Reviewed by Jen
TITLE: The Associate: A Mafia Romance
SERIES: Family Business
AUTHOR: M.Z. Arthur
PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing
LENGTH: 142 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 15, 2024
BLURB:
A Family Business story
One man desires to be part of the Family. One man wants to save his family. Neither expected to find family with each other.
Joseph “Gio” Spatafora longs to become a full member of the San Gaetano family. A loyal associate, he is eager to move up the ranks and happy when he catches the attention of the don. The family plans to take over a business behind on its protection payments, and the don wants Gio to manage it. If he succeeds, Gio will become a made man with his future assured, so long as the family doesn’t discover he is gay.
Conor Malloy is shocked to learn his father’s failing health is the result of pressure from the mob to pay off delinquent debts. He never wanted to manage his father’s pub, but he’ll do what it takes to save his parents. When he feels there is nowhere to turn for help, a handsome Sicilian crosses his path…
REVIEW:
This was an enjoyable quickie about Gio, a man who has been working hard to move up the ranks of the San Gaetano crime family to reach made status. He’s kept his nose to the ground, his sexuality hidden and has just about reached his goal. Then, he is tasked with seeking the agreement of the owner of Lonnegan’s Pub, who has fallen ill, to pay off their debts by selling them the building (below value). In doing so, he runs into Connor, a red-headed Irishman who is visiting on family business. The attraction is there before Gio realizes Connor is the son of the pub owner.
Connor has come home to help his parents after his father fell ill. It doesn’t take long for him to learn of their predicament and to devise a plan to extricate them from said situation. when a quick hookup turns into possibly more, and Gio takes a chance as well, things start happening more quickly. Suffice to say, it’s difficult to see these two having any sort of chance together, given their respective paths, but you can see how it could have easily grown into something aside from that.
Things take a bit of a different turn at the end with the help of the Don’s feisty daughter, Aggie. Belief must surely be suspended with the outcome in this story, but it was a lovely way to end things to be sure. I had a little difficulty getting a real vibe for these two as a couple given how short this story is. I really would have enjoyed a more fleshed out story, but if this was just sticking the toes in the water for this author, I’d gladly take a swim in the pool should a further story develop in this world. I’ll definitely be looking for more in the future.
RATING: 
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