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Kastaris Greek Mafia #1
Beneath Scarred Vows
An Arranged Marriage Dark Mafia Romance
He gave me a ring. Then set a man on fire.
When my uncle forced me to marry Ares Kastaris, the ruthless new Don of the Greek mafia, they expected tears. Expected fear.
But I felt nothing.
Because long before this, when my family was taken from me, I stopped feeling anything at all.
And Ares can't bring back what's already buried in ash.
But this powerful, possessive, and dangerous man won't stop until I'm fully his – mind, body, and soul.
Ares doesn't look away from my broken pieces.
He sees every wall I've built and breaks through them, making me feel things I never thought I would.
Now I'm part of his empire.
Claimed by a man I didn't ask for, but who might be the first to ever see me.
The real me.
And when betrayal rips me away from him, we finally understand why we were brought together.
Ares won't negotiate.
He won't stop.
He'll tear the world apart to bring me back into his arms.
This dark, steamy arranged marriage mafia romance
🔥 Possessive, Obsessive Morally Grey Hero🔥 Scarred, Strong Heroine🔥 Forced Arranged Marriage🔥 Touch Her and Die Vibes🔥 Forced Proximity🔥 Indifferent to Love (at first)🔥 Virgin Heroine🔥 Greek Mafia🔥 Standalone with HEABook 1 of The Kastaris Greek Mafia Series, but can be read as a standalone. Contains mature themes, graphic content, and high-heat spicy scenes.
He gave me a ring. Then set a man on fire.
When my uncle forced me to marry Ares Kastaris, the ruthless new Don of the Greek mafia, they expected tears. Expected fear.
But I felt nothing.
Because long before this, when my family was taken from me, I stopped feeling anything at all.
And Ares can't bring back what's already buried in ash.
But this powerful, possessive, and dangerous man won't stop until I'm fully his – mind, body, and soul.
Ares doesn't look away from my broken pieces.
He sees every wall I've built and breaks through them, making me feel things I never thought I would.
Now I'm part of his empire.
Claimed by a man I didn't ask for, but who might be the first to ever see me.
The real me.
And when betrayal rips me away from him, we finally understand why we were brought together.
Ares won't negotiate.
He won't stop.
He'll tear the world apart to bring me back into his arms.
This dark, steamy arranged marriage mafia romance
🔥 Possessive, Obsessive Morally Grey Hero🔥 Scarred, Strong Heroine🔥 Forced Arranged Marriage🔥 Touch Her and Die Vibes🔥 Forced Proximity🔥 Indifferent to Love (at first)🔥 Virgin Heroine🔥 Greek Mafia🔥 Standalone with HEABook 1 of The Kastaris Greek Mafia Series, but can be read as a standalone. Contains mature themes, graphic content, and high-heat spicy scenes.
377 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2025
226 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Gabriella Blackrose
16 books3 followersWelcome, dark romance lovers.
I'm Gabriella Blackrose, and I write steamy, high-stakes mafia romances set in an interconnected world. My books are filled with morally gray men who would burn down a city for the woman they love and the fierce, complicated heroines who challenge them at every turn.
If you crave obsession, forbidden tension, touch-her-and-die protectiveness, and slow-burn danger that explodes into heat, you're in the right place.
Fair warning: these stories might ruin you for nice fictional boyfriends forever, but honestly, isn't that half the fun? 😂
When I'm not writing, I'm chatting with readers, untangling new betrayals, and expanding the world where my mafia families rise.
I'm Gabriella Blackrose, and I write steamy, high-stakes mafia romances set in an interconnected world. My books are filled with morally gray men who would burn down a city for the woman they love and the fierce, complicated heroines who challenge them at every turn.
If you crave obsession, forbidden tension, touch-her-and-die protectiveness, and slow-burn danger that explodes into heat, you're in the right place.
Fair warning: these stories might ruin you for nice fictional boyfriends forever, but honestly, isn't that half the fun? 😂
When I'm not writing, I'm chatting with readers, untangling new betrayals, and expanding the world where my mafia families rise.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 23, 2025
This was a light mafia trope. Not much was happening, almost becoming boring.
I liked the writing, there was a good balance between conversation and inner-monologue. I liked that Ares was not a manwhore and nothing was mentioned about his past, no crazy ex from the past, no other women, no cheating, no comparing her to other women. It was refreshing for once.
I don't think Ares and Katerina had real chemistry. Their relationship, even though it was a slow burn, developed very fast because in the first part of the book nothing was really happening. That scene with Ares’ sister felt random together with what happened right after.
