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Roses are Royal: A Dark Romance
Rose has spent her entire life relying on one person: herself.
Abandoned at birth and shuffled through the foster care system, Rose learned that independence isn’t a choice…it’s survival. So, when she walks away from a prestigious interior design firm in New York City to launch her own business, failure isn’t an option.
Her first client should be the break she’s been waiting for.
The estate is breathtaking. Its owner is enigmatic, attractive, and impossible to read.
As their connection deepens, Rose can’t shake the feeling that her client knows things he shouldn’t. He notices details no stranger could possibly know.
While Rose has been fighting to build a future of her own, someone has been quietly watching her past.
As the long-buried secrets begin to surface, the more dangerous it becomes to hide why she was brought into his life in the first place.
Because she was never brought into his life by chance.
She was never hired for the job.
She was the job.
Roses are Royal is book 1 in the Darkness Blooms series with morally grey characters. It's packed with humor, SLOW BURN/yearning spice, and delicious plot twists.
Tropes: Stalker romance / Morally grey MMC / He falls first / Witty Banter / Hidden Identity / Love Triangle / Suspense
Abandoned at birth and shuffled through the foster care system, Rose learned that independence isn’t a choice…it’s survival. So, when she walks away from a prestigious interior design firm in New York City to launch her own business, failure isn’t an option.
Her first client should be the break she’s been waiting for.
The estate is breathtaking. Its owner is enigmatic, attractive, and impossible to read.
As their connection deepens, Rose can’t shake the feeling that her client knows things he shouldn’t. He notices details no stranger could possibly know.
While Rose has been fighting to build a future of her own, someone has been quietly watching her past.
As the long-buried secrets begin to surface, the more dangerous it becomes to hide why she was brought into his life in the first place.
Because she was never brought into his life by chance.
She was never hired for the job.
She was the job.
Roses are Royal is book 1 in the Darkness Blooms series with morally grey characters. It's packed with humor, SLOW BURN/yearning spice, and delicious plot twists.
Tropes: Stalker romance / Morally grey MMC / He falls first / Witty Banter / Hidden Identity / Love Triangle / Suspense
- GenresRomance
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
September 13, 2026
I love reading a good mafia romance. And this was the complete opposite of what I’m used to. Dark and chaotic with spice. This was light and fun, filled with humor and great moments. I loved Rose. She was such a fun FMC. And Dante was awesome. I actually really enjoyed this one. It held a bit of suspense. But it was sweet and fun. The back and forth was great. I loved the banter and the moments. I just the best time diving into this.
August 31, 2026
ARC Reader Here:
This was my very first time reading a dark romance, and it DID NOT disappoint! Ali has me HOOKED from the get go! Shirley is my absolute favorite!
Two boys that seeming want to protect and yet are weary of each other, a girl who has NO IDEA, and mystery and heat to pair!
If you like a little suspense with your mystery, this is definitely the book for you!
Oh! AND THE CONSTANT NEED TI SAY EVERYTHING THAT POPS INTO HER HEAD!
I laughed, I swooned, I was skeptical, I was elated, I bought a physical copy
This was my very first time reading a dark romance, and it DID NOT disappoint! Ali has me HOOKED from the get go! Shirley is my absolute favorite!
Two boys that seeming want to protect and yet are weary of each other, a girl who has NO IDEA, and mystery and heat to pair!
If you like a little suspense with your mystery, this is definitely the book for you!
Oh! AND THE CONSTANT NEED TI SAY EVERYTHING THAT POPS INTO HER HEAD!
I laughed, I swooned, I was skeptical, I was elated, I bought a physical copy
September 13, 2026
Holy Caffeine Batman!! This book is fast-paced and as enjoyable as a cheeseburger and tater tots! Rose is humorous and fiery and I can’t wait to see where all these twists and turns end up. I can’t wait for the second book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of ARC provided by author!
Um Ali!! Ma’am!! What did you put in this?!
This one’s for readers who love a romantic mystery, mafia romance, with an obsessive/stalker MMC!!
I was hooked from the beginning! Ro’s inner monologue had me cracking up from the beginning!! I absolutely loved Ali’s writing, the pace was perfect for me..
This story follows Rose (Ro) Lusso who was abandoned at birth and put into foster care. she leaned at a young age that she’s going to have to fend for herself! She worked her ass off to become a prestigious interior designer.. she leaves the company she works for due to lack of growth there and starts her own company.
She gets her first client but when she meets Dante, some things, such as how she got referred, don’t make sense. She reunites with Luca her childhood best friend/first love, contractor on Dante’s house, whom she hasn’t seen since the night of high school graduation, when he left without saying a word.
The story progresses and we see how morally grey Dante is.. there’s a reason why he’s called the Reaper, but where does Luca fit in??
There was moments in the story where I was like who is Ro gonna go with, Luca or Dante..
I loved the pace of the book!! And Shirley!!! She was such an amazing side character!!
The ending left my jaw hanging!!
Tropes:
🖤he falls first
🖤slow burn
🖤mafia romance
🖤morally grey MMC
🖤forced proximity
🖤instant attraction
Um Ali!! Ma’am!! What did you put in this?!
This one’s for readers who love a romantic mystery, mafia romance, with an obsessive/stalker MMC!!
I was hooked from the beginning! Ro’s inner monologue had me cracking up from the beginning!! I absolutely loved Ali’s writing, the pace was perfect for me..
This story follows Rose (Ro) Lusso who was abandoned at birth and put into foster care. she leaned at a young age that she’s going to have to fend for herself! She worked her ass off to become a prestigious interior designer.. she leaves the company she works for due to lack of growth there and starts her own company.
She gets her first client but when she meets Dante, some things, such as how she got referred, don’t make sense. She reunites with Luca her childhood best friend/first love, contractor on Dante’s house, whom she hasn’t seen since the night of high school graduation, when he left without saying a word.
The story progresses and we see how morally grey Dante is.. there’s a reason why he’s called the Reaper, but where does Luca fit in??
There was moments in the story where I was like who is Ro gonna go with, Luca or Dante..
I loved the pace of the book!! And Shirley!!! She was such an amazing side character!!
The ending left my jaw hanging!!
Tropes:
🖤he falls first
🖤slow burn
🖤mafia romance
🖤morally grey MMC
🖤forced proximity
🖤instant attraction
Review of advance copy received from Author
I'm normally a sci-fi and fantasy reader, but Roses are Royal has officially made me a dark romance mystery reader now! I haven't had a book in a while that I just couldn't get out of my head, but Roses are Royal stuck with me and it was all I thought about in between reads.
From the first paragraph I was bought into Ro's internal dialogue, and I kept being surprised by how close to my own internal dialogue it is. Ali has a knack for writing in such an authentic & real way that truly resonates with how I (and all my friends) think.
Ro was definitely giving multidimensional in the best way, making me laugh out loud one minute & then being hit in the face with trauma the next. She has such real responses to everything Dante & Luca throw at her that I felt like I was there watching with popcorn. Between the emotions, the sass, the high level of common sense, and her spectacular food & cocktail choices I'd want to hang out with Ro.
The real star of the show though is Shirley, like forget about the steamy men, I'll be sitting at the diner talking shit with Shirley for the next year. The level of sass but honest insight really struck the best kind of chord.
I loved how many twists & surprises Ali wove into the characters as well, it kept me on my toes and had me trying to play detective while reading to see if I could figure out what was coming.
10/10 for me, if you love mystery at all you'll love this book, the romance wasn't graphic, the plot has a great balance between fun & dark, and it made me excited for book 2 to see what Ro does next.
Even if this isn't your typical genre (like me) you'll still love it & have a great time reading.
From the first paragraph I was bought into Ro's internal dialogue, and I kept being surprised by how close to my own internal dialogue it is. Ali has a knack for writing in such an authentic & real way that truly resonates with how I (and all my friends) think.
Ro was definitely giving multidimensional in the best way, making me laugh out loud one minute & then being hit in the face with trauma the next. She has such real responses to everything Dante & Luca throw at her that I felt like I was there watching with popcorn. Between the emotions, the sass, the high level of common sense, and her spectacular food & cocktail choices I'd want to hang out with Ro.
The real star of the show though is Shirley, like forget about the steamy men, I'll be sitting at the diner talking shit with Shirley for the next year. The level of sass but honest insight really struck the best kind of chord.
I loved how many twists & surprises Ali wove into the characters as well, it kept me on my toes and had me trying to play detective while reading to see if I could figure out what was coming.
10/10 for me, if you love mystery at all you'll love this book, the romance wasn't graphic, the plot has a great balance between fun & dark, and it made me excited for book 2 to see what Ro does next.
Even if this isn't your typical genre (like me) you'll still love it & have a great time reading.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I don’t usually read dark romance but I am so glad I stepped outside of my comfort zone to read Roses are Royal!!
I love the characters. Rose’s inner dialogue was particularly fun to read because it is so relatable! Dante may be unrealistic but that doesn’t mean he isn’t every girl’s deepest fantasy. Brooding, dark, and mysterious but with a heart of gold! Dante is Mr. Darcy on steroids and I’m here for it!!
The plot may have started out a little slow, but there was some major foreshadowing which allowed me to try and guess what was going to happen. (I was wrong with half my guesses!) I don’t read a lot of suspense so I was surprised at how much fun I had trying to guess!
The ending was fast paced and I want more of that!!! I can’t wait for book two, I need to find out what happens next! If you know me, you know I HATE cliffhangers, so its a big deal when I say that Roses are Royal found the perfect combination of leaving me wanting more without leaving me on the edge of a cliff.
The spice level in Roses are Royal was lower than I thought it was going to be. There was definitely heat between characters and you get to be privy to Rose’s dirty thoughts, but there were no explicit scenes, which was refreshing. (Not that I mind spice, but its been a long time since I read a book that let you use your imagination about what happens behind the closed doors)
Overall I would definitely recommend Roses are Royal! Even if you aren’t normally a Dark Romance girly it is still a great read (But still check the triggers! I didn’t think anything was too bad but everyone has different triggers)
I love the characters. Rose’s inner dialogue was particularly fun to read because it is so relatable! Dante may be unrealistic but that doesn’t mean he isn’t every girl’s deepest fantasy. Brooding, dark, and mysterious but with a heart of gold! Dante is Mr. Darcy on steroids and I’m here for it!!
The plot may have started out a little slow, but there was some major foreshadowing which allowed me to try and guess what was going to happen. (I was wrong with half my guesses!) I don’t read a lot of suspense so I was surprised at how much fun I had trying to guess!
The ending was fast paced and I want more of that!!! I can’t wait for book two, I need to find out what happens next! If you know me, you know I HATE cliffhangers, so its a big deal when I say that Roses are Royal found the perfect combination of leaving me wanting more without leaving me on the edge of a cliff.
The spice level in Roses are Royal was lower than I thought it was going to be. There was definitely heat between characters and you get to be privy to Rose’s dirty thoughts, but there were no explicit scenes, which was refreshing. (Not that I mind spice, but its been a long time since I read a book that let you use your imagination about what happens behind the closed doors)
Overall I would definitely recommend Roses are Royal! Even if you aren’t normally a Dark Romance girly it is still a great read (But still check the triggers! I didn’t think anything was too bad but everyone has different triggers)
September 5, 2026
This was a fun book to read. Rose had me laughing from the very beginning! Her witty banter and funny quips were definitely one of my favorite parts of this book. I loved her personality and the humor she brought to the story. Her inner monologue moments were very relatable for someone who is an overthinker like me!
The romantic tension between the characters was frustrating at times, but still enjoyable. I really liked the mystery surrounding Rose’s past and how her life as an interior designer takes an unexpected turn when she begins working for Dante. Between Rose’s mysterious past, Dante’s ever changing personality, and the unexpected return of her best friend from high school, there are plenty of secrets and questions about who she can trust.
Oh, and then there’s Shirley who I absolutely loved and would love to get to know better! She seems like someone I could tell my whole life story to and get the best advice from. I hope there is more of her in the next book!
All in all, Rose’s humor, the mystery involving each of the characters, and the moments that made me laugh kept me entertained, and I’m so glad I got the chance to be part of this street team!
If you’re looking for a romance with a funny female lead, plenty of banter, and a lot of drama, Roses Are Royal is definitely one to add to your list!
Thank you to Ali Vancleave, the author, for the opportunity to read this book and be part of the street team!
The romantic tension between the characters was frustrating at times, but still enjoyable. I really liked the mystery surrounding Rose’s past and how her life as an interior designer takes an unexpected turn when she begins working for Dante. Between Rose’s mysterious past, Dante’s ever changing personality, and the unexpected return of her best friend from high school, there are plenty of secrets and questions about who she can trust.
Oh, and then there’s Shirley who I absolutely loved and would love to get to know better! She seems like someone I could tell my whole life story to and get the best advice from. I hope there is more of her in the next book!
All in all, Rose’s humor, the mystery involving each of the characters, and the moments that made me laugh kept me entertained, and I’m so glad I got the chance to be part of this street team!
If you’re looking for a romance with a funny female lead, plenty of banter, and a lot of drama, Roses Are Royal is definitely one to add to your list!
Thank you to Ali Vancleave, the author, for the opportunity to read this book and be part of the street team!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This one surprised me in the best way because I went into it thinking I knew what kind of story I was getting, and then the author kept adding little pieces that had me questioning EVERYTHING. 😂 The hidden identity, mafia element, and slow-building romance worked really well together without the story feeling like it was rushing to get to the good part.
Ro was definitely my favorite part. She’s ambitious, a little chaotic, and the way her brain works had me laughing more than once. I also really enjoyed watching her navigate everything happening around her while still trying to build the life she wanted for herself.
And Dante… yeah, I was watching him closely. 👀 There’s something about a man who is clearly protective but doesn’t have to announce it every five seconds that gets me every time. 😂 Their chemistry had me wanting MORE, especially because the romance takes its time.
The suspense and unanswered questions kept me turning the pages, and that ending?! EXCUSE ME?! 😭 I closed the book with way more questions than answers, so naturally I need book 2 immediately.
Overall, this was a fun, twisty read with a strong FMC, intriguing characters, tension, and enough mystery to keep me invested. If you like your romance with a little danger, secrets, definitely needs to be on your TBR. 🖤📚
Ro was definitely my favorite part. She’s ambitious, a little chaotic, and the way her brain works had me laughing more than once. I also really enjoyed watching her navigate everything happening around her while still trying to build the life she wanted for herself.
And Dante… yeah, I was watching him closely. 👀 There’s something about a man who is clearly protective but doesn’t have to announce it every five seconds that gets me every time. 😂 Their chemistry had me wanting MORE, especially because the romance takes its time.
The suspense and unanswered questions kept me turning the pages, and that ending?! EXCUSE ME?! 😭 I closed the book with way more questions than answers, so naturally I need book 2 immediately.
Overall, this was a fun, twisty read with a strong FMC, intriguing characters, tension, and enough mystery to keep me invested. If you like your romance with a little danger, secrets, definitely needs to be on your TBR. 🖤📚
Review of advance copy received from Author
Roses are Royal is a slow-burn, romantic mystery that features a trio of viewpoints. It leaned heavily into the angst and a will they/won’t they. The story stands tall without the need for an open door that hinders the plot. The spice level would be a one, as we only have one closed-door scene, which feels rewarding instead of rushed for the sake of having those scenes.
The pacing in this book was top-notch; we have a steadily quicker-paced book, but it felt like the best speed for it. You’re learning while still adding new aspects, so there is that influx of payoffs and new information. Once we hit the heart of the book, and all the major reveals are out of the way, the pacing seems to get even faster, like a heartbeat.
The character development was solid; I saw the growth that can be easily tracked, and it was a great job at ensuring no one was neglected. That is always tough when you have multiple pov’s, but this was done well.
The ending did feel more open-ended, so there is that question of whether we are getting a series, or at least a duology. In conclusion, while this is not the typical book I would gravitate towards, I will still say that It’s a 4. It was good, and I enjoyed reading this.
The pacing in this book was top-notch; we have a steadily quicker-paced book, but it felt like the best speed for it. You’re learning while still adding new aspects, so there is that influx of payoffs and new information. Once we hit the heart of the book, and all the major reveals are out of the way, the pacing seems to get even faster, like a heartbeat.
The character development was solid; I saw the growth that can be easily tracked, and it was a great job at ensuring no one was neglected. That is always tough when you have multiple pov’s, but this was done well.
The ending did feel more open-ended, so there is that question of whether we are getting a series, or at least a duology. In conclusion, while this is not the typical book I would gravitate towards, I will still say that It’s a 4. It was good, and I enjoyed reading this.
Review of advance copy received from Author
OH. MY. GOSH. 😍📚 This book!!! I had THE hardest time putting it down. Like… sleep? Who needs sleep?! 😂 I read this baby in less than 24 hours! 👀🔥
We’ve got MAFIA ROMANCE 🖤 | HIDDEN IDENTITY 👀 | SLOW BURN 🔥 — and let me tell y’all… this combination WORKED.
Ro had me absolutely cracking up! 😂 The way she would just start babbling when she got nervous was EVERYTHING. I loved her quirkiness, her personality, and her whole style. She was such a fun FMC! 💕
And then there’s Dante… 👀🔥 Ohhhh Dante!!! He had me from the very beginning. I just KNEW this man was going to do whatever he needed to do to take care of Ro. Protective men? YES PLEASE. 🙌🏼
Now Luca… 👀 I don’t know what it was, but I had an OFF feeling about him from the start. And Shirley?! ☕️🍳 She brought that little extra something to the diner scenes, and honestly, every good diner needs a Shirley. 😂
BUT Y’ALL… THAT ENDING!!! 😳🤯
CHEF’S KISS. 💋🤌🏼
This book had me hooked, invested, and staying up way too late because “just one more chapter” is apparently a lie I tell myself regularly. 😂📖🔥
If you love mafia romance, hidden identities, slow burns, protective men, quirky FMCs, and a little mystery sprinkled in… ADD THIS ONE TO YOUR TBR! 🖤🔥📚
We’ve got MAFIA ROMANCE 🖤 | HIDDEN IDENTITY 👀 | SLOW BURN 🔥 — and let me tell y’all… this combination WORKED.
Ro had me absolutely cracking up! 😂 The way she would just start babbling when she got nervous was EVERYTHING. I loved her quirkiness, her personality, and her whole style. She was such a fun FMC! 💕
And then there’s Dante… 👀🔥 Ohhhh Dante!!! He had me from the very beginning. I just KNEW this man was going to do whatever he needed to do to take care of Ro. Protective men? YES PLEASE. 🙌🏼
Now Luca… 👀 I don’t know what it was, but I had an OFF feeling about him from the start. And Shirley?! ☕️🍳 She brought that little extra something to the diner scenes, and honestly, every good diner needs a Shirley. 😂
BUT Y’ALL… THAT ENDING!!! 😳🤯
CHEF’S KISS. 💋🤌🏼
This book had me hooked, invested, and staying up way too late because “just one more chapter” is apparently a lie I tell myself regularly. 😂📖🔥
If you love mafia romance, hidden identities, slow burns, protective men, quirky FMCs, and a little mystery sprinkled in… ADD THIS ONE TO YOUR TBR! 🖤🔥📚
September 13, 2026
🚨Now Available 🚨
"Roses are Royal" By Ali Van Cleave is out in the Wild and waiting on you.
🌹Romantic suspense
🌹Morally grey MMC
🌹Some stalking
🌹Witty banter
🌹Slow burn
(Arc Review)
This was a fun, warm, heartfelt, like-hearted story I was pleasantly surprised.
Rose had me from the start with her inner dialogue. she is witty, sassy, unapologetically herself.
I was intrigued by her strength and how she responded to things.
Ali did a phenomenal job, with the character development, pacing, the banter between Rose and Dante was hilarious. The connection between the two of them was beautiful to watch unfold.
It almost seems wrong to say side character but Shirley was the best.
The twist, the secrets had me curious to know more.
the Romance and the plot were both there and strong. I wanted more of this story.
I can't wait for book two. This was a beautiful debut. Can't wait to read more from this Author.. so if you're looking for witty banter, a morally MMC, a little stalking, romantic suspense, slow burn give this one a try.
I want to thank Ali Vancleave for the early copy of your book it was beautifully written.
"Roses are Royal" By Ali Van Cleave is out in the Wild and waiting on you.
🌹Romantic suspense
🌹Morally grey MMC
🌹Some stalking
🌹Witty banter
🌹Slow burn
(Arc Review)
This was a fun, warm, heartfelt, like-hearted story I was pleasantly surprised.
Rose had me from the start with her inner dialogue. she is witty, sassy, unapologetically herself.
I was intrigued by her strength and how she responded to things.
Ali did a phenomenal job, with the character development, pacing, the banter between Rose and Dante was hilarious. The connection between the two of them was beautiful to watch unfold.
It almost seems wrong to say side character but Shirley was the best.
The twist, the secrets had me curious to know more.
the Romance and the plot were both there and strong. I wanted more of this story.
I can't wait for book two. This was a beautiful debut. Can't wait to read more from this Author.. so if you're looking for witty banter, a morally MMC, a little stalking, romantic suspense, slow burn give this one a try.
I want to thank Ali Vancleave for the early copy of your book it was beautifully written.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"Iced coffee literally saves lives!"
4/5
I would like to thank the author for allowing me to participate and read an advance reader copy of this book.
This story is about Ro, who is a very put together interior designer from a top firm in New York City. She decided to build her own interior design business, and determined to be the best at what she does - be fabulous, powered by iced coffee and designer clothes.
It has multiple first person POV, hidden identity, love triangle, morally grey stalker and witty banter.
Reading about Ro's POV and being in her mind reminded me a lot of my personal headspace - the thoughts I am thinking, the questions I am asking, and random things at random times.
Such as are collarbones sexy? Or how often do people think about bread.
The story was fast paced, and the characters were developed well throughout the story.
The twists and the ending had me curious - and of course, I would love to read the second book. I need to know what happens next.
And Shirley? She is the cherry on top.
4/5
I would like to thank the author for allowing me to participate and read an advance reader copy of this book.
This story is about Ro, who is a very put together interior designer from a top firm in New York City. She decided to build her own interior design business, and determined to be the best at what she does - be fabulous, powered by iced coffee and designer clothes.
It has multiple first person POV, hidden identity, love triangle, morally grey stalker and witty banter.
Reading about Ro's POV and being in her mind reminded me a lot of my personal headspace - the thoughts I am thinking, the questions I am asking, and random things at random times.
Such as are collarbones sexy? Or how often do people think about bread.
The story was fast paced, and the characters were developed well throughout the story.
The twists and the ending had me curious - and of course, I would love to read the second book. I need to know what happens next.
And Shirley? She is the cherry on top.
September 4, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Roses are Royal by @alivancleave is an amazing read all around. It was filled with romance, suspense, and thrill. It gave me all the feels from being giddy to crying and that shock factor was like no other.
Roses are Royal was the first book I read that was outside of what I normally read. This story was darker and filled with so much suspense. Every page had my head swirling with questions and made me want to keep reading to find out what happens next.
This story follows Rose and her encounters with Luca and Dante. She is an interior designer for Dante’s new home build where Luca is also working. Rose and Luca have a past but there is something different about Dante. He is dark and mysterious leaving Rose drawn to him. The amount of action, tension, and suspense in this book had me yelling out loud, crying, cheering, and basically freaking out! Every time I thought I knew what was going on another shocking moment happened.
This book was so good I read it in one day. I just couldn’t put it down. It has officially made my list of top favorite reads.
✨For me this book was a six star read!
What can you expect when reading Roses are Royal:
🖤 Stalker Romance
🖤 He Falls First
🖤 Slow Burn
🖤 Angst/Yearning
🖤 Suspense
🖤 Love Triangle
🖤 Older Characters (she's 32, he's 40)
🖤 Secrets, Lies and Spies
Triggers:
⚠️ language: swear words
⚠️ mention of stalking
Spice Level:
🦋 no explicit scenes
Roses are Royal by @alivancleave is an amazing read all around. It was filled with romance, suspense, and thrill. It gave me all the feels from being giddy to crying and that shock factor was like no other.
Roses are Royal was the first book I read that was outside of what I normally read. This story was darker and filled with so much suspense. Every page had my head swirling with questions and made me want to keep reading to find out what happens next.
This story follows Rose and her encounters with Luca and Dante. She is an interior designer for Dante’s new home build where Luca is also working. Rose and Luca have a past but there is something different about Dante. He is dark and mysterious leaving Rose drawn to him. The amount of action, tension, and suspense in this book had me yelling out loud, crying, cheering, and basically freaking out! Every time I thought I knew what was going on another shocking moment happened.
