I went into Distance expecting a dark, emotionally charged romance with real tension and depth—but unfortunately, it didn’t deliver. The pacing was painfully slow, and when big, intense moments did happen—like the kidnapping—they were over in a blink. One sentence she’s gone, three later she’s rescued. It left no time to feel anything. The supposed “just physical” relationship quickly blurred into more without any real buildup, and it didn’t feel like the dark romance it claimed to be. Instead, the story felt jumbled, repetitive, and lacked the emotional or physical “distance” the title hinted at. I wanted more grit, more development, and more substance.

"Distance" by Luna Mason is an exhilarating blend of dark mafia drama and steamy sports romance, pulling readers into a world where love collides with danger. The story revolves around Keller, a heavyweight boxing champion with a secretive and shadowy existence, and Sienna, a spirited British woman trying to find her footing in New York City after a tough breakup.

The author expertly crafts a story that balances suspense with romance, creating a captivating atmosphere that kept me on the edge of my seat and well past my bedtime 😉
Keller's character is a compelling mix of strength and vulnerability, an underground fighter striving for redemption while trapped in a mafia’s grasp. His internal struggles are relatable, and the author captures the turmoil of his double life beautifully. (Tortured soul my favourite 😉)

Sienna’s character serves as a breath of fresh air, her determination to build a new had me rooting for her.
Their chemistry ignites the pages, the push and pull of their relationship amid external threats. The tension escalates as they navigate their fears and insecurities, leading to heartfelt moments that are both raw and genuine. And be prepared to bawl like a baby 😭

The plot is woven with twists and turns, creating a sense of urgency and suspense that drives the story forward. The author’s writing is vivid and engaging, bringing the dark underbelly of the mafia and the thrill of boxing to life.
The author's attention to detail in building the emotional stakes makes "Distance" more than just a romance, it’s a gripping exploration of trust, sacrifice, and the complexities of love.

In conclusion, "Distance" is a thrilling start to the Beneath The Mask series, offering us a rollercoaster of emotions filled with spice, suspense, and the quest for a happily ever after.
It’s perfect for fans of dark romances and those seeking a story that dares to explore the depths of trust and love against all odds.
Readers will undoubtedly be eager for the next installment in this captivating series!

Now I’m off to KU to snag the next one 😉

🦋

This book is difficult to write a review for.. mostly because it's taken me so long to get through it. It's like a messy mashup of all the dark mafia romances and sports romances, but in the style of a cheap porno.

I'm sorry that's harsh, I usually try to avoid being MEAN in reviews. I actually really liked the blurb of this book, and I pictured a dark story with character growth and lots of emotions. It just fell flat to me and I wasn't attached to any of the characters by the end of it. The writing was also lacking, very surface-level or littered with grammatical errors. Overall, it was just a miss for me.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Obsessed. I absolutely love love love loved this book.
Everything from the plot, to the characters, and even the spice was very well done.
I can’t wait to read more of Luna, and read more in this series!

I had been excited about this book when I signed up on Instagram. I'm a big Mafia/Dark romance fan, but this one didn't give me the right feelings as most.

It started out strong but I just couldn't get over how unrealistic the story was. While it is fiction, it's based in the real world. The characters just made it a big hard to read. I DNFed at 80%

I'm sorry. I'm sure there are people who love it. It just wasn't for me.

Thank you for the opportunity to read it

⭐️: 4/5
🌶️: 3/5
‌
Story Vibes:
Oh oh oh! This book absolutely hit all the vibes! It had mafia, it had MMA fighter, it had stalker ex boyfriend, and there is 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙮. The plot line, the characters, the 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚, all vibed in the best way possible!!!!!

Overall Vibes
I definitely didn't want this one to end. I fell hard and fast for both Sienna and Keller. These characters absolutely belonged together, if you ask me! The way Keller tried hard to resist the temptation that was Sienna by distancing himself.....the way Sienna made him melt for her......it was *chef's kiss*! And the spice was 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜! Keller had an absolutely dirty mouth and I swooned! If you love books that have amazing plot, perfect spice, dirty mouthed MMC's and all the best side characters, don't miss this one. It's the perfect blend of mafia + fighter romance, filled with all the angst of push and pull between the characters. I can not wait for the next one!

Wow! This book is amazing!

I need to start by saying that this whole series is perfect, but this one has a special place in my heart.

Keller & Sienna's story is emotional, scorching hot, and beautiful. Two Broken People healing each other and finding love. It's powerful.

