Review: Dante (Filthy Marcellos #3) by Bethany-Kris

Plot Summary

Dante Marcello’s life has been a carefully planned event as an heir to a Cosa Nostra throne. For as long as he can remember, he’s had one goal in mind, and that’s becoming the Don. With his father ready to step down, it’s Dante’s turn to step up. But without a wife at his side, his seat as the boss is on shaky ground. Until she shows up with an offer he wants to refuse, but can’t.

With her, he’s got everything to gain.

Catrina Danzi is known for her angel face and a predator’s grace. For over a decade, she’s worked as a successful Queen Pin dealing with a repertoire of clientele who can’t afford a scandal. That’s why they ask for her and why they call her Queen. Marrying Dante Marcello means giving up the business and status she loves in order to gain protection she can’t provide on her own, but she no longer has a choice.

Without him, she’s got everything to lose.

The rules for their arrangement are simple: no intimacy, no emotions. Dante isn’t looking for love and Catrina doesn’t need attachments. In the end, life has a way of breaking down walls when you least expect it to, and once love gets in, there’s no bleeding it out. Together, they make a formidable team the Commission won’t be able to ignore. Catrina’s secret of what she’s kept safe will put the entire Marcello family in danger when it finally catches up with her. The Marcellos have yet to be beaten, and they’re not about to start bowing down now.

Even the most beautiful things are a little filthy.

My Review

Rating: ★★★☆ ☆(3/5)

In Dante, the third book in Bethany Kris's Filthy Marcellos series, readers are immersed in a world of power, loyalty, and forbidden love within the mafia. This book delivers a slow-burn romance between two complex characters, Dante Marcello and Catrina Danzi, set against a backdrop of high stakes, tension, and suspense. Their evolving relationship is both thrilling and emotionally satisfying.

Dante Marcello, heir to the Cosa Nostra throne, has spent his life preparing to take over as Don. With his father stepping down, Dante’s future depends on securing a wife. Enter Catrina Danzi, a respected Queen Pin whose success comes at a cost. When her empire is threatened, Catrina turns to Dante for protection, but marrying him means giving up everything she has built—her business, her power, and her status.

Their agreement is simple: no emotions, no intimacy. Yet, as they navigate the dangerous world of organized crime, the chemistry between them becomes undeniable. Their arrangement, once cold and calculated, begins to shift, and they are forced to confront not just their growing attraction, but also the constant threat from enemies within and outside the family.

The romance in Dante is built on tension and slow development. Both Dante and Catrina try to maintain distance, but their undeniable chemistry makes it impossible to resist. The book does an excellent job of allowing their relationship to evolve gradually, making it feel earned and emotionally rewarding.

Catrina is a refreshing character—powerful, independent, and unapologetically ambitious. As a skilled businesswoman in the mafia world, she makes an excellent match for Dante, who is not only battling family expectations but also learning to balance power with his personal desires. Their partnership transforms from one of convenience to one rooted in trust and mutual respect.

The mafia backdrop is classic yet gripping, with family politics, dangerous alliances, and the looming threat of violence creating an atmosphere of constant suspense. Dante’s role within the family adds depth to the story, and Catrina’s hidden secret raises the stakes, keeping readers on edge.

Dante is a captivating read, blending passion, power, and suspense in a mafia setting. The romance between Dante and Catrina is both slow-burn and compelling, while the mafia drama intensifies the stakes. Their journey from a strategic arrangement to something more personal is thrilling and heartfelt. With rich character development and a high-stakes plot, Dante will appeal to fans of the Filthy Marcellos series and lovers of gripping mafia romances.