🖤𝕸𝖞 𝕯𝖆𝖗𝖐 𝕱𝖆𝖎𝖗𝖞𝖙𝖆𝖑𝖊 - 𝕸𝖞 𝕯𝖆𝖗𝖐 𝕸𝖆𝖋𝖎𝖆 𝕽𝖔𝖒𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝟏 - 𝕬𝖚𝖉𝖎𝖔𝖇𝖔𝖔𝖐 𝕽𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖊𝖜🖤

Author: Giana Darling

Narrators: CJ Bloom & Dane Anderson

Couple: Guinevere Stone & Raffaele Romano

Tropes
🖤 Mafia Romance
🖤 Hidden Identity
🖤 Billionaire Italian Mafioso
🖤 Chronic Illness Rep
🖤 Bad Boy x Good Girl
🖤 Age Gap
🖤 Italian Dirty Talk

Review: Giana Darling blew me away with the romance in 𝕸𝖞 𝕯𝖆𝖗𝖐 𝕱𝖆𝖎𝖗𝖞𝖙𝖆𝖑𝖊. Guinevere and Raffaele were ‘chef’s kiss’ in terms of romance, tension, and heat! From the beginning I was immersed into the story with the way Giana detailed the setting and CJ Bloom captured the whimsical yet driven side of Guinevere’s voice spectacularly.

CJ and Dane had amazing chemistry and tension while narrating and I cannot count the number of times I fell in love with the main characters in this story. The way they were able to capture the mounting tension and the mounting secrets had me salivating for the other show to drop but also hoping that the two would be able to work for the HEA they both desperately needed.

Dane was exactly what I imagined Raffaela sounding like and listening to the way the man fell HARD into lust and obsession had me giddy. I was unable to hit pause during this audiobook and I just want to immediately listen to it again!

Rating: 100+; 𝕸𝖞 𝕯𝖆𝖗𝖐 𝕱𝖆𝖎𝖗𝖞𝖙𝖆𝖑𝖊 has been my favorite audiobook of 2025, the romance, the story, the characters and the Italian Dirty talk right in my ears - ‘chef’s kiss’ for sure!

Thank you Giana & Valentine PR for the ALC!

Giana Darling has once again created a book I couldn’t stop listening to! Not only was the plot and spice captivating, but the image she creates of Italy is so vivid and immersive.

For as far back as Guinevere Stone can remember, she has wanted to spend a summer in Italy. Her father has always forbidden her to go, but she’s saved her money and is finally going. Unfortunately when her rental car breaks down in the Italian countryside, she quickly learns one of the reasons her father never wanted her to go to Italy when the guy that stops to help her tries to assault her. While fleeing from her attacker she is hit by a car. Insert Raffaele Romano, the dark and broody Italian man who feels compelled to take care of Guinevere. The chemistry between the two is palpable and when they give into it the sparks fly, but when she finds out who Raffa really is will her love for him be enough to see past his dark side?

Giana and her freaking cliffhangers, I had no idea this was going to end on a cliffhanger so I was ready to toss my phone when it ended which is just a testament to how invested I was in this story. I absolutely loved it and I can’t wait to see what is in store for Guinevere and Raffa.

My Dark Fairy Tale is dual narrated by CJ Bloom and Dane Anderson. This was by far my favorite Dane Anderson performance yet, his Italian accent was perfect. His voice was dark and commanding which fit with Raffa’s personality. CJ Bloom was the perfect Guinevere. Her voice is light and sweet with an innocence about it that captured Guinevere so well, she also performed the male voice and Italian accent flawlessly. If you are looking for a spicy Italian Mafia read with amazing narration, this is your book!

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 I definitely listened to the audiobook too because I needed to hear that Italian accent.

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

Ooooo this story was HOT & HEART PUMPINGLY EXCITING!!!

Imagine going to Italy, where you have been dreaming to go for countless years, by yourself and then getting into a scary situation to then run into (literally) a hot Italian mafia stud who is ready to save you?! Girl sign me up 🫦🫦🫦 these two were very veryyyyy good together & im always a fan of when a virgin heroine catches the eye of someone supposedly unattainable until her!!

