The Celtic Resolution

New York Criminal Empire #4

by Ava Gray

I was born to serve the Irish empire.
Steel in my spine. Blood on my hands.
I don’t break. I don’t bend.

But the empire is rotting.
Shipments vanish. Allies fall silent.
And every trail leads me straight into Italian territory.

That’s when I meet him—
a masked stranger at their decadent ball.
One night. One sin. One fire I should have buried.

But fate isn’t merciful.
Because when I see him again,
he isn’t just my enemy—
he’s Bruno Del Prete.
The disgraced Italian heir.
Ruthless. Arrogant. Addictive.

The one man who makes me burn when I should hate him.

We fight side by side.
We bleed for the same cause.
And somewhere between survival and betrayal,
I start to crave him more than power itself.

But trust is a luxury I can’t afford.
And when he hands me to the wolves,
when his lies cut deeper than any blade,
I swear I’ll never forgive him.

Yet when the truth shatters everything—
when my empire wants me dead,
and his touch is the only thing keeping me alive—
I learn the cruelest secret of

The man who ruined me is also the father of my child.

Author’s This dark and forbidden mafia romance features a morally torn detective, a dangerous mafia heir, serial killer suspense, enemies-to-lovers fire, forced proximity, kidnapping, and a ruthless Don who wants her erased. Sinful, suspenseful, and deliciously twisted. Not for the faint of heart.

Genres: Mafia Romance

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 5, 2025

Reviews

[Donna Nalbandian Woerner Homschek · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Could not put this book down. A rollercoaster of emotions highs, lows, love and hate. An edge of your seat read waiting to see what will happen next and to whom!.

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

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Celtic Resolution is book four in A New York Criminal Empire Series. This is Bruno and Saoirse story which is told from a dual point of view. Captivating. Dangerous. Dark. Compelling. Twisted. Dirty. Sinful. A mind-blowing rollercoaster ride filled with high-octane adventures, non-stop twists and turns, suspense, surprises, mystery and heart-stirring emotions. An unputdownable addictive read. Hang on to your seat and prepare yourself for this tantalizing rollercoaster ride of enemies-to-lovers romance, hate-to-love vibes story is tension, drama, threats and secrecy.
OMG! This story is wonderfully written with characters that are fierce, resilient, shrewd, resilient, brave, protective, passionate and powerful. The twists is eye-popping. Saoirse is a strong woman who doesn't follow blindly. A sexy, sizzling, emotion-filled delight that completely blew me away. A kickass approach to the story, displaying an arresting storyline and a gripping plot jetting this baby skyward.
Bruno Del Prete is the disgraced Italian heir of the Del Prete crime family. He was away in prison but now he's out and he seek redemption from his father. He overheard that his dad was involved in the skin trade and doesn't believe it and wants to find out who's actually doing it but using the Del Prete name. He went to a masquerade ball and this is where he run into the beautiful and deadly Saoirse Gifford the Irish underboss of his family's enemy. The two shared a night of a scorching hot passionate encounter in a broom closet without exchanging any numbers or names. One night. One sin. One fire she should have buried. But fate isn’t merciful. Because when she see him again,
he isn’t just my enemy, he’s Bruno Del Prete.
The disgraced Italian heir. Ruthless. Arrogant. Addictive.
And they later went from rivals to working together on a shared cost that's affecting both their organization about human trafficking and lost shipments. It was a story of enemies-to-lovers, hate-to-love, betrayals, heartbreak, deep dark secrets, consensual intense rough sex, dirty talking, revelations, kidnapping, captivity, rivalry, enemies, attempted murder, bloodshed, heat, danger, violence, torture, madness, darkness, anger, auction/sold, bought/own, survival, loss, resilience, physical abuse, cruelty, hurt and pain, trauma, sadness, murder, family, alliance and more.
A possessive alpha male romance, he-falls-first romance, touch-her-and-die romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense story, women's crime fiction story, organize crime story, morally-grey antihero romance, forbidden romance, off-limits romance, dark mafia romance, billionaires & millionaires romance, crime thriller story, serial killer suspense, forced proximity story with power and control, obsession, possessiveness, angst, obsession, a morally torn detective, a dangerous mafia heir and more.

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

[De_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Celtic Resolution.
"So lonely inside, so busy out there.
And all you wanted was somebody who cares." *


Finally! A mafia novel with an MFC who can hold her own. I get really tired of the simpy, whiny women of the mafia genre romances, which is why I have moved on to the darker themed tropes. This is by far not that, but it did keep me reading through to the end. This one I did pick up as it came through my email recommended as I'd read another of Ava Gray's.
Now, be warned there are some unbelievable Lara Croft/Mortal Combat scenes that will probably have your eyes rolling. Stay focused and try to move past those, after all, Saoirse is the heroine of this mafia clan.
And then there is the MMC Bruno. Also, a highly skilled mafioso, until she steps into his sights. Some of his actions will elicit groans and a few derogatory comments aimed at his character.
Let me just say one aggravation right out of the gate. They're grown. No virginity here. One would think if she happened to. come .across him, she'd at least make sure he's not bareback on the race to the finish line. Of course, he has responsibility as well, but sometimes 2 heads do not think better than the female 1 ! To further comment, spice does not define a novel, nor do I base reviews on it. It's fiction, y'all. Oftentimes skipped over, because there are only so many ways to describe moist, heat, core, and babygirl, so often repeated book by book, author to author.
They work, as a couple, personal or workwise. Even as he, for me, turns out to be simpier than she!
I'm liking this series as well, and may pick up another few of hers from my TBR.
Keep up the decent work, Ava. For what it's worth, you're moving up into my top 8!!



