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New York Underworld #5
Callous Love
He can never know about the life we created in a bed of lies, because the man I called my lover is the monster who killed my parents, and I’m next on the list.
From USA Today bestselling author Charmaine Pauls comes an intense and steamy emotional dark mafia romance with tropes including secret baby, second chance, forbidden love, forced marriage, betrayal, revenge and redemption, possessive alpha male, touch her and die, and a strong female lead.
I know what it’s like to be used. Dante ruined me for the sake of his revenge. He destroyed me for his selfish gain without thinking twice.
What he doesn’t know is that we created something pure and innocent in that bed of lies. We made a new life, one I have to hide from him at all costs, because the man I called my lover is the cold-hearted monster who killed my parents, and I’m next on the list. He left me with no choice but to run.
For five long years, I’ve been hiding, barely surviving, always outsmarting the men who hunt me while Dante’s ghost stalks my shadows and haunts my thoughts. And now that he’s caught a whiff of my scent, he’s like a bloodhound on my trail.
He’s out to finish what he started. I’m the last obstacle standing between him and the fortune he stole from my family. But this isn’t a fairy tale, and I’m not that girl anymore. I decide how my story ends.
Callous Love is the second book in the Callous Duet and concludes Tatiana and Dante's story. Callous Desire must be read first. The duet is part of the dark mafia romance New York Underworld series (Books 4 & 5). You don't have to read the other books in the series to follow this duet.
From USA Today bestselling author Charmaine Pauls comes an intense and steamy emotional dark mafia romance with tropes including secret baby, second chance, forbidden love, forced marriage, betrayal, revenge and redemption, possessive alpha male, touch her and die, and a strong female lead.
I know what it’s like to be used. Dante ruined me for the sake of his revenge. He destroyed me for his selfish gain without thinking twice.
What he doesn’t know is that we created something pure and innocent in that bed of lies. We made a new life, one I have to hide from him at all costs, because the man I called my lover is the cold-hearted monster who killed my parents, and I’m next on the list. He left me with no choice but to run.
For five long years, I’ve been hiding, barely surviving, always outsmarting the men who hunt me while Dante’s ghost stalks my shadows and haunts my thoughts. And now that he’s caught a whiff of my scent, he’s like a bloodhound on my trail.
He’s out to finish what he started. I’m the last obstacle standing between him and the fortune he stole from my family. But this isn’t a fairy tale, and I’m not that girl anymore. I decide how my story ends.
Callous Love is the second book in the Callous Duet and concludes Tatiana and Dante's story. Callous Desire must be read first. The duet is part of the dark mafia romance New York Underworld series (Books 4 & 5). You don't have to read the other books in the series to follow this duet.
442 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2026
About the author
Charmaine Pauls
96 books1,875 followersCharmaine loves to write dark and edgy romance that will melt both your e-reader and your heart.
She's a mom of two teenagers, an adorable dog, and a dominant cat. Her country of birth is South Africa where many of her stories play off. Her French husband kidnapped her to the south of France where she currently lives with her family.
When she's not writing, you'll find her in the kitchen baking cakes or in the gym lifting weights (because ... all those cakes!).
She's a mom of two teenagers, an adorable dog, and a dominant cat. Her country of birth is South Africa where many of her stories play off. Her French husband kidnapped her to the south of France where she currently lives with her family.
When she's not writing, you'll find her in the kitchen baking cakes or in the gym lifting weights (because ... all those cakes!).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
May 28, 2026
3,5
This story doesn’t matches my expectations because I think the events are rushed and hard to believe.
It’s worth reading.
This story doesn’t matches my expectations because I think the events are rushed and hard to believe.
It’s worth reading.
May 4, 2026
This book totally wrecked me! The intensity between Tatiana and Dante didn’t just continue, it exploded. Every bit of tension, obsession, fear, and desperate love that was building in their first book comes to a head here, and I loved every minute of it. While their relationship takes a new turn due to the cliffhanger in Callous Desire (you must read it before this one) things are still messy, still complicated, but now it’s deeper, darker, and so much more consuming. I couldn’t stop reading even when my heart was breaking.
This picks up right where things left off, and the emotional stakes are sky high from the very first page. The push and pull between these two had me completely on edge. Dante with his ruthless, possessive edge, and Tatiana fighting to find herself while being pulled deeper into his world. I loved how their past and present continued to intertwine, revealing just enough to keep the tension tight and unrelenting.
And that ending? Wow! This author knew exactly how to weave sweetness into this dark world, leaving my heart racing and my emotions all over the place. Charmaine Pauls brought this couple to a conclusion in a way I never saw coming. This was brutally addictive and emotionally charged, and it left me completely wrecked.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
Steam
This picks up right where things left off, and the emotional stakes are sky high from the very first page. The push and pull between these two had me completely on edge. Dante with his ruthless, possessive edge, and Tatiana fighting to find herself while being pulled deeper into his world. I loved how their past and present continued to intertwine, revealing just enough to keep the tension tight and unrelenting.
And that ending? Wow! This author knew exactly how to weave sweetness into this dark world, leaving my heart racing and my emotions all over the place. Charmaine Pauls brought this couple to a conclusion in a way I never saw coming. This was brutally addictive and emotionally charged, and it left me completely wrecked.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
Steam
May 13, 2026
I **L.O.V.E.D** this duet… don’t get me wrong there were more than a few times where I wanted to throw my kindle across the room though because either the MMC (mainly) and a few times the FMC… were being so stupid towards one another but overall the character development and storyline made up for it. This story is truly the definition of the “enemies to lovers” trope.. the history and trauma b/t the FMC and MMC ran deep but they never wavered from one another even when their personal motives were questionable. Ugh I loved it 100/10 recommend!
May 9, 2026
And this fabulous duet is complete! I absolutely loved the first book (check out the review I posted a couple of weeks ago!), and I had a feeling this one was going to give us even more - it definitely delivered! I love the fast pace and the suspense of it all. This is truly a unique love story, with some serious soulmate vibes. There are so many things unfolding, and I was on the edge of my seat as it all happened. If you like dark romance and complex relationships, you’re going to want these in your life!
