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Ruthless Dublin Charm: Dark, steamy Irish mafia romance
Everyone in Dublin knows Aden McElroy's charm is a weapon.
Niamh Kelly has spent years running from the man behind the smile, the most dangerous mafia boss in Ireland. Kept her brother out of McElroy hands after one stupid deal ended in twenty-three dead men and a blood debt Dublin never forgot.
Then Aden kicks down her door.
He drags Cathal to his cells, locks Niamh inside his estate, and gives her one brutal rule.
Behave, and her brother lives a little longer. Fight him, and Cathal pays.
But Niamh has never learned how to stop fighting.
She picks locks. Throws punches. Plots his death between breaths.
Every act of defiance costs Cathal. Every punishment reminds her exactly what kind of man Aden McElroy is.
Cruel enough to hurt her through the only person she loves.
Protective enough to kneel at her feet and bandage the wounds she earned trying to run.
Possessive enough to make every threat sound like a promise.
Niamh should know better. Aden is her captor. Her enemy. The man who will put a bullet in her brother the moment he decides it's time for the debt to be paid in blood.
But hate is simple.
What Aden does to her is not.
Because the longer he keeps her in his cage, the harder it becomes to tell where the fight ends and the hunger begins.
And when Aden finally decides Cathal’s time is up, Niamh will burn Dublin to the ground to save him.
Even if saving her brother means destroying the monster she was never supposed to love.
Dark Irish mafia • Captive romance • Enemies to lovers • Forced proximity • Morally grey hero • Obsessive possession • Heat level 5 • Dual POV • Standalone HEA
Niamh Kelly has spent years running from the man behind the smile, the most dangerous mafia boss in Ireland. Kept her brother out of McElroy hands after one stupid deal ended in twenty-three dead men and a blood debt Dublin never forgot.
Then Aden kicks down her door.
He drags Cathal to his cells, locks Niamh inside his estate, and gives her one brutal rule.
Behave, and her brother lives a little longer. Fight him, and Cathal pays.
But Niamh has never learned how to stop fighting.
She picks locks. Throws punches. Plots his death between breaths.
Every act of defiance costs Cathal. Every punishment reminds her exactly what kind of man Aden McElroy is.
Cruel enough to hurt her through the only person she loves.
Protective enough to kneel at her feet and bandage the wounds she earned trying to run.
Possessive enough to make every threat sound like a promise.
Niamh should know better. Aden is her captor. Her enemy. The man who will put a bullet in her brother the moment he decides it's time for the debt to be paid in blood.
But hate is simple.
What Aden does to her is not.
Because the longer he keeps her in his cage, the harder it becomes to tell where the fight ends and the hunger begins.
And when Aden finally decides Cathal’s time is up, Niamh will burn Dublin to the ground to save him.
Even if saving her brother means destroying the monster she was never supposed to love.
Dark Irish mafia • Captive romance • Enemies to lovers • Forced proximity • Morally grey hero • Obsessive possession • Heat level 5 • Dual POV • Standalone HEA
231 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 23, 2026
“Ruthless Dublin Charm” is the first book in Sadie’s new series “Ruthless Dublin Brothers” - I cannot wait for the next book in the series. Aden McElroy is the head of the McElroy Crew and has been since he was sixteen. He is the most dangerous mafia boss in Ireland. Niamh Kelly has been on the run and in hiding to keep her brother Cathal safe for three years over a blood debt….he is responsible for the deaths of twenty three men from the McElroy Crew. Now they have found them….
“The man running the McElroy crew had a charming smile and an easy laugh. He was the kind of man who remembered your name and asked after your family. Southside wealth wrapped in Irish warmth. That man wasn't here now. This Aden looked at her with cold eyes, his jaw set and face grim.”
Her brother’s life is now in her hands….if she tries to escape, he is punished with either no food, no bed & blanket, no light. With one escape attempt, Aden moves Niamh to his suite to keep an eye on her. Even though she hates him, Niamh is attracted to him. The more time they spend together, the attraction grows….
The story is very fast paced and full of twists and turns! You have danger, betrayal, love, tears, death, power, action and passion. The heat between Aden and Niamh is off the page. There is never a dull moment! The chemistry between these two is off the page! This is a story you won't be able to put down - you will be totally hooked! You have danger, betrayal, love, tears, death, power, action and passion. These two will definitely keep you on your toes….Will her brother live or die? If he dies, Aden knows that it will destroy any relationship they have….she will hate him. An impossible choice….caught between his family and the woman he loves.
“He kissed her like he'd been waiting too, hard and immediate. He gripped her hips, pulling her flush against him, his hard cock trapped between them. She arched against him, and his hand was in her hair, his mouth hard and hot on hers. He kissed his way down her stomach. Found the bruise at her hip with his mouth and pressed his lips there so softly it made her eyes sting.”
