Corrupting His Wife (Lozano Cartel Book 3): A Star-Crossed Lovers Dark Romance

by Amber Daulton

Kidnapping a reluctant bride is easy. Staying off her jilted fiancé’s radar is tough.

As the second-in-command of the Lozano Cartel, Enrique Briceño always gets what he wants. So when Lourdes’s father demands she marry another man, Enrique makes his move—abduction. Vowing to corrupt his sweet little captive in every wicked way imaginable, he doesn’t expect her to fight him with fire.

Cartel princess Lourdes Villegas longs for peace. Freedom. A chance to let her artist soul breathe. Yet once again, a man is pulling her strings. In Enrique’s arms, she trades one ruthless capo for another. His touch sets her ablaze, but she’s already plotting her escape.

As political alliances crumble and the streets run red, Enrique must prove he’s more than just another monster in Lourdes’s life. Because this time, love might be the most dangerous thing of all.

– Book three in the dark romance series, the Lozano Cartel. All the books can be read as a standalone, but are part of an interconnected series.

Genres: Dark Romance

262 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 7, 2026

About the author

Amber Daulton is the author of the romantic-suspense series Arresting Onyx and several standalone novellas. Her books are published through Daulton Publishing, The Wild Rose Press, and Books to Go Now, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.
She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats.
Curious about her favorite books? Check out Arresting Mason and Arresting Jeremiah.

Reviews

[Suzana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

❄️ Contemporary
❄️ Romantic suspense
❄️ Dark romance
❄️ Mafia romance
❄️ Cartel romance
❄️ Alpha "Gray" Hero x Artist Heroine
❄️ Strong, sassy heroine x Antihero
❄️ Abudction: he kidnaps her to save her
❄️ Power Play / Power Exchange
❄️ He falls first
❄️ Touch her and d!e
❄️ Forced proximity
❄️ Second chance
❄️ Enemies to lovers
❄️ Star-crossed lovers
❄️ Captive romance
❄️ Dub-Con
❄️ Forced marriage
❄️ Forbidden
❄️ Erotic Thriller
❄️ High-Stakes Cartel Drama
❄️ Engaging / riveting / gripping / gritty / addictive storyline
❄️ Page turner / suspenseful / fast-paced
❄️ Fun cast of supporting characters

Corrupting His Wife is the third book in the Lozano Cartel series by Amber Daulton. Each book can be read as a standalone, but is part of an interconnected series. It is a gripping read with intense character dynamics and a romance. The author creates a world where brutal power and illicit passion intertwine, while skillfully exploring the intricacies of desire, control, and the life-changing impact of a deep connection, embracing morally gray areas. The narrative is utterly captivating. Corrupting His Wife is a page-turner and a compelling read that explores the tumultuous relationship between Enrique Briceño and Lourdes Villegas, two individuals, caught between duty, desire, a love that defies all odds, and the brutal realities of cartel life.

The heartbeat of this story is undoubtedly Enrique Briceño and Lourdes Villegas and their complex dynamic. Enrique, the second-in-command of the Lozano Cartel, is a man who usually takes what he wants. By kidnapping Lourdes to save her from a forced marriage—stemming from a misinterpretation of protection and his feelings—he creates an immediate power imbalance, presenting himself as a figure who, despite good intentions, initially mirrors the very control Lourdes seeks to escape. Lourdes Villegas, a cartel princess who yearns for peace and artistic freedom, shows quiet strength. After being used as a pawn in her father's political games, she responds to Enrique's forceful actions with fierce resistance. At first, she sees him as just another ruthless capo trying to dictate her life, swapping one form of captivity for another. This initial conflict paves the way for a relationship built not on quick agreement but on a hard-earned, deep understanding. The author excels at portraying the growth of their bond. Now, Enrique feels compelled to prove to Lourdes that he is not just another monster in her life, so he begins demonstrating genuine care and respect that go beyond traditional cartel power tactics. Meanwhile, Lourdes struggles with the contradiction of her situation. She feels a strong physical and emotional connection to her captor while planning her escape. The story skillfully explores this moral gray area, portraying their passion not as simple surrender but as a complex mix of attraction, vulnerability, and the gradual fading of deep-seated distrust. The external pressures of political alliances and cartel violence create constant challenges for their growing romance and the risks of their forbidden love. The author crafts a narrative that portrays a deep, though unusual, emotional bond where the "corruption" is not merely one-sided but a mutual transformation, challenging both characters to rethink love and freedom amid a violent world, offering an engaging exploration of love that arises from hardship.

With intense character development, high stakes, and a love story born from the ashes and darkness, Corrupting His Wife is an enthralling, captivating, gritty, well-written, and character-driven novel.

[Nanasbookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

Corrupting His Wife by Amber Daulton is the third installment in the Lozano Cartel series, and it delivers a gripping blend of romance, danger, and emotional intensity.

Lourdes Villegas was once the princess of the Villegas cartel. Her father had already married her off once to Jacobo Lozano, and after his death, she spent two years living back at home. Now, her father is preparing to marry her off yet again. Enrique, however, has other plans. He fell for Lourdes the very first time he saw her. He lost her once, but this time he is determined to save her and show her what real love looks like.

A week before her wedding, Enrique kidnaps Lourdes to keep her from a future she never chose. Instead of gratitude, she meets him with resistance. Slowly, he convinces her to give him a chance, but freedom comes at a cost. With both cartels searching for them, the question remains: can they negotiate peace and still hold on to their forbidden romance?

Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. The story leans heavily into the romance between the two main characters, focusing on their emotional connection and the obstacles they face together. There are a few potentially triggering scenes, as themes of abuse are present.

I loved how naturally Lourdes and Enrique connected, and how respectfully she was treated by the Lozano family. My favorite moment was watching Lourdes finally confront her fears, a powerful and emotional turning point in the story.

If you enjoy dark cartel romance filled with passion, danger, and redemption, this book might be the one for you.

[Marianne Plunkert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book of Amber Daulton’s Lozano cartel series. Having read the first two, I was eager to read this most recent addition. Daulton’s depiction of cartel life and its members seems amazingly realistic. As in the earlier two books, there is a strong female protagonist who will not go along quietly with the cartel’s activities. In this case, Lourdes, while not unhappy to have been abducted and spared being married to yet another ruthless cartel member who views women as chattel, is not content to sit on the sidelines. She demands to be informed of her abductor Enrique’s activities. Enrique, for his part, wants to protect her from viewing the underbelly of his network and from the vengeful actions of the man who would have been her groom. Corrupting His Wife is another action-packed page turner from this author. It does contain rough language and graphic sex scenes, but that is to be expected in a book of this nature. However, if either is a trigger for you, I suggest you pass this one up.