🎙️𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 ⇣
In duet, and done so well! Heather Firth and Christian Black have the perfect voices for these characters!! They brought out the tension and emotions in the best ways, and really elevated the experience for me.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇣
Dark mafia romance
Forbidden
Second chance
Morally gray antihero
He’s possessive & protective
Enemies to lovers
Betrayal, revenge, redemption
Secret baby
Strong heroine
Forced marriage
Touch her and ☠️
Dual POV
Spice
Thank you One Night Stand Studios and Charmaine Pauls for the advanced copy!
🎙️𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 ⇣
In duet, and done so well! Heather Firth and Christian Black have the perfect voices for these characters!! They brought out the tension and emotions in the best ways, and really elevated the experience for me.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇣
Dark mafia romance
Forbidden
Second chance
Morally gray antihero
He’s possessive & protective
Enemies to lovers
Betrayal, revenge, redemption
Secret baby
Strong heroine
Forced marriage
Touch her and ☠️
Dual POV
Spice
Thank you One Night Stand Studios and Charmaine Pauls for the advanced copy!
May 5, 2026
3.5 stars ⭐️
May 4, 2026
Thiss breaks my book block
May 5, 2026
The conclusion to Dante and Tatiana’s twisted and passionate journey to love was such an emotional ride. The cliffhanger from the previous book set us up for new challenges and provided a huge twist for how Dante could move forward with Tatiana, but I actually loved that aspect of it. Without spoiling anything, it was a plot point I don’t usually enjoy reading, but this was done so well and handled quite masterfully. There was tons of spice and passion between our two star-crossed lovers and the devotion they shared for their little blossoming family was so beautiful to experience. I really enjoyed this duet very much!!
Read
April 24, 2026Callous Love is the second book in the Callous Duet and concludes Tatiana and Dante’s story. Callous Desire must be read first. The duet is part of the New York Underworld series (Book 4 & 5). You don’t have to read the other stories in the series to follow this one. The story includes violence and scenes not recommended for sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.
Tropes
Secret baby
Second chance
Forbidden love
Enemies-to-lovers
Touch her & die
Soulmates
Betrayal, revenge & redemption
Morally gray antihero
Possessive & protective alpha male
Strong heroine
Tropes
Secret baby
Second chance
Forbidden love
Enemies-to-lovers
Touch her & die
Soulmates
Betrayal, revenge & redemption
Morally gray antihero
Possessive & protective alpha male
Strong heroine
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh goodness! Now as we get into the next part of Tatiana and Dante’s story! Tatiana’s past and her ordeal are all revealed. But just when you think she is going to settle into some sort of stability, around twist comes along and had my heart racing! In this part we learn more about what happened to Tatiana and Dante. Both have suffered. While one ran out of fear and the need to protect her child, the other chased to claim the person he desires desperately. The gruesome truth behind Tatiana’s experience was told in a manner that is true to nature. Many people can relate to this in life. Just when you think things cannot possibly get any worse….it gets worse! What I loved most about Dante is that he really opens up. He isn’t afraid of admitting his feelings and talking to Tatiana about it. It would have been nice if he does it earlier but why would that be the case! He is tortured by his brother’s death and vowed to avenge him. While he does use Tatiana for information and his need to take everything makes you as a reader question, “where is this going?” However, as you go through twists and turns we see that his love and need to protect his family is just as powerful as Tatiana’s. The other part of this that I loved are how all the supporting characters are described. It also gives some relief to the intensity of the main characters put you through. Charmaine Paul has given us another great book in a series that’s a must read. Especially if you are a big believer in dark twisted romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2026
I’m going to go against the majority of other reviewers and say that this book didn’t completely do it for me. The previous book had far more development and action than this one, and I felt like at least 25% of the book was going in circles. Maybe it’s because of what the main female character went through and the resulting impact in this book, but I think it stunted some of the plot’s development. Side note: the male lead was described as having blonde/brown hair (or am I misremembering?) and the cover shows a guy with dark brown hair - this threw me off more than I expected.
May 10, 2026
5 Stars for Callous Love by Charmaine Pauls. This is Book 2 and the conclusion of Tatiana and Dante’s story !
The cover and book blurb are excellent attention grabbers who doesn’t want another visual of Dante ! The story picks up immediately after Callous Desire with such push and pull tension between the characters.
Readers should make sure to read content triggers but otherwise dive in - what you can expect :
Kidnapping
Power / coercion
Trauma
Chemistry that is like a forest fire
Well written story and characters
Wow this is a page turner up until “ The End “
Loved it and the duet ! Highly recommend this author !
The cover and book blurb are excellent attention grabbers who doesn’t want another visual of Dante ! The story picks up immediately after Callous Desire with such push and pull tension between the characters.
Readers should make sure to read content triggers but otherwise dive in - what you can expect :
Kidnapping
Power / coercion
Trauma
Chemistry that is like a forest fire
Well written story and characters
Wow this is a page turner up until “ The End “
Loved it and the duet ! Highly recommend this author !
April 30, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely LOVED the audio for Callous Love by Charmaine Pauls. It picks up right where Callous Desire left off and I was hooked from the very beginning.
The intensity, the raw storytelling, the emotions, everything is packed with tension that keeps you flipping pages… or in my case glued to my headphones 🎧 lol.
The characters are layered, complicated and honestly a little unhinged in the best way. I couldn’t get enough of their dynamic and the emotional depth woven throughout the story.
And the narration?! Heather Firth and Christian Black absolutely KILLED IT. Their performance brought the characters to life and made the experience even more immersive and addictive.
Huge thank you to One Night Stand Studios for the ALC!! 🫶
I absolutely LOVED the audio for Callous Love by Charmaine Pauls. It picks up right where Callous Desire left off and I was hooked from the very beginning.
The intensity, the raw storytelling, the emotions, everything is packed with tension that keeps you flipping pages… or in my case glued to my headphones 🎧 lol.
The characters are layered, complicated and honestly a little unhinged in the best way. I couldn’t get enough of their dynamic and the emotional depth woven throughout the story.
