Is she his ruin…
Or his redemption?

Jovi D’Amato doesn’t show mercy. He is ice-cold, ruthless, and relentless. He is the deadly weapon of the Il Serpente crime syndicate, forged in the brutal aftermath of his family’s murder. Then he’s sent to kidnap Ruxandra Ardelean. In a single heartbeat, she detonates his entire existence…

Salvation isn’t something Rux thought possible until Jovi takes her prisoner. The dangerous Sicilian should terrify her. Instead, he thrills her. She comes alive under his shamelessly sinful touch. Though for Jovi to make her his, he’ll have to burn his whole world down…

~Standalone~

This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.

Title:  Sicilian Devil’s Prisoner
Series:  Standalone
Author:  Caitlin Crews
Published:  December 30, 2025
Publisher:  Harlequin Presents
My Rating:  4.5 stars

I am forever in awe of how Caitlin Crews can take characters that I shouldn’t love, and make them vulnerable, real enough that I can see redemption for them within the experience of finding their perfect partner… for them.  Sicilian Devil’s Prisoner is that kind of romance, one that by all logic shouldn’t work, yet I cannot imagine either Rux (Ruxandra) or Jovi with anyone else.

Jovi was raised by his ruthless, yes, even evil uncle after his parents’ murder.  He’s become what his uncle has made of him, an assassin, a weapon against enemies, an asset that could be maneuvered however this nasty piece of work desired.  Now he has one objective – eliminate an enemy’s family member by any means possible.  Rux has always known that she was little more than collateral to her family.  She knew that one day her father’s enemies would come for her in death or worse.  She just never thought she’d be so calm, so accepting, when that someday possibility became today’s reality.  She certainly never expected Jovi or her instant reaction to the man who could change or end her life in seconds.  One harsh, political (for the Mafia is its own entity) decision is about to change lives in ways that neither Rux nor Jovi ever could have imagined.

I loved everything about Sicilian Devil’s Prisoner.  It’s a Mafia Romance with very little “Mafia” and a whole lot of “Romance”.  I adored Rux, her banter, her wit, and her almost nonchalant acceptance of her fate, which endeared her to me, but more importantly to Jovi.  Jovi is suddenly a man torn between what was and what he needs in his future.  Rux.  Watching them work through the layers of their relationship and find a way to make it all work was an emotional, satisfying journey.

Their story is well-written, passionate, emotional, filled with danger, intensity, and a desire for more than what was expected of them.  I liked them both individually and as a couple.  If this sounds like your kind of romance, then you’d love Sicilian Devil’s Prisoner by Caitlin Crews.  I’d not hesitate to recommend it, and look forward to what the author brings us next.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

If you enjoy this author’s work, please visit our Caitlin Crews page to discover titles you may have missed over time.

This title is available at Amazon