Review: Interesting
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 11, 2014
A review of Mobster’s Angel: Vito & Erin’s StoryReviewed by Wennie Conedy3 out of 5 starsVito has grown up in the shadow of the mob. Having just turned 18, his mafia family has his future planned out for him, a future that he happily and willingly accepts. What he has not planned for are the feelings he has for 15-year old Erin, daughter of the family’s cleaner. Will his feelings for Erin interfere with his future plans?The three year age difference between Vito and Erin doesn’t seem like much, but when you are in your teens, that 3-year age gap may mean a place in or out of a jail cell. In the mafia family, it may mean life or death.As I was reading Mobster’s Angel, I had a feeling that this story was a continuation of another book. And it is – it is the continuation of Mobster’s Girl which, unfortunately, I had not read. Although Mobster’s Angel could stand alone on its own, there were certain nuances and underlying assumptions on the other character’s relationships that would have created a more complete understanding of this story.Amy Rachiele successfully portrayed the world of the mafia. The scene where Vito met the "cleaner" was a study in contrast, as the calm demeanor and soft voice of the cleaner effectively highlighting the violence of the act he was performing. This scene was one of the highlights of the story for me.Unfortunately, I could not connect with the story or the characters on an emotional level. The author effectively illustrated the life of a mobster, but was not very effective at describing and developing the relationship and emotional connection between the Vito and Erin. As a mobster, Vito did show redeeming qualities, most especially when he took Dennis under his wing and taught him how to fight and survive. Tighter editing would help in the story’s development and help improve the story’s pacing.Overall, the plot has merit. Fans of the writer will feel satisfied with how the story ends up for Vito and Erin.