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A Dangerous Proposal: A Single Mom, Marriage of Convenience, Romantic Suspense
She needs a miracle.
Madison Amherst is desperate to protect her nephew. Caught in a brutal custody battle, she risks losing him to the man she suspects is responsible for her sister’s death. Her only option? A dangerous proposal from a man whose darkness and power might be the only way to keep them safe.
He needs a wife.
Alex Kovalyov, heir to a dangerous Bratva legacy, needs a wife to satisfy his brother’s demands. Marrying Madison is the perfect solution—until their calculated alliance turns into something far more complicated than either of them ever wanted.
Can their marriage save them both—or will it destroy everything?
As secrets surface and enemies close in, their fragile alliance is tested. Madison’s search for the truth and Alex’s vow to keep her safe could cost them everything. When the stakes turn deadly and Alex’s loyalty is tested, he’ll stop at nothing to save his new family—even if it destroys him.
Madison Amherst is desperate to protect her nephew. Caught in a brutal custody battle, she risks losing him to the man she suspects is responsible for her sister’s death. Her only option? A dangerous proposal from a man whose darkness and power might be the only way to keep them safe.
He needs a wife.
Alex Kovalyov, heir to a dangerous Bratva legacy, needs a wife to satisfy his brother’s demands. Marrying Madison is the perfect solution—until their calculated alliance turns into something far more complicated than either of them ever wanted.
Can their marriage save them both—or will it destroy everything?
As secrets surface and enemies close in, their fragile alliance is tested. Madison’s search for the truth and Alex’s vow to keep her safe could cost them everything. When the stakes turn deadly and Alex’s loyalty is tested, he’ll stop at nothing to save his new family—even if it destroys him.
429 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 10, 2025
156 people are currently reading
633 people want to read
About the author
Kate Breitfeller
10 books52 followersKate graduated with an English degree from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Ga. After twenty years in a variety of careers, Kate has gone back to her first love of writing. Kate previously published non-fiction business books as well as a humorous magazine series dedicated to the antics of her family. This is her first foray into fiction and draws on the colorful characters and surroundings that she finds in her current home on the Space Coast of Florida. She lives with her husband, two sons and rescue dog, Charlie. Whenever she gets a chance, Kate escapes the beach with a good book and a fruity cocktail.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
May 4, 2025
3.5 Stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to Kate Breitfeller & Love Notes PR for the ARC! 💌
Another day, another moment of Goodreads failing us by not having half stars 😭 It wasn’t perfect, but I devoured it—fast-paced, addictive, and giving me exactly what I needed!
🖤 MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE + MAFIA ROMANCE? YES, PLEASE.
Madison is a true crime podcaster fighting to keep custody of her nephew. Alex is a Bratva heir who needs a wife to keep his family in check. Their arrangement is all business—until feelings get involved, and suddenly, “contract marriage” turns into “I can’t live without you.”
TROPES :
🖤 Marriage of Convenience
🔥 Mafia Romance
🖤 Broody MMC (Mysterious, Protective Hero)
🔥 Hurt/Comfort
🖤 Tension-Fueled Slow Burn
🔥 The “I Can’t Live Without You” Moment
Alex had me in a CHOKEHOLD.
The man is cold, ruthless, and so possessive I could scream. But he also SHOWS his love instead of just saying it, and ughhh I ate it up. Like—
"From the moment I saw you, you were mine. At no point was I ever going to let you go.”
SIR, YES SIR. 😭🔥
And Jax??? THE CUTEST. Protect that child at all costs.
BUTTTT... THE ENDING.
The last 20% felt RUSHED. We got all this build-up, all this tension, and then?? Everything wrapped up TOO quickly. Like, give me more angst, more fallout, more FEELINGS. That said, I still enjoyed it and will definitely check out the rest of the Dangerous Blooms series because I’m intrigued.
SPICE LEVEL: 🌶️🌶️ (low, but the tension carried it)
FINAL THOUGHTS: If you love mafia romance with strong plotlines, suspense, and a broody MMC who will burn the world down for his woman, you’ll enjoy this one! Even with the rushed ending, it’s still a fun, solid read.
Now, Goodreads, PLEASE LET US HAVE HALF-STAR RATINGS. 😭
Another day, another moment of Goodreads failing us by not having half stars 😭 It wasn’t perfect, but I devoured it—fast-paced, addictive, and giving me exactly what I needed!
🖤 MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE + MAFIA ROMANCE? YES, PLEASE.
Madison is a true crime podcaster fighting to keep custody of her nephew. Alex is a Bratva heir who needs a wife to keep his family in check. Their arrangement is all business—until feelings get involved, and suddenly, “contract marriage” turns into “I can’t live without you.”
TROPES :
🖤 Marriage of Convenience
🔥 Mafia Romance
🖤 Broody MMC (Mysterious, Protective Hero)
🔥 Hurt/Comfort
🖤 Tension-Fueled Slow Burn
🔥 The “I Can’t Live Without You” Moment
Alex had me in a CHOKEHOLD.
The man is cold, ruthless, and so possessive I could scream. But he also SHOWS his love instead of just saying it, and ughhh I ate it up. Like—
"From the moment I saw you, you were mine. At no point was I ever going to let you go.”
SIR, YES SIR. 😭🔥
And Jax??? THE CUTEST. Protect that child at all costs.
BUTTTT... THE ENDING.
