Ruthless Mafia Queens Series by Raina Kaufman

My world flipped faster than a pancake on a Sunday morning when a certain mafia queen ended up on my operating table.I’m a surgeon, slicing and dicing my way through high-profile patients. My love life? Drier than toast without butter. But who needs romance when you have a scalpel, right?Aria is the stunning, stone-cold mafia queen who practically owns the criminal underworld... moreMy world flipped faster than a pancake on a Sunday morning when a certain mafia queen ended up on my operating table.I’m a surgeon, slicing and dicing my way through high-profile patients. My love life? Drier than toast without butter. But who needs romance when you have a scalpel, right?Aria is the stunning, stone-cold mafia queen who practically owns the criminal underworld. Imagine my shock when this lethal beauty lands on my operating table, thanks to a bullet from a gang shootout gone wrong. Cue the dramatic music, because here comes Tony, her brooding right-hand man, dragging her to my ER like a scene straight out of a mob movie.So there I am, trying to save this fierce mafia boss’s life, and what do I discover? Aria's got a heart under all that steel, and more secrets than the Vatican’s archives. She’s tough, she's terrifying, and, oh boy, is she tempting. And I’m just a surgeon who can’t resist a captivating pair of eyes. I start putting together the puzzle pieces of her dangerous world, and suddenly, my perfectly planned, meticulously organized life gets turned upside down.Aria's bloodthirsty rival decides to crash our little hospital party. His goons show up, posing as visitors, and I get this funny feeling that they’re not here for the cafeteria food.Now, between tending to Aria’s wounds and keeping her alive, something unexpected happens—we start to bond. She opens up about her struggles, and I see a side of her that’s hidden from the rest of the world. Turns out, we're not so different.But Tony gets all protective and starts throwing out warnings like confetti at a New Year's Eve party. He thinks I'm a liability. Ha! As if I haven’t faced worse in my residency. Meanwhile, my best buddy Marcus is practically popping popcorn, watching my love life turn into a blockbuster romcom.When it’s time for Aria to be discharged, do I let her walk out of my life, or do I take a chance on the most electrifying woman I've ever met? less

Who knew a batch of my finest cupcakes would fling me headfirst into a world of danger and desire?It all began when I delivered some cakes to this drop-dead gorgeous mafia queen, Valentina. Her icy glare could freeze my freshly baked croissants in an instant. But did that stop me from playing hero and almost getting myself killed? Nope! Because apparently, I left my common sense in the oven that day.Despite her cold exterior, Valentina's got layers, much like my best croissants... moreWho knew a batch of my finest cupcakes would fling me headfirst into a world of danger and desire?It all began when I delivered some cakes to this drop-dead gorgeous mafia queen, Valentina. Her icy glare could freeze my freshly baked croissants in an instant. But did that stop me from playing hero and almost getting myself killed? Nope! Because apparently, I left my common sense in the oven that day.Despite her cold exterior, Valentina's got layers, much like my best croissants. I see glimpses of her softer side. We bicker like cats and dogs, but there's something about those moments when she laughs—even if it’s at my expense—that makes my heart race faster than a mixer on high speed.Naturally, I tell myself to steer clear of the intimidating, dangerously hot mafia boss. But fate had other plans.Valentina's enemy mistakes my bakery for her latest mafia front. Honestly, the only thing I'm guilty of is making criminally delicious éclairs. I find myself needing her help to keep my beloved bakery—and my life—intact. Her price? My cozy little bakery becomes neutral territory for mafia negotiations. Move over, cannoli, there's a new Italian specialty in town.As if dodging bullets and bad guys wasn't enough, I find myself falling for Valentina. She's dangerous, she's damaged, and darn it, she's making me question everything I thought I knew about good girls and bad romance.Valentina's world is a far cry from my flour-dusted kitchen, but as we dodge bullets and bake bread, we realize that we’re exactly what the other needs. We discover that sometimes, love isn’t about finding someone who fits into your world perfectly but finding someone worth reshaping your world for.Join us as we navigate this rollercoaster of romance and danger, where the dough rises, bullets fly, and love might just be the most unpredictable ingredient of all. It's a tale of whisks and risks, proving that sometimes, the sweetest things in life are worth fighting for, even if it means trading your rolling pin for a revolver. less

Lights. Camera. Mafia?! On this cruise ship, nothing is as it seems, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.With everyone in danger, I’ve got to juggle acting, avoiding death, keeping my bestie from matchmaking me into oblivion, and possibly figuring out if Veronica—ruthless crime lord by day, reluctant heartthrob by night—is just a fleeting on-set crush, or something more.Welcome aboard the Luna Mare, a luxurious cruise ship... moreLights. Camera. Mafia?! On this cruise ship, nothing is as it seems, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.With everyone in danger, I’ve got to juggle acting, avoiding death, keeping my bestie from matchmaking me into oblivion, and possibly figuring out if Veronica—ruthless crime lord by day, reluctant heartthrob by night—is just a fleeting on-set crush, or something more.Welcome aboard the Luna Mare, a luxurious cruise ship. I’m a rising film star with a burning passion for fabulous hair, and an undeniable knack for stumbling into the most ridiculous situations.Case in point? Getting cast in a high-stakes mafia movie aboard this glamorous floating disaster zone.On day one of filming, while chasing down an actor in what I thought was a dramatic scene, I may have accidentally stormed into the private office of the actual mafia queen of the high seas—Veronica Martini.Cue me, broomstick in hand, staring down the most dangerous woman on the ship. Oh, did I mention that I was disarmed like I was a toddler with a pool noodle? No big deal. Just another Tuesday in my life.And now, thanks to my meddling, I’ve somehow blown her genius plot to lure out Dante, another rival mafia boss lurking on the ship. Oops.Instead of gratitude, I got an icy glare that could freeze the sun, a stern lecture about minding my own business, and maybe a little smoldering look that makes me feel like I’m starring in a romance movie.But it doesn’t stop there. Oh no, the universe isn’t that kind to me. Next thing I know, real mafia drama breaks out during the movie shoot, and—surprise—the bullets flying around us aren’t blanks.Naturally, I did what any sensible actress would do in a moment of life-threatening chaos. I fought back, thinking it was all part of the scene. Bravo. Except, now I’m trapped in a mafia war, and Veronica has revealed herself as the mafia boss to end all bosses.And instead of running, screaming, or possibly fainting, my brain’s only reaction is “Wow, she’s got great hair.”And if that wasn’t complicated enough, my overly dramatic, unapologetically nosey bestie Lisa insists that Veronica and I are destined for a passionate romance. Lisa, always one to add fuel to the fire, even convinced Veronica to take a wounded actor’s place in a romantic scene with me.Cue one of the most awkward yet sizzling slow-dancing moments of my entire career. Or life. And, of course, I’m totally not falling for the mafia queen’s mysterious and surprisingly tender side. Absolutely not. I’m just here to act. Totally professional. No feelings at all. less