Ruthless Betrayal (Gallo Famiglia 2)by Brooke Summers-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 14, 2023

All I’ve ever wanted is to be loved. He’s determined to make me suffer.

Growing up within the depths of the Bratva organization, I’ve only felt violence and brutality.

Surviving this life I’ve been dealt is my only goal.

Marrying the underboss of the Italian Mafia was supposed to be my lifeline.

But Niccolo Caruso is only out for one thing—revenge.

Being a husband was never on his agenda.

When the Bratva comes calling, everything around me shatters.

My lifeline cut short.

Sometimes love isn’t enough.

Can this dangerous Mafia man find a way to let go of his grief and protect me?

•••••

REVIEW:RUTHLESS BETRAYAL is the second instalment in Brooke Summers’ contemporary, adult GALLO FAMIGLIA dark, erotic, Mafia romance series set in the author’s MADE series, with characters introduced in the author’s FURY VIPERS MC series. This is Niccolo Caruso, and Inessa Koskava’s story line. RUTHLESS BETRAYAL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Niccolo and Inessa) RUTHLESS BETRAYAL spans several years focusing on the abuse and betrayal of our story line heroine. At three days old, Inessa Koskava was handed over to the Russian Bratva for protection payment but at four years of age, her life would change with the blink of an eye. Years of abuse at the hands of Bratva Pakhan Aleksei Belyaev, and his second in command Sergei Turgenev left Inessa a shell; a broken child who would be left alone by someone she trusted, left alone to die. Her would-be rescuer’s emotional abuse of a then eighteen year old Inessa would continue for months, abuse meant to punish for sins of the past. Enter Niccolo Caruso, underboss of the Italian Mafia, and the man who would perpetuate the ongoing abuse of our story line heroine. What ensues is the building but acrimonious and questionable relationship between Niccolo and Inessa, and the potential fall-out as Inessa struggles to move on from the past with issues of trust that grow deeper with every betrayal.

The world building focuses on the abuse perpetrated against our story line heroine; her rescue and recovery only to be emotionally abused at every turn; from the proverbial frying pan into the fryer, Inessa’s inability to trust in the face of ongoing emotional abuse and betrayal is heart breaking and painful. The one light in her life is the only reason she is willing to carry on.

The relationship between Inessa and Niccolo is questionable: emotionally abusive, threateningly traumatic directed at a young woman who has suffered at the hands of Bratva since the age of four. Used and abused, Inessa is unable to escape fearing for the life of someone she loves, and in doing so, is blamed for the perpetuation of the inflicted atrocities . Niccolo Caruso’s ‘rescue’ is not out of sympathy or love, but a need for revenge in the face of perceived betrayal against someone he loved. As the story line progresses, the reality of what happened barely registers with our dark story line hero but the true meaning of fear comes with the realization of Inessa’s continued pain. The $ex scenes between Niccolo and Inessa are passionate but intense.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters many of whom are controversial and problematic. We are reintroduced to Elio and Teagan (Ruthless Arrangement 1)-Teagan is empathetic having suffered a similar fate as our story line heroine: Teagan’s friend Portia; Jade and Rocco (Explosive Union/Made Series 7), Rocco’s brother Dario The requisite evil has many faces. Portia and Dario’s story is next.

RUTHLESS BETRAYAL is a dark story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, abuse and heart break, forgiveness and recovery. The premise is gritty, emotional, haunting and raw; the characters are broken, struggling yet powerful and strong; the romance struggles in the face of ongoing issues of trust, betrayal and pain.

Again, you have been warned about the triggers-they are numerous and graphic.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one RUTHLESS ARRANGEMENT

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

USA Today Bestselling Author Brooke Summers is a Mafia Romance author and is best known for her Made Series.

Brooke was born and raised in South London.   She lives with her daughter and hubby. Brooke has been an avid reader for many years.She’s a huge fan of Colleen Hoover and Kristen Ashley.

Brooke has been dreaming of writing for such a long time. When she was little, she would make up stories just for fun. Seems as though she was destined to become an author.

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