The Black Rose

by Mary McIntosh

Everyone has heard about the mafia — some even romanticize it. Yet no one talks about the after If you can manage to escape that world. Lilith Rowes left it behind her six years ago, looking to start over and leave her dark past behind her. Up and Coming Detective Adam Davenports whole life gets turned upside down when he finds his wife cheating on him, so he transfers to New York City hoping for a fresh start. He’s asked to help on a mafia case that isn’t close to being solved, until the mafia boss’s ex walks in and offers him everything he needs for this career defining case. As they begin to work together to take down the mafia, Adam slowly starts to chip away at the cement walls Lilith has built around her heart, and she begins to help him heal his own. The mafia king isn’t ready to let his queen go so easily though.

249 pages, Paperback

Published August 13, 2024

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lilith resonated with me on an emotional level. The deep understanding I have of her left me astonished.

As I kept on reading, The One That Got Away by Katy Perry kept on playing in my head. Lilith had to give up the one person she loved because they were too broken to be together and it was Damien talking about how maybe in another life, things between them could've been better.

I cried reading this book, it was so beautifully written. I loved the way Lilith grew. To be able to stand against your @bu$er and still tell the story of a brave fight is amazing.

The ending was perfect. This wasn't the perfect love story where the girl with a terrible past finds a knight to fight her battles, it was a story of a dethroned queen bringing down the tyrannical king and along the way, she found people worth living for.

And maybe in another life, if the circumstances were right, they'd keep their promise and it'd be them against the world.

Thank you @mary.mciwrites and @beyondthebookspr for giving me a chance to read and review this book!

[Caz kentishreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly thank you to Mary for giving me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ❤️

I enjoyed this one, I love the premise of the former mafia queen and the detective finding comfort in each other. We all love a badass FMC and this book had one ❤️

It’s a shorter read and with that naturally comes a faster pace so if you pick it up you will find you get through it quickly.

I would have loved more about Adam, I feel like we got a lot of info on our queen but I was interested to know more about our MMC. Generally there were a few more parts that I would have liked slightly more from.

Overall though a nice quick read that works nicely as a pallette cleanser if you’re looking for something different ❤️

[Gracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ex - Mafia Queen running from her past to give her son a normal life...when eventually life isn't fair as we want it to be and HER PAST COMES BACK TO HER... THREATENING HER SON'S & HER LIFE FROM HER EX'S WRATH!!!!!
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!
THE FLASH- BLACKS AND THE PRESENT WERE INTACT TO KEEP YOU ON YOUR EDGE OF YOUR SEAT!!!!
THE CAR CHASE???!!!HELL IT WAS SOO HOT!!💅🏻👠😩🥹❤️‍🔥🥀
THE DIALOGUES DELEVERY HER CHARACTER WAS CHEF'S KISS!!!!🤌🏻😩😘🥹🥹🥹❤️‍🔥🥀

“I’m Damien, and I think you look lonely, so from now on I’m your friend.”
“I promise, my flower girl,” the cute boy with chocolate eyes said, holding his pinky out to me. A pinky promise was the most important promise to make, so I knew he was serious.
“Friends forever, flower,” he said.
He then pulled the hand I hadn’t noticed behind his back and was holding a rose.
“I saw it and it made me think of you, just take it,” he said, still holding it out to me. “No, go return it and get the money back,” I said, and he sighed, moving to sit next to me. “I didn’t buy it. I saw someone throwing it away and I grabbed it.” I playfully hit his arm in response, finishing off my pizza.
“When I get a job, I’ll get you flowers all the time. You’ll have all the things of the greatest quality. We won’t have to settle for less,” he said. I didn’t say anything, but I let my head fall onto his shoulder as he wrapped an arm around my waist.
“Every successful king needs a queen.”
“You really thought I helped run a mafia and didn’t know how to handle a gun?” I asked. He finally turned to look at me, the playful smile returning to his lips.
“Ex-mafia Queen, thank you very much,” I said, giving him my own smile.
“Tell the coward that if he wants to kill me, he can do it himself.”
At this point I was SCREAMINGGGGGGG, KICKING MY FEET IN THE AIR!!!!👀😩🥹🥹🤭❤️‍🔥
I moved toward the couch and dropped in front of the boy, hesitating to reach forward and check on him as I realized I was a stranger to him. I cleared my throat and said quietly, “Hey, buddy, I’m a friend of your daddies, and I’m here to help you. Can you tell me if the man who took you is still here?”
THIS BOOK PROVED THAT A MOM WOULD KILL & DIE FOR HER CHILD'S SAFTEY...EITHER BY HOOK OR NOOK!!!
AND THIS BOOK MAINTAINED THE SUSPENSE , PLOT ANS BLACK-FLASH BACKS TO KEEP THE READER HOOKED FROM THE STARTING OF THE BOOK...
AND IT GAVE A FEW GOOD LIFE LESSONS...
I LOVED IT SOO MUCH...
RATING:4.5🌟🌟🌟🌟✨

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

TROPES
• mafia
• mafia king and queen
• romance
• friends to lovers
• childhood trauma
• detectives

For this being her first book I’m truly blown away. From the characters to the mysterious vibes this book was so good. The main character Lilith is on a mission. She wants to take down her ex mafia boyfriend Damien and be able to make a better future for herself and son. She’s constantly having to wonder if Damien has find her yet. So she goes to the police station and that’s where she meets the hot detective Adam. Slowly the more time she spends with him the more her feelings start to grow. This story jumps back and forth a lot. It goes from present day to back when Lilith and Damien meet in the foster system. They have a lot of history but Lilith is tired of being involved in all of his crap. Would definitely recommend this book to romance lovers and anybody who’s looking for a quick read. It’s good but fast paced and I can’t believe it’s over. I would love to read it again sometime

[Desert Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun quick read that I was able to start and finish on the plane. I loved how she bounced chapters from past to future without making it weird or boring. Plot was great and the ending wrapped up nicely. Lilith was a fantastic FMC and I adore her.

Highly recommend for anyone that wants a really good Mafia/detective romance.

[Natalie’s_world_in_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Tropes~ Childhood friends to lovers to enemies
~ detective romance
~ trauma/healing
~ strong FMC
~ Flashbacks
~ He falls first
~ Mafia
~ Found family

Loved this book! Can’t wait to read books from this author!
Matthew, Jacob and Theo 🖤

Lilith is an amazing strong female! We need more women like her!

Damien is a very dangerous man.

I really enjoyed it! I needed to know what happened next! This is a must read book so grab yourself a copy!! 🖤🖤

[sondra rathe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this and ARC of this book for the sole purpose of truthfully and honestly reviewing.
At first, I thought the book was a bit slow, but as I got further into it, I realized that it was just the pace of the book as there are past memories intertwined with the present. I loved the story and the characters.
If ever there was a story of all of this from Adam or Damien POV, or even a sequel or Lilith, I would definitely read them!

Lilith is a strong and courageous woman who thinks of herself and a burden and a wasted life.
When you fall in love with 1 person at age 5, you think you'll have a storybook ending, but that was not the case for Lilith.
When it comes time to do the right thing, she makes the ultimate choice to risk her life to save others, but mostly that of her sons life!


Thank you for allowing me to read your book!!!

You may never know your purpose in life. Just live it the best you can!

[ash😈 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Updated review: 5⭐️

When Mary posted that she was re-writing, I had to jump on and do a re-read.

I fell more in love with Lilith and her story now than I did before.

Original review:
4.5⭐️

This book took me for a loop!

Loved the timeline and how every aspect was explained.

Reading Lillith’s story and watching her grow from shy and reserved to this bad ass with confidence all because of Damien.