The last 20% felt RUSHED. We got all this build-up, all this tension, and then?? Everything wrapped up TOO quickly. Like, give me more angst, more fallout, more FEELINGS. That said, I still enjoyed it and will definitely check out the rest of the Dangerous Blooms series because I’m intrigued.
SPICE LEVEL: 🌶️🌶️ (low, but the tension carried it)
FINAL THOUGHTS: If you love mafia romance with strong plotlines, suspense, and a broody MMC who will burn the world down for his woman, you’ll enjoy this one! Even with the rushed ending, it’s still a fun, solid read.
Now, Goodreads, PLEASE LET US HAVE HALF-STAR RATINGS. 😭
April 12, 2025
3.5⭐️
This was a pretty nice book!!!
I don’t even want to spoil too much about the plot. Let’s just say: it’s a wild ride.
Honestly, I really want to talk Madison. Madison is such a fighter. I don’t know how she manages to take care of a baby all while fighting a nasty custody case. She’s always managing and barely complaining, despite her palpable anxiety and stress. The baby in question, Jax, is so cute honestly. Such a precious soul. 😩😩
Also, she’s such a boss for being a true crime podcaster.
Now, about Alex: He’s a really nice guy who went out of his way to help Madison and Jax. You could really tell how he went from caring out of necessity to simply CARING- so wholesome.
The only thing that bothered me was the pacing of the book. Especially the last 20% felt a bit rushed. Too much happened in the last chapters and it felt out of place.
Still, I can only recommend reading this book if you like a good marriage of convenience with a little dark twist. 👀
Thank you so much for providing me with an arc!!!!
~arc for honest review~
This was a pretty nice book!!!
I don’t even want to spoil too much about the plot. Let’s just say: it’s a wild ride.
Honestly, I really want to talk Madison. Madison is such a fighter. I don’t know how she manages to take care of a baby all while fighting a nasty custody case. She’s always managing and barely complaining, despite her palpable anxiety and stress. The baby in question, Jax, is so cute honestly. Such a precious soul. 😩😩
Also, she’s such a boss for being a true crime podcaster.
Now, about Alex: He’s a really nice guy who went out of his way to help Madison and Jax. You could really tell how he went from caring out of necessity to simply CARING- so wholesome.
The only thing that bothered me was the pacing of the book. Especially the last 20% felt a bit rushed. Too much happened in the last chapters and it felt out of place.
Still, I can only recommend reading this book if you like a good marriage of convenience with a little dark twist. 👀
Thank you so much for providing me with an arc!!!!
~arc for honest review~
June 8, 2025
4.5 stars ⭐️
Firstly, I want to thank Love PR Notes and the author for providing me with an ARC.
This romance was a great combination of romance, suspense, smut, mafia, and surprisingly cute moments! I loved all the characters... Alex, of course, but I’ll return to him later. I loved Madison; she was strong in a vulnerable way, and I loved that. I thought her character was beautifully written, and it reminded me that just because you’re strong doesn’t mean you have to fight your battles alone all the time. As a reader, I could feel the fear, the anxiety, but also the love in the book as if it were happening to me. I thought Kate Breitfeller has a perfect way of capturing the reader.
I loved the supporting characters, and even though I hadn’t read about them before, I think I got a pretty good idea of their dynamics from this book alone.
I’m not even mad that they hook up for the first time at 20% of the book. I wouldn’t usually enjoy insta-lust, but it worked out very well in this case, maybe because the scenes are spaced out and months have passed from one to another. Also, the whole suspense subplot kept me on my toes, and even though I was rooting for our MCs to be together, I wanted to find out what was happening - how Opal played into the story, what had happened with the senator and Felix - everything.
Okay, can we gush about Alex now?
You know when you read dark romance and you’re like, “Okay, this is enjoyable, but I would never date someone like that in real life”? WELL, Alex does not fit into that category. NOW I finally understand how readers can be so obsessed with morally grey characters. Is he bad? Is he good? He’s both, in an agonizing way. You start to question everything you thought you knew about your morals. He was so gray that I never wanted to see color in my life ever again. That’s it.
Alex couldn’t fool anyone into thinking he just wanted to marry Madison out of convenience. He wanted to keep her—he just didn’t know how. The whole convenience excuse was a sham he came up with to convince himself otherwise. It was so obvious he loved her from the beginning. And he loves like a simp. The way he was calling Jax his son from the start just made me feral. I just loved their little found family! I was rooting for them the whole time and just wanted them to become a real family in the end.
The only reason I’m not giving this book five stars is that I felt it could have been a bit shorter, the story dragged a little at some point. But I feel like this ARC came at the perfect time for me since I’m still riding my Russian mafia high. :)
So, if you’re into:
Marriage of convenience (MY wife!! 🔥)
Russian Mafia romance 🔫
Single guardian FMC (in a custody battle) 👶
Forced Proximity ❤️🔥
Touch her and 💀
...you might want to give this book a try!
Firstly, I want to thank Love PR Notes and the author for providing me with an ARC.
This romance was a great combination of romance, suspense, smut, mafia, and surprisingly cute moments! I loved all the characters... Alex, of course, but I’ll return to him later. I loved Madison; she was strong in a vulnerable way, and I loved that. I thought her character was beautifully written, and it reminded me that just because you’re strong doesn’t mean you have to fight your battles alone all the time. As a reader, I could feel the fear, the anxiety, but also the love in the book as if it were happening to me. I thought Kate Breitfeller has a perfect way of capturing the reader.
