Blood Slaves by Markus Redmond

Synopsis: 

What if a mystifying revolt precluded the Civil War and changed history as we know it? The vampire origin story is brilliantly reimagined in this terrifying novel of ancient lore, startling revenge, and immortal emancipation in eighteenth-century America.

In the Province of Carolina, 1710, freedom seems unattainable for Willie, for his beloved Gertie, and for their unborn child. They live, suffer, and toil under their brutal master, James “Big Jim” Barrow, whose grand plantation was built by the blood, sweat, and tears of the enslaved. To flee this hell on earth is be hunted and killed. Until one strange night Willie is offered a dark hope by Rafazi, an enigmatic slave with an irresistible and blood-chilling path to liberation.

Hailing from the Kingdom of Ghana, Rafazi is the lone survivor of the Ramanga, an African vampire tribe rendered nearly extinct by plague. Rafazi has roamed the world for centuries with an undying desire to replenish the power that once defined his heritage. In Willie, Rafazi has found his first biddable subject to be turned and to help in a hungry revolt. And Willie desires nothing more than to free his people from malicious bondage. Whatever it takes.

One by one, as an army of blood slaves thirsting for revenge is gathered, the headstrong Gertie fears that no good can come from the vampiric legacy that courses through Rafazi’s veins. Willie knows that only evil can fight evil. And when the woman he loves stands between the reemergence of the Ramanga and the justified slaughter of the oppressors, Willie must make an irreversible decision. Only one thing is certain: on the Barrow plantation, and beyond, blood will spill.

Part historical drama, part supernatural horror, and part alternate history, Blood Slaves is an ingenuous and defiant new creation myth of the vampire, one rooted in both justice and the sometimes-violent means necessary to achieve it.




Review:

First and foremost, thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing | Dafina, for allowing me to read this arc.

Mr. Redmond starts this book by explaining how he came to write Blood Slaves, and I agreed with everything he said. This made me even more excited going into the story.

Now, it has been a while since I read anything even close to this book. The last vampire book I read was in high school, and I can assure you… This was not that. I’m also a lover of horror movies, so the mixture of both was everything.

I’ve watched my fair share of slave movies, but never could I have imagined mixing that kind of history with horror. That could have gone wrong so easily, but Mr. Redmond executed it beautifully.

This story is a powerful blend of how far us Black people have come, while also teetering on the edge of what possibilities could be in store for us if we don’t take our power back.

This was far from an easy read. It was dark, brutal, and VERY heavy at times. But it was also gripping in a way that made it hard to put down.

Blood Slaves is definitely not for everyone, but I still think it’s a story worth reading.


5⭐

Bandoleros By Heather-Christine Lynch & Jessica Wright

Review:

This story had me stressed the entire time in the best way.

This one pulled me into a world where loyalty means nothing if power is on the line. Between the Brancatos, the Zahcarras, and the Mancinis, everybody seemed to be hiding something, plotting something, or willing to sacrifice someone to protect their empire.

Amorio’s story hit the hardest for me. Watching him turn from a grieving son into a cold, revenge-driven man made him feel far more layered than a typical mafia MMC.

Eesabella proved very early in this story that she could be just as ruthless as the men trying to control her.

The tension throughout this book stayed HIGH. The family politics, forced marriage, revenge, shifting alliances… every time I thought things might settle down, another twist got thrown into the mix. And that ending.. I’m gonna need the next book immediately because that cliffhanger was actually insane.

I will say there were moments where I wanted certain emotional scenes to breathe a little more because some big moments moved very fast. And with so many moving pieces and characters involved, I did occasionally have to stop and remind myself who was connected to who.

But overall..this one definitely delivers.

I received this arc from the author in exchange for my honest review

4⭐

Poppy By Kade Vale

Synopsis:

She played the bride. He stopped pretending.

I knew every romance trope by heart.
I never expected to become one.

As a romance novel reviewer, Poppy Lane has read hundreds of love stories. She knows every setup, every red flag, and every fake-dating rule.

Then she gets lost in the hedge maze of a billionaire’s private estate, overhears a devastating breakup, and makes one impulsive decision that changes everything.

She doesn’t correct the wedding planner who mistakes her for the bride.

Now Poppy has ten days to pretend to be engaged to Weston cold, controlled, dangerously hard to read, and heir to a powerful old-money family that cannot afford another scandal.

He needs a bride.

She needs money before an eviction notice destroys what little stability she has left.

So they make a

Ten days.
One fake engagement.
One performance convincing enough to save them both.

The rules are

Smile for the guests.
Survive the family.
Keep your boundaries.
Do not fall for the groom.

Easy—until Wes stops pretending.

Between sharp banter, old-money secrets, a terrifyingly elegant matriarch, a cousin who weaponizes courtesy, and a found family determined to keep Poppy alive and emotionally inconvenient, the line between performance and truth begins to blur.

Because Poppy may know every romance trope on the page…

But surviving one is another story.

POPPY is a sharp, emotional fake-bride romantic comedy about boundaries, found family, slow-burn tension, and two people who pretend to fall in love until the lie becomes the safest truth they have.

One hedge maze.
One wrong bride.
One chance to stop pretending.



Perfect for readers who love fake dating, fake engagement, grumpy x sunshine, old-money family drama, sharp banter, wedding chaos, found family, and slow-burn romance with a guaranteed happy ending.


Review:

Poppy is a struggling romance novel reviewer who is at the very prestigious Ravenmoor Hall for a press tour. While exploring the grounds, she overhears Wes's phone conversation and his fiancee who calls off the wedding. Given her financial problems, Poppy agreed to step in as the stand in bride. To meet his grandmother's demands, He agrees to the fake engagement. But of course, in true romance fashion, there is a contract. And as feeling begins to unravel, it becomes hard to stick to.

Wes is the perfect blend of sophistication and charisma. He just has that natural charm that draws you in.

Wes definitely fought his feelings for Poppy.. until he couldn't.

"I'm trying to keep things manageable .. Are you? Yes. For whom? I could have said... When I stand close to you, I forget which part of this arrangement are meant to end. Because a photograph caught me wanting something I have no right to make real, because Monaco arrived in white roses Hugo was digging, my grandmother is moving pieces I cannot see, and you are becoming the least manageable thing in this house. Instead, I said... For the wedding." 🙄

This story had me giggling and smiling like a schoolgirl with a crush. The laugh out load moments and mixed with the emotional ones, completely got me🥹🥹, and of course, I cried more than once. I would happily do it all again in a heartbeat.

Now, if Mr Kade can conjure up my very own Weston Blackwood for THIS struggle romance reviewer, all would be right in the world 😂

5 ⭐

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review*

The Roman Holiday Rule By Andra Loy

Synopsis

Lexi Walker has finally committed to the Italian adventure that she and her late mother dreamed of for years—complete with a meticulously crafted itinerary, four sealed letters to open at Rome's most romantic sites, and her mother's final painting to present at the art festival Lexi is helping organize. She's ready for the perfect Roman getaway. What she doesn't expect is for her mother's artwork to start manifesting in real life, turning her carefully planned trip into something unpredictable.

Italian-American architect Mark Russo has sworn off American tourists after having his heart broken, and he's certainly not about to let another one distract him from winning the restoration bid that could reunite his estranged father with his grandfather. But when the captivating woman next to him on the flight to Rome proposes a photography challenge—whoever captures the heart of Italy in five days wins—Mark can't resist the bet and her charm.

As Lexi follows the letters from her mother around the city, she encounters Mark everywhere she goes. Their competitive banter turns to undeniable chemistry, but they both know the cardinal rule of holiday romances: You can't fall in love with someone who lives somewhere else and expect a happily-ever-after. Will a little magic—and a lot of mishaps—break the Roman Holiday Rule?

Andra Loy serves up a delightful blend of witty banter, swoon-worthy romance, and sparks of magic in a love story that's as enchanting as Rome itself.


Review


This book honestly had all the ingredients of a romance I should’ve fallen in love with. A cute meet-cute at the airport, Rome as the backdrop, accidental run-ins, witty banter… it started off really strong for me, and I genuinely wanted to love it more than I did.

Lexi, short for Lexington... don't ask lol .. and Mark meet at the airport before sharing a flight to Rome, where the banter between them immediately starts. They’re both traveling for completely different reasons, but their lives slowly begin to intertwine once they arrive in Italy.

While I've never been to Rome, Ms Loy's description of the city makes me want to change that ASAP.

Overall, this was still a cute and enjoyable read for me. I may not have completely fallen in love with the romance itself, but I can absolutely appreciate the charm & the setting

I received this arc from NetGelly in exchange for my honest review

3⭐

The Deleted Husband By Kade Vale

 

Synopsis:

I killed my husband with a bronze shoe.

But the worst part? I’m not sure I killed the right man.

It started with something tiny.

Marcus stopped snoring.

The man sleeping beside me looked exactly like my husband—same eyes, same smile, same voice.

But he was… perfect.

He cooked restaurant-quality meals without a recipe.

He remembered every date.

He folded towels into flawless squares.

He didn’t lose his keys.

He didn’t raise his voice.

And at night—he didn’t make a single sound.

The real Marcus burned toast, left his socks everywhere,

and loved me with a messy, warm honesty no one could ever imitate.

So when I finally confronted the stranger wearing his face,

I grabbed the bronze shoe… and swung.

But killing the impostor didn’t bring Marcus back.

Because the real Marcus wasn’t missing—

he was stolen.

And the people who took him?

They’re coming to make sure I never learn the truth.

Some marriages end in divorce.

Mine is about to end in war.

A gripping psychological thriller driven by three unforgettable women—

and Eleanor is the kind of character readers talk about long after the last page…

and long after the lights go out.



Review:

The Deleted Husband took one of the most terrifying concepts imaginable .. what happens when the entire world insists your reality is wrong ...and executed it in a way that felt disturbingly believable.

What starts as a domestic psychological thriller slowly shifts into something far darker.

Sarah’s unraveling was honestly painful to witness. Watching her question her own sanity while a man wearing her husband’s face perfectly replicated his habits, memories, and rhythms created this suffocating sense of paranoia that never let up. The horror here isn’t built on monsters or gore. It’s built on consensus. On records. On everyone around you agreeing that you are the problem.

There’s nothing clean or inspiring about the resistance in this story. There are no easy victories here. Just people desperately clinging to the truth while the world systematically edits it away.

This was deeply unsettling. Every interaction carries tension because you never fully know who is real, who has been replaced, or whether reality itself can still be trusted.


“They’re telling us they can reach us whenever they want.”...“And they expect you to stop.”


By the end, The Deleted Husband stopped feeling like fiction and started feeling like a warning.