[Caged Soul · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I believe that everyone deserves the chance to feel love, even if they don't want it"

Rating ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️. 25

Tropes

🥀 Childhood Friends to Lovers to Enemies
🥀 FBI Detective
🥀 Trauma Healing
🥀 Ex Mafia Queen
🥀 Strong headed FMC
🥀 Found Family
🥀 Mention of Viol**ce, blo*d, ab**e

Lilith, the strong headed FMC with immense strength. She is a power to be reckoned with. I'm a sucker for mafia reads and having a book with mafia queen was a bonus point. Lilith is a epitome of women who held their head high no matter how much they are hurting inside.

She has to take a decision which was really difficult for her but if she wants to have a safe space and a haven then she has to take it. It took all her willpower to throw away her life laced with bl**dshed and power and getting into a new entity.

Damien, this man is man with multiple layering. His character is really beautifully written. You'll see how page by page, chapter by chapter his character is coming out. You'll see him under different light in certain aspects. He was the only support Lilith had when she went through something tragic. He shaped her life and made her Mafia Queen. But then you'll see his character in different shade and I'll say if you get irked by a character then it means it's written really well.

Lilith move out and then met Adams. Adams, a perfect man every girl wants. He is calm, supportive and he deserves happiness.

"You're a survivor"- Adams.

He is a FBI Detective and Lilith got involved with him. He is a man who goes office and comes back home to his family, or who will spend weekends with hsi family, that's the description I think will fit this man. A perfectly written man

But what will happen when Damien will get to know the involvement? Will Lilith ever be able to escape that dark life?

This book is a must read. ❣️

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mafia story? Me...who never watches any crime-related shows or movies? Me...who has never even seen, The Godfather. What possessed me to pick up The Black Rose? Quite honestly...the title and the cover. (Never underestimate the power of a good designer.)

Despite my lack of mafia-related entertainment, I was easily invested in The Black Rose by the end of the first chapter. We are immediately introduced to a young Lilith Rowes, who has just suffered a great personal tragedy. Shortly after, Lilith meets Damien and the two become inseparable. The book continues to follow the lives of Lilith and Damien from childhood friends to Mafia leaders.

We are witness to Lilith’s strength since page one, but watching her find the courage to leave the volatile, extravagant life she never wanted, and make a better life for herself, was one of the most rewarding things in the book. A second chance trope is especially sweet when the FMC goes out and gets it for herself. #Queen

The Black Rose has some of my favorite tropes. My favorite being found family. We also see: friends to lovers...to enemies, mafia, trauma and healing, strong FMC, red-herring, he falls first, detective romance, and lots of flashbacks as we learn more about The Mafia King and his Queen.
It is also LGBTQIA+ inclusive.

This dynamic, quick read will explore the depths we will go to protect the ones we love, and the path of destruction that follows when loyalty trumps life itself.

I really hope we can expect more from this author in the future!

[Miranda • Darkenchantedchapters · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Love is a choice. I choose to love everyone who comes into my care, even when they are hard, I choose to love them through it. I believe that everyone deserves the chance to feel love, even if they don’t want it.” - Mrs. Hartford

I’m not going to lie and say in the beginning I was kinda confused and I was not hooked but I am one to keep pushing through a book until I’m at least 50 percent through. Then if it still doesn’t catch my attention I won’t finish it. But let me tell you want not even a quarter of the way through this book gained my attention. I stopped being confused, and honestly? I couldn’t put the book down.

This book jumps from past to present day and follows the story of Rosalie Rowes who you find out goes by Lilith as you read the book. Lilith has had a rough life from loosing her parents at 5 years old, to going into the foster system, to meeting Damien at said foster home and becoming close and best friends with him, then to hitting a rough road with Damien and getting involved with the mafia. Which in turn made her become the Mafia Queen. To say she had it is would not be the case.

In this book we found out she left Damien due to a damn good reason but then trouble happens through this book and we are introduced to Adam one of the detectives on the case and let me tell you. Adam is the perfect man for Lilith so calm and so supportive just what she exactly needed.

If you want to find out what exactly happened to Lilith and to Damien then I highly suggest you go pick this book up and dive into their world because you won’t be let down.

[Kristine Caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

How far would you go to protect those you love? Would you betray the person you once called the love of your life, especially if he is the dangerous one?

