I like Sophie Lark's writing style. I like her storytelling but I don't like mafia books.

It's me, it's my fault for requesting these book. I really enjoye this book and the parallels to beauty and the beast. I will continue the series because I want to see all the siblings find love.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was the first ever Sophie Lark book I have ever read and I’m so delighted I received this arc because now I can’t wait to dive into more of this world! I can confirm that the books in this series truely do stand alone, as this is 2 in the series and it was a perfect place to start in my opinion. (Did I immediately go out and grab the first book in the series? Yes, I did)

The tropes in this book absolutely SERVED and that’s all thanks to Sophie’s sophisticated and fun writing. I didn’t know what to expect but is heard her name, and I can now see why she’s so popular.

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc copy of this book.

I was very excited to read this as I have heard soo much about Sophie Lark and her amazing brutal birthright series.

This did not disappoint. I'll definitely be going back and reading the whole series. Who doesn't love a good mafia romance!

Stolen Heir is a contemporary mafia retelling of beauty and the beast. Great for fans of enemies to lovers plotlines, Nessa spends.a lot of this book as Miko's captive, so be aware this is a kidnapping story and consequently a little dark and twisted. Spicy and kind of trashy, things in this book have some dubious consent as well so be warned.

This is a solid 3 stars - maybe 3.5. It’s a quick and easy read which I whizzed through in one sitting. It’s got lots of tension and steamy romance and the plot of the book is filled with action. The only downside for me was Nessa, I didn’t relate to her at all and there was moments I was just wishing for her to do something about her situation. However if you like a Mafia romance you will love this.

Excuse me while I go and melt!! This book was AMAZING!!!! I need to read more from this series so I look forward to reading the next book!

"Stolen Heir," the second book in Sophie Lark's Brutal Birthright series, presents a dark and gothic enemies-to-lovers tale woven with themes of vengeance, innocence, and the transformative power of love. This contemporary retelling of Beauty and the Beast, set against the backdrop of Chicago's underworld, delivers a compelling narrative that combines the delicate artistry of ballet with the brutal world of the mafia.

Nessa Griffin, portrayed as a gentle and compassionate soul, struggles to find her place within her family's notorious mafia empire. Her character, a ballerina, symbolizes purity and grace, a stark contrast to the world of violence and power she is born into. Despite her upbringing, she retains an innocence and a kindness that sets her apart from the legacy of her family's crimes​​​​.

Mikolaj Wilk, known as Miko, emerges as a character hardened by loss and fueled by a desire for revenge against the Griffin family, whom he holds responsible for his father's death. Capturing Nessa as part of his vengeful plot, he is a man driven to the edge, embodying the archetype of the beast in his gothic mansion. Yet, as he finds himself increasingly drawn to Nessa, a complex relationship unfolds, challenging his resolve and the very foundations of his vengeful intentions​​​​.

The narrative arc is intense, beginning with Miko's tragic past, shaping him into a figure seemingly incapable of emotion, except for his need for revenge. In stark contrast, Nessa's sweet and innocent nature, coupled with her unexpected feistiness and cleverness, begins to thaw Miko's frozen heart. The dynamic between captor and captive evolves beautifully, with a growing tension and attraction that leaps off the pages, challenging both characters to reconsider their preconceived notions of each other and their circumstances​​​​.

"Stolen Heir" is adept at delving into the psychology of its characters, exploring the themes of trust, redemption, and the possibility of finding humanity within the darkness. Nessa's unwavering kindness becomes a beacon for Miko, revealing the man beneath the monstrous façade. The novel doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of its setting, yet it threads a delicate balance, creating a narrative that is both raw and tender​​​​.

Sophie Lark's writing is praised for its ability to captivate and imprint the story in the reader's soul, with the book containing moments of unexpected twists and emotional depth. The supporting cast of characters adds richness to the story, providing a backdrop that enhances the main narrative. "Stolen Heir" is not just a romance but an exploration of whether love can truly conquer all, even in a world where the wolves prey on the lambs​​​​.

"Stolen Heir" is a must-read for fans of mafia romance and those who enjoy a story that deftly combines the thrill of danger with the hope of redemption. The book's portrayal of an unlikely romance blossoming in the unlikeliest of places is a testament to Sophie Lark's storytelling prowess. It’s a gripping tale that promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats, questioning the nature of love and the power it has to change even the coldest of hearts.

Not so surprisingly, it’s another Sophie Lark book that I love and had a blast reading. This whole series is extremely addicting and I’m having such a fun time reading these books.

The character dynamic between these two was so intriguing and I loved it so much! The tension was just on a whole new level that I was totally eating up every minute.

This is easily becoming a new favorite series with these characters, the plots, and the dynamics of the story itself. I will always be drawn to Sophie’s books because they are each so incredibly unique and have her voice in such a strong way. I love it!!!

*Thank you Bloom Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I like the author, but this book just wasn't for me. I couldn't continue reading it. I couldn't connect with the characters. I despise the cliché of the beautiful virgin falling for the 'beast' who treats her like nothing, and then suddenly he desires her.

please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: yes
spice: several open door scenes
TWs: violence, murder, rape, suicide, stalking, sexual assault, kidnapping, threats, MILD dubious consent, I mean basically Stockholm syndrome.. but in a cute way
standalone: book 2 in the Brutal Birthright Series
final thoughts: once again love the illustrations in these series but TW for some of the scenes that were chosen to be illustrated. So good and plenty of darkness that makes you wonder how they’ll end up becoming lovers – this to me was a great story that is contemporary romance with an actual enemies to lovers storyline. Their relationship was fun to follow and I’m a sucker for a 1st person POV with dual POVs.

read this book if you love

💓 slowburn
🔀 opposites attract
🔫 mafia
🌀 plot twists
🤐 secrets
🤐 miscommunication
☠️ “touch her and die”
🔢 age gap (19/26)
🏝️ forced proximity (captive/captor)
🏉 sports romance (ballet)
😳 forbidden lovers (rival families)
📖 retelling (Beauty and the Beast vibes)
😡 grumpy/sunshine

I’m not ordinarily a huge mafia romance lover, but let me tell you this book proved me wrong. Had some beauty and the beast vibes to it. both MC were very relatable and Miko was *chef’s kiss*. I think I enjoyed it even more than the first book.

Not so surprisingly, it’s another Sophie Lark book that I love and had a blast reading. This whole series is extremely addicting and I’m having such a fun time reading these books.

The character dynamic between these two was so intriguing and I loved it so much! The tension was just on a whole new level that I was totally eating up every minute.

This is easily becoming a new favorite series with these characters, the plots, and the dynamics of the story itself. I will always be drawn to Sophie’s books because they are each so incredibly unique and have her voice in such a strong way. I love it!!!

*Thank you Bloom Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

This is a good entry into dark romance, I feel. It has the dark mafia world and dark origins for our villainous MMC but it doesn’t get too graphic or scary after that. It’s a good landing point to test if dark romance or mafia romance could be for you. It’s alas spicy but not rushed or over the top, again a great entry point to readers new to spice who want heat without it being too much right at the top.

Miko is really well written. The story starting with his life and what he lost in Poland set up a great character arc for him, so I was able to accept his horrible behaviour in the present knowing the man he’d be able to grow back into. The pacing was also great, I was never bored or left wondering for too long. The story kept me engaged and moved along nicely.

I would have loved more scenes of them together, really falling for each other. While their coming together did not feel rushed, there could have been a lot more smaller moments while they are in the house trapped together to amp up the tension and the longing.

Thank you Source Books and Bloom Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was really amazing! I had a hard time putting it down and just had to play the "soundtrack song" of each scene that had one. I thought it matched up perfectly. I also found it very interesting how a captive and a captor can end up feeling the way they end up feeling. Not sure that can happen for real, but I love that it happened in the book. I would definitely recommend this book to my fellow romance readers. Thank you so much to Bloom Books #bloombooks for allowing me to read this.

A kind of beauty and the beast retelling with a mafia twist.I didn't think the couple really connected it was rush the writing was decent but not as good as the previous book.

I can say that this book is wattpad coded. It’s mafia and it’s not that dark. I don’t think it’s actually dark romance at all. And we get an happy ending.

Characters wise, there aren’t much chemistry between them. The only they had are on bed. Progress of the story kinda rush. Especially before the 10 years skip. It’s just giving information why Mikolaj is the way he is now instead of getting the reader truly in depth into his past. (To be honest I thought it was the female character’s POV at that time and I had to reset my head again when I realised it later on haha)

But I really want to give the author a credit for putting really good details and information. It’s not easy tho to pile up those informations just to give the reader better visualisation.

Maybe I’ll try to read Nero’s book just for curiosity.

Enemies to lovers, good bad all the angst. Opposites in almost every single way. Mafia romance with a touch of Stockholm syndrome.

3 ★

“𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙥𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙉𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙖. 𝙉𝙤 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝, 𝙣𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩, 𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙤𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙣𝙪𝙢𝙗 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙙. 𝙄𝙛 𝙄 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣, 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚. 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩. 𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”

Thank you NetGalley and the author for sending me this book!

Pls Remember that this is a dark romance kidnapping story! The characters in this book are not 100% in the head so keep that in mind while reading this review and reading this book!

TW: r*pe, su*cide, stalking, etc

The first chapter has so many trigger warnings I was so emotional and invested after reading that and the art in there🤌🤌 crying- and the first like 40% were kinda good yk but then it just went 📉 mostly bc:

𝟏. The kidnapping trope wasn’t done well. The only kidnapping stories I have read were on wattpad so idk if I have any say in this but the kidnapping trope was just not it??? Yk what I mean?? When it comes to dark romance story’s like kidnapping the story has to be written in a specific kind of way to make it enjoyable and not make you feel creeped out or like “what. Is. Going. On.” Dark romance is after all a side of romance that can go wrong very easily if it’s not written well.

𝟐. The length- tell me why my copy was 247 pages long 😭😭😭 did I get the right copy bc no way all of that happened in 247 pages- he fell for her way too quickly like there wasn’t any development he just went from “I hate her” to “I love her” and I was like where did this come from 😭 Nessa kinda too but not as bad as him.

𝟑. The romance. No slow burn, no tension, no consent. The moment he felt like he wanted her, he kissed her. I’ll go deeper into this later.

𝘕𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢

“𝙄 𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙. 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙩. 𝙈𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡.”

She was cute, I liked her but there are some things she did that didn’t feel like her and something she did that I did not feel comfortable with. The way she was portrayed throughout the story didn’t fit in with what she did at times, they were very out of character.

The dance/str*pping scene was very out of character and just not Nessa. The Nessa she was supposed to be would not do that + the other sxual thing she did during and after that scene with her kidnapper while she was just crying 1 minute ago begging him to not kill her brother- if you haven’t read this you probably don’t understand what I’m talking about, but basically, these scenes were very out of character.

She also touched him while he was sleeping and that made me uncomfortable bc he may want you butttt that doesn’t give you the right to just go to the guys room and touch him the way you did while he is asleep and he literally pushed your hand away a couple minutes ago when you also tried it- PLUS IT DID NOT FIT HER CHARACTER ONCE AGAIN SHE IS SUPPOSED TO BE THIS SWEET INNOCENT SHY VIRGIR OR WHATEVER ANS SHES OUT HERE STRIPPING AND TOUCHING HIM LIKE THAT BAE THAT IS NOT THE DEFINITION OF SHY

The way she thought about her parents after also was kinda…Idk. Like yea I can understand how you feel but you also gotta understand how your parents feel. You’ve been missing for a whole month and now you want to marry your kidnapper ofc they gonna be like “girl go back to your room”😭

If we forget all those points, she was a pretty fun character to follow around. Her fear and all was pretty realistic in the beginning and her crying like that <s>I would be crying too</s>


𝘔𝘪𝘬𝘰

“𝙃𝙚’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.”

Uhm idk😃😃 I don’t really like him but I wouldn’t say I hate him. He is FCKED in the head and not like “owh psycho 🤭” no more like “owh psycho😟” <s>I really hope you guys understand what I mean</s>. We also never touched the topic of his sister again what was weird bc she was such a big part of his life so I expected an emotional scene that would bound them or something but no.

Anyways many things about him just didn’t sit well with me. The fact that he THOUGHT about undressing her while she was unconscious so she can be scared when she wakes up was already bad enough, but I’m happy he didn’t actually do it.

He’s fcked and he talks about women like objects even though he had a sister like 🤨🤨 okay, I understand. He’s supposed to represent a fcked up guy who’s mentally GONE but some things just didn’t sit well with me- you can write a psycho and have me go 🤭🤭 while reading, or you write him in such a way that I go 😳

<I>“Of all the evil things I’ve done in my life, and they are legion, I’ve never forced myself on a woman. It’s the one thing I won’t do.”</i>
And yet you just grabbed her hair and kissed her with no consent knowing you kidnapped her and she doesn’t like you. I can excuse murder but not touching someone with no consent.

Is that all you may ask?

No of course not😃 After that he watched her pleasure herself through the camera he placed in her room. I don’t think my girl knew that, she never mentioned she knew it if I’m right so wtf? Like wtf? Pls don’t, pls. Don’t. That made me very uncomfortable I’m sorry 😭

Anyways I’m probably going to continue the rest of the series but I don’t really recommend this

Smut: yea like 5/6 scenes

Nessa was born into a family of mobsters, but she has always been kept out of the family business. Her family thought this would be enough to keep her safe. They were wrong.
When her family takes out the leader of an opposing family, Nessa finds herself in the middle of a war.

This was my first mobster romance, and I was a fan. I read this as a standalone, but I think I could go back and read the first one even though I know the outcome.
This was a slow burn romance, that you can easily read in a weekend. If you are looking for a fast, dark romance, this might be it!

I already loved brutal prince so I was so excited to read the second sequel to it. It reminded me of twisted love series + magnolia parks series combined. Modern day mafia romance and it was spicy and good. You cannot put this book down once you are dipping your toes into it. It was such a fast pace read for me and I enjoyed it.