Devil's Azalea

Nightshades #3

by Roselyn Ash, Sasha Leone

Everyone has a first love. Mine’s just a little… darker than most.

Rafael Moretti is a gorgeous monster. Tall and broad, he dominates New York’s underworld with an iron grip and cold, silver-gray eyes.

But before he was the man everyone feared, he was my protector. My friend. The boy I could never forget.

Then, tragedy struck. My father was killed, and Rafael was implicated in the murder. There was no room for forgiveness. I dedicated my life to revenge.

Now, it’s my job to destroy everything he’s ever built. FBI agent against mafia boss. Hate vs loathing. Fire tangled with desire.

Because I haven’t forgotten how he tastes. And when I find out he’s been watching me all these years, I don’t know what I want more:

To end him… or let him back in.


Devil’s Azalea is a standalone, dual pov dark mafia romance features a possessive, ‘touch her & I’ll unalive you’ type anti-hero and a feisty, smart heroine. No OW drama, no cliffhanger, and a hard-won HEA.

Genres: Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Found Family

430 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2025

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devil’s Azalea is third book in the Nightshades Series. They're no OW drama, cheating or cliffhanger and a hard won HEA. A full-length steamy standalone romance. The stories are interconnected with characters from the previous books stopping by and contributing to the story. Another great addition to the series. This Rafael and Emilia story which is told from a dual point of view. Captivating. Dark. Dangerous. Dirty. Sinful. Twisted. A definite page turner with enticing erotic scenes that's with high-octane adventures, non-stop twists and turns, mystery, betrayals and scorching hot passion. Immerse yourself in this tantalizing rollercoaster ride filled with tension, cravings, loyalty, longing and emotions and follow along as these two once lovers turn rival enemies fall in love with each other. A fast paced, thrilling, gripping read. Hang on to your kindle and prepare yourself for this mesmerizing story. An unputdownable and absorbing addictive read. A beautifully written story with two damage and broken individuals and a twisty and complex storyline that captures the audience attention and keep you riveted and on the edge of your seat and turning the pages.
A contemporary romance, women's crime fiction story, organize crime story, romantic suspense story, touch-her-and-die romance, friends-to-lovers romance, off-limits romance, forced marriage romance, stalker romance, dark mafia romance, billionaire romance, spicy romance, enemies-to-lovers romance, hate-to-love vibes story, forbidden romance, gothic romance, OTT possessive alpha hero story, second chance romance, protective alpha hero romance, morally-grey antihero romance, kingpin vs cop romance with lies, consensual intense rough sex, dirty talking, revelations, power and control, grief, threats, submission, attacks, murder, loss, bloodshed, violence, enemies, rivalry, hatred, healing, acceptance, forgiveness, heartbreak, guilt, friendship, broken promises, found family, deep dark hidden secrets, angst, anger, hidden agendas, suspense, surprises, hurt and pain, distrust, deception, darkness, love, drama, madness, revenge, retaliation, spice, spanking, resilience, misunderstanding, shared connection and surprises.
Rafael, Michael, Maximo, Romero and Emilia was all a family not by blood but through love and friendship growing up until Emilia dad died and she changed then disappeared from all their lives. The guys didn't understand why and had spent years searching for their sister but in Rafael's case is soul mate. These four men had went on to become powerful, ruthless, psychotic dangerous and filthy rich running the five boroughs in New York City as the most feared men known as the Nightshades. And now they're being hunted by one of their own a FBI rogue agent with an axe to grind against the guys for a crime that they didn't commit. Unbeknowing to them Emilia had became a kickass FBI agent with a quest for vengeance against them vowing to avenge her father's murder. Because she believed that they were the one's responsible for his death. The only reason why she joined the FBI was to access to information that would help bring them down. Rafael Moretti was the leader of the Nightshades. He's a sociopath, violent, evil, vicious and calculated.
Emilia was his one true love and he haven't been in a relationship with another woman since she left on that faithful night that he proposed to her. Although all his brothers had found love he still holding out for Emiliia. But Emilia had been secretly tearing apart all of the guys lives one by one and when they found out that it was her who had been causing all these problems they vowed revenge even if Rafael loves her and she was once considered their sister. Her vendetta against the guys have opened up pandora box and more trouble for her because now she as been targeted by the real perpetrator whose responsible for her father's death. Although she's destroying everything that he had built he can not bring himself to lay a finger on her and would scorch the earth for the person whose out to get her. These two chemistry is electrifying and panty-melting hot.
As they get closer together more secrets and new information keeps coming out showing whose the good guys and whose the bad guys. And before long Emilia must make a decision between her old family and her new family that she created at the FBI agency. Will these two rivals get their HEA? Will she finally get the information that she had spent ten years searching for? Will the other guys forgive her for all the troubles that she cost them and her actions?

I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Júlia Orbán · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔥 4.5 ⭐️ | 3.5 🌶️

🌹 Spoiler-Free Teaser

Looking for a mafia romance where bullets fly, hearts break, and loyalty cuts deeper than any blade? Devil’s Azalea serves up a sizzling cocktail of forbidden love, vengeance, and shocking secrets. FBI agent Emilie Azalea Rossi and crime boss Rafael Moretti share a past soaked in passion and betrayal and the present isn’t any less explosive. Prepare for high stakes, scorching chemistry, and a heroine who refuses to stay down.

💥 Mild-Spoilers Review

Devil’s Azalea is the delicious third installment in the Nightshades series — interconnected but totally readable as a standalone if you’re feeling rebellious. Still, trust me, the emotional gut-punch lands even harder if you’ve read the earlier books. 📚

Let’s start with our magnetic duo:

• Emilie a.k.a. Piccola, amorina is a badass FBI agent hell-bent on avenging her father’s murder. She’s tough, stubborn, and driven — but also deeply vulnerable under the steel. She’s like an espresso shot: small but packs a wallop. ☕️💥
• Rafael Moretti is a crime boss with a tortured soul, dripping lethal charm and the vibe of a mafia hero who’d burn the world down for his woman. He’s the sort of morally gray man who quotes love vows one minute and orders a hit the next. Be still, my mafia-loving heart. 💀❤️🔥

The story’s core is a second-chance romance drenched in betrayal. Emilie and Rafael were once passionately in love, but a decade-long rift tore them apart, fueled by the belief that Rafael murdered Emilie’s father. It’s classic enemies-to-lovers — but with a deep well of shared history that makes their every interaction crackle with unresolved desire and heartbreak. ⚡️💔

But here’s where the writers pull the rug out from under you: the truth about Emilie’s father is not what she’s believed all these years. Twists involving Emilie’s mentor, Stacey, flip the narrative upside-down, revealing corruption at the FBI’s core and exposing betrayals that run bone-deep. 😱🕵️‍♀️

It’s impossible not to ache for Rafael. Even when Emilie’s hatred is ice-cold, he’s a man quietly wrecked by love, refusing to retaliate despite her betrayals. One of my favorite lines sums it up perfectly:

“Because it’s you, Emilia. Because you’re my heart. And you don’t cut out your heart just because it does something you don’t like.”

Cue collective swooning. 🥹💘

Spice-wise, this book simmers rather than explodes — plenty of scorching tension, heated kisses, and Rafael being possessively tender, but it doesn’t tip into super explicit territory. I’d agree with your 3.5 spices rating. There’s one particular marriage proposal under life-or-death circumstances that might leave you squealing into your pillow. 🔥💍

My only (small) quibble: the back half piles on the conspiracies and reveals so fast it can feel slightly dizzying. But the emotional payoffs and the epic love confession scenes make up for it. ✨

Devil’s Azalea is a fabulous mafia romance — dramatic, steamy, and packed with enough secrets to make your head spin. Emilie and Rafael’s bond is the stuff of dark fairy tales: twisted, passionate, and ultimately redemptive. Fans of angsty second-chance love stories, moral gray zones, and mafia intrigue will devour this one. 💣🖤

⭐️ 4.5 — worth every heartache.
🌶️ 3.5 — hot but plot-heavy.
🩸 Angst Level — High, have chocolate handy. 🍫

I received this book via Booksprout for free, and this is my honest review.

[Athena, the goddess of books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Devil’s Azalea moves the Nightshades saga into its most personal and emotionally explosive territory. While the earlier novels focused on forbidden discovery and survival, this installment revolves around unfinished business. It asks a simple but devastating question: what happens when first love curdles into obsession, but never really dies?

The protagonists, Rafael Moretti and Emilia Rossi (Emily), share a long and painful history. Ten years earlier, they were in love, deeply and almost irrevocably. Rafael gave her a ring and a diamond crown, tokens of a future he believed they would share. For Emilia, he was the man she intended to marry, the one who made her feel seen. That illusion shattered when her father was killed. Emilia was convinced Rafael had orchestrated the murder, and her grief hardened into hatred. In response, she chose the opposite path from him, becoming an FBI agent dedicated to eradicating his empire.

When the novel begins, they have been enemies longer than they were ever lovers. Emilia leads raids on his properties, and Rafael rules Little Italy with the ruthlessness required of a don. But the moment they see each other again—in a charged confrontation at his nightclub—the façade cracks. He still calls her piccola, she still trembles at the sound of his voice. They circle each other like predators, each pretending indifference, yet both unable to deny what still lingers.

Their reunion is not immediate reconciliation. Instead, it unfolds through constant collisions: FBI raids, mafia counterstrikes, and accidental encounters. Each time, Rafael demonstrates that beneath his brutality, he cannot destroy Emilia. Likewise, Emilia—though she points guns, threatens arrests, and even dreams of vengeance—cannot rid herself of him. The ring and crown she keeps hidden symbolize this contradiction: her hatred and her longing coexist in the same locked box.

As the plot advances, Emilia’s greatest struggle is with truth. She entered this war believing herself clever, righteous, and informed. Yet as she digs deeper, she realizes she was never as smart—or as well-informed—as she thought. Rafael did not kill her father in cold blood, as she had believed for a decade. The betrayal she built her entire identity upon was based on lies and manipulation. This revelation is shattering: she has spent years hunting a man who, in his own twisted way, had once tried to protect her. Her sense of self—agent, avenger, daughter of justice—collapses. What remains is the raw, undeniable bond she still shares with Rafael.

The external conflicts heighten this transformation. The Russians led by Sergey Volkov, declare war on the Nightshades with savage brutality, while the FBI, under new leadership, presses Emilia to deliver results. She finds herself trapped: serve the Bureau and destroy Rafael, or follow her heart and betray everything she swore to uphold. As the war escalates, Emilia’s choices narrow until there is only one path left: surrender to the man she once swore to kill.

The twist about Emilia’s father’s murderer wasn’t shocking—I guessed it from the start—but I would have liked to see Stacey punished.

We will see were Romero's story will take us and who will be his Iris, Arianna or Katie?

[Rebecca Kush · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖤Dark Mafia Romance
💞Second Chance
🏠Found Family
🚔 FBI Agent

I read Devil‘s Lily and Devil‘s Tulip which are the two books before this one, Devil’s Azalea, in the series. You don’t have to have read them before, but I would highly recommend that you do. Although, Devil’s Azalea does recap everything that you need to know. But still, you’re gonna get way more backstory on the characters and I would really,really recommend the other two in the series because they’re also good!

It’s been teased in the previous two books but in Devil’s Azalea we are finally getting Rafael and Emilia’s story! This is a second chance romance, which I’m gonna be honest with you, usually I don’t like second chance tropes. I don’t like second chance romances because they very often focus way too much on the past. But I will say with this one, you don’t have the chapters constantly flip flopping between the present and the past, which I liked. I love that the author assumed that her readers are smart and would be able to piece together what went on in the past without going into chapters and chapters of flashbacks. Because of that I did not mind the second chance romance at all! If anything, I really really enjoyed it because I have been rooting for these two since book one and book two. They are meant to be, OTP, and we are getting everything here!

Funny enough, another trope that I do not like is mafia boss x cop, but I don’t mind it in this book. So that’s saying a lot about how much I enjoyed this book if I could still like it with two tropes I’m not usually a fan of. I think it’s because the characters have such an intense backstory and you’re really rooting for them so I do not mind the FBI agent element at all, especially because things take a major twist and I don’t wanna spoil anything, but let’s just say it’s hard to figure out who and what organization are actually the criminals in this book.

You get so much action and yes, it is a romance, but I would say it’s a little bit lower on the spice scale and heavier on the plot. Truly, this is a fantastic book that has romantic spicy elements to it and don’t get me wrong, they’re really good spice, but the plot is the main driver of this book. It’s gonna have you guessing, lots of twist and turns, and I highly recommend you check it out!

[Jennifer - You Can't Resista Dirty Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic love ❤️

Devil’s Azalea

So this is actually my first read from this author – and I thought the book was so freaking good that I have already devoured Devil’s Lily and currently reading Devil’s Tulip. Now although this is the third book in the series I did not need to read the first 2 books to become completely immersed in the story. It is completely captivating from the get go.

Rafael Moretti – the head honco, boss of all New York along with his 3 best friends – Brothers through pain not blood – is being hunted. A rogue FBI agent who has an axe to grind because of past indiscretions and pain caused. She has evaded him for a decade, never far from his mind, Emilia is his first love and now is the biggest thorn in his side.

Emilia is going after revenge. Rafael is responsible for all her pain – or so she thinks. Using her position as a Special Agent in the FBI, Emilia is determined to bring down the Nightshades once and for all – no matter the personal cost. Blinded by the rage, and desperate for revenge Emilia engages in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

Rafael has always known where Emilia is – has spent the last decade saving her from dangerous situations, always ready to pull her out of whatever fire she has started. Now, that she has pulled some very risky moves against his brothers, Rafael is running out of time, and he can only deny his feelings for so long – soon he will have to make a decision.

Emilia was once part of the Nightshades but is now determined to bring them down – her regrettable action have left her with a target on her back and now she is looking into the past that will bring more trouble than she is prepared for.

This book had lots of gritty, angsty edge of your seat action. The development of the story gets better thr longer you read it and pulls you in harder. I am excitedly waiting for the next instalment Devil’s Iris!! 🌷📖❤️

[Patti · Rating 2 out of 5]

It pains me to write this review and give this low rating. Anyway the bottom line is I love this series and I was looking forward to this book. The writing is good. The storyline was great. However I disliked the fmc in the first and in the second book and I didn't think there's nothing more she could do to make me dislike her more. For starters she's conceited she thinks too much of herself she's stupid and nothing stands out about her even the physical description was just meh. This is supposedly a 30year old woman who acts like a 20year old. I didn't feel like she loved Rafael. She certainly didn't show it even her inner thoughts are self centered. Everyone is at fault except her and her criminal father. Please don't get me started on the best friend I had to skip some of the sections between her and her best friend because they read like teenagers without sense and had zero personalities. This book could have easily been a 100pages less if we didnt have to read the interaactions between the fmc and her best friend. I cant be the only who was hoping these women died when they got shot. To sum it up the fmc character felt untrue insincere and just not right. I mean someone saves your life and you thank them by screaming that they are stupid. I just couldn't stand how the authors manages to emasculate rafael with this unworthy female. At times she didnt even read like she was a woman at all or a woman in love. I certainly dont believe she loves Rafael. Anyway I obviously loved Rafael and the guys and they are the only reason I even finished the book. I'm just sad that it seems the next book we are saddled with the best friend kathy. I don't know if I'll even bother reading it since I don't like Cathy but we'll see.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.

This is the third book in the Nightshades Series. It is a standalone in the series but I highly recommend reading Devil's Lily and Devil's Tulip. They are such good reads that you do not want to miss them.
This is the story of Emille and Rafel. She is an FBI agent and he is a crime boss. These two share a past that is both passionate and full of betrayal and lies. Seeing each other in real time now isn't any less explosive. These two have some amazing chemistry and couldn't come from more opposite ends of the tracks. Emille is good at her job. Really good actually. She is a woman on a mission however. He father is dead and someone has to pay. This girl is fierce and someone you really don't want to cross. But under all that is someone really vulnerable and I loved when we got to see those moments. Rafael is as I said a crime boss. This man is the very definition of a tortured soul. He is protective and deadly and if you are his family or his woman he would burn the world down for you. He is fearless and does what he has to do and has no shame or guilt about it. He is ruthless and cunning and someone you are going to absolutely love. She believes with her whole being that Rafael killed her father and she is going to avenge him if it is the last thing she ever does. I am telling you that every time these two are in the same room the chemistry between them is bouncing off the wall. I loved reading this story. I devoured it actually You do not want to miss this book.

[Dark Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a standalone book in the Nightshades series, and although you don't have to read the other books (Devil's Lily and Devil's Tulip), it helps with the backstory a bit. There is also a prequel to this story called Wicked Mistletoe that provides a lot of the backstory for this couple - I would highly recommend reading that one first; I think it would be confusing without some backstory.

As a second chance romance story, I enjoyed this, although I don't always love second chance tropes. The characters have quite a history - they fell in love before they went their own ways and became a crime boss (Rafael) and FBI agent (Emilia), and now despite their attraction they are on the opposite sides of the law with a few big issues to work through. Much of their issues come down to miscommunication and other loyalties, which can be frustrating to read - if only they would just talk to each other!

Overall I enjoyed the story - perhaps as a typical mafia romance, it reads a bit as a soap opera with very high drama sometimes, but that also made it easy to read and hard to put down.

Thanks to the ARC team for an advance copy!

[vixen ‹𝟹 reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝖙𝖗𝖔𝖕𝖊𝖘/𝖙𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖌𝖊𝖗𝖘 𝖇𝖊𝖑𝖔𝖜 ↴
(𝔪𝔞𝔶 𝔟𝔢 𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔦𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔰𝔭𝔬𝔦𝔩𝔢𝔯𝔶)‼️

⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢
𝖘𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖘: Nightshades #3
𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞 𝖙𝖞𝖕𝖊: interconnected
𝖍𝖊𝖆/𝖈𝖑𝖎𝖋𝖋𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖊𝖗: hea ღ
𝖌𝖊𝖓𝖗𝖊: dark mafia romance
𝖕𝖔𝖛: dual

𝖈𝖔𝖚𝖕𝖑𝖊: Rafael & Emilia
𝖕𝖊𝖙 𝖓𝖆𝖒𝖊: “piccola” (Italian)

♥️ 𝖙𝖗𝖔𝖕𝖊𝖘 - second chance, revenge plot, ott j/p, lovers to enemies, feisty fmc, crime boss x federal agent, past history

🧨 𝖘𝖕𝖎𝖈𝖊 - tattoo marking, wake up call, teasing/interruptions, bruises/marking

🚩 𝖗𝖊𝖉 𝖋𝖑𝖆𝖌𝖘 - touch her & ⚰️, femme fatale, disrespect her & ⚰️

⛔️ 𝖙𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖌𝖊𝖗𝖘 - themes, triggers and content in line with dark romance genre.

────── ⋆⋅🖤 𝖒𝖞 𝖙𝖍𝖔𝖚𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖘 🖤⋅⋆ ──────

This is how you do a second chance, lovers to enemies to absolutely delicious chemistry, battles, hate to want, hate to love (the full package) romance.

If you crave a fine line between love and hate kind of situation, then this book has you covered from all angles.

Their souls are so inexplicably entwined that every emotion, every action, every encounter, had my heart in a vice grip.

⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢
⇉ 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘕𝘖𝘛 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥.

[Harper’s Home · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Raphael and Emilia’s story. It’s all about the four musketeers, a family chosen by trust, loyalty, and mis-adventurous youth. The name taken by this group is the Nightshades, given to them by Emilia.

As grown men the Nightshades have positioned themselves to take over the Manhattan mafia which includes all of the five burroughs. Raphael’s weakness, his Achilles heel is Emilia who is now FBI. Unfortunately, Emilia’s focus is on taking down the Nightshades one by one and making them pay for all of their sins.

Devils Azalea is a story of love, misunderstandings, broken loyalty, betrayal, revenge and the strength of a family bond not by blood, but chosen.

This is the 3rd book of this series not including the prequel Wicked Mistletoe. It can be read as a standalone, but in my opinion you will not have the history need to fill in the blanks.

Happy Reading📖🌻.

I received an advance copy of this book from the Author via BookSprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest unbiased review.

[Jesmin Nawaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew Emilie was going to annoy me in this book, and she did for half of it. When she finally got her head out of her ass, I liked her much better. I was worried the story would drag with her not believing Rafael but luckily, her denial lasted for a short time. It was obvious form the get go that Stacey and Katie were shady so the story line there didn't surprise me at all.

Now, the angst between these two characters was so, so good! The closet scene had me clutching my pearls to see if they would or if they wouldn't (and how would she keep quiet if they did!?) The spice was spicy, but also so emotional for them when the finally reunite. Loved seeing the other "brothers" and Emilie have their own moments. I absolutely ate up Rafael with the babies!! I would have loved to see him in Papa Bear mode. Rafael reminded me of Dante from Runyx's Dark Verse.

We know the next story is Romero and Katie - although I don't know that I could like her after what she did to Emilie in this book.

[Marni Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotional rollercoaster that just hooks you from the very first page and does not let go . To say that I was just taken on the ride of my life and completely blown away would have to be a huge understatement. Have you read The Nightshades Series yet ? Well if not stop what you’re doing and read it ASAP . It seriously is one of the best I’ve read in such a long time. In Devils Azalea we get Dark Mafia romance at its best , second chances, found family , a FBI Agent , intrigue, suspense, and all you steamy and emotionally charged moments you could ever ask for . I absolutely adored both Rafael and Emilia. . All the different layers to their characters, the complexities in their relationship, I was literally on the edge of my seat the whole way through, devouring every single word and reeling with so many emotions I never saw coming.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in this phenomenal series, and this is Rafael and Elilia’s story.
Rafael and Emilie used to be best friends, until they are torn apart by tragedy. Now Rafael dominates the New York underworld with an iron fist, while Emilia is an FBI agent fueled by vengeance and determined to take him down. But who can be trusted when secrets are revealed?
This is a well written emotionally charged story, with found family, friendships, drama, secrets, danger, suspense, intrigue, twists and turns, vengeance, determination, surprises, trust, enemies / lovers, revelation, second chances, palpable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, and unpredictibale, dark mafia romance.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

[Natalie Daly · Rating 4 out of 5]

amazing

Loving this series!
A mafia series based on 4 ‘brothers’ finding they’re HEA after their emotional trials.

From love to hate to love this story has all the emotions, you felt everything Rafael and Emily were feeling. She betrayed them, thought he killed her father. Emily fights the pull she feels to the man she’s suppose to hate but when push comes to shove she can’t end him. But now digging for the truth to what really happened to her father she makes enemies with the very people who are suppose to family, they come for her and she has to choose a side in order so survive, her old family she betrayed and has hated for the last decade or her new family who have been with her for the last 10 years

[bunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one’s been brewing since book one, and it delivers. Rafael is all sharp edges and quiet obsession, and Emilia is the only one who can crack him… even if she’s aiming to put him in the ground. The whole FBI vs mafia thing usually makes me roll my eyes, but here it’s messy in a way that works. They’ve got history, they’ve got grudges, and neither one knows how to let go. The tension’s thick, the plot actually keeps moving, and there are a few twists that made me stop and reread just to make sure I caught it right. Spice is there, but the story’s the star, which I appreciate. My only gripe? These two could have avoided a decade of pain if they’d just asked the damn question sooner. Still, I ate it up. Now I need the next book, yesterday.

[Leanne Bryson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A standalone in the Nightshades series, this second-chance romance follows Rafael, now a crime boss, and Emilia, an FBI agent. Their past love is tested by their opposing roles and unresolved issues from miscommunication and conflicting loyalties. While the prequel Wicked Mistletoe provides helpful backstory, it’s not essential but recommended. The story, though sometimes soap opera-like with high drama, is engaging and hard to put down, despite occasional frustration with the characters’ lack of communication.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Samantha Millican · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devil’s Azalea: A Dark Mafia Romance is the third book in the Nightshades series. A standalone, but reading in order amplifies the experience. Emilia is smart and fierce, the perfect blend for an FBI agent driven by vengeance against the person who killed her father. Rafael Moretti, he’s possessive and obsessed with Emilia, and also happens to be the one who’s implicated in the murder of her father. Enemies to lovers who were also former lovers, second chances, suspense, betrayals, and twists! Kept me locked in until the end. Can’t wait to read Devil’s Iris next 🫠🫠🫠.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Narelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the previous books in this series this one is deliciously dark, hot, dangerous and sizzling, featuring Nightshade mafia kingpin Rafael and the love of his life Emilia. Drawing on their early story as told in the series prequel (Wicked Mistletoe), there is plenty of danger, secrets, twists and spice to keep you hooked. He's a man obsessed and protective of his woman, who is herself tough as nails having worked with the FBI for years. I'm loving this series and no doubt will have to reread it all when the final book is released. Now, to wait for Romero's story...

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Janusha Rambally Moonsamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. It's fast-paced, thrilling, spicy, and the revelations made bring a lot of the past full circle. The fratellos never miss a beat to support each other, the new sorellinas' are settled and growing the family with new additions but what takes the cake is the pivotal moment that's been slipping out of reach time after time in the previous books, Rafael gets what he want, Emilia gets what she wants and the family is finally whole again. more to come, too, because once again, the author leaves it on a cliffhanger. the last fratello is about to embark on something even he is not prepared for.... I can't wait to see how that unfolds.

[Kazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was amazing. I was hooked from the very start, the character and the storyline was just amazing. I love how the author worked the characters so they had a love hate relationship, well she did. The characters were amazing Rafael and Emilia, have a history and now they are on different sides of the law. This book pulled you in and made you feel like you were actually there watching everything unfold. I loved the twists in this book, some I saw coming and some I didn’t. If this author writes like this all the time than I can’t wait for more books. Amazing highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cinderella (Nysa Bookish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The King and his Queen

I have been dying to read about Rafael and Emilia's story since they were introduced in Wicked Mistletoe. Their dynamic was perfect and it burned in the pages of this book.

Rafael's devotion to her for 15 years is incredible. He still loves her even when her own mission is to destroy her.

And poor Emilia, she was fed lies after lies and moulded into someone's scapegoat, keeping her from doing and being her genuine self. But kudos to her in finally seeing the truth and taking steps to help protect her real family!

A definite read for fans of The Nightshades

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

When they were younger Emilia and Rafael were not just friends but lovers. When her father was murdered all changed as Rafael was and is the main suspect. Causing them to fall apart. Emilia becomes an FBI agent, while Rafael becomes the head of his Mafia crime family. Emilia’s want for revenge sends her on a road that she can’t believe. Can she up hold the law.
This book is full of drama, action, oh twits and pure spice and steam.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily's (FMC) story has kind of been in the background or intertwined in all of the books in this series because she was part of a self made family of the Nightshades. Only for secrets, lies and betrayal to break them apart. Now Emily is an FBI agent putting her on the opposite side of Mafia Crime Boss - Rafael. They say opposites attract and they certainly do in this book. The closer that Emily and Rafael get the more secrets become clearer but who the bad & good guys become blurred. Some great plot twists and turns with plenty of steamy scenarios too. A cracking read.

[Robin Axelberd · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much hate. So much love. So many lies!

(First, I think it is an interesting choice that the author did not save this as the last book in the series because so much of the story arc has been wrapped around the relationship between Rafael and Emilia.)

It was very satisfying to have the lies exposed and the air cleared between Rafael and Emilia. They both had so many lies and secrets that kept them apart for so many years…and yet, somehow, their love endured. I was thankful that not all was as it appeared with regard to Emilia’s father, even if it was a bit of a convenient trope.

I look forward to the next installment of the Nightshades!

[Vicki Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devil's Azalea is the third book in the Nightshades Series which is a dark Mafia romance between Rafael, a Mafia Don who owns the New York underworld, and Emilia, an FBI agent. These characters have diametrically opposite beliefs which have to be resolved to be in a successful relationship. Their second chance romance has obsession, philosophical differences, complex characters, action, miscommunication, and spicy passion.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[GKP2460 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devil's Azalea is book 3 in the Nightshades series and is Rafael and Emilie's story. This one is chaotic, intense and dramatic and pits the FBI against the Mafia. Rafael rules the Underworld and Emilie seeks her vengeance through being an FBI agent. Though they have a past and a love that hasn't diminished, these two are on opposite sides of the law with no chance of reuniting in sight. There's lots of twists, turns and surprises to keep readers glued to the pages from beginning to end.

[Keza Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read.

Rafael and Emilia's story was filled with action, mystery and suspense, angst, and a hell of a lot of spicy connection. The years and lies may have separated them but it could NOT be denied that these two were made for each other.

Rafael was patient (well as patient as he would allow himself to be) he was infuriatingly sweet (well Emilia hated to admit it) and super protective as always but I freaking LOVE how this book ended.

I definitely recommend 👌

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emelia and Rafael were once young loves but betrayal ran deep after her fathers murder, she became an FBI agent and hes a crime boss of his family, but will her path of revenge uncover the truth about the past? Will there be a second chance forever them? Well written engaging steamy desires drama action, twists, second chances, opposites sides of the law and more! A great addition to the series

[Chris06 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third in the series …

Fast paced and a lot going on. I was a little confused at the beginning with the timelines and there was a big jump for sure.

FBI agent
Mafia Don
Lovers to enemies to lovers
Secrets and sacrifices
Chose family
Second chance
Betrayal

This one had it all.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Katlyn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
Overall, it was good, but also frustrating at times. I don’t love long time jumps like the ones in this book. It was hard to believe that after ten years—and a few chance meetings in that time—neither Emilia nor Raphael directly asked the most obvious questions. Emilia didn’t ask what actually happened that night, and Raphael didn’t press her on why she suddenly hated him so much. Those conversations didn’t really even start to come up until nearly 40% into the book.
That said, there were some incredibly sweet moments. The scene with the twins being born and Raphael meeting them was well done. And the wedding march? Absolutely loved.
Emilia’s journey toward closure and finding the truth took a bit longer than I’d have liked but overall I still enjoyed this book. I’m glad that she finally opened herself up to hearing the truth from the people she had long thought of as family.

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SPOILER THOUGHTS:

The memory loss subplot was also a little odd to me. I think once Emilia’s father got his memory back, he would’ve done more to fix the mess he was in.