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Review: One Dark Kiss by Rebecca Zanetti
One Dark Kiss
Rebecca Zanetti
Grim Bargains Series, Book 2
384 pages, Hardcover
First published June 24, 2025
Rebecca Zanetti explores the forbidden and the taboo in this modern dark romance twist on Snow White—the second in a captivating new series set in a seductive world of money, power, billionaires, and the dangerous desires that drive them.
Mirror, Mirror . . . Innocence or Sin. The reflection holds a darker truth.
ALEXEI
I’ve spent the last seven years in the hell of a maximum-security prison, every moment consumed by the need for revenge—revenge against the bastards who framed me, and revenge against the family who stole everything I owned. Now that I’m finally free, nothing will stand in my way. Not even her—my hot as sin new lawyer. Maybe she’s another weapon sent by my enemies to break me, or maybe she’s the key to my freedom. Either way, once she’s mine, I’m never letting her go.
ROSALIE
When I took this case, I thought I had it under control. But Alexei is no typical convicted killer—he’s a dangerously seductive force of nature. Perhaps it’s the lingering power from his days as heir to a global social media empire. Innocent or not, he’s dangerous in the worst and best ways.
I secure Alexei’s release as we prepare for a new trial, but he wastes no time turning against his traitorous relatives and plotting his return to power. Amidst the chaos, our explosive chemistry ignites, putting us—and everyone I care about—in the crosshairs of ruthless enemies. If we can’t stop them, Alexei plans to burn the whole world down. And if anything, he’s a man of his word . . .
5 Stars
Rebecca Zanetti delivers a deliciously dark spin on some of those fairy things that we all grew up with. One Dark Kiss is a wickedly seductive retelling of Snow White.
Alexei is a dark and dangerous man. Most people would not be able to sleep at night only doing a fraction of the things that this man has done and is capable of. He spent the last seven years in a maximum security prison. As each day passes, so does his knee for revenge. His story is that he was framed for murder and his family is the one who did it.
Rosalie never imagined when taking over a murder case that her entire life, we get twisted and turned upside down by the man that she supposed to be defending. But this Russian mobster ignite a fire within her that no matter what she does, she can’t put out. Rosalie is a hard-working attorney with a heart of gold. She goes above and beyond to healthcare for seven elderly borders at her inheritance at home. She is truly one of those one-of-a-kind people.
Rebecca Zanetti has something so going on with this series. One. Dark Kiss is the second installment of the Grim Bargains. First and foremost the world building is top-notch. If you have had the pleasure of reading Rebecca‘s Dark Proctors Series you will already know she is a master at world building. She has strong and likable characters, even if they shouldn’t be the ones you’re not supposed to be liking. Alexei and Rosalie are each amazing in their own separate ways. Both very strong characters but in completely different ways. Rebecca mixed the dark story and spice in a perfect way. These two ignite the pages from the moment that they meet. It is not a matter of if with them, it is when. We have a thrilling, dark adventure that will leave us on the edge of our seats.
Review: Prince of Darkness by Rebecca Zanetti
Prince of Darkness
Rebecca Zanetti
Dark Protectors Series, Book 17
Unknown to humans, beyond daylight lies a world of intoxicating darkness where deadly creatures prowl with insatiable desires and unbelievable power: vampires, demons, witches, shifters. When vulnerable humans find themselves thrust into that realm, they’ll never be the same. . .
In the aftermath of war, a fragile peace hovers between the Kurjan nation and the Dark Protector coalition. Yet amid labyrinthine politics and intrigue, Vero Phoenix, a Kurjan, stands apart. He has lived devoid of legacy or lineage—until the day he backed his newly found brother as king, putting himself into the treacherous position of enforcer and shield. Yet there is another thorn in his side, no less vexing, undeniably captivating—and all-too-human . . .
Lyrica Graves was once ensnared by Kurjan captors and now embodies defiance and freedom as she guides other women to independence and modernity. She is particularly amused—and breathtakingly fearful—by her tangles with Vero. But their clashing also belies a sizzling connection, a dark attraction between supernatural and fully human that threatens their chosen destinies and makes them a target for far too many enemies . . .
4,5 Stars
A fantastic beginning to a new chapter of the Dark Protector series.
