I was really anticipating Rocco and Grace's story to add to his mafia saga. I am a bit let down. There was so much going on that I felt like thier relationship and chemistry was a bit lost. The story line was choppy for me. Going from flashbacks to real time and everything that was stacked against them, it was just so much happening all at one time.. WIth Roccos' horrible past and his need to be whipped to Grace running from being a Mob underbosses daughter her entire life. I was surprised that they could even get on track long enough to rekindle an old flame.
The age gap doesn't bother me at all. I was fine with the 10 years .
I read a lot of mafia romance books and this one just fell short for me. While I love the idea of Rocco, his constant need for anal sex was such a strange thing to keep dwelling on. I was like , really again? I really did enjoy the scenes shared between Rocco and Grace, they genuinely loved one another and that was not lost in this at times oversexed story. Not, that it is a bad thing, it was just a lot at times.
Others will love this book and the story is not bad, just so much going on that I had a hard time staying vested in the plot

Rocco De Lucchi is a mob enforcer and hit man. Not really liking his job, but doing what he was actually raised to do. Now in Las Vegas he is surprised to see Grace Mantini at a funeral. Sent on a job to take out her father and brother he is shocked when she is there as well. When another set of men come in and he saves her and her father. Now bringing up the past and the feelings they once had for each other he must come to grips with everything. Grace is thrown back into the life she ran from 10 years ago and finds herself bringing the mafia princess she really is, but is it enough to save both of them and can they have a future? The characters are good and you have some of the ones from the other books in this one as well. Overall a good book.

Love how Rocco finally gets his story . Rocco and Grace have known each other since they were young. Love how Sarah have them meeting each other at a sad time , a funeral, and they realize the love they had is still strong . But other obligations keep them apart mostly Graces dad . Love how they find a way to get together

I’ve loved the first 2 installments of the Ruin & Revenge Series by Sarah Castille, so when I was offered a chance to read Rocco’s story I was all over it.

The chemistry between Gracie and Rocco was undeniable. I think the part I liked best was the fact that even though this was their second time around, there were no games. These two were so open about how attracted and special they were to each other. However, it wasn’t quite so simple and they didn’t get just to “be together” even though the pull was so strong.

The sweet side of Rocco is what spoke to my romantic heart. Ok, I’ll be serious, I loved his bad boy brooding and tortured side too, but when Grace made his cold black heart start to turn pink I couldn’t help but fall in love with him. He was so protective of her and would do anything for her, and that never ever wavered, not once. But the romance had two sides and I’m pretty sure I loved Gracie as much as I loved Rocco. Gracie’s fierceness and sweetness was the perfect combination and pulled off perfectly. When I fall in love with the heroine as much as the hero…that is special. It makes for the romance to be even more compelling.

The romance. My god these two were meant to be together. Let’s start with the Italian talk. My god, he could have been saying “chicken fried rice” and I was swooning. Rocco and that talk was to die for! And let’s discuss the sexy times: HOLY CRAP, the sexy times were sexy! From piercings to the dirty talk to the ….nope, I’m not saying anything else, you have to read it to enjoy it, but trust me, this was GOLD.

The cast of characters and back story was a lot. I have to admit I started skimming pretty early on because it was so detail-heavy. I can appreciate all the thought that went into it, but it was just a little too much for me.

The ending was stressfully fantastic! I guessed a lot of what was going to happen, but there were still so many blanks to fill in and I was sweating bullets the entire time. And the book ended on a sweet kind of note, except made a reference to something else and it just felt jilted. However, I loved that I got my HEA and simply adored this story, the characters and their romance.

Rec it? Absolutely! If you love mafia stories with very bad boys and some serious sexy times this is a must for your TBR!

Happy reading!

I have been hooked on this series since book one and have fallen for each one of the hunky male leads. They are all just as yummy as their covers promise!

Rocco has made a few ominous appearances in previous books - mainly Luca's - and he is full on dark and twisty. His childhood, his family, the work he takes on. It all adds up to make a man with a lot of scars, both inside and out.

Grace was the only light in his life and even that was fleeting. When his world comes crashing down around him, Rocco looses the last bit of his soul and lets Grace run as far away from him as she can. Now years later, she's back and the feelings he's successfully buried before, are now clamoring to get out. But things are being put into motion that threaten Grace and Rocco knows this time, he'll have to choose between his woman and his family. And in his family the only way to get out is in death.

What I liked:
This was equal parts steamy, romantic, suspenseful, angsty and bloody! A weird set of descriptors but this is a mob romance so ... yeah. I liked Grace. She was strong heroine and she needed to be to battle Rocco's demons - both the emotional crippling kind and the flesh and blood ones out take them down. She might have looked fragile but she was anything but. Growing up in a mob family toughens a girl up and Grace was pretty damn tough. Rocco was all kinds of growly, possessive, OTT and dangerous. He was an explosive cocktail that kept you hooked.

It was peppered with both old and new characters, some I loved to see again and some I hope will get their just deserts.

It might surprise you that a book with some pretty heavy undertones can also be funny and sweet. Romantic and silly? Then this book will definitely surprise you. Check out my memorable moments for a taste of the sweet, silly romantic humor I'm talking about.

WOW!!! What an incredible read!!

My heart broke for Grace; that girl has just been through so much! First her mother dies in her arms then the "father" of the guy she's secretly seeing assaults her and then even though she moved across the country to start a new life her old life seems to follow her.

I wish we would have had more of Rocco's story. My God that guy had been through hell just based on the little that we learned from him but I would have loved to read more...maybe more flashbacks from his childhood.

From the start Grace and Rocco are an unlikely pair; not just because of the age difference but because he's hired to protect her. Yet there's a connection between the two that doesn't diminish over time, instead it just continues to get stronger.

An incredible book filled with love, suspense and passion. The who was behind everything really surprised me.

Looking forward to reading more in this series.

Hmmmm...what to say about this book?? To be honest I am little conflicted. First of all it is Sarah Castille, and everything that woman writes I love and adore. This one was a little different. Yes it is part of her Ruin and Revenge series. Yes, it is in her typical writing style. But there was a plot point I just......well...I will let you decide.

This books follows the same mafia family as in her previous books. Yes you could read it as a stand alone, but you would miss out on some key points and characters from her previous books. It is much more meaningful if you read the previous books.

Rocco is an enforcer of sort. A connoisseur of wetwork, if you get my meaning. He has been in love with a woman for years now. Rocco was charged with bodyguard duty of a family capo. Only problem is he began to develop feelings for his charge. Yet another problem she was a child. I have to hand it to Ms. Castille she handled it with tact. There were no cringe worth moments where you think, um pedophile much! Of course Rocco and said charge did not..um...connect...yeah connect until she was of semi-legal age. Also, I will say the plot would not have worked if they met when she was an older age. But I will let you judge for yourself.

Now, on to the plot!!!! As I aforementioned, Rocco was in charge of guarding Miss Grace. But Rocco has a dark side, one Grace helps keep in check. Rocco and Grace feel they are soulmates but the situation being what it is, obstacles arise.

I will not go into much detail, as it is best to let the story unfold. I will say once I got over the age difference, I enjoyed the story. I would definitely recommend to others.

This story has me from start until finish! The story of Grace and Rocco was so interesting. Just imagining the love that had developed between these two youngsters and how it has never diminished was a fairy tale love. But life was no fairy tale for either of these characters. This story walks thereafter through the lives of these two characters and makes your heart break for them both. But with heartbreak comes hot and I won't give it away in this review. I definitely recommend this novel.

ce troisième tome est hyper intense, encore plus violent que les deux premiers, il faut dire que Rocco/Frankie n'est pas un ange, bien au contraire et que même si Grace a tendance à le tempérer, ça n'est pas dans son caractère de la fermer et de la laisser faire. J'ai une nouvelle fois apprécié les personnages que l'autrice nous décrit, on s'attache sans peine à eux malgré leurs passés et leurs actions, on ne peut que dévorer les pages pour avoir les réponses à nos questions et une nouvelle fois j'en suis restée comme deux ronds de flan. Une très belle fin pour une romance mafieuse violente et intense !!

This is another book in an emotionally intense and action packed series. I love this author's writing. This is a dark and steamy romance and I think the best so far. I hope she continues to build this world and create characters that we can become attached to like these.

Book Review
Title: Rocco
Series: Ruin & Revenge #3
Author: Sarah Castille
Genre: Romantic Suspense - Mafia
Publication Date: January 2, 2018
Cliff Hanger: No

4 Stars

*This story is for mature audiences only. Contains explicit scenes and language intended for adults 18+

Synopsis:
Mafia enforcer, Rocco De Lucchi is the best in the business.

Cold, hard and utterly ruthless, Rocco is the most dangerous of men. Feelings are a luxury he cannot afford—until a chance encounter brings him face to face with the only woman who found her way into his heart and touched his soul.

Grace Mantini has spent her whole life running from the mob. Daughter of the boss's right hand man, she is both a prize and a target. When Rocco walks back into her life, she wants nothing to do with the man who betrayed her and broke her heart. But only Rocco can protect her from the dangerous forces that seek to destroy her family. Can they escape the hands of fate closing around them? Or will love be the kiss of death for them both?

My Thoughts:
If you like mafia romance, then this is the book for you. Even though this is the third book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. I have read all three and this is my favorite in the series so far. The secondary characters have a large role in this book, but you don’t need their history or previous story to understand this book. It just makes the story that much better if you do.

Grace Mantini fell in love with Rocco when she was ten years old and he was her and her brother Tommy’s driver and body guard. Grace lost her beloved mother when she was killed in a shooting. She had no idea her father was in the mafia, she thought her father was a businessman. She was devastated and left home and moved in with her aunt when she realized what her father was. She and Rocco had an affair and his underboss and adopted father was ruthless and found out that Rocco was in love with Grace. He was not supposed to have feelings. He was raised to be a killing machine with no feelings, no conscience and his adopted father threatened Grace and made Rocco kill a man in front of her. His father also disfigured Grace’s face by running a knife down the side of her face. Grace was traumatized and heartbroken. She left New York and moved to Las Vegas to get away from her family, Rocco and the love she left behind.

Fast forward and Grace has made amends with her father and brother when they came into town for a funeral of a Las Vegas underboss. Her father was trying to get Grace to marry into another crime family, but Grace was not wanting to be a part of the family business.

She feels him before she sees him. The man that she fell in love with so long ago and never really got over. Rocco was in the shadows and then she realized that Rocco was working for Nico Toscani. There was a turf dispute between two factions of the Toscani Crime family and Grace’s dad was there to help settle the dispute and choose the successor.

That is where I am going to leave it! There is a lot that goes on in this story. There is intrigue, deception, a forbidden love between an enforcer and a mafia princess. There is family drama and power struggles between New York crime boss and Las Vegas underbosses. There is someone that wants to take over and take out the people in power. The love and passion between Grace and Rocco is sizzling. Their chemistry was hot, and Rocco was so wonderful with her! This book was long, it didn’t drag, and I didn’t want it to end. It flowed well and held my attention from start to finish.

If you love a gritty, sexy mafia romance, give this one a try.

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

Grace and Rocco are well written characters with a strong background and back story. The book is enjoyable. I liked the second chance aspect but did wish it had taken a little bit longer for the relationship to turn and to work itself out just because Grace felt so strongly about Rocco's lifestyle and was so strongly opposed.

I love me a gritty and sexy mafia romance, and man if this book didn't hit the spot. An enforcer, a mafia princess, and an underground power struggle war between rivaling families, all weaving together into a story brimming with sexual tension, action and suspense. Rocco was a page turner from beginning to finish.

I was an instant fan of Sarah Castille when I first read Nico, but this was definitely my favorite book in the series so far. There was just something so tortured about Rocco that I couldn't get enough off. This is a man that never had a choice in the life he leads. A baptism by fire is an understatement for how he was introduced to it. His training and childhood guaranteed to shape him into a ruthless, coldblooded killer and enforcer for the mafia. He's a man that makes others tremble in fear at the mere mention of his name, but struggles to feel any emotion beyond rage and hatred himself.

But one time, years ago, he was different. At one time, he had a dream of a different life with a woman that was ripped from him in much the same way he was introduced into the mafia life; violently and without mercy. She's a woman that he never forgot and never got over. And now a mob war brings her into the epicenter of his storm, and nothing will stop him from having her again.
His kiss was everything, her world, her life, the beat of her heart, the rise and fall of her lungs, nectar for her soul. His tongue pushed through the barrier of her lips and she took him in, devoured him, hands fisting his shirt, pulling him close. Out. Of. Control.

As the daughter of the underboss, Grace Mantini isn't a stranger to mafia. But even though she loves her brother and father who are engrained in the life, she wants nothing to do with it. Not years ago when she learned the hard truth of who her family is, and certainly not now, knowing the full depth of it. But when her life is in danger and her family looks to be the target of a hit, she has no choice but turn to the man that she once couldn't run faster away from.

This was a roller coaster of a book; full of action and sizzling romance. While the younger version of Grace from years ago was naive and sweet, the Grace of today is different. She knows exactly who Rocco is and her reaction to what he does for a living is different. She understands the life they live is one that they can't always run from. I loved the chemistry between the two of them. It was a pulse pounding and suspenseful ride from beginning to finish. There was also a little side story that weaved into the plot of this one with Mike. And while I wasn't too interested in his story previously, I was downright salivating for his HEA by the end of this one.

Sarah Castille has an interesting writing style that took me a while to get used to. She has a tendency to repeat and overly describe certain mafia details that can get redundant at times. However, if you've never read a mafia romance before, those details wouldn't go under appreciated.

I've loved all the books in this series and this was no exception. Rocco was hot and watching him grow and change thru the book was a joy. I found Grace to be highly amusing once she got into being the underbosses daughter and got a bit blood thirsty. The battle they faced in their relationship was a full of intrigue and oh so steamy. Seeing a feisty lady put a big bad mob enforcer in his place was fun. I would recommend this to anyone!

For years, Grace Mantini was chauffeured to and from school with her brother by Rocco. He’s almost a decade older than her but the attraction between them is hot and they succumb to temptation once she is sixteen years old. That was before she discovered her father is a mob boss . . . . and that Rocco was a made man. Determined to leave the mob world behind her, Grace has made a new life for herself without her father or Rocco in it.

Years later, Grace’s new life and her family’s mob life collide as they attend a funeral. Shortly after her father is taken down in a mafia hit. Rocco goes into protective mode. The two have never forgotten each other or got over their attraction. Now Rocco is an enforcer, a killer for hire, the Ice Man and one of the most deadly in the business with no way to get out, even if that’s what Grace makes him dream of doing. Can she learn to trust him again? Can he protect her and stop those who seek to destroy her and her family?

The relationship between the two main characters is superbly portrayed - angst and all! The plot is action packed, enthralling and full of intrigue. The flashbacks help fill in their background relationship, helping the reader understand their prior romantic connections and how they impinge on their present and potential future together. The heat is definitely on in this steamy, suspense filled, second-chance, mafia romance!

I requested and received a copy of this novel, via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.

I loved Grace and Rocco, young love goes wrong, and they don't see each other for years. When they see each other again, the heat is intense, as is the underlying issues that caused their split. Well written, with so many feels, including lust, pain, anger, violence, romance and strong emotional ties. Trust is tested, but comes through in the end. Lovely read

Rocco is the third book in the Ruin and Revenge Series. Although this is the third book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. With complex characters, mobster action, and passion, Rocco is an absolute must for mafia romance fans.

Rocco De Lucchi is an enforcer for the mob. He was raised to kill and destroy. When he was tasked to take care of a mafia princess, a connection formed between them and they fell in love. Grace Mantini didn't know the truth about her family until one horrifying night altered the course of her life and ripped her away from the only man she had ever loved. Years have past and Rocco and Grace have done their best to forget about each other and move on. But when the two are reunited, it is obvious that the passion they shared still exists and the time apart has only made the attraction grow even more. When the mafia dynamics intensify between the families, Rocco and Grace are given a second chance to prove that even an enforcer and mafia princess can find their happy ever after.

Told in multiple POV, Rocco offers a riveting forbidden romance with plenty of action, passion, and tender romance. The plot is complex as the characters are all fighting for what they want. The mafia men are brutal and will kill to protect their women and the family. The history of Rocco and Grace was quite intense and after so much heartbreak, they deserved to find happiness together. Grace and Rocco were both forced to overcome so much and the way in which they were able to heal each other was truly beautiful. In true Sarah Castille fashion, the passion between Rocco and Grace is smoking hot! With action, suspense, and romance, Rocco is unforgettable.

Overall, the Ruin and Revenge Series continues to deliver smoking hot alpha mafia men and their headstrong women. I highly recommend this series to mafia romance fans. Sarah Castille is an amazing storyteller who never ceases to amaze me with her fluid writing style and complex characters.

4.5 Stars - 3 Flames

THIS!!!!!! I'm officially in love with an Enforcer. This is, by far, the best book in the series so far (at least in my eyes).

You remember Frankie, right? The guy Nico and Luca would always call in to do the "dirty work". The guy that everyone was afraid of just by looking at him. Well guess what? Turns out Frankie had a soft side before he became Frankie. Back when he as still Rocco, a kid from New York. And it looks like Rocco is about to resurface, because his soft side is in Vegas and memories are hard to ignore.

Grace is the daughter of a New York boss (yes, I'm blanking on the official name). But she hates the Mafia and everything it stands for. Why? You mean, besides the fact that it's the Mafia? Probably because she witnessed what the Mafia does to the people she loves. So why was she allowing herself to get sucked back in to that world? Because her dad's in Vegas for a funeral and she wanted to see him and her brother. What she wasn't expecting to see was the love of her life nor was she expecting to still have feelings for him. Now what?

Although the age difference between Rocco and Grace through me off at first, the chemistry and the meaning behind "why" they got along so well brought everything together like a perfect piece of pie. This is a true love story. One filled with just as much heart break as well. I'm not going to ruin any of this for you by telling you any part of the story line. The way things unfold is so organically beautiful and well done, it's worth you reading it the first time, like I did.

If I had to compare this story to anything, I'd say it's a little Romeo and Juliette meets Godfather. Learning the hierarchy of the Mafia can be tough, so when you then throw in New York vs Vegas and take overs, it got a little hard at times, but it made sense in the end. Just remember, be careful who you piss off.

*I was gifted this book from the Jeep Diva in exchange for my honest opinion.

reviewed by Chris

Let me get a few things out of the way...right away, folks. As an avid mafia romance reader, I’ve definitely got my preferences as well as things I’d rather avoid in my romantic reads. Learning Rocco was 20 and Gracie, the heroine, was only 10 when they first met bothered me. Especially when he kissed the back of her hand when they were first introduced and a joke was made by her father she likely wouldn’t mind him being her new driver now. That came across creepy to me, not cute. Then her losing her virginity to him at 16 while he was 26. Then eventually having to endure her what was meant to be sexy but felt poorly scripted to me, wanton, smexy flashbacks recapping her coming onto him when she was underage. It just felt wrong. Later on, Rocco’s regular jaunts to a sex club to be tied down and brutally whipped to help him forget his pain. No, I don’t subscribe to that notion, either.

OK...I feel better now. But, unfortunately, not about this book. At 30%, I realized the writing style wasn’t working for me. Since this is the fourth book I’ve read by this author and only enjoyed one, I’m thinking her writing style just isn’t a good fit for me. Make no mistake. I’m no stranger to dark mafia reads. It’s my favorite genre. I just expect more engaging writing, with better flow, and less objectionable/questionable elements intermixed that don’t leave me feeling disappointed/repulsed.

Hats off to this author for her eye-catching book-covers. But what lies between the pages just wasn’t appealing. I wish her all the best. But I tapped out of this one at 46% since I wasn’t enjoying it.

Title: Rocco, Series: Ruin & Revenge (Book 3), Author: Sarah Castille, Pages: 384, stand-alone but part of a series, some violence, graphic smexy scenes, mafia backdrop.

Book 1 - Nico, (Nico & Mia), 12/6i/16, Pages: 336
Book 2 - Luca, (Gabrielle & Luca), 5/2/17, Pages: 350
Book 3 - Rocco, (Rocco & Grace), 1/2/18, Pages: 384

(I received an advanced reader copy via NetGalley. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)

I enjoyed Rocco (character and the book) but I found myself wondering how I can find these types of controversial characters so intriguing.

If you've read the previous books in the series you'll likely remember Rocco. I'm not sure what I expected from his story but it's dark. Rocco is mafia enforcer, so he's responsible for some terrible things. I'm not sure what it says about me but I still liked him, although I'm really not sure about the age difference (more of this later).

I really liked Grace. She's a charming blend of vulnerable, flawed and determined, but mostly she's filled with a huge inner strength I couldn't help but admire. Whilst she finds it hard to see past her own scars, she manages to see the best in others, particularly in Rocco.

If you're after a 'softer' or 'lighter' bad boy then Rocco is most definitely not your guy. He's the real deal, the ultimate bad boy alpha to the core. This seems to work for Grace, who despite her feelings towards the mafia, can't see past Rocco.

I wonder who will take centre stage in the next book...?