Title: Sweet Temptation
Author: Cora Reilly
Publication Date: March 08, 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Add to: Goodreads / Amazon
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)

An Arranged Marriage Standalone Mafia Romance.

The first time Cassio met his fiancée, she called him ‘Sir’.

After losing his wife, Cassio is left to take care of two small children while trying to establish his rule over Philadelphia. Now he needs a mother for his children, and someone who can warm his bed at night.

But in a traditional world as his, choosing your wife is duty not pleasure.

Rules have to be followed. Traditions heeded.

That’s how he ends up with a woman—a girl barely of age. She might not be what he and his children need, but she’s wicked lovely and a sweet temptation he can’t resist.

Giulia always knew she’d marry a man her father chose for her. Only she never expected to be given to someone much older.

Suddenly she’s supposed to be a mother to two small children when she hasn’t even held a baby in her life.

Giulia quickly realizes that Cassio isn’t interested in a relationship on equal footing. Her mother always warned her that men of power like Cassio don’t tolerate insolence; yet, tired of being treated as a nanny and clueless child-bride, Giulia decides to fight for her vision of a happy family.

Heads up to anyone who's about to read this: this book has an age-gap trope so if you're not into that, just letting you know in advance that this book has it.

I've been waiting for this Sweet Temptation ever since I found out Giulia and Cassio were getting their own book. These characters have appeared in Cora's The Camorra Chronicles (I can't be sure if Cassio appeared in Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles, or at least mentioned) and if you've been reading some of my Top Ten Tuesday posts, you can see I've mentioned TCC in some of them. This is not part of either series. It can be read as a standalone.

Giulia and Cassio, them being a couple and as individuals, have got to be two of Cora's best characters. I did NOT expect this book to be soft at all considering this is part of her Mafia Romance books. There were still some parts where you could say that it's "dark" but yeah, out of all the books I've read from Cora, this is definitely the softest one. AND I DON'T MIND. I loved it actually. It was nice to get a glimpse of what their marriage was from their POVs because they seemed to be perfect for each other from the way I perceived them in TCC through Kiara's POV (Twisted Emotions & Twisted Bonds' female lead). I loved reading a big and scary man (he's Underboss after all) melt whenever he's interacting with his kids, and also when he puts his defenses down for his sunshine of a partner. Giulia's such a precious bean and a ray of sunshine, I love her so much.

I love them all but best character award goes to LouLou the dog. She's such a spotlight taker. It was so amusing to read that she got Cassio going from tolerating her to finally accepting her existence in their family. Seriously, a darling floof.

This book wrapped up perfectly for me but at the same time I want more, especially when it comes to the part regarding Cassio and his kids, especially Daniele. I'm curious if they'll be part of Cora's next and upcoming project which is Sins of the Fathers. It's the second generation of characters aka the kids of the BIBMC and TCC characters. There are some things I need answers to but I can wait. And to wrap this up, this one was worth the wait.