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Dark Vows
To have and to hold, till death do them part.
It might be wedding season, but it's impossible to be an eager bride when you're nothing more than property or the pawn in a power play. Arranged alliances, blackmailed brides, reluctant vows... happily-ever-after might be a fantasy.
This wickedly hot collection of ten never-before-seen dark mafia romances is not for the faint-of-heart.
Collateral by Raisa Greywood
Whispered Vows by Maggie Ryan
Not by a Long Road by Tom Rhymer
Chosen by Daddy by Pepper North
Mad Love by Sinistre Ange
Daddy's Little Spy by Stella Moore
His for the Keeping by RJ Gray
Daddy's Little Mafia Princess by Maren Smith
Diamond by Lesley Clark
Hyland's Property by Felicity Brandon
It might be wedding season, but it's impossible to be an eager bride when you're nothing more than property or the pawn in a power play. Arranged alliances, blackmailed brides, reluctant vows... happily-ever-after might be a fantasy.
This wickedly hot collection of ten never-before-seen dark mafia romances is not for the faint-of-heart.
Collateral by Raisa Greywood
Whispered Vows by Maggie Ryan
Not by a Long Road by Tom Rhymer
Chosen by Daddy by Pepper North
Mad Love by Sinistre Ange
Daddy's Little Spy by Stella Moore
His for the Keeping by RJ Gray
Daddy's Little Mafia Princess by Maren Smith
Diamond by Lesley Clark
Hyland's Property by Felicity Brandon
982 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2021
109 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
Sinistre Ange
57 books374 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Golden Angel's darker, kinkier side, Sinistre Ange is where she lets out her most depraved ideas. Enjoy!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
June 12, 2021
This Anthology had me in its grip the entire week,and each story had an unique quality of its own.
I want to thank Raisa Greywood for her generosity in sharing the ARC with me,it really was a most delicious gift.
Like dark chocolate,i couldn’t get enough,and i’m sad it’s done.
I’ve left my honest review of all stories.
Having the received ARC for the entire anthology from Raisa Greywood made me decide to review her story in full.
Raisa’s story may start out with a girl being pushed into marriage,but it ends up as so much more.
And it was beautifully done,in a way only Raisa can do.
Lauren is doing her best to keep the familyrestaurant Jojo’s going.
She’s a good chef,she’s got great personnel,and customers keep coming back for more.
But the only parent she’s got,is in a nursing home,without any hope of recovery.
And today she found out he left her with not only the reastaurant,but a 2 million dollar debt as well…
Where is she supposed to find that kind of money? And in only how many days?
The alternative this…this….Adriano offers can’t be serious,right?
Marrying her,a pudgy stuttering chef? Why would he want to do that?
Just look at him…he could get the most…
There had to be a motivation she didn’t see yet,but what?
Adriano was determined to get the money back he loaned to chef Johansen.
And today he came to collect,that is….he would collect after he had something to eat.
Because chef was busy in the kitchen,the restaurant was full,and he was hungry.
The food they served was surprisingly good,better than he expected.
But the best surprise came when chef finally had time to talk to him.
Because he just found the bride he’d been searching for!
What started out as coercion soon became more as he peeled back the layers of the delicious Lauren.
Because he liked what he found,and he wanted her to like what she saw,too.
The attention he gave her was endearingly,but she had trouble looking past the coercion at first.
When he promised her she could keep the restaurant,and would even help her expand,she knew he understood what mattered to her.
If only that was the whole story.
Because he had trouble coming,and she might end up as collateral….
I loved this beautiful gem!
It was written with so much care,so much love,and it shows!
I’m going to dive right back into this Anthology,because i need to find out what the others are like.
If the other Dark Vows stories are anything like Sinistre Ange’s Mad Love i KNOW i’m going to love them!
I couldn’t wait to get a taste of what’s in this Anthology,and when i was offered the ARC of Mad Love,i knew i hád to read it straight away.
It may be short,but it packs a punch,and i enjoyed the ride!
Hailey may come from a mafia family,but since her parents death,she’s lived a different life.
As far away from her grandfather as she can be,she’s a social worker in a police station in New York.
But her grandfather has plans for her…..plans that will change her entire life.
And they involve a man she knows from the moment she meets him is a part of that same mafia.
There’s no way she’s going to marry him! It was total madness! Right?
Jack is intrigued when he hears who he’s going to marry.
And after finding out more about Hailey,he looks forward to the wedding.
Not only that,with the way she reacts to him,he knows he’s going to enjoy married life.
If only the little spitfire could admit the arrangement wasn’t madness…..
I loved Sinistre Ange’s contribution to this Anthology,and i can’t wait to read the other stories!
Maggie Ryan’s Whispered Vows is something else…..
It’s something dark and wicked,but have no fear,it’s all for the best.
Even refusing to marry Dante doesn’t help Mara.
Because it ís happening,wether she wants to or not.
What Dante wants,Dante gets,and at the moment it’s Mara.
Fighting him,kicking and screaming,it’s all in vain.
As a matter of fact,all that does,is get her punished.
But the further we get into this delicious story,the more his actions start to make sense.
So who is the bad guy really?
And is Mara really in a bad place,or is there somewhere worse she could’ve ended up?
A delicious dark little gem,one that i enjoyed very much!
Tom Rhymer’s Not by a Long Road is a very different kind of journey.
One where the children have to mend what the fathers have broken.
But if they manage to trust eachother,and work together,anything is possible…..
Giada’s father has struggled ever since his beloved wife passed away.
But his latest stunt has them both at the mercy of Luca’s father.
And he’s got not one ounce of compassion for Giada,her father,or even his own son.
Instead,he traps Giada into a contract to marry his son.
Hoping this good girl can tame his sons wild lifestyle.
But Giada is no fool,and she sees the real Luca. And that makes her hatch a plan of her own,one where Luca is on her team.
But what will his father do when he finds out?
This was a story of finding allies in unexpected places.
Of standing strong,together whilst facing the enemy.
Pepper North’s Chosen by Daddy shows us that Daddy really knows what he wants. And he’s known for a long time….
Luca gave away only one Valentines card in his life,and he told Carina to hold onto it until she needed a favor.
That day has arrived,and even though it’s for a good cause,she worries what he will want from her in return.
Rightfully so,because what he asks of her will change her life dramatically…..
He demands she gives up teaching,and becomes his little girl.
It’s not a random demand,he’s kept tabs on her,and knows her likes and dislikes. And she needs him as her Daddy….
But will Carina agree?
Can she really give up everything she thought important to become Daddies little Valentine?
A sweet story of a determined Daddy coaxing out the little he knows is hiding behind those beautiful eyes.
Stella Moore’s Daddy’s Little Spy is another delicious story,and this one has a very unlikely couple.
A couple i really needed to work,because even though they were unlikely,they were made for eachother.
Diana is a cop,a straight one. And when she finds out she has a colleague that’s bent,she sets out to expose him.
And the best way to do that,to prove he works with the Rinaldi family,is to get close to them. Starting with Amara,Emilio’s wife.
But the more she gets to know her,the more she likes her.
And to make matters worse,Emilio’s uncle Benito has set his eyes on her.
The feelings that man evokes…..damn!
When he makes her call him Daddy something strange happens…..and she likes it.
Before she knows it,he’s got her trapped with nowhere to go.
Question is,does she want to?
Even with him being the criminal he is?
This really was a delicious dark gem,one i enjoyed very much!
RJ Gray’s His for the Keeping is a story of two lost souls,trying to deal with a devastating loss.
What was supposed to be a time of joy,with her eldest sister marrying his eldest brother,turns into grief as Frankie and Shane are the only survivors of a massacre.
The last texts Shane got from his family were about finding Frankie and keeping her safe,so that’s what he does.
And the best way to keep her safe,is by marrying her,bringing her into the other family he’s got,the Navy Seals.
Frankie may not agree,but she wíll listen.
And when they’re married,he plans to find and kill the one responsible for the deaths of both their families.
Whilst grieving will have to wait for him,Frankie is going through a million emotions.
And that clashes with Shane’s attempt to stay strong.
Getting her to calm down and listen to reason is hard,but a good spanking sure helps.
The two dó grow closer,giving hope for the future….
A heartbreaking story with a twist,one that i liked.
Maren Smith’s Daddy’s Little Mafia Princess is a story only she can write,só delicious!
The right amount of dark and sweet,all wrapped up in her unique brand of Daddy.
Victor proposes a deal to the man that killed his father.
Not to get even,but to make money.
Seeing Alviero’s daughter Clara,he adds her to the deal.
To become his wife.
But when Alviero double-crosses him,the gloves come off and he changes course.
Starting with taking Clara away from her father.
Convincing her he’s nothing like him is a little harder,but Daddy is determined to show her she can trust him to keep her safe.
His punishments are very different from what Clara endured most of her life,and before long she finds herself craving them.
But she also knows there’s no way this can become her hea…..right?
A beautiful dark gem with a sweet core,and it tasted delicious!
Lesley Clark’s Diamond is the story of an arranged marriage between Matteo and Valentina.
Tying two mafia families together.
They’ve known eachother for most of their lives,and Valentina used to have a crush on the 5 year older Matteo.
Until she caught him with her friend Bianca. Now that she’s graduated,he’s coming to take her home and marry her.
But Valentina still feels hurt,and she’s reluctant to agree to his plans.
It takes a terrible turn of events to make her realise she still loves him.
And for him to admit he loves her.
Do they still have a chance of sharing their feelings with eachother,or is it too late?
A story of second chances,and a story i enjoyed.
Felicity Brandon’s Hyland’s Property is the last story in this Anthology,and most certainly not the least! A delicious dark treat,this is the beginning of Sean and Hilary’s story.
Sean is forced to return to London when his uncle is murdered by his rival Saul.
Bumping into Hilary,who spills her coffee over him,he is immediately intrigued by her.
Finding out she’s not only working for,but also sleeping with the very man responsible for his uncle’s death,makes him plan something very special for her.
After taking her,her starts breaking her into becoming the submissive he sees in her.
And then he’ll marry her…..
But Saul is determined to find Hilary and stop Sean if it’s the last thing he does.
This one has left me wanting more of this delicious dark story,a lot more…..
And i’ll be waiting impatiently for Hyland’s Consort!!
I want to thank Raisa Greywood for her generosity in sharing the ARC with me,it really was a most delicious gift.
Like dark chocolate,i couldn’t get enough,and i’m sad it’s done.
I’ve left my honest review of all stories.
Having the received ARC for the entire anthology from Raisa Greywood made me decide to review her story in full.
Raisa’s story may start out with a girl being pushed into marriage,but it ends up as so much more.
And it was beautifully done,in a way only Raisa can do.
Lauren is doing her best to keep the familyrestaurant Jojo’s going.
