Velvet Corruption

by Clarissa Bright

A buried secret. A mafia heir. When past love becomes a lethal threat...

Kieran Callahan

In the ruthless world of Boston's Irish mafia, I shield the Callahan legacy, no matter the cost.
Now my brother has tasked me with ruining Ruby Marquez, the prosecutor running for District Attorney.
She’s clean, untouchable, and a threat we can’t afford. But Ruby isn’t just any enemy.
She’s the one I can’t forget—I shouldn't have touched her years ago. If Tristan uncovers my past with her, I'm as good as dead.
I know she's hiding something, though.
Something that could destroy everything. And God help me, I might torch everything for her—and torch us both in the process.

Ruby Marquez
Running for District Attorney is my chance to fight for justice, but Kieran Callahan is back, and he's threatening everything I've fought to build.
He's here to destroy me, but the way he watches me feels like something else.
He doesn't know the secret I’ve been keeping—the truth I’ve protected for years. The girl calling me “Mami” is his daughter.
What happens when the man sent to hurt me finds out the truth?

Fans of Zoe Blake, Navessa Allen and Sam Mariano will love this second chance, surprise pregnancy, morally grey mmc, stalker romance book!

Buy Velvet Corruption to start this spicy mafia prince series today!

Genres: Stalker, Mafia Romance, Dark, Romance

351 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 2, 2025

Reviews

[Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth)]

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Trope: secret baby; DA/mafia
Angst: 😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥1/2

I really enjoyed this book! It was a little choppy in the beginning, but settled in rather quickly. I love the whole opposite sides of the law trope and it made it that much better with a grumpy heroine paired with a jokester MMC. Lots of really witty banter between them and their chemistry and pull for each other was tangible. These characters have completely drawn me in, and the anxiety of trying to figure out how this was going to play out was real, lol. I did not know going in the this was the first book in a series, but it became evident that all the pieces were not clearing up fast enough. Can't wait to see how this all plays out.

[Tonya’s life in pages 📖🍓]

Arc read!!!

My jaw literally popped out of socket at the ending of this book.

This is the epitome of the lure of attraction, the push and pull, the I hate you but I want you, touch her and die all wrapped up in one.

Kieran is a dirty dog but a dog you want to sit in your lap so you can love up on him. You don’t know if he’s gonna lick you or bite you but he’s everything you want in a MMC.

And that ending, I’m hooked. Gimme me book 2!

[My Reading Era]

Years ago, Kiernan and Ruby were in a relationship, but just as it ended, Ruby discovered she was pregnant. She never told Kiernan and has no intention of him finding out. Now, as she runs for District Attorney, Kiernan’s brother orders him to take her down. Determined to follow through, Kiernan stalks Ruby and forces his way back into her life. But while Ruby knows she must keep her distance to protect her career, Kiernan finds himself doing the opposite of what he was sent to do, protecting her instead of hurting her. As he shields her, buried secrets come to light, changing their lives forever. The story ends on a cliffhanger, and I can't wait for the next installment!

Thank you, Clarissa Bright for the ARC.

[✨Sandra✨]

I went in blind on this book, and wow it did not disappoint. I loved the aspect of both sides of the law, with the FMC being a lawyer, and the MMC being part of a major crime family. I wasn’t aware this was going to be a series, but it makes so much sense. The build up in this book was great, and it sets the story up beautifully. I’m very intrigued by both Ruby and Kieran, and can’t wait to see how their relationship develops.

This is a great enemies to lovers romance, with a secret child and a little stalking 🤭
Great plot and storyline.

The action and drama towards the end was shocking, and the cliffhanger were brutal. I can’t wait to read book two in the series!

The spice was great. 2,5🌶️
Overall I rate this story 4,5⭐️ rounded up.

[Jordan K]

I had a blast with this book! A grumpy heroine and a jokester MMC? Yes, please! Their chemistry was off the charts, and the witty banter had me grinning the whole way through. Add in a secret past and some good old-fashioned law vs. crime tension, and I was hooked.

