Book picks similar to
Unruly Protector by Esther E. Schmidt
mafia
cocky-hero-club
romance
crime
Accidental Witness
Sam Mariano - 2017
We’d never spoken, but of course I heard the stories about his family. I know they’re dangerous. I know he’s dangerous. Vince never had a reason to notice me, anyway—until I inadvertently witnessed his first mob hit. His family doesn’t believe in leaving witnesses alive, but Vince seems different. He knows the best thing he can do for me is stay away, but something keeps drawing us together. Despite knowing the risks of getting mixed up with him, I can’t resist. Only problem is, Vince is a package deal—you don’t get him without getting swept up in his family’s dark games. Now entangled with a notorious Chicago crime family, will my life ever be mine again?**Obligatory trigger warning: While not wholly dark, this is a mafia romance with elements of DARK ROMANCE. There are no knights in shining armor to be found here.Sensitive content not recommended for those under 18, or those who loathe the dark romance genre. **This is a continuing story series. The story continues and evolves in each book until you get to the end.
Cards of Love: The High Priestess
Olivia Ryann - 2018
Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon Bestseller Vivian Wood writes dark romance as OLIVIA RYANN.Damen Aetos. Mob boss. Madman. And soon to be my husband.He doesn’t care that I’m a virgin. Doesn’t care about my beauty.Nothing matters to him but my last name.By marrying me, the Madman ensures that a centuries-old bargain will be met.The fact that he gets me -- gets to do anything to me that he wants -- is just icing on the cake for him.But I have secrets too, lurking beneath my pretty surface.Secrets, lies, and a power greater than either of us can imagine.The question is, when The High Priestess comes calling, how will he respond?
Shane
Jessica Gadziala - 2016
And "trouble" was exactly what Shane freaking Mallick was. Knee-cap breaker, loan shark enforcer, panty-dropper. Trouble with a capital T. And the absolute last thing I needed in my life...* For possible triggers, please visit: http://www.jessicagadziala.com/trigge...
The Bloody Bride
Bree Porter - 2020
Sophia always knew her marriage would be arranged and out of her hands, but when her husband-to-be is nonother than the notorious Alessandro 'The Godless' Rocchetti, prince of the Rocchetti family and Capo of Chicago Outfit, she finds herself falling into a nightmare. The arranged marriage begins bloody and the violence does not end on their wedding day. Sophia is forced to navigate her new family, her grief, and the brutal world she knows. As well as dealing with her dangerous yet intriguing husband. Secrets and threats surround her from the Feds and criminal world alike. Including the strange occurrences surrounding her sister's death… UPDATE: The Bloody Bride has been professionally edited as of the 12th of July 2020. Thank you to Sheri at LightHandProofreading.
Meet Me in the Dark
J.A. Huss - 2015
Left in the hands of a sadistic man, she did whatever it took to survive. But Merc’s last words gave her hope. Hope he’d be back to finish the job.Merc knows just what to do with a fearful girl like Sydney after he was betrayed by her father that night. He wields sex, drugs, lies, and love like weapons—and Sydney is his target.He’s in control. He’s always in control. But Sydney Channing is not what she appears. And Merc’s only redeeming act, the very one that made Sydney’s life a living hell, might just be his worst mistake yet.WARNING: Meet Me In The Dark is non-traditional DARK CAPTIVE ROMANTIC SUSPENSE. It is not intended for sensitive readers.
For Fallon
Soraya Naomi - 2014
Fallon’s mask is real, what you see is what you get. Growing up with two loving parents in Chicago, graduating in Chicago, and now working a job she loves, she enjoys her life. Her untarnished world is shaken when Luca crosses her path. Luca’s mask is tightly controlled. Distrust, rivalry, and violence rule his life.When confronted with insecurities, when the one you love wears his mask perfectly, when your life unravels and you don’t know why, do you keep trusting the person you love? Everyone has a façade. Everyone has an ulterior motive.A contemporary romance/ romantic thriller in dual point of view. Contains sexual content and violence.
Cocky Jerk
Janine Infante Bosco - 2020
The cop who pulled me over was good-looking, if you’re into clean cut guys with expressive eyes. He was also cocky and gave me three tickets.One for speeding.Another for blowing a light.And the third for not producing an insurance card.Jerk.When he finally let me go, I realized I was more than an hour late for my first day as an intern for the infamous advice column, Ask Ida. So much for trying to be the only one in my family with a legit job. Lucky for me, my new boss, Soraya, didn’t fire me on the spot. But that’s where my luck ran out.A couple of weeks later, in between fetching coffee and finding the missing paperclips, I received a text message from my dad, the president of the Corrupt Hellraisers MC, ordering me to the compound.Yeah, try explaining that to your new boss. Hey, I’ve gotta go. Everyone in my family is a criminal and we’re all on lockdown.You’re fired.Sure enough when I arrived at the clubhouse, everyone was in cuffs and the jerk who pulled me over was the one ushering my father out of the clubhouse.They say you never see the bad guys coming.Well, I didn’t see the cocky jerk coming either.
