Devil's Gambit: A Dark Mafia Romance

by Jade Rowe

My abusive husband lost me in a poker game.
Now I belong to the most dangerous man in New York.
And he only has one

Give him two weeks.

Two weeks under the constant watch of his whisky-colored eyes.
Two weeks next to his perfect, tattoo-covered body. In his billion-dollar bed.

Two weeks to be treated like a queen. And dominated like his toy.

Two weeks. That’s all Dante Caruso demands. Then I can make my decision.
Leave this dark life behind and never look back. Or become his forever.

But there’s one secret he doesn’t mention. Something I could never have predicted.

He’d burn the world down to make me stay.
And I’ll yearn to melt in the fire.


Devil’s Gambit is a standalone, dual pov dark mafia romance featuring a possessive, ‘touch her & I’ll unalive you’ type anti-hero and a feisty, smart heroine. No OW drama, no cliffhanger, and a hard-won HEA.

Genres: Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Contemporary, Erotica

382 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2025

Reviews

[Sorcha Reagh]

DNF at 41%

[Kaylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Athena, the goddess of books · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story starts with Bella trapped in a nightmare marriage to Salvatore Calabrese—the infamous Butcher of Brooklyn. For two years, she’s been his prisoner, enduring bruises, isolation, and humiliation after her father sold her to cover gambling debts. Bella dreams of escape, but every attempt is crushed. The prologue makes it brutally clear that her choices are limited: die slowly under Sal… or risk running and die quickly.

Enter Dante Caruso—the Devil of New York. When Sal shows up to Dante’s poker game desperate and drunk, he goes all in with his last "asset": Bella. In a chilling moment, he wagers his own wife. Dante wins with a straight flush, and Bella is transferred like property into his world.

What follows is less about instant romance and more about survival, trust, and power. Dante is ruthless, but unlike Sal, he draws firm lines—he never forces women, and he makes it clear that Bella will only come to his bed if she chooses to. He gives her something shocking after years of abuse: a lock on her door, a library, and the chance to reclaim pieces of her old life. Slowly, Bella starts to rediscover who she was before Sal destroyed her—a law student with ambition and fire.

The tension between them simmers throughout. Bella is rightfully suspicious—after all, she’s just been gambled away—but Dante protects her fiercely, even killing one of his men for making a crude remark about her. Where Sal broke her down, Dante is a different kind of dangerous: controlling, but offering her freedom within his cage.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 to 4 star read. Dante and Isabella's story was interesting to read.

Isabella is given to Salvatore to pay off her father's gambling debts and he marries her. For two years she is abused by Sal. She's miserable and wants out of her cage. Sal is a gambler as well and is losing money at a fast rate. He brings her to a poker game and when out of money and no credit left he gambles her to Dante. Dante is the Don of his territory and even though he doesn't like it, he sees the abuse Isabella has suffered and agrees to the stakes of the game in hopes of maybe saving her. He wins. Sal is beyond mad and wants war.

This story is not all on how Dante and Isabella find love, it's a small part of the story. For most of this story it's a battle of lies/betrayal, strength, and smarts to see which empire will stand at the end; all with the FBI breathing down their necks. There is a little bit of spice, a lot of drama, a lot of twists and turns. You'll question who is telling the truth and if you can trust anyone at all in this story.

Isabella was the most interesting part in this. She seems so broken at the start but so strong by the end. You'll question her and you should. Dante is ruthless and his brother Marco is a playboy who couldn't run a thing (he's kinda funny actually).
I do wish there were more romance to this, and didn't find it to be dark. I like a dark mafia romance but this didn't hit that for me.

[Dee]

You might want to make sure to double check that you are buckled up, dangerous men, alpha’s personified, possessive, oh, gorgeous, brooding all the makings of a story consisting with three D’s (dark, delicious, and dirty) 😊. There will be suspense, betrayal, death, darkness, secrets reveled, violence, hope, forgiveness, and maybe even love along the way. Bella is in a situation trapped in an abusive marriage, but her life is about to change when her husband decides to bet on her in a game and loses not giving her a choice, just giving her away but maybe it is her chance at freedom. Dante sexy as all get out mafia boss dangerous, ruthless on a good day, deadly every day isn’t a man you want on your radar he sets his sights on Bella knowing what she is living through he gives her a way out two weeks with him being treated as the queen she is, and then she choose to leave or stay but either way she will always have his protection but what will she choose, will he be upfront with her letting her know she will have his protection either way or will he let her sweat just a little, will her husband get what he deserves, will she choose to stay or go, and where will it lead to peace maybe happiness finally?

[Kerri Wells Goetzman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had so much potential. The premise had me itching to read this...a woman escaping her abusive husband only to be “won” by a powerful, dangerous man. I loved that the heroine was strong despite her past trauma, and the hero had that possessive, protective edge.

The execution didn’t live up to the promise. The plot felt scattered and full of holes. Characters switched loyalties or roles without clear explanation, and I often had trouble keeping track of who was who. The blurb also doesn’t line up with the actual story...the whole “two weeks” concept mentioned in the description never actually appears in the book.

While the story had moments I genuinely liked, the lack of cohesion and consistency made it hard to stay invested. With tighter plotting, this could have been a fantastic romance.

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

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

[Kamiye · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/3.5

Did I pick up this book because I saw an ad on Facebook? Yes, I did. Did I inhale it? Yes, I did too.

It was entertaining. I don't read much Mafia Romance, but when I do, I'm a bit like Domenico (a character from the book...read it, you will know), and I like the drama, the blood, the tears, the love.

There were a few things I didn't really like. Sofia's character, for one. I like the idea, but the writing felt a bit off. Some parts of the story at times. Other than that, it did the job. It reads well. If you are into Mafia Romance, read it.

Pick it up for:
- Mafia Romance / Dark Romance
- Touch her and die
- I will burn the world for her
- HEA

As of December 2025, I got this one on KU.

[Sonia P. - TBR Reading With My Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got into books with the mindset that 1. anyone that writes and publishes books are far more courageous than I am and 2. I can't write worth anything except a grocery list.

was this my favourite dark mafia romance book, no, BUT it also wasn't the worst. This story started off as a typical she's the victim in a dark world and took a twist, which I appreciated and kept me reading.

There were some twists and some shockers I did not see coming, which was a nice change to the usual.

4 stars simply because it kept me entertained to the very end, I appreciated and enjoyed the story arc, and honestly, anyone willing to burn the world down for me is a winner 😉

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS for Devil’s Gambit by Jade Rowe

This is a dark mafia romance and I loved the main characters Isabella and Dante. Won in a card game to pay off her husband’s debt Isabella becomes a pawn or so she thinks … Dante is Don of their territory … he doesn’t like the situation but sees that Isabella needs his help.

Lies , betrayal and ultimately war there is a lot going on in this story ! I thought this was a good read and would check out more of this author’s work.

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

[Patricia Charlton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book

I enjoyed this book and I loved Dante & Bella together, they were perfect in their revenge but I didn’t like that Domineco wasn’t taken care of by them.
Great back story with everything but I must say there are a few triggers but it is a mafia book so expect blood and murder and psychopaths.
Marco was just the right side of perfect and I loved his sense of humour, he brought the lightness with his humour.
Sal was a disgusting man and needed to be taken care of but I needed Domineco taken care of after what he does with Paulie.
Defo a good read.

[Thee_reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story follows Bella, who is trapped in an abusive marriage and unaware of the life-changing situation she's in. Her husband plays a cruel game with her life until she meets Dante, who becomes her protector through the ups and downs. Their journey highlights Bella's struggle for freedom and self-discovery, showing the powerful connections that can form even in tough times.

Total HEA
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Unrulyreadr Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one I thought was going to be like a Cinderella type story. She is abused and the prince comes in and saves her. Which yeah, but I feel it was more of a " sure , come on over ...we aren't as bad. " There was a good story and plot. I had a few times where I wanted to DNF but I kept going. Over all it was a good read, little spice and a lot of drama.

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

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bellas husband bet and lost her on a game of poker to Dante a mafia boss, who set hia sights on her, he gives her a deal 2 weeks to submit to hin be treated like a queen and then she can choose to leave or stay but Dante is playing for keeps. Well written engaging steamy desires drama action and more

[A Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devil's Gambit: A Dark Mafia Romance is a spicy, intense book. The story line was great, interesting and a page turner. The characters were great as well. They were interesting and likable. This is an enjoyable book to read.

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

[Michele Woodward · Rating 4 out of 5]

great Revenge, love. a monster

Bella abused by her husband gets thrown down as chips in a poker game winner gets her or the casino. The owner Dante hesitant to take the bet but does it amyway. This is a fast paced mafia, I’ll burn the world down for her love story. Well written and the character growth in 300 pages is fulfilling. Loved Bella and Dante’s story.

[sheryl blaszczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a story

Wow Wow Wow What a story. My nerves are shot. I absolutely loved this story. This writer brought everything to life. It’s as if you were right there. It was phenomenal right up to the end

[Jennifer Hatfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

awesome

This was an awesome book. Different debts, different payments and a lot of death. But if you’re reading a book with this title and description, I think you probably expect those things to happen

[Mandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious.

I love the character development of the MMC and the FMC. She goes from being quiet and taking everyone's BS to a BOSS !!!! He shows her what it means to be protected by someone who wants her to "fly ".

If you like dark romance this one should be on your TBR.

[Kelly Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its takes a minute for Bella to realize Dante is saving her from Sal. Sal is a real piece of work and he got what he deserved. Dante was OTT the top with her! Loved this one!

[Miki · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Charlotte Søgaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has more twist and turns than amusement park rollercoaster.

[Franqui · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story line but towards the end a lot was happening all at once

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mafia romance

Great read so many twists and turns. Playing one another to get what was needed in the end.First read by this author not my last.

[Danielle Vaughan · Rating 4 out of 5]

😳

This book gave me anxiety. I didn’t know what or who to believe. So much deceit, which was realistic but love prevailed

[Melissa G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every word

This story does not disappoint at all. I felt everything that Bella felt. That is when you know it is good writing.

[Mary Haskins · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not get emotionally involved with this book I did not feel like anything was real the plot was weak and did not draw me in.