What do you think?
Rate this book
Dark Rose: Revenge
The rules were simple: fake a relationship, keep her safe, and never, ever touch her. He’s about to break every single one.
Katarina has spent her life mastering the art of perfection, always polished, always untouchable. Argentina’s most adored actress is flawless in the spotlight—mistakes are simply not part of her script. Until she kissed the most dangerous man in Buenos Aires.
Damiano doesn’t do relationships. He doesn’t do feelings. And he absolutely does not do Katarina—his business partner’s sister, the woman whose face is on every magazine in the country, the one person he has been trying to forget since the moment she walked into his life.
But when a ghost from his past puts a target on her back, walking away is no longer an option.
He’ll keep her close to keep her safe.
He’ll tell himself it means nothing.
He’ll lie.
What starts as a desperate arrangement slowly unravels into something neither can name—something achingly real, dangerously consuming, and far too perilous for a man who abandoned a world of blood and shadows in search of peace.
As he discovers peace has a price.
Katarina is about to discover that the man she fell for carries secrets darker than anything she feared—and that her own past holds a truth that will change everything.
Dark Rose: Revenge is a dark romance for readers who want their heroines fierce, their heroes ruthless, and their love stories drenched in shadows.
📍 Set in Buenos Aires and Sicily
🥀 Book 1 of The Dark Rose Series—cliffhanger ending
Tropes: Mafia Boss MMC · Celebrity FMC · Fake Dating → Real Feelings · Forbidden Attraction · He Pushes Her Away · Forced Proximity · Morally Grey Hero · Touch Her And Die · Slow Burn · Secret Identity · Grief Romance · She Saves Him Back · Cliffhanger Ending
Katarina has spent her life mastering the art of perfection, always polished, always untouchable. Argentina’s most adored actress is flawless in the spotlight—mistakes are simply not part of her script. Until she kissed the most dangerous man in Buenos Aires.
Damiano doesn’t do relationships. He doesn’t do feelings. And he absolutely does not do Katarina—his business partner’s sister, the woman whose face is on every magazine in the country, the one person he has been trying to forget since the moment she walked into his life.
But when a ghost from his past puts a target on her back, walking away is no longer an option.
He’ll keep her close to keep her safe.
He’ll tell himself it means nothing.
He’ll lie.
What starts as a desperate arrangement slowly unravels into something neither can name—something achingly real, dangerously consuming, and far too perilous for a man who abandoned a world of blood and shadows in search of peace.
As he discovers peace has a price.
Katarina is about to discover that the man she fell for carries secrets darker than anything she feared—and that her own past holds a truth that will change everything.
Dark Rose: Revenge is a dark romance for readers who want their heroines fierce, their heroes ruthless, and their love stories drenched in shadows.
📍 Set in Buenos Aires and Sicily
🥀 Book 1 of The Dark Rose Series—cliffhanger ending
Tropes: Mafia Boss MMC · Celebrity FMC · Fake Dating → Real Feelings · Forbidden Attraction · He Pushes Her Away · Forced Proximity · Morally Grey Hero · Touch Her And Die · Slow Burn · Secret Identity · Grief Romance · She Saves Him Back · Cliffhanger Ending
- GenresDark Romance
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
May 18, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from Author
Wow!! Just wow!! I couldn’t put this down. The story was so captivating right from page 1.
Theres action, suspense, betrayals & secrets. Super strong characters that you completely get invested in. Now I will just be over here hanging on that cliff hanger waiting for book 2.
Wow!! Just wow!! I couldn’t put this down. The story was so captivating right from page 1.
Theres action, suspense, betrayals & secrets. Super strong characters that you completely get invested in. Now I will just be over here hanging on that cliff hanger waiting for book 2.
June 3, 2026
I came for the dark mafia romance and stayed for the emotional angst.
Dark Rose Revenge delivers everything I want from a mafia romance—danger, betrayal, family secrets, forced proximity, and a fiercely protective MMC—but what surprised me most was how invested I became in Katarina and Damiano’s relationship.
Katarina spends so much of the story questioning who she can trust while uncovering secrets about her past, and I loved watching her realise she’s far stronger than the carefully crafted celebrity image everyone sees. She’s vulnerable without ever feeling weak, which made her easy to root for.
Damiano was exactly the kind of MMC I gravitate towards. Dangerous when he needs to be, protective to a fault, but carrying enough guilt and emotional baggage to make his decisions frustrating and understandable at the same time. The tension between these two had me constantly waiting for them to stop fighting their feelings and just communicate.
The story balances romance and suspense well, with enough twists and betrayals to keep me turning the pages. I also appreciated that Damiano wasn’t fully entrenched in the mafia lifestyle. His motivations felt rooted in protecting the people he loves rather than chasing power, which gave him more depth than the typical mafia hero.
My only reason for not giving this five stars is that there were a few moments where I wanted certain reveals to be explored more deeply. That said, the ending absolutely left me desperate for book two.
If you love:
🖤 Dark mafia romance
🖤 Second chance romance
🖤 Forced proximity
🖤 Protective MMC
🖤 Family secrets
🖤 Emotional angst
🖤 “I’d burn the world down for you” energy
then Dark Rose Revenge is definitely worth picking up.
Dark Rose Revenge delivers everything I want from a mafia romance—danger, betrayal, family secrets, forced proximity, and a fiercely protective MMC—but what surprised me most was how invested I became in Katarina and Damiano’s relationship.
Katarina spends so much of the story questioning who she can trust while uncovering secrets about her past, and I loved watching her realise she’s far stronger than the carefully crafted celebrity image everyone sees. She’s vulnerable without ever feeling weak, which made her easy to root for.
Damiano was exactly the kind of MMC I gravitate towards. Dangerous when he needs to be, protective to a fault, but carrying enough guilt and emotional baggage to make his decisions frustrating and understandable at the same time. The tension between these two had me constantly waiting for them to stop fighting their feelings and just communicate.
The story balances romance and suspense well, with enough twists and betrayals to keep me turning the pages. I also appreciated that Damiano wasn’t fully entrenched in the mafia lifestyle. His motivations felt rooted in protecting the people he loves rather than chasing power, which gave him more depth than the typical mafia hero.
My only reason for not giving this five stars is that there were a few moments where I wanted certain reveals to be explored more deeply. That said, the ending absolutely left me desperate for book two.
If you love:
🖤 Dark mafia romance
🖤 Second chance romance
🖤 Forced proximity
🖤 Protective MMC
🖤 Family secrets
🖤 Emotional angst
🖤 “I’d burn the world down for you” energy
then Dark Rose Revenge is definitely worth picking up.
June 2, 2026
This is a bit of a whirlwind story that involved Katarina and Damiano. She is an actress and model in Argentina and Damiano is a club owner. She catches his art from the start and they have a spot of fake? Dating but ultimately he never is able to relinquish his feelings for her. She gets in a tricky situation where everyone she loves is taken from her and Damiano is left to protect her….except maybe he’s a danger too?
I went into this not really knowing what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised. I feel like it’s really easy to write a mafia romance, but this one really stands out. It gives a bit of world building mixed with good character development. I feel for the main characters and want them to be happy and safe.
It leaves off on a cliffhanger and I want to know what happens next?!? I’m definitely excited for a book 2!
June 3, 2026
I struggled a lot with this book in the beginning. The constant shift between languages with no translation was slightly annoying and overwhelming.
I loved both the MMC and FMC; however, the constant back and forth the FMC went through mentally on escaping and protecting herself was annoying. No matter how many times the MMC told her she was safer with him she still didn't listen. If I could have reached into the book and slapped her, I would have.
Overall the storyline was really good and kept me going.. slow at times but once it got about 75% into the book it really picked up and had me hooked.... and the plot twists?! don't even get me started. SO good.
I loved both the MMC and FMC; however, the constant back and forth the FMC went through mentally on escaping and protecting herself was annoying. No matter how many times the MMC told her she was safer with him she still didn't listen. If I could have reached into the book and slapped her, I would have.
Overall the storyline was really good and kept me going.. slow at times but once it got about 75% into the book it really picked up and had me hooked.... and the plot twists?! don't even get me started. SO good.
June 5, 2026
Oh my gosh this is the first book by this author and it was really good . By the start of chapter 1 I was hooked and could not put it down I had to sleep or I would have finished it way sooner. I will warn you it ends at a cliff hanger but truthfully I need time to get over all the dark twisted plot and deception. I cried at some parts held my breath sometimes and yelled at Kat a lot. I can’t wait for book two and look forward to finding out how these characters developed and end up.
May 17, 2026
ARC Review
Katarina is an actress,model, and the darling of Argentina. Her brother Mateo is the only family she has left.
Damiano is a club owner who she “fake dated” but fell in love with.
However, after a break in and tragedy, Katarina’s life is thrown into chaos. Betrayal and Secrets are revealed!
The bones of the story were captivating. I finished the book in two days because I genuinely wanted to know what happens. There was plenty of open door spice! The chemistry between Katarina and Damiano was definitely there.However, there were parts that seemed to either not make sense to the timeline or maybe just weren’t explained well. There were also some other things that were repetitive in a weird way. I think the story just needed to be a little more refined. Overall the story itself was a good story.
Katarina is an actress,model, and the darling of Argentina. Her brother Mateo is the only family she has left.
Damiano is a club owner who she “fake dated” but fell in love with.
However, after a break in and tragedy, Katarina’s life is thrown into chaos. Betrayal and Secrets are revealed!
The bones of the story were captivating. I finished the book in two days because I genuinely wanted to know what happens. There was plenty of open door spice! The chemistry between Katarina and Damiano was definitely there.However, there were parts that seemed to either not make sense to the timeline or maybe just weren’t explained well. There were also some other things that were repetitive in a weird way. I think the story just needed to be a little more refined. Overall the story itself was a good story.
May 19, 2026
Firstly, I want to say thank you to the author for providing me with this ARC.
I really enjoyed this story overall, I really like Kat she is an uncover badass and I love that. For me the beginning of the story took me a little to get into however as the story went on I got more invested and the last 25% threw me for a loop. The plot twists were 100% plot twisting.
I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a spicy and eventful storyline. Although, I would recommend reading the trigger warnings as it does include some topics that could be triggering for some readers.
I really enjoyed this story overall, I really like Kat she is an uncover badass and I love that. For me the beginning of the story took me a little to get into however as the story went on I got more invested and the last 25% threw me for a loop. The plot twists were 100% plot twisting.
I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a spicy and eventful storyline. Although, I would recommend reading the trigger warnings as it does include some topics that could be triggering for some readers.
May 23, 2026
Damiano and Katarina are 🤌🏻 the only thing that took off some stars for me personally is that it has some Spanish in it. I’m not the type of person to stop and look something up, but that is me personally. I would still HIGHLY recommend this book and can’t wait to read the rest of this series!
June 3, 2026
Damiano and Katrina were such great characters in this. I loved the way they connected and he was determined to not only protect her but to keep her. The depth of this story was amazing. So well written. The push and pull between these two had me turning the pages. And those twists and turns were perfect. This is a new to me author ands I’m read my for the next story.
Read
May 21, 2026Got an arc copy of this book for a honest review. This is my 1st mafia romance. And I got to say I love it. Didn’t disappoint. Just enough spice and action. I can’t wait for more books to come.
June 1, 2026
Excited to see what happens in book 2. Book one had a good mix of mystery, spice, friendships, betrayals, love story... everything all in one book!
June 6, 2026
arc review: this took me a lil bit to get into but phewwwww this got me on the edge of my seat!!! eagerly awaiting the next one
June 13, 2026
Well written. I liked the story line. Was not a fan of the ending.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review
Katarina doesn't know about her family history after a tragic accident. Her older brother kept her in the dark about thier heritage. After his sudden death she is forced to trust Damiano a man who broke her heart. Damiano is the son of a Don in the Italian mafia. Katarina is forced to make a heart breaking decision to save Damiano after finding out she's a mafia princess. The villan who killed her brother isn't who you would think! Book ends on a cliffhanger. I'll be patiently waiting for book 2.
Katarina doesn't know about her family history after a tragic accident. Her older brother kept her in the dark about thier heritage. After his sudden death she is forced to trust Damiano a man who broke her heart. Damiano is the son of a Don in the Italian mafia. Katarina is forced to make a heart breaking decision to save Damiano after finding out she's a mafia princess. The villan who killed her brother isn't who you would think! Book ends on a cliffhanger. I'll be patiently waiting for book 2.
May 30, 2026
ARC REVIEW
Dark Rose Revenge centres around our FMC, Katarina Flores, famously known as The Darling of Argentina, an actress and model trapped in a carefully controlled celebrity life that feels more scripted than real. After a paparazzi incident threatens her public image, Buenos Aires’ most eligible bachelor and nightclub owner, Damiano Collarini, offers to become her “fake” boyfriend. What begins as a strategic arrangement quickly turns into something real, with Kat admitting her feelings and Damiano immediately ends things, breaking her heart but he’s hiding a dangerous past of hidden secrets that could threaten her life
When Katarina becomes the target of a violent syndicate, she’s forced to turn to the man who hurt her, only to discover he is more dangerous than she ever realised. Hidden away in Damiano’s Sicilian home, old feelings resurface as danger closes in. However, when a shocking truth about Katarina comes to light, everything begins to unravel, threatening to destroy both her and Damiano.
My view: This story completely captured my attention from the very first page and I was hooked from the moment I read the initial overview.
Dark Rose Revenge is a dual POV romance and the first book in the Dark Rose Duet, while delivering all the foundations of a dark mafia romance, danger, betrayal, forced proximity and intense chemistry, it still feels refreshingly different. Damiano is not fully immersed in the Mafia world anymore. He had tried to leave it behind and build something better for himself, so his return to the “family business” feels driven by love and protection rather than power.
The chemistry between Katarina and Damiano is one of the strongest elements of the story. Their relationship is layered with longing, heartbreak and unresolved feelings, creating tension that makes it impossible not to root for them. I especially loved Katarina’s character. While she appears to be a pampered princesa on the surface, she is resilient, intelligent and far stronger than people expect. Even in vulnerable moments, she never feels completely helpless and I loved that!
Damiano was equally compelling, balancing brooding intensity with genuine vulnerability, while his childhood friend friends, Lucian and Andreas brought humour and chaos that perfectly lightened some of the darker moments.
Overall, Dark Rose Revenge is emotional, gripping and addictive, packed with tension, twists and turns with characters you genuinely care about. I am an absolute sucker for a dark mafia romance with all my favourite tropes, second chances, forced proximity, emotional angst and a fiercely protective MMC, so this ticks all my boxes and then some. 💜
𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒓: 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐢 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎, 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒘𝒏.
Dark Rose Revenge centres around our FMC, Katarina Flores, famously known as The Darling of Argentina, an actress and model trapped in a carefully controlled celebrity life that feels more scripted than real. After a paparazzi incident threatens her public image, Buenos Aires’ most eligible bachelor and nightclub owner, Damiano Collarini, offers to become her “fake” boyfriend. What begins as a strategic arrangement quickly turns into something real, with Kat admitting her feelings and Damiano immediately ends things, breaking her heart but he’s hiding a dangerous past of hidden secrets that could threaten her life
When Katarina becomes the target of a violent syndicate, she’s forced to turn to the man who hurt her, only to discover he is more dangerous than she ever realised. Hidden away in Damiano’s Sicilian home, old feelings resurface as danger closes in. However, when a shocking truth about Katarina comes to light, everything begins to unravel, threatening to destroy both her and Damiano.
My view: This story completely captured my attention from the very first page and I was hooked from the moment I read the initial overview.
Dark Rose Revenge is a dual POV romance and the first book in the Dark Rose Duet, while delivering all the foundations of a dark mafia romance, danger, betrayal, forced proximity and intense chemistry, it still feels refreshingly different. Damiano is not fully immersed in the Mafia world anymore. He had tried to leave it behind and build something better for himself, so his return to the “family business” feels driven by love and protection rather than power.
The chemistry between Katarina and Damiano is one of the strongest elements of the story. Their relationship is layered with longing, heartbreak and unresolved feelings, creating tension that makes it impossible not to root for them. I especially loved Katarina’s character. While she appears to be a pampered princesa on the surface, she is resilient, intelligent and far stronger than people expect. Even in vulnerable moments, she never feels completely helpless and I loved that!
Damiano was equally compelling, balancing brooding intensity with genuine vulnerability, while his childhood friend friends, Lucian and Andreas brought humour and chaos that perfectly lightened some of the darker moments.
Overall, Dark Rose Revenge is emotional, gripping and addictive, packed with tension, twists and turns with characters you genuinely care about. I am an absolute sucker for a dark mafia romance with all my favourite tropes, second chances, forced proximity, emotional angst and a fiercely protective MMC, so this ticks all my boxes and then some. 💜
𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒓: 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐢 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎, 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒘𝒏.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dark Rose Revenge by Talia Soleri
Release Date: May 31st, 2026
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5
Oh my!! I devoured htis book in less than 24 hours! It was so good I literally was at a loss for words I had to really think about what I wanted to write. Amazing!!
Katarina Flores (FMC) is the girl everyone wants to be right confident, rich, gorgeous, a movie star. Like she has it all right. She is sassy as ever and so strong. Not just mentally and with her whit but physically too. She is a fighter.
Damiano Cotrini (MMC) he is tall, dark, and handsome in every way. He owns clubs and has a swagger like confidence to him and he is part of the mafia like come on.
These two start the book with banter and a frenemies situation and it really takes you for a ride. The back story of the two is crazy. No spoilers here! It will seriously blow your mind though. I never saw it coming like at all. Katarina goes through A LOT in this book and it ends on a cliffhanger in her POV that I have to say i am NOT happy about. I want the next book like right f-ing now Talia. You can't do this to us!!
I love the love that Katarina and Damiano share he is the epitome of I can't let anyone in and I will hurt you before you hurt me type of guy BUT he becomes a giant softy for Katarina and I am all here for it. The spice was just right, sexy but not over the top either. 🤭 Absolutely loved this book.
Release Date: May 31st, 2026
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5
Oh my!! I devoured htis book in less than 24 hours! It was so good I literally was at a loss for words I had to really think about what I wanted to write. Amazing!!
Katarina Flores (FMC) is the girl everyone wants to be right confident, rich, gorgeous, a movie star. Like she has it all right. She is sassy as ever and so strong. Not just mentally and with her whit but physically too. She is a fighter.
Damiano Cotrini (MMC) he is tall, dark, and handsome in every way. He owns clubs and has a swagger like confidence to him and he is part of the mafia like come on.
These two start the book with banter and a frenemies situation and it really takes you for a ride. The back story of the two is crazy. No spoilers here! It will seriously blow your mind though. I never saw it coming like at all. Katarina goes through A LOT in this book and it ends on a cliffhanger in her POV that I have to say i am NOT happy about. I want the next book like right f-ing now Talia. You can't do this to us!!
I love the love that Katarina and Damiano share he is the epitome of I can't let anyone in and I will hurt you before you hurt me type of guy BUT he becomes a giant softy for Katarina and I am all here for it. The spice was just right, sexy but not over the top either. 🤭 Absolutely loved this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Well that was certainly unexpected. I was floored from the first page all the way through to the end. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
I ate the plot up. There are so many twists and turns. Normally I get bored if too much is going on the follow everything realistically but it all blends and melds well together that you can understand it all.
Damiano is the type of MMC that knocks you on your ass with the way he carries himself and then lets himself fall for her only. He is possessive, domineering, and the perfect mix of what Katarina needs.
Katarina appears to be a doormat from the beginning with her career and not doing what she wants but that quickly changes when put into situations that require her to be a fatal asset to herself. I cannot wait to see where she carries herself in the next book.
The explosive connection between the two of them is palpable on page. I am here for the spice and I am impatiently waiting for the next book.
The side characters (Lorenzo, Andreas’, Lucian and maybe Gio) need their owns books to round out this series once the duet is complete.
Julian is the worst of the worst in my opinion, he deserves everything that came his way. He can kick rocks in hell.
Thank you for trusting me to give honest review. This is my first book and put me down as a fan for the future.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Well that was certainly unexpected. I was floored from the first page all the way through to the end. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
I ate the plot up. There are so many twists and turns. Normally I get bored if too much is going on the follow everything realistically but it all blends and melds well together that you can understand it all.
Damiano is the type of MMC that knocks you on your ass with the way he carries himself and then lets himself fall for her only. He is possessive, domineering, and the perfect mix of what Katarina needs.
Katarina appears to be a doormat from the beginning with her career and not doing what she wants but that quickly changes when put into situations that require her to be a fatal asset to herself. I cannot wait to see where she carries herself in the next book.
The explosive connection between the two of them is palpable on page. I am here for the spice and I am impatiently waiting for the next book.
The side characters (Lorenzo, Andreas’, Lucian and maybe Gio) need their owns books to round out this series once the duet is complete.
Julian is the worst of the worst in my opinion, he deserves everything that came his way. He can kick rocks in hell.
Thank you for trusting me to give honest review. This is my first book and put me down as a fan for the future.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Katarina
The book starts with her spiraling in a bar, having a career crisis. To save that carrer, she ends up faking a relationship with Damiano, the owner of the bar.
Damiano
He's the owner of the bar where Katarina is and her brother's client. He's in Argentina trying to dissociate from his legacy of the Mafia life. Wanting to protect Kat, he lied to her and broke her heart a few months back.
After Kat's brother is killed, Damiano takes her under his protection, flies her to Italy and that's when she learns that he is a Mafia enforcer.
Damiano falls fast and hard for Katarina. I love his POV, just to see how protective he is of her, the big "touch her and die" vibe that comes out of him. He is absolutely devoted to her and very possessive.
He has a strong friendship with Andreas and Lucian who are also in the Mafia. It's refreshing to see them together, I love their banter.
Katarina is held prisoner for her protection but doesn't let that fact keep her from loving Damiano. I love how strong she is and how she becomes her own person.
This book is filled with wth moments and events I really wasn't expecting. It ends with a huge cliffhanger and I am not okay with not knowing what will happen next. I want to read the next book right away!
I was hooked from the beginning. I am so glad I got this opportunity
The book starts with her spiraling in a bar, having a career crisis. To save that carrer, she ends up faking a relationship with Damiano, the owner of the bar.
Damiano
He's the owner of the bar where Katarina is and her brother's client. He's in Argentina trying to dissociate from his legacy of the Mafia life. Wanting to protect Kat, he lied to her and broke her heart a few months back.
After Kat's brother is killed, Damiano takes her under his protection, flies her to Italy and that's when she learns that he is a Mafia enforcer.
Damiano falls fast and hard for Katarina. I love his POV, just to see how protective he is of her, the big "touch her and die" vibe that comes out of him. He is absolutely devoted to her and very possessive.
He has a strong friendship with Andreas and Lucian who are also in the Mafia. It's refreshing to see them together, I love their banter.
Katarina is held prisoner for her protection but doesn't let that fact keep her from loving Damiano. I love how strong she is and how she becomes her own person.
This book is filled with wth moments and events I really wasn't expecting. It ends with a huge cliffhanger and I am not okay with not knowing what will happen next. I want to read the next book right away!
I was hooked from the beginning. I am so glad I got this opportunity
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advance copy received from author.
Dark Rose Revenge revolves around FMC Katarina, she has no recollection of her past or her parents. When her older brother is killed, she finds herself in the middle of a war between feuding mafia families.
MMC Damiano is protective and obsessive of Katarina and when their world implodes he fights to save her.
This story had me hooked! I was gripped with all of the action and the plot twists.
This is a dual POV and the first in the Dark Rose Duet.
The chemistry between main characters is explosive, their relationship is full of longing and unresolved feelings towards one another. It makes you feel full of hope and you hope that their relationship manages to survive.
I adored Katarina’s character, her feisty attitude, ability to fight her own battles and she is much stronger than people think.
Damiano’s character was equally compelling with his brooding personality and possessive nature. 🥵
The only slight issues I had with this read was the translating of speech was a little confusing and took some time to understand.
Overall, this read was compelling and captivating and I couldn’t put it down. Packed with emotion and tension, plot twists and characters you find yourself rooting for!
The cliffhanger was brutal! I need to know what happens next! 🫣🤯
Thank you for allowing me to ARC read this! ♥️
Dark Rose Revenge revolves around FMC Katarina, she has no recollection of her past or her parents. When her older brother is killed, she finds herself in the middle of a war between feuding mafia families.
MMC Damiano is protective and obsessive of Katarina and when their world implodes he fights to save her.
This story had me hooked! I was gripped with all of the action and the plot twists.
This is a dual POV and the first in the Dark Rose Duet.
The chemistry between main characters is explosive, their relationship is full of longing and unresolved feelings towards one another. It makes you feel full of hope and you hope that their relationship manages to survive.
I adored Katarina’s character, her feisty attitude, ability to fight her own battles and she is much stronger than people think.
Damiano’s character was equally compelling with his brooding personality and possessive nature. 🥵
The only slight issues I had with this read was the translating of speech was a little confusing and took some time to understand.
Overall, this read was compelling and captivating and I couldn’t put it down. Packed with emotion and tension, plot twists and characters you find yourself rooting for!
The cliffhanger was brutal! I need to know what happens next! 🫣🤯
Thank you for allowing me to ARC read this! ♥️
May 31, 2026
This book is dangerous, emotional, and absolutely packed with mafia romance tension 👀🌹🖤
A celebrity FMC on the run?
A ruthless mafia heir MMC?
A second chance romance tangled up with secrets, betrayal, and deadly enemies??
Yeah… I was hooked IMMEDIATELY.
Damiano is the kind of MMC who walks into a room and completely takes over 👀🔥
Powerful. Dangerous. Protective.
The kind of man who will do whatever it takes to keep the woman he loves alive—even if she doesn't fully trust him.
And honestly??
The chemistry between these two was SO good.
Because beneath all the danger and chaos is a history neither of them has truly moved on from.
Watching old feelings resurface while they're surrounded by threats, lies, and hidden agendas made every interaction feel emotionally charged.
Then the secrets start unraveling...
AND WOW 👀🖤
The deeper the story goes, the more shocking the revelations become. Between the missing memories, family secrets, betrayals, and mafia politics, I never knew what was coming next.
✨ If you love:
• mafia romance
• second chance romance
• protective MMCs
• hidden identities and secrets
• high-stakes suspense
This one is emotional, addictive, dangerous, and packed with mafia-fueled chaos 🌹🖤🔥
A celebrity FMC on the run?
A ruthless mafia heir MMC?
A second chance romance tangled up with secrets, betrayal, and deadly enemies??
Yeah… I was hooked IMMEDIATELY.
Damiano is the kind of MMC who walks into a room and completely takes over 👀🔥
Powerful. Dangerous. Protective.
The kind of man who will do whatever it takes to keep the woman he loves alive—even if she doesn't fully trust him.
And honestly??
The chemistry between these two was SO good.
Because beneath all the danger and chaos is a history neither of them has truly moved on from.
Watching old feelings resurface while they're surrounded by threats, lies, and hidden agendas made every interaction feel emotionally charged.
Then the secrets start unraveling...
AND WOW 👀🖤
The deeper the story goes, the more shocking the revelations become. Between the missing memories, family secrets, betrayals, and mafia politics, I never knew what was coming next.
✨ If you love:
• mafia romance
• second chance romance
• protective MMCs
• hidden identities and secrets
• high-stakes suspense
This one is emotional, addictive, dangerous, and packed with mafia-fueled chaos 🌹🖤🔥
June 5, 2026
I’ve just finished this one, and I’m a bit torn. It’s a bit of a second-chance romance, but it didn't really deliver on the emotional front. The female main character is supposed to be grieving, but you just don’t feel it on the page. Because the emotional depth was missing, I found it really hard to properly connect with the characters or care about what they were going through. Even the dog felt a bit pointless, as though the author threw a pet into the mix and then completely forgot about him halfway through the story.
The plot itself had quite a lot of potential, and I did enjoy the general storyline, but the execution was just a bit lacking. The twists weren't exactly shocking and felt quite predictable if you've read a few books in this genre. I also found the beginning pretty annoying because the heroine kept thinking of running away, even though the hero was clearly just trying to protect her. It’s a shame because it really could have been a brilliant read if it just had that bit of extra heart to make you root for the couple. The sentences in other languages with no translations just took me out the book completely with having to go and translate them on my phone as I didn't have wifi for the kindle.
The plot itself had quite a lot of potential, and I did enjoy the general storyline, but the execution was just a bit lacking. The twists weren't exactly shocking and felt quite predictable if you've read a few books in this genre. I also found the beginning pretty annoying because the heroine kept thinking of running away, even though the hero was clearly just trying to protect her. It’s a shame because it really could have been a brilliant read if it just had that bit of extra heart to make you root for the couple. The sentences in other languages with no translations just took me out the book completely with having to go and translate them on my phone as I didn't have wifi for the kindle.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dark Rose Revenge by Talia Soleri was everything I was hoping for as far as mafia romances go. I was hooked from the first chapter! I couldn't put it down! I definitely didn't want the book to end! This book has it all, action, suspense, spice! For me certain parts I needed tissues. I loved the way the author wrote these characters. Damiano, I absolutely fell in love with him. He is everything you want a mafia prince to be and more!! Katarina, I loved her as well and she is a very strong character to go through everything she does! This book will give you all the feels and you won't want it to end! I loved Damiano two best friends Lucian and Andreas, their banters are witty and funny in a way! This book will have free rein in my head forever! I most definitely would say this book is a must read if you like mafia!!! Absolutely well done to the author, I will always read anything more from this author! I am impatiently waiting for the second book! I received this book as a gift from the author and the opinions and review I shared is my own! I'm so glad I got to read and review this book because I absolutely loved it!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was everything I expected from a well executed mafia book. There was a good balance between romance and action.
Through all the supressed memories, death, family drama, tested loyalties, and secrets we are taken on quite a ride. With more information that connects vital dots being released just at the right pacing you are able to see where things are going but are still surprised at exactly how things play out.
Katerina and Damiano are all passion and fire together and seeing them being able to dominate and submit to each other when the time called for it was *chefs kiss*.
What runs all of the happenings is something as simple as decision making, both bad and good, as in life. But the question will always remain if one is ready for the consequences? Ending the book with a decision meant to do well hints at the breaking of everything and possibly a catastrophic fall out.
I will be here patiently, impatiently waiting for the next book because I believe book 1 was only the start to things getting explosive.
Through all the supressed memories, death, family drama, tested loyalties, and secrets we are taken on quite a ride. With more information that connects vital dots being released just at the right pacing you are able to see where things are going but are still surprised at exactly how things play out.
Katerina and Damiano are all passion and fire together and seeing them being able to dominate and submit to each other when the time called for it was *chefs kiss*.
What runs all of the happenings is something as simple as decision making, both bad and good, as in life. But the question will always remain if one is ready for the consequences? Ending the book with a decision meant to do well hints at the breaking of everything and possibly a catastrophic fall out.
I will be here patiently, impatiently waiting for the next book because I believe book 1 was only the start to things getting explosive.
June 1, 2026
I received this book and it was a delight!
Katarina is a popular celebrity who is dealing with a lot of negative press trying to make her out to be someone she’s not. She is the epitome of a perfect woman, someone who instantly catches the eyes of many. Despite how perfect her life looks, it’s not what she truly desires. Stuck in a life of popularity and appearances, she finds herself feeling more lonely than imagined.
Damiano is part of a mafia family who fled to live a normal life. When fate finds its way to him, he’s dragged back without another choice. When he learns that Katarina’s life is at risk, he’s willing to do what it takes to keep the woman he can’t stop thinking about safe.
I loved this book, it had me gasping and rapidly turning pages. I will say it was a bit difficult at times with switching pov’s and the scenes not feeling like they were lining up. If you do not understand Spanish, some of the lines may be a bit confusing. Other than that, I did truly enjoy it and can’t wait for more.
Katarina is a popular celebrity who is dealing with a lot of negative press trying to make her out to be someone she’s not. She is the epitome of a perfect woman, someone who instantly catches the eyes of many. Despite how perfect her life looks, it’s not what she truly desires. Stuck in a life of popularity and appearances, she finds herself feeling more lonely than imagined.
Damiano is part of a mafia family who fled to live a normal life. When fate finds its way to him, he’s dragged back without another choice. When he learns that Katarina’s life is at risk, he’s willing to do what it takes to keep the woman he can’t stop thinking about safe.
I loved this book, it had me gasping and rapidly turning pages. I will say it was a bit difficult at times with switching pov’s and the scenes not feeling like they were lining up. If you do not understand Spanish, some of the lines may be a bit confusing. Other than that, I did truly enjoy it and can’t wait for more.
June 2, 2026
I got this book as an ARC reader. This book had me completely hooked. The tension between Katarina and Damiano was toxic in the way dark mafia romance is supposed to be, and I absolutely flew through it trying to work out who could actually be trusted. Every time I thought I understood what was happening, another secret or betrayal appeared and dragged me deeper into the chaos.
I really loved the atmosphere throughout the story too. The family dynamics, the power plays, the possessiveness, the danger… it all felt dramatic and addictive without losing the emotional side underneath it. Katarina especially kept me invested because even when she was trapped in impossible situations, she still had this stubborn strength to her.
This is definitely on the darker side romance-wise, so check trigger warnings if needed, but if you enjoy morally grey men, mafia politics, tension, obsession, betrayal, and a romance that feels equal parts dangerous and magnetic, this one is worth picking up. The ending absolutely set things up for more and now I need answers immediately. 🖤
I really loved the atmosphere throughout the story too. The family dynamics, the power plays, the possessiveness, the danger… it all felt dramatic and addictive without losing the emotional side underneath it. Katarina especially kept me invested because even when she was trapped in impossible situations, she still had this stubborn strength to her.
This is definitely on the darker side romance-wise, so check trigger warnings if needed, but if you enjoy morally grey men, mafia politics, tension, obsession, betrayal, and a romance that feels equal parts dangerous and magnetic, this one is worth picking up. The ending absolutely set things up for more and now I need answers immediately. 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
'"I love you, Kat. I'm never letting you go."'
To sum this book up in short ,I will be getting the second book the second it comes out. It was an amazing read, that left me feeling a little hollow afterward, especially because of the ending. This book grabbed me by my imaginary balls, I genuinely struggled to put it down.
This was my first Mafia romance book, it completely exceeded my expectations. This follows the MCs, Katarina and Damiano, who have been attracted to each other for a while. Katarina was warned about Damiano by her brother, but life finds a way to bring them together anyway. She has to turn to him for proctection, he is possessive and falls quick for her.
Along the way, we find out that Katarina isn't who she thought she was. Without giving away any spoilers, it introduces a twist that I never saw coming. The book is full of suspense beginning to end, literally to the very last word. It ended on a cliffhanger just as everything hit the peak of drama.
Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶 3/5
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
To sum this book up in short ,I will be getting the second book the second it comes out. It was an amazing read, that left me feeling a little hollow afterward, especially because of the ending. This book grabbed me by my imaginary balls, I genuinely struggled to put it down.
This was my first Mafia romance book, it completely exceeded my expectations. This follows the MCs, Katarina and Damiano, who have been attracted to each other for a while. Katarina was warned about Damiano by her brother, but life finds a way to bring them together anyway. She has to turn to him for proctection, he is possessive and falls quick for her.
Along the way, we find out that Katarina isn't who she thought she was. Without giving away any spoilers, it introduces a twist that I never saw coming. The book is full of suspense beginning to end, literally to the very last word. It ended on a cliffhanger just as everything hit the peak of drama.
Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶 3/5
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dark Rose Revenge had me hooked from the very first page. This book was dark, addictive, emotional, and full of the kind of tension that keeps you glued to every chapter. The revenge plot was packed with betrayal, secrets, and power plays that made it impossible to put down.
The FMC was strong, damaged, and determined to get her revenge no matter what, and I loved her for it. And the MMC? Ruthless, possessive, morally black, and completely obsessed. Their chemistry was intense from start to finish and every interaction between them felt loaded with tension and heat.
The steamy scenes were so well written, the twists kept me guessing, and the emotional depth underneath all the darkness made the story hit even harder.
If you love dark mafia romance with obsessive morally grey men, revenge, dangerous attraction, and nonstop tension, Dark Rose Revenge is definitely worth reading.
The FMC was strong, damaged, and determined to get her revenge no matter what, and I loved her for it. And the MMC? Ruthless, possessive, morally black, and completely obsessed. Their chemistry was intense from start to finish and every interaction between them felt loaded with tension and heat.
The steamy scenes were so well written, the twists kept me guessing, and the emotional depth underneath all the darkness made the story hit even harder.
If you love dark mafia romance with obsessive morally grey men, revenge, dangerous attraction, and nonstop tension, Dark Rose Revenge is definitely worth reading.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review ✨✨
Dark Rose:Revenge By: Talia Soleri
⭐️:4/5
🌶️:3/5
🌹Unhinged Possessiveness
🖤Strong FMC
🌹Touch Her and Die
🖤Morally Grey MMC
🌹Forbidden Love
RELEASE Date: May31,2026
⚠️CHECK TW⚠️
“And for the first time since my mother died, I hold someone like I am afraid to let go. I love you, Kat, I’m never letting you go.”
I am so glad I got the opportunity to read this book as a ARC read! Thank you @taliasoleri
This book was so good! I can’t wait for the second book to come out.
This book is between Kat and Damiano. They have a bit of a push and pull relationship and I’m here for it. Kat is a Strong 💪 FMC and when she is pushed to her limits does whatever needs to be done to survive.
I really loved Damianos two friends Luciana and Andreas, they brought a comedic energy to the book and just made it that much more. The ending did leave me wanting to know what happens!
Definitely recommend reading this when it is released!!! #bookgram #darkromance #bookrecs #mafiabooks #bookreviewer
Dark Rose:Revenge By: Talia Soleri
⭐️:4/5
🌶️:3/5
🌹Unhinged Possessiveness
🖤Strong FMC
🌹Touch Her and Die
🖤Morally Grey MMC
🌹Forbidden Love
RELEASE Date: May31,2026
⚠️CHECK TW⚠️
“And for the first time since my mother died, I hold someone like I am afraid to let go. I love you, Kat, I’m never letting you go.”
I am so glad I got the opportunity to read this book as a ARC read! Thank you @taliasoleri
This book was so good! I can’t wait for the second book to come out.
This book is between Kat and Damiano. They have a bit of a push and pull relationship and I’m here for it. Kat is a Strong 💪 FMC and when she is pushed to her limits does whatever needs to be done to survive.
I really loved Damianos two friends Luciana and Andreas, they brought a comedic energy to the book and just made it that much more. The ending did leave me wanting to know what happens!
Definitely recommend reading this when it is released!!! #bookgram #darkromance #bookrecs #mafiabooks #bookreviewer
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dark Rose Revenge was an incredible read from beginning to end. The story immediately pulled me in, and I found myself completely invested in the characters and the unfolding events the entire way through. The pacing was excellent, keeping the tension and intrigue balanced perfectly without ever feeling rushed or dragged out.
What stood out most to me was how emotionally engaging the book was. Every chapter left me wanting more, and the author did a fantastic job building anticipation throughout the story. The ending cliffhanger was especially well done — shocking enough to leave a lasting impression while making me desperate to continue the journey.
Overall, this was a gripping and memorable read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys suspense, drama, and stories that keep you fully hooked until the very last page.
Can't wait for the 2nd book
What stood out most to me was how emotionally engaging the book was. Every chapter left me wanting more, and the author did a fantastic job building anticipation throughout the story. The ending cliffhanger was especially well done — shocking enough to leave a lasting impression while making me desperate to continue the journey.
Overall, this was a gripping and memorable read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys suspense, drama, and stories that keep you fully hooked until the very last page.
Can't wait for the 2nd book
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am leaving this honest review voluntarily after receiving an advance copy.
You are instantly thrown into Damiano and Katarina’s world from the first word. This book started at top speed and never slowed down. The author did an incredible job developing the characters and making us fall in love with them.
Damiano is mysterious and dangerous. He is a true Italian Mafia member, and he will stop at nothing to keep Katarina safe. Katarina is beautiful and strong. Way stronger than anyone gives her credit for. This story is filled with love, intrigue, and just the right amount of spice. Damiano’s friends are wonderful supporting characters that give a glimpse into the world that he grew up in. I loved that, and I can only hope we find out more about these men in the next book. I was a little upset that the book ended. I needed it to keep going!!! I CAN NOT wait for book two.
You are instantly thrown into Damiano and Katarina’s world from the first word. This book started at top speed and never slowed down. The author did an incredible job developing the characters and making us fall in love with them.
Damiano is mysterious and dangerous. He is a true Italian Mafia member, and he will stop at nothing to keep Katarina safe. Katarina is beautiful and strong. Way stronger than anyone gives her credit for. This story is filled with love, intrigue, and just the right amount of spice. Damiano’s friends are wonderful supporting characters that give a glimpse into the world that he grew up in. I loved that, and I can only hope we find out more about these men in the next book. I was a little upset that the book ended. I needed it to keep going!!! I CAN NOT wait for book two.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews