Forced Promises

by Alexis Abbott

From USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author Alexis Abbott comes a steamy, slow burn to obsession Russian Mafia romance.
To escape an arranged marriage, I'll become the wife of a killer.
I had to flee the cult, or be forced to marry my own brother.
I have no money, no ID, no family.
Hated by my mother, disowned by my father.
My twisted salvation comes in the form of
a beautiful monster with silver eyes.

His need for revenge has him infiltrate the Bratva.
They demand a rite of initiation.
When he tells me to be a good girl and submit, I obey.
I'm touch-starved. Desperate for love.
And he publicly claims my innocence
to become one of them.

The Bratva and the cult want to destroy us.
But we're already broken,
shattered by the dark secrets of our past.
And when we pick up each other's pieces
Our tortured obsession is made lethal.

Forced Promises is a spicy mafia romance that features a touch averse, morally grey antihero and a touch-starved, innocent heroine. His love language includes stalking and touch her and die, and hers includes physical touch and forehead kisses. There are themes of forced proximity, age gap, grumpy x sunshine, mutual hurt/comfort and mental illness rep.
Safe from cheating; please check the content warning as there are very dark themes.

Genres: Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Romance, Dark, Forced Proximity, Slow Burn, Contemporary Romance

ebook

First published July 28, 2026

About the author

Alexis Abbott is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author who writes about dangerous men and the women who love them. If you can't resist a bad boy who is a good man, you just found your next addiction. With heart-stopping action, mouth watering sex, and passionate romances that will leave you breathless, Alexis Abbott writes romantic thrillers like no one else can.

When she's not writing your next book boyfriend, you'll find her living a real life romance novel with her own bad boy soulmate in Newfoundland, Canada.

http://alexisabbott.com/newsletter

*****

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Reviews

[Soha Amer · Rating 5 out of 5]


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5 Spice

To escape an arranged marriage, I'll become the wife of a killer.

Well, Alexis Abbott just put me in my Bratva era and I don't want to leave.

Forced Promises is a steamy, slow-burn-to-obsession Russian Mafia dark romance that delivers exactly what it promises - a beautiful monster with silver eyes and a touch-starved heroine who has nothing left to lose.

Our FMC has fled a cult to avoid marrying her own brother - no money, no ID, no family, hated and disowned. Our MMC needs revenge and must infiltrate the Bratva, which demands a brutal rite of initiation. He publicly claims her innocence to become one of them. She obeys when he tells her to be a good girl and submit.

What I loved:

The Dynamic: Touch-averse, morally grey antihero x touch-starved, innocent heroine is my new obsession. His love language is stalking and "touch her and die" and hers is physical touch and forehead kisses. It shouldn't work as beautifully as it does, but it does. The mutual hurt/comfort was done so well - two broken people picking up each other's pieces.

The Tropes: Forced proximity, arranged marriage, age gap, grumpy x sunshine (but make it dark and lethal). Every single one hit.

The Vibe: Dark, obsessive, gritty, yet surprisingly tender. This is not a light read - it's tortured, possessive, and unhinged in the best dark romance way, with genuine emotional depth underneath the spice and the danger. The cult and Bratva threats kept the tension high until the last page.

This is a very dark romance. Please check content warnings - there are themes of cult trauma, violence, mental illness rep, stalking, and other dark themes. It is safe from cheating.

If you love your mafia heroes tattooed, obsessed, and utterly devoted after claiming "you're mine," and your heroines soft but resilient - read this.

One of my favorite dark mafia reads this year.

Read if you like: Russian Mafia, Bratva initiation, forced marriage, touch her and die, good girl / bad boy done dark.

[Yelitza Washkevich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forced Promises is nothing like your typical mafia romance and I appreciate that. Both leads carry deep, scarring trauma, yet they collide and forge an unbreakable alliance. One desperate to break free from a cult, the other burning for revenge. What begins as a slow, simmering burn erupts into something scorching and intensely spicy, leaving you aching for more, heart racing, and completely breathless.

[InkedSirenXO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laszlo and Evelyn absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. This was dark, twisted, emotional, and completely addictive from the first page.

Evelyn is running from a horrific past, desperate for freedom and affection, while Laszlo is a morally gray, silver-eyed killer with walls built sky-high. He hates being touched, she desperately craves it, and watching these two broken souls slowly become each other’s safe place? I was DONE. 🥹🖤

The forced proximity, age gap, grumpy x sunshine dynamic, mutual hurt/comfort, stalking, possessiveness, and touch her and die energy had me turning pages like my life depended on it.

Laszlo is the kind of morally gray MMC who makes you question your standards because somehow the red flags start looking suspiciously attractive. And Evelyn’s strength and vulnerability made her impossible not to root for.

Their relationship was messy, intense, obsessive, and surprisingly tender beneath all the darkness. The way they picked up each other’s shattered pieces had my heart in a chokehold.

🔥 Dark mafia romance
🔥 Morally gray antihero
🔥 Forced proximity
🔥 Age gap
🔥 Grumpy x sunshine
🔥 Touch-starved FMC
🔥 Touch-her-and-die energy
🔥 Hurt/comfort
🔥 Obsession & stalking
🔥 Broken souls finding each other

Five stars from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Laszlo and Evelyn may be broken, but together they are absolutely lethal. 🖤🔪✨

If you love dark mafia romance with tortured characters, obsession, possessiveness, and a romance that hurts before it heals, add this one to your TBR.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forced Promises was dark, intense, and far outside my usual romantic comfort zone, but I was still pulled in by the protective romance and the hero’s fierce devotion. He is absolutely not morally sound, but he is committed, and apparently that is enough to keep me turning pages.

The child-abuse storyline was much darker than I personally enjoy and became too much for me at times. The people responsible do face consequences, but the subject matter is still upsetting and something readers should know about before going in.

Overall, this was an intense dark romance with forced-marriage tension, danger, obsession, and a deeply protective morally gray hero.

Content warnings: child abuse, violence, murder, forced marriage, kidnapping, trauma, and other dark themes.

[Buffy・❥・ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow— this book was a f****** rollercoaster! First off please *** check trigger warnings *** this was definitely a hard read at times but the author did a beautiful job of articulating the trauma of not just the FMC but the MMC as well and how they found familiarity with one another in that and healed together. This is not your typical mafia dark romance to say the least but I think the twists in this book is what really made it stand out to me, I was hooked from the first chapter. 1000/10 recommend

[Dayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Review

Forced Promises by Alexis Abbott

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
🖤 Age Gap (19/30)
🖤 Dark Mafia Romance
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Mental Health Representation

⚠️ Please check the trigger warnings before reading, as this book touches on sensitive topics. ⚠️

Favorite Quote:
“The riverbed guided our streams together. I believe that, no matter how the past might change, our currents would have always found a way to converge.”

Evelyn and Laszlo’s story was heartbreaking from the very beginning. Both characters carried incredibly traumatic pasts that completely shattered my heart. 💔 Evelyn was on the run from a religious cult, while Laszlo was determined to exact revenge on the parents who abandoned him and the people who abused him, all while desperately searching for any information about his missing sister. When their paths crossed, Evelyn found herself in a dangerous situation where keeping Laszlo’s secret became the only way to stay alive. As they spent more time together, what started as survival slowly grew into something much deeper.

Watching them slowly learn to trust one another and heal from their pasts was one of my favorite parts of the story. It truly felt like they were destined to find each other, helping one another find peace while Laszlo pursued the answers and justice he’d been searching for all along.

And the spice? Wheeeew. 🥵 The dirty talk from this man was absolutely sinful in the best way. I was blushing more than once! And the 🐓 warming? HOT. If you know, you know. 👀🔥

This was such an enjoyable dark mafia romance with emotional depth, healing, and plenty of steam. I can’t wait to read more by Alexis Abbott!

[Srivalli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was uncertain while taking the book. As a girl who mostly read thrillers and having the desire to read about mafia romance, this book served as a ultimate feast to me. Not gonna lie, this was my first mafia romance book, which would be deciding if I will read mafia romances more often and this passed the test by infinity brownie points.

I had tears while ending the book. Laszlo and Evelyn had my heart broken, shattered into fragments and then put it back, healing me in a way that I would have never expected. While the other bratva men used women as nothing but pleasure tool and the cult used women as birthing tool, Laszlo healed a part of me that he never broke. The way he protected Evelyn with everything he had, got down bad for her in every single possible way made me believe more in love and the unique way of magic that happens in one's life when a person enters.

Laszlo and Evelyn, were both running from their own demons. But they somehow found their way into each other's arms. The way Laszlo supported Evelyn's dreams and passion was everything to me in this book. This man was gentle to her in every way possible and he made the line "He was cold as ice to everyone, but his eyes soften the moment he sees his girl" very true. Surely the author did her magic while creating Laszlo as the greatest creator.

The most satisfying part in the entire book was the way all the child abusers turn to nothing but ashes by Laszlo and Eve. This book didn't make stalking in a very bad way, but in a way that only feels protective and romantic with no malicious intents.

I will surely Urge the life out of everyone to read this. This was my read that i genuinely enjoyed with my whole heart

[Gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC copy from the author. My opinions are my own.

This book! It was easily one of the best mafa romances I have ever read. The romance was top tear, the plot was plotting... it was an amazing read.

It took us to a journey with 2 broken creatures in need of healing. Lyn and Lazslo are both broken in their own way. Lyn coming from a religious cult, Lazslo had an extremely traumatizing childhood. They found one another and healed each other's wounds.

I loved how they both grew throughout the book. We found them in a shitty place in their lives, surviving... Lyn found herself, learned her likes and dislikes and so did Lazslo. Together they were amazing. Their love story was gentle and compassionate, a journey of mental and physical healing.

What I loved though was the the romance was not so front and center like you often see in this type of books, the plot with the secret society and the religious cult added another layer to the story. However, when we got to that part the spice was top tear.

The last 10- 15% of the book really kept me on the edge of my seat, there was a lot of action and an interesting plot twist which also left the ending open to the next installment.

Alexis Abbott, thank you so much for letting me be a part of your ARC team! I can't wait for your next book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶.5
🌹Secret society
🖤Religious cult
🌹Age gap (19-35)
🖤He falls 1st
🌹Sexual healing

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

mafia romance

Book: Forced Promises
Author: Alexis Abbott
Pages: 395
Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Spice: 3/5 {10, 32, 33, 34, 35, 41, 42, 54}

🖤 Stalking
🖤 Calls her ‘my angel’
🖤 Slow Burn
🖤 Obsessed & Protective MMC
🖤 Age Gap
🖤 Mafia Romance
🖤 Revenge

Lyn escapes a cult where she would have been forced to marry her half brother. She gets a job at club which is where she meets Laszlo. Lyn is touch starved and loves the touch of Laszlo.

Laszlo is on a mission to infiltrate the Bratva and get his revenge. Along the way he takes one look at Lyn {his angel} and becomes obsessed and wants to give her everything she has ever wanted.


Quotes:

“I chose you because you are an angel too good for this world, let alone this place. I chose you because if anyone else chose you, I’d have to kill them.”

“It’s not. It’s incredibly selfish. I’m a vampire, feeding off your joy. Now I’m addicted, and I want to make you the happiest woman in the world to sustain myself.”

She was my light through the darkness.

She accepted my offered hands, her skin warm in mine. We were a shocking contrast. She was alive, brimming with energy and warmth. I was a haunting spectre, living on borrowed time.

[kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like all the mafia books recently have been very similar and predictable, but not Forced Promises! Evelyn ran away from a cult and Laszlo was on a journey to infiltrate the Bratva, and they met in an unlikely way. I really appreciated the mental health representation and the sad backstories, from both sides. I feel like it’s always the woman who has trauma, and it was nice to see it from the males side. It takes a little bit of time to get spicy, but once it does, it really does! I would definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy revenge plots, slow burn, and sex therapy (just go with it). Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Hannah Buskirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book as an ARC and then got postponed on reading it. This was exactly what I needed. I’ve been reading a lot of different books lately mostly out of obligation. This was the first one in such a long time that I was reading simply for me and it was absolutely amazing. Laszlo and Lyn are just the perfect match for each others their story just killed me and the spicy was exactly what I was looking for. Loved this so much.

[Hannah Stockton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay this was my first ARC and WOW was I completely blessed to have that opportunity. When this hits it big on booktok, bookstagram, and gets a movie or TV show because it’s a book that has made another person fall in love with the reading again I’ll get to say that I knew from moment 1 it was going to be a smash.

[Vee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars

What’s with me and books that got child molester in it lately?

[Hannah - Twiggy | Booktok · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to love this so much. I have unfortunately DNFed it - I think this is just one of those books for me, but I couldn’t for the life of me find the connection between the MCs.
The FMC was insufferable, and MMC was confusing.
The first spicy scene, what?! I have no triggers, seriously not one but that was completely unnecessary.

Thank you to the author for the chance, and I wish you the best of luck with your writing journey.

[Севдалина · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ласло Сас (30) и Евелин Блейк/Бел Смит/Лин (19)

⚜️Получих ранно копие на тази книга от автора⚜️

📣🚨🛑РЕВЮ СЪДЪРЖАЩО СПОЙЛЕРИ🛑🚨📣



Евелин е 19 годишно момиче, отгледано в сектата "Децата на Аер". Когато баща й, водача на сектата решава, че Евелин трябва да се омъжи за своя полу-брат, Евелин рискува всичко и бяга от дома си.
Тъй като няма никакви документи, тя започва работа като хостеса в съмнителен клуб собственост на руската братва.
В клубът всяка седмица "ВИП-овете" хората от братвата избират с кое момиче да прекарат вечерта, но никой никога не избира Евелин, която се представя като Бел Смит. До деня в който не се появява загадъчен мъж, и не решава да избере именно нея. Пробема е, че това е мъжа, който преди няколко дни Евелин хваща в опит да постави бомба на колата на мъж, който неочаквано умира от инфаркт, и сега загадъчнияг бомбаджия със сиви очи, е нает на неговото място.



Ласло е поел по пътят на отмъщението. Когато е на 14 той и сестра му са дадени от родителите им в ръцете на Руската братва, и преживяват зверства, каквито никое дете не бива да преживява. Ласло оцелява, но е вкаран в лудница и всички се опитват да го убедят, че Лилиан, сестра му, не съществува.
Измъквайки се от лудницата, той се заема да придобие всички нужни качества, за да се внедри в Братвата и да отмъсти за всичко, което той и сестра му както и други деца, са преживели.
Но когато бива забелязан, докато опитва да монтира бомба, на колата на един от злодеите, които смята да унищожи, Ласло се озовава лице в лице с Ангел. И сега ще трябва да се погрижи този Ангел да не провали плановете му за отмъщение.



Това е първата книга, която чета от тази авторка. Трябва да призная, очаквах нещо съвсем различно, от мафиотски роман. Макар да имаме списък с предупреждения, който беше доста подробен с описания, за което съм много благодарна, историята не е типично мафиотска.
Да имаме досег с Братва, но само това. Ласло е по-скоро хакер, отколкото мафиот, при това готик хакер, с дълга черна коса, черни дрехи, лакирани с черен лак нокти и ръце покрити с пръстени.
Ласло е решен да накаже всички, които нараняват деца, защото той и сестра му са били наранени, и макар да не знае какво се е случило, той е убеден, че сестра му е мъртва и се самоубвинява, че не е могъл да я спаси, затова ще направи всичко, че да отмъсти.
Ласло беше странен герой, имаше пост травматичен стрес, не се хранеше, не спеше, не обичаше да го докосват, беше по-слаб от всичко мъже около него, но на моменти реагираше доста типично за Алфа мъжкар, макар външно да не беше такъв.
Нещото което ме изнерви леко беше, че всички казваха на героинята колко е "странна". Дори героя.
Евелин, предствяща се за Бел, а по-късно наричана Лин, беше момиче расло в секта. Много ясно, че всичко ще е ново и чуждо за нея. За мен това беше нормално. Но авторката малко си противоречи що се отнася до външността й. Евелин в началото е описана като невзрачна, с плоски гърди, едри задни части, и дълга до коленете коса. Със срамежливото й държание и евтините дрехи, които не са й по мярка, всички "ВИП-ове" я пренебрегваха. Обаче за Ласло тя бе ангелски красива и след като той я забеляза, изведнъж вече не беше невзрачна. Беше ми доста трудно да си я представя, затова както винаги направих изображения на героите.



Наистина ми се искаше да се влюбя в книгата, но не ми се получи. Мисля, че имах очаквания за типична мафиотска книга и това ми изигра лоша шега. Действието ми беше модно. В голяма част от книгата имаме повече размисли и страсти от героите и много малко вълнение и действие.
И двамата герои имаха своя багаж, своите проблеми и начина по който се събраха направи сцените помежду им малко сковани. Секси сцените пък ми бяха странни и леко неловки. Голяма част от причината за това беше начина по който бяха принудени да бъдат интимни пред погледите на висчки от братвата, но така или иначе не усетих тръпката, не усетих вълнението помежду им.
Може би ако авторката беше показала какво се е случило в миналото им, вместо само да загатва и да споменава разни неща, като не влиза в подробности, щеше да ми бъде по-лесни да симпатизирам на героите. За Евелин научихме, че майка и е била гаднярка, баща й не й е обръщал внимание и нищо повече. Не бяхме вкарани в динамиката и зад колисите на сектата, а мисля, че това щеше да бъде едно от най-интересните неща в книгата за мен. За Ласло научихме само че пленничеството му е било ужасно и травматично, но какво се е случило точно, каква е причината за преживяното от него, аз така и не разбрах. В контекста на случващото се, ни беше дадена бегла идея защо е бил подложен на нещо ужасно, но отново нямаше твърда причина. Мисля, че причината, за която ни беше загатнато, не е такава, която да има смисъл и цел. Поне за мен.



Да се върна към историята. Нещата не се развиха както Ласло си ги мислеше след срещата с Евелин и в крайна сметка те взеха, че се ожениха, което за мен винаги е голям бонус, обожавам уредени или принудителни сватби.
Книгата започна да става малко по-динамична към края, което ме накара да добавя една звезда към оценката си, защото макар и леко разпиляна, екшън частта ми хареса. Имахме няколко странни секси сцени, като обсъждане на нападение по време на орално забавление... но хей, поне е нещо ралзично. Имахме някои доста кървави моменти... аз лично съм фен на такива неща и ми беше ок
... и все пак не усетих страстта между двойката. Ласло и Евелин имаха от онази кротката любовна история, без фойерверки или спиращи дъха моменти. И главното за мен е, че макар да има мафия въвлечена в историята, за мен това не е мафиотски роман, от типа с който аз лично съм свикнала. Ласло имаше някои алфа моменти, но като цяло не ми даваше мафиотско усещане.
Като цяло книгата не е лоша, просто различна и изсква да не бъде четена с предварително изградени грешни представи, за да не остане човек разочарован, че не е това, което е очаквал.
И като казах това, само ще отбележа, че аз съм любител на хубавите корици и на това да отговарят на сюжета. Тази корица няма нищо общо. Ласло е много слаб и висок, с бледа кожа дълга черна коса, чисто черни елегантни дрехи, той е готик персонаж, а не мафиот. Това на корицата не е Ласло и аз лично не я харесвам и не мисля, че отговаря на съдържанието на книгата.

💫Обобщение: 💫

⭐️⭐️⭐️

🔢 Част от поредица ли е?

Не

📚 Сюжетни линии:

🌀 Героиня отгледана в Секта
💻 Герой Хакер
🗯 Slow Burn
👰 Фалшива връзка и уреден брак
💣 Герой с тежко минало
💢 Героиня бягаща от принудетелн брак
💥 Отмъщение
❤️‍🩹 Принудителна близост
🤍 Невинна героиня
🫆 Морално сив герой
👩‍❤️‍👨 Възрастова разлика - 11 години

💪 Главният герой: Ласло
Хакер. Внедрява се в Братвата, за да я унищожи от вътре. Има пост травматичен стрес. Не обича да го докосват. Не се храни редовно и не обича някой да го гледа как яде. Носи вина, която го смазва. Грижовен е към Евелин и се влюбва в нея от пръв поглед.

🎀 Главната героиня: Евелин
Наивна, неопитна. Не знае нищо за света извън сектата и не веднъж е наричана странна. Търпи обиди и унижения без да се защити по никакъв начин. Много бедна и много самотна. Едва след времето прекарано с Ласло успява да излезе от черупката си, да добие самочувствие и самоувереност. Обича да прави бижута.

🫣 Има ли проблем с друг мъж или жена?
Не

🤬 Има ли изневяра?
Не

😏 Колко опит имат героите?
Ласло е бил насилван като дете, след това почти не е имал връзки и лекарствата за посттравматичният стрес потоскат либидото му. Евелин е девствена.

