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From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken comes a new story in her Mafia Royals series…
One of the first rules they give you when you're undercover—never fall for the enemy. I didn't just fall for the enemy. I became what I was supposed to hate. What's I fell in love with one. I live a double life, and both sides know it's only a matter of time before I'm forced to choose. Rebirth through mafia blood. Or death at the hands of the very government I swore to protect. I have one more job before my time's up. I just wish it was anything but babysitting a mafia princess who's half my size but knows how to pack such a brutal punch I worry about my ability to have children. Tin's small but terrifying. And I'm her new bodyguard while we all go on a much-needed vacation. I just have to stick to the plan. And remember rule number one. And stop kissing her.
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

125 pages, Paperback

First published April 27, 2021

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About the author

Rachel Van Dyken

169 books18.2k followers
Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances.

Hey guys I'm rarely on Goodreads, if you need to reach me feel free to email!
EMAIL ME: rachelvandykenauthor@gmail.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-...

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5 stars
552 (54%)
4 stars
313 (30%)
3 stars
113 (11%)
2 stars
18 (1%)
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15 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 273 reviews
April 27, 2021
“We’re all of us, a bit insane, don’t you think?”



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💜💛❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📙📕📗📙
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 😌🤓😤😳🤯

The heroine: Kartini Abandonado (a.k.a. Tiny) - she is tiny like her name but can pack a huge punch. Like the other kids of the 5 mafia families, she has been trained to be merciless, not only to protect herself and her family, but also to rule the mafia like their parents. Her father is Sergio Abandonato, a mafia leader, killer and doctor.

The Hero(es): Tank De Lange - After joining the FBI and training to be an agent he was given the undercover job to insinuate himself in with the children of the 5 families who all attend Eagle Elite College. He did that and more. He became friends with them and found out that he is related by blood to some of them. He discovered they aren’t what he thought when it comes to family. He has to make a decision soon to stay in the mafia or to go back to the FBI full time.

The Love Story: Tiny is a rebel. Though she thinks her Dad hung the moon, she rebels against being the standard mafia princess. She parties, wears revealing clothing, drinks like a fish and smokes weed. She is also tough as nails and smart as a whip. While her cousins Junior and Serena elope to Mexico, her father buys her a ticket to take a two week vacation and he forces Tank to be her bodyguard as his last act before he makes his decision.

“If there was one man in the entire world that my dad would murder for touching me without even hearing an excuse—it would be Tank. FBI agent, friend of the Families and the government, made man, and all-around conundrum of goodness and virtue.”


I liked this from the beginning. Tiny has a great story, going from being the apple of her fathers eye to losing her confidence in herself and not being able to get herself out of the rut she was in for the last year after she became broken. Tank has wanted her for a while but has held back because he values his life.

I liked the different storylines and how they all connected. Especially about Tank and the FBI and why he was protecting Tiny. Though I must admit there were a few times that I wondered what the heck was happening. It was like we weren’t being told the whole story so when something happened I didn’t fully understand what was going on and yet the characters seemed to know. It all eventually came out, but for a while, I was re-reading passages to make sure I didn’t miss something.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

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Profile Image for Abstract ♥ Books.
1,203 reviews1,654 followers
February 3, 2022



ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS

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Star Rating : 4/5 Stars

POV : Dual

Cliffhanger : None

Hero : Tank

Heroine : Kartini

Pace of the story : Moderate

Angst Rating : 6/10

Heat Rating : 5/10

Triggers Involved : Past Trauma , Abuse Scene

Plot Summary :
Tank and Kartini are here! Tank is an FBI agent but now he has a new job. Taking care of the oldest daughter of his boss. Kartini is everything he wants and everything he is never going to get. Unless he wants her dad using him for shooting practice. So yeah m Staying away is the best option , no matter how much she tempts him. That is until he lands himself a new job. Now he has no choice but to get close to her, he can just hope that he survives this ordeal.

Kartini had the best life ever. Until one night everything changed. Now when she looks into the mirror , she doesn't see the same innocent girl but a monster. The only person who gives her some relief from the hell she is in , is her bodyguard. Tank is everything she shouldn’t want. Everything she would never have. He is older than her and so very tantalizing. Not to mention the fact that he directly linked to the group who tried to destroy her. And in one way or the other , it's his fault she is broken . So now he is going to pay.


