If you're craving a quick, hot, enemies‑to‑lovers mafia romance with sizzling chemistry and high-stakes Tension, Detonate delivers in spades. Just don’t expect a literary masterpiece—it’s all about steam and instant gratification.

Luna Mason the queen of dark romance delivers another hit with Detonate, book two in the Beneath the Mask series. Grayson—a brooding boxing trainer and mafia hitman—has walls no one can break… until Maddie walks into his gym. Their chemistry is instant, their banter fiery, and one unexpected kiss sets everything in motion.

Dark, dangerous, and downright addictive. If you love spicy enemies-to-lovers with grit, this one’s a must-read. Thanks to Hambright for the ARC—I devoured this one in just one sitting!

Just what I needed - This is a BRAND New to Me Author.. I did get to meet her last year.. and when I saw this on NetGally I had to see if I could get.. Thank the Heavens..I got approved.. So thank you Neutrally and anyone else who approved me.

This is Dark, intense and a completely captivating dark mafia romance. Dark Mafia are some of my absolute faves at the moment. The chemistry between Grayson and Maddie was off the charts HOT and Intense!

Grayson is a Ex Marine turned Mafia Hitman.. and Maddie is a Makeup Artist and I just loved her to pieces.. she was funny and spicy..

I can't wait to meet Luna again in Vegas in October and pick up this series!

I loved this even more than the first book!! Had me in a chokehold the entire time. Obsessed is an understatement 🙌🏻🙌🏻

Detonate by Luna Mason is a steamy dark mafia romance about Grayson, a brooding hitman with a painful past, and Maddie, a spirited woman craving real love. Their explosive enemies-to-lovers dynamic ignites after one unexpected kiss, forcing them to confront their differences and undeniable chemistry. Set in New York City, the story blends emotional depth, sizzling tension, and sharp banter as two broken people learn to trust, heal, and fight for a love neither saw coming.

The premise hooked me right away, and I was excited to dive in. Grayson and Maddie have great chemistry, and I appreciated the mix of heat and vulnerability between them. There were moments of genuine intensity and sweetness that really stood out.

That said, the beginning felt a bit rushed and confusing, especially with the backstory and character introductions. I found myself rereading certain parts to get oriented. Some of the dialogue also came across as awkward or unnatural, which occasionally pulled me out of the story. With a bit more polish in the early chapters and tighter, more realistic dialogue, this could have been a much more enjoyable read.

Thank you so much to Hambright PR for the gifted copy of Detonate by Luna Mason in exchange for an honest review!

Dark Romance isn’t my first pick, but this book is irresistible from the first chapter. It is very spicy so keep that in mind. And it is a dark romance, so check your triggers. If you are looking for a fast paced book with lots of tension, lots of action, and lots of romance, then this is absolutely for you.
Grayson is our MMC and after going through the unthinkable, he decides to open up his own boxing gym. He also gets into the mafia business. Our FMC Maddie is best friends with the wife of someone who works with Grayson. This is essentially how their paths cross. Almost immediately there is so much suspense and tension. I also enjoyed the fact that in the action of everything there are some plot twist. I do think that, even though this book says it is a standalone, it is good to know that this book is a second in a series. And I do think there is probably vital information in the first book that would make some things make more sense in the second book. And the second book does set up for the third book in the series. So while it is technically a standalone, if you’re gonna read them all, it’s probably best to read them in publisher order.
Thanks again to hambright pr! Overall, this was a solid read and such a good time. I definitely recommend.

This was such a good book. I’m excited to read the next one in this series. I 10/10 recommend this book 📚

2.5 ⭐️ This book started with promise. The characters were more however it quickly felt like a copy paste of the first book. The plot follows a similar path, the characters don’t feel like they’ve evolved, and I found myself struggling to stay interested. It didn’t help that although the story is set in New York City, there were random British English terms that felt totally out of place for American characters ie carpark etc.
There were also editing issues which broke the flow and made the book feel rushed. But what really frustrated me was that when the action finally picks up near the end, there’s real potential for depth and drama. Unfortunately, instead of letting the momentum build, the story skips ahead in the timeline and totally wastes the opportunity. It felt like a shortcut that robbed the book of any emotional impact.
While some might enjoy the chemistry or fast pace, I was mostly disappointed. This could’ve been so much more if it had taken its time and truly developed the new ideas it introduced. I think the author just likes to stick to spicy scenes and the rest is just a chore to her. I probably won’t be continuing the series.

Continuing where Distance ended we get Maddie and Grayson's story, Luna Masons teases you a bit with an instant attraction but both of them are trying so hard to resist the other. The chemisty, the tension, the banter keeps you hanging until they combust and give in to their desires. There's plot, there's spice, there's romance what more can you ask for.

3.5 stars

With being teased about Grayson I was super excited
To dive into his story! His relationship with Maddie was filled with so much angst! The way their banter was I just truly ate it UP!

I was happy to finally see Grayson get a story he was worthy of and held him back from for son long. The twists stayed coming up until the end. Overall I enjoyed this and will definitely keep reading more.

5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

What to Expect:
💜Dark Romance
🖤Mafia Romance
💜FREnemies to Lovers
🖤Boxing
💜Age Gap
🖤Emotional Rollercoaster
💜FAST FAST FAST!
🖤Standalone in a Series

From the second Grayson and Maddie appeared on the page together, I knew their story was going to DETONATE (PUN 100% INTENDED!!!)—and Luna Mason did not disappoint even a little. Grayson is a broody, broken hitman with a “no kissing, no repeats” rule, and Maddie is the fierce, outspoken makeup artist who flips his world upside down… turning against ALL the rules he’s put in place for himself. Their chemistry was OFF THE CHARTSSS!!! They’ve been circling each other since book one, and in Detonate, it all COMBUSTS!!!--in the best way possible. What I loved most was how Luna let them love each other exactly as they are—no forcing change, no softening edges. Just two chaotic opposites colliding and finding something real in the wreckage… real in this crazy world.

Grayson’s past is messy—betrayal, heartbreak, and a whole lot of darkness—but Maddie sees him so clearly. She doesn’t flinch from his scars; she embraces them. And in return? He gives her EVERYTHINGGG and more. From alleyway encounters to steamy moments on the London Eye (yes, really… and it’s HOTTTT!!!), this book had my jaw on the floor more times than I can count. The spice was TOP TIER, but it was the emotional depth that really just slapped me in the face! Watching Grayson let his walls down, and Maddie chose him again and again, despite every red flag… and every warning. Absolutely soul-melting. This book was passionate, punchy, and packed with heart—and now I need Devoted to hit my mailbox… like ASAP!!

A HUGEEEE thank you to Luna Mason, Hambright PR, and Kensington Pub for sending this and a gorgeous copy for me to have for my shelf! I am so grateful and forever thankful.

I unfortunately did not enjoy this one. I've seen a lot of good things about it so I was really hyped to read it but it just didn't work for me.

It really felt like the lust, not love, was the point rather than the plot which is disappointing because I was really interested in the plot. It was just really spice heavy and insta lusty. That's totally fine if I know that beforehand but that's not what I expecting and that probably skewed my feelings in this.

Review of Detonate by Luna Mason

Luna Mason's Detonate is one of my favorite mafia romances to date! With dark romance, high stakes conflict, and spice, it definitely hit the spot.

Grayson experienced one of the most traumatic events of his life seven years ago, losing his best friend and discovering deceit leading to the loss of his wife in one day. Now, he can't let anyone close. Maddie seems to be an exception though, and he can't get her out of his mind, especially since they shared one passionate, unforgettable kiss. Maddie is looking for Prince Charming. She can't stop thinking about Grayson, but knows with his mafia ties and dark heart, he can't be Mr. Perfect. When the boxer trainer-by day and the innocent makeup artist spend one night together, can they get each other out of their systems? Will their actions shatter everything or be the balm to heal their wounds? When darkness and sunshine combine, with danger stirring around every corner, life changes drastically for everyone.

This was an amazing grumpy/sunshine, dark/innocent, mafia romance that kept me turning each page. I lost time and don't regret a minute of it as I continued to spiral with the MMCs and their worlds shifted with each new event. If you're into dark romance, mafia romance, or spicy stories, this is definitely the book for you. Be warned of triggers, including violence, gore, and trauma flashbacks.

𝘿𝙚𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙇𝙪𝙣𝙖 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣

★★★★☆

Thank you to Luna, Netgalley and Hambright PR for the ARC! ♡

God, I love when a book actually delivers that delicious and true enemies-to-lovers energy. This one gave me such a rush. Grayson and Maddie became one of my favorite couples now. The way they went out of their way just to annoy each other and make the other jealous was incredibly entertaining lol.