Being a mafia romamce, it is dark in places, violent at times, passionate in places, full of secrets, loyalties tested and let’s not forget the heat between them. You will fall in love with Aden and Niamh, hoping that everything with work out for them and if they have a future together. There is never a dull moment - you will be hooked! I know I was - just love these two! A thoroughly enjoyable read from page to page, one chapter to the next - at times you are metaphorical “on the edge of your chair” wondering what will happen next. Overall, I would highly recommend this book and you will not be disappointed 😊
“The man running the McElroy crew had a charming smile and an easy laugh. He was the kind of man who remembered your name and asked after your family. Southside wealth wrapped in Irish warmth. That man wasn't here now. This Aden looked at her with cold eyes, his jaw set and face grim.”
Her brother’s life is now in her hands….if she tries to escape, he is punished with either no food, no bed & blanket, no light. With one escape attempt, Aden moves Niamh to his suite to keep an eye on her. Even though she hates him, Niamh is attracted to him. The more time they spend together, the attraction grows….
The story is very fast paced and full of twists and turns! You have danger, betrayal, love, tears, death, power, action and passion. The heat between Aden and Niamh is off the page. There is never a dull moment! The chemistry between these two is off the page! This is a story you won't be able to put down - you will be totally hooked! You have danger, betrayal, love, tears, death, power, action and passion. These two will definitely keep you on your toes….Will her brother live or die? If he dies, Aden knows that it will destroy any relationship they have….she will hate him. An impossible choice….caught between his family and the woman he loves.
“He kissed her like he'd been waiting too, hard and immediate. He gripped her hips, pulling her flush against him, his hard cock trapped between them. She arched against him, and his hand was in her hair, his mouth hard and hot on hers. He kissed his way down her stomach. Found the bruise at her hip with his mouth and pressed his lips there so softly it made her eyes sting.”
Being a mafia romamce, it is dark in places, violent at times, passionate in places, full of secrets, loyalties tested and let’s not forget the heat between them. You will fall in love with Aden and Niamh, hoping that everything with work out for them and if they have a future together. There is never a dull moment - you will be hooked! I know I was - just love these two! A thoroughly enjoyable read from page to page, one chapter to the next - at times you are metaphorical “on the edge of your chair” wondering what will happen next. Overall, I would highly recommend this book and you will not be disappointed 😊
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ruthless Dublin Charm was my first book by Sadie Rune, and it definitely won’t be my last.
The writing style was quick, easy, and smooth, flowing seamlessly from page to page and keeping me engaged from the very start.
I absolutely loved Niamh and Aden. Their chemistry bubbles away beneath the surface from the beginning, and I found myself completely invested in them. Both characters share a fierce loyalty to their families and would do anything to protect the people they love. Niamh is especially devoted to her younger brother, Cathal. After spending the last three years on the run from the McElroy Crew, she’s done everything possible to keep him safe and alive. Her strength, determination, and willingness to take on anyone who threatens him made me admire her even more.
Aden McElroy completely won me over. Having looked after his family since he was sixteen, he carries a huge sense of responsibility on his shoulders. He’s spent the last three years hunting for Niamh and Cathal, and his obsession with Niamh is obvious from the start. I loved his possessive, “don’t touch her” energy and the way she completely consumes his thoughts. While this is definitely mafia-light romance, it hit exactly the right spot for me.
One of my favourite parts of the book was the entire McElroy clan. Aden’s brothers, sister, and especially his Mammy added so much warmth and humour to the story. The compulsory Sunday lunches at their mother’s house had me laughing at their antics and really reinforced that close-knit family dynamic that I love so much in romance novels.
This was a quick, engaging read that delivered everything I was looking for. The strong family bonds, compelling romance, and memorable characters made it a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I’m already looking forward to Finn and Fiadh’s story and can’t wait to spend more time with the McElroy family.
Thank you to the author for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Ruthless Dublin Charm was my first book by Sadie Rune, and it definitely won’t be my last.
The writing style was quick, easy, and smooth, flowing seamlessly from page to page and keeping me engaged from the very start.
I absolutely loved Niamh and Aden. Their chemistry bubbles away beneath the surface from the beginning, and I found myself completely invested in them. Both characters share a fierce loyalty to their families and would do anything to protect the people they love. Niamh is especially devoted to her younger brother, Cathal. After spending the last three years on the run from the McElroy Crew, she’s done everything possible to keep him safe and alive. Her strength, determination, and willingness to take on anyone who threatens him made me admire her even more.
Aden McElroy completely won me over. Having looked after his family since he was sixteen, he carries a huge sense of responsibility on his shoulders. He’s spent the last three years hunting for Niamh and Cathal, and his obsession with Niamh is obvious from the start. I loved his possessive, “don’t touch her” energy and the way she completely consumes his thoughts. While this is definitely mafia-light romance, it hit exactly the right spot for me.
One of my favourite parts of the book was the entire McElroy clan. Aden’s brothers, sister, and especially his Mammy added so much warmth and humour to the story. The compulsory Sunday lunches at their mother’s house had me laughing at their antics and really reinforced that close-knit family dynamic that I love so much in romance novels.
This was a quick, engaging read that delivered everything I was looking for. The strong family bonds, compelling romance, and memorable characters made it a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I’m already looking forward to Finn and Fiadh’s story and can’t wait to spend more time with the McElroy family.
Thank you to the author for the ARC. This is my honest review.
July 3, 2026
Hot!
First I have never read anything by this author and I wasn't disappointed either,from page one it was exciting, intense and dam right good!Niamh and her brother have been on the run ever since he did a deal wrong and cause the deaths of twenty five people or more and so Aiden and his family and families of the dead are looking for blood.So when Aiden and his crew broke the door down and found Niamh and her brother together he wasn't ready to finish the job,so he took both and her brother ended up in the cells below the house and she ended upstairs.She tried everything to get her brother's release ,from trying to run,just plain fighting,nothing could change Aiden's mind.Family came first.Aiden told Niamh that ever time she tried fight him or escape him her brother would suffer and he wasn't kidding.I think the day Aiden broke Niamb's door down both of their lives change.He couldn't make up his mind what to do about her brother,if he do what he was supposed to do he would be letting down his family and the families of the dead men .If he did ,he would be hurting Niamh.Family comes first but he has feelings about her and now he has another decision to make and explain his decision to his family.I hope I get to read more of this storyline with the rest of Aiden 's family!
First I have never read anything by this author and I wasn't disappointed either,from page one it was exciting, intense and dam right good!Niamh and her brother have been on the run ever since he did a deal wrong and cause the deaths of twenty five people or more and so Aiden and his family and families of the dead are looking for blood.So when Aiden and his crew broke the door down and found Niamh and her brother together he wasn't ready to finish the job,so he took both and her brother ended up in the cells below the house and she ended upstairs.She tried everything to get her brother's release ,from trying to run,just plain fighting,nothing could change Aiden's mind.Family came first.Aiden told Niamh that ever time she tried fight him or escape him her brother would suffer and he wasn't kidding.I think the day Aiden broke Niamb's door down both of their lives change.He couldn't make up his mind what to do about her brother,if he do what he was supposed to do he would be letting down his family and the families of the dead men .If he did ,he would be hurting Niamh.Family comes first but he has feelings about her and now he has another decision to make and explain his decision to his family.I hope I get to read more of this storyline with the rest of Aiden 's family!
June 27, 2026
I voluntarily reviewed "RUTHLESS DUBLIN CHARM" given freely by the author who hooked me on this intriguing, intense journey with plenty of steam, danger, threats, blood debts making this quite the page turner.
Niamh Kelly has been on the run with her brother Cathal for years from Aden McElroy after so many were killed because of a stupid blood debt Dublin won't forget all trying to save her brother.
Aden takes Niamh & Cathal prisoner warning her to behave or her brother will pay the price everytime she trys something Cathal pays, his punishishments reminds Niamh what a monster he truly is.
Niahm vows if Aden trys to hurt Cathal she'll burn Dublin down to save him no matter what, she strong, defiante, determined Cathal will survive.
Aden is very possessive of Niahm & made it clear anyone touches her & they die, his family is priceless, love his Mam is funny being humor to the must be there for Sunday dinners or else.
Will Niahm & Aden end up together so many twists keeping you reading to the end to see what happens loved all the interesting characters that made this an enjoyable read you don't want to miss.
Niamh Kelly has been on the run with her brother Cathal for years from Aden McElroy after so many were killed because of a stupid blood debt Dublin won't forget all trying to save her brother.
Aden takes Niamh & Cathal prisoner warning her to behave or her brother will pay the price everytime she trys something Cathal pays, his punishishments reminds Niamh what a monster he truly is.
Niahm vows if Aden trys to hurt Cathal she'll burn Dublin down to save him no matter what, she strong, defiante, determined Cathal will survive.
Aden is very possessive of Niahm & made it clear anyone touches her & they die, his family is priceless, love his Mam is funny being humor to the must be there for Sunday dinners or else.
Will Niahm & Aden end up together so many twists keeping you reading to the end to see what happens loved all the interesting characters that made this an enjoyable read you don't want to miss.
June 27, 2026
Enjoyed this book quite a bit. I did not realize that there was a book one and that this was book two but I was able to pick it up without too much difficulty.
I found myself unsure who to side with in this story. Definitely Niamh as she was an innocent bystander whose only crime was trying to protect the only family member she had left. Then there was Aden and his family whose people were the ones killed. Then there. Was Cathal, I just got the feeling that he was quite young and scared and was trying to feel like the big man for a change and earn a big strike
So much pain and confusion but maybe on the end the payment for his crime could work out better for him in the long run
I found myself unsure who to side with in this story. Definitely Niamh as she was an innocent bystander whose only crime was trying to protect the only family member she had left. Then there was Aden and his family whose people were the ones killed. Then there. Was Cathal, I just got the feeling that he was quite young and scared and was trying to feel like the big man for a change and earn a big strike
So much pain and confusion but maybe on the end the payment for his crime could work out better for him in the long run
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews