Book Review: Married to the Mafia by Lucy Smoke

 I had a lot of fun with this one!  This is such a fun read and great for folks who have wanted to do their toes into Dark Romance, but didn't maybe want to dive in, without checking out the waters a bit 

I requested this audiobook on Net Galley on an impulsive whim.     

The cover was AMAZING  and I do find it hard to resist a good cover. Like many romance readers, I like a good mafia romance.  I am entirely convinced that any actual crime syndicate doesn't operate like in the romance novels, but...I can suspend reality all the time when I read fantasy novels. If I can enjoy an find a book about an alien snail race taking over the globe, a mafia romance... is not really as far a stretch.  

   Lucy Smoke is a new author to me, and I loved this book. It reminded me of the giggly fun feelings I get when reading Brynne Weaver's series about Serial Killers who fall in love. 

   As a synopsis:  Daisy is a new college graduate and she and her college bestie move to NEW YORK CITY to experience life and make their mark on the world.  New York isn't particularly kind to the girls and they find themselves getting by with temp jobs and a shared loft. Daisy's picked up a shift at a wedding, hoping for tips when she finds herself stuck in a room with a lot of good looking me, and one very very un-alive bride. 

 Julio is a "member of the family" but he's been told it's time to marry if he wants to move up. He's picked his bride and arranged the marriage and is quite put out to find the woman he needed to marry- very very un-alive. 

Readers of romance, know that this wedding must go on, and of course, Daisy, the server fits the dress perfectly. (or ALMOST perfectly) 

Daisy figures she's standing in so the man doesn't lose face, and it's only quite a bit later that realization dawns, she's really and truly married to a stranger- and not just any stranger, one who seems VERY VERY dangerous. 

   What's a girl to do? 

Well- I won't spoil it, readers will want to read- or listen to find out.   The audio book features a smooth, but upbeat dual narration from Gomez Pugh and Lisa Zimmerman.  Gomez took on the sometimes tough job of a stereotypical New York wise guys accent and was able to make it sound natural- with the accent getting stronger and fading at different moments, just as it would in natural speech- never totally gone but sometimes coming out bold, and other times softening. Lisa as Daisy was Hilarious! She injected all the spunk and sassiness that was needed to bring Daisy's inner monologue out to play. 

I loved the audiobook, and my entire reading experience with it. 

This one popped on shelves on April 21- so I hope someone will pick it up because I want so badly to giggle over certain moments, and to discuss predictions- I suspect there's a second book involving Daisy's bestie Michelle.  

STATS

First Published: 4/21/26

Pages: 352

Available as an Audio Book :  YES  ~ 9 hrs

Trigger Warnings:  violence, Death, gun violence, reference to Suicide, Foster Care flashbacks, more death, on page sex, cursing. 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)