Thank you to NetGalley, Relay Publishing, and Ms. Ash for an opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required. I meant to post this review yesterday, but we had 25 inches of rain (a record!) and I was a little sidetracked.

This was fun. I really enjoyed that it was set in Miami, as opposed to the ubiquitous NYC or Chicago options. The Spanish flavor lent it a little extra uniqueness and set it apart from the many dark mafia romance I have come across on KU and elsewhere. (That being said, I was surprised that no one referred to Emma [or did I miss it?] as a gringa.) I especially liked Angel's POV sections. After that ending I'll be keeping my eye out for book #2. I would also like to see what happens with Omar, as I felt the characters took pains to emphasize how he could/would never get a woman (which obviously means he's about to meet the love of his life).

Vicious Heir brings you everything that you could look for in a mafia romance. Drama, suspense, the ultimate hate/want trope. Please check the trigger warnings on this book before you decide to read it. This book also ends in a major cliffhanger, with book two set to be released in October surrounding Angel’s brother Omar..

I enjoyed the multiple-POV aspect of this book. It helped to give a good insight into both Angel and Emma, which helps to round out the main characters as a whole. The story begins with Emma saving Angel’s life, which leads to Angel’s father orchestrating an arranged marriage between the two. Vicious Heir is very action packed from the very beginning, so don’t expect a soft launch into the story.

However I did find that the story to be particularly fast paced, sometimes too fast at times. However the story itself is very easy to follow, which was quick and easy to read within a day. The tension between Angel and Emma was definitely there, and there was plenty of strong one-liners that had me grinning.

Overall I enjoyed this book. It feel like it was lacking in some areas and could’ve done with more detail, however I definitely recommend it if mafia romances are your thing.

Rating: 4/5⭐️

Publication Date: April 13th 2023

Author: Bella Ash

Review:ARE YOU KIDDING ME. This book had a mind blowing ending. I knew that it was too good to be true they the happy family came to be..
father=🐍 I had a feeling something was going to happen when they asked him to come to the facility at the end because just going with a family member with you would be too peaceful. I am not one who generally liked to be left on a cliffhanger like this but I cannot wait for the next book!! Lucky we don’t have to wait long just until October

This story has mafia, suspense, betrayal, violence, and some steamy romance. The story starts with Emma, who accidentally saves the life of Angel, a sexy cartel guy. But instead of a thank you, she ends up with his forced marriage proposal. From there, they're thrown into a world of danger, drugs, and secrets they never knew existed. I loved how Emma is morally complex, and Angel has his soft side, despite being tough. The writing style is easy and fun, perfect for when you want to escape from reality. But fair warning, there are some trigger warnings, so be prepared. Overall, it is an exciting read that will leave you craving more with its cliffhanger ending!

UN.PUT.DOWN.ABLE!!
Wow! Dying here! I love Angel & Emma's clashes back and forth. It's definitely an I hate you but I want you but I certainly don't want to love you situation. Neither will back down nor admit defeat until someone - or both of them - is broken. Ahhhhh! So good!!
Although...
After that last chapter, I know Bella Ash must be sitting in her office with an evil grin on her face and rubbing her hands together like the devilish villian she is!! Book 2 is about Omar, Angel's surly brother & 2nd in command, but he better have some major answers for what just went down! Grrrr!!!

I read and really liked Ash's previous series, the Sokolov Bratva, but this new series outshines that a hundred times over so far! I am on the edge of my seat and CANNOT WAIT for the next book, Brutal Enforcer!

(I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book)

I need to say that this book is definitely not of the highest quality when you look at the style and wording used. But it doesn’t need to be, Bella Ash did not intend for it to become a classic, so why should she write it as one. This book is easy to read and fun for when you need something that takes your mind off life in general and doesn’t take up too much of your time.

Something I really liked was the way it was written from two POV’s. You get the chance to experience both Emma and Angel their views which gives you the chance to find out what is going on their heads. Not in the overly dramatic way this was done in the 50 shades series, but more casually sprinkled throughout the story. At times it does make it a bit more difficult to understand who’s POV you are currently reading, still I think it’s a fun twist Bella added.

Onto the verdict

Vicious heir is a fast paced story, maybe a bit too fast at times. There are quite a lot of triggers so double check to know if this book is for you. Overall I liked the read it is perfect as some light reading with a bit of spice in there.

For me the spice could have been a bit more detailed and the scenes could have been a bit longer. It was a great book to get to know this new genre and the ending will leave you in a state of “what the actual f” for a bit and left me wanting for more this being the reason why I will definitely get the second book the moment it comes out.

