Twisted Pride (The Camorra Chronicles, #3) (2024)

now, a disclaimer: im not in anyway sh*tting on people who enjoyed this book... but i really f*cking loathed this book.

im glad you enjoyed it. but this book is one of my thirteen reasons why.

this book just wasn’t it. Remo Falcone just wasn’t it. all the Falcone men are trash— but not you Nino baby, ily.

the whole book made me sooooo uncomfortable. i read Bound by the Past first so i knew the general gist of this book so it piqued my interest before id even started this series. and i wanted to see how things ACTUALLY went down between Serafina and Remo after reading everything from Dante’s POV first.

id assumed things weren’t what they seemed from Dante’s POV. but honestly it did just feel like Remo

(and i know these series’ are fabricated in the realm of the unrealistic, but some aspects, such as Kiara’s rape in the second book was handled really well, and i loved her and Nino. but the handling of Serafina’s abduction was just tactless and romanticised, when in reality the whole ordeal would be harrowing, heartbreaking and downright disturbing).

i didn’t believe she was in love with him, she just latched onto the small moments of normalcy between them and twisted them into something warped and mildly appealing to ease her discomfort with the situation and convince herself the situation wasn’t as awful as it was.

everything was just very Stockholm Syndrome-esque. Serafina clung to every nice thing he did (which was part of his plan to manipulate her), convincing herself he wasn’t as bad as people and he let on. which was just the author’s excuse to try to get the readers to like Remo if Serafina liked him. no amount of small kindnesses could convince me that Remo didn’t rape Serafina. saving her brother, letting her go for jogs with him etc, was all just part of his plan to get Serafina to trust him and thus manipulate her to sleep with him to ruin her image in the Outfit and tear apart her family.

after that, knowing what her kidnapping was doing to her family, i don’t understand how she could even consider being with him— her mother was distraught, constantly having breakdowns, her father and twin brother going against the Outfit and Dante to save her, her younger sister terrified she could be next. and im supposed to be rooting for them? this guy who’s ripped her family apart for mere sport and just because he can? no thank you. if from what we went by in the beginning of the book, Serafina’s family means everything to her and she seems to just ignore how much Remo ruined them all.

up until they actually *sleep together* (which i consider him raping her), the book made me mildly uncomfortable but i was hoping there would soon be a shift in the plot to make me have that ‘ohhhh I get it now’ moment and start truly rooting for the pair.

but it didn’t come.

instead, he just rapes her.

i don’t know how i was supposed to view that scene as consensual? she attempts to fight him off the second time around after realising what had happened, filled with shame and guilt, and Remo just revelled in it and it was disgusting.

and afterwards, when he finds her having a breakdown in the shower, i was expecting him to console her or something, but he just put the final nail in the coffin for me— ‘try to convince yourself i raped you if it makes you feel better.’

it truly tipped me over the edge, my god. it just added to the creep-factor, and sounded a lot like what someone who just raped someone else would say to try to make themselves feel better, like he was trying to convince himself he didn’t rape Serafina when in actuality he did and that admittance just proved it all the more.

i also got the impression she just slept with him because she knew eventually he would rape her. she even admits several times that he’d ‘have forced [her] eventually’ which is a massive red f*cking flag.🚩🚩

i feel like her ‘sleeping with him’ was her way of trying to take control of a situation she had no control in— Remo took away her agency and free will, and sleeping with him ‘willingly’ appeared to be her way of taking back some of her agency, which further convinced me that he just raped her. and the author kept talking about how during sex all Serafina could feel was pain. that’s not safe, consensual sex. It shouldn’t be ‘tight’ and painful like Remo loved to keep reminding us. after losing her virginity, she shouldn’t be ‘tight’ like he described, women comfortable in sex (no matter how many times they’ve had sex) shouldn’t be tight, because it shows how the woman isn’t relaxed. so, the constant reminder just screamed to me that Serafina wasn’t comfortable and wasn’t willingly giving herself to him.

and i was also pretty pissed at Kiara. considering her past with her uncle, i thought she’d try and fight for Serafina a bit more, but the moment Remo bares his teeth a bit, Kiara turns into a submissive dog. she also tries to soften Remo’s nature when talking to Serafina and it pissed me off— i at least expected Kiara to be on Fina’s side but she was f*cking useless and too blinded by her love for Nino, as though Nino and Remo were remotely the same, when we all know Nino wouldn’t have even gone along with Remo’s awful plan if he wasn’t Capo, and his brothers and Fabiano would do anything for him despite how cruel and callous he can be.

Samuel, her twin had the right idea when she got back after she claimed Remo didn’t rape her:

“You’ve never been alone with a man and then you were at the mercy of a monster like Remo Falcone. You had nothing to protect yourself. You did what you had to, to survive. The brain is a powerful tool. It can survive the cruelest horrors by creating alternative realities.”

i think he had it spot on here— she was just trying to convince herself she wasn’t raped. i think to save face with her family, putting the blame on herself, a way to cope with what happened by convincing herself she wanted it. it is common in rape cases that the victim doesn’t even realise they were assaulted until years later. and i felt that this was the case here, that Serafina just didn’t realise it, her brain blocking out the trauma to help her cope with it.

and i honestly think the part that pissed me off the most was Serafina’s complete lack of sympathy and awareness regarding what her family went through while she was gone. seeing how broken and distraught they all were, and her STILL wanting to be with Remo? he ruined her family and she just acted like it was nothing.

and the fact that Sofia, her 11 year old sister has to marry Serafina’s ex-fiancé instead really boiled my blood. she was a child and got the blunt end of the stick, and Serafina just doesn’t care at all. runs off to be with Remo and leaves her family behind in tatters. part of me sympathised with her because i just believed she’d been so thoroughly manipulated by Remo that she couldn’t see straight. but then on the other hand, i had no sympathy for her after just ruining her family, allowing Remo to revel in the ruins of Serafina’s family who she gladly left behind for her rapist and kidnapper.

the more i write this review the more riled up i get. in my opinion , this book glorifies and romanticises kidnapping, rape and abuse🤷🏻‍♀️

4.25 stars

Remo is literally dad(dy) material - in BOTH sense if you know what i mean.

im sorry i can't believe i just said that but it's the truth!! i really thought i was going to hate Remo considering how he forbade Fabiano to be with Leona and beat him up, was a jerk to Kiara, loved torturing people for fun, y'all know the drill. but he's actually a softie?? can y'all believe that??

when he said "Greta, mia cara" to his daughter?? OH MY GOD.

so a little backstory,

↳ this book starts off right after the second book and because the Outfit (Dante's mafia group) attacked their territory in twisted loyalties, Remo (H and capo of Camorra) planned to kidnap Serafina (h and Dante's niece) before her wedding as revenge against the Outfit. after 3 months of captivity Remo let's her go but Serafina is pregnant with twins and there was 1.5 years separation. so this book has the kidnap/captor, with a little bit of beauty and the beast and a splash of hades/persephone and maybe even add in a little bit of rhys/feyre vibes.

~ SPOILERS AHEAD ~

— Remo Falcone

"You are an angel, and I'm your ruin."

— Serafina Mione

"They'd never let me be anything but the dove with broken wings. They couldn't. But I wanted to fly."

not gonna lie, i did hate her at one point just because she let Adamo get tortured for a little bit because she didn't tell the truth to her family that Remo didn't actually do all the horrible things he made them think he did. i understand why she hesitated but still. no one, and i mean no one hurts my boy Adamo.

also, i liked Serafina's family in the beginning especially Samuel (her twin) but then i hated all of them by the end - well, except for Sofia who apparently is going to have her own book with Serafina's ex-fiance, Danilo - because they treated Serafina's kids like trash and THEY TORTURED ADAMO, a 15-year old...

i loved Samuel in the beginning but i felt betrayed when he hurt my boy. like no thanks. bye Samuel and the Outfit, y'all are cancelled.

↣ OW/OM drama
surprisingly, knowing Remo was a bit of a ho in the previous books, there wasn't much drama in this one. well, except for that OW scene in the beginning where he got a bj and had sex with Dinara's mom and Dinara is Adamo's future love interest so yikes and the fact that Serafina was engaged the whole time she was kidnapped but yeah that was it. and during that 1.5 year separation, im 80% sure Remo wasn't with anyone cuz he said "You ruined me for all other women" so... one can only dream.

so anyways, i can never unsee Remo as Massimo from 365 dni and if Remo ever said "are you lost babygorl" i would've died. game over. done.