Ares wasn’t convincing as a don. He need help from ‘friends’ to find out who was behind the shooting. The rest of the book he wasn’t doing anything important either, just telling his brothers to figure it out. And all they gathered were rumours. He supposedly run a logistic company, but needed Katerina, who did an internship years ago to tell him what was being shipped? Com one now. Also, the whole club thing was cringe. It gave me the creeps.
I also didn’t like their fight towards the end. Katerina had no problem slapping him, but when he reacted she was hurt, demanded an apology and even then she threatened to not forgive him. How about you apology for slapping him too, little brat.
I already know, I don’t like Theo.
The answer is she didn't, because there has been zero interaction between them, except for Calli and even that was shallow.
I liked the writing, there was a good balance between conversation and inner-monologue. I liked that Ares was not a manwhore and nothing was mentioned about his past, no crazy ex from the past, no other women, no cheating, no comparing her to other women. It was refreshing for once.
I don't think Ares and Katerina had real chemistry. Their relationship, even though it was a slow burn, developed very fast because in the first part of the book nothing was really happening. That scene with Ares’ sister felt random together with what happened right after.
Ares wasn’t convincing as a don. He need help from ‘friends’ to find out who was behind the shooting. The rest of the book he wasn’t doing anything important either, just telling his brothers to figure it out. And all they gathered were rumours. He supposedly run a logistic company, but needed Katerina, who did an internship years ago to tell him what was being shipped? Com one now. Also, the whole club thing was cringe. It gave me the creeps.
I also didn’t like their fight towards the end. Katerina had no problem slapping him, but when he reacted she was hurt, demanded an apology and even then she threatened to not forgive him. How about you apology for slapping him too, little brat.
I already know, I don’t like Theo.
When did Katerina become family to Theo? To any of them? When did she stop being a transaction and start being something we would all die for?
The answer is she didn't, because there has been zero interaction between them, except for Calli and even that was shallow.
January 25, 2026
The book was going so, so well, until we get to the part where Ares puts his hands on Katerina in violence with the goal to hurt her. Sure, emotions were high, and this is a book so I get it's part of the story. Still, not acceptable in my book, but even more unexceptable because it is never really addressed from Ares' POV. I needed to read about him drowning in guilt for choking his wife. I needed him to loath himself. Sure, he apologizes but only after Katerina bring it up and literally asks him to do so. This part of the storyline ruined the book for me.
That being said, if I overlook all that, it's a good read. Ares cares for his wife even though he wont admit to it from early on in their relationship. They have tenderness, spice, and some banter. I loved once Katerina began to open up and feel comfortable around Ares. The part where he makes her truly see herself and realize that she is beautiful and strong, and her scar just adds to it. Of course I love a good touch-her-and-die moment which we get a few of. The epilogue was amazing and hilarious!
This is my first book by this author and I am intrigued. Hopefully the next book doesn't have abuse between the main characters.
That being said, if I overlook all that, it's a good read. Ares cares for his wife even though he wont admit to it from early on in their relationship. They have tenderness, spice, and some banter. I loved once Katerina began to open up and feel comfortable around Ares. The part where he makes her truly see herself and realize that she is beautiful and strong, and her scar just adds to it. Of course I love a good touch-her-and-die moment which we get a few of. The epilogue was amazing and hilarious!
This is my first book by this author and I am intrigued. Hopefully the next book doesn't have abuse between the main characters.
November 25, 2025
I enjoyed Katerina’s character immensely in this book, especially in the beginning. I like when female characters aren’t immediately falling over and forgetting themselves as soon as they meet a handsome MMC or just brushing to the side their feelings about the situation they may find themselves in, especially where it is not the female’s choice. I want their anger and strength to remain for longer than it takes them to get to a bedroom in these types of stories.
Katerina wasn’t giving an inch, she wasn’t giving the emotional response that a man expected her to simply because she is a woman. I even think Katerina could have kept that distance for a bit longer, but at least it was present here versus most of what you see in similar stories of this genre.
Katerina wasn’t giving an inch, she wasn’t giving the emotional response that a man expected her to simply because she is a woman. I even think Katerina could have kept that distance for a bit longer, but at least it was present here versus most of what you see in similar stories of this genre.
September 30, 2025
5 ⭐️ Read
I loved the romance between Ares and Katerina!!!
And I loved how he protected her in this book.
I felt sad for Katerina and what happened to her family.
At first I didn't like Ares and what he did to Katerina but getting into the book I liked Ares.
I liked Ares brothers Theo and Dimitri and sister Calli.
And I loved how strong Katerina was and also fought against Ares in the beginning of this book and the end too.
