Ruthless Claim: A Forced Marriage, Secret Pregnancy, Mafia Romance

by Ajme Williams

I finally told my mafia husband I was pregnant.
He told me he loved me.
Two weeks later, another woman appeared at my door with a little boy holding her hand.
And my husband had known about them for weeks.

For weeks, Cillian Brennan looked me in the eye and lied.

While I dreamed about our future.
While I carried his baby.
While I fell hopelessly in love with the man I was forced to marry.

Now another woman is claiming my husband.
A little boy is calling him father.
And my marriage is hanging by a thread.

But in the world of the mafia, secrets are weapons.

And when I uncover the truth behind the woman from Cillian's past, I realize someone isn't trying to steal my husband.

They're trying to destroy us both.



Ruthless Claim is a dark mafia romance featuring forced marriage, enemies-to-lovers, secret pregnancy, possessive hero, betrayal, obsession, family drama, and a dangerous conspiracy designed to tear two powerful families apart.
Standalone. HEA

Genres: Mafia Romance, Enemies To Lovers

516 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 14, 2026

About the author

Ajme Williams - mother, wife, daughter, dreamer, an avid reader and a writer.
When she's not writing romance, Ajme can be seen sipping coffee, gorging on dark chocolate, exercising, or travelling with family and friends. Cooking is therapeutic for her and she drools over Italian food...and men.
What to expect from her books?
Ajme loves variety, so expect a lot of second chances, secret babies, office romances, big fat fake weddings, curvy heroines and alpha heroes. HEA? Always, baby!
If you're a fan of emotional angsty contemporary romance, then you'll enjoy Ajme Williams.

Reviews

[Britany | SouthernAsianReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

What is that ending?

Who hired Claire? For the MMC to be this smart, mafia guy, he got played spectacularly. I mean, Claire really put one over on him. Also, Valentina forgave him too easily in my opinion.

The story doesn’t really conclude. There are still hanging plots.

[Delilah Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this, I was smiling, yelling, and crying when I read this. i

[BookLover519 · Rating 3 out of 5]

had potential for 5 stars

This story had an awesome angsty basis…but it was glazed over and cut short. Cillian’s betrayal is a huge deal and his doubling down in arguments afterward made for potential angst city with a long separation and consequences. But…that didn’t happen. A conversation was enough to take the edge off and a little scene of violence made it go away and forgiven swiftly. That was a serious bummer. Also, multiple scenarios where a character asks to be told about something that happened and either Cillian or Valentina say “and so I do” and they summarize the details. I think 4 times this happened. Not having a resolution to the drama is irksome, as well but I think this leads into the next story.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruthless Claim is the second book in the Vows of Violence Series. A dark mafia romance featuring forced marriage, enemies-to-lovers, secret pregnancy, possessive hero, betrayal, obsession, family drama, and a dangerous conspiracy designed to tear two powerful families apart. A pregnant woman discovers her mafia husband gas been hiding another woman and child, but uncovers a dangerous conspiracy threatening both families in this standalone romance with a guaranteed HEA. The story is interconnected with individuals from the previous book making appearance and contributing to the story. Suspense. Crime. Dark fiction. Twisted. Captivating. Decadent. Dangerous.
This is Cillian and Valentina story which is told from a dual point of view. An exquisitely written story with complex individuals and a twisty storyline that captures the audience attention from the beginning and keeps you hooked and on the edge of your seat with it's pulse-pounding drama, suspense, mystery, surprises, scorching hot panty-melting passion, high-octane adventures, heart-stopping emotions and non-stop twists and turns.
A contemporary romance, organize crime story, romantic suspense story, touch-her-and-die romance, protective alpha hero romance, dark mafia romance, hate-to-love vibes story, billionaires & millionaires romance, enemies-to-lovers romance, forced proximity romance, revenge romance, possessive hero romance, kidnapped bride story, secret pregnancy story, arranged marriage romance, polar opposite attracts story, arranged marriage romance with enemies, deception, betrayal, violence, backstabbing, double-cross, treachery, action packed, anger, threats, hurt and pain, hidden agendas, attacks, alliance, chaos, danger, lies, acceptance, forgiveness, family, danger, sorrow, sabotage, banter-filled, love and so much more.
Cillian Brennan is the Irish mob heir and second in command to his uncle Connor who was the head of the Brennan family. Cillian is cold-hearted, ruthless and dangerous. The Brennan family and the Santora family are mortal enemies and is on the verge of going to a war. The two families have arranged a marriage between the two families in order to prevent the war. Mafia princess Valentina Santora was forced into a marriage which neither of them wanted but go through the ceremony for the betterment of their families. It started tumultuously with a lot of snide and bickering daily because these two couldn't stand each other. Valentina is beautiful, sassy, fiery and strong-willed. For several weeks of goung back and forth hatred turns into sexual tension and the two succumb to their desires and the next to you know Valentina is faced with a pregnancy with two pink lines. Valentina finally told her mafia husband that she was pregnant.
They were not only surprised but was happy. He told her that he loved her. Then two weeks later, another woman name Claire appeared at their door with her eight year old little boy name Finn holding her hand and claiming that he was the father. But for weeks her husband had known about them. And when she asked him if something was wrong he said that everything was okay and continued pulling away from her. The news shattered her happiness. But they were something about Claire's story that Val just didn't believe and the more she talked Val noticed some red flags and holes in her story. And for weeks Cillian looked her in the eyes and lied, while she dreamed about their future.
While she carried his baby. And while she fell hopelessly in love with the man she was forced to marry. And now her marriage is hanging by a thread. But in the world of mafia, secrets are weapons. And when she uncover the truth behind the woman from Cillian's past, she realize someone isn't trying to steal her husband they're trying to destroy them both. Cillian almost lost his wife because of his dishonesty and communication problems. Cillian was talked into getting a DNA test to prove paternity. Someone is pulling the strings in the shadows against Cillian and Valentina for their destruction. Cillian confronts Claire to see who had hired her and she was going to confess but flees before he got the chance to hear the truth. Will Cillian and Valentina get their HEA? Will they find out who was trying to destroy their relationship?

I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

They mistake each other for the enemy until the real one strikes.

Valentina enters her marriage prepared to endure Cillian, not understand him. She’s guarded. He’s ruthless, controlled, and shaped by loyalty. Their home becomes a battlefield of cutting remarks, bruised pride, and attraction neither can deny.

What begins as mutual contempt turns into a physical arrangement with strict rules. But stolen coffee, hidden notes, and tenderness blur every boundary until their forced marriage starts feeling real. Then Valentina discovers she’s pregnant, just as she begins believing in their future.

Then Cillian starts lying. A woman from his past appears with a little boy who claims a place in his life, and every secret pushes Valentina further away. As guilt and betrayal drive them apart, the marriage they fought to build begins unraveling.

Valentina refuses to accept that everything is as it seems. The deeper she digs, the more the cracks appear, revealing a scheme built to exploit fear, guilt, and the trust they've only just begun to find.

Valentina learns that trusting someone takes more courage than protecting herself from every hurt. Cillian grows from a man ruled by duty into one willing to choose honesty and vulnerability. Together they transform resentment into a partnership built on unwavering love and hard-earned trust.

A dark, ultra-steamy, enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, forced proximity, mafia romance with secret pregnancy, betrayal, and romantic suspense. It explores trust, loyalty, vulnerability, guilt, identity, family, healing, and the courage to choose honesty over fear. It’s about a woman who refuses to let deception define her, a man who learns that love demands truth instead of sacrifice, and a marriage that becomes strongest after surviving everything meant to break it.

The Elevator Pitch: An arranged marriage forged through obligation traps two fiercely guarded people in a battle of pride, desire, and slowly earned trust. Just as they begin choosing each other over the families that bound them together, a devastating secret threatens to unravel everything they've fought to build. What follows is a test of love, loyalty, and whether the truth can survive when deception has been crafted into a weapon.

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥 Ultra-Steamy / Erotic Romance

[Pranav Bhatnagar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruthless Claim completely understands the dangerous little pleasure of watching two people who should know better become completely incapable of staying away from each other. Valentina is the kind of heroine I immediately wanted to stand beside. She has intelligence, attitude and enough backbone to make it very clear that being surrounded by power does not mean she is willing to surrender herself to it. Then there is Cillian, who enters the story carrying that intimidating confidence of a man accustomed to controlling every situation, only to discover that Valentina is one variable he cannot contain. Their chemistry is deliciously frustrating in the best possible way. The arguments, the teasing, the attraction and those quieter moments where their defences slip all work together beautifully. I especially loved that beneath the luxury, danger and mafia power is a relationship that slowly becomes about trust, family and the terrifying vulnerability of actually caring about someone. Ajme Williams gives these two enough personality that I wasn't simply waiting to see what would happen to them. I was invested in who they were becoming together.

What makes this romance so enjoyable is the emotional push and pull. There is heat, certainly, but there is also humour, tenderness, jealousy, fear and that wonderful feeling of watching two stubborn people discover that love has completely ruined their carefully organised plans. The story knows how to give romance readers the intensity they came for while still giving the characters room to surprise us. I found myself smiling at the domestic moments just as easily as I enjoyed the more explosive ones, and that balance gave the relationship a warmth I wasn't expecting. Ruthless Claim feels confident about the kind of romance it wants to deliver and then delivers it with plenty of heart. If you love powerful men who meet the one woman they cannot simply command, heroines who refuse to disappear beside them, dangerous family secrets and chemistry that refuses to behave itself, this is exactly the sort of romance you can happily lose yourself in. Valentina and Cillian have the kind of presence that makes you want to stay with them a little longer, and that is where Ajme Williams really won me over.

[Malini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen up by MeemsAngel82

Hold on to your anger because it's going to rage! Oh, this man. He made me so angry! This was something else and please heed triggers. There is no cheating but talks of a past and a home wrecker are in these pages. Not to mention a frustrating situation for a woman already feeling trapped, then overcame it, then feeling betrayed. It's an emotional mind mess at times but love prevails and she not only wins, but steers this whole ship into safer territory. Boy is he lucky he has her!

They were set to marry and dealt with it harshly. Then not so harshly, finding true happiness. Then someone came along with a little boy and he didn't say anything before OW shows up in our h's face.

Ok. They genuinely hated one another. I mean did not like one another at all. No cute, no steamy, literal dislike. It was real. Then the attraction and respect kicked in and they are married....then they luckily found common ground and affection turned into true love. Then...he makes a bad decision to omit info and the decision gets in her face. Eying her property, her man, her life. She blessedly is a strong woman and tells OW not in her home while they sort things out. And she sorts it out beautifully, luckily his brain kicks in. But again, it was so tense then this?! This poor h. Again, he can thank his lucky stars that she is a strong woman because this could have been far worse. There is no pulling the wool over her eyes! There is a mystery that didn't get solved and I wonder what could have happened. I'm just happy this h saved this because my brain was screaming at me. Why people want that they don't earn themselves I'll never understand.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trust Issues and Lies!

That makes a good Mafia story and this latest story sure fills the categories to a tee! Cillian Brennan and Valentina Santora have a arranged marriage, that neither are thrill about it,but when Connor ,Cillian's uncle speaks you best do has he tells you.They both set ground rules which last about three weeks to a month and they go from hating each other to being wrap up in each other arms.But when they fine that they are going to be parents,their happiness is put to a test when someone from Cillian 's past shows up with a child and says he is the father.Valentina notices the changes that Cillian is going thru,but when she asks him if everything is OK he says everything is fine.He tries to hide it for a month and it's really putting a strain on their marriage, until one day Cillian 's shows up at the door when he isn't there but Val is and her world falls apart.She listens to Claire 's story but she notices some red flags but she doesn't let on,she does question Cillian but he just makes a big mess of it and he almost loses his chance to get to get his wife back,he takes everyone 's advice and has another DNA test done and they go to confront Claire about it,she almost confress but she disappears and can't be found ,but thru all this it brings Cillian and Valentina closer and they learn from their time apart,to trust each other,don't keep secrets, ask questions and be willing to tell the truth,not hide!But I still couldn't figure out who was behind trying to bring down Cillian, or maybe it wasn't Cillian at all but something to do with Connor's past or Emma orCillian past,I can't wait for the next story!

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Happens When Two Opposing Forced Unite -
Cillian was cold and ruthless before he got married, but he soon becomes jealous and possessive after he got married, which led to him completely unraveling when it came to anything pertaining to his wife. Valentina on the other hand was a feisty, sharp-tongued queen who didn’t take crap from anyone, but she slowly changes as she adapts to married life and realises her true feelings for Cillian, especially after she discovered her life was about to change.

Unfortunately, Cillian and Valentina’s happiness was disrupted by a third party, that nearly cost them their marriage, but she wasn’t prepared to give up easily and fought hard to get them back on track. However, it took a while for Cillian and Valentina to finally heal from the traumatic situation, as they were unable to fully resolve the case. Thankfully, Cillian and Valentina were able get back on track towards building a stronger future together.

The banter between Cillian and Valentina was initially snarky and intense, but their rollercoaster relationship dynamic lit the pages on fire and had me on tenterhooks, as I eagerly turned the pages. This gripping romance story pulled me straight into the dark, mafia world where the characters existed and refused to let me go. In my humble opinion, this captivating storyline delivered everything I craved in a mafia romance with danger, intensity, possessiveness, steaminess and drama, that made it a thrilling and downright addictive read.

I received a free review copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I 💕this story about Cillian and Valentina.

💍Arranged Marriage
😈Enemies -> 💕Lovers
🧨Rival families
🥰Found Family

Cillian and Valentina have to marry to ease the tension between two rival families due to Valentina's brother, Leo, stealing Emma from her intended finance in the previous book. I really love that Leo and Emma make appearances in this book, truly adds to the story as Emma had become Valentina's best friend.

Cillian and Valentina have a rocky beginning, but I loved how their relationship evolved as they worked through all the obstacles thrown at them. At the end, they became a much stronger couple.

And I absolutely loved Valentina - her personality, her grit and determination, her unfailing calm when faced with such traumatic situations, and her overall ability to keep it together even though she was breaking inside. Some of my favorite scenes with her are:

🍽️The dinner where she effectively put Bridgid in her place with the politeness any Southern woman would be so proud of
🏥At the hospital when Emma was in labor -- the love she had for her best friend was heart warming
🤯When she argues with Cillian and calls him out because he is hiding something from her
☠️The way she handles Claire when she ambushes Valentina and shows up at the house uninvited and unannounced

Cillian and Valentina are in danger and unfortunately, they do not find who the culprit is in their story. Hopefully, they will get answers in the next book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruthless Claim was an intense and captivating dark mafia romance that kept me engaged from beginning to end. Ajme Williams does an excellent job creating a dangerous and suspenseful atmosphere while still delivering strong character development and emotional depth. The chemistry between the main characters was undeniable, and I enjoyed watching their relationship evolve despite the many obstacles and power struggles they faced.

The story was filled with tension, unexpected twists, and just the right amount of drama to keep the pages turning. I especially appreciated how the author balanced the darker elements of the mafia world with moments that revealed the characters' vulnerabilities and motivations. The writing flowed smoothly, making it easy to become immersed in the story and to connect with the characters.

Fans of dark romance and mafia-themed stories will likely enjoy this book for its action, emotional intensity, and compelling romance. If you're looking for a fast-paced read with high stakes, strong emotions, and a captivating storyline, Ruthless Claim is definitely worth picking up. I recommend reading this book by this extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with the ruthless claim and a dark mafia romance that is sure to transport readers into a world that is immensely dark, dangerous, intriguing, and unforgettable.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valentina can't believe she's marrying this man. Knowing arranged marriages happen she'd always hoped she'd marry for love. Now here she is marrying Cillian Brennan, her sister in-laws cousin. He's part of the Irish mafia, second to Emma's father Connor. Val's life isn't exciting, but it keeps her busy. Between the art studio, spending time with Emma who has become her best friend. Even after everything Emma went through before marrying Val's brother. Cillian spent his life living with Connor after his parents died. Always knowing he'd follow in Connor's foot steps. Now hes marrying Valentina to bring peace between their two families. Can he really make this marriage work. Or will they end up living separate lives in private. Can Valentina really forgive being forced into marriage. Will she ever look at him as more than the man who she hates. When do you know the difference between love and hate. Then she sees the two lines and knows things have to change. But not the change that happens. What will happen when a person from his past shows up with a secret she'd kept hidden. Or is this just an attempt to end his marriage, which will end the truce between their families. Or is there something more sinister going on. This is the second book in this series. The can be read as a standalone, but the stories do follow on with the sane characters in each book

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd story in the Vows of Violence Series where we find Valentina being forced into marriage to Cillian at her brother’s wedding with Connor’s demand to keep the peace agreement between both families. Valentina’s interest in Cillian turns into dust as all she sees is a rude and unforgiving man, Cillian. They marry and struggle to find any common ground with daily arguments. As they find a way to co-exist things between gets intimate and a real relationship develops. Just as they celebrate the news of Valentina’s pregnancy a woman from Cillian’s past shows up with a young boy claiming he’s the father. Cillian has been raised by Connor since he was a young boy and only wants to follow orders and be better than Connor so his guilt makes seeing what’s in front of him for what it really is not real. Valentina’s heart is shattered with Cillian s lies and when she tries to make sense of this woman’s story doesn’t add up Cillian continues to believe in the wrong person. They both need to decide what really matters and if they can repair what is broken to ensure their love has a chance to grow! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Suzana Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruthless Claim by Ajme Williams is exactly the kind of dark mafia romance that pulls you in and refuses to let go. With a forced marriage, dangerous family dynamics, secrets, and an intensely possessive hero, this story promises plenty of drama, tension, and emotional chaos.

What I love about Ajme Williams is how she creates heroes who are ruthless and intimidating on the outside but completely obsessed and protective when it comes to their woman. The chemistry between the characters is intense, and the push-and-pull keeps the story moving.

The forced-marriage element adds another layer of tension, especially with secrets and a pregnancy thrown into the mix. There’s danger, power struggles, family drama, and plenty of moments that make you want to keep turning the pages to see what happens next.

If you love dark mafia romance, possessive alpha heroes, forced marriage, secret pregnancy, family feuds, obsession, and plenty of spice, Ruthless Claim is definitely one to add to your TBR.

Ajme Williams knows how to deliver the kind of over-the-top, dramatic romance that keeps you hooked, and I’m already looking forward to seeing where the Vows of Violence series goes next!

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 of this series and picks up after Leo Santoro and Emma Brennan’s wedding where Cillian Brennan tells Valentina Santoro she will agree to be his wife to avoid war between the families after Leo kidnapped Emma to get revenge for her father ending Leo and Valentina’s brothers life. Val is a true mafia princess but don’t dare call her that. She is also very good at reading people and seeing behind lies, and schooling her features and emotions to appear calm and sweet while actually planning your demise. Cillian was taken in by Conner Brennan at 12 when his parents were killed and he is just as good at schooling his reactions as Val. What starts out as a marriage of hate and political necessity becomes love but it’s tested when an ex love shows up claiming her 8yr old son is Cillians. This book doesn’t have as much violence as the first it’s a more emotional battle field but it has the heat, laughs, betrayal, hurt and uncertainty we saw in book 1. Like Leo and Emma, Cillian and Val get a hea with the danger and drama still a threat leaving the next book highly anticipated.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mrs. Whit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Valentina and the dinner scene when she decided to "try" was my favorite scene (other than the spicy ones, of course). And there was plenty of spice. This book is part of a series, I don't think you need to read the first one to follow this one, but it helps with some of the characters and the family dynamics. But, you will definitely have to read this one before the next book comes out, and I will be picking that one up ASAP.

Valentina and Cillian were a arranged marriage that neither one of them wanted. Over time, they realized they are attracted to each other and have feelings for each other. Of course a disruption comes and instead of trusting Valentina, Cillian decides to "protect" her. Not one to take her punches sitting down, Valentina stands up for herself even though she still wants him she lets him know he will still have to work for her forgiveness.

There is OWD but no cheating.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karen Lathbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valentine has no choice, she has to marry the cold, guarded ruthless heir to the head of the Irish Mafia. She hoped to marry for love but instead finds her days filled with dealing with indifference, cutting banter between her and Cillian. He thinks she's spoiled and her job at the museum isn't important. When the banter turns into tension between the two and they find they are beginning to like each other and could this forced marriage be a love match after all. When two lines appear both find they are excited for this new chapter in their lives...until Cillian starts pulling away, taking calls privately and when Val confronts him, he says nothing is wrong. When a woman shows up at their apartment with a young boy claiming he is Cillian's son. While Val and Cillian's cousin warn him there is something not right about the situation, he can't see the red flags. Loved the story, the banter between Val and Cillian, how they break down their defences and fall for each other. I'm always happy when Ajme has a new book!

[Clara Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruthless Claim is the 2nd book in the Vows of Violence series and follows Valentina Santoro and Cillian Brennan. It's a forced marriage, enemies-to-lovers, rival families, secret pregnancy mafia romance.

The day of her brother Leonardo and Emma's wedding she gets a visit from Cillian who's Emma's cousin giving her a ultimatum that she'll have to marry him to prevent a war between the families. Neither are thrilled to be forced into this arrangement which causes intense animosity and snide cutting remarks thrown between them. As time passes the bickering turns into an undeniable attraction that turns into so much more. That is until her doorbell rings and life gets complicated. Can they salvage their marriage before unknown threats push them beyond repair?

Buckle up because this one will grab you from the beginning and hold you tight as you anticipate what could come next.

I can wait to find out who's behind the treachery when things come out in the next book Secret Heir.

I received a free copy through Booksprout an I'm voluntarily leaving my review.

5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[K T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Valentina & Cillian's story. It is fast paced & I loved how their story played out. I did feel that the 3rd act breakup lasted a really long time... but can also see why (partly this is a personal thing for me as I hate 3rd act breakups to begin with, so don't let this cloud your judgment of a great book).

This is Book 2 in the Vows of Violence series, as an interconnected standalone.

I like how Valentina & Cillian grow through their journey - they start out not really liking each other & both fall in love in a similar timeline, which I liked.

The book is told in a dual 1st person POV.

Spice level: 3.5/5

*Dark mafia romance
*Mafia families
*Mafia arranged/forced marriage
*secret pregnancy
*enemies to lovers
*3rd act breakup
*family drama
*conspiracy

Thank you to the author (Ajme Williams) & Booksprout for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Leanne Bryson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valentine has no choice but to marry Cillian, the cold, guarded, and ruthless heir to the Irish Mafia. She hoped for love; instead she gets indifference and sharp banter from a man who sees her as spoiled and dismisses her museum job. As the tension between them shifts, walls start to fall and a forced marriage begins to feel like something real. When two lines appear on a test, both are excited for the future—until Cillian grows distant and secretive.
Then a woman arrives with a young boy she claims is Cillian’s son. While Valentine and Cillian’s cousin spot the red flags, he refuses to see them.I loved the banter, the slow breakdown of their defenses, and watching them fall for each other. Always happy when Ajme has a new book!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Callie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly not for me.

It’s an enemies to lovers type of arranged marriage. I decided I don’t really like enemies to lovers because they say so many cruel things to each other in the beginning that I wouldn’t get over. 😅

Before we really know why, they’re falling in love. I would’ve liked way more of that part.

The second half is all about a woman Cillian slept with years ago showing up and saying her child is his. I won’t spoil too much on that, but I just didn’t need all that angst in a couple that was already tentative in the beginning. It’s one of my least favorite plots of a romance so it was downhill for me after that.

And the ending…was so unresolved!? We don’t know why this woman showed up, who was behind it, anything? I’m guessing maybe it will come up in another book but the next one isn’t focused on this couple, so it felt unsatisfying to me.

[Shannon Thetford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Ruthless Claim! The forced marriage, secret pregnancy, and mafia drama had me hooked from the beginning. The chemistry between the characters was intense, and I loved watching their relationship develop even when everything seemed stacked against them.

There was plenty of angst, danger, possessiveness, and emotional moments that kept the story moving. The secret pregnancy added another layer of drama, and I was definitely invested in seeing how everything would play out.

If you enjoy dark mafia romance with a ruthless hero, a strong emotional connection, forced marriage, and plenty of twists, this is definitely one to check out. A quick, entertaining read that kept me turning the pages!

[Cathy Moir-Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two of "Vows of Violence". When Valentina Santoro is forced into marrying Cillian Brennan, she vows to make his life miserable. In fact, right off the bat they each go out of their way to make each other miserable with cutting remarks meant to wound. Then one night, the fight gets physical and the chemistry between them explodes. It doesn't suddenly change anything but gradually over time, a truce forms and they start seeing the marriage as a team situation rather than a punishment. When Valentina discovers she pregnant, they both feel a growing optimism. Then a woman from Cillian's past shows up with a story and an eight year old boy she says is his. Suddenly Valentina is fighting for her marriage and their baby's future.

[Jet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watching a cold, calculating hero completely lose his composure the second he gets married is pure perfection. Cillian goes from ruthless and detached to borderline unhinged with jealousy whenever it comes to Valentina. And Valentina is no quiet wallflower—she’s a sharp-tongued, fiercely independent queen who gives as good as she gets. Watching her heart slowly thaw as she accepts her feelings—especially with a massive, life-altering revelation on the horizon—makes their connection so rewarding. But when an outside threat nearly torpedoes their vows, Valentina refuses to walk away. She fights for her marriage, and watching them navigate the painful, realistic path toward healing and building an unbreakable future together is deeply moving.

[Trey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. It’s a fast-paced mafia romance full of secrets, betrayal, and emotional drama. The opening hook is fantastic, and I was immediately invested when the other woman and little boy showed up.
The heroine is easy to root for, especially as she deals with Cillian’s lies while pregnant. The mystery behind his past adds a strong suspense element, and the mafia setting keeps the tension high throughout.
The writing is engaging and very bingeable, with plenty of twists that kept me turning the pages. If you enjoy forced marriage, pregnancy drama, possessive mafia heroes, and lots of angst, this is definitely worth reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Erika Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

You won't put this one down 'til the very last word!

Prepare yourself for another Brennan- Santoro arranged marriage: Cillian and Valentina! He's his uncle's second in the Irish mob and she's an Italian mafia princess. She's also the brother of Leo whose married to Cillian's cousin, Emma. Talk about family drama! These two hate each other and argue non-stop. They play the loving newlyweds in public but ignore one another at home. There's an undeniable chemistry between the two, however. Just as they begin to explore it, a woman from Cillian's past shows up and changes their lives.

Grab a glass of wine and a tissue box because you're about to experience a myriad of emotions!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maryjane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will Cillian and Valentina ever find out who is behind all the madness? Valentina and Cillian are forced to wed to make an alliance between the Santoro and Brennan families. However, they absolutely hate each other. When things finally take a turn for the better Valentina finds out she is pregnant and is surprised that Cillian is totally on board with being a father. Then a surprise from the past shows up and claims that Cillian is the father to her son Finn and disrupts everything they have built. Who is behind all this, and why do they want to destroy them? It's a wonderful read and I have to read the next book. I'm hooked. I give it five stars.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cindy Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruthless Claim is the second story in the Vows of Violence series. It is another suspenseful story.

Valentina has to marry Cillian. They come from rival families who want peace. Valentina's brother, Leo, had stolen Emma from her fiance'. This has created tension between the families. Valentina doesn't want to marry him. He is a part of the Irish mafia. She works at an art studio. Can these opposing rivals make a marriage work?

I loved the chemistry between Valentina and Cillian. I loved how he changed when they married and became so possessive of her. Their story is filled with twists and is very enjoyable. I look forward to more in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Their marriage was arranged and neither wanted it. The animosity between them was intense and neither backed down when it came to saying their peace. Right when Valentina was getting comfortable and told him about the pregnancy another ball drops and instead of going to his wife Cillian chose to handle it behind her back and when Valentina finds out the fallout is combustible but that is not all that is happening because someone wants their marriage to fail. This action-packed story had me glued to all the drama and cheering for this unlikely couple to finally get their chance for happiness.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of Vows of Violence

'Ruthless Claim is a dark mafia romance featuring forced marriage, enemies-to-lovers, secret pregnancy, possessive hero, betrayal, obsession, family drama, and a dangerous conspiracy designed to tear two powerful families apart.
Standalone. HEA'

The characters were very complex and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was excellent and expertly drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy the read!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.