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Star Crossed
Not yet published
Expected 15 Jan 26She was raised to hate him.
He had forsaken his family.
But when destiny calls, bloodlines mean nothing compared to fate.
She’s the niece of the Irish Clan’s most merciless leader. He’s a heir to the Italian empire she was raised to despise. Neither of them planned on colliding… and neither of them walks away unscarred.
Maeve McGahern has survived the Irish underworld by staying small, silent, and useful. Orphaned young and forged under her uncle’s brutal command, she’s learned to bury weakness, mask fear, and keep her secrets locked behind her ribs. Love is a trap. Trust is a weapon turned inward. And curiosity—especially about the Clan’s darkest dealings—gets people killed.
But when her search for the truth pushes her across enemy lines, Maeve doesn’t end up dead. She ends up under the protection of the Corvos and in the orbit of the one man she should never let close.
Danilo Corvo walked away from this life, hadn't wanted anything to do with it. Little did he know, he would have no choice in the matter. The heart wants, what the heart wants.
But in a world where alliances crumble overnight and blood debts demand payment, desire is a battlefield of its own. The closer they draw, the sharper the consequences. Maeve must decide if she’ll cling to the family that broke her… or gamble everything on the man who might burn the world down to protect her.
In a city ruled by old grudges and new wars, love isn’t a fairytale. It’s a slow, dangerous surrender—and not everyone survives it.
Because in this world, love is a weapon and some will be conquered by it.
⸻
Perfect for readers who
• ✦ Mafia romance with real danger and real heat
• ✦ Slow burn, enemies-to-lovers tension you can taste
• ✦ Brooding, dangerous men and sharp, fierce heroines
• ✦ Italian underworld meets hints of the paranormal
• ✦ Found family, loyalty, and complicated alliances
• ✦ Magic woven into a gritty, violent criminal world
• ✦ High stakes, forbidden love, and a twist-heavy plot
⸻
If you love Amanda Graves, Nikki St. Crowe, Steffanie Holmes, or J.T Geissinger with a paranormal twist… this series belongs on your shelf.
Fall into a world where curses bleed, loyalties break, and love becomes the most dangerous choice of all.
Start reading today.
He had forsaken his family.
But when destiny calls, bloodlines mean nothing compared to fate.
She’s the niece of the Irish Clan’s most merciless leader. He’s a heir to the Italian empire she was raised to despise. Neither of them planned on colliding… and neither of them walks away unscarred.
Maeve McGahern has survived the Irish underworld by staying small, silent, and useful. Orphaned young and forged under her uncle’s brutal command, she’s learned to bury weakness, mask fear, and keep her secrets locked behind her ribs. Love is a trap. Trust is a weapon turned inward. And curiosity—especially about the Clan’s darkest dealings—gets people killed.
But when her search for the truth pushes her across enemy lines, Maeve doesn’t end up dead. She ends up under the protection of the Corvos and in the orbit of the one man she should never let close.
Danilo Corvo walked away from this life, hadn't wanted anything to do with it. Little did he know, he would have no choice in the matter. The heart wants, what the heart wants.
But in a world where alliances crumble overnight and blood debts demand payment, desire is a battlefield of its own. The closer they draw, the sharper the consequences. Maeve must decide if she’ll cling to the family that broke her… or gamble everything on the man who might burn the world down to protect her.
In a city ruled by old grudges and new wars, love isn’t a fairytale. It’s a slow, dangerous surrender—and not everyone survives it.
Because in this world, love is a weapon and some will be conquered by it.
⸻
Perfect for readers who
• ✦ Mafia romance with real danger and real heat
• ✦ Slow burn, enemies-to-lovers tension you can taste
• ✦ Brooding, dangerous men and sharp, fierce heroines
• ✦ Italian underworld meets hints of the paranormal
• ✦ Found family, loyalty, and complicated alliances
• ✦ Magic woven into a gritty, violent criminal world
• ✦ High stakes, forbidden love, and a twist-heavy plot
⸻
If you love Amanda Graves, Nikki St. Crowe, Steffanie Holmes, or J.T Geissinger with a paranormal twist… this series belongs on your shelf.
Fall into a world where curses bleed, loyalties break, and love becomes the most dangerous choice of all.
Start reading today.
375 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 15, 2026
3 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 11, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was my first time reading anything by Yvi Kmetts, and I’ll be honest—at the beginning I wasn’t completely sure how I felt about it. The first few chapters seemed a little chaotic, but once the writing settled into its rhythm, I found myself really drawn in. So my advice is: stick with it.
The story is told from several points of view, the MCs Maeve and Danilo, as well as Chiara, Danilo’s sister. This was unusual for me at first, but it ended up working well and added depth to the story.
I really liked all of the characters. Maeve and Danilo are the star-crossed lovers, but the Corvo siblings play just as big a part in the book, which I appreciated. Maeve is the niece of Irish Clan boss Lorcan, a nasty bastard, and my heart broke for her with the abuse she’s endured. Danilo feels like the black sheep of his Italian mafia family. When Maeve meets the Corvos, she’s immediately struck by how close they are and by the loyalty and love they have for one another.
Chiara was a standout for me—I loved her character and can’t wait to read her story.
There are a few twists and turns along the way, plus a touch of paranormal thrown in for good measure. Overall, once I got into it, this turned into an addictive and easy read.
Thank you for the ARC.
This was my first time reading anything by Yvi Kmetts, and I’ll be honest—at the beginning I wasn’t completely sure how I felt about it. The first few chapters seemed a little chaotic, but once the writing settled into its rhythm, I found myself really drawn in. So my advice is: stick with it.
The story is told from several points of view, the MCs Maeve and Danilo, as well as Chiara, Danilo’s sister. This was unusual for me at first, but it ended up working well and added depth to the story.
I really liked all of the characters. Maeve and Danilo are the star-crossed lovers, but the Corvo siblings play just as big a part in the book, which I appreciated. Maeve is the niece of Irish Clan boss Lorcan, a nasty bastard, and my heart broke for her with the abuse she’s endured. Danilo feels like the black sheep of his Italian mafia family. When Maeve meets the Corvos, she’s immediately struck by how close they are and by the loyalty and love they have for one another.
Chiara was a standout for me—I loved her character and can’t wait to read her story.
There are a few twists and turns along the way, plus a touch of paranormal thrown in for good measure. Overall, once I got into it, this turned into an addictive and easy read.
Thank you for the ARC.
January 12, 2026
A dark mafia romance where the darkness lies more in the brutal reality of the mafia world than in the romance itself. Expect violence, ruthless power plays, and a world where loyalty is demanded but rarely returned.
The story follows Maeve, whose undying devotion to her family is both her strength and her downfall. After her parents’ death, her uncle takes over the Irish mafia and treats her as nothing more than a pawn. When her warnings about a growing threat are dismissed, she follows the motto the enemy of my enemy is my friend—a choice that nearly costs her her life and leads her straight into the arms of the Italian Corvo family.
I absolutely loved the Corvos from the start. Their strong family bonds, the way they train and operate together, and the deep sense of loyalty within the Crowe Empire really stood out. The twin connection, especially Chiara - adds an intriguing layer, and I’m very curious to see where that goes in future books.
Daniello, the black sheep of the family, is deeply obsessed from the beginning. At first, his intensity was a bit hard for me to grasp, but the way he cares for Maeve, patient, protective, and unwavering, slowly won me over. The found family trope truly shines here, and watching Maeve finally experience a sense of belonging was one of my favorite aspects.
The book has short chapters, which I loved. The multiple POVs were slightly confusing for me at the beginning, and the healing and caretaking portion dragged a bit. That said, the slow burn itself was really well done, I just found myself wanting more of it.
Overall, this is a story about loyalty, obsession, and choosing your own family, wrapped in a violent mafia world with hints of something more beneath the surface.
Please be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading.
The story follows Maeve, whose undying devotion to her family is both her strength and her downfall. After her parents’ death, her uncle takes over the Irish mafia and treats her as nothing more than a pawn. When her warnings about a growing threat are dismissed, she follows the motto the enemy of my enemy is my friend—a choice that nearly costs her her life and leads her straight into the arms of the Italian Corvo family.
I absolutely loved the Corvos from the start. Their strong family bonds, the way they train and operate together, and the deep sense of loyalty within the Crowe Empire really stood out. The twin connection, especially Chiara - adds an intriguing layer, and I’m very curious to see where that goes in future books.
Daniello, the black sheep of the family, is deeply obsessed from the beginning. At first, his intensity was a bit hard for me to grasp, but the way he cares for Maeve, patient, protective, and unwavering, slowly won me over. The found family trope truly shines here, and watching Maeve finally experience a sense of belonging was one of my favorite aspects.
The book has short chapters, which I loved. The multiple POVs were slightly confusing for me at the beginning, and the healing and caretaking portion dragged a bit. That said, the slow burn itself was really well done, I just found myself wanting more of it.
Overall, this is a story about loyalty, obsession, and choosing your own family, wrapped in a violent mafia world with hints of something more beneath the surface.
Please be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is so good. There are a lot of complex emotions and dynamics, not only within the organizations themselves, but also between Danilo and his family, Maeve and her family, and Danilo and Maeve.
Danilo essentially plays to the beat of his own drum, which in the crime world, is not how things usually go. But he is adamant about having his own life, which ends up essentially isolating him from his close-knit family.
But at the end of the day, family, true family, always has your back.
Maeve is an orphan and is taken in by her uncle, who is the next male in line, and takes over as Maeve isn't married and is not a man.
She endures a lot under her uncle's reign, but that never dulls her personality. She is such a spitfire. Full of sass, wit, and brains.
Both, but not together, Danilo and Maeve aim to get into better standings with their own families, one by spying and one by taking in a captive. But that's not how things end up playing out exactly.
If you love mafia romance, sassy FMCs, witty banter, and don't mess with my family, then THIS is a must-read.
Danilo essentially plays to the beat of his own drum, which in the crime world, is not how things usually go. But he is adamant about having his own life, which ends up essentially isolating him from his close-knit family.
But at the end of the day, family, true family, always has your back.
Maeve is an orphan and is taken in by her uncle, who is the next male in line, and takes over as Maeve isn't married and is not a man.
She endures a lot under her uncle's reign, but that never dulls her personality. She is such a spitfire. Full of sass, wit, and brains.
Both, but not together, Danilo and Maeve aim to get into better standings with their own families, one by spying and one by taking in a captive. But that's not how things end up playing out exactly.
If you love mafia romance, sassy FMCs, witty banter, and don't mess with my family, then THIS is a must-read.
December 22, 2025
Such an interesting plot! Really enjoyed the character development, the bonds all the character shared and the gradual build up of suspense. The alternating POVs were so well written! Can't wait for the other books in the series to be released!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews