Ruthless

by Blake York

Heath
My goal is to protect my family at all costs. I’ll go the distance to see that our Irish legacy remains intact.
So when the daughter of a traitor shows up begging for sanctuary from the Russian mafia after her, I want to slam the door in her face.
Until I look into those eyes I knew so well in our younger days.
When we were friends.

Serenity
Heath Connolly.
Son of a mafia kingpin. Rumored to be the most dangerous of the Connolly triplets.
He’s the only one who can keep me alive. But I see in his eyes he doesn’t care.
I'll do anything if he’ll help me—even be his little toy.
My life is in his hands, and it turns out my pleasure is too.
But these twisted nights aren’t helping me face reality—that my life is really over.
Unless my childhood friend turned enemy, turned lover chooses to save it.

If enemies to lovers with all the steamy, gritty passion of dark mafia romance are your thing, kick off your affair with the dark underworld of the Connolly brothers.

Genres: Enemies To Lovers

108 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 25, 2022

About the author

Blake York got started writing dark romance as a teen, when the horrors of her mind lived on the page. Now she invites readers into that shadowed chamber with darker, filthier romance. And what can be more soul-shaking than a forced marriage into a twisted mafia family that rules its empire with bloodshed?

START THE BLOOD EMPIRE SERIES TODAY WITH DAMAGED BRIDE BOOK 1

Find Blake York on Facebook as blakeyorkauthor.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Ruthless" (Dangerous Ties Book 1) by Blake York was a great read. I loved Heath and Serenity's story. This was a terrific start to this series. This story was full of dark romance, passion, action, family, twists, mafia life, and more. I'm looking forward to reading what happens next in this series. Highly recommend it to all fans of dark romance, mafia, family, and series.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Ruthless” is the first book in the new ‘Dangerous Ties’ series by Blake York. It’s a childhood friends to-enemies-to-lovers dark mafia romance with some unexpected twists and turns.

Serenity was close childhood friends with Heath and his triplet brothers, until her father turned traitor against his mafia family. As part of the punishment, her family was ostracized and driven into poverty. When her foolish brother gets into debt with the Russian mafia, and offers up Serenity as payment, she shows up on Heath’s doorstep in desperation, knowing that he’s the only one who could possibly save her. He knows that by all rights he should refuse to help her, but he always cared about her, and he just can’t bring himself to do it. He gives her refuge and they both discover that their mutual teenage crush is nothing compared to the intensity of the passion that flares between them as adults. But they still have to deal with the Russian mafia, her brother, and his family.

I thought this was a good book and I enjoyed it. We’re giving a little bit of back story about good times Serenity and Heath had together when they were young, but it would have been nice to have a better understanding of that as a foundation for their adult interactions. The end of this story was dramatic in unexpected ways and I appreciated that. I liked what we saw of the brothers and will certainly read the next book in the series which will be about one of them.

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily sharing my thoughts and opinions. I also purchased a copy on Amazon.

[A.M.F · Rating 3 out of 5]

We start our story with a young woman, Serenity, who is desperately knocking on the front door of her long time childhood love Heath, who is part of the Irish mob family. She’s on the run from the Russian Mafia, who are after her because her brother gave her to them to cover a debt he owed. Heath struggles helping Serenity, they used to be so close but since her father sold out his family, they’ve been enemies ever since. Heath and Serenity very quickly realize old loves do not die hard and even being old enemies can’t stop the inevitable.

I really found the story line lacking in this book, I wish the author maybe did a little backstory from when Heath and Serenity were younger. I wanted to see that love blossom as they got older. I also thought the heat in the book was lacking, there was no build up of sexual tension, the first sexual encounter was basically forced sex which I thought was odd considering how much he said he loved her all those years. The story felt a bit rushed and quite frankly, a boring read. I had a hard time getting to know the characters as again, everything was rushed in this book.

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

[Kendall Rubel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a little suspense, dark and interesting storyline. It has good characters put into this book and interesting conflict put in place. Of course, childhood friends turn into worse enemies, and the best way to do what they want to do and find the best way to remove the issue before it goes worse. But wish there was background about their past and what caused more of their drift apart from each other. I do like the conflict between the mafia families and what happens through the drama. Overall good book.

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

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blake has written a story that will take you on a wild steamy ride. Blake always takes the reader on a dark, hot, and scary venture. Serenity and Heath were childhood friends until her father did the unthinkable by turning on the family. Her family suffered greatly, and her brother gets in debt with the Russian mafia. He offers her up to pay his debt. She turns to Heath for help. While he should refuse, he decides to offer her refuge. Will they survive his family, the mafia, and all the craziness surrounding them?

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

[Mindy Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Book 1 in the Dangerous Ties Series and my first read by this author, and I must say that I quite enjoyed the storyline and the characters. It is a frenemies to lovers mafia romance between Serenity and Heath. These flawed but likeable characters and the unique plot make for an intriguing read. It is a thrilling adventure with enough drama, suspense, danger, violence, steam, sweetness, frustrating moments, family dynamic, twists and turns, and engaging secondary characters to keep the reader interested. A page turner with a happy ending.

