I enjoyed this paranormal versus mafia book. Who doesn’t love a good demo story, and Anna and Marcos is no exception. When Anna decides to leave her teaching job, she goes to work for her best friend to uncover missing money in a high end corporation. Her boss is a bit more than she expected. Boy was he!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you for allowing me to review

This was such an interesting book. Mafia romance but make it paranormal.

Anna is a professor at MIT who wants to venture out of academia and use her skills in a corporate world. Her friend gets her a job as Marco’s financial analyst. Marco is a former mafia man who now runs his huge company after quitting mafia decades ago. However, lately he is suspicious of a traitor in his family who is stealing from him and causing issues with his future investments. Surprise surprise, Marco is also a blood demon (no not a vampire).

Anna and Marco have chemistry from their first meeting. They try hard to maintain professional boundaries and Marco does not want her to come into his dangerous world or to know about his immortality. Anna, who is usually a shy wallflower, is a spitfire when it comes to Marco and puts him in his place when needed.

It was refreshing to see a FMC in her 40s for once. Usually mafia romances consist of innocent little lambs, but this was a nice surprise. Both MMCs were mature and their communication and banter was entertaining.

It did take me a while to get into the story. It was a slow pace slow burn where most of the plot happens in the last 30%. I am guessing because it is the first book in the series, thats why all the info dump in the beginning.
I also thought that the narrative was too wordy or repetitive at times.

Nevertheless, this was a nice surprise and I am super excited to read the next book in the series.

Review posted on Goodreads on June 2, 2024

*ARC provided by NetGalley. My opinions are solely based on my reading experience.*

she was just so chill about him being a vampire—i’m sorry, blood demon. WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?!? this just wasn't giving what i needed it to give...

4.5 stars
Really enjoyed this paranormal romance! I devoured it in one sitting because once I started, I was HOOKED. I was so invested in Anna and Marco's story from page 1. I also really enjoyed the character development throughout the book and the way both MCs were presented. Them being older MCs really made me love the book even more because immortal men with 18 year olds is getting repetitive. Moreover, I really like that Anna is valued as an academic and that she knows she has grown in her career and is ready for something more. It goes to show that it doesn't matter how old you are, you shouldn't have to settle for being unhappy or in a rut. 
I loved Katelyn's writing style and I think that is why I was so hooked. It was easy to follow, the details were constantly giving exactly what I needed, and all in all it was a fun read to me. 

Thank you for this ARC!!

This wasn’t my first story from Katelyn Brehm, I read her paranormal novellas previously. She didn’t disappoint with this either. The mafia plotline was kind of laidback, which is good because I don’t really like over-the-top violence. I liked the paranormal plotline as well, it fit seamlessly into the story. And the romance… that was damn hot with the build-up and the tension. I finished the story quickly, it was an easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to relate to the book as it seems to have been geared towards a more experienced audience, HOWEVER I loved Anna. I loved Marco. The characters we amazing. The connection was strong the little pieces that made you giggle were subtle and jarring at the same time. I loved how accomplished Anna was and how much she grew throughout. The storyline was interesting. I did feel as though everything was chalked into the last bit of the book. I didn’t connect to that as much as I found it a little overwhelming. THAT BEING SAID, there are many concepts within this book that I will carry with me moving forward with my life for example:
When Marco orders a really expensive wine at their date and she says was it expensive, he elaborates on the make and the way in which he acquired the wine. Instead of saying oh I don’t deserve such expensive wine or deflecting the experience she says “thank you for sharing!” Loved it. I will forever view any experience where people like a shared experience and be grateful for the opportunity to enjoy it with them.

Outstanding! The perfect blend of paranormal and mafia elements made for such a unique story, and the rich character development and slow-burn had me turning pages late into the night. Can't wait for book 2!

This book was a real treat, and a very pleasant read, I would recommend this book to anybody looking for a good paranormal/mafia romance.

Told in dual POV, we first meet Anna, who happens to be having a midlife awakening and knows there is more out there for her than academia. Cue the mysterious Marco who may or may not be in the mafia (and is most definitely an immortal blood demon) that has a slight problem on his hands inside of his company. Both parties get more than they signed up for when Marco hires Anna to find the problem.

I don’t normally love a slow burn but this one did it right. The tension between Marco and Anna is electric. Then the plot gets deeper when Anna starts uncovering issues in the company. Not only that, Anna is starting to notice some things about Marco and some of his family that makes her question his humanity.

I loved that out FMC was in her 40s, its kind of refreshing when so many of the books I read, the FMCs are in their early 20s. Just a nice change, ya know?

