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Pride: A Dark Arranged Marriage Romance (Once Upon A Villain) Kindle Edition
Deceitful. Arrogant. Cold.
Those are the three perfect words to sum up my husband to be.
After little deliberation, my parents decide Isiah Darcy is the perfect suitor.
He’s rich, British, and the perfect ally for the Benedetto family business.
I can’t stand him, but they don’t care what I want.
He’s stuck up and has little respect for women.
Once we’re married, he makes it painfully clear I have no rights.
I’m nothing more than a puppet.
A way for him to get what he’s always wanted.
Revenge on my family for something that happened years ago.
My husband wants to tear my family apart.
He underestimates me, as I’ll do everything in my power to stop him.
And yet all is not as it first appears as I get to know the villainous Isiah Darcy.
Pride is the first book in the Once Upon a Villain Series by Bianca Cole. This story is a dark arranged marriage romance story with dark themes and certain subjects that may upset the reader. It has no cliffhanger, a happily ever after ending, and can be read as a standalone.
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateApril 28, 2023
- File size2.7 MB
Shop this series
See full series-
First 3$14.97
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First 5$24.95
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All 6$29.94
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First 3$14.97
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First 5$24.95
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All 6$29.94
This option includes 3 books.
This option includes 5 books.
This option includes 6 books.
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Proposition 65 Warning for California Consumers
WARNING: Labels on and packing slips in this package can expose you to chemicals including Bisphenol S (BPS) which is known to the State of California to cause reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov |
Product details
- ASIN : B0BSVGLYGV
- Publisher : (April 28, 2023)
- Publication date : April 28, 2023
- Language : English
- File size : 2.7 MB
- Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 542 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #13,429 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Bianca Cole is a dark romance author who mainly writes mafia romance, penning stories about OTT anti-hero alpha males who fall hard for fiery heroines. All of her stories features a happily-ever-after ending with lots of heat and steam to set your kindle on fire. Her stories feature twists and turns that will keep you flipping the pages.
Find all her social media links and more here - https://linktr.ee/biancacole
Connect with Bianca on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/biancacoleauthor/
Instagram here:
https://www.instagram.com/biancacoleauthor/?hl=en
Or via her website at https://www.biancacoleauthor.com
You can sign up to her newsletter and get a free book here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/8btgtk4rad
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoyed the book's plot with a mafia twist. They found the story intense and satisfying, with a fiery ending that they could hardly put down. Readers described it as an interesting and long read with a satisfying happy ending.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the plot. They find it engaging with a twist on an Austen retelling. The story is intense and satisfying, with real emotional scenes. It never feels rushed or overly dramatic.
"...There were also some real emotional scenes with the MFC. 5 stars." Read more
"...It gave me so many Austenesque vibes, it was unreal. The author really went strong on the retelling for this one...." Read more
"...Otherwise, it was a very, very interesting read. It was so intense most of the time i could hardly put it down...." Read more
"Great story...she was very stubborn but it was great story aftreall... I wanted to see more on Nina and Cathal love romance" Read more
Customers enjoy the book. They find it an interesting read with a happy ending. While it's a long read, they say it's worth it.
"...Even though i have read worse. Otherwise, it was a very, very interesting read. It was so intense most of the time i could hardly put it down...." Read more
"This is a good book, honestly i could read all of bianca coles’ books. I find them so interesting, You will most likely enjoy it as well." Read more
"...It is a long read so be committed to it and you will be rewarded in the end. A HEA to savor." Read more
"Good book..." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2023This story moved me. It is harsh, brutal and deals with a tragic and dispicable subject. (Child trafficking). Thankfully this story revolves around stopping a child trafficking ring and it doesn't depict any specific child abuse situations in real time.
This is the kind of hero you love to hate, but eventually love to love! I REALLY hated the MMC in the beginning, did not like him at all. This was a case of instant physical attraction (for both the MMC and MFC). But the way he talks to her, his cocky, rude attitude has her hating him instantly. They bash heads repeatedly which only makes her hate him more, except he's the man her mafia father insists she marry. Nothing she says will persuade him otherwise.
Yet once this forced marriage takes place and the two are on their own, we still get the volatility, but we also begin to learn some truths. He begins to realize she is nothing like he expected, but even more, WE, like the MFC, begin to realize there is more to him than we initially thought. The slow switch from hatred to love happens so seamlessly it's believable.
There were a few errors and a couple of things that just didn't jive (like how does pouring gas throughtout a building and lighting it up supposed to look like an accident?). Fortunately, this is a small part of the story and really has no bearing on it.
In spite of those things, I still loved this story and gave it 5 stars. Mostly because of the seamless transition from true hate to true love. The author even made me hate the MMC in the beginning and then made me love him later. There were also some real emotional scenes with the MFC. 5 stars.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2023This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨
First Impressions
Pride is the first book in the "Once Upon a Villain" series and I honestly can't remember if I saw this author on bookstagram or booktube, but I was intrigued enough to add this to my weekly TBR. I had heard that this one was a Pride and Prejudice retelling but with a mafia twist and I absolutely DIED with this book. It gave me so many Austenesque vibes, it was unreal. The author really went strong on the retelling for this one. So if want a solid retelling of the full tale of Pride and Prejudice here, then this is one that you definitely need to read. I absolutely had a blast with this book, and while it wasn't perfect, if you love lots of angst in a romance, then this book will really work for you! I guarantee it.
First Line
The wind howls around ma and my gloves feel like shards of glass as I clench the shovel, thrusting it into the forzen ground with every ounce of strength.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Isiah Darcy
Out for revenge for the loss of his twin's murder, one of the strongest leaders of the mafia in the western world.
The Heroine: Bella Benedetto
Bella is the second oldest daughter, out to be bartered for marriage and very strong willed in her own way
Summary
Pride is a story about Isiah who as a teen lost his twin brother when he was murdered. And Isiah is determined to get revenge against the family that were behind the murder. He has changed his name, cultivated power within the mafia world and is one of the most feared in their world. He has a plan to gain the trust of Gio Benedetta, by marrying his daughter, and killing him and his family. But what he doesn't plan on is the attraction or bond that he would form with the lovely Bella. Bella is being marketed like a cow to be married off. She has always known that living in the mafia world, this would be her life, but she still has a strong sassy spirit and will fight for herself. There is a sizzling attraction between Bella and Isiah but she knows that there is more to him than meets the eye and is determined to find his secrets...
What I Loved
This book was everything I could have hoped for as far as a retelling is factored in. It had all the major aspects that we see within the original of Pride and Prejudice but with a darker mafia twist to it. And I really couldn't put this book down either. And if you need strong spice in your romance, then this author needs to be on your list because she ups the game as far as spicy romance is concerned. But Pride was just delightful in the connections that we see to the original while still being its own story of mafia revenge and arranged marriage. Both the characters are so strong-willed willed so they definitely clash with each other and that is just delightful. The plot of the story is really packed and I loved the revenge aspects of this one. The pedophile ring was interesting, it probably would have been fine without it, but we also see that our hero has some values and won't stand by when children are being harmed so I actually really found that relatable to all the child trafficking we have had in the modern world and trying to fight. And there is a twist at the end that you won't really see coming so I enjoyed having a new to me author deliver such a plot as to have some unique twists in the end there.
What I Struggled With
I think the only issue I had with this story was the amount of angst and how the enemies-to-lovers aspects were handled. There could have been a bit more evolvement from enemies to lovers aspects. I would have enjoyed seeing the angst less stretched out and some more vulnerable moments between these two.
Overall View
Pride was a fantastic P&P retelling that delivered spicy mafia vibes. The romance had some feels that melted my heart and the writing delivered in such a strong compelling way that leaves me wanting for more...
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Dark Romance
Character Types: Mafia, Alpha Male
Themes: Angst, Retelling
Tropes: Forced Marriage, Arranged Marriage, Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers
Book Perspective
Duo POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A mix of both
Song This Book Inspires
Body Electric by Lana Del Rey
Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as a standalone
- Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2023was a couple of scenes that i was confused about, 😕 and I'm not sure how i felt about the non - and dubious con scenes. Even though i have read worse. Otherwise, it was a very, very interesting read. It was so intense most of the time i could hardly put it down. I did enjoy the book, and it never felt rushed or overly dramatic. Also appreciated that the characters didn't change their personality after falling in love. If you like mafia, 👍 enjoy.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2023The devil is in the details and there is not enough in this book. For example Bella and Isiah went from swimming in the ocean to eating dinner without a mention of clothes. They also went to the Benedetto home after Isiah killed Gio with blood on his clothes. Did no one notice?
- Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2024Great story...she was very stubborn but it was great story aftreall... I wanted to see more on Nina and Cathal love romance
- Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2024This is a good book, honestly i could read all of bianca coles’ books. I find them so interesting, You will most likely enjoy it as well.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2023I did enjoy this book to me it was slow but got better as the book went on it had a great ending
- Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2023If you like shameless villains with a tragic backstory, you’ve got the right book with Pride. The moments between him and the heroine are hot, and the fiery finish to the plot is very satisfying.
On the downside; the heroine acted oddly childish, like repeatedly pretending to gag herself to show disgust. There are several things that could be improved, like forgetting who is narrating in first person and using the wrong names, and several continuity errors. This is easily fixed but will help keep readers in the story instead of being distracted by mistakes.
Top reviews from other countries
- Cathryn TippleReviewed in Canada on August 17, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Beauty and the Beast Meets Romeo and Juliet with Mafia Influences
I loved this book! This was the first book that made me stay up past my bedtime to keep reading in a long time! It has some beauty and the beast meets Romeo and Juliet vibes but with opposing Mafia families. We are following Isiah who is the ruler of the British Mafia and has sworn revenge on the Italian Mafia in the US. He travels back to the US to marry Bella, second daughter in the Italian Mafia, and exact his revenge. The banter between these two characters is pure gold, especially in the beginning. They go through so much and grow as both humans and a couple. I loved watching their story unfold and trying to guess what would happen next. This is a great book for someone who likes Dark Mafia Romance, Rival Family to Lovers, Arranged Marriage, Secret Past, Psycho Love Interest, He Falls First or Revenge to Redemption tropes.
- Cliente KindleReviewed in Brazil on May 9, 2023
2.0 out of 5 stars I's not so good like always
I've read all Bianca Cole's books that I can. I've loved all Mafia daddies ans littles in her histories and waited for the next book as a girl waiting for the Christmas, but this seems like other person wrote it in her place, the male character needs more consistence and his arrogance and imaturity become him superficial and in the big delicious and lovable gallery of Bianca's male protagonists this is in the lower place. I'm sorry
- Kindle CustomerReviewed in the United Kingdom on May 21, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Pride and prejudice
This story has lots of hints to pride and prejudice and elements from Beauty and the Beast: it's a twisted mafia romance with elements of bdsm, death, violence, abuse but also overcoming trauma, the journey of grief, revenge and healing through love.
- Marilyn HawkinsReviewed in Australia on April 30, 2023
4.0 out of 5 stars A real page turner
Enjoyed this book feisty heroine and alpha hero.
Just the way I like it. I do like skirmishes and happy endings.
- BookishHallowsReviewed in the United Kingdom on May 6, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Yes yes perfect 5*
I absolutely loved this it's modern, lots of different kinks and gripping. You did not know what would happen throughout the book and definitely kept you on toes.