Title: Bride by Initiation
Series: The Underworld #1
Author: Maggie Cole
Genre: Dark Romance
Tropes: Secret Society/Mafia Romance
Friends to Lovers/Forbidden/Marriage Pact
Release Date: February 26, 2025
BLURB
From International bestselling author Maggie Cole comes her highly anticipated secret society, deliciously dark, next-generation Mafia series about two lifelong friends. Sean O’Malley Jr. and Zara Marino have a similar obsession with their fathers’ secrets, but discovering the truth requires them to surrender to each other and the unknown of their Underworld vows.
If secrets and lies, desires and denials, bonds and betrayal didn’t exist, Sean O’Malley would stay my friend forever.
That’s not the case.
There are two things we’ve always wanted but were off the table.
First: The truth about our fathers.
Second: Each other.
So when a mysterious man shows up with a branded skull on his hand, speaking in riddles about an Underworld he claims we’re meant to reign in, it’s too tempting not to get sucked into the forbidden.
Even if it means sinking deeper into the darkness, testing all our boundaries, and clinging to the friends we used to be and the vows we’re now bound to for eternity.
Bride by Initiation is a standalone with interconnected characters, and book one of The Underworld series. This dark, secret society, Mafia, friends to lovers, forbidden, first real love, marriage pact romance is not meant for the faint of heart. Expect violence, taboo, and graphic scenes.
Renee’s Five Star Review
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie’s Book Reports.
If you love books with older characters in them then this is the book for you. I enjoy when the couples are old so this was a great change from the norm. This is the story of Zara and Sean.
Zara is a Mafia princess. Her parents however, have always tried their best to keep her safe from the world that they are in. However, now that a stranger has approached her and hints that her father has secrets she is more than determined to uncover the truth. Sean has lost his father and he is a man on a mission to find out who did this. When he stumbles on the knowledge of a secret society that could be the key to finding what he is after. He is going to enter that secret society and pass all their tests if it is the last thing he does to be a member. I can’t tell you more about this story as I feel like I will give something away. I will say that I devoured this book. Loved the characters and their chemistry. These are two people who were brought together by circumstances out of their control. Sean and Zara are not afraid of their feelings and he is so protective of her. I loved it when his protective side came out. But don’t get it twisted Zara is no wallflower she is strong and determined and so brave. This book is full of twists and turns and will keep you on the edge of your seat. I love a secret society romance and this one is a really great one.
PURCHASE LINKS
Free in Kindle Unlimited
COMING SOON
Releasing June 1
AUTHOR BIO
Maggie Cole is committed to bringing her readers alphalicious book boyfriends and fiercely strong heroines.
She’s been called the literary master of steamy romance. Her books are full of raw emotion, suspense, and will always keep you wanting more. She is a masterful storyteller of contemporary romance and loves writing about broken people who rise above the ashes.
Maggie lives in Florida with her son. She loves tennis, yoga, paddleboarding, boating, other water activities, and everything naughty.
Her current series were written in the order below:
All In (Stand alones with entwined characters)
It’s Complicated (Stand alones with entwined characters)
Brooks Family Saga (Read in order)
Behind Closed Doors (Read in order)
Mafia Wars (Stand alones with interconnecting plot and entwined characters)
Mafia Wars New York (Stand alones with interconnecting plot and entwined characters)
Club Indulgence Duet
Mafia Wars Ireland
Wilted Kingdom Duet
Holiday Hoax (Standalone)
Holiday Hire (Standalone)
The Underworld Series
About Renee Henson
Renee Henson has an obsession with reading and reviewing. Especially anything that is a dark romance, fairy tale retelling, MC, and is trying her best to love the PNR worlds. Nothing is quiet as exciting to her as reading a good book and then talking about it or making comments while reading with her friends that have read the book too. She is always happiest with her kindle in her hand and her nose is a book. She has been reviewing for Stephanie's Book Reports for over ten years.
Leave a Reply