Poisoned Heart: MM Dark Mafia Romcom

by K.A. Merikan

It was supposed to be blackmail. Now we’re choosing the wedding cake.I’m Corvus Van der Horn, and as my family’s poisoner and torturer, I’m a master of control, cruelty, and patience. My prisoners are faceless pawns who ought to fear me.

Until Dalton.

He should be forgettable—a washed-up fighter and gambler with more debt than sense. Then I saw his phone. Turns out half the city’s men would sell their souls to let him wreck them. Now I can’t stop asking why.

So we strike a his freedom, in exchange for the kind of night I could never risk with anyone else. A chance to give up control. Just once.

Now he’s under my skin like a disease. And saving him requires a cover story so outrageous it might actually work—an engagement. Me. Engaged. To a man who can’t bluff to save his life and thinks planning ahead means ordering two beers instead of one.

Our deal was supposed to be a secret. A mistake I’d bury.
Instead, I’m drowning in wedding chaos and my own desire.

But when I realize someone is hunting my husband-to-be, they wake up the worst part of me. Because no one—no one—messes with what’s mine.

⚠⚠⚠⚠⚠⚠⚠⚠⚠⚠

“Poisoned Heart” is a standalone M/M Dark Mafia Romcom where a ruthless mafioso loses control to the one man he should have never touched. Desire, obsession, and a trainwreck of wedding preparations collide in a story about love that feels like the sweetest poison.

Violence, strong language, aphrodisiac, blackmail

Genres: M M Romance, Dark Romance, Dark, LGBT, Mafia Romance, Forced Proximity, Romance

361 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 23, 2026

About the author

(Goodreads profile run by Kat)

K. A. Merikan is a duo of queer writers who don’t believe in following the well-trodden path. In their books you can dip your toe into dangerous romance with mafiosi, outlaw bikers and bad boys, all from the safety of your sofa. They love the weird and wonderful, stepping out of the box, and bending stereotypes both in life and in fiction. Their stories don’t shy away from exploring the darker side of M/M romance, and feature a variety of anti-heroes, rebels, misfits, and underdogs who go against the grain.
Be prepared for shocking twists, dark humor, raw emotions, and sizzling hot scenes.

K.A. Merikan also writes steamy M/M romcoms as Devon Doe.

e-mail: kamerikan@gmail.com

More information about ongoing projects, works in progress and publishing at:
K.A. Merikan’s author page: http://kamerikan.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kamerikan

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this installment so much more than the last one. Dalton is such a sweet heart.

RTC

[Julia (bookish.jka) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed several MM romance books by K.A. Merikan and the blurb for this one totally sucked me in - I am definitely in my dark MM mafia romance era! 😅 Poisoned Heart is book 1 in the author's Twisted Mafia Vows series and this is Corvus and Dalton's story.

The only problem for me was that this book wasn't really a dark MM mafia romance, even though Corvus is painted as a 'ruthless mafioso' and there are some mafia-type action scenes, it still all feels pretty light-hearted and more about the MM romance than the dark mafia themes.

Now don't get me wrong, the spice was spicing, Dalton was a loveable golden retriever and it was a fun, smutty, quick read - just don't expect that dark mafia vibe.

3.5 stars

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus]]

oh the blurb sounds SO good!! i can't wait 🥹🥹

[Cornflakes]

Buckle up! This is gonna be a very long review WITH SPOILERS as i got a lot to say about this book...

FIRST. Corvus and Dalton are a match made in heaven. Their banter is top-tier, and their sexual chemistry is absolutely FIRE.
If you are looking for a book that delivers on dirty talk, power imbalances IN BED, a greedy bottom and a big top, this hits the mark perfectly.
However, while their sex scenes were really hot, the rest of the plot felt like a big missed opportunity as it had so much potential.

NOW, I'd say more about the book if I could find some plot at all.
Out of the two MCs, I expected a lot from Corvus' character the most, as he had all the potential in the world. In the first chapters, Dalton described him as this cold-hearted monster known to kill his enemies without a second glance, however this is shown in the book just ONCE, in a full-length book about a mafia member.
Why point out he's a poison master and the best torturer of the family if we didn't see him in action, or him in his lab in his nature, doing his things.
Moreover, Corvus is from a mafia family but no protection or guards are around him, even a second hand would have been sufficient...? Then, does it mean they don't really have enemies? In that case, why have the Christmas hunting?

The timeline in this book is odd. We spend ten chapters covering just three days, only to skip two weeks of Corvus' character development, like how he adjusted to living with another man.
He lived his whole life in the closet and he frequently expressed his feelings about being uncomfortable with other people knowing his secret about being gay, so why did his actions feel totally out of character??
I can't stop thinking about the promise he made to his father, which was in the book just to make Corvus a more complicated character than he is, but, in fact, we didn't need this particular aspect at all.
This book has many plot holes, the chapters were more about them fucking than getting to know their personalities or background.

The lack of basic common sense in this "mafia" world was baffling. When a literal hit is attempted on Dalton’s life, the "solution" was apparently just to have sex and forget it ever happened. There were no bodyguards, no heightened security around him, even when someone was out there trying to kill him. They just dismissed a murder attempt and went back to living a "perfect life".
At the beginning of the book... Corvus KNEW someone was trying to frame Dalton or he wouldn't have voiced this issue to us, so why didn't he dig deeper?
Moreover, Corvus is supposedly a high-ranking asset and a torture expert, yet he lets a total stranger sleep in his bed after two days without a single background check, just because he felt guilty?! A heartless torturer felt guilty... yeah sure.

Then there’s Simon—a character thrown in just to stir the pot but never properly developed. He should have been the first suspect the moment Dalton was accused of betrayal after the murder attempt. Now, not making him the guilty party could have been a great twist, but without a real investigation or build-up, I wasn't expecting anything more than him being exactly the culprit of all of it.
When Corvus was trying to understand why someone would try to kill Dalton, after accusing him of betraying him, Simon should have been the first suspect! For all the good reputation, Corvus, you really lacked common and logical sense.

And to top it all, all these problems happended IN THE LAST TWO CHAPTERS. We spent 31 chapters reading about their happy life, then all the actions hit in the end of the book and it's not even detailed enough, it felt rushed.

TO SUM UP, Corvus characters had so many layers that could have been explored more, and his actions made more sense. He's jealous of his fiancée and turns into a wolf when some guys just breats in Dalton's direction, but when his life is in danger, he (Corvus) lives his life like everything is okay and rainbows fly out of his ass.
I think someone forgot he's a mafia member or, really, a very bad person, but whatever i guess.

If you guys want to read a book with no plot but just sexy scenes, then this is the perfect book.
Corvus is part of the mafia and instead of a complex mafia strategist, he felt like a regular guy with daddy issues.

The characters I loved most are Aspen and Daphne.
I won't even start about Daphne, or I'll never end this review <3

I don't really wanna rate the book as i don't want to ruin the ratings before the book is even out, that's the only thing i can do!

[Nancy Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
POISONED HEART (TWISTED MAFIA VOWS 1)
RELEASE: 23.01.2026

RECENSIONE:
Ho atteso questo libro sin dal primo momento in cui Corvus ci é stato presentato in Christmas Mafia Prince e infatti appena é stato possibile richiedere la copia ARC mi ci sono fiondata.
Le storie di K.A. Merikan sono molto particolari e non per tutti. Nonostante il genere dark Romance non sia tra i miei preferiti (Io sono una drogata di college Au dolcine) le Merikan sono tra i pochi autori che leggo sempre volentieri.
POISONED HEART non mi ha deluso per niente (a parte un personaggio di cui vi parlerò tra pochissimo). Il secondo personaggio principale di questo romanzo é Dalton, un uomo che ha perso più di un milione al gioco e per questo é stato punito dalla famiglia Van der Horn... in che modo? Come uno dei tanti prigionieri che saranno le prede della caccia di Natale (che abbiamo visto in Christmas Mafia Prince). Questa famiglia é parecchio strana e ha gusti strani e idee strane ma proprio perché sono dei pazzi, alla fine gli si perdona tutto.
Corvus sceglie Dalton come uomo per la sua prima volta (tanto Dalton sta per morire, nessuno scoprirà mai che Corvus é gay) dopo aver sbirciato i suoi messaggi sulla chat di Grindr e aver visto quanto é dotato.
Nonostante la loro prima e unica volta doveva essere solo uno sfizio, Corvus salva Dalton da morte certa e non riuscendo a trattenere l'istinto, spinge Dalton in un capanno vuoto. Durante il momento intimo, però, il cugino di Corvus, Aspen, entra nel capanno FILMANDO IN DIRETTA Corvus e Dalton.
Ecco diciamo che l’outing é una cosa che non tollero mai per cui quando nessuno se la prende con Aspen (perché lo stronzetto sopravvive fino a fine libro) ci sono rimasta parecchio male. Corvus per salvare la faccia annuncia a tutti che lui e Dalton sono fidanzati (prossimi alle nozze) e la madre, entusiasta, inizia subito con i preparativi.
La relazione tra Corvus e Dalton non inizia benissimo: non solo l'outing infame, ma altri personaggi mettono in testa idee stupide a Corvus che non si fida di Dalton a lungo, nonostante Dalton sia un pulcino tenero e che volevo abbracciare per tutto il libro. Ho “sofferto” molto leggendo la storia perché Corvus non si é comportato sempre bene con Dalton e alcuni suoi atteggiamenti mi hanno fatto venire voglia di prenderlo a ceffoni qualche volta 🤣

Ora… le Merikan hanno presentato un personaggio… sarà il protagonista del secondo libro della serie?! Lo scopriremo nei prossimi mesi!! Raccomandato a chi già ha letto le Merikan e a chi é aperto con la mente. Loro non sono per tutti,ma che emozioni ti fanno provare!!!

Grazie Grr e K.A. Merikan per la copia ARC.

-----

ENGLISH REVIEW

I was waiting for Corvus' book since "Christmas Mafia Prince" and Merikan didn't disappoint!
Dalton was amazing and very sweet, I really liked him a lot and I was angry with Corvus because at first he used to treat him badly. But their relationship grows better with each chapter and they will have their HEA.
I didn't like at all Aspen, he was a stupid kid and his actions were awful but nobody punished him, even Corvus who had any reason to torture him (A girl can dream).
The main characters are pretty and after a rough start, they start to know each other better and I really liked their relationship even if I still believe that Dalton is too much fantastic for Corvus!!!
Amazing book, can't wait for book 2!
Thank you K.A. Merikan and GRR for my ARC COPY.

[Daje1968 · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded down

I read the (very stupid) Christmas book earlier in this series, where the whole Most Dangerous Game–adjacent premise of releasing imprisoned enemies and hunting them for sport already struck me as sick and cold. In that book, the hero reassures the other MC that the human prey had all “done very bad things,” as if that neatly justifies the ritual.

This time around, the hunted man’s crime is… owing them money.

To be fair, even Corvus clocks that this doesn’t seem egregious enough to warrant being hunted like an animal. Unfortunately, someone in this billionaire family apparently disagreed.

I’m not easily offended, and I don’t tend to clutch pearls, but the idea of an obscenely powerful billionaire family hunting human beings for sport is beyond gross in the current political moment. Whatever allegorical intent may exist is undercut by the fact that the narrative clearly wants our moral buy-in. We’re meant to see these people as justified, to accept their actions as necessary, and to keep championing them as romantic heroes. That’s a hard no for me.

There’s also a recurring issue in this series where these billionaire, gorgeous, hyper-competent men (Corvus here, Damen in the prior book) decide to spend the rest of their lives with someone they met approximately 36 hours ago—men who, frankly, don’t bring much to the table. Dalton at least is hot and well-hung, which already puts him ahead of Killian, who contributed essentially nothing other than vibes and confusion. Dalton, however, is also kind of a numbskull.

This is very much one of those relationships where the traits you find “endearing” during the courting phase are exactly the things you’d want to murder them for three years into the marriage.

The reason this landed at a 2.5 instead of a flat 2 is that by the end, Dalton won me over. He’s a dope, but a very sweet dope, and I was happy for Corvus.

I rounded down rather than up because this entire series increasingly feels phoned in. I don’t pretend to know how romance authors structure their workflow, and I do know KA Merikan is a writing duo, but the inconsistency is baffling. They were building a genuinely interesting motorcycle club series that I was excited to continue, and instead we get this icky billionaire mafia family situation.

It feels like J.Crew versus J.Crew Factory—same label, cheaper materials, less care, and nowhere near the same time investment in quality storytelling.

ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I love that this book is so dark and twisted with plenty of violence and death.
This type of book won't be for everyone, so please read the TW before reading.
Even though it's not really necessary to understand this book, I would suggest reading Christmas Mafia Prince first to give you a better idea of who the Van der Horn mafia family are as many are in this book as well.
This entire mafia family takes twisted to the extreme. But there is also a softer element blended throughout the story,some laughs, an abundance of steamy sexy times, a forced proximity situation that leads to a surprisingly genuine (almost instant) love, and even a HEA that is perfectly sweet and violent.
Due to his guilt over the circumstances of his father's death, Corvus has serious trust issues and had to close himself off, becoming standoffish and locking his personality and needs inside, leaving him to focus on becoming the best the family had at poisoning and torturing.
Dalton himself has a violent past as an underground cage fighter, but has been recently working as a bouncer. He is strong and powerful with a large muscular build - exactly Corvus' type. But his personality is more of a himbo golden retriever, he is a highly in demand lover with a large tool he knows how to use, he is sweet and thoughtful to those important to him, and he is a man desperately wanting to be loved for who he is instead of what his body can do. But someone set a trap for him and sent him to be an unwilling participant of the Van der Horn family's 'Christmas hunt.
Corvus and Dalton have a bumpy journey together, dealing with their evolving feelings, trust issues, jealousy, intense chemistry, Corvus' crazy family, and all while trying to figure out who is trying to kill Dalton.
I found this book to be highly entertaining, it is intensely dark, twisted, and violent, revolves around the tradition of a powerful mafia family, delves into the history of what made each MC the way they are, and gives us Corvus and Dalton, two men who are perfect for one another.
I would definitely recommend this book for those who enjoy this style of darkness and love.

I received an ARC from GRR, this review is my honest opinion.

[Any Length · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC of this book. I am a fan of K. A. Merikan and having recently read Christmas Mafia Prince, I loved meeting Crovus again, who is very aptly named, and is a very dark, always in control, dressed in black, austere fellow and closeted gay, whose desperate, long suppressed desire to be thoroughly worked over by a beefy guy who can take over makes him take an extraordinary step one night. At the eve of the annual Christmas hunt at the Van der Horn's family estate, Corvus finds that one of the "huntees" is not actually that bad, didn't do the family harm other than owing gambling debts, and he'd rather have this guy for himself, at least for a night. Especially after seeing what a popular lover Dalton is on the hook-up app in Dalton's phone. He reasons dead man can't talk and what happens between them that night would stay between them.
Golden retriever hearted, "I fall fast and hard" Dalton, lover extraordinaire, and also the gambler who got in over his head, finds himself as an intended prey of the Van Der Horn Christmas hunt. When Corvus offers him an out which might at least temporarily save his life, the antidote to the poison all the prey have all been given, in exchange for a steamy night with Corvus, he grabs the opportunity and gives his best.
Next day at the hunt Corvus tries to help Dalton escape, because yeah - the night was pretty special, but when the two of them get sprung they pretend that they are engaged.
Now they have to figure out how to deal with that issue of an upcoming wedding, major trust issues, as well as why someone is out to kill Dalton.
The story is funny, sexy, special in every way, and while Corvus has to work through his own hang ups of his dead father's homophobia, Dalton needs to prove to Corvus that he is the real deal fiancee even though it started out as an excuse for what they did.
I have given it 5 stars because it is a fun story with lots of action, hot bedroom stuff, and the usual K. A. Merikan somewhat darkish sense of humor around murderous activities.
I am so hoping that there will be at least two more books about other family members - i.e. the track pants wearing smarty pants and someone who seems to get into a lot of fisticuffs.

[Ashley Rose Dead.inside_but_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Dark Mafia Romance so please check the TWs before heading in. This story is a stand alone but does follow events from Christmas Mafia Prince so if you have a chance to read that one first I would suggest it but it's not *needed*

🌶🌶🌶.5

The Van Der Horn family is like Mafia Royalty and Corvus is the families torturer and his specialty is poisons 😈 Every Christmas the family brings together all of the enemies they caught during the year and they have a Christmas Hunt running down these people...and well deleting them 🤷🏻‍♀️
This year one of the captive enemies doesn't fit..Dalton is in one of these cells because he owes the family a great sum of money but that doesn't normally land you on the "Christmas List" Corvus does some digging through Dalton's phone and just happens to land on his selfies....that are very Naked selfies and well Corvus now can't let this man be deleted without testing that "joystick" (🍆) out.
One thing leads to another which then leads to a shed which then leads to Corvus and Dalton being Caught mid spicy time 🫣 Always a fast thinker and smooth in times of pressure Corvus tells the family that Dalton is actually his Fiancé that he has had a secret relationship with. And now that it's out there he has to commit to this so Dalton and Corvus proceed to make wedding plans. Dalton is actually this Giant teddy bear who is basically like "in for a penny in for a pound! I'm going to be the best husband ever!" And tries to win Corvus over but Corvus has some serious trust issues and is not easily moved.
These two both have alot of issues to work through but they soon realize that they counter balance each other and this crazy quick decision might actually be a good thing. I was absolutely intrigued by Corvus from Mafia Prince so when I seen he was getting his own book I was so excited and this did not disappoint! Ugh my heart just broke for both of them but they put it right back together 🥹 I loved this and I'm so excited we are getting more from this family!

[Kata · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll admit that when I was reading Damen and Killian’s story, I didn’t really know what to do with Corvus. To me, he was a true raven-like character. Dark, solitary, not very social, and well… quite an eccentric figure. I didn’t really pay much attention to him, because aside from Damen and Killian, Aspen was the one who truly caught my eye.

So the initial indifference I felt toward Corvus evaporated almost instantly when I saw that he got his own story. I felt a powerful pull — like yes, I needed this, I had to read it.

And OH MY GOD. I made such a damn good decision.

Dalton is the kind of man who radiates pure BDE, yet compared to his size (I’m talking about his build, you little rascal 😉), he’s basically a big teddy bear. He loves cuddling and wants nothing more than to be loved — truly loved. And who else could give him that, if not the Van Der Horn family’s poisoner, the silent killer himself: Corvus?

And then there’s Corvus, who hid who he really was and what he truly wanted all along because he didn’t want to turn his back on his late father, didn’t want to disappoint him.

But his cousin turns everything upside down, putting both Corvus and Dalton into a situation neither of them ever could have anticipated.

On top of that, they also have to face the fact that someone really, really wants Dalton dead…

The forced proximity, the chemistry between them, the jealousy, the indescribable protectiveness they feel toward each other — all of it was so damn good and worked perfectly with their personalities.

The story is perfect, the boys are perfect, and although I thought Killian and Damen would be my absolute favorites, I have to admit I was wrong. Because Corvus and Dalton absolutely stole the show!!!

I received an ARC from the GRR and this is my honest review.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️

♪ 𝚂𝙾𝙽𝙶 𝙼𝙰𝚃𝙲𝙷 — 𝚃𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚢 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚛, 𝙰𝚣𝚎𝚎, 𝙲𝙾𝙱𝚁𝙰 ♪
// I'm playing the part of a villain
When all I want is to be loved
All I want is to be touched //

“I need a dick to ride, not a date to my mother’s next wedding.”
“It’s all yours.”

Scary closeted mafia boy can’t resist Dalton and his big…. personality. So he decides to keep him.
Golden retriever/black cat vibes, a crazy silly plot, sexy sexy men, and a cute happy ever after.

In under twenty four hours, I’ve moved from a cell under the Van der Horn mansion, about to be shot dead and never seen again, to being engaged to Corvus and getting to live with him? Maybe I did die and go to heaven?

Dalton was a bit of a big Himbo, a cuddly puppy chasing after a grumpy dangerous mafia torturer (who just really needed all the cuddles). I loved seeing Corvus’ walls crumble, slowly trusting Dalton and letting him in.

He’s so solid, so dangerous, and yet I’m the one who can turn his knees into marshmallows, make him tremble and whine as he struggles to keep his composure.

Sexyyyyyy.
The plot is nothing new, but I had fun anyway. A mix of marriage of convenience and ‘fake’ dating, typical mafia drama, but mostly possessive men slowly falling for each other.

“Oh, baby… We’re just getting started,” Dalton says with a dark chuckle.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Violence
- Blackmail
- Aphrodisiac
- Marriage of convenience?
- Forced outing
- Top/bottom
- Intercrural
- Rimming
- Semi-public sex
- Restraints (bonus scene)
- Toys (bonus scene)

[Laura Loves to Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

Did I LOVE this book - ABSOLUTELY. Was it a little unhinged, also yes—but that’s exactly what made it so good!

