Dario
Carelli has one job—get the new bakery owner to fall in line.
Cuoricino, New York, their sleepy, small town, has rules. Rules his ironically
kind-hearted mob boss brother set in place to keep everyone safe. But Ava
Anderson has no intention of following a single one.
The woman is a hassle Dario doesn’t need. She ignores his ultimatums and mocks
his intimidating guards, sending them back to him with a basket of baked goods
and amped up on too much espresso. If Dario thought the charm he once had
before landing in prison for a crime that wasn't his would work, he’d teach
Miss Ava a lesson in pleasure she wouldn’t soon forget.
But behind her sarcastic tone and forced smiles, Dario recognizes the same
flight-or-fight look in Ava’s eyes that had grown sharper in his own reflection
during his time locked inside one of New York’s roughest prisons: the
desperation of someone with nothing left to lose. When Ava takes off, only to
return months later pretending she’s not looking over her shoulder every time
she walks down the street, Dario realizes there’s something more dangerous in
Cuoricino than the enemies his brother’s rules try to safeguard: a woman he’d
die to possess and kill to protect.
Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of The Carelli Family Saga!
For book one, Smoke, click HERE.
Book
2
Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
Apple Books ~ B&N ~ Google Play ~ Kobo
Paperback (US)
Avid
Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger
warnings.
Ava isn't a wilting flower who will follow along with the crowd simply because
everyone else does. She's lived a life that many wouldn't wish on their worst
enemy. Years ago, someone offered her a moment of kindness and she hasn't ever
forgotten, despite her traumatized life. When she finds herself owning a bakery
in a small town, she knows that she's going to seize every moment she can and
hold off on following along ever again. But that's easier said than done. While
the sleepy town of Cuoricino is Ava's solace, it might just become a prison
again.
Dario is fresh out of prison. After doing his stint, his family wants him to
just be able to jump back into the business. However, Dario knows that he's
forever changed. Even if he knows that he didn't truly deserve what he went
through, he's doing his best to figure out where to go from here. When he gets
his assignment from his older brother, Dario doesn't believe it's going to be
difficult. He's about to find out just how difficult the beautiful baker can
be.
As Dario and Ava figure out their path, forces outside of them are vying for
attention too. Just like in book one, I felt that there was a lot going on and
it was somewhat repetitive from book one. This book does put more emphasis on
the romance, which was a bonus, but there were a lot of family issues and drama
that you knew from book one that was just reiterated again in this story.
I would have liked to see more from the antagonists. I thought that despite
what should have been a major part of the story was again, more background.
Only this time, I wanted less of the romance and more of the revenge/justice to
be more prominent.
Overall, it was a quick read that fulfills the dominant man, strong woman and
their dance to find out whether or not forever can truly be in their future.
Ruthie
– ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, and I really think that you would
benefit from reading Smoke first, as the Carelli world is developed
there, though some events are described again, but from a very different
viewpoint.
Here we get Dario's opportunity at romance – something which the ex-con had
really not thought would be coming his way anytime soon. However, the red-haired
beauty who has opened a new bakery and refuses to pay the 'community fee'
catches his attention. Due to the prologue, we have an idea as to who she is,
although I did question her logic to staying where she did.
As we learn more about the Carelli family and their business, it is clear that
there is a lot of danger all around. Ava is no stranger to the darker side of
life. She has broken free and is intent on removing the threats to her and her
beloved goddaughter. She is now an independent woman and plans on avoiding
domineering men – so she and Dario are set to argue on that score, for sure!
She also has a very guilty secret, which she doesn't know how to tell the
Carellis, and Dario in particular.
I did enjoy the backwards and forwards between these two. I found the
stretching of time a bit confusing at times, but I was prepared to allow it, as
I wanted to see how they would solve their commitment/independence dilemma.
Next we will get Dante's story and we have a lot of knowledge of him and Kat –
what will make them understand what they need, or is his future with someone
else entirely… Eden Butler has left us guessing!
EDEN
BUTLER is a writer of contemporary, fantasy and romantic suspense novels and
the nine-times great-granddaughter of an honest-to-God English pirate. This
could explain her affinity for rule breaking and rum.
When she's not writing or wondering about her possibly Jack Sparrowesque
ancestor, Eden patiently waits for her Hogwarts letter, reads, and spends too
much time in her garden perfecting her green thumb while waiting for the next
New Orleans Saints Superbowl win.
She is currently living under teenage rule alongside her husband in southeast
Louisiana. Please send help.
Connect with Eden
Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Website ~ Goodreads
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Group: Saints & Sinners
Hosted by
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided
a free copy of Dario (The Carelli Family Saga #2) by Eden Butler to read and
review for this tour.
