I think this book delivers on all the basic promises: steamy mafia romance with a marriage of convenience. I just found every aspect of it to be rather meh. The romance was very insta-love, despite being a very dangerous plot, I never felt like the stakes were that high. It was just kind of boring.

Thanks to netgalley for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Katee Robert never fails to impress me with her work 😈 I devoured this one - obsessed is an understatement.

Katee Robert is a god, and I absolutely love her characters and plots. Dark Succession was my first read of hers outside of her Olympus series, and now I know I'm hooked! This was a great read packed with action and chemistry. I'm looking forward to devouring the rest of the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Compulsively readable and incredibly sexy. There's not much to say -- Katee Robert knows what she's doing.

Teague and Callista... how I love thee! This author is known for her super steamy scenes, and she did not disappoint.

The set up for this book was very intriguing and I was very curious to see where the story would go however this book was a little too chaotic for me. There was a lot of POVS going on and a lot of characters being introduced which made the book confusing. I also didn't love the romance between Teague and Callie and I wanted more build up from them. It felt too insta love for me and that's something Im just not a fan of.

This book was a super easy and quick read!Insta-love, mafia romance. 3.5 stars from me! Kate Robert never fails and definitely knows how to write a sexy book.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this book! This is my honest and free review

4 ⭐, 3🌶️

I really enjoyed this book! Its an updated publishing from The Marriage Contract and a non-fantasy based mafia romance by Katee Robert had me instantly intrigued! I love that while this book is primarily about Teague nd Callista, we get a lot of information of the other O'Malley family members! In typical K.R. fashion, there's excitement and a fast paced romance! This was a great first audiobook to read for the year! Now to go run into reading book number two!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an eARC of this book! This is my honest and free review

I went into this one blind and Im glad I did. This was a fun time. Though I didnt care for the insta love between Callie and Teague.  I loved how fast paced this book was as well!


Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ebook for an honest review!

Forced marriage/mafia romance/insta-love or maybe lust and it has all the makings of a sexy intriguing story. It fell a little flat for me between 3-3.5 stars. The power play and the mafia family dynamics were more interesting to me than the romance which I didn’t connect with as much. I am curious to see where the series goes and this author knows how to write a sexy book that’s for sure.

Always excited for a KR novel! This series is so good, and this one didn't disappoint. Callista came in seeming soft but ending up kicking butt and taking names. Her and Teague together made a great pair. Their banter back and forth made this book really enjoyable.

This had me HOOKED, I honestly devoured it so fast - but thats nothing new with Katee Robert books. It had an arranged marriage / forced proximity, betrayals, family drama, mafia bosses and to top it off with a cherry on top.. it was spicy! ;) AND I'm sure you all know April Jai's song morally gray at this point right?? Well this book gave me those vibes and I was here for it - because lets face it, at this rate morally gray is us book girlies favorite color.

Teague and Callista both embodied that vibe for me and although their families were at ends, their decision for the arranged marriage only added more fire to the flame. It made for an amazing plot, and caused the three mafia families that run the city to want to k*ll each other [even more] but with the arranged marriage Teague and Calli's families had to learn to be somewhat civil to protect each other.

I SWOONED because Teague's character was nothing like I was expecting, sure he was your typical alpha but he also gave me so many cinnamon roll characteristics, he was so sweet and caring: he wanted the best for his siblings and wanted to be their protector even if it meant being stuck under his fathers thumb. I also loved Calli's character, she was a bad a** to say the least, I adored her and Teague together they gave each other a sanctuary they never had before. I cannot recommend this enough!

Thank you to Forever Publishing and Katee Robert for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Love reading something non-fantasy by Katee. She’s such a versatile writer. The chemistry between Callie and Teague is so hot. Can’t wait to read the next one.

This is the first book in a planned trilogy and there are quite a large number of characters introduced. I liked that we get the story from several POV’s and that the other characters are defined for us. Although we know by the end of The Marriage Contract which characters will be our main hero and heroine in the second installment, I found myself wondering about some of the secondary characters as well, and hoping that they will have some resolution and HEA’s too (specifically Sloan and Micah, two of the most intriguing and strong secondary characters).
I feel that this is probably Katee Robert’s best work to date and I’m really looking forward to the next two books. Well done Ms. Robert!

I really like Katee Roberts typically, but the insta-love was too much for me in this one. There was almost too much going on.

I have enjoyed Katee Robert’s other works, but this was my first try with mafia romance and it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dark Succession was previously published as The Marriage Contract, and I have to say the revamp with the title and cover fit this novel so much better. I always love a good Mafia Romance and Katee Robert never disappoints.

So excited to read the O'Malley's series as they were rereleased with new names and covers. I was looking forward to reading this series as it's a bit different than the other books I've read from Katee. I was pleasantly surprised to really enjoy the mafia storyline and arranged marriage trope. I haven't read many storylines like this one and thought Katee did a good job of setting up the story and characters. The character development in the story kept me interested throughout the story.

I loved Teague and Callie's relationship! He felt a connection from the beginning and didn't let anything get in the way of truly getting to know Callie even if it was an arranged marriage to strengthen their families power in Boston. Teague is definitely a good guy born into a ruthless family and Callie is a smart women determined to defend and protect herself and her family and those they are meant to protect.

This was a quick read that can be read as a standalone. I am excited to continue onto Carrigan's story next.

Dark Succession by Katee Robert immerses readers in a world of action, intrigue, and steamy romance, weaving a tale that is as compelling as it is exhilarating. Robert's storytelling is brisk and engaging, rapidly drawing readers into the high-stakes world of powerful crime families and the intricate web of obligations and alliances they navigate.

The book pivots around a marriage of convenience, a trope that Robert approaches with a fresh and exciting perspective, filling it with tension, chemistry, and unexpected vulnerabilities. The protagonists are multifaceted, their interactions fueled by a blend of animosity, attraction, and mutual respect, allowing for a dynamic exploration of their evolving relationship.

Katee Robert's writing is sharp and vivid, with well-crafted prose that makes every action sequence thrilling and every romantic moment pulse with heat. She balances the darker, more intense elements of the story with moments of intimacy and vulnerability, providing a satisfying depth to the narrative.

In essence, this is a roller coaster of emotions and adrenaline, offering a captivating mix of romance and suspense that keeps readers hooked from the first page to the last. For those who relish stories of forbidden love entangled with danger and intrigue, this book is a compelling choice.

This book had its merits - it presented an intriguing narrative, but I found it leaned heavily on exposition rather than vivid description. The romantic connection between the characters evolved rapidly, despite limited on-page interactions.