I’m definitely in my dark MM romance era, and Poisoned Heart (Book 1 in the Twisted Mafia Vows series) delivered everything I wanted. Corvus and Dalton are perfection together—their banter is sharp, their chemistry electric, and if you’re looking for dirty talk, forced proximity, jealousy with a protective streak, this book has it all.

Corvus and Dalton are pure perfection together. Their banter? Absolutely top tier. If you’re craving a story packed with dirty talk, forced proximity, and that delicious mix of jealousy and protectiveness—they deliver it all flawlessly. I adored that Dalton turned out to be such a cinnamon roll at heart—loving cuddles, wanting nothing more than to make Corvus happy and feel truly loved. Corvus took his time to let those walls down, but when he fell; he fell hard, and it was everything.
Both fathers in this story were vile and left me with a bad taste in my mouth, thankfully both are dead!

I went in swearing Damen and Killian were my forever favourites, but Corvus and Dalton didn’t just steal the top spot—they snatched it, laughed in my face, and strutted off like they owned the place. I’m obsessed. Feral.

Next MMC: Fingers crossed for Remy!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You will fuck me like your life depends on it. Because it does.”

Corvus and Dalton each have a problem that the other can solve. Corvus wants to get dicked down but he's anxious, particular, prideful and can't take the risk of trusting just anyone. Dalton is marked for death by Corvus's family and has absolutely nothing to lose when he's offered the chance to possibly live if he fucks Corvus well enough. Talk about a meet cute! 😂😂 The blurb for this book had me hooked and I was thrilled to get an arc 🥰

How is it my nature that I want to be under a man like him so much, when in all other aspects of my life I crave control and complete dominance over my surroundings?

Poisoned Heart was an absolute blast to read! The plot is complete entertainment and insanity but the character work by Kat and Agnes was the heart of the story for me. Going in, I wasn't Corvus's biggest fan- I really didn't like him in Christmas Mafia Prince and had decided not to read this book... until I read the blurb! He won me over super quickly when he decided to throw caution to the wind and get himself some grade A Dalton dick. I instantly loved Dalton's character- he's just the most loveable golden retriever ever who wants to be loved and appreciated for who he is. Both our boys have been through the wringer but together, they have everything they need.

He’s so solid, so dangerous, and yet I’m the one who can turn his knees into marshmallows, make him tremble and whine as he struggles to keep his composure. It’s how controlled he is in all other aspects of life that makes his surrender all the more delicious.

Rating: 4.5 stars
Angst: 3/5
Steam: 4.5/5

I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Relly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Arc Review - Thank you GRR

Wow I liked this one, it's the first book in a long time that I have read in one sitting. It had some dark moments but it wasn't as dark as I was expecting and that made it an easier read for me.

Corvus was great. Being he is the poisoner and torturer for his family, I was expecting him to be a bit more creepy and scary, but he came across relatively normal (well as normal as he could be in that scenario). He had moments of goth but all in all he wasn't as scary as he should have been. He made a lot of mistakes, especially when it came to Dalton but he also admitted them and tried to make up for it.

Dalton was a treat. The big burly bouncer who could beat a man to death but also had a soft centre that he didn't show a lot of people. I loved watching him interact with the cousins and how in his element he was. He did all the little things to connect with Corvus and made the best of the situation he found himself in.

This is a standalone but it is also tied to the Christmas Mafia Prince book. I haven't read that and while I wasn't lost I do now want to go and read that book

[SNik · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in series (Twisted Mafia Vows). Captor/captive. Dubcon. Fake relationship. Opposites attract. Dual POV. Heed content warnings.

Part of a longtime crime family, Corvus is an expert with poisons and torture, but he can’t ever be himself so he decides to take his chance with a man meant to die so his secret will be safe. Dalton embraces his himbo life, he is well aware of why men seek him out, but falling for the dangerous man that wants to keep him a prisoner might be a step too far.

There is a real power imbalance as Corvus dictates how his interactions with Dalton occur, and the pure golden retriever energy that Dalton exhibits throughout makes this story feel disjointed at times. Corvus and Dalton are definitely steamy together and my heart broke a little every time Dalton got his heart stomped on, but in the end he can’t help but reaching for what he wants and luckily Corvus finally realizes what he might lose without Dalton. This had an entertaining family of secondary possible future main characters and it was fun to see Corvus and Dalton end up fitting so well together.

[sixteenpawssevenears · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️📚 Arc - Review 📚✨️



Corvus & Dalton




Rating: 5 ⭐️



First - it's K.A. Merikan and I love it 💙

At this point I'm not even surprised anymore that I love their books 😽


Here we have uptight, deep in the closet, control freak Corvus and his beefy himbo captive.

It's time for the Van der Horn annual Christmas Hunt, and Dalton finds himself to be part of it - as a not so willing prey.

Corvus thinks this would be the perfect opportunity for him - a one night stand where the other man won't live long enough to kiss and tell....

Or so he thought.

Honestly- the start is weird, and kind of awkward, but also hilarious as fuck. 😸
Each of their interactions had me laughing out loud.

I'd definitely recommend reading "Christmas Mafia Prince" first (you don't HAVE to, but trust me, just read it first).

It was funny and has a sweet HEA (with some appropriate groveling 😸), 10/10 - would recommend 💙💙💙💙💙

[Emilyrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me everything I wanted: characters who I fell in love with, great world building, interesting secondary characters, plenty of steam, humour, action and a HEA. Dalton and Corvus were perfect together and I loved how they overcame the challenges around them and learned to trust each other. There were dark sections but also moments of humour or that just made me smile. It was well written and I have no idea how the author managed to change my mind so completely about Aspen! At the very beginning, I really didn't like him or his actions but by the end he was genuinely one of my favourite characters, bringing so much humour and unpredictability! I loved the HEA that Dalton and Corvus got and I'll definitely be going back to read Damon and Killian's story. I'm excited for more in the series and it has to be 5 stars since I couldn't put it down.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Showarst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poisoned Heart by K.A. Merikan is book 2 in the Twisted Mafia Vows series. I absolutely adored book 1 and I was very excited to see this book was coming out. Corvus was such an interesting character in book 1 and I wanted to know what made him tick. Dalton finds himself part of the Chrustmas hunt, but Corvus is willing to give him a fighting chance if Dalton does something for him. I loved Dalton so much and how he just wanted someone to love him. Corvus takes awhile to get there, but he soon shows Dalton that he is in it for the long haul. This book made me laugh quite a few times and I devoured the whole thing in one sitting. I cannot wait for more antics from this family (Remo and Aspen?). I highly recommend this book though I would suggest starting with book 1.

I received an ARC from GRR for my honest review.

[Whisper Wallen · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Honestly it is what it is. I liked it but it left me wanting more. I hate that it all lead up to a wedding we didn’t get to read. Corvus I’d have liked to see more poisoning on his part. It’s talked about but never really shown it’s more drugging than poisoning. In my mind those aren’t the same. And Dalton I mean he’s like a giant golden retriever with I guess a gambling problem (it’s never really clarified) and a big you know what. And trust me it’s mentioned a record amount of times. I feel like this like writing duo lean more towards the smutty aspect then anything else. And the word choices are sometimes very cringe. This isn’t the first book I’ve read of theirs but it may be the last. I just might not be feeling their writing. The plot sometimes gets lost and trust me I don’t have to have a lot of plot to enjoy something but it aleast has to follow through.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for dark, hot men these two authors have it for you. I have read several of their books and they were all great. This book is in the same world as “Christmas Mafia Prince” which I also highly recommend. You don’t have to have read that book to enjoy Poisoned Heart (but Damien and Killian are super hot in that book). Corvus is related to Damien and their family has a very “grey” tradition for Christmas. Our love interest Dalton gets tangled up in the festivities and hot times ensue. I loved how in control Corvus was with everyone except Dalton. Dalton had a very tough life with absolutely no luck. Getting Corvus’s attention definitely put him on the road to love and found family. I highly recommend this book. Enjoy!

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poisoned Heart is the first book in the Twisted Mafia Vows series.

I had a great time reading it, it's pure K.A. Merikan with lots of humor.

Corvus belongs to a family that has a peculiar Christmas tradition: they organize a manhunt, and only married family members can participate. He is single, closeted, and under constant pressure from the memory of his dead father dictating his life.

Dalton is one of those who participates in the hunt as prey, but since he is handsome, Corvus chooses him the night before to spend the night with. After being caught in a compromising position, Corvus improvises, saying that he is his fiancé, and that's where the fun begins.

Looking forward to reading the next one

[Melissa Polk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a ride. So this starts out as a sort of captor/captive scenario but quickly morphs. While the premise could be viewed as ridiculous, it ticked all my boxes. Dalton is such a golden retriever and Corvus is the blackest of black cats. Honestly, I wanted to hug them both repeatedly throughout the story. The bulk of the plot is pretty slice-of-life romance drama, but I did very much appreciate the slight mystery thrown in. I can't wait to see what else comes of this series. I'm kind of desperate for Remo and Aspen to have their own stories.

If you enjoy mafia-adjacent dark romances with obsessive characters who need hugs and possibly also to figure out how feelings work, this book is for you. It was everything I've come to love and expect from a KA Merikan book.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poisoned Heart is a truly beautiful story. I mean, how can you not love the big, muscle-bound mess? And Corvus is straight out of a (my?!) dream of a goth-chic bad boy. At first, I would have thought this combination impossible, but it works, and it works really well.

Layer by layer and page by page, Corvus loses the web of fear and the idea of how he should be that was planted in his head and opens up more to Dalton. And Dalton? I don't think he even noticed how much Corvus enchanted him, right from the start.
Their story shows so beautifully and somewhat unhingedly (loved it!) that being truly seen and loved is more than anything else. Love in this form is simply beautiful.
From my unhinged heart to yours—read it!

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg, I couldn’t put it down, boy this book moves at a fast clip. I loved Dalton and Corvus. Complete opposites. The books starts with Dalton in a bit of fix, imprisoned in a basement in a death or death situation- his only saviour his grindr profile. Corvus is… going to take advantage of this unique opportunity. Their first time - that push and pull - figuring out their dynamic, absolutely fire!

This whole book honestly is so hot, but also funny, like Dalton is a big morally grey, loyal heart on his sleeve puppy. He is also extreamly good at a few things IYKYK. Corvus needs this, needs him. It’s fast but perfect between them, quite swoony with a tonne of sweet moments.

I loved the Van Der Horn family and their chaos. Can’t wait to read more.

[A reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Van der Horn fam is back again! This time featuring Corvus and his green eyed boo, Dalton. The very FIRST sentence made me literally lol 😂 Dalton looks like a brute but is a total sweetie that Corvus can't resist, even though he tries really, really hard. Loner meets loner, fast burn, he falls first with a dash of murder, a mischievous fam, and a loveable, meddling mom. Book 1 in this series but the Mafia fam and Corvus are first introduced in The Christmas Prince Mafia (Damen & Killian), highly recommend reading that first.

[audiobook_chaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

We met Corvus in Christmas Mafia Prince he was such a miserable person you couldn’t help but love him.
Trained to be a silent but deadly killer by his father there’s nothing he doesn’t know about poisons.
When Dalton falls on his radar he decides to take advantage of Daltons huge erm asset before he’s sent into the families yearly hunt. However once isn’t going to be enough and after being caught with his trousers down literally, he has to think on the fly ( pardon the pun) and announces Dalton is his fiancé.

[Patrycja · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

This dark romance was something delicious. It was high heat and slow emotional burn.

Corvus and Dalton couldn't have been two more different people and they definitely shouldn't have worked together, but they absolutely did!
At first, Corvus was cold. The black cat type, the poisoner of the family. With a lot of trust issues. Then we have Dalton, a sweet, caring, ex-fighter, a giant teddy bear who just wanted someone to love him. And what should have been just one night turned into something so much more.

This story was twisted, but also very sweet in it's own way. What Corvus and Dalton shared was messy, and definitely not without a ton of issues, but it was also kind of perfect at the end. We also got the usual amount blood and violence the authors are known for (so check your triggers!).

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was deliciously dark and still had me laughing at times. Dalton is such a sweetheart and needs to be protected at all costs. I only wish that there had been more wedding preparations on the page!

[Sage]

I was so happy to see that Corvus is getting his own book! The description alone sounds amazing. I already know this is going to be added to my ever-growing list of five-star K.A. Merikan books :D

[Sonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good dark romance by Merikan! They have crafted a funny, yet edgy story that engages the attention and allows for laughter to shine through. Now we await to see what they shall craft next.