The drama, action, and twists kept me on my toes, but that cliffhanger? Rude. I need book two ASAP !

I received an ARC and am voluntarily sharing my thoughts.

[Anastasia]

ARC REVIEW

First I want to say thank you to Clarissa Bright for the opportunity to read this in advance and support her work.

I was hooked from the blurb alone. I love and enemies to lovers as it is but lovers to enemies … 🥵 then throwing in the secret baby!

I was turning pages every chance I got! I needed to know who would ruin who first, the DA queen or the mafia prince.

Also so swooned by the affection Kieran still holds for her and the way he’s able to be honest with himself about how he feels for her and how much he’s willing to risk and give up for her.

Ruby on the other hand, is living in denial!!! She wants him so bad but is much more willing to suppress that urge in the name of upholding the life she’s built for herself.

With everything on the line at the end of the book, I can’t wait to see what happens next!

[Joanne Barton]

“Velvet Corruption” is the first book in the “The Dark Prince of Boston Series.” Kieran Callahan and Ruby Marquez are on opposite sides of the law - he is Boston Mafia royalty and she is a legal assistant in the District Attorney’s Office. Kieran and Ruby have history together, eight years ago they were in a relationship that his family did not know about. It ended with him ghosting her with no explanation. It also ends with her being pregnant and Kieran not knowing that he is going to be a father!

“There were a lot of things I liked about Ruby Marquez - her sharp wit, her stubborn streak, the way she could look at me like she saw straight through the layers I built to survive my family. But what really did me in? The way she touched me like she owned me. Like this wasn’t just a fling.”

Fast forward eight years…Ruby is now running for District Attorney and mother to seven year old Rosie. Very few people know that her husband Julian, soon to be ex, is not Rosie’s biological father. The decision to run for DA has not been an easy decision for her as it takes time away from her daughter. Ruby’s main policy is to clean up the Boston underground - the Callahan family is firmly in her sites. She’s painting them as the root cause of every problem in this city of Boston.

Tristan Callahan is now head of the family after the death of their father. The family has never run smoother, but now they have a new problem that needs to be dealt with - Ruby Marquez. He wants Kieran “to dismantle her reputation piece by piece until there's nothing left but doubt and scandal. Until she’s completely and totally unelectable.” Relief was fleeting when he realised that Ruby would live but was replaced instantly when it him that he would have to destroy her reputation. This felt even more intimate, more cruel. “He didn’t know about us. I’d never told him. Never told anyone. Not because I was ashamed - I mean, maybe a little - but mostly because I wanted to keep her clean. Untouched by any of this.” Until now…..

Waiting at the coffee shop, the door chime rings. Looking up, thinking it was Alex, her heart slams to a halt. It was Kieran Callahan.“He had the same calm swagger as always, but time had aged him beautifully; he was leaner, stronger, more dangerous in that effortless way some men age into, like the world carved them out on purpose. Eight years. And somehow, he looked even better.” He smiles at her and all the memories come flooding back…. late nights in Southie, stolen kisses, the reckless passion of their youth. Eight years ago he walked away from her because of his family and her job. Can he do what his brother wants? Can he put the family needs ahead of his feelings for Ruby this time? Will he be able to protect her without destroying her reputation?

I am thoroughly enjoying Kieran and Ruby’s story - the chemistry between these two sizzle! This is such a beautiful love story that is so intense - a love that will last forever, in both good and bad times! The story is full of passion, humor, intrigue, betrayal, vengeance, power, control, twists and turns around every corner - most of all love ♥️ There is never a dull moment - you will be hooked! The story goes from pages that are sizzling, to extreme violence to the most beautiful tender moments! I’m very happily hooked 😊 I did not want it to end! Just so that you are aware, this does end on a cliff hanger….

