Bloodied Hands: A Dark Mafia Romance (Bellandi Crime Syndicate) Paperback – February 20, 2020

Loved the story. You really get swept up and sucked in from the beginning. Ivory was innocence personified but in a naive way. But she knew pain and suffering. Matteo was the head of the underworld and had broken her heart in an effort to protect her when they were younger but they were meant for one another. And when she is brought back into his life he refuses to let go. You could totally feel frustrated right along with her. For all the moments you would have wanted to scream like you were beating your head against the wall for all the things Matteo did. His manipulations and alpha high handed way made for some very frustrating moments. Lead into some of the dark aspects of the story. Trackers, forced moving, forced relationship despite her loving him and never stopping she had no decision. Even in how he ‘decided’ for a family. But he did everything because he loved her and was obsessed with spending his life with her. He would do anything to protect her. I loved how ivory and scar got so close even to the moments he talked back to Matteo for all the things he had done to her. Loved him. Hope he gets a book.

I came across this book when it was free on Amazon. The writer Adelaide Forrest was a new writer to me but the blurb of the book sounded interesting and I was in the mood for an alpha, mafia guy so I decided to give this story a try and I’m so happy that I did! Because once I started it, I couldn’t stop reading it! I enjoyed it very much and I already bought the second book in this series too to read.Ivory and Matteo Bellandi had a relationship when they were in high school. He was the boy who Ivory lost her virginity to but he’s also the boy who broke her heart one week after that. The one that she loved with all her heart and she never forgot. Now twelve years later, destiny brought them together again. Matteo has kept his distance all those years from Ivory but when she stands before him, he knows that the time has come to claim the one woman that he ever loved. Matteo knows that it will not be easy. Because for one thing, Ivory doesn’t want anything to do with him (but Matteo is not a man that takes ‘no’ for an answer). But Ivory’s stubbornness isn’t the only problem that Matteo has. Because of his dangerous life (Matteo is the head of the Chicago syndicate) an enemy is also stalking her. Can Matteo protect Ivory against danger and also convince her to open her heart for him again?‘Bloodied hands’ is a great start of this mafia series and I also think that it’s the ‘perfect’ story for readers who are new to this genre and want to try a dark, mafia book with an extreme possessive, jealous antihero guy. Because this story is not too dark or too violent. And yes, the main male character Matteo is very possessive and protective, to be honest he just does what he wants, thinking that he knows what’s best for Ivory and him and where it would frustrate me in other stories, here you can really feel the love he feels for Ivory and the fact that Ivory doesn’t follow him in everything also makes this story a great story. Ivory is an interesting main female character too, she was heartbroken when Matteo left her but with the help of her two best friends, she created a life of her own. She loves making food and sharing it with other people through her food blog. She’s funny, friendly, likeable, she also isn’t afraid to stand up to Matteo as he goes too far. The story is told from both POV’s. The writing is fluent. There is some action in the story but nothing too dark. The sex scenes are steaming.The secondary characters are wonderful too. You have Matteo’s men and his cousin Lino. They are hard men, feared by others but they are all friendly to Ivory and also very protective of her. You also have Ivory’s best friends Duke and Sadie. They are special characters too.‘Bloodied hands’ is a great story and I will definitely read more books of this series and writer.

2.5 ⭐️2🌶️I’ve heard great things about Adelaide and was thrilled at the potential plot. However, after the first few chapters, it became abundantly clear this was a 100% cliche storyline with a serious lack of actual plot. The characters were introduced as teenagers and then experienced a ~10 year age jump. That jump did absolutely nothing for their development or maturity. They were continually written as teenage lovers with teenage emotions. Ivory was infuriating with her rollercoaster emotions and lack of development. Matteo was written as a wannabe gangster with all the cliche verbiage and actions.It took me 6 weeks to read this book; coming from someone that reads at least 3 a week, that’s how cliche and painful it was to read. It didn’t keep my attention and just felt lackluster.

This guy. Matteo. I had to take several deep breaths while reading his scenes from the prologue on—you wait.Matteo crushes Ivory’s heart back in high school twelve years prior. It is sudden, and he does it meanly and coldly. Ivory never quite healed and kept herself at a distance from other men. One day, she ends up in a dangerous situation, and it is strangely connected to Matteo. Ivory wants to get to the bottom of things and confronts him. Even after twelve years, she discovers that she has been under his protection, among some other secrets that later are uncovered. That’s when things get ex/ pl0s¡ve, and Matteo will do everything to ensure she never leaves him.Author Adelaide Forrest always hooks me at the beginning of all her stories. The spice is high. Matteo is incredibly OTT. He does extreme things. He makes extreme decisions and takes extreme actions without Ivory’s knowledge and/or consent. “Bloodied Hands” was a spicy, wild, and exciting ride.

Eeekkk, Ivory and Matteo were an item for a short time. He dumped her. Move forward a number of years and he is taking over her life. She fights him, she loves him, she leaves him…so much drama, throw in friends, passion, murder, revenge and even some grovelling. This story is a roller coaster of emotions that at times are cringe worthy but also an addictive read.

Another epic mafia book to add to my list of things I just LOVE.Adelaide is always my go to for all things mafia, and Matteo did NOT disappoint. Gods that man.... yes. Just YES 😈🥵I loved the journey of them reconnecting and Ivory discovering her “shank hand” . Way to grow into becoming more fierce!Great read. On to the next one!

Lo leí en un día porque no había luz en mi casa.Está bueno para pasar el rato. Aunque puede que algunas partes si sean algo intensas.

Honestly loved this book. I’d come across a video on tik tok that piqued my interest as a review of the 4th book and found there was a whole series. Rest assured I’ll be purchasing the others. I loved this story, ivory’s sass, wit and tendency to call Teo a creep genuinely made me snort laugh most unladylike. Ivory is an absolute badass - note to the author I had to reread her para (you’ll know the one I mean near the end) 3x to give it the appreciation it deserved.

Yet another brilliantly written story by Adelaide.I adored Matteo. He's a little unhinged in the best of ways. I liked Ivory, but jeez, she frustrated me at the same time, too.

Let’s start with what I loved. Loved the initial gut punch of Matteo breaking up with Ivory when they’re teens, seems odd to love this part but seriously the emotions it brought out and we don’t even have a connection with the characters yet is pretty great writing to me. Loved Matteo, let’s be real who doesn’t want a man who’s no holds barred you’re my woman I want you and only you? He’s decisive, impulsive but with one thing in mind Ivory. Ivory could be considered a little naive but I actually think she’s protecting her heart by pretending she doesn’t see her best friend who’s in love with her or the man she’s been pining for for ten years really does want her. What I didn’t love: for some reason there wasn’t enough backstory explaining the pressure Matteo was under when they were teens, or why if they live in the same city does it take ten years for him to claim Ivory and how do random robbers know her name like did he put out a “this is my woman but she doesn’t know it” notice? Overall a great read, very entertaining can’t wait to read the next instalments and hope we get an Uncle Adam book.