And the narration?! Heather Firth and Christian Black absolutely KILLED IT. Their performance brought the characters to life and made the experience even more immersive and addictive.
Huge thank you to One Night Stand Studios for the ALC!! 🫶
May 5, 2026
I really loved this duet! Ms Pauls knows how to write tropes that I love, specifically mafia worlds. Dante was exactly what a dark and dirty Hero should be, and Tiana was a great heroine. Together, they took us on a wild ride. I listened to the audiobook, and while I didn't love the first book narration, the voicing didn't bother me at all this time. I was able to totally be emersed into the story. I'm not really a fan of amnesia stories, but it was a little different here, in that it was only certain snips of time that were lost, sort of a selective amnesia that blocks trauma. If I'm honest, my initial thoughts were that that this second book in the duet was a bit too long, but it's didn't read that, I was always into it and enjoying myself. Overall, this is probably one of my favorite couples/stories that I've read by this author, and I can't wait to see what comes next.
May 5, 2026
Callous Love by Charmaine Pauls delivers an intense, twist-filled continuation of Tatiana and Dante’s story that had my heart racing. As Tatiana’s traumatic past unravels and long-buried truths come to light, just when stability seems possible—another shocking turn hits. The emotional weight is heavy, raw, and at times brutal, but it feels real.
Dante is the ultimate tortured mafia hero—possessive, driven by revenge, yet surprisingly open about his feelings when it truly counts. Watching him wrestle between vengeance and love added depth to his character. Tatiana’s strength, especially as she fights to protect her child and herself, makes her easy to root for.
Though the book felt slightly long at first glance, it never dragged—I was fully immersed the entire time. With compelling side characters and relentless tension, this dark, twisted romance duet is a must-read for mafia romance fans. One of my favorite couples from this author so far!
Dante is the ultimate tortured mafia hero—possessive, driven by revenge, yet surprisingly open about his feelings when it truly counts. Watching him wrestle between vengeance and love added depth to his character. Tatiana’s strength, especially as she fights to protect her child and herself, makes her easy to root for.
Though the book felt slightly long at first glance, it never dragged—I was fully immersed the entire time. With compelling side characters and relentless tension, this dark, twisted romance duet is a must-read for mafia romance fans. One of my favorite couples from this author so far!
May 4, 2026
Callous Love was everything I needed it to be and then some!
So many revelations, it'll leave you spinning!
The trauma that Tatiana has endured, is insanity, but she comes out stronger because of it.
Tatiana and Dante's journey, isn't an easy one, its twisted, dark, and emotional.
I couldn't have loved it more.
I'm so ready to devour everything Charmaine Pauls writes.
So many revelations, it'll leave you spinning!
The trauma that Tatiana has endured, is insanity, but she comes out stronger because of it.
Tatiana and Dante's journey, isn't an easy one, its twisted, dark, and emotional.
I couldn't have loved it more.
I'm so ready to devour everything Charmaine Pauls writes.
May 5, 2026
We get a conclusion to an intense, spicy, dark romance that Charmaine Pauls is known for. I loved how Tatiana and Dante’s story played out. The thrills, danger, and surprises kept me glued to the pages. You can never go wrong with this author’s morally dark romances. They are so entertaining!
May 3, 2026
This is book two of Tatiana and Dante's story and the conclusion of their story. Be sure you've enjoyed Callous Desire before diving into this book. This duet of books told a tale that was truly captivating. I know my heart and feelings got put through the wringer as this tense and suspenseful rollercoaster ride unfolded. I really like Tatiana and my heart never stopped aching for her. My feelings for Dante though ended up being more complex. I love a gray or even much darker hero, and I was really feeling him in the first part of the story but unfortunately, I found myself disappointed in him in this book. I still loved this duet, but he caused me to take a star off my review. I thought that the narrator's gave great performances. Their voices fit the characters well and made listening easy and engaging.
May 4, 2026
~Alc Review~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
~Callous Love~New York Underworld Book 5~Charmaine Pauls~
~Duet Narration~Heather Firth & Christian Black~
~Production~One Night Stand Studios~
"He's like a beast in a fashionable three-piece suit, a gentleman on the outside with a darkness lurking inside him."
♡Callous Love picks up where Callous Desire left us begging for more! This books takes you on a emotional rollercoaster ride to the past showing you what led Tatiana & Dante where they are today. Dante's love for Tatiana & Noah is so strong but nothing is more unbreakable than his vow to always protect them!
The duet narration for this audiobook was fantastic. Heather & Christian both did an amazing job while continuing to bring this story & its characters to life!♡
~As Always Happy Reading~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
~Callous Love~New York Underworld Book 5~Charmaine Pauls~
~Duet Narration~Heather Firth & Christian Black~
~Production~One Night Stand Studios~
"He's like a beast in a fashionable three-piece suit, a gentleman on the outside with a darkness lurking inside him."
♡Callous Love picks up where Callous Desire left us begging for more! This books takes you on a emotional rollercoaster ride to the past showing you what led Tatiana & Dante where they are today. Dante's love for Tatiana & Noah is so strong but nothing is more unbreakable than his vow to always protect them!
The duet narration for this audiobook was fantastic. Heather & Christian both did an amazing job while continuing to bring this story & its characters to life!♡
~As Always Happy Reading~
May 6, 2026
This conclusion to Dante and Tatiana story was a tough journey for them both. The things Tatiana had to go in this world of theirs was not an easygoing thing. This author sure knows how to take you on a rollercoaster of emotions and how to put you back together too. Dante and Tatiana deserved all the happiness that they could get.
May 6, 2026
Ok, I admit my opinion of Dante has changed. I truly loved these two books. My heart broke over and over for Tatiana. But now I see the heartache and pain she went through really did bring her to a wonderful life.
May 4, 2026
This pick up after Callous Desire and Callous Desire must be read first. As the conclusion to this duet, Tatiana has to decipher her thoughts and feelings on Dante on who he really is and means to her. This did have a build up to get to the climax as there is some mystery and reveals to the story I didn't see coming. Loved the epilogue.
The narrators Christian Black and Heather Firth were perfect for their roles and love this was Duet listen too. They did a great job.
I received this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The narrators Christian Black and Heather Firth were perfect for their roles and love this was Duet listen too. They did a great job.
I received this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
May 11, 2026
The whole thing about morally grey characters, is that they don’t kill innocent people. Because if they do, that makes them no different than villains who needs to be locked up behind bars. Dante had no problem in killing people just because they saw Tatiana’s face. What does that make him, if not just another criminal that actually needs to be behind bars for life?
This book starts with past events of Tatiana, her parents and brother. I didn’t care about these details, we already got the gist of it in the previous book. Same as previous books, there was way too much telling and inner thoughts. It makes me loose interest in the book.
Tatiana is kidnapped for 5 days. She loses her memory along the way. How? Why? Because she got locked up in a trunk. Does that make sense?
Dante, for all his big talk, was useless. He wasn’t the one who found her. Where is all the alpha talk if you can’t find your woman? Even the way he lost her, was unconvincing. He wasn’t even the one to find her kidnapper. Pathetic.
I didn’t like it one bit. I expected him to do some hacking and tracking, pull the big guns, be an actual mafia man, go on a killing spree to safe her. We got none of that. Such a disappointment.
Tatiana having amnesia and still being in denial and actually not wanting to remember her past so she avoids asking questions, yeah right. But she has no problem jumping Dante’s bones. And him letting her, taking advantage of her, fully knowing she hates his guts. 40 out of the 45 chapters is about her being ignorant and smut.
Such a disappointment.
This book starts with past events of Tatiana, her parents and brother. I didn’t care about these details, we already got the gist of it in the previous book. Same as previous books, there was way too much telling and inner thoughts. It makes me loose interest in the book.
Tatiana is kidnapped for 5 days. She loses her memory along the way. How? Why? Because she got locked up in a trunk. Does that make sense?
Dante, for all his big talk, was useless. He wasn’t the one who found her. Where is all the alpha talk if you can’t find your woman? Even the way he lost her, was unconvincing. He wasn’t even the one to find her kidnapper. Pathetic.
I didn’t like it one bit. I expected him to do some hacking and tracking, pull the big guns, be an actual mafia man, go on a killing spree to safe her. We got none of that. Such a disappointment.
Tatiana having amnesia and still being in denial and actually not wanting to remember her past so she avoids asking questions, yeah right. But she has no problem jumping Dante’s bones. And him letting her, taking advantage of her, fully knowing she hates his guts. 40 out of the 45 chapters is about her being ignorant and smut.
Such a disappointment.
May 4, 2026
Universal
When Callous Love begins, it doesn't start off right where cliffhanger left us. No, it gives us a glimpse into the past, and continues revealing the layers that make up Tatiana's complicated, but strong personality and the events that shaped her into the woman she is in her present. She and Dante have a lot of obstacles to get past, and I was on edge as each page took me closer to the end and there was still a lot of unrest between them.
Dante finally has his Tiana back, but he also has a lot of guilt for the things he's done, is still doing, to her. The one thing he does know, is that she's his, and that people will pay for what was done to her. There's still the matter of the thing he wants that she knows the location of, but is it as important as it was? His family just might end up being more important than everything.
What a ride Tatiana and Dante have taken! Their journey is dark, twisty and suspenseful, and in the end, I was finally sold on them as a couple. I have to admit I was still doubting Dante almost until the very end, he's definitely on the black end of the morality spectrum. But like most of Charmaine's MMCs, he does have one redeeming feature among all his alphahole anti-hero vibes - and that's his feelings for his family. But for all of Dante's dark energy, Tatiana is his opposite. She (and Noah) is my favorite part of their story. She's so strong, had gone through so much, but emerged even stronger. Tatiana and Dante's love is undeniable, they took a lot of punches, and finally, finally got the happiness they went through so much to find.
ARC provided by the author for an honest review.
Review: Live Through Books Blog.
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Review of advance copy received from Author
WHEW. If you thought Callous Desire put you through it… Callous Love said “hold my cryptic mystery necklace” and proceeded to absolutely wreck me. What a wild, addictive, adrenaline-filled finale!
This is definitely not a gentle conclusion. This is intense, messy, emotionally charged chaos in the BEST way. Picking up after that brutal cliffhanger, we are thrown right back into Tatiana and Dante’s world where everything is higher stakes, more dangerous, and way more consuming. The tension that was building in book one? It fully detonates here. Obsession, fear, love, betrayal… all of it hits at once and does not let up. The twists? The shocks? how the beginning unfolds. It's jaw dropping moment after another.
Dante and Tatiana are complicated in every sense of the word. Toxic at best, destructive at worst. Their connection is not clean or easy, it is layered with history, pain, and a whole lot of damage. And yet… it works. There is something so addictive about the push and pull between them. Dante is still that ruthless, possessive force, but here we finally start to see more of what is underneath. The guilt, the love, the internal conflict. He is very much a morally gray antihero, and I will be honest, I was questioning him for a WHILE. But watching him slowly unravel and actually feel things? Yeah… it's so good. And he has a lot to make up for here. And I do think he does. He shows up in the obsessive, would do anything for you REAL love (vs. toxic love) way I needed from him.
Tatiana, though? She is the heart of this story. Everything she has endured, everything she has survived, and the strength she carries because of it… it hits hard. Watching her piece together her past while trying to protect what matters most had me fully hooked. She bends, but she does not break, and I loved that about her.
The story does a great job weaving past and present together, slowly revealing truths that keep the tension tight the entire time. And just when you think you have a handle on things… nope. Another twist. Another emotional hit. It is relentless in the best way. The suspense element is really done. There's so much to unfold and figure out, and that extra edge that kept me flying through chapters.
And that ending… WOW. I did not see it coming in the way it unfolded, but it delivered. After everything these two go through, the finale is so rewarding emotionally, and honestly a little bit surprising in the best way. Dark, but with just enough softness woven in to make it feel good too.
