Let me start by saying that I don’t usually read mafia romances. But here’s so many wonderful things about Gianna Darling that when I have the opportunity to read it early release of her newest book I jumped right on it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Words cannot express how much I love this book. The world building, the romance, The growth, and that ending blew me away!
I did not expect this to be an age gap story however the age gap isn’t that huge. But I really enjoyed both main characters. They really appreciated how Raffa let Guinevere have space she needed to grow into the woman she wanted to be. The story had me hooked from the very first chapter, and it kept me engaged and intrigued the whole way. The only thing I didn’t like was that I have to wait for the sequel.

I will definitely be picking up more books by Gianna Darling and who knows, maybe I’m moving into my mafia era?

Thank you to Gianna Darling and Valentine PR for this ARC

The way Giana writes is almost poetic. The premise of the story may have dark undertones but Guinevere brings light and levity to the dark and I found the majority of the story focused on the love and happiness between the two main characters with a slight mafia undertone.

There is so much mystery buried deep within these pages that still have yet to be unwrapped. I loved the story telling and I just couldn't put this down.

The ending destroyed me and I need book 2 now please and thank you.

An excellent Mafia Romance with solid pacing and tasteful use of spice. An especially hooking beginning, as I felt just as swept up into Raffa's world (and his care) as Guinevere did.

Raffa was forced into taking up the Capo role after his hardened father's assassination. Rafferty would've rather lived a more peaceful life of culture and economics that he was schooled for, but sadly he had to take up a more violent and unsavory livelihood the past 4 years.

Once he rescues Vera from an assault escape, he finds himself showing signs of the more carefree young man he used to be. The metaphor is not lost on me of her name and I love it (a bit of an Arthurian nod)! In essence, he's a blank slate to her, a man who is her own "white knight" in her eyes (to his fair Guinevere).

I loved the slower burn and the respectful and caring nature he excuded with her. They both had instant attraction, but there was a hesitancy and guardedness that was a lovely balance of push-pull and playful banter. Them touring Florence and the locale in whole, was breathtakingly vivid. I've been to Florence and Tuscany and this was spot on and felt so familiar.

Showing that he does not shy away from violence in certain moments solidifies his morally grey nature. He is fiercely protective, generous, but also cunning in his role as Capo, as he susses out who is attempting an attack on his organization.

Exciting, lovely character development and brewing drama! An easily reccomended mafia romance, with equal parts romance and some suspense. Bring on book two!

A really fun start to a new dark romance story from Giana. You will feel like you are transported right to Italy when reading this book. I really enjoyed how Giana explored that there’s dark and light in everyone.

This books theme was a mafia romance, based in Italy. Excluding the mafia side of things, this book still makes me want to visit Italy myself. The male main character comes across as the knight from a fairytale to the female main character. Little does she know, he is much closer to being the villain of the story. Even though he’s seen as the ‘bad guy’ I’d say the two main characters are made for each other. She brings out his light and he brings out her darkness. My only complaint would be that I wish all of the Italian words were translated, most were but a few wasn’t. It’s just so I don’t have to search them up. I can not wait for the second book, I need answers!! I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

4/5 stars
3/5 peppers
1/5 buzz buzz

Listen. We all wanted to be Lizzy McGuire when she went to Rome and had her own adventure. But we're now adults and now we want to be rescued by a handsome Italian man that ends up taking care of us and slowly makes us fall in love with him... but turns out he's the head of the mafia over there and now you're conflicted... and broken hearted. Anyone else? No just me? Okay fine.

Guinevere has always been told not to go back to the home country by her father. But when life gives her a door she walks through it. She takes her own adventure of a lifetime until she gets in a situation where the handsome Raffaele rescues her and instead of sending her on her way... he keeps her. He spoils her, shows her the wonderful side of Italy all the while running the dark world. How long can he keep his secret and keep Guinevere for himself.

If you're looking for a happily ever after that's nice and pretty... you haven't met Giana because she will build all the tension and yearning only for you to wait for the dream ending. You'll get mad but then bat your pretty eyelashes asking for more.

I loved the spice, it wasn't the center but it's the nice cherry on top and them some sprinkles. You'll be asking for a Raffaele of your own!!!

✩4

“Tonight, I feel like playing the hero instead of the villain.”

✦What to Expect✦
•Tuscany setting
•Age gap (23 & 34)
•Billionaire Italian Mafioso
•American woman in Italy

✦Characters✦
•Guinevere “Vera” Stone
•Raffaele “Raffa” Romano
 
✦Fav Quotes✦
“I can feel you touching every inch of my body with your eyes,”
“Do not be afraid to touch with your hands too.”

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

“I love you, Raffa. In any language, across any distance. And I always will.”

✦Thoughts✦
THAT ENDING!!!!!!

OH MY GOD!

Welp I shall be sat waiting for October & the next book because I MUST KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!

First off, how these two meet!!! OH MY GOSH

Raffa… F’KNG SWOONING OVER THIS MAFIOSO MAN! I am in love OKAY!

Guinevere oh my goodness!! I will alway love a strong FMC and I can’t wait to see what she does in the next book!

I also have so many questions & theories!!

Ugh. I don’t know why I let this woman do this to me again. To make me fall in love with her characters in a place that is oh so dear to my heart and then rip my heart out and leave me on a cliffy!

Oh wait. I’m into that. Especially when Giana writes it. 😅

This book was highly anticipated for me and I am so happy it delivered in all the ways. From the characters, to the setting, to the twisty plot points that kept me wondering, it was perfection! There are so many places I highlighted in this one between the banter, the plot, the beauty of Italian prose (I mean he describes her as a “shooting star that lights up his chest” ) and reliving my own trip to Italy through the stunning locations we visit!

I also loved how Giana spun a story that kept me invested for the romance, but also to discover what is really going on. There are so many allusions made as we meet folks in this book that I never really felt like I knew where everyone “stands” as it were. SOMETHING is up but I can’t quite nail it down. Needless to say I am very very anxiously awaiting the next book!

Massive thank you to the author Giana Darling and the team at Valentine PR for granting me the opportunity to read an ARC of My Dark Fairytale! I’ll absolutely be watching for any updates on book 2!

My little fawn. My woman. My shooting star.

Raffaele Romano has so many secrets it’s crazy. When he runs into Guinevere literally things get interesting.

You have awakened the beast inside me that was always hungry for more, eating at my bones when I wouldn’t feed it anything of value.

Be warned this doesn’t have a HEA. We are left with a cliffhanger ending. I don’t know how long it will be before the next book but I hope not long.

ARC Review✨✨

THE WAY THE ENDING HAD ME SCREAMING-

RAFFAELE IS SO HOT YALL


Blurb

When a mysterious man rescues her from near death, a young woman finds herself in the throes of a dark and dangerous storybook romance, where pleasure reigns but happy endings are no guarantee.

Guinevere

For all my life, Italy has called to me just as strongly as my father forbade me to go. But now I’m making my own way, spending a summer in his homeland before I accept the life my parents have planned for me.

All those plans come to a screeching halt the moment I meet him. Raffaele Romano.

Raffaele

Everyone knows me as the capo dei capi of the Camorra, a notorious mafioso in Northern Italy, but she makes me remember who I used to be before I became this monster. For her, I could be so much more, but she can never know the truth about who I am.

She’s falling in love with me, but if she discovered the truth about what that monster is capable of, about the things I’ve done…she’d never believe in happily-ever-after again.

Thoughts✨
AHH YALLL I ATE THIS UP.
This book had me absolutely hooked from chapter one!!
SO this book starts with Guinevere getting almost kidnapped and than running away and well she gets hit by a car.. NOW who hits her the one and only Raffaele. The way this man is so possessive of her AHHHHHH. I loved watching there characters connect and get to know each other. Also I was NOT expecting the end LIKE WhAT SOOO GOOD.
The spice and Plot of this book was perfection.


Thank you so much to Author Giana Darling and Valentine PR For an ARC of this book!

My Dark Fairy Tale

If you're looking for a dark romance that feels like a seductive, dangerous fairy tale, My Dark Fairy Tale delivers in every way.

What to Expect:
✨ Mafia
✨ Dark romance
✨ Age gap
✨ Breathtaking Italian setting
✨ "Teach me" vibes
✨ Praise kink

From the very first page, this book transports you straight to Italy with its rich, immersive details—I could practically feel the Tuscan sun on my skin. The setting isn’t just a backdrop; it’s woven into the story in a way that makes you feel like you're right there, caught up in the romance and danger.

And speaking of romance, Rafa and Vera’s chemistry is off the charts. The way he wants to be her white knight while being an undeniable villain? Perfection. 🖤 Their inside jokes, whispered Italian sweet nothings, and deep, intimate moments create the kind of love story that feels both wildly passionate and deeply personal.

But beyond the steam (which, trust me, is *plentiful*), the characters actually grow. When smut and character development go hand in hand? That’s the sweet spot. Also, can we talk about how Italian dirty talk just hits differently? Because wow. 🫠

And then, *that ending.* It completely wrecked me—but thankfully, the next book is coming later this year, and I need to know more, especially about the side characters who add so much depth and found-family warmth to the story.


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.75

If you love dark romance with a lush setting, an intense love story, and a hero who is both sinful and swoon-worthy, this is a must-read.

*thank you Giana and team for the ARC

🄰🅁🄲 🅁🄴🅅🄸🄴🅆
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10/10
What to expect:
💫 A billionaire Italian mafioso
🖤 Age Gap(23, 34)
💫 Tuscany setting
🖤 Hidden identity
💫 A heroine in finance

Giana Darling once again drawn me into the world she's create, and she left me to fall in love once again with her characters. My Dark Fairy Tale is no different!!

From the very first page, Guinevere and Rafael pulled me in like a lover ready to seduce. The romance between the Italian mafioso from Tuscany and his fiery,but innocent amerikan brown eye dowe Guinevere builds from spark to fiery inferno with each turning page.
This story keep me up all night,not able to put it down until i finished her all to the last pages!🤭

Once again Giana showed me why she is my one to go author, she writes her books so captiving, that im forgetting where I am, transporting me into another world!
But everyone need to brace yourself for the end,because it ends with cliffhanger ,that left me to question my sanity how I will survive till the second book, who will be out oktober !🤧

Anyways I want to thanks Giana and Netgalley for the ARC ❤️can't wait for the second book 👀

My Dark Fairy Tale - @gianadarling

4 ⭐️

Something about Giana’s books just feels like coming home for me. There is so much comfort I find in her writing and I always have the best time reading her books 🥹

My Dark Fairy Tale follows Guinevere and Raffa. What starts as a bizarre meeting - turned into weeks filled with lust, infinite memories, falling in love, and Italian summer bliss.

This was honestly the perfect mafia romance novel. The balance between Raffa’s underworld plot next to his time spent with Guinevere was fantastic 👏🏼

Guinevere’s character was extremely loveable. Following her journey of self discovery and connecting with her roots was so mesmerising to read about. The vivid imaginary Giana used made it impossible to not picture yourself alongside the characters throughout the whole story.

Raffa was a typical mafioso but he had an underlying emotional layer to himself .. perhaps from a past life? This allowed him to connect so well with Guinevere while still being the protective mafia baddy we needed. They complemented each other very well and brought out the better side of one another.

Also the constant underlying theme of Hades and Persephone had me giggling and kicking my feet. Anything with this as a foundation for a story immediately has me sold.

It’s always books that are set in the European country side that bring an element of enchantment. They’re always so whimsical and nothing feels real when I’m reading about it.

This is what I love about Giana’s writing is that all her books are a perfect example of escapism for me. When I read, I want to get lost in the book and lost in time and all consumed by the writing ~ and that’s exactly what Giana delivered 🖤

Thankyou to @giana for an advanced copy of this book!

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

My Dark Fairy Tale by Giana Darling

This is my first time reading one of Giana Darling book and after reading this one I’ll be reading more of her books.

My Dark Fairy Tale by Giana Darling follows Guinevere, a young woman defying her family's wishes to spend a summer in Italy, only to be swept into a dangerous love affair with Raffaele Romano. Raffaele, the ruthless capo dei capi of the Camorra, knows he should stay away but Guinevere stirs something in him that he thought was lost. As their passion deepens, so does the risk, because if she learns the truth about his violent world, her dreams of a fairy-tale ending may be shattered forever.

I loved how Raffa was so protective of Guinevere. The way she opened up to him and the way he was falling in love with her along the way but he was also falling back in love with his country. I loved how Guinevere was finding herself. I loved the side characters as well and the way they all created a special bond with Guinevere. The only thing that I have questions about is Leo he seems suspicious 🤨. Overall I enjoyed the book and I can’t wait for the second book.

The book does leave off on a cliffhanger so I can’t wait for the second book to come out. I want to know more about why Guinevere father didn’t approve of her going to Italy.

💌Thank you for the arc opportunity💌

Tropes:
🖤 Billionaire Italian mafioso
✨Age Gap
🖤Tuscany setting
✨Hidden identity
🖤Heroine in finance
✨Chronic illness rep
🖤Bad boy X Good girl

This one was such a breath of fresh air! The imagery was incredible—every scene felt so real. I loved the age gap and of course the mafia🖤

One of my favorite lines was, 'Tonight, I feel like playing the hero instead of the villain.' —I love the person Raffa allowed himself to be with Vera🖤

'But to me, you are the shooting star that lights up my life.' 😍😍😍 I’m not sure how to say sawoon in Italian…

I’m a sucker for authentic feeling mafia guys & the Italian phrases throughout the book were perfect! I can’t wait to listen to the audiobook because it's going to be so yummy!

I was hooked from start to finish and can’t wait for the next book to come out. Highly recommend it!

My Dark Fairytale is the first book in Giana Darling’s new My Dark Mafia Romance series! Guinevere Stone has always dreamed of going to Italy. Her father’s homeland and forbidden from stepping foot in the country. She’s been saving up her whole life to have a secret getaway after college graduation. Her first day in Italy ends pretty traumatically, but brings her to her very own Prince Charming. The Italian man of her dreams, Raffaele Romano. She has no idea he’s the capo dei capi of the Camorra. Raffa finds himself wanting to be her knight in shining armor despite himself. She makes him want to be the person he thought he could be long ago. He’s enchanted by the duality of her, sweet and naive, but also brave and strong with an enthusiasm for life. They spend the summer together, Raffa introducing her to adventure and pleasure and freedom. He keeps his identity a secret because he knows she won’t be able to accept his monster. These two were absolutely magical together. Their chemistry is insane. The spice is so so hot. Raffa was so passionate and sexy omg 🥵 The time they spend together getting to the depths of eachother’s hearts was beautiful. I am addicted to this story and I need the next book now!!!!

Wowzer...the slowish burn...that teasing of the brain. Loved it!! Had me hooked at chapter 1. Loved the characters and the storyline was great. Love a good touch her and die..literally man. This book had it all for me....the cliffhanger though...ugh!!!

Even with the mafia element, this book was surprisingly cute in so many ways. I had such a fun time reading it! The romance between the main characters was everything—I loved their connection, the setting, and the way Giana’s writing made me feel like I was right there with them.

I’ve never read a “girl on vacation falls in love” type of story before, but now I need more of them. Giana completely sold me on the trope! Her writing pulled me in so deeply that I didn’t want to leave this world.

And then there’s Raffa—grumpy, romantic, and absolutely magnetic. I was hooked on him from the start. His dynamic with his friend group was also a highlight, adding even more charm to the story.

I already can’t wait for the next book!

Raffa + Guinevere

-mafia romance
-holiday fling
-billionaire antihero
-secrety identity
-age gap

okaaauurrr DADDDYYYYY raffa!!! im so in love with them & omg they're the cutestttt!! but like...GIANA WHAT THE FUCK GIRL!! WHAT DO YOU MEANN??? WUTDYAMEEEAAANNN???? what do you meaaannn you ended it like that??? i'm left GOBSMACKED CAUSE WHYYY!!!

My Dark Fairy Tale is the first book in the My Dark Mafia Romance series. This book is about Guinevere and Raffaele and is told from both of their points of view.

Raffaele and Guinevere meet when she is in Italy on her own. Something happens, so she runs, and they end up meeting in a funny way. Now, he feels protective of her, and he doesn't feel this way for anyone.

There is a bunch thrown at these two characters, and some twists I didn't see coming. Raffaele is hiding a big secret from Guinevere. What happens when she finds out?

I'm excited to see what happens next with these two characters, and to see how their story ends!