Ares also feels like he has to protect his family because of what happened to his dad. And I loved the things that Ares did for Katerina in this book. I loved how protective Ares was over Katerina. And I loved how they fell in this book. This was an spicy read too. And he loved her even though she had a scar from the fire that took her family. And I loved how Katerina saved Ares's sister Calli and getting hurt because of it and Ares took care of her.
And I loved that he took care of the bad people that hurt his family. And I hated the Sebastian in this book and what he did to Katerina . I loved that Katerina love to sketch in this book. And I loved that Ares saved Katerina at the end of the book and they had an happy ending together and that they were having an baby at the end of this book and I can't wait to read other books in this series and by this author.
I loved the romance between Ares and Katerina!!!
And I loved how he protected her in this book.
I felt sad for Katerina and what happened to her family.
At first I didn't like Ares and what he did to Katerina but getting into the book I liked Ares.
I liked Ares brothers Theo and Dimitri and sister Calli.
And I loved how strong Katerina was and also fought against Ares in the beginning of this book and the end too.
Ares also feels like he has to protect his family because of what happened to his dad. And I loved the things that Ares did for Katerina in this book. I loved how protective Ares was over Katerina. And I loved how they fell in this book. This was an spicy read too. And he loved her even though she had a scar from the fire that took her family. And I loved how Katerina saved Ares's sister Calli and getting hurt because of it and Ares took care of her.
And I loved that he took care of the bad people that hurt his family. And I hated the Sebastian in this book and what he did to Katerina . I loved that Katerina love to sketch in this book. And I loved that Ares saved Katerina at the end of the book and they had an happy ending together and that they were having an baby at the end of this book and I can't wait to read other books in this series and by this author.
November 16, 2025
The book starts off strong, promising a gripping mafia romance with two protagonists who appear confident and sharp-witted. Their chemistry during the arranged-marriage setup is intriguing and sets high expectations. Unfortunately, as the story progresses, both characters begin to feel oddly inconsistent—almost like completely different people from the ones introduced at the start. This shift weakens the emotional impact and makes the later chapters less engaging. Still, the premise has potential, and fans of the genre may enjoy it despite the uneven character development
May 22, 2025
Pretty good
I like the storyline and the characters. The descriptive writing pulled you in and made you feel like you were there. Although I thought 27 was too old for this situation that started at 14 it lost some of its realism with that long time span. I would recommend this book.
I like the storyline and the characters. The descriptive writing pulled you in and made you feel like you were there. Although I thought 27 was too old for this situation that started at 14 it lost some of its realism with that long time span. I would recommend this book.
January 25, 2026
The writing in this book was really good. I did enjoy Katerina’s character a lot .. I still feel like I needed more tho.. like I needed a little more glimpse into Katerina’s father and Ares father life .. I needed more build up for Dmitri’s and Theo’s story. I don’t have anything bad to say about the book but nothing great to say about it either .
May 4, 2025
Ebook not for me. Katerina is 27 years old and still a Virgin, yeah Right!🙄She is too old for the FMC'S I like to read about. I prefer the FMC to be younger not almost 30 years old!😒This is my first and last book by this author. Author not for me! Her FMC'S are too old for me to read about!
December 18, 2025
another one for the books
I love story from beginning to end. I love the character. I’ve been reading a lot of book this is the first time I’ve read this author and the way she writes I will continue on with the series
I love story from beginning to end. I love the character. I’ve been reading a lot of book this is the first time I’ve read this author and the way she writes I will continue on with the series
July 13, 2025
Gripping book
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, couldn't put it down. Can't wait to read the next book and find out what happens to the kastaris brothers
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, couldn't put it down. Can't wait to read the next book and find out what happens to the kastaris brothers
November 12, 2025
As far as mafia romances go.. this was ok. Not memorable for me.
I found they went from hating each other to all of a sudden in love? I needed more of a gradual change of feelings.
I found they went from hating each other to all of a sudden in love? I needed more of a gradual change of feelings.
December 10, 2025
Pretty Good Read
Slow start but picks up nicely. What doesn't necessarily make sense to to me is that so much action took place in Greece yet family is in Chicago.
Slow start but picks up nicely. What doesn't necessarily make sense to to me is that so much action took place in Greece yet family is in Chicago.
December 14, 2025
I loved Ares and how he worked to get her to open up to him. A very good book. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
January 28, 2026
Love strong female leads
None of the meek, dull heroines here. Wanted to keep reading to see what she would do next. Not disappointed!
None of the meek, dull heroines here. Wanted to keep reading to see what she would do next. Not disappointed!
February 7, 2026
My first book by this author, I'll be reading the second one in the series, for sure.
January 29, 2026
This one was OK I feel like I wish the main characters had more story development between them. I felt like it was a lot of like outside stuff that was happening and brought them together, but it was good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews