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Rising ballerina Erica’s life is shattered when her ruthless stepfather rips her from the spotlight and forces her into a marriage with the city’s most feared mob boss—Gianni, the Devil of Shadows.

Eight years older and infinitely more dangerous, Gianni is not just her captor but also her protector, ensnaring her in a twisted web of dark devotion. With each passing day, his grip tightens, pulling her deeper into his shadowed world.

As Erica fights to resist his dark possession, she must navigate a wicked dance of domination and longing.

Will she break free from a love that threatens to consume her?
Or will she surrender to the darkness?Discover a dark romance that will leave you breathless—dive into Claimed today.

293 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2024

233 people are currently reading
270 people want to read

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Taylor Rose

7 books61 followers

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5 stars
293 (53%)
4 stars
123 (22%)
3 stars
80 (14%)
2 stars
37 (6%)
1 star
19 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
Profile Image for M.
600 reviews57 followers
October 29, 2024
Please never write again. I am begging you. Put that pen down. We are in need of plumbers.
Profile Image for ⛓️🥀 gee 🥀⛓️.
178 reviews4 followers
October 25, 2024
I NEED A SECOND BOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW. 😭 this book sucked me in from the first page. i LOVE Erica as a FMC, she’s so strong and doesn’t take any sh*t. as for Gianni lord, he’s unhinged in the best way 😂 the chemistry between him and Erica is insane 🤌🏻 i have a inkling i might know what he’s keeping from her, so i’m gonna need that second book asap.

minor spoilers here ‼️‼️‼️‼️
(two things i wasn’t keen on in the book is the daddy k!nk but that’s a personal preference and surprisingly in this book it didn’t give me the ick, like i usually get. two is a certain story about a pelvis….. along with mans chaining himself to a chair 💀i couldn’t take it seriously. hence why i had to come back and edit my review cos i totally blocked it out by the end LOL 😂)

this book is gonna be living in my head rent free till i get a conclusion 😅
Profile Image for Irum.
466 reviews
October 23, 2024
I could not take this book seriously 💀💀💀

He apparently destroyed OW pelvic by fucking 🤡🤡🤡🤡
Profile Image for Hiba.
1,064 reviews414 followers
December 12, 2024
This is one of those books where you should leave common sense and logic outside before reading it, because otherwise you would just ruin all the fun for yourself.
This was entertaining, but a shattered pelvis? That was too much, even for me.
1 review
October 23, 2024
Not Good

I love this author. Have read everything by her and Kenta Wright. This just wasn't a good story. Gianni was the devil but a 22 year old virgin that was barely in the life was able to tame him?? Get outta here.
Profile Image for Bree.
471 reviews33 followers
October 26, 2024
This is a dark romance. Here’s obsession, violence, spicy times, mafia themes, a little of everything. This was interesting but I feel it stopped in a weird place. This book basically takes place in the span of 24 hours. I was interested in the story but I wanted more. I felt this was just the beginning setup. There is a second book that will be out in November so at least we don’t have to wait long. This book does have trigger warnings especially about certain kinks so take note of that.

Profile Image for June.
106 reviews
October 22, 2024
WTF!

This was dark dark!! But I enjoyed every delicious sinful page!! Gianni and Erica are a match made in hell. It’s hot and it’s ohhh so spicy.

P.S. read the trigger warning
Profile Image for Ju Berrymore.
100 reviews19 followers
October 23, 2024
"SOPHIA!!!"

After losing her mother, Erica separates herself from her family and their ties to the criminal underworld to pursue her dreams as a ballerina. Her stepfather drags her back and forces her into an arranged marriage to Obsidian Bay's most feared mob boss, Gianni, AKA The Devil of Shadows. Erica is determined to escape his control and possession but slowly gives in to the seduction of Gianni's dark devotion.

I love it when the boogie man falls in love and I devoured this in one sitting! Erica is SO relatable. She is headstrong and ambitious, but since losing her mother as a young girl, she has been neglected and disrespected by her stepfather and brother. I completely understand how she could fall for the dark allure of Gianni, who is notoriously violent and dangerous, but devout in cherishing his "Queen" and protecting her by ANY means necessary. 10/10 I recommend this to all the dark romance girlies!
Profile Image for Nuella.
389 reviews4 followers
January 20, 2025
how did I get through this?

The answer to that question is….. with a lot of eye rolling, huffing, puffing and page skimming …. This is not a quality read. Nope …. I mean I should've known. The whole shattered pelvis thing was a dead give away!
Such a shame honestly.. it had potential but seems like the author focused so much on the violent themes and had no more energy to put into the actual storyline..... overall a terrible read
Profile Image for Kedma Guillory.
60 reviews8 followers
January 13, 2025
2 stars for effort


"Claimed: The Devil's vow Book One" by Taylor Rose ventures into the realm of dark romance but unfortunately, falls short in its execution. While the premise of a ballerina being thrust into an unexpected and sinister marriage initially seemed intriguing, the story quickly devolves into a series of confusing and unsettling events
From the start, the characters' motivations and actions felt disjointed. The protagonist's half-brother's unsettling behavior and the bizarre dynamics with her stepfather and future husband lacked coherence, making the narrative difficult to follow and even more challenging to connect with emotionally. The author's attempt to weave a dark romance through these interactions was, in my opinion, ineffective
One of the significant shortcomings was the lack of depth in character backstories. The narrative would have benefited greatly from a more detailed exploration of the protagonist's past, particularly her relationship with her mother, her experiences at boarding school, and how these events shaped her. These elements, if fleshed out, could have added richness and believability to the story
Certain scenes, such as the protagonist's wedding night, were especially cringeworthy and seemed to be included for shock value rather than narrative development. The dialogue and actions during these moments were not only implausible but also detracted from any potential romantic or dark allure the book may have aimed to achieve
Moreover, the protagonist's quick submission to her fate lacked the tension and resistance that one might expect in a story centered around such high-stakes circumstances. Her passive acceptance of a forced marriage to a clearly dangerous man left much to be desired in terms of character strength and development
Overall, "Claimed: The Devil's Vow” struggled to deliver a compelling dark romance. While the author undoubtedly put effort into creating this world, the execution felt lacking, and the story left me more perplexed than entertained. For those seeking a gripping dark romance, this book may not meet expectations. It might be beneficial for the author to refine her approach or perhaps focus on other genres that better suit her storytelling style.
Profile Image for Cammyjoe.
1,424 reviews8 followers
February 24, 2025
The Devil’s Obsession

So far every single book I read from Taylor Rose , I can’t put them down. I absolutely love strong women characters and an Alpha male definitely needs a strong woman… that being said, Gianni , who didn’t know what the word compromising meant found himself in a whole new position… His new bride was no shrinking violet, they didn’t call him : ‘The devil of the shadows ‘ for nothing…
Really great read.
I am leaving you with a clip « “And. . .I want to make this marriage work, even though I was forced into it out of nowhere, even though I don’t even know why and when you decided to marry me. I’m being patient for those answers, but goddamn it. . .since being with you last night and even now. . .I want to make us work.” His voice was low now. “Those answers that you want will come.” “Until then I will wait.” I lowered my hand and fixed my tattered dress so it somewhat covered my breasts. “That is compromise. I read one time in a magazine that compromise makes a marriage stronger.” “Unfortunately, my queen, I’m not a fan of compromising—” “I’m sure you’re not, Devil of Shadows, but I am not going to be bullied into giving up my passion. So, ask yourself this. . .and take your time with thinking it over for the rest of the day. . .what do you want?” He leaned his head to the side. “What do you mean, what do I want?” “Do you want a wife that loves you with all her heart, all the way down to her soul? One that dedicates her life to not only being loyal to you but making you happy?” I swallowed. “Or do you want a prisoner in your castle? A prisoner in this marriage? A prisoner in your bed? One that begins to lose all hope and starts to plot her escape or. . .” He widened his eyes. “Maybe, she begins to plot your death.” He parted his lips in shock. And then I got off the bed, before he could grab and wrap my wrists back up in that belt. To my shock, he remained silent and stayed there. »
You go girl, face the devil and tell him like it is !! 👏
Profile Image for thebeespot72.
1,713 reviews185 followers
April 8, 2025
Note: My Review reflects both Claimed & Bound

There was no hesitation in choosing Taylor Rose’s 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭’𝘴 𝘝𝘰𝘸 𝘋𝘶𝘦𝘵 as 𝘔𝘺 𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘦𝘬. If you are a fan of dark romances, especially those featuring mafia, very unhinged MCs who are possessive, quick on the trigger, and will unalive if anyone so much as shakes their woman’s hand, you must read Taylor Rose. And a side note: Taylor Rose is Kenya Wright's “alter ego.” Don’t even get me started on Kenya Wright’s books. That is for another day, but readers need to get on that as well.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭’𝘴 𝘝𝘰𝘸 𝘋𝘶𝘦𝘵 begins with 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘥 and introduces Erica, a young ballerina whose stepfather unexpectedly forces her into an arranged marriage to Gianni, a fellow mafia don. Meanwhile, her half-brother, Vito, is a nightmare. And when I say Taylor Rose writes dark, the interaction between Vito and Erica is messed up, which is intentional because it establishes what kind of guy Vito is. It gives forbidden and tab00 themes, alright? But Vito, along with any other man who comes across Erica, needs to be fearful of Gianni.

Gianni is very protective and won’t stand for anyone disrespecting Erica—even if their family. Gianni is the man in every way. Taylor Rose’s spice scenes are very good. Gianni is large and in charge, so much so that he “shattered” his past partner’s pelvis—realistically, is that possible? Eh. It’s fiction. Don’t worry about it.

Book 2, 𝘉𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥, is darker with the over-the-top, highly reactive Gianni and some forbidden themes. Gianni is a dark guy; his thought process is dark, too, but his actions are rationalized—he adores Erica more than anything. Yes, there may have been a few moments when I said, “Baby, you might need some help.” But everything is forgotten when he says she is his Queen and has her call him “Daddy." And if Erica is okay with it, so am I.
Profile Image for Nicole.
299 reviews
May 28, 2025
1⭐️

I’ve read a few books by Taylor Rose and let’s just say this was by far the worse I’ve read to date. It wasn’t terrible but you’re better off watching a bloody p*rno! The entire book gave something and nothing, because it felt like the timeline spanned over 3 days. She’s performing, the same night she rocks up to her wedding, experience “nirvana” and see that Gianni is demented, travel to the castle and loose her v card. See what I mean? Absolutely nothing! So you can guarantee that the bits in between was them shagging like horny goats, so I just had to skip it cause it was too much.

Now I’m in a book slump because I had such high hopes for this book, only to realise it was filled with nothing but shagging, shagging and ohh wait you guessed it even more shagging!!!! With bits in between of overly descriptive nonsense.
26 reviews
November 8, 2024
Aaargh!!! How can this be

Why? Why must this be so good. One of the things I love best about this author is the story building. The lore. I cannot wait to see the battle of wits that the Vampire Queen and her Devil of Shadows will engage. This entire book feels like a prologue that establishes a ruthlessness of our hero and the strength of femininity and womanhood that is our heroine. The sexual tension is built from inception without being forced, rushed, or overly drawn out and lack luster. This is an important facet that other authors have not mastered. Per usual Ms. Rose aka Ms. Wright, weaves a tale of darkness and lust from page one.
Profile Image for Janet R.
600 reviews3 followers
June 14, 2025
Don Gianni Fortunato is a Hell Storm👿

Wow!!! I'm a huge fan of ✍️ Kenya Wright , but writing as her alter ego Taylor Rose , she brings the darkness😨Gianni is an absolutely terrifying, completely
remorseless, unhinged alpha who hastens the expiration date of all enemies in the most ruthless , brutal, vengeful ways😱. He only softens for his little ballerina Erica. Heed the author's explicit TWs as this book is pitch black & is def. not for the weak of heart. If you're easily triggered, its best to just bypass! This book abruptly ended so I can't wait to devour the next 📚in the series🍷
Profile Image for Dudi.
408 reviews1 follower
November 4, 2024
3.5 stars
I loved the premise of the book overall. I enjoyed Erica’s personality at the beginning of the story but she slowly morphed into somewhat of an annoying person. She definitely loved poking the bear and that’s not good for someone that uses “Sophia” to help solve his problems. Also some portions of the story were far fetched such as the wedding night scene in the other room. Not even sure what purpose that served and probably could have been left out. Despite all of the drawbacks of this story, I am interested in finding out more of their journey and definitely more about Gianni.
403 reviews
February 3, 2025
The first half of book 1 is dark erotica perfections and it’s was devastating when it all falls apart.

It’s starts going down hill with the longest most absurd wedding night ever. This entire story happens in 3 DAYS! the wedding night was the first time you started to fell both the slowness of the pace and that way too much happens in a single day.

I considered DNF’ing or at least not reading second book sadly I continued on. I am balancing my five star rating of first half against 1 star rating of second half.
583 reviews
February 4, 2025
Claimed Indeed

Erica was born in the family of a mafia don, her step- father was ruthless, but he loved her mother. But upon her mothers death, she became a stranger in her fathers house, he favored her baby brother. Escaping to a ballet school and only receiving an allowance from her step-father, she thought she would never see him again. Several years later he shows up for her to repay the debt to his family, by marrying the Devil in the Shadow. Gianni the new don, wanted Erica, and he always got what he wanted. Love this book.
Profile Image for Charlene Smith.
32 reviews
April 9, 2025
Claimed( The Devil’s Vow Book 1)

Taylor Rose Created another great story, and I found it hard to put this book down. This is Book 1 of 2 and I am off to start it after dropping this review. You may find yourself falling in love with the MMC in this story, but please don’t sleep on the MFC for she is nothing to play with either! Please grab you a glass of your favorite drink, and dive into Erica a rising ballerina, and Gianni ( the Devil of Shadows) mob boss who loves her to distraction…. Let the red flags FLY!🚩🚩🚩🔥🚩
Profile Image for Shara.
202 reviews10 followers
December 4, 2024
The story isn’t new even in regard to the FMC being a Ballerina. However, the wording that the writer uses to portray the FMC thoughts rivaled how she actually spoke. This is where I kinda lost me with all the freaking metaphors. It was exhausting-we get it “The Devil” has claimed your body and soul. The MMC was just- No.

This came off corny to me and, it too entirely too long for the spice to happen and, it just wasn’t worth the trouble.
220 reviews
December 14, 2024
Well...

Alrighty then the Devil is fine, virile, tall, dark and handsome... Not only Alpha obsessive but crazy insane with a heart of compassion, empathy and vengeance this Devil has many sides and facets...now, comes the chosen Queen young, gifted, talented, independent, shy, street smart, life taught...virgin hmmm. They are trying to navigate each other...trying to survive being lost to each other completely
4 reviews
January 23, 2025
EXCELLENT

Now I must say your other books are good. However this alter ego pen name. Ms. Ma’am when I tell you how delicious this book is. Let me say it again delicious. That beast of a pen you had hidden away needs to come out very often. This right here is a very proud moment for you. I LOVE THIS BOOK. The graphic details especially when Gianni was tied up then you included the picture. SEXY and WET af. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🌹🌹🥀
106 reviews
January 31, 2025
ok

I made it 58% because usually once I get to three chapters in a book, I let it go, but this book started off so good but somewhere down the line it was like I was reading the same thing over and over and I just could not do it anymore.

Now, if someone else asked me about this book, I will tell them read it for yourself because we all have different outlooks and opinions about books.
473 reviews1 follower
May 30, 2025
I don't know...

The book started out interesting and held my attention. However the more I read the stranger it got. The characters were so over the top in their behavior. I know you suspend reality when you read one of these books but you shouldn't have to go down the rabbit hole I could not read the whole thing I skim to the end to find out it was a cliffhanger. I could not recommend this book.
444 reviews4 followers
August 7, 2025
It’s just so good!

This book was amazing from start to finish. Erica and Gianni’s relationship from start to finish did not go the way I thought! His dedication to her, her strength in the face of terrifying circumstances, their commitment to each other even though she barely knows him. This book was so well written that I felt like I was there, like I was Erica experiencing all of this. Now I’m off to read the second book
Profile Image for Meya.
48 reviews
October 23, 2024
I need more stat!!!

Omgeeeeee!!! This book had me in a chokehold. I need more of everything!!! KW as Taylor Rose is setting standards with these dark romances. This book kept me intrigued and wanting to know more of Gianni's background. I can't until the next book. Definitely recommend this book!
Profile Image for Mei.
140 reviews2 followers
October 26, 2024
Read👏🏾This👏🏾Book👏🏾

This book was a RIDE. A wild flippin ride that I didn’t want to end. It gripped me from the first paragraph. Enraptured. Enamored, and I stayed that way the whole time. It’s dark, twisted, steamy, and intriguing. Do yourself a favor and read this book. I’ll be thinking about Erica & Gianni for a loooong time. 😩😍 10/10 highly recommend! 😆
26 reviews
October 27, 2024
Dark and Intense...nailed it!

I enjoyed this story line. The interaction between Erica and Gianni was sweet, steamy and intensely erotic! They both have power in the relationship. The violence is not unexpected in this type of genre...it is what it is. Looking forward to the next installment in this series!
57 reviews1 follower
Read
November 21, 2024
My Goodness

I have been waiting very impatiently for the 2nd book to release so I could read this one. So glad I waited because there's no way I wouldn’t have thrown a grown woman tantrum, if I couldn't get right to the next book with THAT ending. So worth the wait. This book did not disappoint. And baby girl...she got some steel in her.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews

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