･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･ Camorra Chronicles ･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･
#1: twisted loyalties — fabiano x leona ↠ 3.25 stars
#2: twisted emotions — nino x kiara ↠ 3.75 stars
#3: twisted pride — remo x serafina ↠ 4.25 stars
#4: twisted bonds — nino x kiara ↠ 4 stars
#5: twisted hearts — savio x gemma ↠ 1.5 stars
#6: twisted cravings — adamo x dinara ↠ 2 stars

I still feel a bit confused, because, for the first time in any of these novels, I actually really liked the main female character!

I was excited about Remo's book, because, let's be honest here, he is the kind of character I like. I love how cruel and twisted he is. And I feared he would just turn into a nice, lovestruck slob.

When the pairing with Serafina was revealed, I was not convinced. I wanted some really strong character. Why not some mercenary? That would be fun.

However, I loved Serafina, who I expected to be a second Arya, actually stood her ground.

My favourite about this series is the dynamics between the Falcone brothers, that did not change.

However, while reading, I did not wish for Serafina to disappear so we could get to the Falcone brothers. It was fun.

Speaking of brothers, I loved the relationship Serafina had with her brother at the beginning of the book.

Remo is officially my favourite psycho.

I already mentioned it in some other reviews, I'm not a fan of the "insta-children" but... I sort of did not mind. It's fun seeing the Falcone brothers with children.
However, I wish there was more or Remo and Serafina really like a couple. They went from kidnapping to being parents. Btw, what did they expect there? None of them even mentioned contraception? And Remo being Remo, I would expect Serafina to freak out because of STDs.

Then the thing I did not really like was Dante letting Remo just go. Like, really? Does not really seem plausible.

And can I say that the fact that Danilo was engaged to Serafina is now engaged with Sofia seriously gives me the creeps? Danilo is already older than Serafina. And Sofia is what? 11 or 12? I just cannot. And okay, Danilo seems decent, but still.

Also, I hoped that Rocco's children (Fabiano's half-brothers) and their mother would be mentioned.

Unpopular Opinion Alert

Song ? Any guesses?

🥶Stockholm Syndrome🥶

Very painful realization
Manipulating into f**king isn’t my thing(Did they use protection tho! Umm of Course not DUH-
He could have been a living breathing STD)

I was so in love with Serafina and Remo
I was going to add her to my favorite heroine list you know
And
Then
After 45% I was about to DNF the book instead!!
At that moment I envied everyone who can DNF books I was feeling trapped.

I mean sis literally said I will take my pride to the grave.
Then she hears Kiara moaning
And she just went on Remo like-

She was painfully and embarrassingly easy!!!!
I still can't believe it after showing so much character, power and baddie vibes that's how she gave in!!

I never think I would say this in my life but I got tired of their SMUT
Bcz I legit Didn't FEEL any connection!
Their first time? It was
un-F**king-comfortable to read

SUMMARY

Serafina got kidnapped on her wedding day by Remo
Afterwards very carefully she got manipulated and ended up sleeping with Remo
2 more hate f**ks without protection 😭 (he was manwhor* dudeeeee how could you do it without wrapping it up!!!) , after playing and brainwashing Serafina for good two months when Remo finally "steal" her so-called pride within 3days Remo returned her to her family. I reckon he potentially planned the pregnancy too. Then Didn't even bother to check on her??
I mean if I am in love with someone
Okay, Love is a huge deal. If you remotely care about someone you wouldn’t check on her in 1.5 years?
Also, was Mr.Remo celibate during this 1.5 years 🙃?!!
Then Outfit Kidnapped Adamo, Remo saved his brother, Serafina saved Remo.
They f**k some more and bam that great speech, if I have anything in there (very diplomatically will point on his heart) It's yours 🤧
Yeah no thank u
Hard pass!!

Sis didn’t even manage to get a "I Am Sorry" from Remo Groveling is 20 light years foreign concept 😴 Lust made her blind before the kids after the kids too

Can you imagine calling a female protagonist strong when she can't even tell his man she doesn't like it in the A**?
Not to mention Remo bragged about it even if in his head that for her beloved angel he "sacrificed" his favourite position
My god how considerate of him right? 🤣

She literally ended up as a doormat by the end 🙃
At least Kiara Aria said NO and meant it!

I will do Nino instead 😇
I can't believe I considered reading Only Remo's book first 🥺 I shudder to think that I wouldn’t have met the love of my life who is Nino Falcone😭😭 , my tattooed King 🦋🦋🦋
Also, I was feeling like a proud mother to see Kiara in this book 🥺🥺🥺

Anyway Cora Reilly dear for the 100th time
Why do you create characters with so amazing characteristics and personalities then you always destroy them with foolishness?
Right now I am even feeling conflicted about my Rating on Sweet Temptation 🤔 but we will deal with that later.
Now to nourish my broken heart I feel like re-reading Nino's book but fortunately, the next book is about Nino Kiara (Twisted Bonds)
So happy NinoxKiara got TWO books 💕🥺 as they should but also I am sooo scared if Mrs.Reilly has butchered Twisted Bonds too
Guess we will find out

Anyways 2 points for NinoxKiara 🥺💕
And The lovely twins I love them so much 💘💘💘💘💘💘
And I am willing to add additional 0.5 points cz finally I got to read about the great slaughter of Aria and Fabi's Sperm Donor
What can I say I am generous like that 🤭😇

One of the biggest issues I had with this series can be found in this book as well - the way main characters treat prostitutes as "whor*s" and that left a bitter taste in my mouth every time. There is also a scene at the beginning of Remo having sex (but I'd rather use the word "raping") a "whor*." It was terrible to read but also very unrealistic of him to spare Serafina of the same fate later on. I see that the author glorifies virginity but seriously, that sh*t needs to stop.

The sex scenes were uncomfortable to say the least, unrealistic as well. I didn't feel any love or special bonding between the main characters, except lust.

The only thing I liked about this book was the last part with the babies. But I still feel that the author had filled like 70% of the book with nonsense instead of developing a better story between Remo and Serafina.

I guess I forget that this is the erotic series so I should stop expecting better developed characters.

First read (Jul 26, 2019): 2.5 stars
Second read (Oct 4, 2020): 3.5 stars
Third read (Dec 11, 2022): 4.5 stars

For some reason I keep coming back for more and more RemoFina goodness:

extreme emotions, exalted passions, cheap drama, outlandish mafia scrimmage and the cutest family moments?? ✨

I loved all of that so, so much. This story touches me on some deep subconscious level, which is weird as hell considering how outlandish the book actually is.

Each page made me feel either tense, anticipating

was very emotionally intense. It mostly depicts Serafina's life in Remo's captivity after he abducts and snatches her away under her fiancé's nose on their wedding day.

I love replaying the scene where Fina is running for her life in that beautiful white dress and impeccable make-up, horrified, while Remo hunts her down in his monstrous, dark glory, chasing her through the forest as if she were a wild animal in my mind.

I could physically experience the electrifying tension cracking between Remo and Fina. Cora Reilly is so good at nuancing the subtle sparks of animosity and attraction between the main characters and bidding her time before slowly building a sense of familiarity between a couple. I love it when authors don't skip one of the most exciting phases of a romantic relationship.

proved to be much more dynamic and plot-driven by comparison.

It took me only 2 🤡 rereads to come to terms with Remo setting his fierce little bird Serafina free from the comfort of his guilded cage.

Now I'm a wiser person, and I realize that he did it in the name of love and not because he didn't care. He wanted the last bastion of her resistance — her heart— to succumb to him willingly.

Yet, the little voice inside my head still keeps nagging me that the unhinged, psychotic control freak Remo Falcone from the first two books in the series would have never let the woman he loved go. Would have never allowed the situation in which she could've married someone else to happen. Would have never waited passively for her to return.

