Book: Make Me: A Mafia Romance (Emperors of New York) by Natasha K. Lauren
Reviewed by thebookishkiwikaz
Rating: 5/5
If there's one thing I love, it's a grumpy bodyguard who knows exactly why he shouldn't fall for his charge... and then proceeds to completely lose that battle anyway. This mafia romance delivered all the forbidden tension, forced proximity, and delicious slow-burn torment I could have asked for.
Gia is a mafia princess determined to build a life outside of her family's dangerous world, and I absolutely adored her. She's independent, stubborn, fearless, and completely unapologetic about going after what she wants. Instead of shrinking under Nico's protection, she spends most of her time testing his limits, pushing his buttons, and making his job infinitely harder. Honestly, I would have been tempting him too.
Nico was everything I want in a mafia bodyguard hero. Strong, grumpy, fiercely protective, and absolutely brutal when the situation calls for it. Watching him try to maintain control while Gia systematically destroyed every ounce of his restraint was pure entertainment. Getting access to his thoughts as he fought his attraction made the tension even more unbearable in the best possible way.
The chemistry between these two was incredible. Gia may have been the one under protection, but emotionally she had Nico wrapped around her finger from the very beginning. Their constant push and pull, the teasing, the stolen moments, and the mounting frustration created a level of tension that had me hooked from start to finish.
While there were a few slower moments throughout the story, I actually appreciated them. They gave us the chance to understand both characters on a deeper level, explore their histories, and become fully invested in what they stood to lose. Those quieter moments made the emotional and explosive scenes hit even harder.
What I loved most was that beneath all the danger, family drama, and forbidden desire, this was a story about trust, vulnerability, and finding someone who becomes your safe place in a world full of chaos.
If you love mafia romances, grumpy bodyguards, forced proximity, protective MMCs, heroines who refuse to be controlled, and enough simmering tension to make you want to scream, this one needs to be on your TBR immediately.