His Tesoro Audiobook – Empire of Royals, Book 1

I found myself listening to His Tesoro during one of those rare, rain-splattered Portland afternoons when the world outside feels both distant and electrifying—a perfect mirror for the stormy, slow-burn tension that pulses through this mafia romance. As someone who craves stories with raw vulnerability and simmering chemistry, Emilia Rossi’s latest absolutely stole my breath (and a few heartbeats).

Sofiya, our heroine, is such a beautifully rendered paradox: outwardly quiet yet burning with inner strength. From her first introduction—tucked away and dismissed because of her disability—I felt an instant kinship. It struck a familiar chord; so many women know what it is to be overlooked or underestimated. But Sofiya never lets her circumstances define her. Every moment she pushes back against the narrow confines built around her, I cheered internally (okay, sometimes out loud), because there’s something cathartic about seeing resilience portrayed not as bravado but as hope that refuses to die.

Matteo is all ice at first—a Don haunted by betrayal and fiercely controlled—but you can sense the cracks from chapter one. Their dynamic? Volcanic undercurrents beneath mafia-polished marble floors. There’s just enough angst in their arranged marriage setup to make each encounter feel loaded; you almost want to beg them both to drop their guards…even as you relish every ounce of stubborn pride they wield like weapons.

The dual POV narration brings extra dimension—Sofiya’s voice is gentle but steady, giving weight to even whispered moments of defiance; Matteo’s narration drips with restraint and unspoken longing. The audiobook format makes these contrasts especially vivid—the performance really captures how their desires grind against obligations until sparks inevitably fly. The narrator (or narrators) make “separate rooms” scenes pulse with palpable frustration—you hear Matteo holding himself back on one end of the hall while Sofiya dares him silently on the other.

What I loved most was how Rossi doesn’t rush anything: this isn’t insta-love or mere lust disguised as plot development. It’s a proper slow-burn—with stolen glances across banquet tables and single touches charged like live wires—so when passion finally breaks free, it lands hard enough to leave echoes long after your headphones are off.

And beyond the spice (which delivers!) there’s genuine emotional depth here—trauma acknowledged rather than glossed over; love shown not as salvation but as permission to heal together instead of alone. It gave me chills whenever Sofiya dared believe she could have more than survival—and satisfaction when Matteo fell apart just enough for real trust to bloom between them.

If I had any quibble—it’s simply that I wish we’d had even more time inside Sofiya’s head before things combusted fully; some parts moved quickly once their walls started falling down! Still, by finale’s end I felt deeply invested in their HEA—and grateful for disability representation treated thoughtfully amid all the high-stakes drama.

His Tesoro delivers everything promised: sharp-edged power plays balanced with tender hope; obsession transmuted into devotion; two people learning—agonizingly slowly—that vulnerability can be its own kind of weapon…and reward.

For anyone seeking a darkly delicious mafia romance where pain and longing go hand-in-hand (and where every “don’t touch her” warning shivers right up your spine)—this audiobook will leave you grinning wickedly between gasps.