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Ruthless Vow: A Dark Mafia Arranged Marriage Romance
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March 31, 2026
I don’t know how I feel about this one. It was interesting at times, the premise of course was right up my alley, so I picked it up and thought I’d enjoy it.
But then… just nothing much happened between our main characters. They went from marriage of convenience and Dante wanting to resist the attraction to getting married again in the middle of a mafia war. I don’t feel like we had enough character development or a natural progression.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I don’t know, it just didn’t click for me. I wished I liked it more, as the rest of the plot was great and I was hooked. I liked it, just didn’t love it as I thought I would.
But then… just nothing much happened between our main characters. They went from marriage of convenience and Dante wanting to resist the attraction to getting married again in the middle of a mafia war. I don’t feel like we had enough character development or a natural progression.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I don’t know, it just didn’t click for me. I wished I liked it more, as the rest of the plot was great and I was hooked. I liked it, just didn’t love it as I thought I would.
Review of advance copy
Cassia has lived in her sister's shadow her whole life, a silent but useful observer with her accounting skills. But when her sister runs away before her wedding to the dangerous Dante Santoro, Cassia takes it upon herself to pay her family's debt and marry him. She's watched Dante for years while helping her father accounting, and she just wants him to notice her. She succeeds, but she realizes quickly realizes that someone has been stealing from the Santoro family for years. Can Cassia follow the money and find the traitor?
I wanted to like this story. I like the arranged marriage trope, smart female protagonists, and morally grey characters. But not much really happens throughout the book. Dante sees love as a weakness and originally avoids Cassia. But he can't deny his attraction, and when he realizes she's extremely good at accounting, his admiration grows. But they really don't seem to really get to know each other. He knows how she likes her coffee (though how she takes her coffee changes three times within the book), and that she feels overlooked. She knows he is scared of intimacy and has nightmares. They just repeat these things at each other multiple times throughout the story, emphasizing how little they truly know each other.
Once the traitor was revealed, I was excited for the book to become a little darker with detailing how Dante was going to dismantle those at fault. Instead, he just declares that they would go to war and proceeds to plan a second wedding to Cassia. While I understand the second marriage is a symbol of their true commitment to each other, it seemed very superfluous given they were already married and there was still a very real threat at large. I just kinda wanted more action instead of continued repetitious conversations between Cassia and Dante about how much they love each other.
There's also a lot of little inconsistencies that just get a bit irritating. For one, before she married Dante, Cassie and her father worked as accountants for the Santoro family. Why was she just now noticing the accounting discrepancy? It could be that they worked with a different set of books or something, but it would have been nice for this to be explained a bit more. Everyone also acts like Cassia has never been to the compound before she initially agrees to fulfill her family's debt, but she worked there daily with her dad. It's stated she's good at melting into the background, but how everyone acts is like she was truly invisible and no one noted a second human in the room with her father, ever.
Another inconsistency is Cassia's sister. She shows up asking for protection, and she is quickly dropped entirely from the plot as soon as she gives Cassia an important nugget of information. What happened to her? Was she killed by her enemies, or was she actually given protection? Did she go back home? Why wasn't she invited to the second wedding when her parents were?
Finally, Cassia often counts words and letters. Unfortunately, the letters often don't match what was said. I know this is a small thing to complain about, but as she kept miscounting letters, I started to wonder if she was actually any good with numbers after all.
Overall, this was not the book for me, as the plot largely ignored interesting developments and instead emphasized the romantic elements without fleshing out the main characters enough to give their relationship depth.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I wanted to like this story. I like the arranged marriage trope, smart female protagonists, and morally grey characters. But not much really happens throughout the book. Dante sees love as a weakness and originally avoids Cassia. But he can't deny his attraction, and when he realizes she's extremely good at accounting, his admiration grows. But they really don't seem to really get to know each other. He knows how she likes her coffee (though how she takes her coffee changes three times within the book), and that she feels overlooked. She knows he is scared of intimacy and has nightmares. They just repeat these things at each other multiple times throughout the story, emphasizing how little they truly know each other.
Once the traitor was revealed, I was excited for the book to become a little darker with detailing how Dante was going to dismantle those at fault. Instead, he just declares that they would go to war and proceeds to plan a second wedding to Cassia. While I understand the second marriage is a symbol of their true commitment to each other, it seemed very superfluous given they were already married and there was still a very real threat at large. I just kinda wanted more action instead of continued repetitious conversations between Cassia and Dante about how much they love each other.
There's also a lot of little inconsistencies that just get a bit irritating. For one, before she married Dante, Cassie and her father worked as accountants for the Santoro family. Why was she just now noticing the accounting discrepancy? It could be that they worked with a different set of books or something, but it would have been nice for this to be explained a bit more. Everyone also acts like Cassia has never been to the compound before she initially agrees to fulfill her family's debt, but she worked there daily with her dad. It's stated she's good at melting into the background, but how everyone acts is like she was truly invisible and no one noted a second human in the room with her father, ever.
Another inconsistency is Cassia's sister. She shows up asking for protection, and she is quickly dropped entirely from the plot as soon as she gives Cassia an important nugget of information. What happened to her? Was she killed by her enemies, or was she actually given protection? Did she go back home? Why wasn't she invited to the second wedding when her parents were?
Finally, Cassia often counts words and letters. Unfortunately, the letters often don't match what was said. I know this is a small thing to complain about, but as she kept miscounting letters, I started to wonder if she was actually any good with numbers after all.
Overall, this was not the book for me, as the plot largely ignored interesting developments and instead emphasized the romantic elements without fleshing out the main characters enough to give their relationship depth.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
✨ARC Review: Ruthless Vows
Ruthless Vow
By: Tori Stone
The Ruthless Series Book 1
5⭐️ 4🌶️
❥mafia romance
❥marriage of convince
❥forced proximity
❥found family
❥he falls first
❥dark romance
Tori Stone has delivered another great mafia romance book! This is not my first read by this author and when I saw her name come across for an ARC for her new book, I could not run fast enough to sign up! I was hooked from the first page until the last! We hit the ground running when we first meet Cassia, our fierce and smart FMC who has been in the shadow of her sister, always in the background, never noticed. She is the one who stays and cleans up the “mess” that is her sister. Her parents underestimate her and her strength and don’t realize that she is stronger and braver than they give her credit for. Dante, our ruthless, controlled, commanding Don of New Orleans carries the weight his family on his shoulders. He is set to be married to Cassia’s sister Elena, who ran two days before her wedding, a sister who couldn’t care less about destroying two families in the process.
Cassia puts on the dress that she would have worn to her sister’s wedding, along with her best heels and pearl earrings and marches into Dante Santoro’s office with her head held high and offers herself as his bride to be. Within two hours her and Dante are married and so begins the push and pull between them. He tries to keep her at arms length because he saw what falling in love did to his father and how he struggled when his mother died, how his father lost himself without her. The only problem is that he can’t deny the pull that Cassia has on him and his walls come tumbling down. The chemistry between him and Cassia is consuming, she grounds him in the best ways and he falls first and he falls hard. Dante really sees her, even though she struggles to believe that she will ever be noticed and will only ever be just furniture in a room.
This book had me on the edge of my seat with the twist and turns, it was an emotional rollercoaster and I was along for the ride. I loved the family dynamic between Dante and his siblings, the banter they had at moments, the loyalty they had for one another and Cassia and how welcoming they were of her into their family. Ruthless Vow should be at the top of your TBR list, I promise you will not be disappointed. Thank you to author Tori Stone and BookSirens for this opportunity to read this eARC.
✨Ruthless Vow releasing March 12, 2026
#MafiaRomance #foundfamily #RuthlessVow #toristone
Ruthless Vow
By: Tori Stone
The Ruthless Series Book 1
5⭐️ 4🌶️
❥mafia romance
❥marriage of convince
❥forced proximity
❥found family
❥he falls first
❥dark romance
Tori Stone has delivered another great mafia romance book! This is not my first read by this author and when I saw her name come across for an ARC for her new book, I could not run fast enough to sign up! I was hooked from the first page until the last! We hit the ground running when we first meet Cassia, our fierce and smart FMC who has been in the shadow of her sister, always in the background, never noticed. She is the one who stays and cleans up the “mess” that is her sister. Her parents underestimate her and her strength and don’t realize that she is stronger and braver than they give her credit for. Dante, our ruthless, controlled, commanding Don of New Orleans carries the weight his family on his shoulders. He is set to be married to Cassia’s sister Elena, who ran two days before her wedding, a sister who couldn’t care less about destroying two families in the process.
Cassia puts on the dress that she would have worn to her sister’s wedding, along with her best heels and pearl earrings and marches into Dante Santoro’s office with her head held high and offers herself as his bride to be. Within two hours her and Dante are married and so begins the push and pull between them. He tries to keep her at arms length because he saw what falling in love did to his father and how he struggled when his mother died, how his father lost himself without her. The only problem is that he can’t deny the pull that Cassia has on him and his walls come tumbling down. The chemistry between him and Cassia is consuming, she grounds him in the best ways and he falls first and he falls hard. Dante really sees her, even though she struggles to believe that she will ever be noticed and will only ever be just furniture in a room.
This book had me on the edge of my seat with the twist and turns, it was an emotional rollercoaster and I was along for the ride. I loved the family dynamic between Dante and his siblings, the banter they had at moments, the loyalty they had for one another and Cassia and how welcoming they were of her into their family. Ruthless Vow should be at the top of your TBR list, I promise you will not be disappointed. Thank you to author Tori Stone and BookSirens for this opportunity to read this eARC.
✨Ruthless Vow releasing March 12, 2026
#MafiaRomance #foundfamily #RuthlessVow #toristone
Read
March 2, 2026Arc Review
Firstly let’s emphasise the bold “content warning”. Many authors are clearly stating this upon their reads, clear, precise and leaving up to the reader if they would like to continue. Simply as stated, “not your story, no judgement”.
Following along the Blurb is very solid.
Don of New Orleans - Dante Santoro : love is a luxury, a weakness. A need that ends one’s life. Dante doesn’t want this need, but can he control it?
Cassia Neri - quiet little mouse, numbers don’t lie, invincible, useful, will survive. Not precious, worth keeping, practical - tolerable.
Emotions run hectic here. This read was surrounded by emotions. Dante & Cassia found one another, b Arc Review
Firstly let’s emphasise the bold “content warning”. Many authors are clearly stating this upon their reads, clear, precise and leaving up to the reader if they would like to continue. Simply as stated, “not your story, no judgement”.
Following along the Blurb is very solid.
Don of New Orleans - Dante Santoro : love is a luxury, a weakness. A need that ends one’s life. Dante doesn’t want this need, but can he control it?
Cassia Neri - quiet little mouse, numbers don’t lie, invincible, useful, will survive. Not precious, worth keeping, practical - tolerable.
Emotions run hectic here. This read was surrounded by emotions. Dante & Cassia found one another, but what brought them here?
Numbers & betrayal
Not being seen, a shadow
Barriers for some to protect themselves, hardship for others.
Cryptic, yes. What I will reveal is how heartfelt Dante & Cassia are. Not just them but all the Santoro Family. Is this the end? No as this is book 1 in the series. There are still unanswered questions. There are quite a few siblings who are wound tight.
Ruthless - yes or no?
❤️❤️❤️ ut what brought them here?
Numbers & betrayal
Not being seen, a shadow
Barriers for some to protect themselves, hardship for others.
Cryptic, yes. What I will reveal is how heartfelt Dante & Cassia are. Not just them but all the Santoro Family. Is this the end? No as this is book 1 in the series. There are still unanswered questions. There are quite a few siblings who are wound tight.
Ruthless - yes or no?
❤️❤️❤️
Firstly let’s emphasise the bold “content warning”. Many authors are clearly stating this upon their reads, clear, precise and leaving up to the reader if they would like to continue. Simply as stated, “not your story, no judgement”.
Following along the Blurb is very solid.
Don of New Orleans - Dante Santoro : love is a luxury, a weakness. A need that ends one’s life. Dante doesn’t want this need, but can he control it?
Cassia Neri - quiet little mouse, numbers don’t lie, invincible, useful, will survive. Not precious, worth keeping, practical - tolerable.
Emotions run hectic here. This read was surrounded by emotions. Dante & Cassia found one another, b Arc Review
Firstly let’s emphasise the bold “content warning”. Many authors are clearly stating this upon their reads, clear, precise and leaving up to the reader if they would like to continue. Simply as stated, “not your story, no judgement”.
Following along the Blurb is very solid.
Don of New Orleans - Dante Santoro : love is a luxury, a weakness. A need that ends one’s life. Dante doesn’t want this need, but can he control it?
Cassia Neri - quiet little mouse, numbers don’t lie, invincible, useful, will survive. Not precious, worth keeping, practical - tolerable.
Emotions run hectic here. This read was surrounded by emotions. Dante & Cassia found one another, but what brought them here?
Numbers & betrayal
Not being seen, a shadow
Barriers for some to protect themselves, hardship for others.
Cryptic, yes. What I will reveal is how heartfelt Dante & Cassia are. Not just them but all the Santoro Family. Is this the end? No as this is book 1 in the series. There are still unanswered questions. There are quite a few siblings who are wound tight.
Ruthless - yes or no?
❤️❤️❤️ ut what brought them here?
Numbers & betrayal
Not being seen, a shadow
Barriers for some to protect themselves, hardship for others.
Cryptic, yes. What I will reveal is how heartfelt Dante & Cassia are. Not just them but all the Santoro Family. Is this the end? No as this is book 1 in the series. There are still unanswered questions. There are quite a few siblings who are wound tight.
Ruthless - yes or no?
❤️❤️❤️
Review of advance copy
First time Tori Stone reader here and I was impressed. Great plot, awesome characters, well written, engaging, exciting, frustrating and tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. Ugh it was so good!
I loved this story, mafia romance is one of my favorite genres because there is always so much going on at the same time. It feels more realistic to me than some of the other genres.
Cassia is the invisible daughter, the replacement, the one no one pays attention to. But when her sister runs off before her arranged marriage, essentially destroying an important alliance, Cassia decides she will take her place and restore the families honor.
Dante is the Don of New Orleans. He’s ruthless, cold and irritated that his would be bride ran away 2 days before his wedding. Not that he ever wanted to get married but the families see it as stable and now that his father is gone and he has taken over it’s the next logical step. What he didn’t expect was a very brave, very intelligent, Cassia to walk into him home and offer herself up on a silver platter.
Now with a traitor in their home, an attempted murder via poison and figuring out how to stay away from this beautiful women he married as a consolation his world has been turned upside down.
This book was a wild ride and had all the great elements of a mafia romance. I loved the dynamic between the two main characters and the way they each see through the others facade. The walls they each have built to hide from the world are not longer an obstacle and that’s the scariest thing of all.
I have never read anything by Tori Stone before and like I said earlier, I was impressed. This story sucks you in and holds you hostage the whole time.
I highly recommend you check out this book as it’s the first in the Ruthless Series and I for one can’t wait to read the next one!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved this story, mafia romance is one of my favorite genres because there is always so much going on at the same time. It feels more realistic to me than some of the other genres.
Cassia is the invisible daughter, the replacement, the one no one pays attention to. But when her sister runs off before her arranged marriage, essentially destroying an important alliance, Cassia decides she will take her place and restore the families honor.
Dante is the Don of New Orleans. He’s ruthless, cold and irritated that his would be bride ran away 2 days before his wedding. Not that he ever wanted to get married but the families see it as stable and now that his father is gone and he has taken over it’s the next logical step. What he didn’t expect was a very brave, very intelligent, Cassia to walk into him home and offer herself up on a silver platter.
Now with a traitor in their home, an attempted murder via poison and figuring out how to stay away from this beautiful women he married as a consolation his world has been turned upside down.
This book was a wild ride and had all the great elements of a mafia romance. I loved the dynamic between the two main characters and the way they each see through the others facade. The walls they each have built to hide from the world are not longer an obstacle and that’s the scariest thing of all.
I have never read anything by Tori Stone before and like I said earlier, I was impressed. This story sucks you in and holds you hostage the whole time.
I highly recommend you check out this book as it’s the first in the Ruthless Series and I for one can’t wait to read the next one!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ruthless Vow by Tori Stone completely pulled me under and I did not want to come up for air.
Enemies to lovers and arranged marriage in a mafia setting is already my weakness, but this story took it to another level. From the very first chapter, the tension is thick. A sister running from her wedding. A family drowning in debt. And a heroine who steps in as payment knowing exactly what kind of man she is binding herself to. That sacrifice alone had me hooked.
What made this book stand out is that she was never naïve. She knew Dante Santoro long before he knew her. She had watched him, understood him, seen the cracks in the powerful Don that no one else noticed. She walked into that marriage already falling, and that quiet longing made every cold glance from him hurt just a little more.
Dante is ruthless, controlled, and commanding, but beneath all of that power is a man carrying heavy ghosts. The emotional push and pull between them is intense. The restraint. The simmering tension. And when that control finally breaks, it explodes in a way that feels earned and consuming. Their chemistry is fierce, possessive, and impossible to ignore.
I also loved that this story was not just about passion. There is betrayal woven through the family. Secrets. A threat from within that keeps the stakes high. Watching her go from the overlooked sister to someone willing to protect her new home at all costs was powerful. She finally has something worth fighting for, and she refuses to let anyone take it.
This book is dark, emotional, and full of that addictive mafia intensity we crave, but it also carries a surprising amount of heart. It is about loyalty. Sacrifice. And finding love in the most ruthless places.
Five stars and a permanent place on my mafia romance shelf.
Enemies to lovers and arranged marriage in a mafia setting is already my weakness, but this story took it to another level. From the very first chapter, the tension is thick. A sister running from her wedding. A family drowning in debt. And a heroine who steps in as payment knowing exactly what kind of man she is binding herself to. That sacrifice alone had me hooked.
What made this book stand out is that she was never naïve. She knew Dante Santoro long before he knew her. She had watched him, understood him, seen the cracks in the powerful Don that no one else noticed. She walked into that marriage already falling, and that quiet longing made every cold glance from him hurt just a little more.
Dante is ruthless, controlled, and commanding, but beneath all of that power is a man carrying heavy ghosts. The emotional push and pull between them is intense. The restraint. The simmering tension. And when that control finally breaks, it explodes in a way that feels earned and consuming. Their chemistry is fierce, possessive, and impossible to ignore.
I also loved that this story was not just about passion. There is betrayal woven through the family. Secrets. A threat from within that keeps the stakes high. Watching her go from the overlooked sister to someone willing to protect her new home at all costs was powerful. She finally has something worth fighting for, and she refuses to let anyone take it.
This book is dark, emotional, and full of that addictive mafia intensity we crave, but it also carries a surprising amount of heart. It is about loyalty. Sacrifice. And finding love in the most ruthless places.
Five stars and a permanent place on my mafia romance shelf.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is Dante and Cassia's book. Both characters are strong intricate characters with multiple dimensions that constantly unfurling throughout the entire story. Dante is the new don of the family taking over from his father. He believed his father passed of a broken heart. That forms his mind set on how he will handle marriage. He tries to hold Cassia at arm's length. Cassia is the invisible daughter. Her sister was originally pledged to Dante. A sister who ran on the eve of the wedding. A sister who couldn't care less about destroying two families in the process. Cassia is the financial wizard who uses numbers to sink into the wall and become invisible. She hears the conversation going on around her and decides logically she will do the right thing. She's the consolation bride at first. Then she discovers the numbers are wrong.
The story pulls you in from the start. Cassia is every person who feels invisible. She's the one with the strength to do the right thing. The relationship between Dante and Cassia is a slow burn that at times makes you want to smack someone and at other times jump for joy. The rest of the family are just as interesting and their relationship with Cassia shows the intricacies of the family dynamic. The two reasons the rate wasn't a five is when the sister reappears & is sent to the room - she is never mentioned again. Cassia's parents are never dealt with the way the react and treat Cassia. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story pulls you in from the start. Cassia is every person who feels invisible. She's the one with the strength to do the right thing. The relationship between Dante and Cassia is a slow burn that at times makes you want to smack someone and at other times jump for joy. The rest of the family are just as interesting and their relationship with Cassia shows the intricacies of the family dynamic. The two reasons the rate wasn't a five is when the sister reappears & is sent to the room - she is never mentioned again. Cassia's parents are never dealt with the way the react and treat Cassia. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 18, 2026
He Fell Harder and I LOVED It!
OMG besties… this one had me STRESSED in the best way. "Ruthless Vow" was giving tension, obsession, and “JUST KISS ALREADY” energy from start to finish.
Cassia? I just wanted to wrap her up and protect her at all costs. All she wanted was to be seen, and the way she quietly stepped into that marriage and made herself indispensable? Yeah… I knew she was gonna be my girl. Meanwhile Dante had me ready to square up because sir… OPEN YOUR EYES. The pining?! Absolutely criminal. I was yelling at my Kindle like a full lunatic.🫣
But when Dante finally gets it?? Whew. This man went from cold, ruthless Don to full-on golden retriever energy... obsessed, protective, and gone for her in the most delicious way. We LOVE a “he fell harder” moment.🥰
The suspense threaded through the story kept me hooked, and I really appreciated the smooth, non-overwhelming writing style. My only hiccup? I needed more closure on Elena because… what happened there?!
Overall... obsession fuel. TBR-worthy and I need book two. Seriously.😉
My Ratings: ⭐ 4/5 ▪︎ 🥵 3/5
🥀 For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤
OMG besties… this one had me STRESSED in the best way. "Ruthless Vow" was giving tension, obsession, and “JUST KISS ALREADY” energy from start to finish.
Cassia? I just wanted to wrap her up and protect her at all costs. All she wanted was to be seen, and the way she quietly stepped into that marriage and made herself indispensable? Yeah… I knew she was gonna be my girl. Meanwhile Dante had me ready to square up because sir… OPEN YOUR EYES. The pining?! Absolutely criminal. I was yelling at my Kindle like a full lunatic.🫣
But when Dante finally gets it?? Whew. This man went from cold, ruthless Don to full-on golden retriever energy... obsessed, protective, and gone for her in the most delicious way. We LOVE a “he fell harder” moment.🥰
The suspense threaded through the story kept me hooked, and I really appreciated the smooth, non-overwhelming writing style. My only hiccup? I needed more closure on Elena because… what happened there?!
Overall... obsession fuel. TBR-worthy and I need book two. Seriously.😉
My Ratings: ⭐ 4/5 ▪︎ 🥵 3/5
🥀 For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤
April 12, 2026
I was not prepared for Ruthless Vow… like at all.
This book doesn’t just cross lines ... it obliterates them and then dares you to beg for more. The tension? Filthy. The chemistry? Absolutely unhinged. Every interaction felt like a loaded weapon ... one look, one touch, and you know it’s about to spiral into something deliciously dangerous.
The MMC is the kind of man you should run from… but instead, I was ready to risk it all. Possessive, ruthless, and completely obsessed? Yeah, I folded instantly. And the way he claims her mind, body, soul, it’s intense, it’s consuming, and it leaves you a little breathless.
And the FMC? She doesn’t just survive him; she meets him in the fire. Their dynamic is this addictive push-and-pull of power, tension, and raw need that had me flipping pages like my life depended on it.
This isn’t soft romance. This is sharp edges, dark promises, and vows that feel more like threats than devotion… and I ate up every single second.
Read if you want:
🔥 obsessive, morally gray men
🔥 tension that feels like foreplay
🔥 dark romance with bite
🔥 “this is toxic but I love it here” energy
#DarkRomance #BookTokMadeMeReadIt #MorallyGrayMMC #ObsessedEnergy #SpicyReads #UnhingedReaders #RomanceBooks #TBRAddict 😈
This book doesn’t just cross lines ... it obliterates them and then dares you to beg for more. The tension? Filthy. The chemistry? Absolutely unhinged. Every interaction felt like a loaded weapon ... one look, one touch, and you know it’s about to spiral into something deliciously dangerous.
The MMC is the kind of man you should run from… but instead, I was ready to risk it all. Possessive, ruthless, and completely obsessed? Yeah, I folded instantly. And the way he claims her mind, body, soul, it’s intense, it’s consuming, and it leaves you a little breathless.
And the FMC? She doesn’t just survive him; she meets him in the fire. Their dynamic is this addictive push-and-pull of power, tension, and raw need that had me flipping pages like my life depended on it.
This isn’t soft romance. This is sharp edges, dark promises, and vows that feel more like threats than devotion… and I ate up every single second.
Read if you want:
🔥 obsessive, morally gray men
🔥 tension that feels like foreplay
🔥 dark romance with bite
🔥 “this is toxic but I love it here” energy
#DarkRomance #BookTokMadeMeReadIt #MorallyGrayMMC #ObsessedEnergy #SpicyReads #UnhingedReaders #RomanceBooks #TBRAddict 😈
March 18, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved reading this book it pulls you into their world and you cannot walk away until the end. When Cassia found out that her sister ran away and both her parents crying she decided to take matters into her own hands. Dante Santoro was at home in his office when he found out about the girl who ran away it made him angry he received a call from his men at the gates, he told them to tell her to go away except she was determined to stay there until he seen her. Cassia is a stubborn person she propositioned Dante so he gave her the contract and signed it then got married within a very short time. Cassia has always been a forgettable person to people around her including her family. Cassia needed to do something so she took on his ledges and started going through everything things weren't adding up, now she needed to tell the Don of New Orleans, he told her to keep looking to find out where it goes and whoo is behind it. They became very close the heat between them could burn the bed. So could they be really happy with that contract in the way.
I loved reading this book it pulls you into their world and you cannot walk away until the end. When Cassia found out that her sister ran away and both her parents crying she decided to take matters into her own hands. Dante Santoro was at home in his office when he found out about the girl who ran away it made him angry he received a call from his men at the gates, he told them to tell her to go away except she was determined to stay there until he seen her. Cassia is a stubborn person she propositioned Dante so he gave her the contract and signed it then got married within a very short time. Cassia has always been a forgettable person to people around her including her family. Cassia needed to do something so she took on his ledges and started going through everything things weren't adding up, now she needed to tell the Don of New Orleans, he told her to keep looking to find out where it goes and whoo is behind it. They became very close the heat between them could burn the bed. So could they be really happy with that contract in the way.
Review of advance copy
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ruthless Vow by Tori Stone
This was my first time reading this author, and it absolutely will not be my last. I really enjoyed the writing style. It felt confident and immersive, drawing me in from the very first chapter.
I especially loved the build up of the romance. Watching Dante the Don of New Orleans with great reluctance, slowly and completely fall in love with Cassia was incredibly satisfying. His resistance made the payoff even sweeter, and the emotional shift felt authentic rather than rushed. As for the Cassia, what a fantastic character. She was strong, engaging, and brought so much depth to the story.
I also particularly enjoyed the family dynamics. Those interactions added warmth, tension, and realism, giving the story extra layers beyond just the romance.
This novel is only the beginning of the Ruthless series, which makes it even more exciting. I’m genuinely looking forward to reading Renzo’s story . A solid four star read that has me eager for more from this author.
Ruthless Vow by Tori Stone
This was my first time reading this author, and it absolutely will not be my last. I really enjoyed the writing style. It felt confident and immersive, drawing me in from the very first chapter.
I especially loved the build up of the romance. Watching Dante the Don of New Orleans with great reluctance, slowly and completely fall in love with Cassia was incredibly satisfying. His resistance made the payoff even sweeter, and the emotional shift felt authentic rather than rushed. As for the Cassia, what a fantastic character. She was strong, engaging, and brought so much depth to the story.
I also particularly enjoyed the family dynamics. Those interactions added warmth, tension, and realism, giving the story extra layers beyond just the romance.
This novel is only the beginning of the Ruthless series, which makes it even more exciting. I’m genuinely looking forward to reading Renzo’s story . A solid four star read that has me eager for more from this author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dante's bride-to-be literally runs away two days before their scheduled vows. This does not look good for the Don of New Orleans. How can he rule, if he can't even keep a bride?
Cassie, the run-away bride's sister, hatches a plan to save face for her family, by offering herself as her sister's substitute. Cassie just wants to be "seen". This could backfire with devastating consequences.
What transpires after this scene is wrapped up in complicated family dynamics, murder, betrayal, and deception.
What you believed to be reality is nothing but 'smoke and mirrors'.
Wow! Tori is messing with my sleep numbers - again! So worth it though.
As usual Tori does a great job of bringing the characters to life. I think I read all Tori's books, and crave more after each one! This one is no exception…can’t wait for Renzo's story.
Cassie, the run-away bride's sister, hatches a plan to save face for her family, by offering herself as her sister's substitute. Cassie just wants to be "seen". This could backfire with devastating consequences.
What transpires after this scene is wrapped up in complicated family dynamics, murder, betrayal, and deception.
What you believed to be reality is nothing but 'smoke and mirrors'.
Wow! Tori is messing with my sleep numbers - again! So worth it though.
As usual Tori does a great job of bringing the characters to life. I think I read all Tori's books, and crave more after each one! This one is no exception…can’t wait for Renzo's story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dante is supposed to get married. But he plans on never loving her or letting her in. He can’t become his father who was just a shell after his mother died. Cassia was never supposed to be the be the bride. That was her sister. Shes the invisible daughter who helps keep the books but no one knows. She knows the only thing to do is offer herself as his bride to pay the debt. I’m such a sucker for a mafia romance and this book didn’t disappoint!! Being invisible all the time already made her notice things about Dante so this was the perfect enemies to lovers where she already has a crush but he’s so set on keeping her at arms length. It was a slow burn which isn’t my favorite but honestly I still loved the book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
***ARC REVIEW***
Dante, the new Don of New Orleans, is set to marry Elena… until she runs two days before the wedding. Plot twist? Her quiet, shy sister Cassia steps in as the unexpected bride. 🔥
Cassia has always worked behind the scenes managing the family finances, but becoming the Don’s wife means stepping out of the shadows—and uncovering some suspicious mistakes in the accounts that could spell serious trouble.
The arranged marriage tension and mafia drama were definitely intriguing, though the spice was lighter than expected. Some scenes dragged a bit, and even after the big reveal, I was left with a few lingering questions. Still, a solid start to the series with a shy heroine finding her strength. 💋📖
Dante, the new Don of New Orleans, is set to marry Elena… until she runs two days before the wedding. Plot twist? Her quiet, shy sister Cassia steps in as the unexpected bride. 🔥
Cassia has always worked behind the scenes managing the family finances, but becoming the Don’s wife means stepping out of the shadows—and uncovering some suspicious mistakes in the accounts that could spell serious trouble.
The arranged marriage tension and mafia drama were definitely intriguing, though the spice was lighter than expected. Some scenes dragged a bit, and even after the big reveal, I was left with a few lingering questions. Still, a solid start to the series with a shy heroine finding her strength. 💋📖
Review of advance copy
ARC Review
Wow! This book had it all for me. Mafia Don, strong FMC, and yearning. I loved that Cassia was brave and finally stuck up for herself and made herself seen in this book. The tension and relationship that grew between Dante and Cassia hade me unable to put this book down. Dante didn't want to love her but the way she earned not only his trust but completely immersed herself into his family was so heart warming. This was my first book I have read by Tori Stone, but it will not be my last. If you love mafia, arranged marriage, he falls hard, strong FMC with a great plot this book is for you.
Wow! This book had it all for me. Mafia Don, strong FMC, and yearning. I loved that Cassia was brave and finally stuck up for herself and made herself seen in this book. The tension and relationship that grew between Dante and Cassia hade me unable to put this book down. Dante didn't want to love her but the way she earned not only his trust but completely immersed herself into his family was so heart warming. This was my first book I have read by Tori Stone, but it will not be my last. If you love mafia, arranged marriage, he falls hard, strong FMC with a great plot this book is for you.
Review of advance copy
This is my first time reading this author. And I have to say that I was not disappointed with this awesome mafia story at all. I loved Cassia and Dante. It took a lot for her to step up and fill her sisters shoes in order to keep peace between the families. And the way Dante looked at her. Had been looking at her…it was so sweet. Even when her sister came back, Dante wasn’t swayed at all. These two were absolutely wonderful. The way these two came together, found a relationship between one another. The suspense, tension, and steam, had me turning the pages wanting to know more.
This story was well written, flowed well, and was intriguing.
This story was well written, flowed well, and was intriguing.
March 18, 2026
New Orleans Madonna
Dante and Cassia’s storyline is a “I’ll burn the world down for you” trope. She offers herself in exchange of her sister, who’s run from her arranged marriage to the Don of New Orleans. It turns out to be a love match as Cassia finds out they have an embezzler in their house, who ends up being much worse then they imagined. This is a fairly well written contemporary romance with great characters, it could have used another pass through by a proofreader, but the problems don’t affect the story or how it plays out. 4✨’s for a heat filled story with a lot of heart and room for more books in the series.
Dante and Cassia’s storyline is a “I’ll burn the world down for you” trope. She offers herself in exchange of her sister, who’s run from her arranged marriage to the Don of New Orleans. It turns out to be a love match as Cassia finds out they have an embezzler in their house, who ends up being much worse then they imagined. This is a fairly well written contemporary romance with great characters, it could have used another pass through by a proofreader, but the problems don’t affect the story or how it plays out. 4✨’s for a heat filled story with a lot of heart and room for more books in the series.
April 20, 2026
The forgotten girl!
Cassia was the daughter no one seen,the second fiddle,the one that handles the cleanup and that's what she did when her sister took off before her wedding to Dante.She gets in her car in a second hand dress shows at Dante's home and strikes a deal.They get married that day! She works with numbers and since she already works with Dante's family it was easy to continue, she uncovers some shady dealings that was going on for years.This story was so good,it was filled with greed ,lies,coverups and in the end love.This story was about a daughter that no one seen but Dante did and he never made her feel unseen again!
Cassia was the daughter no one seen,the second fiddle,the one that handles the cleanup and that's what she did when her sister took off before her wedding to Dante.She gets in her car in a second hand dress shows at Dante's home and strikes a deal.They get married that day! She works with numbers and since she already works with Dante's family it was easy to continue, she uncovers some shady dealings that was going on for years.This story was so good,it was filled with greed ,lies,coverups and in the end love.This story was about a daughter that no one seen but Dante did and he never made her feel unseen again!
Review of advance copy
This book was a great read. Cassia makes a decision to help her family. She confronts Dante in his home. They conclude they will marry. Cassia has always hid in the corner and Dante has built walls around himself. As these two come together, they really see each other. Cassia helps the family making Dante a target. The development of the main characters is slow and steady and I hope the author tells the story of the secondary characters.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Love the Seeing
What a gem! New to me author and very happy to have found.
Totally adored Cassia, that sexy quiet strength. Dante so controlled... until he isn't.
Unsolved mysteries, bone deep betrayal. A family on different pages.
The first meet, then growth. Then passion. It was endearing watching Cassia come into her own. A Don breaking just a little. The heat definitely on point.Renz kinda left hanging. I hope to read his story soon.
What a gem! New to me author and very happy to have found.
Totally adored Cassia, that sexy quiet strength. Dante so controlled... until he isn't.
Unsolved mysteries, bone deep betrayal. A family on different pages.
The first meet, then growth. Then passion. It was endearing watching Cassia come into her own. A Don breaking just a little. The heat definitely on point.Renz kinda left hanging. I hope to read his story soon.
February 27, 2026
Ruthless Vow has a strong premise and solid characters. Dante and Cassia are likeable but flawed, with good chemistry that leads to a HEA they deserve. The found family moments were enjoyable, and the glimpses into Renzo were intriguing enough to make me curious about his story. That said, it’s not really enemies-to-lovers, and with how some things, like Cassia’s family, are handled, the book overall felt just… okay.
Ratings Explained:
★☆☆☆☆ – This book wasn’t for me
★★☆☆☆ – I didn’t like it
★★★☆☆ – It was okay
★★★★☆ – I liked it
★★★★★ – I loved it
Ratings Explained:
★☆☆☆☆ – This book wasn’t for me
★★☆☆☆ – I didn’t like it
★★★☆☆ – It was okay
★★★★☆ – I liked it
★★★★★ – I loved it
Review of advance copy
She has always been in the background, no one notices her, but when her sister is suppose to marry to tie the families together she runs away. She knows that she has to put herself out there to save her family, however she soon realizes that he does see her and wants to keep her even when her beautiful sister shows back up.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 21, 2026
3.25 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
The intro got me hooked that I ended up reading it in one day. I felt sad for her, she felt unseen by everyone but Dante saw her.
I loved that he wanted her more, when he was trying to keep her at arm’s length the more he tried the more he craved her. I felt that the love story was a bit rushed, the suspense was good which was part of what made him notice her more.
I can’t wait to read the other books in this series and I really hope she writes a story about Gia.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
The intro got me hooked that I ended up reading it in one day. I felt sad for her, she felt unseen by everyone but Dante saw her.
I loved that he wanted her more, when he was trying to keep her at arm’s length the more he tried the more he craved her. I felt that the love story was a bit rushed, the suspense was good which was part of what made him notice her more.
I can’t wait to read the other books in this series and I really hope she writes a story about Gia.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ruthless Vow is an amazingly mafia romance! This story did not disappoint! The story was well written, intense, emotional and a page turner. The characters were exciting, intense, likable and steamy. I really loved this book and highly recommend! I can't wait to read more!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This thrilling story is filled with emotional drama that had me from the first page. It is descriptive, well written along with dynamic characters that I enjoyed reading about.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is Dante and Cassia's story and what a story! It's intense, dramatic and consuming and from page 1. It has all of the lies, betrayals, danger, secrets, twists and turns that come with a fantastic Mafia read. An absolute must read!
March 14, 2026
This is the first book in the Ruthless series. It’s Dante and Cassia’s love story. It’s a gripping mafia romance filled with secrets and lies, twists and turns, danger, betrayal, suspense, intrigue and steam. I was totally invested in the story and couldn’t stop reading! Awesome read.
March 30, 2026
This has become my number 1 read this year so far
What a fresh read. Couldn’t put it down, this is truly a love story, some aspects bring tears, others smiles, the whole a truly fantastic storyline.
What a fresh read. Couldn’t put it down, this is truly a love story, some aspects bring tears, others smiles, the whole a truly fantastic storyline.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ruthless vow was Dante and Cassia’s story. It was an intriguing read. And was a new author, for me. And voluntarily leaving this review.
April 11, 2026
4.5⭐️
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