Cross + Catherine · 2017
AlwaysSpice level, tropes & is it dark romance?
by Bethany-Kris
Spice 3/5 (Hot) · Darkness 4/5 (Pitch) · 2 trigger warnings flagged
Always is book 1 of Cross + Catherine by Bethany-Kris, published in 2017. Expect mafia. Spice is open door (3 of 5) and the darkness is pitch dark (4 of 5). We could not find the author's own warning list yet, so check it before you start. This note is ours. It is not a publisher blurb.
First published: 2 October 2017 (first publication, per Goodreads). Book 1 of Cross + Catherine.
Always tropes
On this shelf, Always is filed under Mafia dark romance. Each tag opens more books with that trope.
Always spice level
Is Always dark romance?
Yes, firmly. Always scores 4 of 5 on our darkness scale (Pitch).
Spice and darkness are separate scores. More pitch books. How we rate.
Always trigger warnings
Warnings not yet verified. We could not find the author's own content warning list for this book, so the flags here are only what the publisher's description makes clear. Check the author's note before you start.
Graphic (0) — open before you read
Open this before you read. These are the flags most likely to be a hard stop.
None flagged in this band.
Cross + Catherine reading order
Always is book 1 of 1 in Bethany-Kris's Cross + Catherine series. Start here.
- Book 1 Always (this book) · 2017
Order checked against the Goodreads Cross + Catherine series page on 13 October 2026.
Who it's for
Shelf note written for this site. We do not copy reviews or publisher blurbs. Outbound links are search pages, not quoted ratings. Kindle Unlimited and endings are only flagged when we were willing to mark them. How we rate.
Missing a book? Suggest it.
Books like Always
Matched on shared tropes, then the closest spice and darkness scores. Other books in the same series are listed above, not here.
- A Bloody Kingdom
A Bloody Kingdom
J.J. McAvoy
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance
- Carter Reed
Carter Reed
Tijan
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance
- Carter Reed 2
Carter Reed 2
Tijan
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance
- Children of Redemption
Children of Redemption
J.J. McAvoy
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance
- Crime Lord's Captive
Crime Lord's Captive
Mia Knight
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance
- Lucca
Lucca
Sarah Brianne
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance
- Once a Crime Lord
Once a Crime Lord
Mia Knight
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance
- The Final Hour
The Final Hour
London Miller
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance
Books like Always, with a reason for each
Questions readers actually ask
What is the spice level of Always?
Always spice level is 3 of 5 (Hot). Open door. The scene stays. Darkness is a separate score: 4 of 5 (Pitch).
What are the Always trigger warnings?
Graphic: none flagged. Moderate: Violence. Minor: Organised crime. Warnings not yet verified against the author's own list. Check it before you start.
Is Always dark romance?
Yes, firmly. Always scores 4 of 5 on our darkness scale (Pitch). Bleak on purpose. Comfort is not the job.
What tropes are in Always?
On this shelf Always is filed under Mafia dark romance.
Who is Always for?
For a reader who wants made men and a family business you do not walk away from. Spice is hot. Darkness is pitch. Warnings are not yet verified, so check the author's note first.
What are some books like Always?
Matched on shared tropes and similar spice and darkness: A Bloody Kingdom by J.J. McAvoy; Carter Reed by Tijan; Carter Reed 2 by Tijan; Children of Redemption by J.J. McAvoy; Crime Lord's Captive by Mia Knight; Lucca by Sarah Brianne. More read-alikes, each with a reason, are on zademasked.com/like/always.
Is Always a standalone?
No. Always is book 1 of 1 in the Cross + Catherine series by Bethany-Kris.
What order should I read the Cross + Catherine series in?
1. Always.
How many books are in the Cross + Catherine series?
The Cross + Catherine series by Bethany-Kris has 1 main book.
What is the Always age rating?
We'd say 18+. Spice sits at 3/5 (hot) and darkness at 4/5 (pitch). That's our recommendation, not an official rating, so read the trigger warnings as well.
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