Strong, passionate and deeply focused both Luca and Gabrielle had goals that seemed inflexible UNTIL they both ended up on the wrong end of a gun.

LUCA was an engrossing mafia based romance with heart. I found the characters well developed and extremely likable. The romance was smoldering from the start and exploded into a blazing inferno.

Solid 4.5 stars

My Rating 4.5 stars
Written by: Sarah Castille
Series: Ruin & Revenge (Book 2)
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Ends: June 27, 2017
ISBN-10: 125010405X
ISBN-13: 978-1250104052
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/luca...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Luca-Ruin-Reve...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/luca...

I received this ARC copy of Luca from St. Martin's Press. This is my honest and voluntary review. Luca is set for publication June 27, 2017.
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Far better than the first in the series, Nico, this one was a roller coaster ride of sex and suspense with a healthy dose of alpha. Think Romeo and Juliet, except that Romeo is a mafia capo and Juliet is a Vegas police officer and they can't stop having sex long enough to figure out they shouldn't be together. Oh, and also there's dead spouses, bullet wounds, a young child, stalker, Albanian hitmen, drug addicts, domestic violence, and a murderous drug lord - makes me hope that what happens in Vegas really stays in Vegas.

Despite the fact that Luca is far more amoral, ruthless, and dominant than his boss Nico, Luca's dominant alpha possessiveness of Gabrielle was hotter than Nico and Mia's off-kilter courtship in book 1. Luca and Gabrielle were supposed to be just a hook-up, but the minute that happened, Luca immediately spiraled into a caveman bellowing "Mine" at anyone daring to look at Gabrielle. This guy actually did and would kill for his woman.

I do have to admit that I'm a bigger fan of Sarah Castille's other series, but that's my personal preference for hot MMA fighters and lawyers over Mafia romances.

Being an avid mafia romance enthusiast, this genre is definitely no stranger to me. I’ve read/reviewed more than I can keep track of, including some very dark to just a touch of the mob backdrop. As long as the writing is engaging, the characters likable or at least redeemable, the plot credible/believable, and, most importantly, a genuine connection between the main couple, I’m all in. Unfortunately, most of those elements seemed to be missing in this one, at least from my perspective.

With Nico, book 1, my first book by this author, I had some issues, but shrugged most of them off, because, overall, I liked how the “no one messes with me” main couple seemed to fit well together. I had high hopes the author’s writing would self-correct by the next sequel. That didn’t seemed to happen, folks. I called the time of death on this one at 30%.

Some themes were similar to book 1. Graphically beating the bejesus out of potential clients forcing them to pay you protection money to keep them safe happened again. The whole “got to have a mistress to look tough” notion had me rolling my eyes yet again, especially considering later in the book respecting wives was mentioned as one of the non-negotiable top mafioso commandments. Yeah, I also had issues with other such contradictions that popped up, as well.

I didn’t find Fiona, the heroine, particularly strong, despite being a police officer. I certainly didn’t buy into her being allowed to work on her murdered, former cop, husband’s police case. On top of that, she went from supposedly just handling the case paperwork to barging into an abandoned warehouse with guns blazing, not waiting for backup, to catch the elusive mobster culprit. That is about as credible as a doctor being allowed to operate on a close family member. It just does not happen, people. Sure, she was promoted to detective so was trained to chase bad guys now, but still would have been told to stand down because what would have clearly been a conflict of interest.

Which, of course, leads to more of my lack of plot credibility issues. Luca would have looked into Gabrielle’s background right from the get go. He knew her name from their brief stint in the same hospital room. He would have discovered “His angel” was actually a cop. When he sent a wiseguy to spy on her, they obviously knew her address so her occupation would have shown up in her profile, as well.

Most importantly, and pretty much the nails in this literary coffin, is I didn’t feel the main couple’s relationship was particularly well scripted, from when they met, to their lusty scenes. It had a lot of potential, because, hey, nothing sets up drama like both of them having gunshot wounds to the chest at the same time. It was the delivery of it all that just wasn’t there.

Title: Luca, Series: Ruin and Revenge (Book 2), Author: Sarah Castille, Pages: 350, stand-alone but part of a series, VERY smexy scenes with lusty language, mob violence, stopped at 30%.

Book 1 - Nico, (Nico & Mia), 12/6i/16, Pages: 336
Book 2 - Luca, (Gabrielle & Luca), 5/2/17, Pages: 350 (Mob hero & police detective heroine

(This review is based on an advanced reader copy distributed via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. No compensation was provided to this reviewer, nor is there any affiliation between the reviewer and author/publisher/NetGalley.)

Sigh, Luca is so yummy. Continually trying to prove himself worthy after the sons of his father. He protects those around him, his crew and his boss. That's how he ended up getting shot. But without that little mishap he wouldn't have met Gabrielle. These two have one BIG reason they can't be together, she's a cop and he's a Mafia capo. Meh, rules were made to be broken. This is fast paced with some major twists you likely will never see coming. And the chemistry is scorching in all sorts of unconventional places.

Sweet baby Jesus! Everyone that knows me knows that I do like my dark reads. Throw in a hot mafia guy that has a soft side that he doesn't show to many people, yeah, sign me up!!!

Luca - yummy!!! Yeah, he may show the world his bad boy image, do what needs to be done, he's always trying to prove he's nothing like his father. Then he meets Gaby. He never saw her coming, she never saw him coming either.

The sparks these two generate is off the charts. Too bad they seem to be the worse thing possible for each other. He is who he is, she is who she is. Will they be able to meet in the middle without losing who they are? Will they be able to make it out alive for falling for the "wrong" person?

Love this author!! I need to start stalking her and see what else she has for me!!!

It didn't take me very long to read this book but I still felt like I struggled a bit with it. Sadly enough I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the first book, Nico. It wasn't a bad book at all because the story was really solid but I wanted to like it a little more.

I actually did love Luca as a character. He's your typical dominant alpha male that I love reading about. Gabrielle on the other hand I liked a lot less. She was probably the biggest reason why I didn't like the story more. I just thought she was a tad annoying. I also didn't like how cavalier she was about her being a police detective. It just irked me for some reason.

I also wasn't a fan of the Paolo chapters because I didn't feel they added anything more to the story than was necessary. However, in the first book Nico I did like the additional POV that was in there so it's probably just because I wasn't a fan of Paolo, I think.

I did love Gabrielle's friends a lot, though. So I'm hoping the next book might be about one of them. Maybe Nicole? I really want a happy ending for her.

Overall, Luca didn't quite pack the punch that the previous book did. All in all I liked the story well enough but some things bothered me too much too fully enjoy it. The writing, though, was really excellent and there are lots of steamy and sexy scenes.

I love that even mobster can fall in love. Falling for a cop is a no no for them, but love will find a way. I really enjoyed how Gabrielle wouldn't let Luca ignore his son. She brought the family together regardless of her relationship with Luca. Truly selfless and a heroine I could look up to.

Great read, can't believe I missed the first release in this series...I'm going to have to read that next..happily so.
ok, Luca, this book is super...mystery, intrigue, sexy times, bossy, protective and caring male, Gabi is a strong female lead, very likeable, sexy and bright.
Overall, a must read.

Book 2 in this series.

Mafia based story with a charming romance. the characters are developed well and the writing is really good, the romance was igniting from the start to the finish.

overall good story!

Luca Rizzoli wasn’t looking to turn his world upside down when he was shot protecting Nico, but the beauty that was brought into his room to recover after a shooting, changed it all. After a night of unparallel passion, Luca isn't ready to let Gaby go and while being with her is against everything the famiglia stands for, he won't give her up. Gabrielle Fawkes has lived the past two years of her life hunting down the man that destroyed her life. But when she is forced to give up hunting down the drug lord that killed her husband, she finds herself relying on an unlikely partnership to finish what she started. Except, with every moment she spends with Luca, she finds herself feeling more alive than she has ever before. And for the first time in her life, she is considering love over revenge. Luca will protect Gaby no matter what. No one will hurt her, not his associates nor his rivals. But falling for a cop is not an option for a made man. Still, in her arms he is happy and together they will learn to heal, love and survive the most unlikely of enemies. Sarah Castille is brilliant in her tale of revenge, love, crime and survival within the Mafia of Las Vegas. Luca is a hot, sexy and dominating man that will remove all distractions and give Gaby the right reasons to live for, even in his wrong ways…

ARC received for review

Great second book. It just seemed to take a really long time to get any where except for them hooking up. Lots of drama, wise-guy action, and hot sex. Very sweet epilogue

I love reading mob books, always had a fascination about them, but theoretically incase any of you are thinking she's crazy! Clearly, I'm not the only one.

This is a really good book. It starts out great and kept me glued from page one to the end. Some of it is predictable but aren't most love stories. That being said, wow this one was a seriously funny, seriously serious book with crazy hot sex scenes and I could actually picture both Luca and Gabrielle in my head the descriptions throughout the book were so good.

So after getting shot in the chest, both Gabrielle and Luca end up in the same hospital room. And so begins the flirting. What doesn't start is the questions. Gabrielle is seeking to put the drug dealer that killed her husband behind bars. Luca was protecting his friend and the leader of their faction of the mob when he got shot.

Mob and police do not mix, it's against the rules. But when they get in too deep it is deadly.

Great adventure.

I will say this has some abuse triggers so be aware of that.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the character of Luca from the start. I read about him in the first Ruin and Revenge story, Nico's and for some reason that book didn't connect as much as this one. That is a testament to not letting another book in the series cloud your judgement about another.

Luca was a self-assured, battling betrayal and a gun shot wound when he saw Gabrielle Fawkes in the hospital with a similar injury. He doesn't know who she is but labels her as his angel. Gabrielle Fawkes is a police detective whose only ambition in life to to find the notorious drug dealer that murdered her husband. They are from opposite sides of the law but their attraction pulls them together as they both battle their demons of loss and want.

I loved how strong Gabby was but I really didn't like her background story. I don't like it when the main protagonist is so bent over the loss of their loved one that they have blinders on to the rest of the world. For some reason it irks me. Loss have be a good part of the story without the main character constantly comparing that person to something else in almost every other chapter. It didn't ruin the story at all but I found myself skipping over her comments about her late husband David after a while.

The writing was easy enough to follow along to and the scenes were steamy enough to stay invested. This story had plenty of twists and turns mixed in with a whole lot of forbidden romance. It wasn't the best mafia romance I have read but definitely was better than others. I connected to it better than Nico.

Ohhhh my!!! I love Sarah Castille's novels and Luca is now at the top of that list!!!

Luca Rizzoli and Gabrielle Fawkes have almost nothing in common. Luca is a mafia boss out to eliminate anyone who gets in his way. Gabrielle is a detective on a mission to find and apprehend her husband's murderer. They are on opposite side of the law, but the magnetic attraction they have just may trump everything!! From their unexpected meeting the two were smitten, but not knowing each other true identity is a recipe for disaster!!! Wow, wow, wowzer!!!

This book was fast paced and I was consumed with Luca and Gabrielle's story from the beginning. I couldn't wait to read what direction Sarah Castille would take this novel and as always she wow'ed me! The supporting characters were exactly that-- characters and I loved that!! I also thought Luca's son, Mateo is such a sweet addition to the storyline. Luca is a 4.5 star book that I didn't want to see end (ever)!! I can't wait to read what Ms. Castille comes out with next!!

Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars!

Ugh! This was such a great read! Luca is dark, thrilling, gritty and sexy as hell. It was everything that I could possibly want in a mafia style book.

Told from multiple points of view, Luca follows the story of Luca and Gabrielle. Ever since her husband was murdered, Gabrielle has had a thirst for revenge. It's all she's lived and breathed. What she never planned on was Luca. You see Gabrielle doesn't date, but meeting the charming and sexy Luca has her questioning everything. He turns her inside out in the most delicious way. But Luca harbors some very dangerous secrets. You see, there is more to Luca than meets the eye. He is ruthless and takes what he wants. These two couldn't be more opposite if they tried. Will Gabrielle get the revenge she's always wanted? Will she be able to handle Luca's secrets? How much will Luca be willing to sacrifice in the name of love? You'll just have to check this book out for yourself to find those answers and more....

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I was pulled in from page one and couldn't help but be intrigued by Luca and Gabrielle. They made the most unlikely pair and I think that was part of what drew me to them. I mean Gabrielle is a cop and Luca is a Crime Boss. Any type of relationship between the two of them should be forbidden and doomed from the start. But, just being around these two, you could just feel the sparks between them. You knew that what they had needed to be desperately explored. A fire like theirs would not just fizzle out. So, if they wanted to be together, they would have to defy all the odds. Luca fought to be with Gabrielle. His loyalty and family values tested. And Gabrielle, her thirst for justice put her in more danger than she could ever imagine. With danger lurking around all the corners, lines will be blurred and crossed, and the most surprising twists will stop you in your tracks.

Luca was a thrilling and exciting addition to Ruin & Revenge Series. It has just the right mix of action, danger, mystery, suspense, sexy good times, romance and of course some crazy twists and turns. I really enjoyed spending my afternoon getting lost in this mafia romance and look forward to seeing what lies ahead next in the Ruin & Revenge Series.

