Lethal Legacy is a spellbinding dark mafia romance that masterfully balances heart-pounding tension with deeply emotional moments.

This book made me laugh, giggle, fall in love and feel many other emotions that i can’t describe with words.

The positive points and highlights of this book will be the following (in my opinion):

1. Electrifying characters
2. Rich storytelling — it intertwines deep emotional connections and family dynamics in a way that keeps you fully invested.
3. Perfectly paced romance and spice— Fans of romantic and intense tension will find the scenes to their liking
4. Emotional resonance — The novel navigates various themes such as trust, betrayal, family….. Leaving you moved and eager for the next installment.

Just WOW! Fans of mafia romance with a LOT of spice, this is it. A rollercoaster of emotions woven through a complex and somehow ever changing plot weaving past and present as everything changes every time you turn around. You will be drained as the cliff approaches ...

This book started off strong and had a lot of elements I was excited about. I was especially intrigued by the heroine—she wasn’t a pushover and she wasn't an idiot, which can be hit or miss in mafia romances. I feel like it's often one or the other. I also really loved the found family aspect.

The first half of the book was engaging and steamy. The leads are compelling characters with great chemistry. Lucia’s strength and desire to finally share her burdens made her easy to root for, and Roman’s mix of protectiveness and emotional denial was endearing.

That said, the pacing eventually became an issue and I ended up dnfing at around 72% in . At over 600 pages, the story began to drag. The romance, while initially captivating, started to overshadow the suspense and action. The dialogue felt excessive, and many scenes began to blur together with repetitive emotional beats and ongoing miscommunication.

I was trying to describe the mix of coziness and dark romance that is in this book, and I think the best comparison that I can make is of a telenovela. The drama is intense, full of the kind of coincidences and connections of a soap opera. The setting is one exotic location after another - primarily set in the beautiful Malaga, on the Costa del Sol, and even when the book has moments of heightened danger and drama, it still feels very much like an escapist fantasy. Who doesn't want to fall in love with a gorgeous man in Spain while hanging out with a hilarious Australian bestie?

I read the entire book in one sitting - this is the perfect fun read to enjoy on the beach.

I loved this so much!! It was a book i just couldn't out down. The suspense, the plot, the characters.... everything just tied in and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!

4.5stars-LETHAL LEGACY is the first instalment in Paula Walshe’s contemporary, adult LETHAL LEGACY dark, erotic, Mafia duet focusing on billionaire tech giant Roman Stevanovsky, and au pair Lucia Lopez.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Lucia and Roman) LETHAL LEGACY follows the building romance and relationship between billionaire tech giant Roman Stevanovsky, and au pair Lucia Lopez. Roman Stevanovsky is the legal guardian to his late brother’s three children but when the fifth nanny quit having been terrorized and humiliated by the kids, Roman is determined to find someone, if only on a temporary basis. Having met barista Lucia Lopez a handful of times, the feisty waitress is the perfect foil for the children but a woman with many secrets she does not want exposed. As the children find themselves falling for our story line heroine, Roman is determined to claim Lucia as his own but all is not well in the Stevanovsky Bratva, someone else is taking aim, and Roman believes the nanny is at the heart of the betrayal.

The world building is detailed and edgy. Lucia Lopez is not whom she claims to be but our hero is hiding a dark secret that he also does not want exposed. As Lucia loses her heart to our story line hero, Roman is determined to destroy everything and everyone connected to the woman he thought he loves.

The relationship between Lucia and Roman begins as employee and employer but quickly turns into something more as Roman is determined to claim Lucia body and soul but all is not well as Lucia’s past returns seeking ownership, Roman discovers that all is not as it appears to be. The $ex scenes are provocative and intense.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, questionable and dynamic secondary and supporting characters including Roman’s charges Ofelia, Mikey and Masha, and their mother Inger, uncle Nikolai; Lucia’s father Juan, her best friend Abby, and Roman’s best friend and second in command Dimitry; as well as a large assortment of Mafia types, determined to take back control.

LETHAL LEGACY is a heartbreaking story of many secrets and lies, power and control, betrayal and vengeance, misunderstanding and miscommunication, family and relationships, desperation and love. The premise is dramatic, tragic and twisted ; the romance is edgy and spicy; the characters are charismatic, wounded and ill-fated. LETHAL LEGACY ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

THE READING CAFÉ: https://www.thereadingcafe.com/lethal-legacy-lethal-legacy-1-by-paula-walshe-review/

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7445215837


BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3495249681


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This book is sooo good! The suspense, the spice, the thrill!!! I couldn't stop reading. I need to know what happens next!!

I love a good mafia dark romance. This book, however, failed to hold my attention. It was a bit long. Also, Lucia and Roman kept so much from each other for too long. It became tiresome to read. Despite this, I did like the storyline and the overall story.

This was a decent mafia romance. I liked the suspense of the heroine hiding her own Bratva family background from the hero, as well as the Spanish setting.

Lethal Legacy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.25/5)

I received Lethal Legacy as an ARC through NetGalley, and let me tell you: I’m a sucker for a good Russian mafia story—and this one mostly delivered.

The character development, especially Roman’s, was really engaging. You can feel the layers peeling back as the story unfolds. The secondary characters aren’t just background noise either—they actually matter, which I always appreciate.

That said, a few plot points stretched credibility a little (I raised my eyebrows more than once), and the spicy scenes started to feel a bit like a déjà vu marathon. Still, overall, I had a great time with this book. A solid, gripping read with just enough grit and heart to keep you hooked.

Lethal Legacy throws you headfirst into a world of simmering tension, dangerous secrets, and undeniable attraction. Paula Walshe crafts a compelling narrative that blends the thrill of Russian Bratva intrigue with a passionate, forbidden romance. Lucia, a woman running from her past, is immediately captivating. Her internal conflict is palpable: she desires the power and protection Roman represents, even though he embodies everything she's desperately trying to escape. Walshe does a great job portraying Lucia's vulnerability alongside her strength, making her a character you root for.
Roman, the alpha billionaire with a hidden darkness, is equally intriguing. He's possessive and powerful, yet shows a surprising vulnerability in his desire to protect Lucia. The dual POV allows us to understand his motivations and see the layers beneath his hardened exterior. The shift from detached observer to fiercely protective lover is well-executed
The plot moves at a good pace, weaving together Lucia's fight for survival with the growing connection between her and Roman. While the story is billed as a love story first and foremost, the glimpses into the dangerous world of the Russian mafia create a palpable sense of tension and uncertainty. The high-stakes backdrop adds an extra layer of excitement to their already electric chemistry.
Overall, this story is a must read for readers who enjoy steamy Russian mafia romances with strong characters and a compelling plot.

3 ✨

I feel like with mafia romances you can go easily wrong and this did not dissapoint!
It delivered the things you seek when reading this genre, the tension, the action and the suspense in the story but for me it felt too long and at one point I was a bit tired with the length of the book!

𝐀 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.

The start of the introductions for the FMC and MMC is absolutely fantastic as I can’t help but to encouraged to continue the journey of this world. The flow of your story is very satisfying, it felt as though everything flowed together and wasn’t interrupted or broken up into pieces. The ground work of both the MC is very important and the author managed to build it up perfectly and present it with ease. The spicy in here is hot 🥵. This man is exactly what I need in this type of book I just couldn’t get enough of him! This would be one of the books I wish I could Reread for the first time again. I definitely recommended this book to a few book girlies and authors!

I really struggled with the first half of this book – I didn’t like the instalove and there just wasn’t all that much going on. I really disliked the way they called him CEO Man and didn’t like the Russian words thrown in. I liked Lucia and Roman as characters and also all the sub characters were great! There wasn’t really anyone I didn’t like. The biggest pain point was the miscommunication, they made so many assumptions that a simple conversation would solve and when they did have a conversation they didn’t speak up, it was frustrating!

The second half of the book was very good - I was engaged and really interested in the story. It was also the half that was more strongly the mafia part of the book and less the smut/romance. The book was very long though, and credit to the author for the second half as I had no intention of reading the second book, but downloaded it as soon as I finished because I have to know what happens! That ending…. WOW!!!

Okay, well, now I need every nanny mafia romance. This was so fun and exciting. I loved the connection between the two main characters. Their familial responsibilities and dynamic were intriguing. I loved reading about how the characters got to where they were—for better or worse. This was so different from the typical cut-and-paste mafia romance. I would definitely recommend this one. Need the next book right now.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this eARC!

This boook! I loved that they both came from the same background and the dynamic between the characters was amazing! I didn’t want the book to end and the cliffhanger….. I need to read the next one immediately!

This was one of the best mafia reads I've read. I often find that mafia centered stories leave a lot to desire when it comes to filling out a story. That is not the case here. The author took a lot of time investing in the world building and the plot. I really appreciated this aspect of the book. There were aspects of the writing, I was not a fan of. In particular, a lot of the metaphors and physical descriptions were repetitive and, sometimes, unnecessary. However, the story was gripping and the both main characters had well thought out back stories. I can't wait to continue on with this story.

I loved the book so much. It had everything from emotions to family bonding to lots of giggly emotions and then crying at end.

I am directly hopping to the next part.

This book takes you straight to the action!! Two parallel lives that get intwined in the most unexpected of ways. With ties from their pasts that threaten both MC and FC’s life as they know it, they story unfolded in a way that gives you snippets from their past and how it all connects to where they ended up. Keeps you wanting more, Lucia and a strong independent character who isn’t afraid to go after who or what she wants. She is not your usual meek girl who is in awe of the MMC just because of how powerful her is, she is as equally powerful and determined as he is. Both are protecting what’s dearest to them which might cost them each other!! Best Mafia romance I read in years!!!

Thank you so much for this eARC copy.

Firsts things first:

DUAL POV
A nanny romance?!
Tension
Incredible immaculate smut
Intense stress
Longing
Suspense and ALL THE EMOTIONS

and that was only the first book. I need to get my hands on book 2 straight away.