Devious Touch: A dark mafia arranged marriage romance

by Rhea Harp

They say the universe leaves signs to set you on the right path...
Mine led me to the wicked beast chained in my father’s basement.

Lethal. Irresistible. Built for violence.
Mikhail Rykov is the dark Bratva prince the Cosa Nostra forces me to marry.
To him, I’m a pesky means of settling a debt.

Our twisted game begins with him behind bars—
and ends the morning he walks free into my father’s office.
A ring on my finger. The cage suddenly mine.
I can’t escape him.
So I swear I won’t give in.

But as he drags me into his underworld,
I unravel under heated touches and his commanding voice.
Until my resistance starts feeling like a lie.

That’s when he miscalculates.
In Mikhail’s world, love is a weakness.
And I’m about to become one he can’t afford.

Devious Touch is a standalone dark mafia romance featuring an arranged marriage, enemies-to-lovers, a smart and innocent heroine with a tragic past, and an ultra possessive, over-the-top hero with “look at her and I’ll unalive you” vibes in a gothic atmosphere. It has no cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed HEA.

Genres: Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Dark, Slow Burn, Contemporary

404 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 30, 2026

About the author

Rhea Harp is a Transylvanian writer who loves creating angsty, jaw-dropping dark romances involving morally-grey and possessive men. When she's not writing, she's usually lost in a book somewhere or playing board games with her friends.

Reviews

[mary ♡⋆ ࣪₊ꫂ᭪݁⋆˙ · Rating 4 out of 5]

You guys I ATE IT UP


I can’t help but want this woman with every fiber of my fucking being.

Cecilia is a mafia princess who’s been sheltered her whole life. She’s a very talented pianist, and all she wants is to perform freely without anyone controlling her. But when she starts sensing someone watching her from the shadows, old and new nightmares begin to haunt her. She’s terrified of her stalker… but he’s also there to save her and maybe corrupt her 😋


Mikhail… HOLY HOTNESS. This man is OBSESSED. He threatens anyone who even dares to insult his lastochka, helps her through her panic attacks even while he’s locked behind bars in her father’s basement, and literally kills a guy for ripping her dress.

“Exquisite,” he murmurs, his voice a smokey, whiskey-warm sound that feels like gentle fingers brushing down my spine.

And when he starts denying his feelings and pushing Cecilia away. She puts him in his place in the BEST way 🤭🤭
And how does he make up for it?
He gets her a piano with her name engraved on it.




The backgrounds of both MCs were absolutely heartbreaking. Cecilia’s life was built on lies, and Mikhail’s was filled with so much pain. Their character development was EVERYTHING she got stronger, and he got softer just for her.


The tension between them is H.O.T ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

And that man has a MOUTH on him. and the way Cecilia is as equally obsessed with him 🤭🤭🤭

“Of course I am!” she breathes out. “I’m jealous of Rodion and Niko for spending so much time with you. I’m jealous of your family for knowing you better than I do, for longer than I have. I’m jealous of the air you breathe sometimes. Breathe me in. Let me in.”

I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

_________
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[Alva Schwung · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ ARC Review ✨

No because??? I’ve been WAITING for this. Rhea has been teasing us for months, and oh my fucking god, did she deliver. This is legitimately everything I need in a mafia romance. It was incredible 😭🔥

I absolutely love, love, LOVE the tension and the slow fucking burn. Yes, it IS a slow burn in a mafia romance when it takes hundreds of pages before the first kiss. And when that kiss finally happened? I WAS GASPING FOR AIR. Everything was tingling 🫦✋🏼 it was unreal 🫠💋

And I’m sorry, but… Mikhail? THE MAN THAT YOU ARE 😭 The obsession? Unreal. Otherworldly. The lengths he would go to for Cecilia? Absolutely insane. in the best possible way. It’s truly everything I could ever want. He is the perfect specimen of a man. 🖤

And the mouth on him????? Don’t even get me started. The character art had me in complete shambles. But what really got me was the way he cheers her on 😭👸🏼he literally falls for her because he sees her potential. In many ways, he sets her free, and that had me full-on sobbing🥹✨

Cecilia? atta girl. Go fuck them up, babe. I love you. 👑

It was truly worth the wait. but now I’m left feeling completely empty and honestly have no idea what to do with my life 🫠🫠😭🥲🤡

[Aleksandra [semi hiatus]]

DNF 9%

the writing was not enjoyable for me unfortunately

huge thank you to the author Rhea for sending me the ARC, though 🙏🏼

[j · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved it.

[InkedSirenXO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from author


This book didn’t just pull me in—it locked the door, swallowed the key, and dared me to enjoy it. And I absolutely did.

Cecilia is the kind of FMC who walks into a nightmare with her chin lifted, even when the ground beneath her is cracking. She’s not naive, not fragile—she’s sharp, stubborn, and beautifully defiant in a world that keeps trying to cage her. Watching her navigate a forced marriage to a man like Mikhail Rykov? Delicious tension.

And Mikhail… whew. He’s not your standard dark romance hero—he’s colder, more calculated, like a blade that doesn’t need to be swung to do damage. Every word, every move feels intentional. He doesn’t chase—he claims. But what makes him compelling is the slow unravel. The way Cecilia gets under his skin without even trying? That’s where the magic lives.

Their dynamic is a storm wrapped in silk—power plays, resistance, chemistry that simmers until it nearly snaps. The arranged marriage trope is done so right here, with stakes that feel heavy and personal, not just dramatic for the sake of it.

The writing drips with atmosphere—dark, lush, and almost suffocating in the best way. You can feel the weight of the world they’re trapped in, the danger curling around every interaction. And when the emotional cracks start to show? It hits.

If you love:
🖤 Dark mafia romance
🖤 Morally gray, “touch her and die” energy
🖤 Strong-willed heroines who don’t fold
🖤 Slow-burn tension that bites back

Then this one is going to own you.

Cecilia and Mikhail aren’t soft. They aren’t easy. But that’s exactly why their story lingers—like a bruise you keep pressing just to feel it again.

[Sundy Tr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cecilia (23), a mafia princess & Mikhail (30), a Bratva underboss in an arranged-sort of- marriage.

I have mixed feelings about this book.
It had potential but didn’t live up to my expectations.

Cecilia is an inconsistent FMC. In the beginning I found her attitude a bit strange, regarding her stalker. She was super shy and enclosed in her little world but suddenly became a dynamic woman overnight? Also, she claims to have fallen in love at some point but I don’t see why.

Mikhail’s obsession remains a mystery to me. I never understood where it derived from. He saw her once and fell in love? And the guilt he felt was not very convincing.

Their interactions are a bit weird and don’t make much sense to me and I couldn’t feel any chemistry between them.

The mystery about her past had some interest but was slightly weak and the resolution was too quick.

-Dual 1st person POV
-Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Overall: 2.5/5 ⭐️ for me.

I received an Adv. Readers version of this book and I have given this honest and voluntary review.

[Disha · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW ✨
It was my first Arc and boy was it worth it 😏
I have been waiting for the book for months. the Art is GORGEOUS , It got me hooked before I even read the name.
This wasn't my first Rhea Harp book and it certainly won't be the last!!!!!!
The tension, the chemistry she creates is ABSOLUTELY BANGING.
I love a good stalker romance and who doesn't love an obsessed ml?
MIKHAIL IS EVERYTHING!✨❤️‍🔥
Obsessed, Sharp and insane for her.
this book had honestly everything I love in a dark romance.
Mafia ✔️
stalker and obsessed mc✔️
Slow burn ✔️
enemies to lovers ✔️
tension of a forced marriage ✔️
And Cecilia is such a phenomenal fmc. she isn't meek and Naive. I love how she puts him in his place and tries everything in power against the suffocating cage she was born in.
I'm so happy I could get my hands on the Arc

[beca · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Buffy ❤️‍🔥💀 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute I guess but very predictable and I got hella bored half way through.. I had to push through to finish it lol

[Bel · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐
Standalone (other book(s) in the same universe)

🔸Mafia
🔸Tortured MMC, plagued by guilt to what he was forced to do to his brother
🔸Naive, caged, pianist FMC haunted by nightmares of her mother's death
🔸Forced arranged marriage
🔸MMC briefly stalked FMC
🔸Obsessed MMC
🔸Found family
🔥Spice
🔸Open door
🔸Light BDSM scenes
🔸Dominant-submissive
🔸Praise kink
🔸Corruption kink
🔸Virgin FMC
🔸No cheating
🔸No OW/OM drama
🔸No 3rd act breakup (there is a scene when he tries to put some distance between them, but FMC quickly puts him in his place and he later apologizes with a piano with her name on it)
🔸HEA



❗Triggers (not between MCs):
- murder
- violence
- torture
- manipulation & controlling behaviour
- messing up with someone's memories

[Jen Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

5-star read! This was a great book! You really get the feelings and emotions of what Cecilia is going through. The struggles she going through with the nightmares. I enjoyed the suspense in the book as well. It kept your toes, not wanting to put it down!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good!

It was great mafia book. I love mafia and this book delivered. It has a great story to it. its a must read for me.Fair warning tho its a killer
slow burn and your going to wish it would hurry up abit but it was worth the wait so spicy! what a fun read!

Your going to want to read it. So good you'll devour every page!!!

Thanks for a great book to read cant wait to read more from you.

[FabledWhimsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Rhea Harp for sending me an ARC copy of Devious Touch!


This book was so deliciously dark. Reading Devious Touch felt like eating a decadent and rich dessert that I couldn’t help but take bite after bite until there was nothing left. It is the thrill in the dark, the feel of silk on the skin and everything forbidden you are told to stay away from but can’t help but be drawn to. With all the alarm bells ringing in my head, I fell head over heels for Mikhail and his love for Cecilia. This was a 5-star read!


⋆｡‧₊°♱༺𓆩❦︎𓆪༻♱༉‧₊˚🗡.⋆｡‧₊°♱༺𓆩❦︎𓆪༻♱༉‧₊


♰ Devious Touch is a dark Mafia Romance with our FMC trapped in a gilded cage. Cecilia is the daughter of the head of the Italian Mafia. Since her mother's untimely death, she has been made into a shell of herself and has dedicated all her efforts into making herself smaller to appease everyone around her. Mikhail is a dangerous and haunted member of their rival's and has been plaguing Cecilia’s life before putting his plan into motion… A marriage proposal. This is an enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity romance filled with all the morally-grey men your heart desires.


“Lethal. Irresistible. Built for violence. Mikhail Rykov is the dark Bratva prince the Cosa Nostra forces me to marry. To him, I’m a pesky means of settling a debt. I can’t escape him. So I swear I won’t give in. But as he drags me into his underworld, I unravel under heated touches and his commanding voice. Until my resistance starts feeling like a lie. That’s when he miscalculates. In Mikhail’s world, love is a weakness. And I’m about to become one he can’t afford.”


♰ Mikhail had been raised on violence, drowning in the trauma and guilt for the brutality he inflicted on his very own brother. He is desperate to pay back a self-inflicted debt to assuage himself of the harm he caused his own family. They may have forgiven him, but will he ever be able to forgive himself? This insatiable need to correct past wrongdoings is exactly what leads him to Cecilia, someone who will be his ruin and his salvation.


♰ Cecilia is plagued with nightmares of an event she swears never happened. She is treated like glass and has perfected the art of taking less space to please the people who were supposed to love and care for her. “I’ve been listening to men all my life… I’m tired of being in the dark about everything, tired of letting others decide the trajectory of my existence like I’m nothing” She may be the daughter of the most influential man on the West Coast, but a cage is still a cage even if it’s dripping in gold.


♰ There is immediate chemistry between Mikhail and Cecilia. They deny themselves, but they cannot turn away from the incessant pull that draws them together. Mikhail is steeped in cruelty, but a softer side emerges for his new little bird, and this is where he truly grasped my heart and didn’t let go. Mikhail will not stand for Cecilia, letting people walk all over her any more, and his harsh exterior slowly starts to melt for her. In turn, she starts to look at him less like a captor and more like a saviour. “Don’t be a coward, Cecilia. Doesn’t look good on you. Fight. Me. In fact, fight anyone who tells you what you can or cannot do.”


♰ Cecilia’s plight is one we can recognise in ourselves. How often do we not speak our minds for fear of upsetting others? How different would our lives be if we had someone so loudly in our corner advocating for us? Seeing Cecilia grow into her own power was incredible. She is unrecognisable from the beginning of the book, to the end, in the best possible way. I hope one day we all find the bravery inside our hearts “to have the courage to be yourself at the risk of losing whoever didn’t agree with that.”

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy sent by Author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What to expect:
🔪 Enemies to lovers
🔥 Bratva/Costa Nostra
🔪 Possessive MMC
🔥 Smart, innocent FMC
🔪 Dual POV
🔥 Arranged marriage

Yep I love a good dark romance book!
Rhea has been teasing us with sneak peeks for quite a while now and the anticipation of this book was growing and now I finally got to read it and I finished it in one day!
I was hooked from the very beginning. Could not put this down!

We follow our FMC Cecilia a mafia princess, she’s an extremely talented pianist. But also someone who has lived a very sheltered life always protected. Not making any choices on her own.
Cecilia’s character growth in this book was fantastic!
All she needed was someone to remind her, she can make her own decisions and stand up for what she wants.

Cecilia gets married off to our MMC a dark bratva prince Mikhail Rykov.

Now this man… wow wow wow he’s totally unhinged and obsessive. He has been stalking Cecilia for quite some time.
He knows he wants her to be his so he gets ‘captured’ just to be close to her.
Mikhails character growth in this book is also fantastic. This man has been through it in his childhood and it has shaped him into who he is now. But with Cecilia by his side we get a look into who he really is.I love the connection they have.

“If I manage to corrupt you, Cecilia it only means you want to be mine.”

The way he stands up for her is soo good! 🔥 but don’t mess with her or he will literally plan your funeral right there on the spot.

“ My wife will wear whatever the fuck she wants on her wedding day!” 👏🏽

The plot of this book was great. Fast paced, high stakes.
Some big reveals at the end regarding Cecilia’s childhood trauma.

This book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster coaster.

The spice was spicy. The tension between these two 10/10 🔥 🤌🏽

The epilogue was fantastic. Loved the time jump.

Highly recommend this one!

Thank you to the author for sending me a arc of your book 😊

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good dark mafia romance. I think it had such a great balance of everything, particularly romance, spice and plot. From the very beginning, I was really drawn to the story and, in fact, it reminded me a little bit of The Predator and Mikhail gave off Tristan Caine vibes. It was also easy to read while not being simplistic and I found myself invested in both the romance and the plot. I mean marriage of convenience and mafia romance is my JAM!

Also, wow, Mikhail? HOT DAYUM. I am as obsessed with that man as he is with Cecilia. That man can have sexual tension with a desk. From the get-go, I knew I'd love him. He was such a spot-on dark romance/mafia romance MMC with the perfect balance between obsessive, possessive and caring. The way he cared for Cecilia and how he helped her grow was so beautiful to read. And, having said that, I really loved that we saw Cecilia's growth and self-love but also that she still kept her kindness even after what happened.

I do think that while certain parts of the book, particularly Mikhail's relationship with his brother or certain developments in the mafia, were a big part of most of the book, toward the end they were not as addressed as I would have thought. Even so, I still enjoyed the book immensely. It was also my first book by Rhea Harp and it certainly won't be my last! 💘

Thank you so much to Rhea Harp for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 🥰

[mountain_reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a problem. When I don’t like books, I still want to finish them either in the hopes it will get better or to see just how bad it will get.

I wanted to quit at 4% 😅 but I had not read in a few days because nothing appealed to me and, somehow, I wanted to keep going.

Quick blurb
Cecilia is the sheltered Italian mafia princess of the Don on the west coast. She is being stalked, or so I am told, by a man who is from the Russian bratva on the east coast. He gets himself captured, and negotiates his marriage to the don’s daughter.
She has been wet for him since she thought he might like her vulnerability on page 9. She is angry to be sold, going from one cage to the other. But his hotness is enough to make them come together, literally. Also, something from her past resurfaced.

I enjoyed reading it while disliking it, if that makes any sense. In my opinion, we have a classic case of the author telling instead of showing. I believe the relationship was probably at the center of the writing plan, and the plot came to support the relationship.
Too many things don’t make sense when you actually think about it.

The relationship is sweet all the same, but very cliché. I don’t think we spend enough time building the connection before they are both madly in love with each other.

I am grateful for the fact that it got me out of my slump.
I do not believe I would be interested in reading more or recommending the book.

If you have it, give it a chance, but I would not get out of my way to read it.

[𝕯𝖊𝖒𝖔𝖓 𝕷𝖔𝖗𝖉 𝖔𝖋 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖐𝖘 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m sitting here in the dark because Rhea officially broke me💀I knew this was coming, I knew she’d been teasing us for a reason, but nothing prepared me for the actual impact.
The slow burn is actually slow. Like agonizing, "I'm about to throw my phone" slow, which made that first kiss feel like a spiritual experience. Mikhail is...I don't even have the words. He’s obsessed, he’s protective, and the way he just believes in Cecilia's power? I was a puddle. A literal puddle. I am currently mourning the fact that I finished it. If you need me, don’t🥀🖤
Thank you Rhea for giving me the opportunity to read this arc book before release day. I enjoyed it!

[BookSiren Baddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dark, atmospheric masterpiece that perfectly captures the "enemies-to-lovers" power struggle.
Cecilia is a sharp, stubborn, and refusing to break even when forced into a marriage that feels more like a cage. Mikhail Rykov, doesn’t just demand respect; he claims the entire room. The magic of their story lies in the slow, agonizing unravel as Cecilia manages to get under his skin.
The dynamic is pure tension, a high-stakes power play wrapped in good writing. A gritty, "touch her and die" journey.
Read this if you love:

* Dark Mafia Romance
* Strong-willed FMC
* Calculated, cold heroes
* Slow-burn

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author and let me tell you I was hooked from the beginning. It has everything you need in a mafia romance. We have the dueling Italians and Russians. We have a tentative alliance. We have arranged marriage. We have dark secrets. We have amnesia. We have a broody MMC who will scorch the earth under those who speak to his wife the wrong way.

Ugh I love it.

[Livvvvvvvv]

ARC PRE-READ

my first non-mm in a long time.

i'm excited!

[destiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

arc review to come 🖤

[EAslan · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I’d like to thank the author for letting me receive this ARC for my honest opinion.


This book sucks you in from the very first chapter, and the end of the chapters keeps you curious and wanting to read more, wanting an answer to the questions popping up.

Mikhail is like most mafia MMC, dark, mysterious and with a traumatic past. We learn about it in increments throughout the story, and get to see the way he transforms throughout the book.

Cecilia isn’t like your typical mafia princess, instead having been sheltered her whole life and kept safe, conditioned to seek the approval of others in order to please people, despite her own wants. I love however, that she’s not all whiny and dramatic like some FMC tend to be in mafia books. She’s realistic. She hates her situation, but doesn’t waste her time screeching against something she knows is inevitable, which I really loved.

Their dynamic pulls you in from the very beginning, with Mikhail supporting her and pushing her to be the best version of herself, pushing her to voice what she wants, without taking into account how others will feel about her decisions, which I really liked.

It is definitely a slowburn. However, I’d have preferred if their relationship developed a little more steadily, instead of them spending the first 50% hating each other and being all hot and cold, and then at the 50% mark they both completely switched up seemingly out of nowhere, fully devoted to each other. I missed the slow development of getting to that stage, especially since Mikhail spends most of the first half completely avoiding her, without any opportunities for them to actually get to that stage.

Overall, the romance is mostly in focus, which I definitely like, but I missed an overarching plot asides from that, because once they get together at the 50% mark, the development sort of ends on that front. There are a bunch of small plots throughout the book, arising and getting resolved, but I wish there had been a complete big overarching plot starting from the beginning, slowly developing and escalating, before getting resolved in the end.

In the end, all I wanna say is I really enjoyed this book, and I definitely am excited to read about Victoria and Wolf’s book in the future, their relationship really intrigued me

[Katie Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know by now that mafia romance is my most read genre so I definitely couldn’t resist.

Devious Touch follows Cecilia and Mikhail. Cecilia’s life is what you would expected of a mafia princess in that being she is well protected. She is a prodigy when it comes to the piano and she lost her mother while she was only six years old but this night was quite unclear in Cecilia’s memory while results in frequent nightmares. On top of that Cecilia has a presence that is lurking in her proximity and this is none other than Mikhail.

Now Mikhail has an agenda and to even get his point across he walks into Cecilia’s father’s territory unarmed with a proposal. That proposal being he is well aware of what Cecilia is capable of and if this news got out her father would find it quite difficult to find an eligible match for his daughter, but no fear he wouldn’t be looking for a match for Cecilia as Mikhail is quite happy to take the woman he is infatuated with off his hands.

With their impending nuptials Cecilia moves to NYC with Mikhail and shares a home with his brother and his brothers wife Victoria. My heart broke that Cecilia never experienced girlhood until it came to Victoria. They pair bonded quite well 🥹

Now Mikhail, may seem standoffish but the one thing that is an absolute constant in his life is his wife. He has to work through his own feelings in this book as he carries quite a lot on his shoulders.

This book had a good twist and I enjoyed the plot overall. Thank you to the author who provided this e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She wasn't even supposed to find me this soon. Then again, curiosity always kills the prettiest cats."

I signed up for this ARC because of the art (Like I'm sure everyone else did) and it did not disappoint. I didn't realize that there was another book before this one. They're supposed to be standalones, but I think reading the 1st book is necessary to fully enjoy and appreciate this book. The plot was great, the spice was SPICCCY, and the tension and banter between these two were delicious. I think the ending was cut short, but that's probably just me being greedy and wanting more of Mikhail. 😅 Definitely looking forward to reading more from Rhea and seeing where this story goes! ❤️

Thank you for letting me read this ARC! ❤️

❤️Arranged Marriage
❤️He falls first
❤️Dual POV
❤️Enemies-to-Lovers

Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice : 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devious Touch by Rhea Harp felt like being trapped in a room with someone dangerous… and not wanting to leave.

The tension? suffocating.
The chemistry? toxic.
The vibe? completely addictive.

Mikhail is नियंत्रण, obsession, and danger wrapped into one—and Cecilia’s fear and vulnerability made everything hit harder.

It’s not soft, it’s not healthy, and it’s definitely not for everyone—but if you love dark romance that pushes boundaries, this delivers.


I didnt expect to feel this bad for Mikhail, but the glimpses into his past made him more than just a typical possessive MMC. It doesn’t excuse his behavior, but it definitely made it hit harder.
You will think this is messed up
but also this is kind of heartbreaking.

[Iman’s Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Review! 3.75⭐️

I really liked this book! If I’m honest, the books started out great at the beginning, then I kind of started disliking the MMC a little somewhere in the middle, but there was so much character development by the end for both MCs and he really proved himself! He was such a sweetheart by the end 🥹🥹

I think what I didn’t like were the spicy scenes, I don’t know, it just didn’t do it for me most of the time. Some of the things he said to her, especially at the beginning, were slightly demeaning, and I guess that’s not my cup of tea. Otherwise, the book was amazing!

I hadn’t read the first book before jumping into this one, so I feel like I missed out on some of the backstory between the brothers, and I definitely want to go back and see how it all began, and I can’t wait to see who’s book is next! 🥰

[Inês Gomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Arc Review✨
4.5⭐️
Wooow this was such a great book!! I loved it, it was amazing to see the development of this story. Arranged marriage is one of my favorite tropes and this one didn’t disappoint, the was Mikhail plotted it to happen the way he wanted was very clever, I was impressed by it. He was the typical villain with a soft side for his wife even when he didn’t want to admit it. He was super protective and didn’t tolerate any bullshit from no one and the best part was how he was always making sure Cecilia standed up for herself and voiced her needs.
I didn’t connect with her in the beginning because she seemed one of those boring fmcs but that quickly changed and she got more and more out of her shell and I absolutely loved her. She became strong, witty and brave and it made the story even better.
I kinda saw the major plot twist coming but I still liked very much how it was done and that epilogue and bonus chapter? Loved it!!! Can’t wait for the next book on this universe.

[Erica L · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC reader here. This entire book was a 5/5, I couldn’t put it down and when I had to, I couldn’t wait to get back to it. Cecelia & Mikhail were a fabulous couple to read about. A mafia princess unknowingly meets her match in a bravta prince. Together they hurt, grow, learn and thrive in the best way possible.

Cecelia’s growth was so enjoyable to read about. From a shy, caged girl to a powerful woman. Mikhail helped her bloom in more ways than either of them imagined. And Mikhail… the ending with Wolf healed my heart for them. The entire time I just knew he had to forgive himself above all else.

The writing style was fantastic. The story kept me hooked. The ending was beautiful. I can’t wait to read about Wolf & Victoria next!

[Vicky Weedon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off so well, there was some good tension early on which added to the ‘enemies’ and forced marriage, but I felt it didn’t last as it went along.

I felt that Cecilia & Mikhail were never true enemies to lovers, it was more of an insta-lust & slow burn feel.

There were a few inconsistencies which threw me as what was mentioned had already happened, and a lot was glossed over like the wedding, there didn’t feel like there was any tensions or resistance from Cecilia considering she didn’t want to be forced in to anything.

Overall this was a good read with low mafia vibes and more of a romantic aspect.

[Amanda Tourner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything i LOVE about a dark mafia romance 😍 A hot morally gray mmc and the spice 🫠 😍 not to mention the storyline that had me hooked from the beginning!! This was my first Rhea Harp book and now I absolutely have to go back and read more!!!