She’s a good chef,she’s got great personnel,and customers keep coming back for more.
But the only parent she’s got,is in a nursing home,without any hope of recovery.
And today she found out he left her with not only the reastaurant,but a 2 million dollar debt as well…
Where is she supposed to find that kind of money? And in only how many days?
The alternative this…this….Adriano offers can’t be serious,right?
Marrying her,a pudgy stuttering chef? Why would he want to do that?
Just look at him…he could get the most…
There had to be a motivation she didn’t see yet,but what?
Adriano was determined to get the money back he loaned to chef Johansen.
And today he came to collect,that is….he would collect after he had something to eat.
Because chef was busy in the kitchen,the restaurant was full,and he was hungry.
The food they served was surprisingly good,better than he expected.
But the best surprise came when chef finally had time to talk to him.
Because he just found the bride he’d been searching for!
What started out as coercion soon became more as he peeled back the layers of the delicious Lauren.
Because he liked what he found,and he wanted her to like what she saw,too.
The attention he gave her was endearingly,but she had trouble looking past the coercion at first.
When he promised her she could keep the restaurant,and would even help her expand,she knew he understood what mattered to her.
If only that was the whole story.
Because he had trouble coming,and she might end up as collateral….
I loved this beautiful gem!
It was written with so much care,so much love,and it shows!
I’m going to dive right back into this Anthology,because i need to find out what the others are like.
If the other Dark Vows stories are anything like Sinistre Ange’s Mad Love i KNOW i’m going to love them!
I couldn’t wait to get a taste of what’s in this Anthology,and when i was offered the ARC of Mad Love,i knew i hád to read it straight away.
It may be short,but it packs a punch,and i enjoyed the ride!
Hailey may come from a mafia family,but since her parents death,she’s lived a different life.
As far away from her grandfather as she can be,she’s a social worker in a police station in New York.
But her grandfather has plans for her…..plans that will change her entire life.
And they involve a man she knows from the moment she meets him is a part of that same mafia.
There’s no way she’s going to marry him! It was total madness! Right?
Jack is intrigued when he hears who he’s going to marry.
And after finding out more about Hailey,he looks forward to the wedding.
Not only that,with the way she reacts to him,he knows he’s going to enjoy married life.
If only the little spitfire could admit the arrangement wasn’t madness…..
I loved Sinistre Ange’s contribution to this Anthology,and i can’t wait to read the other stories!
Maggie Ryan’s Whispered Vows is something else…..
It’s something dark and wicked,but have no fear,it’s all for the best.
Even refusing to marry Dante doesn’t help Mara.
Because it ís happening,wether she wants to or not.
What Dante wants,Dante gets,and at the moment it’s Mara.
Fighting him,kicking and screaming,it’s all in vain.
As a matter of fact,all that does,is get her punished.
But the further we get into this delicious story,the more his actions start to make sense.
So who is the bad guy really?
And is Mara really in a bad place,or is there somewhere worse she could’ve ended up?
A delicious dark little gem,one that i enjoyed very much!
Tom Rhymer’s Not by a Long Road is a very different kind of journey.
One where the children have to mend what the fathers have broken.
But if they manage to trust eachother,and work together,anything is possible…..
Giada’s father has struggled ever since his beloved wife passed away.
But his latest stunt has them both at the mercy of Luca’s father.
And he’s got not one ounce of compassion for Giada,her father,or even his own son.
Instead,he traps Giada into a contract to marry his son.
Hoping this good girl can tame his sons wild lifestyle.
But Giada is no fool,and she sees the real Luca. And that makes her hatch a plan of her own,one where Luca is on her team.
But what will his father do when he finds out?
This was a story of finding allies in unexpected places.
Of standing strong,together whilst facing the enemy.
Pepper North’s Chosen by Daddy shows us that Daddy really knows what he wants. And he’s known for a long time….
Luca gave away only one Valentines card in his life,and he told Carina to hold onto it until she needed a favor.
That day has arrived,and even though it’s for a good cause,she worries what he will want from her in return.
Rightfully so,because what he asks of her will change her life dramatically…..
He demands she gives up teaching,and becomes his little girl.
It’s not a random demand,he’s kept tabs on her,and knows her likes and dislikes. And she needs him as her Daddy….
But will Carina agree?
Can she really give up everything she thought important to become Daddies little Valentine?
A sweet story of a determined Daddy coaxing out the little he knows is hiding behind those beautiful eyes.
Stella Moore’s Daddy’s Little Spy is another delicious story,and this one has a very unlikely couple.
A couple i really needed to work,because even though they were unlikely,they were made for eachother.
Diana is a cop,a straight one. And when she finds out she has a colleague that’s bent,she sets out to expose him.
And the best way to do that,to prove he works with the Rinaldi family,is to get close to them. Starting with Amara,Emilio’s wife.
But the more she gets to know her,the more she likes her.
And to make matters worse,Emilio’s uncle Benito has set his eyes on her.
The feelings that man evokes…..damn!
When he makes her call him Daddy something strange happens…..and she likes it.
Before she knows it,he’s got her trapped with nowhere to go.
Question is,does she want to?
Even with him being the criminal he is?
This really was a delicious dark gem,one i enjoyed very much!
RJ Gray’s His for the Keeping is a story of two lost souls,trying to deal with a devastating loss.
What was supposed to be a time of joy,with her eldest sister marrying his eldest brother,turns into grief as Frankie and Shane are the only survivors of a massacre.
The last texts Shane got from his family were about finding Frankie and keeping her safe,so that’s what he does.
And the best way to keep her safe,is by marrying her,bringing her into the other family he’s got,the Navy Seals.
Frankie may not agree,but she wíll listen.
And when they’re married,he plans to find and kill the one responsible for the deaths of both their families.
Whilst grieving will have to wait for him,Frankie is going through a million emotions.
And that clashes with Shane’s attempt to stay strong.
Getting her to calm down and listen to reason is hard,but a good spanking sure helps.
The two dó grow closer,giving hope for the future….
A heartbreaking story with a twist,one that i liked.
Maren Smith’s Daddy’s Little Mafia Princess is a story only she can write,só delicious!
The right amount of dark and sweet,all wrapped up in her unique brand of Daddy.
Victor proposes a deal to the man that killed his father.
Not to get even,but to make money.
Seeing Alviero’s daughter Clara,he adds her to the deal.
To become his wife.
But when Alviero double-crosses him,the gloves come off and he changes course.
Starting with taking Clara away from her father.
Convincing her he’s nothing like him is a little harder,but Daddy is determined to show her she can trust him to keep her safe.
His punishments are very different from what Clara endured most of her life,and before long she finds herself craving them.
But she also knows there’s no way this can become her hea…..right?
A beautiful dark gem with a sweet core,and it tasted delicious!
Lesley Clark’s Diamond is the story of an arranged marriage between Matteo and Valentina.
Tying two mafia families together.
They’ve known eachother for most of their lives,and Valentina used to have a crush on the 5 year older Matteo.
Until she caught him with her friend Bianca. Now that she’s graduated,he’s coming to take her home and marry her.
But Valentina still feels hurt,and she’s reluctant to agree to his plans.
It takes a terrible turn of events to make her realise she still loves him.
And for him to admit he loves her.
Do they still have a chance of sharing their feelings with eachother,or is it too late?
A story of second chances,and a story i enjoyed.
Felicity Brandon’s Hyland’s Property is the last story in this Anthology,and most certainly not the least! A delicious dark treat,this is the beginning of Sean and Hilary’s story.
Sean is forced to return to London when his uncle is murdered by his rival Saul.
Bumping into Hilary,who spills her coffee over him,he is immediately intrigued by her.
Finding out she’s not only working for,but also sleeping with the very man responsible for his uncle’s death,makes him plan something very special for her.
After taking her,her starts breaking her into becoming the submissive he sees in her.
And then he’ll marry her…..
But Saul is determined to find Hilary and stop Sean if it’s the last thing he does.
This one has left me wanting more of this delicious dark story,a lot more…..
And i’ll be waiting impatiently for Hyland’s Consort!!
Currently reading
May 27, 2021I have never been more thrilled to be a part of such an amazing anthology. Although I know what my story's about, I didn't know the others. So when they passed me the file this morning, I started reading. Y'all... oh my... it's now 9 hours later, I'm almost halfway through the book, I haven't done a lick of writing all day long, and just when I think a body can't possibly love a story more, along comes the next book. If dark, steamy, mafia men who don't think twice about taking what they want--including their wives--sounds hot to you, then this is definitely a book to take to bed!
February 24, 2022
The overarching trope in this Erotic Mafia Romance anthology is Enemies-To-Lovers: all the couples are forced to marry; ultimately, their shared interest in D/s practices leads to a deeper connection. Depending upon your definition of the hopelessly vague "dark," this will either be too dark (non-consent and kidnapping) or not "dark" enough (no H actually harms his h in the stories I read).
While I liked some stories better than others due to personal taste, overall, I thought most were decently written and edited. I did find the emphasis on Daddy Kink and Age Play odd since A) Many of these authors already participate in other "Daddy" anthologies; B) There's no mention of these kinks in the blurb; and C) It doesn't allow for much variety in relationship dynamics or sexual practices.
Below are my personal responses; stories are listed in the order they appear in the book. YMMV:
2) "Whispered Vows," by Maggie Ryan. Mafia king Dante forces wild child Mara to marry him for reasons we don't learn until three-quarters of the way in. While I've enjoyed a couple of this author's stories, she's often too harsh for me -- and this is one of them. Initially, the H treats the h so brutally that only betraying body syndrome explains her reaction to him. And though I understand that not immediately revealing the MC's connection elicits suspense, I found it too distracting since I kept wondering. And nothing explains why Dante didn't tell her the truth at the beginning. 3 stars.
3) "Not By a Long Road," Tom Rhymer. To bail out her debt-ridden father, Giada agrees to marry a rival mafia head's son. This is a new author to me; his bio reveals that he's published only one other book. This story was atypical (for the anthology and the genre) in that it is Giada who is the aggressor; Giada who initiates most of the BDSM play; and Giada who solves their problems. While I appreciated her strength, resourcefulness, and humor, I would have preferred an H with more backbone. He's very sympathetic and I appreciate that he doesn't want to hurt Giada, but I really felt that I was reading about a boy, not a man. Note: What happened to her brother? 3 1/2 stars.
