Broken Promises

Broken Duet #2

by I.A. Dice

North, South… and no Star.
Chicago falls into Dante’s hands.
His six-year dream becomes a reality.
But it means nothing without Layla by his side.
The war has ended… peace failed to follow.

Tormented by recent events, Dante struggles to choose a path. Betrayal cuts deep, no matter the circumstances, hatred keeps his mind busy but it’s no match for the heart. Going up against love is futile.

Stuck in limbo, ruled by fear and memories, Layla hides from the wrath she knows is coming. Regret is the last thing on her mind. If she could, she’d do it all over again. Hope is all she has left. Hope, that Dante will leave her alone… or find it in him to forgive her.

But hope is the mother of all fools.

Ghosts of the past come back to haunt them both. Reality shatters their dreams when a new threat emerges. A race against time, death, and vengeance.
There’s only one rule… there are no rules.

Genres: Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Dark, Contemporary Romance, Smut

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2022

About the author

I. A. Dice writes emotionally intense romance—both dark and light—but always equally spicy. When she’s not dreaming up love stories, she’s probably drinking too much coffee and swooning over fictional men.

Reviews

[itsjessamess · Rating 3 out of 5]

finished it a couple days ago altoughhh dante???? who doesn’t love a man that would set the world on fire for you

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

missing finger

Spoilers:


I had a really hard time with this book because it starts off with zero mention of the missing finger from book 1(literally never mentioned again, what was the point in losing it?).

Like her cousin would let her go two weeks without mentioning why she showed up with an open wound that wasn’t properly treated literally missing a dinner.

I saw no point to Grace and the storyline with Jess was unforgivable and I felt like it was rushed over.

[Michellelovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review: I love a morally gray man who would stop at nothing to get a woman back.

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read Broken Rules before reading this as its a continuation of the story and believe me you won’t wanna miss out of anything.

So I went to bed last night to read a few chapters, planning on reading the rest today. Well these characters had a different idea as I sat up until 3am totally engrossed in the story. I just couldn’t put it down.

As I read so much I sometimes need to read the end of a previous book to jog my memory. As soon as I read the characters name it all came flooding back.

Dante and Layla got under my skin. I was on the rollercoaster with them. I ached when they ached.

Sometimes I wanna slap a character when they go a certain way but I couldn’t with these two. The to-ing and fro-ing had me dizzy but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’m sad to see this story end as I loved the characters. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author soon.

[Katie Fanning · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only read this duo because I thought it would show how Dante and Carter met, seeing as Carter mentioned he took 3 bullets for Dante’s wife I thought there would be an explanation. Nope.
Also I hate an age-gap only 9 years so that part I could handle but the fact that he knew her when she was a kid grossed me out and made it very difficult for me to push through till the end only for a complete lack of pay off.

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect follow up to book 1. Dante and Layla face an unknown future. Scores to settle, skeletons come out of the closet and relationships never to be the same again. Kept me hooked from the start. 5 fabulous stars.

[Addicted.2.reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn't love a man that will turn the world up side down for you? Great ending!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

loving this author!

Loved this duet. Dante and Layla did not have it easy, but they came out the other end together. No surprises really, Dante was NEVER letting her go! I loved the pace, the romance, the mafia involvement, just loved everything about this and will definately be reading more from this author.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series. Well written, think have have found a new love in mafia romance

[Christina Rybka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel I’m on a roller coaster

The story continues and the twists and turns are still unfolding. The secrets and betrayals are slowly coming out. Will Layla and Dante make it ? Great characters and storyline Highly recommended Amazing Book. Perfect ending. I love this world and the characters in it. The character development is top notch. I couldn’t put these books down

[dani · Rating 1 out of 5]

boring

[Nicole Tirado · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a roller coaster without going too much into it.

God i held my breath multiple chapters!
I almost cried

Dante & Layla are a goddamn whirlwind of a couple!

Holy shit
Sad to see it end

[Kylaslibary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The way me heart stopped 2 times in 30 min I cant omg but even after the Dante is me man the way he’s obsessed with the girl is to good I love that

[Selina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken promises by @ia.dice
Sometimes, you have to keep things from your loved ones; You lie, or you don't really tell the truth. ⭐️
But when the truth is finally out....it's hard to choose;
Staying or leaving for the sake of your life.
The story of Laylah and Dante resumes in this book as we experience some stress and emotional roller coasters. 🎢

The truth will always save you from the bad or...will it? What if the one person who's supposed to love you forever betrayed you?💀⚰️

I had a great time reading this book, and I recommend you to read it too!
10/10 ⭐️ and 🌶🌶🌶/5

📎Genres:
• Contemporary Romance
• Mafia Romance
• Families are enemies
• If you touch her and he'll send you to the underworld.

Part two of a Duet

Check out @ttreviwesbooks on ig for more 💕

[lamija🪷📖 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really don’t know why but even though there were some interesting plotlines the whole story just felt really flat? Some elements were really unnecessary, and never really resolved, like what was that with Grace? And why was it never mentioned again? Also, idk if it’s my lack of biology, but how can someone leave the hospital after two days when they literally WENT INTO CARDIAC ARREST? This don’t make no sense? The characters were flat, the story had some major issues when it came to consistency and pace…. It just wasn’t for me. I really hoped the second book might do better but tbh it didn’t 😭💀🫥🤯😥

[Born To Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Second book of a duet.
After the amazing final we got in the first book, we continue with Dante and Layla's story.
There isn't a moment when something major isn't happening. Although the pace of the story slows down in some moments.
As the previous book, this one is full of action, surprises and of course passion.
This duet is pretty good, actually.

[Natalia · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5☆ que decepción... por como termina el libro anterior esperaba que éste pudiera darme mucho más, pero no, ya veo que son iguales, libros aburridos que tienen 1 o 2 capítulos que te hacen caer de la silla y ya. Me decepciona porque siento que son buenas ideas que se quedan cortas, que se pueden explotar mucho pero no se desarrollan bien. Una lástima, tenían mucho potencial y mucho material para que fueran un GRAN DRAMA.

[Karen Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review
I was desperate to know more after book 1 so I jumped straight into book 2. Everything is so much more than book 1 and you are deep inside Dante's mind.

Layla is feisty and stands up for herself, she is tough, vulnerable and emotional and between them they go on an amazing journey.

I've loved being a part of the gangs' story and can't wait to read another book from I A Dice.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Kyleagh Haseltine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me on edge the entire time I swear. So many twists and turns throughout. I loved every bit and soaked it all up. I aspire to have a relationship like Dante and Layla to be fair. He looks at her like no other woman in the world exists. The pain he feels throughout had me almost sobbing. I thoroughly enjoyed the series!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. this book had me crying at work and i loved every second. i definitely prefer the first book over this one but they’re both so good

[Liska · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Hollie Deroche · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I wasn’t a fan of the ending. Kind of wish it would have ended different but I still loved the story. Can’t wait to see what the author writes next.

[Jess Brax · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second book in the series was good! A bit more compelling than the first, a little frustrating that the FMC was a bit stubborn throughout the book but that made things more suspenseful. Overall great, quick read and great series!!

[Kerry Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this was too good!! Honestly never expected all the twists

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

[🇵🇸🇵🇸 hasfia 🇵🇸🇵🇸 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Exactly as uninteresting and underwhelming as the first book. I could have done well with not reading this honestly.

[azraf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off really goodddd I love lovee danteee!! But it was kinda stretching at the end

[Natasha diary_of_a_sarcastic_bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

- book 2 of 2 (must read book 1 first)
- Mafia
- Age gap
- Enemies to lovers
- Touch her you die vibes

So here I am back in the world of Dante and Layla and I couldn’t be happier.

One of the things I loved most is we are back nearly exactly where book 1 finished, we don’t miss a single tortured moment. In book one we undiscovered that Layla was sent to Dante by her father to take him down one way or the other. However she can’t do it, she plays it through right till the bitter end but when it comes to pulling that trigger she just can’t. She never intended to fall so deeply in love with him.

Dante of course is destroyed that she betrayed him, but he never doubts her love for him. That can’t be faked, she isn’t that good of a liar. He tried to hate her, forget about her but we all knew that was never going to happen.. a love and obsession that they have doesn’t just disappear. He is nothing without her, frank got what he wanted to take something he loves most but will Dante really sit back and let him win? Ha not a chance.

Only there is more trouble than just the fact he can’t find her.. not that he has started looking, yet!
They is an open hit on her, one last present from daddy dearest.
More secrets, more drama, more enemies and so much more.

This one was so much more emotional than book one, we truly see how much they love each other even when they are apart.

Will Dante really be able to stop everyone?
Will Layla ever forgive herself?
Can they have a second chance?
Or will it all be ripped away, before the end?

I wasn’t ready for this book to be finished. I would have enjoyed a wee be more of the after everything at the end but I’m greedy🥴

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It’s definitely between four and five stars for me. I thought it was a great second book to the series, I really wish that there was going to be a third book. Just because I feel like this whole book, was really chaotic with trying to cancel the head on Layla. So I never really felt like we got to see them be normal and happy in this book. One thing that I really liked about the first book was getting to see their life together, especially when she would interact with the other girlfriends at the club. So I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get more of those interactions in this book. Obviously, I wish that there was going to be more books in the series, but I think a better end to this book would have been a couple more chapters where we got to see their life together after they got home from Russia. Just because after reading this whole series and they go through all these tumultuous times you want to see them be happy. When you think about it the last time that we were able to see them, happy together and be in some huge conflict, was like the middle of the first book.

My only issue with the book is that I wish that Dante would’ve been more mad at Layla. I mean, she completely betrayed him, and at the beginning of the book he did definitely seem mad. But once he ended up getting back together with her, he never seemed that upset about it. I don’t know maybe that makes him like really mature. But there’s just no way that he could’ve forgiven her and all of his men could forgive her.

I really feel like the second book would’ve been perfect if there was going to be a third book but I don’t think there is. I’m just kind of frustrated that I feel like I read the whole book which was really great but then at the end, I was kind of let down by not getting to see enough of them being happy. Because obviously, I really liked them together and I wanted them to be happy. So I would’ve loved to have seen more of that.

Again, I thought the writing of this book was really great, and there was a lot of substance to the plot other than just romance. And another thing that I really liked about this series is I feel like the whole plot made sense and crazy enough felt realistic. In my opinion, a lot of times in these kinds of books a lot of the plot seems like so crazy and far-fetched. And a lot of times there will be like a conflict at the end that seems to be resolved way to quickly. And is resolved in a way that seems very unlikely and just doesn’t make sense to the story and it’s entirety. But I didn’t feel that way about this book at all, I felt like a lot of the book was thought out really well. And I can tell that the author spent a lot of time, connecting the details and making it really well thought out.

I’m still just hoping for more books honestly from this universe, just because I feel like we learned so much about Dantes men and their girlfriends, and a lot of the backstory of organization, and the history of the other organizations. I just hope that we get to see more of it because it seems like there really is like so many other stories that could be told.

Random thoughts:

-I don’t really understand what the point of the new cleaner Grace was. It just seemed really random her character was added into the story, it makes me think that there’s going to be more books and maybe she’ll come up in the other ones. It was just so random when she would be talked about in the chapters, and honestly even more random in the end for her to try to hook up with Dante. I just didn’t really get it. Because it was obvious that she did not like Layla, but we didn’t even get to see them confront their issues. We also didn’t get to see Dante tell Layla about Grace kissing him. I actually really disliked the scene about Grace kissing him, because I know he was really drunk and being taken advantage of. But I really just didn’t think it was in his character to even kiss her back at all(I understand that in the story it says that he thought it was Layla for a second. But I really just don’t think he would do that).

-I liked the addition of the business partner from Russia being her father, I did feel like that twist was kind of spoonfed to us, so we knew it was coming. But I didn’t really have a problem with that. I liked how it gave a believable reason for why he was so willing to give up so much to help protect her. Back to what I said above, to me, this just proves that the story was really well thought out. Because I know, and a lot of other books, I’ve read a detail like that just wouldn’t have been explained. There would have been no explanation as to why a random business acquaintance to Dante was willing to give up so much for Layla.

-another interesting point of the story is that from what I can gather it seems to be set eight years before the book “breaking Hailey”. So I have a lot of questions about Dante and Layla. I would think after eight years they would definitely have kids, but they were not mentioned in this story. I’m really curious why the author decided to put eight years of difference in, just because then we haven’t met Carter in the original story. It makes me hopeful, that maybe some of the time between will be filled with other stories? It’s just an interesting choice because she could’ve easily written that story about one of Dantes other workers. But instead, there’s an eight year time jump, and a characters introduced to we didn’t know in the other series that is in the same universe.

-I think the reason why I really ended up liking this series was because Dante’s character was really unique and different. I’ve read a couple books that have mafia characters in them. And they’re normally all really similar like all have the same traits with just different names lol. But I feel like Dante was different, he had more of a sweet, nice personality. Opposed to people writing a character like him as hard and domineering. Sometimes he was like that, but he also had a nice side to him. Especially how he really respected Layla and let her speak her mind, even in front of people in his organization. Which I feel like he’s really unique in these mafia books. I also thought that Dantes leader ship style was interesting because he allowed people to question him, and they really worked as a team. While in other books, I feel like the main leader doesn’t let anyone question them, or give their opinion on a situation.

[calli · Rating 3 out of 5]

duology was okay. good writing - but the plot was kind of boring to me, not really sure what could be different specifically.

i liked the fmc more in the first book and i wish we saw better scenes of exactly why the fmc was traumatized from scenes in the first book and i wish we saw her healing but all i feel like happened was she got a bodyguard and the mmc tells her “it’s okay, you’re okay” but that’s about it.

she loses her spark because of her trauma so i wish we saw exactly how that was affecting her. also wish there were more scenes with dante’s “men” because all we read is that they are “relieved” she’s okay which is surprising to her. we also never see fmc reaction to their maid — a young girl dante took in to help her — kissing and trying to sleep with dante

a bit anticlimactic.

i had to drag myself through the second book but i found this series on tiktok and the line that drew me in was a good line — there’s that?

wont read again, i kind of already forgot the fmc name 🤓