Reader Hub
Whether you're completely new to romance or looking to explore a new corner of the genre, our Reader Guides are here to help. From beginner-friendly introductions to curated reading lists, each guide is designed to make choosing your next read that little bit easier. Think of it as browsing the shelves of an independent bookshop with a bookseller by your side.
Readers Guide #4
New to Mafia Romance?
Here’s what you need to know...
If you've spent any time around romance readers, you've probably heard the words mafia romance thrown around. You may also have wondered why on earth so many of us are happily reading about men who, in real life, we'd cross the road to avoid.
Welcome. You're among friends here.
Mafia romance sits on the darker side of romance and usually takes place in a world of organised crime, powerful families, questionable morals and men who have absolutely no business being considered boyfriend material.
And yet... here we are.
So, what actually is Mafia Romance?
At its simplest, it's a romance where organised crime or a criminal family forms a significant part of the story.
That might mean the main character is part of a mafia family, runs a criminal organisation, is caught between rival families or finds themselves dragged into a world they really weren't prepared for.
The romance is still at the heart of the book, but you've also got danger, power, loyalty, violence and family politics happening around it.
Basically, your normal relationship problems... but with significantly more guns.
What kind of tropes will I find?
One of the reasons I love mafia romance is because it works SO well with some of my favourite romance tropes.
You'll often come across things like:
Enemies to Lovers
Arranged or Forced Marriage
Rival Families
Forced Proximity
Touch Her and Die
Morally Grey Characters
Possessive MMCs
Forbidden Romance
Family Loyalty & Betrayal
Obviously you won't find all of these in every book, but if several of those just made you sit up a little straighter, mafia romance might be worth investigating.
How dark are we talking?
This really depends on the book.
Mafia romance and dark romance often overlap, but mafia doesn't automatically mean extremely dark.
Some are much more focused on the romance, family dynamics and criminal world, while others go considerably darker.
Because of the subject matter, though, you can expect themes around violence, death, crime and morally questionable behaviour. Individual books can contain much heavier themes too, so this is definitely a genre where I'd recommend checking trigger warnings if there are things you'd rather avoid.
And remember: liking something in fiction doesn't mean you'd want it anywhere near your actual life.
We can enjoy the possessive mafia man on the page while also agreeing that if a real man starts tracking our location and threatening everyone who looks at us, we're calling the police.
Why do people love it?
For me, it's the escapism.
Everything is heightened. The danger is bigger, the stakes are higher, the characters are often completely morally questionable and the relationships can be incredibly intense.
And then there's the loyalty.
Give me a man who is terrifying to absolutely everyone else but would burn the entire world down for one person and apparently all my common sense leaves the building.
It's fine. This is a judgement-free zone.
Okay Keira, where do I start?
If you're ready to dip your toe into mafia romance, I've recently added the Sin City Mafia series by Lane Hart to the Spice & Spine shelves.
There are four books in the series:
Savage Little Games
Ruthless Little Games
Vicious Little Games
Wicked Little Games
Set in the Sin City mafia world, the series gives you four romances to get stuck into rather than throwing you back out into the world after one book to find your next morally questionable man.
I'll take care of that for you.
If mafia romance has been one of those genres you've seen everywhere but haven't quite known where to begin, this could be your sign to finally give it a go.
Worst case? You decide mafia men aren't for you.
Best case?
You emerge four books later with completely unrealistic expectations about romantic gestures and a worrying tolerance for fictional criminal activity.
Welcome to mafia romance.
Readers Guide #3
New to MM Romance? Start Here
If you've never picked up an MM romance before, let me be the first to tell you...
You're missing out.
One of the biggest misconceptions about MM romance is that it's "just romance with two men."
In reality, it's exactly what you already love about romance books - incredible chemistry, emotional character development, laugh-out-loud moments, heartache, found family and all the tension you could ask for. The only difference is the love story is between two male characters.
Whether you're completely new to the genre or looking for your next favourite read, here are three fantastic places to start.
For the Dark Romance Lover
Tempting Venom by Rina Kent
Already a fan of dark romance? Then this is the one I'd put in your hands.
Marcus and Preston's story is intense, addictive and exactly what you'd expect from Rina Kent—complex characters, plenty of tension and a romance that keeps you hooked from beginning to end.
If you've loved Rina Kent's other books but haven't ventured into her MM romance yet, this is the perfect place to start.
Perfect if you love:
- Dark Romance
- MM Romance
- Obsessive Characters
- High Tension
For the Slow Burn Lover
The Prince and the Bodyguard by Nora Phoenix
This one is ideal if you're looking for something with plenty of emotional tension.
A prince. A bodyguard. Forced proximity. Hidden feelings. It's packed with longing, stolen moments and the kind of romance that slowly builds until you can't help rooting for them.
Perfect if you love:
- Forced Proximity
- Forbidden Romance
- Hidden Sexuality
- College Setting
For the Mafia Romance Lover
Their Hollow King by Marie Socray
If dark romance and mafia stories are already your thing, this is the perfect introduction to MM romance.
Rip and Kingsley come from opposing crime families, creating plenty of danger, tension and unforgettable chemistry. Throw in some fantastic twists and a healthy dose of touch him and die energy, and it's easy to see why this has become one of our rep Sophie's all-time favourite MM romances.
Perfect if you love:
- Mafia Romance
- Opposing Crime Families
- Opposites Attract
- Touch Him and Die
Readers Guide #2
Which Romance Trope Matches You?
Can't decide what to read next? Start with the trope.
One of the questions I'm asked the most is, "What should I read next?" But I actually think the better question is... what are you in the mood for?
Think of it like your taste in people... tall, short, tattooed, clean-cut, bearded... we've all got a type. Books are exactly the same.
So if you're not sure what to pick next, here's a few recommendations based on some of my favourite tropes.
Still not sure?
Honestly... that's one of my favourite questions to answer.
Drop me a message on Instagram, tell me the last book you couldn't put down (or your favourite trope), and I'll happily point you towards your next obsession.
Age Gap & Forbidden Romance
Sometimes the best love stories are the ones that really shouldn't happen...
If you love a relationship that's completely off limits, packed with tension and impossible choices, this one's for you.
Perfect if you love:
• Age Gap
• Dad's Best Friend
• Snowed In
• Forbidden Relationship
🖤 Keira Recommends
Gray by Tiesa Parkin
A deliciously forbidden romance with all the tension you'd expect from an age-gap story. If you're a fan of "we absolutely shouldn't be doing this"... you'll love this one.
MM Mafia Romance
If you love romance with high stakes, fierce loyalty and characters you'll become completely invested in, this one's for you.
Perfect if you love:
• MM Romance
• Mafia Romance
• Opposing Crime Families
• Opposites Attract
• Touch Him and Die
🖤 Keira Recommends
Their Hollow King by Marie Socray
Rip and Kingsley completely stole my heart. The twists genuinely caught me off guard and I still haven't recovered from that ending.
Why Choose
Can't choose between love interests?
Luckily... neither does she.
If you enjoy fast-paced romance with plenty of chemistry and enough drama to keep you hooked, give this one a try.
🖤 Keira Recommends
No Fear by Tate James
Action-packed, addictive and guaranteed to leave you wondering what on earth is going to happen next.
Demon Romance
Ready to step into darker fantasy romance?
🖤 Keira Recommends
Once Upon a Demon Heart by K.M. Moronova
Dark magic, unforgettable characters and a romance that will pull you into another world.
Romantasy
If you're looking for an immersive fantasy world where romance is just as important as the adventure...
🖤 Keira Recommends
Daughter of the Drowned by Kerry Williams
A beautifully written romantasy that's perfect for readers who love getting completely lost in another world.
Mafia Romance
Power.
Loyalty.
Danger.
Family comes first... until love gets in the way.
🖤 Keira Recommends
The Sinners Series by Somme Sketcher
If you're already obsessed with mafia romance, these books deserve a place on your TBR.
New to Dark Romance?
Curious about dark romance? Discover what dark romance is, how it differs from traditional romance, what trigger warnings mean and the best books to start with.
Reader Guide #1
New to Dark Romance?
So... you've heard everyone talking about dark romance?
Maybe BookTok has convinced you.
Maybe your friend won't stop recommending it.
Or maybe you've stumbled across a book with a very attractive morally grey man on the cover and thought... what's all the fuss about?
First of all... don't panic! You're not expected to jump straight into the deepest, darkest book you can find. Like any genre, dark romance has loads of different flavours, and that's what makes it so much fun.
Dark romance is one of my favourite genres, but I completely understand why it can feel a little intimidating when you're looking at it for the first time.
The good news?
Not all dark romance is the same. Think of it like your type. Tall, short, tattooed, clean cut, bearded, biker, billionaire... we all have our thing! Dark romance is exactly the same. There are so many different styles within the genre that there's no such thing as the "right" place to start—just the one that feels right for you.
Let's break it down....
So... what actually is Dark Romance?
Despite what some people think, dark romance isn't just about being shocking.
At its heart, it's still romance.
It's about relationships, emotions, chemistry and characters you'll probably end up thinking about long after you've finished the book.
The difference is that these stories often explore darker situations, morally grey characters or themes that can be much more intense than your typical romance.
Some books are only a little darker than a standard romance.
Others... well... let's just say they don't hold back.
And that's perfectly okay too.
Let's have a quick chat about trigger warnings...
If you're new here, you'll hear people talking about trigger warnings a lot.
They're not there to spoil the story.
They're simply there to help you decide whether a book is right for you.
Everyone has different comfort levels, and that's completely normal.
One of the best things about dark romance is that there's such a huge range of books, so don't ever feel like you have to read the darkest thing on the shelf just because everyone else is.
Read what makes you happy.
Okay Keira.....Where should I start?
This is probably the question I'm asked the most.
If you came into my dream bookshop and said:
"I've never read dark romance before..."
These are the books I'd probably put into your hands.
Soulbound Series – Effie Soumelidis
Love vampires? Fancy something that gets you emotionally invested as well as giving you all the romance? I'd start here. This trilogy has deep character connections, plenty of emotion and a story that will have you reaching for the next book before you've even finished the first.
F*ck Me Daddy – Kinsley Kincaid
Now... if you're someone who likes to dive straight in at the deep end, this might be more your style! It's taboo, it's fun, the chemistry is off the charts and it definitely doesn't take itself too seriously.
(Definitely check those trigger warnings first!)
Sin City Mafia Series – Lane Hart
If mafia romance has caught your eye, I'd hand you this series. Expect powerful families, dangerous situations, protective (and occasionally slightly unhinged!) heroes and enough tension to keep you saying 'just one more chapter'
Tea Break Tip from Keira
One thing I've learnt from being a reader is this... don't let BookTok convince you that you have to read the darkest books first. You don't! Start with whatever sounds fun to you. Whether that's vampires, mafia, taboo or something completely different, the best book to start with is the one you're excited to pick up
And if you're still not sure...
Send me a message.
Honestly, recommending books is one of my favourite things to do, and I'd happily help you find your perfect first dark romance.
Fancy another recommendation?
If you've finished this guide and you're already wondering what to read next, pop over to my Book Recommendations page. You'll find some of my personal favourites, recommendations from our reps and plenty of books that deserve a spot on your TBR.