Pride by Bianca Cole

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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.

Bound by Blood, Ruled by Vengeance

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🩷💚❤️💙
Spice/Steam: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋🙂😁😛🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Duet Narration

Character backgrounds and Plot Summary

Fifteen years ago, Joseph Isiah Dalton was forced by his father to dig the grave for his twin brother Aiden. The betrayal that led to Aiden’s death came from within their own ranks when members of the Irish mafia in Washington aligned themselves with the Benedetto family. Isiah has never forgiven his father for being blind to the danger, for being too consumed by power to see the treachery forming around him, and for failing to protect their family when it mattered most.

After the betrayal, the Daltons fled to London and for the next fifteen years were spent building a new empire under the name Darcy instead of Dalton, until two weeks ago when the Russians Murdered Isiah’s father. Isiah Darcy risen to the position of head of the British mafia after his father’s murder and quickly killed the men that murdered his father, in order to get back at the Russians for trying to encroach on their territory in London.

Isiah believes his father was a monster, yet he also believes he can now finish what should have been done long ago. His revenge against the Benedetto family is finally within reach. The timing is almost too perfect when the Benedetto’s invite him to meet their unmarried daughter Bella, since he is currently the youngest unmarried mafia leader in the world. It doesn’t hurt that he is able to finally go back to Washington, D.C. and see the site where he buried his brother and tell his twin that he would be finally getting his revenge on the family that killed Aiden.

Pride centers on the dark arranged marriage that follows. Isabella Benedetto is intelligent, strong willed, and shaped by a lifetime of having her choices stripped away. When her father announces that she must choose a husband from a selection of eligible men from other mafia families, she tries to refuse. Her parents make it clear that refusal is not an option. They have no hesitation when it comes to using fear or violence to secure obedience.

Bella enters the marriage with reluctance and a fierce determination to hold on to her independence. Isiah, on the other hand, is dominant, calculating, and deeply entrenched in a world where reputation and power dictate every move. Beneath his cold exterior lies a complicated mix of trauma, loyalty, and a relentless need to protect what he considers his.

Their marriage is designed to strengthen alliances and consolidate power, yet it quickly becomes something far more complicated. The tension between them is constant, fueled by resistance, attraction, and the secrets they both carry. As external threats close in and long buried truths surface, they are forced to confront their pasts and redefine what trust and loyalty mean in a world built on violence and betrayal

Highlights and Limitations

The pacing remains strong throughout the story, with enough twists to keep the narrative engaging. The world building around mafia politics and shifting alliances adds depth and gives the romance a solid foundation. Both main characters are compelling from the start. Isiah’s childhood trauma and his grief for his twin brother make him sympathetic even when his choices are morally questionable.

Bella’s backstory mirrors Isiah’s in many ways. She is also being torn from her family, forced into a marriage that benefits everyone but her. Most of the men she is expected to choose from are significantly older, and she knows her life will never be her own again. She has heard of Isiah Darcy, the young and ruthless mafia head whose father was recently murdered, and she knows he is the only option close to her age. When they finally meet, Isiah is cruel and calculated, using intimidation and blackmail to secure the marriage that best serves his plans for revenge.

One of the strongest elements of Pride is the intensity of the relationship between Isiah and Bella. Their chemistry is immediate and charged, creating a dynamic that is both volatile and addictive. The emotional depth grows steadily as they reveal their vulnerabilities and confront the darker parts of themselves. The story handles its heavier themes with enough care to maintain tension without losing the emotional heart of the romance.

On the downside, readers familiar with dark romance or arranged marriage tropes may find certain plot points predictable. Some conflicts resolve a little too neatly, which can soften the impact of earlier tension. There are also moments when the characters’ intensity becomes repetitive, especially in the early stages of their relationship.

One moment that stands out is Isiah’s refusal to profit from child trafficking. When he works with a hacker to dismantle a trafficking ring, it becomes clear that he has lines he will not cross. Even though he later proves capable of extreme brutality, this particular stance adds complexity to his character. I did not agree with every choice he made, but I still found myself eager to see him take down the traffickers.

Narration

The duet narration by Rupert Channing and Chloe Ryan is one of the audiobook’s greatest strengths. Their performances bring emotional weight and authenticity to the story. Rupert Channing’s voice suits Isiah perfectly. His delivery is controlled, commanding, and layered with subtle shifts that reveal the character’s inner turmoil.

Chloe Ryan brings a grounded and expressive portrayal to Bella. She captures both strength and vulnerability with ease, making Bella feel fully realized and relatable. The duet format enhances the experience by allowing each narrator to embody their character during shared scenes, which adds immersion and emotional resonance.

Their vocal chemistry mirrors the tension and connection between the characters, making the intimate and emotional moments especially impactful.

Final Opinion

Pride is a gripping and emotionally charged addition to the dark arranged marriage romance genre. It blends power dynamics, trauma, loyalty, and slow building trust into a story that feels both intense and deeply personal. While it leans on familiar tropes, the strength of the characters and the exceptional duet narration elevate the experience.

This audiobook is a strong choice for listeners who enjoy dark romance with complex characters, high emotional stakes, and a blend of danger and desire. The narration alone makes it worth the time, and the story delivers enough intrigue and tension to keep you fully invested from beginning to end.

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