I loved the supporting characters, and even though I hadn’t read about them before, I think I got a pretty good idea of their dynamics from this book alone.
I’m not even mad that they hook up for the first time at 20% of the book. I wouldn’t usually enjoy insta-lust, but it worked out very well in this case, maybe because the scenes are spaced out and months have passed from one to another. Also, the whole suspense subplot kept me on my toes, and even though I was rooting for our MCs to be together, I wanted to find out what was happening - how Opal played into the story, what had happened with the senator and Felix - everything.
Okay, can we gush about Alex now?
You know when you read dark romance and you’re like, “Okay, this is enjoyable, but I would never date someone like that in real life”? WELL, Alex does not fit into that category. NOW I finally understand how readers can be so obsessed with morally grey characters. Is he bad? Is he good? He’s both, in an agonizing way. You start to question everything you thought you knew about your morals. He was so gray that I never wanted to see color in my life ever again. That’s it.
Alex couldn’t fool anyone into thinking he just wanted to marry Madison out of convenience. He wanted to keep her—he just didn’t know how. The whole convenience excuse was a sham he came up with to convince himself otherwise. It was so obvious he loved her from the beginning. And he loves like a simp. The way he was calling Jax his son from the start just made me feral. I just loved their little found family! I was rooting for them the whole time and just wanted them to become a real family in the end.
The only reason I’m not giving this book five stars is that I felt it could have been a bit shorter, the story dragged a little at some point. But I feel like this ARC came at the perfect time for me since I’m still riding my Russian mafia high. :)
So, if you’re into:
Marriage of convenience (MY wife!! 🔥)
Russian Mafia romance 🔫
Single guardian FMC (in a custody battle) 👶
Forced Proximity ❤️🔥
Touch her and 💀
...you might want to give this book a try!
April 11, 2025
This was my first book by Kate Breitfeller, and honestly, I didn’t mind it—but it definitely had its rough spots.
There were moments where I was straight-up confused. The POV shifts weren’t super clear, and half the time I couldn’t tell whose perspective I was reading until a few paragraphs in. I really think using character names instead of just chapter numbers would’ve helped a lot.
The timeline also jumped around without warning. One minute we’re in the middle of something, and the next it feels like months have passed, but we’re never actually told. You kind of just have to assume and keep reading.
That said, the plot had potential. It wasn’t a bad book, it just didn’t quite hit the way it should have. I do think she’s still finding her rhythm as an author, and I’d be willing to read the next one. There’s something there—I think it just needs a bit more polish.
There were moments where I was straight-up confused. The POV shifts weren’t super clear, and half the time I couldn’t tell whose perspective I was reading until a few paragraphs in. I really think using character names instead of just chapter numbers would’ve helped a lot.
The timeline also jumped around without warning. One minute we’re in the middle of something, and the next it feels like months have passed, but we’re never actually told. You kind of just have to assume and keep reading.
That said, the plot had potential. It wasn’t a bad book, it just didn’t quite hit the way it should have. I do think she’s still finding her rhythm as an author, and I’d be willing to read the next one. There’s something there—I think it just needs a bit more polish.
April 6, 2025
ARC REVIEW ✨
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
I devoured this story—it's the perfect blend of spice, plot, emotion, and chemistry!
Madison Amherst, our FMC, is a bold, kind-hearted crime podcaster 🕵♀️. She’s taken her late sister’s son into her care and is now battling for custody against his father—who, in her eyes, is responsible for her sister’s death.
Alex Kovalyov, our MMC, is dangerous, magnetic, and the powerful owner of the Kovalyov empire 🏢. Yet, he’s the outcast of his own family—the illegitimate son of the former Pakhan.
Fate throws them together, and they strike a deal to be with each other... but is anything ever that simple?
The plot is written so beautifully—I couldn’t put it down.
And the bond between Alex and Jax? My heart. I adored them so much. The family dynamic in this book is everything, and when Jax says “dada” for the first time—cue the tears.
They all found the family they never knew they needed 🥹
And that epilogue? Absolutely perfect.
(Petition to give me my own Alex ASAP, please and thank you.)
I RECOMMEND THIS TO EVERYONE. YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
I devoured this story—it's the perfect blend of spice, plot, emotion, and chemistry!
Madison Amherst, our FMC, is a bold, kind-hearted crime podcaster 🕵♀️. She’s taken her late sister’s son into her care and is now battling for custody against his father—who, in her eyes, is responsible for her sister’s death.
Alex Kovalyov, our MMC, is dangerous, magnetic, and the powerful owner of the Kovalyov empire 🏢. Yet, he’s the outcast of his own family—the illegitimate son of the former Pakhan.
Fate throws them together, and they strike a deal to be with each other... but is anything ever that simple?
The plot is written so beautifully—I couldn’t put it down.
And the bond between Alex and Jax? My heart. I adored them so much. The family dynamic in this book is everything, and when Jax says “dada” for the first time—cue the tears.
They all found the family they never knew they needed 🥹
And that epilogue? Absolutely perfect.
(Petition to give me my own Alex ASAP, please and thank you.)
I RECOMMEND THIS TO EVERYONE. YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED!
August 15, 2025
I’m actually obsessed with this book! I went into it with no expectations and it was so good, honestly a top fave of the year. Such a good read!!
