Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
They promised me as tribute.
Youngest of six, I'm untouched.
Unblemished.
And in the world of the Irish mafia...
Wanted.

I'm given to a man I've never met.
Forced into a union I didn't condone.
Owned by a dangerous rival.

He may take what's his, but he won't steal my heart.

Please note: Cormac: A Dark Irish Mafia Romance contains elements of violence, non-consent, and kink. If these elements offend you, please do not read.

348 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 27, 2020

2597 people are currently reading
797 people want to read

About the author

Jane Henry

114 books2,703 followers
Fueled by dark chocolate and even darker coffee, USA Today bestselling author Jane Henry writes what she loves to read – character-driven, unputdownable romance featuring dominant alpha males and the powerful heroines who bring them to their knees. She’s believed in the power of love and romance since Belle won over the beast, and finally decided to write love stories of her own.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
1,297 (48%)
4 stars
801 (30%)
3 stars
423 (15%)
2 stars
100 (3%)
1 star
38 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
Profile Image for lily.
1,266 reviews
June 14, 2020
She was giving her bodyguard blow jobs !!! For information about her father !!!
He is obsessed with hitting her ( he called it punishment because she is Disobedient and sassy) !!!
Definitely Not for me!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Darlene I read WAY to many books.
3,675 reviews2,427 followers
May 2, 2020
I enjoyed the last book so now i wanna read this one. Its sorta tiny darkish with some steam and punishments.

Now i did enjoy Cormac he was a protective alpha for his new bride who he never met, but he's following family rules and making sure this other family who has been untrusted gets in line. But with Aileen a firey sassy chick she runs away she has to be punished so he does it knowing if her father or brother do it she'll be hurt. Now i really didnt enjoy the first punishment because they just met and she didnt know that was her future husband.. i know hes saving her from a harasher punishment from her father.. but to be caned was over the top.. atleast first meeting by a stranger. She sees how different this family is to her own and she enjoys it.. they arent ruthless or abusive toeards their woman (spankings arent what shes used to.. shes used to fist) shes protected but something happens to have her take a step back...

Thats why my rating was alittle lower.. i dislike THIS TROPE SO MUCH!! Between that trope and and another trope i dislikes..

Also as of right now i dont want Nolan and the reporter im sorry but seems like everyone hates her in this family.. she had her reasons.. but i wont read for now. Lol


Low angst,no ow/om drama, No cheating, Drama, slight secondary chars, sexy times, virgin girl no manwhore

Recommend-maybe
Cover-⭐⭐⭐

Slow-insta
Older/younger couple 9 years apart
Punishments
Slight push away from h
Dom/sub undertones
No condom
Abused (by her brother And father)
Riny dub-con (during punishment the first punishment with a cane it was quick)
Violence
Amnesia
Hea
Epilogue
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for A Book Lover's Emporium Book Blog.
2,816 reviews171 followers
April 29, 2020
Cormac: A Dark Irish Mafia Romance promised sex, violence and dominance. It delivers this in a fast-pace which was good, however, it missed the mark for me with the storyline and characters.

Comac is tough and dominant in all areas. Aileen likes to talk back and at first, appears to have some spunk, but she seems distracted by Cormac's good looks and their physical attraction. I wanted Aileen to be more strong willed for longer. I didn't dislike like these characters but would have liked more depth.

The character development and depth of the story suffered from this in my opinion. I wanted more than two-dimensional characters and a predictable storyline. I wanted to read till the end, however, I was not invested in these characters or their lives.

The use of Irish slang was a bit over the top, it's as if the author wanted me to REALLY understand the characters are Irish. I would have preferred more subtly. As the story progressed, I either became used to it or the author dialled it down. Either way, I was able to enjoy the story without being distracted by the language use.

All in all, Cormac was a decent read, but it was lacking in some key areas for me personally.
Profile Image for JD (on semi-hiatus).
984 reviews218 followers
February 25, 2022
This is the second in a series, and it helps to have read Keenan, which is where most of the characters and clan backstories were first introduced.

