Sam Mariano

Vince Morelli. The closest I ever wanted to get to him was several rows away in English class. We'd never spoken, but of course I heard the stories about his family. I know they're dangerous. I know he's dangerous. Vince never had a reason to notice me, anyway-until I inadvertently witnessed his first mob hit. His family doesn't believe in leaving witnesses alive, but Vince seems different. He knows the best thing he can do for me is stay away, but something keeps drawing us together. Despite knowing the risks of getting mixed up with him, I can't resist. Only problem is, Vince is a package deal-you don't get him without getting swept up in his family's dark games. Now entangled with a notorious Chicago crime family, will my life ever be mine again?

Accidental Witness (Morelli Family, #1)

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️

Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂

Accidental Witness is the first book in the "Morelli Family" and this is a series that you need to be committed to. This is a series that I have been itching to read ever since I read my first Sam Mariano, and yeah I went full speed ahead on this one and yeah this was so so intense and so different than anything I expected if I am being honest. But the author definitely worked her magic for me on this one. Definitely thrilling and kept me on my toes all the way throughout. I absolutely fell hard for this family and I am so intrigued to see what will happen in future books for Mateo, Vince and Mia. (there are like four books in the later half of the series I think featuring them together so yeah I am highly curious).

My mom always told me not to fall into the "bad boy" trap.

Is cousin to one of the most powerful mafia family leaders, he feels caught in a trap that he feels closed in on. He never expected to fall in love with the forbidden fruit, but now that he has, he will do anything to protect her.

Mia, is sweet and young and hopeful. She believes in the good in people, even the worst kinds. She has a trusting nature that will lead her down a road she won't expect.

When our heroine, Mia, is the witness to a crime of the murder of their next door neighbors, who also happened to be selling drugs, she knows that Vince saw her and that they go to school together and she knows that she is in deep trouble and it will take a miracle to survive. The Morelli's are famous for the power that they hold over the city. But Vince is unlike anything she has ever known or could even predict. Because while he is a Morelli, he doesn't want to be one and still has a heart of gold and is determined to protect Mia. But his cousin is a man you don't cross, and in order to prove their worth, it might tear Vince and Mia apart in the process...

Just from the title alone, I knew that I would go on a wild ride and Sam Mariano definitely delivered on that score. This was so so addictive. There is something about her writing, that instantly pulls me in and I was so caught in this web of plots, stalking, and a power struggle that I found so intriguing. Vince was such a fabulous hero. I loved his vulnerabilities and his goodness in living in a family he wishes he wasn't a part of and feels more of a pawn than a human being. Mia brings something more to his life, hope for the first time. Mia is such a solid heroine. I loved her sweet nature, how she is with her siblings, and her determination to fight for her love no matter what it costs her. I thought I knew what to expect going into this one, but yeah, even this author, really threw me for one here. I was so torn over this family, but this whole love triangle between these three I didn't expect but you know I have been looking for something wild and crazy and this definitely delivered in all aspects.

If you are a fan of mafia romance, or even dark thrillers, you might really love this one. But keep in mind that you will need to be invested in the whole series to fully get the full experience of it. I adored this one, and the whole sense of forbidden feels totally delivered all the way for me.

The whole love triangle and there is some non consent scenes I wasn't prepared for. I think if I had known ahead of time, I would have enjoyed it better.

Accidental Witness is a intense, keeps you on the edge, mafia romance that will deliver some surprises and a love worth seeing it through for...

cause even if he didn't wanted this life for himself, he wanted it even less for Mia. He tries to keep her in the dark, and away from the most dangerous, cunning Morelli man, his boss and cousin - Mateo Morelli.

"You're young, fragile; I never thought you'd hold up under the pressure. I had to trap you. I had to ruin your life, betray you - I had to make you despise me, make you want to see me behind bars more than you wanted anything."

"Well, see, Vince told me his version of events in the car. So this really works both ways - if you lie to me, you die. If he lied to me and you tell the truth, you die. Either way, we all learn not to lie to me."

Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Young Adult, Dark Romance, Romantic Suspense

Character Types: Mafia, High School Student

Themes: In Danger, Stalking, Non Consent Scenes

Lover of Romance 

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨


First Impressions
Accidental Witness is the first book in the "Morelli Family" and this is a series that you need to be committed to. This is a series that I have been itching to read ever since I read my first Sam Mariano, and yeah I went full speed ahead on this one and yeah this was so so intense and so different than anything I expected if I am being honest. But the author definitely worked her magic for me on this one. Definitely thrilling and kept me on my toes all the way throughout. I absolutely fell hard for this family and I am so intrigued to see what will happen in future books for Mateo, Vince and Mia. (there are like four books in the later half of the series I think featuring them together so yeah I am highly curious).

First Line
My mom always told me not to fall into the "bad boy" trap.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Vince
Is cousin to one of the most powerful mafia family leaders, he feels caught in a trap that he feels closed in on. He never expected to fall in love with the forbidden fruit, but now that he has, he will do anything to protect her.

The Heroine: Mia
Mia, is sweet and young and hopeful. She believes in the good in people, even the worst kinds. She has a trusting nature that will lead her down a road she won't expect.

Summary
When our heroine, Mia, is the witness to a crime of the murder of their next door neighbors, who also happened to be selling drugs, she knows that Vince saw her and that they go to school together and she knows that she is in deep trouble and it will take a miracle to survive. The Morelli's are famous for the power that they hold over the city. But Vince is unlike anything she has ever known or could even predict. Because while he is a Morelli, he doesn't want to be one and still has a heart of gold and is determined to protect Mia. But his cousin is a man you don't cross, and in order to prove their worth, it might tear Vince and Mia apart in the process...

What I Loved
Just from the title alone, I knew that I would go on a wild ride and Sam Mariano definitely delivered on that score. This was so so addictive. There is something about her writing, that instantly pulls me in and I was so caught in this web of plots, stalking, and a power struggle that I found so intriguing. Vince was such a fabulous hero. I loved his vulnerabilities and his goodness in living in a family he wishes he wasn't a part of and feels more of a pawn than a human being. Mia brings something more to his life, hope for the first time. Mia is such a solid heroine. I loved her sweet nature, how she is with her siblings, and her determination to fight for her love no matter what it costs her. I thought I knew what to expect going into this one, but yeah, even this author, really threw me for one here. I was so torn over this family, but this whole love triangle between these three I didn't expect but you know I have been looking for something wild and crazy and this definitely delivered in all aspects.

If you are a fan of mafia romance, or even dark thrillers, you might really love this one. But keep in mind that you will need to be invested in the whole series to fully get the full experience of it. I adored this one, and the whole sense of forbidden feels totally delivered all the way for me.

What I Struggled With
The whole love triangle and there is some non consent scenes I wasn't prepared for. I think if I had known ahead of time, I would have enjoyed it better.

Overall View
Accidental Witness is a intense, keeps you on the edge, mafia romance that will deliver some surprises and a love worth seeing it through for...

Favorite Quote(s)
cause even if he didn't wanted this life for himself, he wanted it even less for Mia. He tries to keep her in the dark, and away from the most dangerous, cunning Morelli man, his boss and cousin - Mateo Morelli.

"You're young, fragile; I never thought you'd hold up under the pressure. I had to trap you. I had to ruin your life, betray you - I had to make you despise me, make you want to see me behind bars more than you wanted anything."

"Well, see, Vince told me his version of events in the car. So this really works both ways - if you lie to me, you die. If he lied to me and you tell the truth, you die. Either way, we all learn not to lie to me."

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Young Adult, Dark Romance, Romantic Suspense
Character Types: Mafia, High School Student
Themes: In Danger, Stalking, Non Consent Scenes
Tropes: Love Triangle

Book Perspective
Multiple POV's

Recommendation For Reading Order
YES!!! Please READ this series in order.

Steam/Spice Explanations

Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.

Accidental Witness (Morelli Family, #1)

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