Somme Sketcher

*PART ONE OF A DUET*

No good ever comes from a red-head in a stolen dress with her worldly possessions at her feet.

I should have known she was trouble when smoke and sin followed her into my bar and she challenged me to a game.

She may have won my watch, but she started a war.

As she slipped my Breitling off my wrist and onto her own, she gleefully announced she was the luckiest girl in the world.

Yeah, lucky to everyone but me.

Because the moment her muddy boots stomped down the stairs and up my spine, my empire started to crumble.

My cashmere charm is wrinkling.

My gentlemanly facade is cracking.

My enemies are closing in.

Maybe the gypsy was right:

The Queen of Hearts will drag me down to hell.

At least it’s wonderfully warm among the flames.

DARK MAFIA ROMANCE - ENEMIES TO LOVERS - AGE GAP - SLOW BURN

***

SOMME’S NOTES:

Sinners Condemned is part one of a duet, and because of this, it ends on a cliffhanger. Rafe & Penny’s story continues in Sinners Consumed, which will be out September 7.

For a better reading experience, please read Sinners Anonymous before reading Sinners Condemned.

You should know that I write dark romance, and my stories–including this one–aren’t for the faint of heart. They contain several triggers, so aren’t suitable for everyone.

Sinners Anonymous Book 2

Sinners Condemned

Stranded 

Women don't fall in love, they fall in traps

"Just because I'm a gentleman, Penelope, doesnt always mean I'm a gentle man."

"It feels like your heart is walking outside your body. My heart now wears Armani and has a Glock for every day of the week"

I am in love with descriptions like these; just this short sentence and yet it paints a whole picture in my mind. So finely chosen.

Leonie

Unlike the street above, this bar doesn’t scream money; it whispers wealth.

I mean, she's got a point there. 🤷‍♀️

Marriage is a crazy gamble when you think about it. You’re betting half of everything you own that you’ll stay with that person for the rest of your life. How can anyone be so sure?

I choose another mouthful of gooey goodness over pointing out the obvious. Chocolate tastes better than the truth. Hell, sometimes rat poison tastes better than the truth.

“But you know what he won’t see coming?” 

We're not impartial to thick thighs. We want thighs to crush the soul of a thousand men. Come at me. 

But I don’t give a flying fuck, because I like how I look. Well, I’m impartial about it, at least. Worrying about the little pouch of fat that hangs over the waistband of my panties has never paid my bills. Obsessing over the fact that my thighs rub together has never given me a winning Blackjack hand.

And being judgmental about other women’s bodies has never made mine miraculously perfect, either.

Being a witness to other people's obvious love is a double-edged sword. 

Why the fuck am I grinning like an idiot? But then my amusement twists into something resembling jealousy and I don’t even know why.

Levi-Mae 

‘There’s skill, and there are odds. That’s it. Luck isn’t for the optimistic; it’s for the lazy and the desperate.’

“The Queen of Hearts is detrimental. You could have all the success in the world, but she’ll bring you to your knees.” 

‘He exists in flashes of sharp tailoring and charming smiles.‘

‘we were always destined to be worlds apart.’

‘Raphael Visconti is a picture of polished perfection. And something about that...well, it makes me feel out-of- sorts.’

“It feels like your heart is walking outside of your body.” Her gaze finds Angelo’s again, and I watch in fascination as a pink flush creeps from underneath her necklace. “My heart now wears Armani and has a Glock for every day of the week.”

‘being judgmental about other women’s bodies has never made mine miraculously perfect, either.’

“Women don’t fall in love; they fall into traps.”

‘How am I meant to be good when I’m obsessed with something so bad?’

‘If Angelo is the rough outline and Raphael is the clean, final portrait, Gabriel is the demon that lives in the artist’s nightmares.’

Now this one I liked more than the first. And I think that’s because if the characters. Especially Penny, she was so much fun to read about. But the romance between these two was so much fun. Seeing the running plot from book 1 carry over to this one was nice to see. The only thing I will say is that this could have just been one book and not two but that’s just me. 

Priscilla Stanfield

4.25/5⭐️ • 2.5/5🌶️

Now this one I liked more than the first. And I think that’s because if the characters. Especially Penny, she was so much fun to read about. But the romance between these two was so much fun. Seeing the running plot from book 1 carry over to this one was nice to see. The only thing I will say is that this could have just been one book and not two but that’s just me. 

oh my god the TENSION !!!!!! this man is truly at another level 

rafe and penny are the perfect enemies to lovers i cant wait to see what happens in the second book of their duet

jenna

oh my god the TENSION !!!!!! this man is truly at another level 

rafe and penny are the perfect enemies to lovers i cant wait to see what happens in the second book of their duet

aleksandra

4/5

I surprisingly really enjoyed reading it, despite the fact that I have a felling that The Made series was kind of an inspiration for the author. Let’s be honest here nothing, nothing will beat Made, but this series is heading in the right direction with this book. As the first one was terrible. Comparing the second book to the first book you just have to admit that this one was better. I already can say that, RafePenny> AngeloRory, but also I have a feeling that GabeWren > RafePenny> AngeloRory, if you get it you have a taste. 