Not gonna lie though, some parts did fall a little flat when it came to chemistry. That’s one of the reasons it wasn’t a full five-star for me. But they definitely made up for it later. The spice was great. And a lot!!

Another thing was some of the inner monologue felt kind of robotic? Like the writing didn't always match the emotion the characters were supposed to be feeling and I feel like it pulled me out of the moment a few times. Also, the first half of the book felt a bit all over the place. So many subplots going on that the main plot got a little muddy. It cleared up eventually, but it did feel a bit rushed, or maybe I just wanted more Grayson and Maddie because I couldn’t get enough. Honestly, probs the latter because I love them so much.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one, especially as someone who devours anything enemies to lovers!

Detonate is the second installment in the Beneath the Mask series by Luna Mason, and as a dark romance lover, this one checked so many boxes for me.

Maddie is sweet, feisty, and done chasing fairytales. Grayson is broody, emotionally shut off, and definitely not looking for love… until her. Their banter is electric, the slow burn is delicious, and when the tension finally snaps? 🔥🔥🔥

I loved how their dynamic shifted from reluctant attraction to obsessive devotion. Grayson’s protectiveness and Maddie’s willingness to embrace his darkness made their connection feel intense and real.

There’s mafia drama, family tension, action, and just the right amount of spice. It moves fast, and while a few plot threads felt a little rushed, it was still a super fun, twisty ride. Definitely a must add to TBR!

Thank you @authorlunamason and @hambright_pr @kensingtonbooks for the #gifted copy in exchange for my honest review, it was a wonderful read 📚💖

After reading Distance, I was so excited for Grayson and Maddies book because you just knew the chemistry was going to mount to something!!

Marie gave into Grayson so quicker than I thought she would and that slightly annoyed me because she was this strong FMC!!

I loved Grayson, we found out his reason for pushing Maddie away and loved how it was dealt with 😏

A fav series to binge!!

Dark Mafia romance? I’m sat.

-Grumpy x Sunshine
-Morally Gray characters
-Dark romance
-Mafia romance
-Military past
-Surprise Pregnancy
-Dual POV
-Spice
-Check warnings

I ate this one up- fast paced, mafia action, drama and spice all wrapped into one book!

My only downside of this story, it felt slightly repetitive at times and somewhat similar to book 1 at times. However, I was here for the vibes and completely binged it in a day!

Really looking forward to reading book 3!

I first read this book nearly two years ago, but when I heard that Detonate was being re-released with a stunning cover featuring foiled lettering, I knew I had to reacquaint myself with Grayson and Maddie. Luna Mason's Beneath The Mask series is an iconic mafia dark romance series, and if you haven't read it yet, you need to add it to your TBR.


Grayson and Maddie have been in each other's lives for a year, as their best friends are married. However, they do not get along at all. Despite this, they have a magnetic pull towards one another and explosive chemistry. Maddie is searching for her prince charming and happily ever after, while Grayson, ex-military turned h!tman for the mafia, knows he can never provide her with that life. Once the two finally come together, they can't be separated.


This book is action-packed and full of spice. I love the banter between these two characters. Grayson would go to the ends of the earth to protect his woman and take care of anyone who gets in his way. Detonate is such a great book, and now I will be rereading the rest of this series!

Thank you to Hambright PR for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

Grayson & Maddie

My first read by Luna and I loved it. I couldn’t put it down it was too good.
Grayson is an ex military who finds out on a mission that goes bad that his childhood best friend who’s been shot has been sleeping with his wife. What does he do he goes home leaves his wife and Chicago and goes to New York. Now he’s a bad ass mafia and also runs a boxing ring which he trains young men. He hasn’t kissed a woman in 7 years until one day Maddie goes and jumps on him after being terrified he was hurt and kisses him.
Maddie a strong willed makeup artist has been trying to find Mr right. But she’s just comes up with duds, she can’t stop thinking about the kiss that she gave Grayson a year ago.
Grayson swore off ever being in a relationship and that’s all Maddie can think about. These two keep arguing trying to rile the other up constantly. But that sexual tension is off the charts and together it’s a roaring fire.
This book was so good mafia aesthetic with two people who can’t stand each other. But he’s willing to do anything to keep her safe. I need to read Distance and Devoted next because just wow if this book had me in a chokehold I know they will too.

This was my first Luna Mason book, although she's been on my TBR for a while. Some parts felt a bit rushed, but overall it was a good read!