In a world where most social media is controlled by four mafia like families, competition is cut throat - literally. Alexie has spent seven years in jail, the result of a corrupt judge, lawyer and jury. Now he's free (pending a new trial) and determined to discover who set him up. And, while he's at it, take back the company that should rightfully be his from the step mother and brother who have pushed him out. Trying to keep herd on Alexie is a challenge, but Rosalie is up to it. His conviction was a stain on her law firm's reputation. The partners have put Rosalie in charge of erasing the stain

I liked Alexei from the start. He's tough, he's ruthless, but he has a code. He's loyal to those who are loyal to him. But heaven help those who cross him. Then, he can be lethal. Rosalie is the perfect match to Alexie. She's a viper in the courtroom and, outside the court room, strong enough to stand up to Alexei's domineering personality. Only, the more time they spend together, the more she realizes he brings out a side of her she wasn't aware of, one that wants to give in to him.

This story is intense at times, but Alexei's sarcasm and his dark amusement with Rosalie's continuing efforts to keep her distance, provide a bit of humor. Then there's the boarders Rosalie has taken into her home. Who wouldn't love these men, all seven of them, all over the age of seventy, who have kind of adopted Rosalie and see themselves as her protector. Rosalie may think they're quiet, simple retired old men. As Alexei discovers, there is more to them than meets the eye.

I got pulled into this story from the first confrontation between Alexei and Rosalie and totally absorbed in its telling. It's an interesting combination of mystery, mafia war and a slightly dark romance ending with a decidedly unexpected twist. Even better, there are some subtle clues hinting at the next chapter of the Grimm Bargains stories.

4 ⭐️
I wasn’t aware this was a second of a series and went in blind. I love dark romance and the whole book was super 🔥.

I love me a mafia dark romance and this one checked all of the boxes. We have a morally gray(even though the author would like us believe he is morally black) MMC Alexei, he just got out of prison and all he wants is revenge and our FMC - Rosalie, who is his new lawyer. Our FMC holds her own, which I appreciated.

The world building was unique. Chaotic, but in a good way. It’s a modern world with mafia aspects, but includes the tech world with some cool crystal tech system that made it a bit sci-fi. So basically a dark romance with sci-fi aspects.
The pacing was great. The tension between the characters does build kind of fast, but it fits for the book and the world they live in.

Please read trigger warnings before starting.

Tropes included:

💵 billionaire romance
🌃 mafia romance
🍎 dark fairytale twist
🔥 fast burn
🌶️ 4/5

Thank you to Hambright PR, the publisher and NetGalley for an e-copy.

🍎 Rosalie, a young attorney, is hand picked to represent Alexei Sokolov, a convicted murderer and Russian mob boss, after new information comes to light about his previous trial. When Alexei is released after 7 years in prison he instantly begins to seduce Rosalie. Though she tries to resist him, she falls under his spell and finds herself in imminent danger due to his mob ties and his desire for vengeance.

This one wasn’t my favorite. It’s a sort of Snow White retelling with an interesting fantasy aspect that involves crystals being used to power social media companies and give energy to the billionaires who run them. That was an intriguing plot point that gave credence to the excessive murder and mob activity. Rosalie’s seven elderly boarders were my favorite characters, as they provided both depth and comic relief. I also appreciated that Alexei was somewhat of a darkhorse vigilante, with an interest in freeing victims of human trafficking and abuse.

However, not to yuck all over someone else’s yum, but I did not love that Alexei used sex as a form of punishment and control over Rosalie. There were multiple instances of dubious consent/nonconsensual sexual activity and that’s a huge red flag for me. Bottom line, it’s well written with interesting characters, a good plot, and a twist, but check your triggers.

✅ Check this one out if you like a brutal and smutty dark mafia romance where the MMC is more than a few shades past morally gray. Pairs well with a reminder that giant red flags are only acceptable from fictional men.

I have never read a dark romance book and I wasn’t sure what to expect,and boy oh boy was it spicy and addictive!