5 ⭐

Just for keeps By Lauren Blakely

Synopsis:

Ever hear the story about the dating coach who got dumped on the hockey arena’s jumbotron?
Everyone did. But I lived it. Including the moment when the team’s broody, tattooed winger Lake Axelrod swooped in on skates to rescue me from public humiliation.
Even more surprising? When the famously grumpy (and ridiculously sexy) hockey star insists on being my fake boyfriend for my sister’s high-profile wedding.
It’s the perfect sweet revenge plan since my ex is the best man. Bonus – I might even salvage my professional reputation.

We need rules, though.

1. To pull this off, everyone from his teammates to my boss has to believe we’re a real couple.

2. That means swoony touches and knee-weakening kisses are required.

3. When it ends, we walk away.

But the intensity in Lake’s eyes after every post-game kiss makes me wonder if he’s pretending. With each whispered secret, the line between fake and real bends. Until it shatters one night in a hotel room.

Soon, he isn’t just playing the protective boyfriend—he’s the only one who truly sees me. If I’m not careful, I’m going to break the most important rule of all: don’t fall for your fake date.

This is Lake and Remy's romance. Tropes include: grumpy/sunshine hockey romance, fake dating, workplace romance, best friend's brother, obsessed hero




Review:

Remy is a dating coach who creates romance for a living. Yet, beneath her polished surface lies a person who is deeply afraid of failure and rejection. After experiencing public humiliation from a disastrous proposal, it was painful to watch her slowly break down emotionally while still trying to keep up appearances.

Lake is the brooding hockey player who seems guarded and emotionally distant at first. However, he carries unresolved grief and guilt that influence every interaction he has.

I loved how naturally their relationship developed. The chemistry between Remy and Lake felt real. Their banter was hilarious. The rules of fake dating, planned romantic moments, and growing emotional closeness all combined so smoothly that the “fake” aspect faded away.

This story wasn't just about falling in love. It was about learning to stop pretending for others and finally allowing yourself to be seen.

4 ⭐

~✨EXCERPT REVEAL✨~: Just Playing for keeps By Lauren Blakely

 

Read the Excerpt:

Lake looms in my doorway, filling the space ominously. The afternoon sun halos his face,

highlighting his strong jaw, lined with a beard that looks trimmer than usual. It’s operating at

scruff-level now, and that’s unfairly hot. I try not to stare, but my mind’s going haywire, and my

gaze bounces all over him. He’s wearing jeans that hug his thighs, a maroon Henley that shows

off the shape of his big biceps and the outline of his strong pecs, and a glimmer in his blue eyes.

He’s the portrait of the athlete post-workout, his hair slicked back, and wet. 

   “I just took a shower after practice. It dried a little,” he says casually, running a big hand

through his wet hair, almost, almost, in slow motion. “But you can just get it a little more wet,

right?”

I blink, trying to process his words. But it’s hard with the way he looks right now, all muscular

and clean, and the way he sounds, too, all gravelly and flirty.

“Yes, it’s wet,” I say slowly, like I’m mesmerized. Because I am.

His lips quirk up in the hint of a grin. “It is? Wet?”

“I mean, I’m wet,” I correct, then panic shoots through me at my faux pas. “I mean, you’re wet.

Your hair is wet. Your hair is plenty wet. For a haircut that is. Wet enough for a haircut.”

That grin grows wider. He cocks his head. “So everything’s wet, Remy? That’s what I’m

hearing?”

I clench my thighs, even though they ache. “Yep.”

I turn around so he can’t see the heat spreading across my cheeks. Not that it matters. Pretty

sure he knows it’s there, and he’s the one responsible for it.

“Come inside,” I say, but then my mind replays my words. Come inside?

I need to get it together.

“Oh I definitely will.”

About JUST PLAYING FOR KEEPS (Coming 6/3/2026):

Ever hear the story about the dating coach who got dumped on the hockey arena’s jumbotron?

Everyone did. But I lived it. Including the moment when the team’s broody, tattooed star Lake

Axelrod swooped in on skates to rescue me from public humiliation.

Even more surprising? When the famously grumpy (and ridiculously sexy) hockey player insists

on being my fake boyfriend for my sister’s high-profile wedding. It’s the perfect sweet revenge

plan since my ex is the best man. Bonus – I might even salvage my professional reputation.

We need rules though.

1. To pull this off, everyone from his teammates to my boss has to believe we’re a real

couple.

2. That means swoony touches and knee-weakening kisses are required.

3. When it ends, we walk away.

But the intensity in Lake’s eyes after every post-game kiss makes me wonder if he’s pretending.

With each whispered secret, the line between fake and real bends. Until it shatters one night in

a hotel room.

Soon, he isn’t just playing the protective boyfriend—he’s the only one who truly sees me.

If I’m not careful, I’m going to break the most important rule of all: don’t fall for your fake

date.

This is Lake and Remy's romance. 

Tropes include: grumpy/sunshine hockey romance, fake

dating, workplace romance, best friend's brother, obsessed hero

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/JustPlayingAMZ

✦ Audible ➜ Erin Mallon & Jason Clarke narrate in duet with a full cast! http://blkly.pub/JPFKAudible

ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible

Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s

sexy, feel-good and witty. Her books have been featured in US Weekly and People. Lauren

likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party. 

