Sophie Lark does it again!!!!! I eat these books up every single time. DANTE GALLO is all I need to say. I’m also a sucker for a second chance romance. I really enjoyed this book!

I didn’t realise this book was re-released on NetGalley. Having already read this book and reviewed it previously on my goodreads account , I won’t be writing a review for this book.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for sending me Dante and Simone’s story yet again.

Unfortunately Dante's book wasn't my favorite of the series. It was a second chance love story with the first half being taken up by the past storyline and the second half the second chance. The past storyline felt kind of Insta-lovey and even though the same conflict that lead to the breakup in the first place still existed they got back together. I personaly would have wished for a final chapter where the two main characters talked about that conflict in their relationship.

"Bloody Heart" by Sophie Lark has been described as a captivating and engaging read that quickly draws the reader into a story filled with powerful emotions. The book is an angst-ridden, fast-paced, and action-packed second chance Mafia romance, part of the "Brutal Birthright" series. It portrays a tale of love, sacrifice, and the complexities of relationships, ultimately culminating in a happy ending. The novel is set against a backdrop of suspense, political maneuvering, and moral ambiguity, making it a compelling read for fans of the genre. I have been following this series and I am very much enjoying it. Sophie Lark has a way of spinning a tale into an action packed, sexy, and soulful way. I look forward to continuing the "Brutal Birthright" series. This book can be enjoyed as part of the series, or as a stand-alone.

Sophie Lark continues to write stories that have me completely entertained and in love with reading. I completely adore this series and these characters and Sophie Lark just continues to deliver incredible books and the plot gets better and better.

I loved this next installment in this series. She is able to write characters with such intense chemistry that it flies off the page. I flew through this book and adored every second of it. I always have been and always will be a huge Sophie Lark fan!!!

We finally know why Dante went to Iraq, and it was a very Romeo & Juliet-esk vibe but somehow even faster in pace than the Shakespearean tale.

The touching of how men view their daughters as chess pieces instead of human beings was very clear at the beginning of the book and throughout. Simone is viewed as the next step in her father's rise from his poor start, and while I am someone from a white immigrant family & have no idea of the hardships he has faced or his family, I wish men would realize that their children are not them! I thought that this was an interesting addition to the story, especially after Simone became independent and forced her parents to realise she would have a life with or without them.

I adored Riona & Dante's friendship. They are such a good platonic pair! Knowing her book is next, and she will have an 'in danger' themed book, makes me excited to see her family and her friendships with in-laws come out.

The only thing I didn't love about this book was the brutality of how Dante acted when he discovered she still loved him; I felt uncomfortable with that 'show me how sorry you are' scene, so it took me out of it when I honestly loved the book. It took off a star because of that.

Dante and Simone's second chance romance is filled with so much emotional trauma and angst. This novel will break your heart and slowly piece itself back together again. Family dynamics and mental health play a major role in this novel.

Dual POV, Spicy, Mafia Romance, Secret Pregnancy, Second Chance, It Was Always You

4 stars

Bloody Heart is the fourth Book in the Brutal Birthright series by Sophie Lark, it is Dante and Simone. I love this series. It is a Mafia romance following several families, it has suspense, spice and a lot of political maneuvering, all of it great. Each book is unique and exciting. Bloody Heart, while engrossing and I had a great time, is not my favorite in the series. The reason it is not my favorite is because it has some of the tropes in it that I am not a fan of, but I still had a really good time reading it. The writing is good and pulls you in. Dante and Simone have a second chance trope, which I love but I am picky about, but this book delivered and really ripped your heart out at times. Dante is definitely my favorite character in the series, he just has a ridge and series way about him being serious all the time, but Simone really brings something else out of him. The artwork through the book was so amazing and I loved getting those beautiful pictures to go along with the story. I think that while some parts of the plot were not for me, it is still a solid, captivating, action packed read, that makes for a great addition to this series.
I received an ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

Sophie Lark continues to write stories that have me completely entertained and in love with reading. I completely adore this series and these characters and Sophie Lark just continues to deliver incredible books and the plot gets better and better.

I loved this next installment in this series. She is able to write characters with such intense chemistry that it flies off the page. I flew through this book and adored every second of it. I always have been and always will be a huge Sophie Lark fan!!!

"The Blood Heart" by Sophie Lark is a rollercoaster of a romance that grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go. Simone Solomon, living a life of privilege, is thrust into a dangerous situation that changes the course of her life when she's abducted by Dante Gallo, a man who appears to be a beast but falls hard for his accidental hostage.

The chemistry between Simone and Dante is electric, and Lark skillfully crafts a story that's both passionate and emotionally charged. Their connection is undeniable, even if society deems it wrong. The tension and risks they take for each other make for a captivating and intense narrative.

The time jump of nine years adds an intriguing layer to the story. Seeing Dante and Simone reunited after years of separation is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. Lark adeptly explores the complexities of forgiveness, redemption, and second chances.

The writing style is engaging, with Lark bringing the characters to life with vivid descriptions and emotionally charged dialogue. The pacing keeps you hooked, making it difficult to put the book down. The themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption are woven seamlessly into the narrative.

However, the four-star rating comes from the anticipation and buildup that, at times, felt like it could have been more deeply explored. Some aspects of the plot felt rushed, and I found myself craving a bit more depth in certain scenes.

Overall, "The Blood Heart" is a compelling romance with characters who stay with you long after you've finished the book. Lark delivers a story of passion, sacrifice, and second chances that will resonate with readers who love intense, emotionally charged romances. It's a solid addition to the romance genre, leaving you eager for more from this talented author.

A second chance romance, an all consuming love full of angst. Who doesn’t love those buzz words?
Dante and Simon had fallen hard and fast for each other, it was almost obsessive. Although Simone’s parents didn’t approve of the relationship. We follow both lovers as they find their way back to each other, while other things try and keep them apart.
I always enjoy Sophie Lark”s writing. She makes it so easy to sit down and forget about everything else around me. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys mafia romance and second chance romance stories!

Okay, let me preface this by apologizing. I bought the first 3 books of this series bc I saw they were illustrated but couldn't afford the whole series. So when I saw the arc for the 4th book I got very excited and requested the book before reading the first three. Now that I have read the first three and this one, I have realized mafia romances are strictly not for me. I say that so you can take this review with a grain of salt. I think there are a lot of things in this book that really bothered me that I normally would have been fine with, but since I had just put myself thorough hundreds of pages of books not written for me bc I can't bring myself to DNF. The writing needed a few more passes through editing, which normally doesn't make me upset, especially when the author is self publishing but i was grumpy so I kept yelling about sentence structure and other BS. This one was especially not for me bc pregnancy tropes are not my thing at all. So I'm going to refrain from specific feedback bc many of my friends loved this book so I can recognize I am not target audience and leave it alone. Thank you for the arc. I am rooting for your success . . . from a distance.

This is the 4th book in the Brutal Birthright Series and gives more details into the eldest Gallo and the broken hulk of a man that is Dante.  This can be read as a standalone.

Dante and Simone are from completely different worlds.  Simone is from a world of ball gowns and Dante is from a world of crime and mafia wars.  They meet and have an instant and intense forbidden romance until her father finds out.  They reconnect nine years later and find themselves faced with a secret that needs to be addressed and a mysterious assassin.

I have a lot to say about this book, but don’t want to give anything away.  Dante and Simone’s story is full of surprises. 

I love a second chance romance where I get to really understand the connection and evolution of the relationship from the beginning.  I was completely absorbed into Dante and Simone’s relationship from the very beginning.  I loved the forbidden romance aspect and the complete heartbreak that separated them.  Dante is possessive, protective, and a bit dangerous.  My gosh, the way he loved Simone was emotional.  I felt heartbroken!!!

There were a few details that could have been expanded for but for the chokehold and emotions this book had on me I was completely captivated from the beginning until the end and couldn't put it down.

Another amazing Sophie Lark book! I loved this story and Simone and Dante even more. I can't wait for the next one in the series!

I’ve given ‘Bloody Heart’ 3 stars.

I requested this book because I wanted to try something a little bit different from what I normally read. I’ve read only one other book from Sophie Lark which was ‘Brutal Prince’ (the first book in the same series) and all I remember about that was I didn’t find it very interesting. However, I do recall liking Dante in that so after seeing this was his book I decided it a go.

Overall, I liked this book. I don’t have any strong feelings towards it but that’s not a bad thing - it just fell under my definition of an easy read. As far as books with Mafia themes go this was simple but interesting. Reading Simone’s POV was interesting - she’s a perfect, rich girl with a secret and harbouring feelings for an old flame and a big secret. Dante was dark, sexy grump reduced to a big old softie around his girl.

Thank you SOURCEBOOK Bloom Books and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

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 spicy scenes
TWs: terminal illness, kidnapping, murder, death, dubious consent, mentions of sex trafficking, mentions of child endangerment, mental manipulation, emotional abuse, risky pregnancy, forced adoption, attempted murder, mentions of war
standalone: book 4 in the Brutal Birthright series
final thoughts: once again love the illustrations in these series even though they don’t ALWAYS match the description of what’s happening- they’re good enough that I don’t mind some variations in the artwork.
This book was full of secrets, betrayal, miscommunication, violence, manipulation, and steamy “it’ll always be you” scenes. The chemistry between the MCs was wonderful and I enjoyed their relationship. I wish this story didn’t need to be so heartbreaking because wow I was SOBBINGGGGGGGG through several parts of this. I wanted to take off an entire star for the FMC’s family… wtf?

read this book if you love

🤫 hidden secrets
🌀 plot twists
🧠 “it’s always been you”
😬 angst
😳 forbidden lovers (rival families)
🤐 miscommunication
☠️ “touch her and die”
2️⃣ 2nd chance romance
💞 childhood crush
🔫 mafia
🖤 dark romance

This was definitely an interesting ride. I’m not a huge fan of instalove stories but I think Sophie did a good job recovering.

This is full of politics that keeps two young people apart and they have to find themselves in “another life”.

However… 99% of the time I wanted to punch Simone in the face and it got a 1 star deduction because of the last “spice” scene. The words “put a baby in me…” should be illegal.

Bloody Heart is a second chance mafia romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Simone and Dante are two star-crossed lovers who have been separated by fate and secrets. When they meet again, sparks fly and passion ignites, but their pasts are not so easy to forget. Simone has a dark secret that could ruin everything, while Dante has a ruthless enemy who wants him dead. Will they be able to overcome the obstacles and find their happily ever after?

I enjoyed this book for its intense and emotional story, its strong and complex characters, and its steamy scenes. The author did a great job of creating a realistic and gritty world of the mafia, with plenty of action, suspense, drama, and humor. The chemistry between Simone and Dante was off the charts, and I loved how they slowly healed each other’s wounds. The ending was satisfying and hopeful, but also left some room for future books in the series.

Some things that I didn’t like about this book were the excessive use of profanity, the unrealistic dialogue at times, and the lack of character development for some secondary characters. I also felt that some parts were rushed or dragged out too much. Overall, I think this is a good book for fans of dark romance who like their heroes alpha and their heroines feisty.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes second chance romances with a twist of danger, drama, and spice. It’s not a perfect book, but it’s definitely worth reading if you’re looking for a thrilling and emotional ride.

This was the first book that I read in this series, but luckily I did not really feel like I was missing anything from the story by not reading the other books first. I enjoyed the first half of the book when it looked back at how they met. While it was a little too insta-love for me, I still enjoyed it and liked seeing their relationship grow.

The second half disappointed me though. There is a 9 year jump and everything is obviously different now but a lot of it doesn't make sense to me. First, she brought up how amazing, kind, and caring her sister is but then her sister goes along with their parents in doing one of the most selfish and cruel things to Simone by helping take her child from her. And while Simone sort of stands up to her parents when it happens, she just lets it all go and lets them back into her life because her sister dies and they are family?!! None of that had to happen if she was just going to continue having a relationship with her parents in the present scenes. It would've made much more sense for her sister to just help Simone raise her son while she was traveling and her parents continue to try making amends over those 9 years. It all just got swept under the rug and that was extremely frustrating.

It was a very interesting book. I have got to say that.

I enjoyed the plot, the characters. I kind of maybe wanted things to go down differently but overall I liked it and I do recommend.