The enforcer is always an interesting character in a mafia romance, and Rocco De Lucchi is serious about his job. Having been sadistically trained for the role as a child, he knows he can't ever compromise his job with feelings and emotions that might prevent him from finishing his contracts. But he's known love in the past with a mafia daughter named Grace.

Grace and Rocco loved each other well, in spite of a ten year age difference and Rocco's job with the mob. But when Rocco's trainer sees that Rocco is getting too involved, he puts an end to their relationship in the worst way. Grace is left with a stark reminder of who Rocco is and what he does for the mafia family. She swears off everything about the mafia and runs away from New York for Vegas to get away from it all.

Fast forward and as fate would have it, Rocco and Grace find each other in Vegas after many years. There's an instant rekindling of their passion, and even though Grace wants nothing to do with the mafia she can't let Rocco go again. Unfortunately Grace is pulled back in when a contract hit is placed on her family, and when others start pointing the finger at Rocco as the killer, Grace has a lot of competing emotions to content with. Can she trust Rocco? And how much danger is she in?

Grace does a complete turnaround as the mafia's activities get too close to her and her family. She starts out as not wanting anything to do with the mafia but she sees that can never happen with the cards she's been dealt. Her view of the family business is different when those she loves are in jeopardy.

Rocco is in a pickle too -- staying with Grace isn't an option for an enforcer and trying to leave the family will put him six feet under. Lucky for him, Nico, Mia, Luca and Gabrielle are there to help! It was great to see these characters from the previous books in the series and their feelings toward Rocco were so touching. Rocco couldn't have done it without them!

There was a nice set of secondary characters too, from Grace's roommates to Rocco's buddies Mike and Paolo. I'm hoping there will be more to this series, especially since there is a little teasing nugget of information regarding Rocco's heritage that was left unspecified. (had to read that part twice! Can't wait to see who he's related to!)

I enjoyed Rocco's story. Sarah Castille does a great job of crafting a character who is savage but also has the capacity to love and that was very satisfying. Rocco brutality is not watered down, and I really did love these scenes. They were nicely contrasted with the Rocco he became when Grace was with him.

There is something about second chance lovers that always gets me interested and Rocco and Grace definitely deserved to be together. I had some issues with a few of the scenes that slowed things down a little too much for me, and that is why I'm not giving this a 5 star rating. Overall, I did like Rocco and Grace's HEA and I still want to know more about Rocco's heritage!

Looking forward to more in this series!

An ARC was provided for review.

This author always pulls me in right from the get-go. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love my damaged Heroes and I definitely got that with Rocco.

They were so in love but it had to be kept a secret until the secret was found out and it didn't end well. Fast forward 6 years and you can practically feel the hairs on your arms raise when they meet again.

Will they be able to finally get what they should have had 6 years ago? Will they be strong enough to stand tall and tell the world back off?

There was a few times I wanted to shake Grace a few times but by the end I just wanted to hug her! Loving this series!!!!

Rocco, a man who works for the mob as an enforcer. He’s not a man who can have a relationship, feel, or have a normal life. That became apparent when he turned ten years old. His adoptive father showed him the world he was a part of and he broke Rocco.

Grace, a young girl who watched her mother die in her arms at eight years old. Lived in a world that she was sheltered from. Her father is part of the Mob, but she has no idea until she is a teenager and sees for herself the world that she has been raised it. She can’t handle it and decides she needs to get away from her family.

Wow! What a read. I loved this story and I love Rocco! I would love to have Rocco in my life. This is a story of second chance, it has angst, crime, drama, love, and lust. It keeps the pages turning and keeps the reader very interested. The characters are well formed and they are very enjoyable to read about. I love that Grace has grown into a woman who knows who she is and has taken charge of her life and is ready to take on whatever is thrown at her. She is a bad ass and I love that.

This was my first read of this series, but now that I have met Luca and Nico in this one, I think I need to go back to read their stories too. I really like this story and I look forward to reading more in the near future. Sarah Castille has done a great job with this series.

When authors write standalone books, but with a continuing storyline over a series of three books, taking awhile in between each book, I have a hard time remembering the previous stories and characters. That was how I felt when I started this book, and I think it hampered my enjoyment for the first third of this book. I kept trying to remember the other storylines and characters. However, this shows me that each book is truly a standalone, and after getting sucked into this story, it didn’t matter to me how much I remembered from previous stories. I got so caught up in the romance of Rocco and Grace and all the different factions of the mob world, that I really had fun with this book. The mob culture in Las Vegas was certainly an interesting one, and either Sarah Castille has a connection with the mob of Las Vegas or she has a fantastic imagination, because I totally believed that everything that happened in this book could have happened in real life. This was a great movie (playing in my mind) as I read this story. Grace and Rocco were a fun couple to read about but the storyline of the mob made this book!

I am just loving this series! Rocco is a ruthless mob enforcer. But behind his protective, possessive, alpha walls is a gentle heart. A heart he thought was gone forever when the love of his life fled after witnessing the chaos of what his life had become. Grace was so compassionate and caring, that she found it unbearable growing up in the mob life. She loved Rocco and her family but hated what they did. She ran away and was determined to support herself thru college and life, so she wouldn't feel guilty using dirty money to live. Now the mob has decided it's time for Grace to come back. When Rocco and Grace meet again, their feelings come rushing back. Neither had recovered from their broken hearts, even after six long years apart. When Graces life is in peril, Rocco is determined to keep her safe even if it costs him his life. But Grace has more strength, courage and attitude, and is able to handle the ugliness in Rocco and the mob. Rocco and Grace have explosive chemistry but when Grace's attitude comes out they are hilarious together. There are twists and turns in this story that are so thrilling and suspenseful. It had me totally engaged right from the start. I loved catching up with Nico & Mia, and Luca & Gabrielle, who were all fun and played a huge roll in this story as well. This romance is fun and sexy and the thrilling story surrounding them is raw and gritty and a real nail biter! This series just gets better and better and I can't wait for more in this series. This is a definite must read!

I absolutely love this series! Sarah Castille does a great job in making us feel as if we are part of the famiglia in each of the books in this series. While they each can be read as a standalone I highly recommend reading the series in order, not only will you get to know each of these men that are tough wiseguys when it comes to work but pure pussycats when it comes to their women, but you'll also enjoy it more because each book will add another layer to the next story.

This story is about Rocco, aka Frankie, and Grace. Grace's father is the Boss's right hand man in New York and at one time Rocco worked for him as a bodyguard for both of his children and that is how Rocco, at the time 20, meets Grace, at that time 10. Their story begins as a friendship a bonding of two over some great jazz music that Grace always listened to with her mother. I will admit that I was a bit apprehensive about how their relationship would evolve but it was a natural progression of feelings as Grace got older, fast forward to Grace's teen years and a romance starts between the two. It wont be a surprise that it didn't work out the first time Rocco and Grace were together because this is a second chance at love story but what did surprise me was the circumstances in which the two separated.

Rocco is an enforcer, part of the De Lucchi family, the lowest a person can be because he isn't technically part of the family. My heart broke when we are told about his past and his father. Can he ever truly be good enough for Grace, the Mob Princess?

There were so many undercurrents and subplots and secret plans to keep track of. If I just focused on the romance and danger in the main plot, it was very enjoyable. Grace and Rocco really were perfect for each other, it just took them a while to figure it out.

4.5 stars

Rocco by Sarah Castille is such a good read.
From the first few pages I was drawn in, the writing is strong, the action is well done, it was easy to follow and the chemistry between Rocco and Grace was off the charts.
I just didn't want to put it down!

Rocco and Grace had been lovers until one night changed everything. Grace never wanted to be part of the Mafia life she'd grown up in and to see the man she loved so involved made her run away to live a much quieter life.
Now years later Grace finds herself back into the life she never wanted, a life full of death and hurt.
Seeing each other again, being close to each other stirs up all the feelings Grace and Rocco once shared.
This time Grace doesn't want to walk away from the man she loves.
But can Grace accept the life Rocco is so deeply involved in?
This life isn't one you can just walk away, once you're in it's for life.

The Ruin & Revenge series has been a great read, I've enjoyed all previous books and Rocco is an excellent addition.
I highly recommend this series.

*Get Rocco at these outlets*
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2rbtHR8
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2rbrjd9
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2zHpaJW
iBooks: http://apple.co/2yPkJ0y
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2gMdVMt
IndieBound: http://bit.ly/2s3iIKN

*A big thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy.*

Did not finish book. Sarah insulted the Red Sox. Sorry Sarah, but I won’t read if you insult my boys!

This book was fantastic, I absolutely devoured it! Rocco and Grace’s story was exhilarating, stunning, heartbreaking and incredibly suspenseful, definitely one of the most captivating mafia romance I have ever read. Grace Mantini is a reluctant Mafia princess. She is the daughter of the underboss of a powerful New York crime family, but has never accepted her family’s “line of business”, she can’t deal with the violence and the mafia politics. She has made a life for herself in Vegas, away from the Mafia world and from the man she loves.
Rocco De Lucchi is an enforcer, a member of a brotherhood of mob assassins. Rocco is an incredibly complex, tortured and genuine character. He is totally flawed, and yet I found him an endearing, impossible not to love anti-hero. He survived a terrible childhood, deprived of affection and love. He was trained by his brutal adoptive father to become a perfect, cold-blooded murderer, a violent hitman fulfilling mob contracts with coldhearted intensity and efficiency. He is emotionally numb and unfeeling. And yet, when he was tasked with protecting teenage Grace, he found his soulmate, despite their ten years age difference. To save her life, he was forced by his adoptive father to sever his connection with her.

Fate has reunited them and Rocco can’t stay away from her, he can’t contain his feelings when it comes to Grace. I liked that we get to know the man he really is, his gentle, human and emotional side. Grace awakens deeply buried feelings and the hope that she’ll be able to accept him as he is. She sees behind the mask he has been forced to wear. I loved Grace, she is a pacifist fighter living in a very dangerous world. Her life has been dominated by loss and sadness, but she is finally ready to fight back.

This book is a wonderful mix of romance, mystery and suspense, with a few spectacular twists. I’m completely wowed by Sarah Castille’s phenomenal writing. I have loved each and every book in this series, but Rocco is hands down my favorite, definitely a must read if you enjoy mafia romance!

Rocco by Sarah Castille is book Three in the "Ruin & Revenge" series. This is the story of Rocco and Grace. I have read the other books in this series but feel this can easily be a standalone book.
Rocco works for Grace's father and when she was a kid he would be the one her father assigned to drive them and look after them. Grace didn't know exactly who her father was other than a successful business man. When Grace is around 16 years old her feelings for Rocco take on a more adult theme for her and him. But it also opened her eyes to who her father was and what Rocco did for him. Grace would later run away and take on a new life. But then their worlds collided again, when he goes into protective mode after her father was taken down.
Rocco could be a killing machine but he was taught that way and not to love from an early age. But with Grace he can only be loving and protective.
This was an exciting second chance at love type story!

Another Ruin & Revenge book and another Mafia Enforcer to tame!

It’s Rocco’s turn to entertain us and boy does he do that. Rocco is dark, brooding, extremely dangerous, and at the same time, sweet, caring and protective. As a De Lucchi, he is an enforcer who is famed for showing no remorse and no weakness but as the man in love with Grace Mantini, he finds himself at odds with his role in life and especially his cold and callous upbringing.

Having been thrust together whilst Grace was still a child and falling in love as she became of age, Rocco and Grace share an unlikely love and bond. With Rocco’s, for all intents and purposes “father” onto them, Grace finds herself running from the man she loves. Disfigured as a result of her feelings towards Rocco, Grace now hides herself away in Vegas and is determined to live a life as far away from her family ties as possible. Little does she know, however, is that when she attends a funeral with her family, more than one ghost will be resurrected as a result.

Rocco has never forgotten Grace, nor has he forgiven her for running from him, although he understands the reasons why. Despite their time apart though, their feelings have never waned and soon Rocco and Grace once again feel the sparks that fused them together all those years earlier. Whilst the road ahead still looks impossibly daunting for the duo, they find themselves back in each other’s arms but with danger, as ever, closing in, especially for Grace. With hits and threats abound, Rocco is determined to keep Grace safe but her father has something to say about that and soon Grace’s future looks to be heading away from Rocco once again.

I really enjoyed most of this story but the middle part was excruciatingly slow. So much so that I skim read large parts of the story. I was even tempted not to finish the story a time or two but I am so glad that I persevered as the conclusion of this book was enthralling. Back was the captivating writing and storytelling that I’d come to expect from the author. I have no idea why the story fell so flat for me in the middle (although I was full of flu when reading the book, so it may be more about me than the storyline) but overall the story ended up being memorable for all the right reasons.

As expected, the ending left me wanting more from the Ruin & Revenge series so, if like me, you find yourself wondering where the plot and storyline has gone, keep with it, your prayers will be answered as you read on!

Ms. Castille has a new fan.

After finding out what her father does for a living, Grace's world is shattered. It's further broken apart when she realises what Rocco, the love of her young life, does and is capable of. Running away to Vegas, she is almost convinced she's fine, until Rocco reappears in her life again. What follows is a truly suspense-filled, action-packed plot that grabs you and doesn't let go until the end, much like the love Rocco & Gracie share.

This is a true mafia romance that blends light with dark, mayhem with lust & humor, and depicts love prevailing in the end.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an ARC of this book, which was provided by NetGalley, and recommend it.

***ARC Provided by the Author and Give Me Books***

Rocco and Grace were toghether in the past, there was a relationship there even though Grace was really young and there were no inappropriate lines crossed.

Years pass, he is an enforcer (it's a little more complicated than that, but this is a review not a plot summary, so I am going to leave it there) and she has devoted her life to being anything but the daughter of a mobster.

So, what happens to a reunited enforcer for the mob and a woman who has devoted her life to getting away from all things mafia? Yup, you guessed right, an attraction they are not able to ignore.

For me, this title worked overall. I enjoyed it and I liked Rocco and Grace together. There were a few times and a few things that happened, that made me question if there was really a relationship that was going to work long term. But, that said, it is a mafia romance, so this is supposed to be a part of it. He is supposed to be dangerous and maybe even a little bit of an anti hero, so in this case, it fit.

I recommend this title.

Rocco is a cold-blooded ruthless mafia enforcer. Grace is the daughter of a mob boss who wants nothing to do with the mafia. Rocco first met Grace when he was tasked with protecting Grace and her brother Tom when Grace was just ten years old. When some unfortunate incidents happened, Grace ran away from her mob family and wanted nothing to do with Rocco because she saw what kind of man he truly was.

Many years later Rocco and Grace cross paths again. Although Grace wanted nothing to do with Rocco in the past, she couldn't hide her true feelings anymore. This book was hot and intense.

This book is part of a series, however it could be read as a standalone. The author does a great job connecting the characters. I look forward to reading even more by this author.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of the book.

I have mixed feelings about this book... I think perhaps Mafia Romance may not be my cup of tea (I think it's because my husband binge watches The Sopranos constantly so over the past ten years I've had my fair share of wiseguys). It took me a while to get into the book, but about 35% in I was fully committed and enjoyed the ride, but it wasn't an easy one. While it's the third book in the series, it read ok as a standalone, though I think I may have enjoyed it more had I read books 1 and 2 first (especially since the hierarchy of the organization, the current drama, and quite a few of the secondary characters are set up in those books). Rocco/Frankie and Grace were great characters with layers and heavy backstories and a beautiful (if not a bit taboo) history with each other and it was good to see them work their way back in each other's lives. There was a lot of action and tons of suspense and honestly that's what kept me turning the pages. I'm interested to see how I feel about the series if I start again from the beginning, but at this point I don't know if I want to commit to continuing with the series. It's not that I didn't enjoy the book - the writing was really good and the author seemed to do research to familiarize herself with the world, but I just don't think the mob is for me. 3.5 out of wine glasses.

Wow! What an emotional roller coaster this book is! I was hooked from the very first pages and completely mesmerized to the end. It was an outstanding read.

Rocco is strong, tough, and dangerous. Grace is sweet and caring but tough in her own way. They are dark and light, perfect for each other, but doomed from the start. I liked Grace almost immediately; my feelings for Rocco are as mixed as Grace’s. He really melted my heart and yet shocked me with his brutality.

The plot was fast moving and suspenseful. I was on the edge of my seat almost the entire time. The secondary characters really added to the storyline, and I hope that Mike will be getting a book of his own.

This is my second book by Sarah Castille, but it definitely won’t be my last. I am quickly becoming a fan.

This was book 3 in the series, but read as a standalone. I did not feel as if I missed anything by not having read the previous 2. But I will go back and read them now!

This book was edgy, dark and full of action. Rocco is the ultimate hard-ass hero, which makes it all the sweeter when Grace brings him to his knees. She is the daughter of a high up mobster, basically mobster royalty. He is an enforcer, someone called upon when needed, but never acknowledged. He broke her heart years before and when they are forced together again, the sparks flew.

I loved the journey this book took me on from moment one. Grace was incredibly strong and exactly who Rocco needs to keep from being a mindless killing machine.

Bring me the biggest, baddest, scariest Hero and I’ve gotta read it! I just love to read about the emotionally challenged men and watch them fall for that one person who reaches past the barriers no one else can touch. This is what you get with Rocco aka Frankie and Grace.

Rocco was orphaned at age 6 and then adopted by Cesare De Lucchi. Cesare didn’t want a son, he wanted a killing machine for the mafia. He provided Rocco with everything a little boy could love and then cruelly stripped it all away, teaching him that love is a weakness.

Grace is a mafia princess who thought her father was an insurance salesman growing up. When she’s forced to watch the love of her life perform his duty for the mafia, the brutal truth about her life can no longer be denied. She leaves New York to live a life away from the violence. Years later Rocco and Graces lives collide again. This time Rocco can’t let her walk away because nobody can protect her like he can.

Sarah Castille did a fantastic job with Rocco and Grace’s story. You see the killer in Rocco but also that little boy he was before he was broken and rebuilt, only the adoptive father didn’t completely succeed in breaking him. The struggle he feels for being what he’s made to be and for wanting the light that Grace brings him is felt.

You also understand the struggle Grace felt learning the truth about her family and wanting nothing to do with it while she battles her love for Rocco. She feels betrayed by him but also knows he’s more than a killer.

The couples in the previous book make appearances in each book, but you could easily read each one as standalones. I’m curious if Mike’s story is next and if so, how he’ll handle the aftermath of what happened to him in this book. ARC provided by NetGalley.

This was a brilliant and at times emotional story. That had me completely hooked from the very first chapter until the last. And with plenty of twists and turns and such fantastic characters. It really was extremely hard to put down. As well as being a fabulous read. Which is why I would happily recommend Rocco to others.