Bound by Honor | Cora Reilly | Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #1

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Rating - 5 / 5

My Review :

Bound by Honor is my first read from Cora Reilly's Mafia world. This book is filled with romance set against the backdrop of the dark Mafia life. The book's cover, title, and blurb fit in with the storyline.

The marriage of Luca and Aria was arranged by their father to maintain peace among the Chicago and New York Famiglia. The forced arrangement with no love or trust leads to a fatal betrayal that may destroy everything or establish a new relationship.

Aria is too innocent to belong in the mob world. She has a kind heart but is more mature, understands every rule in their world, and is willing to obey them. I admire the sibling bond Aria shares, and she practically raised them in a way. She has the option of marrying a killer or dying or fleeing her marriage, but she chooses to protect her sisters and stay with them, which I believe makes her braver. I'm not a big fan of stories about naïve girls, but this one makes me think about things differently and makes me appreciate Aria.

Luca is the future Capo and the man who everyone fears. Luca is a dominating alpha male who doesn't trust anyone and believes only in loyalty. Luca's relationship with his brother Matteo was remarkable, as was the bond he shared with Romero. Being a made man at a young age, being taught values by his father, and without any female presence in his life, the way he respects Aria's wish and does not touch her makes him likable for me.

Luca and Aria's slow development in their intimate relationship is too perfect. However, the major twist in the story doesn't have more space, and Aria's forgiveness comes too easily and quickly. I expected it to be a slow process and perhaps a good and extensive description of the event. It somehow makes the many previous events worthless. I wanted there to be fewer scenes of intimate moments but more explanations of those events. Even though I understand that Aria grew up accepting infidelity from other women in her male society. It pleases me that she raises her displeasure at the deception.

The theme of this book is dark and set in the world of the Italian Mafia, with violent scenes. This book also represents the male-dominated society's rules and their beliefs and behaviors toward women.

Reilly impressed me with the style she built her mafia worlds, dropping little puzzle pieces that can only be solved by reading the entire novels in the series and providing me with great stories for the future book. This book's writing style is too straightforward. Still, it held my interest till the very last page of this book. Bound by Honor is a pure romance book with few vague fight scenes, dark mob worlds, and harsh words. This book has a happy and open ending. I reread this book several times and truly enjoyed it each time.

Recommendation

• If you like to read only romance books that have some part of the Mafia, go for it.
• Only those over the age of eighteen can read it.
• If you are comfortable reading books with strong words, sex, and violent scenes, this is the book for you.
• If you are more of a feminist when reading the book, it may not go with your taste because it belongs to a male-dominated society.
• Perfect for every beginner who is searching for the same books.
• The book may have a Mafia presence, but there isn't any thrill, suspense but just certain twists that have to be in every romance book.

Best Line of Bound by Honor

I’ll go where you go no matter how dark the path. 

Wedding wasn’t about love or trust or choice. It was about duty and honor, about doing what was expected.  

I fell in love with you. I fought it. It’s the first battle I didn’t mind losing. 

Love is something girls hope for when they don't know better, something women long for when they lie awake at night, and something they'll only ever get from their children. Men don't have time for such notions. 

This was my world and Luca was my man, and I would go this path with him until the bitter end. 

Women in our world belonged to their husband. They were his property to deal with however he pleased.