Rebecca Zanetti kicks off strong in this second book in the Grimm Bargains series.

Told in first person dual POV (with a surprise third POV but only once so I still consider it only the two main POVs). It is a Snow White retelling, which is a dark fairy tale in and of itself. This take is absolutely one that captured my attention from the jump and I am so obsessed with the story and the characters.

Rosalie Mooncrest is the newly assigned attorney to help a convicted murder get out of prison. The convicted murder-Alexei Sokolov. A mysterious accident results in the death of the former attorney, and a series of events is triggered for Alexei to take back control of his empire. He has spent the past seven years in prison for the murder of the husband of his former hook-up. Now he is out and making moves to figure out who framed him and make them pay. He also is not the naive young man of before and he has his eyes set one Rosalie.

I ate this up.

This book is a perfect blend of suspenseful thriller and scorching romance. The story revolves around Alexei, a man wrongly imprisoned for seven years, burning with a desire for vengeance against those who wronged him. He’s a complex character: brooding, dangerous, and fiercely determined. Zanetti does a great job portraying his internal conflict. He's a man haunted by the past, struggling to reconcile his desire for revenge with the growing feelings he has for Rosalie.
Rosalie, his lawyer, initially sees Alexei as just another case. However, she's quickly drawn into his world of intrigue and danger. She's intelligent, independent, and fiercely loyal, but also vulnerable and grappling with her own demons. Rosalie is a strong female lead who isn't afraid to stand up to Alexei, even when his intensity threatens to overwhelm her.
The chemistry between Alexei and Rosalie is explosive. Their interactions are charged with tension, and Zanetti expertly crafts their relationship from one of professional distance to one of passionate obsession.
Overall, this book is a thrilling and passionate read that will appeal to fans of romantic suspense.

Exciting, provocative, seductive, and utterly charming. Zanetti is building this series like I've built my FYP on TikTok, BRICK BY BRICK! The alchemy she has created is crazy good. Being bad has never felt so good for Rosalie and I am here for it!

While Rebecca Zanetti's "One Dark Kiss" delivers another dose of fractured fairtale romance with her signature blend of action and steam, it doesn't quite capture the magic of its predecessor. The story follows a self-assured mfh who knows her own mind and isn't afraid to show it (even though she's shaking in her kitten heels, paired with a mmc who, though intense, lacks that extra spark of complexity that made the first book's hero so memorable.
Ms. Zanetti's writing remains solid, weaving together sparked elements and romantic tension with practiced ease, but longtime fans like me might feel a slight dip in the emotional investment this time around. That said, the author still manages to craft an entertaining addition to the series that's worth reading, even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of the opening installment.

One Dark Kiss had an interesting premise. However, the dominant male character felt more cruel, than romantic. Usually, this type of romance starts off with the male character being slightly dark, but soon he begins to deeply care and take care of the female character. Honestly, the darkness of the main male character wasn't romotely romantic or gentle to the main female character. I wasn't able to keep reading past the middle because his actions were more violent, than protective. I think that this should have a trigger warning for violence in a relationship. Maybe he became more likable further into the book, but this one wasn't for me.

I loved this installment of Rebecca Zanetti's Grimm Bargains series! I couldn't put this book down and started to re-read it as soon as I was done with the first read-through.

Rosalie and Alexei are well developed in this story and the secondary characters are well done as well. The descriptions of the characters and the world they inhabit was well done and made this story come alive for me, just like when I read One Cursed Rose. I can't wait for the next installment.

Dark and Deadly!!
This Grimm tale of murder and betrayal is off the charts fantastic. Futuristic but not in the realm of way out there. You’re gonna need gloves this one is a scorcher.

Death has its own whisper.

Rosalie Mooncrest is a lawyer assigned to get Alexei out of prison for murder. The more they investigate the more twisted things become. Hold on to your hats people this one is a keeper.

I was given an ARC copy of this book in return for a review.

I'm enjoying this series although different than my usual read. This one is dark, well in my opinion. This time we have the story of Rosalie and Alexei. Alexei is sent to prison for killing his lover's husband. He has been serving 7 years in prison. Rosalie is appointed his new lawyer and a new trial is granted. Did he really kill David or was he framed as he claims and if he was framed, who did it? Read this one to see how the story unfolds, watch the relationship between Alexei and Rosalie develops and find out if Alexei gains back control of his social media empire. Pick this one up June 2025.

One Dark Kiss by Rebecca Zanetti, published by Kensington Books, is book two in the Grimm Bargains Series.
This is Rosalie and Alexei's story.
Rosalie the attorney and Alexei the head of the russian mafia in the city.
A dark fairytale written with great love to detail with a male hero who's the alpha of all alphas. An intriguing story, twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat till the last page.