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Imagine waking up kidnapped—by a devilishly handsome Irish mafia boss who accuses you of igniting a war. Now imagine the rage turns into raw chemistry, and you might be stepping into Carnal Urges, the second installment in the Queens & Monsters series. It’s dark, sexy, twisted, and laugh-out-loud witty—just the kind of chaos you didn’t know you craved.
Plot in Brief (No Major Spoilers)
Sloane “Sloan” Keller finds herself abducted by Declan—an imposing Irish mob king with blue eyes, a reputed devil in Armani, and a grudge so deep it burns. He blames her (rightly or wrongly) for starting a deadly feud between families. Though she insists she’s innocent, he wants revenge—and he plans to make her pay.
Yet as confinement gives way to combustible attraction, the lines between captor and captive blur. Their “war” becomes intimate, their battles erotic. Sloan disrupts his world—bants with his men, annoys him into helpless admiration, and eventually chips away at his defenses.
It’s part enemies-to-lovers, part mafia saga, and part “kiss me or I’ll kill you—then maybe kiss me” fantasy. And reader, you will feel it.
Characters That Set Off Fireworks
Sloane Keller
Witty, unflappable, and unapologetically sassy. Sloan faces her kidnapping with sharp retorts and a bright defiance, showing she’s not a damsel but a verbal sparring partner. Underneath the quips lies trauma, strength, and a stubbornness that refuses to be broken—even by mafia muscle.
Declan
The Irish mafia kingpin with a soft spot—or at least a crack in his icy façade—for Sloan. He’s alpha, he’s dangerous, but his obsession with her teeters on tragic, heart-wrenching, and comedic—sometimes in the same scene. His possessiveness borders on absurd, and that’s part of the appeal.
Together, they’ll push buttons, trip over boundaries, and gasp after kisses ignited by grudging respect. It's an intoxicating ride.
Signature Lines (That Show the Spark)
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“If you’re not my captive, then what are you?... You can just call me your queen.”
This is classic Sloan: bold, regal, and always dishing sass. -
The banter between Sloan and Declan is frequently described by readers as “so goddamn funny.” Their quips, when not defusing tension, raise it—keeping you chuckling even as your heart races. The StoryGraphReddit
Tropes That Fuel the Fire
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Kidnapped Heroine & Captor Alpha – A staple of dark romance, here deployed with humor, heat, and a surprising emotional core. The StoryGraphGoodreads
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Enemies-to-Lovers – He’s vengeful, she’s resistant, and they combust.
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Alpha Male Falls Hard – Declan’s possessive devotion is both alarming and oddly tender.
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Sharp Banter – The verbal sparring is one of the story’s biggest hooks. The StoryGraphReddit
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Dark Mafia World – Violence, loyalty, and power plays with a steamy twist.
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Sunshine Heroine vs. Brooding Hero – Sloan’s bubbly defiance clashes beautifully with Declan’s brooding weight. Reddit
Trigger Warnings (Buyer Beware)
This book wears its darkness unapologetically. Content warnings are extensive and include:
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Kidnapping, confinement, and mafia violence
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Emotional and possibly physical abuse
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References to past rape, trauma, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, child abuse, death of a parent, miscarriage, fatphobia, and more The StoryGraph+2The StoryGraph+2
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Consensual but explicit sexual content (dark, kinky, with an alpha dynamic) BooknodeOverDrive
This is dark romance—if intense psychological or physical content is outside your comfort zone, you may want to pass.
What the Readers Loved
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Sloan’s spirit: Many adore her as a “banter queen” who refuses to be broken. GoodreadsReddit
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The chemistry: Readers call their dynamic “FIRE,” praising how humor and heat collide. Jeeves Reads RomanceReddit
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Genre mash-up: Mafia + dark romance + comedic banter? It’s a potent mix that keeps readers hooked. DramaBoxReddit
Where It Stumbles (For Some)
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Plot logic: Some say the story veers into “off the rails,” using wild twists to distract from plot holes. The StoryGraph
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Sloan’s characterization: A few find her “Mary Sue”-ish—too witty, too unflappable, or unrealistically smart in stressful situations. Reddit
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Alpha body count: Declan’s obsession can feel suffocating, tipping from protective to clingy in some reader eyes. GoodreadsReddit
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Heavy triggers: The emotional weight of past trauma, abuse, and social issues may be overwhelming or poorly handled for some.
Final Verdict
Carnal Urges is a bold, messy, hilarious, and erotic plunge into mafia romance with teeth. If you thrive on fast chemistry, alpha obsession, sharp dialogue, and morally twisted landscapes, this is your poison.
Sloan is a force—funny, fearless, and a whirlwind of sass. Declan is darkness with blue eyes and a slow burn on fire. Together, they’re chaotic, combustible, and charismatically doomed.
But if high-stakes trauma, spiritual duels, and emotional violence aren’t your jam—or if you need your romance to feel safe—this might be one to admire from behind a velvet rope.
For the rest: bring a strong drink and a sense of humor. You’re entering a mafia fairytale where the kidnapping is just the first date.
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