Guilt and Paisley: A Dark Mafia Romance Prequel

by Cherry Rose Ellery

I had one never look back.
Then Hawkes Rizzo showed up to collect his debt.

Good He finally found me.
Bad I’m the payment.

One reckless night. A stolen bottle of tequila. A lie that destroyed everything.
My best friend took the fall. I never saw her again.

Now her ex-convict father is out of prison, six-foot-four of vengeance and sin, and he’s here for answers.
He doesn’t forgive. He doesn’t forget. And he doesn’t believe in mercy.

Running won’t save me. Begging won’t work.
The only way out?
On my knees. In the back alley of a club. At his mercy.

GUILT & PAISLEY is an 18+ dark mafia novella featuring knife play, an ex-con antihero, and an all-consuming, so-wrong-it’s-right obsession. Ends on a cliffhanger—read at your own risk.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark

131 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2025

About the author

Cherry Rose Ellery is a dark romance author who loves writing forbidden, spicy relationships. Expect mafia stories drenched with passion and angst, along with some lustful dark scenes that will live your head rent-free after reading.

Cherry Rose lives in a small town with her family, and carries an ideas notebook everywhere she goes.

Reviews

[Lilyya ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

It’s been a while since a prequel completely stole my attention, but this one did just that. I didn’t expect to be so deeply invested in just 80 pages, yet here I am, already searching for answers and craving more.

this is a gripping and atmospheric introduction to what I can only assume will be a dark, twisted, and utterly consuming series. the tension is palpable, the intrigue undeniable. Hawkes and Paisley’s story holds the promise of something raw and electrifying, but it’s the mystery surrounding Paisley’s best friend’s disappearance that lingers in the shadows, demanding to be unraveled.

I’m both excited and unnerved to see where this journey leads, because if these first pages are any indication, what comes next will be nothing short of a rollercoaster.

many thanks to the author from providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, just hear me out! I love Alpha Holes! My absolute guilty pleasure. Guilt and Paisley is the prequel to what is to come and you all, prepare yourself. Because Hawkes is the King of Alpha holes.

Paisley’s best friend, Rubi takes to fall for something illegal and then disappears. Years later Rubi’s dad is still looking for her and wants revenge for all involved in her disappearance. Paisley is high on that list. When they meet it’s explosive.

I beta read this book and it’s been a while since I have fallen in love with characters from page one. I can’t wait for Paisley's character growth. The girl has it in her to be fiercely independent. Hawkes is delicious. The author seriously writes a fantastic Alpha hole. That ending is everything! I can’t wait to see what happens next.

[Lizz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick short read. It really starts to pick up towards the end. There is a little spice which keeps things interesting.

We meet Paisley on the night her friend takes the fall for her and disappears. Paisley never gives up on finding her friend. She continues to search and decides to go to the new night club that replaced the one where her friend went missing. Fast forward a bit and Paisley finds out that she is not the only one looking for Rubi 👀

The end of the prequel grabbed my attention so I will probably continue on to the first book in the series. I'm a sucker for age gap🫠

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited: No
Stand-alone: No- Prequel to a Trilogy - Rizzo Mafia
Author: Cherry Rose Ellery
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spiciness Rating:2/5 🌶
POV: First Person Dual Perspective
Main Couple: Paisley and Hawke
Trope(s): Dark Mafia Romance

Cherry Rose is a new author writing dark and spicy romance. When the opportunity presented itself and I read the blurb, I was quick to download and take a peek. And, that peek, although just a taste of what is to come, has my interest.

Paisley is aging out of the foster system. On her Eighteenth Birthday, she convinces her best friend Rubi to sneak out and celebrate. On a dare she steals a bottle of tequila only to get caught by security. Underage Rubi offers to be the fall guy. And, that was the last time Paisley saw her.

Now 21, living with her boyfriend Travis and working PR for a luxury beauty firm she hasn’t given up trying to find Rubi.

But, she isn’t the only one looking for her.

Hawke is released from prison the same day his daughter Rubi goes missing.

He is a man on a mission. To rebuild and reclaim his life and find out what happened to his daughter.

And, when Paisley returns to the last place she saw Rubi, he is waiting.

Now she has a price on her head.

[Kenia Coronado · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfect start to a series!

Love love love! Im so looking forward to seeing how the story develops!

Already in love with the fmc and mmc.

[ChasseReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

This is a short quick read that gives readers a little history into the Rizzo Mafia series to come.
We meet Paisley and Rubi - both girls are in a foster home. Paisley is slightly older than Rubi and on her 18th birthday she convinced Rubi to sneak out of the overcrowded room the foster kids shared and celebrate with her.  They meet up with some guys from school who take them to one of their houses where they dress up in their mother's expensive clothes and shoes before heading out for the night at Dolce.  Paisley and Rubi are dancing and enjoying themselves but the guys want to get going.  A dare and a bottle of tequila with the potential for a place to live tomorrow are promising for Paisley. Since she's now 18 she will no longer live at the foster home and be out on her own.  That stolen bottle of tequila led to her and Rubi getting caught by the bartender and several other men. When Rubi tells her to run and that the cops will take her back to the foster home since she's underage Paisley considers both sides. With everything stacked against her she takes one last look at Rubi and runs. That was the last time Paisley saw Rubi and she's felt guilty everyday since over it.

