Tarnished Vow

by Simone Elise

I called her my best friend. I treated her as mine.
Until her family announces her arranged marriage. Taking her from me.
Psychotic. Psychopathic. The words commonly used to describe my crime family.
Marriage in my family is considered a life oath. With a book as thick as the bible on the rituals.
And we only marry to end wars.
For over four years I had kept her from learning just how twisted my family is. By hiding her as my friend.
But I don’t like him touching her. And I hate the idea of her being his.
Not when she would look so good as mine.
My blood on her.
My name tattooed on her.
Mine. Not his.

NOTE TO

No Cheating. No OWD (other woman drama) Arranged Marriage + Yearning + Found Family + Crime/Mafia Setting + Best friends to LoversPlease check content warnings before reading, this book contains a long list. Book 1 ends with a cliffhanger. Book 2 to be released on or before 30/08/25

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark

278 pages, Paperback

Published July 24, 2025

Reviews

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait for the second part

I really rate this book a 4.5 but not a strong enough 4.5 to rate it a 5. In my opinion it felt rushed, we didn't get a good enough back story on the main couple, I'm curious about how they met. I hope in the second part we get some what of a back story on them because it just left so many questions. I rated it high because the book made me laugh and cry and at some points mad. I did wish that the main female lead had not forgiven the male lead so easy. However, overall, I will be coming back for the second part and I hope that this couple can have their happy ending and that maybe even the grandfather dies, he really passed me off.

I hope this review helps you to either decide to read it or to just overall feel about this book.

I do recommend that I you are not into dark romance or anything like that to not read this book. As always read the trigger warning and Protect your mental health.

[Karma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved. This. Book.

Madeline and Vince? Cutest dang couple.
He loves to match her, utterly obsessed with her, knows how to tie her fancy heels, "cant" sleep w/o her, knows her better than she knows herself.

However its CRIMINAL that i have to wait until next year for book 2. The audacity to leave me on a cliffy 😭😂🧗‍♀️

[Isabel Azzopardi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt very rushed and there were definitely some grammatical errors to back that statement up. I also wouldn’t have read if i knew it ended on a cliffhanger with the other book not coming out for over a month. Hopefully the second book goes through a better editing process.

[sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐️
Ultimately lots of potential however with grammar and with the editing process needing improvements I couldn’t give a higher rating. I think somehow the grammar kind of fades when your at least 80% into the book, you might get used to it but to keep going with the grammar mistakes takes a lot of willpower to be honest. With the plot holes- the continuation of the book not really adding up nor the continuous build up of the characters, failed. Even though there’s a clear element of found family, without the development or the clear background for the characters, it will be hard to get into or overlook.

I felt confounded however when the blurb looked promising and yet the writing had grammar mistakes and was clear there wasn’t a clear editing process. Did enjoy the characters but a lot needed to be improved- clear character backgrounds, explanations and maybe even a family tree at the start of the book to understand the many characters. Was ultimately excited with the clear found family trope but the main character can come across as unbearing because the clear background of her isn’t explained and overall, is difficult to sympathise with her character.

[Kylee Herzberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sim is the author who got me to love reading. I have treasured her books and bought every single one I could get my hands on. So it’s safe to say I had high expectations for this book. It has met every single one. I absolutely love this book and the characters. My only complaint is that the ending felt rushed. I understand the next book is already set to come out next year and I am very excited for it I just wanted a little more for this ending.

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I see the vision the author had. but it was poorly written. had lots of grammatical mistakes and sometimes i didn't quite understand the situation in the books. there were lots of jumps and skips kinda without acknowledging time skipped or something happened. good luck to the author tho because it was a good book just needs a little more experience i guess

[Emily]

Dnf 6%

[avah]

okay this was very very jumpy and had like no plot i feel ??? felt rushed in a way and i feel like i was missing pieces to the book ??? and don’t get me started on the crow oath.

[Elizabeth Hayman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this but it ended up dnf. It felt very rushed and was hard to get into with so many characters involved but no real backstory.

[Raeah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a literal fever dream and I was confused for most of it.

[Mace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaayyy, ¿cómo me van a dejar así?

[Anna Sofia dk · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 / 5 ⭐️

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was all over the place and had like zero world building. very little actual conversation. it just drops you into a world like you should already know everyone and everything.

[Brownie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have been a huge Simone fan for years but this book is not well written and is in need of an editor/edit. There are several typos and the story jumps all over the place. I was so hype to see her return but am a bit let down at the quality.

[Kayla Sargent · Rating 4 out of 5]

HOLY cliffhanger! I need more. I need answers.

Quick & easy read. Love a man who will do anything necessary to protect what's his.