Shutter and sin: A dark mafia arranged marriage romance

by Lauren Kross

Genres: Mafia Romance, Dark Romance, Enemies To Lovers

624 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2026

Reviews

[Corinne Alston · Rating 1 out of 5]

It gave Wattpad but not in a good way :/

[Beautifully Broken Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

🖤🖤🖤 Shutter and Sin 🖤🖤🖤

🖤 Mafia Romance
🖤 Touch her and 💀
🖤 Arranged Marriage
🖤 He Falls First and Hard
🖤 Billionaire Romance
🌶🌶🌶
⭐️⭐️.5

I personally struggled to connect to the characters in this one (it just wasnt for me, doesnt mean it wont be for you). If you love a man obsessed with his woman with all the tension of a mafia read add this to your TBR.

[Eva ˖๋ ࣭ ⭑ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ‌ · Rating 1 out of 5]

1,8⭐️/5 DNF 9%
I was really reassured when I saw that someone else pointed out that this book was written in a Wattpad-y way 😀

At first I found it quite funny, then I put down the book, drank some water, and when I picked it up it was just ridiculous. Am I really supposed to believe that this guy is a Pakhan ?? It looks like a bad 2016’ Wattpad mafia story, she’s doing tiktok live ??? What’s next ? She’s doing some mukbang ASMR video ? He goes to a date with her and makes a florist do a euro bill bouquet ? Lol ? And the girl just gets casually kidnapped every few days ? And nothing of utmost concern has happened to her yet ? Like they just let her go every time without scaring her off a little ? No she’s just so bad ass that any time she gets kidnapped she just annoys her kidnappers??

I thought I might read it just for the cringy, fun way it’s written. But you know what ? I do think that I deserve better than this, and my time is worth more than that.

So if you’re into cringy, Wattpad-y mafia romance go ahead you’ll find what you’re looking for. As for me ? I’ll run the other way, thank you very much.

[Kenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love an arranged marriage romance with a hero who’s been secretly obsessed for years, this book needs to be on your TBR.

I’ve always had a soft spot for the arranged marriage trope, but Shutter and Sin has easily earned a place in my top five. Alexei completely stole my heart. Finding out he’d been watching her from afar for years had me absolutely melting, and every little reveal about how long he’d loved her made the romance feel even more special.

And can we talk about the fact that this man kept her panties while he went off to war as a “good luck charm”? I laughed so hard because it was equal parts unhinged, ridiculously romantic, and so perfectly him. Those are the kinds of details that make a character unforgettable.

The chemistry between these two was incredible from start to finish. The spicy scenes were amazing, but what really kept me invested were all the quieter, sweeter moments that showed their relationship growing into something genuine. Their connection felt earned, and I loved watching the walls come down as they slowly became partners in every sense of the word.

One of my favourite unexpected parts of the book, though, was their son. Every prank he pulled on Alexei had me smiling, and those family moments added so much warmth and humour to the story. They balanced out the darker mafia elements perfectly and made the characters feel like a real family rather than just a romance couple.

This book delivered everything I wanted: an obsessed hero, an arranged marriage that actually develops beautifully, incredible chemistry, laugh-out-loud moments, emotional depth, and a family dynamic that completely won me over. I couldn’t put it down, and by the end I was completely in love with these characters.

[Chelsey Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤 Bratva
💍 Arranged marriage
🖤 journalist FMC
💍 She refuses to back down
🖤 He has watched her for years
💍 Touch her and 💀
🖤 lots of banter

This had a bit of everything and there wasn't much I would critique. I thought that the text bubbles could have been fixed to keep it the way text conversations show better. Other than that there are times the FMC really went into the area i would consider being unreasonable. I also wished there was some future references for some characters who are never mentioned again.

The FMC Zoya is a journalist and she had no problem going for the story. She had a tendency to get caught and let go. I think that is part of the reason she threw caution to the wind so often. She has a rough relationship with her family but has good friends. I love a brave fmc and she is that and more. She has goals and is stubborn in what she wants. I just wished she thought of Alexei and how he would feel more.

Alexei is ultra Possessive and is all about Zoya before she even knew. He is unhinged and funny in the best way. He takes her safety and wellbeing as his priority. I found that he took her wellbeing more serious than she did. Even after finding out she was pregnant he is the one who is researching and pushing for rest and nutrition. There were times she said " I know how to take care of us" but then does something risky. He was my favorite character in this book.

The ending with the son was amazing. I laughed and liked the pranks he pulled at a young age.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW OF ADVANCE READER COPY FROM AUTHOR

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5

This was such a fun romantic suspense, and I honestly got pulled into the story much faster than I expected.

