Name: Crowned In Blood Paperback - Signed & Foiled - Dark Mafia Age Gap Romance
Brand: Melissa Cummins
SKU: 9781958769232
Price: 44.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Crowned In Blood Paperback - Dark Mafia Age Gap Romance Melissa Cummins

Crowned In Blood Paperback - Signed & Foiled - Dark Mafia Age Gap Romance

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐200+ 5-STAR REVIEWS

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He's determined to make me his. I'd prefer to shoot him instead.

Catalina

Life has never been easy for me. Now, the mafia empire I ripped from my dead husband's hands has been destroyed from within. To survive, I must form new connections. But only one man has what I need: Marco.

A man as ruthless as the husband I killed.

A man as handsome and seductive as the devil.

A man I can never trust.

Marco

I see Catalina for exactly what she is: capable, merciless, deadly, and meant to be my queen. Entering into a bargain with her will give me exactly what I want most—access. I will test her, stalk and possess her, until she's begging me for more.

Because in this game of cat and mouse, there can only be one winner. And I will do anything to make sure she becomes mine—even if that means burning this entire world to ash.

Crowned In Blood is intended for mature audiences. This story contains references to and detailed depictions of child neglect, child abuse, physical, emotional, mental, and sexual abuse (including sexual assault), domestic violence, starvation, PTSD, panic and anxiety attacks, disassociation, violence to women and children, extreme violence, murder, racism, kidnapping, explicit language, and sexually explicit scenes.

This book also mentions: Suicidal thoughts, suicide, death of a parent, removal of body parts, torture, pregnancy by marital rape, and pregnancy by rape (not the FMC in either case).

The following kinks have also been included in this work: Praise, Pleasure Dom behavior, degradation, punishment, spanking, DD/LQ behavior, breath play, breeding, shibari, and primal play.

Signed Dark Mafia Romance Paperback - Age Gap Enemies to Lovers with Obsessed Hero

Looking for a signed dark mafia age gap romance paperback with silver foiling and a collector's art pack? Crowned In Blood by Melissa Cummins features an arranged marriage with a twist, a nine year age gap, enemies-to-lovers tension, and an obsessed hero who falls first. This exclusive edition is digitally signed and only available directly from Melissa — includes a printed character art pack, stickers, and pin shipped with your order.

"I tried to be patient," I growled.

Catalina's eyes widened. "What?"

"I tried to be patient with you. I tried to give you time, to not pressure you, or ask you for more than you were willing to give. Clearly, I must have gone wrong somewhere if you really thought I'd ever let you go."

If you like these Dark Mafia Romance Tropes, then you'll love Crowned In Blood:

Enemies-to-lovers
Age Gap
Slow-burn
Obsessed Stalker Mafia hero
He falls first and hard
Forced proximity
Who did this to you?
Touch him or her and die

"This was such a great mafia romance I have nothing but high praise for it." --⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader

"If you like mafia romances and touch either of them and die then this is for you!" --⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader

"I honestly don't know if any other Mafia Romance can compete and I've read a lot but this one gives you things you didn't even know you were missing." --⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader

📖 Not sure yet? Read Chapter 1 free below!

Catalina

Killer.

Monster.

I was called both from the moment I was born.

My father, Simon Herrera, was at a rally, campaigning for a seat in the Senate, when my mother, Alana, went into labor. By the time he arrived at the hospital, she had already passed.

There were dozens of photos of my father's tears over the loss of his wife. How was he going to manage in a world without her, especially while trying to navigate life with a newborn?

But Simon Herrera persevered.

He took me with him wherever he could and pushed for new laws to protect children and their families, predominantly for low and middle-income families.

The press went wild over him.

There were countless images of him holding a small, smiling version of me wrapped in the prettiest lace and the softest, most sparkling outfits.

Everyone believed I wanted for nothing, that everything I could have ever desired would be placed in the palm of my hand. And it was those images that helped my father succeed in his goal.

He was a pioneer, a "real man," who put his child first. He was an authority women compared their men to, saying, "If he can take care of his daughter while running for the Senate, why can't my husband take care of the kids for an afternoon?"

Women supported my father. They believed in him, wanted him to win, because they secretly wanted him.

But it was all a lie.

To them, he was a good, just person. A man dedicated to family. Someone who loved me more than anything in the world. They were wrong.

Simon Herrera was a monster, one even worse than me.

As a child, I didn't truly understand my fear of my father. I hardly remembered anything before the age of four, only that the photos which hung in his office—his mementos—terrified me. But there was one specific instance I did recall.

