Raffa and Guinevere are here, and It's so good!! They will have your Kindle on fire! 🔥🔥 Giana and her mafia men! Chef kisses!! Lol

That ending though. I'll need the second book asap!!

📖 My Dark Fairy Tale by Gianna Darling
Series: My Dark Mafia Romance book 1

Raffaele and Guinevere

❤️ Sweet and spicy Italian mafia romance

🤍 Loved the setting with all the Italian culture and history references

🖤 Raffaele and Guinevere’s meet cute was very fitting.

❤️ Guinevere can be annoyingly naive at times but she’s also passionate and fierce. I appreciated how unapologetic and elegantly she would stand up for herself.

🖤 Raffa is exactly what you’d expect from a sexy and dangerous Italian mafioso who has unexpectedly found his “dream American girl”.

🤍 Beware, this does end on a cliffhanger! However, Book 2 is already in the works and projected to be released this October.

❤️ Thank you Gianna Darling and VPR for the opportunity to read this story early!

Giana!! 😍😍 This book was just everything and more! I’m still swooning over Raffa!!

After travelling to Italy to try and connect with her family roots, and having a bit of a “bumpy” start to her trip, Guinevere is completely caught off guard when she quite literally crashes into the charming, yet dangerous Raffa

Raffa’s connection with Vera was instantaneous! Their flirting and the intense slow burn was addictive, and their chemistry and steam — completely off the scale!! 🔥

I loved reading about Vera’s journey into self growth and independence. She’s a strong intelligent young woman, trying to find her sense of independence from her some-what obtrusive parents

Raffa with all his charms and Italian phrases 😩🔥 I could’ve melted right on the spot from his words. He isn’t used to women like Vera, who push back against his every word, but something about her personality just keeps him captivated and amused. The way he protects Vera with all his power, and shows her what it’s truly like to live, ughh I love the man so much!! 🥹

The turn of events 💔😭

Warning: this book ends in a cliffhanger 😭 Giana, I’m begging you, I need book 2 in my life ASAP!!

Tropes include:

🖤 Age Gap
❤️ Touch her and d*e
🖤 Virgin heroine
❤️ Hidden identity

Huge thanks to Giana and Valentine PR for sending over the review copy! x

I realized around the 80% mark that this book was going to end on a heartbreaking cliffhanger. I know Giana's writing. I knew what would happen. But it wasn't exactly how I expected it to be. I spent the last 20% with that lump in my throat. You know the one. The one that feels like you're going to cry but don't quite know why.

Raffa and Guinevere are magical. A slightly lost American girl and her Italian hero. While that might be the premise, these characters are so much more than that. She's been sick and sheltered. He's living a life he didn't want. By the time they begin to find the common ground between them, we are already invested in the HEA we know will come.

Gina is one of my favorite writers. She makes the reader feel intense compassion for all of her characters. And, while the spice is ALWAYS hot, her stories are the real masterpiece each time.

This story caught my attention immediately when I started reading.
It was captivating and I just couldn’t put it down.
I needed answers to my questions asap.
I absolutely loved Guinevere. She’s sweet and a bit naive. Yet she has an old soul sense about her.
I adored how she spoke whatever she felt. Semi no filter lol.
Raffa had me intrigued from the start. He’s a complex character. I appreciated the depth and layers to him. What he was versus what he be came. And him believing there is no middle ground for him.
The banter between these two was top notch. It’s funny and entertaining. It’s sexy and flirty.
And their chemistry is through the roof. The tension and the energy between them is incredible.
But what I absolutely loved with the connection and bond that developed between them.
That just made it so much more special and magical.
The pace of the book is perfect. Always something happening. But nothing is rushed or slow paced.
The writing is so good. The descriptions and details are so vivid. I could see and smell the sights and sounds of Italy.
Is it too soon to say I want book 2 lol?

Ah! That ending! I don’t know why I’m surprised anymore that Giana leaves us on cliffhangers 🤣🤣 this book was such a good one! I don’t read mafia romance much, but the essence of being in Italy and what she infused into this story made it just so much more enjoyable! I seriously can’t wait to see what unravels in the next book!