Finally, Serafina screamed, and it was so f*cking real that my body reacted to the sound, but not in a way it usually did, not with excitement and the thrill of the hunt. There was something close to revulsion filling my body, hearing her agonized cries and imagining they were real.
My hands curled to fists, my muscles tensing because a deeply buried instinct wanted me to protect her from whatever caused those screams. Unfortunately for her, nothing could protect her from me.

I didn't like that Serafina is the one who fought, betrayed and sacrificed so much for their relationship while Remo took a backseat when his whole personality suggests that he's the fiercer one in their relationship. 🤡 He is not as scary and unhinged in this book as he was in Twisted Loyalties and Twisted Emotions. Him kicking the punching bag in anger and jogging with Serafina in the mornings were cute, but I wish we had more glimpses of his cruelty and unbridled violence.

Serafina’s eyes snapped open. They searched my face, and a second too late I realized she got deeper than anyone was allowed. “Enough,” I repeated, my voice shaking with rage and confusion.
“Enough?” she whispered so softly. The sound was like a f*cking caress.

That being said, one of my favorite aspects of RemoFina relationship dynamics is how much Remo admires Fina. Her strength. Her intellect. Her courage. When he gets a read on her personality, he never once makes a mistake of underestimating her again. He's intense and obsessive with an undercurrent of softness for her.

Also, you don't understand how much I loved secret baby drama in this book. The avalanche of shock, disbelief, wonder, tenderness and fierce protectiveness that came in spades from Remo after he and his brothers learned that Fina gave birth to his babies? his black-haired little copies?? 😩

Remo took the spoon and lifted it toward Nevio’s face, but he didn’t restrain his arms. Before I could warn him, Nevio snatched at the spoon and catapulted sweet potato puree through the room. Most of it landed square on Remo’s shirt. The rest in Nino’s face.
I bit the inside of my cheek to stop laughter.
Kiara didn’t show the same restraint. She burst out laughing. Nino wiped his face with a napkin, his eyes on his laughing wife—and softer than I’d ever seen them.
Nevio rocked excitedly in his chair, a toothless grin on his face. Remo glanced down at himself, then at his son, and his lips twitched.

It needs to be said:

Savio and Adamo looked as if they were having a stroke. I got it. Remo was one of the most feared men of the country, and here he cradled his baby girl in his arms, patient and careful. Nino was rocking Nevio on his thigh, and my son let out delighted screeches.

My heart literally swelled and grew two times larger when I read the scenes involving them and the kids, and just to be clear: I don't even like kids in real life.

Pretending to have pride, losing to lust and becoming a doormat and then forgiving a jerk hero without any self respect-heroine.
That's all I can say about this book. Thank you

Summary: This is the grossest book I've ever read. What's wrong with ppl, that they like Remo? He's just disgusting imo. And on a psychological level not even a convincing/realistic character.

I don't understand why people glorify Remo. He is just a murderer and a rapist. And there are no compelling or even interesting components to his character. And guys like him wouldn't have behaved towards Serafina the way he did irl. Not that I wanted him to rape her!! of course, but it was just so utterly unrealistic. Still they way he treated her was gross and I couldn't feel any love between them. And i didn't understand Serafina one bit. So he was hot?! That was the only reason she would sleep with someone, who has raped hundreds of women and is an all around sad*stic asshole without any remorse or morals at all? And the way he behaved towards her and used her after they had sex for the first time was just disgusting. But I can even understand that, because ppl do irrational things sometimes, when they are kidnapped, or at least things we don't understand and shouldn't judge, but why in the world would she go back to him? Yes, she grew up in the mafia, but her family and even her fiancé are way better than this asshole! And then he didn't even show remorse for destroying her life, separating her from her family and twin brother forever!! I could be outraged about the book forever. I didn't understand Serafina. Even if I was so "in love" and attracted to a rapist (which I don't understand, how you could be, because duh.. he's a rapist), I would let my mind rule in this case and not go back to him, especially if I have children. As a consequence I also didn't care for Serafina anymore and this whole read has been useless for me. Also one of the grossest things imo, we got to witness was Remo labeling the women, who choose rape over of death as weak, because it takes a special kind of bravery to chose to continue to live and fight after having to endure such a trauma (ppl don't call themselves survivors for no reason). I also started to hate Fabiano and Nino, because they don't have a backbone at all and were so god- damn submissive towards Remo, even though they didn't agree with his actions.

Pre-order links:
Amazon Universal: mybook.to/twistedprideCR
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/twis...
Barnes&Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book...
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/twis...

Playlist
Wings – Birdy
No angel – Birdy
Monster – Lady Gaga
Crucify – Tori Amos
Toxic – Britney Spears
Can’t hold us down – Christina Aguilera
Unless it’s with you – Christina Aguilera
Deserve – Christina Aguilera
Closer – Nine Inch Nails
Fire meets Gasoline – Sia
Bird set free – Sia
Elastic Heart (piano version) – Sia
Lay my body down – Rag’n’bone Man
Wolves - Rag’n’bone Man
Love you any less – Rag’n’bone Man
Never be the same – Camila Cabela
In the Dark – Camila Cabela
Love the way you lie (piano version) – Rihanna
Love me harder – Ariana Grande & The Weeknd
Million Reasons – Lady Gaga
Bleeding love – Leona Lewis
Lost without you – Freya Ridings
White Wedding - Billy Idol

First read - 3.5 stars (rounded up)
Second read - 3.5 stars (rounded down)

I've been wanting to ask this question for a while now.....what in the world are these mafia men doing all day🤣?

CORA REILLY'S AVERAGE MAFIA BOSS RESUME:
🕵 Breaching mysterious enemy territories
🕵 Transporting unknown cargos to wondrous places
🕵 f*cking whor*s
🕵 Killing randos
🕵 Getting tattoos
🕵 Repeating the word "honour" like broken records

There are whor*s to f*ck, Outfit bastards to kill, and the f*cking Bratva to piss off.”

He summed it up real well huh....

Remo once said that Serafina could be Capo if they were all less sexist. And you know what, I agree. That girl did not know how to use a mop, literally. She would be an excellent capo.

Oh oh wait! Can't forget the most important attribute in the basic mobster boy kit: preach inspirational tumblr quotes. They can include the word "blood".......maybe even something fancier like "destiny". Or in this case, repeatedly (and very poetically) compare each other to chess pieces. I'm convinced the chess analogies were used JUST so they can theatrically say "I'm the king on this chess board👹 then what am I?🥺🌺 YOU'RE THE QUEEN👑"

Anyway, that wasn't what actually annoyed me. It was the amount of absolutely useless conversations these two had. Find me two other people who could speak more words to each other without actually saying anything.

Serafina: YOU WILL NEVER BREAK ME
Remo: I will break you😈
NO I WILL NEVER BREAK
you will break
NO I WON'T!!!!!
yes you will
no I am unbreaka-

Remo then proceeds to break her by putting her in a luxurious bedroom with room service, buying her clothes, giving her pretty nighties, soaking her pretty nighties in blood (okay fine that was cute), going on morning runs, ordering her pizzas, and over all being a real accommodating guy.

Here's a mind-bending riddle for you....what the hell is even break? like what do you mean😩 Break how? Break what???

But shocker.......his tactics work (still no idea how but they said she was #broken so a bitch is broke, whatever). I cannot believe I added this book to my strong-heroine shelf back in the day😭

“Do as I say.”
“Or what?” I said harshly. “What could you possibly do to me? You have taken everything from me that mattered. There’s nothing left for you to take, to break.”

Remo aching and torn over which torture technique to use on her next:

No but imagine he actually went ahead and beat her ass🤣🤣🤣 instant 5 stars.

You know who I actually felt really bad for? Her family. They thought their daughter/sister/niece/fiance was raped and tortured but nope😌 Just having a lil pizza in her lil nightie and sucking dick<3

I know in my updates I gave the impression that I'm about to 1 star this book💀 and honestly I thought so too. But then the second half sort of happened and I was weirdly enjoying the hell out of myself. Then I realised I've been enjoying myself the entire time. All this toxicity and dumbassery was too delicious, even considering the fact that Remo is cringy as f*ck sometimes.

