I am so happy to be back in Saint View! I really enjoy that as you’re reading, you get a side character and wonder, are they going to be in the next trilogy? Who would be their partners? I can’t express the stress the end of this book caused me. You feel for all her characters and can really imagine seeing them and feeling what they feel. I yelled at this audio so many times! Happy and Mad! Has me all in my feels! Can’t wait to see what happens!!!
This book did not fit the normal narrative I have found in the other Saint View books and showed how much Elle has grown as an author too. We still had mentions of all the characters we know but this story is being told in a fresh way. I did not see the end of this first book coming and am looking forward to book 2. I have no idea how they are going to work themselves out of this mess!
Well, this started off with a bang. Well almost literally. Lynx and Luca are hot and heavy right out of the gate and I’m so sad they were interrupted. I have always been a sucker for an ex con trying to be better and I’m so enamored with him. Seeing Luca’s POV has changed my perception of him and I can’t wait to see who he can become. Elle writes great redemption arcs so I know it’s going to be epic. Dax is so brokenhearted and I’m brokenhearted for him. Nyah is full of fire and sass just trying to get through the impossible situation she’s in. I don’t know how I’m supposed to wait another month for the next part especially after that cliffhanger!
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Swoon 🫦🫦
LMAO 🤣🤣🤣
Tears 🥹🥹🥹
Banter 😉😉😉😉😉
Dark Why Choose / Murder Mystery / Arranged Marriage / To Be Continued
Saint View Blood and Ink, Book One - Nyah Matish has been sold to Carlos Guerra. Her father has promised him a virgin bride, but he’s just learned that she is pregnant by Dax King. Her father has threatened to hurt Dax to get her to comply. Luca Guerra has also been threatened by his father to return home, resume the family business, or the sister he saved will be sent back to her less-than-desirable husband. To settle a favor owed, Torin Cross “Lynx” has been sent to work for Carlos Guerra by War, the Prez of the Slayers MC. His job is to protect Nyah … but his gaze is torn between her and Luca. If you’re a fan of the Saint View Series, then you already know this will be a cliffhanger, and Carlos Guerra … makes Caleb Black look like an angel. Hold onto your butts; this will be another wild ride. Many thanks to Elle Thorpe and her PA, Donna Martin, for the advance copy … let the waiting begin.
Diary of a Mafia Princess by Elle Thrope — 4⭐️
MMCs: Maddox "Dax" King. Luca Guerra. Torren "Lynx" Cross
FMC: Nyah.
🖤dark mafia romance
⛓️💥why-choose
🖤arranged marriage
⛓️💥secret pregnancy
🖤murder suspense
🩸CLIFFHANGER🩸
I received an ALC copy of Diary of a Mafia Princess…I want to thank Elle Thorpe for the opportunity. As always, my reviews are entirely my own thoughts/ opinions. This audiobook is narrated by Andi Eloise (Nyah), Grayson Owens (Luca), Stephen Dexter (Dax) & Ryan Stone (Lynx). This is an amazing cast & Elle always picks the perfect people to narrate each character.
This book drops us straight back into the aftermath of the previous series, right where things left off with Nyah leaving Dax. Nyah has always known, as a mafia princess, her life was never going to be her own. When she ran away and fell in love with Dax, she knew it was a matter of time before her father stepped in. In order to pay off a debt to the Guerra family, her father sells Nyah and her non-existent virginity, to Carlos Guerra, ruthless mafia boss.
Ends on a cliffhanger.
