His Reluctant Bride

by Lydia Hall

I was supposed to mourn my father.
To bury the Donnelly name with him.

But grief is a luxury in Dublin.

Instead, I was bartered.
Sold like leverage to the Crowleys.
Forced to marry the man they call a king without a crown.

Ruairí Crowley.
My reluctant husband.
My ruthless captor.

He didn’t ask if I wanted peace.
He didn’t ask if I wanted him.

He simply gave me his vows—
Cold. Binding. Unbreakable.

I tried to hate him.
Tried to see the monster everyone swore he was.

But hate turns to heat in his hands.
And every night, our war is disguised as desire.

I thought I could survive him.
Outwit him. Escape him.

Then the streets ran red, and I was taken.
Dragged into the shadows by men who wanted me silenced.

He found me.
Blood on his fists. Fire in his eyes.

And that’s when I broke—
When I whispered the one secret that could ruin us both.

I’m pregnant.

His child.
His heir.
His queen… or his traitor?

Author's His Reluctant Bride is a dark Irish mafia romance with an arranged marriage, enemies-to-lovers heat, an age-gap antihero, and a secret pregnancy twist that changes everything. Expect possessive alpha vibes, ruthless power plays, and a heroine who refuses to be anyone’s pawn. Perfect for readers who crave danger, desire, and love that cuts as deep as it heals.

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2025

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

His Reluctant Bride is book one in the Kings of the Underworld Series. A dark Irish mafia romance with an arranged marriage, enemies-to-lovers heat, an age-gap antihero, and a secret pregnancy twist that changes everything. Expect possessive alpha vibes, ruthless power plays, and a heroine who refuses to be anyone’s pawn. Perfect for readers who crave danger, desire, and love that cuts as deep as it heals. This is Ruairi and Keira story which is told from a dual point of view. Captivating. Dangerous. Dark. Compelling. Sinful. An unputdownable and absorbing read. A definite page turner with enticing erotic scenes filled with passion, heat, hatred, emotions, violence, enemies and tension. A beautifully written story with world building individuals and a twisty and complex storyline that grabs the reader attention from the first chapter and keeps hooked on the edge of your seat and glued to the pages with it's pulse-pounding adventure, non-stop action, suspense, drama, mystery and more.
An arranged marriage romance, forced proximity romance, organize crime story, romantic suspense story, touch-her-and-die romance, protective alpha hero romance, morally-grey antihero romance, contemporary romance, forced marriage romance, aged gap trope romance, forbidden romance, taboo romance, secret pregnancy story, dark mafia romance hate-to-love vibes romance with possessiveness, obsession, power play, lies, threats, attacks, submission, consensual intense rough sex, dominance, dirty talking, revelations, survival, resilience, rivalry, love, revenge, retaliation, distrust, betrayal, secrets, danger, mayhem, bloodshed, darkness, madness, murder, and more so much more.
Keira Donnelly just put her mafia Don father in the hole. She was supposed to be mourning him and bury the Donnelly name with him. But unfortunately grief is luxury in Dublin because no sooner than the bury him she was forced into a marriage with Ruairí Crowley from a rival family. The two got married in order to keep the peace among the two families as well as to resurrect a dying family legacy. He wanted to solidify is power in the Irish mafia and gain more power and to use her as a pawn. Ruairi didn't asked her if she wanted peace or if she want him because he planned on using her as an asset. He was cold, unbreakable, vicious, and monstrous. They tried to hate each other but at night their war is disguised as desire. She thought that she could outwit him and escape him instead their hatred turn into love and Ruairi saw the value of her being a partner and came to rely on her advice and opinion.
Kiera is beautiful, strong-willed, fierce, smart and cunning. The two prove to be a powerhouse and a force in the criminal underworld. But while they're falling in love they're were alot of people in the shadows who wanted to see them failed. They were betrayal and sabotage all around them and when she's kidnapped and dragged into the shadows by men who wanted to silence her. Ruairi will turn street red with blood for taking his wife and when he found her. His fists was bloody and fire in his eyes. And when she tells him that she was pregnant with his heir how will he react? Will these two get their HEA? Will people stop trying to sabotage their relationship once on for all? Will Ruairi be happy to become a father? Will her father's crumbling empire resurrect with the two of them on helm.

I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jan Hansen · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Keira is the key to it all!” Her dad, head of the Donnelly Irish mafia was killed. At his funeral she is told to show up in front of the “Syndicate.” There she is told that she is to marry Ruairi Crowley in three days to stabilize the Donnelly holdings. I really don’t like stories when most of it is told in the head of the characters. I’m not sure how much they actually talked to each other, somehow they got on the same page. They never met until just before their marriage. The writing itself was told in a plethora of metaphors. Her metaphors are great and original but OMG not everything needs to be told metaphorically! Lots of convoluted Mafia stuff. I don’t see the point in being the guy in charge since they never seem to have any power.

[GKP2460 · Rating 5 out of 5]

His Reluctant Bride is book 1 in the Kings Of The Underworld series. This is Ruairi Crowley and Kiera Donnelly's journey and it's a very steamy, enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, age gap story that has you glued to the pages from beginning to end. Combining powers is a very tricky thing. Especially when one family is dwindling and the other plans to gain control and revive it. Danger is around ever corner, chaos comes at the most inopportune times and in the midst of it all in this "transaction" love sneaks in and before you know it you have a family that's completely unexpected.
His Reluctant Bride is a great, fast-paced story and is a definite must read!

[Linda Fairburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the first book in the series of The Kings Of The Underworld and what a brilliant start, Kiera Donnelly and Ruairi Crawley's marriage is one that she has been given any option.
It only takes a few days of marriage before they come together as man and wife in one steamy encounter that changes everything.
Pregnant, kidnapped, kidnappers killed all in a days works for Ruairi and making there deaths rather painfully.
Then there is a war to win and keeping his wife and babies safe, what more could happen.
This is one story that has it all, danger kidnapping, traitors and people who will always be at your side no matter how dangerous it gets.

[Lisa Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keira Donnelly knew she would have no choice in who she married being a mafia princess. After the death of her father she is match to Ruairi Crowley to elevate his position. He watches her and realizes his new wife is very smart, but is she with him or against him? The more he watches the more interested he becomes in his new bride.

This is a true mafia story, with plenty of intrigue and violence. There are several others with differing agendas. Thru it all the pair find a connection. This is definitely worth the read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[lf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Partners or Enemies

His Reluctant Bride is the first book in the Kings of the Underworld series. This is an Irish Mafia romance set in Dublin with two main characters that you come to really love. Keira Donnelly is burying her father when she is pledged to a rival family to bring the two together. Ruairí Crowley agrees to marry Keira so that he can finally become the head of the family. They may not be a love match but what exactly are they to each other?
I fell for this book and the characters pretty quickly as it sucked me in and kept me reading. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiera barely has time to mourn her father's death before she is thrown into a marriage designed to protect what is left of her father's legacy. Kiera fights for herself and doesn't give in even when taken. This story is filled with action-packed drama centered around power plays, chaos, a man who will search and destroy everything in his path to get back his woman and family. It is explosive right from the beginning and kept me glued to the pages.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brenda A · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not finish

I was looking forward to reading this book but I just could not get into it. The dialogue was boring in clinical with too many useless details. The first intimate scene was disappointing supposedly she's untouched although there was no mention of it afterwards. He just pulls her pants aside and pushes in. No build up or seduction not very romantic for the first time.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keira wasnt given time to mourn her fathers passing when shes forced into a marriage with Ruairi she didnt want this marriage, she tries to hold her own against him but soon his enemies draw in taking her and with that a blo*d bath ensures but will Kieras confession change everything? When theres more now to loose! Well written engaging steamy enemies to lovers drama action violence and more

[TheReader · Rating 1 out of 5]

The plot was ok…

I could not finish it. The writing was just terrible. The sentences were treated as paragraphs, if we can call them sentences. It seems sentence structure is a challenge to achieve. There were periods where commas should have been placed. All this made conversations confusing and the storyline hard to follow. It definitely needs editing.

[dre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh... I guess it was alright

This was a very hard read. It took everything i had to finish it. Half way through i browse the author's other titles and realized I attempted two other books and did not finish them. At least I finished this one.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good Irish mafia story. Good story, engaging enemies to lovers. Packed with action and violence and steamy romance. Good balance all around.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rosa garnica-gentry · Rating 5 out of 5]

reluctant

I like books when the main characters are strong and wily, especially the FC, steamy in parts, just adds to the plot, loyalty, betrayal, action, planning, one step ahead, always plotting. Enjoyed reading it.

[Darla Bromwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't really get into it. Too many secrets between the main couple. I liked the mmc but the mfc was a little odd. I liked the ending some. They didn't seem to fall in love. I don't know, it just wasn't what I expected from this author. All her other books were good.

[Louise Ramakers · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf 11% in

[sheryl blaszczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Loved this story. It did start a little slow but it turned out fantastic. Loved all the characters. It seemed a little cold at times but they were a great couple

[Nancy Swift]

Very violent

I've been reading a lot of this type.of story but the level of violence was more than I'm comfortable with. Other than that; good storyline.

[S Walker]

Again

[Mary Ellen Hall · Rating 2 out of 5]

His Reluctant Bride

I read it but I didn't like or enjoy the story. One thing the date of her father's death 2025. It was in early spring. The twins were born 9 months later.

[Rinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* Fun read but felt detached from mc’s they felt robotic at times.

[Carolyn Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story

I think it was pretty good, but I just didn’t feel like she loved him, so it made the romance part kind of dull.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. this is a very cute story ,you'll enjoy