Vero is a Kurjan, a prince and in charge of trying to integrate his people into a new way of life. Diplomacy is something that he doesn’t have and patience he has even less of. Trying to rebuild a broken nation, avoiding assassination attempts and trying to get everyone on the same page, Vero feels that weight of responsibility on his shoulders. Although the presence of a certain female keeps Vero off his balance, just a bit. Whether he feels that she is a thorn in his side or that’s just his excuse for something he’s not quite ready to admit.
Lyrica is an enhanced human female, an empath who was kidnapped during the previous ruler, but yet has been given a job that she has taken very seriously. Lyrica has been put in charge of helping those who have been kidnapped relocate or re-oriented with society however they wish. Lyrica is a modern woman in all sense of the word and wants all the females to be able to experience anything they should desire. She does have a bit of a hard time understanding why any of them would want to stay. She’s a strong woman and willing to stand toe to toe with anyone. Even with that Kurjan who makes her blood boil, but for so many different reasons.
I love this new chapter that Rebecca Zanetti has given us on her dark protector for. This is the first book within the 17 book series that has been primarily of a kurjan point of view. That is one of the reasons that this series stays so fresh and interesting. Vero and Lyrica are a perfect opposites attract match. I love their tension, their banter and how hard they fight their attraction. In places it’s comical and others you just want to shake them both and hope they get with it. They are so opposites of one another it’s but it so works for them. He is in all sense a warrior built for battle, but truly would rather be in a lab and she is a foot shorter than him and has enough sass for all of them. I very much enjoyed their story. And I’m very excited for what will be happening within this new arc of the dark protector’s world.
Review: Warrior’s Hope by Rebecca Zanetti
Warrior’s Hope
Rebecca Zanetti
Dark Protectors Series, Book 16
257 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 3, 2023
An explosive love triangle comes to its passionate conclusion and decides the fate of battling nations in award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti’s Dark Protectors . . .
As the only female vampire ever born, and the heir to two powerful immortal families, Hope Kayrs-Kyllwood has always felt the weight of fate and destiny. Now her heart is torn between two men and two different futures. It’s a choice between duty and love, peace and war, with the fate of everyone she loves hanging in the balance.
As the leader of the Kurjan nation, Drake has always known that mating Hope is the best path to avoiding war. He’s counting on her to know the same. . . . Paxton has been Hope’s best friend and protector since they were children. He would kill and die for her without a second thought. In fact, he’s always known that would be his path . . .
With deadly factions at her heels, Hope must decide whom to trust and where her loyalty lies—before the choice is taken away from her . . .
5 Stars
Hope has always known she’s been destined to bring peace. She knows it will be a choice that not everyone will agree with, but knows it will be right to bring about peace. Hope it’s unique in many ways. Not only is she the only female vampire. She is also a component known as the lock. A critical piece of the puzzle to destroying their greatest evil.
The time to make choices upon her, Hope is seeing things in a very different light as many secrets are starting to become known. Forever brave and always willing. Hope will do whatever it takes for peace.
It is no secret that I am a Rebecca Zanetti fan. You will find many reviews of her books on this blog. Her imagination, world building, and honestly just the way she rides have provided me many many hours of entertainment over the years. It could be paranormal or contemporary, and Rebecca Zanetti knows how to catch and keep your attention. The Dark Protectors series spans over 25 stories, including four novels and novelas. This could be read as a standalone novel. However, I would highly recommend reading at least a few of the other books in the series. This is one I have been highly anticipating.
Warrior’s Hope is one of those books that has been building up for many years and was everything the book needed to be and more. Spectacular in so many ways. Rebecca Zanetti concludes this particular.arc of the series with a vivid bang. We have page turning actio and suspense. A romance triangle that finally comes to ahead. Secrets revealed and tough choices are made. Warrior’s Hope had many layers and revealed many things that I’m sure I’m not the only one who was happy to discover. The book had me captivated from beginning to end. I read the book in one sitting, truly getting lost for an entire day.
Warrior’s Hope is in my top five read of the year.