Now I know mafia romance isn't exactly known for promoting feminist rights and gentlemanly behaviour. But mans sounded like a loser. Idk... if you're gonna be this much of a sexist asshole, at least be classy abt it, you know?

the whor* regarded me with that f*cking submissiveness, that disgusting reverence. No pride, no honor. They all got a choice and chose the easy way, never the hard painful one. They would never understand that nothing could be gained without pain. Weak. Disgusting.

Yea yea yea. Prostitutes are all disgusting, your dick is made of gold, women are actually descendants of chickens, yada yada. Where is your imagination, Remo😔

Also, I have no idea who gave this man the authority to dole out brotherly advice because man😭😭😭 Just do not speak. Literally never open your mouth in front of my baby Adamo again.

“Don’t waste your energy on another thought of that girl. She’s worthless. There are many more girls out there. She used you. Maybe now you’ll start using them as well.”

But it's all fine because Remo redeemed himself in my eyes.....by being the most dramatic king♟️ on the planet.

“I’m so glad you could make it,” Remo said in a British accent, all posh and sophisticated.

Did he just randomly pop an english accent outta nowhere, that absolute legend🤣🤣🤣🤣

This reminds of when I randomly sneak a word with an english accent to feel more sophisticated about myself. You know you're just speaking, speaking and then suddenly comes this word, this word that would sound superior if you just.......

Remo - a hardened gangster speaking to enemies in a dungeon about his kidnapped captive:

This is supposed to bring the Outfit down. Don’t forget that, Remo.”
My mouth pulled wide. “It will crush them. They will bleed out slowly, painfully, without ever feeling my blade. This will destroy them.”

“My family and fiancé will tear down Las Vegas if you hurt me.”
“Oh, I hope they do, so I can bathe in their blood,”

I CANNOT STAND THIS MAN😭😭 I swear if he ever fails in the mafia he should try the theatre.

But Serafina did have her moments too, gotta give her credit...

“Oh, Remo, I will be your first angel. Patience is a virtue, and you will be rewarded for it.”

Imagine someone whispered this in your ear while having sex. I'd be like what the f*ck is this bitch on about? Patience......virtue....wha?

He ate it up though, good for him.

Other than that, I understand why my 2020 pea brain was impressed enough to give this close to 4 stars. My excuse now is that I am still pea brained.

Overall: Solid book. Adequate soup.

Random fav quote bcz I can:

“When will you set me free?” I asked.
“Soon,” Remo murmured but didn’t elaborate. For some reason I heard the echo of the word “never.”
Never. Never. Never.

Ugh the echo, the drama😍

Upgraded to 5 Stars

After re-reading this so many times, I am upgrading it. I just love these two. And the fact that I have re-read this book probably 5 times now demands said upgrade.

3.5 Stars

Dammit. After finally reaching that elusive 4-star level with this author in the book I read right before this one (Bound by Love), I once again fell just a bit short with this one. Which is kinda frustrating.

The elements in every book will all be there, but for some reason, they just don't click all the way for me. I can't explain it. Maybe it's because mafia romance is one of my favorite sub-genres and thus I'm pickier, who knows. And one might ask, why do I keep reading this author if I feel this way?

Well, cause I consider 3 stars to be a decent rating. It means I liked it and had fun reading it. Also, I think Reilly is a great writer. Definitely a professional with an actual editor. So yay. Also, her books are just plain readable and - let's be honest - I am also just running out of good mafia fodder and these are available to me via Kindle Unlimited.

Long story, short: I enjoyed this one, but thought Remo could have been a little darker and the ending a little more polished.

reread (7++): april 2021

pls the fact that i've read this more than seven times and i'm still in love as if it was my first time reading it, gahh. remofina will always be the superior couple for me, thx. ♡

⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ────── ⊰

reread (4): september 2020

it's my fourth time rereading this masterpiece and these two still gives me all the f*cking feels. 🥺🤍

⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ────── ⊰

6++ remofina owns my heart stars ☆

hi yes, Remo Falcone is my new book bf. idc that he's a psychotic killer who has a thrill in killing people, but his heart?? it's loyal and protective to those he deeply cares about and that's every-f*cking-thing for me. he was the character who kept my attention ever since i started TCC and i'm so happy his story was everything i loved! Serafina (h) was the perfect match for Remo, honestly. he needed someone who wouldn't take his sh*t and actually fight back and that's literally who she was. i loved her as an individual and as Remo's partner. 🥺 i already know these two will remain my favorite couple in this mafia universe (even tho i haven't read Savio's book yet or Adamo's or whoever else has a story). sometimes you just have that gut feeling about certain couples and it's how i feel for them. ♡ also, Nevio and Greta were the cutest babies everr. hoping they'll have their own series in the future!!

5 ⭐️ - the kind that are solid and 100 rereads can’t change my mind.

I’m going back and revisiting all of Cora’s books at the moment and because this is probably my 5th re-read for this particular book, I need to get it all out for posterity.

First and foremost, Remo is mine and that’s that, he’s just my type of psychopath, so you know what that means... I’m having imaginary babies with the man, what else?

Now that I’ve got that out of the way, I have to say this book is my favourite in the series. Remo and Serafina make so much sense together (personal preference and all that, but those names rock!).

- So we’ve got this slightly psychotic mob boss, who has no qualms about doing whatever he wants, whenever he wants, however he wants. He’s got sarcasm down to a T, a wicked sense of humour and a cruel demeanour. The perfect trifecta, if you ask me. One of his brilliant decisions leads him to kidnap the lovely Serafina (I say lovely but I mean badass in her own reserved way) when she was on the way to her own wedding! (btw- that’s kind of a brilliant idea to open a book with.) Sounds kinda ominous, I know, but it’s anything but, because you guessed it, that’s how their tumultuous romance starts.

- The whole kidnapping thing might sound like this is one of those dark romances with heroines that develop Stockholm syndrome for their obviously hot as sin captor.. it’s NOT - no sexual deviant to lock her in a cage until she’s dripping with love from her battered heart (I know ...my lyricism is on par with the greatest love poems ever written).

- Part of the reason why I love Cora’s books so much is because the heroines are treated with respect, there isn’t any gratuitous/senseless violence or abuse. Yes, they might be a little submissive, (and I don’t mean towards their love interest but within their families) but it’s more a case of them growing up with those values rather than them being scared into it.

- I loved the twists and turns the story took, I didn’t expect some things to go a certain way and that’s always a big sell for me in a book. I also loved the extended cast of characters, they add to the story in the best way possible.

- There’s emotion, action, drama, humour.. and that’s pretty much everything needed to be honest.
And lest we forget, I’ve got a soft spot for a bad boy who is a little crazy, a little murderous, and a lot passionate ...for HER (that mythical creature that gets all the book boyfriends *sighs*). And reading about the way he falls for her, when he was pretty much portrayed as incapable of empathy and romantic love, well, that did something to my...poor young heart of course.

“She rested her palm against my chest, over my heart.
“Is there something in there capable of love?” My f*cking chest constricted.
“Whatever’s in there, it’s yours. Whatever love I’m capable of, it’s yours, too.”
She cupped my face, her eyes fierce, almost brutal in their intensity. “You are beyond redemption, Remo,” she whispered, and I smiled bitterly because I knew it.
She shook her head. “But so am I because even free to do as I please, I choose you. I’m no angel. An angel wouldn’t love a man like you, but I do. I love you.”

Damn..

And lastly, I gotta sing some praise for Serafina. Considering she was all about following the path chosen for her by her family, and all about following the mafia rules, we get to see her spread her wings and think beyond the realm of possibility available to her in that context. And I have to say it’s pretty amazing and ironic how Remo was the one to offer her the freedom to choose, out of all people.

Anyway, I’m gonna leave it at that, but not before saying once again, that this book kinda blew me away. Obviously, I’m being extremely subjective, I’ve got a soft spot for the characters that Cora writes and the world she built for those mafiosi. Total disclosure: at this point I'm more invested in their lives than mine.. sad but true. So, now I’m gonna go (im)patiently wait for whatever book comes out next.

2 Stars.

Twisted Pride was probably my most anticipated read of April. Since I read Twisted Loyalties I knew Remo was going to be one of my favourite characters through this series and he was until this particular book. I feel like he wasn't himself at all. He was supposed to be cruel and ruthless and a total maniac but he acted like a softie until the very end. The only cruel thing about him were the author's descriptions. 'His cruel smile', 'his cruel, blach heart' and so on. It got so tedious, like this was an amateur's book instead of something written by Cora Reilly.

And don't get me started on Serafina. I didn't like her one bit. I never like the cold, pridefull ones anymore. They have the chance to be awesome but it's like the authors don't know how to portrait a fine, strong female character without making her annoying in the process. Cora made the same mistake with Gianna in Bound by Hatred. She was supposed to be strong and independant but she was just a disappointment as a heroine. One of the worst's I've read so far. Fortunately, Serafina wasn't as bad as Gianna but I didn't like her either way.

I felt no chemistry between her and Remo. None whatsoever. There was no love, and the lust was a cheap thing since Remo's one of the sexiests guys I've read about, and he 'fell' in love with this cold fish called Serafina. She wouldn't even give him a blowj*b without being difficult about it... you can give head and keep your pride, girl. I hope you know that.

Only interesing aspect of this book was the possibility of a story about Serafina's sister, Sofia, who was promised to Danilo. That's something I want to read... now I'm not so excited about Savio's and Adamo's books, because... well... I'm just not. But nothing can be as bad as this one.

4.5 stars

Remo delivered what he promised. This was so freakin good that it’d probably end up being a reread material.

“Your pride will be your downfall,” I said.
“And your fury will be yours.”
“Then we’ll fall together. Isn’t that the beginning of every tragic love story?”

Remo is the perfect psychopath. He’s so my type. What I really liked about his character is the balance between being a crazy psychopath and a great lover. In most cases one trait would overshadow the other and it doesn’t end up well. You’d get a crazy psychopath who is a jerk to the heroine and you just can’t really see them as lovers. Or he’d turn into a great lover and forget about being crazy. His evilness would be diluted.

Fina was the perfect heroine for him. That girl would take her pride to her grave. She surprised me in the best way. The way she stood up for herself and refused to give him the satisfaction of watching her break. She’s just the kind of heroine he deserves and the kind of heroine I love to read about in dark romances. Like give him hell girl I’m cheering for you. Also, she was the one who fought and sacrificed so much for them and I was just so proud of her.

“Whatever’s in there, it’s yours. Whatever love I’m capable of, it’s yours too.”

She cupped my face, her eyes fierce, almost brutal in their intensity. “You are beyond redemption, Remo,” she whispered, and I smiled bitterly because I knew it.
She shook her head. “But so am I because even free to do as I please, I choose you. I’m no angel. An angel wouldn’t love a man like you, but I do. I love you.”

I loved the way things developed. There was no dull moment with these two. I loved that despite being in a captor/captive situation those two were equal. Despite being a captive she was the only one who could bring Remo to his knees. Remo gave her wings and she freakin flew. Both of them would go to extreme measures to protect those who they care about. I mean those two were great alone, but spectacular together. I loved them so much.

I gave it one star because you can't review without giving stars. However, this book was the worse book from this author. An author who keeps dissapointing me more with each book. The H here is very brutal. How do we know it?? Because the author keeps telling us that. Over and over and over. You can't read two sentences without it being mentioned. Fina is a weak character, who spent the entire book moaning about the fact that her parents didn't let her wear her hair the way she wanted or walking on the grass without shoes!! Oh my god, how tragic was her life. Granted, reilly's heroines are all pathetic, except for val and gianna, but this one takes the cake. Especially since she is the only one who had a happy childhood and was treated like a princess by everyone.
Everyone blamed dante for torturing remo ! I was baffled bc to his knowledge , this man kidnapped and raped his niece! Yeah, as a romantic gesture , he sended them the sheets with her virginal blood on them! Pretty good hero , right? Anyway, they all believed that she was raped because fina didn't told them the truth. Well, ahe tried it once with her mom and brother , but didn't put much effort into it. Maybe because if she would've told them the truth she couldn't have been able to play the victim role! And she loved to play the victim.
I don't see their marriage surviving, i've never felt any love between them. The author really forced herself to make them seem like an in love couple but failed miserably. Their "love" can only be described as stockholm syndrome at his best. She betrayed her family so i think she will betray him too.
The only character i loved loved in this book - except dante of course- was danilo. I really hope he won't treat Sofia bad. Because if i could make excuses for dante , because he and carla were happy and she didn't betrayed him, i won't forgive danilo for treating Sofia bad for pining for a weak, spineless whor* who betrayed him with the first available man. For a woman who stays with a man who wants to kill her family, even though it's thanks to dante that he is alive. Yet he spends 95% of the last chapters saying he wants to kill dante. I didn't believed this author could have worse characters than the scuderi sisters or luca, but , for once, she proved me wrong! Before this book i couldn't decide which heroes i dislike most .

I refused to continue reading after the 10th chapter!

To see a great character like Remo being reduced to a puss* whipped, instalust sucker, that submits to a teen air head virgin!!!

Simply doesn't make sense And I'm out...

Ummm this is definitely my favorite of the series. SO FREAKING GOOOOOOOD!!!! Remo is definitely an anti-hero. He's not a good guy and the Copa of the Camorra. He doesn't care about anyone beyond his family and will do anything to get revenge. So he decides to kidnap the bride at the wedding of someone from a rival mafia. And it's a captive/captor romance! Serafina and Remo end up falling for each other as she's kept in his home and it's so good. This also had all of the mafia content my dark heart loves. There were multiple moments in this book I was freaking out during and I had no idea what direction it as going to go. I loved the connection to their family each character had and how they grew into different people throughout the book. I can't wait to continue on with this series!

Full review:

Cora Reilly's highly anticipated third installment in the Camorra Chronicles is a jaw-dropping, mind-blowing and awe-inspiring emotional rollercoaster you soon won't forget. It will ruin you for all other Mafia books. Mark my words! Cora's ability to write cruel bad boys with a heart is hands down unsurpassed. This story is fast paced and has a well-developed, character-driven plot full of angsty twists and turns you didn't see coming. Enemies to lovers is one of my absolute favorite romace tropes, especially if there is a forbidden aspect - as in this particular case the bitter feud between two opposing Mafia clans.

Remo Falcone is ruling over Las Vegas with an iron fist. When the Outfit breaches his territory and attacts him and his brothers he promises retaliation. The opportunity for payback arises when he kidnaps Dante Cavallaro's niece Serafina on her wedding day. She is supposed to marry a high-ranked Outfit member and become an obedient wife and caring mother. Females like her are supposed to enter marriage pure and chaste. What better way to hurt Dante and the Outfit than breaking the one innocent person they were supposed to protect? But Remo will soon realise that Serafina is not an easy prey. She is smart and very perceptive and not easily intimidated by his threats and mind games. Both didn't expect to feel this unexplicable strong pull towards each other fueled by irresistable need and voracious longing. Will Remo still stick to his plan or is this beautiful blonde angel going to be the one to bring him to his knees? Who is going to be the winner in this twisted game of chess? Is a victory without any sacrifices even possible?

Remo and Serafina are two very complex, multi-facetted and intriguing characters who will make you fall madly and irrevocably in love with their gripping and captivating story. They are without a doubt the most compelling characters Cora has ever written. There is so much more to these two than meets the eye. With every new layer of their personalities being revealed I felt a deeper emotional connection to them.

Remo is a cold, ruthless man who doesn't show any mercy to his enemies and enjoys making them suffer. He is a brutally handsome monster. But there is this soft side to him when it comes to his brothers and the people he considers family. For them Remo would walk through fire and sacrifice himself without a second thought. If you want to gain his respect you have to show strength and loyalty. He is not a man everybody can easily understand because you can't put him into one category.

Serafina is the Outfit's Iceprincess. Proud, poised and controlled on the outside but playful and kind-hearted on the inside. Fina is strong-willed and courageous. She could easily be Capo if women were allowed this role in the Mafia. I can say with absolutely certainty that she is one of the strongest female leads I've ever come across in a book. I admire Serafina for refusing to be a victim of the Made Men's power plays. I adored her relationship with her caring, loving parents and siblings, especially her twin brother Samuel. These two share a special bond only few people can understand. They would die to protect each other.

