Bound by the Past: Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles, Book 7

So I have mixed emotions over this book. The book starts in the past when Dante is nineteen and heir to Chicago's Outfit and ends in the future when he's married to his second wife and having children with her. The plot, therefore, spreads over several years, building the set up for many conflicting situations that resulted in Dante's five betrayals to the Outfit and showing the aftermath of his actions. I loved how Cora masterfully crafted this story. It felt like with every betrayal another layer of Dante's character was revealed. It was a very interesting and refreshingly different approach to explain his character to her readers.I honestly wished this book was a bit longer in some scenes especially the beginning when he meets Valentina. I felt like that part just felt rushes as if Cora just wanted to get rid of the moment and get to the others. There were some scenes from BBD that I wanted to see but it was just summarized in one paragraph and we had to quickly move on.The relationship between Dante and his children was just adorable! You can definitely see how his actions are going to impact his children in the long run. I also noticed some teasers here and there between future couples and what's to come in the new upcoming series. I can see how the relationship between Anna and the senator's son is going to be plus a possible love triangle between Santino as well. Plus, Samuel and Emma were kind of foreshadowed and now I am excited by that! But the book I am definitely looking forward to is Fragile Longing. As the reader, you got to see Danilo change from Twisted Pride to such a different person. (Poor Sophie.)Overall, BBTP wrapped up the Born in Blood series with a trip to the past and set the players for the Sins of my Father series.

To be a good leader you must be feared yet respected. Dante has both. You must be ruthless and hard. Dante is both. They dont call him the Ice Man for nothing. He is the Capo of the Outfit. His name strikes fear into others. Just the mention of his name makes people shake. His cold demeanor in any situation is talked about throughout the nation. He has a reputation he has worked on since a young boy. However, this Capo has a weakness many aren’t aware of. That weakness? Almost every women in his family. As Capo one has many responsibilities but also many advantages. Betrayal is the worst thing anyone in the mafia can do. Punishable by death at the hands of the enforcers and put out by the Capo himself. But what do you do when the Capo is the one who does the betraying? The Outfits leader has many secrets. Secrets that would have all his men questioning his loyalty. But they find out. This Ice Man May have a heart but only a select few ever get a chance to experience it. The rest? Well they die.This book was everything I never knew I wanted or needed. THE MAFIA LIVES ON!!! My mafia obsession is out of control and I blame Cora. I love how this book was put together. This is the first book I actually got to see a lot of interaction between a man of danger/power have with his children in a good way. We got to see this cold man actually have a soft side. The struggle he had between saving his family and saving the Outfit truly gutted me. How does one choose? I don’t know how he didn’t end up in a straight jacket. The decisions and all the people he had relying on him would’ve put me on pills right away. I love how we got to see the other side of Remo and Serafinas story. The backlash that Dante got from that scene literally made me scared. How these three families are going to be able to survive with each other is a mystery. With each book in the series I fall more in love with them. I can’t pick sides. At first I was all for the Famiglia. Then my loyalties switched to the Outfit. It ended with the Camorra and it has lasted there for a while but now I’m more like can’t we all just be friends. As much as I love the mafia this is why I can never be in it. Except for the fact that Im missing a few other qualities, I am way too indecisive. either way this book was amazing. We get a better window into what’s to come and we get more Dante & Val. That should be reason enough to get it and read it. Plus those two children of theirs had me dying. If you’re looking for story full of edge of your seat moments, tears of laughter and sadness then get this book. This is one of the best mafia stories I have ever read and I’m so glad I found it.