Hawkes was just released 17 years after being locked up for a murder he didn't commit.  The first thing he does is head to get his daughter from the life she had been forced into. He showed up at the foster home asking to see Rubi only to be told she wasn't home. While waiting for her to arrive back from school and then realizing something wasn't right as she should have been home already he packs her things to take with him only to discover her mother's necklace he gave her is missing.  Hawkes was led to Dolce where Rubi was last seen. After discovering who was involved in his daughter's disappearance and of Paisley leaving Rubi at Dolce, Hawkes was set on a path of revenge.

On Paisley's 21st birthday she was reminiscing on old photos with Rubi and discovered her boyfriend was cheating on her.  In a spur of the moment decision she headed for Amara, the new club that now stood on the burnt ashes of Dolce. Paisley asked about Rubi and that got some attention. Needing some air she steps outside where she is relieved to be alone. When the door opens she's joined by a man that's intimidating, tall, tattoos, and muscles that pop in his suit. She notices he's wearing a paisley tie and a little bit of courage leads to Paisley asking for one kiss.  It turns a little more sinister when she finds out that the mystery man in the Paisley tie is Rubi's father Hawkes.

The book leaves off on a cliffhanger but man does it leave the reader with so many questions as to who else was in charge while Hawkes was locked up - and what happened to his other main guy, where did Rubi go, why with all the connections Hawkes has did he find nothing on Paisley (nor Rubi), does Travis' family have a connection in this somehow, and what is the foster mom hiding?

This is the prequel - the very first introduction to the series so there are so many different directions the series could take us that we could learn everything we're currently left wondering and questioning.

[Highnyzbibliofiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rate : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
First of all, I want to thank my book bestie, Kerry, for sharing this with us.

Paisley thought she was going to have fun on the night of her 18th birthday. Turning 18 was a big milestone for her—after all, the next day, she would be on her own. But things took a dark turn when she and her friends were caught stealing a bottle of liquor. The next day, her best friend, who took the blame for her, went missing. Years passed, and she was never found.

Hawkes, freshly out of prison, found himself grieving the mysterious disappearance of his daughter. In an unexpected twist of fate, he crossed paths with Paisley—the last person to see her. Despite his deep hatred and desire to punish Paisley, he couldn’t ignore the undeniable attraction between them. And maybe, the punishment he wanted to give her was something entirely different.

Guilt and Paisley is a prequel to the Mafia trilogy. Even though it’s a novella, it left me intrigued and eager to find out what happens next between Hawkes and Paisley.

[SinfulReadsByV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paisley’s life isn’t going great when one terrible moment eventually puts her in front of Hawke.
She’s aging out of the system and just wanted one night to enjoy with her friend Ruby.
But things don’t go as planned, and a dare goes terribly wrong—leaving Paisley drowning in guilt.
Hawke is our MMC, and he’ll crush anyone in his path who doesn’t give him what he wants. Paisley? She’s right in the line of fire, with limited options to escape the situation.
When these two meet—wow! It’s gritty, spicy, and full of sparks with all the right ingredients. It’s 131 pages of steamy goodness that’ll have you reaching for the next book to keep up with Paisley and Hawke’s story.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Henrietta—that was a low blow. Kinda wish Paisley could’ve gotten revenge right then and there!
This prequel ends on a cliffhanger, setting us up for the Rizzo Mafia 3-book series. Get ready for an explosive couple you won’t forget!

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

ღ BOOK REVIEW ღ

𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔~

This is the Prequel but needs to be read before the first book. I liked the premises of the plot and where this could go unfortunately for me I felt like some of the words were incorrectly used, which made it harder for me to stay in the story. The tone or language for the ages of the characters just seemed off or not their ages. There was also some inconsistencies.

The story revolved around Paisley leaving her foster sister/best friend behind and she goes missing. Paisley still holds out hope to find out what happened but she didn’t really try to find her. This prequel spans several years time frame. It is a mafia romance and there is a 20 year age gap between Paisley and Hawkes.

[Shifty Bugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I love, loved this book while reading, I was disappointed when it finished because now I need to get the next book. Paisley I loved her attitude looking for her best friend when she didn't come home. Paisley has gone back to the last place she had seen her best friend, she needed air she went outside then someone came out, she ended up having the best dirty night of her night, then the man she was getting to know was Hawk and he's Mafia. Hawk is now looking for Paisley he's angry at her, yet he can't resist her.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars for Guilt and Paisley by new (for me) author Cherry Rose Ellery

This is a dark romance prequel and readers should review content for triggers.

I was left wanting more of Paisley and Hawkes so can’t wait to read more of their story one bone at a time. I also think Paisley is going to give Hawkes a real run for his billions as they unravel the disappearance of his daughter Ruby.

Can’t wait to read more of this authors work !.

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Aria Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredibly intriguing and left me with more questions than answers—in the best way possible! 🤯✨ The suspense, the mystery, had me completely hooked from start to finish. This prequel was the perfect tease, drawing me in deep and making me desperate for more. 🔥 I can already tell that the first book in the series is going to be an absolute rollercoaster, and I cannot wait to dive in! If you're looking for a story that keeps you guessing and leaves you craving answers, this is it! 🖤

[RubiesReviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Fast

The initial concept was interesting but the interaction between the MCs was a bit confusing. They both say that finding Rubi is important to them, yet when facing a person they could get information from, they just get horny. There were also inconsistencies in the writing. It said she dropped her phone and he kicked it but then she handed him her phone and he pocketed it. This will definitely be one of those go with the flow books. Will keep reading to see how everything is resolved.

[Kerry-Anne Nabb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ends on a cliffhanger ready for book 1.
After her best friend goes missing, Paisley does everything she can think of to try and find her. Only she’s not the only one looking for her. Wanting answers to what happened and where his daughter is Hawkes finally tracks Paisley down and hoping he gets the answers he wants but things take a turn.
But aside of the situation, there is sparks between them.
I need more between them.

[Stephs.bookshelf09 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick introduction into this story and ends on a cliffhanger. This prequel gives you a dive into paisley and her past, and most importantly how she ends up being chased and hunted by a ruthless mafia king. I’m interested to see how this story will play out. If paisley will find her best friend or will she be caught and lost to the world.

[Kelsey Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this as an ARC but all opinions are my own.

This was really good! It’s dark, but I’m definitely interested to see what happens in the rest of the series. The McCormacks are the absolute worst and I really hope Paisley doesn’t stay with Travis. Hawkes is a really interesting character and I’m excited to see how unhinged he gets.

[S I · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guilt and Paisley by Cherry Rose Ellery
Well well well look who’s dived into the world of the dark. Now that she has enticed us into this drama of kidnapping, trafficking, unscrupulous men, murder and some hot dark knife play chemistry, well I’m hooked! Can’t wait to see how the next book wild ride will takes us too.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Paisley's best friend Rubi takes the fall for a crime and dissappear her father Hawkes blames Paisley and beleoves she knows more and he's determined to find out, by any means. Well written engaging fast paced prequel setting up the story for more that I can't wait for!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elise · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was amazing until the MC's met. These teens had gone through so much and i could see something like this happening. When Rubi doesn't come home I thought Paisley would try harder to find her but nope. The MMC was interesting in the beginning but I didn't like the "chemistry " when they finally met. He also railed her a$$ with no lube and she was able to take off running after.

[Crystel Pettit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prequel novella to the Rizzo Mafia series. Very short and has you wanting to reach for the next book to see what happens. I don’t usually like mafia romances and I want more spice from a dark romance, but Ellery wrote this well and knew what she was doing. I did enjoy, but not enough to read the next book. I do recommend to all mafia romance lovers, especially if you like age gap.

[Kelly Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG I loved this book! Quick reads are my fav but this one seriously pulled me in so fast and now I just need more! !! Can not wait to see how this story turns out and I’m already obsessed with Hawkes and the intense interaction he had with paisley!!

[Ann Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short prequel about Paisley whose friend goes missing after a night out and who took the blame for Paisley stealing. On the search for her friend she meets Hawkes who thinks she's to blame for his daughter's disappearance. They have a hot and spicy encounter. An intriguing and suspenseful read.

[Brandi Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shit balls .

buckle up butter cups this prequel screams wild ride you won't regret . I loved it so much when I read the blurb and agreed to beta read I saw it going a waaaaaay different direction but I AM HERE for all the dark taboo cnc fun and maybe not so fun

[Bailey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately I just don’t have nice things to say.
But, I will say that the FMC genuinely ruined the story for me— I disliked everything about her. She didn’t care about her best friend and you’ll NEVER be able to convince me otherwise. Thank you.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic really quick read. If you love dark mafia, age gap you will love this story! I am already hooked on these characters and can't wait to find out more about Paisley and Hawks!

[Tasha Talks Books Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whewwww!!!! What an amazing start to this new series! This is Cherry's debut story and it did not leave me disappointed.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounding up!!

Great little prequel to the Rizzo Mafia series! Love the cliffhanger at the end. It keeps me guessing on what’s to come.

[Celina Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guilt and Paisley is the prequel to a new series by a new author Cherry Rose Ellery and in this short read I have become hooked by the suspense, secrets, action and the promise of what is to come in the Rizzo Mafia series.

[Samantha Steel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wild ride in only 6 chapters. I enjoyed this quick prequel, it was suspenseful, horribly sad and also slightly frustrating. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

[Natascha Ring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great storyline and a good prequel. Easily to read and get into the universe and the vibe. Love the forbidden in this prequel 🖤