Monday, March 25, 2024

#MafiaRomance #Review ~ Brutal Prince (Brutal Birthright, Book #1) by Sophie Lark @SourcebooksCasa @Sourcebooks #DarkContemporaryRomance #Romance


Book Details:

ASIN: ‎ B08BNLPH6D
Publisher: ‎Sourcebooks (Bloom Books)
Publication Date: ‎ July 15, 2020
Print Length: ‎ 376 pages

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About the Book:

A Match Made in Hell

The Griffins and the Gallos have been battling for control of Chicago’s underworld for generations.

Their bitter rivalry reignites when Aida, the youngest and wildest Gallo sibling, crashes a party at the Griffin mansion, accidentally setting fire to the library.

To stave off all-out war, her father arranges a marriage with Callum Griffin, eldest son and heir.

Cold, ambitious, and brutal, Callum is determined to tame his headstrong bride. Aida is more than capable of giving as good as she gets – starting with poisoning Callum on their wedding night.

In their struggle for dominance, who will break first?

My Review:

Brutal Prince is a mafia romance by a great author. I've been reading Sophie Lark's books since her Colors of Crime series (now known as the Underworld series) started. I love her creativity with her characters and world-building. 

Aida Gallo and her brothers crossed a line when attending a party at the Griffin mafia. Sneaking into the home of the Irish Mafia wasn't even the worst part. Aida goes snooping around and gets cornered in the library. Hoping to escape without being recognized, Aida starts a small fire. Unfortunately, her plan doesn't work and while they do get away, they don't get away unscathed. What ensues is a marriage pact between the Gallos and the Griffins, and Aida is right in the center.

Mafia romances have become one of my favorite tropes. Realistically speaking, the mafia and the mob are not organizations that are romantic. Authors, however, are able to romanticize the idea and create magnificent stories filled with romance, suspense, and difficult paths to a happily ever after.

The characters were written well and I enjoyed meeting and getting to know them. Aida does make a mistake at the beginning of the book that alters the course of another's life, and for that, she was not one of my favorites. As the story moved along, however, I found myself warming up to Aida. The relationship that developed between Aida and Callum was a true enemies-to-lovers story. The hatred is palpable, believable, and intense. Their road to romance is not smooth and even but filled with bumps and barriers. Their path is also filled with undeniable chemistry and animal attraction.

The suspense and twists in the story keep me on the edge of my seat. Lyrically, the author is a star. Her use of descriptive language, metaphors, and vivid imagery take this book to the next level. Brutal Prince hit all of positives for story, character development, world building, passion, and suspense.

Thank you for the paperback copy, Bloom Books and Sourcebooks!

My Rating: 

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