All I can say is incredible!

Not being able to sleep...and an audiobook is the best medicine I am told. Not with this book..I stayed up to listen to this...for the balance of the 5 hours that was left for me to listen to. I couldn't shut my brain off long enough to stop! Natasha Knight has a winner with this one, warring families, betrayal, love, trust, payment of debt, paternity issues..you name it and this intense dark romance has a little of everything. Lucia DeMarco has been contracted to Salvatore Benedetti upon her 21st birthday. For the five years prior, Lucia has sought to seek revenge for this contract, shutting out her own family and plotting to destroy her "new" one. Salvatore has committed himself to tame Lucia. Little did they know the instant spark between them would begin to grow into a fire they could not extinguish. You will meet other family members, with this supporting cast being as important as the two main characters. Dominic, Isabella, Franco, Roman, Luke, Natalie..they all play extensive roles in the plot twists and turns that Natasha Knight brings to us. I love the alpha male character of Salvatore...all man, demanding, sexy, smart with a compassionate heart that will just melt you. His counterpart of Lucia, the young virgin with grit and feistiness to keep Salvatore on his toes..you cannot go wrong with this incredible book.

And the tortured soul of Dominic, who we get to know better next. I can't wait!

Phillip Alces brings this book to life with his incredible performance.He gives us the masculine Salvatore and softer Lucia, the emotional battles they incur making you feel each one with them.

17 people found this helpful

NOW I'VE LISTENED TO DARK BEFORE.. & THIS AIN'T IT

At 16 a very innocent and confused Lucia was examined, humiliated, forced to sign a contract giving up all her rights and then handed over to the Benedetti family as an act of submission by the deMarco family. The head of the Benedetti Mafia was run by the cruel and mean Franco Benedetti and he had agreed to give Lucia to Salvatore his oldest living son when Lucia turned 21. For 5 years Lucia had lived a sheltered and quiet life away from the violence and away from her family who'd done nothing to stop the proceedings and now she is being thrust back amongst it.. as the day has arrived when she will become the property of the dark mysterious and very handsome Salvatore Benedetti.

But Lucia was angry at Franco Benedetti, angry at her own now dead Father, angry at her sister Isabella for getting pregnant and disappearing and angry at Salvatore for not helping her all those years ago. Lucia could see the man beneath his Mafia mask and knows he feels.. and feels deeply and their instant attraction soon leads to some hot and steamy scenes and, as they grow closer, Salvatore becomes disillusioned with his life and lifestyle. However, before he can do anything about it threats and violent actions are taken against both families and before long cracks and insecurities appear as to who can be trusted.. and more importantly who is planning and carrying them out and why.. and how will another war between the families affect the lovers??

This dual POV book should have been great.. but for me it unfortunately missed the mark and I think the blame was a 50/50 split between narration and story. There are few male narrators who can successfully do female accents and Philip Alces sadly isn't one of them and so from the start I found it difficult to get into the story, care or relate to the female characters or empathize with Lucia's situation.. His male voices and accents were great but that equated to only half the book. There was ownership of Lucia, a public act of physical abuse when she'd stupidly refused to cower down which led to her receiving lashes of Salvatore's belt, although Lucia was a virgin she was eager to learn all that Salvatore could teach her about sex which included bondage and they were both very compatible BUT I just didn't feel their passion for each other or their chemistry. Lucia seemed immature, self-centred and silly most of the time and Salvatore was mostly sweet, understanding and kind (not your dark brooding Alpha type).. but Lucia did push Salvatore's buttons.. then they'd argue.. then they'd f'k.. and rinse and repeat. There were shootings, intrigue, twists, suspense and a doomed love story but sadly I was only vaguely interested in the outcome of any of it.

Worth a credit? IMO, it wasn't bad.. but it wasn't compelling either and for this reason I personally don't think it's worth a credit - however we are all different and you may be able to get passed the narration and find the gleaming pearl within this oyster.

30 people found this helpful

Awesome book, FANTASTIC NARRATION!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Salvatore to be better than the print version?

oh my gosh yes, Philip Alces is magnificent in this book.

What did you like best about this story?

The interplay of personalities between Salvatore and Lucia is delightful. And the way they come to love each other is an adventuresome tale, so very well told by the wonderful Natasha Knight.

Have you listened to any of Philip Alces’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Oh yes, Philip Alces is one of the all-time greats in the world of narration. He never disappoints and this book is no exception.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

absolutely yes, the poignant moments abound from beginning to end. Two people finding their way in a harsh world.

Any additional comments?

HEA and a wonderfully told story from start to finish. THANK YOU NATASHA KNIGHT!!!

6 people found this helpful

A Dark Mafia Romance this is not

The title in the book is misleading. If you want Dark read Pepper Winters...other than that I feel that this is another average mafia romance. This was a hard listen for me so I switched to another story. Took me 3 weeks to finish.

6 people found this helpful

Holy Cow!!!!!

OMG, this book had me on my toes more than I had expected! I thought I had it all figured out and then, BAM the truth comes out and it was NOT what I had been expecting! Natasha is a pro when it comes to writing mafia romances! I cannot wait to listen to more!

Philip did a great job with the narration. I believe this is the first that I have listen from him but it definitely will not be the last!

🎧AudiobookObsession

4 people found this helpful

Hot & edgy!!

I love these kinds of books but I have to say the story in this is a stellar as all Ms Knights stories. But the sex scenes were uber hot! It had to be chemistry between Salvatore & Lucia. Totally enjoyed this book I hope Dominic is as good!!

4 people found this helpful

Loved the story, Narrator not so much!

The story was very good. Loved the characters but Phillip Alces just does not have a voice for romance novels. He really did not make a good Salvatore or Lucia. I do prefer books with male and female narrators, it draws you into the story more.

3 people found this helpful

LOVED THIS BOOK AND SURPRISINGLY THE NARRATOR TOO

Any additional comments?

Salvatore is a mans man but so caring and dirty at the same time. The story is well written and narrated. There is a bit of mystery with a bunch of family deceit and even more hot sex. I loved this book and a the very sweet ending

10 people found this helpful

Too much degrading 4 my taste.

Another virgin anglo female with overly aggressive older anglo mob son.. If you are into dom/sub relationship then this is for you..NOT MY CUP OF TEA..

2 people found this helpful

Did not like the ending.

Needed more action. it was to much romance. I like mafia romance but this made me not want to buy the next book.

2 people found this helpful