Review: Right Your Wrongs by Kandi Steiner

March 10, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

RIGHT YOUR WRONGS
Series: Kings of the Ice #6
Genre: Contemporary, Sports Romance
Author: Kandi Steiner
Release Date: March 10, 2026

What happens when the youngest, most successful coach in the NHL comes face-to-face with the woman he never got over — only to find out she’s married to his new General Manager?

Everything I’ve spent my life building is suddenly at risk.

I loved Ariana Ridley long before the world knew my name. Before the NHL. Before the pressure of being one of the youngest coaches in the league. Before I learned how to survive by locking my heart down tight.

Leaving her was the hardest thing I’ve ever done — and the one choice I never made peace with.

Now she’s back.
And she belongs to another man.

My new General Manager.

I tell myself I can handle it. Discipline is my job. Control is my strength. I know how to keep my distance — how to respect the lines that should never be crossed.

But every glance drags the past to the surface. Every quiet moment reminds me the love I buried never died.

I see the cracks she tries to hide, the fear she’s learned to live with, and the way she still looks at me like I’m the one place she can breathe.

I want to protect her.
I want to fight for her.
And I want things I have no right to want.

Because if I cross that line, I don’t just risk my career — I risk shattering the woman I never stopped loving.

Some choices haunt us forever.
Some loves never let go.

And trying to right my wrongs might just ruin us both.

AMAZON

If a heart was tied to a person, mine was inextricably bound to her—and it stopped beating the day I left her behind.

Kandi Steiner definitely left the best for last. And considering I have absolutely loved this entire series, that’s saying something. But this book? Oh the emotional damage of it all. Coach McCabe finally gets his much awaited HEA and what a hard earner HEA it was. My heart strings are still recovering.

He looked like a man who knew exactly who he was. And worse—like a man who still knew exactly how to undo me.

Now there is nothing better than male yearning in my book. And Shane wears his yearning on his sleeve.

Now let me set the scene for you. Imagine you meet the love of your life in college. You fall hard and fast. But then everything in both of your lives is turned upside down and he leaves. He’s never forgotten about you or gotten over you in the twenty years that you’ve been apart. And when you suddenly find yourself back in his orbit, he doesn’t play games or pretend he doesn’t know you. Oh no. His love for you shines through his eyes in ever blink. But there’s one problem; you’re married, and your husband is the new General Manager of the hockey team he coaches. Sounds utterly heart wrenching and delicious, right? That’s because it really was.

I’d failed her back then. I wouldn’t fail her again. That girl was still everything to me. And I’d be damned if I’d be the man who walked away from her twice.

You know what I hate? When the reason for the couple parting when they’re young is some long winded miscommunication trope where one leaves for the supposed good of the other without saying anything or talking about it. The fallout between Shane and Ariana was painful but it was real. Both of them talk about it and try their hardest. This was the most perfectly painful right person, wrong time type of scenario. First, Shane’s life falls apart and then both their youthful inexperience does.

When Ari ends back in Shane’s orbit, he doesn’t steamroll her to get what he wants. He watches her every move and his ability to see her doesn’t seem to fade. It doesn’t take him long to clock into things and when he does, he’s determined to do everything in his power. And while yes, this technically has a little cheating, I can’t imagine a man who deserved it more than Ari’s husband. There’s no gray area there. I hated it from the second he appeared on the page.

But enough about that man. Lets talk about Shane, because this man stole my whole heart.

She could run from the moment, from the intensity, from me. But I would never run from her again. And I didn’t care what I risked in the process.

Imagine a man who doesn’t mince words, doesn’t hide his feelings, doesn’t play games, and has been yearning for the FMC for as long as they’ve been apart. He’s a professional hockey coach, sexy as sin, and with a dirty mouth that I couldn’t get enough of.

I want to live here, Ariana. I want to die here. You were made for me. You and this perfect fucking cunt.”.

I adored this book. I couldn’t get enough of this story. I loved every word, every page, every chapter. And I binged it from cover to cover.

If you love a second chance romance with one of the most satisfying HEAs, then you need this book in your life!

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#DGRFave & Review: Across The Vanishing Sky by Catherine Cowles

March 3, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

ACROSS THE VANISHING SKY
Series: Starlight Grove #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Author: Catherine Cowles
Release Date: March 5, 2026

He spent a lifetime trying to escape his dark past…but to save her, he’ll wade back into the shadows.

Braedyn Winslow never expected to return to Starlight Grove—the town that took everything from her. Not after her best friend, the one who’d sacrificed so much for her, vanished without a trace. But with a young son to raise and a past that won’t stay buried, Brae is back…and determined to uncover the truth.

She just didn’t count on the brooding, reclusive mountain man living next door.

