Review: Innocence (A Dark Mafia Romance Book #1) by Lee Savino & Stasia Black

Innocence by Lee Savino, Stasia Black
Published by Amazon Digital Services LLC on May 26, 2019
Genres: Dark Romance
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Buy on Amazon

I’m king of the criminal underworld.
I always get what I want.
And she’s my obsession.
Cora is new to the city of sin.
Her innocent blue eyes beg for me to claim her.
But I’m not the billionaire she thinks I am.
There’s a darkness within me.
And Cora is a shining light.
She’s beautiful. A virgin.
I’m ruthless. A beast.
She found me for a reason.
She’ll be my queen.
I’ll give her everything that her heart desires.
Except for one thing.
Her freedom.
She’s mine to keep, and I’m never letting her go.

REVIEW: If you have read other books by Lee Savino you are in for another fun surprise. The quality of the writing & the high sexual drive that most other books explore is present in this series too. What’s different however is that while Sanivo explores more than these characters sexuality, she brings out these characters darkest needs, that are not always as pure and as transparent as they lead us to believe.

Innocence is the first book in the Dark Mafia series and it the story of a young woman who finds herself in the arms of the wolf. A man who is ruthless & powerful and who will stop at nothing to avenge the death of his sister, even if it means ripping his own heart apart.

Cora Vestian &  Marcus Ubeli have history, while this is unknown to Cora, Marcus knows exactly who Cora is. Cora lived a sheltered life until she decided to escape her mother’s strict parenting. While at first, we don’t know much about Cora, we know she escapes her mother’s house in an attempt to live her life and enjoy her newfound freedom. She had a job until that came crashing down, and now that she is out of options she finds help in someone she never imagined she would meet, Macus Ubeli.

I enjoyed how Savino & Black crafted this story,  Marcus is ruthless but there are hidden emotions that he fights to control. The narrative is interesting but not new, the story follows the scheme of mafia families fighting to control the city. It follows an underground setting of dirty business, crime, death, and betrayal while bringing down anyone who gets in the way.

Innocence doesn’t rise for originality, it follows the overuse damsel in distress trope that falls for the wolf. While the story has great scenes, these scenes sometimes are not enough to overcome the heroine lack of backbone. While it is understandable Cora’s inexperience played into her falling into a trap, sometimes she sets herself to fail even when knowing the consequences of what her actions may bring.

I enjoyed the story because it has great steamy scenes but I must say it lacked angst and emotional depth one has come to expect in Savino’s writing. Cora’s reactions and actions come as inconsequential to the plot, Marcus is the only pushing the narrative and while this is Cora’s story, one gets more from Marcus than we get from Cora. There is never a good reason as to why Cora chooses to do what she does, it is as if she was in for just to defy Marcus, but it all seems without purpose.

I will continue to read the rest of the series because I enjoy Savino & Black’s writing. I am hoping the storyline improves and that Cora’s character gets more development.

Do I recommend this book? Yes
Can’t wait to read it? Buy it now!

 

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