If you like reading about the hotheaded heroine and the obsessed hero, go and read it. The banter between Rafe and Penny was literally perfect. 


  
    "I see Raphael’s irritated gaze fall to the small puddle I’ve created. “These seats are Nappa leather.” 
“And my sweater is cotton.” 
“What?”
“Thought we were naming fabrics no one gives a shit about.”
  


I wish there was more of their teasing because it was too good. I love their games, the car scene was freaking hot, like really freaking hot.


  
    "Raphael looks up at me through dark lashes. “Take it off.” 
“Costs extra.”
[...]
I realize it’s a Black Amex. My eyes clash with Raphael’s. “Pin is four, eight, four, two,” he says quietly.
He locks his fingers behind his head and leans back against the headrest. His gaze flashes like a warning sign. “Now, take it off.”
  


The rest is history. Most importantly, Rafe being obsessed with Penny’s thighs was- I can’t even describe it, just 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ 

Finally, there was some Gabe and Wren moments which give me more will to live. Can’t wait to read their books. They are getting a duet too.

Favour Amed

Sidney Schaffner

Honestly. Better than the first. Funnier. Still not that great.

garnet

Nialani Thompson

This book was really really good. I absolutely looooove Rafe!! He’s so hot and just everything you could want. Penny is one of my favorite fmc’s. She’s such a spitfire and I love how she dishes it- possibly even harder- back when she gets it. I didn’t even realize it was over until it finished! I’m obsessed I can’t wait for the rest of the series!!!

Anna Smith

Fave book in series. Raf and Penny are actually my favorite couple of all time. Raf gets the tiniest bit annoying at the end, but it’s like for 5 mins so I forgive.

Tiana holt

Ana Clara Moreno

"The Queen of Hearts is detrimental. You could have all the success in the world, but she'll bring you to your knees."

Sherany

So good! I loved Rafe and Penny. My only critique is that sometimes the sex parts just didn’t fit. Like 0 to 100 in a way that didn’t always make sense

Chloe Drewett

Faith Kitowski

i literally can’t with them. the tension, SUPERB. they push each other’s buttons so well and i love it

PENNY AND RAFE wow those are some people with baggage. I loved hearing from both of them, their past and the present. Rafe took his past and changed it into something entirely different than what his brother did in the first book. The slow burn was just right. I also really love interconnected books and seeing some Rory/Angelo sap 😭 love love 

grayson gruber

Loulou

Oh my! Definitely my favorite read of this month!
It was so good. The tension between Raphael and Penelope was just *chef's kiss* 
The slow burn, the banter, the spicy, the dual POV. 
I finished it in one sitting and can't wait to start the next book

Penny and Rafe are my favourite though❤️

theellegirl

This entire series has been amazing.

Penny and Rafe are my favourite though❤️



sienna

Amelia 

I enjoyed this way more than the first one of the series. Penny and Rafe are EVERYTHING and I need to read there next book instantly !

Also I loved all of the bets and games between them and Penny was a bad bitch!

Arielle Anderson

Mafia men >>>

Touch her and you die men>>>

Rafe & Penny have CHEMISTRY. This is technically books 2 & 3 in the series as a duet, but as someone that started at two and then read three I felt like this duet provides enough backstory to be read on their own. 

One of my favorite quotes in book 2 “At first, I think it’s another playing card, but when I pull it out, I realize it’s a Black Amex. My eyes clash with Raphael’s. “Pin is four, eight, four, two,” he says quietly. He locks his fingers behind his head and leans back against the headrest. His gaze flashes like a warning sign. “Now, take it off.”” 🥵

Corey’s Books

Sinners Condemned & Sinners Consumed 

4.5⭐️

Rafe & Penny have CHEMISTRY. This is technically books 2 & 3 in the series as a duet, but as someone that started at two and then read three I felt like this duet provides enough backstory to be read on their own. 

