Callous Desire

A Dark Mafia Romance (New York Underworld, Book 4)

By: Charmaine Pauls

Narrated by: Heather Firth, Christian Black

His weapon is seduction, the battlefield between his sheets, and cruel betrayal the blade he plunges deep.

My mother raised me on knights in shining armor and happily-ever-afters. She groomed me to be the perfect mafia princess. It was only natural that I’d believe in fairy tales.

Only, I didn’t fall for the prince. I fell in love with my father’s enemy.

I’ve never deluded myself about the man Dante is. Powerful. Cold. Ruthless. Brutal. Bad doesn’t come close to describing him. But when he held me in his arms in a rented room, he showed me that he could be good. Just for me. He always chained the monster when I was pinned beneath him, at my most vulnerable and exposed, in the most dangerous place I could be.

The darkness I glimpsed in him is embedded in his soul, coloring his heart and world black. I knew exactly what I was getting into when I lost myself to a callous man. I just couldn’t have imagined in my wildest dreams that his seduction was only part of a cruel strategy and that I was nothing but the pawn he used for his revenge.

©2026 Charmaine Pauls (P)2026 Charmaine Pauls

Cliff Hanger

Interesting story. There was drama, suspense, obsession, fear, tension, yearning, angst. desperate choices, amnesia, kidnapping, theft, the mafia and plenty of spice. Oh, and a cliff hanger. The whole kitchen sink. Both books totaled approx. 22 hours of listening enjoyment. The narrators did a good job. This author frequently writes cliff hangers that result in two or three books to cover the story line/plot.

⭐️ A very enjoyable angsty duet ⭐️

This was a very enjoyable angsty listen and it’ll take two books to tell this couples raw and layered love story.. and what a rollercoaster story it was. Brilliantly written, expertly narrated in duet-style by Heather and Christian giving realism to each and every achingly passionate scene. He’s dark, brooding, obsessed and very very dangerous. She’s his. But betray and desperate reasons has this heroine running away from the man she loves. And the road this couple travel is filled with heartache and pain, highs and lows, happiness and grief, tenderness and turmoil.. and love that causes deep wounds. And I was there for it with popcorn in hand.. for all of the chills and thrills, the drama and suspense and the hot sex and sizzling smooches. The obsession, fear, tension, yearning, drama, angst and desperate choices continues in Callous Love.. but there is a happily ever after too.

Worth a credit? Yes definitely, CP is a one click author who never disappoints.

Meh

I powered through this series. The first three books about Sav are amazing. I love them, but the Dante from those books is Not the same guy. Same character but there’s zero connection to that story. Lots of plot holes. Sav is mentioned a few times but somehow Dante is the big boss. I don’t get it. He’s also the worst mmc. She’s insufferable. Two books just to have one tiny little miscommunication squared away. Don’t waste your time.