Review: You Can Hide by Rebecca Zanetti
You Can Hide
Rebecca Zanetti
Laurel Snow Series, Book 2
What do you do when a sociopath loves you? Rising star FBI profiler Laurel Snow is about to find out …
Calling Laurel Snow’s relationship with her newly discovered half-sister challenging is an understatement. Not only does Laurel suspect Abigail is behind the mysterious disappearance of their father, but her erratic behavior also makes life in Laurel’s small hometown interesting, to say the least. Still, when Abigail claims someone is now out to kill her, Laurel’s instinct to protect her sister goes into overdrive. Then things get even more dicey as dead bodies start turning up in the icy waters of the Sauk River and there’s only one connection among them: Abigail . . .
Having Fish and Wildlife Captain Huck Rivers bringing in those bodies with his dive team only complicates matters. Huck is as impulsive and fiery as Laurel is coolly analytical, which makes their alliance risky at best. But standing up to such a demonically brilliant killer is going to take all the help Laurel can get. Because Laurel’s attempt to save her troubled sister’s life might cost her own . . .
Edge of your seat suspense, a thrilling mystery with a touch of romance…. You Can Hide is a wild read.
Laurel Snow is not your average female lead character and I think that’s one of the things I like most about her. She is beyond smart and holds more degrees than several people combined. She doesn’t see the world as the average person does. She doesn’t experience emotion in the same way that you were I would. It’s almost as if she can separate herself from them. It’s not that she doesn’t feel them. They’re just not the same to her as they are to us. With that being said, she is one of the best profilers the FBI could ever have on their side.
You Can Hide is truly a suspenseful read. It’s thrilling with a touch of romance and a lot of things that are making you think. There’s a psychological aspect to this one that really draws the reader into the story and makes them really pay attention. Or was that just me? Rebecca Zanetti takes readers on a journey of mind boggling events that I thought I had figured out only to find out I was wrong. I liked the progression of Laurel and Huck’s relationship. With both their personalities, I felt that this was gonna be one that moved a little slow, but yet be intense at the same time. I enjoyed seeing them make the next step.
If you were looking for a read, that will have you on the edge of your seat and make you think look no further. You Can Hide will do all that for you and a bit more. I highly recommend going back and reading the first book in the series, You Can Run. I promise you you will not be disappointed.
Review: Garrett’s Destiny by Rebecca Zanetti
Garrett’s Destiny
Rebecca Zanetti
Dark Protectors Series, Book 15
Love and danger . . .
For most of his life, Vampire-Demon Garrett Kayrs, nephew of the King of the Realm, has carried a heavy mantle of responsibility with ease and control. Fate declared him heir to the throne, Fortune marked him with the power of the mysterious circle of Seven, and Chance promised more surprises to come. Nothing deterred him from his path. Until the nightmares began–agonizing dreams of having a female, the female, his mate, on the back of his motorcycle—only to have her torn away from his protection. He feels the menace around her, the danger she’s in, and he can’t rest until he finds her . . .
Duty and desire . . .
Destiny Applegate bears the weight of her name with a respectful balance of fear and purpose. She has been given some direction, but not nearly enough to truly understand her duty, what she was born to do. Even as a child, she had a sense of him. The him, her mate. A dream moment or two with him that might have saved her—or possibly cursed her. So now, when he finds her, she has no choice but to jump on the back of his bike and do her best to hold on until she discovers her path—even if that means ending his.
Garrett’s Destiny is one of those books that is extremely hard for me to be able to give any kind of justice with a review. I feel like this is a very big moment within the series and going into too many details even slightly would give away something that I was very excited to read. With that being said, I absolutely loved this book.
Garrett is a character we have seen grow up throughout the series. His devotion and loyalty are some of the things that we absolutely love about him. Not to mention he is all alpha, he’s sexy as hell and what can I say? I wouldn’t mind riding on the back of his bike. He’s fierce, all alpha, but yet gentle, compassionate and cares so deeply.
Destiny was a mystery from the get-go. I found her extremely intriguing. Everything about her was mysterious, but yet the shining light came from within her and proved that something good lies within.
From the moment that Garrett and Destiny met it was intense. From needing to save her to wondering if she was out to get him. It’s an interesting roller coaster ride that all I’m gonna say is I enjoyed reading as they were experiencing it. Destiny and Garrett are well matched for each other. Their story has many ups and downs, but in the end they have each other.
As for the overall story arc of our beloved, Dark Proctors hang onto your hat readers, this is a big one. And with that I highly recommend if you like this series at all, you should definitely dive in quickly and hang on for the ride.
