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Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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I don’t know what made Forever decide to pick up and republish Dark Succession traditionally, but I am so happy they did! It’s a mafia romance about Teague, the heir to an Irish mafia family in Boston, and Callie, the daughter of a different mafia family who was thrust into the heiress role when her brother unexpectedly passed. Callie was originally set to marry Brandon Halloran, the heir of the third family running the city, but when push came to shove, Brandon actually ended up dead. Knowing that his death would cause an all out war, Teague and Callie’s family decide to have them marry so they can be a united front against the Hallorans. Callie and Teague’s relationship quickly blurs the lines between arranged and real, and they both are fighting their inner demons while trying to fight a war.
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I thought that this was incredibly cheesy but in the BEST way. I actually cried at one point, which was surprising for me with a Katee book, and I thought that Callie and Teague both were well developed characters. The plot was ridiculous, but isn’t it always in a mafia romance? I like that I was never too worried about the couple getting their happy ending, and appreciated that they had some hardships along the way.

A quick and super fun read!! I think this was a perfect mafia romance, especially for someone who isn't into them, or is looking to get further into them. There was suspense and action and very real stakes. Obviously amazing smut because.. Katee Robert duh
I cannot WAIT to read the rest of the series as it re-relases!!

Anything of Katee Robert’s is a five star for me - and this deliciously dark and smutty mafia romance just firmly places her in one of my top five smut authors of all time.

The three most powerful families in Boston - the Halloran’s, the O’Malley’s, and the Sheridan’s - are all well connected, well funded, and well armed. When an engagement between the Halloran and Sheridan heirs ends with an untimely death, a new marriage of convenience begins and a war of a lifetime unfolds. But as Teague and Callie try to keep their families safe and end the war before too many people are dead, they realize this marriage isn’t as much of a business move as it is a love story.

I absolutely loved the female characters of this book - Callie and Carrigan especially are such bad ass, strong, and fierce women that I could not help but root for them throughout the plot. I also loved how deliciously dirty and sexy the men - especially Teague - are, and even though there was sex throughout the whole book, the sex furthered the plot while also staying incredibly hot.

I’ve read other books by Katee Robert and this one falls right in line - I’m obsessed and will have to read the entire series.

As far as crime/mafia romance goes this one was fairly normal. I did really like the MMC, but most of the time I was mostly interested in the secondary characters. I felt like they had a lot more depth.

Dark Succession is an introduction to the O’Malley family, one of three crime families that run the Boston underground. In this book we focus on Teague, his struggles to be part of the family and his impending nuptials to Callista Sheridan, heir to one of the other two crime families.
Teague and Callie have an intense and instant chemistry that neither one try to deny but, as much as they might want to ignore it, an all-out war is brewing between their families and Hallorans. There are so many twists and turns from the start of this book that I wasn’t expecting. I adore the insta-love, “Who hurt you?” connection these two have from the jump. The story was an absolute roller-coaster of emotions that I couldn’t put down. It is mafia romance perfection.

Unfortunately, I am not a fan of people that are insta love and insta Crazy attraction. This made the book a little bit less believable, and I lost a little bit of interest in it because of that.

Thank you to Forever Grand Central Publishing, NetGalley, and Katee Robert for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a solid mafia romance. The two main characters were intriguing and likable, the chemistry between them a bit Insta-lusty but still fun. I found there to be almost too many POVs and at times it got confusing which person was narrating at which time, because the POVs switched fluidly and quickly. There were also several sub-plots that could pull me out of the overarching story. The main plot was exiting and fun. Overall a solid book!

Mafia romance with a lot of spice! Both Callista and Teague have secrets that could endanger their lives and the story built nicely around the concept of trust and danger. Callista is a strong FMC who has gone through a trauma and Teague is the perfect counter-balance of over-protective MMC without being overbearing. There was a bit of insta-love going on, but with the short timeline of the story, it was expected so I didn't mind the trope. I highly enjoyed this book and I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Wow! I've been reading the Neon Gods series by Katee Robert and really enjoying it so when this came up I figured I'd give it a try. SO moody and dark and mafia-esque. The O'Malleys are a wild bunch and I'm super intrigued to see where this goes. I don't know if I love these but I for sure have to read the next one because the drama! Curse Katee Robert for hooking me in!!!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for sending me a copy of this of this book.
It’s been a while since I have read a mafia romance, let alone a dark romance, and MAN I needed this, and it definitely helped that this book was AMAZING. Not only was the spice amazing, but the book included so many iconic mafia romance tropes like the who hurt you, and the big tuff mafia man being absolutely obsessed with his girl. I will definitely continue this series, it’s like a mafia version of Bridgerton, and I am now definitely looking forward to reading more of Katee’s books in the future.

"Whatever she'd expected from this kiss, it certainly hadn't been desire. Though DESIRE was too tame a word. She'd felt desire before, and this wasn't it. This was...need. All-consuming need that devoured everything in its path, leaving only destruction in its wake."

What You'll Find:
--Mafia Crime Romance
--Marriage of Convenience
--Possessive/Protective Alpha
--'Who Hurt You'
--Multiple POV

I really enjoyed this one. Despite it being very insta, and lighter for a mafia romance, I really loved their connection. They bring some serious sexual tension and chemistry. I liked that she was a strong heroine with a vulnerable side. And while I liked his possessive and protective side from the get go, he felt conflictingly, a little soft for a mafia romance at times. I also found there were many pockets of inner monologue that took me out of the story at times. Overall though, it was a quick enjoyable read. I am quite intrigued by the storyline setup, and its characters so I definitely want to continue this series. Looking forward to Carrigan's story!!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review in progress and to come.

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

I would recommend if you like mafia romance, insta love, dark romance, spice and forced marriage. The spice was good. It wasn’t my favorite Katee Roberts book but it was a quick and easy read.

I read my first mafia romance and literally finished it in 3-4 hours! “Dark Succession” by Katee Robert is a real wild one and is totally bingeable!

This story revolves around three Irish mafia families in Boston! Business alliances are formed through arranged marriages within the family hierarchies! However, one bride to be holds onto a dark secret that causes war within the three families! Loss, gain, danger, power, revenge and tons of grit are all deliciously tangled together in this action packed

Read this if you like
🖤 mafia storylines
🖤 insta lust/love
🖤 arranged marriages
🖤 dark romances
🖤 exposed family histories
🖤 lotsa spice

Thank you to Forever Pub, Grand Central Pub, Katee Robert and Netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases May 9, 2023!

🖤👑Book Review🖤

Thank you Forever Pub for the ARC via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this mafia romance, it was easy to read and the story flowed well. Teague and Callie had a solid and wholesome romance and i’m really interested to see what happens James and Carrigan!

Read this if you like:
🖤👑Mafia romance
🖤👑Feuding family
🖤👑Solid romance with HEA

Spice meter: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I love a Katee Robert romance however typically I read a monster or Greek retelling. This is my first mafia romance with her. And it was just as sexy and spicy as is expected from Katee

I was a little disappointed in how helpless Callista was after the moment of strength in the beginning. I was just expecting a little more push for her future, especially as an heir. I couldn't compute these differences in characters

For Teague its a love at the first signed situation and he automatically wants to take care of Callist and she kind of allows it

Since this is a reprint series. I will keep going - I hear the other characters' romances have FMC with more push than this so I will keep this in mind to keep reading

All in all, I did enjoy this romance and the spice. Chefs kiss

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Katee Roberts for a free arc in exchange for an honest review. Katee roberts knows how to read one addictive, intoxicating book. And this one is no different! The characters, the plot, the smut all work together to pull you in and makes it to where you can’t put it down! A fabulously delicious read all around!

i think ‘married in secret’ might be one of my new favorite tropes. this book was hot, steamy, and fast paced. i will read anything that katee robert writes, but this was one of her best pieces i’ve read so fair. while crime family isn’t my usual go to, katee really draws you in with star crossed characters that you can’t help but root for. i loved carrigans POVS and am hoping we get more of her story in the future!!

Not bad but not my favorite. It is a Mafia romance but not necessarily a fantasy but it seemed like it required more suspension of disbelief than a fantasy tale. The plot is loose but works in the end. You can tell it is one of her earlier works and her formula wasn't really defined yet. A good general read and fits her style if you are already fan of her other works.

Fast-paced mafia classic. Dramatic, with lots of focus on family dynamics. I liked that both main characters were part of the new generation and were pulling in different directions: Teague wants to get out of the family business completely, Callie wants to go legit. Loved the protector vibes. Definitely had the "who hurt you?" moments!

Overall, the romance is not super developed, but this first story certainly sets up for more development as a series. And while it doesn't quite end in a cliffhanger, it certainly wraps up very quickly and leaves quite a bit to be answered.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.