances, but I was captivated by the laid-back and pragmatic Renzo Castellano and the candid and perceptive Gina Leonardi. Fate brings them together, first at the wedding while sharing a cigarette and then unexpectedly in Vegas as he rescues her from a drunken night with strangers. Those meetings lead to a friendship destined for much more as the life Gina abhors as a Don's daughter with no freedom is "forced" into a marriage of convenience with none other than the handsome and protective Renzo Castellano. Renzo has saved her from a calculated move by an enemy in the midst, but his promise of a marriage in name only is proving to be dangerous for him.
I love Gina's grit and honesty. She is more mature than her years and she can get the private and reserved Renzo to open up about his personal life. I also love her interest in lighting design which is something you don't often hear about as a career. Renzo is a smart businessman and an effective boss. His respect for Gina is refreshing and I love his attentiveness to her which is normally unheard of by a mob boss. The chemistry between Renzo and Gina is off the charts and when the slow burn is finally ignited, it's well worth the wait.
Though my favorite part of the book is the romance, Ms. Chelloni also knows how to write about the incredibly complicated and exciting mafia life in detail. So be prepared for murder, revenge, imprisonment, and more.
Gina's and Renzo's families are a great support unit for the couple as they rally together during tough times. I can't wait to read more about this engaging group.
I highly recommend this gripping romance filled with suspense, love, family, and retribution.
Thank you to Ms. Chelloni for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
I'm not a big fan of age-gap romances, but I was captivated by the laid-back and pragmatic Renzo Castellano and the candid and perceptive Gina Leonardi. Fate brings them together, first at the wedding while sharing a cigarette and then unexpectedly in Vegas as he rescues her from a drunken night with strangers. Those meetings lead to a friendship destined for much more as the life Gina abhors as a Don's daughter with no freedom is "forced" into a marriage of convenience with none other than the handsome and protective Renzo Castellano. Renzo has saved her from a calculated move by an enemy in the midst, but his promise of a marriage in name only is proving to be dangerous for him.
I love Gina's grit and honesty. She is more mature than her years and she can get the private and reserved Renzo to open up about his personal life. I also love her interest in lighting design which is something you don't often hear about as a career. Renzo is a smart businessman and an effective boss. His respect for Gina is refreshing and I love his attentiveness to her which is normally unheard of by a mob boss. The chemistry between Renzo and Gina is off the charts and when the slow burn is finally ignited, it's well worth the wait.
Though my favorite part of the book is the romance, Ms. Chelloni also knows how to write about the incredibly complicated and exciting mafia life in detail. So be prepared for murder, revenge, imprisonment, and more.
Gina's and Renzo's families are a great support unit for the couple as they rally together during tough times. I can't wait to read more about this engaging group.
I highly recommend this gripping romance filled with suspense, love, family, and retribution.
Thank you to Ms. Chelloni for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
July 20, 2023
LOVED...Gina and Renzo's Story
Wow. I am glad that I stopped reading the other books 📚📖 that I was reading and read Family Ties:An Age Gap, Marriage of Convenience Romance. This Mafia romantic Age Gap story was really written very well. It had all the drama and suspense of a good Mafia romantic relationship with the added spice of a young girl in love with older man, but not that much older and the test of 🧬 love and trust. I really enjoyed this book and Nat Chelloni's other book Favor for Favor. It was a wonderful read 👍🏾 get it you won't be disappointed ☺️.
Wow. I am glad that I stopped reading the other books 📚📖 that I was reading and read Family Ties:An Age Gap, Marriage of Convenience Romance. This Mafia romantic Age Gap story was really written very well. It had all the drama and suspense of a good Mafia romantic relationship with the added spice of a young girl in love with older man, but not that much older and the test of 🧬 love and trust. I really enjoyed this book and Nat Chelloni's other book Favor for Favor. It was a wonderful read 👍🏾 get it you won't be disappointed ☺️.
June 7, 2023
THERE ARE SIMPLY NO WORDS! It made me gasp, cry and smile a lot of times! This story was everything and more to me, Gina and Renzo have entered in my heart and I won't ever let go of them! A completely full on masterpiece that takes you on an all consuming emotional rollercoaster and journey that will leave you feeling like a whole new person!
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Heart-pounding and truly beautiful and completely epic in every single way and aspect! The way the Author Nat Chelloni wrote this book makes the book feel like some sort of an immersive experience where you feel everything they are feeling and you experience the same kind of emotional intensity they go through!
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During some parts of the book it felt like someone was literally ripping out of heart while I was reading it, the compulsive prose delivers some fascinating elements that gives vivid imagery of scenes. This is my favorite romance/suspense book I've ever read, and it has made me read more mafia romance books! I rate it 5/5 and I highly recommend it to every romance fan!
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Heart-pounding and truly beautiful and completely epic in every single way and aspect! The way the Author Nat Chelloni wrote this book makes the book feel like some sort of an immersive experience where you feel everything they are feeling and you experience the same kind of emotional intensity they go through!
.
During some parts of the book it felt like someone was literally ripping out of heart while I was reading it, the compulsive prose delivers some fascinating elements that gives vivid imagery of scenes. This is my favorite romance/suspense book I've ever read, and it has made me read more mafia romance books! I rate it 5/5 and I highly recommend it to every romance fan!
March 31, 2023
There are only certain mafia romances that I like and this one is definitely one of them. This up and coming author did a excellent job. I fell totally in love with Renzo and Gina from the very beginning.
Renzo Castellano is mafia through and though. See’s her for the first time in years at a wedding. She’s to young but oh so beautiful. Then again on a trip to Las Vegas he helps her out of a jam.
Love is how you earn your wings.
Gina Leonardi doesn’t want to be a mafia wife. To many cheating husbands. She wants to have a career of her own. Renzo is super hot older man but he’s mafia.
He offers her a deal she can’t refuse to protect her.
In the process there hearts become entangled.
“Here I am, dancing with my bride, and I haven’t even complimented her on her looks. You are so beautiful it hurts to look at you.”
This is a must read for Mafia romance lovers. Then you’ll be chomping at the bit for more.
Renzo Castellano is mafia through and though. See’s her for the first time in years at a wedding. She’s to young but oh so beautiful. Then again on a trip to Las Vegas he helps her out of a jam.
Love is how you earn your wings.
Gina Leonardi doesn’t want to be a mafia wife. To many cheating husbands. She wants to have a career of her own. Renzo is super hot older man but he’s mafia.
He offers her a deal she can’t refuse to protect her.
In the process there hearts become entangled.
“Here I am, dancing with my bride, and I haven’t even complimented her on her looks. You are so beautiful it hurts to look at you.”
This is a must read for Mafia romance lovers. Then you’ll be chomping at the bit for more.
February 11, 2023
Family Ties
Nat Chelloni
If you like Mafia storylines this is the book is for you, Nat Chelloni writes stories that feel real like you're watching a crime show unfold in front of you as you read each chapter.
Renzo is a mafia boss that just by name has a reputation and people don't cross his path.
His family and friends will do anything for him and he has resources that will get accurate information for him at any given time.
Gina doesn't like being part of a mafia family, so she rebels against her father and brother any chance she gets.
When things get rough for Gina at home with her father and overly protective brother she liked staying with her aunt Julia and Dom.
Gina overhears something and she calls Renzo for help before he can put the plan in motion an unexpected situation happens and there's no time to talk things out.
This book is slow burn, age gap, Mafia family's with twists and turns, you can't just read one chapter at a time.
I highly recommend this book.
Nat Chelloni
If you like Mafia storylines this is the book is for you, Nat Chelloni writes stories that feel real like you're watching a crime show unfold in front of you as you read each chapter.
Renzo is a mafia boss that just by name has a reputation and people don't cross his path.
His family and friends will do anything for him and he has resources that will get accurate information for him at any given time.
Gina doesn't like being part of a mafia family, so she rebels against her father and brother any chance she gets.
When things get rough for Gina at home with her father and overly protective brother she liked staying with her aunt Julia and Dom.
Gina overhears something and she calls Renzo for help before he can put the plan in motion an unexpected situation happens and there's no time to talk things out.
This book is slow burn, age gap, Mafia family's with twists and turns, you can't just read one chapter at a time.
I highly recommend this book.
April 2, 2023
This book is a page turner at its best. I love how this author comes up with unique mafia plots and beautiful and intense love stories. My feelings were all over the place. Renzo and Gina - this couple is everything and more. I couldn’t get enough of them. What an amazing book! Can’t wait to see whose story is next.
March 31, 2023
First time reading a book from this author and I was not disappointed! I loved that this book was a little different than your normal Mafia tropes. There were some unexpected plot twists and suspense that really added a depth to the story line.
Gina is a rebellious, free spirited mafia princess 👸🏼. But she craves to break free of her Mafia ties and refuses to follow their traditions. Instead, she wants to marry for love and live a normal life. During a family wedding, she meets Renzo again when she’s 17. A man she had known as a child, he has always sparked her interest. She soon develops a crush, that becomes deeper after every encounter with Renzo over the years. That is until she is forced to marry him. Will she forgive him for ruining her dreams of breaking free from the Mafia?
Renzo has no desire to marry. He is too focused on being the head of his family’s Mafia that under is major heat by law enforcement. When he meets Gina, she intrigues him with her fiery spirit. She’s far too young for him and he will never cross that line with her. Gina and Renzo form a friendship in which he tries to support her dreams - within the Mafia limits. Only Gina is engaged to be married to a brutal man. Renzo realizes the only way to save her is to marry her. 💞
Renzo is so sweet to Gina and is completely captivated by her. I enjoyed the build up of their relationship. Even through some trials and tribulations, Gina stays by Renzos side. It may not have been what they expected but it turned it to a beautiful relationship ♥️
Gina is a rebellious, free spirited mafia princess 👸🏼. But she craves to break free of her Mafia ties and refuses to follow their traditions. Instead, she wants to marry for love and live a normal life. During a family wedding, she meets Renzo again when she’s 17. A man she had known as a child, he has always sparked her interest. She soon develops a crush, that becomes deeper after every encounter with Renzo over the years. That is until she is forced to marry him. Will she forgive him for ruining her dreams of breaking free from the Mafia?
Renzo has no desire to marry. He is too focused on being the head of his family’s Mafia that under is major heat by law enforcement. When he meets Gina, she intrigues him with her fiery spirit. She’s far too young for him and he will never cross that line with her. Gina and Renzo form a friendship in which he tries to support her dreams - within the Mafia limits. Only Gina is engaged to be married to a brutal man. Renzo realizes the only way to save her is to marry her. 💞
Renzo is so sweet to Gina and is completely captivated by her. I enjoyed the build up of their relationship. Even through some trials and tribulations, Gina stays by Renzos side. It may not have been what they expected but it turned it to a beautiful relationship ♥️
March 26, 2023
I really enjoyed this second book in Nat Chelloni's mafia romance series. I was very excited for Gina to get her own book as we do meet her in book 1, A Favor for a Favor. Once again the author not only brings us a stunning romance story but also dives deep into mafia organisations, how they're run and everything that's involved in the lifestyle associated with the mafia.
I really loved Renzo's and Gina's story. From the start you can see the connection and chemistry between them. I enjoyed that their story was more of a slow-burn due to the age gap. I love a good age gap romance and to me Gina never felt young or immature... sure she makes some pretty reckless decisions but that's down to being human. I absolutely loved Gina's characters. She's an absolute firecracker! She's sassy, independent, headstrong and isn't afraid to voice her opinions especially her dislike for the mafia world... Renzo's world. Can you see where the tension, angst and chemistry comes in?
I would recommend this for anyone who reads mafia or is looking to get into mafia romance. Any romantic suspense lovers would also love this one and of course we have a stunning slow burn, age gap, marriage of convenience where the MMC is obsessed with the FMC and treats her like a QUEEN!
Thank you Nat for sending me a copy of Family Ties. I always have such a great time in your world, reading about your characters and their stories!
I really loved Renzo's and Gina's story. From the start you can see the connection and chemistry between them. I enjoyed that their story was more of a slow-burn due to the age gap. I love a good age gap romance and to me Gina never felt young or immature... sure she makes some pretty reckless decisions but that's down to being human. I absolutely loved Gina's characters. She's an absolute firecracker! She's sassy, independent, headstrong and isn't afraid to voice her opinions especially her dislike for the mafia world... Renzo's world. Can you see where the tension, angst and chemistry comes in?
I would recommend this for anyone who reads mafia or is looking to get into mafia romance. Any romantic suspense lovers would also love this one and of course we have a stunning slow burn, age gap, marriage of convenience where the MMC is obsessed with the FMC and treats her like a QUEEN!
Thank you Nat for sending me a copy of Family Ties. I always have such a great time in your world, reading about your characters and their stories!
February 21, 2023
4.5 stars
Having read A Favor For A Favor by Nat Chelloni I was delighted to find out that a new book was coming out with the same characters and could not wait to get a chance to read this. The book sees Gina Leonardi, a 17 year old stunner who is the daughter in a mafia family and is beginning to catch the eye of the wrong people and be seen as a great way to join the families and strengthen their hold of power but why should she have to give up her life and marry a man she has no interest in? Renzo maybe 29 years old but he is a good and decent man despite his attachments to the mafia, can he save Gina from the life she dreads and if he does then what does it mean for the power struggles within the families?
This is a simply brilliant book that has a tiny markdown for editing but this is a book that reminds me of the kind of quality I found when reading work by Mario Puzo who is best known for the Godfather. As an author who takes time to ensure a story makes sense, it is clear that Nat is not just looking for something that has a flow which makes sense but also that the language throughout fits the story being told, the characters and their decisions ring true and so many more little details that can trip up other authors. For me this is an author who is at the top of their game and deserves readers to check out her work.
Having read A Favor For A Favor by Nat Chelloni I was delighted to find out that a new book was coming out with the same characters and could not wait to get a chance to read this. The book sees Gina Leonardi, a 17 year old stunner who is the daughter in a mafia family and is beginning to catch the eye of the wrong people and be seen as a great way to join the families and strengthen their hold of power but why should she have to give up her life and marry a man she has no interest in? Renzo maybe 29 years old but he is a good and decent man despite his attachments to the mafia, can he save Gina from the life she dreads and if he does then what does it mean for the power struggles within the families?
This is a simply brilliant book that has a tiny markdown for editing but this is a book that reminds me of the kind of quality I found when reading work by Mario Puzo who is best known for the Godfather. As an author who takes time to ensure a story makes sense, it is clear that Nat is not just looking for something that has a flow which makes sense but also that the language throughout fits the story being told, the characters and their decisions ring true and so many more little details that can trip up other authors. For me this is an author who is at the top of their game and deserves readers to check out her work.
May 1, 2023
Meh
I thought I would enjoy this more. I’m usually into arranged mariages in mafia romance but this one fell a little flat for me.
It was very detailed when it came to the mafia world and not as bloody and violent as most other mafia romances. So much so that the romance fell pretty much to the 2nd plan. While I enjoy the fact they were friend-ish before getting married, I didn’t really feel the transition to love between them.
I think it spans 2 or 3 years from beginning to the end and I still couldn’t really tell you much about our MC as I forgot…
A good story that lost me in the details
I thought I would enjoy this more. I’m usually into arranged mariages in mafia romance but this one fell a little flat for me.
It was very detailed when it came to the mafia world and not as bloody and violent as most other mafia romances. So much so that the romance fell pretty much to the 2nd plan. While I enjoy the fact they were friend-ish before getting married, I didn’t really feel the transition to love between them.
I think it spans 2 or 3 years from beginning to the end and I still couldn’t really tell you much about our MC as I forgot…
A good story that lost me in the details
March 10, 2023
This is the second book I've read by Nat, and I love her writing. She knows her stuff about the Mafia, all the different roles, rules, hierarchy, and jobs they have. The third pov threw me out a bit, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Renzo is the mob boss, and with that comes power and strength, but when it comes to Gina, he's anything but. In exceptional circumstances, an arranged marriage is brought about. The slow burn throughout this book is steamy. Their story was written with the world going around them, the business, and as such, brought for a captive story.
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