Kuro by Ana Raine

February 13, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Kuro by Ana Raine
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Holiday, LGBTQ, Paranormal
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

When Preston saves a black cat everything he knows about life and demons is going to be questioned.

While shopping for candy for his friend’s Halloween party, Preston saves a strange black cat from a group of teenage boys. Overcome with a desire entirely new to him, Preston takes the black cat home and discovers things are not always what they seem, especially on Halloween.

The cat, a demon named Caleb, has been searching for his mate for months and can’t help but be fascinated with sweet Preston. He’s determined to drag Preston down to his home in the underwater demon world.

Now Preston must choose between his mortal life, or one full of demons — and love.

Preston rescues a black cat from a group of teenage boys. Despite never wanting a cat, Preston decides to take the stray home – only to discover things are not always what they seem.

I found this to be a fun and sexy short story. Caleb and Preston certainly set the pages on fire between them, but I liked that even though Caleb was a demon he didn’t really use powers or magic to lure Preston or fake things between them.

Readers looking for an extended or slow drop into love should be aware that this simply isn’t possible with such a short page count. I thought the author did a good job showing the attraction and chemistry between Preston and Caleb give the quickness of the story and while I do feel readers will need to disconnect their brain a little I did find this a fun and enjoyable Halloween themed story.

With smoking heat between the two men and some sizzling scenes I enjoyed this short and erotic quick read.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Reaper And Ruin by Elle Thorpe

February 12, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Reaper And Ruin by Elle Thorpe
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ, Action/Adventure, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

An explosion shatters the night. The three men I love are thrown from the bluff into the raging sea below.

And one of them can’t swim.

But the fall isn’t the only thing trying to kill us.

Every step we take, danger stalks closer.
Every breath we steal, the killer waits in the shadows.

When he rips someone I love away from me, the fragile family I’ve fought to build begins to unravel.

The killer has to be unmasked.
The ruin has to end.

Because this time, losing means more than death.

It means giving up the only people I can’t live without.

Violet and her three lovers are determined to find out who the killer tormenting them is. With all their lives in danger – as well as those around them who they each love – these killers are determined to go back to what they know. To being the predator and not the prey.

Readers should be aware that this book continues on immediately from the explosive ending of book 2. I would strongly recommend these three books are read in order (X’s and O’s – book 1 and then Whips and Chains – book 2). This is a complete trilogy and I don’t feel they can be easily read out of order. This book picks up exactly where the previous one ended on a cliff hanger and for that I was grateful.

I believe that this trilogy stands by itself quite well. There are absolutely hooks/links and characters that I’ve since learned are from Elle Thorpe’s other trilogy’s. This is the first (and currently only) set of her books that I’ve read and I’ve enjoyed them. I do feel that you don’t need to have read any other of the books set in this world because while a number of the characters cross over I don’t feel the other trilogy’s/group stories are necessary to thoroughly enjoy this set.

Readers should be aware of that one of the strong secondary characters in this book has absolutely been set up as a lure/hook into what I feel is likely the next trilogy. The final chapter of this book absolutely is a lure into the next series I feel. Readers who dislike final chapters/epilogues that lead into the next series might want to be cautious before reading the final chapter here.

I was very pleased with the way this series wrapped up. I feel it’s completed enough that most romance readers should be satisfied. The main mystery plot that arcs through all three of these books was very well wrapped up and I was quite happy with the mystery/killer aspect to the plotline. I thought there was also a very good balance between the spicy plotline of the foursome’s relationship and the mystery plotline. I thought the author did a good job with both these sides of the series and this book in particular.

I do also have a strong suspicion that (like with the throwbacks to other groups in this book) Violet, Levi, Whip and X might very well likely have some input in the next and other series so readers can get a glimpse of how things are progressing. For the most part I feel like their story, however, is quite well rounded out and left in a good place. I don’t feel there’s much to complain about here in that respect.

Readers should be aware there is a fair bit of spice in this book. I didn’t feel this book was very dark at all – certainly it didn’t feel as dark to me as the first book did and to a lesser extend the second book. This book felt a bit more like a very spicy mystery/romance and not so much a dark romance. This absolutely isn’t for the faint of heart nor the non-spicy reader, but I did feel some of the darker themes in the first book wasn’t as heavy or pronounced in this book. I absolutely think this is a good trilogy for readers who are new to dark romances and darker themes to dip a toe in and see if this genre is really for them or not.

With some seriously spicy sex and a good dose of darker mystery plot this was a trilogy I enjoyed. As my first foray into “Dark Romance” I found it was a good read for me and the new-to-me genre is a bit of a hit.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Smoldering Lies by LT Ryan

February 11, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Smoldering Lies by LT Ryan
Publisher: Liquid Mind Media
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

In the ashes of the past, a mystery burns.
In the gripping world of Maddie Castle, every fire ignites a deeper mystery. When community developer Brandon Adams faces a series of arson attacks, he enlists Maddie’s help, unaware that the flames are just the beginning of a much larger intrigue.

As Maddie delves into the case, she uncovers a web of environmental activism, strained family ties, and hidden agendas. But the closer Maddie gets to the truth, the more dangerous her path becomes.

Caught in a maze of betrayal and corruption, Maddie must navigate through this perilous journey, where every clue leads to more questions.

Will she uncover the arsonist’s identity, or will the flames of truth consume everything she holds dear? Join Maddie and Tempest in this thrilling tale of mystery, family secrets, and a quest for justice that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Maddie Castle continues to work on the disappearance of her partner’s young sister-in-law, but bills need to be paid so when a rich local businessman hires her to look into a series of arson attacks against his properties the money on offer is simply too good for Maddie to turn down. Can she juggle the two important cases and still meet the challenges that keep popping up?

I have been really enjoying this series. While there is a lot happening in Maddie’s personal life – which I find is a really good contrast to the equally crazy but highly different stress related to her job – this book seems to really focus on the two main cases. Maddie continues to chip away at finding the missing young Daisy. This plot has been arching over a number of books and readers should be aware that while progress is made, this mystery is not completed in this book.

The arson attacks, however, are unique to this book and are solved in what I found was a very satisfying manner. Maddie has a slightly different outlook to the normal PI or ex police officer and that’s part of what makes me feel this series is both refreshing but also realistic. The world is made up on grey, things usually aren’t starkly black and white. Maddie both sees and embraces these realities, and I enjoy reading about it.

Readers should be aware this book is well into the Maddie Castle series and while I strongly feel this book can be picked up and enjoyed by itself there is a lot of linking and history with the other books. I feel readers will experience a deeper connection and better emotional satisfaction if they’ve read at least a few of the previous books. That said the author did a really good job explaining everything so I don’t feel readers will be lost or miss out if they pick this book up by itself.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Chilling by Riley James

February 10, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Chilling by Riley James
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

Keen to flee the wreckage of her marriage, Australian scientist Kit Bitterfeld accepts a coveted winter research position at Macpherson Station in Antarctica. On the way there, Kit and her fellow researchers field a distress call from a nearby ship. By the time they reach the vessel it is on fire and the crew has vanished. A lone survivor is found, but he can’t remember who he is or what has happened.

They bring the survivor, eventually identified as geophysicist Nick Coltheart, to Macpherson but it’s clear that something is wrong. More and more of Kit’s colleagues are acting strangely. And she can’t shake the suspicion that Nick knows more than he’s letting on. With the winter darkness setting in, Kit must figure out the truth before they are completely cut off from the outside world. But is the danger lurking out on the ice, or is it closer than she thinks?

Kit Bitterfield is at the end of a rather long and bitter divorce. An Australian Scientist, she’s eager for a fresh start preferably somewhere far away. So when an opportunity comes for her to take on a coveted winter research position at Macpherson Station down in Antarctica, she jumps at the chance. Only her and the teams arrival is delayed when a nearby distress signal from another ship comes in, and by the time they reach the signal there is no sign of the other crew and only the charred remains of a burnt out ship. They find one lone survivor, but he has no memory of anything including himself and soon Kit is doubting everything around her, including her colleagues and her own safety.

I am always a total sucker for a book revolving around adventure or scientific research around Antarctica so I happily grabbed this even though I’ve never heard of the author before. I quickly found myself sympathetic to Kit, finding her an enjoyable and relatable character and when she joined the crew heading into the cold I was absolutely hooked. I did feel at times, especially towards the middle of the book, that Kit was a little paranoid – I never really grasped 100% why she felt so suspicious of Nick and his amnesia. The best rationale I could make was she’d been burned badly by her ex-husband and her near paranoia was linked to that, but I did feel it jarring me out of the book a few times.

Overall though I really enjoyed the mystery, eager to discover what happened on the other ship and hoping Nick would be able to recover his memories and help the crew work out what happened. It was clear there were at least a few sub-plots swirling in the mists with this book and quite a few undercurrents that kept me eagerly turning the pages.

Readers who are hoping for an action packed or fast paced novel might not find this quite fits the bill for them. I found this to be a slower burn of a story – plenty of characters and plots intertwining and everyone with their own agenda and perspective. So I really feel there is loads crammed into this story and I definitely thought it all was woven together very well, but in the deadly cold and with ships being a big part of the transportation this is not a Bond style of action adventure filled with adrenaline and chases. There were a number of solid plotlines – some which I guessed and others that were a delightful surprise as they unfurled throughout the book.

I will be certain to keep an eye out for any future books coming from this author.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Whips And Chains by Elle Thorpe

February 9, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Whips And Chains by Elle Thorpe
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Three…Two…One… The game has just begun.

Shadows crawl across the walls of an abandoned warehouse.
A knife waits on the table. A clock bleeds away the seconds.
Someone isn’t leaving alive.

My only chance of survival lies with the three men searching for me in the dark.

I let my guard down with X, the funny psychopath who has been following me for weeks, claiming I’m his future wife…Until he put his fingers around my throat and the laughter died away. Now he’s convinced he’s going to kill me and I’m not entirely sure he’s wrong.

Whip is the sin I paid for. He was supposed to be a transaction—one night only. Instead, he took my firsts and left me craving seconds neither of us should want.

And Levi… the ex-prisoner who wrote me letters that stole my heart. But love doesn’t protect us from a killer who knows all our secrets.

As sins are exposed and lies unravel, one thing becomes apparent.

The game isn’t over.
And the rules are written in blood.

Violet had been lured into a warehouse where a crazed killer is determined she and the others captured within won’t leave alive. With her three lovers searching for her Violet is understandably terrified. Can her life ever return back to normal?

Readers should be aware that this book continues on immediately from the ending of the previous book (X’s and O’s – book 1) and this book should be read only after the first. A reader picking this up without the previous one might not easily understand what’s going on. That said since the previous book ended on a cliff hanger, it was a relief that the author immediately jumped back into the main events.

I also enjoyed that there was quite a bit of character progression in this middle story. The three main male characters as well as Violet (as the main female character) all had a lot on their plate and seeing them grow and handle it was really good. There was also a lot of development in their foursome relationship – and of course a ton of steamy sex as well. The author had a good balance here between romantic progression and movement in the mystery plot, but the level of spice might not suit everyone’s taste. Also, similar to the first book, I did find some of the conflict a little frustrating due to poor communication and characters getting annoyed or frustrated with each other and acting on impulse instead of sitting and thinking – or talking things through. Violet and the male main characters appear to me to have a tendency to read between the lines and get upset – instead of clearly communicating or discussing stuff they find hurtful. While the conflict this produces and plot movement is understandable it rather annoyed me as a reader.

