Deathless & Divided

The Chicago War, Book 1

By: Bethany Kris

Narrated by: Roberto Scarlato

Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Lies and love. This is how a war starts.

A life for a life. That's the mafia way. Damian Rossi owes his life to a man who is ready to collect. That payment comes in the form of an arranged marriage to the daughter of another leading family in the Chicago Outfit. He's ready to follow through, even if that means making sure Lily knows she's his.

Lily DeLuca isn't being given a choice. Forced home to marry a man she doesn't know and back into a life she'd rather forget, her world is full of half-truths, buried pain, and uncertainty. But Damian is nothing like she expects. His motives aren't clear. Her beliefs are being tested.

When it comes to this world, no man can be trusted. Someone is ready to flip the Chicago Outfit on its side all for the promise of something better. But no one runs a clean game and these men play for keeps. When blood begins to paint Chicago red, four families will be divided by loyalty, hatred, and revenge. There is no hiding. There is no safety.

No one is deathless.

No one.

©2015 Bethany-Kris (P)2016 Bethany-Kris

They're Killing Off Each Other!

I love mafia books because there's suspense, thrills, excitement, drama, sex, twists and turns; they're so exciting. Deathless & Divided doesn't disappoint.

There are four families involved in this mafia ring: The Rossi's, the DaLuca's, the Trantini's and the Cante's.

Lilly Daluca is the sister of Dino DaLuca. Dino has let Lilly travel Europe for 3 years and has now told her she needs to come home. Dino is going to prison and for Lilly's safety arranged a marriage between Lilly and Damien Rossi. Damien owes Dino his life so he agrees to the marriage. Lilly on the other hand is furious even though she knows arranged marriages are common in the mafia.

There is a lot of deceit, betrayal, and revenge that takes place before and after the wedding. Lilly and Damien do fall in love before the wedding but they don't have their HEA yet. The story is to be continued.

Roberto Scarlato gave a good performance. It takes a little getting used to his female voices.

This is my first book by Bethan-Kris and I'm looking forward to more of her stories.

Worth a credit/$$ Absolutely!

4/4.5 "Arranged Marriages & Mafia Ghosts" Stars!

4 "Arranged Marriages & Mafia Ghosts" for the story and 4.5 narration stars!

Being a big fan of mafia romances, I'm always looking for a new one to fill my bad boy fill! I mean who doesn't love sexy, alpha, bad boy heroes who pursue their business with the same flare as their scorching hot romantic relationships? Filled with plenty of suspense and hot encounters between the hero and heroine, Deathless & Divided definitely fit my mafia romance craving and beyond that also brought an interesting perspective where supposed mafia brothers battled with more than just their known rivals, bringing a whole new meaning to hidden ghosts and secret agendas! Additionally, not only was the story line satisfying, but the narration by Roberto Scarlatto was also top-notch making this a great title to choose in audiobook format.

Those of you who read/listen to mafia romances know that arranged marriages are common, and indeed, seen as a common way to unite families and do business in the mafia world. In Deathless and Divided, Lily Deluca learns that even though she is an orphan who has been spared the mafia world for a number of years while she explored Europe, she still owes the same obligations to her family. The only difference being that in this case it's her older brother who is making the marriage business decision rather than her father (who was killed for being a traitor).

Lily really resents being told who she must marry even if she can't help but feel a natural attraction to Damian "Ghost" Rossi, the man her brother has chosen for her to marry. Of course, Damian has his own reasons for agreeing to the union, including a debt he owes to Lily's brother. Still I found it interesting that rather than regret the imposition, Damian takes his commitment to Lily seriously and endeavors, right from the beginning, to pursue a true romantic relationship with Lily. But can Damian wear Lily down and convince her that marrying him is more than obligation?

In addition to the romantic arc, there is also an interesting suspense arc that melds together the business ambitions and secret revenge plots of a number of the members of the Chicago mafia. Watching Damian both navigate these waters, as well as, try to stay true to his own wishes and desires was an interesting venture, full of action-packed scenes--with plenty of bloodshed--as well as intrigue as to the true motivators underlying a number of the mafia members' motivations. But perhaps what I loved the most was Damian's alpha protective side which kicked into high gear as a family war was unleashed among the Chicago mafia members. However, when so many violent and powerful people are driven by their own agendas, can Damian be successful in protecting the one thing that he knows is "his": Lily?

Perhaps my only observation is that Lily may have caved into accepting Damian as more than just a family obligation just a bit too quick. Then again, Damian sure does know how to treat his woman--so perhaps that's understandable.

Having previously listened to Roberto Scarlato's narrations in the past, I knew that the narration would be good--and Mr. Scarlato does not disappoint! Having a natural tough guy voice for the plentiful mafia characters in Deathless & Divided as well as the ability to impart emotion into his rendition, Mr. Scarlato brings the story to life making it even more compelling.