From the very first chapter, you’re thrown straight into the action. Between the danger, the mystery, and the secrets, I was constantly trying to figure out what was going to happen next.

Zoya was such a great FMC. As a journalist, she’s curious, determined, and refuses to stop searching for the truth, even when it puts her in danger. I loved that she never lost her spark or let fear make her back down.

And then there’s Alexei... 😭

He was easily my favourite part of the book. He was completely obsessed with Zoya in the best way. Underneath all that Bratva boss energy, he was so devoted to keeping her safe and making her happy that I couldn’t help but love him. He honestly gave off the vibe of a ruthless man wrapped around her finger and I ate it up every single time. 😭

The suspense kept me hooked throughout, and I loved that the romance never took away from the mystery. The stakes always felt high, making every emotional moment hit that much harder.

The only reason this wasn’t a full 5⭐ for me is because the pacing slowed down a little in the middle, but it definitely picked back up toward the end.

Overall, this was a gripping romantic suspense with great chemistry, plenty of twists, and characters I genuinely enjoyed following.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5⭐ 6🌶️

If you're dying to read a dark Bratva romance that is both absolutely hilarious in the darkest of ways AND annoyingly sweet to a point you "AWW🥹" , this is the book for you!

Alexei (The Pakhan) is the most unhinged, chaotic and obsessed husband material I've read about in a while!🫣 This man is unashamedly obsessed with Zoya, so much so , that he took one look at her 5 years ago and said "yup, this crazy, reckless and hot af woman is mine, beware" and just straight up orchestrated an entire plan on how to keep her safe from the consequences of her actions AND then marry her and worship the ground she spits on.

Zoya, on the other hand is a spitfire that challenges Alexei every literal second, pushing him to his limits and gifting him heart attack after heart attack from the stupid things she gets herself in.
Did I know from the very first page that this woman has absolutely NO survival skills and limited functioning brain cells? Yes. Was I constantly screaming at my kindle because this woman straight up neglected her safety and her future baby's safety because of her ego? Also yes.
She definitely thought she was smarter than she was, but we'll let that slide for once 😅

The spice 🌶️ was sizzling, unhinged and definitely deserves it's own TWs. It is not for the faint of heart as it's heavy on the degradation and br££ding k!nk.

All in all, it's definitely one of the best russian mafia books I've read this year! Wholeheartedly recommend it🖤🔪

*Thank you to Lauren Kross for the opportunity to read this ARC*

[heart_in_pages_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Reader,
This book contains a man who is deeply, profoundly unwell about the woman he loves.

📖 Shutter and Sin
By @author_laurenkross

∆Rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

∆Tropes :

🖤Mafia Romance
🖤 He Falls First
🖤5 Years of Yearning
🖤Obsessive & Possessive MMC
🖤 Strong, Fearless FMC
🖤 Romantic Suspense
🖤Touch Her and Die
🖤 Morally Grey MMC

"WHEN HE SPENDS FIVE YEARS YEARNING FOR HER... WITHOUT HER HAVING THE SLIGHTEST CLUE!!!"😭🖤

This book didn't just steal my heart, it kidnapped it!!!

Alexei... YOU SICK, LOVESTRUCK MAN. 😭 Every single thing he did had me kicking my feet, screaming into my pillow, and whispering, "Where do I order one?"The way this man loved was so intense, so consuming, so beautifully unhinged that I was obsessed from start to finish.

And don't even get me started on the chemistry. Every interaction had me giggling one second and clutching my chest the next.

The suspense kept me flipping pages at an embarrassing speed because I needed answers, but somehow the romance still managed to own my entire heart.

This is for the readers who eat up obsessive devotion, protective men, "I'd choose you in every lifetime" energy, and enough yearning to make your chest ache.

My heart yearns for Alexei... and I don't see that changing anytime soon.🖤🥹

Thank you author Lauren Kross for the eArc.🖤

[Claire Alder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel absolutely honoured to have received this ARC.

This book was the perfect mix of witty banter, simmering tension, and mafia drama.

I absolutely adored the FMC, Zoya. She was fiery, brave, fiercely independent, and stubborn in all the best ways, even when she did find herself in dangerous situations. She refused to let anyone dictate who she was, and even when her feelings grew, she never lost sight of herself or what she wanted. It's always refreshing to read a heroine who stays true to herself from beginning to end.

And Alexei, the MMC was the perfect counterpart. He's only soft for her, completely obsessed in that fictional-man way that somehow turns red flags into green flags, and just as stubborn as she is. Their chemistry was undeniable, and the banter between them made their relationship feel natural as it developed.

I also appreciated that, for a dark mafia romance, the story didn't shy away from the realities and responsibilities that come with leading a crime family. It balanced the darker aspects of the mafia world with the romance really well, while delivering two of my favourite tropes—forced marriage and forced proximity.