A modern day twist on the well know fairy tail of Snow White, I loved the 7 dwarfs being the 7 boarders of Rosalie.

Having never read a dark romance before I wasn’t sure how this would go but I am all about trying all the genres….. I devoured this book!
I really enjoyed the dark mafia aspect with a twist of fantasy involving crystals. If you love the touch her and die vibes with a heavy sprinkling of possessiveness then I’d say you’d love this book too.

Alexesi has been in prison for 7 years for a crime he maybe didn’t commit?
Due to corrupt judges in his previous case his conviction is overturned and set to be re trialed. His hot shot lawyer Rosalie is put on his case and things turn steamy and hot very early on!

The spice was spicing! The spiciest book Iv read so far I think and pretty kinky!
It’s that bad boy mob vibe that draws you into the life of crime, passion and attraction that this book brings in abundance. I couldn’t get enough and felt fully invested!

There was no slow burn it got straight into things which is something I love in a book. I felt very connected to Alexsei and Rosalie and the character development was on point for me. I am there rooting for Rosalie to totally give in to her feelings for Alexsei even though he is clearly a very dangerous man. But his love for her is instant and the protection and security he dotes on Rosalie is addictive. Rosalie is a head strong and intelligent woman who pushes Alexsei and challenges his danger with her kindness which leads to many a heated encounters.

The whole story was addictive and I throughly enjoyed it. I am definitely planning to read more from the Grimm bargain series.

One of the things that I love about Zanetti's books is that she is detail oriented. You know exactly how the characters are feeling both physically and emotionally. In this, the second novel in her Grimm Bargains series, the second of the three beasties,

Rosalie is a whip smart lawyer and she is assigned the task to get Alexei out of jail. The judge and the prosecutor on his murder trial seven years ago have been found to be corrupt. Alexei has a chance to overturn his conviction and take control of his family's business. Imbued with power. and 7 years of strategy he is a powerful force in the Russian mob/family business. . Standing in his way is his step mother and her remaining son who will not relenquish their power.

Rosalie has seven older men who live in her house and she is struggling to pay her bills.

I would categorize Alexei and Rosalie's relationship as more an intensity than a romance. He does nice things for her, but he's not a romantic main character. Their relationship evolves and that is a redeeming factor in this story.

This novel is loosely based on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but it is no fairytale. It is raw, dark, and brutal, with lots of rough sex. And killing. If those are triggers for you then, pass on this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC. Opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Wow. This book was a page turner. It was actually a I can’t remove my earbuds because I Can’t stop listening. This was a read and listen along for me because I really wanted to be immersed in the story. There is so much going on this world you just can’t stop reading. Although this is book 2 can easily be read as a standalone. Alexei was something else. He had his eyes set on Rosalie and the way he got her… Their chemistry was hot, the story amazing, recommend the read. Erin Mallon and Lance Greenfield were an amazing pair for this book. There were so many characters and they did a phenomenal job. 🖤 Dark romance 🖤 Tortured hero 🖤 Forced proximity 🖤 Kidnapping 🖤 Alpha male 🖤 Enemies to lovers 🖤 Snow White retelling

One Dark Kiss: Deluxe Special Edition by Rebecca Zanetti.
Published by Kensington Publishing — thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for my gifted ARC, which I read with the kind of unhealthy obsession Alexei has for Rosalie (minus the body count… mostly).

Let’s set the scene: imagine Snow White got a gritty, neon-lit, mafia-fueled reboot. She’s still got her “seven dwarfs,” but they’re actually seven eccentric elderly boarders in her Victorian house, each with suspiciously useful skills. Now swap the Prince for a dangerously magnetic ex-Bratva heir who just spent seven years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit—unless you count the ones he has committed, which, spoiler, are plentiful. That’s Alexei. A man so morally black, you could spill bleach on him and still not find a scrap of gray.

Rosalie Mooncrest is his unlucky—or lucky, depending on how you feel about alpha antiheroes—new lawyer. She’s smart, ambitious, allergic to losing, and has zero experience in criminal defense. Within five minutes of meeting Alexei, she’s also got zero illusions about how “safe” he is to be around. But Alexei’s laser-focused on three things: revenge, reclaiming his family’s crystal-powered social media empire, and claiming Rosalie as his own. The last one isn’t a request.

What follows is a combustible blend of dark romance, legal intrigue, and mafia politics, sprinkled with just enough fantasy to make you double-check your genre shelf. The world Zanetti builds is wild—four (maybe five?) powerful families, each tied to a gemstone that literally fuels their strength and influence through social media engagement. It’s like Instagram, but if likes could power your Wi-Fi, heal your wounds, and maybe kill your enemies.

The tension between Alexei and Rosalie is instant and relentless. Their dynamic is equal parts “touch her and die” and “I probably shouldn’t let you touch me, but here we are.” Rosalie’s internal monologue is dry, biting, and self-aware, which makes her easy to root for, even when you’re screaming “girl, run!” at the page.

“If he wants to bleed to death, I guess that’s his problem. It would certainly fix my current schedule.” This one line sums up why I adore her: she’s not easily rattled, and she meets Alexei’s intensity with her own brand of sarcasm and grit.

The supporting cast is equally entertaining—especially the boarders, who slide between comic relief and surprisingly badass backup when the bullets start flying. They’re a clever nod to the original fairy tale without feeling gimmicky. There’s also a solid ensemble of friends, enemies, and frenemies who add depth to the series’ overarching plot.

The romance is spicy—three chili peppers, minimum—and unapologetically so. There are scenes that lean toward the dark and dub-con-adjacent territory, which won’t be for everyone, but fit the morally dangerous world Zanetti’s crafted. The power dynamic is skewed, the trust is hard-earned, and the payoff is explosive—both in terms of emotion and action sequences.

Plot-wise, the story moves at a breakneck pace. There’s almost always a gun drawn, a betrayal unfolding, or a seduction in progress. The revenge arc is satisfying, the mystery of who really set Alexei up kept me guessing, and the final reveals tied together in a way that felt earned. There are hints at what’s to come for other characters (Cinderella, I see you), which has me counting down to the next installment.

If I had one nitpick, it’s that the magical/crystal element sometimes fades into the background, feeling more like flavor than a driving force. But the mafia/fairytale mash-up is so strong, I didn’t mind much.

Overall, this is a dark, fast-paced, addictive read for fans of morally gray heroes, dangerous romance, and fairy tale retellings with teeth. Even if you haven’t read book one, you can follow along—but for maximum enjoyment (and to fully appreciate the friendships between the heroines), I recommend starting at the beginning.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars) — dangerously delicious.

#OneDarkKissDeluxeSpecialEdition #NetGalley #RebeccaZanetti #BookReview #GrimmBargains #SnowWhiteRetelling #DarkRomance #Romantasy #MafiaRomance #MorallyGreyHero #SpicyReads #Bookstagram #FairyTaleRetelling #EnemiesToLovers #ForcedProximity #FoundFamily #BillionaireRomance #RevengePlot #BookishRecommendations #DarkRomanceReads

ARC Review - One Dark Kiss
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

One Dark Kiss by Rebecca Zanetti is a dark, twisty, and seriously addictive read. I didn’t read book 1, so I’m sure I missed a bit of the world-building, but I still loved the ride. Alexei’s fresh out of prison, dead set on revenge, and dangerously magnetic—and Rosalie, his lawyer, is just as drawn to him as she is wary.

The Snow White nod with her seven boarders was such a clever touch, and the mix of spice, suspense, and unexpected twists kept me hooked. If you like your romance with danger, betrayal, and a hero who’ll burn it all down for the heroine, this one’s for you.

Thank you to @hambright_pr and @rebeccazanetti for sending me an ARC to review!

This is a great book to tandem listen to on audio! Erin and lance really bring the story to life. I will admit to listening to it a little faster in some places the Russian accent threw me off but it was a great book!!

This is a dark romance a Snow White retelling if you will so please check those triggers before you go in blind.

Thank you to NETGALLEY and hambright for this arc

This book was a 5 star book for me! It truly was captivating! It kept me wanting more! I loved this book so much I had to have it on my shelf! It looks so beautiful sitting next to book 1! I loved the characters within this book,. I only wish i could have sank into this world more. I will be rereading this book again!

I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The story kept me engaged from start to finish and had some moments that really stood out. Overall, it offered an entertaining reading experience.

Rosalie is assigned as Alexei’s lawyer while he’s sitting in prison for murder. From their very first meeting, there’s this dark tension between them. He’s intense, dangerous, and definitely throwing out red flags left and right—and yet you cannot look away.

Rosalie's trying to keep things professional while aiming for partner. Meanwhile, Alexei—fresh out of a 7 year prison sentence for a framed murder—is immediately all over her. The man is bold, demanding, and completely unbothered by boundaries! This was a very morally black MMC. Like… maybe even too black for me, which shocked me, because I usually eat that up. But here’s the thing—I was fully rooting for him to burn down everyone who hurt her, which wasn't always the case in this one.

The Snow White twist was super intriguing. It definitely had the mafia politics, but with a unique magical element that made it stand out from the usual dark mafia romances. The side characters were solid and played a big role toward the end, though I would’ve loved a bit more emotional depth with them.

If you're looking for a dark, spicy romance between a do good-hearted lawyer FMC and a dangerously obsessed MMC, definitely check this one out—just don’t skip those trigger warnings. Even though this is book 2 in the series, it can be read as a standalone. I personally would like to check out more couples in the series, so this won't be my last book by this author.

𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙆𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝙍𝙚𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙘𝙖 𝙕𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞

★★★★☆ (4.50/5)

Thank you to Rebecca and Hambright PR for the ARC! ♡

Uhm, hello?? WHAT??? Alexei, please stay exactly where you are because I am running straight to you and offering to be your alibi for life 🙂‍↕️🤭

This was my first Rebecca Zanetti book, and I was very happy with this read! When I first saw the blurb, I thought, okay, this is A LOT. Mafia + a dark Snow White retelling?? I was curious how that combo would work, but surprise—it did! Alexei and Rosalie’s story actually pulled it off.

Let’s talk about Alexei. That man is not even morally grey—he’s entering pitch black territory and I’m just standing there like, “yes, please.” He’s a devil in a suit and I love him for it. Do I need therapy? Possibly lol. But we ride till dawn.

And Rosalie! A brilliant lawyer with a sharp mind—paired with an ex-con. Oohh. The chemistry was palpable. I really enjoyed her character, though I wish some aspects of her arc (like her job?) were clearer. A few loose threads there!!

As for the fantasy element, it was interesting, but honestly, the book could've stood strong even without it. Maybe it’ll make more sense once I dive into the rest of the series?

Overall, this is was fast-paced and deliciously dangerous. Definitely worth the read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Alexei & Rosalie

My first ever read by Rebecca and I loved it. I’ve never read a Snow White retelling and I was surprised how much I loved it. Instead of the seven dwarfs you have seven men with different secrets which is funny and a big surprise all at once.
Then we have our “prince” or should I say villain Alexei who is an ex playboy who’s in prison for a murder.
We meet our fmc Rosalie a lawyer who is brought in to be Alexei’s lawyer she finds Alexei attractive but she’s wary of him she thinks he was setup. So she tries her best to get him free and out of prison. But soon she finds out how difficult it is to escape Alexei. Does she want to or will she fall for him?
This book had so many secrets, twists and turns a lot of murders and a surprise ending. I didn’t read the first book but that didn’t matter as this was a standalone and it didn’t confuse me. I did however do want to read the first one and the next one if it’s Ella’s book I’ll definitely be reading it.

This story is part of an interconnected standalone series, each loosely based on fairytales. This book is inspired by Snow White with mafia vibes. Complete with her living with a group of seven older gentlemen, reminiscent of the seven dwarfs.

Alexei Sokolov was the perfectly morally gray MMC. Dangerous, devoted, and impossible to resist. He's been in prison for the past 7 years for a crime he didn't commit. Now that he's free, he's out for revenge.
Rosalie is his lawyer. She has never lost a civil trial, but has also never tried a criminal case. She inherited a Victorian home from an aunt and has seven elderly boarders to help pay the mortgage and upkeep (the seven dwarfs 🤣). She’s ambitious, kind, smart and funny. She can also be stubborn and has a temper.
This was a fast paced, action filled book with plenty of spice! While it can be read as a standalone, I suggest reading the series! Thank you to @hambright_pr for the ARC!

A dark Snow White retelling you say? YES PLEASE!

-Dark romance
-Tortured hero
-Forced proximity
-Kidnapping
-Enemies to lovers
-Lawyer x Inmate Client
-Dual POV
-Spice

I ate this book up - my favorite part was the take on the dwarves, being Rosalie's elderly boarders! Fast paced, spicy and hot, dark at times (check TW's), with a bit of magic/fantasy in it - made for a fun Snow White dark retelling.

My only complaint, is I feel the stone/magical aspect could be played on even more and the ending didn't deliver as much of a punch as I was hoping!

Overall, a fun and hot dark retelling, that I would highly recommend for any darker romance lovers!

This series is fantastic and I’m totally hooked! I love the dark romance with the fantasy elements. What I honestly love most about this, is yes it’s apart of a series but it works so well as a standalone because it’s an entirely different story line with it’s own world building.

One Dark Kiss by Rebecca Zanetti delivers a gripping and intense romance set in a fantastical world that will keep you hooked from start to finish. It blends dark passion with moments of suspense, creating a plot that’s as intriguing as it is steamy. This book works well on its own, but readers who start with the first book will definitely gain more insight into the larger world and its characters.

The central relationship between Alexei and Rosalie is unbelievably hot, but also wonderfully complicated. Their chemistry is immediate and undeniable, with their every interaction crackling with tension. Rosalie is strong and independent, but also knows when to give in to Alexei’s magnetic pull. She’s a fascinating character! She is intelligent, layered, and aware of her own vulnerabilities, which makes her more relatable and grounded amidst all the intensity. Alexei, on the other hand, is a powerful, protective force. His internal struggle between wanting to protect Rosalie and his fear of love creates a deeply emotional dynamic that keeps the pages turning.

The story also introduces some charming fairytale elements, like Rosalie’s role as caretaker for a group of elderly men who have become her family. Their relationship is heartwarming and offers a beautiful contrast to the darker elements of the plot. The inclusion of villains and mysteries added an extra layer of intrigue, and the slow unraveling of these threats kept me guessing until the very end.

The friendships in this book are just as captivating as the romance. Alexei’s bond with a fellow prisoner and Rosalie’s deep connection with other characters in the series bring emotional richness to the story, making it more than just a romance. I’m definitely excited to see where the series goes next, especially with hints of a Cinderella-inspired plot in the future!

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this arc!

"If he wants to bleed to death, I guess that’s his problem. It would certainly fix my current schedule."

This book was so much fun! I've never watched "Snow White and the Huntsman" but I still enjoyed the obvious Snow White references, and Rosalie's 7 "boarders." I think fairytale retellings are my new favorite thing!

Alexei and Rosalie were interesting and this book was never boring.

Also, I love that Rosalie was on 5,000 milligrams of Vitamin D a day. That made me laugh 😃

Fun dark romance read and I like the magical aspect! I haven't read the first book, but it was fine as a standalone but I could probably get more of it were read as a series! Very spicy as well!