Mr. Scarlato also does a good job of providing distinguishable voices for both Lily and Damian. By varying the pitch of his voice, Mr. Scarlato is able to create a believable feminine voice for Lily while at the same time a deeper voice for Damian. This made distinguishing the character speaking seamless without the need to rely on dialogue tags. Mr. Scarlato also slightly varies his intonation even among characters of the same gender so that the listener can distinguish the various mafia members and their female family members.

Given this is an ACX produced title, I also was impressed with the production quality of the audiobook as I noticed no differences between this book and others produced by the major audiobook publishers.

All in all, Deathless and Divided is sure to keep mafia romance lovers entertained. And although there is no cliffhanger as it relates to Damian and Lily, Bethany-Kris has certainly laid out the framework for plenty of more Chicago War stories to come!

Source: Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

Good start to the Chicago War series

I love mafia romance and this was a really good book. Damon was such a nice guy even though he was a killer. Lily's brother, Dino, was a piece of work. He arranged for Damon to marry Lily. Lily was vehemently opposed to the marriage. Damon treated Lily really well so it is no wonder she fell in love with him. Roberto Scarlato did a great job with the narration. He was really good with the female voices.

Great story and narration. 4.5 stars!

Where does Deathless & Divided rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I would rank it in the top 5.

What other book might you compare Deathless & Divided to and why?

Any kind of crime/mobster book because of the mob family that is central to the book.

Have you listened to any of Roberto Scarlato’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Not sure.

Any additional comments?

Deathless and Divided is book one in the Chicago War Series by Bethany-Kris. Narrated by Roberto Scarlato. I'll start off my audio book review with saying that if you like mobster type books, you will love this one.

Book - 4.5 stars
Lily has been forced to come home, but what she doesn't know is that an arranged marriage awaits her. When Damian agrees to marry her, he wasn't expecting to feel such attraction for her. Neither one of them do. The story focuses on the couple, however, you also get to see the intricacies of the world Bethany-Kris has created. I loved the writing style and all of the characters. There were a couple of parts that I felt lagged here and there, but those were few and far between. I absolutely loved this story and will be searching for more books from the author.

Narration - 4.5 stars
A good narration can make or break a book, and this was one spot on. Roberto Scarlato was able to bring each character to life, making them each sound unique, which only enhanced the already wonderful story. I loved it. Many times a narrator will put in weird pauses and sound bland in spots, and while there were couple of pauses, they did not distract and I think I only heard one or two. Definitely one of the better narrators I've listened to.

Overall - 4.5 stars
The narration was wonderful, the story was exciting and full of action plus love (seriously, with that combo, how can you go wrong?), and you can tell the author has done her research. One click this story in either book or audio today! You won't be disappointed.

An Interesting and Enjoyable audio

What made the experience of listening to Deathless & Divided the most enjoyable?

It’s about 20 hours worth of narrations, narrated by Roberto Scarlato who has the type of voice that makes chills run up and down your spine as he reads along the book, making you want to keep going even when the book is over.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Deathless & Divided?

So full of drama, suspense and action, Bethany-Kris’ newest release will absolutely make you rethink what Mafia life really is.

What does Roberto Scarlato bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Deathless & Divided is an intense novel that Roberto Scarlato easily conveys, revolving around the mafia lifestyle, following Lily as she’s given to a man as a bride that’s she’s never met.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Deathless & Divided was my first audiobook experience and I have to say it was an interesting one. It’s a different experience from when I’m reading since I can’t see the words, but instead I have to hear them, which is why it took two tries for me to finally get what’s happening – let me be clear though, I’m more of a visual person and not as much an auditory person, which absolutely impacted the time it to go through the novel

WOW!!

Any additional comments?

absolutely love this book. My first from this author and it did not disappoint. The story was so well written I could not turn it off. The narration was 5stars...bravo Roberto Scarlato.👍Well worth the credit?? Hell yea!

Great Mob story

What made the experience of listening to Deathless & Divided the most enjoyable?

Narrator was great

What was one of the most memorable moments of Deathless & Divided?

Not just one

Have you listened to any of Roberto Scarlato’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Any additional comments?

4.5 stars

Mob ties run deep in Chicago. So does loyalty.

Dino DeLuca is calling in a favor that is owed to him by Damian Rossi. Damian is indifferent to the request as he knows what Dino did for him in the past, he owes him this. He is treating it just like any other business deal.
But then he meets Lily and it just might be more than that for him.

Lily DeLuca maybe part of the family by blood, but she isn't part of the outfit. She is being called back by her brother Dino. She has been able to spread her wings and travel for the last 3 years, but enough is enough. She wasn't expecting what Dina had to say......