April 8, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ | ARC Review | 2 🌶️
Thanks to Love Notes PR & Kate Breitfeller for the ARC!
A fast-paced marriage of convenience with mafia edges and a broody MMC who says “mine” before he says hello. I loved Alex’s quiet protectiveness and Madison’s determination, but the final act felt rushed, and the mafia backdrop stayed pretty light.
If you love a protective MMC, high-stakes emotional plotlines, and a softer take on the mafia trope, you’ll enjoy this. Not perfect, but addictive, the tension did the heavy lifting.
Thanks to Love Notes PR & Kate Breitfeller for the ARC!
A fast-paced marriage of convenience with mafia edges and a broody MMC who says “mine” before he says hello. I loved Alex’s quiet protectiveness and Madison’s determination, but the final act felt rushed, and the mafia backdrop stayed pretty light.
If you love a protective MMC, high-stakes emotional plotlines, and a softer take on the mafia trope, you’ll enjoy this. Not perfect, but addictive, the tension did the heavy lifting.
April 5, 2025
I was craving a “touch her and die” kind of hero—and fate delivered with A Dangerous Proposal.
Madison is fighting to protect her nephew. Alex is a Bratva heir who needs a wife. Their marriage of convenience? Anything but simple. Alex is cold, lethal, and completely soft for her. Madison is fierce and loyal, and together, they are pure fire. The tension, the danger, the emotional pull—this book had me hooked.
Kate Breitfeller blends suspense, romance, and swoony “I’d burn the world for you” vibes perfectly. I couldn’t stop reading—and didn’t want to.
Madison is fighting to protect her nephew. Alex is a Bratva heir who needs a wife. Their marriage of convenience? Anything but simple. Alex is cold, lethal, and completely soft for her. Madison is fierce and loyal, and together, they are pure fire. The tension, the danger, the emotional pull—this book had me hooked.
Kate Breitfeller blends suspense, romance, and swoony “I’d burn the world for you” vibes perfectly. I couldn’t stop reading—and didn’t want to.
June 3, 2025
“Touch her and I’ll kill you” trope all the way!!! Oh my gosh I LOVED this book so much!! This is my favorite of Kate’s books so far and that’s saying a lot bc I LOVE her books!!
April 1, 2025
Overall Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5
I LOVED this book! Normally I'm not a fan of 3rd person but this one worked sooo well!
Alex and Madison were simply meant to be and fate lead them to each other at the perfect moment.
Also the suspense in this book had me at the edge of my seat.
10/10 must read.
Spicy Rating
🌶🌶 out of 5
I love that they made it a real marriage in all aspects... if you catch my drift haha
I hate when I find standalones that are connected to other books in a seires or its its own side series... that just means I get to go back and read the others now 😈
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5
I LOVED this book! Normally I'm not a fan of 3rd person but this one worked sooo well!
Alex and Madison were simply meant to be and fate lead them to each other at the perfect moment.
Also the suspense in this book had me at the edge of my seat.
10/10 must read.
Spicy Rating
🌶🌶 out of 5
I love that they made it a real marriage in all aspects... if you catch my drift haha
I hate when I find standalones that are connected to other books in a seires or its its own side series... that just means I get to go back and read the others now 😈
April 2, 2025
Thank you for the ARC!
This was my first read by Kate and I could not put this book down! I loved how smart Madison was, the cool behind the scenes of podcasting and how in her head she was as a new mom.
I really enjoyed how taken Alex was by Madison and how possessive he was with both Madison & Jax. So sweet!
I can’t wait to read more by Kate!
This was my first read by Kate and I could not put this book down! I loved how smart Madison was, the cool behind the scenes of podcasting and how in her head she was as a new mom.
I really enjoyed how taken Alex was by Madison and how possessive he was with both Madison & Jax. So sweet!
I can’t wait to read more by Kate!
June 5, 2025
It's been a couple years since I've ARC read, but this was the PERFECT book to get back into it with! I'm new to Kate's books, but I am definitely going to be checking out her others after this read.
I always seem to find books that are either all romance or all plot. This book was neither of those. The romance felt so natural and not forced like other romances of the marriage of convenience trope.
Once I started, I couldn't put it down. Jax was so adorable and I loved watching the custody drama unfold in addition to the behind the scenes of the podcast. It was a quick read for me (took about 5-6 hours), but a really good one.
I would also like to thank Kate Breitfeller and LoveNotes PR for the ARC!
I always seem to find books that are either all romance or all plot. This book was neither of those. The romance felt so natural and not forced like other romances of the marriage of convenience trope.
Once I started, I couldn't put it down. Jax was so adorable and I loved watching the custody drama unfold in addition to the behind the scenes of the podcast. It was a quick read for me (took about 5-6 hours), but a really good one.
I would also like to thank Kate Breitfeller and LoveNotes PR for the ARC!