`I had attended a public rally with my father in the middle of summer. He'd chosen a thick velvet dress for me to wear, because it matched his outfit best and had small reflective stones. But he hadn’t accounted for the heat.

Sweat dripped off my brow, constantly getting into my eyes. I kept swiping at them, messing up my short brown bangs. I tried to tough it out for my father as long as I could, but my headache turned into nausea. And then I committed the worst offense of all—I stopped smiling and waving and I began to cry.

My father took me home as soon as he could, but it wasn't out of care or concern for me. The moment we stepped inside, he loosened his belt, wrapped one end around his fist and said, "I'll give you something to cry about." And he did.

He beat me mercilessly, screaming, "This is all your fault," and if I "would have just kept smiling," he wouldn't have had to resort to whipping me.

I begged him to stop, promised I'd never do it again, but he told me he wouldn't. Not until I learned how to smile through the pain and tears.

True to his word, he didn't stop until I eventually passed out from the torment, covered in tears with the smile I'd forced onto my face.

Although I’d somehow blocked out the other times, that wasn't the first or last time he'd beat and abused me.

When I outgrew the clothes he'd bought me at six years old, he called me fat. When I calmly tried to tell him they were simply the wrong size, he beat me, then locked me in my room with nothing to eat for two days.

After that, I started stealing snacks from the kitchen in case it ever happened again. It did, multiple times, but at least I always had something to eat.

At eleven, my father found a love note tucked away in my backpack. He screamed at me, told me I was a, "Disgrace who would never be allowed to date, even fantasize over anything for anyone," he, "didn’t approve of."

I thought he would merely beat me again, as he normally did, but he pushed me down the stairs instead. I broke my arm trying to brace for the fall and wasn't able to write for six weeks.

The doctor and nurses asked me what happened, but my father always intercepted, constantly reiterating that he'd simply come home and found me at the bottom of the stairs. He told them I was clumsy, always running into things, bumping into walls, showing up with scratches and scrapes on my golden skin with no explanation.

They didn't seem to believe him, though. Instead, they kept looking at me to say something, anything that would allow them to help me.

But how could I? He was a powerful senator. And even if I said something, would they believe me?

I had been his punching bag for years. He'd hurt me so many times that I rarely felt the pain anymore. If I opened my mouth, if I told them what he'd done, what would they be able to do? And how far would my father go to keep his secret?

I didn't know the answer to those questions, but I did know two things. Simon Herrera would do anything to protect his image, and he was capable of grave violence.

I didn't want anyone else to experience what I had, so I'd simply nodded along with his excuse that I'd been running through the house and tripped down the stairs.

Oddly, that response had given me some reprieve. Once I healed, my father removed me from school and forced me to learn at home with a tutor.

For a while after that, the beatings had lessened, and outside of public appearances, he’d mostly acted like I didn’t exist. It was like he'd gotten the confirmation he needed, that I had accepted what I was to him—his doll, a pawn to morph and marionette into whatever he required that day.

That hurt the little pride I had, but there was no other alternative. I couldn't escape from him, not yet, but I would one day. I just had to survive to that point.

By sixteen, I'd become an expert in acting.

In front of others, I smiled, waved, danced at soirees where some men leered at me like a hungry lion dying for a taste. I kept my grades up, excelled at everything my father ordered me to, and sang my father’s praises to the masses.

But at night, when it was dark, and I was by myself, I'd let everything fade away except the anger and the hate.

I resented everything my father stood for: the law, politics, government. Sometimes, I was jealous of my mother for dying while I survived only to live a miserable life.

I was certain my father had abused her too. In every photo, her blonde hair was in a sophisticated updo. She was always thin, dressed immaculately. The epitome of the ideal wife.

She was the perfect hostess at parties, the first person my father thanked at award speeches and always with a wide smile on her face—the same one I had been faking for years.

If my mother were alive, would my life have been different? Would someone have finally loved me? Would someone have saved me from this torture?

I wanted to believe at least one of my parents cared about me. It was the only comfort I had… Until I found my mother's diary.

Alana had been forced to marry my father, and he'd abused her every single day of her life.

From broken ribs to marital rape to constant threats upon her life, she'd gone through it all. My mother’s appearance was always flawless, her behavior impeccable, because if she weren't, she would face unimaginable pain and terror.

My mother never had a moment of peace, and any hope she'd carried in her heart of finally getting it had eventually been drained out of her. In that way, we were the same. But unlike me, she had taken the easy way out.

In a little pocket, hidden at the back of her diary, was a detailed plan on how she would kill herself. My mother couldn't bring herself to do it while pregnant with me, but the moment she gave birth, she swore she'd take her own life. And she did.

My mother had also left a letter for me. She apologized for giving birth to me, said she never wanted to bring me into a world with that bastard as my father, but she had no choice.

He had her watched nearly twenty-four hours a day. A baby would make the media see him as a family man. It was exactly what he needed for his campaign, and he wouldn’t let anyone stand in the way of that—especially my mother.

She hoped that one day I would find a way out. That someone would save me, or I'd find the strength to save myself. She apologized for being weak, for not persevering for me, for being selfish.

I didn't bother to read the rest because she was selfish.

I understood she didn't have a choice, but I couldn't forgive her. She'd left me with my father. She knew that by dying, I would be in the same situation she had been. Yet she still went through with the pregnancy and her suicide.

Did she know how that would affect me? How many times I would be called a killer?

I'd been mocked, hurt, constantly reminded that I was lower than scum by my father, and I'd believed it. I understood it was my fault, that I killed her and shouldn't be alive. And now, sixteen years later, I found out that I’d been framed by my own mother.

She’d forced me to take the fall for something I never should have had to. I’d lived with guilt and shame that had never belonged to me.

That wasn't right. That wasn't fair. That wasn't love.

No one had ever shown me what love was, but that wasn't it. This wasn't how a parent was supposed to treat their child. They were supposed to care for, nurse, worry about, guide, and protect them. But nobody had ever done that for me.

If I hadn’t become the perfect tool for shaping my father's image, I likely wouldn't have made it past infancy.

But I had, and I was determined to survive. If I had to keep acting, pretending I loved my father and my life, I would. If I had to worship the ground he walked on, or hide his abuse, I would.

I would do whatever I had to survive, and when I was able, I'd leave him for good. Yes, he was a senator, but he couldn't stop me once I became an adult.

Then I'd escape.

Then I'd be free.

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Check trigger/content Warnings ⚠️10⭐️ 10🌶O.M.G THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD, my first by this author & MOST DEFINITELY WON'T BE MY LAST. FMC Catalina is just WOW the way she was treated as a child was just horrible but the moment she was an adult & saw the opportunity to take charge of her life she did in a huge way that even im proud of & she became a strong capable woman. Then enter our Strong powerful se*y, tatt, hero, boss man Marco who takes his time showing Catalina that he wants to be with her & by her side never pushing her but showing her in small ways that she means something to him & that he'd crawl through h3// to be with her & to have her as his queen, always giving her a shoulder to lean on if needed, always telling her she is beautiful, important & enough & that he'd drop to his knees to worship her if she wanted him to. I just LOVE MARCO SO MUCH THAT I'd like to know where I can find one 🤣. Catalina takes a lil time to come around but when she does there nothing she won't do to save & protect her King Marco. Also if you love spicy then this book truly delivers. DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS BOOK.

Beautiful

One of the better special editions I’ve received - beautiful!

Purchasing the ebook took less than 30 seconds as applepay is accepted. The book itself was so short, but an absolute masterpiece. I’m disappointed it’s not longer because the story itself IS THAT good but knew it was sold as was—a short story. I do wish for a prequel or sequel as I’d love to hear more about these characters.

The book is beautiful.

Loved It!!!♥️🖤

Oh my gosh I really loved this book and couldn’t get enough!!! Oh my wow I loved Catalina’s character she is so dang strong and badazz!! She’s amazing!! & don’t get me started on Marco aahhh loved his character as well he’s so sweet but also ruthless when he needs to be!!! Aahhh this book was everything and I can’t wait to read more books by Melissa Cummins !! ♥️🖤

So, So happy I got my Crowned In Blood book in today!! Looks Absolutely Stunning! So Excited To Read It! 😁 Thank you.

4.25⭐️

Crowned in Blood by Melissa Cummins is a gripping dark romance that weaves trauma, empowerment, and passion into a compelling tale. Catalina rises from a life of abuse to lead her late husband's mafia empire, battling PTSD while vowing to protect others from her pain. Her strength is tested when Marco, a morally complex rival, forms an alliance to take down a human trafficking ring. Despite her fear of men, sparks fly, and their intense, slow-burn relationship blossoms.With strong character development and raw mental health representation, this story balances action, chemistry, and emotional depth. While the plot feels rushed in places, the blend of tension, vulnerability, and dark themes keeps readers hooked. A unique twist on mafia romance, Crowned in Blood is a must-read for fans of edgy, character-driven stories.Rating: 4.25/5Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️Thank you for the ARC ♥️

Dark Edgy Romance🖤🖤🔪

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2Crowned in Blood is an intense and captivating romance that follows Catalina, a woman who rises from the ashes of her traumatic past to become a formidable leader. Born into a corrupt world controlled by her abusive father, Catalina is forced into a marriage with an older, ruthless familia boss. After enduring years of suffering, she finally gains freedom when her new husband dies (on their wedding night!) and she takes control of his empire, stepping into a new role of power.However, her internal struggles persist. Battling PTSD from her past, Catalina transforms both mentally and physically, becoming fiercely protective of her familia and vowing to never let anyone else experience the pain she did. As she gains strength, she fights to keep her life in her own hands.Enter Marco, the head of a rival familia, a morally complex and enigmatic figure. Marco has been watching Catalina for over a year, obsessed with her, and finally allies with her to take down a human trafficking ring once run by her late husband. Their partnership is dangerous, with plenty of sparks flying between them. Despite her deep fear of men and trust issues, Catalina begins to fall for Marco, experiencing many “firsts”-including her first kiss and her first experience of true love. Their romance is intense, filled with chemistry and tension as they take on powerful enemies.Crowned in Blood is a gripping, spicey romance that blends high-stakes action, intense passion, a powerful story of overcoming trauma, and a touch of magic. With plot twists, thrilling moments, and a deeply emotional love story, it’s a must read for fans of dark, edgy romances featuring strong, complex characters.

Amazing couple

Catalina and Marco have a mafia romance. Catalina had a rough past and shows her strength in her present. The banter between Catalina and Marco along with their chemistry and connection was incredible. I loved their interactions. This is a darker read that had an amazing build.

Amazing!

I really enjoyed this book. Catalina is such a strong FMC. She suffered from abuse from her father and came out of that so strong. She just kept getting better and developing more throughout the book!Marco is just the best. He is that touch her and 💀vibes going on and definitely falls first. He is the head of a rival familia and can't keeps his eyes off of Catalina.The two of them have that enemies to lovers thing going on which I love and they also have so much chemistry.I love a good Mafia book and this definitely delivered. Be sure to check your triggers before reading this.

Vicious, yet delicious

Melissa Cummins masterfully delivers a dark, seductive, and tension-filled mafia romance in Crowned in Blood. The story intertwines themes of power, betrayal, and unrelenting passion in a way that is both captivating and ruthless.The dynamic between Catalina and Marco is electric, filled with sharp wit, power plays, and an undeniable pull that neither can resist. The push-and-pull dynamic of their relationship is the beating heart of this story, balancing brutal confrontations with sizzling intimacy.Cummins’ writing excels at building a dark, atmospheric world where every decision feels like a gamble, and every character carries their own shadows. The high stakes and twisted games of power keep the pages turning, making this a compelling read for fans of mafia romance with an edge.

Amazing Female Main Character

Melissa Cummins delivers a thrilling, dark romance in Crowned in Blood, weaving together an intricate tale brimming with tension, passion, and vulnerability. This story isn't just a mafia romance; it's a complex tapestry of emotions and morally gray choices that keep you hooked until the last page.Set in a world of power struggles and blood-soaked vendettas, Crowned in Blood follows an arranged marriage between two characters from rival mafia families. What should be a political alliance quickly spirals into an intense emotional battleground. Forced into proximity, our protagonists-each battling their own demons-navigate a slow-burn relationship that transitions from hostility to reluctant allies, and ultimately, to something much deeper.Crowned in Blood is a dark, addictive romance with a perfect blend of tension, humor, and heart. Melissa Cummins doesn't shy away from the complexities of human emotion, crafting a story that's as thrilling as it is touching. It is a slow burn, with a powerful banter, and morally complex characters, this book will leave you breathless.

Strong Heroine, Smitten Hero

4.5 stars ⭐️ Crowned in Blood is a standalone mafia romance with some paranormal elements (hero’s mother was a witch). Catalina Salazar was abused all her life by her senator father. She was sold into marriage to an evil mafia boss, who she kills on their wedding night and takes over his position as the don. Marco is the head of a rival familia, and he is obsessed with Catalina since meeting her at her birthday party. He stalked her for the better part of a year, and was even proud of her for killing her husband. He would kill anyone who hurts her, even himself. He is jovial and devoted to her, which Catalina didn’t trust at first until he proved that he wanted her for her and not for what he could take from her.The writing was good. The romance was hot. Marco is dominate, but he also worships Catalina. For Catalina, she is a very strong heroine. She can hold her own in a gun fight, but she has PTSD from what she experienced in her childhood. The plot was definitely bonkers in places, and kept my interest. Crowned in Blood was just a lot of fun!TW: attempted rape on page, human trafficking, child abuse on page, murder on page

A New Kind of Mafia Story

This was a different take on the mafia. It was nice to see a female leading the mafia. Catalina was every bit as vicious as the men. Despite her background and abuse, she overcame the obstacles and rose to a position of power. Although, she was one tough cookie, we also see her vulnerable at times and she was kind and wanted to take care of her familia. Then we have Marco, and what I loved about his character was his approach to win Catalina over. It was refreshing to see a man of the mafia take a different approach to claiming "his woman". Usually, the men are all bullies in your face, take it or leave, it attitude. He actually took time to get to know Catalina and find out things she liked and didn't like. Marco helped Catalina grow and heal. I like that she took the initiative to do so. Although, I did have to laugh at her, thinking she had to protect Marco and keep him safe. While it was a sweet gesture, he is a mafia man, so he's used to danger. There was a lot of push and pull on the emotions in this one. When they finally came together, it was perfect.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Hello Book Boyfriend

I actually really loved this one. I love a good grumpy x sunshine dynamic. Marco is a sweet, possessive, golden retriever of a man. Catalina is a strong FMC who isn't afraid to take charge and face her fears. This story while having plot, really explored the character dynamics and felt more character driven which I enjoyed.I felt for Catalina being controlled and abused by her father only to be sold off to someone and feeling powerless but not wanting to give in. She proves the fire in her by rising to be the new head of the Familia!And then in walks Marco to shake up her world and show her not everyone is out to take from her and hurt her. His patience and devotion were so endearing. He doesn't let Catalina's demeanor stop him and even admires it. He supports and encourages her as she tries to do right by the Familia and stop the trafficking her short lived husband and father were part of.I thought the mental health aspect was also done pretty well, and I thought the addition of seeing her get therapy was a neat touch. Though the way she just opens up to Jo so quickly felt a bit OOC.My BIGGEST negative is the weird way the angst is resolved. I almost gave this 3 stars over it. It feels like it pulls you completely out of the story because it didn't really make sense, perhaps I missed something. It took me a minute to get around it to enjoy it again. I would have loved to see the angst drawn out a bit and Catalina's actions.The last bit of the story with the twist made it seemed like it was tied up in a rush. However, the twist itself was something I didn't see coming at all!!!Overall, I felt the pacing was good and loved the dynamic between the characters. Marco has definitely hit near the top of my list for book boyfriends!

Marco 🖤 Catalina

First of all I want to say thank you Melissa for the ARC! Second of all, I loved this story! Marco is a dark mafia boss MMC while also being a complete golden retriever towards Catalina. And Catalina, our FMC, is strong and can take care of herself, despite the trauma she dealt with. I love that we got her as an FMC (most mafia books are based on fmc’s that need saving- at least the ones I’ve read). It was a welcome change! I also loved the Latino representation! It was a nice change hearing about capos etc.This book had all of my favorite tropes in a mafia romance and the plot progressed smoothly. The spice was amazing! I’m sure others have said this already but please check the TW first! I also enjoyed Melissa’s writing style- I will be on the look out for upcoming releases!

Amazing!

Catalina is desperate to escape her abusive, powerful father. When her father decides he’s done with her, he gives her to the head of the Mafia.Marco spots her at a party and just can’t seem to get her out of his mind. How will Marco earn the affections of Catalina? How will he make her see him as someone to trust?❤️Mafia🩶Age gap❤️Alpha🩶Touch her & ☠️😮‍💨🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/ 5💔Child abuseThis is one of the best mafia books I have read this year! I absolutely can’t wait to see what else Melissa Cummins has coming! She’s on my list!

Queen B Energy

I went into this book thinking it was going to be your typical mafia/arranged marriage romance book which is totally fine because I love those but this one was so much more than that. I kept waiting for Marco to take over and control everything but instead we got a queen who needs no man to take control and protect her. Marco does protect her in his own way but it's not in an overbearing way and he lets her be the queen that she is and I just loved it.The spicy scenes were so good and I just loved Marco and Catalina together. This was a great mafia romance!

Good read

This is my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed it. I love a good mafia romance, and this one was a good read. Catalina was a fierce and strong FMC, and the MMC Marcos was a tough mafia leader who was a golden retriever with the FMC. I love how he worked to earn Catalina's trust and never pushed her too hard. He seemed to have understood her trauma and was patient with her. It was exciting when Catalina finally trusted him.This was good, and I definitely recommend it. My only two issues were the really long chapters (personal preference) and Marcos's extremely fast recovery after an incident.