🥵 Колко горещи са секси сцените?
🌶🌶🌶 Не особено горещи, леко неловки на моменти 👅 орално, 🫣 принудителен ексхибиционизъм, 🍆 warming

💔 Разделят ли се героите за определен период от време?
Не

😍 Има ли щастлив край?
Да

⚠️ Списък с предупреждения:

💥 Сексуално насилие над деца ( в миналото на героя)
💣 Принудителни сексуално отношения пред други хора
🧠 Психични проблеми и психична травма
🕳 Заплахи, насилие и опасност за живота на гланвите герои
☠️ Графично насили е смърт на трети лица
🫯 Обиди и подигравки по адрес на главните герои относно външност, сексуалност, характер и държание.
🍔 Хранителни разстройство (при главния герой)
😰 Пост травматичен стрес (при главния герой)
💦 Сексуални трудности при главния герой, заради прием на лекарства.

[Milena Vasileva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the advance reading copy. It is always a curiosity and pleasure for me to discover new authors. This is my first book by Alexis Abbott and as far as I have been informed about her, the first one in a long time. I will leave my five-star rating because this is my small "reward" for the work and efforts to write a novel, but unfortunately this will probably be the most positive of my overall opinion. I admit, without wanting to be rude, that this book really bothered me until I finished it. In general, I read a lot of mafia novels and this type of plot excites me, but I did not find a mafia novel here. This is more of a fiction of a made-up story in which mafia elements are present, as well as some direct titles suitable and used for the Russian mafia. There is some cult that is not well described and which is mentioned in only two places, if I am not mistaken, that they abused children, to which the main character Belle/Lynn/Evelyn belongs. The construction of her image was very messy and full of ambiguities. Somehow she escaped from this cult group, running away, it is unclear how and with whose help. Somehow it remained unclear what exactly happened to her there, how exactly she was raped, what her father, who she was afraid of and panicked at the mere mention of his name, did to her. Also, how she suddenly became an incredible jeweler - from drawing doodles on sheets of paper, suddenly the owner of a store that sold her incredibly crafted jewelry. Yes, the store bought her husband, but I mean her skills, which no one understood where she got them from. How from a girl locked up in the mountains until she was 18, limited by everything - school, television, the internet, she had these abilities. Sorry if this is considered some spoilers, I just can't refrain from more detailed comments so that what I wrote doesn't sound like just rude criticism. Her constant crying was extremely irritating to me the whole time. For two pages, she was shedding tears for nothing. There was even an absurd scene in which she was giving oral sex to her husband and still crying... Not because she didn't want to, but because she simply thought he might die. On the other hand, Laszlo, the main male character, was also beaten up in the moments when it came to his abuse. I wasn't very convinced whether his parents sold him and his sister into the torture he went through. And how come he was the only one who survived as a child. How and who helped him escape. Because he was then put in a psychiatric clinic to "cure" his memories. Who paid for this... In general, I had a lot of questions and holes. I found his overall rapprochement with the main character very absurd. How he supposedly prevented her from revealing that he was planting a bomb under a car, because she accidentally saw him and, even though he was disguised, she remembered who he was!?! So suddenly this Laszlo became obsessed with her, that he even bought her a house in another state and after a total of 5 sentences where they had exchanged and said he would save her and send her to live her life. The sex scene in which he took her virginity - oh my gosh. Not only did he not realize that she was a virgin, but suddenly from a man who couldn't get it up because he was taking psycho pills, and also didn't want anyone to touch him, because it was another psycho problem for him, so suddenly he possessed her and quite productively. She on the other hand somehow went from being a religious laywoman who escaped from a super closed cult group to working exactly as an escort in a men's bar. Why didn't she become a florist or a baker in a diner, something more modest, something that a limited girl with no social skills could be subjected to. Of course, after the unfortunate first time between them, she very quickly developed sexual creativity and games. And as if to convince us of this, the author has a scene, right before the scene where she cries while giving him oral sex, in which he does, but while practicing cunnilingus, he talks to her about the upcoming "assassination" they are preparing. He: "As soon as I get the hard drive, we will remove them" She: "How will we do it?" licking from vagina to clitoris, "you will plant the bombs, and I will collect the data" licking the vagina...Some such absurdism in almost an entire chapter.
The final straight - with the ball, the bombs and the murders, as well as the "elegant" ending of printed articles, oh and look at the surprise - his sister is alive after all, was satisfactory enough for me. Overall, I devoted a lot of the too little free time I have to this book, as well as to this long commentary.

[Tracy Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could have given this book ten stars I would have.
I will say this multiple times...PLEASE CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS

This is an emotional Story of Survival, Healing, and Revenge
Some stories entertain you, while others leave a permanent mark on your heart. This was one of those books.
Evelyn has never known freedom. Raised in a controlling religious cult, every aspect of her life has been dictated by fear, manipulation, and abuse. When she finally escapes just before being forced to marry her own half-brother, she's thrown into a world she doesn't understand. Everything is unfamiliar, overwhelming, and dangerous, but returning to the life she escaped would be far worse. Watching her navigate a normal world with childlike innocence was both heartbreaking and incredibly moving. At times, her naivety frustrated me, but it also felt authentic. Considering the sheltered life she'd endured, her innocence wasn't a flaw—it was a realistic consequence of everything she'd survived.
Laszlo is carrying wounds just as deep. Haunted by unimaginable horrors from his past, he's spent years focused on one thing: revenge against the people who destroyed his life. His carefully constructed plans are nearly complete when Evelyn unexpectedly crashes into his world. She quickly becomes both a complication and someone he can't seem to walk away from.
The relationship between Evelyn and Laszlo develops beautifully. There are no instant fixes for their trauma. Instead, their connection is built on patience, understanding, and learning to trust when neither of them truly knows how. Evelyn's resilience shines throughout the story. Despite everything she has endured, she refuses to let the darkness steal her kindness or her hope. In many ways, she becomes the light that slowly pulls Laszlo out of his own darkness, while he gives her the safety and love she's never experienced before.
The emotional depth of this novel is what truly makes it stand out. Both characters are carrying unimaginable pain, and the healing journey feels genuine rather than rushed. Their growth as individuals is just as rewarding as watching their romance blossom. I found myself completely invested in their happiness, celebrating every small victory they earned together.
Alongside the romance is an engaging revenge plot involving the Bratva that kept the story moving at a steady pace. The suspense, danger, and underlying mystery added another layer to the book, making it much more than simply a romance. I found myself desperately wanting justice for everything both Evelyn and Laszlo had suffered, and the villains were written so well that it was impossible not to hate them.
The spice doesn't appear until later in the story, but honestly, it fits perfectly. The emotional connection between the characters takes center stage first, making every romantic moment feel earned and meaningful rather than rushed.
The supporting cast also deserves recognition. Every secondary character felt important to the story and added depth to the world without overshadowing the main couple.
While I occasionally struggled to fully connect with Evelyn because of how sheltered and immature she could seem, I ultimately realized that those qualities were intentional and completely believable given her upbringing. It made her character arc all the more satisfying as she slowly found her confidence and independence.
Overall, this is a beautifully written story about survival, healing, love, and finding hope after unimaginable trauma. It's emotional, suspenseful, and full of heart, with complex characters you'll find yourself deeply invested in. If you enjoy character-driven romances with revenge, Bratva intrigue, damaged but lovable characters, and powerful emotional growth, this is definitely one to pick up.
Please check the trigger warnings before reading, as this story explores several heavy and potentially distressing themes.

[Mathea Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received via NetGalley
The Setup
Evelyn escaped a cult where she was meant to marry her half brother. How she got out isn't revealed until the end—and when it lands, it lands well. Now she's working at a club run by the local mafia, where men come to be entertained and women have very little say in what that means.

Lazlo is Bratva—son of a Russian mafia boss—and he's on a mission. His sister Lilien was sexually abused alongside him as a child and didn't survive it. His parents pretended she never existed. He knows the Pakhan, the head boss of the entire region, is responsible and holds the evidence as blackmail. Lazlo wants that evidence, and he wants revenge. To get there he's infiltrating the local mob, proving his worth, working his way up the chain.

The night Evelyn sees him attempting to plant a car bomb on the vehicle of a man sexually abusing children, their fates get tangled. He doesn't plant the bomb—but the moneyman dies anyway. Now she knows something, and he can't let that loose end stay loose. When the group comes to the club and the men start picking women for the evening, he picks her.

What Worked
Lazlo is a Genuinely Compelling Morally Grey Hero
He kills people he believes deserve it and doesn't lose sleep over it. His entire mission is built on grief for a sister his own parents erased from history. The "touch her and die" protectiveness that develops toward Evelyn isn't performed—it's bone-deep and immediate. He's not a good man by conventional standards, but he has a clear and consistent moral code of his own, which is what makes morally grey heroes actually work.

The Guilt Hits Right
When Evelyn tells him it was her first time, the guilt he feels reframes everything that came before it. It's a pivotal moment that shifts the dynamic from transactional to something much more complicated and real.

The Slow Build to Partnership
The weeks they spend together before he asks her to marry him do real work. By the time he proposes and then tells her about his plan to dismantle the organization from within, her choosing to be on board feels earned. They become a genuine team, and that's satisfying.

The Cult Backstory Unfolds Well
Withholding how Evelyn escaped until the end is a smart structural choice. It gives her history weight throughout and the payoff delivers.

Engaging from Start to Finish
The pacing keeps you turning pages. The threats, the infiltration, the developing relationship—it all moves with purpose.

What to Know Going In
This is Dark Child abuse, sexual coercion, violence, and cult trauma are all present. This is a dark mafia romance and it commits to that fully. Go in with eyes open.

The Spice is Heavy Once they're married it's consistent and ongoing. The heat level is high throughout the second half of the book.

Evelyn Comes From a Place of Deep Conditioning Her cult background—women are submissive to men—shapes how she responds to Lazlo in the early stages. Watching her find her footing and become his equal partner is part of her arc, but readers sensitive to that dynamic should know it's present early on.

Final Thoughts
Forced Promises is a dark, engrossing mafia romance with a morally grey hero who earns your investment and a heroine whose quiet strength grows throughout the story. Lazlo's mission gives the book real stakes beyond the romance, and the way the two storylines—his revenge, her escape—braid together by the end is well done. Not for the faint of heart, but exactly what it promises to be.
Best for: Readers who love dark mafia romance, morally grey heroes with genuine depth, heavy spice, and a slow build to a partnership-based HEA.
Content warnings: Child sexual abuse, cult trauma, sexual coercion, violence.

[Suzi McWhinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexis Abbot takes us on a journey full of inspiration and intrigue!
Both the MMC and MFC have haunted, dark pasts that have them locked into memories that are better forgotten.
Laszlo, having survived abuse and a Psychiatric hospital, admitted by his parents, as he fought vainly to remember his sister, that they insisted didn't exist.
Both had been tortured, offered as a sacrifice. Laszlo escaped. One of thirteen that had been offered and he wanted to avenge his sister. So to be offered freedom, he did the only thing he knew he had to do and that was to admit he did not have a sister.
Once free, he then plotted his revenge. It took years, and a lot of patience, until he decided to start with his plan.
Enter Evelyn Blake, AKA, Belle, AKA, Lyn!
Evelyn escaped the cult she was in. A cult run by Caleb,. She had been promised her hand in marriage, to her half brother, Henry at the age of 16.
She escaped on the eve of her birthday, never to look back.
But as an innocent young girl, she didn't know how to survive in the outside world. She looked different, sounded different, and acted differently to all those around her.
She found herself a job within a club, owned and run by the Bratva, The Gilt and Gloam. Not a sex club, but very close to it!
Belle meets Laszlo in unfortunate circumstances......Watching him plant a bomb! He wanted to infiltrate the Bratva and dismantle
As a Mafia story, this is so completely different from anything that I have read, but in a good way. It' s dark and dangerous, just the way I like them.
Laszlo is smitten by Belle and when he visits the club as a Bratva comrade, he chooses her as his woman for the night.
So starts their story. Laszlo has to make sure Belle does not tell anyone about the bomb....Every night he chooses her. Until he has to show the rest of the Bratva he likes women, not men!
She consents, but he needs help. Having to take meds for his PTSD, his sex drive is zero.....Until Belle!
A fast paced story of a man ruined by his past, trying to recover and still keep his motives on revenge. To keep the rest of the Bratva away from his woman, he knows he needs to marry her....and so he did!
She didn't want to be named Belle, as that was her persona whilst she worked at the club, so she then became Lyn, to Laszlo.
A great all round story that has you on the edge of your seat as it increases in tempo with plenty of moving parts within the story.
Belle's past catching up to her, and Laszlo, whilst trying to be the husband she needed, also working within the Bratva to bring them all down. To Avenge his sister anyway he can.
How Laszlo and Lyn finally work out a plan, she knows that maybe one or both of them will not survive.
Hells bells, the climatic ending had me on my toes, cos yeah, there were a few minutes when I thought, uh oh.......
A great story that I loved. Plenty of triggers in the story, so be aware and make sure you are good to go, and I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did!

[Cigi cini · Rating 3 out of 5]

🖤 Dark Mafia Romance
💍 Marriage of Convenience
🔪 Morally Grey Antihero
🌸 Innocent Heroine
🔥 Age Gap Romance
🏠 Forced Proximity
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
💔 Mutual Hurt and Comfort
🤫 Hidden Identities
👀 Stalker Romance
🛡️ Touch Her and Die
💞 Touch-Starved Heroine
🧠 Mental Health Representation
🐌 Slow Burn Romance
🌶️ Spicy Romance
⚠️ Dark Themes

Star: ⭐⭐⭐

Forced Promises is a dark, intense, and emotional mafia romance that brings together two deeply damaged characters who find an unexpected sense of safety in each other. Alexis Abbott delivers a story filled with danger, obsession, trauma, and a marriage of convenience between a morally grey killer and an innocent heroine desperate to escape a horrifying future.

Evelyn’s situation immediately pulled me in. After escaping a cult where she was expected to marry her own brother, she is left with no money, identification, family, or safe place to go. She is incredibly vulnerable, touch-starved, and desperate to experience the love and affection she has been denied her entire life. My heart broke for her, especially as she tried to understand the outside world while carrying the emotional damage caused by her family.

Laszlo is cold, dangerous, and driven by revenge. He hates being touched, keeps everyone at a distance, and is willing to do whatever it takes to infiltrate the Bratva. Claiming Evelyn publicly begins as part of his initiation, but their arrangement soon becomes far more complicated. I enjoyed the contrast between Laszlo’s discomfort with physical affection and Evelyn’s desperate need for it. The forehead kisses, protective moments, and the way he slowly allowed her past his walls added some sweetness to an otherwise very dark story.

Their relationship is built through forced proximity and mutual hurt and comfort. Both Evelyn and Laszlo are broken in completely different ways, and there are some genuinely emotional moments as they begin picking up each other’s pieces. Laszlo’s obsession and protective behaviour become increasingly intense, giving the romance plenty of touch her and die energy.

While the premise was intriguing and the emotional connection had potential, the pacing felt uneven for me. The slow burn occasionally moved too slowly, and there were parts of the story that felt repetitive. I also wanted more development within the mafia storyline and a deeper exploration of certain relationships and conflicts. Some moments felt rushed despite the overall slower pace, which made it difficult for me to become completely invested.

Forced Promises is a dark, spicy, and emotional romance about two damaged people finding comfort and acceptance in each other. It contains extremely heavy themes involving abuse, trauma, cult behaviour, mental illness, and violence, so I strongly recommend checking the content warnings before reading.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forced Promises is a dark and spicy, age gap, mafia romance featuring Evelyn Blake (aka Belle) and Laszlo Szàsz (aka Python).

Evelyn was brought up in a cult called the Children of Aër. Her father, the leader of the cult, did not acknowledge her as his own. Instead he planned her betrothal to his son, her half-brother, Henry. Before she could be forced to marry him, Evelyn ran. With limited knowledge of the outside world, she found work as a hostess at a Bratva bar called Gilt & Gloam. It was there that she met Laszlo.

Laszlo's life changed when he was only 13. When he was 15 he was committed to a psych ward, and released 2 years later. Upon his release, he started working on a cryptocurrency scam in order to defraud the Russian mafia, those responsible for his torture as well as the loss of his sister, Lilien. He is motivated by the need to avenge his sister. After all he endured, he is no longer capable of feelings. That said, upon first glance, he was instantly taken with Evelyn. He wanted to be near her. He saw something of his sister's innocence in Evelyn and wanted to protect her.

As Laszlo advances in the Bratva, he keeps Evelyn by his side. He wants to give her everything she could ever want, but knows that he is not a good man and needs to send her far away in order to keep her safe as well as allow her to have the life she deserves. The more time he spends with her, the more he questions his ability to be away from her. It's a good thing she is as taken with him as he is with her.

While this is a mafia romance, it comes across being somewhat different from the norm. Evelyn's back story with the cult presents her as the maiden in distress who is in need of assistance, but at the same time, she has an underlying fire. This is something the cult and her mother tried to tamp out of her. She was raised to be subservient, and know her place. She never felt like she belonged at the cult as she questioned everything and could never be the good girl they wanted her to be. Laszlo's back story is even more intriguing, which was slowly unrolled through the book. I was actually interested in knowing more about what happened and why. Laszlo was beaten down, as they tried to mold him into what they wanted him to be. He too resisted and survived everything that was thrown at him. He felt broken, but actually came back stronger than ever with an intense determination to right the wrongs of the past.

I liked these characters and how they came together. At first glance they are an unlikely pair, but as readers learn more about them, we can see how well suited they are to each other. They believe in each other and support each other. Their connection is beautiful. I appreciated how together they gave each other a second chance at a beautiful life.

[Heather Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexis Abbott hasn't written books in awhile, and this is her first book coming back.

Book Tropes: Age Gap (19/30), Dark Mafia Romance, Mafia Romance, Forced Proximity, Mental Health Representation, Secret society, Religious cult, He falls first, Sexual healing, Stalking, Calls her ‘my angel’, Slow Burn, Obsessed & Protective, MMC, Revenge

Laszlo has ties to the Hungarian mafia. Now that he's working with a lower level Russian Mafia boss, who doesn't understand who Laszlo's father is. Laszlo is the money person as they call him. is trying to gain the trust of this mafia group without creating to many waves. Laszlo is trying to turn the cash they have in hand into crypto, but its a big scam. Until the bigger bosses in the organization find out the lower managers are making more money than they are! They bring up Laszlo through the ranks. Laszlo notices Evelyn / Belle at the club they usually go to. He sees she is more skiddish / frightened than most of the women are. He tries to hide her from others by staking a claim to her, until they actually make him take her.

Evelyn / Belle - (Lyn), was raised in a controlling religious cult, every aspect of her life has been dictated by fear, manipulation, and abuse. When she finally escapes her second time, after she finds out she is to be married to her own half-brother, she's thrown into a world she doesn't understand. Evelyn gets a job as a hostess / waitress at a underground mafia hangout. She doesn't understand the 'normal' world, let alone the mafia world, what is dangerous and what is not. Everything is unfamiliar, overwhelming, and dangerous, but returning to the life she escaped would be far worse. Watching her navigate a normal world with childlike innocence was both heartbreaking and incredibly moving. She does have a naivety about her and a trusting of others that is frustrating, but it also felt authentic. Considering the sheltered life she'd endured, her innocence wasn't a flaw—it was a realistic consequence of everything she'd survived.

Laszlo claims Evelyn is his and brings her to his home, thinking he can keep her safe. Laszlo isn't sure what will happen when he is brought up into the higher ranks. Will Evelyn still be safe with him? Will marrying her be his 'claim' on her be enough to keep the others away? Laszlo's sister went missing when they were younger and he knows the mafia group he is in had something to do with her disappearance. But, why won't anyone talk with him about what is going on in the mansion that is only used for certain ceremonies.

I did receive a free ARC book copy from Alexis Abbott! I can't wait for your next book!

[BooksBooksandmoreBooks69 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Forced Promises felt like stepping into a story that refuses to let you look away, even when the darkness presses close.
Alexis Abbott has a talent for morally grey men who live in the shadows, but here the weight of trauma on both sides of the relationship gives the book a rawer edge.
Evelyn's escape from the cult is painted with such careful, aching detail that her wide eyed bewilderment at ordinary freedom becomes almost painful to witness. She is touch starved in the most literal sense, desperate for any scrap of gentleness after a lifetime of control and threat, and that hunger shapes every choice she makes once she crosses paths with Laszlo.
He, in turn, is a man carved out of revenge and self imposed isolation, someone who cannot bear to be touched yet finds himself unable to keep his distance from the woman who has crashed into his carefully laid plans.
The age gap and the forced proximity that follows their first encounter never feel like simple tropes.... they become the pressure cooker in which two broken people slowly, warily begin to piece each other back together.

What stayed with me most was the mutual hurt/comfort that runs beneath the darker elements, the stalking, the public claiming required by the Bratva, the ever present danger from both the organization he is infiltrating and the cult that still wants her back.
Their connection is obsessive and imperfect, full of missteps and the kind of protectiveness that borders on possession, yet it never loses its core of tenderness.
Laszlo's intensity and Evelyn's quiet resilience create a push/pull that feels earned rather than manufactured. The slow burn allows their trust to build in small, charged moments, forehead kisses, hesitant touches, the gradual melting of his aversion, before the heat arrives, and when it does it carries the emotional weight of everything that came before.
This is not a light read.
The content warnings are necessary, and the book leans hard into themes of religious trauma, childhood abuse, and the long shadow of violence. Yet the story never feels over the top, every dark turn serves the larger story of two survivors learning that love can be both a weapon and a d a refuge..

By the end I was left with the sense that their
"tortured obsession" had become something lethal not only to their enemies but to the walls they had each built around themselves.
Forced Promises is messy, intense, and ultimately hopeful in the way only a story about two people who have already lost almost everything can be.
And I loved it.🥰

🦋

[Stephanie Dalman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The story follows Belle/Evelyn/Lyn who is learning to live a "normal life" after running away from the cult she was raised in. The leader of Children of Aër is her father who denies this but then divines that she is to marry her half brother Henry. She runs away to town and works at a club that is frequented by the Bratva, where she meets Laszlo.

Laszlo is on a mission to hunt his demons from his past, which he needs to infiltrate into the Bratva to achieve this goal. Little does he know how important Belle is to those plans and his own mental growth.

Somethings I truly struggled with this book is the world building. Mafia romances are something I enjoy and I have read a few Bratva based stories so I was a little surprised that the setting for this story was not only in a fictional part of Massachusetts but not in a busy fictional space. The reason this was so poignant is because Laszlo kept wanting to save Belle by taking her to Idaho and it would be a 4 day road trip. I couldn't figure out where I was in the USA till about 31% in when New England was mentioned because Arkham, Dunwich and the Miskatonic River don't exist, they do in H. P. Lovecraft books. Mafia romances tend to be in locations that exist, and are busy since the mafia wants to not get caught by the police. The world just felt small and off. I am not sure if that was the point because of the cult and mysticism in the story but I think a bigger city was needed with more going on then crypto.

The connection between Laszlo and Evelyn also felt muted. Her catching him doing something and his response to being caught (trying to be vague to not spoil anything), it wasn't very powerful to see why they were drawn to each other or why the yearning. His instant overprotectiveness of her doesn't make sense to me. Nor why Evelyn is drawn to him other than his eye color. The growth of the relationship was great, the growing together and acceptance because of their shared traumas was great building point.

There is one continuity issue, while minor, also stuck out to me. Evelyn has hair that is supposed to go to her calves and at one point in the book it is described to be at her waist and then later down to her calves again.

I also think it ended well with the opportunity for a second book about the sister as there are still a lot of unanswered questions.

All in all I enjoyed the read.

[Nikki Ibarra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forced Promises is a dark, intense, and emotionally consuming novel that delves into the complexities of survival and the search for love.

Evelyn, a victim of a cult that controlled and isolated her throughout her life, finds herself adrift in the outside world after escaping. With no money, identification, family support, or understanding of how to survive, she encounters Laszlo a dangerous, possessive, and revenge driven man determined to infiltrate the Bratva.

Laszlo embodies the archetype of a morally ambiguous hero, challenging readers to question their perceptions of right and wrong. While he is violent, obsessive, and emotionally scarred, his unwavering protection of Evelyn reveals a surprising vulnerability and tenderness within him. Despite his flaws, his devotion to her is absolute.

Evelyn’s journey of self-discovery and empowerment stands out as the book’s most captivating aspect. Initially frightened and uncertain, she gradually reclaims her identity, gains independence, and confronts the people who once controlled her. Her transformation is both satisfying and inspiring.

Their relationship is fraught with darkness and complexity, stemming from their tumultuous beginnings. However, it transcends physical attraction, evolving into a profound connection based on mutual understanding and shared trauma. They find solace in each other’s presence, providing the patience, protection, and acceptance they lacked during their formative years.

Forced Promises weaves together elements of mafia politics, cult secrets, revenge, suspense, violence, emotional healing, and a touch of spice. The climax of the story is particularly intense, culminating in Evelyn’s transformative journey when everything comes to a head.

This novel is not for the faint of heart. It delves into sensitive topics such as childhood trauma, religious trauma, abuse, captivity, dubious consent, PTSD, disordered eating, violence, torture, and other potentially triggering subjects. Readers should be aware of these content warnings before embarking on this emotional journey.

Overall, Forced Promises is a powerful narrative about two broken survivors finding love, safety, and strength in the most unexpected circumstances. Their relationship is messy, obsessive, unconventional, and undeniably beautiful.

I am grateful to Alexis Abbott for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Thank you Alexis for the advanced reader copy of Forced Promises - this is the first book of yours I've read, but I'm quite sure it won't be the last!!

The story centres around the FMC (Evelyn) and the MMC (Laszlo) who meet accidently while he's planting a bomb (as you do). She has escaped from a cult, and he's plotting revenge on the bratva - and both come with more baggage than your average airport baggage reclaim area🧳

I wouldn't necessarily identify this as a full blown traditional Mafia Romance, with a far greater emphasis on the revenge plot, for both protagonists. The early part of the book hinted at the MMC being a fairly typical mafia type, but there was a definite switch, and I found myself willing him success in both his revenge and relationship.

Evelyn posses some very childlike/innocent aspects, as befits her upbringing in the cult, yet when she meets the man who makes her believe in herself and her abilities, and loves her like she's never been loved, or even thought capable of being loved, she becomes a powerful, strong and fearless woman - willing to die for him.

There's slow burn romance, with open door spice (some of which is pretty - "You're such a good girl, you take directions so well"🥵). There are several TWs which should be heeded before starting this book, particularly relating to historical abuse.

I feel there could have been more detail on Evelyn's past at the cult, and the story didn't fully hit the mafia romance mark for me - hence my slightly reduced overall rating

My overall rating is 4.75/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My spice rating is 3.5/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (open door, consensual, on page reference to historical rape)

I would recommend this to readers who enjoy the following:
💍 Fake Relationship
🩶Morally grey MMC
🌸 Innocent FMC
🏠 Forced Proximity
💔 Past Trauma and Healing
💀Touch Her and Die
🐌 Slow Burn Romance
🌶️ Spicy

One of my favourite extracts shows the softer, vulnerable side of Laszlo, proving beyond doubt he's far from a stereotypically written, one dimensional mafia man:

💫"She was the woman who made me believe. Not in god or heaven, or even a hell, but in her. The only holy thing I'd ever known. If she were my religion, I'd worship her daily. Get down on my knees and pray at the alter of her divinity."💫

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Forced Promises by Alexis Abbott completely pulled me in from the very first chapter and refused to let go. This is one of those stories that is dark, emotional, and impossible to stop reading. Every page had me wondering what would happen next, and I found myself completely invested in both Evelyn and Laszlo.

Evelyn absolutely stole my heart. After everything she endured growing up in a cult and escaping a life no one should ever have to face, I wanted nothing more than to see her find safety and love. She is innocent and touch starved, yet there is a quiet strength inside her that grows with every chapter. Watching her slowly learn to trust was beautiful and emotional.

Laszlo is exactly the kind of morally gray hero I love. He is dangerous, ruthless, and willing to do whatever it takes to protect the woman he claims. Beneath his cold exterior is a man carrying his own pain and scars, and seeing those walls slowly come down because of Evelyn made me fall for him even more. His protective nature and complete devotion had me swooning from beginning to end.

Their relationship is filled with incredible tension, forced proximity, emotional healing, and an obsession that feels both dangerous and heartfelt. Every stolen moment between them felt earned, and the chemistry was undeniable. The forehead kisses, quiet moments of comfort, and fierce protectiveness balanced perfectly with the darker elements of the story.

The mafia world is gritty and suspenseful, and the constant danger kept me glued to the pages. The mix of revenge, family trauma, survival, and unconditional love created a story that was just as emotional as it was thrilling. Alexis Abbott did an amazing job making every twist feel meaningful while never losing sight of the romance at the heart of the book.

If you love dark mafia romance with a possessive morally gray hero, a resilient heroine, forced proximity, age gap, grumpy meets sunshine, touch her and die energy, and plenty of emotional depth, Forced Promises is one you absolutely need to read. This was an easy five star read for me, and I cannot wait to dive into more from this series.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 🌶️ Outstanding Read with An Obsessed, Possessive, Protective Alpha Male

Forced Promises is a thrilling story with a gripping storyline and characters. This is Evelyn (Belle) and Laszlo’s story. Forced Promises had me captivated from the first page. It is a dark mafia stalker romance. I was so excited for this story and was not disappointed.

Evelyn (Belle) is hiding out after she ran away from a religious cult and arranged marriage. Evelyn is a survivor who has had a lot of trauma in her life. She wants to be touched and loved. She witnessed something that she should have. Even when Evelyn is down she tries to stay positive/upbeat. She and Laszlo had sizzling chemistry in this age-gap story with an innocent heroine.

Laszlo was on a journey to infiltrate the Bratva and get his revenge on those that hurt him. He hates to be touched and is very protective of Evelyn. Laszlo is soft and sweet for Evelyn. He wants to protect and care for you.

Evelyn and Laszlo are both vulnerable. They have lots of past traumas, but still find the strength to find love. They want to be loved. In order to find their happiness, love and acceptance, they must learn to trust one another. The attraction / chemistry is exciting and had me rooting them on. They both deserve their own hea especially because they are ones that suffered and broke. They deserve peace.

Forced Promises has suspense, danger, tense moments, secrets, revenge, love, intrigue, romance, twists and turns, interesting side characters, unique storyline, anti-hero, action, HEA, and all the feels. I absolutely loved this story. If you love alpha males, revenge and suspense, then Forced Promises is a must-read.

🖤 Age gap
🖤 Stalker
🖤 Mutual Hurt/Comfort
🖤 Grumpy/Sunshine
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Innocent Heroine
🖤 Obsessed, Possessive, Protective, Alpha Male
🖤 Morally Gray Anti-Hero
🖤 He Hates To Be Touched
🖤 Touch Her and D!e
🖤 Forehead Kisses
🖤 Mafia/Bratva
🖤 Slow Burn
🖤 Bad Boy/Good Girl
🖤 My Angel


Story - ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2
Chemistry - 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Characters - ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
POVs - Dual POVs
Recommend - Yes
Alpha Male - Yes
Standalone - Yes, it can be read as a standalone

[Lace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do NOT SLEEP ON THIS AUTHOR OR BOOK!

from the very first chapter, I was completely hooked. This was one of those books that had me saying “just one more chapter” until suddenly it was 2 a.m. and I had finished half the book. I genuinely didn’t want to put it down. This story wasn’t just excitin it made me feel. I cried happy tears more than once, and every emotion the characters experienced felt like it settled deep in my heart. Their pain, their healing, their fears, and their hope all felt incredibly real. I became so attached to them that it felt like I was living the journey alongside them.
The way the author handled the FMC’s escape from a cult and the MMC’s pursuit of revenge was gripping and heartbreakingly believable. Nothing felt superficial. Their trauma shaped who they were, and watching them slowly learn to trust, heal, and find safety in each other was absolutely beautiful. One of my favorite parts was the romance itself. He never expected to fall in love and didn’t even know if he could love and that was taken from him. She had spent so long believing she wasn’t worthy of being loved that she didn’t know how if she could ever be loved. Watching two broken souls teach each other what love, acceptance, and home truly mean was incredibly moving. Their happily ever after felt earned in every possible way. It wasn’t just an ending it was a new beginning after everything they had survived. By the time I reached the final page, I was smiling through tears because these characters deserved every ounce of happiness they found. If you’re looking for a mafia dark romance that delivers suspense, emotional depth, unforgettable characters, and a love story built on healing as much as passion, this one absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR. I’ll be thinking about these characters for a long time.

This book will live rent free in my mind. I was in such a book slump until I dove into this.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨

Huge thank you to Alexis Abbott! This is my first book I’ve read from her and honestly I’ll be adding more of her books to my TBR!

PLEASE CHECK THE CONTENT WARNINGS BEFORE READING!! This is a dark, spicy, and an emotional book.


📍Mental Health Representation
📍Age Gap
📍Dark Mafia Romance
📍Forced Proximity
📍Touch Her and Die
📍Marriage of Convenience
📍Mutual Hurt and Comfort
📍Alternating POV

At first I had a little trouble getting sucked into this book but after a couple chapters it was pretty hard to put down. There were a couple times when you feel like you know what’s about to happen but then Alexis takes us down a different route.

Laszlo and Evelyn both had a pretty traumatic upbringing. As kids they both were hurt in different ways. But both by parents. She ran from a cult. He wants to bring down the bratva.

Laszlo is a dangerous man with revenge in his heart. He thought he was too broken , that he couldn’t possibly love anyone ever again. That all he had left was the revenge he thought he would have to pull off alone.

Evelyn thought she was unlovable, that no one would ever love her. She was running from a cult that wanted nothing to do but control her and use her body. She found comfort and safety in someone she knew was dangerous.

She caught him in the parking lot of where she worked trying to set up explosives on someone’s car. He ends up coming in on a different night with the people he’s pretending to want to be around and picks her to be with him while he’s there. He was extremely protective of her. He eventually realized he didn’t over time fall for her, but he feel for her in the beginning. They were fixing parts of each other, working through the PTSD they each had, while also working together for Laszlo’s vengeance. They feel safe with each other, can count on each other, even after everything that threatens to break them. He protects her no matter the situation.