Star Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Steam Rating:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

“For the first time in my life, I wanted to be someone’s knight in shining armor.”

Imagine it’s your first day in Italy, you’re 23 years old and it’s the first solo adventure you’ve ever taken after a slightly sheltered life.

You’re traveling the countryside and your car breaks down, a nice older gentleman stops to help you but turns out he’s not so nice and you end up running for life. You make it to safety only to get hit by a car. Said car is driven by a gorgeous Italian man, a mafioso (unbeknownst to Guinevere) and kindly takes you back to his house to care for you.

Now if that hasn’t drawn you in maybe this will. Raffa is the top mafioso in his area. He’s known for being a ruthless leader, loyal to very few, so imagine his surprise when Guinevere runs into his life. 11 years old than her, he knows he should stay away but after caring for her for a week, he learns his heart isn’t has black as he assumed. But will she stay when she finds out how dark his life really is?

I loved these two so much! The way Raffa cares for her, the way he’s soft only for her, how he not only encourages her freedom and independence but is still also fiercely protective of her. The way he constantly spoiled her. Guinevere was this beacon of light brought into his life. The banter between them was my favourite, I loved how well they got on despite the age difference, how she teased him and the smiles he gave only to her. It was like they were meant to meet each other.

I loved her zest for life, living with a medical condition had left her sheltered from a lot in life but she’s been desperate to discover Italy. The confidence she had to travel to a whole new country is incredible, I have a big girl crush on her.

Raffa opens her world to the wonders of Italy and awakens her desires in ways she never expected. The spice in this book was phenomenal! Had me blushing and squirming and so giddy! A man obsessed, there are no words

I honestly have no coherent thoughts to write this review, Giana outdid herself with this book! You need to read it! And that ending has itching for the next one!

So if you love mafia romance, with a man who absolutely smitten with her, will do anything for her and delicious spice then you need to read this book!

Perfect mafia romance. Guinevere, an American woman who feels called to follow her family roots to Italy for the summer, has no clue just how entrenched in the mafioso her new lover is, but honestly the best part was watching her get to know the real and vulnerable Raffa. He also gave Guinevere the space to grow into herself as a woman, something she’d been seeking during her Italian summer.

The author did a great job at balancing the mafia side of the story (Raffa’s dark side) with showing how his romance unfolds as Guinevere works her way into his heart and family. The setting for this story fit perfectly with the author’s love for literature and the classics. I felt like I was a part of Guinevere’s journey as she fell in love with the beauty, culture and history of Italy!

That cliffhanger hurt BAD. I can’t wait until we get the conclusion to this duet! I have so many theories, and I can't wait to see if any of them are right!

one of my most anticipated releases and it did not disappoint!! Giana was able to perfectly blend the dark side of mafia with a whirlwind, beautiful romance. I was hooked from meet cute which was iconic if I do say so myself! The ending HURT and I’m going to need book 2 asap. The fact that I’m sitting with two Giana cliffhangers right now is brutal, but i still love you Giana 🫶🏻

“Cerbiatta mia. La mia donna. La mia stella cadente.”
“My little fawn. My woman. My shooting star.”

What to expect:
-mafia
-age gap (11 years)
-billionaire
-touch her & d!e
-good girl x bad boy
-hidden identity
-forced proximity
-chronic illness rep
-italian setting
-found family

Guinevere travels alone to Italy to learn more about her family’s roots and our girl does not get off to a good start. A chance encounter causes her to meet (aka gets hit by a car by) Raffa, who she has no idea is actually a very powerful and dangerous mafia boss. He takes her in, they grow closer and feeling evolve, but what will happen when she finds out who he really is?? Only time and reading this book will tell! Raffa and Guinevere’s chemistry is off the charts!!! I loved Guinevere’s self-discovery and character development, and I loved Raffa’s contrasting possessive and sweet sides. There’s so many secrets, mysteries, and unexpected connections as you read that had me on the edge of my seat. I will always be obsessed with Giana’s beautifully poetic writing and the setting of Italy was the cherry on top. This book was an addictive rollercoaster I never wanted to get off, but I was forced off and now I have to wait until September for book 2 *cries* Anyways, go read this one if you want an immersive wild ride that you will devour in one sitting!

Thank you so much Giana and team for the ARC of My Dark Fairytale 🖤

TROPES:
age gap
mafia
virgin hero
touch her and die
hidden identity
takes place in Italy
bad boy x good girl

Guinevere and Raffa! My good lord have mercy! Giana Darling has done it again fam!
Book 1 in the My Dark Mafia series, came out swingin!

Guin graduates from college and decides to go to Italy, she has always wanted to go but her parents have always been adamant about her never going, family history that she never gets details on. So, she lies and tells them she is traveling to France. Once she arrives something happen with her vehicle, a crazy moment that I will not give spoilers on, and she meets Raffa.

Raffa feels an instant connection to our FMC, despite knowing that this is NOT a good path to take and he can't help himself.

Guys! the twists and turns, the secrets that come out in this book, and that cliff hanger?!?! I can notttt wait for book 2!

6✨

WHAT THE HECK WAS IN THIS BOOK CAUSE I WAS HOOKED FROM THE VERY FIRST PAGE. The book starts out in a crazy way and in a way you’ll never forget. We’re introduced to both main characters in the most wild manner and it just makes you extra obsessed with the rest of it. It’s the most mafia like meet cute that’s kinda sick but if you love chaos, then you’ll be as obsessed with it as I was.

Raffa and Guinevere is meant to be, it’s that simple. The way they found each other was definitely fated and total kismet. Vera is your all American girl that’s always been sheltered from anything dangerous cause she grew up with a chronic illness that left her parents being very vulnerable and overprotective of her. And Raffa is a total opposite of that, being an infamous mafioso that’s ruthless towards those who show disloyalty and in his core a mafia made man. But there’s just something about when opposites meet that really hits different especially when they’re from complete different worlds.

But as the book unfolds and we learn more about both Raffa and Guinevere, you see new sides of them, and Vera isn’t just this good girl and Raffa isn’t full on a villain either. There’s a lot of depth to them both and being together changes them too.

Guinevere Stone’s dad is from Italy and has always forbade her from visiting but as a 23 year old and after experiencing a loss, she’s destined to take this journey and explore her roots. When she encounters a near death experience, she’s hit by a car passing her, and it’s none other than Raffa who then saves and takes care of her. If getting hit by a car means falling love with Raffaele Romano, then please hit me too.

One of the best mafia romances that I have read in the longest time and that cliffhanger? MY HEART… October 28 BETTER hurry up. I need a sedation after how this book ended. *sobs*

🌹 What to expect:
— mafia romance
— billionaire Italian mafioso
— italian/tuscany setting
— age gap
— hidden identity
— bad boy x good girl
— close proximity
— virgin fmc
— crazy meet cute
— billionaire hero
— lots of italian dirty talk
— chronic illness rep
— a heroine in finance
— dual pov

MY DARK FAIRY TALE by Giana Darling
My Dark Mafia Romance Book #1
Raffaele and Guinevere's story
Tropes: Mafia Billionaire, Virgin, Age Gap,
I really love a good Mafia romance and My Dark Fairy Tale has definitely become a favourite! Guinevere wants to travel to Italy on vacation and search her family roots against her father's wishes.
She goes anyways and ends up crossing paths with our mysterious dark hero Raffaele Romano and she has no idea that he's the Mob Boss. He's not usually so taken with women but Guinevere's innocence, strength and beauty is drawing him in. He offers to help her and they get to somewhat know each other. This attraction is mutual but with a time limit. Ms. Darling gave us a delicious, sensuous story of 2 people trying to find themselves while they found each other. Intense chemistry and steamy scenes kept me totally addicted right up to the heart wrenching cliff hanger and begging for more!!!