Dino needs to make sure his sister is safe from their late parents past and the only way is by having her married to another family.

Is Dino's plan for all the right reasons Can Damian be trusted to keep Lily safe as he promised DIno? Or will Lily be in more danger than before.

This was a great audio book and the narrator did a great job!

And the war Begins

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

YES!! Bethany-Kris writes an intriguing story about the Chicago mafia, having it narrated to you added that much more excitement to the story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Deathless & Divided?

When Lily and Damian notice each other for the first time, and the feelings you felt while they were getting to know each other.

Have you listened to any of Roberto Scarlato’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I haven't listened to any of his other performances, but he makes the story even more exciting, his voice is soothing yet animated.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Once I started listening to the story I couldn't stop. Bethany-Kris writes a great story that you just have to finish, minute after minute until completed.

Any additional comments?

This was an excellent beginning, now I cannot wait to finish the rest of the series!

Storyline could bot be better!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

YES!!! This book is so much more than just a romance. It is a well-written and gripping story about being in the Mafia, living the dangerous lifestyle and the politics that go along with it. It's a story about the war between the four Chicago crime families that are falling apart due to mistrust, deceit, and betrayal. It took one event... one line to make them question each other... now, all hell has broken loose and it's one family for itself. The La famigla just got a lot smaller!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Deathless & Divided?

There was so much about this story that is amazing. It's a fast-paced action-packed book. A scene that stands out the most was when Lily called her brother to ask how he could do it. Once she finished that strong, short conversation she turned around to see Damien. It just showed me that he'll be there, no matter what.

Have you listened to any of Roberto Scarlato’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is my fist Scarlato book. I do wish there was a joint woman in this performance for Lily's parts but overall it was something I'll come back to.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

No one was deathless in this world.

Any additional comments?

This is an amazing storyline... I'm hoping to get to listen to the other books too!

4 bang bang Stars

Arranged marriage, mafia princess, danger and finally love... this audio was awesome. I loved the instant devotion of Damian. He is a bad boy and a made man, but I would love to be on his side of all that attention.

Lily, although I understand because she is being promised, she came across pretty bratty. It was hard to sympathize with that attitude.

The loyalty and lies and family was so perfect. I love mafia books and this satiated my desires completely.

I really wish it could have been in dual narration. Although Roberto did a great job and fix the mafia tone and tenor perfectly, I really would have liked to have dual Narration.

Absolutely love the cover!!

Bethany-Kris is a mafia master story teller. This book has all the feels, all the emotions and keeps you captivated. Roberto Scarlato did an amazing job. This story is so good. You can’t put it down. A definite must listen. I absolutely cannot wait for book 2


🎧AudiobookObsessionReviewer

Blurred Lines

Audiobook review. This story was refreshing because the lines between good and bad, right and wrong were blurred. I was absolutely hooked by the plot and the mechanics of this Chicago mafia world. The characters were fleshed out very well. Their personalities, motivations, and actions were carefully crafted to fit a bigger piece into a puzzle I’ve yet to figure out.

Damian was a man who thought he knew his place in the mafia world but soon found a different purpose. Lily couldn’t control her own destiny no matter how much she wished to, but once she opened herself up, she and Damian were able to form a connection. I liked their chemistry. Damian’s dirty talk was 🔥.

The narrator, Roberto Scarlato, was a great fit. He transitioned well between both voices and maintained a strong quality throughout his narration.

Complimentary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.

Really Bethany?!?!?!?

Omg I need to find and throttle Bethany! This book is amazing and I now NEED book 2! It has such highs and lows. So much emotion. Written very well and Roberto? Well there’s a sexy as sun voice that totally belongs to the mafia characters. Excellent narration Roberto.

Wow! So absolutely amazing!

This book just set a new standard for me. It was brilliant. It had so much depth to not only the storyline but the characters themselves. You can loose yourself in this world. Become entangled and enchanted by the characters and their stories. Not only was there amazing romance and passion, there was mystery, suspence, love, betrayal, history and an uncertain future. I am so caught up in this story I will be needing so much more!!

The narrator may just be one of my new favorites. He was fantastic. His voice is perfect for this book and these characters. I need more of him too!!

#audiobookobsessionreviewer

Deathless & Divided

This book was such a great start to the series. I loved that Lily was such a strong character and fighting family expectations and an arranged marriage. Damien wants to be a ghost in the mafia but he gets brought into the spotlight. Now they are finding each other at the beginning of a mafia war.

I've listened to a few performances by Roberto Scarlato, and he always has such a solid and smooth narration.

#AudiobookObsession
🎧AudiobookObsession