There was an instant, undeniable physical attraction between the hero and heroine that both tried to fight with great effort. But when they slowly started to get to know one another better and discover each other's strengths and weaknesses they couldn't prevent feelings to develop.As unwanted as they were, resisting each other was a fruitless venture from the first moment they met.

The message of this story is that something good can be born from an act of brutality and that love can bloom even in the darkest place. As an avid reader I'm always on the quest to find such books that stand out from the rest. The ones that will stay with you forever. Now how am I supposed to move on after this epic read?! I see a major book hangover coming. Thank you dear Cora from the bottom of my heart for giving us the most perfect unconventional love story. I've thoroughly enjoyed being ruined by Remo Falcone and give this amazing book 5+++ stars!

Disappointing. no chemistry whatsoever!

English: Twisted Pride was unarguably the most anticipated book of The Camorra Chronicles. The name Remo Falcone spread fear and terror from the moment it was first mentioned. After reading Twisted Loyalties, I was sure that we would find a really cruel, insane, frightening mafia leader with a twisted way of thinking. Even Outfit and Famiglia accept the Camorra as savage, so I was thinking Remo fit that role... until this book. I found a fluffy bear while waiting for a real psychopath. The author kept writing "his cruel smile", "his dark heart" to describe Remo and I kept wondering, "Huh, where?"

Read more of my review:

Remo has kidnapped the bride, the niece of Capo Dante of Outfit, on the day of her wedding. And then? He basically wrapped Serafina in silk sheets and they began going jogging every morning for her relaxation. According to Remo, Serafina's family feared that Remo would hurt their daughter, and that fear was enough for Remo. What a twisted mind! HA HA HA

Serafina... Serafina... I didn't like her even a little bit. She was a pathetic, spoiled child that the author attempted to depict as a strong and proud woman. B-but don't we understand that? She was not free in the presence of her family, who loved and adored her very much. Girl, seriously.. I had a similar problem with Gianna. She was supposed to be strong and independent but.. she wasn't. Yet, Gianna at least had a purpose, a goal, an urge to fight. She didn't want her cruel father to find her a husband and "sell" her to him. Gianna was right, considering that her father later married Liliana to an older man in order to get a young wife for himself. Above all, Gianna did not want her or her future children to become part of the mob. She didn't want blood on her or her children's hands. What about Serafina? As I said before, her whole family loves Serafina. Her beloved twin brother would die for her. They even found her a wonderful husband (within the mafia circles) who cares for her, is kind and really likes her. They didn't try to sell her. So she didn't have a brutal family. But when Remo, our fluffy bear kidnaps her, our girl realizes that she was not actually free and she belongs to the Camorra. Did Remo say that her family will now be the enemy? He will kill her uncle if he gets the chance? Who cares about that? Obviously not Serafina.

Wait, it’s not over.

Gianna didn't want her children to be part of the mob. Serafina is the opposite. After Remo handed her back to Outfit, she found out that she was pregnant. After the birth of her son, she realized that her son would not be accepted by Outfit as a soldier and she went crazy. What are we as readers supposed to think now? "Oh dear, we are so sorry that your son will not be able to kill people!"

Aria learned to fight from Luca after she got married, and Valentina has been managing a mafia-owned establishment since she married Dante years ago. Why did Serafina (Cora Reilly) pretend that Remo was the first guy to support a powerful woman? Serafina can't even compete with Aria. I didn't even like Remo but everyone deserves better than Serafina. Her ego was too big.

Also, do not these Italian mafia families have any other business than getting married? Why do they always want to kill each other and take and give girls? Luca and Dante have supposedly ushered in a new era in the mafia. How come Luca and Dante are considered so old-fashioned while they supposedly ushered in a new era in the mafia? Why are Luca and Dante now considered old-fashioned? The author has made so many time jumps that I suspect we will soon be burying Luca and Dante in their graves. Where are the Bratva, the Cartels, the Irish mafia? I want a real problem, a real war. I don't want new couples without these things. That's why I'm not excited about Sins of the Fathers anymore at all.

While the story of Sofia and Danilo stands out as one of the book's strengths, the drawback is the significant 6-year time jump, especially considering Sofia is still a kid. Enough. Seriously ENOUGH.

Türkçe: Twisted Pride tartışmasız The Camorra Chronicles'ın en beklenen kitabıydı. Remo Falcone adı ilk geçtiği andan itibaren korku saçıyordu. Twisted Loyalties'i okuyunca da gerçekten zalim, manyak, çarpık zihin yapısıyla korkutucu bir mafya lideri bulacağımıza emin olmuştum. Outfit ve Famiglia bile Camorra'yı vahşi görürken Remo da rolüne cuk oturuyordu... bu kitaba kadar. Gerçek bir psikopat beklerken pofuduk ayı buldum. Yazar sürekli "zalim gülümsemesi", "karanlık kalbi" derken benim tepkim, "Ha, nerede?" şeklindeydi.

Yorumumun devamı: Remo babası underboss, dayısı Capo olan Outfit kızımız Serafina'yı kaçırıp ipek çarşaflara sardı, her sabah o kendini rahat hissetsin diye beraber koşuya çıktı. Bir kuş sütü eksikti Serafina'nın "hapis" hayatında. Neymiş Serafina'nın ailesine kızlarının zarar gördüğünü düşündürüp korku yaşatıyormuş HA HA HA

Serafina... Serafina... Tırnağım kadar sevmedim şu kızı yahu. Güçlü kız havasında takılan acınası şımarık karakter. Outfit'te özgür değilmişmiş. Gianna'da da buna benzer bir sorun vardı. Güçlü, bağımsız olacakken zorlama kaçmıştı. AMA Gianna'nın en azından bir amacı, hedefi, onu fişekleyen bir dürtüsü vardı. Zorba babasının ona bir koca bulup satmasını istemiyordu. Babasının daha sonra Liliana'yı kendisine genç karı almak için yaşı başı geçmiş bir adamla evlendirdiği düşünülürse Gianna haklıydı. En önemlisi Gianna ne kendisinin ne de gelecekteki çocuklarının mafyanın parçası olmasını istemiyordu. Ellerine kan bulaşsın istemiyordu. Peki ya Serafina?? Kızın tüm ailesi onu seviyor. Babası ve annesi kızının üstüne titriyor; ikiz kardeşi canını onun için verir. Babası onun için yaşına uygun, iyi huylu, mevki olarak yükselecek mafya şartlarında harika bir eş de bulmuş. Pofuduk ayımız Remo onu kaçırınca kızımız özgür olmadığını fark ediyor ve Camorra'ya ait olduğuna karar veriyor. Şımarık. Yürüyen ego.

Bitmedi. Spoiler: Hani dedim ya Gianna çocuklarının mafyanın bir parçası olmasını istemiyordu diye. Serafina tam tersi. Remo bunu Outfit'e geri teslim ettikten sonra hamile olduğunu öğreniyor. Oğlu doğduktan sonra da Outfit'in bir parçası olamacayağını anlayıp çıldırıyor. Ah canım benim, oğlun adam öldüremeyecek diye çok mu üzüldük sen?

Bir de güçlü kadın motifi çizmeye çalıştıklarında çok sinirlendim. Aria yıllar yıllar önce evlendiğinde Luca ona nasıl dövüşeceğini öğretmeye başlamıştı. Valentina yıllar yıllar önce Dante ile evlendi ve mafyaya ait mekanda yöneticilik yapıyor. Serafina ve YAZAR neden ilk kez Remo bir kadına güç veriyormuş gibi davrandı?? Serafina Aria'nın yanından geçemez. Remo'yu sevmedim. Ama herkes Serafina'dan daha iyisini hak eder.

Ayrıca bu İtalyan mafyasının evlenmek dışında başka işi yok mu? Niye sürekli birbirlerini öldürmek isteyip kız alıp kız veriyorlar? Luca ve Dante mafyada yeni bir dönem açmışlarken nasıl oldu da onlar bu kadar eski kafalı kabul edilir hale geldi? Yazar o kadar çok zamanda zıplıyor ki yakında Luca ve Dante'yi mezara koyacağız. Bratva, karteller, İrlanda mafyası nerede? Gerçek bir savaş, sorun istiyorum. Yeni çiftler istemiyorum. Sins of the Fathers için hiç heyecanlı değilim.