Connect w/ Lauren:

Website: laurenblakely.com

NL Signup: http://laurenblakely.com/newsletter

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks

Instagram: http://instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenblakelybooks

A Brewed Awaking by Pepper Basham

Synopsis:

A small-town tea shop owner with a sweet tooth and a devil-may-care Englishman with more savory tastes join forces to cater a British-themed wedding. Sparks fly in this sweet enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract rom-com perfect for fans of Emma St. Clair and Sarah Adams.

As a child, Daphne Austen fell in love with her grandmother's stories of England, perhaps to the point of romanticizing them a little too much. Now, as an adult, she inherited Tea Thyme, the only English tearoom within a hundred miles of her Blue Ridge Mountain town. But keeping her tea and pastry shop afloat proves to be a continual struggle. Since losing her mother and then grandmother, Daphne's clung to the need for routine, predictability, and beautiful order--and her tearoom shines as the epitome of her Anglophile and obsessive tendencies. But her perfect world spirals into madness when an Englishman moves in next door and shatters all her Darcy daydreams with his loud music, questionable manners, and highly American interests. With an off-the-charts swoon factor, he even tempts to shatter her heart.

Finnley Dashwood left England to start over somewhere his ex-wife's parents couldn't track him down and force their parenting techniques on him. It was as if they wanted to make up for their daughter's neglect by suffocating him with control and unwanted affection. The unassuming town of Wisteria, North Carolina, provides the perfect place to start over and even remake himself as the dashing, English restaurant owner of his earlier days, instead of the somewhat-cynical recluse he'd truly become. With a shop ready for his use, an apartment for him and his daughter, and an acquaintance who owns the revered Wisteria Manor (now event planning center), Finn has everything he wants for a new beginning--except . . . maybe an understanding of the small-town Appalachian culture and the uptight, perfectionistic tea princess next door.

At first, Finn finds the whimsical and notoriously optimistic shop owner humorous and somewhat annoying, but as she begins to invest in the life of his daughter and he observes her authentic love for the people of the town, Finn's heart opens to the terrifying possibility of a second chance at love. As they are forced to work together on a local-celebrity wedding, their differences clash, sizzle, and finally begin to simmer into a unique, complementary blend of sweet and savory. But just as hope blooms into possibility, a massive storm crashes into the little town, upturning all their plans and putting not only their budding romance but the resilience of the tight-knit community to the test.





Review:

This story is heartwarming, witty, and utterly charming. This small-town romance completely captured my heart.💓 The connection between Daphne and Finn reeled me in from the very start.

Single dad Finn, is the charming British rival business owner next door, bringing plenty of banter and tension. Meanwhile, Daphne’s path through grief, healing, and finding hope made the romance truly heartfelt.

The community, family relationships, and lovable characters added so much warmth to the story. Now I'm a foodie at heart. So with all the talk about food in this book, I found myself grabbing for my snacks frequently. FYI, maybe don't read this on an empty stomach lol

Thank you, NetGalley for providing this ALC in exchange for my honest review

Bad Bishop by L.J Shen

Synopsis:

He's Deathless.
She's trying to find a reason to live.

Lila

My innocence was ripped from me one fateful night under the starless sky.
Resulting in an unwanted teenage pregnancy and a secret the Camorra must bury.
My father decided to hand me off to the highest bidder.
The lucky winner? Tiernan Callaghan, psychopath extraordinaire.
The Irish mafia prince wants me for all the wrong reasons.
Alliance. Money. Prestige. War.
I am but a pawn in his twisted game.
The man who sits on a throne of his enemies' skulls thinks I'm a weakling.
Little does he know, in this chess game, the underdog wins.
Because the thing about bad bishops?
They protect good pawns.

Bad Bishop is a dark and twisted romance. Please read trigger warnings before reading.



Review:

I was extremely hesitant to read this book.

I’ve had a very mixed feelings with this author’s work. Seeing this book gain such immense popularity on TikTok made me even more conflicted. Part of me did not want to read it, while another part felt compelled to determine for myself whether the praise was truly deserved. FOMO is real lol

I once said that I had never found a mafia romance I genuinely enjoyed. Today, I can finally admit that I have.

This was easily a six⭐️ read for me. From the very first page, I was completely captivated and found it nearly impossible to put down.

My only significant criticism was that some of the flashbacks were written in the third person. It took me a moment to notice the shift in perspective. Aside from that, I truly have no complaints.

The MMC initially comes across as brute, selfish, and emotionally detached, until he is forced into a marriage with the FMC. She, however, was far from the weak woman others assumed her to be. She challenged him constantly, matched his energy at every turn, and their dynamic became one of my favorite aspects of the entire book.

"When I stopped and tipped my head up, I asked the moon for a reason to live. We have a history of bargaining, me and him.” He paused. “I think it gave me you.”

However, do not simply take my word for it. I encourage you to judge this book for yourself.

As someone who approached this story with considerable skepticism, and who is notoriously difficult to impress, I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

I sincerely cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

Off Side By Luna K Wicked

Synopsis:

In Villalargos, love isn’t the goal… It’s the weapon.

Thiago Safra has known that since birth. In a world bound by secrets and fueled by obsession, only one truth matters. Someone always loses.

Zayden Orozco carries more secrets than the man pulling the leash, and in this game, loyalty is a lie and love is the deadliest play of all. Because in Villalargos… someone always ends up offside.

There’s no third outcome— there are only two ways this game can truly end...


Review:

This is exactly the kind of dark emotional damaging story my cold little heart lives for.

Now, did I read book one? No. Did I feel like some things completely went over my head at times. Absolutely! Did the author mention in the beginning of this story that you must read book one. Yes.. yes she did. Did that stop me from completely consuming this story anyway not even a little bit. Lol

Thiago and Zayden were an absolute disaster together.. and I mean that in the best possible way. Their relationship wasn’t soft or romantic in a traditional sense. It was messy, toxic, and painfully raw.

What got me was how hopeless everything felt underneath all the manipulation and violence. No one in this world was ever truly free. Every relationship came with consequences attached. Love wasn’t something comforting here, It was dangerous. Love was considered a weakness.

Nico and Shiloh.. yea I’m still emotionally recovering from that..

The need to be loved even while these characters were actively falling apart, totally broke me.

By the end of the story, I sat here staring at my screen, trying to process what the WTF just happened

This book was disturbing an emotionally exhausting, but I loved every second of it!

5⭐️

These Vows that Bind Us By Bethany Shay Porteous

Synopsis:


Marry him. Destroy him. Don't fall for him.
I was thirteen years old when I learned what it means to be born a woman inside the world of made men. I learned it watching my mother die at the hands of brutality. In this world, women are not protected. We are positioned. Moved like pieces across a board by hands that call it love, call it tradition, call it family.
I learned that softness is a liability. That the only thing more dangerous than being born into this life is being born into it without power.
My father spent years keeping me far from New York—burying me in the quiet of Palermo, where I learned to shape clay and create beauty instead of survive violence. Now he's dead, and I'm standing in the city he kept me from for a decade, dragged back into a war I never started, confronted with horrors I was never supposed to survive long enough to understand.
The blood feuds. The violence. The betrayals.
My uncle tells me I'm to marry the enemy. A union meant to end a feud built on the bones of everything I have already lost. Santo D'Amico… the man with dark eyes I have seen before. The man who looked at me like I was someone worth knowing… and was lying through every moment of it.
He wants my heart. My uncle wants my loyalty.
Both want to use me for a war I never chose and was never supposed to survive.
But I am not my mother, and clay hardens under heat.
I have been burning for a very long time.

Review:

Can you imagine having an epic summer fling… years go by before you see each other again… only for him to reappear as part of the D’Amico family… the SAME family responsible for your mother’s death? All those years spent planning your revenge …just for him to walk back into your life like that…

Beneath all the revenge and emotional walls, Selene carried so much vulnerability. You could feel how trapped she was by the expectations of these powerful mafia families. Even when she tried to take control of her own fate, there was always this looming reminder that somebody else was pulling the strings.

And Santo… this man was frustratingly magnetic. 🫠 Beneath that hard exterior, you could see his walls slowly starting to crack every time Selene got under his skin. The fact that their relationship started under false pretenses added another layer of tension that kept me completely invested.

“Whatever conclusion you’ve been putting together in your head while you avoid me—stop. It doesn’t require as much thought as you’re giving it, Selene. I’m not letting you hide from me. Not when I know you want me.”

This story was messy, consuming, and filled with Selene and Santo making questionable decisions while trying to survive impossible situations… which is exactly why I ate this book up.

But of course, Mrs. Bathany Shay Porteous leaves us dangling off a cliff wanting more… and y'all already know just how much I looove suffering through a cliffhanger 😏 I just hope we’re not hanging on for too long.

4 ⭐

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Unholy Sinner By Havoc Wilde

Synopsis:


Dearest Initiate,

The Black Crown Society does not welcome the unworthy.

It crowns the ruthless. It protects the Chosen. And it buries the rest.

Lucien Devereux is born with sin carved into his bones—captain on the court, heir to the Sinners, and destined to rule. Power follows him. Fear respects him. He does not kneel.

Seraphina Carvelli is the one temptation he was never meant to claim. The whispers call her forbidden. The truth makes her his obsession.

Three years ago, she disappeared. Now she’s back in Black Crown’s sacred halls, pretending she was never his.

But the Society is watching.

Every Son of Black Crown must choose—one woman bound to him in ritual, sealed in blood, and made untouchable. Once chosen, there is no escape.

When an outside threat begins circling the Society—and Seraphina becomes leverage—Lucien faces an impossible decision: let her walk away again…or bind her to him forever.

Because every crown is bought with blood.
Every vow demands loyalty.
And the most dangerous love is the one you’re willing to kill for.

He is the Sinner no one dares cross.
She is the girl he was never meant to touch.

And once he chooses her…the world kneels.




Review:

Lucien Devereux was completely unhinged, but in the best way possible. His possessiveness over Seraphina was almost terrifying, yet.. I loved every moment of it. Their relationship was built on manipulation, obsession, power struggles, and raw emotional chaos.

“Sometimes when you push someone past the edge, you find out exactly what they’re capable of.”

Seraphina was a total badass. The stunt she pulled during Lucien’s game was perfection. Even though Lucien tried to control her, she never stopped fighting back. Their dynamic was toxic, explosive, and completely addictive.

The constant back and forth between Lucien and Seraphina kept me stressed the whole time. One moment, they were at each other’s throats, and the next, they were drawn together by an attraction neither could resist. And after she finally submitted to him, the guilt she felt combined with that moment of aftercare really pulled at my heart.

The spice was absolutely wild. I was genuinely thankful for the downtime at work while reading this, but I kept checking to make sure no one was looking at what I was reading. Yeah, they're nosy that way lol.

This is not a sweet romance. This perfectly represents dark romance: obsession presented as devotion, control masked as protection, and love twisted into something dangerous and all-consuming.

⭐️ 4 stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I received this ARC from the SmutHood and the author in exchange for an honest review.

Crown Crusher by Kade Vale

Synopsis:

She thought she was entering a harmless contest for a clay crown. She never imagined it would end with fire, rebellion, and an empire brought to its knees.

The Crown Trial was supposed to be simple. Win. Break the crown. Go home.

When Rory’s victory draws her into stolen secrets, buried history, and a truth the Empire has spent generations trying to erase, the game becomes something far more dangerous.

As old legends begin to stir beneath the mountain and rebellion begins to take shape in the shadows, Rory must decide whether to stay silent and survive—or risk everything to become the spark her people have been waiting for.


Review:

Romantasy/Fantasy is still a newer genre for me, but if stories are like this… I totally get the obsession now.

“I am here. I choose to be here. I will be here tomorrow.”

That quote alone perfectly captures the heart of this story.

Watching Rory grow from a girl running the Spring Run into the spark of an uprising was incredible. She wasn’t fearless or powerful just for the sake of it. She was angry, grieving, determined, and willing to carry impossible burdens.

Kael’s sacrifice hurt deeply, but it also ignited the fire in Rory to fight back against the Empire.

Dragons usually creep me out a little 😅, but I loved Vokarath. He felt ancient, intelligent, and deeply connected to the Heart of the Mountain. The covenant mythology gave this story such a haunting atmosphere that totally pulled me in.

This felt less like the end of a story and more like the beginning of a legend.

⭐️ 4.5 stars

I received this Arc from the author in exchange for an honest review

This is war By Nakeira Nashae

 

Synopsis:

“SHE DIDN’T START THE WAR… BUT SHE’S ABOUT TO FINISH IT.”

Armadale was supposed to protect them. Instead, it became their prison.
Behind towering walls and silent streets, a divided community struggles to survive under the watchful eye of the Forces — a system built on control, secrets, and fear. When a group of teens steps out of line and into something far bigger than themselves, they uncover a truth that was never meant to surface.

Sabrina knows that truth better than anyone. Once a soldier.Now a threat.

After losing everything, her family, her freedom, and her identity, she refuses to stay broken. While her daughters, Kim and Terri, are pulled deeper into the very system that destroyed her, Sabrina begins a dangerous rise from the shadows… one fueled by pain, betrayal, and a need for answers. But beneath Armadale lies something darker than war.

Experiments, Disappearances, and Lies buried so deep they were meant to stay forgotten.
As loyalties are tested and the lines between right and wrong begin to blur, one question remains:
Are they fighting to escape … or did they just destroy the very place they called home?
Because in Armadale, trust is deadly, freedom is an illusion, and once the truth is exposed—
There’s no going back.



Review:

This is generally not my kind of story. However, as I try to branch out and explore more narratives, I decided to give this one a chance, and it really paid off. I was captivated right from the start.

What starts off feeling like a survival story in a divided society quickly turns much darker. Secrets, human experimentation, manipulation, and betrayal appear one after another. Every time I thought I had a grasp on what was happening, another layer unfolded. As Kim, Terri, and the others dig deeper into the truth behind Utopia and Mr. Lesley, everything becomes more disturbing.

Watching these characters come to terms with the fact that their lives were built on lies was intense in the best way. The story forces them to choose between survival and humanity, and some of those losses hurt deeply 😭. You can sense the desperation, fear, and the burden of carrying truths that were never meant to be revealed.

"If tonight is all we have, I want to remember it with you. Not as something stolen by fear, but as something we choose."

Even amidst violence, control, and psychological warfare, a thread of hope holds everything together.

But of course, this war is far from over...

If you enjoy dystopian stories packed with conspiracy, rebellion, morally gray choices, heartbreaking truths, and the feeling that "everything you know is a lie," this one really delivers.

I received this arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.
4⭐

Nabbed by the Bratva

 

                            

Synopsis:


“If I catch you, I keep you. Now run .”

I get caught up in a mafia shootout, and I guess I should have kept my eyes shut, because I end up looking a terrifying and gorgeous man in the face. Gray eyes. A scowl. And when the bullets stop flying, I expect to be left for dead.

But the next thing I know, the Bratva boss has taken me to his country estate, and I’m his captive. He says it’s for my protection, but I’m not so sure.

I beg my captor, but he’s stone. I try to escape, but he anticipates my every move.

Finally, he gives me a choice.

Play his game. I’m the prey, he’s the hunter.

If I can get away, I win my freedom. If he catches me, he’ll hold me down and take everything.

Run.




Review:


What happens when you witness a mafia shooting?
Apparently… you get kidnapped. 😮‍💨
What you absolutely DON'T do is fall for the man holding you captive… right?

Yeah. About that...

This book had me in an absolute chokehold with the tension, the obsession, the possessiveness, the
I should run from him, but instead I’m climbing into his lap, energy.

We’ve got a powerful, wealthy mafia monster of a man who should be terrifying… yet somehow he’s buying her books, cooking for her, making sure she’s comfortable, spoiling her rotten while slowly unraveling all his secrets. And Tess...she was down bad.

The chemistry between them was addictive, the flirting, the tension, the absolutely feral behavior from both of them.

“You make me want to be better, to be worthy of your affection, to love you, and keep you.”

And the primal play??
SIGN. ME. UP. 🫠

If she escapes, she wins her freedom.
If he catches her...He gets to take everything.
But the real question is… did she even want to be free anymore?

If you love dark romance with possessive antiheroes, survival games, primal play, and morally gray men that make you question your sanity, this one definitely delivers.

⭐️ 3.5 stars

Audio ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op in exchange for my honest review

The Ruins by Kora Nyx

Synopsis:


POV: You wake up with no memory of the night before,
and the boy you’ve trusted your whole life
is already telling you what happened.
What you wanted.
And ultimately, who you chose to belong to now.

Would you believe him?

Harper did.
Just like she believes the paternity results he puts in front of her.

Until the cracks start showing…
and she realizes—
someone has been rewriting her story all along.

Now the truth is coming for everyone who kept her from Caleb. The gut-wrenching conclusion to Harper and Caleb's story.


Review:


After the chilling cliffhanger The Rules left us with in book one, I was ecstatic knowing I wouldn’t have to wait long for The Ruins. This sequel completely spiraled in the best and worst ways possible.

The story picks up not long after where we left off, and the deeper we dive into Z’s lies, manipulation, and deception, the more horrifying everything becomes. In book one, I already didn’t fully trust Z… The level of deceit was absolutely insane. I was genuinely floored by how deep it all went.

What frustrated me most was Harper. She’s portrayed as this unhinged, sharp FMC, yet she blindly believes everything Z tells her for eight years without truly questioning him or verifying anything. That part made me want to scream because you can see the cracks forming long before she does.

But the moment the truth finally comes to light... Everything completely unravels. Secrets explode, emotions spiral, and the entire story turns into chaos in the most addictive way possible. The tension, betrayal, and emotional fallout had me glued to the pages and absolutely wrecked my sleep because I needed to know what happened next.

Dark, toxic, messy, emotionally intense. This series knows exactly how to keep its claws in you.

This is absolutely a must read for dark romance readers.

*I received this arc from Booksprout in exchange for my honest review

⭐️ 4.5 Stars

Glass & Sin by Cordelia Cross

Synopsis:

The Queen doesn't just want to be the fairest; she’ll kill to keep the title. Princess Shay has spent her life mastering the art of invisibility, but silence can no longer save her. Marked for death and hunted by a man who never misses, Shay flees into the deep woods.
But she finds no prince charming.
Instead, she finds the mines and the six hardened outcasts who rule the dark beneath the earth. These men are not heroes. They are rough, possessive, and starving for a touch they haven’t felt in years. To buy her sanctuary, Shay strikes a devil’s her submission in exchange for their protection.
It was supposed to be a transaction—a cold, calculated surrender to ensure her survival. But as the agreement binds her to Dax, Gage, Bennett, and the others, Shay discovers a dark hunger she never knew she possessed. In the shadows of a mirror, she isn’t just a princess to be protected. She is a prize to be shared, claimed, and corrupted.
With the Queen’s magic closing in and Hunter on her trail, Shay must decide who she truly is. Because in a kingdom built on Glass and Sin, the only thing more dangerous than being hunted... is wanting to be caught. Forget the poison apple—in this shattered retelling, the true danger is the temptation to stay.




Review:



We all know the fairytale of Snow White ... the poisoned apple, the jealous queen, the damsel waiting to be saved. However, this is Snow White rewritten for adults… and honestly, I ate it up.

Going into this, I was skeptical because this was my first fairy tale retelling, and I wasn’t sure how well it would translate into a darker romance setting. I'm happy to report that adding in a splash of dark romance & tropes like reverse harem/why choose, forced proximity, and a cast of morally gray men, and a well-written story, you've got yourself a winner!!. I was hooked for the very first chapter.

This story managed to stay true enough to the original fairytale to feel nostalgic while still twisting it into something addictive, seductive, and completely unhinged in the best way possible.

Mrs. Cross.. You definitely did my man Gadge wrong.. Imma need more of him and scenes like that in book 2, OKAY.. IYKYK 😉

If you love dark romance and fairytale retellings with morally men, I highly recommend this one.

Came for the story… stayed for the spice. 🔥

I received an arc, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4 ⭐️ for the story
5 🌶️ for the spice

Masked Stalker By Angel Dee

Synopsis:

She's his obsession. He'll stop at nothing to possess every inch of her.

Vincent left their town and a broken past behind to become an alpha billionaire-CEO of a weapons conglomerate with power, secrets, and a darkness that hides beneath his tailored suits. But one memory never left him: the only girl who showed him kindness in high school.


Years later, he finds her again-Jules, trapped in a relationship that turns violent. When her boyfriend raises a hand to her, Vincent intervenes, spiriting Jules away to his remote compound under the guise of protection.


Pulled into a world of wealth, danger, and whispered promises, Jules must navigate Vincent's controlling intensity and the intoxicating pull between them. As they explore desires she never dared speak aloud, their fragile trust is tested when Vincent's company is attacked and a ruthless human trafficking ring surfaces-dragging Jules into the crossfire. Loyalties fracture, secrets unravel, and every choice forces them closer to a line neither can afford to cross.

Dark, suspenseful, and fiercely erotic, this dark romance / romantic suspense delivers an obsessive protector, forbidden attraction, and high-stakes danger. Perfect for fans of dark billionaire romance, enemies-to-lovers, and romantic suspense who crave tension, moral ambiguity, and a love that fights to survive.


Dive into the danger. Surrender to the obsession. The crows are watching.



