This book is so good!!

I am a Giana fan, I enjoy her storytelling. She writes gritty, dark romance, and yes this book is that, but this book is also so much more. As part of a duet you aren’t going to get that HEA that everyone looks for. Book two will be releasing in the fall, so now we have something more than pumpkin spice to look forward to!

Guinevere has always dreamed of going to Italy, she could feel the countryside calling her. So when she got the chance to go, nothing was going to stop her. The chain of events that happen once she gets there definitely opened her eyes to things she never could have imagined. The biggest thing is Raffa, her Italian Prince Charming who is definitely more than he seems.

Without giving too much away I will just say this, read this book. If you are new to Giana this is definitely the perfect place to start your addiction. I couldn’t put it down, and I dare you to try to stop once you start!

I loved everything about this book. Hooked from start to finish, could not get enough of them. Giana is probably one of the only authors I will willingly go into a book knowing they’re will be a cliffhanger and have no regrets. I cannot wait for the next book to release.

oh this book has the suspense aspect, the spice, the let me get the world for you and touch her and d-e vibe!! I cant wait for the next one tbh.

Thank you to Giana and VPR for this ARC.
First beware that this ends in a cliffhanger! I'm going to need the next book ASAP 😆🤭

I love a good mafia romance, and this definitely hit the mark!

This was my first book by this author and I loved that this was a good, true Italian mafia romance set in Italy. The writing was much different too in that it was written like classic literature in the wording and less contemporary writing.

Guinevere is 23 years old and just graduated from college in Michigan. She has lived her whole life kind of sheltered because of a rare chronic illness and it has always been her dream to visit Italy. But her father never wanted her to go, claiming it is dangerous, since he is originally from there. Despite his warnings, she pays for a trip of a lifetime to spend the Summer there before going back home to work for her father.

Raffa (Raffaele) is a 34 year old Capo of an Italian mafia outfit. Day one of her trip takes a bad turn of events which leads her into meeting him because he accidentally, literally, runs into her. He takes her in until she gets better and things progress from there.

I absolutely love Raffa! He is perfection and Guinevere is sweet and full of life. You really get a feel for Italy and all the history and I relate to her because it has been my dream to visit as well. There is mafia business/action going on as well and it ends on a cliffhanger.


Spoiler/criticism's: (Don't scroll down if you haven't read the book)

*I was angry at that cliffhanger and the way she reacted. I mean, what did you expect him to do? The guy literally had a gun in your face and was going to k!ll you. You're mad he shot the guy and saved your life? Give me a break! I expected her to be upset by the events but not to completely shun him. That made me give less of a review for that alone.

*I think Leo is behind everything. I mean Raffa's dad put him in charge and then Raffa comes back and takes over? I'm sure he's not happy about that and I could see the writing on the wall. Also, I think her sister was somehow involved with him/the mafia.

*I think someone in her dad's family was hurt/k!lled by Raffa's dad, or another mafia family. Obviously Stone is not his real last name.

Darker themed romance of Italian older man and younger American visitor - I love their meet cute, how they meet and how it's an instant attraction.
This is to me somewhere between instant lust and slow burn because they don't hook up RIGHT away but they make intentions very clear early on and the way the tension builds between the two is almost equally as juicy as the spice once they finally get together, speaking of which - the WINE?! man. I'll think about that for a while.

The found family in this is honestly why I love mafia romances or any group community of sorts. The way Raffa's found family takes Guinevere in is so sweet especially considering how alone and lost she's felt. The more she comes out of her shell, the more I love her and I'm looking forward to reading more of their story because AFTER THAT ENDING?!

I absolutely whole heartedly definitely need more as soon as possible.

4.5/5

My Dark FairyTale in the second foray of Giana Darling into Mafia Romance. I thoroughly enjoyed her Anti-Heroes in Love Duet and was excited to see she was diving back into mafia romance again.
Raffa and Guinevere are two opposites that come together over bad luck on Guinevere’s part. What starts out as a story of independent adventures for her, turns into six weeks of falling for a mysterious Italian man in Raffaele. I usually do not enjoy when the FMCs are portrayed as naive and innocent, however the way that Guinevere was written had me engaged with her. Her curiosity and openness to the world despite her naivete was something I enjoyed. And of course Raffa was the type of MMC that was patient and kind and engaging and willing to indulge her in any way she desired.

I knew that the hidden identity would be the main conflict by the end of the book, however I still thoroughly enjoyed the journey. The found family aspect and the little glimpse of mafia action through Raffa’s POV kept me engaged in the mystery and secret. I will say that even though I knew the ending conflict would involve uncovering the truth and Guienevere finding out that Raffa had lied to her about his job and place in Italy, it still hurt in the end. I did think that Guienevere’s reaction at the end was somewhat out of character for her, but I also can see why it was written that way.

Overall another fantastic story and I can’t wait to see where Raffa and Guinevere’s story takes us next.

My Dark Fairytale is EVERYTHING! This book is a gripping, dark romance that had me hooked from the very first page. Guinevere and Raffaele’s chemistry is off the charts and their forbidden romance is so intense and full of tension, you just can’t put it down.

Raffaele? Swoon-worthy, but soooo complicated. But who doesn’t love a complicated love intrest?🤩He's the capo dei capi of the Camorra, and the secrets he's hiding? Yea wait for the plot twists. As much as he wants to be with her, the darkness of his past constantly threatens their chance at happiness, and I was at the tip of my toes waiting to see what would happen next!

If you're into dangerous love stories, mafia vibes, and a romance where happy endings are never guaranteed, ‘My Dark Fairytale’ is a must-read. The whole book is steamy, suspenseful, and downright addicting. Prepare to fall head over heels. I’m so obsessed with this book. THANK YOU TO GIANNA DARLINH FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY!!!

LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

I really enjoyed My Dark Fairytale and look forward to the next book.
It was everything I expected from Giana and I won’t look at red wine the same way ever again!
The dark Italian mafia side of this book was done really well and there was the perfect mix of mafia and emotion. The relationship between the two main characters was written well.

My first Giana Darling book and definitely not my last!

Guinevere finally breaks free from her overprotective family and heads to Italy for the summer, finally doing something for HERSELF. LOVE THAT FOR HER! Buuut girl… HOW did you not see the red flags waving all around you?! 🚩 Like I get that she was sheltered but COME ON. This isn’t naive this is straight up stupid 🤷

Then there’s Raffaele Romano... the most dangerous man in Italy. Feared by all. And yet he’s completely undone by Guinevere. He tries to stay away but he can’t. And watching him slowly unravel over her? OBSESSED 🔥

🖤 Italian setting
🖤 Chronic illness rep
🖤 Hidden identity
🖤 Age gap
🖤 Mafia

I NEED BOOK 2 LIKE YESTERDAY.

Big thanks to Valentine PR & Giana Darling for the ARC!

It had me at dark mafia romance, but I was 100% on board when I read the description. This book is exactly what you want for this genre. I loved this book, could not put it down, didn't want it to end! Need I say more? I loved our characters, especially the MMC Raffaele. That cliffhanger though!!! Waiting for the next book is going to be a killer.

I'm genuinely surprised how good this book was. Perfect mafia romance . I read it one sitting. Plot , characters and setting everything was top notch.
4.5⭐

In starting you may feel it slow, but trust me as the story progress, it get better. Story starts picking up. This book has solid plotine . It will keep you engage through out the book. The way Gianna writes this story it will keep you interested. This book was suspenseful with eomance. You will be thinking whats happen next . There will be lot of questions and theories. There is game or greed of powers.

Now lets talk about characters. Guinevere, she is an intelligent women with touch of girlish. In starting you may feel her character is weak. But its not. Her character grow with story . And I really like her growth. She may feel petty women but she is not. She is person who spoke her mind. I really her character.She goes from a silly girl to smart women , who are able to take her own stand.

Raffe , the man he is . Dangerous but sweet Mafioso. I really enjoyesnhis characters. He is an engima whom I would liketo know more. He is really different from other mafia man I read.
His caring erson in his own way . He is character really surprised me in a good way.
Andthe spicy scene in this book. Damn they were so hot. Their chemistry ere insane.

This book end on cliffhanger and with lots of questions. And I really want the answers of those questions. I can't wait to read the next book.I'm so anxious to know what will happen next.

WOW. i am obsessed with this book and this world. I don’t know how i’m going to wait for the next book !

it really was a dark fairytale especially how these two met! like right out of a romance novel lol

Raffa our mafioso man! i love him so much. this man gives the best dark villain that will gladly watch the world burn for his love.

i love me a strong female character and Guinevere lived up to that. she knew exactly what she wanted and didn’t let her health or anything else stop her and i CANNOT wait to see what she does in the next book!