Overall Opinion :
I have been crazy for this pair! From the interaction Tank and Kartini had in the past , I just knew that these two were going to be so very amazing and explosive. They have this banter that just hooked me in and I was totally invested. This book was shorter than the other Mafia Royals series. But it was just as amazing and I loved it a lot!

The back and forth between these characters was the best part but another thing that I really really loved was the other characters! I just live to see these characters interact with each other. The threats , the jokes and the angst , pretty much everything makes this series of Rachel Van Dyken as my most favourite one.

The ending was the best part and the hype for the next book is so very much. I have been waiting for Izzy and Maskim for months and I am so very happy that we will be getting his book next. I will probably be the first in line to read that book. I don’t think you can call yourself a mafia lover if you haven’t read this series. It has all the sub genres you can think of and I highly recommend this series to all!

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Profile Image for Sentranced Jem.
1,134 reviews601 followers
May 7, 2021
I always love reading Rachel Van Dyken’s books particularly her novellas. I am not the biggest fan of novellas.. they always feel rushed or incomplete but RVD does novellas so well.
I really enjoyed Mafia King. As a fan of this awesome series, this book was a really enjoyable read.
Kartini …loved this smart, tough, sarcastic girl.
I loved Tank and Kartini. Their banters and the whole ‘love-hate’ relationship they had going on made for one entertaining page turner.

If you haven’t started this series yet, I highly recommend you do.
I can’t wait to read more from the Mafia Royals series.
Profile Image for Sentranced Jem.
1,134 reviews601 followers
May 7, 2021
I always love reading Rachel Van Dyken’s books particularly her novellas. I am not the biggest fan of novellas.. they always feel rushed or incomplete but RVD does novellas so well.
I really enjoyed Mafia King. As a fan of this awesome series, this book was a really enjoyable read.
Kartini …loved this smart, tough, sarcastic girl.
I loved Tank and Kartini. Their banters and the whole ‘love-hate’ relationship they had going on made for one entertaining page turner.

If you haven’t started this series yet, I highly recommend you do.
I can’t wait to read more from the Mafia Royals series.
Profile Image for Kelly_Reads_Books.
1,958 reviews147 followers
April 27, 2021
I have not read any other books in this series, and was worried that I would not be able to follow the story but Rachel Van Dyken did an awesome job of making this story enjoyable without any of the background. She did such a wonderful job, now I want to start the series.
Tank is straddling a line between good and bad, FBI and Mafia, but he has to make a choice. But now he is tasked with the babysitting duty of Tiny, and she makes his job very difficult until they come to a mutual understanding!
Mafia King was a quick, fast paced, hot read that kept me glued to its pages from the very start.
Profile Image for 💜VGreedyReader🖤.
570 reviews114 followers
July 30, 2021


⭐️ 3.75 distressing stars ⭐️

I went into this with an open mind, I swear I did, but I can’t help myself I need to speak up... let’s start by saying this short novella (I don’t dare imagining a full length book) is fully of every stereotypes related to mafia and Italian culture. Anything you may think about, you’ll find it here. Just like a minestrone (nope, we don’t say minestrone soup), while reading this I felt like watching people braking spaghetti to fit them into a pan 😭😭😭

I’d like to make it known in Italy people don’t walk around with guns strapped on themselves, nobody (unless you’re a policeman) and I mean nobody (not even what you may think of as mafia) would ever do that. So, yes, I’m sorry to burst your bubble but anyone coming here expecting to find that kind of reality would be disappointed.

can we get a cannoli, too? my teacher’s heart cried, and they weren’t tears of joy, how can you use a definite article in front of a plural noun?

“Sangue en, no fuori,” what language is that? I honestly felt embarrassed on the author’s behalf, a simple google search would have helped here.

I know this is fiction, I know it needs to glamorise “mafia”, I know “mafiosi” need to be handsome hunks but... you can’t sell a work of fiction full of stereotypes, mistakes and myths. And don’t get me started on the names... there is not one single name or last name resembling anything Italian. Again if you want to use “Italian mafia” to sell your books have the decency to do some background work, get an Italian editor or beta reader to save you some further embarrassment. Even Hey Google would have done a better research.

This is novella is like people passing a tofu burger as meat, I’m sure tofu is delicious but you can’t convince me it’s meat. I’m happy this author has found a trope that works and many readers like but don’t make it all one big misinformation and misconceptions spiel.

Blood over the law, duh that’s not mafia!!! Any 100 % bred Italian would put blood and family before anything else! Unless you had a fall out family comes first, you don’t need to be “mafia”for that. I won’t even get started on the crap of what here is called “being made” after cringing like when I see pineapple on pizza, I was laughing so hard, this thing right there is borderline ridiculous.

I won’t delve into what else annoyed me as I think the above is enough disheartening

Focusing on the story I’ll say the beginning was quite slow and repetitive, the heroine said the same thing over and over again for the first five chapters.

Some parts weren’t really coherent, one moment you have a wedding resembling a boot camp for navy seals, seen the amount of weapons, body guards, security, blood thirsty soldiers securing a perimeter way beyond the boundary of where the party is, and the next one, the heroine is alone with nobody around, suddenly unsafe when 5 minutes ago nobody could reach her 🧐🧐🧐

Once the story picked up it was easy to read. From the first introduction I was expecting more angst and steam, instead there was more focus on the group and other family members, Kartini and Tank weren’t given their due attention compared to the whole story. I get this is a novella set in a bigger universe and the intent is to pick the reader’s interest in wanting more, however it wasn’t managed well. Sometimes it was just about a bunch of names thrown into the mix in an attempt to pick up a story otherwise flat. So if I were to put two big prosciutti on my eyes, and overlook the Italian/mafia related references, I still wouldn’t be tempted to read more.

This is what I feel about the book, I’m positive the author is an adorable person, what I said it’s related to her writing only, it’s in no way personal. I also want to point out that this misinformation didn’t work for me, feel free to check it out for yourself. If you think this is something you might enjoy, by all means go ahead and enjoy.

I do, however, ask you one thing... if the spaghetti don’t fit, please use a bigger pan, don’t break them 🥺🙈

***ARC given in exchange for an honest review ***
Profile Image for Dali.
1,924 reviews545 followers
April 21, 2021
Mafia King is a sassy and steamy romp, laced with an emotional love affair between an undercover FBI agent who feels more at home with his mafia Family and the mafia princess who’ll either get him killed or bring him to his knees.

Kartini Abandonado may be “Tiny,” but she’s not to be underestimated. Just like her cousins from the other mafia families, she’s smart, tough and trained. She hides a secret under the guise of rebellion, but the fact that she’s not herself is not lost on her father much less on Tank.

Tank Delange is probably the youngest FBI undercover agent, whose job was to coax his way into the inner circle of the mafia kids. Upon discovering he’s related to one of the families, that they’re not exactly what they seem, and falling for Tiny, his time straddling the line between FBI and mafia is coming to an end.

I really like reading novellas, anthologies and the like. They give the readers more of their favorite characters or a chance to get to know new authors. Regardless, they’re a treat and I loved that I could enjoy this one by one of my favorite authors.

Even though I do feel as though I would have enjoyed this novella more had I read the previous books in the series, it did not diminish the great character development, plot and world building. I am definitely going back to read the rest of the series!

Mafia King is novella #3.5 of the Mafia Royals series by Rachel Van Dyken. It is told from both points of view with a HEA. Genres: Contemporary Romance. Tropes: mafia romance | romance anthology | bodyguard | age gap
Amazon -> https://amzn.to/32CTXIh
★ I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via Social Butterfly PR. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title. ★

See all my book edits on InstagramFaceBook
Profile Image for Susan (susayq ~).
2,246 reviews128 followers
September 7, 2021
Another wonderful addition to this series! I love the humor Rachel Van Dyken infuses into the stories. It's a welcome break in the drama that comes from stories that center around the mafia. Tank and Tiny were great together and I loved the ending.
Profile Image for Beatrice.
1,155 reviews1,714 followers
June 5, 2021
Short and sweet. Kartini Abandonato and Tank oozed with a LOT of sexual tension. I just love this mafia family. ALL MY BABIES 😭❤️ The teaser for Maksim and Izzy got me curious like damn!!! Give me the next book for Mafia Royals.

I recommend this novella if you are in the mood for enemies to lovers / bodyguard romances.
Profile Image for Deanna❤Pink Lady❤️.
820 reviews847 followers
April 20, 2021
I’ve become wild about this next generation of Eagle Elites. The angst doesn’t get any higher when Rachel VanDyken writes about these characters.

Tank and Tiny......they are quite the couple. They have a feisty banter but each are holding a spark for one another. In their crazy world, love and commitment is never easy as you could either soar or find yourself buried 6 ft under.

This is a fast read and very enjoyable. I love that this story included all previous characters as well as The Bosses. All I can say is that all these characters are crazy, fun and addictive. I’m super excited for the next couple up in the series and can’t wait for all the explosions their story will set forth.

*advanced copy provided by Valentine PR in exchange for an honest review*
April 29, 2021
𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊: MAFIA KING
𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE.
𝐓𝐘𝐏𝐄: STANDALONE
𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: RACHEL VAN DYKEN.
𝐏𝐎𝐕: FIRST-PERSON: DUAL PERSPECTIVE.
𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋:🔥🔥🔥
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐏𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓:🤠🤠🤠🤠
𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐁𝐔𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆:🌍🌍🌍
𝐄𝐘𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑:🦋🦋🦋

TANK AND TINY were inevitable explosives just waiting to blow in your face...the push and pull in their relationship was at times Hilarious and kinda hot.
It's time for Tiny to join the big kids and man!!! She deserves to join them !!!
This was a short enemies to lovers...bodyguard Romance with a whole Mafia edge. The Mafia world that RVD has created is unlike any out there...it has funny moments and sad, gutted moments. My feelings were like on a pendulum, one sec you feel so high on life and other you feel so sad for them.
What I could give for this book to go on and on!!!
There was so many previous characters playing as secondary characters and so so much Fun...
I have missed Sergio so much and to see him in the role of a father was just a Bonus to this fun read.
Profile Image for Lauren ♡.
192 reviews35 followers
August 14, 2021
2.5 STARS ⭐️

Mafia King is a 14 chapter + prologue & epilogue (125 page) novella set in the Mafia Royals world. This novella picks up exactly right after Destructive King; therefore, I highly recommend you read this as part of series and not a standalone Anyways, this novella or perhaps this whole next-generation mafia series has not been hit for me. I wanted to love it but unfortunately I did not like this one very much.

Anywho ~

BRIEF STORY PLOT
↳ Tank DeLange (H) has been assigned one last assignment before he has to decide the family or his career with the FBI. However, the last assignment is Kartini "Tiny" Abandonato (h). The FBI wants information for what happened to a now dead FBI agent at Valerian's wedding. The family throws in even more of a predicament when they give orders to Tank to protect Tiny on vacation. Lines begin to further blur and Tank ultimately decides where his loyalty lies, that being with his true family - the mafia.

This novella contains:
Age gap 🔹 7 year age difference 🔹

Double agent x mafia princess pairing

Trigger warning: ⚠️ attempted rape ⚠️

Tank ♡ Tiny

Tank DeLange (H)orphan, half DeLange, works for both the Five Families & FBI, made man

Kartini Abandonato (h)Sergio & Val's daughter, related to all mafia bosses, rebellious, lost

⚪⁍ What I DID like ⁌⚪

Tank and Tiny had flirty banter always but remained in the 'safe zone' due to Tank's position of playing both sides. After what happened at Valerian's wedding, that flirty banter was gone and Tiny would act out for his attention which I understand due to the circumstance. Overall, I thought the banter between them was funny and kept me engaged in the read most of the time.

⚪⁍ What I DID NOT like ⁌⚪

Tiny would over-sexualize Tank A LOT then 0.5 seconds later say she hated him in the next for not protecting her. Her feelings were all over the place and I just did not connect with her as a character. I felt that she truly mistaken her feelings of lust for love. What I also did not like was the rushed I love you's and HEA. They went from strictly sexual tension to loving each other & engaged within a span of 3 short chapters. Yes, this is a novella but there was zero lead up to form this relationship... and that was rather disappointing.

Why did I rate it 2.5 stars?
Giana drama: I felt the drama with the unhinged FBI agent was added for shock value more than anything. It was predictable in some way as well. I overall did not find this drama interesting to read about in all honesty.

PLOTS THAT FELL FLAT:

(1) Tiny and Ash cousin relationship - Ash's harsh words was the catalyst that sent Tiny running away at the wedding. This was never brought up by the cousins again, rather it was left as the elephant in the room when these two were near each other. Once again, it is Ash not owning up for his mistakes... smh.



(2) Tank's feelings for Annie - It was hinted in Destructive King that Tank had a thing for her even though Ash had her heart. This plot was solved in a mere 2 sentence inner thought in this book. It was rather disappointing to see that it had a set up from the previous book but just ultimately did not flourish in the novella.