Really really good, it was amazing from the first page, I would recommend it to anyone can’t wait to see what’s next

Absolutely loved how this book jumped right into the storyline with limited buildup. It kept me entertained from the start. It is perfect for those wanting to start tipping their toes into the dark Romance sub-genre. I loved the cliff hanger and can’t wait to read more in this series and by this author

I dove right into this story and it took me for a ride. Sexy, dangerous, thrilling, and the ending..... I was not prepared for that. Angel is my kind of book boyfriend absolutely delicious and dangerous. I sure hope there is a followup to this book. Will be recommending this book as soon as it publishes.

ARC Review of Vicious Heir by Bella Ash
* * * * *
It's only the beginning of this dark romance series, and I am hooked!

One quick choice changed Emma's life.
She was only doing it out of reflex. She was a good person. She was not horrible or part of some evil scheme. She was only delivering a package...no knowing she was bait.
The life of the man she saved is now holding her prisoner, in his home and in matrimony.
Angel didn't want to marry the beautiful woman that saved him, however, a life debt is something that cannot be overlooked. Now, they were both stuck in an arrangement that neither can escape that also has Emma tossed into a world that has her trembling.
Drugs, guns, violence, blood and death. Back room deals and meetings that would send good people shivering in fear. Egotistical males with ideas of how women should be.
However, Angel is not the man she assumed him to be.
He is more trapped that she could assume.
They need each other in the craziness. In the troublesome family that promises loyalty.

I am not one for mafia romances, I have probably said this enough, yet this book was another exception. I mean, dude, way to leave me hanging and wanting more!
Emma has some serious back bone. She adapted and still made it work out for herself. Thankfully Angel is not like the other older men in his family. He still is pained from the loss he suffered, and promises to better than those in his family when it comes to his wife. Even when they aren't so snuggly first off.
With the piled up betrayals and secrets, I can only wonder how it will all come together.
So many characters I want to see happy endings for and if they get their own story!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. I finished this book seconds ago and I’m speechless. This book was so good! The ending?!?! Omg. Two total opposites find love and end up completely in love. Mix a little mafia into the mix and u have a page turner! I hope theres a next book!

This book made me nearly cry, laugh, shake my head in irritation and made me feel many more things. My favorite things was the style of writing and how well the characters were portrayed. Even though the good and evil characters were established from the start, It still kept me wondering how it could end. Like I said, I loved the writing style. Everything was so well detailed and explained that I didn't have to read the same sentence over and over again so I could understand what they were doing (Especially on the love scenes). The Dual POV's really helped me grope the situation and what was happening, which made the story more enchanting at the end. 80% of the book, I felty the action, irritation and the building love. And the other 20%, I just melted into the love and fluff.

Found family, enemies to lovers and some mafia romance combined. It hooked me from he beginning. I especially enjoyed the fast paced start where the building didn't linger for several chapters but instead got straight to the point and took us on a journey. I like books that don't over-explain everything and make the books so slow paced and like 500 pages. It was sweet and kept hooking me back into the story and plot.

The sibling loyalty was everything. Omer, Angel and Lili's sibling banter made me love them even more (Manny just made me laugh all the way). Their loyalty, strength and vulnerability made everything so much better.

Lastly, Angelo and Emma...they were just incredible. I loved how even though Emma was afraid, she witted her way through and Angelo eventually opened up in his own way. What made it even better is that even though Angelo was in a Cartel, he made sure to protect Emma and get her consent throughout everything. He truly made me chuckle with his inner voice towards the ending. Though I still had some questions left in the end like why didn't Emma let Angelo kiss her on the lips? But I feel like we are gonna get some of the answers in the second book.

Overall, I loved the book even though I still have some unanswered questions. ı can't waşt to follow up on the cliffhanger cause I need to at this point (Im really invested in the plot).

I enjoyed this read. How they met, how the H won the h over despite the lack of trust, the drama with the family. And then, I get to the end, take a deep breath and relax because it is now the HEA.... NOPE! Cliffhanger! That was some messed up bullshit right there. Warn someone! I don't know if I'll want to read what happens next. To me, the H and h got their HEA, the rest of the drama doesn't interest me.

Intense organized crime trapped enemy to lovers tale that will keep you reading into the night. Be ready to suspend disbelief in many of the interactions that just wouldn't happen, even in the cartels - I dropped a star because of the very end. Author seemed to be going for shock or drama, but missed the boat and it just didn't work - at all. (REC: Just skip that last chapter!).

Dark romance perfectly describes this book. There's a lot of death and lack of morality that was quite interesting. I was a bit taken aback by the way most of the characters had a hair-trigger and would flip on a dime from happy to murderous in 1.5 seconds flat. There were parts of the story that I enjoyed, but I was hopeful for just a bit more in the character development.

This is a beginning of a series but ends in a serious cliffhanger! I loved it and can't believe I have to wait for the sequel. Do you need a Beta reader? Steamy, but with a great story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the sneak peek in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thoughts while reading Vicious Heir: Book 1

Vicious Heir by Bella Ash (Castillo Cartel Book 1)
1. (forced proximity, fake marriage, possessive, cartel / mafia style story)
2. What a cliffhanger !!!
3. FMC: Emma / MMC: Angel
4. 👎🏾No real start up - action immediately
5. 👎🏾 what color is Emma’s hair ?! There’s no real description of her other than curves and blue eyes
6. Action: due to nature of storyline, gun violence and violence in general and heavily throughout the book
7. Current/modern mentions to give you a timeframe
8. 👎🏾Life saving for life debt component wasn’t as strong as thread made in story
9. FMC comes off as the shy, insecure type in aspects of sex (virgin) - she has a redemption arc for this
10. MMC is very grumpy! But he comes around
11. Classic romance trope - virgin orgasms during first sex encounter
12. “Are you still confused about your place ? Where do you belong? Tell me” (best quote!)
13. Book 2 - following brother Omar (Brutal Enforcer) due out in Oct - sooo long away

Warning this has spoilers!

Vicious Heir by Bella Ash is a forced marriage mafia book. I rated this book 3 stars out of 5 stars. It has a decent amount of spice in it and there’s a couple tropes that pop up in this book: possessive a*hole, love/hate, unexpected baby, and parental trauma. I thought the plot was easily to stay engaged especially as I finished it in one day. It seemed very rushed in the beginning and then started to slow down and more interesting about halfway through the book. The rushed part is a big part as to why this got only 3 stars. Not only did the plot feel rushed but so did the relationship with Angel and Emma and I’m not just talking about them being married so quickly. I also gave this three stars because there’s being an a*hole who loves the female character but don’t know how to say it and there’s another of being an a*hole as part of a generic character to make the main female character feel bad.
Vicious Heir starts off with Emma walking into deliver a package to Angel as a courier. Shortly after delivering the package, a rival mafia family starts shooting up the area. Emma forces Angel down and saves him from receiving a fatal blow. Angel then is forced to take her back to his compound to see what to do with her since he now owes her a life debt. His father forces a marriage to ensure that Emma is safe and to produce an heir as Angel is the heir to the Castillo mafia. Angel’s father is a ruthless and cruel man who doesn’t take no very well. While there is no love or want to get married, the marriage happens regardless. From the wedding kiss, desire was sparked between Angel and Emma. Emma then begins to learn what the meaning of being a mafia matriarch is and Angel starts learning what it’s like to have something that is solely yours and how to be his own kind of husband. Angel helps Emma heal from her mother’s passing from cancer and they both start developing feelings. Emma fights the feelings as she doesn’t want to be in love with a morally dark gray man and Angel doesn’t want to seem soft towards his wife as his father never was to his own wife. During this time, Angel’s dad is trying to build a peace alliance with the rival mafia family even though it all seems to be a trap. Eventually Angel disagrees with his father on building the alliance in front of the rival family which embarrasses and upsets his father. His father then attempts to have pregnant Emma murdered. Angel finds her in time and they both confess their love for each other. Angel’s father is forced into retirement at hospice and Angel takes over. The books ends on a cliffhanger of Angel visiting his father in his dying hours and Angel is shot by the rival family.
One thing I really liked about this book was the idea of family love in this book. You can see how much Emma loved her mom purely based on all the heartbreak she feels for the loss of her mother. Plus, it was so sweet when Emma found out she was pregnant that she wanted to be just like her mom for her own baby. I also thought the love between Omar, Lili and Angel was amazing. It’s loyalty and devotion all wrapped up in a way that having an abusive family could only create. Most mafia books don’t show that kind of love between siblings as they are usually fighting to be heir. I also thought it was sweet how much they all wanted to protect their little cousin Manny from being part of the clan so early.
There were a couple things I disliked about this book, but the biggest thing was whirl-wind love affair that seems to happen in this book. They even joke about Angel being in a Stockholm marriage. Emma is essentially kidnapped and forced into a marriage or be killed. She obviously doesn’t want to be killed but then she just basically throws herself at Angel in bed. She fights her feelings of love, but it just seemed like it was a forced writing to have her change all her own morals to fall in love with him.

This book is very straight-forward and exactly what I thought it would be going into it. It was everything I hoped for, and it didn't disappoint. I think a last round of editing at the beginning of the book would be helpful, but I know it's not always possible. That was just my editor brain going into this. That isn't why it's 4 stars for me. The story was very well written, I enjoyed it for exactly what it was. The only thing that tripped me up was POV switching mid-chapter. It was disorienting the couple of times that it happened and took me out of the story. Otherwise, if you're looking for a mafia romance, this is a perfect example.

That was an amazing story! Exquisitely intriguing with a flare of unexpected passion and understanding. Who'd have thought such a story could bring a tender, eye watering moment to light. With lot of twists be prepared to be annoyed and excited.