3.5 Stars

This was my very first book by this author, so I was excited for the opportunity to listen to this audio ARC. Unfortunately, I had a bit of a hard time settling into the story and an even harder time understanding the situation with the characters. Apparently there is a "King of Vampires" - Carmine Montefiore -who has been in stasis for some reason or another (I think he was staked but did not die). He needs the blood of a Strega and has sent out notices to all of his mafia men with daughters that he will be selecting a bride. Apparently, if you get this notice, there is not a "no" option when you RSVP.

Then we meet Luna. Luna is an empath who has had a hard life. SHE gets a notice from an attorney from a supposed long lost relative who has also left her an inheritance, but she has to drop everything and come to Italy. We then discover that Luna has been played by one of these men who has a daughter, and his intention was to substitute HIS daughter for Luna.

But...that ends up not mattering a bit because, well, there is something between Luna and Carmine....whether they want it or not, and that is where the story begins.

What I had issues with was the world building and the back story. I never really understood what the heck was going on and why things were the way they were. And don't even get me started on Carmine's son....that was just weird.

So - interesting, but even though it left off on a huge cliffhanger, I do not think that I will be continuing on.

I did, however, enjoy the narration team. The narrators consisted of Samantha Brentmoor, Jason Clarke (a favorite of mine), Rose Dioro and Dane Anderson.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Dreamscape Select | Flip City Media for the opportunity to listen to and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This book will be available for publication on September 30, 2024.

📚⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🌶️🌶️.5

• Paranormal • Mafia • Vampire • Forced Marriage • Fated •

Multi-Cast narration performed by Samantha Brentmoor, Jason Clarke, Rose Dioro, & Dane Anderson

Vampire Mafia?!?! SAY LESS!!! Omg! This one knocked it out of the park! The story was so intriguing, full of suspense and lots of unknowns. The world building was fantastic and the characters were compelling. I’m also excited to continue on!

All the narrators really did a fantastic job. Jason was made for this role and Samantha was perfection! Dane and Rose did amazing with all the different secondary characters. Loved it!

The cast for this audio is absolutely phenomenal!
Full cast narration by Samantha Brentmoor, Jason Clarke, Dane Anderson, and Rose Dioro - star-studded without question!
Vampires and Mafia - say less! There were a lot of twists and turns and I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the audiobook arc of "Blood Bride" by CD Reiss.

The book is a cross over between Mafia Romance, Forced Marriage and Vampires. The story is very unique and I haven't heard about something like this before. In the middle the plot slowed down quite a bit but picked up towards the end again. The narrators did an amazing job and I very much enjoyed this amazing performance. The book ends on a cliffhanger so be warned! Hopefully I get the chance to listen to the next instalment !

All credit to the narrators for this one. It was masterfully performed and was my favorite part of this listen. Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke were already a couple of my favorite narrators and now I can add Rose Dioro and Dane Anderson to the list. It was genius to have a different female and male narrator for side characters.

Going into this book I expected a dark romance, which I read frequently. But I was not prepared for just how morally black and (in my mind) how unredeemable the MMC would be. I wish there were trigger warnings on NetGalley to warn me that this title includes non-consent by the MMC. On multiple occasions he admits to not caring about the idea of consent, has forced consent countless times in the past, and only due to circumstances outside of his control does he not "force" himself onto the FMC. Due to this reoccurring theme around their interactions I wanted to give this read a 2 star, but the writing itself was well done, the performances were perfect, and the ending all bumped it up to a 3 start for me.

If you are looking for a darker than dark vampire MMC then this is your book.

First thing that narration in this book is top-notch. All the narrators were pleasure to listen to. The story feels like a combination of vampires, the mafia and forced marriage. All the characters were intriguing and the story was enjoyable. And the ending had a big cliffhanger. I enjoyed this book a lot, and I can’t wait for the sequel.

Based on the summary, I definitely thought this book would be for me, but I was wrong. Just felt like the author gave up on plot for rapey sex. Not my jam.

From the moment the audiobook started, my heart skipped a beat—the narrator for the male main character (MMC) had a dark yet soothing and alluring voice that pulled me in instantly. The production overall was fantastic, with every detail in the narration so clean and polished. Each of the narrators did an amazing job bringing the characters to life, delivering performances that gave me goosebumps and elicited emotions throughout the entire story.

As for the story itself, it was the perfect dark romance, rich with lore and an intricate magical system that added depth to the world. The angst toward the end was heart-wrenching, and the promise of a greater adventure on the horizon left me eager for more. I do wish the boundaries of the female main character's (FMC) magic were explained in more detail, and it would have been great to see her struggle more with controlling her power, adding an extra layer to her journey.

The romance was intense, but it’s definitely on the darker side. While I personally found it engaging, it could be a turn-off for those who are uncomfortable with themes of Stockholm syndrome. That said, it fits perfectly within the realm of dark romance, so if that’s your genre, you’re in for an immersive, emotional ride. *Blood Bride* is not just a story; it’s an experience, with stellar narration and powerful emotions from start to finish.

Blood Bride by C.D. Reiss

Format: Unabridged Audiobook 14 hours long, in multi-cast with Jason Clarke and Samantha Brentmoor, with Rose Dioro and Dane Anderson

A dark, sexy, paranormal fantasy romance with Vampires, danger, and suspense that was hard to put down.

Carmine Montefiore aka Mafia Capo aka King of Vampires, was sired five hundred years ago but MIA for the past 50 years. Hurt in an attack, he has been laying low in a desperate search for the only person who can bring his power back. A Strega witch. They are rare and he has been scouring the world to locate one in a desperate attempt to save him otherwise, he will die. He grows weaker every day and normal blood isn't helping.

Luna Beneforte lives a simple life in a dead town within a loveless relationship. Her mother is insane and she has nothing holding her back but herself. When Luna gets a mysterious letter revealing she has long lost family she was never aware of located in Italy and left a life-changing inheritance, she jumps on a private plane hoping for adventure and escape her current dead-end life. What Luna doesn't know is that she wasn't going to Italy to see family, she was summoned by a dangerous dead man.

For Carmine to get back his strength, he needs a special blood bride. The blood of a Strega witch to restore his power, the blood that runs in Luna's veins. Her mother's insane ravings about her heritage seem to have truth in it and Luna is finding out why she was really summoned to Italy. Is she a willing bride, a prisoner, or just Carmine's next meal to be thrown aside like the other humans he's been feeding from for centuries? Luna, however, is very different than any other bride he has had in the past. Will she be able to heal him, and will he use her like the humans before her, or is there more to her than he expected?

This was a fun, spicy read and I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Imagine vampires that are mafia and that information is hidden from the world outside of their "family".


I listened to this audiobook courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ugh, that cliffhanger ending! I really enjoyed this take on vampires - more like mafia, a lot shadow daddy (he’s a single father too), and naive witch.

Luna is brought into this world of vampires and the story is unveiled slowly along the way. Glimpses of the whole story are given in Carmines point of view but we don’t get the full picture yet. It is spicy, bloody, and definitely keeps moving along. Can’t wait for the next installment.

This is done in a duet narration with additional voice actors for a few side characters. This means that the same voice actor narrates their character in all chapters, not just the chapters from their perspective. I liked this style for the book as it was easy to follow each character cohesively from chapter to chapter.

I was given a copy by the publisher via NetGalley (thank you!) and all opinions are my own.

I feel like the story was a little hard to follow, it took about 25% into the book for me to get into the book. The narrators did an excellent job bringing the story to life, I love book with multiple POV and multiple narrators. I was not a fan of the clock ticking or the heart beat in between chapters.

I absolutely loved this audiobook, it completely blew me away! The combination of a mafia king and vampire lore was unlike anything I’ve read. It made the storyline unique and absolutely addictive. Carmine is such a powerful, dark, and magnetic character, and Luna’s journey into his world is filled with tension, mystery, and fiery chemistry. Every twist in the plot made me even more invested, and I seriously couldn’t stop listening.

The narrators (Samantha Brentmoor; Jason Clarke; Rose Dioro; Dane Anderson) did a phenomenal job bringing every characters to life. They perfectly captured the tension, allure, and emotions of both Carmine and Luna, making the experience even more compelling. And that cliffhanger... I’m dying for book two! I need to know what happens next. If you're into spicy paranormal romances with a twist, this audiobook is a must-listen!

Mafia, vampires and forced marriage what more can you want?
I read this in one sitting, loving the enemies to lovers. There are so many unanswered questions and that ending! I really hope the second book comes out fast.
The audio for this books was really good and I loved the narrators.

CD Reiss’s *Blood Bride* audiobook was an absolute treat, especially having read the book before! Hearing the characters come to life through a full cast was an amazing experience, and Jason Clarke and Samantha Brentmoor nailed their performances as Carmine and Luna. Clarke’s deep, commanding voice brought Carmine’s dangerous yet alluring nature to the forefront, while Brentmoor perfectly captured Luna’s mix of strength and vulnerability. The multi-cast format, with Rose Dioro and Dane Anderson giving distinct voices to the supporting characters, made it even more immersive, adding layers of emotion and intrigue.

The vivid descriptions and intense, passionate moments from the book are elevated with the dramatic narration, and the Italian accents and vampire mafia world-building are given extra authenticity. It’s a 14-hour epic that flies by, keeping you hooked from start to finish. If you loved the book, the audiobook is a must-listen—it truly brings Carmine and Luna’s story to a whole new level!

Carmine Montefiore is a mafia capo and King of the Vampires and boy do I wish he was mine. I love mafia books and I love vampire books so putting the two together is like a dream come true for me. Carmine is exactly who you think he is in that he is old and powerful with a mouth that delivers nothing but sin in the form of words and actions ;). The way I was drooling for this man, someone get me a bib. Also, I need blood oranges immediately. I also really liked the FMC Luna and love that she was strong willed and didn't bend on her beliefs. I think Carmine and Luna make a great pair. I hate when a book ends on a cliffhanger, and this one does, so that is a bummer but I'll definitely be reading the next one.

I listened to the audio version, narrated by Samantha Brentmoor, Jason Clarke, Rose Dioro and Dane Anderson and let me tell you Jason Clarke's voice was superb and perfect for this role. The other narrators were wonderful as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select | Flip City Media for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.