In all of Cora’s mafia world, Dante and Valentina are not my favorite couple. Because of him, not her. In their book - Bound by Duty - I really considered Dante a douche because of the way he treated Val. That didn’t change much with this book now, I have to say. I actually wanted the Famiglia and the Camorra to end the Outfit for good despite the fact that I would feel sorry for Val. Having said all that, what I actually most enjoyed in this book was the opportunity to read the same stories that had appeared in previous books from different points of view. Particularly Serafina’s kidnapping. That has to be the greatest scene in all of Cora’s books! So full of action and so unexpected. I actually can’t wait to read Samuel’s book just to see that same story from his perspective. Also to find out more about Emma! But back to this book here: as I was saying, reading the same story from different POVs makes it harder to “pick a team”. Like Valentina contemplated in one of her inner monologues, there is no right or wrong. There is no good versus evil. Just a lot of resentment and pride which makes peace something totally unattainable. And after reading the Famiglia and the Camorra’s side I can conclude that Dante might not be the coolest but he is definitely the smartest. His decision in the aftermath was something that I would never have foreseen. I can’t wait to see the development of that! I am seriously biting my nails here. So, even though this book wasn’t my favorite in the series and had a couple typos here and there, it is by far the most intriguing one, the one that most leaves me wanting more! Cora, I beg you: keep writing those amazing stories, please!

I’m amazed at the writing of Cora Reilly I can’t put these books down. She has me Mesmerized with her story line of All the characters

I am so happy that I got to read Dante's POV. This book was much needed after reading the start of their arranged marriage in Bound By Duty.Did he had a lot to make up for? Yes, yes he did. But ultimately he did what he thought was right and honorable. I like Dante even more now.And Valentina, I ended more in love with her than I already was.They have a beautiful family together.

Dante Cavallaro has always been in my opinion one of the most intriguing and intense characters Cora Reilly has ever created. I always hoped that she is going to write more about the Capo of the Chicago Outfit and give us a deeper insight into his complex personality in order to help us better understand his actions and emotions in Bound by Duty. I've always assumed that we've only seen the surface of the many layers that make out this fascinating mobster boss and I'm beyond happy to report that behind the always poised and calm Ice Man facade hides a great man worthy of a strong, smart and loving woman like Valentina.What I particularly enjoyed and found highly entertaining about this amazing book was the innovative way Cora has decided to structure and write it. It's devided into five betrayals (from the past and present) Dante has perpatrated against the Outfit and the resulting consequences they had on his Mafia empire and his and his family's life. If you're a huge fan of this incredibly talented author like me you will have zero difficulties in guessing who those five women are that Dante has chosen over his vow, his men and the cause. A Capo may be the judge over life and death but he is also accountable for his actions. And as it's often the case a betrayal comes with secrets that could destroy everything you've been working for.Bound by the Past made me realise that Dante is anything but a cold fish as he is so often accused to be. When this man loves he does it deeply and unapologetically even though he doesn't express his feelings in words most of the time but rather chooses to do it with actions and gestures. He is not afraid to make difficult and tough decisions in order to protect the people he cares about. It all made me truly admire and adore the Capo of the Chicago Outfit even more than I already did.Valentina is not only his wife and the mother of his children she is also a person whose opinion Dante respects and appreciates on all matters. He is also the only Capo who allowed his wife to work which is in my opinion a sign that he is not backwards thinking like his father and wants to bring important, necessary changes to the Outfit. Val's stubbornness and tendency to disobey her husband have often lead to heated discussions and steamy bedroom sessions. But explosive sexual chemistry is not the only thing that these two share. They support and trust each other fully and they love each other with every fiber of their being. Their arranged marriage was in the beginning serving a purpose but it turned into something they both never dared to dream about.One of my highlights of this fantastic story was seeing Val and Dante interact with their kids and watching them grow up and develop quite the interesting and completely different personalities as well as seeing some of my beloved secondary characters again like sweet Bibianna and finding out who her love interest is. There are also hints for some more potential couples in the future books as well which you will find very exciting!I've thoroughly enjoyed Bound by the Past and recommend it from the bottom of my heart. It's a definite must for all Dante and Val shippers! Cora has once again proven why she is the Queen of Mafia romance and that she can still surprise us and take our breath away with some revelations. I'm therefore giving this precious gem 5 stars!