April 18, 2025
Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that was just released on April 10th called, A Dangerous Proposal. This was such a good story, it had romance, suspense, a strong and fearless female lead, a morally grey male lead with a good heart, and found family. This book was about a woman named Madison, who is taking care of her nephew after her sister suddenly passed. Madison is now in an ugly custody battle with her nephew's father, who she thinks is responsible for her sister's passing. But this custody battle is being dragged out, and she doesn't have the funds to keep fighting. But then she meets and becomes friends with Alex, a man who is powerful, wealthy, and maybe a little dangerous. He needs a wife to appease his very powerful brother, and keep a good image for their family name. When he learns of Madison's custody situation he suggests a solution to solve both of their problems: marriage. Madison eventually agrees to it because she will have the funds she needs to protect her nephew and hopefully win the custody battle, and Alex will satisfy his brother and their family image. Not to mention the undeniable attraction between Madison and Alex. 😉 But married life isn't easy for them, with dangers around every corner trying to rip their new little family apart, their marriage and trust in each other is tested more than once. But Alex vowed to protect them, and that's a promise he'll never break, no matter how steep cost. I really enjoyed this book! I've read some books with similar storylines recently, but this story was definitely the best one I've read! The depth of the main characters were so well written, the side characters were enjoyable, and the storyline itself was strong and kept me on the edge of my seat eager to keep reading! 🩷📚
Thank you to the author and to the publisher for this ARC of A Dangerous Proposal, in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the author and to the publisher for this ARC of A Dangerous Proposal, in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2025
Thank you to Kate Breitfeller and LoveNotesPR for my advanced copy of A Dangerous Proposal to read and review!
A Dangerous Proposal follows true crime podcaster/single mom, Madison, and businessman/unofficial mafia member, Alex, as they agree to get married to help each other with issues. For Maddison, winning custody of the son of her late sister; For Alex, staying out of the public eye and appeasing his brother, the leader of a Russian mafia gang.
In terms of tropes, this book contains the perfect combination of everything I love in a (semi) mafia romance. You have the obvious marriage of convenience/forced proximity tropes, which, paired with the sexual chemistry between these two, was too hot to handle. Then you have the fact that Maddison is a single mom… Alex is not only a “touch her and you die” king, but it also extends to baby Jax. We also have the legendary “incapable of love” trope that was done SO WELL. *chefs kiss* for the tropes.
This is one of the few romantic suspense books that I’ve read that have a good balance between the two. Outside of the romantic plot, Madison is caught in a custody battle of her nephew with her sister’s ex, who she is convinced played a hand in the “accidental” overdose of her sister. This plot line was so suspenseful and kept me wanting to know what the full story was by the last half of the book. The suspense aspect of the book was not overpowered by the romance aspect of the book. And speaking of the romance, can this book be classified as a meet-cute? I think so. Loved every minute of it. Romance gave me butterflies and made me want to kick my feet behind me.
Although this is the first book I’ve read from Kate, I have learned that I love her writing and cannot wait to read the Dangerous Blooms series!!
A Dangerous Proposal follows true crime podcaster/single mom, Madison, and businessman/unofficial mafia member, Alex, as they agree to get married to help each other with issues. For Maddison, winning custody of the son of her late sister; For Alex, staying out of the public eye and appeasing his brother, the leader of a Russian mafia gang.
In terms of tropes, this book contains the perfect combination of everything I love in a (semi) mafia romance. You have the obvious marriage of convenience/forced proximity tropes, which, paired with the sexual chemistry between these two, was too hot to handle. Then you have the fact that Maddison is a single mom… Alex is not only a “touch her and you die” king, but it also extends to baby Jax. We also have the legendary “incapable of love” trope that was done SO WELL. *chefs kiss* for the tropes.
This is one of the few romantic suspense books that I’ve read that have a good balance between the two. Outside of the romantic plot, Madison is caught in a custody battle of her nephew with her sister’s ex, who she is convinced played a hand in the “accidental” overdose of her sister. This plot line was so suspenseful and kept me wanting to know what the full story was by the last half of the book. The suspense aspect of the book was not overpowered by the romance aspect of the book. And speaking of the romance, can this book be classified as a meet-cute? I think so. Loved every minute of it. Romance gave me butterflies and made me want to kick my feet behind me.
Although this is the first book I’ve read from Kate, I have learned that I love her writing and cannot wait to read the Dangerous Blooms series!!
April 12, 2025
5 Stars! ⭐ Huge thanks to Kate Breitfeller & Love Notes PR for the ARC! ❤️
Another day, another moment of Goodreads failing us by not giving us more than 5 stars because this book deserves it all 😭✨ I devoured this in 3 hours—fast-paced, addictive, and gave me EVERYTHING I needed!!
❤️🔥 MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE + MAFIA ROMANCE?? SIGN ME UP.
Madison (aka Angel) is fighting to keep custody of her sweet baby nephew, Jax. Alex is a Bratva heir who needs a wife to keep his position in check. Their deal starts as business… but feelings creep in, and suddenly, “I’ll protect you” turns into “I can’t breathe without you.”
TROPES:
❤️ Marriage of Convenience
🔥 Mafia Romance
🖤 Broody MMC (cold, protective, obsessed)
🔥 Soft Dad Energy / Hurt-Comfort
🖤 Tension-Filled Slow Burn
🔥 “I Fell First” + “I Can’t Live Without You”
Alex had me in a CHOKEHOLD.
Cold, quiet, ruthless… and then he starts melting for Angel and Jax?? I WAS GONE. He doesn’t just say he cares—he proves it.
Like—
“You were mine the second I saw you. Angel, I was never letting you go.”
Sir??? I am on the floor. 😭❤️🔥
And JAX?? The cutest little star. Every moment with him made me melt. Alex holding that baby like he was everything??? My heart.
