Book Reviews/ September 2, 2023September 24, 2023

Dark Succession by Katee Robert Book Review

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Blurb

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert begins a smoking hot new series about the O’Malley family-wealthy, powerful, dangerous and seething with scandal.

Teague O’Malley hates pretty much everything associated with his family’s name. And when his father orders him to marry Callista Sheridan to create a “business” alliance, Teague’s ready to tell his dad exactly where he can stuff his millions. But then Teague actually meets his new fiancée, sees the bruises on her neck and the fight still left in her big blue eyes, and vows he will do everything in his power to protect her.

Everyone knows the O’Malleys have a dangerous reputation. But Callie wasn’t aware just what that meant until she saw Teague, the embodiment of lethal grace and coiled power. His slightest touch sizzles through her. But the closer they get, the more trouble they’re in. Because Callie’s keeping a dark secret-and what Teague doesn’t know could get him killed.

Sensitive Content

Here is the potentially sensitive content that I observed while reading:

Alcohol
Blood
Child Abuse
Confinement
Death of a Parent
Gore
Grief
Gun Violence
Injury
Kidnapping
Murder
Panic Attack
Sexual Assault
Sexual Explicit Scenes
Violence

Ratings

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There are possible **SPOILERS** beyond this point!

Overall Rating

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Dark Succession starts with Callie taking the life of her fiancé which sparks the beginning of a war between the three Irish Mafia families in Boston. She flees before anyone can identify her. Teague agrees to marry Callie and find the murderer who set this war into motion, not knowing the truth. Teague and Callie’s relationship might be a business arrangement to unite the Sheridan and O’Malley families but these two have a spark of something between them that feels like a miracle in their dark world. Can they survive the truth Callie is hiding?

This book is told from third person POV with multiple perspectives. All the perspectives seem to be main characters from the book series. The main perspectives are from Callista (Callie) Sheridan and Teague O’Malley. This story reads more like a drama series and I loved it! We get narrators from the O’Malley family, Halloran family and Sheridan family. Really enjoyed how this story is told!

Oh. My. Goodness. I loved the drama of this book too! The messy mafia family politics, the relationships between siblings, families and side characters were everything for me! I was on the edge of my seat whenever someone got a phone call! It was such a fun read that had me flipping pages so quickly!

Teague wanted out of the cruel grasp of his father’s mafia family but he has stayed to protect his siblings from the full effect of his father’s rule. He was always trying to find a way to fit them and taking on the worst of things. I love how protective and possessive he was, in general! I liked how he called Callie, Angel. I love that nickname so much. I also just liked how Teague saw Callie.

Callie was trying to be the next successor to the Sheridan family after the loss of her brother. She’s strong and

The love language in this book: touch. The way Teague touches Callista made me shiver! And that was well before they even hooked up! Yes, this is erotica, but iykyk, it’s more than that. I just love Katee’s depictions of intimacy between this couple. They just fit so well together.

I highly recommend this book and this series to those who love enemies to lovers romance!

Rating Spice

3.5 🌶🌶🌶

This book has several open door scenes. There is innuendo throughout.

Genre & Tropes

Genre

Mafia Romance

Tropes

Enemies to Lovers
Marriage of Convenience
Opposites Attract

Favorite Quotes

“Whatever she’d expected from this kiss, it certainly hadn’t been desire. Though desire was too tame a word. She’d felt desire before, and this wasn’t it. This was… need. All-consuming need that devoured everything in its path, leaving only destruction in its wake.”

“He was taking something ugly and shameful and turning it into something else altogether. How was she supposed to keep her head about her when this man kept surprising her?”

“When I finally sink between your thighs—and at this point it’s a matter of when and not if—it’s going to be in a bed with a locked door between us and the rest of the world… I might not deserve you, but I’m sure as fuck going to do right by you.”

“He’d had sex for a variety of reasons in the past—and some of those were pretty flimsy—but this was the first time it’d stung to be used for his cock. He’d wanted more with Callie.”

“Thank you, angel. Last night you went above and beyond the call of duty. I wouldn’t have blamed you for leaving my ass where they dropped me.” “I might not have been the one to choose you, but you’re mine, Teague O’Malley, for better or worse.”

“You need to take it easy.” No, what he needed to take was her.

“He pulled her down to kiss her, the truth slashing through his chest. He’d gone and fallen for his fiancée.”

“Here’s to the men who love us, the losers who have lost us, and the lucky bastards who have yet to meet us.” (🥹I love you Carrigan!!!)

“Marry me, angel. Today. Right now.” He took her hand. “Say yes and I’ll spend the rest of my days doing my damnedest to protect you from harm and make you happy. I’m not perfect and I’ll fuck up, but say yes and I’ll never hesitate to apologize, and I sure as hell won’t ever lay my hands on you in anger. Just say yes.”

“You consume me, angel. It’s the most welcome kind of distraction, but I can’t get through an hour without thinking about you. Thinking about this.”

“I might not deserve you, but I’m sure as fuck going to do right by you.”