I have never read anything by this author so was interested in their writing style and generally reading the work of someone new.
Luca is mafia, he has a past he is trying to make up for.Gabrielle is a cop who wants to avenge the death of her husband by a drug lord.
Both end up being shot and post surgery find themselves next to each other in hospital. Whilst the fact they are next to each other may seem unbelievable the plot unfurls and is at such a pace that that part is soon forgotten.
Mutual attraction,a dominant mafia man and a healing of a broken heart? This book has it all.
Gabrielle finds herself and a different outlook at the hands of Luca,sex god and full on Dom.
The sex scenes are steamy and hot.
Luca Has a number of issues and his path to Gabrielle is littered by the fact that she is a no no due to being a cop. Against mafia rules.
Gabrielle is a feisty and real passionate character that is irresistible to Luca.
Family history unravels, a fight to be together and shocks about other characters makes this a page turner.
Good plot,great story,a page turner.
Thanks to the publisher,author and NetGalley for the opportunity to review with honesty..

excellent read.

I was given a copy of this book to read and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Luca is a crime boss in Las Vegas. After his father betrayed "the family" Luca spends his days trying to prove he is loyal, unlike his father. Luca's day job is an Italian restaurant he owns. He has a 6 year old son that lives with his mother, sister and brother; whom he also supports. He has women but they are usually one night stands, he wants no commitments due to the betrayal of his late wife.

Gabrielle is a police detective who lost her husband David a few years ago. He was brutally murdered by a drug lord they were investigating. Gabrielle lives for getting revenge for her husband, she thinks about it day and night. When her team thinks they may finally have the drug lord, something goes wrong....

She meets Luca when they are both hospitalized with gunshot wounds to the chest, non-fatal thankfully. Though it was brief, they made impressions on each other. Luca leaves her with his business card for his restaurant and invites her to come for a meal.

One night Gabrielle and her 2 friends decide to go out for a night out on the town. They are going to a new club that has opened...right across the street from Luca's restaurant. The ladies go into the restaurant and are in the process of being turned away when she shows Luca's business card.

Luca is happy when he sees Gabbie, who is soon to become Mio Angelo...his angel. She and her friends are treated to a wonderful meal and wine but Luca is attending to "business" at another table so he cannot spend too much time with her. He never takes his eyes off her though...

What will happen when they find out what the other does for a living? How can they be together?

This couple is HOT together! They are so drawn to each other, it's the first time in a long time that either has felt alive. Luca is very dominant to begin with and it definitely seeps into his sex life. Gabbie doesn't mind at all, she has no problem expressing her opinion, wants and needs.

Gabbie isn't like Luca's normal woman. If she doesn't agree she tells him and doesn't bow down to him which causes some friction between them. He comes from a culture where he has a Italian wife to bear his heir and remains faithful while he is allowed to have a "goomah", a mistress. The other cause of friction is Jeff, Gabbie's co-worker and a good friend to her and her now-deceased husband. Jeff is like a brother to her but he wants more...

As the drug lord continues to reek havoc, introducing more drugs to the area, Luca's family becomes involved as drugs are not allowed, no excuses. Luca and Gabbie continue to become more seriously involved with each other and the hunting of the drug lord, but will they survive?

I always look forward to a book by this author but when I started reading this I couldn't put it down! I was just happy it was a weekend where I didn't have to go to work and could forego sleep, LOL.

This couple were seriously made for one another, the caring and support toward one another just melted my heart. This is definitely a goodread!! Now I have to go back and read the first book in the series! I look forward to more....

Wow! Sexy and hot - I almost feel like I need a cigarette and I don't even smoke!

Gabrielle is a police detective searching for the man that killed her husband when she is shot in the line of duty. She encounters a sexy as sin Italian man at the hospital, Luca, who is also recovering from a gunshot. Before long they have a sexy encounter that could jeopardize her career, however, once is not enough and soon they are both smitten. Too bad Gabrielle doesn't know his a mafia capo and that Luca doesn't know that she's a cop. The police department has rules and so does the mafia - at the top of the mafia list is no consorting with cops.

This novel has it all - a compelling story, a great mystery, and sexiness so hot my kindle was sizzling. If you enjoy the genre, you will LOVE this book! Just we warned, this is not for younger readers as it contains naughty and explicit sexual scenes. While this is part of a series, this is a stand alone book.

Luca by Sarah Castille is a mafia book. Let me start this review by saying, my moral compass points so far toward law and order I avoid reading mafia, mc or any other type book that glorifies criminals. I probably had no business agreeing to read and review this book. That being said, Ms Castille has delivered a book that is well written and even if you don't care for this type book, it will suck you in like dust through your vacuum cleaner. The characters in this book are phenomenal. Luca and Gabrielle's story is loaded with drama, action, suspense and sizzle. There are hints of humor that make this a lighter story than it could have been. I enjoyed reading Luca and look forward to reading more from Sarah Castille, hopefully, something not mob/gang related. Luca is book 2 of the Ruin & Revenge Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book that I received from NetGalley.