Elara Grima is a priest’s daughter who knows where the church hides its sins. Damian Vassallo is the crime boss who moves institutions like chess pieces. A quiet raid exposes a laundering network, a confessional turns into a war room, and a vow of no violence inside the nave shatters on feast night. Set on the Maltese coast, this is a steamy, twist-heavy romance about power, consent, and the cost of choosing each other. ⚓
WHAT THIS BOOK DELIVERS
• Dark, steamy mafia romance with a forbidden pairing (priest’s daughter x crime boss)
• Morally gray antihero who binds rather than forces; fierce, competent heroine
• Cinematic romantic suspense: ledgers, leaks, a church ambush, and fallout
• Mediterranean setting (Valletta, Birgu, Msida Creek), rich with church secrets
• Razor-sharp dialogue, emotional gut-punches, and an unforgettable ending
• Standalone novel (no cliffhanger) with a tragic, bittersweet finish
READ IF YOU LOVE
• Dark mafia romance and romantic suspense with real stakes
• Forbidden love, church corruption, and dangerous obsession
• Slow-burn control turning to scorching spice (consensual)
• Gritty, international settings beyond the usual mob cities
TROPES AND KEYWORDS
dark mafia romance, steamy romance, forbidden love, crime boss, priest’s daughter, morally gray antihero, romantic suspense, gritty, betrayal, revenge, tragic love story, obsession, protective hero, power exchange, Mediterranean setting, Malta, standalone.
CONTENT NOTES (SPOILER-LIGHT)
• On-page gun violence, organized crime, religious corruption
• Grief, moral ambiguity, and a non-HEA/bittersweet conclusion
• All intimate scenes are fully consensual with emphasis on agency and control
QUICK HOOK
He is the ledger. She is the knife. In a city of incense and ash, their filthy hearts learn clean precision—and pay the price. 🕯️
Genre: Romance
WHAT THIS BOOK DELIVERS
• Dark, steamy mafia romance with a forbidden pairing (priest’s daughter x crime boss)
• Morally gray antihero who binds rather than forces; fierce, competent heroine
• Cinematic romantic suspense: ledgers, leaks, a church ambush, and fallout
• Mediterranean setting (Valletta, Birgu, Msida Creek), rich with church secrets
• Razor-sharp dialogue, emotional gut-punches, and an unforgettable ending
• Standalone novel (no cliffhanger) with a tragic, bittersweet finish
READ IF YOU LOVE
• Dark mafia romance and romantic suspense with real stakes
• Forbidden love, church corruption, and dangerous obsession
• Slow-burn control turning to scorching spice (consensual)
• Gritty, international settings beyond the usual mob cities
TROPES AND KEYWORDS
dark mafia romance, steamy romance, forbidden love, crime boss, priest’s daughter, morally gray antihero, romantic suspense, gritty, betrayal, revenge, tragic love story, obsession, protective hero, power exchange, Mediterranean setting, Malta, standalone.
CONTENT NOTES (SPOILER-LIGHT)
• On-page gun violence, organized crime, religious corruption
• Grief, moral ambiguity, and a non-HEA/bittersweet conclusion
• All intimate scenes are fully consensual with emphasis on agency and control
QUICK HOOK
He is the ledger. She is the knife. In a city of incense and ash, their filthy hearts learn clean precision—and pay the price. 🕯️
Genre: Romance
Used availability for Christin Wales's Filthy Hearts