Cruel Tyrant: A Fake Marriage Mafia Romance (Bianco Crime Family) Paperback – May 17, 2024

This is a standalone dealing with Davide Bianco and the Bianco crime family in Chicago. But the MFC in this one is Stefania Rossi, youngest sister in Hammel's series of Rossi Crime family in Philly. Loved this one!Stefania is the only daughter of 5 children and a late in life child. Her parents basically checked out emotionally when she was born and eventually died. Her older brothers, the eldest in particular, Don Renzo, tried to fill that father role. Stefania loves her brothers and knows they love her, but she's always felt like the after thought... somethng they deal with because they have to. They've kept her away from the family business in an effort to protect, but that only adds to the feeling of being an outsider; she's done her best to make her own way; a job, an apartment and distancing herself from her family. So imagine her surprise when her bother informs her it's time to pay back the family and do her part and that she's to be married to Davide Bianco of Chicago to cement an alliance with his crime family. He's a man who has a reputation for being brutal and violent.Davide is his family's enforcer. If someone needs to be found, offed,, interrogated...Davide is your man. He never intended to marry because he can't do relationships. Davide is brutal and violent in his job but he's also broken. He has issues. A trauma when he was 12 left lasting scars, both physical and emotional. His recklessness, his cold demeanor, his need to control are all means to deal with his turbulent and conflicting emotions. While he wasn't happy about the marriage arrangement either, he's willing to do what's best for his family and they need this alliance. Even more willing after he first meets her. Something about her calms him, stops the noise in his head.Stefania fights it in the beginning; she's rude, confrontational and sassy. Davide is so much more than his reputation. He's understanding; He understands that this arrangement is harder for her...she's had to leave her family and friends, her job and apartment, the life she'd created for herself. So while he doesn't let her walk all over him, he does do nice things for her trying to make things easier. I loved that he had a softer side while still being the alpha. I loved that he developed feelings first; and even though he wasn't sure what they were, because he'd not felt anything in a long time, he didn't shy away from them. I loved how he slowly won her over.The only odd thing was the steamy s€× scenes start out in real time, but then often would switched to more of a short narrative of what happened after the fact. Still it didn't detract much from the story and those who complain that s€× scenes are too long or detailed will probably love this. 4.75 stars

The book's fast pace kept me hooked from start to finish. I loved the mix of action, steamy moments, and well-written characters, especially how the main character grew throughout the story. While the ending felt a bit abrupt and incomplete, I’m hopeful it’s paving the way for a sequel or continuation!

Stephania has tried to forge her own path when it comes to her mafia family however that is coming to end due to the marriage her family has arranged. Even though it is not the life she would have chosen she agrees out of loyalty to her family never realizing that her fiancé is the same man she enjoyed a steamy encounter with the night before.Davide is a powerful man within his mafia family, and he wasn’t pleased that he was being forced into marriage. When he finds out that it is Stephania he begins to see the benefits both when it comes to his family and the attraction between them.Stephania’s feisty personality is the ideal match for the protector in Davide and their story combines both adventure and romance.

I love BB Hammel's books but this one was very disappointing. The FMC IS A BRAT! After reading all the Rossi brothers stories, it hurt to read how their sister is constantly complaining about them. These are men who stepped up to raise her when their own parents pretty much checked out. Though she is a mafia princess she was still allowed to go to college, have a job, and not be directly involved in the family business. Yet instead of appreciating it, her solution was to pull back from the family. Then constantly complains about her brothers who by the way worked fiercelessly while also waging a war against the Russian Bratva and the Irish mob simultaneously. They fought to keep her safe and sheltered and all she can do is complain and complain. She never wanted an active role in her own family"s business... but is very appreciative of being part of her in-laws family business 🤔 Makes no sense. Complains about her brothers not calling her but doesn't make an effort to call them either. Expresses that she misses her sisters in-law and complains that they haven't call her to check on her... yet she makes no effort to call them. Her "woe, is me" pity party is annoying. She made the choice to separate from her family, not the other way around. Even more infuriating is that she showed more understanding towards her husband than towards her brothers. She even showed more understanding and patience to her detached and slightly psychopath sister-in-law than her own brothers.Then there's the underdeveloped MMC story. This was the most disappointing part. This man's childhood trauma was terrifying, yet instead of developing present time scenes that show how broken he is and how deep his trauma affected the MMC , the author instead chooses to do a quick recap. After many years the MMC gets a phone call from the man responsible for his trauma and injuries then the scene cuts off to a time jump where he is calmly sitting in his father's office and he briefly recalls what happened. Key word BRIEFLY... She could've developed this in so many ways. Each way leading to a deeper connection with this character. A real look into his pain and suffering, his way of thinking, etc.. But no, absolutely no development of the character. Then there's the fact that he is "allegedly" ruthless and nobody dares to go against him, yet his most trusted guy suddenly goes rogue?? And after years of being an enforcer he all of the sudden can't think straight just cuz he cares for his wife? Naw! It makes no sense. Unlike the Rossi series this book falls so short...The spice was good until he started verbally degrading the FMC... to each its own... But that was a big turn off for me too. Could've done without the name calling.In the end all of a sudden both sides decided to cool of for months because of the cops.... Really? The mafia doesn't care about the cops.... So disappointing.