Problems: MMMM Mafia Romance by Brea Alepoú & Skyler Snow – Book Review
I was intrigued to see if this one would deliver, especially with a complicated dark romance mafia MMMM quadruple situation. Problems is #1 of the Ruthless Daddies 2 multi-author collab and a complete standalone.
What’s it about?
Ronan, Finnian, and Cian are all part of the Irish mob, answering to Declan O’Brien. When tensions escalate, and Declan needs his son Jack to be kept safe, he sends him to Arizona with his three most trusted men: Ronan, Jack’s longtime bodyguard; Finnian, his right hand; and Cian, his reaper. Jack is off limits. The boss’s son. Forbidden fruit. None of them should want him — and all three of them do. Problems is an MMMM dark mafia romance about four men forced into close quarters, denial that doesn’t hold, and a connection that’s possessive, dangerous, and inevitable.
Ronan, Finnian, and Cian are all part of the Irish mob and answer to Jack’s dad, Declan. This book ties in nicely with the Vitale Brothers book series. But don’t let that stop you if you haven’t read those; this works as a complete standalone. That said, I absolutely recommend them.
Book Review
What Works
Jack is a menace, and I loved every second of it. His brat energy keeps the dynamic from ever getting too heavy, and it gives the three men something to bounce off of, whether they’re resisting him, taunting him, or eventually giving in. This book is HOT.
The standout for me, though, was Finn and Cian. These two had their own simmering tension that felt like a powder keg waiting to go off. Their dynamic added a layer to the MMMM setup that made it feel less like a pile-on and more like a genuinely interconnected web of want. That’s hard to pull off, and Alepou and Snow managed it.
Three men who would do anything for Declan, all quietly losing the battle against wanting his son. This book has a prominent daddy kink dynamic — Jack is the boy, and his three men each play a distinct role (strict, soft, and psycho, per the blurb). If that’s not your thing, adjust your expectations accordingly.
A closer look
On a reread, a few things stand out that flew right past me the first time. The story spends a generous stretch in denial mode — which, fair enough, that tension is half the fun — but it does mean the four of them have less page time actually in the relationship than you might want. The “I love you” declarations arrive quickly once the walls come down, and the wrap-up after Jack’s kidnapping moves fast. None of it broke the experience on first read, but it’s worth noting if you’re the type to notice pacing on a second pass.
Who Should Read This
If you’re already in the Vitale Brothers universe, this is a must. If you love why-choose and MMMM dynamics with a dark mafia backdrop, this delivers. Come for the forbidden tension, stay for Finn and Cian finally combusting.
The Verdict
Problems delivers exactly what it promises and then some. The heat is real, Jack is a menace in the best way, and Finn and Cian’s combustion alone is worth the price of admission. Alepou and Snow know how to write tension, and this collab continues to deliver. 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Problems: MMMM Mafia Romance by Brea Alepoú & Skyler Snow is available on Kindle Unlimited.
Let’s Talk
MMMM dynamics are notoriously hard to balance. 🤔 Do you prefer a slow burn that takes its time getting everyone together, or do you want the relationship to click into place faster so you get more time with the full group? Drop your take in the comments.
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