Because this author has numerous fans who will leave many four- and five-star reviews, I'm just going to make seven observations, some negative, some positive:

1) At the beginning of the book, Aileen doesn't react to circumstances in any reasonably plausible manner. Here's her backstory: she's a sheltered virgin; a victim of her father and brother's physical and emotional abuse; a victim of her bodyguard's sexual abuse; and a witness to how her five sisters were forced into marriages they didn't want -- one even committed suicide to escape her fate. So, what does she do when she's faced with a stranger who forces her to marry him, canes her moments after her brother backhands her, brutally and without consent takes her "prize" minutes after the wedding (the "virgin tribute" is one trope I'd really like to see go away), and gives her no reason to trust him? Why, she goes from 0 to 180 in sexual mileage with nary a pause, of course. All the disbelief in the world can't be suspended for such a scenario.

2) Given the timeline, Aileen sets the record for fastest .

3) I had to laugh any time one of the clan men went on and on about how they're taught "Never, never to abuse [women]" and that they don't "rape" when that's pretty much all they do. I could stomach Ms. Henry's "darkness" more if she didn't mask her non-consent with hypocrisy. At least have the guts to admit what you're doing.

4) There's nothing remotely "hot" about the way this clan talks about women. If "tight virgin cunt" is your love language of choice, go for it.

5) Aileen's character is more coherent than Caitlin's, whose Rapunzel-like reactions to life disappeared after the second or third chapter. She's also stronger, more independent, and doesn't accept everything the clan says or does.

6) Though it's via an artificially induced narrative device, Cormac actually does one or things to earn Aileen's submission that are not the oft-repeated "You must obey me" or "She will obey me" nonsense common in Ms. Henry's books.

7) Unlike most books in this genre, there are actually consequences for Cormac's initial brutal treatment of Aileen. And unlike most h's in this genre, Aileen does bear some emotional scars from said treatment that don't magically disappear. While generic conventions demand she forgive him, it's not as easy as it too often is and Cormac does have to earn it.

3 1/2 stars for #7. There are some plot holes in the mystery and narrative confusion regarding the Martin clan.

I assume we'll get Nolan and Sheena next.

ETA: If you don't want to know how this book ends, I suggest avoiding some of the reviews on Amazon. It's really a shame that so many spoil these books for other readers. I'll also add that the particular review I have in mind is written by a man; a quick look at his review history reveals that he's never liked an h in his life. Which tells you all you need to know about his attitude towards women.

2nd ETA: I guess all the reviewers who claim the sex is consensual missed this part: "I want to hide myself underneath these blankets and weep. I want to ball up in the corner of this massive bed and sob out my pain." If you think you'll like this book, then by all means read it, but note that not all the reviews here agree that the sex is consensual.
Profile Image for Brittany.
64 reviews1 follower
September 14, 2020
Nope. Nope. Nope. Did not finish. After the first "punishment" I quit. The girl was literally running for her life. She grew up in an abusive house and forced to give sexual favors by bodyguards. So when she hears she's been "given" to a man to marry, someone she will meet AT the wedding, of course she thought her life was in danger. So the groom thinks he "has" to punish her. What he does is wear a mask, forces her to bend over a table and hits her with a cane while she cries. Yet, afterwards he talks about he would never abuse a woman?? He just beat the crap out of a scared girl who is forced to marry him. Seriously some effed up crap.
Profile Image for Suzi (Obsessive Reading Disorder).
2,232 reviews
May 1, 2020
This is a new to me author. I did not read the first book of the series but you can easily read this as a stand alone. I'm still not sure where my thoughts are on this one. I really liked the second half of the book. How we got to there is the muddy part.



I like mafia books, dark romance, alpha males. This books has those along with a fair bit of violence. I didn't like that over the top "I am your master---you do as I say" attitude that not only Cormac but his brothers all strutted out. I like that Aileen wanted to go against the grain from the world she knew.



It seemed to me that after Aileen's accident, when Cormac didn't know how to respond to her, he became the true Hero of the story. We saw his softer side. We saw them both fall in love. It was an interesting story.



The writing was ok. Nothing fantastic here. I may read the next book just to see if it sits with me better. The two halves of the book just seemed to be showing me completely different characters.



*Complimentary copy provided for an honest review.
159 reviews2 followers
May 11, 2020
What?

