Mobility Mom Book Shelf: Taming Lucia by Raissa Donovan and Addison Wolf (Audio Review)

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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Book Description

Am I their partner... or their pet?

Victor promised me that I'd be one of the team. That I'll stand at his side, helping him mastermind my father's demise. I'll direct Saint to finding our enemies, and I'll tell Angelo when to pull the trigger.

So why does it feel like they're humoring me? Why is every single victory only followed by another humiliation? I need to prove to them that I'm important to their operation. I need to prove that I'm not expendable.

I need them to need me, or else I might end up shattered in pieces so small, there's no way to put me back together.

Note: This work contains extremely dark themes with potentially triggering content. Read at your own discretion.

About Raissa Donovan & Addison Wolf

Raissa Donovan -Raissa Donovan is the pen name for M/M writer R. Phoenix. Raissa has recently ventured into writing dark (MM+)M/f romances.

As R. Phoenix, she writes anything from pretty pink fluff to dark noncon twincest. She prefers to write dark — the darker, the better — but sometimes her muse takes her to some pretty strange places. Her books are primarily available on Amazon, but the especially taboo works are only at Smashwords.

Addison Wolf - Addison Wolf writes dark and kinky Mf novels, emphasis on the dark. These stories don't feature healthy relationships. For Addison's MM works, please check her MM pen, Adara Wolf.

When Addison isn't torturing her faves, she spends her time painting, learning languages, and rescuing cats.

If you're ever curious about the specific content of her works, there are content notes for each story on the website.

You can also get early chapters and exclusive short stories by becoming a VIP at Wolf & Phoenix.

My Thoughts

Taming Lucia, the second installment in the dark romance trilogy by Raissa Donovan and Addison Wolf, picks up immediately where the previous book left off, plunging readers back into a world of moral ambiguity and power struggles. Narrated by the impressive ensemble cast of TJ Clark, Evan Parker, Branden Davis-Butler, and Kayden Lukakis, the audiobook delivers a raw, gritty experience that manages to be even darker than its predecessor.

The central tension of the novel revolves around a broken promise. At the conclusion of the first book, Lucia secured a vow from Victor that she would be a partner in their mafia organization, working alongside them to take down her father and her fiancé, Pavone. However, the reality she faces is far more humiliating. Instead of a seat at the table, Lucia finds herself treated as a pet or mere arm candy, excluded from the actual operations even as the organization faces gruesome threats in the form of delivered body parts. The narrative poses the lingering question: is she a partner, or is she expendable?

What makes this installment compelling is seeing Lucia refuse to be a doormat. While she initially attempts to learn the ropes quietly, gaining some respect from the guards, her emotions eventually lead to a harsh punishment from Victor that results in public humiliation. Rather than breaking, this fuels a shift in Lucia. It is fascinating to watch her regain a sense of agency by exploiting the men’s weaknesses and manipulating them using Victor’s own tactics—a game Victor recognizes but strangely allows to continue. She evolves from a victim into a calculated player, proving she is strong enough to face whatever is thrown at her.

The dynamic with the men—Victor, Angelo, and Saint—is complex, infuriating, and deeply erotically charged. Victor remains the ruthless leader, pushing punishments to limits that eventually cause even Angelo and Saint to intervene. Saint is portrayed as a troubled soul who surprisingly responds to Lucia’s firm hand, while Angelo begins to have a belated epiphany that he knows almost nothing about Lucia as a human being. Readers should be prepared that this is not a traditional romance; it is heavy on smut and power plays, with a distinct lack of emotional tenderness for much of the story. It is only toward the end, following a punishment that crosses a line, that the men attempt to rectify their behavior with a date night to prove they care.

The pacing is incredibly fast, rushing toward a climax where that seemingly reparative night out goes wrong when Lucia disappears in the bathroom, leading to a jaw-dropping cliffhanger. The narration elevates the material significantly, with the four voice actors distinctively bringing the tension and personality of each character to life, making the heat and the violence feel visceral. Despite some minor world-building frustrations regarding vague settings and character ages, Taming Lucia is a thrilling, emotionally charged bridge to the final book that leaves the listener desperate to see if Lucia will finally solidify her place as a partner or if she is destined to remain a pawn.