Bound by the Past is the 7th book within the Born in Blood Chronicles and it predominantly narrates Dante Cavallaro’s POV of his life and the many betrayals that lie within it.We were first introduced to Dante in Bound by Duty, where he came across callous and calculated, being given the nickname “cold fish”, he certainly lived up to that title from what we were shown from his first book and the brief appearances of him from other books.Bound by the Past shows anything but a cold, emotionless Dante. He is compelling and enigmatic and passionate, this man feels like no other. His emotions and turmoil throughout the various chapters of his life are like a whirlwind, ready to leave chaos and destruction behind, regardless of the consequences. The side to Dante that has never been shown before is gripping because he loves like no other. Cora Reilly drops the curtain on Dante’s facade and shows a man who fights himself to retain control before his emotions erupt like a raging volcano.The book is broken down into five betrayals Dante has committed in order to protect those he holds dearest and loves the most, and with each another layer of Dante’s outer shell is peeled off and shows his inner anguish.Any and all rational thoughts are thrown out of the window when it comes to Dante’s dedication and commitment to love and protect his family, they hold priority over everything else for him and rightly so. His unbreakable bond with Valentina and his children was heartwarming, he constantly proved how worthy he is of their love. Valentina is an unbreakable, strong, independent woman who is full of love, she is undeniably the strongest woman within their world. Her strength has allowed Dante to lean on her for support and advice, she shines within this book because she never cowers away from the brutality, she is the epitome of a real woman. The question that has been on everyones’ lips since Bound by Duty is whether Dante loves Valentina, sometimes words alone can’t answer questions but in this sense, his actions, inner turmoil, emotions, everything show that his love for Val is fierce and burning, like an inferno of lava ready to explode. Val is Dantes’ best friend and partner like no one else has ever been, their bond is strengthened by their undying love and respect for each other that has always helped Dante to recover from whatever he has been faced with. Their power is unlike any other which is why it makes sense why they are dubbed the ‘Power couple’, they’ve truly earned it. If you hadn’t before, be prepared to fall in love with this couple.Those of you who have undermined Dante previously get ready to be blown away, although we know a lot of the events that have transpired, you aren’t ready for some of the twists and surprises that happened behind the scenes. The groundwork has already been set in motion and believe me when I say you will not see it coming, it will leave you anticipating for more.The Outfit has followed tradition for long enough, a transition is about to come and this will change everything.Readers have awaited this book for a very long time and for anyone who missed the Cavallaros, this one is for you. Reilly hits it out of the park, she has delivered it in a way that won’t allow you to recover or ever forget Dante Cavallaro.

I really loved how Dante & Val's relationship progressed in this book. In Bound by Duty, Dante didn't openly tell Val that he loved her but in this book, I was really glad to see his loving and protective side towards Val and his family.The book was based on the 5 betrayals made by Dante to the Outfit but they weren't repulsive.He did that for his family and that made his "Cold Fish" image to crash down for me. He was capable of expressing and experiencing his emotions. I admit that Dante wasn't perfect but he was far more likeable than compared to any other made men in the Outfit. At the end of the day, he did anything he could to protect his children and their legacy.No matter how much the other side characters opposed Dante, he would always be my favorite. Yes, he was prideful, arrogant and selfish but also he wasn't as bad as the Cammora or the Famiglia.The whole Remo & Serafina ordeal was sick and twisted. After reading both Dante & Val' point of views, I couldn't really understand Serafina and Remo is beyond justifiable. I have a feeling that I would not like their book at all (Twisted Pride). Also, don't get me started on the Danilo & Sofia situation. In all of Cora Reilly's mafia books, the men treat the women as if they are mere means to settle or establish a relationship with some other higher ranking families. I don't know what's with these people always arranging marriages for their daughters right from when they are underage. It's like they have nothing better to do than force their daughters to marry someone older than them and that annoyed me a lot.Overall, the book was good but there was too much drama happening. All I wanted to see was Dante & Val getting their happily ever after.

I just love this series and the twisted but super realistic world the author has created. It's bittersweet, sad, loving and intense. The chemistry between the characters never stops and I love the long time lines from the main characters to their children's development and their stories. Great read.