The Darkest Love: Shattered Hearts by Renee Parker

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There’s something about a mafia romance book that hits differently. The kind of romance that’s laced with danger, dominance, and a love that doesn’t ask for permission. Shattered Hearts by Renee Parker isn’t just another mafia romance. It’s a romance book that cuts deep and refuses to let go. This is the kind of book you don’t just read; it consumes you, page by page, until you’re counting down to the next book in the series.

While I was sent a copy of the book, both eCopy and physical (thank you, Renee!) I decided to go with the eCopy, picking it up on Kindle for this go round (and yes, there definitely will be a reread complete with annotations in the near future). By the time I hit the last chapter, I was searching Amazon to see what else this author has written (technically WAY before the last chapter, but hey, who’s counting).

If you’re building your mafia romance recommendations or even dark romance, add this one to your TBR immediately — or better yet, use the link below to order it now. Trust me, your heart won’t refresh the same way again after this one.

Title: Shattered Hearts (Irish Kings series, 1)

Author: Renee Parker

Publisher: RoseHarbor Publishing

Format: eBook/Physical

Genre: Mafia Romance, Dark Romance, Contemporary, Romance

Release Date: January 20, 2025

Pages: 306

Star Rating: 4.5 stars

Now that you know I’m in too deep, here’s the real reason this book left claw marks on my heart. The emotional imprint left by MMC Finn, the character tension, and the way Renee Parker crafts Finn’s pain like poetry. What Shattered Hearts did to me emotionally? That’s where the story starts to unravel everything I thought I knew about love, loyalty, and survival. Let’s talk about it.

The prologue hooked me—not even two pages in, and already my chest was tight with sadness. That quiet, emotional grip? It never let go. Whether it was the mood I was in (yes, I’ll admit to being a little sappy that night), or just the brilliance of Renee Parker’s writing, I found myself 300 pages deep in two days. Devouring every word. Every stare. Every scar. This is the kind of adult romance that doesn’t ask permission to hurt you—it just does.

“I’ll be good to him,” I find myself saying. “I’ll love him extra, for all the people who aren’t here. All the people who can’t.”

Let’s start with the main duo: Finn Gallagher and Riley Brennan. I adored Finn. He’s your classic made man. Gruff, broody, brutal. But there’s something vulnerable beneath all the Irish muscle and moral grayness. Something tender. Riley? She’s effortlessly relatable. Insecure in the quiet, honest way any woman might be when stepping out of the shadow of an abusive father and trying to build a life beyond the mafia. A life that’s hers.

Together? They work. They heal in tandem, but it’s Finn who surprises me most. He softens faster than Riley does. Not completely, but just enough to show us the cracks. You feel it. Slowly, scene by scene. As he lets her in, even when guilt and grief from his past (yes, I’m talking about Brianne) threaten to haunt everything new.

I’m so incredibly screwed.

Let’s talk about that grief. Because while I understand the ache of losing a wife, Finn isn’t just mourning Brianne. He’s still in love with her. Riley may be present, but Brianne lingers. In the stillness. In his memories. Even in the way he looks at Riley sometimes, like he’s not fully in this love story yet. And that push and pull? That’s where Parker shines. She makes you feel everything. The longing, the loyalty, the betrayal of still loving someone who’s gone while falling for someone who’s right in front of you.

Now, if you’re someone who takes points off for lack of polish, just know this: there are a few spots in the book that could’ve used another editing pass. It’s not overwhelming, but it’s noticeable. What carried it through, though, was the dialogue. Sharp, intentional, and emotionally rich. I especially loved Finn’s internal monologue. And if you know me, you know I live for being inside a man’s head. That’s where the gold is. That’s where I find myself grinning at my screen, giggling, kicking my feet like a fool. I live for those moments. And Finn gave them to me.

“You’ll never lie to me again after I wash your mouth out with my cum.”

This is very much a slow burn, and yes, you’ll pass the 50% mark before the emotional tension combusts. But when it does? It’s fireworks. Not the kind you see coming. The kind that creeps in quietly. Through glances, touches, tight thighs, and taut silence. Until neither of them can pretend anymore. The chemistry is magnetic, and the payoff? So worth it.

The writing? Addictive. Cinematic. The kind of immersive, fictional escape that makes you forget the time, the day, even your name a little. Parker paints her world in detail. You’ll see the rooms, feel the cold marble under Riley’s bare feet, hear the echo of footsteps before a confrontation. It’s everything I want from a new adult romance: raw, restrained, then relentless.

“Don’t you ever say another man’s name while naked in my presence again.”

If you’re building your romance reads list and want a book that brings danger, devotion, and the kind of love that asks you to bleed a little, Shattered Hearts is it. This isn’t just a review, it’s a warning: you’re about to fall.

While this is where I would throw in, grab a copy of Shattered Hearts from your local indie bookshop; the link I provided is from Amazon, as it’s available on Kindle Unlimited. And since you’re supporting an indie author, that’s ok, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to find a new favorite read. Just make sure you turn every single page.

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