Release & Review for King of Power by Aleia Kane

Title: King of Power

Series: Club Velvet Petal

Author: Aleia Kane

Genre: Dark Mafia Romance

Tropes: Forced Marriage; Enemies-to-Lovers; Second Chance; Age Gap; Touch Her and Perish; Morally Grey Hero; Angst-Filled

Release Date: June 17, 2025 

Amazon Review - "I was not expecting this book to take me the way it did! Zeke and Evelyn were absolutely incredible in this one."

Amazon Review - "This is definitely a very HOTTT age gap 😍 King of Power was incredibly amazing and spicy."

Amazon Review - "As someone who is in their mafia romance era, this is so much more than a typical mafia romance book. King of Power does a great job blending together suspense, romance, drama, tension and the inner workings of the mafia."

A SVU meets The Sopranos dark mafia romance

One night at Club Velvet Petal was all it took to destroy everything I'd built. Now, I'm forced to marry the very man who ghosted me a year ago—a decision that could either save my life or end it.

As a SVU detective, I'm used to putting criminals behind bars, not sleeping with them. But Ezekiel King isn't just any criminal. He's a former mafia enforcer with a reputation that makes hardened men tremble. He claims this marriage will protect me from a local mafia lord who wants me dead, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm trading one form of danger for another.

The worst part? My body betrays me every time he's near. His commanding presence and dominant nature awaken desires I thought I'd buried long ago. Each heated glance, each possessive touch, reminds me of the passion we once shared—before he vanished without a trace.

But when the unthinkable happens, I'm forced to confront the brutal reality of Zeke's world. Now I must choose—maintain my integrity as a detective, or surrender to the darkness that surrounds him to save the only family I have left.

With rival mafia families closing in and threats lurking in every shadow, my heart and my badge are on opposite sides of a war I never wanted to fight.

In Zeke's world, love isn't just dangerous—it's deadly. And I'm beginning to fear it might be exactly what I need to survive.

In this game of shadows, will love be enough to save us, or will it cost me everything?

Author’s Note: This is Ezekiel and Evelyn’s story. A forced marriage, enemies to lovers, second chance, age gap, touch her and perish, emotional, angst-filled, dark mafia romance between a morally gray, possessive, former mafia enforcer turned vigilante and a strong-willed, independent SVU detective who’s struggling to regain her life after a failed, abusive marriage.

Trigger warnings can be found at the beginning of the book, before the start of chapter one. Please read before proceeding.

Trigger warnings: This is a dark mafia romance with references to or inclusion of domestic violence, death of loved ones, physical assault, murder, and violence. None of these references occur between the heroine and hero.

This debut from the author is a great Mafia romance that delivers forbidden tropes and action that fans of the genre love. 

Zeke, a former member of the Mafia, has left that life behind.

Evelyn, a detective investigating the Mafia world, is off-limits to him due to their respective roles. Despite a significant age gap, their connection is strong, and the age difference isn't a major issue for them.

Evelyn carries trauma from her past abusive relationship and now cares for her nephew, Leo. Despite her emotional scars, she remains resilient and dedicated to her job.

Zeke is a dominant, protective, and possessive man who cares for Evelyn.

When Evelyn's life is threatened by other Mafia factions, Zeke re-enters her life and offers marriage as a means of protection for her and Leo.

 Despite her internal conflict, Evelyn knows deep down that accepting Zeke's offer is the right choice. Their relationship is portrayed as strong and equal, with intense chemistry and passion. 

The story is filled with drama, action, suspense, and emotional depth, as well as a healthy dose of romance and spice. The supporting cast of friends adds depth to the story, and the overall narrative is engaging and well-paced. We are looking forward to reading more from this author. Thoughly enjoyed our first read by them.

4 stars from us

Dark gritty mafia romance

Aleia Kane writes gritty, emotionally charged mafia romance with lots of spice, humor, drama, and big feels. Readers love her work for her engaging storytelling, relatable characters, steamy romance, and emotional depth. She has a soft spot for angst-filled, forbidden romances, second chances, and dominant, grumpy bad boys with sweet centers that are impossible not to love.

She lives in Florida, with her two kids, her cat, and a large collection of houseplants.

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