Taming Aria: A Tale of Obsession, Darkness, Love & Power

by Penny Mappoura-Salmon

Aria Ellis is a cop who lives by the law, driven by the need to serve and protect. Aria has built walls around her heart- strong, unbreakable, and necessary. A cop haunted by demons, she never imagined letting anyone in.

But nothing could prepare her for Alex Hayden.

Alex is fire and storm wrapped in muscle, a dangerously sexy package, brooding, protective, and utterly obsessed with Aria.

Alex doesn’t just want her. He needs her. Obsessed, possessive, and relentless, he’s the kind of man who breaks all the rules - especially when it comes to Aria.

Alongside his brothers-in-arms, Jake, Mark, and Derek, Alex wages a brutal war against the darkness that haunts the city.

As Aria delves deeper into a dangerous case that hits closer to home than she ever expected, she’s torn between her badge and the undeniable pull toward Alex. Secrets from the past threaten to unravel them both, forcing Aria to question everything, including her own heart.

Drowning in desire, tangled in a dangerous game where surrendering to Alex means risking everything - her badge, her heart, and her very soul. But some loves are worth fighting for… even if they burn you alive.

He is obsessed.
She is guarded.
He is a vigilante.
She is a cop.
What could possibly go wrong...

487 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 27, 2025

Reviews

[Angel Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book honestly ruined me. I really thought Aria was going to die when she was shot, and I sobbed my heart out.

The connection between Aria and Alex is everything I needed to read, I absolutely loved how protective and passionate he is, and I loved that she's stubborn as hell and will put her foot down when she wants to. I love that even when she freaks out and pulls away from him, he is able to get her back from the edge and help her with the anxiety and trauma.

The found family theme of this book hit my heart hard, it was amazing to see how the guys have not only accepted Elaina, but now Aria too. I loved the friendship between Aria and Elaina, the support that Elaina gave her, even when Aria didn't trust her at first, was perfect.

But seriously... the ending has killed me off. I actually thought it was going to be a happy ending and the tough times for Aria was over, but omg, I was so bloody wrong.

Also... Deigo is a total scumbag, I personally wanted to shoot him and Camila, because what in the actual fuckery is wrong with the two of them?!

Mr brain is still processing the major cliffhanger, so I'll probably write more on this as thought slowly trickle back into my brain... 🤣

This book is amazing, the series is literally perfection. It is so worth reading 🤩❤️‍🔥

[Clare Johnstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Taming Aria' by Penny M Salmon
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved it!
What a fricken ride that was....!

ALEX 🖤 ARIA

Urgh... their relationship! Fiesty, possessive, lust, security....
I couldn't get enough of them together. Aria is a strong badass cop who does everything by the book. She is a social hermit and lives for her job. All she does is work out, work, and ride her motorbike. Aria doesn't like talking about her past trauma and scars she would rather stay hidden.
Enters Alex.... A tall Greek god with obsessive tendencies who is about to turn Aria's World upside down and unleash jer darkest desires.
Alex is risking it all bringing Aria into his circle along with his brothers, Jake, Derek and Mark but little do they know she is already connected to the dark underground goings on that they are fighting against every day. So, who really is making the biggest risk????
The twist made me quite literally drop my jaw on the floor!
This was a ride..... tears and all, I felt everything reading this book, and I am here for it! The intensity between Alex and Aria was just 🥵😈 another amazing novel from Penny 🖤 Keep them coming as I just can't get enough of this series!!!!! 😍😍😍

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely bloody FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!

Alex, one of the hunks who part own Dark, sees a woman who he knows is going to make his forever………..

Aria, needing to make a point of being a woman that can do ANYTHING, is a police officer and a ‘power house’ 💪 sees a hunk, but surely he won’t want her?????

And then what’s going on in the background????

The 🥵🥵🥵 scenes are scorching 🥵🤤😮‍💨😉😜

Now onto the next book 😜

[Ashley Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story! Since I finished Book 1 of the dark series, I needed Alex's story and boy did Penny deliver.
A strong FMC who takes no shit. Aria is an independent, badass, strong woman. She relies on no one.
Until Alex sets his sights on her, she never knew she could be vulnerable.
And the cliff at the end of this!! OMFG am I glad book 3 was released last week!!

[Kitty 💋 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me floored!
After reading the first book in this series I had to read what happens next and as usual - Penny did not disappoint 🤩

The chemistry and connection between Alex and Aria is just incredible, they are hot and possessive 🥵
I absolutely love the fact that Aria is a strong FMC! She is absolutely badass and I loved it! 😍

I love the found family aspect of this whole series!
The friendships that are built and how supportive they are of each other is amazing.