4) "Chosen by Daddy," by Pepper North. Carina asks a childhood friend for a favor. He agrees if she'll marry him and become his 24/7 Little. I've tried two other of this author's books and quickly concluded that her H's are too unlikable for me. I wish I had listened to my instincts and not read this for I hated it; it is now in the top 5 of my most-hated generic books. It's not because of the extreme Age Play (though that's not my kink). Nor is it because Luca makes Carina quit her job as a teacher (though that's part of it because, of course, teachers are completely worthless; women are completely worthless; and how dare they try to make the world a better place for children by educating them when they could be entertaining a sociopath in the nursery?). Rather, it is Luca. I get that these are supposed to be super-groovy "dark." But, even within that, we (or at least I) need to understand why an h would be attracted to an H and feel safe and happy with him. And I didn't; instead, I spent this entire book having so little respect for Luca and even less for Carina that I hated them both.
Just so you understand why I find Luca beneath contempt and Carina a brain-dead, soulless twit, here is what the man she falls in love with does. The favor Carina requests is for her student who needs an expensive operation and even more expensive rehab. To pay for it, the child's mother has embezzled money from Luca's company. In exchange for Carina's hand in marriage, Luca agrees to drop the charges and pay the medical expenses. When Carina realizes that he wants a 24/7 Little, she balks. He immediately threatens to cancel the surgery and turn the mother over to the police. Well, all I can say is that there is "dark" and there is "you are a cruel, classist, abelist, selfish, entitled, reprehensible prick for whom there is a special place in Hell." He's not a dominant or an alpha or whatever; he's something that you wipe off your shoe. I'm not sure what kink a man who refuses to save a child's sight is supposed to satisfy, but it wasn't mine. I will never try this author again. 1 star.
5) "Mad Love," by Sinistre Angel. Hailey escaped her mafia family years ago to become a social worker. Unfortunately, they've just sold her to a rival mafia family. Note: This is the only story not set in our contemporary times; the 1920s to be exact. Given all that Jack does to her -- publicly humiliates her; takes away everything and everyone she cares about; reduces her to nothing more than a thing -- this was another story where it was impossible to believe that an intelligent, kind-hearted, sensitive woman like Hailey would be turned on by such treatment. Although Jack's inner thoughts tell us that he does care about (perhaps even respects) Hailey, not once does he show it via words or actions. In addition, this contains one of my pet peeves in this genre: a woman who has been kidnapped, beaten, sexually violated, and emotionally browbeaten feels guilty for trying to defend herself.
Even given all this, however, I might have rated it more highly because it was one of the better written stories here, but it ended very abruptly, with no resolution and no HEA. While I realize that the author may have wanted that shock value, I found it deeply dissatisfying and ultimately wondered why Hailey didn't just kill herself (or better still, him). I mean: what does she have to live for? 2 stars.
6) "Daddy's Little Spy," by Stella Moore. Undercover cop Diana finds herself drawn to criminal Benny. What will he do when he finds out who she really is? The Age Play in this is harder core than I prefer, but, unlike many of these H's, Benny actually does one or two things to make Diana's attraction to him believable since it's clear that he adores her. Note: Characters from Daddy's Captive appear. 3 1/2 stars.
7) "His For the Keeping," by RJ Grey. The only two survivors of a "Red Wedding"-like massacre join forces to find the men who killed their families. When Shane insists that Frankie marry him for her protection, will she end up having real feelings for him? If you define "dark" as affect, then this was the only story that actually engaged my emotions. Both Shane and Frankie were likable and both experienced unimaginable loss. They were also one of the few couples who grew as people; I particularly appreciated that the initially closed-off and rigid Shane learned to compromise and apologized when he was wrong. I did have four problems with the narrative structure. First, it was repetitive (we heard why Shane joined the SEALs three times). Second, info-dump occurred in places (the beginning and once they went to Valhalla); at times, the information had little to do with the main plot (and I had to look up some acronyms). Third, the murders ultimately didn't make sense since . And, finally, the . Note: This takes place in the same world as the author's "Navy SEAL Ex," in Dirty Daddies: 2020 Anniversary Anthology. 4 stars.
8) "Daddy's Little Mafia Princess," by Maren Smith. Viktor kidnaps Clara when her father reneges on their business deal/marriage contract. It wouldn't be a Maren Smith story without an H beating an h who is a victim of abuse, ill, and/or injured. Since I don't find this particular trope appealing, this story wasn't for me. Trigger Warning for an H who deliberately induces a PTSD episode in a child abuse survivor because, I don't know, that's hawt? 2 stars.
9) "Diamond," by Lesley Clark. After she graduates from college, Valentina learns that she's to marry Matteo, her childhood crush. Soon, however, his enemies put her in danger. This Second-Chance Romance had the most humor; was the most consensual; and was the least "dark" in the sense that Matteo never hurts Valentina. I also really appreciated Valentina's close friendship with Jessica and Melody since this genre often divides women. I did, however, find Valentina's character incoherent: one moment, she's a sheltered, serious bookworm; the next, she's an in-your-face sex machine. And there were some editing and consistency issues (are there other siblings?). Note: This begins a new series; the next book is available for pre-order. 3 1/2 stars.
Didn't Read:
1) "Collateral," by Raisa Greywood
10) "Hyland's Property," by Felicity Brandon. This is apparently part of a series that I haven't/will not read: Hyland's Property (A Dark Captive Arranged Marriage Romance): The Rage and Revenge series. (The Rage and Revenge Series )and Hyland's Consort (A Dark Captive Arranged Marriage Romance): The Rage and Revenge series. (The Rage and Revenge Series).
3 stars. The erotic scenes are well-described, but, as I said above, even within the narrow limits of genre (erotica), sub-genre (Dark Mafia), and form (short story), I'd like to have seen more variety (not to mention diversity). My overall problem for some is that if you're going to write "dark" stories where the h begins to have real feelings for the H, then he has to do one or two things to bring out those emotions. If he doesn't, then this reader simply cannot suspend disbelief -- even in erotic fantasy. If you think you may enjoy this book, I encourage you to read the many good reviews its gotten.
ETA: I blocked a troll who in the guise of wanting to engage with me about my experience with Raisa Greywood ended up attacking us both. I sort of thought that was her agenda when I saw that she had no reviews or ratings; my lack of judgment in engaging with her is on me. I deleted her comments, but a word to the wise: if someone comments on your reviews; has no reviews or ratings of their own; no information on their page; and concludes their comment by invalidating your own lived experience, feelings, and/or analysis, and insulting others -- well, that's pretty much the definition of a troll since their entire agenda is simply to cause trouble by injecting themselves into something that is none of their business. To use this troll's own very ableist word, not very "bright" of them. I don't condone bullying, and this troll hurled invective at both me and Ms. Greywood.
BTW: I see that she's finally posted her first review here. Between insulting me, other reviewers, and one of the authors, all I can say is that at least she's an equal opportunity offender.
While I liked some stories better than others due to personal taste, overall, I thought most were decently written and edited. I did find the emphasis on Daddy Kink and Age Play odd since A) Many of these authors already participate in other "Daddy" anthologies; B) There's no mention of these kinks in the blurb; and C) It doesn't allow for much variety in relationship dynamics or sexual practices.
Below are my personal responses; stories are listed in the order they appear in the book. YMMV:
2) "Whispered Vows," by Maggie Ryan. Mafia king Dante forces wild child Mara to marry him for reasons we don't learn until three-quarters of the way in. While I've enjoyed a couple of this author's stories, she's often too harsh for me -- and this is one of them. Initially, the H treats the h so brutally that only betraying body syndrome explains her reaction to him. And though I understand that not immediately revealing the MC's connection elicits suspense, I found it too distracting since I kept wondering. And nothing explains why Dante didn't tell her the truth at the beginning. 3 stars.
3) "Not By a Long Road," Tom Rhymer. To bail out her debt-ridden father, Giada agrees to marry a rival mafia head's son. This is a new author to me; his bio reveals that he's published only one other book. This story was atypical (for the anthology and the genre) in that it is Giada who is the aggressor; Giada who initiates most of the BDSM play; and Giada who solves their problems. While I appreciated her strength, resourcefulness, and humor, I would have preferred an H with more backbone. He's very sympathetic and I appreciate that he doesn't want to hurt Giada, but I really felt that I was reading about a boy, not a man. Note: What happened to her brother? 3 1/2 stars.
4) "Chosen by Daddy," by Pepper North. Carina asks a childhood friend for a favor. He agrees if she'll marry him and become his 24/7 Little. I've tried two other of this author's books and quickly concluded that her H's are too unlikable for me. I wish I had listened to my instincts and not read this for I hated it; it is now in the top 5 of my most-hated generic books. It's not because of the extreme Age Play (though that's not my kink). Nor is it because Luca makes Carina quit her job as a teacher (though that's part of it because, of course, teachers are completely worthless; women are completely worthless; and how dare they try to make the world a better place for children by educating them when they could be entertaining a sociopath in the nursery?). Rather, it is Luca. I get that these are supposed to be super-groovy "dark." But, even within that, we (or at least I) need to understand why an h would be attracted to an H and feel safe and happy with him. And I didn't; instead, I spent this entire book having so little respect for Luca and even less for Carina that I hated them both.
Just so you understand why I find Luca beneath contempt and Carina a brain-dead, soulless twit, here is what the man she falls in love with does. The favor Carina requests is for her student who needs an expensive operation and even more expensive rehab. To pay for it, the child's mother has embezzled money from Luca's company. In exchange for Carina's hand in marriage, Luca agrees to drop the charges and pay the medical expenses. When Carina realizes that he wants a 24/7 Little, she balks. He immediately threatens to cancel the surgery and turn the mother over to the police. Well, all I can say is that there is "dark" and there is "you are a cruel, classist, abelist, selfish, entitled, reprehensible prick for whom there is a special place in Hell." He's not a dominant or an alpha or whatever; he's something that you wipe off your shoe. I'm not sure what kink a man who refuses to save a child's sight is supposed to satisfy, but it wasn't mine. I will never try this author again. 1 star.
5) "Mad Love," by Sinistre Angel. Hailey escaped her mafia family years ago to become a social worker. Unfortunately, they've just sold her to a rival mafia family. Note: This is the only story not set in our contemporary times; the 1920s to be exact. Given all that Jack does to her -- publicly humiliates her; takes away everything and everyone she cares about; reduces her to nothing more than a thing -- this was another story where it was impossible to believe that an intelligent, kind-hearted, sensitive woman like Hailey would be turned on by such treatment. Although Jack's inner thoughts tell us that he does care about (perhaps even respects) Hailey, not once does he show it via words or actions. In addition, this contains one of my pet peeves in this genre: a woman who has been kidnapped, beaten, sexually violated, and emotionally browbeaten feels guilty for trying to defend herself.
Even given all this, however, I might have rated it more highly because it was one of the better written stories here, but it ended very abruptly, with no resolution and no HEA. While I realize that the author may have wanted that shock value, I found it deeply dissatisfying and ultimately wondered why Hailey didn't just kill herself (or better still, him). I mean: what does she have to live for? 2 stars.
6) "Daddy's Little Spy," by Stella Moore. Undercover cop Diana finds herself drawn to criminal Benny. What will he do when he finds out who she really is? The Age Play in this is harder core than I prefer, but, unlike many of these H's, Benny actually does one or two things to make Diana's attraction to him believable since it's clear that he adores her. Note: Characters from Daddy's Captive appear. 3 1/2 stars.
7) "His For the Keeping," by RJ Grey. The only two survivors of a "Red Wedding"-like massacre join forces to find the men who killed their families. When Shane insists that Frankie marry him for her protection, will she end up having real feelings for him? If you define "dark" as affect, then this was the only story that actually engaged my emotions. Both Shane and Frankie were likable and both experienced unimaginable loss. They were also one of the few couples who grew as people; I particularly appreciated that the initially closed-off and rigid Shane learned to compromise and apologized when he was wrong. I did have four problems with the narrative structure. First, it was repetitive (we heard why Shane joined the SEALs three times). Second, info-dump occurred in places (the beginning and once they went to Valhalla); at times, the information had little to do with the main plot (and I had to look up some acronyms). Third, the murders ultimately didn't make sense since . And, finally, the . Note: This takes place in the same world as the author's "Navy SEAL Ex," in Dirty Daddies: 2020 Anniversary Anthology. 4 stars.
8) "Daddy's Little Mafia Princess," by Maren Smith. Viktor kidnaps Clara when her father reneges on their business deal/marriage contract. It wouldn't be a Maren Smith story without an H beating an h who is a victim of abuse, ill, and/or injured. Since I don't find this particular trope appealing, this story wasn't for me. Trigger Warning for an H who deliberately induces a PTSD episode in a child abuse survivor because, I don't know, that's hawt? 2 stars.
9) "Diamond," by Lesley Clark. After she graduates from college, Valentina learns that she's to marry Matteo, her childhood crush. Soon, however, his enemies put her in danger. This Second-Chance Romance had the most humor; was the most consensual; and was the least "dark" in the sense that Matteo never hurts Valentina. I also really appreciated Valentina's close friendship with Jessica and Melody since this genre often divides women. I did, however, find Valentina's character incoherent: one moment, she's a sheltered, serious bookworm; the next, she's an in-your-face sex machine. And there were some editing and consistency issues (are there other siblings?). Note: This begins a new series; the next book is available for pre-order. 3 1/2 stars.
Didn't Read:
1) "Collateral," by Raisa Greywood
10) "Hyland's Property," by Felicity Brandon. This is apparently part of a series that I haven't/will not read: Hyland's Property (A Dark Captive Arranged Marriage Romance): The Rage and Revenge series. (The Rage and Revenge Series )and Hyland's Consort (A Dark Captive Arranged Marriage Romance): The Rage and Revenge series. (The Rage and Revenge Series).
3 stars. The erotic scenes are well-described, but, as I said above, even within the narrow limits of genre (erotica), sub-genre (Dark Mafia), and form (short story), I'd like to have seen more variety (not to mention diversity). My overall problem for some is that if you're going to write "dark" stories where the h begins to have real feelings for the H, then he has to do one or two things to bring out those emotions. If he doesn't, then this reader simply cannot suspend disbelief -- even in erotic fantasy. If you think you may enjoy this book, I encourage you to read the many good reviews its gotten.
ETA: I blocked a troll who in the guise of wanting to engage with me about my experience with Raisa Greywood ended up attacking us both. I sort of thought that was her agenda when I saw that she had no reviews or ratings; my lack of judgment in engaging with her is on me. I deleted her comments, but a word to the wise: if someone comments on your reviews; has no reviews or ratings of their own; no information on their page; and concludes their comment by invalidating your own lived experience, feelings, and/or analysis, and insulting others -- well, that's pretty much the definition of a troll since their entire agenda is simply to cause trouble by injecting themselves into something that is none of their business. To use this troll's own very ableist word, not very "bright" of them. I don't condone bullying, and this troll hurled invective at both me and Ms. Greywood.
BTW: I see that she's finally posted her first review here. Between insulting me, other reviewers, and one of the authors, all I can say is that at least she's an equal opportunity offender.
August 5, 2021
Romance genre: mafia; DD/lg; bdsm; arranged marriage
Length: 982 pages
Collateral by Raisa Greywood: Adriano and Lauren. Lauren has taken over her father's restaurant after he had a stroke, only to find that he took out a loan from reputed crime boss Adriano Costa. Adriano comes to collect, but when he meets Lauren, he decides he'll forgive the loan if she marries him.
Those rolls! It's like Texas Roadhouse, mafia edition. I thought it was sweet the way he promised to give her a bigger restaurant. But his grandmother was not nice! She didn't even try to understand Lauren. Sure would eat her food though. I think this was my favorite story.
Whispered Vows by Maggie Ryan: Dante and Mara. Dante has kidnapped Mara and forced her to marry him, with a lot of punishment when she isn't so acquiescent. We find out towards the end of the story why he took her and how they know each other.
Another case of a man who just needed to talk to his woman to find out what was going on! If he had just told Mara why he took her, there would have been far fewer punishments (which is probably why the author didn't go that route!).
Not by a Long Road by Tom Rhymer: Luca and Giada. Lorenzo has "won" Giada from her father in a card game, and is forcing his son Luca to marry her. Neither Luca nor Giada are happy about it, but it is possible that they can find a way to be happy.
Luca was a total downer! Giada was a much stronger character and should probably be in charge of the mafia from now on.
Chosen by Daddy by Pepper North: Luca and Carina. Luca and Carina knew each other in school, but have lost touch. However, Carina goes to Luca for help, and his condition is that she marry him and commit fully to him. That means that he is...her Daddy, which is something she never expected. But she'll come to terms with it if she wants his help.
I'm not really a fan of serious baby age play, with the whole nursery, bottles, etc. I do like that Luca was always looking after her and was waiting for her to come to him.
Mad Love by Sinistre Ange: Giacomo (Jack) and Hailey. Set in the 1920s, Hailey is a social worker and the granddaughter of a mafia don, although she thought she was far away from that life. Jack has been ordered to marry her, although he is not finding it much of a hardship.
I liked the setting for this one. I could not believe that he did what he did in the police station, in full view of the chief! How humiliating (which was probably the point).
Daddy's Little Spy by Stella Moore: Benito (Benny) and Diana. Diana is a cop trying to bring down a crooked cop involved with the Rinaldi family. She makes friends (she thinks!) with Amara, Emilio's wife, and through them, meets his cousin Benny. But Benny is part of the same lifestyle his cousin is in - that is, he's a Daddy looking for his little, and dominating and taking care of Diana seems like his dream come true. But a mafia man and a cop?
I can't even imagine meeting a guy and him telling me the next day what to do and to call him Daddy, lol! Benny was a force but in a beta sort of way. Maybe it was the baking. Diana - she was so conflicted. I couldn't believe it when she sent the information to the police station. I didn't think she would go through with it!
His for the Keeping by RJ Gray: Shane and Francesca (Frankie). Frankie's sister and Shane's brother, members of different mafia families, were set to marry when both families were killed at a pre-wedding dinner. The only survivors are Frankie, who left early, and Shane, who was late. Now they have to survive because surely someone is still after them. And they have to fulfill the families' last wishes, which include the two of them getting married.
Dude! Just stop to explain to her. It wouldn't have taken that long, and you might have noticed that she was more compliant when you did. You could even explain while you are traveling instead of getting mad that she wouldn't wait until you got to your destination. Such a simple fix! Men!
Daddy's Little Mafia Princess by Maren Smith: Viktor and Clara. Viktor is looking to get property from Clara's father, and figures that he can gain a bride as well. While Clara's dad is initially compliant, he makes another deal behind Viktor's back, and Viktor has to rescue Clara. It seems he might also be falling in love with his bride, even though she was only supposed to be a means to an end.
Viktor was very observant - although it took him a while to see how absolutely terrified Clara was of the belt. I'm glad he finally picked up on it though. He was sweet to protect her from her dad. This was my other favorite.
Diamond by Lesley Clark: Matteo and Valentina. Matteo and Valentina have been promised to each other since they were kids, although Valentina didn't know that. He finally comes to claim her, and she's not thrilled about it. She feels a little betrayed since she had a crush on him when she was younger and then walked in on him with a friend of hers. He claims it was no big deal, but what does that "friend" think?
I liked this story - I wish he would have apologized a little more for Bianca specifically. He was like, "yes there were women before you, but you're the only one now." She wasn't complaining about any other women - she assumed you had been with others. It was Bianca specifically she was upset about, because Bianca was supposed to be her friend, and she saw it with her own eyes. An apology goes a long way. Although I guess so does killing.
Hyland's Property by Felicity Brandon: Sean and Hilary. Hilary is the assistant to and lover of the man who killed Sean's uncle, and taking her from him is payback. In addition, Sean gets a wife and a slave (bdsm) in one. He particularly enjoys a humiliation kink like no other. (I will say that this one was not my favorite - I don't enjoy the humiliation kink- it's definitely not for me. But I also think that Sean went beyond the master/slave relationship he was obviously looking for. The thing that really got me (and you might think this is dumb, but I couldn't stop thinking about it) was that he wouldn't give her any water at the beginning. The doctor told him that she was dehydrated because of the drug they gave her and that she needed water. So he gagged her and got a glass of water and drank it in front of her. Then, after several hours of sexual torture, and still no water, he took her back to his office and forced her to lick his shoes clean and then gave her some alcohol and then a little water. Humans can only go so long without water before getting sick and then dying. I just felt that was over the top. I know, I know. Maybe he gave her water off-page. Probably. Probably not. I just felt like that one thing was indicative of his entire personality. I really hated this MMC. He was immature, selfish, mean, and lots of other things. I am aware this is a dark story. I know. I know that some people like the humiliation kink. It just really bugged me. Hydrate that girl!
Length: 982 pages
Collateral by Raisa Greywood: Adriano and Lauren. Lauren has taken over her father's restaurant after he had a stroke, only to find that he took out a loan from reputed crime boss Adriano Costa. Adriano comes to collect, but when he meets Lauren, he decides he'll forgive the loan if she marries him.
Those rolls! It's like Texas Roadhouse, mafia edition. I thought it was sweet the way he promised to give her a bigger restaurant. But his grandmother was not nice! She didn't even try to understand Lauren. Sure would eat her food though. I think this was my favorite story.
Whispered Vows by Maggie Ryan: Dante and Mara. Dante has kidnapped Mara and forced her to marry him, with a lot of punishment when she isn't so acquiescent. We find out towards the end of the story why he took her and how they know each other.
Another case of a man who just needed to talk to his woman to find out what was going on! If he had just told Mara why he took her, there would have been far fewer punishments (which is probably why the author didn't go that route!).
Not by a Long Road by Tom Rhymer: Luca and Giada. Lorenzo has "won" Giada from her father in a card game, and is forcing his son Luca to marry her. Neither Luca nor Giada are happy about it, but it is possible that they can find a way to be happy.
Luca was a total downer! Giada was a much stronger character and should probably be in charge of the mafia from now on.
Chosen by Daddy by Pepper North: Luca and Carina. Luca and Carina knew each other in school, but have lost touch. However, Carina goes to Luca for help, and his condition is that she marry him and commit fully to him. That means that he is...her Daddy, which is something she never expected. But she'll come to terms with it if she wants his help.
I'm not really a fan of serious baby age play, with the whole nursery, bottles, etc. I do like that Luca was always looking after her and was waiting for her to come to him.
Mad Love by Sinistre Ange: Giacomo (Jack) and Hailey. Set in the 1920s, Hailey is a social worker and the granddaughter of a mafia don, although she thought she was far away from that life. Jack has been ordered to marry her, although he is not finding it much of a hardship.
I liked the setting for this one. I could not believe that he did what he did in the police station, in full view of the chief! How humiliating (which was probably the point).
Daddy's Little Spy by Stella Moore: Benito (Benny) and Diana. Diana is a cop trying to bring down a crooked cop involved with the Rinaldi family. She makes friends (she thinks!) with Amara, Emilio's wife, and through them, meets his cousin Benny. But Benny is part of the same lifestyle his cousin is in - that is, he's a Daddy looking for his little, and dominating and taking care of Diana seems like his dream come true. But a mafia man and a cop?
I can't even imagine meeting a guy and him telling me the next day what to do and to call him Daddy, lol! Benny was a force but in a beta sort of way. Maybe it was the baking. Diana - she was so conflicted. I couldn't believe it when she sent the information to the police station. I didn't think she would go through with it!
His for the Keeping by RJ Gray: Shane and Francesca (Frankie). Frankie's sister and Shane's brother, members of different mafia families, were set to marry when both families were killed at a pre-wedding dinner. The only survivors are Frankie, who left early, and Shane, who was late. Now they have to survive because surely someone is still after them. And they have to fulfill the families' last wishes, which include the two of them getting married.
Dude! Just stop to explain to her. It wouldn't have taken that long, and you might have noticed that she was more compliant when you did. You could even explain while you are traveling instead of getting mad that she wouldn't wait until you got to your destination. Such a simple fix! Men!
Daddy's Little Mafia Princess by Maren Smith: Viktor and Clara. Viktor is looking to get property from Clara's father, and figures that he can gain a bride as well. While Clara's dad is initially compliant, he makes another deal behind Viktor's back, and Viktor has to rescue Clara. It seems he might also be falling in love with his bride, even though she was only supposed to be a means to an end.
Viktor was very observant - although it took him a while to see how absolutely terrified Clara was of the belt. I'm glad he finally picked up on it though. He was sweet to protect her from her dad. This was my other favorite.
Diamond by Lesley Clark: Matteo and Valentina. Matteo and Valentina have been promised to each other since they were kids, although Valentina didn't know that. He finally comes to claim her, and she's not thrilled about it. She feels a little betrayed since she had a crush on him when she was younger and then walked in on him with a friend of hers. He claims it was no big deal, but what does that "friend" think?
I liked this story - I wish he would have apologized a little more for Bianca specifically. He was like, "yes there were women before you, but you're the only one now." She wasn't complaining about any other women - she assumed you had been with others. It was Bianca specifically she was upset about, because Bianca was supposed to be her friend, and she saw it with her own eyes. An apology goes a long way. Although I guess so does killing.
Hyland's Property by Felicity Brandon: Sean and Hilary. Hilary is the assistant to and lover of the man who killed Sean's uncle, and taking her from him is payback. In addition, Sean gets a wife and a slave (bdsm) in one. He particularly enjoys a humiliation kink like no other. (I will say that this one was not my favorite - I don't enjoy the humiliation kink- it's definitely not for me. But I also think that Sean went beyond the master/slave relationship he was obviously looking for. The thing that really got me (and you might think this is dumb, but I couldn't stop thinking about it) was that he wouldn't give her any water at the beginning. The doctor told him that she was dehydrated because of the drug they gave her and that she needed water. So he gagged her and got a glass of water and drank it in front of her. Then, after several hours of sexual torture, and still no water, he took her back to his office and forced her to lick his shoes clean and then gave her some alcohol and then a little water. Humans can only go so long without water before getting sick and then dying. I just felt that was over the top. I know, I know. Maybe he gave her water off-page. Probably. Probably not. I just felt like that one thing was indicative of his entire personality. I really hated this MMC. He was immature, selfish, mean, and lots of other things. I am aware this is a dark story. I know. I know that some people like the humiliation kink. It just really bugged me. Hydrate that girl!
Want to read
May 24, 2021The days are ticking past so slowly until I get my hands on this on June 15th. All these amazing authors demonstrating their skills at writing dark romance. It's going to be scintillating, steamy, and spine-tingling to the last page!
June 13, 2021
1) Daddy’s Mafia Princess by Maren Smith
I loved Viktor and Clara ‘s story. Viktor saves Clara from her father, but she doesn’t want marriage. Viktor now needs to convince Clara that he’s nothing like her father and he determined to show her she can trust him. A great read filled with tension, action, and love.
2) His for the Keeping by RJ Gray
A family tragedy brings together Shane and Francesca. Shane knows he must keep Francesca safe and the best way is for her to marry him. I just loved these two together. A terrific read and one I highly recommend.
3) Hyland's Property by Felicity Brandon
Sean returns to London after his uncle is murdered by Saul. After finding out some crucial information he takes Hilary and starts training her to be his submissive. Saul is determined to get her back and stop Sean.
4) Chosen by Daddy by Pepper North
Carina goes to Luca for help, but she can’t help to wonder what he may want in return. Luca wants Carina as his little, so he wants her to quit her job, and marry him. Will Carina agree to his demands? I loved everything about Carina and Luca’s story.
5) Collateral by Raisa Greywood
I loved, loved, Adriano and Lauren’s story. Lauren is a chef and trying her best to keep her family’s diner going. She finds out that they owe a debt and doesn’t know how she will pay. Adriano is determined to get his money back and finds the chef to be what he’s been looking for. Adriano will finance the restaurant, but at what price?
6) Diamond by Lesley Clark
Matteo and Valentina have known each other most of their lives. Their arranged marriage will tie their families together. Valentina was hurt by Matteo and is reluctant to agree with him. Will they grow to love each? Read and find out for yourself, you won’t regret it.
7) Not by a Long Road by Tom Rhymer
Giada is trapped with a contract to marry Luca. They both must do whatever they can for the sake of their families. Giada hatches a plan of her own to get Luca on her side. What will happen when her father finds out? Such a wonderful story and I loved every single minute of it.
8) Daddy's Little Spy by Stella Moore
Diana is a cop and interferes in things where she doesn’t belong. She soon finds herself married to Benito. Diana is conflicted on what to do. Does she choose her job or her husband? A deliciously addictive read and one I highly recommend.
9) Whispered Vows by Maggie Ryan
Wow! Dante wants Mara and he always gets what he wants. I loved Mara and Dante. They were made for each other and the chemistry between them is sizzling hot. An amazing story and I was hooked and couldn’t it down.
10) Mad Love by Sinistre Ange
This is a dark mafia story set in the 1920’s. Jack entered into an arranged marriage to Hailey. Jack really likes Hailey, however Hailey has done everything she can to distance herself from her mafia family. Now she’s forced to return by her grandfather. The chemistry between Jack and Jack is steamy hot. An exciting read and one I enjoyed immensely.
I loved Viktor and Clara ‘s story. Viktor saves Clara from her father, but she doesn’t want marriage. Viktor now needs to convince Clara that he’s nothing like her father and he determined to show her she can trust him. A great read filled with tension, action, and love.
2) His for the Keeping by RJ Gray
A family tragedy brings together Shane and Francesca. Shane knows he must keep Francesca safe and the best way is for her to marry him. I just loved these two together. A terrific read and one I highly recommend.
3) Hyland's Property by Felicity Brandon
Sean returns to London after his uncle is murdered by Saul. After finding out some crucial information he takes Hilary and starts training her to be his submissive. Saul is determined to get her back and stop Sean.
4) Chosen by Daddy by Pepper North
Carina goes to Luca for help, but she can’t help to wonder what he may want in return. Luca wants Carina as his little, so he wants her to quit her job, and marry him. Will Carina agree to his demands? I loved everything about Carina and Luca’s story.
5) Collateral by Raisa Greywood
I loved, loved, Adriano and Lauren’s story. Lauren is a chef and trying her best to keep her family’s diner going. She finds out that they owe a debt and doesn’t know how she will pay. Adriano is determined to get his money back and finds the chef to be what he’s been looking for. Adriano will finance the restaurant, but at what price?
6) Diamond by Lesley Clark
Matteo and Valentina have known each other most of their lives. Their arranged marriage will tie their families together. Valentina was hurt by Matteo and is reluctant to agree with him. Will they grow to love each? Read and find out for yourself, you won’t regret it.
7) Not by a Long Road by Tom Rhymer
Giada is trapped with a contract to marry Luca. They both must do whatever they can for the sake of their families. Giada hatches a plan of her own to get Luca on her side. What will happen when her father finds out? Such a wonderful story and I loved every single minute of it.
8) Daddy's Little Spy by Stella Moore
Diana is a cop and interferes in things where she doesn’t belong. She soon finds herself married to Benito. Diana is conflicted on what to do. Does she choose her job or her husband? A deliciously addictive read and one I highly recommend.
9) Whispered Vows by Maggie Ryan
Wow! Dante wants Mara and he always gets what he wants. I loved Mara and Dante. They were made for each other and the chemistry between them is sizzling hot. An amazing story and I was hooked and couldn’t it down.
10) Mad Love by Sinistre Ange
This is a dark mafia story set in the 1920’s. Jack entered into an arranged marriage to Hailey. Jack really likes Hailey, however Hailey has done everything she can to distance herself from her mafia family. Now she’s forced to return by her grandfather. The chemistry between Jack and Jack is steamy hot. An exciting read and one I enjoyed immensely.
June 15, 2021
Maggie Ryan - Whispered Vows
The first couple of lines pulls you into this story by Magg Ryan. Two strong and willfull characters battle it out with lots of great sometime snarky conversations and a trip over a knee here and there.
Raisa Greywood -Collateral
I enjoyed this short story. I loved how Lauren was a chef and had a stutter and how Adriano responded to her. They do say a man’s love goes trhough his stomach. Wonderful interactions between the characters and plenty of heat.
Sinistre Angel, Mad Love
A story set in the roaring twenties, which I enjoyed. Guys in great suits and ladies in flapper dresses dancing the night away. Jack was pretty full of himself, but he made me laugh anyway. I would love more of this couple.
The first couple of lines pulls you into this story by Magg Ryan. Two strong and willfull characters battle it out with lots of great sometime snarky conversations and a trip over a knee here and there.
Raisa Greywood -Collateral
I enjoyed this short story. I loved how Lauren was a chef and had a stutter and how Adriano responded to her. They do say a man’s love goes trhough his stomach. Wonderful interactions between the characters and plenty of heat.
Sinistre Angel, Mad Love
A story set in the roaring twenties, which I enjoyed. Guys in great suits and ladies in flapper dresses dancing the night away. Jack was pretty full of himself, but he made me laugh anyway. I would love more of this couple.
May 31, 2021
(Review of 'Hyland's Property' by Felicity Brandon)
****************************************
This one could come only from the deliciously decadent depraved mind of the Goddess of Wonderously Wanton Wickedness: Ms Brandon.
We read Connor Reilly's twisted & dark story.
We read Ethan Reilly's uber twisted & uber dark story.
We read Dalton Reilly's lighter slightly twisted story.
Now, we have the prequel to Sean Hyland, Saul Morrison & Hilary Mantle's story & oh, into what a DEEP, DARK, DEPRAVED rabbit hole Ms. Brandon has thrown her readers with 'Hyland's Property' . . . .
And as always, Ms. Brandon gives her readers superb writing that sucks the reader into her story & doesn't release them until the last word; tumbles them helplessly as though in a literary rock polisher; shocks them, delights them, titillates them, horrifies them. But her writing ALWAYS IMPACTS & AFFECTS the reader.
And this introduction prequel is no exception. Ms. Brandon's writing is deft, on point & so evocative. She wields words with consummate skill, smoothly segueing the reader emotionally from lust to loathing to shock to hope to desperation, from 'assuming' they 'know' a character's morals (or lack thereof) as well as his motivations to those tiny subtle 'peeks' that cause us to realize maybe, just maybe we DON'T & that we've only glimpsed the very tip of an immense mysterious iceberg.
For a reader who loves the dark, decadent & deliciously depraved; who loves excellent & outstanding writing; complex multi-layered characters that shock, amaze & enthrall; who delights in mesmerizing plots that keep them on enthralling twisted tenterhooks: read this one.
It's an addictive taste of Sean, Saul & Hilary's dark & exciting story & I can NOT wait for the next portion of their tale.
****************************************
This one could come only from the deliciously decadent depraved mind of the Goddess of Wonderously Wanton Wickedness: Ms Brandon.
We read Connor Reilly's twisted & dark story.
We read Ethan Reilly's uber twisted & uber dark story.
We read Dalton Reilly's lighter slightly twisted story.
Now, we have the prequel to Sean Hyland, Saul Morrison & Hilary Mantle's story & oh, into what a DEEP, DARK, DEPRAVED rabbit hole Ms. Brandon has thrown her readers with 'Hyland's Property' . . . .
And as always, Ms. Brandon gives her readers superb writing that sucks the reader into her story & doesn't release them until the last word; tumbles them helplessly as though in a literary rock polisher; shocks them, delights them, titillates them, horrifies them. But her writing ALWAYS IMPACTS & AFFECTS the reader.
And this introduction prequel is no exception. Ms. Brandon's writing is deft, on point & so evocative. She wields words with consummate skill, smoothly segueing the reader emotionally from lust to loathing to shock to hope to desperation, from 'assuming' they 'know' a character's morals (or lack thereof) as well as his motivations to those tiny subtle 'peeks' that cause us to realize maybe, just maybe we DON'T & that we've only glimpsed the very tip of an immense mysterious iceberg.
For a reader who loves the dark, decadent & deliciously depraved; who loves excellent & outstanding writing; complex multi-layered characters that shock, amaze & enthrall; who delights in mesmerizing plots that keep them on enthralling twisted tenterhooks: read this one.
It's an addictive taste of Sean, Saul & Hilary's dark & exciting story & I can NOT wait for the next portion of their tale.
June 9, 2021
This Review is for Mad Love by Golden Angel!
I am not someone who likes to read historical romance. I tend to get lost because of the language.
This was NOT the case with Sinstre Ange's story. It is a dark mafia romance set in the 1920's. The language and story were entralling and really easy to follow! I love Luke's alpha personality and Hailey's past is intriguing. I love that Luke's goal is to not squash Hailey's feisty personality! "She was a strong dame, a force unto herself, and she would be utterly wasted tucked away in a heavily guarded mansion with nothing more to do than bear my children. I'd rather have her rule as a queen by my side."
This story had me reaching for a fan! Loved Jack and Hailey's intimate moments! Definitely want more! And am really hoping for one with a couple secondary characters that are perfectly set up! NEED MORE!!!! 5 BIG STARS!!! READ THIS STORY!!
I am not someone who likes to read historical romance. I tend to get lost because of the language.
This was NOT the case with Sinstre Ange's story. It is a dark mafia romance set in the 1920's. The language and story were entralling and really easy to follow! I love Luke's alpha personality and Hailey's past is intriguing. I love that Luke's goal is to not squash Hailey's feisty personality! "She was a strong dame, a force unto herself, and she would be utterly wasted tucked away in a heavily guarded mansion with nothing more to do than bear my children. I'd rather have her rule as a queen by my side."
This story had me reaching for a fan! Loved Jack and Hailey's intimate moments! Definitely want more! And am really hoping for one with a couple secondary characters that are perfectly set up! NEED MORE!!!! 5 BIG STARS!!! READ THIS STORY!!
June 14, 2021
Dark and Delicious, forbidden like a fine wine you can't afford....what a tantalizing collection. It is no wonder these authors have several bestsellers between them.
Maren Smith's "Daddy's Little Mafia Princess" is exceptional. She's a pawn to her father. Promise to one man. But then another. She has no say, either way, she will be a victim. What if the third choice is not only her best option but the option that will make her the new Queen, and no longer an ab*s*d princess? Scenes that will have you squirming in your seat....but in a good way
Maren Smith's "Daddy's Little Mafia Princess" is exceptional. She's a pawn to her father. Promise to one man. But then another. She has no say, either way, she will be a victim. What if the third choice is not only her best option but the option that will make her the new Queen, and no longer an ab*s*d princess? Scenes that will have you squirming in your seat....but in a good way
June 7, 2021
Phenomenal mafia anthology!
Collateral by Raisa Greywood: Lauren wants to turn her family's diner into a world class steak restaurant. Adriano is willing to finance it, for a price.
Whispered vows by Maggie Ryan: Mara and Dante have an interesting marriage.
Not by a long road by Tom Rhymer: Luca and Giada do what they must for the sake of their respective families.
Chosen by daddy by Pepper North: Carina wants Luca's help, and he makes her an offer she can't refuse.
Mad love by Sinistre Ange: Hailey is forced back into the family fold by Jack and her grandfather.
Daddy's little spy by Stella Moore: Benito awakens Diana's soul.
His for the keeping by RJ Gray: Shane and Francesca join their families in marriage in order to keep the peace.
Daddy's little mafia princess by Maren Smith: Viktor saves Clara from her father, but she wants her freedom, not marriage. I thought this was a great short story. Sometimes, what you want most, can be achieved through what you want least!
Diamond by Lesley Clark: Valentina reluctantly unites with Matteo.
Hyland's property by Felicity Brandon: Hilary is a pawn in the battle between Saul and Sean.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Collateral by Raisa Greywood: Lauren wants to turn her family's diner into a world class steak restaurant. Adriano is willing to finance it, for a price.
Whispered vows by Maggie Ryan: Mara and Dante have an interesting marriage.
Not by a long road by Tom Rhymer: Luca and Giada do what they must for the sake of their respective families.
Chosen by daddy by Pepper North: Carina wants Luca's help, and he makes her an offer she can't refuse.
Mad love by Sinistre Ange: Hailey is forced back into the family fold by Jack and her grandfather.
Daddy's little spy by Stella Moore: Benito awakens Diana's soul.
His for the keeping by RJ Gray: Shane and Francesca join their families in marriage in order to keep the peace.
Daddy's little mafia princess by Maren Smith: Viktor saves Clara from her father, but she wants her freedom, not marriage. I thought this was a great short story. Sometimes, what you want most, can be achieved through what you want least!
Diamond by Lesley Clark: Valentina reluctantly unites with Matteo.
Hyland's property by Felicity Brandon: Hilary is a pawn in the battle between Saul and Sean.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read
May 24, 2021Snatched by a Stranger
Sean Hyland is the heir to his uncle's criminal empire.
Young, handsome and larger than life,
He's no hero.
Threatening, ruthless and in control, Sean always gets what he wants--
And now he wants me.
Yearns to own me,
To possess me.
The stranger with the enigmatic smile says I'll be his bride.
Whatever "I Do"...
Sean Hyland is the heir to his uncle's criminal empire.
Young, handsome and larger than life,
He's no hero.
Threatening, ruthless and in control, Sean always gets what he wants--
And now he wants me.
Yearns to own me,
To possess me.
The stranger with the enigmatic smile says I'll be his bride.
Whatever "I Do"...
September 19, 2021
A bunch of my favorite Authors, all in one book....YES, PLEASE!!!!
RJ Gray
His For The Keeping
RJ Gray is my number one "she just gutted me" Author. And she has done it once again....
A horrific family tragedy has brought Shane and Francesca together. He has always said he will never marry, and she as the baby of the family prefers hiding with a good book.
I love when these two bump heads! Shane is a SEAL who means business and had no idea what he was getting himself into with Frannie. She is feisty and does not take to Shane leading very well. But these two are hot hot hot!
Stella Moore
Daddy's Little Spy
I could not put this story down!!!!
Remember Benny... the cousin of Emilio, who is Amara's husband...well he is here and he is delicious!!!
Diana is a dedicated cop, sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. Now she's found herself married into the Rinaldi family and she's conflicted...does she pick her husband or her job?
The tangled web created is fantastic! Diana and Amara together...SQUEAL!!!! And Benny's Daddy side...yummy yum yum!!!!
Pepper North
Chosen by Daddy
Carina needs a favor, so she goes to the only man she can think of...Luca Ricci.
Their connection started with a black card with red letters. Once that card touches his hands, she belongs to him.
To save one of her students she must marry him and become his Little. Can she do it? Can she give over everything to this man?
Carina struggles a lot at times but Luca is a good Daddy, and one that doles out the punishments quick.
I absolutely love Bethy and her connection with Carina.
RJ Gray
His For The Keeping
RJ Gray is my number one "she just gutted me" Author. And she has done it once again....
A horrific family tragedy has brought Shane and Francesca together. He has always said he will never marry, and she as the baby of the family prefers hiding with a good book.
I love when these two bump heads! Shane is a SEAL who means business and had no idea what he was getting himself into with Frannie. She is feisty and does not take to Shane leading very well. But these two are hot hot hot!
Stella Moore
Daddy's Little Spy
I could not put this story down!!!!
Remember Benny... the cousin of Emilio, who is Amara's husband...well he is here and he is delicious!!!
Diana is a dedicated cop, sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. Now she's found herself married into the Rinaldi family and she's conflicted...does she pick her husband or her job?
The tangled web created is fantastic! Diana and Amara together...SQUEAL!!!! And Benny's Daddy side...yummy yum yum!!!!
Pepper North
Chosen by Daddy
Carina needs a favor, so she goes to the only man she can think of...Luca Ricci.
Their connection started with a black card with red letters. Once that card touches his hands, she belongs to him.
To save one of her students she must marry him and become his Little. Can she do it? Can she give over everything to this man?
Carina struggles a lot at times but Luca is a good Daddy, and one that doles out the punishments quick.
I absolutely love Bethy and her connection with Carina.
August 9, 2021
I have read two of the stories in this compilation, and all I can say is: Wow - deliciously written, character driven tales. I’m ready to dig in to the rest!!
Whispered Vows - Maggie Ryan
Dante and Mara will melt your Kindle simply with the heat from their chemistry together. I found myself thinking, “Oh no he wouldn’t,” quickly followed by, ”More please.” Get ready to lose yourself in one H.O.T. story. All I can say is this author knows how to grab and keep your imagination with characters that remain embedded long after the story ends, even with a short story. This one reminds me why I immediately pick up her books when they are released.
Collateral - Raisa Greywood
Hot, bit of intrigue, romantic, and did I say hot? Really enjoyed this short, mafia-light story that introduces us to Adriano and Lauren that quickly takes us from antagonists to a march down the aisle. I think I fell for Adriano from the very first meeting, and Lauren was my perfect mix of strength and vulnerability. My mouth was drooling not just from the swoon worthy dominance of Adriano but from the delicious meals that provide embellishments to the story. I’ll be purchasing more of this author’s books based on this little taste - it definitely whet my appetite for more.
Whispered Vows - Maggie Ryan
Dante and Mara will melt your Kindle simply with the heat from their chemistry together. I found myself thinking, “Oh no he wouldn’t,” quickly followed by, ”More please.” Get ready to lose yourself in one H.O.T. story. All I can say is this author knows how to grab and keep your imagination with characters that remain embedded long after the story ends, even with a short story. This one reminds me why I immediately pick up her books when they are released.
Collateral - Raisa Greywood
Hot, bit of intrigue, romantic, and did I say hot? Really enjoyed this short, mafia-light story that introduces us to Adriano and Lauren that quickly takes us from antagonists to a march down the aisle. I think I fell for Adriano from the very first meeting, and Lauren was my perfect mix of strength and vulnerability. My mouth was drooling not just from the swoon worthy dominance of Adriano but from the delicious meals that provide embellishments to the story. I’ll be purchasing more of this author’s books based on this little taste - it definitely whet my appetite for more.
June 14, 2021
His for the Keeping
Frankie and Shane's story starts off with something tragic but from the beginning I was interested. I liked Frankie and felt for her how quickly things changed but I loved her with Shane. Shane was strong and I loved that he wanted to keep Frankie safe at first because of a promise and then because of love. I really enjoyed reading this book and hope to read more about Valhalla.
Daddy's Little Spy
Diana wants to do what is right so she is trying to get close to the Rinaldi family. Unfortunately she is not good at going under cover. I loved the instant attraction between Diana and Benny and how he drew the little out of her. These two were not totally honest with each other but their chemistry was so good. I loved that Benny wanted Diana to be happy and Diana showed how much she loved him and in the end they got their happy ending.
I received an ARC and am leaving my honest and voluntary review.
Frankie and Shane's story starts off with something tragic but from the beginning I was interested. I liked Frankie and felt for her how quickly things changed but I loved her with Shane. Shane was strong and I loved that he wanted to keep Frankie safe at first because of a promise and then because of love. I really enjoyed reading this book and hope to read more about Valhalla.
Daddy's Little Spy
Diana wants to do what is right so she is trying to get close to the Rinaldi family. Unfortunately she is not good at going under cover. I loved the instant attraction between Diana and Benny and how he drew the little out of her. These two were not totally honest with each other but their chemistry was so good. I loved that Benny wanted Diana to be happy and Diana showed how much she loved him and in the end they got their happy ending.
I received an ARC and am leaving my honest and voluntary review.
June 15, 2021
I read Sinistre Ange's Mad Love story and it was definitely worth it. Now, it is definitely dark and is not a story for everyone. It was teetering on the edge for me, to be honest, but did still fall within my boundaries. Just be aware of your own boundaries before you make the decision to read Mad Love or any of the other stories in this anthology. But back to my review...It was a taster and I want more!!!! One of Sinistre Ange's strengths is making you care about the characters (major and minor), which as a character-driven reader is a bit like catnip. I just want to roll around in the world she creates and bliss out. So if you've assessed your own boundaries and decide this is a journey you want to take, I urge you to take it! And Sinistre Ange, I would greatly appreciate more in this world if you ever have time. I will, in fact, wait a very long time for that (though I may be dancing impatiently while I do).
June 16, 2021
I am not much of a fan of mafia romance but I had the opportunity to read RJ Gray's "His For the Keeping" and I was completely shocked at how much I enjoyed it. It was a fantastic fast paced story about how an unexpected tragedy in powerful families and shaped the lives of the most innocent family members. Shane and Frankie are brought together under the most undesirable circumstances, with Frankie fighting it every step of the way. Shane is a NAVY Seal and will honor his family, honor his promise to protect Frankie, but most importantly he will show Frankie that being forced to be together is a blessing in disguised. I loved the chemistry between the reluctant Frankie and the alphahotness that is Shane. I read the story in one sitting!
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
June 27, 2021
Reading mad love was a spicy hot read with some hot and steamy scenes. Good writing from the writer.
May 29, 2021
This is a review for Hyland’s Property, written by Felicity Brandon:
My oh my… Saul, Hilary and Hyland, what a tangled web we have woven here. A tangled web of assassination, hatred, revenge, desire, domination and submission. This prequel to an oncoming book hooked me from the first page. I devoured it, from start to finish. This is Felicity Brandon at her most creative, her most provocative, and her most intriguing.
I never discuss plot lines in a review. As I’ve said before, read the blurb. I prefer to talk about how the story affected me, what it drew out of me, and where it led me at its conclusion. This story literally had me squirming in my seat. Putting myself in Hilary’s place, I would have a very hard time in this predicament. Knowing me and some of my inclinations, murder would most definitely enter my mind, reciprocating on the man what I’d endured at his hands might be fun (would definitely be satisfying), but… there’s also a certain amount of erotic response as well. Domination and submission certainly can be alluring, that’s for sure.
I’m honestly curious to know where this is leading. What will Hilary ultimately decide? And will she even have a choice in the matter at all? I’ll just have to wait to find out, and that’s not as easy as it sounds.
This is a great beginning to a good story. I enjoyed every page and if you’re into dark romance, so will you. Highly recommended.
My oh my… Saul, Hilary and Hyland, what a tangled web we have woven here. A tangled web of assassination, hatred, revenge, desire, domination and submission. This prequel to an oncoming book hooked me from the first page. I devoured it, from start to finish. This is Felicity Brandon at her most creative, her most provocative, and her most intriguing.
I never discuss plot lines in a review. As I’ve said before, read the blurb. I prefer to talk about how the story affected me, what it drew out of me, and where it led me at its conclusion. This story literally had me squirming in my seat. Putting myself in Hilary’s place, I would have a very hard time in this predicament. Knowing me and some of my inclinations, murder would most definitely enter my mind, reciprocating on the man what I’d endured at his hands might be fun (would definitely be satisfying), but… there’s also a certain amount of erotic response as well. Domination and submission certainly can be alluring, that’s for sure.
I’m honestly curious to know where this is leading. What will Hilary ultimately decide? And will she even have a choice in the matter at all? I’ll just have to wait to find out, and that’s not as easy as it sounds.
This is a great beginning to a good story. I enjoyed every page and if you’re into dark romance, so will you. Highly recommended.
June 8, 2021
This review is for Sinistre Ange’s contribution to the Anthology (‘Mad Love’). This story is set in the 1920’s which is a unique time period that I haven’t read many books written in. I like how this transitional time period was reflected in Hailey’s attitude and appearance; she has characteristics of both the modern eras to come in her independence and her spirit, yet her hair and some of her behaviours are hold-backs to previous times. Jack, on the other hand, is very much his own man, darkly sexy with his self-assurance and near invincibility. The ‘dark’ romance aspect comes from some very grey consent, but there’s no on-page violence. If this story is any reflection on the rest of the anthology, then this is a snap-up-and-settle-in-to-read for sure!
June 2, 2021
Daddy’s Little Mafia Princess…
When Viktor is betrayed by Clara’s father he takes matters into his own hands to reclaim what’s his. After years of abuse at the hands of her father, emotionally damaged Clara has trouble believing in Viktor…
I received a free copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily.
When Viktor is betrayed by Clara’s father he takes matters into his own hands to reclaim what’s his. After years of abuse at the hands of her father, emotionally damaged Clara has trouble believing in Viktor…
I received a free copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily.
Currently reading
May 21, 2021I don't think I've ever seen so many smoking hot heroes in one book before! There are TEN amazing new book boyfriends in one fantastic anthology!
They're all different, but they have one thing in common - these dirty, dirty heroes are going to start melting some panties on June 15!
They're all different, but they have one thing in common - these dirty, dirty heroes are going to start melting some panties on June 15!
June 15, 2021
Daddy's Little Mafia Princess
I love a good little story, and this one was a good one! Clara is in an untenable situation that has left her frightened and perpetually scared. Viktor doesn’t see all that, but he does know she brings out his Daddy right from the start. As Daddy flexes his Daddy muscles, Clara learns what being a little means, and that she can trust her Daddy to take care of her!
I love a good little story, and this one was a good one! Clara is in an untenable situation that has left her frightened and perpetually scared. Viktor doesn’t see all that, but he does know she brings out his Daddy right from the start. As Daddy flexes his Daddy muscles, Clara learns what being a little means, and that she can trust her Daddy to take care of her!
August 17, 2024
I simply can NOT wait to read this book and pick out my new favorite book boyfriend from the TEN smoking hot heroes inside. Dark, dirty bad boys. What is not to love? Counting down the days!
June 15, 2021
This is my review for 3 stories out of 10 of the anthology.
Mad love / Sinistre Ange
A dark, steamy and hot love story!
Bacause of an arranged marriage deal between two mafia families, Hailey finds herself in the last place she wants to be, getting married to a mafioso heir to the throne.
After her parents are killed, Hailey Bianco escapes Chicago and her mafia legacy by moving to NY and creating a new identity for herself. Giacomo "Jack" DiNardo is the son of the ruling Don of the DiNardo family. In order to unite the two families, it was decided that Jack and Hailey would marry. Poor Hailey finds herself stripped of the new life she had created for herself and coerced to marry Jack, who is totally ruthless in perusing her. Even though she hates him, she can't deny that her body loves him and all the naughty things Jack is determined to teach her... Great story with tons of steam.
Daddy's Little Spy / Stella Moore
Detective Diana Clarke is a dedicated police detective who is on a mission to expose a dirty cop. In order to do that she infiltrates into the Rinaldi crime family. She knows that by doing it she is risking her life. What she doesn't expect is to fall in love. Benito Rinaldi, Emilo's cousin and daddy on the lookout, wasn't planning on falling for a cop. In order to win Diana he will go to extremes to entrap her and make her his. The first time he meets her he knows she is the little girl he was looking for and he will everything in his powers to protect her, even from herself. I loved the chemistry between Diana & Benito, you could feel the sizzle and sparks coming out of the pages.
It's a great story and I very much enjoyed it.
His for the Keeping / RJ Gray
Shane O'Brien & Frankie Lombardo are forced to marry afrer a horrible tragedy struck their life. Determined to keep his promise to their families and keep Frankie safe, Shane forces her to marry him. Frankie as it a loss after losing everything she holds dear and the last thing she wants to do is marry a perfect stranger. She fights Shane every step of the way, not willing to submit to his authority. They both want revenge against the people who hurt their families and will stop at nothing to achieve it. Along the way they start to develop feelings for each other but before getting to their HEA they need to have their revenge...
In this story we meet several side characters that were previously introduced in Max & Brie's story "Her Navy Seal Ex" and some new SC that I'm itching to read about. I very much liked this story and looking forward to read more of RJ's books.
Mad love / Sinistre Ange
A dark, steamy and hot love story!
Bacause of an arranged marriage deal between two mafia families, Hailey finds herself in the last place she wants to be, getting married to a mafioso heir to the throne.
After her parents are killed, Hailey Bianco escapes Chicago and her mafia legacy by moving to NY and creating a new identity for herself. Giacomo "Jack" DiNardo is the son of the ruling Don of the DiNardo family. In order to unite the two families, it was decided that Jack and Hailey would marry. Poor Hailey finds herself stripped of the new life she had created for herself and coerced to marry Jack, who is totally ruthless in perusing her. Even though she hates him, she can't deny that her body loves him and all the naughty things Jack is determined to teach her... Great story with tons of steam.
Daddy's Little Spy / Stella Moore
Detective Diana Clarke is a dedicated police detective who is on a mission to expose a dirty cop. In order to do that she infiltrates into the Rinaldi crime family. She knows that by doing it she is risking her life. What she doesn't expect is to fall in love. Benito Rinaldi, Emilo's cousin and daddy on the lookout, wasn't planning on falling for a cop. In order to win Diana he will go to extremes to entrap her and make her his. The first time he meets her he knows she is the little girl he was looking for and he will everything in his powers to protect her, even from herself. I loved the chemistry between Diana & Benito, you could feel the sizzle and sparks coming out of the pages.
It's a great story and I very much enjoyed it.
His for the Keeping / RJ Gray
Shane O'Brien & Frankie Lombardo are forced to marry afrer a horrible tragedy struck their life. Determined to keep his promise to their families and keep Frankie safe, Shane forces her to marry him. Frankie as it a loss after losing everything she holds dear and the last thing she wants to do is marry a perfect stranger. She fights Shane every step of the way, not willing to submit to his authority. They both want revenge against the people who hurt their families and will stop at nothing to achieve it. Along the way they start to develop feelings for each other but before getting to their HEA they need to have their revenge...
In this story we meet several side characters that were previously introduced in Max & Brie's story "Her Navy Seal Ex" and some new SC that I'm itching to read about. I very much liked this story and looking forward to read more of RJ's books.
June 13, 2021
Mad Love - Sinistre Ange
A short story about hope. Can leaving a family that does not appreciate you nor have your best interests at heart be possible? Will the unexpected possibly be a positive force for the future? Can feelings grow from a cold bargain? Hailey's desire to have nothing to do with her mafia family is derailed when Jack (Giacomo) strides confidently into the police station where she is employed as a social worker and takes over her life. But will she allow his dominance to sway her actions and desire to escape?
Daddy's Little Mafia Princess - Maren Smith
A story of betrayal and desire. Can arrogance be warranted? Will love form from an act of caring? Will an emotionless bond become more? Clara's life is turned upside down when her father's deceit is forcefully put down. Viktor's past puts Clara firmly in his cross-hairs. Convincing her that he is the man who can change her future, can protect her against all enemies, and stop the abuse she has suffered becomes his primary motive when he realizes just how innocent she is. But will she allow his dominance to hold fast her allegiance?
A short story about hope. Can leaving a family that does not appreciate you nor have your best interests at heart be possible? Will the unexpected possibly be a positive force for the future? Can feelings grow from a cold bargain? Hailey's desire to have nothing to do with her mafia family is derailed when Jack (Giacomo) strides confidently into the police station where she is employed as a social worker and takes over her life. But will she allow his dominance to sway her actions and desire to escape?
Daddy's Little Mafia Princess - Maren Smith
A story of betrayal and desire. Can arrogance be warranted? Will love form from an act of caring? Will an emotionless bond become more? Clara's life is turned upside down when her father's deceit is forcefully put down. Viktor's past puts Clara firmly in his cross-hairs. Convincing her that he is the man who can change her future, can protect her against all enemies, and stop the abuse she has suffered becomes his primary motive when he realizes just how innocent she is. But will she allow his dominance to hold fast her allegiance?
June 12, 2021
Daddy's Little Mafia Princess
This is the first book I have read by Maren Smith. I went into this blind, and didn’t bother to read the blurb because I saw mafia and wanted to read it. Books about Little’s are not my cup of tea, but this was a good story. This is the story of Clara and Viktor. Clara is the daughter of Alviero Pisani. She has been abused by her father most of her life and appears to be very meek and afraid in his presence. Viktor wants to open a restaurant in the casino owned by Clara’s father. A deal is made and Clara will be Viktor’s wife. However, Alviero wasn’t too happy with what was offered, so he had set up another meeting with the Morales family and offered Clara to the youngest Morales son, Miguel. Once Viktor finds out, he is angry. He plots his revenge and ends up kidnapping Clara.
Great story with lots of action, lots of “punishments” but you also see a side of Viktor that is caring and understanding. He promises to always protect Clara from being harmed. On the outside he seems like he is callous, dangerous and uncaring, but when he is alone with Clara, he is a completely different person. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the first book I have read by Maren Smith. I went into this blind, and didn’t bother to read the blurb because I saw mafia and wanted to read it. Books about Little’s are not my cup of tea, but this was a good story. This is the story of Clara and Viktor. Clara is the daughter of Alviero Pisani. She has been abused by her father most of her life and appears to be very meek and afraid in his presence. Viktor wants to open a restaurant in the casino owned by Clara’s father. A deal is made and Clara will be Viktor’s wife. However, Alviero wasn’t too happy with what was offered, so he had set up another meeting with the Morales family and offered Clara to the youngest Morales son, Miguel. Once Viktor finds out, he is angry. He plots his revenge and ends up kidnapping Clara.
Great story with lots of action, lots of “punishments” but you also see a side of Viktor that is caring and understanding. He promises to always protect Clara from being harmed. On the outside he seems like he is callous, dangerous and uncaring, but when he is alone with Clara, he is a completely different person. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 15, 2021
This review is for "Chosen by Daddy" which is written by Pepper North
Childhood Valentine
Luca gave Corina a Valentine when they were in High School with "I choose you" written on it.
Corina took it to him to ask for a huge favor.
As she asked him for the favor, little did she know that it would change her entire future.
Luca was Corinas daddy but she just did not realize it then.
This is a wonderful book written by a great Little author.
Hope you enjoy this book as much as I have.
DADDYS LITTLE SPY by Stella Moore
cop vs the mafia
Diana knew there were several cops on the take but she was after one, Det Franks.
She has some evidence but needed more to bring him down.
Unfortunately, she got too close to the mafia and one of them fell in love with her.
Enjoy this up and down story about a Daddy finding his very own little and how they ended up.
I read an early review copy of this book for an honest review.
Childhood Valentine
Luca gave Corina a Valentine when they were in High School with "I choose you" written on it.
Corina took it to him to ask for a huge favor.
As she asked him for the favor, little did she know that it would change her entire future.
Luca was Corinas daddy but she just did not realize it then.
This is a wonderful book written by a great Little author.
Hope you enjoy this book as much as I have.
DADDYS LITTLE SPY by Stella Moore
cop vs the mafia
Diana knew there were several cops on the take but she was after one, Det Franks.
She has some evidence but needed more to bring him down.
Unfortunately, she got too close to the mafia and one of them fell in love with her.
Enjoy this up and down story about a Daddy finding his very own little and how they ended up.
I read an early review copy of this book for an honest review.
June 15, 2021
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to purchase this anthology, so when I had a chance to get an early copy of this story, I grabbed it. This review is for Maren Smith’s Daddy’s Little Mafia Princess. Viktor Antonov has a plan—a bit of revenge, a bit of good business. Part of the good business is to marry the daughter of his enemy, Clara Pisani. Keeping Clara safe from her father Alviero is a priority, as is teaching her how to be his good girl. Dark and steamy, this D/s story may be short but it packs a lot into its pages. So while I received a copy of this story, which I have chosen to review, I’m off to purchase the anthology now! There’s lots of great authors that I already love, and in a genre I enjoy.
June 15, 2021
If the three stories that I have read is anything to go by this is a hot sexy full read. I loved them. The second story is by Maren Smith and poor sweet Clara seriously needs Viktor not only to rescue her but to love and protect her. It's very well written and described full and interesting story. There are plenty of spankings and some hot erotic sexy scenes where Daddy Viktor pushes Clara hard. I have also read Ms Greywood's Collateral, with sweet chef Lauren and Adriano trying to mind and marry her, Whispered Vows is a hot erotic and sexy well written story with great characters and storyline by Maggie Smith.This is a hot and wonderful sexy book. I am looking forward to reading the other stories in this wonderful anthology. And I very highly recommend it.
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