This book was so good I read it in one day. I just couldn’t put it down. It has officially made my list of top favorite reads.
✨For me this book was a six star read!
What can you expect when reading Roses are Royal:
🖤 Stalker Romance
🖤 He Falls First
🖤 Slow Burn
🖤 Angst/Yearning
🖤 Suspense
🖤 Love Triangle
🖤 Older Characters (she's 32, he's 40)
🖤 Secrets, Lies and Spies
Triggers:
⚠️ language: swear words
⚠️ mention of stalking
Spice Level:
🦋 no explicit scenes
September 12, 2026
Okay wow @alivancleave ..talk about drawing me in and keeping me there. I could NOT put this thing down once I got my hands on it!
This is an absolutely addicting read, you are not going to want to miss it!!
The love triangle between Dante, Rose, and Luca is intense. I loved the way it was portrayed, and there was always something more you were waiting to find out. That romantic suspense aspect was REAL in here.
We constantly were given little morsels towards what was actually going on (no spoilers!) and ohhhhh my I am here for this.
Ali did such a wonderful job with this. I cannot WAIT to see what she comes up with next. Absolutely god tier read for me. Added to my will read anything she writes list.
What to Expect:
🖤 Stalker Romance
🖤 He Falls First
🖤 Slow Burn
🖤 Angst/Yearning
🖤 Suspense
🖤 Love Triangle
🖤 Older Characters (she's 32, he's 40)
🖤 Secrets, Lies and Spies
#darkromance #romancereaders #rosesareroyal #darkmarfiaromance #newrelease
Thank you for the opportunity for this ARC read!
This is an absolutely addicting read, you are not going to want to miss it!!
The love triangle between Dante, Rose, and Luca is intense. I loved the way it was portrayed, and there was always something more you were waiting to find out. That romantic suspense aspect was REAL in here.
We constantly were given little morsels towards what was actually going on (no spoilers!) and ohhhhh my I am here for this.
Ali did such a wonderful job with this. I cannot WAIT to see what she comes up with next. Absolutely god tier read for me. Added to my will read anything she writes list.
What to Expect:
🖤 Stalker Romance
🖤 He Falls First
🖤 Slow Burn
🖤 Angst/Yearning
🖤 Suspense
🖤 Love Triangle
🖤 Older Characters (she's 32, he's 40)
🖤 Secrets, Lies and Spies
#darkromance #romancereaders #rosesareroyal #darkmarfiaromance #newrelease
Thank you for the opportunity for this ARC read!
August 20, 2026
Okay… THIS BOOK! 😮💨🔥 I honestly don’t even know where to start because Roses Are Royal gave me everything I wanted and then some.
The twist in this story completely caught me off guard. The darkness, the mystery, the stalking, the love triangle, and all the little things coming together had me hooked. And just when I thought I had things figured out… nope! 😂
And then we get this:
“I am no longer Rose, a princess kept in the dark, but Violetta, a queen stepping into the light, and it’s time for a new reign.
Roses might be Royal, but they will soon find out that Violets are Vicious.”
THAT LINE. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Rose stepping into Violetta and embracing who she is? YES. The transformation, the darkness, the revenge, the secrets, the protection, and the twists made this such a memorable read for me.
If you love dark romance, mystery, obsession, twists, a little humor, and men who know how to cook while also being ridiculously demanding… add this one to your TBR! 😂☕🔥
The twist in this story completely caught me off guard. The darkness, the mystery, the stalking, the love triangle, and all the little things coming together had me hooked. And just when I thought I had things figured out… nope! 😂
And then we get this:
“I am no longer Rose, a princess kept in the dark, but Violetta, a queen stepping into the light, and it’s time for a new reign.
Roses might be Royal, but they will soon find out that Violets are Vicious.”
THAT LINE. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Rose stepping into Violetta and embracing who she is? YES. The transformation, the darkness, the revenge, the secrets, the protection, and the twists made this such a memorable read for me.
If you love dark romance, mystery, obsession, twists, a little humor, and men who know how to cook while also being ridiculously demanding… add this one to your TBR! 😂☕🔥
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my goodness I read it in one sitting I was so into it!
I enjoyed the suspense and figuring out the dynamics.
I was trying to figure out Dante’s deal and why he was so invested.
Luc and Rose were best friends and then Luc cuts her out of his life. Fast forward and now they are working on a job together. He makes it seem like he easily forget her even though it was a lie. She is working on Dante’s house and then has a hard time keeping that relationship purely professional.
I enjoyed the dynamics with Rose and Dante and Luc and figuring out who was the guy to root for (or if one was).
There are so many questions and things I want to know!
The ending made me feel like I need book 2!
-stalker
-morally grey MMC
-he falls first
-love triangle
I enjoyed the suspense and figuring out the dynamics.
I was trying to figure out Dante’s deal and why he was so invested.
Luc and Rose were best friends and then Luc cuts her out of his life. Fast forward and now they are working on a job together. He makes it seem like he easily forget her even though it was a lie. She is working on Dante’s house and then has a hard time keeping that relationship purely professional.
I enjoyed the dynamics with Rose and Dante and Luc and figuring out who was the guy to root for (or if one was).
There are so many questions and things I want to know!
The ending made me feel like I need book 2!
-stalker
-morally grey MMC
-he falls first
-love triangle
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am not typically a romance reader but something about this book had me intrigued. I am so glad I decided to read it because I was NOT disappointed.
I love some good banter and this book was full of it. The back and forth conversations between the main characters were amusing and fun. I found Ro to be very relatable with her constant overthinking and babbling. Plus, she has amazing style.
Ro’s character came from foster care and she managed to build herself a future with her passion and talents. I love a story with a successful FMC.
The story has a dark edginess to it while also being funny and witty. I must say that my absolute favorite character is Shirley by far. I was not prepared for her mix of humor and kindness.
And I can’t forget to mention the plot twists! Amazing!
I love some good banter and this book was full of it. The back and forth conversations between the main characters were amusing and fun. I found Ro to be very relatable with her constant overthinking and babbling. Plus, she has amazing style.
Ro’s character came from foster care and she managed to build herself a future with her passion and talents. I love a story with a successful FMC.
The story has a dark edginess to it while also being funny and witty. I must say that my absolute favorite character is Shirley by far. I was not prepared for her mix of humor and kindness.
And I can’t forget to mention the plot twists! Amazing!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Instantly connected with Ro's internal babbling and word vomiting. Her spirals are so relateable and I found myself biting my lips together so many times to keep from laughing or smiling so hard! The banter between her and Dante is so entertaining. The story left you wondering many times if things would turn more in Luca's (Luc, Lucy) favor or Dante's. And I loved Shirley's character so much.
If you're into the "touch her and die" vibes, mysterious backstories, this one is worth giving a read. It isn't overly spicy or graphic, does have some little bursts of romance even early on (or at least earlier than most books I read.) Can't wait to see where this one goes!
If you're into the "touch her and die" vibes, mysterious backstories, this one is worth giving a read. It isn't overly spicy or graphic, does have some little bursts of romance even early on (or at least earlier than most books I read.) Can't wait to see where this one goes!
August 16, 2026
I received this book as an advanced copy to read by the author and all I can say is OMG!!!!! This is a slow burn (I would say semi-dark) romance story with Rose (Ro), Dante, and Luca. It leaves you wanting more without all the spicy romance, so you can make a real connection with all the characters, which is amazing. Shirley was a nice add to the mix as she really became a sounding board for Ro. I loved Rose would often “word vomit” when she feels out of place or nervous as I do the same thing lol. I can’t wait to read the second book when it comes out and I will be getting this one when it is released.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Roses are Royal was an easy and engaging read. The detail provided for main character development left me intrigued and naturally guessing how everyone was connected. The author layered in rich descriptions that left me easily visualizing Ro with her gold bangle bracelets eating a cheeseburger; blond hair, hazel eyed Luca in his work truck; and tattooed, green eyed, Dante cooking and completing house projects. The story proceeded quickly and there are just enough easter eggs spread throughout to keep you guessing. Now, I’m just disappointed that I have to wait until the next book comes out to continue the story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advance copy received from Author
I REALLY wanted to fall in love with this book and give it 5 stars! The characters were great, and I loved the banter, especially by Rose and Shirley. The multiple pages long of « inner monologue », and the explaining to me (the reader) versus showing through the words, put me off of the story, unfortunately. I didn’t realize it was a mafia romance until I saw a review and I was 90% done the book. The last 10% of the book was the best part. On the plus side, it took me 2 hours to read the entire book, if you like a quick, cute, romance book!!
I REALLY wanted to fall in love with this book and give it 5 stars! The characters were great, and I loved the banter, especially by Rose and Shirley. The multiple pages long of « inner monologue », and the explaining to me (the reader) versus showing through the words, put me off of the story, unfortunately. I didn’t realize it was a mafia romance until I saw a review and I was 90% done the book. The last 10% of the book was the best part. On the plus side, it took me 2 hours to read the entire book, if you like a quick, cute, romance book!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️ARC Review⭐️
Dark Mafia
Closed Door Romance
Stalker MMC
Hilarious FMC
Multi person POV
Ali girl…. You had me at “All black Victorian style mansion.”
We love a morally gray MMC. Who falls immediately
Ro’s inner monologue had me actually LOLing
Shirley is amazing as well. A Crowd favorite for sure.
I usually like my dark mafia romances very spicy however I’m not even upset bc the pace, the plot , the twist and turns keep my interest . Also this is this authors first book and she fucking knocked it out of the park in my opinion. 5 stars from me !!
Dark Mafia
Closed Door Romance
Stalker MMC
Hilarious FMC
Multi person POV
Ali girl…. You had me at “All black Victorian style mansion.”
We love a morally gray MMC. Who falls immediately
Ro’s inner monologue had me actually LOLing
Shirley is amazing as well. A Crowd favorite for sure.
I usually like my dark mafia romances very spicy however I’m not even upset bc the pace, the plot , the twist and turns keep my interest . Also this is this authors first book and she fucking knocked it out of the park in my opinion. 5 stars from me !!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of Advanced Copy Recieved by Author
Sooooo.... I’ve learned three very important lessons from this book:
1. If a man builds you a custom dream house, he is 100% watching you through a hidden camera in the bedroom. It’s not really a red flag , it’s just security..... right???
2. If you’re a designer who word vomits your entire life story to every client you meet, you’re not just unprofessional you’re a Mafia princess.
3. Dante, please put a shirt on. You’re going to catch a cold in that basement!
Sooooo.... I’ve learned three very important lessons from this book:
1. If a man builds you a custom dream house, he is 100% watching you through a hidden camera in the bedroom. It’s not really a red flag , it’s just security..... right???
2. If you’re a designer who word vomits your entire life story to every client you meet, you’re not just unprofessional you’re a Mafia princess.
3. Dante, please put a shirt on. You’re going to catch a cold in that basement!
Review of advance copy
First of all, thank you Ali for the ARC copy and for such an addictive story!
The internal monologues hand me giggling and kicking my feet! I love me a mafia romance and this book did not disappoint! I loved the slow burn aspect to it! Rose is such a bad ass! I loved how she quit her corporate job in a Nirvana t-shirt and leggings! If you like dark romance with stalker vibes, love triangles, witty banter and a morally gray man that literally builds you your dream house to the last dotted “i”, then you need to add this to your TBR!
The internal monologues hand me giggling and kicking my feet! I love me a mafia romance and this book did not disappoint! I loved the slow burn aspect to it! Rose is such a bad ass! I loved how she quit her corporate job in a Nirvana t-shirt and leggings! If you like dark romance with stalker vibes, love triangles, witty banter and a morally gray man that literally builds you your dream house to the last dotted “i”, then you need to add this to your TBR!
September 18, 2026
This took a while to actually hook me. It was okay. Dragged a little, felt somewhat repetitive at times. Can’t say I love the characters. Rose felt a little childish at times and Dante just felt a little heavy handed in everything concerning Rose. Luca wasn’t too bad, I kinda wish there was more of him. I will say I’m so glad that my feeling on a certain one was proven correct.
I did enjoy the more action/suspense parts of this over the slowly built triangle.
Favorite line was funny enough, by neither main character, but Shirley.
“Sweetheart, if you can overthink the worst, why can’t you overthink the best as well?”
Just came across me at the right time.
I did enjoy the more action/suspense parts of this over the slowly built triangle.
Favorite line was funny enough, by neither main character, but Shirley.
“Sweetheart, if you can overthink the worst, why can’t you overthink the best as well?”
Just came across me at the right time.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rose, or Ro, the main character in this book was so refreshing. She is so relatable because she’s written with such authenticity. There were many times I laughed out loud because her inner dialogue is so real. She’s very human in a very endearing way.
There’s tension where tension is best. I couldn’t hold back gasps of shock or giggles of excitement.
I finished this book in the blink of an eye and am very much looking forward to the next book!
There’s tension where tension is best. I couldn’t hold back gasps of shock or giggles of excitement.
I finished this book in the blink of an eye and am very much looking forward to the next book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Phenomenal from the beginning to the last sentence. Ro and her inner thoughts were so relatable and realistic to what my brain feels like sometimes. I caught myself saying “Dante, the man that you are!!!” multiple times while reading. The yearning from the men is top notch. As someone who reads a lot of open door romance, the closed door was so refreshing and done so well. I cannot wait for more!!
August 29, 2026
ARC Review-
Okay so I swear this book was laced with something! I was in such a reading slump but this book has absolutely obliterated that. It just kept getting better and better the more I read, so much is going on and you’re only given tiny crumbs and it keeps you wanting more! I loved the chemistry that Dante and Rose have so much, and how strong and independent Rose is! I need book two like yesterday!!
Okay so I swear this book was laced with something! I was in such a reading slump but this book has absolutely obliterated that. It just kept getting better and better the more I read, so much is going on and you’re only given tiny crumbs and it keeps you wanting more! I loved the chemistry that Dante and Rose have so much, and how strong and independent Rose is! I need book two like yesterday!!
September 10, 2026
I received an advanced copy of Roses Are Royal from the author. I devoured Roses Are Royal by Ali Vancleave. This book had me completely hooked. I loved how Rose walks away from her job to start her own business. That takes guts. My heart was in a constant state of ache, hope, and pure happiness right alongside the characters. If you love a romance that makes you feel everything, this one is a must-read.
September 10, 2026
What a STUNNING debut novel!! I was looking for something new to read, and while this isn’t my go-to genre, I literally could not put this book down. The story kept me hooked from page one, needing to learn more about the characters, the plot, just absolutely everything as I kept reading. It is safe to say that I will be not only watching for more books from Ali in the future, but also looking for more dark romances as well.
Thank you so much to Ali for allowing me to read this book early as an ARC!
Thank you so much to Ali for allowing me to read this book early as an ARC!
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