I can’t recommend enough that you add this series to the top of your TBR pile 😉

Read this for;
- Found family
- Cop & vigilante
- Enemies to lovers
- Possessive protector
- Morally grey MMC
- Forbidden love
- Badass FMC
- Stalker romance

As usual babes, check your triggers 😉💋🖤

[Becks O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of The Dark Series by Penny Mappora-Salmon hit just as good as the first one. It follows Alex a dark, obsessive and sexy club owner and vigilante saving girls from human trafficking and Aria who is a strong and sassy cop. From chapter 1 I was totally in love with Alex and Aria (mainly Alex to be honest 🥵) and was rooting for their happily ever after.

Taming Aria is the perfect balance between deliciously spicy and a brilliant plot that keeps you guessing from start to finish . I love the twists and turns in Penny's books and I never see them coming keeping me on my toes and engaged throughout the story (I joined the 2am book club a few times with this read)

This story took me through a range of emotions. I was swooning, Angry, heartbroken and then cheering Aria on and I loving how strong she was all the way through the book despite the curve balls that are sent to break her.

The book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, which I usually hate but I'm really enjoying this series so far so can't wait to read the next books so I will let Penny off this time 🤣

[Lydia Thew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, after reading Awakening Elaina I didn’t think it could get better but it does! The twists! Alex is hot! Aria is a badass who’s been through a lot! I love this series! On to the next! Highly recommend.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! I just devoured the second book in @Penny the Author Dark series, #TamingAria, and this book punched me straight in the heart and gut, multiple times.
It was deliciously dark, intense, and seriously spicy. I absolutely fell in love with both Alex and Aria. Their dynamic was everything—guarded meets obsessed, control meets chaos and watching them slowly break down each other’s walls while healing old wounds was incredibly powerful.
Alex is the kind of character you know you shouldn’t love… but you do anyway. Completely. And Aria is strong, resilient, and emotionally layered, I loved being inside her head as she struggled between duty and desire.
I honestly thought I knew where the story was going… but wow, I was so wrong. The twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. There were moments I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room, but in the best way, because I was that invested.
The found family element added so much depth to the story, and I loved how it showed that real, messy, intense love can help heal even the deepest wounds.
This book had everything: action, emotion, heat, and heartbreak. And that ending? I’m still not over it.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two in the Dark Series😈
I am not the same person I was before I read this book.
This had me in a chokehold from page ONE and did not let go. The plot was plotting in the most unhinged way, the spice was spicing, and my emotions were all over the place.
I laughed, I cried, I stared at a wall questioning everything. The twists kept coming, the banter was everything, and I was fully invested the entire time.
Penny really said “you will feel everything” and I fear she was correct because I didn’t just read this book, I felt it.
Completely consumed from start to finish, fully invested in every moment.
I genuinely couldn’t put it down. I finished it and just sat there like… now what??
The cliffhanger😱 Got me like "Thank God I have book 3 to dive into"
I’m still not okay and honestly, I don’t think I want to be. Easily a 5 star read I won’t be forgetting anytime soon😍🔥🖤

[Leanne Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is my favourite so far and I’m only on book 2 😂🔥

I love aria and Alex. Their relationship how they grow together is unreal and seeing Alex become the protective possessive type was a shock to me after book 1 but it also kinda fits him well.

Aria with that hidden darkness is a brilliant FMC and her little back and forth with Elaina gave me life 😂
The story line was gripping I found myself not able to put this down unless the story line was at a neutral point otherwise I would sit thinking about it until I continued 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

The spice was ✨spicy✨
I dived into book 3 straight after and smashed in 100 pages in one sitting 👀😂

I am finding a whole new kinda love for these books and I am so glad I found them 🔥🖤

[Cat.thebookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taming Aria, the second book in the Dark Series, was incredible. I hate to say it, but I think I loved this one even more than the first.

I completely understand why everyone loves Alex so much. He’s that caveman type who won’t take no for an answer, but every now and then you get a glimpse of his softer side, which just makes you adore him even more.

I especially loved the relationship between Aria and Alex. Aria is feisty and absolutely refuses to take any shit from him — and boy, does she give it right back. I loved her character. She’s a badass cop who does everything by the book; her life revolves around work, working out, and riding her motorbike (wait until you see what she named it — LOL). Then along comes Alex, turning her world upside down. He takes a huge risk by bringing her into his circle, considering both the kind of work he does and the job she has. The question is: will she accept it?

I also liked that Derek played a slightly bigger role in this book. It felt like a slow build and a great setup for book three, giving us more insight into his character without giving too much away.

And that twist — my jaw quite literally hit the floor. What an ending. That cliffhanger was brutal.

[Laura Cowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED book 2 in the dark series, maybe even more than book 1 and that was very big shoes to fill! 🖤 the characters, the story, the twists, it was just brilliant, can't wait for book 3! Alex is everything!