Typos & errors: I am not one to be fussy with errors but please RVD get a better proofreader...

Ex. - the waiter's name randomly changed from Marco to Marcus.

ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔹𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟: 2.5 stars = 1 star Tank and Tiny's relationship + 1 star my favs - Junior and Serena getting married + 0.5 star the crumbs for Izzy and Maksim

* * *

Mafia Royals Series
#0.5 Royal Bully3.5 stars
#1 Ruthless Princess5 stars
#2 Scandalous Prince2.5 stars
#3 Destructive King2 stars
#3.5 Mafia King2.5 stars
#4 Fallen DynastyTBR
#5 Broken CrownTBR
Profile Image for The Romantic Rush Blog.
1,913 reviews890 followers
April 28, 2021

The Mafia Royals series is fast becoming my favorite of RVD’s. The emotional turbulence, the dark and gritty violence, the complex and flawed characters, and this unbreakable and intense family bonded by both blood and honor. I just love this world she’s created- and I have long since been waiting to sink my teeth into Tank and Kartini’s story.

Tank in particular was so entrancing to me- a man with one foot in this unlawful mafia world, and one firmly planted out. But this family demands loyalty- it’s the one law they do live by, and Tank is ready to step across the line in the sand with one crucial task- protecting mafia princess Kartini. A task she doesn’t make easy, and further complicated by the next generation wedding trip.

Truth be told, Rachel’s writing is so immersive and so emotionally complex, I wasn’t sure if she could replicate the emotional fervor, angsty, and tensions with a shorter page count in a novella. Not because she’s not brilliant, but because these stories have unfolded like a fine wine- delicious upon first sip, but increasingly flavourly and complex with every passing sip. But she still captures the magic here- in a way that I think both fans of the series will enjoy but new fans will also find accessible. This is a great taste of the Royal mafia world and its inhabitants, their unique and engaging familial dynamic, and the bold and passionate writing style of RVD.

My only complaint is just that I love them so much, I wanted more. Kartini has so many nuances, and Tank is man that has been living in two worlds, so there is a lot to them. We get their essence here, a scorching chemistry and a strong emotional intimacy, and we get a great window into this world. Rachel, even in a novella, finds a way to so clearly articulate how these two are soul mates, destined to be the perfect match. And I just wanted to spend more time with them- know more of their story, dismantle their hearts (metaphorically of course) a bit more. A great indication of RVD”s character writing- how thirsty she makes me to spend even more time in their heads.

All in all, a beautiful edition of the Royal Mafia’s world, and now I’m even hungrier for the next book in the series!
Profile Image for The Romance Book Disciple (Samantha).
1,943 reviews336 followers
May 6, 2021

Mafia King continues the new generation mafia family. This time, we get Tank, who is an undercover FBI agent, and Kartini, the daughter of Sergio. Now, Sergio's story gutted me so I was hopeful his daughter would have it easier.

Tank has been straddling the line between the Feds and the Mafia and it has come time to decide which side he is on. While he was a little hurt by Annie picking Ash, he has always had a crush on Kartini, aka Tiny. His job is to be her bodyguard. We all know how THAT will turn out!

Kartini has been dealing with a traumatic event for a year, and it was great to see her finally open up to Tank. These two are great together and I hope we get more of them in future books. Mafia King is a stand alone if you are looking for a quick glimpse into the Mafia Royals series to see if you might enjoy it (I love it).

 

  POV: dual 1st
  Tears: no
  Trope: mafia, hate to love you, bodyguard
  Triggers:
  Series/Standalone: stand alone within an interconnected series
  Cliffhanger:
  HEA:




authors like M. Robinson, Kristen Proby, Tessa Bailey...then you will probably like Mafia King!


Mafia King
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mafia royals See full review on The Book Disciple
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,741 reviews1,322 followers
May 9, 2021
***AVAILABLE NOW***

4 Stars

Some violence and steam with the antics of the family, but these two characters just didn’t pull me in like the rest of the cousins.

I’m not sure why. Nothing specific I could name, but I just wasn’t enamored with these two the way I have been with the other books in the series.

If you love this series, you’ll love it. If you haven’t, start with book 1.