I NEED MORE. Bonus chapters. Bonus crumbs. Bonus ANYTHING.
Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mood: Heart full, soul wrecked, book hugged to chest ❤️
Final Words: Kate, you’ve created something special. Can’t wait to read more from you!!
Another day, another moment of Goodreads failing us by not giving us more than 5 stars because this book deserves it all 😭✨ I devoured this in 3 hours—fast-paced, addictive, and gave me EVERYTHING I needed!!
❤️🔥 MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE + MAFIA ROMANCE?? SIGN ME UP.
Madison (aka Angel) is fighting to keep custody of her sweet baby nephew, Jax. Alex is a Bratva heir who needs a wife to keep his position in check. Their deal starts as business… but feelings creep in, and suddenly, “I’ll protect you” turns into “I can’t breathe without you.”
TROPES:
❤️ Marriage of Convenience
🔥 Mafia Romance
🖤 Broody MMC (cold, protective, obsessed)
🔥 Soft Dad Energy / Hurt-Comfort
🖤 Tension-Filled Slow Burn
🔥 “I Fell First” + “I Can’t Live Without You”
Alex had me in a CHOKEHOLD.
Cold, quiet, ruthless… and then he starts melting for Angel and Jax?? I WAS GONE. He doesn’t just say he cares—he proves it.
Like—
“You were mine the second I saw you. Angel, I was never letting you go.”
Sir??? I am on the floor. 😭❤️🔥
And JAX?? The cutest little star. Every moment with him made me melt. Alex holding that baby like he was everything??? My heart.
I NEED MORE. Bonus chapters. Bonus crumbs. Bonus ANYTHING.
Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mood: Heart full, soul wrecked, book hugged to chest ❤️
Final Words: Kate, you’ve created something special. Can’t wait to read more from you!!
March 30, 2025
First I would like to thank LoveNotes PR for accepting me and sending me an ARC of this book!! When I first read the blurb I was like this is up my alley. Mafia adjacent, marriage of convenience, a little bit of mystery so it’s a mystery romance and it’s a single parent. It’s like the jackpot!! I love that it was a marriage of convenience where it was beneficial to both parties. I know some it’s only really beneficial to one, but this was beneficial to both. Our male main character Alex has a past, through this marriage with Madison he starts to learn things he didn’t know. His childhood was different than most so that kind of caused him to grow up a little differently. Especially in comparison to Madison’s childhood, it was just different across the board. Their relationship to me starts a little bit like that lust factor, like there was a mutual attraction, but because Madison is in a custody battle for her nephew who is more like her son, she always puts Jax at the front of her mind when making decisions. Alex on the other hand naturally becomes obsessed with her and can’t let her go. He keeps putting himself on her radar because he wants her for the marriage of convenience. Madison keeps thinking about what’s going to be best for Jax cause she is in the custody battle with his birth father, but he is suspicious. Madison thinks that he killed her sister Opal, so she’s trying to prove that and get custody of him, but a lot is happening. There is a mystery element with Alex and his background, but also with Madison and Jax‘s birth father. He has some suspicious things going on and there’s a lot of family secrets and otherwise. I love the mystery because it just added another element to the story and honestly, I was just engaged throughout. I loved it! I thought the epilogue was so cute!! It was how I imagined the future for Madison, Jax and Alex to be and it was also really surprising to find out that like Deacon and some of the other side characters have their own series so I definitely want to check that out as well.
April 12, 2025
ARC REVIEW
Alex and Madison have a chance meeting where both felt a connection but both had reasons to walk away without a second glance.
Madison is a crime podcaster doing her best to raise her nephew while figuring out what really happened to her sister all during a nasty custody battle.
Alex is the illegitimate son of the Atlanta mafia leader which has him leading the family through legal business until his brother asks him do a favor that muddies those waters.
The evolution of Alex and Madison’s relationship was thrown at us quickly with a marriage of convenience. Jax, Madison’s toddler nephew, quickly stole the show and Alex’s heart. The bond between all of them really grew into a beautiful story.
I personally wasn’t a fan of the POV style of this book so it took me time to get through the entire book. However, I loved the story throughout the book.
Alex and Madison have a chance meeting where both felt a connection but both had reasons to walk away without a second glance.
Madison is a crime podcaster doing her best to raise her nephew while figuring out what really happened to her sister all during a nasty custody battle.
Alex is the illegitimate son of the Atlanta mafia leader which has him leading the family through legal business until his brother asks him do a favor that muddies those waters.
The evolution of Alex and Madison’s relationship was thrown at us quickly with a marriage of convenience. Jax, Madison’s toddler nephew, quickly stole the show and Alex’s heart. The bond between all of them really grew into a beautiful story.
I personally wasn’t a fan of the POV style of this book so it took me time to get through the entire book. However, I loved the story throughout the book.
April 17, 2025
Kate Breitfeller strikes again! I am absolutely obsessed with the Dangerous Blooms series and Alex and Madison’s spinoff was no different! Also apparently I like mafia romance? Who knew?
Madison and Alex’s story might honestly be my favorite of the Dangerous Blooms series. I loved the combination of spice and action and I was so happy to revisit characters that popped up throughout the rest of the series. Madison and Alex (and Jax!) were super interestingly written and I cared deeply about their stories and how they wrapped up.