I skimmed the majority of this book. It’s preposterous. The hero physically punishes the heroine on their first encounter and it goes downhill from there. I don’t get all of the 5 star reviews. Constant talk of controlling and punishing women, yuck.
Profile Image for Rhonda.
3,762 reviews63 followers
April 27, 2020
This book was so good that I couldn't put it down. The second book in her Dark Irish Mafia series, Jane Henry gives us a wonderful story between Cormac and Aileen. Aileen expects Corman to be like her own family but instead finds him to be very protective and very dominant. She's not used to being protected and realizes that Cormac's family is totally different from her own family. There are dark moments in the story but not dark enough to stop me from reading. Cormac will do anything to protect the woman he was forced to marry but has fallen in love with over the course of time. Danger is still lurking though and it's going to take a lot to keep Aileen safe. The little twist towards the end took me by surprise but then Ms. Henry has always kept her readers on their toes. LOL I loved seeing Cormac's family and how they all love each other. And the hints to the next book are intriguing so I'm eagerly waiting for that one. I love this series, it brings out all the feels.
Profile Image for Shannon Warren.
52 reviews2 followers
June 3, 2020
Not a fan.

I'm giving this book three stars instead of two because it actually has a story line and it was clearly edited. That's more than a lot of books on here are. Did I like the story line? Not really. Truth be told, this sort of vanilla mild domination thing isn't really all that great. The men aren't all that appealing. What constitutes a back bone in the women is just some laughable back talk. Maybe I should have read the first book but honestly, I don't think I needed to. And the sex club is a joke. I expected that to be showcased more than it was.
Profile Image for Indy.
1,199 reviews34 followers
May 15, 2020
This book was a bit confusing. Light BDSM (spanking, caning) but not consensual so was a bit off putting. And bit of whiplash with storyline bouncing all over the place - arranged marriage, amnesia, kidnapping, dominance - that just could have been better woven in together.
Profile Image for Anne in VA.
1,327 reviews20 followers
May 12, 2021
The sample beginning chapters make no sense. The strongest clan has to marry the daughter of the lowliest clan to keep the peace? Why? I would think the strongest clan wouldn't have to do anything they don't want to do. This story needed a better setup.
Profile Image for Space Cowgirl.
4,133 reviews144 followers
May 7, 2020
 The Brutality🔪🔫💪👊 of The Irish Mafia in Ireland🍀

Alpha Irish🍀 Mafia Male🐺🔪🔫💪👊 Romance💕 with Clan Betrayal and Fighting with BDSM👋 Elements.
There Will Be Blood👺💪👊🔪🔫!

Aileen💃💋💔, the youngest of the six daughters of a cruel and conscienceless lower level Irish Mobster, Mack Martin👺🔪🔫, is forced to marry👰 into the leading clan, the McCarthys, to Cormac🐺🍆⛲💪👊🔪🔫, a man she has never met, and the younger brother of clan chief Keenan McCarthy.

Aileen💃💋💔 is fighting the upcoming arranged marriage👰 all the way, even running away, but she is caught within a few days. Her father is ruthless. He thinks of his daughters as commodities, to be traded or sold💰 for his own gain.
When Aileen💃💋💔 is caught, her very own brother punches👊 her in the face, blacking her eye! Then Cormac🐺🍆⛲💪👊🔫🔪👋, disguised in a mask, comes in and canes her because the father demands it. Cormac🐺🍆⛲🔪🔫💪👊👋 wouldn't allow Martin👺🔪🔫 or his men to touch her, but he's willing to do it himself!

Aileen💃💋💔 finally realizes she is just a pawn between violent men. Her running away nearly caused a war🔪🔫!

ARC Provided by Bookfunnel 🌀
I also got this ebook with KU.

Cormac 🐺🍆⛲🔫🔪💪👊👋 is a dominant👋, but not a sadist. He punished Aileen because it was him or them, and her father👺🔫🔪 would have truly hurt her, injured her.

Cormac🐺🍆⛲💪👊👋 severely beats up Aileen's brother, Blaine👺🔫🔪, for hitting her. Surely there will be retribution?! The Martins👺 are a lawless clan with no code of honor whatsoever!