If you're looking for a dark mafia romance with strong characters, fantastic chemistry, plenty of tension, and just the right amount of humour, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up.

[Astrid A · Rating 1 out of 5]

1,3 stjerner. Jeg har så mange ting at sige om den her bog. Foa det er nok det mest cringe nogensinde. Kan virkelig ikke lide Koya hun er sååå forkælet, lidt er fint men hun er så intitked, det er så for meget. Han er en whimp han gør at for hende men ikke på en normal måde. Han beder hende om at træde på ham, altså er du mærkelig. Starteb var meget unik. Kunne ikke lide at han hele tiden kunne lide hende der var ingen tension eller noget. Omg og det der med of føj det var så random og ligegyldigt. Sån det blev bare gjort så cringe og uægte. Det er så tydeligt at forfatteren drømmer om designer ting men det er bare så for meget. Det er slet ikke mig. Omg hvordan er deres wedding sang all of me det er da nok det mest cringe nogensinde. Hvorfor er den såååå lang altså forstår faktisk slet ikke hvordan jeg formåede at læse den færdigt. Jeg må dog sige at det med mafia var meget voldeligt og blodigt så det var måske mere til den realistiske side tror jeg men igen det var også totalt overgjort at han var vitterligt ond. Omg og det med hun begynde ri skole wth det fungerede slet ikke. Og hun er også irriterende hun er gravid og tager til fjendtligt territorie!!! Wtf. Hun er også virkelig tarvelig overfor alle. Aner ikke hvordan jeg læste den færdigt!!

[MUMUKSHA MODI · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I’ve read by Lauren. I liked An Angel for the Tsar, so I had high expectations for this one as well. I follow her on social media, so it was hard to miss the spoilers, which only made me want to read this even more.
So, here it goes: Alexei is obsessed with Zoya (by the way, I loved that name; it really fits her personality 😋) who is arranged to marry him. Zoya knows that an arranged marriage is essentially a death trap where she will lose her freedom. Hence, she runs away (not too far 🤭) and starts living life on her own terms. Meanwhile, our unhinged Alexei is watching over her. I know, right?
It was all about him being in love with her in every way.

The way she defies him, bad-mouths him, and sasses him, he just falls for her more and more.

And you can't miss the love she feels for him.... It's just aaaahhh ... So dreamy

Anyway, I loved reading it. I won’t lie: at some point, it became a little too slow for me, but the ending made up for it.

Overall Rating: 4/5 stars
Plot: 3.5/5
Character Development: 4.5/5

[Kristi Stoller · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️/5
4🌶️/5

This was my first book by Lauren Kross & I appreciate the opportunity to read early!

Please check your trigger warnings, I was good with all of them & then there was one part of the book that was tough to get through, but once it’s over it’s over and it’s not repeated again.

Our girl Lauren wrote Alex and he is a man obsessed with Zoyla. He’s 10/10 not a good man, a legit walking 🚩 with control issues and a mvrder streak as long as the day is long.

Zoyla is a head strong woman in her own right, but man is she dense sometimes. She didn’t even fight it when Alex told her that they were supposed to have an arranged marriage.

The banter between these two is absolutely hilarious & reminded me a a true couple who had figured each other out and their love seemed true.

🖤Arranged Marriage
🚩Stalking
🖤Mafia
🚩Kidnapping
🖤Slight Breeding Kink

[Emma Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book and I really enjoyed it.
The plot was good and kept me interested throughout the book.
The FMC is just so fierce and stubborn, my favourite type of FMC.
I honestly fell in love with the MMC; he’s obsessed with the FMC and is completely nuts but in all the best ways! He just lives to make her happy and to keep her safe; he gives off almost dark golden retriever vibes.
Without giving too much away, I’m hoping for a second book with two of the side characters’ story, as I think it will be an interesting read!

Have to give it to Lauren too, as I picked up on a few grammatical errors and I emailed her about them and she sent out a revised ARC within two hours!

[Areyana taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was beyond lucky to get the arc copy of shutter and sin and I’m and not disappointed!!! Shutter and Sin is one of those books that completely pulls you in from the first chapter. The chemistry between the main characters is intense from the start, and their back-and-forth banter I LIVED for!! If you enjoy morally gray characters, obsessive romance, and a heroine who refuses to be easily intimidated, this story seriously delivers🤭 The pacing is fast, with plenty of tension, humor, and steamy moments woven into the plot. Zoya (absolutely beautiful name!!) and Alexei’s dynamic felt entertaining and unpredictable making it so hard for me to put the book down this was an addictive and entertaining read I ate every crumb up🙌

[Batul🧸 · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was a solid 4.5⭐️ it exceeded my already high expectations and honestly it was a masterpiece and really well written

zoya was such a lovable FMC and actually had a backbone instead of being weak and i loved the banter between her and the MMC so much

and when i tell you alexei was down badddd for zoya i really mean it this man was unhinged absolutely diabolical at times and completely obsessed he brought back yearning and i will die on that hill

as for the plot i really enjoyed it even though the first 2 or 3 chapters felt a bit fast paced and we didnt get much context on zoya at first everything did ended up making sense soon enough.

anyways i would 1000% recommend💞🥹✌️

(fyi im a late ARC reader💔)

[Su2108 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the author

As this is the first book I have read from Lauren Kross, I wasn't sure what to expect. But this book did not disappoint.

This book is fast paced, with plenty of plot twists and intrigue. The pace did drop slightly mid-way through but soon picked up again. The story is intense, the chemistry between Alexei and Zoya was off the charts hot and the reader is constantly trying to figure out what is going to happen next. Perfect suspense.

Definitely a good read and I'll be looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoya is a journalist by day and Online model by night. She's not afraid to go after what she wants be it a story or anything else. Her life was going fine until Alexei Romanov kidnaps her off the street. Alexei is obsessed with Zoya and has been following her for five years with her knowledge. Zoya has never gotten along with her family. She ran away from an arranged marriage to live her own life. A tangled web of deceit but it leads to an actual marriage between the couple. A fast paced, adventurous and spicy hot read.

Arc Review

[Ivena Fern · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Bratva romance reads!
The violence is there (Do check the trigger warnings ⚠️). I still wonder just how did the author got these ideas 🤔
I find the story to be unique. It starts with the MCs dynamics (a very hot one 🔥) and then flows into the Bratva situations.
I love how obsessed the man is. I know he's unhinged, but what get me is how he is soft truly and only just for her. That is very adorable 🥰

[Leonie Myint · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second book by Lauren Kross, and I feel so lucky to have received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC). The FMC is exactly my type—fierce, stubborn, strong, and an absolute go-getter.

I loved the dynamic between the characters; the MMC is a ruthless Bratva member but a total golden retriever just for her. The plot was fantastic and kept me on the edge of my seat, moving quickly from one action-packed scene to the next, filled with danger, secrets, and great twists and turns!

[Courtneyreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like a mafia man who’s obsessed with his woman then this is for you! One thing I love about this author is that she has the ability to write dangerous men, but still make them soft for only their love interest🥹😂🙌🏻

Alexei is literal boyfriend material. I love how he watched what zoya looked at and couldn’t afford and just went out his way to buy them for her. It’s the fact he was attentive and actually knew what she liked🥹💖

[Whitney Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Where do I even start??? A stubborn, independent, fierce woman and a man will do whatever he has to do to keep her safe. A man that has every possible red flag...except when he's around her, then he's like a puppy. This was such an amazing book to read.

[Kelly Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot express enough how much I LOVED this book!!
This had me laughing and clenching my thighs together 😈💦
I especially loved the degradation parts simply top tier!
Big bad mafia boy falls for a bratty queen who knows her worth...we have gang wars kidnappings violence and so much smutt mixing it together!

[Sammye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this dark mafia romance. Alexei is insanely obsessed with Zoya! He’s a ruthless Pakhan but, when it comes to her, he’s totally whipped!! Their chemistry was on fire! I was completely hooked from the first to last page. It’s action packed and filled with drama, twists and explicit s&x scenes. A must read! I am voluntarily leaving this review

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wait cause I found it interesting how we got TWO other pov chapters that weren’t from the MMC or FMC, surprised but don’t hate it.

Love the brat attitude staying consistent with the FMC even post baby

Also when she “paid him for sex” OH MY GOD SO GOOD


ALL the seems from booktok (insta) that convinced me to read this book did NOT disappoint

Datos last words killed me.

[Tue Pham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly love this book!! Alexei truly adores Zoya and it’s so refreshing to see a man who shows that he wants his wife and not acting nonchalant! Honestly love how Yuri clings to Zoya because Alexei made her cry MONTHS before😂.

[TAngela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Red flag only for me

This book makes me want to read it again, I love the characters and how it is just perfectly written. Now the FMC was pissing me off but I understand why she was doing it, the MMC was super cute. Loved it. I would read it again and again

[thegracefulpoet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The guy was good. Protective, hot and caring. But I guess a little too much mafia in there.

[Nell · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 11%. Needed a good solid edit.

[Ally]

DNF at 4% lol not good.

[Adrena · Rating 1 out of 5]

Potential dnf 😐

The synopsis was good but reading it was like a different person wrote the book.