At just the age of five, Lilith lost both of her parents to a car accident and was sent to a foster home. There, she met Damien, who instantly declared them friends forever. When Damien was 18 and Lilith 16, they ran away due to Damien aging out of the system and convincing Lilith that it was her best option to stick with him because the foster system won't care for them when they age out. For a while, they struggled until Damien found a job with the Mafia and quickly moved up to be the leader. Lilith never liked that life and all the things she had to do, so when certain situations arise, she decides she wants a better life and decides to run. Years later when she thinks she's been found, she makes the difficult decision to go to the police, and with the help of new in town officer Adam, she reveals all the secrets of the mafia in hopes to put Damien behind bars and she could finally feel safe.

I loved that this was not the typical Mafia story of nothing but death and spicy scenes. It's the story of someone who got away to be better and have a better life. I also enjoyed the timeline jump from past to present to tell the story of how Lilith got to where she's at. I really enjoyed this fast-paced book, and I hope there is more to it.

[K.B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to give a big hand to this debut author. This story has good bones and a good plot. I will say that from the blurb, I really wanted to see more development of characters and really get to know them, but it’s a quick read and it just wasn’t long enough to get that much depth. It does read more like a novella and so I was left wanting a bit…. more? I didn’t get enough of a connection to the characters, and I think it’s just due to the brevity of the book. There were some twists that were interesting. There is one sweet and brief spicy scene. I’ll be interested to read this author in the future as she continues to expand and grow as a writer.
Why 3 stars? Some continuity issues for me in regards to the time passed and the proximity of the FMC to the villain and the law enforcement. Sometimes the dialog read as if the speaker was younger than their age, and other times they were far wiser than the character was developed, so it wasn’t always believable. Some back and forth with the personality of the FMC made it difficult for me to connect / buy in. Probably because I’m a Gen-Xer. The relationship between the FMC and the MMC was more “tell” and less “show.” I didn’t feel them at all.
I did receive an ARC of this book and am reviewing it voluntarily.

[Stephh C · Rating 4 out of 5]

💜ARC REVIEW💜
Tropes:
Detective Romance
Friends to lovers to enemies
Trauma/PTSD
FMC healing

Release Date:
August 16, 2024 (TODAY 🥳🎉)

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Favorite Character:
Lilith Rowes

One of my favorite quotes:
‘You need to heal all the broken parts so you can become the best version of yourself. The cracks will always be there, but you can patch them up and move on.’

Overall Review:
The Black Rose follows the unfortunate life of Lilith Rowes who is constantly in a state of fear. In order to feel free from the binds of that fear she turns to the police to take down her ex-boyfriend who happens to be the head of the Mafia. She slowly starts to open herself up to the Detective on the case, Adam Davenport, and starts to develop feelings she hasn’t felt in a very long time. As the case progresses, things seem to be getting worse till it leads to only possible ultimatum.
The growth that Lilith goes through this book is so intense and awe inspiring. Realizing that in order for her to be the person she wants to be, she needs to start living for herself.



Thank you to Mary McIntosh for the opportunity to read this ARC! Congratulations on your first book and hope to see many more from you !

[Hallie · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Found Family
- Mafia
- Happy ending for now
- Dual Timeline
- Trauma and healing

sooo many more tropes.

First off thank you to @mary.mcwrites for letting me be an arc reader. Now let me tell you, I finished this book in a DAY. A DAY. The dual timeline was written wonderfully. Lilith was a young child when her parents passed away, since she was an orphan she had gotten placed into a foster home where there were other children. A child slightly older than her Damien became her one and only best friend. When they had gotten older, Damien wanted to run away, which they both did. Damien becomes involved in the mafia after they have been living on the street for some time. Then eventually runs the mafia (you will have to read to figure out how). Lilith finds out she is pregnant and runs away from that life, ends up having the child....and so on. Flashing forward to her being in her thirties, Lilith helps the police find Damien (obv she knew where he was) to arrest him.... I guess you'll have to read more.  

"I promise, my flower girl" --- any time he calls her flower haaaad meeeeeee.

" How do you see me, detective?" " You're a survivor."---- Detective def had a way with his words.

[DaniReads12 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Black Rose
By Mary McIntosh

I’ve read a lot of books that change timelines and you feel lost or like something’s missing.. but Mary McIntosh has such an ease while writing that the transitions are smooth and not boring.. it’s informative.. especially with the haunting secrets that get revealed.

Mary’s intoxicating novel has you flipping page by page. I was bumping into walls while reading this bc I was glued to my iPad.

Lilith’s life was anything but easy. After losing her parents when she was 5 and in foster care where she meets Damien. Still struggling Lilith and Damien get involved with the Mafia.

Lilith one day walks into the police station and says she has information on an active case.
The cops taking her information think, she’s just like every other woman who has walked in.. BUT of course my girl Lilith says, “Every successful King needs a Queen!” ((This was her drop mic and walk away moment, but obvi she couldn’t walk away lol))

Adam, a detective working cases. My oh my, when I say he’s the perfect match for Lilith is an understatement.

Now don’t get me wrong, Damien is the bad boy every girl will fall for BUT….
Let’s just say.. read and find out!! Snitches get stitches! And I’m no snitch 🤐

[Aachal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the start. Lilith lost her parens and had no one to take care of her, i was feeling so sad for her and than she has to move in foster care ? Just made everything worse. You could really feel how alone she was, and it hurt.

Then there’s Damien. I loved him. And I hated him. Idk what to feel about him. I've mixed feelings for him. He’s not just her best friend he’s her protector, her safe place. Their bond was so strong, and I was obsessed. When they decided to run away, I was nervous but also rooting for them so hard. You could tell they only had each other, and that made everything more intense.

Then comes Detective Adam. At first, I didn’t know what to think of him. He’s completely different from Damien, but his presence adds another layer to Lilith’s life. He’s not trying to replace anyone, but he helps her in his own way. I loved how caring he was with Lilith. They were so cute together.

This book had everything—love, trauma, survival. It wasn’t just a romance; it was about fighting through life and holding on to the people who matter. I really enjoyed it!

* TROPES -
* Childhood friends
* Found family
* Dark pasts
* Runaways
* Complex relationship
* Tragic backstory
* Strong female character

[Katlyn Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skip my review if you don't want spoilers. Sorry. I loved this book so much. I was hooked from the very beginning. Lilith endured a lot, and no matter what she did, she couldn't escape her past. Her friendship with Damien as children grew into a dependency, and I knew at some point it was really going to hurt. I might be in the minority here, but my heart hurts for him. For the little boy in a foster home.. for the one who was scared to be alone and befriended the new girl. The teenage boy who wanted nothing more than to protect and provide for his best friend, the girl he promised he would be there for since he was a broken child. I know what he grew into, and I didn't want him to have a redemption arc. I don't see how he could really come back from who he became anyway, but it still hurt. I loved the meaning behind all the small things in this book. And how real it felt setting things from Lilith's perspective as a mom who didn't think she could ever be enough. I really loved Adam also. I wish we saw more of who he really was, but I think it was enough because that wasn't the focus of her story.

[Naila C Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖤 Her POV
🥀 Detective & Ex Mafia Queen
🖤 Romantic Suspense
🥀 Mafia Vibes
🖤 Troubled Past
🥀 Foster Siblings to Enemies (FMC & Her Ex)
🖤 Past & Present Timelines
🥀 FMC is a Baddie
🖤 Insta Love
🥀 Mysterious Flowers

The story was a quick read when I finished it in one day! This story intrigued me that I couldn't put it down!

Honestly, it was sad reading about Lilith and her ex of their lives in the past to present. I thought Lilith's Ex seemed good in the beginning until reading the rest of Lilith's story. I was rooting for them until I wasn't. I could understand why it was difficult for Lilith to do what she had to for her freedom. She witnessed someone she cared about change drastically, and she couldn't stop it. In another life, their story could have been a great second chance romance for them until something ugly and dark ruined everything.

Lilith has to face her past in order to move forward. She met Officer Adam Davenport when she wanted to let go of her past. She had her reasons to leave her old life behind to start a new one. Adam could be part of her new life she yearns for. Adam seems like a sweet guy. He taught her how to cook. Lilith is such a Baddie! She knows how to handle any situations thrown her way.

Lilith was on a mission and accomplished it!
A little mystery on who gives Lilith flowers throughout the book.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lilith is finally taking control of her life back to have her son in her life without fear and trauma holding her back. I personally liked the time jump showing her past while we were actively moving through her healing process with her.

I did not want to put this book down once I started it and I didn’t until I finished. I took my kindle to the bathroom and kitchen if I needed to 😂🙌🏽

Adam, a detective/police officer, would follow Lilith to hell and back if she went. Whenever she had to do some crazy shit, he would say “Yanno, I can arrest you for this.” but still be right by her side. I absolutely loved those bits 🤌🏽 and all his acts of service 🥹

Theo can grow up and say ‘my momma’s a badass 🤪’

Adam and Lilith came together in such a beautiful way. I do love that they know neither of them are signing up for a walk in the park, they both have to heal and grow and learn but they have each other through that process. He never pushed her for more than she felt comfortable with or ready for.

[Juliana Brush · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to first say thank you to the author for an ARC of this book!

This book has a nice mix of a mafia plot with a hint of romance thrown in. The plot kept me wanting to read it with Lilith’s past trauma being involved with the mafia. I wanted to know how her story ended and if she truly would be able to put her past behind her.

I loved Lilith’s personality. The author did a beautiful job demonstrating how most of her life she had to put on a brave face to survive - from being put into a foster home at a young age, to running away with the man she loved because she feared for his safety, to becoming the head of a mafia. Her bravery and courage to heal for his son was heartwarming.

I enjoyed the male main character - Adam. I liked the trope of him falling in love with her - as broken as Lilith was. I do wish the author gave a bit more depth to his character and showed more of his backstory. I had a harder time connecting to him.

Overall, this book has a great plot. I just wanted to know more about Adam! That part of the storyline felt a little rushed.

[thebeespot72 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Black Rose is unique in that it is told through Lilith’s POV and through varying timelines of past and present as she ages. From Lilith and Damien as childhood friends to adults, there’s Lilith as an adult meeting Adam, the detective spearheading the shutdown of a mafia ring.

Lilith and Damien’s childhood friendship evolves, and as adults, they become more. Though Damien embraces a different path in the mafia, she stays because of Lilith’s love for him. However, with the lifestyle and change in Damien, he becomes somebody who is not the person Lilith once knew. Lilith makes a decision that is best for everyone's future when an unplanned circumstance occurs. And the effects of that decision later spiral, connecting several people’s lives.

At points in the story, there were some moments I had some challenges following, but it does cumulate together. I did want to love Damien and kept waiting, which led me to understand why the author chose a single POV. Overall, I found the story entertaining.

[pagesofsia_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book tour | 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔥.5

Lilith’s story pulled me in from the first page and refused to let go. Her journey wasn’t just about survival — it was about transformation. She wasn’t a damsel waiting for rescue; she was a woman determined to take back her life, no matter the cost.

The dynamic between her past and present was compelling, showing how love can be both a source of strength and pain. Lilith’s choices, though heartbreaking, felt inevitable — the kind of decisions only someone who’s truly lived through fire could make.

What I appreciated most was how the ending didn’t chase after an idealized version of happiness. It embraced the messy, complicated truth of healing and finding peace on your own terms.

This book is perfect for anyone who loves layered characters, intense emotional arcs, and a heroine who fights her way through the darkness.