Interesting book that could have played up the ongoing conflict between the two clans more. The book is mainly about the 💘 love/hate💔 relationship between Cormac🐺🍆⛲👋💪👊🔪🔫 and Aileen💃💋, and his attempts to dominate a woman who is unwilling to be dominated!
Profile Image for Jennifer Pierson.
11.7k reviews188 followers
May 1, 2020
I'm a big fan of Jane Henry's stories, so I was excited for Cormac, but there were a few things which made the story less than perfect for me. It's not about the darkness so much, but about the heroine, Aileen, who started out being a strong woman, but somehow lost the plot when it came to Cormac a bit too soon for me. He was a sexy, dominant man in all aspects of life, and while they had chemistry in spades , he did some things that enraged me so I wanted Aileen to stay her strong willed self longer. See, I don't give in for anything, so while I understand heroine's giving in for the journey to love, I still need them to go rogue for a length of time or I lose respect for them. Anyway, I wasn't able to put this book down because I needed to see how it all played out, which is why I gave it a 4 star rating, but don't take my word for it, hit those one click buttons to decide for yourselves! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Profile Image for Elizabeth✨.
237 reviews3 followers
May 13, 2020
3.5⭐️

First off, I don’t think it was a bad story or a boring plot. I was expecting the book to go more into depth and detail since the book is a stand alone book.

The thing I DID have an issue with was that first sex scene were she didn’t even want to have sex. She was scared and upset to do it, yet that didn’t stop the scene. I am aware that she said that she didn’t want to but then her body said the opposite. I feel like that part was too close for comfort for me. It could have been taken as rape, but then it could have been taken as consent. Either way, I really didn’t like that part.

However, after that the rest of the sex scenes were obvious in the consent and I did enjoy reading it.

Overall, the book was alright. I wish that one scene didn’t happen, and I wish their was more detail and different protective scenes in the book. It honestly seemed to short and cookie cutter for me. 🤷‍♀️

Will I read this book again or recommend it... probably not.
Profile Image for Missy Brown.
1,749 reviews30 followers
May 11, 2020
I love this series so much!!! Every time I think that I have a favorite from this author, she comes out with the next one. Cormac was so awesome, and now has become my favorite, which was Keenan. Have you read any of Jane Henry's books yet? If you have not, I would highly recommend that you do. She is an awesome writer that always writes stories that I cannot put down and end up loving.

In Cormac, we have the second son of a mafia boss who is forced to marry a girl name Aileen. Who is fresh out of college. She is of a rival clan of Cormac's are the match is in hopes of uniting them. The question Aileen has is her new husband cruel? Will he hurt her? Will she be a prisoner in her own home?

What can I say, I love a good mafia story and this series has proven so far to be at my top fave. If you like a good dominant man, which Cormac is, and spitfire female leads who take no crap. This story is for you!!!
Profile Image for Amanda Richardson.
997 reviews10 followers
August 3, 2021
I read Keenan the first in the series, but I liked Cormac better. Cormac is much sexier, brutish and a bit raw. Aileen has been promised as a virgin bride to Cormac to seal a truce but she runs. There are elements in this book (spankings, punishment) that may not be safe for some.

When they marry it's clear Cormac is the boss but Aileen starts to get under his skin. He starts to care and you can tell that it's been a long time, if ever, that he has cared deeply for another person outside of his family. But their world is dangerous. They have to work for their happily ever after but it is sweet.
Profile Image for Michele.
1,539 reviews9 followers
April 27, 2020
This book is spectacular! The characters had sparks flying from the get go! These two are something else. Cormac is 100% alpha male and used to having his commands followed without question. Aileen is an independent woman who is a spitfire and sassy. She does what she wants. She is true to what they say about redheaded women. The push and pull is a delight to read about! The chemistry is off the charts. The author gives such details that you feel like you could be right there with them! A highly recommended book. Check it out and see for yourself. So worth it!
Profile Image for Sydney M Neblett.
2,660 reviews27 followers
August 11, 2021
Sometimes love just falls in your lap

Cormac was everything I hoped he would be! The author took the personally she hinted at in book one and built from their. He was the perfect brother to handle his wayward arranged mate, with the firm hand she needed and the gentle heart that she desired. These two really had to go to the ends of their limit to find their HEA, but it was such a fantastic ride. I enjoyed the extra addition of mystery the author included in the story, and I can’t wait to see how she strengthens the family next.
146 reviews1 follower
April 27, 2020
Swoon worthy read. Cormac as 2nd in command, is to take a bride from another clan to maintain peace. Aileen runs away to avoid the marriage . What transpires next is a punishment, a marriage, and the consumation of the marriage. When you have an overly protective, dominant alpha male and a feisty, redheaded female, you know fireworks are coming! Loved this book and highly recommend!!
Profile Image for Jess.
3,179 reviews26 followers
April 28, 2020
4.5 Stars
After Keenan I just knew I would be reading another great story! And I did enjoy this one. I just enjoyed Keenan’s story more. So start with that one first even though this one can be read on its own.
Cormac is doing his duty by marrying Aileen. And then he starts to love her. *Swoon* Even with her almost being killed!
Say what????
Yep, do I have your attention now?!?!
Profile Image for Sue.
422 reviews4 followers
April 28, 2020
The cover is hot - the book is hotter! This series just gets better. Yes these are tough men - yes they can be brutal - yes they are the head of their households - but most importantly, yes they will do what it takes to keep the women in their lives safe and just ooze romance. This book made me melt and I couldn’t put it down. I could imagine myself in Aileen’s place and enjoyed experiencing their relationship grow from its rocky beginnings to giving in to their blazing chemistry. If the next book in the series gets any hotter, I’ll have to wear oven mitts to read it. Great 5-star read.
Profile Image for Mandy Sawyer.
5,018 reviews41 followers
March 7, 2021
This book is full of action. With lovely characters with great personalities this book had me hooked from the start. Both Kai and Wen have brilliant Irish accents, it gives the whole book a great feel to it.
Profile Image for Lynn Thinking out loud .
1,482 reviews64 followers
May 1, 2020
Can a book be suspenseful and sweet at the same time? I loved Cormac and Aileen's story. It's a sweet and touching story but suspense wrapped up in there.
I read an advanced copy of this book.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews131 followers
Want to read
July 21, 2021
🎁 FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBooks today (7/21/2021)!🎁
Profile Image for Jo.
1,161 reviews4 followers
May 1, 2020
Aileen Martin is to marry to keep the peace between the Martin and McCarthy Clans, yet she has no idea to whom. Cormac is the man she's to marry and is second eldest McCarthy.

Alieen keeps Cormac in his toes! These two are too much fun to watch. There is one wild twist that happens and it truly shows a beautiful side to Cormac that I didn't expect.

Jane has brought us one amazing Irish family, I can't wait to see the next brother she writes about.
298 reviews
May 21, 2020
Couldn't take this

Speech patterns of entitlement. Sounds like Like rich kids in LA who want to be gangsta. Not for me.Hope the writer does well.under 25's May enjoy.
Profile Image for Kelly_Reads_Books.
2,123 reviews190 followers
April 27, 2020
I love these dark Irish Mafia stories. And I really love Aileen and Cormac as a couple. The McCarthy's and the Martin's feuds are as ruthless as any other mafia families but they do it the Irish way.
Jane Henry writes stories that capture the reader from page one and they are realistic and humorous at times.
Profile Image for Rachel Todd.
165 reviews3 followers
June 3, 2020
Could not finish

DNF halfway through. Timelines are a little important, and this ones feels all kinds of weird. Having intense pregnancy symptoms a week after? I tried to get involved with the story but it was very flat and one dimensional.
Profile Image for Anne  Young-Cronister.
958 reviews
May 22, 2020
What a wonderful awesome story! Jane Henry has a dark Irish family she wants you to meet!
Enter the second in command Cormac McCarthy. He is known as the Bone Breaker. Keeping the Clans in an Alliance is important. Enter Aileen a daughter of a rival clan. When they are arranged to be married it’s a crapshoot how they will get along. If your looking for a Excellent storyline that includes danger, subterfuge, laughter and romance and you like stories that have hot steamy men and beautiful women characters this book is for you! All the action and awesome feels abound!


I reviewed a complementary copy of this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.