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!
I’m not one for over the top mushy love books, but there was so much action beyond the bedroom doors with it being a mafia seemed book. The spice level would be 4/5 because the author did such a wonderful job at keeping detail, but not over the top, once again. I absolutely love the strong female character, although her pushback was a little annoying. I loved the “burn the world down “main male character. The twist towards the end did catch me off guard, which does not happen very often.
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.
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 !! ♥️🖤
Absolutely obsessed with this book! Catalina and Marco's story is EVERYTHING: intense, steamy, and just the right amount of twisted. Catalina is fierce and resilient, surviving trauma and rising from her past as a powerful leader. And Marco? Ohhh he's the ultimate "he falls first" anti-hero, totally fixated on making Catalina his queen. His obsession with her (like bringing different flowers every day to figure out her favorite!?!) had me swooning.
The tension, the rivalry, the "touch her and die" vibes-SO. MUCH. YES. Catalina doesn't make it easy for him either, and I LIVED for the banter and slow-burn! If you love mafia romance, enemies-to-lovers, and powerful characters who don't give in easily, get this on your TBR ASAP!🌟😍❤️🔥
So, So happy I got my Crowned In Blood book in today!! Looks Absolutely Stunning! So Excited To Read It! 😁 Thank you.
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 ♥️
Couldn’t put it down! One of the best reads 🥰
I throughly enjoyed reading this book. I've read a lot of mafia theme romance books however I throughly enjoyed that it was a woman in power. When reading these types of books it's normally the male who's the leader. I loved that It was a strong female character the depth of Catalina's emotional trauma to becoming powerful was portrayed so excellently. I loved Marco's insistence and carefulness in perusing Catalina and knowing what he wants from the start. Marco was certainly giving touch her and die vibes but also giving Catalina the respect and space to grow without overstepping (only sometimes 😂). Oooo and let me tell you the intense face paced spice 🙈🥵 the whole book had me in a chokehold. Seeing what a badass Catalina was becoming knowing when to let Marco take control. Marco was giving some possessiveness but also was such a golden retriever vibe when it came to Catalina. Having Marco interpret his partners needs so well suggesting therapy and helping Catalina to cope with her trauma and recognise the strong woman she is and will continue to be was so moving. The fact he would give up everything to make her safe and comfortable and never ask her for anything was really heartfelt and really helped you connect to the characters. I was sooo pleased with the ending that everyone got what was coming to them eventually and the thought and care about the victims not just ending. I would 100% recommend reading I cannot wait to read more of Melissa's work it was a pleasure to be given the chance to read it. 😊
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of "CROWNED IN BLOOD" I Love a great Mafia Romance & thisn doesn't disappoint its a page turner you can't put down.
Catalina is one awesome tough character she's been through so much abuse, among other things & came out being ruthless making you want to cheer her on.
Marco is ruthless won't let anyone near her or they'll won't like what happens he's such a perfect mate for her he'll do anything to get what he wants no exceptions.
Marco & Catalina's story is one you don't want to miss what she has to overcome & having Marco with her through it all.
I absolutely loved this story & highly recommend if you like a hot dark Mafia Romance this is one you must read.
Nothing about Catalina is average or weak. She is the perfect Mafia Queen, and she's a queen in her own right. I love her personality. Like adore it. She's one of my new favorite FMCs. She didn't need to be saved!! And Mateo is swoonworthy! It was such slow burn between them, but the fire and chemistry was off the charts. I need more!!!! I need more female bosses instead of all the men! Love the ending
This is an emotional story with interesting characters trying to live life the best they can. This story is enjoyable to read and characters written wonderfully. It was intense, brimming with twists, spicy in all the best ways, and the end was brutal. The story was nearly non-stop action, and I couldn’t put it down once I started reading. I thought the book had the perfect balance of plot and spice. I loved how unique the story was. I can't wait for the next book to come out so I can see what happens next.
I found this book to be so lovely. By lovely I mean Catalina and Marco. They were both so similar in a way that they liked each other but it didn’t stop at just making him hers. The way he felt towards her just continued to grow and he was just so pleasing. I loved how he made sure she felt loved. Also, both so strong minded.
I was so invested that I couldn’t put the book down. It was so good and man this guy really knows how to put on a show! Catalina on the other hand, i loved how she was. She is the queen after all.
I loved it all.
Stalking His Queen
When Catalina needs an alliance, she seeks out the most dangerous man in her world, Marco. He is determined to possess her and make her his queen. This dark romance was intriguing and suspenseful as she is a strong FMC that has endured tragedy and pain to a great degree. I really enjoyed how Marco did not give up on her, albeit with a little stalking. It was entertaining and enthralling, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the end.
I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily leave this review.
Catalina had been at the mercy of her powerful mafia father for years, and her only escape has been foiled as he married her off to a cruel man she just met. However, her fight for freedom grants her the seat at the head of a powerful mafia family. Now, Marco, a rival family head, won’t seem to go away and is everywhere she turns. As she navigates her new role and this unlikely alliance, she is wary of Marco until she can no longer their mutual attraction.
I liked how this was a twist on a mafia romance and centered Catalina, the abused mafia lord’s daughter. I also liked how Marco is an absolute golden retriever while not shying away from torture. I found the story emotional, intriguing, and unexpected.
I was given a free copy. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
4.5 Stars!
This is a dark romance novel with mafia and it’s one of the ones that actually have a lot of action. It’s dual pov and definitely a slow burn. We follow FMC Catalina and she has a very traumatic upbringing and deals with her past and she becomes strong and doesn’t take any abuse anymore from anyone and runs the mafia very well, Boss bish vibes. We also follow Marco, heir to his family mafia that has a thing for Catalina. As the story progresses Catalina’s feelings change toward Marco as they become closer. I do love the connection between them and how Marco talks to Catalina. This isn’t dark romance to me at all, it’s just a slow burn but the romance is very spicy! I loved it.
I was chosen to read an ARC of this book, and let me say 10/10 I LOVE this book. As others have said usually a lead female role isn’t a strong story line, but this book was just amazing. I loved how Marco’s role wasn’t too overbearing like in some other books with a female lead. This book at least focused on Catalina as a whole. The spicy level was 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. I legit was on the edge of my seat at some points waiting for them to just get together and when they did admit to feelings for each other I’m pretty sure I jumped for joy. I hope there is a second book.
I seriously cannot wait to read more books by Melissa Cummins.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️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.
I loved this book! Melissa managed to write a MMC that was both dangerous and a cinnamon roll and it was really refreshing to read about the MMC not being a complete walking red flag to his woman. I love mafia romances and this is easily one of my favorites now. As always check your trigger warnings!
𝑻𝒊𝒕𝒍𝒆 : Crowned In Blood
𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 : Melissa Cummins
𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗠𝗮𝗳𝗶𝗮 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 : 𝟱/𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 😮💨
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A big thank you to Melissa Cummins for generously providing me with an ARC for an honest review.
“Crowned in Blood” stands as a captivating standalone mafia romance infused with paranormal elements.
The story follows Catalina Salazar, who, having endured abuse from her senator father and being sold into marriage with a mafia boss, takes matters into her own hands by killing him on their wedding night and assumes the role of the don. Marco, the leader of a rival famiglia, is infatuated with Catalina, having stalked her for a year and admired her resilience. His devotion to her demonstrates his desire for her true self. The writing is strong, the romance is passionate, and Catalina emerges as a formidable heroine despite her PTSD. The plot is thrilling and engaging, making this book an enjoyable read. 🔥♥️
I absolutely adore this book for its compelling storyline, pacing, and tropes, but most of all for the writing. Melissa’s prose resonates deeply, evoking a wide spectrum of emotions—beautiful, inspiring, devastating, humorous, and heart-wrenching—always hitting the mark perfectly. 🫶✨
Make sure you read the content warnings listed on the author's website before reading.
ARC READ
🌶🌶🌶
✨️✨️✨️9/10 would recommend!!✨️✨️✨️
I love the strong FMC especially the character growth from her situation in the beginning.
This was my first mafia romance and I loved it.
Not my first dark romance but this is definitely a great dark romance for beginners.
The MMC stole the show.
I loved every scene with him.
He is wonderfully charismatic and his love and loyalty to the FMC is great.
Overall the story is nicely paced and very well written.
It was an absolute privilege to be an ARC reader and I can't wait to read more from this author.
This was a very entertaining read that I devoured within a week.
Please please please don't hesitate!
Get the book! You won't be disappointed!
Again thank you so much Melissa for the opportunity to be an ARC reader.
Your story is phenomenal! 🤩🤩🤩
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.