I am traditionally a fantasy/romantasy reader and I destroyed this series and loved it the whole time. I sometimes struggle to find the magic in traditional romance, but there are no struggles here. Kate Breitfeller does a fantastic job writing romance and I will happily keep reading her work!
Madison and Alex’s story might honestly be my favorite of the Dangerous Blooms series. I loved the combination of spice and action and I was so happy to revisit characters that popped up throughout the rest of the series. Madison and Alex (and Jax!) were super interestingly written and I cared deeply about their stories and how they wrapped up.
I am traditionally a fantasy/romantasy reader and I destroyed this series and loved it the whole time. I sometimes struggle to find the magic in traditional romance, but there are no struggles here. Kate Breitfeller does a fantastic job writing romance and I will happily keep reading her work!
April 17, 2025
This is a well written romance that has it all suspense, tension, spice and some heartfelt moments. I loved the main characters— Alex, the illegitimate son of the former Pakhan and powerhouse of the Kovalyov empire and Madison, a sweet soul and a crime podcaster who has been caring for her late sister’s son. Alex is needing a wife to appease his family, naming his brother and Madison is looking for a means to keep Jax safe in her care and away from his father who may have been involved with her sister’s death and who is trying to attain custody of Jax.
The proposal between the two was only to be for convenience but ohhh the chemistry is there! And Alex … oh my goodness he is so swoonworthy!! The tender moments between Alex and Madison… had me gushing. And my heart melted every time Alex called Jax his son. Ohhh this book!!
Didn’t take long to devour this book. I was glued from the start. The twists and turns will keep you wound up! The author does a superb job pulling you in! Can’t wait to check out more of her reads. Definitely add this to your TBR!
4.5/5
The proposal between the two was only to be for convenience but ohhh the chemistry is there! And Alex … oh my goodness he is so swoonworthy!! The tender moments between Alex and Madison… had me gushing. And my heart melted every time Alex called Jax his son. Ohhh this book!!
Didn’t take long to devour this book. I was glued from the start. The twists and turns will keep you wound up! The author does a superb job pulling you in! Can’t wait to check out more of her reads. Definitely add this to your TBR!
4.5/5
April 8, 2025
My God can u give this book like six stars? I loved it so so much! And I'm totally obsessed with Madison and Alex!
I really liked that the marriage took a little bit longer in this book and it wasn't like, let's get married because of this and this. But it actually took I thing a couple months before they where like. Yes let's do this. Which was really nice. Also the mafia part 👌haven't read a lot of those kind of books but I really loved it!
Also I feel like Alex and Madison grew trough out the book and it was so fun to follow there where going to fall in love with each other.
And let's not forget the touch her and doe vibes. Man they really where there!
Thank you for the ARC! I loved being part of it ❤️
I really liked that the marriage took a little bit longer in this book and it wasn't like, let's get married because of this and this. But it actually took I thing a couple months before they where like. Yes let's do this. Which was really nice. Also the mafia part 👌haven't read a lot of those kind of books but I really loved it!
Also I feel like Alex and Madison grew trough out the book and it was so fun to follow there where going to fall in love with each other.
And let's not forget the touch her and doe vibes. Man they really where there!
Thank you for the ARC! I loved being part of it ❤️
April 8, 2025
I received an ARC copy, and this is my review.
I've been waiting for Alex & Madison's story ever since they first met, and it didn't disappoint! Big scary mob man opens his heart and is totally consumed by love. Oh, I think I left out sexy, and Alex is 1000% sexy. Be prepared to smile like an idiot while reading this book. Swoon! Unconventional love story. Marriage of convenience turns into soul mates.
Underlying mystery with twists and turns. Just when you think you know what is going on you are thrown for a loop. Justice prevails in the end.
I can't wait for more stories from Breitfeller's Bloom World!
I've been waiting for Alex & Madison's story ever since they first met, and it didn't disappoint! Big scary mob man opens his heart and is totally consumed by love. Oh, I think I left out sexy, and Alex is 1000% sexy. Be prepared to smile like an idiot while reading this book. Swoon! Unconventional love story. Marriage of convenience turns into soul mates.
Underlying mystery with twists and turns. Just when you think you know what is going on you are thrown for a loop. Justice prevails in the end.
I can't wait for more stories from Breitfeller's Bloom World!
April 20, 2025
There’s no words to describe how much I loved this book. Madison and Alex were phenomenal main characters in this story. Both with their own set of baggage…Madison, dealing with a losing custody battle if she doesn’t find a way to stop her dead sister’s ex from taking her nephew away with using his “bribes” and Alex, dealing with the pressure to get married and set up false companies to appease his brother. Both need each other to succeed both their problems. As they continue to live with their arrangement, feelings start to develop and they both soon realize this is not a fake relationship any longer…
I loved every minute of this book!
I loved every minute of this book!
April 7, 2025
Oh my gosh Kate, you knocked it out of the park with this romantic suspense! This was my first bratva book and I am hooked! Alex is a perfect morally grey MMC with Touch her and ☠️ vibes! And Madison is a strong, independent, single mom FMC who has a true crime podcast with her best friend! This marriage of convenience was chefs kiss! The way Alex automatically accepts Jax (Madison’s son) and will do anything to protect him made me fall in love with him! I was hooked on this book and did not want to put it down!
March 30, 2025
Kate Breitfeller as written a good romantic suspense story. The story is about Madison who in a custody fight with her sister’s ex boyfriend to make sure her nephew stays with her. Then there is Alex the heir to the Bratva legacy and needs a wife to satisfy his family. To help Madison deal with her sister’s ex and to deal with his family Alex ask her to marry him to help deal with their problems. A Dangerous Proposal has twist and turns and suspense. I will say that this story is told in 3rd person point of view. Kate Breitfeller does a great job at building the story up. From the beginning ,to the middle, to the end you can feel the tension growing the more you read in the story. The writing of the story was done. The characters are written well that you can’t help but feel invested in their story. The pace of the story was good. It didn’t feel like any part of is wad rushed.
Overall A Dangerous Proposal is good romantic suspense ,marriage of convenience, single mom story. Madison and Alex are great characters that you can’t help but get caught up in their story. This is a book that you won’t be able to put down.
Overall A Dangerous Proposal is good romantic suspense ,marriage of convenience, single mom story. Madison and Alex are great characters that you can’t help but get caught up in their story. This is a book that you won’t be able to put down.
April 15, 2025
Star Rating: 4.5⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️
Format: E-book 📱
🌻🦋 My Review 🦋🌻
My recent arcs have been banger after banger and this was no different. Wow. Just wow. Need more of this Bloom universe. Need more Alex & Maddison. I just need more.
This is suchhhhhh a good book. Highly recommend! So fast paced, so action packed and so filled with love & family & banging.
Spice Rating: 🌶️
Format: E-book 📱
🌻🦋 My Review 🦋🌻
My recent arcs have been banger after banger and this was no different. Wow. Just wow. Need more of this Bloom universe. Need more Alex & Maddison. I just need more.
This is suchhhhhh a good book. Highly recommend! So fast paced, so action packed and so filled with love & family & banging.
April 22, 2025
✨ 3.75/5
Thank you to Kate & Love Notes PR for this ARC 🩷
So much happened in this book I’m just happy that Jax has two people that will do whatever they can to keep him safe, Alex finally saying “I love you” was perfection!
I was so happy to see them make this Marriage of Convenience into a Real Happy Marriage 🩷
Thank you to Kate & Love Notes PR for this ARC 🩷
So much happened in this book I’m just happy that Jax has two people that will do whatever they can to keep him safe, Alex finally saying “I love you” was perfection!
I was so happy to see them make this Marriage of Convenience into a Real Happy Marriage 🩷
April 6, 2025
This is the first book I have read by this author and I honestly loved it. The flow of the story was really good and I enjoyed the small time jumps within the story that made Alex and Maddison's relationship development believable. I loved that it was instant attraction over instant love and there wasn't too many dramatic or angsty moments all clumped together.
April 2, 2025
“Brutal and kind. Darkness and humor. Dangerous”
Alex is the definition of a dark angel. He knows exactly what he is capable of and he proved himself capable of so much more than he ever would have expected.
Madison flipped his life upside down and time and time again he showed up for her and she slowly but surely melted his ice cold heart.
Madison is an amazingly strong woman, taking on everything that she did, and taking in her new world without batting an eye. She was made for Alex and he deserved her.
The twists and turns, ups and downs of this story kept me on edge the entire time.
I received this book as an ARC
Alex is the definition of a dark angel. He knows exactly what he is capable of and he proved himself capable of so much more than he ever would have expected.
Madison flipped his life upside down and time and time again he showed up for her and she slowly but surely melted his ice cold heart.
Madison is an amazingly strong woman, taking on everything that she did, and taking in her new world without batting an eye. She was made for Alex and he deserved her.
The twists and turns, ups and downs of this story kept me on edge the entire time.
I received this book as an ARC
April 3, 2025
I signed up for this expecting a spicy little mafia marriage-of-convenience situation (don’t worry, it delivers) but there was more depth than I expected.
Madison is in the fight of her life trying to keep her nephew safe, and you feel every ounce of her fear and determination. She’s lost so much already, and now she’s supposed to trust a complete stranger (one with serious Bratva ties) to help her? Wild.
But Alex… oh, Alex! Cold, calculating, and yet somehow so soft when it comes to her. He agrees to the marriage for his own reasons, but the way he slowly starts to choose Madison and her nephew? Yeah, it was actually sweet.
There’s tension. Secrets. Actual danger. But also also that slow shift where the lines between “fake marriage” and “this is starting to feel real” blur.
Madison is in the fight of her life trying to keep her nephew safe, and you feel every ounce of her fear and determination. She’s lost so much already, and now she’s supposed to trust a complete stranger (one with serious Bratva ties) to help her? Wild.
But Alex… oh, Alex! Cold, calculating, and yet somehow so soft when it comes to her. He agrees to the marriage for his own reasons, but the way he slowly starts to choose Madison and her nephew? Yeah, it was actually sweet.
There’s tension. Secrets. Actual danger. But also also that slow shift where the lines between “fake marriage” and “this is starting to feel real” blur.
April 3, 2025
Alex is a member of a Russian mafia family and Madison is a true crime podcaster trying to retain custody of her nephew. They enter a marriage of convenience to appease his brother and help her custody case. Madison has powerful people against her, but Alex is determined to keep her safe.
This is fast paced and action packed with some hot spice. We get to see characters from The Dangerous Blooms series which is entertaining. This is a great romantic suspense.
This is fast paced and action packed with some hot spice. We get to see characters from The Dangerous Blooms series which is entertaining. This is a great romantic suspense.
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