This was a fun read! A well-developed plot, mature characters, a story full of twists and turns with a swoon worthy romance. What’s not to enjoy? A solid 3.5 star read.

Her Dark Salvation by Katelyn Brehm
Bonded in Blood Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 18 July 2024

"Her Dark Salvation" captivated me from start to finish! The characters and storyline were absolutely enthralling. What resonated deeply was the portrayal of the female lead—a strong, outspoken 45-year-old whose strength and authenticity I truly admired.

This office romance takes an exhilarating twist when the charming, dirty-talking boss is revealed to be a demon. Marco Devita is magnetic with his dark eyes and commanding presence, navigating his dual roles as a powerful businessman and a blood demon with dangerous ties to the underworld.

Anna Barone, a respected professor at MIT known for her financial expertise, enters Marco's world to uncover corporate theft. Their partnership sparks intense chemistry and blurs professional boundaries, as they confront secrets that intertwine business and the supernatural. In Marco's realm, where primal instincts reign, Anna challenges his beliefs about love and power, leading to a slow-burning romance woven with suspense and passion.

The novel expertly blends dark romance with paranormal intrigue, crafting a narrative that kept me hooked with its compelling plot and well-developed characters. Marco and Anna's journey is a thrilling exploration of forbidden love amidst danger and revelation, showcasing the author's talent for creating an emotionally resonant and captivating story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and the author, Katelynn Brehm, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Typically I am not a "fantasy" reader so the idea of blood demons didn't really appeal to me but mafia romance did. So I took a chance on this book and it actually worked. Emma is a PhD in her mid forties and tired of her mundane life so when an opportunity to use her finance background pops up she takes it. She just doesn't know it's with a made man who happens to be a blood demon. Working in close proximity stirs up feelings and before long both have fallen hard.

Like I said the fantasy aspect is new to me but I guess mixed with the Mafia it kind of was like two opposite ends of the spectrum combing to make for a touch her or else, she's the only blood I want to eat vibe? It was interesting for sure. I did enjoy the fact that both characters were older since it's getting tiresome seeing the older Mafia man with the young 20 yr old girl It was also refreshing to see a woman in her forties decide she wanted a life change and going for it. I would recommend this book to those that like mafia and fantasy. I'm glad I read it and it opened my mind to another genre of writing I don't normally explore.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katelyn Brehm, and Victory Editing for allowing me to review this ARC!

I had no idea what to expect, but this book blew me away. I've read my far share of mafia books as well as urban fantasy books and this book perfectly melds both genres to create something unexpected that still included everything about either genre that I love. The mythology and world building of this book felt so real and is sprinkled throughout so well and I appreciated the attention to detail in the incorporation of their Italian heritage. I adore that the main characters are older, and I think they realistically act like that (huge pet peeve is when they are written as older but still act 18-20s) and have the baggage and complexity I would expect for older characters. The dual POV really brought both of the characters to life for me and really had me rooting for them.

I cannot wait for the next one!

I'm no stranger to Mafia romances, but I really enjoyed the paranormal twist on this one. Our MMC Marco isn't just a made man. He's also a blood demon. This book had a little bit of a slow start for me, but once I hit the halfway mark, I was fully invested.

Tropes and things

Dual POV
Paranormal romance
Mafia
Slow Burn
FMC is 40+ years old(45 to be exact)
Boss/Employee/Office

Things I really liked

--I enjoyed the characters being older. It's refreshing to read about an FMC who isn't 22.(Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just more common)

--The tension between Anna and Marco while they were playing cat and mouse with each other was good. (The sauna scene? 🥵)

Other Notes

--I would have liked more action and suspense in the first half of the book. I would have loved more depth to the blood demon world/culture/lore overall and especially from Marco's POV.

-This is an ARC review. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Review posted to Goodreads 6/19/24
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6591078913?book_show_action=false

Review posted to Barnes and Noble 06/19/24. Review is being moderated and may take up to a few days to appear.


Will post to Amazon on release day 7/18/24

The story starts with Anna, she is a 45 year old college professor at MIT in Boston, Massachusetts. She is sick of her job, she wants a change, about two weeks before the start of the new school year she goes to see the dean of students to ask for a sabbatical to see if she could make it working for for an executive company. The dean of students just looked at Anna for a minute like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing, Anna told the dean that she wanted a change and that she had already found a replacement for her class. The dean approved her sabbatical.

Anna then left the college to go meet up with her best friend Jeff, he told Anna that he needed help with a big assignment at his job and that he couldn’t do it alone because it was a lot of work so he told Anna that he would call his boss Marco and get her into the office to meet with him. Marco is the CEO of Terme De Boston. So Jeff set it up and she had to go meet with Marco that Friday, Marco told Anna that no one could know that she was helping him out with the assignment and that she needed to pose as his assistant, Marco told Anna about how he suspected someone had been stealing from him and that he needed to find out who it was so Anna took the job and began working that Monday.

Anna was excited to start her new job, every morning she reported for work and she was happy. She loved working for Marco even though she thought he was unprofessional because of the sexual harassment which he called flirting. Anna had gotten the first draft of the model complete and it showed numbers had been altered, but she didn’t know why at first and who was stealing from Marco.

This book was so good! I couldn’t put this book down, It was just that good. I couldn’t believe the ending, I just couldn’t believe who it was that betrayed Marco, I honestly didn’t see it coming. This was one of my favorite books this year and I cannot wait for the next book.

Title: Her Dark Salvation by Katelyn Brehm

Bonded in Blood book 1

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

Release date: July 18th 2024

A midlife awakening thrusts Anna, a mousy professor, into a dangerous world she never imagined. Determined to prove herself outside the walls of academia, she finds herself entangled with Marco DeVita, a made man in the Italian Mafia and an immortal blood demon.

Despite his domineering and dangerous nature, Anna is drawn to Marco, craving the dark salvation he offers.

Bound by heritage, family, and blood, Marco DeVita has been part of the Boston underworld for nearly a century.

With betrayal lurking within his crew, he needs Anna Barone’s expertise to find the traitor. But Anna is more than just an asset—her brilliance, temper, and allure make Marco’s fangs ache with desire. Caught between his duty and his growing passion, Marco must navigate a world where everything comes at a price.

What I Loved:

* Mature Characters: I absolutely loved that the main characters were of a more mature age. It’s refreshing to see a romance that centres on older protagonists.

* Dual POVs: The story is told from both Anna and Marco’s perspectives, offering a rich, multifaceted view of their inner thoughts and emotions. This dual narrative adds depth to the story and allows readers to fully understand the motivations and conflicts of both characters.

* Unique Concept: The blend of Mafia dynamics with the supernatural element of blood demons was incredibly unique and intriguing. This veiled layer of the supernatural woven into the gritty world of the Mafia added a fascinating twist that kept me hooked. Just this concept and how this world has been built, has me anxiously waiting for the next instalments.

* Intense Chemistry: The chemistry between Anna and Marco is electric. Their interactions are charged with tension and desire, making their relationship both compelling and steamy. The contrast between Anna’s academic background and Marco’s dark world creates an engaging dynamic that burns slowly.

* Well-Paced Plot: The pacing of the book is perfect, with a balance of action, suspense, and romance. The storyline unfolds smoothly, keeping me engaged and eager to see how Anna and Marco’s relationship would develop amidst the dangers surrounding them.

* Strong Female Protagonist: Anna is a strong, intelligent, and resilient character. Her journey from a sheltered academic to a woman who stands her ground in a dangerous world is inspiring and adds a lot of depth to her character.

* Marco’s Complexity: Marco is not just a typical alpha male. His internal struggle between his duty and his growing feelings for Anna adds layers to his character, making him more relatable and human despite his supernatural nature.

* Engaging Writing Style: Katelyn Brehm’s writing is captivating and easy to follow. The world building and unique concepts brings this story to life and me eagerly flipping the pages. The dialogue is sharp, the descriptions vivid, and the emotional beats hit just the right notes.

Her Dark Salvation by Katelyn Brehm is a thrilling, unique romance that deftly blends the worlds of Mafia intrigue and supernatural fantasy. With mature, well-developed characters, a sizzling romance, and a plot full of twists and turns, this book is a must-read. I couldn’t put it down and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh and exciting romance novel.


Thank you to The Publisher Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op ,The Author Katelyn Brehm & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

Her Dark Salvation, the first book in the Bonded in Blood Series, introduces Marco, a nearly century old blood demon, and Anna, a tenured finance professor on sabbatical. Told in dual POVs, Her Dark Salvation follows as Anna leaves academia and goes to work with Marco, forming a blossoming romance.

Author Katelyn Brehm has seamlessly blended paranormal and mafia romance to create a book worth savoring. Her Dark Salvation was a fast-paced and engaging read perfect for readers who enjoy either mafia romance or paranormal romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an advanced copy of Her Dark Salvation in exchange for my honest review.