Luca is the second book in a full-length, standalone series by New York Times bestselling author, Sarah Castille, set in Las Vegas and featuring deliciously sexy mafia bosses and the women who can’t help but love them.
Luca Rizzoli was nearly destroyed by a brutal betrayal that cost him his family. Now a ruthless crime boss in Las Vegas, he lets nothing touch his frozen heart...until a smoldering encounter with a beautiful stranger ignites his passion. One night isn’t enough for a man who takes what he wants—and Luca will do whatever he can to possess his mysterious temptress...
Police detective Gabrielle Fawkes lives for revenge. She lost everything at the hands of an unforgiving ruler of the Vegas underworld. Now she wants to see him six feet under. But when a near-fatal attack leads her into Luca’s arms, what was meant to be one night of unbridled passion becomes something forbiddingly more. Luca has his own agenda, but when strong, determined, kick-ass detective Gaby sets her sights on her target, Luca feels compelled to stand by her side and protect her at all costs. However, pursuing danger comes at a high price—and both Gaby and Luca must work together in order to eliminate the dark enterprise that threatens them.
EXCERPT:
“You’re mine, Gabrielle. You were mine from the moment we met. Nico wants me to end our relationship after we find Garcia, but we will find a way to make it work, even if I have to leave the family.” He claimed her with a kiss, fierce and demanding, so passionate her knees went weak and she had to clutch his shoulders to stay upright.
She wanted to believe him, but it seemed an impossible task. From what she understood, there were only two ways out of the Mafia: death and witness protection. And after what he’d just told her about his father, there was no way she could let him make the choice that would mean losing the one thing he’d been struggling for all his life. She didn’t want Luca without that chunk of flesh. She wanted him whole.
“What were they going to do to you?"
“Hurt me. Maybe break a few bones."
“Because of me,” she said bitterly.
“Because I broke the rules.” His rough hand cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly over her jaw. “Mio angelo. I would endure any hardship for you. I will welcome the pain because it gives us time to be together. Every extra day I get to spend with you is worth a dozen bruises."
“Luca.” His name was a prayer on her lips. She had lost David. She wasn’t going to lose Luca, too. There had to be a way for them to be together that didn’t involve him getting killed or beaten with a baseball bat or losing the honor that was such an important part of his life. “I think I just showed you I would make the same sacrifice for you."
“And you will be punished for it.” He wrapped his arms around her so tight she could barely breathe.
“Punished?"
He buried his face in her neck, nuzzled behind her ear,his five o’clock shadow a sensual burn over her skin. “I will give you more pleasure than you can bear."
Gabrielle swallowed hard and all her awareness suddenly centered on the pulse of arousal between her thighs. “I want you to be rough."
“I’ll be rough."
“I want you to tear me apart so you understand that how you feel about me is how I feel about you. How your pain is my pain. How I couldn’t sit there and watch you suffer."
He drew in a ragged breath. “I will break you and then I will put you together again. I will mark you so that every time you look in the mirror you think of me, and every man who dares look at you knows you are mine."
“I want to be yours, Luca,” she whispered. “And I want you to be mine."
“Sei mia per sempre, anima e cuore. Senza di te non vivo piu. You are mine forever,” he translated for her. “Body and soul. Without you, I couldn’t live."
She surrendered to him, unable to do anything but feel as he feathered kisses down her throat to the sensitive juncture of her neck and shoulder.
And then he leaned down and bit her so deliciously hard she screamed.
FIND AT GOODREADS here.
BUY LINKS: AMAZON | BN | iBOOKS | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY | INDIEBOUND
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Readers once again find themselves caught up in the sensual and suspenseful mafia world crafted by Ms. Castille that we first became captivated by in Nico. With its engaging and likable characters, scorching encounters, and a drug war full of pulse-pounding action and unexpected twists and turns this story had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. By the turn of the final page readers will be exhausted by all that came before but immensely satisfied by the hard-fought HEA and all the compelling stories still to come.