Sofia ve Danilo'nun hikayesi bu kitaptan çıkan tek güzel şey olabilir. Sorun şu ki o da yine 6 yıllık bir zaman zıplaması gerektiriyor çünkü Sofia henüz çocuk! Yeter. Cidden YETER.

CORA CONFIRMED THAT REMO FALCONE SLEPT WITH OTHER WOMENS AFTER SENDING SERAFINA BACK FOR 14 MONTHS!!
Me:- Can you expect anything else from a Rapist 🙄🙄
--------------------------------
This book was sooo uncomfortable to read!!
For the most powerful man in Las Vegas he kidnapped a 19 year old INNOCENT and DEFENCELESS women to get revenge.
Thats Cheap Move!!!!

I hated how he treated Eden or any prostitutes or WOMEN for that matter. He is a RAPIST!!

I mean kiara once had a conservation with C.J. :-

She tilted her head. “I’m a whor*.”
"That doesn’t mean you don’t have the right to say NO.” kiara said.
That moment I had GREAT RESPECT for kiara.I think Remo thinks prostitutes don't have the right to say 'No'.

Then Remo said this ⬇️⬇️

She will choose what they all do, Nino. She’s a woman. She’s been coddled all her life. She will take the Easy Way.

Easy Way!!??? We all saw what it did to kiara! She suffered from it for years and maybe FOREVER if Nino wasn't there. Why does he think that people who choose rape than death are WEAK??

I WISH REMO WAS BORN A WOMEN!!

She’d caught me off guard, had taken the painful road, had forced my f*cking hand.

BOTH CHOICES ARE PAINFUL. And I am sure Kiara suffered a lot more than that cut Serafina suffered. Kiara suffered MENTALLY and PHYSICALLY.

I didn't like why he has to say that he wants to sleep with Serafina in EVERY INCOUNTER of them. And even Serafina was the SAME WAY all the time. There was NO chemistry and ALL about sexual tension.

Now moving on to Serafina!!😖😖
Remo was talking about Serafina in Twisted Emotions when he said that to Stefano in sugar trap-

“We know how it goes. You charm them and then they fall head over heels and lose their few remaining brain cells.”
Here some points that she just have one brain cell not even few!!

“My brother wouldn’t want me to give away a kiss for him.”(Fina said)
“You already gave away your first kiss, Angel. What do a few more matter?” remo said.

IT MATTERS!!! One Brain cell Serafina!!

And then SHE GAVE AWAY THE KISS even when FINA was the one who said I Will Take My Pride To The Grave. It was to talk to her brother. True. But the whole situation was MANIPULATIVE and SEXUAL.

And she said on the SECOND DAY of her kidnapping - My traitorous body mourned the loss of his warmth when he set me down on my feet in the cell. to the SAME GUY who she was terrified of on her FIRST DAY of kidnapping!!
She said herself that the name of Remo Falcone are told in hushed terrified whispers even among outfit women.
I don't know if she had Stockholm syndrome or not but it didn't look like love to me at all.

I didn't like how Remo thought that Fina will come back to him WILLINGLY when he never said it. He only insulted her after every time he slept with her!!

Serafina, I know losing your virginity to me makes you think we share a special bond. But two f*cks don’t make you anything special to me. I’ve f*cked so many women. One puss* is like any other. I took something from you, and now you want to justify it with f*cking emotional bullsh*t.

THAT WAS REAL BAD.

"If Fina had 'pride' she won't come back" THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT🤔.
But guess what!! she didn't have pride and only had one brain cell that she must have lost when she hit her head while Remo was kidnapping her!

MY PERSONAL OPINION:-

LOVE IS IMPORTANT IN LIFE. BUT WHATS MORE IMPORTANT IS RESPECT. YOU CAN LIVE WITH A PERSON WHO DOESN'T LOVE YOU BUT YOU CAN NEVER LIVE WITH A PERSON WHO DOESN'T RESPECT YOU!!

The rest of the story also has too many wierdness. He kept her LOCKED in a room - Just IMAGINE!! Close your eyes and imagine to be locked in a stranger/enemy's room day and night and the kidnapper comes and tells you he want to sleep with you. He wants to sleep with you. He wants to sleep with you.He wants to sleep with you. For 2 MONTHS!!! and kick you out 3 days later when he slept with you. And constantly tells you that he owns you. He owns you !!!

🤢🤯🤢🤯🤮🤢🤯🤯🤯

Their first time was... 🤢🤢. It felt like he wanted to sleep with her quickly before she could change her mind. And Fina gave in too easily after listening in on Nino and Kiara. I Never thought she would give in in THAT WAY.

He was not even calibrate after he kicked Serafina out of the house. He told Nino that "there are whor*s to f*ck" and in Twisted Bonds he also said "I am better off with whor*s"!!

I also DIDN'T like how their parents reacted to her pregnancy and how they treated her children. BUT I DON'T hate them after reading BBTP. Her family SUFFERED A LOT. I mean the SHEETS and the MESSAGE Remo wrote🤢🤮🤢🤮
I cringed when read it !!!

These beautiful virgin-snow-white sheets bore witness to Serafina’s deflowering.I have to say, Pietro, you raised a firecracker. She fought me tooth and nail to defend her honor. It made my claiming of your beautiful daughter all the more entertaining.Samuel’s voice died into a rasp. Ines sank to her knees, crying. Tears streamed down Val’s face, her fingers trembling against her mouth, her horror-struck eyes on me.Danilo stared at the sheets, his face frozen, his arms hanging slack beside him.Pietro had his back turned to us, his shoulder shaking.

And then Remo says once doesn’t count, right? Maybe I can send you a second set of sheets."

No wonder Ines and everyone was okay with Adamo's torture.
I DIDN'T LIKE that they tortured Adamo BUT I HATED Remo beacuse he KIDNAPPED an INNOCENT and DEFENCELESS women.

I AM SURE IF SERAFINA WAS IN INES PLACE SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY WITH ADAMO'S TORTURE TOO IF SOMEONE HURTED GRETA THAT WAY LIKE INES THOUGHT FINA WAS HURT.

If someone defend the above statement with the lines ' Fina told she wasn't raped etc' I won't take that sh*t because the MESSAGE Remo wrote would take a DECADE to overcome if I was the MOTHER of Serafina.
And let's be honest he DID rape her!! Read their first time you will vomit at it and at Remo's thought process!!
Though People who have one brain cell might find it very very romantic.

When she came back she made a POINT to everyone that she is here for her children and not for Remo and then they slept together BEFORE confronting what their's feelings for each other were ( well they didn't have any I guess so there wasn't anything to discuss about).

And she was OKAY if Remo killed her family. I mean what the hell!!!! SERAFINA NEED TREATMENT BY THE HOLY GOD!!!!
Her family loved Serafina. DOESN'T IT MAKE FINA WORSE THAN HER PARENTS. HER MADNESS FOR REMO MADE HER BE OKAY WITH HER FAMILY'S DEATH. (She asked to herself if it was love or madness. Guess what!! It wasn't love it was pure madness.)

Even Kiara told Nino to promise her to NEVER hurt her brothers who degraded her and beat her ( brothers who didn't even love her) and to let it go and Aria told Luca same type of things about her father beatings after their engagement.

In the end The relationship was kind of forced to me for their kids ( one of convinience, I guees) and they fell in lust.

P.S:- And I want Remo to stop giving women that choice and sex trafficking too😠.
I also HATED him in TL when Fabiano said that Leona didn't let Fabi sleep with her and Remo was like "and you let her? " ( As if Leona's refusal doesn't matter).
I was like what the hell!?!? Are you suggested Fabi should rape Leona!!?? The audicity of him!!!
I could only tolerate Remo when he is with Kiara. KIARA ALWAYS BRINGS THE GOOD SIDE IN EVERY FALCONE MEN🥺🥰😍

5-Twisted-Stars

Cora mentioned in her Facebook group, that this was her best-written book to date. Well,

This series just seems to get better and better with each book that is released.

Saying I loved this book is not enough. So whatever is more than Love, but yet not quite I'm-Sending-Out-Save-The-Dates-And-Marrying-A-Paperback stage, is where I am with this book.

