ABOUT THE BOOK

One last heist. One last gamble.

Once upon a time…
I’m a woman on the run. A con artist, scamming my way into the rich for my livelihood and my Boss, Ghaffar’s. I set my eyes on one of the most popular casinos in the city.

The Moretti Casino.

The problem is that the owners are two notorious mafia members of one of the most dangerous Families of New York. I slip in, posing as a mafia princess, but then a pair of piercing blue eyes catches me red-handed. The tables have turned… I’m no princess, I’m a thief and he’s the mafia prince.

Romeo Moretti.

I’m given two choices: die or do his bidding.

He has a plan for me. Three wishes he wants from me. And the last wish is… he wants me to rob a rival. I just hope I don’t gamble my heart away to him in the process.

Welcome to New York’s Underworld.

Loosely based on the fairytale Aladdin.

MY REVIEW

I have devoured Beena Khan’s books since her debut novel The Name of Red. Her extremely messed up and addictive characters surviving in their sick and twisted volatile worlds is nothing short of spectacular. Roman and Ayla’s story is no exception as two criminals come face to face with their own undoing.

I couldn’t wait for Romeo’s story after the whole fucked up mess he got himself into with his brother Don Salvi Moretti and the broken and betrayed Ehva Rossi (see The Blue-eyed Devil and The Fallen Angel). Romeo is the total opposite of the smiling and dapper Don, choosing to be broody and unkempt instead. Then along comes a little thief who not only wants his money, but his dead heart too.

Alya Lord lives in a cage. Since the age of 10, a stranger called Ghaffar “G” found her and raised her to be a criminal. G’s successful bank heists are talked about around the world. But his crazy decision to steal from a casino owned by the Moretti brothers is a death wish and G’s little thief is about to learn who the real criminals are.

My heart broke for Alya as she realizes everything she knows is a lie and G is not the man she thought she knew. She hates robbing people and only wants to get out of the business and move on with her life. Alya is a strong sassy thing with her brutally honest impertinence to the Don’s Second in Command who wouldn’t hesitate to kill her, but he doesn’t. Instead, Romeo shows her a part of himself he’s never shown anyone, and then she betrays him. A feeling not unknown to him. The verbal sparring and the hot sex scenes between Romeo and Alya are exciting and satisfying. It’s rewarding to watch Romeo slowly realize Alya’s situation and sets her free giving her a choice (something she never had with G) to control her own life and decide whether to stay or not. It’s a very brave thing on Romeo’s part because he wants to protect her and to keep her forever. I also enjoy the way Alya openly expresses her feelings for him as he battles with his own feelings for her. A Princess and a Prince. A thief and a killer. A criminal and a criminal. A love that knows no bounds.

I love Romeo’s sweet side with his niece Ranya. His relationship with his brother is affectionate and teasing and his relationship with his sister-in-law Ehva is strained and I like how the author slowly tries to mend those fences. The mysterious G is an enigma with his nightmares and his murderous rages which are never directed at Alya. With her, he is selfish and controlling. Does he truly love her? 

Finding Alya’s family was something that wasn’t addressed and I hope Ms. Khan adds that update to her next novel as an epilogue. A lovely addition she adds to her novels.

Dark romance is one of my favorite genres and Beena Khan writes the hell out of them. Her characters are mysterious and unpredictable and her plots are full of twists and turns. This book can be read as a standalone, but to get the true feel of the Moretti’s pick up the series. You won’t regret it.

Thank you once again to Ms. Khan for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Beena Khan is a storyteller in her twenties residing in NYC where she brings dark fairytales and myths to life. She writes edgy mafia crime noir, romance thrillers, new adult, women’s fiction, and contemporary fiction that gives you a book hangover. Her books are painful, messy, dangerous, and raw. She has a Master’s Degree in Psychology and a minor in Arabic studies. 

Her women’s fiction and contemporary books is where you will find flawed gentlemen. Her darker books is where you will find morally gray anti-heroes and villains.

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