by 
Title: The Sweetest Oblivion
Author: Danielle Lori
Series: Made by Danielle Lori
Trigger Warnings: Fires. Morally questionable male protagonist. Strong anti-hero vibes.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5
Synopsis
She’s a romantic at heart, living in the most unromantic of worlds . . .
Nicknamed Sweet Abelli for her docile nature, Elena smiles on cue and has a charming response for everything. She’s the favored daughter, the perfect mafia principessa . . . or was.
Now, all she can see in the mirror’s reflection is blood staining her hands like crimson paint.
They say first impressions are everything . . .
In the murky waters of New York’s underworld, Elena’s sister is arranged to marry Nicolas Russo. A Made Man, a boss, a cheat—even measured against mafia standards. His reputation stretches far and wide and is darker than his black suits and ties. After his and Elena’s first encounter ends with an accidental glare on her part, she realizes he’s just as rude as he is handsome.
She doesn’t like the man or anything he stands for, though that doesn’t stop her heart from pattering like rain against glass when he’s near, nor the shiver that ghosts down her spine at the sound of his voice.
And he’s always near. Telling her what to do. Making her feel hotter than any future brother-in-law should. Elena may be the Sweet Abelli on the outside, but she’s beginning to learn she has a taste for the darkness, for rough hands, cigarettes, and whiskey-colored eyes. Having already escaped one scandal, however, she can hardly afford to be swept up in another.
Besides, even if he were hers, everyone knows you don’t fall in love with a Made Man . . . right?
My recent reads have been quite steamy, complete with brooding males and dazzling female leads. Romance, as a genre, is very comforting and the guaranteed HEA might just be a permanent cure for boredom. *cough cough*
Also See: 6 Mafia Books Like The Sweetest Oblivion That Are Just As Good (Or Better)
Anyway, yesterday I finally rounded up the first book in the #Made series by Danielle Lori, titled The Sweetest Oblivion, and I loved every page of it!
This is a mafia romance novel and get this: our FMC is the favourite daughter of another Mafia leader.
Elena, the FMC, was not originally betrothed to Nicolas(or Nico, as he stubbornly insists), rather her sister was. In a strange twist of events, she finds herself in his house, on his counter, with his fingers buried in her (whoosh). They fell in love, got married, blah blah blah- you know the drill.
I will be honest: there is nothing terribly extraordinary about this book. It pretty much follows the template of every other mafia romance novel. The teeny weeny distinguishing factor though was the undeniable attraction between the FMC and the MMC. They kept dancing around their mutual attraction and when they finally gave into it, combustion. I WAS IN FLAMES!
Related: 31 Lovely Enemies To Lovers Books That Raise The Bar For Romance
The MMC was unnecessarily domineering and controlling. Even in the brother-in-law capacity he already asserted a type of manipulative influence over her. I also did not care for the intermittent violent outbursts and the callous murders. Luckily, the author did not give much details about the gory incidents.
I also hate the “likes-her-so-he-is-mean-to-her” trope and it was overplayed in this book. Properly executed, but so outdated and annoying. Then again, this is Mafia Romance as a sub-genre and it does not get any better than this.
I mean, in this book the FMC pushed her into a swimming pool because she was talking to another guy. I can understand jealousy, but intentionally embarrassing her in front of her family and friends. Urgh!
All in all, it was a good book but “good” is subjective, so you’ll want to give a try yourself.
Up Next: 7 Arranged Marriage Mafia Books With Romance That’ll Make You Breathless
