Lovely Venom (Empire of Kings 3) by A. Zavarelli-review tour
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 18, 2026
I’ve spent six years hiding behind a fake identity, too many deadbolts, and secrets that could destroy me.
Trust isn’t an option. Especially when it comes to the man who doesn’t know I’m rival blood. In the Cosa Nostra, they call him Il Corvo—the Raven.
On the surface, he’s cold, controlled, aloof…and definitely not interested. So I made a deal with a mysterious masked stranger instead.
It was supposed to be a simple arrangement. He would help me explore my desires and overcome my fears. No names, no attachments. But when it got too real, I ran.
What I didn’t know was that he had secrets of his own. Because the man who’s haunted me for the last three years? He might go by a different name…
But he and the Raven are one and the same.
•••••
REVIEW: LOVELY VENOM is the third instalment in A Zavarelli’s contemporary, adult EMPIRE OF KINGS dark, erotic, Mafia romance series. This is Cosa Nostra businessman Christian Vitale, and dancer Chantel St. James’ story line. LOVELY VENOM can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.
NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Chantel and Christian) LOVELY VENON follows the building but acrimonious relationship between our story line couple. Unbeknownst to Chantel St. James, Cosa Nostra member Christian Vitale has been keeping watch over our story line heroine. A party at Chantel’s boyfriend’s house end with Christian ‘rescuing’ our story line heroine, and in doing so, sets into motion a power play from whence Chantel will never return. Chantel is keeping secrets, and Christian is determined to uncover the truth but the truth goes much deeper, and once revealed, exposes a familiarity and complication for our story line hero.
The world building focuses on the families, hierarchies, corruption, power structure and rivals within the controlling factions of organized crime. Arranged marriages meant to secure power and control, guardianship of a woman who has a target on her back and a possible stalker, as well as references to The Society aka Imperium Valens Invictum, and nightclub Eden After Dark.
The relationship between Chantel and Christian is tempestuous at best. Chantel believes Christian despises the ground upon which she walks, always condescending and arrogant, looking down at our story line heroine but what appears to be hatred covers another secret that eases Chantel’s sense of loss, and in this, Christian is determined to claim Chantel, in the face of potentially starting a Mafia war. The $ex scenes are provocative, erotic and intense.
Once again, there is another large ensemble cast of colorful, powerful, often questionable and dynamic secondary and supporting characters including the return of Angelo and Abella, Matteo, Dr. Mariella Vitale, Michele, Lucia and Nonna Vitale; Greek mafia Ares Stavros, Andreas, Elias, dancers Kenzie, and Tiffany; Corsican Syndicate member Bastien Charbonneau and his daughter Jolie, and Chantel’s ex boyfriend Marco.
LOVELY VENOM is a story of power and control, betrayal, vengeance and reprisal, obsession and madness, secrets and lies, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is dark, dramatic and gritty; the romance is passionate and edgy; the characters are determined, desperate and charismatic.
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
About A. Zavarelli:
Zavarelli is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of dark and contemporary romance.
When she’s not putting her characters through hell, she can usually be found watching bizarre and twisted documentaries in the name of research.
She currently lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.
Website: https://www.azavarelli.com/
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