Key Details
- Read by: Gregory Salinas is the sole credited narrator for Podium Audio's production of this fifth series entry.
- At its heart: mafia romance, enemies-to-obligation power dynamics, series continuity and found family
- Vibe: Steamy, possessive, high-tension
- Short version: Best enjoyed by readers already following the Perfectly Imperfect series rather than as a first taste of Altaj's work.
What is left to prove five books into a mafia romance series when everyone already knows how it ends? Stolen Touches, the fifth entry in Neva Altaj's Perfectly Imperfect series, hands that question to Salvatore Ajello and Milene Scardoni across eight hours and one minute of audiobook, narrated by Gregory Salinas for Podium Audio.
The setup follows the series formula closely: a cold, calculating Don of La Cosa Nostra, unseen and unrecognized by most of his own world, collects a debt in the form of marriage to Milene, a young woman who moved into his territory without approval. Salvatore Ajello gets his own chapters here too, described in the synopsis as someone nothing amazes anymore, until her. It is a familiar mafia romance shape, arranged obligation curdling into obsession, but the five reviews attached to this listing suggest Altaj executes it with enough specificity to keep longtime readers engaged rather than bored by repetition. The tags attached to the listing, Action and Adventure alongside Romantic Suspense, signal that the plot is not purely a romance in a vacuum; a suspense engine runs underneath the relationship, tied to Salvatore's position and the world he controls, and to whoever still wants Milene dealt with, a thread the synopsis only gestures at but the reviews confirm keeps the pace moving between the more intimate chapters.
Milene is not a new character to the series. Reviewers note she is introduced as Bianca's younger sister, Bianca being the lead of an earlier entry, "Broken whispers," and several reviews mention the pleasure of watching the wider cast reappear rather than starting fresh with strangers each book. The synopsis confirms the book stands alone if needed but is built for readers already inside this world, and the five-book track record on file backs that up. Reviewers who mention Bianca's book by name treat this less like reading a new author and more like checking in with a family they already know, which is a different kind of pitch than a series opener needs to make.
Highlights
Strongest praise comes from a reviewer who calls it their favorite of the whole series, describing Salvatore as dangerous and ruthless in a way earlier books had only implied through how other Dons reacted to him. Another reviewer, four stars, singles out the small moments between the two leads, referred to by the nickname Tore in that review, as the most effective part of the book, the tidbits about what he bends for Milene and no one else. A five-star review adds that the world-building keeps improving book over book, and specifically praises seeing old characters mentioned again.
Not every reaction is uncomplicated. A three-star review liked the storyline and both leads individually but felt the relationship's development was told rather than shown, and that reviewer's comment cuts off mid-thought describing Salvatore's characterization as obsessive in a way they found compelling despite the reservation. That is useful context: the tension between plot momentum and relationship pacing seems to be the book's real fault line among readers who otherwise enjoyed it. A separate four-star review focuses on Milene's own arc rather than Salvatore's, describing her as stubborn and sassy and noting the chemistry between the two leads as a highlight distinct from the plot mechanics driving them together in the first place.
Before You Commit to Stolen Touches
Upfront, the synopsis is clear that this is a full-length novel with several open-door steamy scenes, so go in expecting explicit content, not fade-to-black romance. It also promises no cheating and a guaranteed happily ever after, which some romance listeners treat as a dealbreaker either way, worth confirming matches what you want before starting. One review also uses shorthand common in mafia romance discussion, calling Salvatore the MMC and Milene the FMC, and describing him as obsessive in a controlling, possessive register some readers specifically seek out and others avoid; knowing that vocabulary going in helps set expectations for the tone of the central relationship.
Because it is the fifth book in an ongoing series, character relationships and backstory from earlier entries carry real weight here. The synopsis says Stolen Touches can work as a standalone, but the reviews make clear that readers who have followed Milene and Bianca's arcs from the start are getting a richer experience than someone starting cold with book five. If series order matters to you, start earlier rather than jumping straight into this one on the strength of its own description. Several reviews also mention Milene's older sister's storyline by name, a sign that the emotional stakes in this book lean on history the earlier entries built rather than introducing everything fresh.
Is This One for You?
This is built for readers already invested in the Perfectly Imperfect series, or anyone who wants a mafia romance with an established, dangerous Don and a heroine willing to match him rather than simply submit. The open-door content and enemies-to-obligation setup will appeal most to readers who enjoy possessive, high-heat pairings over slow-burn restraint.
If graphic scenes are not for you, or you would rather start a mafia series from its first book instead of jumping in at number five, this is not the entry point to pick. Listeners who have read the earlier books, though, and who came away wanting more of this particular cast, are exactly who Altaj seems to be writing for at this stage of the series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to listen to the earlier Perfectly Imperfect audiobooks before starting Stolen Touches?
The synopsis says each book can be enjoyed as a standalone, and Salvatore and Milene's story does stand on its own. That said, reviewers consistently mention getting more out of it from recognizing Milene as Bianca's sister and seeing other established characters reappear, so starting from the first book gives a fuller experience.
How explicit is the Stolen Touches audiobook?
The synopsis describes it as a full-length novel with several open-door steamy scenes, meaning intimate content is described directly rather than implied. It also promises no cheating and a guaranteed happily-ever-after, two details romance listeners often check for before committing to a series entry this many books in.
Who are Tore and Salvatore in the Stolen Touches audiobook, are they the same character?
Reviews use both names for the male lead, Salvatore Ajello, with Tore appearing as an affectionate nickname in listener discussion of his relationship with Milene. The synopsis itself refers to him as Salvatore throughout, so listeners hearing Tore in the audiobook are hearing the same character under a shortened name.