I love mafia romances and giana darling sucked me in with my dark fairy tale. Guinevere and Raffa are from two opposing worlds and meet in a random accident. I loved that even though Raffa is that mafia hero we love he showed such tenderness towards Guinevere. I loved the chemistry these two had that develops over the book beautifully. I know Giana can write an explosive fast burn but this pace was so satisfying as it builds. I'm also a sucker for a good girl and Guinevere was just right for my taste. Most of all I live for secret identity tropes and this book fabulously executed that. I'm sucked into the cliffhanger and can't wait for more from this series.

ARC Review 📖
My Dark Fairy Tale
My Dark Mafia Romance Book 1
Written by Giana Darling @gianadarlingauthor

I've been dying for a good mafia romance. It's been too long since I've read one. I'm glad I got back on to the Mafia romance kick just in time for this book.

I was hooked from the beginning and the fact that he helps her even though it's not usually what he does. Meaning she is the exception. You just know things are going to be interesting when anyone utters those words.

Not only did Guinevere and Raffa go on an adventure in Italy but I felt as the read I got to go on the adventure as well. My god the way they flirt is addicting to read. I'm constantly wanting to know what they will say next to each other or what boundaries they will cross. This man is not afraid to share how he feels about her; he's not holding anything back. I just love that quality in a man.

Don't even get me started on him being an Italian and speaking to her in Italian. I may melt into a puddle. The amount of highlights I've made in this book are pretty much things he says to her or the banter between them. I love that she pushes back at Raffa, our innocent Guinevere gives him a run for his money literally. He is not used to a woman like her and it's entertaining to see them interact. The chemistry between them is fire and whenever they share a kiss is electrifying.

I found my new favorite side character Martina. She is amazing at giving Raffa shit and I'm here for it. Makes me laugh every time.
I love the family and friends he has.

Five stars read for me every day. I am surprised no! Because of my past experiences with Giana's books I knew I would fall in love with these characters too. Even if the ending gutted me and I had a hard time starting another book. Thank you @gabbylaromantica for being my sounding board and listening to me ramble about this book with you. Very much appreciated ♥️

#MafiaRomance
#ItalianSetting
#AgeGap
#BillionaireAntiHero
#HiddenIdentity
#Deer
#Babie
#littlefawn
#cerbiatta
#bambolina
#littledoll
#Vera
#Handnecklace
#mine
#ragazza

𝑴𝒀 𝑫𝑨𝑹𝑲 𝑭𝑨𝑰𝑹𝒀 𝑻𝑨𝑳𝑬 𝐛𝐲 𝐆𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠
(𝖠𝖱𝖢)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5
🌶️🌶️.5

“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝐠𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐧 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭" - 𝑹𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒂

If only an Italian Mafia man could run me over and nurse me back to health 😭🙏

This is my first ever Giana Darling book and i have a strongggg feeling shes going to become a new favourite 😏

I absolutely LOVED this book, it’s been a hot minute since I last read a mafia romance book and I was instantly hooked from Chapter 1 🤭.

The characters were just chefs kiss 😮‍💨🤌🏻. The FMC Guinevere (her name is just BEAUTIFUL) is honestly living my dream life 😭 her passion to travel to Italy after not having really any freedom her whole life is just SO fricken admirable! 🥹

And don’t even get me STARTED on Raffa because that man….he literally has my whole heart in a chokehold 😩. The way he was with the FMC though 🥹 he truly believed he wasn’t capable of loving someone but then his Fawn came along and changed that

Overall, i had SO much fun with this book! The spice was so well written and just everything about this book i DEVOURED. I cannot WAIT for book 2 (i need it more than i need AIR because how dareee you leave me hanging like that GIANA 😏)

Thank you so so much to Giana Darling and Valentine PR for sending me the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review 🥹🖤

(𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝘂𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝘂𝗲𝘁! 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 😏)

𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀:
🖤𝖬𝖺𝖿𝗂𝖺 𝖱𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾
🇮🇹𝖠𝗀𝖾 𝖦𝖺𝗉
🖤𝖦𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝖦𝗂𝗋𝗅 𝗑 𝖡𝖺𝖽 𝖡𝗈𝗒
🇮🇹𝖳𝗎𝗌𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝖲𝖾𝗍𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀
🖤𝖧𝗂𝖽𝖽𝖾𝗇 𝖨𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗍𝗒

Lots of love,
Lillie Xo

If there's one author who never misses, it’s Giana. So when I saw she was dropping a mafia romance set in Italy? Immediate need. And of course, she delivered once again.

