ARC Review: Doukas (Greek Crime Lords, Book 1). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Doukas by Demetra Georgiou

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

They say that crime knows no bounds. Or does it?
Doukas Tremes and his brothers, the Lords, are one of the most influential and dangerous crime families in Greece. In their world, everything revolves around crime, and they stop at nothing.
Having inherited a failing business, Ria Vamou tries to make ends meet. On top of everything else, a gang is pressuring her to pay them protection for her taverna.
Love is nowhere near her plans. All it takes is one night, one photograph, one kiss, and everything changes. Forever!
Nothing will stop Doukas from making Ria his because he finally found a woman worth starting a war over.
Doukas is the first full-length standalone novel in the Greek Crime Lords Series. It describes scenes of violence and sexual content, so please read at your own discretion.
Doukus

Greek Mafia!

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💋💋💋💋
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📙📕📗📘
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌏
Character development: ☺️🥸😎

Favorite Quote: “Now that I take a closer look, I see razor-like fragments hidden beneath the rhinestones in the sash. Also, the pin seems to have a switchblade accessory.”
“That’s some killer couture!”

The heroine: Ria Vamou – she inherited a tavern with a great view of the acropolis in Greece. Though the business is struggling and she has some enforcers from a local gang bothering her to pay for protection despite the fact that her parents had an agreement with them which said they would never have to pay protection fees.

The Hero(es): Doukas Treme – a Member of the Lords, his family is one of the most powerful in Attica, which includes Athens. The Lords answer only to their bosses, the Royals, three brothers who control most everything in Greece. Doukas is second to his older brother Alcaeus, but if there is a threat, then all four Treme brothers stand together as the Lords.

The story: Doukas is eating at the Taverna that Ria owns when the enforcers from a local gang begin harassing Ria. He threatens them enough to get them to leave the premises and finds that he is extremely attracted to the beautiful owner of the place.

I have to admit I was a bit worried about this one from early on. I have read and enjoyed Demetra Georgiou’s books in the past. Though this one started out kind of slow for my tastes. We know that Doukas is a mobster, but he behaves like an ordinary wealthy gentleman and asks Ria out on a date, a walk in the moonlight and so on. Though he does kiss her a few times in the first 20-30% of the book, I just wasn’t interested in a nice, normal couple meeting at a restaurant then going on a normal date talking about inane things without really saying much.

I guess I like more action and danger, secrets and lies. Though there was a bit of that, it wasn’t enough to wet my appetite at the beginning. However the book does pick up speed about 30% in and starts to get steamy as well. I like the fact that the Hero is deferential to the heroine and treats her like she will break. He isn’t afraid to show his feelings and takes care of her.

I think after reading so many anti-heroes recently, it is nice to have a Hero who cherishes his woman. Don’t get me wrong, I do love an anti-Hero, but this was nice to see. And of course, Doukas isn’t all good. He is still a mobster and has no problem putting a beat down on someone who does something he doesn’t like.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub

View all my reviews