I had a great time listening to this audio BUT OMG THE ENDING. I need the next book already Giana 😭

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
Virgin heroine
Mafia romance
Dark romance
Age gap
Billionaire
Bad boy x good girl

I love Giana Darling's books and this was another hit for me! Her writing is always excellent and I ended up receiving a physical ARC of this so that is what I ended up choosing rather than the audiobook but usually I'm a big audiobook fan. I will probably re-read via audio!

Giana is so good at her specific brand of mafia. I was invested from page one, and she kept me hooked the whole time. I listened to this one via audio and the narrator for the MMC??? The Italian accent?!! Hello!!! If you are a fan of Giana, this one will definitely hit for you. If you haven't read her yet, this is a great place to start! The cliff hanger left me READY for book 2!!

Gosh this book was so good!!!

Did I mention Dane Anderson does AN ITALIAN ACCENT 🔥🔥🔥

My favorite quote:

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

Coming April 8th!
Narrated by Dane Anderson and CJ Bloom

This may be for you if you enjoy:
💫 A billionaire Italian mafioso
🖤 Age Gap
💫 Tuscany setting
🖤 Hidden identity
💫 A heroine in finance

That cliffhanger hurt and now I’ll be waiting until October for book 2
Thank you to valentine pr and Giana for the ALC

If anyone can get me back into mafia it’s Giana Darling. wow wow wow this story was so addictive and I loved it with my whole heart. Guinevere and Raffa completely stole my heat with their story. and what a way to meet each other.i loved this story of Guinevere finding herself and her family history, meanwhile you had Raffa who was a mafia capo. I loved how obsessed and protective he was of her— it had me obsessing over him obsessing over her. the chemistry between them was unmatched and the suspense in this story had me craving more. I am already dying to get my hands on the next part of this duet!

read if you like:
age gap
forced proximity
Italian summers
mafia romance
bad boy x good girl
billionaire

Overall Thoughts: Well, Giana did it again. She left me with a huge book hangover. Seriously, what am I supposed to do now? That book was intense from the start. Guinevere is this sweet, sheltered little lamb (or fawn), who literally stumbles into the lion’s den. Then there is Raffaele, the aforementioned lion (or wolf), who fell in love with the fawn. A monster. Ruler of his domain, and he falls head over feet for her. I have to start waiting for her full series to come out, so I can stop torturing myself with these cliffhangers. Ah! But seriously great book, and CJ put on a fabulous performance, as the inexperienced young woman exploring the world for the first time on her own. Dane was amazing as the broody, and dark mafioso, who has a soft spot for his little fawn.

Narration: Duet, first person present tense, dual POV

Tropes: Vacation, m@fia, virgin FMC, Italy, overbearing parents, learning Italian, hit by a car, OTTP, toucher and d!e, unaliver, dirty talker, secrets, death of a sibling not on page

Overall: 4
Spice: 3
Humor: 1.5
Drama: 3
Darkness: 3
Narration: 4.5

Guinevere is traveling through Italy on her own after graduating college. After a rough first encounter, she falls into the care of Raffa, who is immediately taken with her and does everything in his power to help her get back on her feet after losing everything she brought on her trip.

Raffa can’t understand why he wants to help Guinevere, he is not the type of man that helps out innocent young women (or anyone) for that matter, but she has brought a light into his life he thought was extinguished forever.

As the two spend more time together, feelings grow, and Guinevere finds herself wishing Raffa would ask her to stay with him in Italy, but with the secret Raffa has been keeping from her, he knows she is better off without him. He doesn’t want to drag her down into the darkness that has consumed him for most of his life or put her life in jeopardy.

Everyone loves a little baddie who doesn’t like to listen to her father, and then ends up getting herself into a pickle meeting a strange man on the side of the road in a foreign country where she was told not to even venture off to in the first place gets herself into a whole world of trouble just to be rescued by an even bigger questionable man in the mafia … listening to it, though next level definitely would recommend because that Italian flare gives you all the extra gooey spice

there's literally always something about a Giana book that REELS ME IN!! It does start of slow, and it was definitely a slow burn but it was soo good. I love me a mafia romance plus hidden identity?! Anyways i need book two immediately but helloooo that cliffhanger?!

✨I received this book as an ALC for free in exchange for an honest review✨

My Dark Fairy Tale by Giana Darling
Pub Date: April 8, 2025

🖤 Mafia Romance
🖤 Anti-Hero
🖤 Age Gap
🖤 Found Family
🖤 Forced Proximity

Guinevere is an American woman who is traveling to Italy for the summer to reconnect with her family roots when she serendipitously meets Raffa, her mafioso love interest. Their story starts to unfold when Guinevere stays with Raffa in his villa and he realizes he is falling for the woman who does not know his true identity. Their chemistry is electric and you can’t help swoon over Raffa’s protectiveness.

Giana Darling Baby, what are you doing to us? I still can’t get over the cliffhanger… I need more. I have so many unanswered questions and theories. I am counting the days until book 2 comes out.

I loved this book so much but I strongly do not recommend trying to listen to this audio at work. Especially when I am 1 out of 2 women in the office since I work in a warehouse. Trying to keep a straight face while Raffa is saying delicious things in my ear… 🙈🙉🙊

My Dark Fairy Tale is:
Mafia
Book 1 in a duet
Close Proximity
Virgin FMC
Touch her and die
Check content warnings
My favorite part about this book, Rafael. An Italian mafia man ( @thatdaneanderson portrayed so well)) finds Guinevere running from trouble and of course has to save her! Second with any Giana book, always the spice . Two words, olive oil. Also Ferrari
This one while still full of heavy content was really LIGHT on the mafia to me and would be a great starter mafia book if you haven't tried one yet. Warning though there is a cliffhanger and no hea, YET.
The audio by Dane Anderson and CJ Bloom really helped suck me into the story!

I love this author's storytelling and My Dark Fairy Tale was one I truly enjoyed! The setting puts you in Italy right alongside the characters and the slow burn and cliffhanger will have you turning pages and wanting more! I'm already looking forward to what is next!

Also the audio, narrated by CJ Bloom & Dane Anderson, was excellent for the ears - definitely recommend!

Perfect narration
Perfect Setting
Perfect Story

OMG I loved this audio. I was hooked from the start and it did not disappoint.

This story unfolds through out the entire book and it just keeps you so interested. The Character growth so good..

This book does end on a cliff hanger so keep that in mind going into it.
I can not wait for the next one.

I loved this one so much and I need the next book like I need air to breathe. I have so many questions including where I can find my own mafioso like Raffa!

If you’re looking for a mafia romance that takes place in the most beautiful setting of Italy then look no further!

Features major BDE, who hurt you, and possessive MMC energy.

Out now!

Huge thanks to Giana Darling & Netgalley for the chance to read this one early in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely devoured this book! Literally listened to it all in one night! The audio was just immaculate. I could have listened to this man speak forever! Giana does the best job writing men who are so mean and tough to everyone else but are literal teddy bears to their women. The Fallen Men series is one of my very favorite for that reason!

Guinevere goes to Italy to spend the summer in her family‘s homeland, even though her father has always told her she can never go there. She wants to spend the summer exploring before she has to accept the life her parents have planned for her back in America. But everything changes the moment she meets Raffa. Everyone knows him as a notorious mafioso, but she makes him remember how he used to be before he became the monster he is. I just fell in love with these two! If you love a mafia romance, then you definitely need to read this one! I’m already anxiously waiting for book 2!

This book was everything my mafia loving heart could need! Giana did a beautiful job with her descriptions, inner workings of the Italian Mafia and of course made me fall head over heels for Rafa!

🌶️🌶️🌶️

💜 Age Gap
🖤 Mafia romance

OMG, I so need the next book…ASAP. Guinevere is visiting Italy for the first time against her family’s wishes. She meets Raffa who is actually a very bad man but becomes so protective of her its priceless. I really enjoyed this book can’t wait for this story to finish and I really want Martina story.

Another amazing start to a duet by Giana darling! I love the mafia aspects and I love the romance!! The cliffhanger of an ending really got me!!