RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - The Italian Kitten Meets the Russian Wolf (Giovanni Family #1) by Grace Reagal

Title: The Italian Kitten Meets The Russian Wolf

Author: Grace Reagal

Genre: NA Mafia Romance

Release Date: November 20, 2018 

Publisher: Limitless Publishing

Do you know the story of Romeo and Juliet? Well, this isn’t their story. This is our story, Valentin’s story…my story.

In the world of the filthy rich, two of the most infamous crime families rule with iron fists. Drug trafficking, gang killings, ruthless wars—these are the men who have no moral compass.

Meet the Russian Mob, and the Italian Cosa Nostra. His family…and mine.

My name is Caterina Giovanni, daughter of the Italian Mafia. I’ve been clueless about who my family really is, what they’re capable of—until I meet him. Valentin Nikolaev, son of the Russian Mob.

Born and raised to one day take his rightful place as leader of his family, Valentin has one goal, and one goal only—to annihilate the Giovanni family. My family.

In the end only one mafia will be left standing on the ashes of the other.

Are you ready to find out which one?

So....this was my first time reading Grace Reagal. I went into this book thinking it's a forbidden love mafia story centered around 2 twenty-something members of opposing families. I wasn't expecting this to be about 2 opposing mafia family members who are seniors in high school. After finishing this book, I can honestly say that I am ENTIRELY grateful my high school years weren't this cringe-inducing. It's obvious right from the start of the book how sheltered Caterina is, not just about her family, but about the world in general. It doesn't take long before her view of the world is upended, literally, by Valentin, and in humiliating fashion. 

Valentin is Russian mafia and has his sights set on the Giovanni family, for reasons yet to be determined. He definitely lives up to image of being mafia, even though he's still in high school. He knows more about the Giovanni family but is specifically cryptic when dropping little nuggets of info to Caterina. He is the epitome of the big bad wolf, but there are a few (and I mean a few) moments where he seems to have a heart when it comes to Caterina.

I gotta say, I wasn't expecting to be as drawn into the story as I was

I muster up a laugh as I cock my head at Valentin. “Who is he?” I nod to the blond guy. “Your backup?”

Valentin doesn’t say anything.

I goad him with a smile. “You can’t say anything for yourself, cupcake?”

The blond kid erupts in laughter, “Oh, God, Val.” He wipes a tear. “You’ve really got your hands full now.” He looks at me with an incredulous look, “Cupcake?” He shakes his head, laughing. “That’s complete and utter gold—”

“Nate. Get the fuck out.”

Valentin speaks for the first time, his eyes still trained on me.

I clap with a laugh. “Oh, my God! You speak!” I lean toward him as if telling him a secret. “I thought you might have gone mute from the last time we spoke.” I wink. “You know, from the way I showed you up in front of all your minions.”

Nate starts laughing even harder as he walks to the door. “Good luck, brother! I’m here if you need me.” He winks at me as he opens the door. “As a backup, you know?”

“Nate.”

“Fine. Fine.” I hear his laughter get farther and farther away until it disappears.

I cross my arms and regard Valentin. “So, are you just gonna stare like a pedophile? Or are you going to give me my clothes?”

And suddenly, in a lightning-fast movement that seems inhuman, Valentin steps up and whips the towel off my body. “No, I think I’m going to look just a little longer.”

Grace Reagal is a young author who is studying medicine by day and serial writing by night. She has garnered over 88K readers on Wattpad and Radish and over 20 million reads.

She writes about mafia men without hearts and the women who find it for them. She writes because the most beautiful thing for her is creating a world where she and her readers can escape to.

When she's not writing, she can be found crying, studying, listening to One Republic and Lumineers, questioning her existence, reading steamy books under the covers or daydreaming about her characters. Her goals for her life includes becoming a neurosurgeon, publishing a book, and finally becoming a recluse in the woods.

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