Huge thanks to the author and @beyondthebookspr for letting me experience this incredible read!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of good elements, but it seemed rushed throughout the plot and the different elements it was trying to hit on. There were bits and pieces splashed throughout the book that I think, if it was a longer novel, those could have been fleshed out a bit more. This would have added to a better and deeper understanding of Lilith, the FMC. I did enjoy the timeline jumps, so you could see a little bit of the backstory of how Lilith came to be where she was in her relationship with Damien.
For a debut, it was pretty good. Mary McIntosh has a voice, and she is getting herself started with a solid story that only needs a little more hashing out to be stronger, in my opinion.

2.5 stars, rated up.

Thank you to Mary McIntosh for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[RoamingwithBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Review✨

📖The Black Rose by Mary McIntosh 📖

You know how you see a book, and read a description and just know you’re going to like it. That’s how I felt about this book, and from the first page I was hooked. I couldn’t put this down, ended up staying up late to finish it.

Lilith’s past is catching up to her from her days in the Mafia, but she handles it in the best way possible. She is tough, strong, and doesn’t back down.

Mary McIntosh’s debut is a smashing, thrilling debut that you won’t want to miss if you enjoy stories with multiple timeless and detective work.

The timelines are so well written, switches between her childhood and present.

📆Release date: January 7, 2025

✨Read this if you like✨
👑Mafia King and Queen
❤️‍🔥Romance
💘Friends to lovers
🔎Detectives
🔢 Multiple timelines

“He broke his promise to me, like I broke me”

[Sakshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a read it was !! Literally started as a cute little love story between cute little kids but what happened next 😲. You know sometimes when you just want to read something that inspires you in a way and tell you the truth ? This was that book. It told me how important it is to be loved RIGHT and that the actions of the other person tells us everything. It doesn't matter how much the person is GIVING you rather how much the person is willing to LET GO just for you. Did Damein love her? Yes he did in a way but is that what I call love ? No. Absolutely NO. The type of love I crave and want in life is what Jacob and Matthews had for Lilith. She deserved better, she realised that and made the life of her son better. That is the kind of love that is RIGHT. The title makes so much sense at the end 😭. I was like wow 😯

[Jess Woods · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this. The bones of the story are fine, definitely rushed, which makes many of the relationships hard to buy into. The biggest issue is grammar/editing. It is all over the place. This book clearly has not been edited by anyone. Capitalization is all wrong, some words are capitalized and don’t need to be, while others are not and should be. There are constant issues with no spaces after a period. Even quotations are not edited as they should be. The typos on each page were so distracting and really pulled me out of the story. As for the story itself, as i said, the bones are there. But it’s not complete. I didn’t but Adam and Lilith at all.

[Tiffany Sturms · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I really enjoyed this book! It was shorter than what I typically read which was refreshing. I was able to read this in one sitting. The book kept my attention the entire time and I loved how it jumped from past to present. You really got a full understanding of Lilith and Damien’s background which I thought was great! I would have loved a bit more of Adam’s story/Lilith and Adam’s love story but overall the book was great and it was a quick read. If you’re into any of the below tropes, give this one a shot!

Tropes:
- Mafia
- Mafia King and Queen
- Romance
- Childhood Trauma
- Detective
- Friends-lovers-enemies

[Lisa Dark Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your typical mafia romance. Lilith shows strength even though she is scared to death. This book definitely gives a different vibe. I love how even though Lilith wanted to stay true to her best friend and first love. Than as times passes it’s not the life she wanted when she was faced with an unexpected event that changes how she sees her life and that makes her run away from the her first love and only friend. It takes some years later but she finds her strength in the one person that the mafia is not to talked to or near a cop….
Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Darkness
🖤🖤
No Spice
🫀 for main characters 🫀🫀🫀🫀🫀

[Stephani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved every part of The Black Rose! It's a short novella that makes you want more. I wish it was a novel because I wanted more of the storyline. We watch lilith grow from a timid little girl to complete badass trying to take down her ex mafia boyfriend, Damien, and get her son back. I would love to see another novella that shows more of Lilith and Damiens' time spent in the mafia before she left it all behind to start a new life. The story did jump from present to past, which i enjoyed because we got a little back story into the main characters' relationship. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves novellas that have romance mafia and detectives!