Also, the side characters and family dynamics added some much needed balance to all that intensity. It made the world feel fuller and gave little moments to breathe in between all the chaos. I'm actually so excited for the sneaks of what's next! EEP! It's gonna be so good.
The duet audio is SO freaking good. Only my second Charmaine audio and this is such a good way to consume her work. Christian Black absolutely owns Dante. That deep, commanding tone brings out every ounce of his dominance, control, and underlying intensity. You feel it in every single line. And then Heather Firth as Tatiana brings so much emotion to the role. You can hear her strength, her vulnerability, her resilience. It makes Tatiana feel incredibly real, and I loved what she brought to it. Their vocal chemistry is delicious. The tension, the angst, the emotional moments… everything hits harder in audio. It genuinely pulls you deeper into the story and makes the whole experience even more immersive. And the suspense slaps in the format.
Overall, this is a dark, twisty, emotionally heavy conclusion that leans all the way into obsession, redemption, and complicated love. It is not pretty, it is not easy, but it is completely addictive. If you love mafia romance with broken characters, high tension, and relationships that walk that fine line between toxic and consuming, this duet is absolutely worth the ride.
***You do need to read Callous Desire first/this can not be read as a standalone.
What to Expect
🖤Second Chance
🖤Mafia
🖤Kidnapping
🖤Secret Baby
🖤Heroine in Danger
🖤Possessive Hero
🖤Dark Themes (check triggers!)
🖤Forced Proximity
🖤Emotional Angst
🖤Slowly Revealed Backstory
🖤Dub Con Tension
🖤Duet Finale
This is definitely not a gentle conclusion. This is intense, messy, emotionally charged chaos in the BEST way. Picking up after that brutal cliffhanger, we are thrown right back into Tatiana and Dante’s world where everything is higher stakes, more dangerous, and way more consuming. The tension that was building in book one? It fully detonates here. Obsession, fear, love, betrayal… all of it hits at once and does not let up. The twists? The shocks? how the beginning unfolds. It's jaw dropping moment after another.
Dante and Tatiana are complicated in every sense of the word. Toxic at best, destructive at worst. Their connection is not clean or easy, it is layered with history, pain, and a whole lot of damage. And yet… it works. There is something so addictive about the push and pull between them. Dante is still that ruthless, possessive force, but here we finally start to see more of what is underneath. The guilt, the love, the internal conflict. He is very much a morally gray antihero, and I will be honest, I was questioning him for a WHILE. But watching him slowly unravel and actually feel things? Yeah… it's so good. And he has a lot to make up for here. And I do think he does. He shows up in the obsessive, would do anything for you REAL love (vs. toxic love) way I needed from him.
Tatiana, though? She is the heart of this story. Everything she has endured, everything she has survived, and the strength she carries because of it… it hits hard. Watching her piece together her past while trying to protect what matters most had me fully hooked. She bends, but she does not break, and I loved that about her.
The story does a great job weaving past and present together, slowly revealing truths that keep the tension tight the entire time. And just when you think you have a handle on things… nope. Another twist. Another emotional hit. It is relentless in the best way. The suspense element is really done. There's so much to unfold and figure out, and that extra edge that kept me flying through chapters.
And that ending… WOW. I did not see it coming in the way it unfolded, but it delivered. After everything these two go through, the finale is so rewarding emotionally, and honestly a little bit surprising in the best way. Dark, but with just enough softness woven in to make it feel good too.
Also, the side characters and family dynamics added some much needed balance to all that intensity. It made the world feel fuller and gave little moments to breathe in between all the chaos. I'm actually so excited for the sneaks of what's next! EEP! It's gonna be so good.
The duet audio is SO freaking good. Only my second Charmaine audio and this is such a good way to consume her work. Christian Black absolutely owns Dante. That deep, commanding tone brings out every ounce of his dominance, control, and underlying intensity. You feel it in every single line. And then Heather Firth as Tatiana brings so much emotion to the role. You can hear her strength, her vulnerability, her resilience. It makes Tatiana feel incredibly real, and I loved what she brought to it. Their vocal chemistry is delicious. The tension, the angst, the emotional moments… everything hits harder in audio. It genuinely pulls you deeper into the story and makes the whole experience even more immersive. And the suspense slaps in the format.
Overall, this is a dark, twisty, emotionally heavy conclusion that leans all the way into obsession, redemption, and complicated love. It is not pretty, it is not easy, but it is completely addictive. If you love mafia romance with broken characters, high tension, and relationships that walk that fine line between toxic and consuming, this duet is absolutely worth the ride.
***You do need to read Callous Desire first/this can not be read as a standalone.
What to Expect
🖤Second Chance
🖤Mafia
🖤Kidnapping
🖤Secret Baby
🖤Heroine in Danger
🖤Possessive Hero
🖤Dark Themes (check triggers!)
🖤Forced Proximity
🖤Emotional Angst
🖤Slowly Revealed Backstory
🖤Dub Con Tension
🖤Duet Finale
May 7, 2026
3.5
The author's writing is always excellent even if in this case, you don't like somethings about the book. I really tried to like Dante but found his character very confusing in his actions and his words. He vacillates between a man who is fueled by revenge and power to a man who reads his son bedtime stories. He enjoys torturing and killing people, even those who were nothing more than innocent bank employees/collateral damage who were of no direct threat to Tatiana. Dante's character has allot of inner dialogue that he seldom acts on, such as telling Tatiana that he loves her until the very end of book two when she is going to leave him. Female characters in many of Ms. Paul's books are put through both physical and emotional scenarios more so than other characters. These women are all forced into being strong characters, or die trying.
Book 2 begins with the accident and kidnapping of Tatiana. Dante is unable to find her or those who took her, even thinking that she ran away from him. She is finally released only to have forgotten the last four years and has no idea what has transpired between she and Dante, her legacy and the necklace.
Quite a bit of time is spent on recovering her memory which then leads to the truth behind Dante's obsession with her; the necklace. This is yet another layer of mental and physical abuse for a woman who has seen it not once, but numerous times by people who are suppose to be "protecting" her. Dante walks a very thin line of deception and withholding the truth from Tatiana until can no longer. He justifies in his mind his actions using the same thing so many of these guys use, the; "your mine to do with what I want". He softens his approach in Tatiana's recovery, but that blows up when she remembers the past and what happened to her and Dante.
Once the necklace is found and the bad actors have been destroyed, Dante and Tatiana's relationship is put under the microscope. She decides to leave Dante with him agreeing to let her leave after he finally confesses to loving her with he did was for her. Allot for me to process considering his treatment of her throughout the series, but once again another strong female character gives up her life and dreams to become the wife of man who wants to control her life. The women are always the ones that must change themselves to fit into their husband's lives. On occasion an author will actually make one of these relationships equal footing for both characters by books end.
Noah and Jasper were great additions to this series.
The author's writing is always excellent even if in this case, you don't like somethings about the book. I really tried to like Dante but found his character very confusing in his actions and his words. He vacillates between a man who is fueled by revenge and power to a man who reads his son bedtime stories. He enjoys torturing and killing people, even those who were nothing more than innocent bank employees/collateral damage who were of no direct threat to Tatiana. Dante's character has allot of inner dialogue that he seldom acts on, such as telling Tatiana that he loves her until the very end of book two when she is going to leave him. Female characters in many of Ms. Paul's books are put through both physical and emotional scenarios more so than other characters. These women are all forced into being strong characters, or die trying.
Book 2 begins with the accident and kidnapping of Tatiana. Dante is unable to find her or those who took her, even thinking that she ran away from him. She is finally released only to have forgotten the last four years and has no idea what has transpired between she and Dante, her legacy and the necklace.
Quite a bit of time is spent on recovering her memory which then leads to the truth behind Dante's obsession with her; the necklace. This is yet another layer of mental and physical abuse for a woman who has seen it not once, but numerous times by people who are suppose to be "protecting" her. Dante walks a very thin line of deception and withholding the truth from Tatiana until can no longer. He justifies in his mind his actions using the same thing so many of these guys use, the; "your mine to do with what I want". He softens his approach in Tatiana's recovery, but that blows up when she remembers the past and what happened to her and Dante.
Once the necklace is found and the bad actors have been destroyed, Dante and Tatiana's relationship is put under the microscope. She decides to leave Dante with him agreeing to let her leave after he finally confesses to loving her with he did was for her. Allot for me to process considering his treatment of her throughout the series, but once again another strong female character gives up her life and dreams to become the wife of man who wants to control her life. The women are always the ones that must change themselves to fit into their husband's lives. On occasion an author will actually make one of these relationships equal footing for both characters by books end.
Noah and Jasper were great additions to this series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Callous Love by Charmaine Pauls is an intense, high-stakes conclusion to Tatiana and Dante’s story that proves why Pauls is a master of tortured romance. Picking up after the cliffhanger of Callous Desire, this second installment in the duet dives deep into a bed of lies, revenge, and a secret that Tatiana has guarded for five long years.
Dante ruined her for his own selfish gain, destroying her world to fuel his vendetta, and Tatiana was left with no choice but to run. Now, she is hiding a child—something pure created from a dark deception—while the man she once called her lover hunts her down like a bloodhound to finish what he started.
The emotional intensity of this story is breathtaking, as it weaves together tropes of forced marriage, betrayal, and a "touch her and die" possessive alpha energy. Tatiana has evolved from the girl she once was; she is a strong female lead who has spent years outsmarting the men in the shadows, and she is finally ready to decide how her own story ends.
Watching her navigate the gruesome truths of her past while trying to protect her child is heart-wrenching. Just when you think she might find stability, Pauls throws in a twist that leaves your heart racing.
Dante is a fascinating contradiction—a beast in a fashionable three-piece suit with a darkness lurking inside. While he initially uses Tatiana as a pawn for information to avenge his brother’s death, his transformation in this book is incredibly satisfying. He begins to open up, admitting to feelings he previously denied, proving that his need to protect his family is just as powerful as Tatiana’s.
The supporting characters are equally well-drawn, providing much-needed relief from the heavy intensity of the main couple’s journey. This dark mafia romance is both ruthless and merciful, taking readers on an emotional rollercoaster that feels earned by the brilliant and satisfying conclusion.
Whether you are reading the page or listening to the stellar narration by Heather Firth and Christian Black—who bring immense depth and spice to the performance—this duet is a must-read. It is a perfect example of how two people can find redemption and a second chance, even when their foundation was built on ruin.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Dante ruined her for his own selfish gain, destroying her world to fuel his vendetta, and Tatiana was left with no choice but to run. Now, she is hiding a child—something pure created from a dark deception—while the man she once called her lover hunts her down like a bloodhound to finish what he started.
The emotional intensity of this story is breathtaking, as it weaves together tropes of forced marriage, betrayal, and a "touch her and die" possessive alpha energy. Tatiana has evolved from the girl she once was; she is a strong female lead who has spent years outsmarting the men in the shadows, and she is finally ready to decide how her own story ends.
Watching her navigate the gruesome truths of her past while trying to protect her child is heart-wrenching. Just when you think she might find stability, Pauls throws in a twist that leaves your heart racing.
Dante is a fascinating contradiction—a beast in a fashionable three-piece suit with a darkness lurking inside. While he initially uses Tatiana as a pawn for information to avenge his brother’s death, his transformation in this book is incredibly satisfying. He begins to open up, admitting to feelings he previously denied, proving that his need to protect his family is just as powerful as Tatiana’s.
The supporting characters are equally well-drawn, providing much-needed relief from the heavy intensity of the main couple’s journey. This dark mafia romance is both ruthless and merciful, taking readers on an emotional rollercoaster that feels earned by the brilliant and satisfying conclusion.
Whether you are reading the page or listening to the stellar narration by Heather Firth and Christian Black—who bring immense depth and spice to the performance—this duet is a must-read. It is a perfect example of how two people can find redemption and a second chance, even when their foundation was built on ruin.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Callous Love was everything i’d hoped for,and so much more…..
Even if it hurt like hell to see what Tatiana and Dante had to go through before they finally found the happy after i needed them to find.
And i was so glad to see that Charmaine Pauls gave them that happy after in spades!
Not only was Tatiana kidnapped,she had to endure things that she shouldn’t have.
And all of that because of that stupid necklace everyone was after….
No wonder she forgot everything that happened,and only remembered her happy times with Dante,plus the light of her life,their son Noah….
It may have been difficult for Dante to deal with the fact she didn’t remember anything,but at the same time,he enjoyed every second she didn’t.
Because the Tatiana he had now,loved him with all her heart,and showed it!
And he made sure to cherish every second,because he knew the moment she had her memory back,it would end.
Finding the proof of how much she’d loved him all those years ago,broke his heart.
And he knew he’d do everything in his power to make up for it,give her the life she deserved.
He also knew he’d carry the knowledge he was responsible for what she’d endured for him for the rest of his life.
Tatiana may have forgotten about all the bad things that had happened to her,but she was with the people she loved,and that was all that mattered….right?
So,why did she have a niggling feeling that something was wrong?
She knew she missed a large portion of her life,like when did they get married?
Because the picture Dante showed her had Noah in it.
He told her they’d been separated,but why?
And he was possessive of her,but was that out of love…..or was there something else?
Because while she told him she loved him,he didn’t say the words back.
And what happened to make her lose her memory in the first place?
The necklace was the key in the entire story.
Everyone wanted it,but for different reasons.
And once i heard Dante’s,i cried….
Because Tatiana was wrong about him.
His reason was the most beautiful,and tragic,of them all!
Having survived this rollercoaster,there’s still one question,though…
Who was the girl with Benson Bennett,and what’s their story??
Even if it hurt like hell to see what Tatiana and Dante had to go through before they finally found the happy after i needed them to find.
And i was so glad to see that Charmaine Pauls gave them that happy after in spades!
Not only was Tatiana kidnapped,she had to endure things that she shouldn’t have.
And all of that because of that stupid necklace everyone was after….
No wonder she forgot everything that happened,and only remembered her happy times with Dante,plus the light of her life,their son Noah….
It may have been difficult for Dante to deal with the fact she didn’t remember anything,but at the same time,he enjoyed every second she didn’t.
Because the Tatiana he had now,loved him with all her heart,and showed it!
And he made sure to cherish every second,because he knew the moment she had her memory back,it would end.
Finding the proof of how much she’d loved him all those years ago,broke his heart.
And he knew he’d do everything in his power to make up for it,give her the life she deserved.
He also knew he’d carry the knowledge he was responsible for what she’d endured for him for the rest of his life.
Tatiana may have forgotten about all the bad things that had happened to her,but she was with the people she loved,and that was all that mattered….right?
So,why did she have a niggling feeling that something was wrong?
She knew she missed a large portion of her life,like when did they get married?
Because the picture Dante showed her had Noah in it.
He told her they’d been separated,but why?
And he was possessive of her,but was that out of love…..or was there something else?
Because while she told him she loved him,he didn’t say the words back.
And what happened to make her lose her memory in the first place?
The necklace was the key in the entire story.
Everyone wanted it,but for different reasons.
And once i heard Dante’s,i cried….
Because Tatiana was wrong about him.
His reason was the most beautiful,and tragic,of them all!
Having survived this rollercoaster,there’s still one question,though…
Who was the girl with Benson Bennett,and what’s their story??
May 18, 2026
Audiobook Review (ALC)
Callous Love picks up exactly where Callous Desire ended. This is the conclusion of the duet but you need to read/listen to Callous Desire first.
This book was definitely an emotional rollercoaster! It answered a lot of questions that I had from book 1 (Callous Desire) and I enjoyed learning what really happened in the past between Tatiana and Dante.
I love how everything was so different between Tatiana and Dante in this book because of what happened to her and we got to see a different side to their relationship and how things could have been.
Anyways I don't want to give any spoilers but they really had to go through a lot of ups and downs and a few times I got annoyed about their lack of honesty/communication/asking more questions/wanting to avoid hard answers but at the same time it got the story moving and I was emotionally invested.
Oh and Dante is definitely morally grey (those bank people & the boat thing was a lot and I wish he did something else instead to avoid that). It made me mad at him for that.
Overall though, I enjoyed this book even more than book 1 and kept wanting to see what will happen next.
The audiobook was performed in duet narration by Heather Firth and Christian Black like in book 1 and they both did an amazing job portraying all the characters. I enjoyed listening to Heather Firth as Tatiana and Christian Black as Dante and felt all the emotions with them.
The spice was definitely spicing in this book as well and their chemistry was off the chart like in book 1 but with a different dynamic for this book because of the circumstances.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Audiobook: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Audiobook Format: Duet Narration
Tropes in this book:
🔥 Dark mafia romance
🔥 Second Chance romance
🔥 Enemies to lovers
🔥 Possessive MMC
🔥 Secret child
🔥 Forced marriage
🔥 Morally grey MMC
🔥 Revenge
🔥 Secrets + betrayal + redemption
Ps. I received an advanced copy of the audiobook from One Night Stand Studios and Charmaine Pauls and these are my honest thoughts.
Callous Love picks up exactly where Callous Desire ended. This is the conclusion of the duet but you need to read/listen to Callous Desire first.
This book was definitely an emotional rollercoaster! It answered a lot of questions that I had from book 1 (Callous Desire) and I enjoyed learning what really happened in the past between Tatiana and Dante.
I love how everything was so different between Tatiana and Dante in this book because of what happened to her and we got to see a different side to their relationship and how things could have been.
Anyways I don't want to give any spoilers but they really had to go through a lot of ups and downs and a few times I got annoyed about their lack of honesty/communication/asking more questions/wanting to avoid hard answers but at the same time it got the story moving and I was emotionally invested.
Oh and Dante is definitely morally grey (those bank people & the boat thing was a lot and I wish he did something else instead to avoid that). It made me mad at him for that.
Overall though, I enjoyed this book even more than book 1 and kept wanting to see what will happen next.
The audiobook was performed in duet narration by Heather Firth and Christian Black like in book 1 and they both did an amazing job portraying all the characters. I enjoyed listening to Heather Firth as Tatiana and Christian Black as Dante and felt all the emotions with them.
The spice was definitely spicing in this book as well and their chemistry was off the chart like in book 1 but with a different dynamic for this book because of the circumstances.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Audiobook: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Audiobook Format: Duet Narration
Tropes in this book:
🔥 Dark mafia romance
🔥 Second Chance romance
🔥 Enemies to lovers
🔥 Possessive MMC
🔥 Secret child
🔥 Forced marriage
🔥 Morally grey MMC
🔥 Revenge
🔥 Secrets + betrayal + redemption
Ps. I received an advanced copy of the audiobook from One Night Stand Studios and Charmaine Pauls and these are my honest thoughts.
May 4, 2026
I absolutely loved the second book of Dante and Tatiana’s story.
Callous Desire must be read before this book, this is the conclusion to this amazing couple’s journey.
We get a more thorough look into Tatiana and Dante’s past.
The love that developed and the consequences of it.
Parts were painful and heartbreaking.
Seeing how fiercely they loved, especially Tatiana was bittersweet.
It gave me hope, while simultaneously making me grieve.
Tatiana’s kidnapping and the trauma she goes through has left her broken and not the same.
Dante is getting the unfiltered and unguarded Tatiana. He’s seeing her immense love for him.
But guilt is eating away at him.
The character development is phenomenal.
Tatiana has always been strong.
But here her resilience and strength shine through even more than book one.
Dante becomes more vulnerable. More willing to open up.
Still tortured over the death of his brother and wanting to avenge him. He's torn.
But what is just as important and more powerful is his love for Tatiana and Noah.
His need to protect them and keep them safe made him more endearing to me.
It made him more human and not just living for revenge.
He loves just as fiercely as Tatiana.
Not only do we get to see these two navigate through the mind field of their relationship.
Ms. Pauls’ gives us twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat!
I always love the unexpected in books and this author did that brilliantly!
The conclusion to Dante and Tatiana’s journey to their HEA fits this dynamic couple perfectly.
Heather Firth and Christian Black did a phenomenal job with narration!
They not only brought the words to life.
But they captured and brought to life all the emotions and feelings of the characters.
I could hear and feel what Tatiana and Dante were going through and experiencing throughout the book. They captured the essence of the book perfectly!
Callous Desire must be read before this book, this is the conclusion to this amazing couple’s journey.
We get a more thorough look into Tatiana and Dante’s past.
The love that developed and the consequences of it.
Parts were painful and heartbreaking.
Seeing how fiercely they loved, especially Tatiana was bittersweet.
It gave me hope, while simultaneously making me grieve.
Tatiana’s kidnapping and the trauma she goes through has left her broken and not the same.
Dante is getting the unfiltered and unguarded Tatiana. He’s seeing her immense love for him.
But guilt is eating away at him.
The character development is phenomenal.
Tatiana has always been strong.
But here her resilience and strength shine through even more than book one.
Dante becomes more vulnerable. More willing to open up.
Still tortured over the death of his brother and wanting to avenge him. He's torn.
But what is just as important and more powerful is his love for Tatiana and Noah.
His need to protect them and keep them safe made him more endearing to me.
It made him more human and not just living for revenge.
He loves just as fiercely as Tatiana.
Not only do we get to see these two navigate through the mind field of their relationship.
Ms. Pauls’ gives us twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat!
I always love the unexpected in books and this author did that brilliantly!
The conclusion to Dante and Tatiana’s journey to their HEA fits this dynamic couple perfectly.
Heather Firth and Christian Black did a phenomenal job with narration!
They not only brought the words to life.
But they captured and brought to life all the emotions and feelings of the characters.
I could hear and feel what Tatiana and Dante were going through and experiencing throughout the book. They captured the essence of the book perfectly!
May 5, 2026
Reviewed by Robyn for Saucy Reviews on Kinky Korner
Callous Love is the second book in Tatiana and Dante’s duet but the fifth book in the New York Underworld series, all of which are excellent. This is a second chance at love romance and I am in awe at how this author devised the whole plot, but 🤐 no spoilers from me.
After that cliffhanger ending I was itching to read this book. It doesn’t start where it finished in the previous book, but believe me, the information in the earliest chapters is very important. Then—it continues from the previous book and how!
From slow, almost torturous and intense scenes to fast-paced, action-packed scenes, this book has it all. The chemistry between the lead characters is still off-the-charts, but more than that, after everything that has occurred they finally start to communicate—especially Dante.
Once again, Tatiana’s strength grows in many ways but so does Dante’s. He has to continually look inward and build on his strength or else his ‘house of cards’ will collapse. This is an emotional story, just like Callous Desire. However, the emotions are experienced on a different level… very intense, I felt them deeply and they left a lasting impression.
My favourite part of a story is trying to unravel things given hints but even more is when unpredictable plot twists and turns pop up that completely take you by surprise. This book has that in spades, making it an exciting and enjoyable read.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
Callous Love is the second book in Tatiana and Dante’s duet but the fifth book in the New York Underworld series, all of which are excellent. This is a second chance at love romance and I am in awe at how this author devised the whole plot, but 🤐 no spoilers from me.
After that cliffhanger ending I was itching to read this book. It doesn’t start where it finished in the previous book, but believe me, the information in the earliest chapters is very important. Then—it continues from the previous book and how!
From slow, almost torturous and intense scenes to fast-paced, action-packed scenes, this book has it all. The chemistry between the lead characters is still off-the-charts, but more than that, after everything that has occurred they finally start to communicate—especially Dante.
Once again, Tatiana’s strength grows in many ways but so does Dante’s. He has to continually look inward and build on his strength or else his ‘house of cards’ will collapse. This is an emotional story, just like Callous Desire. However, the emotions are experienced on a different level… very intense, I felt them deeply and they left a lasting impression.
My favourite part of a story is trying to unravel things given hints but even more is when unpredictable plot twists and turns pop up that completely take you by surprise. This book has that in spades, making it an exciting and enjoyable read.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
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