A thoroughly enjoyable read from page to page, one chapter to the next - at times you are metaphorical “on the edge of your chair” wondering what will happen next. Overall, I would highly recommend this book and you will not be disappointed 😊

[Nicole Henderson]

New series alert. Ms. Bright starts this series off right. This book took some turns. Kieran Callahan and Ruby Marquez are on opposite sides of the law. This book gives readers a glimpse of the past. Ruby was working in the District Attorney’s Office as a legal assistant. She knew getting involved with Kieran was a no-no. Kieran’s family was Boston mafia royalty. These two could not stay away from each other. Flash forward seven years later. Ruby is an Assistant DA running for the DA position. Ruby is a mother to a beautiful daughter, Rosie, and in the process of separating from her husband. Less than a handful of people know that Julian, Ruby’s husband, was not Rosie’s father. Not even Rosie knew. It was determined that it was better for them to appear to be together throughout the election. Kieran was given the task of handling Ruby. Ruby was running on a platform devoted to cleaning up crime and taking down the prominent crime families. Her main priority was to dismantle the Callahan family. Kieran could not let that happen.

Kieran quickly found that the feelings he once had for Ruby were still there. Though he told his brother and leader of the family that he had it handled, it was not. Far from it really. Ruby could not be seen with Kieran but he always seemed to be everywhere all of a sudden. There to help her get through situations. Ruby knew she could not let him in. She had to make sure he never found out her ultimate secret. I don’t know about other readers, but I wanted these two to get together. Even though I knew that they were on two different paths. Kieran’s priorities changed while getting to know this older version of Ruby. Both never lost that thing that connected them seven years ago. How can their past work in the present? These two lives collide and all readers can do is watch the accident happen. This series is going to be explosive. I am here for it.

[Sandra]

This is the story about one of the brothers in the Callaghan Mafia. Tristan the oldest runs the organisation and he gives his younger brother Kieran a job to do, not knowing that he has a past with one of the candidates running for DA.

Ruby's life is a whirlwind at the moment. Going for the position of DA, she finds herself with her best friend Alek constantly on the campaign trail. Together with her normal life as ADA as well as being a mother to her daughter Rosie. Decisions are weighing heavily on her and the time it takes away from her family. Luckily her soon-to-be ex, Julian is picking up the slack and helping out with their daughter.

Ruby's stance is breaking the hold the gangs have on their city and bringing them to justice, especially the Callaghans. But Ruby has a big secret in her past which if comes to light will decimate her chance of becoming DA and that person is Kieran. An affair they had 8 years ago, was huge and intense until Kieran ghosted her, but he left something of his behind, and if he ever found out, what would he do?

Kieran is tasked by his brother Tristan, to bring down Ruby by any means possible, not knowing about his brother's past with Ruby. Kieran walked away from the woman he loved 8 years ago because of his family and the job that she did. Now he is back in Ruby's life, can he do what his brother wants and put the family's needs above his feelings for this woman, this woman who still can tie him up in knots, his obsession?

Ruby needs to stay away from Kieran, but he won't take the hint and leave her alone. But Kieran has always had a hold on her, the man she loved, ghosted her and left her when she needed him the most. Anger and betrayal sit front and centre with Ruby and her feelings for Kieran but the fear of her secret coming to light but also how he still makes her feel.

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

[Sara Phillips]

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.

That was the Callahan way: calm on the surface, ice in the veins.

We meet Ruby and Kieran in their younger years, at the start of their dysfunctional "relationship" until, time fast-forwards to 8 years later and we find that Ruby had Kieran's baby and kept it a secret this whole time. We then follow them through Ruby running for DA and Kieran being second to the top in the family mafia.

Overall, the writing was not bad, but there were some issues that I couldn't get over and had to reduce stars. The storyline is constantly repetitive, Ruby needs help, Kieran is always "around" to come and save her, rinse and repeat.
The dialogue is hard to follow at times because the speech is squashed into the same sentence line/paragraph, and you don't know who said what line. The paragraphs, if you can call them that, are just a couple lines (sometimes just a single sentence or even a word. which is fine for emphasis, but that's the whole book) creating a very fractured writing style.
At one point in the book we briefly meet a character named Eva, but then it's spelled Ava? so I had to go back and see if it was the same character or someone different. same character, name was spelled different between a couple pages.

If you like Mafia romance and tension and can stomach all the issues outlined above then this might be for you.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Dimitra A.]

The series starts with a bang!

What an amazing start! The series certainly starts strong. A quite flowing plot (despite some “repetitions” of situations), likeable characters (even in their worst – Kieran, cough, cough!) and a captivating world building assure an un-put-downable story. Kieran and Ruby’s past relationship comes forward once again, when she comes back. She is now Law, he is Crime. He is ordered to put her down. She is determined to do the same to the Callahan Family. A constant push and pull, he is determined to follow through his orders. However, instead of her potential executor, he becomes her protector. And even though she is determined to keep him at arm’s length – because she bears more secrets than he can fathom – can she really do it? I really couldn’t put the book down – and that cliffy in the end just fans the flames more! I can’t wait to find out what happens next! Great, 4-stars!

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

[Sarah Putrow]

Well I went into this completely unknowing, didn't read what it was about at all. The book definitely hooked me in early on. I found the trope of opposite sides of the law attracts intriguing. I had no idea this was a series but I look forward to finding out more of their story. In the book there's enemies to lovers, a secret baby, a little light stalking, and opposite sides.

I found myself really routing for the MMC throughout. He was so charming but underneath I felt like he was so vulnerable too. They are electric together! Their chemistry is truly felt while reading and I just want him to leave the crime world behind for her! She needs to stop denying she still feels for him too! That kind of pull that they have towards each other feels like twin flames to me.

That ending wow! Cliffhangers ahhhh I want to know now though! What did she mean??!! I just hope they get a HEA...When's the next book? Must read!

[Cat]

Brilliant !!
I loved reading this book I was entranced from the start.It is a fantastic engaging read that had me hooked.
Ruby and Kieran's relationship is a complicated one because they are from opposite sides of the law.
Ruby is a Lawyer
Kieran is from the Irish Mafia and 8 years ago they were in a relationship,but Kieran had to give her up because of his family and her job.
Now he has been sent by his brother to ruin Ruby,they still have chemistry and an attraction that has never gone away.But what Kieran doesn't know is that Ruby has secret that will change everything.
Clarissa Bright never fails to surprise me with the twists and turns she write in her stories,always leaving you wanting more.
Velvet Corruption is an intriguing adventure and I can't wait for book 2 to see what happens to Kieran and Ruby.
Amazing read.
5 stars.

[Heather Dudley]

Velvet Corruption follows the journey of Kieran and Ruby. The characters are well developed and beautifully executed throughout the story. The chemistry between these two characters is absolutely breathtaking and undeniably irresistible. I adored getting to know both Kieran and Ruby as well as seeing their story come to life throughout the book. Velvet Corruption is amazingly written, exceptionally balanced with action/romance and beautifully executed by Clarissa Bright. She continues to showcase what an incredible author she is with each book I’ve read by her thus far. In my opinion, she creates and writes captivating and entertaining romance stories which I absolutely enjoy reading. I would most definitely encourage other readers to checkout and give this book a read. I’m looking forward to reading more phenomenal romances from this author in the future.

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

[Laure]

Ruby Marquez have birth to his daughter seven years ago, but he doesn’t know about his daughter because he walked away leaving her no way to contact him. Now she is funning for District Attorney. Tough on crime is her election promise to the citizens of the city, so the last thing she needs is Kieran Callahan brother to the head of Boston’s most ruthless Irish mafia family walking back into her life.

I wasn’t ready for this book to end, so I’m definitely looking forward to the next book. Absolutely fascinating characters with complex, and in my opinion, very realistic personalities and a complicated past that comes back to haunt them both. I think this is a fantastic mafia romance with some suspense, a surprise baby, and unexpected twists that kept me engrossed from the first page. A must-read!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC of this book.

[Chante Heaven]

What an amazing  fast-paced, and engaging read.  


Kieran is part of the Irish Mafia, sent to destroy Ruby, a prosecutor running for district attorney, Kieran and Ruby have a history together, and Ruby is keeping a deeply held secret, one she definitely doesn't want Kieran to discover.


This book is an engrossing, fast-paced read,  filled with tension, secrets, stalking,  and a morally grey man and slow-burn spice that only adds to the story.  The tension and chemistry between Kieran and Ruby literally leaps off the page.  Their sarcastic banter and Ruby's intelligent and determined personality drew me in; she definitely has a backbone of steel.


That ending, though, was like watching a train wreck. I didn't want the story to stop, and I really want to know how it is going to play out.

[Shifty Bugger]

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

I absolutely loved reading this book this was definitely amazing I couldn't get enough of this book, the story was written well the description was the characters was deliciously electric. This story was about Ruby Marquez
as a Lawyer she wants to become a District Attorney then she met him Kieran Callahan, it was only suppose to be a one night thing. Kieran, couldn't takes his eyes off her he would go and see her more and more, then his father passed away at that was the last time and he ghosted her. About eight years later he went to see her orders from his brothers, she refused. Their chemistry was hot and steamy then they tried to stay away until he heard her scream.

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

[LeMiliere]

This is the first book in what looks like it's going to be a great series. It kept me on the edge of my seat turning the pages of my Kindle until I reached the end, reading it in one day. I for one can’t wait for the next book to be published.

I loved Ruby, the prosecutor running for District Attorney paired with Kieran he's a true jokester - these two have a past connection which has been kept secret - their story is a perfect Mafia/opposite side of the law romance with lots of really witty banter between them. Their chemistry is palpable and their attraction to each other is tangible. I was drawn in and could feel their anxiety as they tried to figure out if or how everything was going to work. Can't wait to see how everything plays out.

[Ange Bennetts]

The plot of this story sounds familiar, secret baby, one parent is fighting crime, one is on the other side - but this book was unique and really bloody good! 8 years after he ghosting her, he turns up again. She is running for DA and he's one of the brothers running a crime family. The undeniable connection they had is still there, the invisible thread always pulling them towards each other. But life is messy and they're a bigger mess together than apart, so how can they ever work? How will he react if he finds out that her daughter is also his and not her soon to be ex husbands? This book ends at that perfect point. Where it could all blow up in her face - he is holding all the power and I cant wait to see how this ends!

[Annie May]

Clarissa Bright has wrote another big winner. How do you deal with your screwed up life, when you have just won the election you have worked so hard for. Giving you the power to take down a big crime organization, only to have all your dreams destroyed in a matter of a few hours. When your ex mafia lover from 8 years ago who left you high and dry comes back into your life destroying all you have worked for and nothing you can do to stop it. Filled with anger hate and love, Ruby struggles with attempts on her life and where does she turn now? Hate, love, twists and turns keep the suspense going.

[Tesh]

What a brilliant read!

When Kieran Callahan gets tasked to ruin Attorney Ruby Marquez, he doesn't know the secret from their shared past she carries.

Kieran is all fire, passion and brutal but he does have a heart especially when it comes to Ruby unfortunately. When he learns her secret that puts both of them in the firing line.

After years apart they still have that familiarity and dynamic that let's them pick up almost where they left off, passion wise that is. So much friction goes along with that pain though.

So well done. I want to read more from this author. I loved this book and can't wait for the next. Brilliant book!!

[Vivien R]

Wow this was such an incredible story. It's definitely a page turner. Ruby is running for district attorney but she also carries a powerful secret. Not only did she have a past relationship with Kieran, the man sent to hurt her to protect his mafia family's legacy, but he is unknowingly the father of her child. But the looks he gives her say that he wants to do anything but hurt her. But if Kieran's mafia boss finds out the secrets he's keeping about Ruby, it could be the end of him. The pull between the two of them is so strong, the sexual tension is great. This story does end on a cliffhanger and I can't wait to see what will happen next.

[Dee Layton]

WOW is all I can say! This enemies to lovers/ 2nd chance lover with a secret child book was amazing! I love how Ruby the FMC was the lawyer running for DA and the MMC Kieran is part of the Irish Mafia crime family. He was sent to handle her and they just couldn't stay apart. I'm super hooked now that ended on a cliffhanger and I'm going crazy for the next book! This was a fast passed book and I love that I finished this book quickly and I recommend it to any any everyone!!!.Run and grab this it's amazing!

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

[Amy Watson]

This book was packed with tension and suspense! Kieran is faced with the impossible task of taking down his ex-lover and future DA to protect his family. His obsession with Ruby is intense—eight years is a long time to pine over someone, especially someone harboring a massive secret. And what a secret it is. Ruby’s past and present choices put her in a dangerous position, and the moment Kieran reappears, she’s instantly on edge. The wit and banter between them had me laughing, but that cliffhanger? It left me absolutely stunned and needing to know what Kieran’s fate is.

[Francheska]

ENDS IN A CLIFFHANGER !! KIERNAN AND RUBY HAD TONS OF TENSION AND CHEMISTRY !

KIERNAN and RUBY have a history ... this is a 2nd chance story ! years ago they had a relationship but upon breaking up she finds out she is pregnant. She never reaches out to tell him ... she becomes a lawyer, he a high ranking member of a mafia family... Once she decides to run for district attorney his brother tasks him w destroying her ! He finds himself unable to bring her hurt... he just wants to protect her .

LAWYER/MAFIA
ENEMIES TO LOVERS
2ND CHANCE ROMANCE
SECRET BABY
GRUMPY SUNSHINE

[Stephanie Skiffington]

If you love mafia romance, this is the book for you! Ruby and Kieran have a rocky past that they are just trying to hide. Years after they had their fling, she is raising his child (who he doesn't know about) and running for Distrist Attorney. Kieran, being in the mafia, got an order from his brother to kill her because she will be a problem. The tension and chemistry between them is so high and they just can't stay away from each other. I loved this story so much and I devoured it. Their relationship was so good and he is just protective of her, I adore it. I can't wait for the next one!!

[Emel]

This was a thrilling page turner! This was my first book by Clarissa Bright and l really enjoyed her ability to bring the characters of Kieran and Ruby to life. From start to finish I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of Kieran and Ruby and the ways in which the author was able to draw me in with their volatile chemistry, undeniable connection, and the secret twists and turns in their story. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next installment of this brilliant series with Velvet Chains.

[Shelby Suhr]

I had the opportunity to arc read in return for my honest review.
I will say I really enjoyed this book!
It definitely had the dark elements of a dark romance along with the mafia aspect, which I loved.
The banter and angst was perfect.
Both the main characters are on opposite sides of the law, which makes this book that much more interesting.
Without giving too much away, clear lines are drawn at the beginning… but definitely blur towards the end…

It definitely didn’t end how I expected it to and the ending was the perfect segue for book two.
I loved that we didn’t quite get all the pieces to the puzzle so I can’t wait for book two. Bring it on!

[Sheila]

5 Stars for Velvet Corruption by Clarissa Bright

Set in the Boston Mafia this is a dark romance with lots of twists. Kieran and Ruby are awesome characters- very well written ! I love a strong FMC ! Things are interesting because Ruby is on the right side of the law - a lawyer while Kieran is in an Irish Mafia crime family.

My favorite genres mafia and enemies to lovers ( great chemistry) ! Can’t wait for book two !.

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

[Melissa Mejia]

It had the pleasure of receiving this as an ARC and I’m giving my voluntary honest review! I truly enjoyed this book!! The banter and the anger was great and had a dark romance/mafia feel!! Which i loved!! I want more to see how this plays out!

“A buried secret. A mafia heir. When past love becomes a lethal threat...

Kieran Callahan
In the ruthless world of Boston's Irish mafia, I shield the Callahan legacy, no matter the cost.

Ruby Marquez
Running for District Attorney is my chance to fight for justice, but Kieran Callahan is back, and he's threatening everything I've fought to build.”