Readers should be aware that the M/M aspects between Levi and Whip absolutely progress and while there’s still some tension and conflict between them, their arc – along with the foursome arc and Violet’s individual relationship with X, Levi and Whip all have some solid movement for this second book. I greatly enjoyed the same humorous tone this book had – similar to book 1 – and while it wasn’t as front and center as the first book, I did appreciate how the more humorous moments really helped make some of the darker themes more palatable and less heavy. I really enjoyed this. The mystery/killer plotline ramped up in this book and so this wasn’t as lighthearted as the first book, but for a “dark, spicy romance”, this wasn’t bleak or too negative.

There is absolutely a mystery part to the plot and while it definitely takes a back seat to the Whip/Levi/X/Violet relationship, it was well written and strong enough to really help carry the story. I was pleased the plot helped keep the book feeling like it was moving forward and not being clogged up with the foursome relationship. Readers should know that the three male characters tend to fight with each other. I do find this mostly understandable – particularly with the foursome not fully formed and with there still being questions as they all settle into the relationship, but I’m not sure I’ll be as open to the ongoing feuding, arguments and frustrations in the third and final book. I’m kinda hoping this gets sorted out pretty quickly – but they’re absolutely not there yet which is a little disappointing. Also – exactly the same as the first book this one also finishes on a massive cliff hanger and while I was mostly expecting this given the first book’s ending, I was annoyed by this – but fully prepared and had already purchased the third and final book. So, I could move immediately on to it the second I finished the final page of this book. I strongly recommend readers who hate cliff hangers treat this trilogy as one book split into three sections and only begin the first when they’re prepared to binge all three.

This is a well-written and mostly humorous polyamorous spicy romance novel. There are definitely dark themes but with the lighter tone and banter between the characters, this an enjoyable book within this trilogy.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Killing Place by Kate Ellis

February 5, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Killing Place by Kate Ellis
Publisher: Piatkus
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

November. With the tourist season over in South Devon, Detective Inspector Wesley Peterson is looking forward to a quieter month in the CID. But when a man is shot dead on Bonfire Night, he finds he has a complex murder case on his hands.

The body of Patrick North was found in woodland connected to Nesbaraton Hall, a grand estate dating back to the eighteenth century. The Smithson family, who own the estate, are away on holiday. However, when an anonymous letter threatening to abduct the Smithson son is uncovered, Wesley fears North’s death might have been collateral damage in a sinister kidnap plot.

Meanwhile, archaeologist Dr Neil Watson discovers a hidden grotto in a developer’s field – land that was once part of the Nesbaraton estate. Evidence of past rituals and the discovery of a skeleton buried next to the grotto raise questions about strange occurrences, past and present, on the estate.

Then, just when Wesley’s team seem to be making progress in their investigation, a resident of the nearby village is killed in a near identical shooting. A race is on to find a ruthless killer, before they strike again . . .

DI Wesley Peterson and his team are called in to investigate when the body of a local boy’s tutor is found in woodland connected to the estate he was living at. With conflicting tales from the locals and the family away and incommunicado on a holiday it takes Wesley some time to begin to piece everything together. But when another body is found soon afterwards it quickly becomes apparent that there’s a lot more to this than they first suspected.

I have enjoyed this series and in particular the way in which so often the past is merged into the present-day murder mystery. With Wesley and his old college friend both interested in Archaeology the old and new is often sewn together. I found this story was a little lighter with the past and with more sub-plots related to the present day, yet I really didn’t feel the story lacked too much for this. Neil was still present – albeit far more in the background than usual – and with a small grotto playing a fairly pivotal role I personally wasn’t upset by the heavier hand this book gives the present day.

I thought the author did a good job keeping a few different plot threads ticking along nicely – and I was even surprised by a few of the twists towards the end. While I do think readers might find that some of the storyline is a little easy to guess, there were definitely a few aspects that slipped my notice, so I enjoyed the fact there were still some surprises for me.

This is a solidly written British police procedural style of mystery, and a series as a whole I have really enjoyed from the beginning. While much of the secondary cast – the police team and Wesley’s family in particular – might resonate stronger with readers who have enjoyed at least some of the previous books in this series, I absolutely feel the mystery is very well encapsulated in this story and can easily be read just by picking this book up alone. Readers shouldn’t be shy about picking this up and if you do enjoy the prose and style then there’s a huge backlog that you can read and enjoy as well.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Twisted Lies by Ana Huang

February 4, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Twisted Lies by Ana Huang
Publisher: Piatkus
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Charming, deadly, and smart enough to hide it, Christian Harper is a monster dressed in the perfectly tailored suits of a gentleman.

He has little use for morals and even less use for love, but he can’t deny the strange pull he feels toward the woman living just one floor below him.

She’s the object of his darkest desires, the only puzzle he can’t solve. And when the opportunity to get closer to her arises, he breaks his own rules to offer her a deal she can’t refuse.

Every monster has their weakness. She’s his.

His obsession.

His addiction.

His only exception.

***

Sweet, shy, and introverted despite her social media fame, Stella Alonso is a romantic who keeps her heart in a cage.

Between her two jobs, she has little time or desire for a relationship.

But when a threat from her past drives her into the arms―and house―of the most dangerous man she’s ever met, she’s tempted to let herself feel something for the first time in a long time.

Because despite Christian’s cold nature, he makes her feel everything when she’s with him.

Passionate.

Protected.

Truly wanted.

Theirs is a love twisted with secrets and tainted by lies…and when the truths are finally revealed, they could shatter everything.

Morally grey CEO Christian Harper doesn’t believe in love – but he can’t explain the pull Stella Alonso has had on him since they first met at her friend’s wedding. Agreeing to a mutually convenient, contractual fake relationship, each are determined to find out where their attraction stems from. But when a threat from Stella’s past creeps into her life – and into the supposedly secure apartment complex Christian owns – they come together far more than either had ever expected. Can they uncover their truths without shattering their world?

I picked this book up on a whim, having never read anything previously by this author. I’m not exactly sure of how the author managed to hook me, but with two deeply layered and complicated main characters, a writing style that I thoroughly enjoyed from the first page and a few interesting plot hooks I was absolutely on board from the first chapter or so.

This is absolutely a slow burn romance novel. There is virtually no spice or steam until the middle of this 550+ page paperback so readers expecting a fast paced or spice-heavy style of book will not enjoy the pacing of this book. I, however, coming in blind with zero expectations really enjoyed the slow build up. I realized fairly early into this book that it was part of a series (apparently book 4 I later learned) but I can absolutely state having read nothing previously by this author I easily picked it up and dived right in. I feel the author did an excellent job to explain this plot set up and these two characters for me and while it was strongly alluded to three other books (Stella’s three bffs) I could easily grasp everything without having read a page of it. There is also a fairly obvious hook to (what a quick search showed me was) one of Christan’s associates who appears to be book 1 of a spin off series.

Suffice to say this author appears to have plenty of other books and series out there, but I definitely feel this book stands well on it’s own.

I thoroughly enjoyed Stella and Christian, their interactions felt real and I was invested in them. While the “billionaire CEO” trope never feels very realistic to me I admit it’s a great romance plotline and Christian was different enough – and morally grey enough – that I thoroughly enjoyed him. Stella also was a deeply layered and complicated woman and I adored her. I also really enjoyed the fact there were a number of sub-plots all ticking along and revolving around each other, so the book didn’t feel too bloated or heavy to me, despite its length. I feel readers who enjoy a character-driven romance story should really give this book a go and I was really pleased I’d picked it up.

Readers who enjoy a slower burn to their romance, and a book with a good plot and complicated characters should give this book a try.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Beautiful Nightmare by Katee Robert

February 2, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Beautiful Nightmare by Katee Robert
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Genre: Erotic Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Dicentra

For one awkward sleep paralysis demon, scaring humans should be simple—except Gemma’s first solo haunting goes hilariously wrong in this tantalizing dream of a short story by New York Times bestselling author Katee Robert.

When Gemma’s supposed to terrify her appointed victim, she ends up captivated instead. Caleb, a romantic who believes in all things supernatural, finds her adorably pink-skinned, horned form more alluring than alarming. But as their steamy night unfolds and unexpected feelings bloom, Gemma must choose between her demonic duties and the human who makes her feel anything but monstrous.

