One Dark Kiss
Grimm Bargains
Adult Romance, Suspense
Kensington Books
June 24, 2025
Mirror, Mirror . . . Innocence or Sin. The reflection holds a darker truth.
ALEXEI
I’ve spent the last seven years in the hell of a maximum-security prison, every moment consumed by the need for revenge—revenge against the bastards who framed me, and revenge against the family who stole everything I owned. Now that I’m finally free, nothing will stand in my way. Not even her—my hot as sin new lawyer. Maybe she’s another weapon sent by my enemies to break me, or maybe she’s the key to my freedom. Either way, once she’s mine, I’m never letting her go.
ROSALIE
When I took this case, I thought I had it under control. But Alexei is no typical convicted killer—he's a dangerously seductive force of nature. Perhaps it's the lingering power from his days as heir to a global social media empire. Innocent or not, he's dangerous in the worst and best ways.
I secure Alexei’s release as we prepare for a new trial, but he wastes no time turning against his traitorous relatives and plotting his return to power. Amidst the chaos, our explosive chemistry ignites, putting us—and everyone I care about—in the crosshairs of ruthless enemies. If we can’t stop them, Alexei plans to burn the whole world down. And if anything, he’s a man of his word . . .
One Dark Kiss puts a very naughty remix on the familiar story of Snow White. Our heroine Rosalie does indeed live with seven men, but they are referenced as her boarders in a Victorian home she inherited. She may contribute to their overall care and wellbeing, but she is not sweeping under their beds and whistling while she works.
This is the second book in a series by Rebecca Zanetti that is retelling classic love stories.
Each book revolves around a social media company that is operated through generations of families that still hold affinities to gemstones. Each media company specializes with a different stone, and provides a different style of consumer interaction. The general public doesn’t know about the connection of the family bloodlines to the jewels, and they definitely don’t know the secret wars internally amongst them to remain in power.
What can you expect from One Dark Kiss?
Forced Proximity
Implied Consent
Stalker behavior
Explicit romance
This was a quick and enjoyable read for me. I found it to be more to my liking than One Cursed Rose, which is kind of surprising because Alexei is a bit of a stalker and quite demanding. It’s not one of my preferences, but it worked for One Dark Kiss. This is definitely for dark romance readers who enjoy a little whimsical references to their childhood classics.
Kristin lives in the PNW with her husband, and three kids. She loves to read YA fiction, fantasy, and romance. She enjoys a few side-hustles, including creating bookreels/booktoks for authors. The only shows she watches are re-runs, and if she’s not reading a book, she’s listening to one.
