Convenient Mafia Wife

Syndicate Rules, Book 1

By: Lucy Monroe

Narrated by: John Masterson, Amy Deuchler

Two couples. One HEA and one Prequel Cliffhanger.

GIULIA
Our marriage cemented the alliance between our families. Emotions shouldn't come into it, but I fell in love with the ruthless underboss I married. Only to him, I'm nothing more than an incubator to carry his heirs. I adore our son, but I've been putting off having another child. Raff is going to flip when he finds out about the birth control.

RAFFAELE
She is smart and beautiful, but there is no room in the life of a mafia underboss for tender emotions. At least that's what I thought when we got married. Six years has changed a lot, but my wife thinks I'm the same merciless man she wed. To everyone else, I am. But not to her. She'll forgive me for sending her to a fertility specialist. She has to, because I will never let her go.

Giulia and Raffaele's story is a steamy mafia romance with a guaranteed HEA. No cheating.

CATALINA
My sister is engaged to the don that sets my senses ablaze. I have no choice but to make plans to run. To escape my father and this incessant physical need Severus sparks in me.

SEVERU
Someone is attacking my mafia. I have to protect la famiglia at all costs, even if that means agreeing to marry a woman I have no feelings for. I just have to ignore the way my body reacts to her sister.

As the prequel to Urgent Vows, this is the only book in the Syndicate Rules series that is not a standalone. Because it is a prequel, Catalina and Severu's story ends on a cliffhanger.

CW: explicit intimacy, graphic violence, foul language, fertility issues discussed, and domestic violence (past reference and in the story – not between the main characters)

For listeners who love morally grey heroes and devour mafia romance by authors like Cora Reilly, Michelle Heard and J.T. Geissinger.

©2023 Lucy Monroe (P)2024 Lucy Monroe

Overview of the Five Families

I liked the explanations of the two couples in the mafia families. I enjoyed the writing of this author. The stories flow easily, with likeable characters, and are entertaining. Narrators John Masterson and Amy Deuchler did a great job with the voices.

Sets up the series nicely!

Convenient Mafia Wife tells two intertwining stories: How Severu and Catalina met (prior to Urgent Vows) and what led to that fateful wedding, and a snapshot into Giulia and Raffaele's marriage six years in. There's a bit of miscommunication, hidden desire, and characters needing to be brave and say the things they've been holding back.

I loved seeing more of Giulia and her husband Raff. Their story was by far the more compelling one for me of the two in this book, but only because I've already read Urgent Vows and knew where the other one led. It was interesting to see how Catalina and Severu's limited interactions prior their book, though, and I also enjoyed how this prequel also worked to flesh out Carlotta's motivations as well.

Once again, Amy Deuchler did a wonderful job, and John Masterson was a wonderful addition to this dual narrated book.

Good story

A lot of family to keep up with but it’s a good book. Ends on a cliffhanger but the first two books are free on audible.i do recommend! Narration is good as well.