*All You Wanted,
Michelle Branch.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 4th story in The Celtic Resolution Series that takes place when the Del Prete heir returns looking to get into the good graces of his father while attending a masquerade party. Bruno fails getting his acknowledgment and unknowingly has an amazing moment with a beautiful woman, Saoirse from the enemy of the Irish Clan. When the truth comes out about her mysterious masked man Saoirse needs to make a decision to work with Bruno or remove him, keeping her secret. Bruno wants to find out the truth of the rumors about his family dealing in the skin trade. Saoirse wants to undercover the missing shipments and products and they decide to work together. Saoirse disregards her rules protecting herself and is at a loss when the bottom falls out and Bruno does the unthinkable, betraying her trust and their fragile relationship. Things become shaky between the Italian/Irish truce and Saoirse spirals until her twin pulls her into work only for them to be taken, tortured, her brother being killed and she’s auctioned to the highest bidder. These two are forbidden lovers who find themselves on an intimate and intense journey that starts out steamy to destruction to learning about redemption in an unlikely world of those who are evil and those trying to right the wrongs! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Catherine Budd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saoirse meets Bruno at a masquerade where they have an encounter in a broom closet. They don't exchange names.
She later encounters Bruno again while she is investigating missing shipment. They are intimate again, while they are investigating the shipments, and happen upon a human trafficking ring. They trap one of the perpetrators who tells them the Irish and the Italians along with a third party are responsible.
Bruno tells his father who retaliates by cutting ties with the Irish.
Bruno soon finds out his father is part of the ring, ensnaring him as well.
He is trying to contact Saoirse, but she accidently shoots him.
Everything goes downhill from there with her twin's death and her capture and auction by the trafficking ring.
Bruno has other ideas while playing along with his father and keeps Saoirse alive.
There is a spectacular confrontation between Bruno and his father, and ultimately a HEA ending but Saoirse and Bruno both are injured.
This story has a complex plot with great characters, plenty of betrayal, suspense and attraction between Saoirse and Bruno.
You won't want to put this one down.

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

[Nathalie DeSousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not for the faint of heart. It is gritty, twisty, action packed, passion fueled, and always walking along the line of good and evil.

Saoirse and Bruno meet at a masquerade and end in a passionate encounter, They meet later on as they are both investigating business, but their passion consumes even when they are working on opposites sides. The grit an violence in this book will keep you trying to guess who is behind it and when tragedy strikes, and Bruno is the cause of it, ther story will show you the maturity of their characters

This is a great plot that weaves passion, violence, maturity, darkness and love in a yummy read!.

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

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story grabbed me from the first page and the action kept coming. Bruno and Saoirse first meet and have an intimate encounter in a closet. They are both enamored but working on opposite sides. They are investigating shipments and happen upon a trafficking ring that is run from both sides, and they are caught in the middle. When she is caught and her twin is killed a lot of questions are unanswered until they are brought together again and truths come out. Will Bruno and Saoirse get their chance to explore their relationship and find happiness.

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

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Irish Underboss is working with the Irish disgraced Heir to stop the human trafficking that involves the Irish, Italians, and Triads. Then a pregnancy that shouldn't have happened during a love affair that was right for them but wrong for so many other reasons. There are deaths, lots of torturing to do for information needed with not enough time.
There's drama, love to hate, hate to love, violence of all kinds from all sides and then families that come together when needed the most.
This was one of my most favorite books, kept me up because I had to know what happens on the next page it was that good.
Love wins again!

[judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very action packed story. I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it because I wanted to know what happened next. It is a very interesting love story between Saoirse and Bruno.The energy and sexual tension between them is off the charts. The author dis an amazing job with all the characters and the storyline. It kept me guessing and engaged the whole book. The ending was perfect and could be open ended for another book.

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

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thisbis book 4 of A New York Criminal Empire series and it is FANtastic! It has been described as 'sinful, suspenseful, and deliciously twisted. Not for the faint of heart.' And that is a perfect description.

The characters were so compelling, complex and perfectly twisted. Hawt together. The plot was intriguing, exciting, action packed and fast paced. World building was excellent and expertly drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

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

[Danee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Bruno and Saoirse. She has literally bled and lived to protect her family, but despite everything, the empire is slowly collapsing. Bruno is her enemy, and not only that, but also from the mafia and a disgraced heir. He does something despicable, and she is at the mercy of his enemies, not only her but also their child. A story with plenty of action, suspense, betrayal, many twists and turns, passion, and so much more.






I received an Advance Reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saoirse and Bruno have clandestine meeting in a broom closet, no names are exchanged. The pair meet up again when she is investigating a missing shipment, and hook up again. They had stumbled on a sex trafficking ring, which involved Bruno's father.

The pair have a lot of bumps in the road on the way to happily ever after, they are on roller coaster of emotions, who can they trust? this is a steamy read with plenty of action.

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

[L K · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot was interesting and the FMC was great. I just wish the author didn't feel the need to make all the men dufuses so she looked like the only capable person in the story. The MMC sort of had a few understandable excuses for his struggles to make smart choices. But soft/stupid men are not my thing and unfortunately every male character in the story came across that way. Rocky especially made one monumental mistake no Mafia boss would ever make and it made him look untrained and not good in a fight.

[Kazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I found the storyline gripping and I was hooked from the start. The characters were the total opposite, Saoirse is a really strong character who doesn't take any bs. When she meets Bruno for the first time, it becomes very steamy and it is something they both can't forget. The storyline has so many twists and throws up surprises you just don't see coming. It is such a great book and I highly recommend it.

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

[Thea Kubicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Celtic Resolution

Bruno and Soirise

Bruno, fresh out of prison, is very naive and wants nothing but to please and be recognized by his father. Soirise is Cormac's sister and Underboss of the Irish mob and is investigating missing drug and weapon shipments. The two meet and agree to help one another. Another page-turner featuring mystery, cruelty, family strength and also betrayal.

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

[lf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two sides making a whole

The Celtic Resolution is the fourth book in the A New York Criminal Empire Series. The story is a decadent romp which had me wondering just what was going to happen next. The story is about Saoirse and Bruno. These two are enemies but yet end up as something a whole lot more intimate pretty quickly. With danger, family, secrets, lies, deceit, mystery, surprises and a lot of sizzling hot passion you have a book that captures your imagination.

[Linda Fairburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this is one story that will stay on your mind for quite a while and keep you on your seat to the very end.
Mafia romances are mostly violent and this us no exception but add to that there is a human trafficking in it solve and stop.
Finding out who is responsible will not be easy when he has partnered with the Triads.
All I can say this is one story not to be missed.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saoirse has lived and bled and ended their enemies for her family, but still the empire is crumbling and when she comes across Bruno, disgraced mafia heir and her enemy, and when he hands her to the wolves and shatters everything between them she discovers shes not alone in the betrayal their child is too. Well written engaging steamy desires drama action twists and more

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great addition to this series. I couldn’t put this book down. What a fantastic mafia romance that keeps you on the edge of your seat just waiting to see what happens next to Saoirse and Bruno. Be ready for a rollercoaster ride with lots of twists and turns.

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

[Amy Hutchins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saoirse is a freaking bada**. I couldn't put this book down. I was on an emotional roller coaster the whole time. You can't help but root for the love between Saoirse and Bruno, even with the choices he makes that have detrimental consequences. It does end with HEA, and I highly recommend this book.

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

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just gets better and better. It is jam packed with suspense and passion. I can’t tell you how many times I cried. I was a complete sobbing mess from chapters 34-37. So have your tissues handy. This one will move you. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by booksprout.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

kinda heavy but good

This book is heavy. Make sure you read trigger warnings: human trafficking, violence, murder, and abuse.

This was a really good book. I actually enjoyed the complexities. The jump from current, to back in time, then to current again was done well. I binged this in a sitting. Looking forward to another in the series

[Narelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saoirse and Bruno are the underbosses for their respective empires (hers Irish, his Italian) when they meet at a masked ball. Their romance isn't straightforward and easy though, with plenty of drama, twists and more in their way. Another fab and dangerous read from Ava.

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

[L KQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masked Encounter

Saoirse's encounter with a masked man was hot and steamy, leading her toward a delicate balance between two families. This story was intense, exciting and suspenseful. I did not want to put it down as the build up and twists kept me on the edge of my seat. What a fantastic story!.

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

[Diana Lepine · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s nothing like a kick butt woman assassin and a good looking teddy bear of a man forming a deep relationship. The action in the novel was first rate and plot gave me pause. How could she ever forgive him for killing her twin? Nothing is simple, but the story is resolved truthfully and authentically. Great story!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Fantastic story .After getting out of jail he meets saoirse and both find their uncovering more then they can handle . your going to love this book

[Stacy Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best mafia romances I have read. This book has it all and it keeps the reader engaged and on the edge of their seat to the very end. A must read.

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

[Gaynor Jones]

Forgiveness

Two people from different cultures but in the same type of family business. One of danger, lies, betrayal, manipulation, violence, lust, and more. Their journey is intense and strewn with danger. But in the end, will love prevail?

[Brandy Hollis-Zeigler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fight for your life

This story is full of all things that go bump in the night. A cryptic pregnancy, a mascaraed ball, fighting, human trafficking, torture, and of 2 people that work together to do the right thing.

[Karen Lovvorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

mix of bad mafia men and the good women who take them by storm.

There’s also a punch or three meted out when needed. Plot twists abound. Sometimes, you never see an enemy coming for you especially when it’s family.