Dex Archer is the stuff of local legend—silent, rugged, and surrounded by whispers of his and his brothers’ violent father. But Brae sees through the scowl and his parentage to the man beneath: fiercely loyal, unexpectedly kind…and just dangerous enough to protect her when someone starts warning her off her search.

The closer she gets to the truth, the harder it is to stay away from Dex. And as things get more perilous, Brae realizes the only person she can rely on is the one man who swore never to trust again.

Only someone isn’t happy that Brae has been digging, and they’ll do anything to stop her. But Dex? He’ll do anything to save her, even slip back into the dark…

AMAZON 

“Tell me you want this. Tell me you need it, consequences be damned.”

Well, Catherine Cowles has done it yet again. She gave us a cast of characters in a new town that I am swooning hard for. Let me paint a picture for you, shall I?

First we have our MMC, Dex. And if you love a tortured MMC, prepare to fall and fall hard not just for Dex but for every single one of his brothers. And he’s got four of them. That’s right, we get five Archer boys and oh boy are they intriguing in their own way. But I digress. We’re talking about Dex. Dex is a gray hat hacker who worked for the FBI for ten years and now he’s back in the small town that still haunts him. But that town is where his brothers are, and although their history is dark, the Archer boys are as close as brothers get. Dex also has tattoos and slutty little glasses. So of course I fell for him immediately.

Braedyn is a woman on a mission. A year ago, her best friend vanished into thin air. She’s told that the case is cold, that her best friend likely fell into a river or got caught by wild life. But she refuses to believe it or give up searching for her. So she finds herself in the small town where she lost her, with determination in tow, along with her tracker trained dog and her young son.

She soon discovers that her grumpy neighbor who she immediately clashed with, may also be exactly who she needs. Dex doesn’t usually take cases on that are close to home, but something about Braedyn pulls at every heart string he has and suddenly he finds himself just as invested in the search for her best friend as he is in Braedyn herself.

The romance is a slow burn that was oh so satisfying. These two are such a perfect match. Braedyn with her abandonment issues and Dex with his fear of the blood that runs through his veins and getting. Both of them have their own trauma and I loved the way they help heal each other.

The one thing that I absolutely love about Catherine’s books is how utterly unpredictable they are. Every time I think I know who our bad guy is, she leaves me with my jaw on the floor. And this story was no different. I was absolutely blindsided by the ending, in the best of ways. I love a story that can surprise me, especially when it’s suspense. And no one does small town romantic suspense quite like Cowles. It hit every single spot for me and I am wholly obsessed with the Archer Brothers. I don’t even know whose story I’m more desperate for now; Orion, Maverick, Kol, or Wylder. Orion’s uber tortured self calls to me but I just know his book will likely be last.

If you’re looking for an addictive small town romance with an unputdownable suspense plot and a swoony romance seamlessly woven in, then you need this book in your life. I can’t wait for the next book in this amazing new series!

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Review: A Thousand Perfect Lies by Monica Murphy

March 3, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

A THOUSAND PERFECT LIES
Genre: YA Romance
Author: Monica Murphy
Release Date: March 3, 2026

Secrets don’t die. They just transfer schools.

New York native Billie Vale arrives at Wickham Academy, England’s most elite boarding school, with a forged identity as Belinda Winters and one mission: clear her sister’s name. Isla lies in a coma, accused of killing her best friend. Billie has one shot to uncover the truth in a school built on privilege and deception. Succeed, and her estranged father will finally help her mother. Fail, and it will tear what’s left of her family apart.

But Wickham’s secrets run deep, and not everyone wants them exposed. The school’s golden prince and its brooding outcast both seem to know more than they’ll admit—and both have reasons to keep Billie close. As she digs into the lies that built Wickham’s empire, she discovers that loyalty is just another currency, every hallway hides a motive, and everyone here protects their own at any cost.

But someone at Wickham knows what really happened…
And they’ll bury Billie before they let her find out.

Perfect for readers who loved the dark social hierarchies of Gossip Girland the twisty, secret-laden tension of One of Us Is Lying, A Thousand Perfect Lies delivers prep-school glamour, sisterly redemption, and a mystery that turns privilege into peril.

AMAZON | APPLE BOOKS | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO

I feel his stare like a physical touch, and it feels… Dangerous.

The second I read the blurb to this book, I had to have it. Young Adult isn’t usually a genre I gravitate towards and it’s been several years since my last YA read. But if Monica writes it, I’ll read it. And I’m so glad I did.

This was an intriguing murder mystery set at an elite school where money and power are enough to bury any secret. And boy what many secrets are buried within the walls of Wickham Academy.

Billie Vale has never had it easy. With an addict for a mother and barely able to make ends meet, her life has never been a walk in the park. Billie finds herself donning a new persona to go under cover as a student at Wickham Academy. When her estranged father reaches out for her help, she only agrees because it’s for her sister. Her sister, who is lying in a coma and facing accusations of having murdered her best friend. To unearth the dark secrets and what truly happened that night, Billie is sent to the school and quickly learns of the dark side of the rich and powerful. There she also meets a boy who intrigues her from the first meeting, and happens to be the brother of her sister’s dead best friend. Ah the tangled web of it all.

The plot was interesting and the pacing, although slower in parts, read great. I was super intrigued by the premise. The romance felt secondary, which I’m ok with. But it felt like it went from 0 to 60 in the span of one chapter. Connor and Billie clash in their first meeting and then it just feels like a switch is flipped. I would have loved more angst in the development of their connection. Considering the secrets between them and then who they are to each other, some angst would feel natural. Ultimately it just felt too easy and insta for me to fully connect to the romance.

The story itself and the mystery of the murder is what kept me turning the pages and I really enjoyed that element of the book. And while I can’t say it was my favorite Monica Murphy book, it still certainly hit the spot and I enjoyed it. I would say it skirts the line of YA/NA as it does have a love scene, so just flagging that for those that expect a fade to black/closed door. It was very tastefully written; not super explicit but not a fade to black either.

Definitely give this a read if you’re in the mood for a murder/suspense set in a world of rich teens and the dark depths that privilege hides.

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Review: Perfect In Every Way by Kristen Ashely

February 17, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

PERFECT IN EVERY WAY
Series: Manors and Mysteries #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kristen Ashley
Release Date: February 17, 2026

The Downs is peaceful…but steeped in mystery. 

The Duke is arrogant, gorgeous and loyal..and maybe Perfect In Every Way. 

Perfect In Every Way, an all-new compelling forced proximity, mystery romance in the Manors and Mysteries series from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley is now live!

Historical fiction writer, Vivienne Dupree, is hoping to unravel the mystery of her WWII soldier, great-grandfather’s doomed love affair with the lovely Lady Harmony. A woman he met convalescing at the sweeping English country estate, The Downs.

Vivienne jumps at the invitation to spend time at this magnificent property, doing so with unfettered access to family papers.

What she doesn’t expect is to come face-to-face—and immediately go head-to-head—with Battle Talyn, the ludicrously handsome, imposing, ridiculously arrogant Duke of Burleigh.

From the start, Vivi and Battle match wits, but it doesn’t take long for Vivi to realize something is amiss at The Downs. She dives into her research to figure it out, at the same time Battle launches a campaign that Vivi doesn’t quite understand.

The game is on, and a mystery is afoot.

What kept the doomed lovers apart all those years ago? What’s happening in the ballroom? Is there a curse on The Downs?

And what does all of this have to do with Battle and Vivi?

AMAZON | B&N | APPLE BOOKS | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

“Oh my God, I just fucked an arrogant, bossy duke.”
His amazing face filled my vision. “No, darling, an arrogant, bossy duke just fucked you.”

If there’s one thing that you’re absolutely guaranteed when you’re reading a KA romance, is an absolutely swoon worthy MMC. And Battle was the epitome of swoon.

Vivi is a historical fiction writer whose online friendship with one of the Talyn sisters, gets her an invite to The Downs estate and the opportunity of a lifetime to dig into the mystery of a doomed love affair that is the inspiration for her current book. Here she meets the Talyn siblings, including the imposing and grumpy Duke, Battle Talyn.

These two initially bump heads because while Vivi is eager to unearth the mystery, Battle is determined to protect his family and their privacy. For all the fortune, the Talyns are notoriously private, especially Battle. But it doesn’t take long for the sparks to fly between him and Vivi.

Outside of the romance, I just loved Vivi’s dynamics with the Talyn sisters. I loved the way she brought her sunshine along everywhere she went and the way she just fit like a puzzle with them. The romance was swoony and perfectly paced. No third act breakup to be found here. So if you’re looking for a lighthearted read with a steamy romance and an intriguing mystery, definitely give this a try.


For more information on Kristen Ashley, visit: 

https://www.kristenashley.net/

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Review: Overtake by S.J. Sylvis

February 12, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

OVERTAKE
Series: Vanstone Racing #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: S.J. Sylvis
Release Date: February 12, 2026

A sexy Rivals to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Formula One romance from Amazon Top 50 bestselling author SJ Sylvis

Rome Pierce is Formula One’s golden boy—reckless, ruthless, and wrapped in an ego as polished as his race suit. Arrogance isn’t just a trait; it’s his personal trademark.

As the daughter of Vanstone Racing’s chairman, I’ve spent my life loathing everything about him—and the family name he carries. The rivalry between our teams runs deeper than lap times and podiums. It’s personal.

So when my father steps back for health reasons and hands me a front-line role, I don’t hesitate to prove to the world that I’m more than just the pretty Halston daughter in the paddock.

I plan to beat Rome Pierce fair and square.

Except the promotion comes with a catch I never saw coming.

Rome Pierce isn’t driving for his father anymore.

He’s driving for mine.

Now I’m the crew chief for the one man I swore I’d never work with—the rival who knows exactly how to get under my skin. Every race is a power struggle. Every briefing feels like a war. And somewhere between late nights in the garage and two hundred mile an hour battles on the circuit, the thin line between hatred and heat starts to blur.

I think Rome Pierce came here to overtake my team.

I just never expected him to also alter the course of my heart.

AMAZON 

I follow after her, but before she leaves, I grab her from behind and press her back against my chest. My mouth hovers over her ear, “I expect you to be in my room after this race, Princess.”
Her voice is quiet. “I think that depends on how well you race, don’t you?”

I cannot remember the last time that I read a book in one sitting. I’ve been firmly in my drag ass era for over 10 weeks now and I thought I would be there forever. And here comes this delicious BANGER of a book and I suddenly remember what it’s like to be so engrossed with the characters that you can’t help but read it cover to cover in one sitting. And this book deserves 5 stars just for that alone.

Now if you love an F1 romance, this one will hit all the spots you didn’t even know you had. And if you’ve never read an F1 romance, prepare for this book to hit all the spots you didn’t even know you had. It was rivals to lovers gold; the banter, the chemistry, THE SIZZLING CHEMISTRY! That and the family chat had me giggling and kicking my feet like a giddy teenager the entire time.

First we have Rome Pierce, a talented Formula One driver who suddenly joins Vanstone Racing, his father’s biggest rival who also happened to be his father’s best friend for years. There is definitely no love lost between these two families, but Rome is determined to make it work with Vanstone. It also brings him back face to face with Tessa, daughter of Vanstone Racing’s chairman and his new head engineer.

Tessa has just learned that her father is stepping back as chairman and giving his kids the chance to step up. So the last thing she needs is Rome and his arrogance getting in her way. But Rome is definitely not all that he seems, and still waters (and secrets) run deep with this man. And it doesn’t take long before their banter rivalry begins to turn up the heat.

Are you racing me, Princess?”
I stop dead in my tracks, but this time, I make an effort not to pop my hip and cross my arms. I wouldn’t want him to call me a brat again. “Stop calling me that,” I say, voice chilled.
A few steps behind me, he asks, “What should I call you, then?”
I grin and peer over my shoulder. He’s waiting with his eyebrows raised high. “How about boss?”
His hot chuckle hits the back of my neck, and goosebumps rush to my arms. “Not a fucking chance.”

I loved this book. I genuinely found myself checking to see if it was a novella when I finished because of the way I devoured it so quick. But while it read quick, it was still wholly satisfying. The romance, the story, the family dynamics, the racing, all of it was woven together seamlessly to make one unputdownable read full of banter and heat.

I fell so hard for this family and can’t wait for more in this series. Leave it to SJ to own hockey romance and then come in and make F1 her b*tch. Because ohmygawd was this so much fun! Can’t recommend it enough!

S.J. Sylvis is an Amazon top 50 and USA Today bestselling author who is best known for her new adult romances. She currently resides in Arizona with her husband, two small kiddos, and pets! She is obsessed with coffee, becomes easily attached to fictional characters, and spends most of her evenings buried in a book! 

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Review: On The Brink of Bliss by A.L. Jackson

February 10, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

ON THE BRINK OF BLISS
Series: Moonlit Ridge #5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: A.L. Jackson
Release Date: February  10, 2026

A sizzling single mom, fake marriage, heroine in danger romance from New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author, A.L. Jackson

The last thing I expected when I found the trespasser bathing in my river was for it to be her…

Daisy Adair has always been my dream girl. From when we were best friends in high school to finding her now.
A gorgeous mother who shows up on my property with three kids in tow.
But I became a recluse for a reason.
The life I chose is full of wickedness and peril. The last thing I need is the object of my every fantasy invading my space and risking her life because of me.
Only when she tells me she’s on the run from her ex, I promise to do anything to keep them safe, even marry her to protect her kids.
That single kiss at the altar rips through every barrier, our passion unleashed.
Now, living under the same roof blurs the lines I’ve drawn.
Each glance of her down the hall and I am splintering.
Each brush of her hand and I am brought to my knees.
Our future—bright, hopeful, and almost within reach—hovers on the edge of becoming real…
Until we discover the threat surrounding her is grimmer than either of us imagined.
Now I’m fighting to save her and her children before our second chance at forever is burned to the ground…

What to Expect in On the Brink of Bliss:

Single Mom
Fake Marriage
Grumpy Recluse x Sunshine Wallflower
Morally Gray Hero
Heroine on the Run
Roommates-to-Lovers
Mutual Pining
Ex-Motorcycle Club
Found Family
Small Town
Secret Society

AMAZON

He was like a falling star that blinked out too soon. So bright and blinding in my life before he faded away. And here I was the fool who wanted to stand in the remnants of his glow.

This was such a bittersweet read because (1)Cash was one of my most anticipated MMCs but (2) his story marks the conclusion of the Moonlit Ridge series.

Now if you know anything about me, it’s that I love a tortured hero. And Cash is the epitome of that. This is a man who has lived through the worst tragedy and came out on the other side a different man. Once a high school football star golden boy, now he’s a recluse who has hidden his heart deep beneath his pain and demons. Until the past comes back in the shape of the one woman he could never forget.

Daisy was his childhood best friend who he hasn’t seen since the fateful night that everything changed. Now she’s back and begging him for help. On the run from her dangerous ex husband, she wants Cash to marry her, so that if anything were to happen to her, he can get guardianship of her three small children.

The story builds with bits and pieces of the past, seamlessly woven in to help the reader understand the road that brought Cash and Daisy to where they are today. And while I fell head over heels for Cash instantly, Daisy took a minute for me to connect to. Granted, timid FMCs aren’t generally my cuppa, but I just struggled with Daisy a bit more than expected. Especially so when we got the flashbacks of young Daisy. I felt for the shy girl she was in high school but I also hoped for more from the grown woman she became. She did grow on me by the end, but I just didn’t love her the way I hoped I would.

Much like everything AL Jackson writes, I absolutely love her voice. The lyrical and romantic whimsy that she weaves into her writing is absolutely dreamy, even when writing the most gritty of stories.

And I stood on the brink of bliss. Teetered on the edge. Before I tumbled right into it. Then I kissed my wife like I fucking meant it.

And the set up for the next series? OMG the way I need it. I can’t wait for Silas and his MC to get their stories.

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.

Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, BLEEDING STARS, FIGHT FOR ME, CONFESSIONS OF THE HEART, FALLING STARS, and REDEMPTION HILLS novels. Get her latest enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance, NEVER LOOK BACK, available now!

If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.

Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson – Sign up to receive her newsletter https://geni.us/ALJacksonBookClubB  or text “aljackson” to 33222 to receive short but sweet updates on all the important news.

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Review: Beautiful Savage by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

February 3, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

BEAUTIFUL SAVAGE
Series: Dark Empire #2
Genre: Dark Mafia Romance
Author: Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti
Release Date: July 20, 2020

A dark, mafia standalone from Wall Street Journal #1 bestselling authors Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

I’ll destroy them all to make her mine…

I want to forget the man I used to be. But violence just keeps calling my name. To avenge her, I’ll become that savage again.

Dark.

Corrupted.

Brutal.

Hers.

She was broken by the men who took her, so now I’m going to make them bleed.

I might be her saviour, but I’m no valiant knight.

There’s only one thing I want in return for helping the girl I found in the wilderness. And that’s her.

Winter may not remember who she is, but she’ll soon realise that the only thing she needs to be is mine.

I’m the shadow of two men and the total of none, though she might be what I need to rebuild myself.

So once I lay their heads at her feet, I’ll cast my tattered soul down with them.

And I’ll paint her a happily ever after in their blood.

Nicoli and Winter’s story is a Stand-Alone Dark Mafia Romance with revenge themes and a HEA and no cliffhanger. It contains heat, passion and explosive steamy scenes for readers who enjoy mature content. For the best reader experience, start with book 1 Beautiful Carnage.

AMAZON

I’ll be your warrior, Winter. Because you need vengeance and I need redemption.

You know that feeling when you absolutely LOVE and devour the first book in the series and you are so giddy to read the next one, only to end up rage reading it to spite yourself? Yeah? I didn’t either, but I sure do now. Because what a disappointment this book was. It was like night and day from book one and I’m still bitter that I forced myself to finish it. I kept thinking that surely it will get better. Right? WRONG. I have bitten off my nose to spite my face and I have all the regrets. Le sigh.

After the curve ball of a twist we get at the end of Beautiful Carnage, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Nicoli’s book. And I remained excited right up around 20%, and then the excited began to rapidly wane. And annoyance and cringe entered the chat. First of all, the nicknames in this book gave me a nervous tick. The amount of times he called her “savage girl” and “Baby doll” was like nails on a chalkboard after a while. One overused nickname is enough, but two just about did me in. He calls her “baby doll” 83 times and “savage girl” 64 times. And yes, I counted.

But that aside, there was just something about this story that just didn’t land. Winter’s character had so much potential but she was flat. There was nothing more to her outside what was described. I couldn’t connect with her for the life of me. Her connection with Nicoli also felt flat. The chemistry was just not there. I felt like every nuance of this book was a tell instead of show and it just didn’t land. The spice began to take over the plot and by the 60% mark, I was skimming over every sex scene because it just got repetitive and boring. It also got eye roll inducing cliche of we’re in danger so therefore we must bang.

Considering how much I loved the first book, this one fell so flat. I regret forcing myself to finish but I did enjoy the additional POV of the rest of the brothers. I do hope we get books for them eventually, because I’m super intrigued. But this book was sadly not it for me.

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Review: Beautiful Carnage by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

February 2, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

BEAUTIFUL CARNAGE
Series: Dark Empire #1
Genre: Dark Mafia Romance
Author: Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti
Release Date: January 4, 2020

A dark, mafia standalone from Wall Street Journal #1 bestselling authors Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

His family killed my brother, so I stole his bride…

I was there to murder her father, but then I saw her walking down the aisle.

She’s been my secret obsession for too long. The sinfully beautiful Calabresi princess.

Sloan was the perfect payment for their crimes.

Now she’s mine.

Mine to claim.

Mine to possess.

Mine to destroy.

Her fiancé is still hunting for us, but his bride might not be so innocent by the time he tracks her down.

I’m lining her family up like dominoes. And she’ll be the first to fall.

Unless I fall prey to temptation and decide to keep her for myself.

Rocco and Sloan’s story is a Stand-Alone Enemies to Lovers Dark Romance with a HEA and no cliffhanger. It contains heat, passion and explosive steamy scenes for readers who enjoy mature content.

It all began with letters. Every word he wrote etched itself into my mind, into my soul.  
I had no choice but to fall for him. Was it really so bad that the letters were part of a penpal program … for prisoners? Or that they weren’t addressed to me? 
 
It’s not as if we’d ever meet. It’s not as if I’d ever get to look into Beau’s eyes that yearn for the ranch he left behind. Or that I’d ever get to feel his work-roughened hands dominating my body just as he does my fevered dreams. What harm could there be? 
 
Until one afternoon when I find myself standing in front of Beau—pretending to be someone I’m not. But the joke’s on me because for all my pretenses, his deception is much crueler … The hardened, dangerous, impossibly beautiful man is nothing like the man in the letters. 
 
And it’s too late for me to run. 
 
Content Guidance: 
The contents of this dark romance book may be triggering to some readers. It contains explicit sexual content and a morally gray hero. 
 
Trigger warnings: false identities, stalking/obsession, revenge/retribution, abduction, drugging, blackmail/coercion, forced marriage, violence, bondage, knife play, gun play, dubious consent, non-consent, off-the-page domestic abuse set in the past, off-the-page murder set in the past, parental grief 

AMAZON

I didn’t think I could hate anyone more than I hate you,” she breathed as the silence stretched between us.
A dark laugh escaped me and I leaned forward in my chair, moving so close to her that she had no choice but to turn and look at me. “I don’t think that’s true, bella,” I said in a low voice.
“You don’t think I hate you?” she asked, arching an eyebrow at me like I was insane.
“I think you hate me so hard, it eats you up. You hate me so hard you dream about me and all the awful things I might do to you. But I think that in those dreams you don’t actually hate it so much when I do them…”

Oh the giddy excitement that I devoured this book with. OMG. I have wanted to try more of their books since I read and loved Forget-Me-Not Bombshell but I’m not yet adventurous enough to delved into their series. Don’t judge me. I have the attention span of a fly. But I digress. I was in the mood for a true enemies to lovers dark mafia romance but everything I would pick up was just sort of BLAH. Ya know? Like it just wouldn’t hit the right way. I’ve had this one on my TBR for a while and 5 DNFs and 1 star later, I thought, why not. What do I have to lose. Apparently my entire day is what. Because it was an absolute blur as I devoured this book.

It had me hooked from the very first page. And I mean HOOKED. We’re talking true enemies to lovers where these two first meet when Rocco comes after her family but for some reason decided to spare her life. A few years later, Sloan is back to where it all started. She’s not the same 18 year old girl who was almost a victim. SHe’s a fighter. But one thing that she can’t fight, is her father’s plan for her. Which is to marry Nicoli, his protege. And it’s her duty to agree. But the wedding goes off with a bang when Rocco and his brothers crash it. And what’s a man to do when his revenge plan to kill a rival family doesn’t go as planned? Kidnap the bride, of course. DUH. And here, my friends, is where the real fun begins.

Because Sloan is not some easy prey. She gives as good as she gets and the banter between these two was EVERYTHING. This book had everything; a dark and gritty story, a slow burn romance full of tension and chemistry, delicious spice when it finally hits, and two main characters that I couldn’t get enough of.

If you love dark mafia romance and you haven’t read this one yet, do yourself a favor and grab this one. You won’t be disappointed!

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Review: Branded by Saffron A. Kent

February 1, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

BRANDED
Genre: Dark Wester Romance
Author: Saffron Kent
Release Date: October 28, 2025

In this dark western romance, a college student uses a false identity to exchange spicy letters with a prison inmate, only to be hunted down when the convicted cowboy is released—perfect for fans of J.T. Geissinger’s Pen Pal and the Yellowstone TV series. 
 
It all began with letters. Every word he wrote etched itself into my mind, into my soul. 
 
I had no choice but to fall for him. Was it really so bad that the letters were part of a penpal program … for prisoners? Or that they weren’t addressed to me? 
 
It’s not as if we’d ever meet. It’s not as if I’d ever get to look into Beau’s eyes that yearn for the ranch he left behind. Or that I’d ever get to feel his work-roughened hands dominating my body just as he does my fevered dreams. What harm could there be? 
 
Until one afternoon when I find myself standing in front of Beau—pretending to be someone I’m not. But the joke’s on me because for all my pretenses, his deception is much crueler … The hardened, dangerous, impossibly beautiful man is nothing like the man in the letters. 
 
And it’s too late for me to run. 
 
Content Guidance: 
The contents of this dark romance book may be triggering to some readers. It contains explicit sexual content and a morally gray hero. 
 
Trigger warnings: false identities, stalking/obsession, revenge/retribution, abduction, drugging, blackmail/coercion, forced marriage, violence, bondage, knife play, gun play, dubious consent, non-consent, off-the-page domestic abuse set in the past, off-the-page murder set in the past, parental grief 

AMAZON

He’s my adventure. The one I’ve been waiting for my whole life.

Did this take me a hot minute to read? Yes it did. I started this in audio back in December, and definitely enjoyed the narrators. But then somewhere around the 40% mark, I began to slightly lose interest and so I decided to finish it on ebook because I read faster than I listen. Look. It is what it is.

Now I love me a dark western romance especially when there’s a delicious revenge plot. So the premise of this book was calling to me like nothing else. Pen Pal meets Yellowstone, yes please. Though I wouldn’t really compare it to Pen Pal, per se. Does the FMC exchange letters with a convict? Yes. But that’s about where the parallel ends. It definitely does give Yellowstone vibes.

The writing is a bit different than what I’m used to from Saffron. This gave me old school Lora Leigh vibes. If you know, you know. And if you don’t know, think uber alphas and the dirtiest of dirty talk. And usually this works for me. And I mean I will gobble it up. But somewhere around the 40% mark, it began to slide from hot into cringey. The dirty talk just didn’t land. Something about “college girl snatch” and the constant reminders of how monster his c*ck is and how little her snatch is just got tiresome. So did the dialogue. The virgin FMC with much older and experienced MMC just got weird, if I’m being perfectly honest. And while virgin FMC isn’t my fave, I’ll read it and enjoy it when it’s written in a way that lands for me. This one sadly didn’t land.

Do you know what position that is?” I jerk out a nod, my breaths already choppy in this moment, already hard to come by, and he hasn’t even done anything yet. “Tell it to me,” he orders.
“D-doggie style,” I whisper and then blush like crazy.
His lips stretch up in a lopsided smile as he praises, “Good girl.”
God, he shouldn’t say things like this when I’m so scared. Because then I become even more turned on and I don’t know what to do with myself.
“You read that in a book?” he asks next.
“Yes,” I reply, clenching and unclenching my thighs.
His smile widens and so does the fondness in his eyes, in his tone. “Yeah, you did. ’Cause my sweet wife is a college girl, ain’t she? Straight-A student, no less. Except sociology though. That’s how she got stuck with a no-good ex-con like me.”
“Arsen, you—” “And the reason it’s called that is ’cause that’s how dogs fuck,” he says, making me flinch and somehow even hornier. “That’s how all animals fuck, by the way. Don’t know if they taught you that in your big, fancy college but you grow up on a ranch, you know these things. But the point is I’m gonna fuck you like that.

As much as I enjoyed Arsen in some parts, I couldn’t for the life of me connect with Reverie. There was absolutely no depth to this girl. Beyond her body issues even though she’s described as having a bombshell body with curves, there were was nothing else to her. She was just…flat. No pun intended. Her character was two dimensional and I so wanted something more from her that sadly never came.

One moment she’s a virginal ingenue that blushes and gets offended over vulgar sex talk. The next moment she’s using that sex talk herself without so much as a stutter. She was frustrating and the more I turned the pages, the more frustrating she became.

The story was interesting for the first 30-40% but then it just began to lose me. The sex began to take over the story and I began to skim. And don’t get me wrong, I love me some spice. And I can enjoy a sex driven story for the most part. But I felt like by the last 50% of this book, the sex was really the only thing in the story and I just lost interest. The story dragged and I found myself zoning in and out.

The only thing that kept me reading was the snippets of Peyton and Rad. I loved Peyton’s fiery personality and I’m so curious about her book (which is next).

Oh, you sweet summer child, you haven’t seen the kind of havoc I can wreak. By the time I’m done with you, you’ll be cursing the day you ever laid your eyes on me.”

Sadly, her bestie Reverie just didn’t evoke anything other than frustration and eye rolls from me by the end.

And while I didn’t love this book, I am intrigued enough by the premise of the family feud and definitely Peyton’s storyline to want to read the next one.

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Review: Veiled in Hate by BJ Alpha

January 30, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

VEILED IN HATE
Genre: Dark Mafia Romance
Author: A Zavarelli
Release Date: July 16, 2023

Veiled in Hate

Veiled In Hate is a standalone Dark Mafia Romance based on Luca from SHAW: STORM ENTERPRISES Book 1.

Luca

I’m filled with darkness, thriving on the only thing I feel, hate.

The blood I’ve shed to avenge my sister’s death has done nothing to appease me.

When my don creates an alliance between our enemies to create peace, I’ve no choice but to comply.

That doesn’t mean I’ll make it easy for her—the Ricci Princess.

She will be the perfect target for my hate.

Hate has never felt so good.

In blood we’re bound. In trust we live.

Camille

He hates every fiber of my being.

Luca Varros tried to end my bloodline in a quest for vengeance. He refuses to listen to reason.

When we’re forced together as part of an alliance, he turns his hate toward me.

But I see beyond his darkness, I see a glimmer of a man I will him to become.

And when my own veil of hate is about to slip, I’m reminded of the truth.

Luca Varros feels nothing. His quest for vengeance will always come first.

In blood we’re bound. In truth we live.


The book features dark elements and triggers so please check the authors website for details.

 

AMAZON

In blood we’re bound. In trust we live

I genuinely can’t remember the last time I gave a book one star. But when I finished this in a plume of rage, morbid curiosity, and the last shred of sanity I had, I simply couldn’t rate it anything higher. Because oh my god the way I hated this book. And speaking of the word “hate”, that was used 140 times. Yes, you read that right. 140 times. And that quote above? 14 times.

As a predominantly dark romance reader that loves mafia romance and red flags of MMCs who happen to be super mean, this blurb read like absolute trope candy to me. But the actual story? Well that read like a mix of low budget porn and pure shock value. I also love a mean MMCs and the whole revenge plot, but this was straight abuse porn. Nothing hot, sexy or entertaining about it. I feel like I have PTSD after finishing it.

The characters had absolutely no depth or character development. The MMCs has two moods running on rotation; homicidal rage and horny. That’s it. Nothing more. When he’s not raging, he’s horny, and when he’s not horny, he’s raging. Although sometimes he was both.

I lean over her body, grab a hold of her, and yank her head up so our eyes clash. I spit in her face. The rage and arousal combined make for a deadly concoction. “Say you fucking understand!” I slam inside her again, taking the air from her lungs.

How a book could feel like it goes on forever and too quick at the same time is beyond me. But this did. Because we spend 90% of this book with the MMC essentially abusing the FMC for daring to share the same blood as her now deceased twin brother who allegedly raped and killed Luca’s sister. And the FMC being both a virginal ingenue and master d*ck sucker at the same time. Every time I thought she grew a backbone and would sass him, she would then turn around and let him basically crap all over it. She forgave him the most atrocious things and I just couldn’t deal.

We go back and forth in this cloud of hate sex and Luca repeating ad nauseam just how much he hates Camille. And Camille just taking it while at the same time kinda sorta enjoying it but not really. Then Luca does something so atrocious at the end that short of crawling on his knees in broken glass to beg Camille’s forgiveness, nothing less would do. Sadly, all that happens is that she runs away, he find her, admits his love, and she forgives him. At that point, I think I would have preferred him getting hit by a bus rather than a HEA and I feel sick just saying it out loud. But never has a character deserved a HEA less than Luca.

There was nothing truly dark about this book. It was pure shock value with way too many sex scenes as filler and some of the cringiest dirty talk I have ever read.

Fuck. I’m going to come. I’m going to come so fucking hard on you.” I imagine his lips parted, his eyes crazed, and his body strung tight. “Fuck, that’s it. Drown in my cum, Camille. Fucking drown in it.”

And as a reader who has the memory of a gold fish, I wish I could forget this book. But alas, it’s now etched in my memory banks for the foreseeable future. Which I suppose deserves at least one star for that.

Le sigh.

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