The Woman with the Ring: A Mafia Romance Paperback – February 5, 2022

I was digging around and found the 10th installment of the Costa family series- of which I am a die-hard fan. I was surprised that it wasn’t labeled as such.Seeing as we got a glimpse of this affair early on in the series, I was curious and surprised that I didn’t unearth this one sooner. A lot darker and more insidious than the other books, it was nonetheless satisfying to journey with Primo and Isabella on their epic roller coaster of a love story. They were described as so damn happy that I had to find out how it went. I had no idea that there would be so much pain and trauma along the way. This book really does the series justice when it comes to darkness and violence, whereas the organization is pleasantly romanticized just about everywhere else.

I finished this book In 2 days. I have never rad such a captivating story and I love how it ended. I'm not lying when I say I was BAWLING when trezo died and when I mean I bawling I mean it. I really hope that we get another story similar to this because it really showed that love blossoms out of the most unfathomable situations and brio at the end was so sweet that little baby would be ever so loved and cared for. It made me relize maybe love isn't useless maybe it is exactly what someone needs exactly like with primo.

Wow! This is a first from this author for me and WOW! The story just gripped me from the beginning. This is a mafia romance. The H-primo and h -Isabella are from opposite mafia families. Isa’s family is to blame for primos brothers death, she he snatches her off the street and forces her into a marriage to keep the peace.. and be he’s been watching her for a while and he’s liked what he saw. Lol.🥔 some things 🥩-the writing is so good! I have to say that at the top. I could not put this down!-Primo is a mafia boss, so he’s got that cold, evil vibe but he’s actually very thoughtful and sweet to Isabella. Once she agrees to the marriage, he actually gets her fav flowers for the bouquet, gives her freedom and doesn’t do the whole, lock her down stuff really. It’s there but only for her safety. He was dominate but he wasn’t really demanding of her, and he didn’t get mean at all.-Isabella is a mafia daughter. She knows the life but she’s been living outside of it mostly so she’s surprised when she’s snatched. She agrees to save her family from war but she is a spitfire and she doesn’t let primo know easy.-Even though the h does fight the marriage… it didn’t bother me here maybe bc she makes enough concessions that it wasn’t a constant battle to where it annoyed me-The steamy scenes were sexxxyyyyyy-Good family side characters-NO OM DRAMA-Ow: not drama, or cheating. BUT, it is referenced that the housekeeper sucked H off the day before he takes Isabella bc he knew he wouldn’t be able to have his wife for a while. Yes I didn’t like this bc he was set to take her BUT, it’s before them. There’s a scene where isa sees the housekeeper when she comes to actually clean but primo isn’t interested at all. And Isabella makes it clear who her man belongs to 😏-NO CHEATING OR SHARING-traditional values for their marriage. Primo tells her there will be no One else but his wife. And not until she’s willing-HEA- the ending was satisfactory but not gonna lie I wish that little end story arc was longer and I wish I had a bit more at the end but it was satisfying and we get a year later epilogueThe H was less aggressive than I like normally but I loved him in this story. Not gonna lie I wish he wouldn’t have waited for her to be willing (cause y’all know I love that aggressive craziness) but he was like I’m not a rapist and I mean of course I’m on board with that. He also is against abuse which is also good but…. I like ‘em crazy- so you know she didn’t get punished for being bratty 😔 but hey it’s ok lol. Honestly wish this was a series or a duet lol. Excited to read more from her!

I love me a good kidnapping and arranged marriage trope, especially in mafia romance. This story did not disappoint, and neither did primo. I was enamored with him and why he chose this path when reading his part in the woman in the back room. When they make a man seem like a monster. He is usually amazing with his woman. He was a bit unlikeable in the beginning, but he learned and got better. I mean, Bella was amazing for him, and he was equally as good for her. Read the fist 2 Costa family books first. If not than at least the woman in the back room. It will help give you a bigger picture and better understanding of all characters involved in this book. I am looking forward to more books on the Esposito family, vissi especially. Hopefully, they are on the pages to happen.

I was ready for this story after reading The Woman in the Back Room. Forced marriage, hate to lust to love with mafia sprinkled in. Great book! Mira was hilarious! I hope she make more appearances. I didn't see the twist behind the attacks so that was a surprise. Another great book by this author!

Primo forced Isabella to marry him to end the died between their families. She agreed to do it for the same reason. Primo treats her respectfully and wants to have a real marriage. Although he is known as a psycho to others, he is too good for Isabella. He tries to give her a good life no matter the circumstances and she fights him at every turn. She gives him the silent treatment, denies him sex, and always has rude words coming out of her mouth. I am at 70% of the book and she is still making him pay for a marriage she agreed to. I don’t like her. She tries to avoid him, refuse to make food for him anyway she is cooking for herself and sleeps on the couch to avoid being in bed with him. Primo gets five stars, he was perfect.

Jessica is a prolific author whose new books I tend to gobble up. Her different series (and some standalones) do tend to happen in the same universe, but each have a distinctive feel and rhythm over and above her normal writing style.This mafia series is possibly more gritty than other books in this universe. This book has the forced marriage, psycho mafia boss, and a betraying body tropes. This could have meant a formulaic storyline that cannot hold the reader's attention. However, the characters are wonderfully flawed and thus multidimensional. Although you start to anticipate the twist in the story, guessing the involved characters are almost impossible.I enjoyed the pace of the book, the chemistry and the evolving relationship between Isabella and Padrimo as they personally adjust to their new reality. In all a great read.