Keller is not your conventional fighter, he has ties with the mafia and is a player. He met his match when he met Sienna, it was an instant attraction that burned hot.

Sienna is a strong woman healing from past traumas, she is unbelievable and fierce. She just has a fire in her that will make you love her.

I loved this book, the story, the plot, and the spice were beautifully executed

Beneath the Mask is a great start to the series, following Sienna and Keller’s intense, chemistry-filled romance. After a brutal breakup, Sienna heads to a nightclub with her best friend and ends up in the lap of Keller: boxing champ, gym owner, mafia hitman, and total alpha.

The attraction is instant, the spice is non-stop and the dark mafia elements add depth and danger. It’s steamy, emotional, and addictive.

Trigger warnings apply, but if you love dark romance with serious heat, this one’s a must read. I can’t wait for book two!

The story centers on Keller Russo, a world heavyweight boxing champion entangled in the mafia's web. His path crosses with Sienna, a British expatriate seeking a fresh start in New York after a tumultuous breakup. Their immediate and intense connection propels the narrative, as they navigate the treacherous intersections of love and crime.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Distance by Luna Mason kicks off with a gut-punch of betrayal that sets the tone for an emotionally intense and gripping romance.

Our heroine, Sienna, catches her fiancé in the act of cheating😱—a moment that’s both devastating and liberating!
She walks away, and from there, the story takes a thrilling turn. Her ex refuses to let go, and as disturbing revelations about him surface, readers are left questioning his motives and the depth of his obsession.
The tension builds not just from emotional wounds, but from the danger that lingers in the shadows.

Enter Keller: a towering, tattooed mafia enforcer and famous boxer who exudes both danger and devotion🥵.
The chemistry between him and Sienna is instant and electric. This isn’t a slow burn—Luna Mason dives into the heat early, balancing sizzling romance with a plot that keeps the pages turning.
Keller’s protective instincts, especially against the threats tied to both Sienna’s past and his own world, give the story a strong emotional core.

What makes Distance stand out is its balance—it's steamy and suspenseful, with enough heart and character depth to keep readers fully invested. Mason doesn’t overload the reader with unnecessary drama; instead, she lets the tension simmer naturally as the story unfolds.

Without giving too much away, the twists are genuinely surprising, and the book hints at deeper stories to come.
Im left eager to read the second book, especially with two intriguing side characters already sparking curiosity.✨️

In short: Distance is a fast-paced, sexy, and suspense-filled romance that will hook you from the first chapter and leave you wanting more.

🌟 3.5
🌶️ 4
🎧 3

Love at first accidental peen grab 😂

🖤 Dark Romance
🖤 Boxer // Mafia // he would kill for her
🖤 Steamy // spicy
🖤 Insta-lust // Fast burn 🔥
🖤 touch her and 💀
🖤 fanfic feels (in a good way)

⚠️ cheater violent ex, dark themes

Overall it gave me spicy fan fiction vibes, in that it felt a little underdeveloped but fun, and romantic. Very spicy as well. It felt long, but also action packed moving from one point to the next fairly quickly and quick resolution at the end as well. I liked it, and I’m curious about the other couples in this series, but I’m not frothing at the mouth to read the next one if that makes sense.

X

I enjoyed reading Distance by Luna Mason. It is the first book I read from this author and it did not disappoint!
Keller and Sienna were both great characters. They instantly had me captivated throughout the book. It was easy to see the connection they both had with each other. I definitely was rooting for them the entire time!


This is definitely a must-read book!


Thank you Kensington Publishing for a free copy of this book!

4.5⭐️ 3.5 🌶️
This dark romance had all of the tropes I love!

-Fierce FMC
-Morally Grey MMC
-Touch her & 💀

I fell in love with Keller the MMC. He just wanted to be loved and Si FMC was perfect for him. They could read each other like a book, and knew how to take care of each other. The spice and chemistry between these two was 🥵

The ending was just want I needed. I wish Jaime got worse than he got though!!!!

This book made me so excited for Maddie and Graysons book!!! I’m even ready to see who Luca ends up with and Enzo possibly 🤩

This book had all the ingredients for a sizzling mafia cross sports romance. The brooding bad boy, “touch her and die” vibes, and instant connection between the main characters really got me excited. But somehow, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

The writing style felt a little clunky, like it was trying to be poetic but tripped over its own stilettos. And I really wanted to enjoy the characters but I just didn’t feel anything toward them. It was like watching a soap opera on mute: lots of drama, not enough depth.

Still, if you're into angsty mobster love stories and don’t mind style over substance, this might be your cup of espresso. Just wasn’t mine!

Distance
1st Standalone in the Beneath the Mask Series
Author: Luna Mason
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶🌶🌶

Keller and Sienna are 🔥🔥 together! Keller's dominating mouth...delicious!
I love a spicy insta-love story mixed with some angst and danger, and Distance delivers!
—-------------------------------------------------------
“Do not f*ck with what is mine. I will burn down the earth to protect her.”

“You are my queen.”
--‐------------------------------------------------------
Sienna thought she had a sweet, secure, and reliable relationship. That was until she caught her fiance with another woman. After losing herself in grief, Sienna finally claws her way out of her pity party to go out with her best friend, only to end up face first in the lap of Keller “The Killer” Russo.

Keller lives a double life as a masked hitman for the mafia and as a professional boxer lined up to become the heavyweight champion of the world, which means no time for any distractions. But when Sienna lands face first in his lap he was instantly obsessed. And distractions, be d@mned!

When things instantly heat up, Keller and Sienna decide to have one night together to get the attraction towards each other out of their systems, both wanting to avoid a serious relationship…or so they thought.

Keller will stop at nothing to possess, claim, and protect Sienna. But Sienna has a stalker. And when she is kidnapped and hurt because of his mafia ties, Keller makes a decision that threatens to shatters them both.

-Mafia
-Boxer by Day, Masked H!tman by Night
-Sassy FMC with Anxiety
-Obsessed and Protective MMC
-Rags-to-Riches
-Secret Identity
-Instant Attraction
-Breaks “dating rules” for her
-Will 💀 for her
-Delicious Spice
-Yummy Bedroom Talk
-”Good Girl”
-Suprise Pregnancy
-No MMC or FMC Cheating
-No OWD

Luna Mason has quickly become a favorite author of mine! This was such a delightful read that had my pulled in from the very first chapter. The characters were well developed and I am finding my way through the rest of her books.

We all need a Keller in our lives. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat and ensures you don't want to put it down. Just the right spice to story ratio, and you can't help but love all the characters. I did have to push through at the start, but once it got going, I didn't want to put it down at all.

I love mafia. And Luna Mason is top tier on the mafia romance.

I love the chemistry between the main characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

A great start to this new series (even though this book can be read as a standalone)! This was my first time reading a Luna Mason book, and I was immediately intrigued reading the blurb. A good girl paired up with a fighter? Sign me up!

Distance does not disappoint. It's fast paced, which I liked, and Keller (our MMC) and Sienna (our FMC) have burning hot chemistry from the moment they meet! Keller was the perfect protective MMC, he was ready to go through fire for Sienna and I was so obsessed with him as a character. They bought had a difficult past, but seeing them flourish together was everything. And lets talk about the spice for a second - it was hot and started early on! I loved that we didn't need to wait for it.

Thank you Luna Mason, Hambright PR, Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the free copy.

You should read this book if you love these tropes:

🥊Good Girl x Bad Boy
🥊Dark Romance
🥊MMC Fighter
🥊Fast Burn
🥊Surprise Tattoos
🥊Mafia

This was my first Luna Mason book, and I went in totally blind—which honestly worked out great. I had no idea what I was walking into, and I ended up really enjoying the ride.

The story kicks off with Sienna going through it emotionally, and she’s definitely not looking to jump into anything serious. But then Keller shows up—broody, intense, and impossible to ignore. The chemistry between them is seriously off the charts, and even though Sienna tries to hold back, it’s clear these two are headed somewhere.

I’m a sucker for a strong, scary MMC who turns into a total softie for his woman, and Keller delivers on that front. He’s protective, sweet in his own gruff way, and shows up when it counts.

Maddie—Sienna’s best friend—is also a standout. She’s that brutally honest, funny, fiercely loyal friend we all wish we had in our corner.

If I had to nitpick, I found the beginning a bit fast-paced for my taste—I usually prefer a slower burn—but that’s just personal preference. And while there’s a lot of spice (maybe a little more than I typically go for), I know plenty of readers will love that.

Overall, Distance is a steamy, fast-moving romance with great characters, big emotions, and a protective alpha who falls hard. If you like your love stories intense and high-heat, this one’s definitely worth checking out.

Thank you to NetGalley & Kensington Publishing for the eArc.