Review: You Can Run by Rebecca Zanetti
You Can Run
Rebecca Zanetti
Laurel Snow Series, Book 1
Fans of Lauran Griffin and Lisa Jackson won’t want to miss this brand new thriller series by New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti, as FBI Special Agent Laurel Snow, a rising star profiler, strives to stay one step ahead of the criminal mind—and discovers that her own demons may be the hardest to outrun…
Laurel Snow wouldn’t call hunting a serial killer a vacation, but with a pile of dead bodies unearthed near her Genesis Valley, WA, hometown, she’ll take what she can get. Yet something about this case stirs her in unexpected ways. Like the startling connection she feels to Dr. Abigail Caine, a fiercely intelligent witness with a disturbing knack for making Laurel feel like she has something on her. Then there’s Laurel’s attraction to Huck Rivers, the fish and wildlife officer guiding her to the crime scene—and into the wilderness…
A former soldier and a trained sniper, Huck’s thirst for blood is rivaled only by his fierce pursuit of Laurel. He’s been burned by love, wounded by the government, and betrayed before, and to say he has trust issues is the ultimate understatement. Plus, he might be closer to this killer than anybody knows…
Once in the heart of darkness with Huck, Laurel must negotiate her distracting desire for him, her complex rapport with Abigail—and her mission to find a serial killer among a growing list of suspects and a danger that’s far too close to home. So close in fact, Laurel fears she will never find her way back to the woman she once was…
Rebecca Zanetti has written many female lead characters that I have come to enjoy and love but I do feel that Laurel Snow is her best yet.
From her unique looks to the intricate way that her mind works Laura Snow is the stuff. A mind that thinks on a multitude of levels. A child prodigy going to college at the young age of 11 and becoming an amazing profiler for the FBI by her late 20s. A woman who knits booties and baby caps yet can think just like a serial killer. She doesn’t allow emotion to affect her the way that most people do which allows her to think and see things logically. She’s different and I loved everything about her.
Fish and Wildlife Officer Huck Rivers is a man of mystery, rules and routines. For someone who doesn’t particularly care for most people is the first step in. His job is saving people. From climbing snow covered mountains to diving deep waters he’s the first to put himself in danger to save someone else’s life. Huck definitely broods and at times is downright nasty, yet he is a hero.
You Can Run is an amazing start to this new series. Rebecca Zanetti pulls the reader in from the very first pages and doesn’t let up. The story is dark and intense yet so intriguing that you can’t stop reading. I would definitely call this more of a thriller than a suspense. Laurel and Huck’s romance is a slow burn that I can’t wait to see develop over the series.
Mrs. Zanetti writes with such rich detail it’s like you can feel the cold coming through the pages. Genesis Valley is a beautiful small town with all the wonderful things that we love from a small town. It holds many secrets that I feel will continue to unfold as we come to know more of Laurel Snow.
Review: Immortal’s Honor by Rebecca Zanetti
Immortal’s Honor
Rebecca Zanetti
Dark Protectors Series, Book 14
First comes danger . . .
When Vampire-Demon Sam Kyllwood discovers he’s the keeper of some mysterious circle, he laughs it off. When he finds out that his younger brother is supposed to fight to the death in said circle, he snaps right to furious. And that’s before he starts uncontrollably making things explode —it turns out it’s never too late to develop deadly new immortal abilities. But even those explosions are nothing compared to what happens when he tries to handle a very suspicious, brilliant and beyond sexy human female whose piercing eyes ignite a heat that rages deliciously outside even his unbreakable control…
Then comes desire . . .
Honor McDovall is one of the best interrogators Homeland Security has ever had. But no matter how well she appears to fit in, her mystical gifts are slowly driving her mad. She doesn’t understand them, she doesn’t want them, but for now, she’ll use them to detect and defeat danger until she completely loses her mind. Unfortunately, her job brings her face to face with the deadliest man she’s ever met—and she senses Sam is even more gifted than she is. Yet once they kiss, she realizes he’s also more dangerous than the enemies suddenly coming from every direction. Good thing they both like to play with fire . . .
Rebecca Zanetti keeps readers on the edge of her seats while making them laugh with Immortal’s Honor.
