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Cover of Broken Vow

Broken Vow

by Sophie Lark

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️steamy·Brutal Birthright #5·✓ Series Complete
4.0 on Goodreads (50,413)

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Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

You get a satisfying blend of romantic tension, action-packed suspense, and steamy scenes that deliver on both heat and heart.

Synopsis

I’ll Protect Her… Whether She Likes It Or Not. Riona Griffin is gorgeous, intelligent, and iron-willed. My perfect woman, except she hates my guts. She thinks she doesn’t need anybody. But she needs me. She’s being hunted by an assassin who never misses his mark. I’m going to stay by her side, day and night, keeping her safe. Riona thinks that’s a fate worse than death but I know she’ll learn to love me. If this hitman wants to kill her, he’ll have to go through me first. “Broken Vow” is the wild and dangerous fifth installment in the "Brutal Birthright" series. It's a standalone Bodyguard Mafia Romance, with a HEA and no cliffhanger. Contains steamy scenes. The Lark Notes: I knew I needed someone hot as hell to melt Riona’s icy heart. Raylan is a rancher, a soldier, and a southern boy with charm to burn. Best of all, he loves a challenge. My favorite parts to write were the fish-out-of-water scenes, when uptight Riona ends up on Raylan’s ranch. I loved finding creative ways for Raylan to use his riding crop...

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Book 5 of Sophie Lark's Brutal Birthright mafia romance series. Riona Griffin is an ice-queen lawyer from the Griffin mafia family; Raylan is a southern rancher/ex-military bodyguard assigned to protect her after an assassination attempt. Classic grumpy/sunshine dynamic but reversed—she's the grumpy one. Dual first-person POV alternating Riona and Raylan. The ranch scenes (fish-out-of-water for uptight Riona) are fan favorites. BDSM-lite with creative riding crop use. Fully standalone with HEA and no cliffhanger. The Brutal Birthright series is 6 books, each following a different couple from interconnected mafia families (Griffin, Gallo, Yenin). Audiobook dual-narrated by Wen Ross and P.J. Morgan.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

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Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.05 ★ (50.4k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

347 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2020

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Dark Romance

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Dual POV

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Medium Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Dual Narration (M+F)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Wen Ross, P.J. Morgan

Narrator Count

Dual

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
bodyguard/protection detailforced proximitymafia romanceopposites attractdark romancerescue romance
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

tenseintenseromanticsuspensefulsteamydramaticemotionaldarkangstyatmospheric

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

punchycinematicengagingdarkdramaticbanter-heavy

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

fast

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

moderate

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

medium

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

forbidden desiremorally complexmafia princess meets cowboyfish out of water

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

ice queencareer womanmafia princesssnarky/sarcastic

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

grumpy protectorsecretly softwarrior/fightergolden retriever

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

grumpy sunshinebanterprotective love interesthe falls firstenemies to loverspossessive love interestpush and pull

Spice Details 🌶️

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Spice Level 4

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

intense / passionaterough / aggressive styledominant vibeskinky / adventurouspossessive / claiming style

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

praise kinkpossessive/protectivemine declarationssize difference focuswall pinningneck kisses / neck touchingjaw holding / face cuppingscent kinkbody worship

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

BDSM elementspower exchangerough/aggressive intimacybondage/restraintchoking/breath playimpact play (spanking/hitting)edging/denial
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (13)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
attempted murdergun violencekidnappingmurdertraumaviolencegraphic violencetortureemotional abusedeathcaptivitydubious consentstalking
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

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World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

contemporary

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

big city / metropoliscottage / cabin / homestead

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

the angst deliveredromantic fulfillmentaddictive readtension finally satisfied

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

anytime

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

vacationcozy eveningbeach trip

Brutal Birthright

Brutal Prince

#1 Brutal Prince

Stolen Heir

#2 Stolen Heir

Savage Lover

#3 Savage Lover

Bloody Heart

#4 Bloody Heart

Broken Vow

#5 Broken Vow

Heavy Crown

#6 Heavy Crown

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Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️steamy
PagesHow long the commitment is.347
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2020
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.05 ★ (50.4k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

Brutal Birthright #5
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