I was in fictional LUST with Nino's story in Twisted Emotions, I thought about that book for WEEKS after reading it! I honestly did NOT think I would enjoy Remo's story as much as Nino's.
I know, I never should have doubted Cora.

It's just Twisted Emotions was on such a high pedestal to me, then here comes Mr. Remo Falcone in all of his TWISTED GLORY and bulldozing that single seated pedestal, only to replace it with a two-seater for him and my Nino.

Serafina shocked the crap out of me with her total badassness. The ice-princess has a spine of steel and a sharp tongue. Cora wrote the PERFECT heroine for this story.
I loved Serafina and Remo's interactions throughout the book. There were quite a few scenes that had me busting a gut laughing at their antics.
Remo was more than I could have imagined with his twisted mind. There was just so much more to him than what we've already seen in previous books. Cora could not have written his story any better than what we were given.

Twisted Pride was packed in chemistry, action, angst, humour and most of all loyalty.

Cora showed us so many different sides to her characters in this book. We got to see EVERYONE in a different light/setting and I swear I fell more in love with those Falcone brothers because of it. Serafina and Remo's story was EXPLOSIVE. From beginning to end, I was so engrossed in their story. I cannot wait for the next book (3.5 Nino & Kiara).

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i don’t think anyone is surprised 😍

4 Stars

Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable! I haven’t read the previous two books in the series and while I never felt lost or anything, there were some dots that felt like it would’ve been better if I had connected them prior to this story. Not too bad though! I liked the characters, I liked the captivity theme, I also enjoy the occasional mob boss story. My biggest gripe is with the pacing. I felt like this had a few ebbs and then a huge flow in the last 10ish%. I still liked it and I got a good enough ending to be satisfied in the end — so that’s a plus! Random note here... but the cover oddly makes me think of SJP in Hocus Pocus 🙈🤣

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Serafina and Remo’s story. Serafina is about to get married in an arranged marriage that she has known about for years. Remo finds out about the wedding and sees an opening to kidnap Serafina and make her rival mob boss uncle exchange her for his second hand man. She knows all about Remo and fights him all along the way while he starts breaking down her ice princess walls and feelings start to develop. There is some family and mob drama, some sexy times, and some sweet moments...and they get a HEA ending.

Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Serafina and Remo’s POV.

Overall Pace of Story: Not the best. It was slow in some parts and then super fast in others. I never skimmed though.

Instalove: No, they have a hate-to-love type thing going on

H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Remo. I liked him and how he allowed her to make her own choices.

h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Serafina. I liked her strength and how she cared for her family.

Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed

Push/Pull: Yes They both push away (the h more so) and also pursue (the H more so) the relationship at times

Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Yes

OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No

Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes There is a descriptive scene with the H and OW (prostitute that he had been with before) right after he captured the h (and was aroused by seeing her naked) before anything happened between the mcs

Cheating: Technically yes, but really no the h is about to marry (in an arranged marriage that she hadn’t even kissed him) OM when the H captures her

Separation: Yes They are separated for ~14 months, but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time.

Possible Triggers: Yes Violence/murder/kidnapping/assault/criminal activity/prostitution (on page) and unexpected pregnancy (on page)

Closure: This ends in a good place for the couple and what I would call a HEA ending they’re married

Safety: This one is probably either

4 Crazy f*ckery Stars ⭐

There are anti heroes and then there are f*cked up individuals like Remo Falcone. I have to admit that at no point during Twisted Pride did I love the depraved Capo, but I did admire his loyalty and love for his brothers and any person within his 'family' circle. That was his only redeemable quality.

Love can bloom in the darkest place, and ours did wildly, freely, untamable.

Kidnapping a mafia princess on the day of her wedding sends a solid message. Never f*ck with ones family. It's a sin never forgiven or forgotten, and payback is tenfold. Serafina is merely a pawn in a war waged by Remo Falcone. Except he hadn't banked on her ability or strength to bring him to his knees.

“You should end your life, take the easy way out, because nobody will come to save you. And I won’t stop until I’ve broken you, body and soul.”

Now a prisoner in Las Vegas, Serafina expected rape and torture. But what she receives is an insight into a twisted mind and the lengths her captor will go to for the safety of his loved ones. And a long the way, she's quickly forgetting why she shouldn't be there.

“Your pride will be your downfall,” I said.

“And your fury will be yours.”

“Then we’ll fall together. Isn’t that the beginning of every tragic love story?”

It is a classic tale of Stockholm Syndrome or two individuals that understand the requirements of this life? Her kidnapping was initially a message, but the shift of attraction and admiration blurs dangerous lines. Remo has no intentions of keeping Serafina, but she can no longer return to her old life either.

He sunk all the way into me, and then he paused as I shivered under the force of the intrusion. His dark eyes said what I’d known all along.
He possessed me. He owned me.
I was the queen.
He was the king.
Checkmate.

This story was gritty, disturbing and everything it should have been. I admire this author for not romanticising mafia life. The famiglia is feared and revered for a reason. Remo was perfectly sad*stic and unhinged, and his devotion to his family was everything. He couldn't have chosen a better queen if he tried.

A wise man once said, 'Cora wrote Remo as an apology for writing Luca.'

I've never heard truer words.

Okay, hear me out.

The thing with high expectations is that they let you down. I came to twisted pride knowing I’d love Remo, and Remo I loved, but it took me a while to finish this book, mainly because kidnapping trope gets repetitive after a few of the same books, and although this one was different in a way (obviously, Remo’s way was nothing if not original, because he’s one of a kind 😍) got a bit boring towards 40%? (I asked forgiveness to myself for even thinking this, that’s how committed I was to love this book) but after a while I jumped back in again and at 60% TP and me were besties again.

Anyway, I loved psycopath Remo and sweet and stubborn Serafina, they were soooo perfect together, and the crumbs we got for Kiara and Nino? OMG ❤️

I loved all the family interactions, and I’m kind of sad that Adamo’s and Savio’s books are not going to be good according to everybody who has read this series, because they’re such lovable and cute side characters 🥺

Now I’m gonna book my tattoo appointment for broken wings in my back, bye 👀

UTTER 🤩 C R A P 🤩

3 STARS

Pride was the only weapon I had, and I would hold on to it until the very end.

After finishing, I'll admit I have very conflicting emotions about how I feel about it. On the one hand, I struggled to connect to the heroine and the way she was painted to be so naive and complacent in the beginning. On the other hand, the more I read, the more connected I felt to the story.

What begins as a twisted game of revenge soon begins to turn into something more. Remo and Serafina both come from the same world but they live on opposite sides of it. Where Serafina has been sheltered, Remo has seem the depths of human depravity and violence. So much so, that it's twisted and tainted him into the Capo that he is today. The dynamic between them was a delicious one, however. I loved the push and pull of their unwanted attraction. Serbian should be a means to an end to a man like Remo. He doesn't care about anything but his family. But there's something about her that reaches into the hidden depths of him. It's not instant. It's a slow burn of realization as he discovers that Serafina isn't the sheltered and soft beauty that she seems. That she's got a core of strength and a pride beneath that delicate exterior. That he yearns to break her in all ways possible.

Now here is also where I struggled with the book; the characterization. It soon became apparent that I did myself a great disservice by reading this book without reading the others. There's clearly a continuing story arc that follows the brothers, and even though the author attempts to give the reader bits and pieces, it still felt like I was missing huge chunks of their backstory. The incredible amount of redundant descriptions of Remo were a huge irritant for me. I lost count of the amount of times that I read about his cruel smile, cold voice and brutal acts. I'm not even kidding. The word cruel is used over 60 times in the book to describe either his smile, his eyes, or his general being. And yes, I counted.

Don't get me wrong, I still really enjoyed Remo's dark depravity. But I also got tired of constantly being reminded of it. It felt like being slapped in the face with his personality. I get it! He's cruel and brutal. Let his actions and behavior be the reminder. Not his description.

Aside from that, I really did enjoy the story. It was action-packed, gritty, and after the 30% mark, a complete page turner for me. And while I struggled with some parts, I still liked it enough to know I want to read the rest of this series. I definitely need Adamo's story soon! That was a secondary character that I couldn't get enough of.

ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review

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