Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes: instant love, mafia, revenge


This book was sooo chaotic and action packed, I loved it! Attorney Rosalie is taking on a new murder case for Alexei Sokolov and when he sees her, he instantly knows he wants her. The story is full of action and twists and turns that you wouldn't expect! While Alexei is your typical moral grey mmc, I like that Rosalie isn't much of a sunshine character, she bites back and has spunk, even if she seems a little low on confidence sometimes.


I really think the only aspect that was missing from this story was the world building; however, this was book 2 in a series, and since I didn't read book 1, it is very possible that I missed all of the world building. I loved how the supporting characters were included often, I think a lot of authors fail to do this but Rebecca did an excellent job of including side characters into the story.

Overall, definitely 5 stars! Finished this book in one sitting (outside of br and coffee breaks) yes, it was that good!


Thank you so much Rebecca Zanetti, Kensington Publishing, and Net Galley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is another fast paced exciting read from Zanetti and should definitely have trigger warnings. A unique take on both social media and the mob factions.

ARC
Love both main characters and especially love her elderly boarders! Nice to see recurring characters from the previous book continue into this one. Cant wait for the next!

The previous book in this series was a 5 star book for me. I loved it. The series takes place near me ("Silicon Valley"), and has almost every trope covered. While this book didn't have quite as much going on, I also didn't like it as much.

This book focuses on Rosalie, who is working as the lawyer for Alexei, who is getting out of prison after 7 years for killing his ex-paramour's husband.. Alexei has been in the Russian mob for many years, and he's also one of the few people who can charge the amethysts that run the portion of the Internet that is controlled by his family. (In the series, there are 4 families who run the Internet, and each are connected to one specific stone.).

The book goes through Rosalie's trying to get Alexei acquitted for the crime, meanwhile he's decided that he and Rosalie would make a great couple. So basically from the beginning of the book Rosalie is not interested in a relationship, while Alexei has already decided they are a permanent couple. While I enjoyed the book, I felt like their relationship got really serious really fast, and then at the end they are sooo in love. A lot less happened in this book than the last, which is probably better since my book club didn't really like One Cursed Rose because Zanetti was trying to do too much in that book. It was essentially a mystery/action story with a bit of magic and mafia thrown in.

I will keep reading the series, but I wasn't as thrilled by this one as the first in the series. I also had no idea last time that Rebecca Zanetti had so many books. .I'd be interested in reading more of her books as well.

I received an advance promotional copy and am giving an honest review.

One Dark Kiss by Rebecca Zanetti was so amazing and addictive! From the second Alexei steps onto the page, fresh out of prison and burning with revenge, you know you’re in for a ride. He’s as dangerous as he is hot! This book is layered with betrayal, power plays, and twisted family dynamics. If morally gray characters, obsessive love, and the threat of total destruction sound like your thing, you’re going to be just as hooked as I was!

Four and a half
Whilst I enjoyed the first book I definitely thought that the author has hit her stride with this story. Alexei has spent seven years in prison and now those who sent him there have been proved to be corrupt so time to appeal and well obviously get out of jail ! Step forward Rosalie the lawyer assigned to make sure Alexei gets a new, fair trial and she is sure she can win or is she ? Alexei wastes no time in not only riling up his relatives but also ahem marking Rosalie as his territory . Suddenly everything isn't as clear cut as sweet Rosalie thought and she's sleeping with a very dangerous man !
I'm very much enjoying this new series that alludes to well known fairy tales and this time it's Snow White although no dwarves just seven older boarders with interesting pasts . The romance is perhaps darker , brutal and more violent than I prefer but the ideas concerning crystals and indeed technology particularly in social media is a wholly unique concept. As there's a character here called Ella I'm expecting a different version of Cinderella and I'm certainty looking forward to reading that. A happy ending here with a kiss of course although I do struggle to imagine the Russian mob playing nice with Rosalies lodgers but hey ho it's fiction and anything goes !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts are honest and I believe fair

This was honestly a fun read! After the first book in the series I kinda knew what I was getting into world building wise, so to read this story and be met with a soap opera style drama I was honestly having a blast. So much of this story is pure drama, the twists and character arcs is pure entertainment. Mind you there are quite a lot of things that are honestly bad about this book, but as long as you don’t take it seriously you’ll actually have a lot of fun. This is definitely one of those turn off your brain and go along for the ride type books, and I would definitely recommend it!

I am obsessed with this series! If Rebecca had 10 books in this series published, I would binge them all!

I love the dangerous world; the mobs, the money, the social media empires, the magic with the crystals, and of course the MMC. I also love all the little Snow White references. The 7 older tenants were the best side characters. The mirror was also a very nice touch.

I am hoping the next one will be with Ella as CinderELLA!

I loved this book! It was exactly what I needed after just starting book after book and not being able to focus on any. There is just something about Mafia romance books that are right up there. I kinda forget that that they exist until I’m having a bit of a book slump, and then, oh boy! I think one of the main things I love about Mafia romances is the ‘touch her and die’ trope, and this one did not disappoint. I know I would hate it in real life, but in a book… give me more.

This series is a sort of twisted fairytale retelling - this one being a bit of a take on Snow White. The MMC Alexi has spent the past seven years in prison and his new attorney Rosalie is trying to get his sentence overturned. The tension between the pair, him trying to tell her what to do and she just thinking she can ignore him, was really well done. I am looking forward to the next one.

Continuing on with our friend group from the first book we continue on the series with Alexis and Rosalie. Rosalie was the lawyer friend of the group from the last book and Lexi is related to one of the other characters that we met. He is in prison, and Rosalie has been charged with taking on his case to getting him released.
I liked the first book, but I think I liked this one even more. We do have that mafia aspect and I still get that crystal and social media aspect of the world though it is not as prevalent in this book for the social media as it was in the first book we still get that taste, and it was good enough for me. It’s still left me with so many questions about the last friend in the friend group that we see a lot of interactions with and I’m really hoping that it the next book we get.
This book really hit a lot of the type of tropes that I like. It feels like it’s more one can argue that it is Insta love type thing and he falls first. What are all things that make me really happy I feel like those really keep the pace. A little bit fast faster for me. The billionaire trope also is something that I love so it also hit that wicket.
I really can’t wait to see what Rebecca does with the next!

My (step)dad had hardcover copies of *Grimm’s’ Fairy Tales* and *Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen* and being a bookish child with a highly overactive imagination, I spent hours on weekends and winter holidays curled up reading those. I loved so many of those stories and when I grew up, I still loved the originals and also developed a real appreciation for retellings.

With searing chemistry, this well written dark fairy tale retelling (Snow White, which already wasn’t the lightest of stories) with well written characters - a morally gray alpha MC, an MFC who knows and respects her boundaries - pulled me in immediately.

A criminal, his attorney, and his thirst for revenge while they seek answers, this was a premise just desperate to be called *problematic* but I really enjoyed this one.

I’m looking forward to the next title in the series.



Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for the DRC

This is a very dark and violent story. Alexei is quite the gray character. His protectiveness towards Rosalie is his most redeeming quality. I loved Rosalie’s borders. The book has a lot of twists and turns. There is a lot of action and suspense. The writing is great. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Should I be worried about how much I liked this book? I should be worried about how much I liked this book. Yeah, definitely. The entire premise should be so problematic, but instead it's somehow both hot AND sweet. Action packed and romantic, and - yeah - deeply problematic but so good I'm always happy to put that aside for a good Rebecca Zanetti tale.

Rebecca Zanetti kicks off strong in this second book in the Grimm Bargains series.

Told in first person dual POV (with a surprise third POV but only once so I still consider it only the two main POVs). It is a Snow White retelling, which is a dark fairy tale in and of itself. This take is absolutely one that captured my attention from the jump and I am so obsessed with the story and the characters.

Rosalie Mooncrest is the newly assigned attorney to help a convicted murder get out of prison. The convicted murder-Alexei Sokolov. A mysterious accident results in the death of the former attorney, and a series of events is triggered for Alexei to take back control of his empire. He has spent the past seven years in prison for the murder of the husband of his former hook-up. Now he is out and making moves to figure out who framed him and make them pay. He also is not the naive young man of before and he has his eyes set one Rosalie.

I ate this up.

This book is a perfect blend of suspenseful thriller and scorching romance. The story revolves around Alexei, a man wrongly imprisoned for seven years, burning with a desire for vengeance against those who wronged him. He’s a complex character: brooding, dangerous, and fiercely determined. Zanetti does a great job portraying his internal conflict. He's a man haunted by the past, struggling to reconcile his desire for revenge with the growing feelings he has for Rosalie.
Rosalie, his lawyer, initially sees Alexei as just another case. However, she's quickly drawn into his world of intrigue and danger. She's intelligent, independent, and fiercely loyal, but also vulnerable and grappling with her own demons. Rosalie is a strong female lead who isn't afraid to stand up to Alexei, even when his intensity threatens to overwhelm her.
The chemistry between Alexei and Rosalie is explosive. Their interactions are charged with tension, and Zanetti expertly crafts their relationship from one of professional distance to one of passionate obsession.
Overall, this book is a thrilling and passionate read that will appeal to fans of romantic suspense.

Exciting, provocative, seductive, and utterly charming. Zanetti is building this series like I've built my FYP on TikTok, BRICK BY BRICK! The alchemy she has created is crazy good. Being bad has never felt so good for Rosalie and I am here for it!

While Rebecca Zanetti's "One Dark Kiss" delivers another dose of fractured fairtale romance with her signature blend of action and steam, it doesn't quite capture the magic of its predecessor. The story follows a self-assured mfh who knows her own mind and isn't afraid to show it (even though she's shaking in her kitten heels, paired with a mmc who, though intense, lacks that extra spark of complexity that made the first book's hero so memorable.
Ms. Zanetti's writing remains solid, weaving together sparked elements and romantic tension with practiced ease, but longtime fans like me might feel a slight dip in the emotional investment this time around. That said, the author still manages to craft an entertaining addition to the series that's worth reading, even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of the opening installment.

One Dark Kiss had an interesting premise. However, the dominant male character felt more cruel, than romantic. Usually, this type of romance starts off with the male character being slightly dark, but soon he begins to deeply care and take care of the female character. Honestly, the darkness of the main male character wasn't romotely romantic or gentle to the main female character. I wasn't able to keep reading past the middle because his actions were more violent, than protective. I think that this should have a trigger warning for violence in a relationship. Maybe he became more likable further into the book, but this one wasn't for me.

I loved this installment of Rebecca Zanetti's Grimm Bargains series! I couldn't put this book down and started to re-read it as soon as I was done with the first read-through.

Rosalie and Alexei are well developed in this story and the secondary characters are well done as well. The descriptions of the characters and the world they inhabit was well done and made this story come alive for me, just like when I read One Cursed Rose. I can't wait for the next installment.

Dark and Deadly!!
This Grimm tale of murder and betrayal is off the charts fantastic. Futuristic but not in the realm of way out there. You’re gonna need gloves this one is a scorcher.

Death has its own whisper.

Rosalie Mooncrest is a lawyer assigned to get Alexei out of prison for murder. The more they investigate the more twisted things become. Hold on to your hats people this one is a keeper.

I was given an ARC copy of this book in return for a review.

I'm enjoying this series although different than my usual read. This one is dark, well in my opinion. This time we have the story of Rosalie and Alexei. Alexei is sent to prison for killing his lover's husband. He has been serving 7 years in prison. Rosalie is appointed his new lawyer and a new trial is granted. Did he really kill David or was he framed as he claims and if he was framed, who did it? Read this one to see how the story unfolds, watch the relationship between Alexei and Rosalie develops and find out if Alexei gains back control of his social media empire. Pick this one up June 2025.