Sam is a vampire-demon hybrid and middle brother to a king and one of the seven. He’s the keeper, part of something much bigger than himself and yet he’s the calm one of the lot. He’s the keeper of the piece, kind of zen, if there is such a thing in his world. Sam was so much more than what I would have ever guessed him to be. What a hero!!!! And when he fell I loved him that much more!
Honor is the best at what she does yet can’t quite seem to him her place. She had gifts and doesn’t understand them. It’s getting to the point of making her crazy. Yet with the even more crazy things going on in her life, She keeps an open mind and allows herself to become familiar with her gifts. Her job puts her in the line of danger but she may have just run into the most dangerous man she’s ever met. With gifts to rival her own or even maybe exceed some thing about this man stirred all kinds of feelings inside of her, and those feelings are not bad at all.
Rebecca Zanetti amazes me with every book. Immortal’s Honor. Sam and Honor are totally perfect for each other but yet neither one of them can make it easy on the other. They fight themselves just as much as they fight their attraction until neither one of them can hold back. The banter, the back-and-forth with each other and the intense chemistry. Danger, intensity and passion are the name of the game for these two. I really loved the amount of humor that was within the story. With so much going on and things coming from all directions it’s nice to be able to laugh right along with the characters. Ms. Zanetti cleared up some questions for us within the pages of this chapter of the Dark Protectors series and gave us more, firing up this reader to know what’s gonna happen next.
Review: Santa’s Subpoena by Rebecca Zanetti
Santa’s Subpoena
Rebecca Zanetti
The Anna Albertini Flies Series, Book 4
Anna Albertini has her hands full during the holiday season. Her boyfriend Aiden is back in town after being undercover across the country for the last three months, and his sudden over-protectiveness is a little too much. In addition, Nonna’s latest matchmaking scheme has been so far thwarted by the two most stubborn candidates alive, and Nonna is out of patience and bringing out the big guns. Anna is forced to both protect her sister and run interference, when she’d like to jump in and find a happily ever after for everyone instead.
To add to her already hectic life, her life-long stalker is about to make a move and doesn’t hide that frightening fact, although Anna is more than ready for him. In fact, she’s willing to draw him out to finally bring him down—regardless of the consequences. Finally, Santa has been arrested and charged for murder, needing a good lawyer. Who would arrest Santa? Anna can’t let this stand. It’s a good thing Christmas is a time of magic and miracles, because she’s going to need one.
5 Stars
You would think Christmas time would be full of joy and cheer but Anna Albertini Has a snack for crazy stuff falling on her doorstep. Or walking into her office as this case would be. Not to mention all the things of Anna’s life that are on her mind.
Now tasted with getting Santa off on murder charges, the incredibly hard task of finding Aiden the proper Christmas gift and waiting for that expected thing that she doesn’t want to happen but yet knows is going to happen. Anna‘s life is crazy and messed up but this woman’s got a great heart and would put herself out there just to help someone else.
Santa’s Subpoena is intense, funny and jaw dropping. Rebecca Zanetti has created one of the best characters I have read in a long time. Anna adds a bit of humor to everything and stands up with the best of them. Anna hit a very pivotal point in her life within this book and comes out with her head held high and standing strong. The story is intense but yet the woman that is Anna is even more so. I absolutely love this book. And I would highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a suspenseful read with some passion and a lot of humor.
Review: Driven by Rebecca Zanetti
Driven
Rebecca Zanetti
Deep Ops Series, Book 4
Unswerving: Angus Force is determined to hunt down the serial killer he’d once shot dead–or so he thought. But an anonymous source reports that Lassiter is alive. Force hasn’t slept since, knowing it’s only a matter of time before “the Surgeon” strikes again. And soon, a body is found, bearing Lassiter’s same maniacal MO. It’s just the beginning of a murderous trail blazing through DC and Virginia, right to Force’s backyard…
Unstoppable: Nari Zhang is the shrink for the ragtag Deep Ops Unit, though she isn’t Force’s shrink–which is a very good thing. Because once they’re thrown together on the case, their attraction is explosive and irresistible. They’ll just have to fight that much harder to keep the heat between them from flaming out of control. But things are about to become far more challenging, and deadly, than they could have imagined…
Unhinged: Once the killer catches a glimpse of Nari, she becomes his new obsession. She is now the focus point–for both Force and Lassiter–in a dangerous dance for survival…
4.5 Stars
Grab something and hold on tight. Driven is a crazy, bumpy ride that will keep you on the edge.
It’s a very fine line between determination and obsession for one of the best profilers the FBI has ever had. Angus Force is intense. He’s got a darkness in his past that he’s carried to his present and uses it as a driving force. Losing his sister to a serial killer has him messed up. As it would anyone. The guilt kills him more and more each day, turning him to the bottle and trying to keep those around him at an arm’s length. Yet one gets under his skin in just the right way. When what should be a dead man starts hitting too close to home again, Angus holds no bars and revs up to get him once and for all. Even if that means walking away from everyone.
Nari is a primo shrink who could have just about any job she wanted, yet she is getting down and dirty with the bad boys. She’s observant ,smart and remarkable at what she does. Even being at odds with Augus she is completely committed to being a part of the team. When the going got tough she was one of the first to just in the fire.
Angus makes her head spin, yet she can’t help what she feels. Even putting herself on the line to make everything right in the end.
Angus and Nari are as explosive as the situation is dangerous. Driven is one of those books that has you sitting on the edge of your seat, clenching your jaw, scrambling to turn the page to see what’s going to happen next kind of book. Rebecca Zanetti grabs readers hard with Driven. Filled with action, suspense, delicious sex tension, some emotional fueled romance and even a bit to make us laugh. The characters are strong yet broken(in different ways) determined to do what right and finding a way to heal some too.Driven is a tangled mess with emotions driving in the lead and I loved a minute of it.
Review: Bailed Out by Rebecca Zanetti
Bailed Out
Rebecca Zanetti
The Anna Albertine File, Book 2
The Past Never Stays Buried
Anna Albertini is settling into a routine while ignoring the fact that the blue-eyed Irishman she’d allowed into her bed has up and disappeared on her. Two weeks without a phone call is no big deal, but still. With her hottie Italian boss goofing up the prosecuting attorney’s office, she at least has something to fix. Until she appears in court, across from her sister Tessa’s dirtbag ex. Then she has a mission.
Unfortunately, Anna isn’t the only person who wants the ex put behind bars…or in the ground. Which is not a problem until she and a local cop find the ex-boyfriend deader than dead…with both her sister and Aiden standing over the body.
As a prosecuting attorney, it’s Anna’s job to build a case against Tessa and Aiden. As a sister, it’s SO her job to get Tess out of this mess. As Aiden’s…what? Lover—girlfriend—friend from the past—it’s Anna’s job to figure out who the heck he really is. She has to dig out the truth, regardless of her ambitious boss or the cranky cop trying to thwart her every move. Sometimes a woman has to take matters into her own hands, regardless of the consequences.
5 Stars
Anna Albertini is a laugh out loud riot.
Bail Out is one of those books that one you start reading you can’t put down. Picking up where Disorderly Conduct left off and find Anna thrown into predicaments, some beyond her control. When the bad boy of a man that is a forerunner in Anna’s mind and her sister are found together over the dead body of said sisters ex, the problems have just begun. The fact that Anna is a Prosecutor, has a very large family in their own way of doing things and a heart bigger than she knows what to do with, it’s just the beginning of this crazy and suspenseful tale.
Anna Albertini is like a danger magnet with a cloud of chaos not too far behind. Smart, honest and a hysterical riot. I truly love Anna. Her quick wit, loyalty and big heart make Anna go to great lengths to find the truth. The thoughts that go through Anna’s head make me bust out laughing. Anna is not the type of person that is going to wait for something to get done, she will get it done. Even if she has to put herself into the line of fire. She is a unique individual and I can’t help but wish I could truly have this woman as a friend.
Wow, there is nothing I can say that’s truly going to express how much I enjoyed this book. Bailed Out is overwhelming in such a good way. The story grabs you, pulls you in and keeps you there from beginning to end. As the layers to the characters unfold it gives this story so much more. The danger and suspense one thing but the romantic side it’s quite another. Anna is a passionate person by nature and to see the chemistry explode between her and Aiden is quite sizzling. Changes happen, truths are revealed and through all the danger Anna will have everyone laughing along the way. Rebecca Zanetti rocked this one hard.
Coffee Books Life 