Queen G has given us a work of art! A masterpiece in the form of Raffa and Guinevere’s whirlwind Italian romance.

On day one of Guinevere’s Italian escape she is thrown into Raffa’s world in the most fortunate of unfortunate circumstances, he literally hits her with his car. But he is extremely taken with our sunshine girl and he can’t help but be enchanted by her and feels a need to help this sweet soul
I adored and loved everything about this book,
the thing I love most about Gianas writing, is she really transports you where she wants you to go and I was there, third wheeling alongside Guinevere and Raffa while they fell in love with each other and Italy.

Giana and mafia romances are a match made in heaven, I loved Raffa as a mafioso, all his doings behind the scenes, being protective of Guinevere while she is in his country. I will defend him till my last breath.

Giana has opened us up to this new world that you can tell has been thought of with so much tender care and attention, so many new side characters to love, a story I’m desperate to know how it ends and so many questions I need answered. We know G lives for the tease and came through with that cliffhanger. The wait for book 2 will be so so worth it

Let me start by saying that I don’t usually read mafia romances. But here’s so many wonderful things about Gianna Darling that when I have the opportunity to read it early release of her newest book I jumped right on it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Words cannot express how much I love this book. The world building, the romance, The growth, and that ending blew me away!
I did not expect this to be an age gap story however the age gap isn’t that huge. But I really enjoyed both main characters. They really appreciated how Raffa let Guinevere have space she needed to grow into the woman she wanted to be. The story had me hooked from the very first chapter, and it kept me engaged and intrigued the whole way. The only thing I didn’t like was that I have to wait for the sequel.

I will definitely be picking up more books by Gianna Darling and who knows, maybe I’m moving into my mafia era?

Thank you to Gianna Darling and Valentine PR for this ARC

The way Giana writes is almost poetic. The premise of the story may have dark undertones but Guinevere brings light and levity to the dark and I found the majority of the story focused on the love and happiness between the two main characters with a slight mafia undertone.

There is so much mystery buried deep within these pages that still have yet to be unwrapped. I loved the story telling and I just couldn't put this down.

The ending destroyed me and I need book 2 now please and thank you.

An excellent Mafia Romance with solid pacing and tasteful use of spice. An especially hooking beginning, as I felt just as swept up into Raffa's world (and his care) as Guinevere did.

Raffa was forced into taking up the Capo role after his hardened father's assassination. Rafferty would've rather lived a more peaceful life of culture and economics that he was schooled for, but sadly he had to take up a more violent and unsavory livelihood the past 4 years.

Once he rescues Vera from an assault escape, he finds himself showing signs of the more carefree young man he used to be. The metaphor is not lost on me of her name and I love it (a bit of an Arthurian nod)! In essence, he's a blank slate to her, a man who is her own "white knight" in her eyes (to his fair Guinevere).

I loved the slower burn and the respectful and caring nature he excuded with her. They both had instant attraction, but there was a hesitancy and guardedness that was a lovely balance of push-pull and playful banter. Them touring Florence and the locale in whole, was breathtakingly vivid. I've been to Florence and Tuscany and this was spot on and felt so familiar.

Showing that he does not shy away from violence in certain moments solidifies his morally grey nature. He is fiercely protective, generous, but also cunning in his role as Capo, as he susses out who is attempting an attack on his organization.

Exciting, lovely character development and brewing drama! An easily reccomended mafia romance, with equal parts romance and some suspense. Bring on book two!

A really fun start to a new dark romance story from Giana. You will feel like you are transported right to Italy when reading this book. I really enjoyed how Giana explored that there’s dark and light in everyone.

This books theme was a mafia romance, based in Italy. Excluding the mafia side of things, this book still makes me want to visit Italy myself. The male main character comes across as the knight from a fairytale to the female main character. Little does she know, he is much closer to being the villain of the story. Even though he’s seen as the ‘bad guy’ I’d say the two main characters are made for each other. She brings out his light and he brings out her darkness. My only complaint would be that I wish all of the Italian words were translated, most were but a few wasn’t. It’s just so I don’t have to search them up. I can not wait for the second book, I need answers!! I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.