Daughters of Sin: Forbidden Love & Secrets

by V. Dalmatina

Why should you pick up another sapphic historical romance? Because this one transports you to a forgotten Dalmatian islet, where a lavish palace is filled with silk, secrets, and the scent of the Far East—where Beauty and the Beast constantly swap roles. At its core, the story revolves around a mysterious old book, a reclusive Dubrovnik merchant obsessed with exquisite Indian, Chinese, and Japanese goods, and a countess dressed in Western finery.
"Daughters of Sin" is undeniably steamy, but it starts with slow-burning uncertainty, making each page a challenge.
Spoilers ahead.
Can a lonely trader, dressed like an emperor, warm the heart of a noblewoman who strictly follows etiquette? Will love overcome old cultural barriers? Can curiosity break down prejudice? How do two women—one woven from Eastern silk and the other forged in Western steel—find common ground on an island that keeps its secrets?
Expect laughter, tears, a hard-earned happy ending, and an epic love story.

193 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2025

About the author

V. Dalmatina writes Holy Love — sapphic romances where love is sacred, healing, and deeply earned.

Her stories span multiple worlds: tender contemporary romances set in sun-drenched Dalmatia, dark portal romantasy, vampire and werewolf tales, and historical romances. All are united by emotionally mature women, profound vulnerability, honest intimacy, and soul-deep connection. Whether across lifetimes through reincarnation and karmic bonds, or in this one fragile life, her heroines choose each other with courage after facing their scars. There is no toxicity for the sake of drama — only genuine HEAs, because wounded souls deserve real love and soft landings.

For thirteen years, she worked as an officer on luxury mega-yachts, circumnavigating the globe. Today she lives with her wife on a quiet Dalmatian island in Croatia, surrounded by the sea and stone that raised her. English is not her first language, and she lives with dyslexia and dysgraphia, yet she writes every story from lived emotional truth. Her interconnected universes — Heart, Afterbite, Crimson Bloom Chronicles, and others — are built slowly, honestly, and with care.

This is her sanctuary. She invites you to step inside.

#HolyLove #SapphicRomance #HealingRomance #KarmicLove

Reviews

[Ore Kovač]

After I read Lightning in her Palm by V. Dalmatina, my sister, who loves reading "serious books" as if dark sapphic romances weren't serious, recommended Daughters of Sin to me. I admit I'm not a fan of historical romances because they're always boxed in and have to adhere to certain norms. Then I realized that Daughters of Sin skillfully bypasses all those barriers with a very, very, very quirky story that revolves around a fairly "illustrative and educational" book. It seems the author can write across genres in her own unique, direct, no-nonsense way, which suits me perfectly since I’m a hot-blooded Mediterranean woman through and through. Next in line is the second book of the Crimson Bloom Series. P.S.: This is my second review on the GR, and it seems I’ll start to enjoy writing reviews. Thank you, Iva, for the recommendation.

[Vuk]

I grabbed Daughters of Sin: Forbidden Love & Family Secrets on a whim, drawn by its intriguing cover and the promise of a passionate, mysterious story set in the past. I was genuinely impressed, particularly by the richly detailed world and the multi-dimensional heroines, who stand out from the usual black-and-white characters seen in many modern sapphic romance books. I highly recommend it.

[Daniela Terek]

I would like to see this book in Croatian because it's written by a Dalmatian author. Steamy! I love it, and would definitely recommend it. :D

[Morana]

This is the first book I read by this author as an ARC, and OMG, I loved it. Thank you.