Beautiful Corruption

The Atlas Organization #1

by B.B. Hamel

A dark mafia enemies to lovers romance

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Dark, Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Contemporary, Erotica

344 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2023

About the author

I'm a long time reader, writer, and lover of Romance! Writing is my dream and my passion, and I want to share my stories with you.

I live in the Philadelphia area with my husband and two dogs.

Website: http://www.bbhamel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bbhamelwriter

Check out my mailing list for updates, giveaways, and more! http://bbhamel.com/signup

Reviews

[Lin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Heroine has been sheltered her whole life. Her father loses all their money, and she is forced to sacrifice her own happiness by marrying a very rich and influential man. It turns out that he is very possessive, and uses foul language that makes her virgin heart skipping a beat. Her father/grandfather is a real piece of work, (not really loving her like her new man).

In other words, you have probably read this storyline several times before 🤷🏻‍♀️

DNF 67%.

[Mairi Swan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine but I felt like something was lacking. The connection? The plot? I'm not really sure

[Brittany (Brit.tea.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love BB's books, and when I saw she had a new enemies to lovers mafia book out, I knew I had to read it, and like all her other books, I devoured it.

Brice Rowe is an oil heiress who just received a call from her grandfather informing her that her father was arrested for embezzlement. She wants to help the family but what her grandfather asks of her is out of the question. To save the family and the company, Brice must marry Carmine Scavo, a mafia don who bullied her back in college.

𝐼𝓃 𝓂𝓎 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹, 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹, 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒽𝒶𝓉𝑒 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒻*𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑔𝓊𝓉𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓃𝑒𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒻*𝒸𝓀 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂 𝓈𝑜 𝒷𝒶𝒹𝓁𝓎 𝒾𝓉 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝒸𝓇𝓊𝓈𝒽 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝒶 𝓉𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝓁𝒾𝓅𝓈.

Brice soon uncovers all the lies, making her unsure who she can trust anymore: her family or Carmine, the man she is starting to fall for.

𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒷𝓁𝑒𝑒𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒻*𝒸𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓊𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓁 𝓎𝑜𝓊'𝓇𝑒 𝓃𝑜𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝒶 𝓈𝓌𝑒𝒶𝓉-𝓈𝑜𝒶𝓀𝑒𝒹 𝒷𝑜𝒹𝓎 𝓁𝓎𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝒹, 𝓆𝓊𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝓉𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒸𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝓌𝒶𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒻*𝒸𝓀𝑒𝒹 𝒶𝑔𝒶𝒾𝓃, 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝒻𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓎𝑜𝓊, 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝒾𝓃𝒸𝒽 𝑜𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊, 𝒹𝑒𝑔𝓇𝒶𝒹𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊, 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝓇𝒶𝓌𝓁 𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝑒 𝑜𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒽𝒶𝓃𝒹𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓀𝓃𝑒𝑒𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓂𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝐼 𝒻*𝒸𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑜𝒶𝓉. 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝑔𝒶𝑔 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝓅𝒾𝓉 𝒶𝓃𝒹 💦. 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓌𝒶𝓉𝒸𝒽 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓈𝓌𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑜𝓌 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝒹𝓇𝑜𝓅 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝓁𝒾𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝒹 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓁𝑒𝑔𝓈 𝓈𝓅𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹, 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝑔𝓁𝒾𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓂𝑒𝓈𝓈𝓎 😻 𝒹𝓇𝒾𝓅𝓅𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓂𝑒, 𝓅𝓁𝑒𝒶𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒻*𝒸𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒.

I love the banter and sexual tension between Carmine and Brice; they both want to hate each other, but their lust takes over, and the spicy scenes are FIRE.

𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝑜 𝒾𝓈 𝓇𝓊𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓂𝑜𝓊𝓉𝒽 𝑜𝒻 𝒽𝑒𝓇𝓈. 𝒯𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓅𝑒𝓇𝒻𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒾𝓉 𝒻𝒾𝓁𝓉𝒽𝓎.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Great, but not awful either. This book had so much more potential and it just didn't happen so my rating is a 3.5 stars. B.B. Hamel can and does normally do better. Can the story be darker? Could the FMC have some spit and fire? Repetitive dialogue and PLEASE No Mommy or Daddy coming from a grown a** woman! Doesn't have a cliffhanger and contains a HEA.

Brice comes from Texas Oil money and when her dad goes down for a crypto coin scam her grandfather asks her to marry a Mafia Don from Pennsylvania to save the family from being bankrupt. Only problem is she can't stand the one man who humiliated her while in college.

Carmine always stared at Brice while at Blackwood University. She was always so pretty and clean, he just wanted to dirty her up a little bit so, he tackles her at a softball game. He's kept tabs on her and her family for 7 years. Carmine will bail the family out financially but in return Brice will marry him and give him heirs.

Turns out Brice isn't the only one against this marriage. They dodge bullets and along the way maybe she will realize that only one person has her best interest at heart without conditions...

[literaryelise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mafiafication of hbo’s succession

[Claudia, Cmarie927 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carmine! You dark, dangerous man!
You and your friends from Blackwoods are used to getting what you want. And now, you're set on Brice.
(Oh,and Brice? You have no hope of escaping him, fyi.) 😁😉
This is a "bad boy, good girl" attraction that has multiple layers of deception woven into an arrangement that leaves Brice in a difficult situation.

This story is extremely suspenseful and addictive. I didn’t see some of the twists in this one, and I enjoyed the intrigue of it all. I had a hard time putting this down. Plan your time!

These characters are easy to enjoy (and hate), while trying to uncover the truth. The chemistry and steamy scenes between these two is entertaining and fun. This is an excellent example of what we love about a dark Mafia read, and this author.

I look forward to reading the next story.

My free ARC came from Booksprout and I voluntarily leave my review.

[Joanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't even have words for this one 🥴

When I started this book, I was really curious with the story and the characters and I thought this was going to be an amazing story but then it took a wrong turn.

The characters ended up being so boring and ridiculous and the story was so bland and unoriginal omfg what happened here?!

Also, wtf is "filthy girl" as a (supposedly sexy) nickname? 🤢 And the heroine was soooo boring and getting on my nerves with her decisions (not to mention how she was always "Daddy this, Daddy that" girl, get a grip).

This was really a disappointment 🥴🥴

▬ 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: dark romance, opposites attract, mafia, arranged marriage, marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers
▬ 𝐭𝐰: death, violence

[CB · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW
Score: 3.5/5
POV: Dual
Heat Level: 3.5/5 but the dirt talk is next level 🥵
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers; Old Money Rich/ Mafia Crime Family Rich; arranged marriage


The dirty talk in this book was next fucking level! Like Carmine my man you know what you’re doing!
Overall this book wasn’t a 5⭐️ because the FMC is up there in the worst FMCs ever. I mean I guess If I like at the story as whole the author actually did a really good job of writing an old money rich white FMC cuz man she has that role down pat. She’s so blinded by her perfect “clean” little world and it’s obnoxious. She does slightly redeem herself by the end but it wasn’t good enough for me. Carmine is carrying this story on his back! Also the secondary characters were enjoyable. I will definitely continue the series because overall the writing is good and I’m sure the series is some of the secondary characters stories.
3.5/5

[thespicybooknerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Corruption is an absolute page turner! I was invested in Carmine and Brice from start to finish in this enemies to lovers, dark mafia romance. She's always perfect and from from an oil baron family that's run into some trouble, and he's the Don of a mafia family in Philly and wants to wants to dirty her up a little. They already have history. I loved their chemistry, I loved his possessiveness, and her perseverance. Fantastic read!.

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

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brice and Carmine are hot! I don't typically read bully romances, I do love enemies to lovers, but bully always seems meaner since they usually have that background in adolescence. I think I loved this one because they were older, they were in college, and it didn't feel like kids. Once they were together, they were fire! They hated each other, and you could feel it; they loved each other, and you could feel it. The tension jumps off the page.
I'm looking forward to this series.

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars

This was a fast read, alright characters, there was a little action and all in all an alright read.

[Melluvsbooks]

This H was a creep. I wasn’t ever gonna warm up to him.

[Moony (Captain Mischief) MeowPoff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really? Flithy girl is a good nickname now? Meh.

[Magali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and unpredictable
It's an excellent story, not really cute but still romantic between Brice and Carmine: during university, they are the opposite of the spectrum of more or less honest rich families, until Brice's family must link up with Carmine's mafia group.
Their story includes a definitely indecent, torrid and exciting proposal between them, with many twists and turns.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book

[rosebt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Arranged marriage. I was bored! The dialogue made me cringe so many times. He kept calling her “filthy girl” WTF. It wasn’t sexy or dark as I expected from a mafia romance. I didn’t feel the chemistry between them. I guess I found the story boring and couldn’t connect with the main characters

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes family is not who you things they are…and the bad guy you thought was your tormentor was actually your savior? Another great by B.B. Hamel with a fast paced, twisting and turning story line. The author knows how to capture her audiences with really deep characters who you are able to truly step into their shoes and go on the adventure with them. Carmine and Brice will conquer and defeat their demons together.

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

[Belinda Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brice knew she didn't have much of a choice. She has to do what is expected of her for the sake of her family, even if it means making a deal with the devil. The one person she never wanted to see again could be the only one to help her and her family. Can Brice make it through, or will Carmine really destroy her? Very entertaining read.

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

[Charlene Gaskins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just okay. The story had the potential to be so much better had the FMC been a smarter, stronger, take no bull shit character, instead of a weak, mindless spoiled rich girl who really had no personal direction or goals.

The story line and plot started off strong but lost it's originality because of Brice's character. I had to force myself to finish this book because of her character's actions throughout this novel. She had moments of clarity, but spent most of this novel being duped by her father and grandfather repeatedly. It became repetitive and made her character look pathetic. Her level of naivety became inexcusable for a 26 year old woman. Even when she was forced to face the truth regarding her father and grandfather, she still stood by both characters who were monsters of their own making. She thumbed her nose at Carmine because he was in the Mob, while her father was a white collar criminal that had stolen millions of dollars from his company and other mob families. It's just a personal thing, but a grown woman calling her father "daddy" instead of Dad or father seems childish to me. She spent much of the book remembering a father of her childhood instead of the monster he had become or always was.

Carmine is a one of the five character's from Blackwoods who was trying to bring his criminal family into the 21st century and was met with resistance from the older Capo's that were under his father. His style of ruling was not one of war or bloodshed unless it was necessary, but one of establishing legitimate business' that would hide the criminal side of the family. He and Brice have an intense love hate relationship because of their history at Blackwood's. Carmine wants to elevate his status in Philadelphia and approaches Brice's father in an arranged marriage when daddy dearest is indicted for defrauding investors etc. Brice's father is a corrupt piece of garbage who would make Bernie Madoff look like an amateur by his illegal actions in a bitcoin deal gone wrong. . Brice's family is on the verge of ruin. The story line in general was solid. Brice's character was a huge reduction in the overall book rating. She was too dumb and too weak to face the real monsters in this book until I reached 92% into the story, then she finally gets it. Too little too late.

Carmine's character was good and was similar to the other Blackwood's Atlas characters to date. Corrupt, manipulative and an asshole through some of this story, who had a desire to seek light in a world of darkness.

[Tabatha Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The setup is fairly standard, one family is in trouble so the innocent daughter is offered as a sacrificial lamb to fix their problems. The h, Brice, is given a semblance of choice in the matter and props to her for saying no. She says no a few times before she cracked. It wasn’t much but I appreciated the effort, it was nice to see an h being strong armed into an arranged marriage not dutifully climb up and nail herself to the cross. The story hinges on the arranged marriage so inevitably there has to be a reason for it to proceed despite h’s protests.

Unfortunately, I didn’t like the H here. This is enemies to lovers so he’s obviously an insufferable asshole most of the time. Wait, that’s not right. He’s supposed to be a charming alphahole so the reader likes him in spite of his asshole behavior. Yeah, he’s just an insufferable asshole here. His obsession with dirtying up the h became a cumbersome plot device hanging like an albatross around the story. If he called her filthy girl one more time I might have thrown my kindle. I started to involuntarily roll my eyes every time he called her that or alluded to getting her dirty.

I get what the author was going for here. She’s repressed and wanted the free spirited H to break her out of her shell. She just went about it all the wrong ways. Specifically, the h is working on decorating the house and gets hung up on a music room and she hits her groove working on it. She found peace in it. It soothed her to have this project up. H rolls up and starts breaking shit and wants her to destroy stuff too because even her messes are too clean. It just comes across as trite. He wrecked her peace because he thought he knew what she needed more than she did. That’s not how that works though. She would have spiraled harder not felt excited by the destruction. It all just rubbed me the wrong way.

The chemistry between H/h didn’t come across to me so this all just fell kind of flat.

Medium burn, she loses her vcard at 54%. There’s some petting earlier in the book.

Virgin h
H’s sexual history is left vague
No OW/OM drama
No cheating
No scenes with others
3rd act breakup
2+ week separation
No cliffhanger
HEA

Safety - I found this to be completely safe.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow…hang on because once you start this trust you won’t put it down until the last page is turned. Brice coming from a family with old money an oil richness, but dysfunctional family father was arrested for embezzlement and when her grandfather calls to tell her about his arrest he also requests she marry the one man who bullied her daily at college to save the family sold to the highest bidder. I often wonder why the girls in these families always end up paying for their father’s sins and the guilt trip they put on them for the family, but it does make for a good story. The secrets, the lies that surround her family and his family so trusting anyone at this point is hard for her. Carmine sexy as all get out mafia boss gifted…yep you read that right gifted like a item not a human but not just any gift the one he bullied all through college with a promise to help save their oil company ultimately it is just a business deal or so he told himself even though she starred in all his fantasies. Brice struggles with being just a pawn in a much bigger game, the secrets of her family driving a wedge in the fragile relationship one that needs to be built due to all the bullying add to that her family and oh, let’s not forget his family. The magnetic pull between them is too strong for either of them to walk away also, something neither of them ever expected yet both fantasize about it often but when the truth comes out about her family, his truths, the abuse she endured, the hurt, make her run out of the need for protection of her heart, away from it all, will he explain his reasons for being a meanie, and which fork in the road will she take one that leads to happiness or back to the family who betrayed her?.

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

[Jeanette Wolfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, bad then fair

I wished I could say this is sexy, but the first half it's not. It starts out being just another book about how women should LIKE being treated like garbage and literally thrown to the ground and have their faces pushed and smeared in the dirt because arrogant man-babies can't stand that women can have self-control, self-respect, and be classy and restrained rather than trashy arrogant loudmouth attention hounds. Of course the male lead messes up in the spectacular way by lying and we achieve our climactic moment and from there it's like a switch has been flipped and he's suddenly a human being and she's suddenly worth treating with decency. So, it ends on a higher note than it started, but it was a very sudden and surprising about-face transition.

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

BEAUTIFUL CORRUPTION is the first instalment in BB Hamel’s new stand alone contemporary, adult, erotic, Mafia dark, romance series. This is Mafia don Carmine Scavo, and oil heiress Brice Rowe’s story line.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Carmine and Brice) BEAUTIFUL CORRUPTION follows the arranged marriage between Mafia don Carmine Scavo, and oil heiress Brice Rowe. Seven years earlier, while attending the prestigious Blackwood College, Brice Rowe would be the victim of Carmine Scavo’s bullying, for no apparent reason than she was the daughter of a very wealthy man. Fast forward to present day wherein Rowe Oil is nearly bankrupt, and Brice’s father has been arrested for theft and fraud. With only one possibility to save the family business, Brice is sold to the highest bidder, Mafia don Carmine Scavo, the man who has haunted our heroine for as long as she can remember. With a promise to help save Rowe Oil, Brice is ‘gifted’ to Carmine Scavo, a gift that comes with a price but all is not well with the Rowe family dynamics, and Brice quickly discovers she is a pawn in a much larger game. What ensues is the tumultuous but building romance and relationship between Carmine and Brice, and the potential fall-out when the truth is revealed, forcing Brice to make a choice between family and love.

The relationship between Carmine and Brice begins as a business deal. Brice is a pawn; fodder in a much larger game, a game in which her father has chosen to sacrifice his only daughter. Carmine Scavo, now the new head of the Scavo family finds himself focusing on saving the woman that has starred in all of his fantasies and dreams but Brice struggles with her attraction to a man who has caused her so much heartache and pain; and Carmine knows it is only a matter of time before Brice discovers not all is at it appears to be. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense.

The secondary and supporting characters include Brice’s father Perry , and grandfather Graham Rowe; Greek mobster Stephen Panagos; Brice’s best friends Robyn, Sara and Cassidy, as well as several members of the Scavo Mafia family.

BEAUTIFUL CORRUPTION is a story of family, relationships, betrayal and vengeance; acceptance and forgiveness; love and happily ever after. The fast paced premise is twisted and tragic but not as dark as some of the other Mafia romances; the romance is provocative; the characters are determined, dynamic and animated.

www.thereadingcafe.com

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Corruption is a steamy standalone enemies-to-lovers romance novel with no cliffhanger or cheating and a happily-ever-after guaranteed. A dark mafia romance, hate-to-love vibes, college nemesis, arranged marriage, sold to the highest bidder, tension, secret, lies, emotions, drama, danger, bullying, violence, lust, action packed, hatred, theft, resentment, madness, revelations, suspense, deception, surprising twists and turns, family issues, loyalty, fraud, survival, heartaches, shootout, pawn, pain, anger, pain, passion, revenge, betrayal, jealousy, intense sexual scenes, dirty talking, embezzlement, love and so much more. This is Brice Rowe and Carmine Scavo story. Warning: Due to the content and graphic nature in the story some readers may find it triggering.
Brice Rowe is a trust fund baby who comes from old oil money a wealth that started way before she was born. Carmine Scavo is in the mafia, the Atlas Organization that his dad currently Don his four friends is also apart of it that was mentioned in the book. Carmine and Brice went to the same school Blackwood college. However, while there she would be the target of his constant bullying for reasons unknown to her. He was jealous because she was too prim and prissy. He wanted to dirty her up. Fast forward seven years later Carmine became powerful and the Don of the Atlas Organization. Brice is living her life unbeknowing what is going on with the affairs of her family's business. Carmine had always wanted to own shares in the Rowe family oil company and was just waiting for the right opportunity.
So when Brice dad got caught for embezzlement from the company and was arrested and sent to jail, the company financials was in trouble and they needed help. He's willing to help but with a stipulation with Brice as his wife. He has always had a crush on her and she's the nightly star of his fantasy. Brice grandfather called her and tell her come over the house that he wanted to speak to her. He told her that her was arrested and in jail and that they need her to help them out. But the catch was she had to marry her nemesis in order to save the company. What she didn't know that her family sold her to the highest bidder forcing her to in a close proximity to someone who she hated. But turns out to be the one who really had her back and truly loved her. She soon finds out that their chemistry is electrifying and scorching and she fits perfectly in his world.

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

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great mafia romance by this author. I always get captured into BB Hamel's books and don't put them down until completed. The books plot keeps you engrossed, and the spicy scenes are descriptive. Carmine is a very dirty talker and Brice wants it more than she ever thought she would. (check trigger warnings before reading)

This book is about Carmine the leader of his family and went to school with Brice who comes from old money. Carmine's money is from mafia business and Brice comes from an oil family. During the book though you learn it doesn't matter whether you make the money legally or not, people will still betray you.
Carmine has been jealous of Brice and how innocent and perfect she seems to be. He gets an opportunity to dirty her up and he takes it. She soon learns more about herself and that getting a little dirty makes her happy. Carmine gets over his jealousy and develops real feelings for Brice. Yet, people try to tear them apart and turn them against each other. Will they find a way to be together? Will Carmine save her? This couple will grow as individuals and together. They both discover secrets and figure out who they can really depend on. Along with these two characters there are others you meet. Carmine belongs to the Atlas Organization that he started along with 4 of his friends who are mentioned in the book. Brice also has a group of girlfriends that are a big part of her life. I wander if we will see any of these people again later in books, I'm excited to see where things might go.

"Your whole life has been so sheltered and safe and clean, and now I'm here to drag you deep into filth. I need you with me dirty girl, you dirty f*cking girl....".

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

[Mandi · Rating 1 out of 5]

✏️ Short Summary:
A mafia marriage-of-convenience with spice and sabotage, but it didn’t live up to its potential.

🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ — Steamy with frequent explicit scenes, but nothing particularly inventive.

🧠 Review:
I finally finished Beautiful Corruption, and honestly? It just wasn’t for me.

This was my attempt to dip further into the dark romance/mafia romance world, but it felt more like I was skimming than actually reading. Brice and Carmine had potential as a morally grey power couple — oil empire heiress meets cunning mafia heir — but it quickly turned into a spice-forward tale that lacked substance.

Carmine basically bribes Brice into a marriage of convenience: save her father’s company (he’s in jail for crypto fraud) in exchange for heirs. So yes, she’s a virgin, and there’s forced proximity vibes from the start. Brice — all high-society exterior — has a dirty kink streak that Carmine picks up on real quick. It’s hot at first, but it becomes repetitive. The few mafia twists, like Carmine being the one who tipped off the FBI and a hit gone wrong, were more interesting than their actual relationship. But even that couldn’t save the book for me. They get married in the end, with some cliché line about bringing light to each other’s darkness. Meh.

I usually enjoy discovering a new author or a spicy mafia plot, but this one fell flat. The plot development was weak, the chemistry didn’t have much depth, and I couldn’t connect with Brice at all. I had hopes when the mafia stuff started picking up, but it was too little too late. Carmine has potential as a complex character — ruthless but emotional — but it never quite got there.

I’ll probably take a break from B.B. Hamel’s books for now. Maybe I’ll come back later with lower expectations.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Beautiful Corruption” is an enemies-to-lovers Mafia romance, with an arranged marriage and plenty of unexpected developments. The main characters are surprising in multiple ways. Once I started reading this story, I was quickly drawn into it and couldn’t put it down.

Brice is a trust fund princess and a wealthy ‘old money’ family whose wealth began being amassed generations ago. The rich black oil in their wells has helped turn the family into upper-class bluebloods. Outrageous behavior by Brice’s father has landed the family on the verge of bankruptcy and social disaster. When someone offers to throw them a lifeline, the erstwhile Savior turns out to be a man Brice knew and despised in the past – when they attended the same exclusive high school. Carmine has come a long way from those days when he was the angry, rough son of a mafia Don; now he’s the brutal Don. He (and his dirty Mafia money) are determined to turn the prim and proper Brice into the dirty girl he’s always known she could be.

Carmine is an excellent anti-hero who gradually reveals himself to be more than he even thought was possible. Brice comes to difficult, painful realizations about everything she thought was true regarding her own family. The chemistry between Carmine and Brlce is more powerful than either of them expect. Secondary characters in the story are varied and interesting. They include her family members, her friends, members of his Mafia family, and his friends. The author brings it all together in a way that makes for an entertaining story.

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

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting Enemies to Lovers Mafia Romance
Seven years ago at Blackwoods College, Carmine Scavo ruins Brice Rowe’s day when he plunges her to the ground. There are two worlds at Blackwoods. The upper-crust elite, born with silver spoons, blue-blooded, trust-fund babies and then there are the scions of dark money, the sons of mafia dons, the children of dictators. She is of the former and Carmine is from the later. He is terrifying and magnetic and everything she is suppose to avoid. Nobody’s ever, ever spoken to her like he did. Now her Grandfather insists she marries him to save her family from ruin after her father took millions from the company and burned even more of their personal fortune in his crypto scheme. Carmine plans to take the Scavo Famiglia into the future, starting with the acquisition of a big stake in the Rowe Oil and the acquisition of a pretty little blue-blood wife. Her name will open doors even though he hates everything she stands for. This is a well written dark mafia romance with twists and turns that are captivating from the prologue right till the end. Brice and Carmine’s opposite backgrounds and the chemistry between them make a wonderful story! Hope to read more about their friends in the future.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

If you love a good enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, opposites attract mafia romance with all the spice then this book is DEFINITELY for you! This book is full of action, suspense, lust, desire, violence, obsession, and SMUT🌶🥵🔥!! Brice and Carmine’s story takes you on a wild ride.

At Blackwood’s(college) there are two worlds, trust fund elites and dark money elites. Brice the FMC is a trust friend elite and Carmine the MMC is a dark money elite. He’s been obsessed with Brice since the ultimate softball game fundraiser put on by Carmine’s group of friends, The Atlas Organization. Several years later Brice’s family is in the middle of a tumultuous scandal that is set to bring down the family name. Carmine can help Brice’s family with his wealth and power since he is now the Don of a Mafia in Philadelphia. There is only one stipulation that he requires in order to bail her family out of trouble, Brice MUST marry him. There is a thin line between love and hate. Brice must make a sacrifice and chose, saving the family by marriage or saving herself. Will Brice and Carmine make it to the altar?.

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

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turning The Tide Into Her Favour -
Brice was really angry when she discovered she would have to marry her childhood tormentor, Carmine to save the family business. However, what she didn’t know at the time was that, not only did Carmine have an ulterior motive, but also her family was to root cause of her predicament. Unfortunately, her quiet sedate life turned into one heck of a rollercoaster ride, with a near fatal incident and the discovery of how her family really felt about her existence.

Luckily, even though she despised Carmine, she realised that through all the drama, he was the only one who had helped and supported her. She finally accepted her fate and sought to live a happily ever after with him. I can say without a shadow of doubt, that B. B. Hamel has done it again. The story sucks you in at the beginning and doesn’t let go until you reach the end, but still leaves you wanting more. Get ready to have your socks blown off with this totally awesome story.

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

[kymagirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, intense enemies to lovers romance between Brice (h) and Carmine (H), a Philadelphia mafioso. one of her father's lieutenants. Year before Carmine literally physically rubbed Brice’s face in the dirt and now he’s offering to pull her family out of financial ruin, as long as she’s part of the deal. They both antagonize one another at every chance they get, and Karah doesn't really understand why Carmine seems to hate her so much. The action storyline is just nonstop, and events just keep building with so many interwoven plot elements. The powerful sexually interactions between Brice and Carmine keep escalating and climaxing throughout the story for them have their HEA. Her family is a real piece of work and while Carmine might be tearing her down to get her to open her eyes about things, he’s also there to save her and pick- her up. Given the nature of this story there is violence – attempted kidnapping, murders. A dark and intensely hot read about family betrayals and the thin line between love and hate.