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

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, these men!!! Blake certainly knows how to write a hot Irish mob family! I literally cannot wait for the next book to come out so I can devour Linc and hopefully Patrick's story. But Heath and Serenity were so good! I love the sold to the mob to pay a debt trope and this book did it so well with the betrayal of the brother. Also, who doesn't love enemies to lovers in a mafia setting! Rival mobsters, criminal informants, steamy cabin spice, I mean this book had everything. Loved it loved it loved it!.

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

[Shanna D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruthless (Dangerous Ties Book One) by Blake York. The blurb and cover had me ramped up and ready to dig into this steamy nugget. Heath and Serenity bring all the feels. I thought this book was well written and entertaining. It is filled with dark drama, personal conflicts, charismatic characters, action and mild suspense, and plenty of intense chemistry and heat. I would recommend this book and author to others. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Happyscribe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a second chance story and while this isn't quite the full SC trope, it is a great read! Ruthless is the kick-off book for the Dangerous Ties series. Heath makes for a wickedly cool, passionate and dangerous hero, while Serenity (sorry but hate the name - too obvious) is also a nicely drawn character filled with dark needs - resulting in a world of romance, passion, mafia, family and more. Love this starter!

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

[Leanne Bryson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Book 1 in the Dangerous Ties Series by Blake York. This enemies to lovers mafia romance between Serenity and Heath has great sizzle, steam, action, drama, suspense, violence, and intense family interaction.
The book is well paced, characters well written, and so much more. There is a lot more to see from the dangerous Connolly triplets and their Irish mafia family. This and the entire Dangerous Ties series is available to read for free on Kindle Unlimited.

I received an ARC from Booksprout and this is my honest review.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serenity has only one person she can go to when her brother sells her put to the russians to cover his debts and that to Heath. Heath is torn over loyalty to his family whose Serenitys father had caused trouble for and the pull he feels towards Serenity. can love conquer all? a good story with engaging characters, action and more!.

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

[FD · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written, easy-to-read story with steamy scenes. Serenity and Heath are supposed to be enemies, thanks to her father's betrayal 10 years ago. Yet she knocks on his door when she is in danger and he helps her, because his childhood love for her has never ended. Now he must fight against the danger, the prejudice of his family and the love of Serenity.

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

[Mary Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one in the Dangerous Ties Trilogy and is an excellent beginning to this series. Heath is one of the Connolly Triplets and his father is an Irish Mob Boss. Serenity is running from the Russian Mob and goes to Heath, her childhood protector. Unfortunately there has been bad blood between the families and she’s unsure if he will help her or not. Good story with strong interesting characters.

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

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 4th book I've read written by Blake York; I can’t wait to read more of her books.

This is the 1st book in the Dangerous Ties Series; it is a stand-alone short story. The story is about Serenity & Heath; they were friends when they were kids but he’s son of the mafia kingpin; she’s the daughter of a traitor. She goes to him for help because the Russian mafia is after her.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brenda Moser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written book with strong characters in Serenity and Heath. It's an intriguing mafia read filled with action and suspense. It moves quickly and smoothly with descriptive scenes and is an interesting story I enjoyed reading.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Victoria Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irish and the mob sign me up. Serenity goes to Heath because she is in danger, he is not feeling it at all. They have a history which prompts him to protect her. Plus they have great chemistry. It is full of things you like about a suspenseful dark mafia romance.

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

[Gina DeMarco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

This was a pretty good quick read if you're in a slump. Not much story just quick steam. You're given the idea that they knew each other for years and were friends. Not much happens but there's other books connected with this. I believe this continues the plot following different characters.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruthless by Blake York is a good, and enjoyable steamy dark mafia enemies to lovers romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry.

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

[Sara Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 1 of what is sure to be an epic series. The plot is set and the details and twists keep you hooked. Heath and Serenity have a past and have to fight for their future. What will come next?

[Sam Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cracking

I loved the characters - Serenity and Heath make for good reading. HEA guaranteed, lots of steam and mafia romance, this is well worth a read.

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

[Jacquelyn Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This hot enemies to lover mafia romance was steamy and action packed! Not for the faint of heart!! This book is sure to grab your attention and hold it until the very end. Blake York left me begging for more.

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

[S I · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruthless by Blake York
This was exciting and some bulling but very well written and captivating. You’ll love it as you see the characters go through their situations.

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

[Alex Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic read from Blake York. Deliciously dark and dangerous. Great characters, well written storyline. Would recommend.

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

[Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters drew me right in. Enough backstory w/o too much. Enjoyable sex scenes. Fun, quick read.

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

[Brandi Danielle McGraw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely gripping and enjoyable from start to finish. I got everything I was hoping for and more from this story! Don't miss out!!.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heath & Serenity had an intense, twisted read. I got a copy of the book. And am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a first read by this author and I was not disappointed. This was a interesting and good read. I could not put this down. Heath and serenity are interesting