One Dark Kiss by Rebecca Zanetti is the second book in her Grimm Bargains series. I have not read the first in the series, but can state that this book works well as a standalone. I did not feel as if I were missing critical information that was included in the first book.
Rosalee Mooncrest is a junior attorney in a law firm. Her prior experience is strictly related to civil cases where she has won everyone that she has tried. Her firm has picked her to handle the case of Alexi Sokolov whose trial verdict is now in question due to corruption that was discovered with the trial judge and one of the partners in Rosalee's firm. She has been assigned the job of requesting his verdict be overturned and if necessary a new trial (which she hopes to avoid).
She first meets Alexi in the prison conference room where she asks to represent him in the motion to overturn the verdict.
Alexi was the head of one of the four most prominent social media firms in the world. The social media program has to be recharged by the equivalent of people batteries. Alexi is attuned to amethysts. Since his incarceration, his half brother has been in charge and not doing it well. Once he gets out of prison, he intends to wrestle control away from him and consolidate power. He also intends to do this with Rosalee by his side - a fact she is unaware of. What transpires is straight out of a Goodfella's movie with mob ties and revenge killings with Alexi determined not to return to prison and Rosalee's attempt to clear his name.
The book was solid for the most part, but I do not think enough effort was put into the fantasy part of the world building. It seems like an afterthought rather than an essential part of the plot. I personally did not care for the sexual relationship between Alexi and Rosalee (control and pain is not my jam). Other readers will find this more to their taste.
I liked the book well enough that I will go back and read the first in the series.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

One Dark Kiss is the second book in Rebecca Zanetti’s new Grimm Bargains series. This is a dark romantic fantasy mixed with suspense and a whole lot of steam! This dark and modern twist of Snow White was written in first person from the point of view of both the heroine, Rosalie Mooncrest and the hero, Alexei Sokolov.

What happens when a lawyer falls for a client that has spent seven years in prison after being framed for murder? Revenge. Chaos. Explosive chemistry. An irresistible connection. A happily ever after? Read it and find out!

This was a phenomenal addition to this fantastically dark and spicy Grim Bargains series. Zanetti is a phenomenal writer and her branching into this new genre for her just further demonstrates her ability to draw the readers into her “world” and keep them coming back for more. I can’t wait to read the next book and see what characters will be used to create new twists to other classic fairy tales.

This is a voluntary review of a reader’s advance copy received from Netgalley.

One Dark Kiss is book 2 in the Grimm Bargains Series...While this is the second book...You can read in any order. I had no idea that this was a series and when I picked it up, I had no trouble understanding what was going on. TBH, I am going to go back to read book one because this series is AMAZING.

I have been in love with Rebeccas' writing since I read her Dark Protector series. The originality and the way she writes draws me in and makes me want to never leave her worlds. This series is something that I have never experienced as a reader and I am in love. The idea of having to charge crystals plus having them linked to social media was brilliant. Don't even get me started on her characters and the mystery surrounding them. I feel in love with Alexi and Rosalie. I wasn't sure if I could trust Alexi. He's that one character you just are not certain about. Now Rosalie...I loved her instantly. Not only is she one tough cookie of a lawyer, she is fierce and loyal. When you become part of her tribe, you will be protected no matter the cost. Her renters...They were just one fun group of elderly men and they made me smile (read the story and you will understand). I absolutely devoured this book and the twists and turns had me holding my breath. I loved everything about this story and I know you will too. Give this one a chance and check out Rebecca!

I was highly anticipating One Dark Kiss because I loved the synopsis and it's Snow White inspired. I would say this delivered.

I got Snow White & Huntsman vibes while also having a modern mafia romance. This has a cool set up with the lawyer and accused criminal pairing. This created quite the dynamic between Rosalie and Alexei. Their relationship has lots of drama which kept me invested. I liked that Rosalie wasn't your typical dark romance heroine. She was smart and held her own. Alexei is the morally grey obsessed hero which was written well. The chemistry was sizzling and this got very hot. If you like the lighter side of dark romance, this would work for you.

The world is the same as the previous book in the series so if you didn't read that one you may be a little confused with the crystals at first. This has sci-fi fairy tale elements which I find unique and cool.

I would say if you like darkish fairy tale retellings, definitely give this a try!

OMG, HOTTTT!!! Ms. Zanetti has done it again! If you have not read book 1, read that first. While the stories are separate, the book 1 characters make an appearance and having the background is helpful. Having said that...

I am a true lover of Ms. Zanetti's writing style! She has a way of describing scenes, characters, and plots that draws you in and keeps you glued to the page until the very end. And her creativity is off the charts! This book is no exception. A new, different idea, set in the world we know and love, One Dark Kiss defies explanation. Excellent characters - a strong female lead, an even stronger male lead who is both bad boy and prince charming, and amazing supporting characters who could have books of their own! Amazing scenes ranging from rundown bars and gang-riddled neighborhoods to mansions and penthouses! And a storyline that is full of action, romance, and a bit of mystery. A perfect combination that will make your Saturday night at home even hotter than the clubs!

Ohhhh y’all, buckle up—because this book is a deliciously unhinged rollercoaster of revenge, lust, betrayal, and just the right touch of chaos. Alexei? He’s fresh out of prison, ripped like a Greek god with a grudge, and 100% ready to burn the world down. And Rosalie, the lawyer who accidentally sets her own life on fire by getting him out? We LOVE her. Smart, fierce, trying so hard to stay professional—which obviously lasts about five seconds because Alexei is basically a walking bad decision in a suit.

The chemistry? 🔥🔥 Scorch-the-pages hot. The pacing? Lightning-fast with zero fluff. And Zanetti’s writing? Sharp, bold, and totally addictive—like she handed you a shot of espresso and said, “Hold on.” The character development is on point too—Rosalie grows a steel spine and Alexei somehow manages to be terrifying and tender. I devoured this book in one sitting with my jaw on the floor and a grin on my face.

Bottom line: If you love your romance with teeth, your heroes morally gray (okay, borderline black), and your plot twists coming in hot—this one’s for you. Now excuse me while I go fan myself. 😏📚

Thanks to Kensington Books for providing this advance copy via NetGalley for my honest, voluntary review.

#GrimmBargains #OneDarkKiss #ReadResponsibly #NetGalley

Oh my god. Alexei Sokolov has me on a chokehold and I am not even trying to escape. This antihero skipped morally grey and straight went to pitch dark territory. And why is that so hot? Rosalie is his perfect match. She is his obsession, his possession and his prize but she won't agree to be his so easily. She is fiercely independent and sassy and smart. Her sharp mind and feisty attitude would make our hero to fall even harder. It's sexy. It's adrenaline filled. It's dirty. It's emotional. It's sensual. It's action packed. And hands down the best Snow White re-imagination I have ever read.

🍎 lawyer and her client who is a murder convict
🍎 Russian mafia alpha hero/ dark mafia romance
🍎 enemies to lovers
🍎 opposites attract
🍎 forced proximity
🍎 touch her and d13/ she is mine vibes
🍎 Snow White retelling
🍎 Elements of Sci fi ( set in future)
🍎 He falls first


Rosalie is aiming for a higher position in her law firm because she needs the money. And she has this exciting case of Alexi Sokolov, the heir ro Hologrid Hub aka one of the biggest social media company aka one of the most powerful person. He claims He was set up and when a corruption in judicial system is caught, Rosalie manages to get him out. But Alexei has no intention to be professional with her. He is ready to take back his company and his place as the leader of Russian Mafia and he wants Rosalie. It's dangerous and it's treacherous because can she really trust someone so dark like Alexei?

And he is so unapologetic about his way. He has claimed Rosalie and he isn't afraid to use any weapon including his seduction skills. Rosalie tries her best to push him away but he is a force of nature. And he has enemies who are after Rosalie too. It's a cat and mouse game with secrets and twists and surprises. In middle of the chaos, he slowly wins her heart. The chemistry is instantly explosive but the heart is another issue. And Rosalie can see the vulnerable and caring man behind Alexei's hard mask. He is so ridiculously alpha sometimes with irrational demands for Rosalie that it makes me question my sanity for loving him. And you know what? That's exactly my kind of Book Boyfriend! Rosalie is his strength and his redemption and she became his true partner through a messy bloody devastating battle of power.

Oh did I tell you she has seven boarders in her house who are all aging and have secret past and will help Alexei in the final rescue?

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

This book had a little of everything from dark romance, mystery and fantasy. Alexei was convicted for a crime he said he didn’t commit and sent to prison for 7 years. During his 7th year the judge who convicted him was found guilty of being corrupt. With that Alexei was granted a new lawyer (Rosalie) and was able to get of prison while waiting for a new hearing. He became obsessed with her the moment he saw her and she felt naturally drawn to him. I really liked the aspect about trying to figure out who the guilty culprit was. As well as who was trying to set everything up to make Alexei look guilty.

I didn’t read the first book in the series before starting this one. And even though it didn’t affect the story the couple from the first book was mentioned several times. I plan on going back and reading that one too. And I’m also excited to see what the next book has in stored.

In blatant honesty, this ARC was requested after seeing a content creator & fellow reviewer rave about how good this ARC was, without having finished it. Now, with that being said, as I often do, I jumped right in without knowing quite what I was getting into (like that it was actually #2 in a series).

However, upon completion of the book, I’d agree that this was a solid good and entertaining story that could be read as an interconnected standalone.

If you are looking for a dark-ish mafia romance with an original magical/fantasy element, I’d definitely recommend picking up this book. It was quite fun going into this book clueless - definitely something you could do. (wink-wink)

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an advanced copy of One Dark Kiss by Rebecca Zanetti in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC of this book. I didn’t read the first one, but I don’t think you necessarily need to read it to continue because they take place in the same world, but I don’t think it necessarily affects the main couple too much. Alexei and Rosalie are the main characters in this book and you do hear from the other main characters from the first book. Again it’s just because they’re all friends and the stories connect because they’re in the same universe. This is a dark snow white influenced book, but it low-key to me didn’t really pull from Snow White that much or maybe I just didn’t pick up on the cues to that. It didn’t really affect me personally reading this book. I enjoyed it and it was very quick to read. I was engaged throughout the book and I’m looking forward to reading the first book. I’m also hoping there are more books in the series because it does insinuate there’s going to be a third book. Alexei and Rosalie first meet in the prison where Alexei is locked up and Rosalie is now trying to help with his case because her firm took his case pro bono. From the moment they meet, I think Alexei started to grow curious about her and wanting to be around her, but for Rosalie, she’s just trying to do her job. Obviously as things grow on and progress the line starts to blur between client and attorney to something else. I enjoyed all of the drama and mystery that’s in here. Alexei is locked up for a murder charge, but there’s so much more that goes into that and who’s behind it and what else is happening in the streets. I found myself sucked in the story and transported there so I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I’m looking forward to more.

Dark Romantasy? I’m here for it! But make no mistake, this twist on Snow White is anything but a fluffy princess story.

Rosalie specializes in corporate litigation so naturally when she’s handed a pro bono criminal case for Alexei, a Russian mobster who has been spending much of his time in a maximum security prison for murder, she’s left to wonder why. Rosalie has no intention of losing this case and works hard to get Alexei a retrial.

If you like dark, brooding, no nonsense, seductive men, Alexei is the man for you!

One Dark Kiss is the second book in the Grimm Bargains series and overall I enjoyed this spicy ride with a fantasy twist!

Thank you so much to Kensington Publishing and Rebecca Zanetti for providing a digital advanced reader copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Publication is set for June 24, 2025

3.75 Stars

If you like Mob stories with alpha males then this story is for you. Even though I was not not super fond of the Social Media/Magical Gemstone aspect of these stories, I was genuinely entertained while I was reading. I enjoyed the friendship between Alana, Ella and Rosalie and the relationship between Alexei and Rosalie was sizzlingly hot.

I took the time to read One Cursed Rose (Grimm Bargains #1) before starting this book and that super helpful in terms of understanding the world that this series operates in. That portion wasn't very interesting to me but the overall story was enjoyable to read. I love the references to Snow White, it was very different than any other inspired story that I've read and I think it really worked in this book.

I received this book through NetGalley as an ARC and I am providing my honest feedback.

🪞Snow White & The Huntsman vibes
💵 Dark romantasy
🪞 Billionaire family
💵 Wicked stepmother
🪞 Dual POV

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5

This was an arc review so I heavily hope this author adds a trigger warning list at the beginning of the book. I flipped back and forth looking for it but couldn't find it. There is absolutely dub if not complete non-con and I wish I had known beforehand. This would've been 4 stars if not for that.

Alexei is everything you expect a criminal family son to be like. Dark, demanding, and a little bit cruel. He spent the last 7 years in prison and has plans now that he has an opportunity for freedom. He believes his attorney will be the answer to that freedom.

Rosalie is an attorney suddenly thrown in criminal defense.. though she isn't sure why. Her life revolves around her two besties, Alana and Ella, and her 7 elderly boarders who are like family. She wants nothing to do with the overbearing, albeit handsome, client she was forced to take on. Right?

I actually really enjoyed the twist on Grimm fairytales. I didn't read book 1 but I dont necessarily think it's required because this book still explained the world building and what happened with Alana and Thorn. I am VERY intrigued by Ella and I'm not wondering if our bestie sidekick Garic won't get his own HEA... or whatever version of HEA these books have. I love a good, dark romantasy. I just think CW or TW are important!

Thank you Rebecca Zanetti and Good Girls PR for my advanced reader copy! This is my honest and unbiased review.

This was such a wild ride. A modern, darker take on Snow White with mafia vibes, power games, and a broody alpha who’s as dangerous as he is obsessed. I didn’t expect to love it this much, but here we are. Heads up—there are trigger warnings, so definitely check those before diving in.

Trope
✅ Billionaire anti-hero
✅ Lawyer heroine
✅ Dark fairytale twist (Snow White)
✅ Enemies to reluctant allies
✅ Obsession / possession
✅ Revenge
🔥 Fast burn
🌶 4/5

📖 Storyline
Alexei just got out of prison after seven years, and he wants two things: revenge—and Rosalie. She’s his new lawyer, and she has no idea what she’s walked into. There’s a media empire, a corrupt board, a criminal family, and something called crystal tech that ties it all together. It’s twisty, intense, and full of morally grey moves.

🎭 Characters
Alexei is that morally grey, obsessive, “you’re mine now” type, and I was here for it. Rosalie holds her own though—she’s smart, grounded, and doesn’t just roll over for him. Their dynamic? Tense. Addictive. Unhinged in the best way.

✒️ Writing and pacing
Tight pacing, no filler. The tension between them builds fast, but it works for the kind of high-stakes world they’re in. The legal and tech stuff wasn’t too heavy, just enough to make the plot feel sharp.

🌏 Worldbuilding
A gritty, modern world with mafia undertones and this weird-but-cool crystal tech system that gives it a near-futuristic edge. It’s not heavy fantasy—it’s more like dark contemporary with sci-fi fairy tale elements.

💭 Final Thoughts
Did I expect this to be a mafia Snow White with tech and legal drama? No. Did I love every chaotic minute of it? Yep. Fast, dark, and addictive. But again—there are heavy topics and scenes, so don’t skip those trigger warnings.

Who Would Love This
🖤 Dark billionaire romance fans
🖤 Readers who love morally grey leads
🖤 Anyone into dark modern fairy tale retellings
🖤 If you like obsession and revenge all tangled up in heat
🖤 Fast-paced romance with dangerous energy

Alexei and Rosalie😍

I finished this book a couple days ago and have been mulling over exactly what I wanted to say in my review…suffice to say it rendered me speechless. I absolutely loved these characters…I love how Alexei is the dark to Rosalie’s light and I loved how it similarly resembled Snow White and her seven dwarfs but in this case, they were seven older and grumpy men🥰

The concepts in this book are futuristic and even though it could be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading in order for a better understanding throughout. I can’t wait to see what is next up in this series❣️

I received an advanced copy via Netgalley and voluntarily leave me honest review❤️‍🩹

Thank you Kensington Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Dual POV.
Dubious consent.
Bratva.
Magic?

This is an interesting world, where four families have inherited the ability to harness the power of gemstones. I'm not really clear on how that translates to how the gemstones are used to create successful media corporations, but that really wasn't the focus of this book so I'm just gonna gloss over it.

The fairy-tale retelling was a little light in the beginning but gained traction, which I appreciated. That said, it's very loosely Snow White. Besides some of the decor in her bedroom and seven boarders I didn't really get it.

Anyhow, I did not love that the lust overcame all reason for Rosalie. I didn't enjoy how dubious the consent was. Was meh on how dumb and ignorant Rosalie was in regards to Alexei, despite her otherwise being quite intelligent.

Although I didn't like either character, the plot was interesting enough to keep going.

If you're in to dark romance, this could be right up your alley.

I really loved reading this book. It was steamy, romantic, and had a lot of suspense to it. I've read the other books in the series. The ending was better than I thought it would be. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

1.5/5 because I think consent is cool!

I understand that bad things happen (especially to people in books), but this crossed the line. I draw the line at normalizing literal crimes against women. That happens enough in the real world.

In case you didn't know, SA is bad. Consent should be listened to and can be taken back at any moment. And that should be respected. I get that this is a dark romance, but that is supposed to mean that he is bad to everyone BUT the love interest. He is not supposed to be awful to her and her for go "okay, la la la la la." And she doesn't even do that because she literally says no MULTIPLE times and he just ignores it. Does not care. Hey, so that's a crime! And it's a crime I will never be okay with romanticizing. That's disgusting.

I'm giving this the 0.5 more than I want to just because I'm sure there's something of value in this book somewhere that I missed because I was so pissed off over the constant SA. (You get an automatic 1/5 stars from me if you try to pass off SA as anything but the absolute worst.)

I was excited about this book, I thought that a magical mafia romance could be cool and fun and unique, but that mystical part really felt random and unexplained. It just didn't work in this instance.

Also, I think this cover is AI. And AI is bad. So that's also gross.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, One Cursed Rose. It was a unique twist on a beauty and the beast retelling and the romance was fun. This sequel was promising but the romance was too fast for me. I don’t mind when the mmc falls first but I need the fmc to make him chase to build a semblance of chemistry. There is a spicy scene 25% into the book and it was so cringy I had to shut the book and give up. I remember the spice in book one being on the darker side, but this was too non-con for me, especially when they had such little time to establish a relationship or boundary. I’m disappointed because it was going so well but I will still be continuing the series with high hopes for the next one!

One Dark Kiss: Deluxe Special Edition- Grimm Bargains #2

By-Rebecca Zanetti-I read One Cursed Rose and gave it 4 ⭐

Publication date 6/24/25, Read 6/21/25

📃 Page count: 400 eBook

🎧 Audiobook listen time: 10:17

🗣️Narrators: Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon voice all the characters with standouts from Alexei, Rosalie, and Ella. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrators worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrators paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.

Quick Summary: Rosalie Mooncrest is a lawyer at Cage and Lion Law Firm hired to represent Alexei Sokolov. He's been in prison seven years for the murder of his ex-girlfriend's husband. He claims he was framed and with Rosalie's help gets his guilty verdict overturned. Out on bail he has some scores to settle and "favors" to do while Rosalie brings the real killer to justice. There are billionaire social media companies run by four powerful families, and each can harness power from crystals. And I can't forget Rosalie's boarders- a group of seven elderly men very protective of her with secrets of their own.

🤷🏾‍♀️ What to Expect:
⭐dark romantic suspense/mystery
⭐️ OTT possessive H/Morally gray H
⭐️ Snow White and The Huntsman retelling
⭐️ Irish and Russian Mafia
⭐h has an illness
⭐forbidden romance
⭐paranormal/magical realism
⭐billionaires

⚠️TW: murder, kidnapping, death of loved ones, IVF mentioned, sex trafficking mentioned, physical abuse-not H/h

🤔 My Thoughts: I loved Alexei because he was flirty, dangerous, and protective of Rosalie. He was the ultimate anti-hero who claimed Rosalie for his own. She was the moral compass in the relationship, but I believe she loved her bad boy. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding David Fairfax's murder, the seven renters, and Ella's plight. She was the best hacker, and I hope she gets a book featuring Justice. Thorn and Alana made a few appearances, so I would recommend reading One Cursed Rose first.

Rating: 5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice level 5/5🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 explicit s*x, open door

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing | Kensington Books, RB Media | Recorded Books, and Rebecca Zanetti for this ARC and ALC 👄! I voluntarily give an honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.