Audiobook review
-Not my favorite narrators. The emotion didn’t read authentic when the female narrator did make versus, and vice versa, it was just okay.
Profile Image for NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books}.
1,415 reviews85 followers
April 29, 2021
***3,5 "Trust no one!!!" stars***

OUT NOW



"A princess bows to no one... Except her king."

The truth is that I'm kind of obsessed with this series... I was waiting like crazy Tank's story with Katrini, but I didn't get what I was expecting for. I know that this was simply a small novel, but I needed something more... I wanted to see the foreplay firsthand and to understand things a little bit better... Though, it was a nice story, fast-paced that made me laugh in many points with all this craziness that these people are having!!! But if you are a fan of this series, you might understand my logic and my need for something more...

"Two weeks in hell. Two weeks with Satan's mistress. Two weeks left, and my fate with the mafia would be decided. I just hoped I survived the cursed princess."

Tank and Katrini weren't bad together, even though I didn't see them together before...
There was sparkle between them, even though they shouldn't have...
There were a little bit on each other's throat in the beginning, but soon they became an inferno ready to bust and burn everything on their way...
Unfortunately, I just needed more, because I have really loved Tank in the previous books and I was intrigued by him...

"I had to be vulnerable to possibly the only girl who could hurt me, who could stomp all over my heart with her stilettos and laugh while doing it."

This was a small novel in the mafia Royals world and I believe that it didn't do justice in the rest of the books... Still, i had a good time on the presence of this crazy bunch, full of stereotypes, but honestly, I love these characters and Rachel's weird humor... I just needed more of Tank and Katrini... In here, they didn't manage to show us the full depth of their souls and their love!!!
Just need the next book ASAP... I suppose will be for Maksim and Izzy??? Bring it on, Rachel!!!

"I'm not a knight in shining armor. I'm more villain, who's always pretended to be the hero... But now, I know who I am. Because of you."
"And who's that?"
"Yours."


**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**
Profile Image for Keri Loves Books.
1,243 reviews192 followers
April 6, 2021
A sexy novella that delivers another love story within the Mafia Royals series. It's a short read but packs a punch.

He's had one foot in the family and the other with the FBI. He always knew the time would come when he would have to choose a side. The time is now.

She was daddy's sweet little girl until one night changed everything. She feels tainted by what she was forced to do. Now she is living with the aftermath.

Together they will find their own peace and the HEA they deserve. Plus we get interaction with some of our favorite OG's and their blood thirsty offspring. This story brings you back to the family you love and always makes me want more. Looking forward to the next release in the series.
Profile Image for Meegz Reads.
1,446 reviews121 followers
April 28, 2021
*5 Stars*

ARC kindly received in exchange for an honest review.

Normally I don't do well with novella's, because, well, they're so short. But this one captured me from start to finish and I cannot wait for more in this series. RVD's Eagle Elite world has had me captivated from the moment I started it, and it always feels like coming home. For a series about the mafia, filled with violence and killing, RVD has created this family that still manage to have a lightness about them at times. They're fun and silly and I love reading about them. There are so many facets to The Families and I hope she never stops writing about them.

If you're familiar with the previous books, you'll know something has been going on with Kartini, and also that Tank is a bit of a mystery and has all sorts of things going on. The connection between these two really comes out in this novella, and I had a lot of fun reading this when they were teasing each other.

Finding out what really made Kartini change was really interesting and not what I expected. There was also a certain member of the family that I wanted to punch. Getting into the depths a bit more on both Tank and Kartini's sides was serious and intense, but there were plenty of fun moments in this one too.

I love this gang and I can't wait for more.

Blood In. No Out.

Review also on my blog - Mafia King by Rachel Van Dyken

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Profile Image for Pia Colon.
82 reviews8 followers
April 27, 2021
Rachel Van Dyken does it again with another stunning mafia novella. As with all of her novellas I was dying for more. But not dying like some of the people in the book 😬😳😬😳😬😳 thankfully. Tank and Kartinis story is beautiful and I loved every second! (Not that I’m biased because I loved the more Sergio in this one) I was totally surprised with the direction Mafia King took and it was not a bad surprise. I live for the back and fourth batter between all of the characters and the dis-FUN-ction in the family 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 Rachel you are a freaking queen! I hope you never stop writing because life will truly suck without your brain!!!! ❤️❤️❤️
April 30, 2021
Tank and Tiny omg they have shot to my top fave of the Mafia kids! I seriously want more, nope NEED MORE!

This story is the perfect small dose of the Mafia families that I love! Tiny is a fiery female but there’s a reason for that fire. She’s hiding a deep pain and as she tries to find her place she has built a wall so high and only Tank is strong enough to break down her defenses and heal her wounds!

The big issue is the good guys hiding in the dark might ruin their beginning before they can get started.
Profile Image for ✰  BJ's Book Blog ✰Janeane ✰.
2,841 reviews12 followers
April 6, 2021
Blood In, No Out.

If you have read the Mafia Royals series to date, you will know who Tank and Kartini are. If you haven't, well there is enough to get you through.

We know that there has been something going on with Kartini, and Tank, well, he's the man.

There is so much tension between them that damn, you could cut it with a butter knife. I love the banter and flirtation and sparks flying between them, and you just know thing are going to be hot hot hot between them.

It is often hard with a novella to capture my full attention, as things are so fast and fell like things are skimmed. However, I am fully engaged with the whole RVD Mafia world. so Mafia King was just the thing to fill the Abandonato-sized hole in my heart.

I thoroughly enjoyed Mafia King, and I look forward to more Mafia Royals in my life.


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Profile Image for Emma (emjbookshelf).
855 reviews19 followers
April 6, 2021
Another great addition to the Mafia Royals series.
Mafia King is a novella and it is about Tank and Kartini. Tank is an FBI agent who also protects the five families and he must decide who's side he is going to be on. Kartini hold secrets that no one else knows about, Will Tank be able to break down those walls to protect her and help her feel free again?

RVD is definitely the Queen of Mafia Romance and I honestly cant get enough of her books.
Profile Image for Live, Laugh, Love .
428 reviews16 followers
April 10, 2021
Blood In, No Out!

Tank's story has been anticipated for so long and it did NOT disappoint! I love the mafia world Rachel has created. I just can't get enough of them!
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,534 reviews162 followers
April 30, 2021
Hero 5⭐ Tank.
Heroine 5⭐Kartini.
Story 5⭐
Writing 5⭐
Steam 4⭐
Romance 5⭐
Angst 4⭐
Secondary Characters 5⭐
Drama 5⭐
Mystery 5⭐

Recommend - Yes.
Profile Image for Kristina.
123 reviews5 followers
April 27, 2021
OMGGGGGGG
I CANT WAIT!!!!

I also feel like I should something about the people who are rating the book 1 or 2 stars before it has even come out. Please don't, the book hasn't even been released. So I can't understand why you would rate it low.
Profile Image for Kim.
2,624 reviews164 followers
April 7, 2021
Bring on Tank and Tiny!

Tank is going to Hell. Well, he's already pretty much there. An undercover FBI agent straddling the line between his duty and the five mafia families. He has been living a double life and trying to live by at least his own rules and following the others that he can. He has already been watching out for a mafia princess who has now turned into a little rebel, and now has been charged with guarding her in a foreign country for two weeks. It will probably require him to finally choose his loyalty once and for all and it just might kill him.

Kartina Abandonato went from Daddy's sweet girl to a broken, guarded, rebellious she-devil in one night. She may be tiny, but she is also smart, sarcastic, tough, and challenging. She is troubled and has secrets, and has only pushed boundaries more and more in the past year. And Tank is her favorite to taunt and torture. But deep down she is lost and looking for an anchor, as well as some peace and acceptance.

These two are full of fire and barbs. She loves to exasperate him and he thrives on pushing her. But under it all she wants a knight in shining armor to at least want to protect and save her, even if she does not really need it. And he wants what he knows is not his to take. But there are plenty of secrets and hidden agendas still prevalent in the situation. And it looks like before the end of this vacation, some decision will be made by him or for him...one way or another. Hopefully, no one has to die...this time.

This can be read as a stand-alone, and is a bit lighter read than some of the others in this series. But it also brings back most of the important mafia crew, both the younger set and originals. There is always some more drama swirling in the background and I cannot wait to get more with Maksim, Izzy, and King.
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Profile Image for ReadingTilTheBreakOfDawn.
1,512 reviews75 followers
April 12, 2021
4.25 stars!! Mafia King is part of the Mafia Royals series by RVD, but can definitely be read as a standalone so you can figure out if this world is for you. I recently got caught up on this series, so reading this in order was perfect timing for me and just added to this whole world which I ABSOLUTELY LOVE!!

Tank is working for the Families, but he also works for the FBI. He's been toeing the line for the last couple of years and things are about to come to a head. He's been Kartini's bodyguard and these two just banter and play off one another like something else. But something changed with her almost a year ago and she just hasn't been the same.

Kartini Abandonato is a total daddy's girl. She may be Tiny, but she has spunk and she's been training with her dad Sergio since she was 5. Wouldn't expect anything less with this family, would you? But that training led to something that changed who she was when she was 17.

These two have chemistry, but they fight like cats and dogs. That's what makes them so exciting and like I want to get to know them better and see what they have together. They kind of come from different worlds. Or do they? Tank only requires loyalty, and it seems he has found it with the 5 families. Will the FBI prove him wrong or will something else come to a head?

He didn't want to tell me that we were all villains because who would you believe? The one with the badge, or the one with the gun pointed at her head?

I loved this fast paced nugget of a story and the taste you get of this world if you haven't been a part of it yet. Start here and dive in. It's sexy. It's fun. It's filled with banter and danger. It's the perfect in between story for fans of this world and a great place to start for new readers. It's filled with promise of what's to come. While I do love Tank and Tiny, I love the whole family and cannot wait for more.
Blood in. No out!
Profile Image for Angie Schexnaildre NOLA504nerds.
289 reviews8 followers
April 4, 2021
This is an honest review for an arc received.

“A Princess bows to no one. Except her king.”

Kartini Abandonato mafia princess and all around rebel wasn’t always rebellious. After one tragic event, everything changed. Trying to find her way has been a challenge. But one challenge she will never back down from is driving her bodyguard and secret crush Tank absolutely insane.

“And I’d die for you, yes, because you’re my job. But also because this world would be a very sad place without Satan’s mistress in it.”

Tank De Lange is an FBI agent and also a made man. Tacked to infiltrate the families, he will soon have to choose a side. Being Kartini aka Tiny’s bodyguard just may be the pen that signs his death warrant. When asked to find out her secrets, will he betray the family and the one person he swore to protect with his life?

“I love you, Tiny. I will always love you more than my life, more than my next breath—blood staining your hands or not. You’re mine.”

5 sexy stars! Rachel Van Dyken killed this novella in a way worthy of the Mafia. Betrayal, secrets, lust, love, sarcasm (at its finest) and of course blood shed, this book has it all. I love the chemistry between Tank and Tiny. Tiny grew as a character from the very start. Your usually suspect of characters make their appearance, but nothing can deny the attraction these two have towards each other. Now to patiently await the next book! Blood In. No Out!
Profile Image for Meryl Markowitz.
614 reviews5 followers
April 6, 2021
It all started with the trip to Mexico and Sergio telling Tank that he needed to be her " babysitter/bodyguard" Sergio tells Tank, " Tomorrow , ten am. The jet won't wait for you, and if you miss it, neither will my bullet...clear? Tank knows he basically has no choice in the matter.

Tini has changed a LOT in the past yea. Something has happened to her and she won't talk about it. She's acting out to feel ANYTHING, but it's just not happening. She is beyond pissed when she finds out that Tank is going to be watching her in Mexico.

There are a lot of choices that have to be made. Tank has to choose between the Family and the FBI, Tini has to decide if she is going to speak her truth. Tank and Tini have to decide if they are going to act upon the chemistry that they feel.

One of the best parts of the book is Maksim and King. Their comic relief is amazing and had me laughing out loud. I hope to see in in more books doing their stuff!

This is a novella, but you get a full story and you are satisfied about what is going on with the Family and how everyone relates to one another.

Thank you to Rachel Van Dyken for the advanced copy.

Profile Image for Emily Utsch.
424 reviews4 followers
April 5, 2021
Forbidden romance, mafia, trama in the past, having to pick sides... this book has it all. Along with some hot scenes! This book is too long to be a novella in my opinion, but too short to be a novel. But I love it! In a lot of novellas you dont get a whole storyline, you dont get connected to the characters. But in this book you do! I loved how Tank was there for her when she was ready. I loved how Tiny had real responses and reactions to having trama in her past. Your heartstrings will be pulled, but there are also moments of laughter.

This is not the first book in the series, or even the first series in this universe. But DO NOT let that scare you away. This can be read as a complete stand alone. You will be given everything you need to know. You will just know more about the characters if you have read the other books. BE WARNED if this is the first book you will read in this series you will immediately want to read the rest of the books!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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