I’ve never been to Italy, but this book made me feel like I lived there. The writing? So rich and atmospheric, I was practically smelling espresso and dodging Vespa traffic.

Guinevere was so relatable. I mean, leaving everything behind to chase her dream? same girl, same! And Raffaele…where do I even begin? He braids her hair and reads to her. READS. TO. HER. Do I even need to say more? I clearly need a one-way ticket to Italy, ASAP.

Beautiful writing ✔
Amazing heroine ✔
Swoony hero ✔
Scorching chemistry ✔
Italian daydream vibes ✔
An ending that left me screaming? ✔✔✔

The next book can't come soon enough!!!

This is the story of Raffaele and Guinevere. She is a girl who has lived a somewhat overprotected life due to events in her childhood. But she has a dream. She has worked and saved to take a trip to Italy. Even, if her father has warned her many times that he hated where he was from and to never go there. However, when she arrives things get off to a bumpy start when her car breaks down and she is offered help, then hit by another car while she was running. This is the moment that she meet Raffaele. He is not a good man and in a way warns her that he is not. However there is something about this girl that makes him take her with him to his house to recover because of some complications. This is the beginning of their story and about all I am going to tell you about it. I loved these characters. I loved how sweet and full of life that Guinevere was. I loved seeing the world though her eyes and was so excited for her to finally have the adventure she has been waiting her entire life for. Raffaele is good, whether he believes it or not. His is the head of the Mafia but inside of him there was once a good man. Until he had to become what he never wanted to be. You don't just change the way a Mafia works if there isn't some good living in you. However, I loved the way that Guinevere brought out a side of him that is rarely if ever seen. I loved when he would show her the amazing things that Italy has to offer, all while keeping her safe and secure. I love seeing him discover things about himself that he had long forgotten. Filled with moments that will melt your heart and have you craving more of this story, it is one that you do not want to miss.

Slow burn, chronic illness rep and mafia romance alk in one!
I absolutely loved thus one and inalread crave the best book.
The spice was spicing in this one too

𝐌𝐘 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐘 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐠𝐮𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨.

That line perfectly encapsulates Raffa and his Fawn—darkness meeting light, and neither walking away the same. Their dynamic? Everything. This book is dangerously close to being one of my absolute favourites by Giana.

If you’re into twisted fairytales wrapped in longing, secrets, and slow-burning chemistry—all set in the heart of Tuscany—this belongs on your TBR.

🔥 Italian setting (Tuscany dream, anyone?)
🔥 Bad boy x good girl
🔥 Chronic illness rep
🔥 Billionaire anti-hero with broody secrets and a hidden identity
🔥 11-year age gap

This book delivered mystery, angst, stolen glances, and that signature Giana emotional pull. The longing. The chemistry. And finally—the steam. When it hits, it hits... in true Giana fashion. 😮‍💨

Italy wasn’t just a backdrop, it was a place of self-discovery, healing, and giving in to something neither of them saw coming. I devoured every page—and I already know I’ll be rereading it again.

I cannot wait for book 2. I need it like yesterday—but I suppose this masterpiece deserves the spotlight for a while.

4⭐️
3🌶️

Tropes: mafia, billionaire, he gap, hidden identity, Italy setting, touch her and die, protective mmc, anti hero, chronic illness rep, bad boy x good girl

Duet book 1

Raffa and Guinevere were beyond hot. Their chemistry was so good and I really liked seeing their relationship grow. It was fun to read more mafia from Giana! Especially one with an Italy setting because it was so fun. Guinevere brought the sass and challenged Raffa, while all he really wanted to do was protect the shit out of her. With this being a duet, I appreciated the slower buildup. We actually got to experience the tension grow and I didn’t feel like it was rushed.

I am super intrigued to see what comes next for book two because the ending has me questions so much!

Thank you to Giana and Valentine PR for an arc and physical copy🖤