- mafia romance

- “enemies” with benefits

One of my favorite quotes in book 2 “At first, I think it’s another playing card, but when I pull it out, I realize it’s a Black Amex. My eyes clash with Raphael’s. “Pin is four, eight, four, two,” he says quietly. He locks his fingers behind his head and leans back against the headrest. His gaze flashes like a warning sign. “Now, take it off.”” 🥵

love!! not as exciting as book 1 of this series however the last chapter foreshadows what’s to come in book 3 and i’m very excited for all the action to come! 

this book was just to get to know the main characters and their backgrounds and the beginning of penelope and raffaele’s love story. 

even though this isn’t angelo or rory’s story i still loved reading about them - they truly have my heart. ALSO so obsessed with gabe!!! i cannot wait for his books! 

excited to dive into book 3 tomorrow with exciting family mafia war!! 

jules hill

love!! not as exciting as book 1 of this series however the last chapter foreshadows what’s to come in book 3 and i’m very excited for all the action to come! 

this book was just to get to know the main characters and their backgrounds and the beginning of penelope and raffaele’s love story. 

even though this isn’t angelo or rory’s story i still loved reading about them - they truly have my heart. ALSO so obsessed with gabe!!! i cannot wait for his books! 

excited to dive into book 3 tomorrow with exciting family mafia war!! 

OMFG i loved absolutely everything in this book!!!! the plot, the characters, the humour, the TENSION 

First of all, i LOVED the fact we saw so much of Rory and Angelo, it made me love both of them even more then i already did. As well as all the other characters as well, i’m a sucker for found family as subplot. All the dialogue was also SO funny. I was laughing majority of this book . 

Penny, was the funniest little swindler ever, i was obsessed with her and her quick replies and shit talking also her inner thoughts were SO funny!. She really had Rafe in a CHOKEHOLD!

Rafe, he’s HOT i can feel it, the sexual tension between him and penny is astronomical. He’s so unnecessarily funny, like he’d put himself in ‘situations’  with penny and fully go on a little self rant in his brain as soon as he does. His inner monologue is also super funny. 

Waiting to see what he does in the next book ….

Mae Morton

OMFG i loved absolutely everything in this book!!!! the plot, the characters, the humour, the TENSION 

First of all, i LOVED the fact we saw so much of Rory and Angelo, it made me love both of them even more then i already did. As well as all the other characters as well, i’m a sucker for found family as subplot. All the dialogue was also SO funny. I was laughing majority of this book . 

Penny, was the funniest little swindler ever, i was obsessed with her and her quick replies and shit talking also her inner thoughts were SO funny!. She really had Rafe in a CHOKEHOLD!

Rafe, he’s HOT i can feel it, the sexual tension between him and penny is astronomical. He’s so unnecessarily funny, like he’d put himself in ‘situations’  with penny and fully go on a little self rant in his brain as soon as he does. His inner monologue is also super funny. 

Waiting to see what he does in the next book ….

 

꙳⸌♡⸍꙳

5/5 stars. Can't help it, don't want to help it either. Initially i was feeling a little hesitant to rate this 5 stars, but I'm not going to deny a book its proper rating just because of the genre it belongs to. 

This book had me bombarding Stephanie with updates the likes of "screaming in my pillow", "UGH these two", "the tension 

I already enjoyed Sinners Annonymous so much, but I felt like i loved Rafe and Penny even more. She's a proper badass, makes him eat his words over and over again, makes him beg, is always up for the challenge that is their banter and I could rarely guess who would walk out of a confrontation having the upper hand. And Rafe? That man is pure fire. He likes to uphold that ice-cold facade, but don't be fooled, there's a devil inside and he's breaking loose. 

That being sad, this is a slowburn if I've ever read one of the dark mafia genre. If you need story to progress faster, this might not be your favourite read. Also, if you value the fast progression of the plot over the slow developement between two characters. It's not too spicy, but the scenes there are? Ooof! 

I'd definitely recommend reading Sinners Anonymous before this. 

Can I just say how much I loved this, once more? Thank you. Now I'm done. 

Now to wait another two days for the second book in the duet like the amateur I am for not checking the publication date earlier. 

5/5 stars. Can't help it, don't want to help it either. Initially i was feeling a little hesitant to rate this 5 stars, but I'm not going to deny a book its proper rating just because of the genre it belongs to. 

This book had me bombarding Stephanie with updates the likes of "screaming in my pillow", "UGH these two", "the tension chef's kiss" etc. so ... there's that. 

I already enjoyed Sinners Annonymous so much, but I felt like i loved Rafe and Penny even more. She's a proper badass, makes him eat his words over and over again, makes him beg, is always up for the challenge that is their banter and I could rarely guess who would walk out of a confrontation having the upper hand. And Rafe? That man is pure fire. He likes to uphold that ice-cold facade, but don't be fooled, there's a devil inside and he's breaking loose. 

That being sad, this is a slowburn if I've ever read one of the dark mafia genre. If you need story to progress faster, this might not be your favourite read. Also, if you value the fast progression of the plot over the slow developement between two characters. It's not too spicy, but the scenes there are? Ooof! 

I'd definitely recommend reading Sinners Anonymous before this. 

Can I just say how much I loved this, once more? Thank you. Now I'm done. 

Now to wait another two days for the second book in the duet like the amateur I am for not checking the publication date earlier. 

Sinners Condemned Sinners Anonymous Book 2