*HOLY HOTNESS 🥵*
I've been waiting for Nyah's return & she's just as feisty as ever
Dear readers,
Nyah is torn out of her new world into her father's old world. The one she doesn't want to be a part of the one she was hiding from. She isn't given a choice...not a real one...not if she wants to stay alive & especially not if she want to keep her love Dax safe. What about that baby she though she lost? Will she get married...start a family with this other mafia boss...Will she stay the Mafia princess her father portrays her to be? I loved Nyah in the last series (Saint View Murder Squad). She was the feisty spicy little bestie of Violets we all fell for, Especially Dax. They were hot & heavy from day one will that change now by this forced separation? And what about Mr. Lynx & Luca both are bad boys with bad reps....but do their reps really portray the men they are or just who then need society to see. You'll have to read for yourself. Or hear it for yourself, that's my favorite way to read them. @ellethorpebooks always killing me with the cliffhangers!! I'm counting the day till sept 15th. Also if you order it now you always get extras like a the bonus story with Violet at the end. 😘
Elle is the queen of a cliffhanger I swear it. I received my copy of this book as ARC. I absolutely loved it. It kept you on your toes the whole time and watching the characters develop so much. I think this might have been one of my favorites so far (I probably say that on all of them). I am not going to give spoilers but definitely don’t hesitate to start this one! I’m so ready for book 2 now. Just fyi for any questioning the possible redemption of one of the characters. She didn’t disappoint there either! If you are new to SV you don’t have to necessarily read the other books but I do think it will help to get to know Nyah better and to see Luca so you can really hate him.
If you've ever read anything Saint View, get ready for some stiff competition for new favorite MMCs!
The voice actors 🥵 Oh my goodness, they're all good, but Lynx is my absolute favorite. That slight accent, along with the fact that he's just an incredibly good guy, wrapped up in a bad guy? (*IYKYK) I'm over here telling Nyah to SEE him! 😅
Honestly, all three guys in this series are incredible:
Luca is the son of the Mafia Don, and has done horrible things, but isn't the horrible person he puts on to being. It's survival for him.
Dax is her first love, and he never gave up on finding her.
Lynx is her bodyguard, fresh from prison, looking for a fresh start, but has his own dark history that he'd like to keep secret.
Nyah was sold to the Mafia Don as a virgin by her own family, but has a secret that is life or death for her.
This series starter has it all, and comes in hot: drama, lies, enough steam to fog your glasses, bikers, hockey, mafia, enemies to lovers, secret lovers, a secret pregnancy, fight clubs, redemption, longing, comedy - honestly, I don't know how Elle manages to fit so many tropes into her series, without making them a muddy mess, but she's a master at it.
All four narrator’s absolutely smashed it. Andi, Grayson, Stephen and Ryan made me fall in love with each character and I just wanted more and more.
I have been on the Elle Thorpe rollercoaster for years, and every year I find myself counting down to the next Saint View series, only to be completely floored by her all over again. 🔥
Diaries of a Mafia Princess may just be my favourite yet. I absolutely could not put this book down. I found myself desperately hanging on to every diary entry, needing to know what would come next. The chemistry was 🔥🔥🔥, and I was cheering on every single connection from beginning to end.
Luca and his journey toward redemption, Dax wanting so desperately to be Nyah’s hero, and Lynx simply wanting to be wanted had me completely glued to every page. Each of their stories pulled at my heart in completely different ways, and I was invested in every single one of them.
And, of course, it ends with a typical Elle Thorpe cliffhanger that had me sitting there like… EXCUSE ME?! 😭😂 Now I’m left desperate for the next book and already counting down the days.
Elle Thorpe has once again delivered a story that had me hooked, emotional, obsessed and wanting MORE. Another absolute winner for me! ❤️🔥
Elle has done it again! I was hooked from the start and I cannot wait for the next book in the series. The narrators were fantastic and made the characters come to life!
I am counting down to the next one! 🤗
Oh, Elle... you knew exactly how to get me to press play.
I literally hit play, pulled up the e-book and didn’t pause.
Back in the Saint View universe and already in trouble, exactly how I like it. 😂 I saw the words arranged marriage, Mafia, secret pregnancy, bodyguard, ex-con, tattoo artist and enemies who want everyone dead and apparently thought...
Yep. That sounds manageable.
Ooh la la la. 😂
Elle Thorpe has this way of grabbing me by the collar and dragging me straight into the mess, and Diary of a Mafia Princess did it again. I felt like I was coming home to a crime scene I wanted to be part of.
Nyah’s world is a disaster zone in the most addictive way. She’s surrounded by three men who are all completely gone for her, but each one brings his own flavor of chaos.
Dax with his heart-first loyalty.
Luca with his filthy-mouthed Mafia prince energy.
And Lynx with that quiet, dangerous softness that sneaks up on you.
Besties... they are GONE for this woman.
And I ate it up.
This book is constant motion. The banter is great, especially between Nyah and Luca. There is never a dull moment. Not one. Something is always coming at you. Tension, spice, fear, love, danger. It hits fast and keeps coming.
And that is exactly what I wanted from this story.
The multi-cast duet narration was honestly such a win. Andi Eloise as Nyah, Stephen Dexter as Dax, Greyson Owens as Luca and Ryan Stone as Lynx each brought something completely different to their characters. Every voice felt distinct, and having the different POVs performed this way made the whole story feel incredibly immersive.
I wasn't just listening to four narrators.
I was in there with them.
And let's talk about that cliffhanger.
I’m not okay.
I’m staring at my wall like it’s going to give me answers. 😂
I will never underestimate Elle Thorpe and you better not either.
So yeah... the countdown is officially on for the next installment because I am already feral waiting to see what happens next with Nyah, Dax, Luca and Lynx.
If you thrive on chaos, danger, morally gray men who refuse to stay in their lane and a why-choose romance that keeps throwing more trouble at you, this is exactly what you signed up for.
Elle Thorpe grabbed me by the collar, dropped into Providence and then left me hanging off a cliff.
Rude.
And I will absolutely be back for the next book.
Read it. Listen to it. Come scream with me afterward. 💜
Naughty Book Nook
Short review
Saint View girlies, we are so back.
Diary of a Mafia Princess had me laughing, gasping, swooning, and occasionally questioning my own sanity.
The narrators? Perfect.
The Dear diary chapter intros? Iconic behaviour.
The humour? Elle really said “you’re welcome”.
Lynx and Luca’s tension is elite.
The spice? Loved it.
The characters I hated? I hate them even more now.
The redemption arc? Oh it is coming, I can feel it in my bones.
I even laughed at the cliffhanger. I should not have. But here we are.
Less mystery than Murder Squad, but the vibes, the romance, and the chaos are top tier.
Saint View owns me. Again.
Longer review
I received an ALC copy of Diary of a Mafia Princess, so I want to thank Elle Thorpe for the opportunity. As always, this review is entirely my own thoughts, in my own words, and in my own opinion.
Coming back into the Saint View world feels like slipping into something familiar that I bloody love. This book drops us straight back into the aftermath of the previous series, right where things left off with Nyla leaving Dax, and the transition feels seamless.
The audiobook is multi narrated, and the narrators were perfect for the characters. Elle does a brilliant job choosing voices that match the tone and personality of her cast. Early on, there are noticeable sound effects. For me, they were distracting at first, even though they add a kind of audio graphic feel. Thankfully, as the story goes on, those effects ease off. They do not disappear completely, but they become occasional rather than constant.
One thing we have learned about Elle’s writing is that she loves a redemption arc. Characters we once hated often become the ones we fall hardest for, and I have a feeling this series is setting up another one of those journeys. At the same time, there are also characters from previous series that we hated and continue to hate even more, and Elle leans into that just as effectively.
I loved how each chapter opened with Dear diary and a little line about what the chapter was going to be about. It added personality and charm, and it made the structure feel fun and intentional.
The romance in this book is a standout. The tension between Lynx and Luca is strong from the start, and the slow build between them is genuinely enjoyable. Their banter adds spark and warmth, giving the story a lighter edge even when the stakes rise. There is also some great humour throughout the book, and I absolutely love Elle’s sense of humour.
This story made me laugh out loud, it made me gasp, and yes, it even made me swoon. And I have to admit, I laughed at the cliffhanger. I also laughed at Augus McGregor.
Elle is the queen of cliffhangers, and the suspense toward the end absolutely delivers. Compared to the Murder Squad series, there is less mystery woven through this book. I noticed it, and I missed that element, especially since Murder Squad thrives on twists and reveals.
Even so, Diary of a Mafia Princess is a strong start to the Blood and Ink series. It has great character dynamics, addictive tension, humour, and that familiar Saint View energy that keeps you wanting more.
Absolutely loving this book. Can't wait to read the next one. The cliffhanger got me..