Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance Heat Level: 3 Word Count: 67, 500 ISBN: 978-0-3695-1212-3 Editor: Lisa Petrocelli Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

A Wife's Duty by Sam Crescent

Heat Level 3
$4.99
SKU 978-0-3695-1212-3
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Lucia Valdez knew she was hated by her family, which is why she was given away as a peace offering. Boone Grinder was not a nice man, and he had been making waves for the Bonaldi mafia for quite some time.

No one knew who this man was, what he did, or why he did it. All they knew, was he was responsible for making the streets run red.

Boone Grinder wasn't your ordinary villain. He didn't deal in illegal business, and the truth was, he wanted to be left alone. Only, they wouldn’t leave him alone. He saw the injustice that was happening to small businesses at the hands of the Bonaldi mafia, and he couldn’t stand by and allow it to continue.

Taking Lucia as his wife was the first step in their downfall. They believed they had insulted him. In fact, they had given him the woman he wanted. Before things get too far, he gives her a choice—him or her father.

It's a wife’s duty to stay by her husband’s side. Boone has done nothing but show Lucia kindness, and given her a life she never thought possible. She will always pick him, and as for her family … it was their choice to let her go.

Excerpt:

And then, when it came time to hand out their punishment, he had told them. “I usually give people a choice. One is the right choice, the other is the wrong choice.” He’d looked at the two of them. “But you have both told me you knew who I was, what those people meant to me, and you still did what you did. You attacked a woman who was defenseless, so you made your choice.”

They could have gone to him. He would have listened and dealt with Valdez effectively.

The men had screamed for their lives. To make it fair, he’d not slowly killed one, then worked on the other. They both got to watch as pieces of their body were removed, and currently on the way to Valdez, as well as Bonaldi, as he was now in the shower with Lucia.

They thought they knew who they were dealing with. They were very much mistaken. He was a good man, a kind man, a fair man—to the people that deserved it. To those that didn’t, he was the man monsters feared. There was no remorse.

Seeing Nancy bruised, battered, and broken in that hospital bed was all he needed. Killing those men meant nothing to him. However, he already had wheels in motion for Leandro, as the youngest son had been given instructions to find the means of ending Boone’s life.

The one good thing about going to Valdez’s home was he’d been able to install a few listening devices.

Leandro was going to one of his older apartments, with the intention of setting a bomb. The young man didn’t realize that Boone had already got him beat, and the moment he stepped inside his home, there was a trap ready to lock him in place. All he had to do was wait.

Pulling out of his thoughts, he focused on his wife, her naked body in his arms, and playing with her swollen clit. She shook within his arms, and he continued to tease her clit, knowing she was a virgin and there was no holding back. He felt the change within her, and the moment she came, he listened to the soft gasp that escaped her, and he held her in his arms, refusing to let go. Kissing her neck, then her shoulder, she let out a little moan.

He reached for the soap. His hands were already free of the blood. He wouldn’t have touched Lucia with blood-coated hands. Lathering up the soap, he didn’t bother to reach for the sponge, and instead got to soaping his wife. Touching every inch of her body, running the soap intently across her skin. She didn’t have any ink on her. He noticed there were a few scars.

“Did your father do these?” he asked.

She jerked within his hold, but he refused to let her go. “Yes.”

He’d pay for that as well. Enzo Valdez Senior had already written his death certificate. It was just up to Boone to execute it. As well as Bonaldi. That man was also going to die. The wheels were in motion.

After soaping Lucia’s body, he reached for the shampoo, but Lucia surprised him by taking the soap from him.

“My turn.”

He was not going to argue with her. She lathered the soap up in her hands, much like he had. He watched and waited, knowing that imagining her touch was going to be far different from actually touching him. She looked nervous.

He reached for her hand, then placed it on his chest. “To clean me, you have to touch me.”

She rolled her eyes, and it was so freaking cute, he couldn’t resist stealing a kiss. She let out a gasp.

Wrapping his fingers around her wrists, he didn’t squeeze or hold her too tightly. He got her to run her hands all over his body, getting him soaped up. He noticed she kept biting her lip, and it was so sexy the way she did it. It was like he was a piece of her puzzle she was trying to figure out. When she got to his cock, she hesitated, her hand going stiff within his grip.

Taking hold of her hand, he wrapped her fingers around his length, and he was already starting to get aroused at the sight of her.

“You won’t hurt me.”

“But…”

“Touch me, Lucia.”

He watched her take a deep breath, and then she touched him. her fingers tightening around his length just a little, then squeezing. He gritted his teeth, trying to stay focused. It was next to impossible, although he was not some randy boy. He fucking felt like it with Lucia’s touch. If he came now, it was going to embarrass them both.

“That feels so good,” he said.

Lucia looked up at him. “I’m doing this right?”

“I’d tell you if you were doing it wrong.” He wouldn’t hold back in guiding her to do exactly what he wanted.

She continued to play with his cock, only now she certainly wasn’t cleaning him. It was time to move this to the bedroom.

Turning off the shower, all the blood had been removed from his body, and he picked Lucia up in his arms, not caring that they were still wet. She let out a gasp, and he carried her through to their bedroom, where he placed her on the bed.

“Tell me now you don’t want this,” Boone said.

“I want you.”

 

Product Reviews

Score: 5 out of 5 (based on 15 ratings)
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5/5
Boone and Lucia
Written by CarKar on 6th May 2026

Loved Boone! He was a total stand up guy committed to relieving the earth of filthy bullies and those who harm innocents. Sweet Lucia caught his protective eye. She amazingly didn’t let her past taint the way she still hoped and loved. Loved their chemistry and how their relationship grew organically. Loved that Frank, Ronald and Nancy/hubby stayed true. Lucia’s entire family was evil and I was glad they were all dealt with accordingly (along with anyone who covered for them). I was engaged throughout.

5/5
A Wife’s Duty
Written by Southernbelle on 6th May 2026

This book blew me away! Boone was EVERYTHING I wanted in a book boyfriend: caring, sweet, loving, healing, honest, empathetic with his lady, yet also the toughest, scariest, protective bada$$. Lucia has been through a lot. Her family are truly reprehensible people and were terrible to her, so Boone has his work cut out for him gaining her trust and reversing the damage her family caused. I absolutely loved seeing their relationship develop.

5/5
Couldn't put it down
Written by Danee on 6th May 2026

This was a beautiful and moving story. We are taken along in the life of Lucia and Boone. Lucia does not have it easy, she does not feel at home anywhere and her family hates her and to get rid of her she is given to Boone, and that is quite scary and insecure for her. Boone is known as a dangerous and hard-hearted man, but Lucia notices that he is different than she had thought, he is caring and gives her time to get used to their marriage and the new situation. A beautiful story that keeps your attention.

5/5
A Wife's Duty by Sam Crescent
Written by LyndsayL on 6th May 2026

This was so good. Took me by surprise no matter how many of these mafia ones that Sam does they all have their own twists and are not like any of the others she writes. This was such a fun read and I loved how he guided this timid woman to bring out her spirit and her love for things that were what she wanted. Can't forget the spice and the non-stop action that keeps you hooked. This is a must read!!

5/5
More please!
Written by KMH on 6th May 2026

Another smash for this author... smashed it right out the park! I loved every second of this book... she knows how to deliver us one good mafia romance! I couldn't put it down! I loved both main characters and how she makes the male character just the right amount of anti-villain. I also love how she makes the female characters be strong in her own ways... which compliment the male character and makes their relationship even more realistic! I cannot wait for her next book!

5/5
Loved it!!
Written by Amy J on 6th May 2026

Loved reading A Wife’s Duty. It kept me turning page after page until the very end. Lucia and Boone’s story was definitely my kind of book and loved the ending.

5/5
Classic Sam Crescent Gem
Written by Crystal JF on 6th May 2026

I'm a big fan of Sam Crescent and this one was definitely a classic Sam Crescent story. The storyline is compelling, characters well developed, and impeccable writing. Her pacing and storytelling is beyond compare. This book had plenty of tension, but relatively low angst with HEA. Everything you can ask for in a book. Highly recommended.

4/5
Sweet Slow Burn With Heat....
Written by thischickloves2read! on 6th May 2026

By the end of the first chapter, I was hooked. I just had to keep reading to find out more, and I’m so glad I did. This book is packed with spice but is a slow burn. If you love this author, this is a good one to dive into on a rainy evening.

5/5
Making things right
Written by LFBooks on 6th May 2026

A Wife's Duty is a fabulous read that pulls you into a dark mafia world with more than a few twists and turns. Lucia Valdez is basically married off by her family with no say in order to broker a peace with Boone Grinder. He is a bit of an enigma as people think he is one way when he can be very much the opposite. He has a reputation in town and has made a lot of trouble for the Bonaldi mafia family. He accepts Lucia as his wife but not for the reasons they want him to. Nope he is still out to bring down the family, free the businesses of the town, and live his life the way he wants. What happens when Lucia slowly peels back who he is and just what he is up to makes for a wonderful reading experience.

5/5
Lucia and Boone
Written by MellaM on 6th May 2026

A Wife's Duty is where Sam Crescent shines, the daughter of a horrible family finds refuge (and ultimately love) with her family's enemy. I enjoyed how practical Lucia Valdez (FMC) was about her situation. She didn't fall for Boone Grinder (MMC) immediately, which made the plotline more believable. Boone (despite a name that made me chuckle) was the type of "touch her and perish" hero we all need in our lives. Highly recommended read!

5/5
Loved this book.
Written by Roberta R on 6th May 2026

These two MCs were made for each other. Boone and Lucia had a lot to deal with from outside forces. To see their love and trust slowly come to fruition was so special. The plot was solid and original. We need more books like this. This author is awesome. I highly recommend this book to all dark mafia romance readers.

5/5
Another great Sam Crescent book.
Written by Joreads on 6th May 2026

Lucia is hated by her family who see her as less than. To get rid of her they give her to Boone as a peace offering. What her family do not realise is that they really don't know her or Boone. Boone is the only person in her life to show her kindness and care, the question is can she get over her past so she can grab hold of the future that is now on offer for her. Boone is a classic morally grey hero that you are going to fall in love with. There is plenty of spice and action on offer in this book and once you get started you are not going to want to stop reading.

5/5
Another great mafia book!
Written by Cassandra D on 6th May 2026

A Wife’s Duty by Sam Crescent is a powerful mafia romance about Lucia and Boonie. Lucia, trapped by her family's abuse and expectations, finds hope and protection in Boonie, a dangerous man with a loyal heart who she is forced to marry. Their love story is intense, emotional, and full of family drama, danger, and passion. It’s a gripping read about fighting for love and healing from the past.

5/5
All about choices
Written by DariaB on 6th May 2026

Sam! Yep stressed me out in a part or 2 tyvm. A perfect 5 star. Definitely checked the boxes. Dark. Told the story. Mafia. Karma. When the gift of peace isn't the trail it was ment to be. The family all cringe worthy. The innocent like a colt finding it's legs. I liked her alot. Her strength of character just shined. The baddie... when youre badder than they are. He never did anything bad without a reason. The heat took a minute to get there, but whew! The story just kept you enthralled. The heat got hot. The danger got sticky. Loved everything about this one. Enjoy?

5/5
Boone or Bone...hhhmmm
Written by Beast's Beauty on 6th May 2026

I have to say this might be my most favorite character yet. Boone is sooo the man!! He has no need for revenge or mess until he is messed with better yet til he sees Lucia, and the abuse her family shows toward her. Lucia knows she is unlovable and unwanted because that is all she has experienced all her life. So on her mind her marriage to Boone (or Bone as she says) she thinks will be no different. Aaahhh but the beauty of the unknown and the love of fate. Boone and Lucia were example what I imagine love looks like when neither is sure of the other but their hearts know the truth.

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