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.

4/5 stars
3/5 peppers
1/5 buzz buzz

Listen. We all wanted to be Lizzy McGuire when she went to Rome and had her own adventure. But we're now adults and now we want to be rescued by a handsome Italian man that ends up taking care of us and slowly makes us fall in love with him... but turns out he's the head of the mafia over there and now you're conflicted... and broken hearted. Anyone else? No just me? Okay fine.

Guinevere has always been told not to go back to the home country by her father. But when life gives her a door she walks through it. She takes her own adventure of a lifetime until she gets in a situation where the handsome Raffaele rescues her and instead of sending her on her way... he keeps her. He spoils her, shows her the wonderful side of Italy all the while running the dark world. How long can he keep his secret and keep Guinevere for himself.

If you're looking for a happily ever after that's nice and pretty... you haven't met Giana because she will build all the tension and yearning only for you to wait for the dream ending. You'll get mad but then bat your pretty eyelashes asking for more.

I loved the spice, it wasn't the center but it's the nice cherry on top and them some sprinkles. You'll be asking for a Raffaele of your own!!!

✩4

“Tonight, I feel like playing the hero instead of the villain.”

✦What to Expect✦
•Tuscany setting
•Age gap (23 & 34)
•Billionaire Italian Mafioso
•American woman in Italy

✦Characters✦
•Guinevere “Vera” Stone
•Raffaele “Raffa” Romano
 
✦Fav Quotes✦
“I can feel you touching every inch of my body with your eyes,”
“Do not be afraid to touch with your hands too.”

“La mia donna. La mia stella cadente.” My little fawn. My woman. My shooting star.

“I love you, Raffa. In any language, across any distance. And I always will.”

✦Thoughts✦
THAT ENDING!!!!!!

OH MY GOD!

Welp I shall be sat waiting for October & the next book because I MUST KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!

First off, how these two meet!!! OH MY GOSH

Raffa… F’KNG SWOONING OVER THIS MAFIOSO MAN! I am in love OKAY!

Guinevere oh my goodness!! I will alway love a strong FMC and I can’t wait to see what she does in the next book!

I also have so many questions & theories!!

Ugh. I don’t know why I let this woman do this to me again. To make me fall in love with her characters in a place that is oh so dear to my heart and then rip my heart out and leave me on a cliffy!

Oh wait. I’m into that. Especially when Giana writes it. 😅

This book was highly anticipated for me and I am so happy it delivered in all the ways. From the characters, to the setting, to the twisty plot points that kept me wondering, it was perfection! There are so many places I highlighted in this one between the banter, the plot, the beauty of Italian prose (I mean he describes her as a “shooting star that lights up his chest” ) and reliving my own trip to Italy through the stunning locations we visit!

I also loved how Giana spun a story that kept me invested for the romance, but also to discover what is really going on. There are so many allusions made as we meet folks in this book that I never really felt like I knew where everyone “stands” as it were. SOMETHING is up but I can’t quite nail it down. Needless to say I am very very anxiously awaiting the next book!

Massive thank you to the author Giana Darling and the team at Valentine PR for granting me the opportunity to read an ARC of My Dark Fairytale! I’ll absolutely be watching for any updates on book 2!

My little fawn. My woman. My shooting star.

Raffaele Romano has so many secrets it’s crazy. When he runs into Guinevere literally things get interesting.

You have awakened the beast inside me that was always hungry for more, eating at my bones when I wouldn’t feed it anything of value.

Be warned this doesn’t have a HEA. We are left with a cliffhanger ending. I don’t know how long it will be before the next book but I hope not long.

ARC Review✨✨

THE WAY THE ENDING HAD ME SCREAMING-

RAFFAELE IS SO HOT YALL


Blurb

When a mysterious man rescues her from near death, a young woman finds herself in the throes of a dark and dangerous storybook romance, where pleasure reigns but happy endings are no guarantee.

Guinevere

For all my life, Italy has called to me just as strongly as my father forbade me to go. But now I’m making my own way, spending a summer in his homeland before I accept the life my parents have planned for me.

All those plans come to a screeching halt the moment I meet him. Raffaele Romano.

Raffaele

Everyone knows me as the capo dei capi of the Camorra, a notorious mafioso in Northern Italy, but she makes me remember who I used to be before I became this monster. For her, I could be so much more, but she can never know the truth about who I am.

She’s falling in love with me, but if she discovered the truth about what that monster is capable of, about the things I’ve done…she’d never believe in happily-ever-after again.

Thoughts✨
AHH YALLL I ATE THIS UP.
This book had me absolutely hooked from chapter one!!
SO this book starts with Guinevere getting almost kidnapped and than running away and well she gets hit by a car.. NOW who hits her the one and only Raffaele. The way this man is so possessive of her AHHHHHH. I loved watching there characters connect and get to know each other. Also I was NOT expecting the end LIKE WhAT SOOO GOOD.
The spice and Plot of this book was perfection.


Thank you so much to Author Giana Darling and Valentine PR For an ARC of this book!

My Dark Fairy Tale

If you're looking for a dark romance that feels like a seductive, dangerous fairy tale, My Dark Fairy Tale delivers in every way.

What to Expect:
✨ Mafia
✨ Dark romance
✨ Age gap
✨ Breathtaking Italian setting
✨ "Teach me" vibes
✨ Praise kink

From the very first page, this book transports you straight to Italy with its rich, immersive details—I could practically feel the Tuscan sun on my skin. The setting isn’t just a backdrop; it’s woven into the story in a way that makes you feel like you're right there, caught up in the romance and danger.

And speaking of romance, Rafa and Vera’s chemistry is off the charts. The way he wants to be her white knight while being an undeniable villain? Perfection. 🖤 Their inside jokes, whispered Italian sweet nothings, and deep, intimate moments create the kind of love story that feels both wildly passionate and deeply personal.

But beyond the steam (which, trust me, is *plentiful*), the characters actually grow. When smut and character development go hand in hand? That’s the sweet spot. Also, can we talk about how Italian dirty talk just hits differently? Because wow. 🫠

And then, *that ending.* It completely wrecked me—but thankfully, the next book is coming later this year, and I need to know more, especially about the side characters who add so much depth and found-family warmth to the story.


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.75

If you love dark romance with a lush setting, an intense love story, and a hero who is both sinful and swoon-worthy, this is a must-read.

*thank you Giana and team for the ARC