This was a delicious mix of twists and turns, sweet and spice, emotion and anticipation!

I love dark romance. I love a good HEA. I love a bit of angst. But I'm thrilled when an author can bring out elements that surprise me. Dani Antoinette definitely did that. Books can sometimes blend together - especially in the romance genre - and this one stands out! I love knowing 'where we're going' and I enjoyed this tantalizing ride along the way. So...heck yes, this was a fantastic read.

Kreos was the perfect mix of scary/soft don't-f*ck-with-me/I-kneel-only-for-her. Alora is a survivor. She's strong and brave and so proud of it. She might have experienced unimaginable trauma, but she allowed it to fuel her growth to be stronger. And she never lost her humanity in the process.

The secondary characters were written with substance. They were real and didn't fade into the background. (Personally, I. Can't. Wait. to read Dove's story.) These friends and family will no doubt expand the world of the Hearts of Mayhem series in the best ways possible.

I received this ARC and squealed out loud. If you're looking for a delicious dark romance with forced marriage, an age gap, powerful and jealous MMC + he falls first...this is the one. You can't go wrong!

I shared this review on Goodreads and will also share on Amazon after the release (under the name Marisa).

Love this book! FMC is strong and smart but not bratty. MMC only soft to her. He massage her feet!!!😩😍

The suspense and plot just kept me hooked the whole time, well balance of spicy and plot.

Really enjoyed this book, can't wait for book and other characters' sotry!!

I read a decent amount of mafia books and - sometimes - they get a little repetitive. Ruthless Bonds had enough twists and plotlines that differ from other mafia books to hold my attention. I thought both K and Alora were well developed characters and their relationship was a slow burn but oh did it burn! All the side characters were also very interesting and I'm excited for them to all (hopefully) get their own book! This was a new author to me and I'm excited to see how this book series progresses!

This book was an exciting mix of romance, danger, and unexpected twists. The story follows a mafia boss and a woman who once saved his life. They spent one night together six years ago, but now she’s back in his world, against her will. With pressure mounting for him to marry, he makes a bold decision to move her and her sister into his home and announce their engagement. She wants to escape, but as the story unfolds, her resistance turns into love.
I really enjoyed the tension between the characters and how their relationship developed. The plot had a good mix of romance and action, especially when her long-lost brother is revealed to be alive and out for revenge. A misunderstanding leads him to believe her husband is his enemy, creating a high-stakes conflict. The mole within the mafia added even more suspense, and the resolution between the brother and the mafia boss was satisfying. The pregnancy reveal at the end was a sweet touch to wrap things up.
While I liked the book, I felt it could have been even better with more chapters. Some parts felt a little rushed, and I would have loved to see more character development and deeper emotional moments. Still, it was a solid read with plenty of drama and passion. If you’re into mafia romances with strong emotions and thrilling twists, this one is worth picking up!

This book will hook you with the first chapter. You have two people who met one night years ago. That night altered their lives and they haven’t seen each other since. Now K is the head of the Russian mafia and he is determined to stay that way even if it means getting married. Alora is all about protecting Dove and making sure she stays on the healing path after such a horrible kidnapping. Alora is working three jobs just to pay rent and she is determined to get out of their apartment he’ll hole and do so by winning the photographer contest. What fate has in store for these two is very different than what they were expecting and who knows if they will make it.

Checks all the boxes for dark mafia romance - forced marriage, violence, gore, betrayal, secrets, lies - he falls hard "touch her you die" is his vibe, lots of action, and complex story - this really moves, never dull and plenty of spice.