Sempre
J.M. Darhower - 2014
DEATH... LOVE... FREEDOM. THIS IS A STORY ABOUT FOREVER. Haven Antonelli and Carmine DeMarco grew up under vastly different circumstances. Haven, a second-generation slave, was isolated in the middle of the desert, her days full of hard work and terrifying abuse. Carmine, born into a wealthy Mafia family, lived a life of privilege and excess. Now, a twist of fate causes their worlds to collide. Entangled in a web of secrets and lies, they learn that while different on the surface, they have more in common than anyone would think. In a world full of chaos, where money and power rule, Haven and Carmine yearn to break free, but a string of events that began before either of them were born threatens to destroy them instead. Murder and betrayal are a way of life, and nothing comes without a price-especially not freedom. But how much will they have to sacrifice? Can they escape their pasts? And, most of all, what does it mean to be free?
Capone's Chaos: Royal Bastards MC Los Angeles Chapter book #2
J. Lynn Lombard - 2020
A Lost Soul. One Last Chance.CaponeAs President of the Royal Bastards MC, Los Angeles Chapter, I have enemies everywhere. They'll use anything and anyone to exploit me. Regardless, only one person has ever brought me to my knees. Danyella.My Bella.Her emerald green eyes captured my soul the moment we looked at each other. I constantly watch her and the light in her eyes is fading. Her laughter and smiles all but gone. I realize that my enemies have found my kryptonite. She's become their pawn, and there's only one way to get her back.Revenge.DanyellaThe first time I heard his deep, raspy voice, it sent chills down my spine. He called me, "My Bella." If only he knew how much those two words crushed me. Derek is lethal. He's ruthless and he can never know what I've done to protect his Club and my heart. The struggle to climb out of the hole I buried myself in is real. I've been slowly sinking into the shadows, trying to find a way into the light again, but all I see is darkness all around me with no way out.Coming September 1, 2020
The Deal
Stella Gray - 2019
The man of my dreams, and the wedding to match. Stefan Zoric is heir to an elite worldwide modeling agency. Practically a prince. My arrangement is simple, as far as sham marriages go. I give him my virginity, behave as the perfect wife and he'll pay for the college degree my father found irrelevant. But I don't want to be the perfect wife. I want him to want me the way I want him. I want him to confide in me. But Stefan has secrets that he holds close, dangerous secrets. And soon I'm wondering what kind of devil have I made a deal with?
Owned by the Badman
Hayley Faiman - 2016
Raised to be no more than the ballerina her mother could never be, she eats, sleeps, and breathes dance. Then, when she is blindsided by the news that her parents have arranged for her to be married, she does as she has always done—exactly as she is told. However, despite the fact that the man she is to call her husband is a complete stranger, Haleigh cannot help but hope that maybe, just maybe, she will finally get the chance to know love. Maxim is not a good man. His strength is foreboding and his handsome features are merely a distraction for the dangerous person that lies beneath. When he collects a debt by way of a beautiful, ballerina bride, he relishes in the fact that he owns something so pure, so innocent—so undeniably his. Yet, Haleigh is better than he ever expected, and it is not long before his ownership begins to turn into something much, much more. But when the darkness of Maxim’s past comes back to haunt him, the illusion of love’s safety is shattered. Maxim’s demons seek to destroy everything he holds dear. Suddenly, being owned by the badman is worse than Haleigh imagined. In order to protect her, Maxim has to decide just how bad he can be, and if letting go is the best choice. ** Recommended for readers 18+ due to graphic sexual content, violence, language and sexual abuse - possible triggers.
Honor
Jay Crownover - 2016
Honor and conscience have no place in my life. But I've fought and I've survived. I've had to.The first time I saw her dancing on that seedy stage in that second rate club, I felt my heart pulse for the first time. Keelyn Foster was too young, too vibrant for this place, and I knew in an instant that I would make her mine. But first I had to climb my way to the top. I had to have something more to offer her.I'm here now, money is no object and I have no equal. Except for her. She's disappeared. But don't worry, I will find her and claim her. She will be mine.Like I said, don't be fooled. I am not the devil in disguise… I'm the one front and center.
Sweet Collateral
L.P. Lovell - 2021
A slave. A possession.Freedom is so close I can almost taste it, only to have it snatched away under the guise of protection. A gilded cage is still a cage. Rafael D'Cruze is a bad man. I hate him, so why do I feel safe with him?RafaelShe's a favor. A pretty slave. Sweet collateral.I have no interest in Anna beyond keeping her alive for the man who now owns her and paying off a debt. And yet, I'm fascinated by the little slave. I find myself willing to bleed for a willing touch, a trusting glance...A broken little bird. The big bad wolf. A longing that could heal or destroy.Hate me or hold me?
Punishing Thirst
Olivia Fox - 2021
It’s a stand-alone in the Rough Redemption Series complete with HEA and no cliffhangers. There are fiery hot scenes in and out of the bedroom!
Reluctant Surrender: A Dark Mafia Arranged Marriage Romance
Measha Stone - 2021
I'll be keeping her as my bride.As her thong is ripped off and my belt lashes her beautiful bare backside for the first time, I can tell Maggie Dudek is finally starting to realize that defying a man like me has consequences.Painful consequences.Rigging a high-stakes poker game put her in danger, but that's not why she's face down on my bed. She's here because my future bride needs to learn that her husband expects to be obeyed.Soon her already well-spanked bottom will be sore from a much more shameful lesson, but her screams as she is punished will turn into moans of submission long before I'm finished with her.The more she fights, the more delicious her surrender will be...Publisher's Note: Reluctant Surrender is a stand-alone novel which is the second book of the Reluctant Brides series. It includes spankings and rough, intense sexual scenes. If such material offends you, please don't buy this book.