This one surprised me. It starts with an arranged marriage where the heroine expects to be treated like another pawn in a game where men hold all the power. She was previously kidnapped and has both emotional and physical scars from it. She was previously engaged to an awful man who broke off the engagement after she was kidnapped because she was considered damaged goods. She doesn't expect to find love in this marriage but to her surprise, the hero is completely obsessed with her and spends to novella showing her how much he loves her. It was sweet.

Somewhat confusing in 5he beginning but soon clears up as I got more into the book...definitely a lit of steam scenes in it..

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. OH MY GOD this book was so good! I fell in love with the butcher and I wanted to kick whats-his-name's ass every time he came near Valentina! The story was so well written. I just felt for her so much, I was happy when she was happy and proud of him whenever he did something nice for her. I hope I read more of them!

Wow, this was freakin awesome! I enjoyed this book soooo much more then anticipated, which as an avid reader and reviewer I’m not often enthralled from the first few pages. I loved her innocence but yet fully aware of the world she lives in. His demeanor and style is sexy and heartwarming, I love how they come together and become a team. This was a great read.

A Mafia love story. A world where women suffer and Valentina is expecting everything but good from her fresh marriage with Giovanni. But they are both different anomalies in their twisted world and they found love in each other. Although the enemy is lurking under surface, will they stop him on time?
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley

A great well written Mafia romance the hero and heroine were made for each other, great writing, characters and dialogue.. I will like to read more from this author.

4 Stars for The Butcher’s Wife by Sam Crescent

This is a new author for me loved her writing style.

My favorite genre : mafia

What I loved :

Great read - read in one sitting
Large Age difference - 20 yrs
Arranged marriage
Great chemistry
Happily ever after
Awesome characters in Giovanni and Valentina

Read in one sitting - great storyline! I will definitely check out more of this authors work !.

I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This is quick read that goes straight to the point in so many ways.
It's enjoyable. Not overwhelmingly.
I liked the fact it was mafia related BUT was lacking in keeping me entertained... I could tell what was going to happen... 99% Of the time!!

Overall, it's... Meh.. Okay.

The Butcher's Wife by Sam Crescent is a sweet and sexy version of opposites attract with a bit of a beauty and the beast theme! Valentina has had a hard life; her family does not appreciate her sacrifices, nor do they understand how strong she has always been. When she was taken years ago, the Butcher (Giovanni Romano) swooped in to rescue her. True, it was his job to bring her to safely but for him it was personal. He had always been drawn to her beauty and gentleness but now he was able to see her true strength and courage. Left scarred both physically and mentally, Valentina is sure she will never marry. Imagine her surprise when Giovanni picks her as his bride. Prolific author, Sam Crescent, never disappoints. Her characters are always intriguing, and their passion rings true. I really enjoyed this gritty story of love unexpected!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing to me read this ARC for my honest opinion!

The Butcher love is new wife and is so sweet to her. He protecting her all the time to Them there hates her and will harm her because of him.

I love mafia Book’s.

This novella moves FAST and was hot! I had fun but also I felt like the couple hardly talked. I wish the couple talked a bit more to connect on that level, because it was very much insta-lust.

The Butcher's Wife
4 Stars

This was an impulsive book pick for me. Mafia books were all the rage when I was completing my nursing program and I had no free reading time. I wanted to rectify that and was so glad I did. This is my first time reading this author. This was a fun, quick, satisfying read!

Giovanni is seen as a monster, the Butcher. While Valentina is looked on with pity, and considered broken by her family and peers for being kidnapped and tortured by enemies. This book starts at their wedding. It reads similar to the beauty and beast trope. Though both are scarred on the outside, they are both beautiful on the inside. I love how Giovanni helps Valentina heal from her past and how confident Valentina becomes by the end of the book. At times, I found The Butcher's Wife a little predictable, which I didn't mind. Because this book's well written, fast-paced and held my attention. Overall, it was a good read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Evernight Publishing, for providing me with a digital ARC for an honest review.

I really enjoy this. I've read Sam's work before so I knew I'd get a good read, steam and characters that I wouldn't hate.

Nice, quick read that kept me entertained for a bit.

Was only able to get about a fourth of the way through this book before it was archived as I had just received it. This was a great read for what I was able to read of it, definitely going to get the book to finish it.

This really did not work for me. I just can’t get on board with Valentina. This girl got kidnapped and tortured for 3 days and didn’t give up any secrets and you’re telling me she is this naive? I think a much better story arch would have been her being a confident bad-ass after what she went through. And it seems she doesn’t even have any trauma from the situation?? Also, you want to tattoo property of Giovanni on yourself? Really? Have some self respect. Maybe this is all because the book was so short and it might have been better if it was a full length novel. At least Giovanni was a little bit redeeming. It was refreshing seeing him treat her so well especially in a mafia book and also I liked that he was teaching her to defend herself.

The Butcher's Wife was an ok book for me. I thought it was too short and moved at lightning speed. While I enjoyed Valentina and Giovanni together, I wish there was more connection between the two instead of almost every situation leading to intimate times. Overall, if you're in need of a short read with not much going on this may be perfect for you.

Thank you to the author who provided me with an ARC of The Butcher’s wife. Valentina is as apposite to Giovanni as can be; she is sweet and innocent, he is feared and vicious. But Giovanni has been infatuated with Valentina ever since he rescued her from a terrifying kidnapping, which left her with physical marks on her otherwise perfect body. Because of these marks, her intended, the son of the head of the mafia, cancelled their engagement and moved on to another. When Giovanni, a soldier to the Capo, is given the opportunity to choose a bride, there is no-one he could choose expect Valentina; the woman he has watched from afar and yearned for. Valentina only knows Giovanni as a ruthless man, ‘The Butcher’, who is spoken of in hushed tones with looks of apprehension due to his capacity for violence and brutality. However, she soon learns that her new husband is capable of tenderness, care and devotion. However, with a member of the mafia attacking their own, Giovanni must make sure he keeps his new bride safe, showing her just how possessive and eager he is to take care of what is his.

I do love a possessive alpha male, and Giovanni was absolutely that and more. His desire for Valentina was so beautiful, especially as she had been made to believe she was undesirable because of her scars. I so enjoyed seeing Valentina begin to trust Giovanni when all she had known was the dominant violence carried out by made men towards their women. Her journey to freedom, through Giovanni’s care, encouragement and protection, was filled with open communication which made me love Giovanni even more! There is something I really enjoy about a story where the hero is detached and uncaring towards everyone except the heroine, through which we get to explore the interior of a man who is so unreachable to everyone else but her. Their wedding night was absolutely perfect as were the steamy scenes, of which there were many.

I really enjoyed this very steamy romance. I haven’t read any mafia style romances before and this author was new to me too. The story was fast paced and very short but a great afternoon read. Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to a review copy of this book.

This was a great mafia love story, where the love that Giovanni has for his Valentina is not hidden. After something tragic happened to Valentia, Giovanni made a promise to her. Three years later he was able to keep that promise and made her, his wife. He chose her! I truly enjoyed this one and wished it could have been longer. The sex scenes were on fire. Loved it! ❤️❤️❤️

****I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book provided by NetGalley*****

A very good book from the start to the finish. Valentine can not understand why she is to be married to the most brutal man in the Mafia. His name is the butcher, she was expecting to be marrying the heir of the Mafia family but when she was kidnapped and tortured, she was looked upon as damaged.
Giovanni Romano was the one who tracked down where she was rescued her and killed all of the men who took her. He has been in love with her for years. Now when they are alone, she will understand what love is. She does when he takes her away for a month to not only be with her but to also teach her to protect herself the passion that is lit inside of her for this man surprises her and really makes this story take off. A very good fast-paced book with really good characters.