This review WILL contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨

“There’s no saving you now. No one can stand against me. I’m too formidable. And you’re all mine. Tutto mio. Forever.”

First Impressions
Ruler of Hearts is the 6th installment in the Fausti family saga and this is a very LONG book haha It did take a while to fully get into the story. It does have moments where it drags at times but once it hits....it will hit you HARD!!! I absolutely adored it deeply. There is something beautiful in how this couple grows together. And this is WHY I love epic saga pairings. And this is the first time I have seen it in a dark romance. Although I don't really consider these books "Dark Romance" it feels closer to contemporary romance with dark elements to it, if that makes sense. I think if you like edgier romantic suspense with mafia family aspects, then this saga is definitely for you. And from what I know most of her books are all connected to each other, so this series you do want to read first.

She came forward and rested her forehead against my chest. “My skull shields my brain. My backbone protects my spine. Your rib shelters my heart,” she said in Italian. “Behind your bones, your strength, I find a place to rest.”

First Line
It was so quiet in our refurbished brownstone in Brooklyn, in the Park Slope Historic District, that I could hear the snow swirling outside of our picture window, a million susurrations floating around in then night.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Brando
The Heroine: Scarlett

“Despite it all and nothing, mio marito, I love you so much it hurts to breathe sometimes. Out of all I’ve done in my life, out of all of the accomplishments and accolades, the best thing I’ve ever done—the best thing I am—is being your wife, Brando Piero Fausti.”


Summary
Brando and Scarlett have settled in their home in New York City, after having to flee from Italy and having two enemies that could cause problems for them. Brando turned down his father's offer to take over the family business, but he knows that won't be the end of things and once Luca is out of prison....things will heat up but for now he wants to take this time with Scarlett and build their life in the states. Brando and Scarlett will have to face up to some demons, some monsters hiding tracking them and their relationship will be challenged in ways that they don't expect....and some uunexpected surprises along the way that will either break their relationship or fortify it even stronger...

“Roses are classic. Romantic. A reminder that all beauty comes with a price—their thorns can make you bleed.”

What I Loved
This pairing of Brando and Scarlett are simply perfection in so many ways. They are truly magic together especially when they decide to actually talk to each other and work out issues as a team...that is where their connection shows such deep layers and seeing the intimacy between grow stronger and more concrete with each challenge is what really makes this series "chefs kiss" good. In Ruler of Hearts, our couple is facing some things. Now much of this book is just seeing them living their lives. Scarlett is dancing still and there are some problems with them. Scarlett is exhausted from her career, Brando is jealous of her dancing partner and they are getting much media attention from it. Brando wants to be supportive but he is also seeing the strain it is putting on her and on their relationship.

matter what I do—you need to remember too. You are mine. Death can’t even take that away from me. Those words are mine. I’ve claimed them since that night in the snow. All mine. You alone. Even if you don’t remember, Scarlett Fausti, I do.

But there is also other aspects that is causing strain. Brando can't get over not having kids, he has issues from his childhood that is causing him to doubt and have reservations and its hurting Scarlett because she wants children more than anything but she won't deceive him into it, she wants him by her side and she is trying to accept that children may never be in her life with him. But what happens when fears come alive for Brando....will he stand by Scarlett's side or break completely? Well you will find out. But I will say the third act was just right. We really see how Brando has to face his fears and that Scarlett is HIS wife and you see how his literal soul gets pushed to the limits....but he comes out in the end being the true hero we know him to be. And the moment when he holds his little girl for the first time and truly accepts being a father??? I BROKE!!!! Literally. It was worth all the angst and conflicts building in this book to see him see the true joy of having a child and how that changes you for the better. Bella Di Corte hit this book hard. And while there were elements that I wish was done a bit differently, I was more than thrilled to be along for the ride. But now I am terrified for book 7.....because Luca will be fully on the scene and I just know it will have me on the edge of my seat.

Men could be as strong as iron, but when it came to a woman’s love and comfort, there was nothing in this world stronger—and I dared anyone to tell me otherwise. It could heal when nothing else was able to. It could hold back the forces of death long enough to see the man through to the other side. It was the antidote to all sickness, and the relief in all circumstances. It could make a man smile when he had nothing or everything to lose. I was my wife’s armor in this life, but she was the strength of my heart.

What I Struggled With
The only thing I am not a big fan of is all this inner angst when they have been together for years. Now we see great character growth in the conflicts that they have together, but some things like jealousy and not working out issues with honest communication, should NOT be a problem with how long they have been together. It was how the conflicts was written in this book that kept it from being a 6 star read.

I never believed in magic until I saw you dancing, my wife. I never believed in love until you touched my hand, my wife. I never believed in transcendence until I made love to you, my wife. I never believed in forever, until you became my wife.

Overall View
Ruler of Hearts is a epic saga tale that digs deep into the heartbreak of the soul, the battle that wages from within, it reflects the true facets of the human condition, of fighting to heal and to embrace the beauty that love and life has to offer. AN UTTER GEM OF BRILLIANCE IN EPIC LOVE THAT KEEPS FIGHTING!

“You are my heart. Your lifeblood sustains mine. Not my equal; you are more powerful than me.”

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Dark Romance
Character Types: Mafia, Dancer/Ballerina, Alpha Male/Protector
Themes: Danger/Suspense, Tear Jerker, World Building A Focus, One True Pairing
Tropes: Epic Love

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Nicole Fox
Cora Reilly
JM Darhower

Song This Book Inspires
Beautiful People by Ed Sheeran

Recommendation For Reading Order
YES ----you need to read these books in order

Steam/Spice Explanations

Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.