Luca's life in the Toscani crime family has been one of danger, betrayals, and desperately trying to prove himself to be the loyal man his father wasn't when he turned against their family. For Luca it's all about family though as he's immensely loyal, putting his life on the line to protect those he's sworn himself to, while doing all the dirty deeds necessary that keep money flowing into the family coffers. When it comes to his love life he keeps himself separate from sex and emotion after the betrayal of his wife and her death from drugs. Since that moment he swore never to commit to another, to keep his heart closed off, until he meets the one woman he shouldn't want to claim. Claim her he does though as his alpha tendencies and need to protect bubble to the surface and have him willing to sacrifice everything to keep her. Luca's a traditionalist when it comes to the role of women, and even as his beliefs are somewhat arrogant, I couldn't help being drawn to him. He oozes sexiness and confidence and his use of Italian makes your heart flutter. He's a master at dirty talk which made his encounters with Gabrielle even hotter. He's an intriguing dichotomy as one moment he's brutalizing someone to a bloody pulp and the next he's the picture of the perfect gentleman. He can be cruel when acting as the enforcer then charms me with his gentle handling of his son Matteo, who is utterly cute. Luca's the epitome of a mafia man in words and deeds and with his softer and protective side I found myself completely intrigued and captivated by him, rooting for him to get the HEA he so richly deserves.
Gabrielle's life has been hard hit by drugs as her mother's death led to her brother's drug addiction which consumed her father's life, leaving little time for her. Desperate to make her father proud she followed in her dead brother's footsteps and became a cop. She met a man and they made a happy life that soon crashed to the ground as a drug dealer murdered her husband and set her on a path towards revenge. It's a journey that consumed her for far too long and had her acting recklessly. It's also a journey that disillusioned her to the realities of law enforcement as she saw more and more people get hurt. Meeting Luca was freeing as he let her embrace her wild side and reminded her of her femininity. From their memorable first meeting in a hospital room to their increasingly erotic encounters they're definitely an example of opposites attracting as their being on opposite sides of the law is frowned upon in the mob. It's a combustible connection though that neither wants to end, a connection that heals both of them from their painful pasts and has them looking towards a future together. It's a murky future though as the drug war ends up at her doorstep with surprising reveals and a pulse pounding rescue. Gabrielle's a delightful heroine, strong-willed and more than capable of taking care of herself. Though she mocks Luca for his overprotectiveness she can't help being drawn to the comfort he offers and the support he gives her as she tries to right wrongs. She's a tough cookie and a formidable match for Luca when it comes to brandishing a gun and rushing into the fray and her first rescue of him left me impressed as well as chuckling. She's ultimately the perfect modern-day heroine with her combination of feminine and badass and I found her immensely likable and the perfect companion to make it in the gritty world of the mob.
This was a fast-paced read that kept me on the edge of my seat cheering Gabrielle on in her journey for vengeance while trying to guess the identity of the man leading the drug war. With bodies dropping, blood being spilled, and bullets flying readers will find their heart's pounding as they frantically turn the pages to see what unexpected twist happens next. There are also moments dealing with domestic abuse and being a woman in a man's world when it comes to the police force which are powerful and thought-provoking. Add in a scorching romance full of erotic, and creative, encounters and readers will be left parched and blushing from these intense couplings. Along with the compelling main couple comes a cast of equally engaging secondary ones. With the return of the powerful Nico readers also get more insight into the emotionless Frankie who's untrusting and quick to shed blood and the young Paolo who's desperate to make a better life for his mother and himself. Paolo's story actually took up a lot of the narrative, which was a bit frustrating and distracting at times, but emotionally satisfying in its vivid depiction of the high cost of addiction. From start to finish Ms. Castille once again had me captivated by this unforgettable world full of danger and death with its sweet and sexy romance and men who are tough but who wear their hearts on their sleeves when it comes to love. With its immensely appealing characters that walk on the wrong side of the law I can't help wanting to go there too and am counting down the days until the next installment.
Luca's life in the Toscani crime family has been one of danger, betrayals, and desperately trying to prove himself to be the loyal man his father wasn't when he turned against their family. For Luca it's all about family though as he's immensely loyal, putting his life on the line to protect those he's sworn himself to, while doing all the dirty deeds necessary that keep money flowing into the family coffers. When it comes to his love life he keeps himself separate from sex and emotion after the betrayal of his wife and her death from drugs. Since that moment he swore never to commit to another, to keep his heart closed off, until he meets the one woman he shouldn't want to claim. Claim her he does though as his alpha tendencies and need to protect bubble to the surface and have him willing to sacrifice everything to keep her. Luca's a traditionalist when it comes to the role of women, and even as his beliefs are somewhat arrogant, I couldn't help being drawn to him. He oozes sexiness and confidence and his use of Italian makes your heart flutter. He's a master at dirty talk which made his encounters with Gabrielle even hotter. He's an intriguing dichotomy as one moment he's brutalizing someone to a bloody pulp and the next he's the picture of the perfect gentleman. He can be cruel when acting as the enforcer then charms me with his gentle handling of his son Matteo, who is utterly cute. Luca's the epitome of a mafia man in words and deeds and with his softer and protective side I found myself completely intrigued and captivated by him, rooting for him to get the HEA he so richly deserves.
Gabrielle's life has been hard hit by drugs as her mother's death led to her brother's drug addiction which consumed her father's life, leaving little time for her. Desperate to make her father proud she followed in her dead brother's footsteps and became a cop. She met a man and they made a happy life that soon crashed to the ground as a drug dealer murdered her husband and set her on a path towards revenge. It's a journey that consumed her for far too long and had her acting recklessly. It's also a journey that disillusioned her to the realities of law enforcement as she saw more and more people get hurt. Meeting Luca was freeing as he let her embrace her wild side and reminded her of her femininity. From their memorable first meeting in a hospital room to their increasingly erotic encounters they're definitely an example of opposites attracting as their being on opposite sides of the law is frowned upon in the mob. It's a combustible connection though that neither wants to end, a connection that heals both of them from their painful pasts and has them looking towards a future together. It's a murky future though as the drug war ends up at her doorstep with surprising reveals and a pulse pounding rescue. Gabrielle's a delightful heroine, strong-willed and more than capable of taking care of herself. Though she mocks Luca for his overprotectiveness she can't help being drawn to the comfort he offers and the support he gives her as she tries to right wrongs. She's a tough cookie and a formidable match for Luca when it comes to brandishing a gun and rushing into the fray and her first rescue of him left me impressed as well as chuckling. She's ultimately the perfect modern-day heroine with her combination of feminine and badass and I found her immensely likable and the perfect companion to make it in the gritty world of the mob.
This was a fast-paced read that kept me on the edge of my seat cheering Gabrielle on in her journey for vengeance while trying to guess the identity of the man leading the drug war. With bodies dropping, blood being spilled, and bullets flying readers will find their heart's pounding as they frantically turn the pages to see what unexpected twist happens next. There are also moments dealing with domestic abuse and being a woman in a man's world when it comes to the police force which are powerful and thought-provoking. Add in a scorching romance full of erotic, and creative, encounters and readers will be left parched and blushing from these intense couplings. Along with the compelling main couple comes a cast of equally engaging secondary ones. With the return of the powerful Nico readers also get more insight into the emotionless Frankie who's untrusting and quick to shed blood and the young Paolo who's desperate to make a better life for his mother and himself. Paolo's story actually took up a lot of the narrative, which was a bit frustrating and distracting at times, but emotionally satisfying in its vivid depiction of the high cost of addiction. From start to finish Ms. Castille once again had me captivated by this unforgettable world full of danger and death with its sweet and sexy romance and men who are tough but who wear their hearts on their sleeves when it comes to love. With its immensely appealing characters that walk on the wrong side of the law I can't help wanting to go there too and am counting down the days until the next installment.
My rating for this is an A-
*I got this book from NetGalley for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
THE OTHER BOOKS IN THE RUIN & REVENGE SERIES...
NICO (Book #1): AMAZON | BN | iBOOKS | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY | INDIEBOUND
FIND AT GOODREADS here.
ROCCO (Book #3): AMAZON | BN | INDIEBOUND
FIND AT GOODREADS here.
AUTHOR INFO:
Sarah Castille is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Redemption Series, Ruin & Revenge Series, Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club series, Legal Heat series and the Club Excelsior series. A recovering lawyer with a fondness for dirty-talking alpha males, she now is a full-time writer, who lives on Vancouver Island. Sarah’s books have been listed as Publisher’s Weekly’s Top Ten Picks and Best Summer Reads, and Amazon’s Best Romance Books of the Year, and have won numerous reader’s choice awards including the Holt Medallion.
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Enjoyed reading your review. Looking forward to reading this
ReplyDeleteOh. This book sounds really really good.
ReplyDeleteHave not picked up this series yet but really enjoyed her Redemption series. Look forward to getting my hands on this one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post and your thoughts on Luca, I enjoyed reading them! I loved Nico and this sounds just as exciting and very hot & sexy!
ReplyDeleteThanks for that great review and excerpt. Can't wait to read more.
ReplyDelete