Mafia
Enemies to lovers
Arranged marriage

This was one of the first mafia romances I read years ago.
I loved Aida’s fierce spunk. She is no meek heroine or a victim of circumstance.
When she kisses Callum with the strawberries on her lips and his punishment set the tone for their relationship. The chemistry between these two was off the charts.

In the first two paragraphs the protagonist said “He doesn’t like things that are loud or unexpected. Which is why I get on his nerves sometimes—I can be both those things…” same girl, same. Plus I’m Sicilian… and also Irish, so, I’m immediately hooked. And next thing you know, I’m flying through this book. Fun and fabulous ✨♥️🔥

This was my first book by Sophie Lark and it was a great introduction to her mafia world! I love a true enemies to lovers and they REALLY hated each other at first, I absolutely devoured this book. Brutal Prince was a really compelling read that made me want to dive into the rest of the series and read about all the other siblings. I will say parts of it felt more telling vs showing and that wore on me a bit. But loved that there was no third act breakup. Overall this was a 3.75 star read for me (4 for netgalley)

This is the first book that got me into mafia reads and solidified my love of the enemies to lovers trope! The banter and eventual romance between Callum and Aida was just perfection. They are both so strong and I loved reading a female MC who's strength and stubbornness rivalled the man's. All the supporting characters added to the story and set up the world and future books up nicely. This was a re-read for me as this book is being republished and I am so glad I picked it up again.

Last thought - the strawberry scene (IYKYK) is one of the best things I've ever read in a mafia book lol.

Highly recommend this book and the whole series!

Thank you NetGalley!

Brutal Prince is the first book in Sophie Lark’s Brutal Birthright series and I love intro to this mafia romance series! I was obsessed with this book the whole read through; it made me laugh, melt, swoon, and I was just dyiiiing over the chemistry!

Callum and Aida are from rival mafia families. They both live in Chicago, he’s from an Irish family and she’s from an Italian family. Griffin is the oldest sibling, and only son of the Griffin family, at 30 he’s ready to get into politics to help out the family business. Aida lives with her father and 3 brothers: Dante, Nero, and Sebastian, and wishes they’d let her join in. At the beginning of the story, Aida and her brothers end up crashing Nessa Griffin’s birthday party and Aida sneaks into the family’s house. She ends up looking around in the library, starting a fire to escape when Callum enters, and sealing a family heirloom. This of course starts some drama between the two feuding families. Sick of the fighting, losing members of their families to one another, and just all the drama, Aida’s father and Callum’s father decide to sit down and meet and come to an agreement. They decide Callum and Aida will marry to form an alliance between the families to end the feuding once and for all.

I loved this book from the start! This is a legit enemies to lovers with both constantly messing with one another, she even almost kills him on their wedding day! 😅 I loved seeing their hate for one another and just all their shenanigans: he forces her hand with a pre-wedding spa day, she swaps out his wedding tux, the wedding kiss (strawberries). I loved how much family was a part of the story: after the wedding, Aida moves into his family’s home, she understands their family loyalty, her relationship with her brothers, and her being friends with his sister Nessa. Aida is badass and amazing! She has wanted to be a part of the family business and I loved seeing Callum listen to her and all she knows. So many amazing action moments in this book and the chemistry was just fantastic!

This was my first Sophie Lark book and I enjoyed it so much. Aida and Callum had me laughing out loud with their antics against each other. You’d never think they would work things out but they get their HEA.

This book is a decent mafia romance book! I think it was definitely a solid read and was a good introduction to this specific world. I thought that it was so cool that the main character went to Loyola in Chicago because I also went there!!

Aida and Callum are super cute together and I love how badass their whole relationship was. Normally I’m not a fan of the forced marriage trope compared to other tropes, but this one was done super well, they didn’t instantly fall at each others feet and had to work for it which I really liked.

I’m super excited for Nessa’s book though because I know it’s a kidnapping, she falls for her kidnapper trope, which I really like LOL

4/5 - Book #1 of the Brutal Birthright Series

I felt like this book was very fast paced, and not overly detailed regarding the back story of the rivalry of the families, as well as a more indebted development of the romance for Callum and Aida, but none the less I really enjoyed the storyline, I LOVE Aida’s boss ass attitude, and Callum’s progression trough the storyline as nice as well. Overall, a great book and I’m excited to continue the series!

Brief Plot: Children of rival mafia families, Aida stubbles into a head to head fight with Callum over a family heirloom. The logical solution by the two fathers? They are being married. In an enemies to lovers trope, the two are combative, but recognize the sexual tension is present, which leads to lots of spirited fights and spice. Until both of their families are threatened and the two are kidnapped. Can the two get out together, and protect their families, or will one be left and their false marriage finally end.

This is my favorite Sophie Lark book of all time! It is absolute perfection. Such a wonderful introduction into this Mafia world! Aida is my favorite type of heroine! Plus, it was true enemies to lovers not just hate to love! The growth of Aida and Callum from enemies to respecting each other, to falling in love was absolutely perfect.

This was the book that started my obsession with Sophie Lark! I was not particularly into mafia romance until got my hand on this book! Callum and Aida were so perfect. Their antics were super hilarious, constantly trying to prank and get back at one another. But their chemistry was absolutely off the charts and their relationship was fire once they let themselves have one another! The big twist and sacrifice at the end was so beautiful of course. And the best part is probably the Kingmakers series where we see their kids all grown up! Loved it!

This book is amazing! Marriage of connivance, mafia romance, 2 families that hate each other but have to come together in the end. The SPICE in this book was EVERYTHING! When they had spicy time during hating each other was just *chef kiss* ! When I tell you ENEMIES TO LOVERS, it is! I mean enemies to lovers for SURE! I mean when you find out why the cover is designed the way it is, YOU WILL DIE!!!! I love this book and can not wait to read more Sophie Lark books in the future.

I give this book a 4

The story was entertaining and well written. It kept me reading. I was surprised that I didn’t want to put the book down and read it all in a day.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. After I finished I kept going back and thinking about the plot, character arcs, and overall story which to me tells me I really enjoyed the book if I could not forget it easily.

The bonus chapter was amazing and just want I wanted. It showed the families coming together better and the love between the two main characters! I loved it!!

My first mafia romance book and I loved it! It had the perfect mix of romance and darkness for someone like me who is new to the genre and it kept me engaged the whole way through!

A steamy mafia romance that starts this series off with a bang. If mafia romances and/or enemies-to-lovers romances are your thing, you are going to be obsessed with this book.

In Aida, author Sophie Lark shows readers that she understands how to write captivating, strong, and inimitable female characters that pack one heck of a punch. Callum is the perfect foil for Aida, and their slow building chemistry is off the charts.

This is arranged marriage gold, and one of my favorite Sophie Lark books.