Katee Robert is one of my recent favorite authors, so it was exciting that she released another novella for the Scared Sexy collection from Amazon Original Stories. All of the Amazon Original stories are currently available on Kindle Unlimited as ebooks and audiobooks, centered around a theme, and designed to be able to be read in one sitting. It’s hard to explain, but the best way to describe Beautiful Nightmare would be a VERY grown up Monsters Inc. It’s also very similar to Richelle Mead’s Georgina Kincaid series (though those were released over a decade ago).

Sleep paralysis demon Gemma is at the end of her training, and it’s now time to cut the training wheels and go feed from humans on her own. Unfortunately for her, she’s not the best at harvesting fear. Thankfully, there are other emotions available for feeding on (if you know Katee Robert’s books at all it’s not hard to guess the alternate emotion). I really liked the ending, as it was a nice spin and I wasn’t expecting a twist like that in such a short book. The author also included conversations about consent, which I felt were important but also ate a lot of word count for such a short story.

Overall, this was a fairly entertaining read and I’m glad I picked it up. Andi Eloise did a good job bringing the story to life with their performance in the audiobook, but it didn’t keep me fully engaged. Think of this book as good for when you’re in a bind for something to read (i.e. doctors office, DMV waiting room, etc.) but not something you would necessarily have to go out of your way to pick up.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

TV Show Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Season 2)

February 2, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Season 2)
Distributed by: Disney+
Writers: Rick Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg
Starring: Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.)
Rating: 5 stars (10 stars on IMBDB)
Reviewed by Dicentra

Demigod Percy Jackson leads a quest across America to prevent a war among the Olympian gods.

I just finished the second season of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians tv show on Disney+, and this is the adaptation that my forever Percy Jackson fan heart has been waiting years for.

It is obvious how much the showrunners and writers put into this book, especially with the easter eggs they dropped for die hard fans. Clarisse’s (Dior Goodjohn) storyline this season was also particularly impactful compared to the books, as you actually got to see some of the scenes that were only hinted at, such as when Ares (Adam Copeland) gives her the ship that they head to the Sea of Monsters on. I connected more to her portrayal of Clarisse emotionally than I did to the Clarisse from the books. Daniel Diemer’s portrayal of Tyson this season was excellent, and I really loved his brotherly relationship with Percy (Walker Scobell). It was a really impactful choice from the production team to never show Tyson with two eyes, as in the words of producer Dan Shotz everyone in the audience is a demigod now.

While I’m sad that some monsters from the book didn’t make the cut (the Hydra in particular would have been a CGI budget black hole), all of the changes they made from the book made sense. I especially appreciated more appearances from Sally Jackson (Virgina Kull).The contents of the last episode are almost entirely different from the book, but I think it worked out well and I’m excited to see how they take the adjusted storyline into future seasons (with season 3 set to premiere before the end of 2026). The show will resonate the most with fans of the book, but I highly recommend it to viewers of all ages who enjoy adventure, friendship, and Greek mythology.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings, Movie Review, Television Show Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

X’s And O’s by Elle Thorpe

January 30, 2026 By Leave a Comment


X’s And O’s by Elle Thorpe
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

One minute I’m cleaning toilets for minimum wage.
The next, I’m waking up from a drug-induced nap with a monster staring down at me.

Kidnapped and seconds from death, I think I’m done for…
Until masked men burst in, murder my attacker, and turn my world upside down.

They call themselves Murder Squad.

A secret brotherhood of broken men who only kill the worst of the worst.

And one of them thinks I’m his wife.

X is unhinged, obsessed, and deadly. A psychopath who hides behind bad jokes and bloodstained fingers.

Whip’s older, grumpy, and used to women paying him to worship them. But when he finds out I’m a virgin, he can’t keep his hands off my plus-size curves.

And Levi? One year of handwritten letters was all it took to fall in love with a man I’d never met. My prison pen pal turned killer, fighting his darkness for a second chance.

But they aren’t the only psychopaths in Saint View.

Someone’s playing a twisted game, leaving rhyming threats and promising to end us all if we don’t stop them first.

With every lie we uncover, every secret we expose, the danger mounts.
Until there’s only one thing we know for sure.

There’s a killer out there.
And this time, he’s hunting us.

Violet is a cleaner going about her regular life, when she is drugged by a new client and wakes up to find herself in a terrifying situation that turns her life upside down. In under a week, she goes from being a curvy, shy normal virgin to a woman who finds herself with three vastly different men all determined to protect and ravish her. The fact one of the men is apparently a jovial psychopath and the other is her newly released prison pen pal just makes the entire situation even more confusing. Will
Violet’s life ever go back to the way it once was?

I picked up this book on a whim after seeing some advertisements for it and it was absolutely not what I was expecting. I believe this is the first official “dark romance” book that I’ve ever read – and certainly it’s the first thing I’ve ever seen by this author or anywhere near this book plot-wise. I’d never heard of the genre “dark rom com” before but I have to say that sums this up fairly well. There are absolutely some dark themes in this book (murder, capture, threatened rape etc) but I have to say that I feel like the tone and voice this book is written in is definitely humorous and almost the kind of lightness you do find in a regular romcom movie. With antics and banter and a lightness to the whole tone – and thankfully none of the darker themes were dwelled upon or heavy-handed – so at no stage did I feel weighted down or like the darker aspects were uncomfortable or really wallowed in. Don’t get me wrong, the darker themes were present, but I certainly felt they were more as “part of the whole” rather than front and center.

Readers should also be really clear that there are three main male characters along with Violet as the main female character. And all three men have seriously romantic/sexual feelings for Violet. I also definitely feel two of the men have a growing attraction between them and I thought there was some definite chemistry between them on top of their strong attraction to Violet. For most of the book the “romance” was fairly complicated and probably not the sort of thing you’re going to want people reading over your shoulder on the train to work in the mornings. There is quite a bit of spice in this book – but I have to admit I didn’t feel there was the same level of bedroom antics that a lot of erotica books have. I felt there was quite a bit of progress and plot outside the bedroom to go along with the spice. I thought this was really well balanced in this book.

Overall, I found this book to be very well written, lighthearted and at time hilarious. I did grow frustrated with the repeated miscommunication/misunderstandings between Levi and Violet. Having exchanged more than a hundred letters in a year – most of them deeply personal – I strongly feel their crossed wires should not have occurred when Levi was released and they met up in real life. A part of me wonders if the author simply wanted Violet to have time and emotional room to fall for both Whip and X so their attachments and the foursome would make sense. I got quite annoyed though, so I really do feel the Violet/Levi thing could have been handled far better and not been so frustrating. I also didn’t fully see the whole Whip/Violet appeal but am willing to roll with that for now. I didn’t feel as convinced by their attraction and chemistry as I did with Violet/Levi and Violet/X. That said, there was a lot happening in this book and it’s the first of a trilogy, so I’m happy to hold judgement on whether Violet/Whip makes sense or feels right to me, at least for now.

X, however, definitely stood out to me as a fairly unique character. Extremely funny and an utter psychopath, yet somehow extremely loveable at the same time. He’s quite perplexing and I’ll be glad to read more about him in the next book. Readers should absolutely be warned that this book ends on a cliffhanger. I admit I immediately went out to purchase the second book which almost certainly was the whole point of ending the book in the manner that the author did it. Generally speaking, though I hate cliffhangers and I checked that the third (and, I believe, final book) was already released before I got even more invested than I already am.

Readers who might be looking to dip a toe into the whole Dark Romance genre to see what all the talk and fuss is about might want to start here. There are definitely dark themes and spicy sex – but I do feel that the humourous tone to the book as a whole and the lighter aspects make this a less daunting prospect to see if it’s your cup of tea or not.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,
Next Page »