Review

When I initially started this book, I didn't think I was going to finish it. Honestly.. The pacing in this story was moving way too fast for me. Like, we literally went from him surveillancing you, stalking you, watching you.. coming to rescue/kidnapping you.. to being chained up in his house.. to you being in love with him within a matter of pages.. as impatient as I am, that's wild ..Secondly, some of the things that were happening just seemed wrong, even for someone as unhinged as I am.

But I kept reading everyone who has read this book said that they loved it, so I had to believe that I would do if I just stuck with it, and by the time I got to chapter 16, baby, I was kicking my heels and giggling like a school girl cuz nobody loves a thirsty bitch!! ...Sorry, I got a bit carried away there..

This is where I was fully invested in this story. Vincent is the typical guy that you ignored in school years later, you find out, he's infatuated with you. He is unhinged, obsessive, possessive, touch her and die.. all the red flags we love to ignore.

Jules is a freak, though and through.. with some secrets of her own.. who never got to let her freak wings fly until Vincent set them free. They were definitely made for each other. Cuz honey some of the unhinged behavior she deemed okay, I certainly could never..but, that's why she's in a book, and I'm not lol.

The smut in this book is in abundance, like there's A LOT of it and it's hot as hell....

So if you like your men obsessive and overly unhinged.. and you can look past the insta love, don't skip this one.

Thank you, Angel Dee and book sirens, for allowing me to read this arc

4 ⭐

Sweet Nightmares By Hazel St. Lewis

 

Synopsis:


Jane Whitfield rose from nothing to become the youngest Prima Ballerina in the history of the Royalle Ballet—despite having a violent husband three decades her senior. But her carefully choreographed world shatters when her husband’s enemies come to collect his debts. Jane is tortured into making an impossible die, or strike a bargain with an evil god trapped inside a mirror.

Nightmare is ancient, cruel, and feared for a reason. He trades magic, wealth, and knowledge for soul-crushing costs—and he believes Jane is the witch destined to destroy him. But instead of killing her, he toys with her, offering a twisted sell her soul, serve him, and receive an endless supply of riches—enough to satisfy her wretched husband and his debtors.

Now bound to a god who revels in ruin, Jane becomes more than just his minion—she’s his growing obsession. But obsession doesn’t spare her from his darkness. He’s evil. She’s supposed to hate him, but the more time she spends in his realm, the harder it is to tell if he’s her monster… or her salvation.

She was destined to destroy him, but love might destroy her first.



Review:

This story sank it's hooked me right away.

Because of her husband, she makes a deal with an evil god trapped in a mirror, and this is where the story really takes a turn.

Nightmare lives up to his name, cruel, manipulative, and completely out of control in how he wields his power.

There’s no illusion that he’s a good guy. He’s not. That’s what makes their dynamic so unsettling and strangely addictive. The relationship is toxic and obsessive. The lines keep blurring.

" I will fuck you in all the ways, gentle, rough, possessive, demanding, lovingly. I will own and destroy you, but first, you must be ready."

You wait for Jane to realize she needs to destroy him, but instead, you watch her get pulled deeper into his world, deeper into him. That shift is uncomfortable in the best way, making you question what you truly support. I will say this isn’t a romance full of softness, healing, or redemption.

It’s about control, survival, and obsession, and how those can start to feel like something else entirely.

Did I love it? Yes... was I hooked.. Absolutely, I couldn't put it down




If you enjoy dark fantasy with strong power dynamics, morally flawed characters, and a relationship that breaks all the rules, this one will leave a mark.

4⭐

Vow or Never By Danielle Dexter

Synopsis:

She’s about to say “I do.” He’s about to ruin everything.

Eighteen months ago, Everly Hart had a one-night stand with the hottest guy she’s ever been with, yet she still found herself
No last names.
No phone numbers.
No expectations.

Now, she’s engaged to Carter Jacobs—the perfect fiancé with the perfect life who wants to plan a wedding straight out of a magazine. Everything is going according to plan until she arrives at the first wedding planning meeting to discover a very familiar face in the room.

Reese Myers.

He’s the tattooed bad boy who apparently writes vows for a living.
He’s also the man who disappeared after one perfect night.
And the last person Everly expected to see while planning her forever.

However, Reese doesn’t believe in love or promises of forever. He just writes them for other people. But shadowing Everly and Carter’s wedding means having to spend weeks watching the woman he never truly forgot prepare to marry someone else.

He knows he should keep things professional.
He also knows he should keep his distance.
And he definitely shouldn’t remember exactly how she sounded when she said his name over and over again.

But soon, professional boundaries blur.
Wedding chaos escalates.
And every appointment brings Reese and Everly closer to a truth neither one of them is ready to face.

Because the safest love isn’t always the right one…

…and sometimes forever begins with the person you were never supposed to see again.

Review:

"Every love story starts with a yes. Not everyone ends there..."

This was a cute, slightly messy take on love. It explores what love is, what it isn’t, and what happens when timing doesn’t cooperate.

After Reese disappears following what Everly thought was an unforgettable one-night stand, she moves on, like most people would.

She meets Carter Jacobs, the safe and stable choice. He would quite literally move heaven and earth for her. On paper, he’s everything.

Then, Reese walks back in. Not just anywhere, but into her wedding planning process. Of course he does. From there, the story dives into forced proximity, unresolved feelings, and a lot of emotional back-and-forth. Both Everly and Reese must confront what that one night actually meant and whether it was ever just that.

"Love is unconditional, so if he makes you happy, all I can do is be happy for you too."

This story reminded me of The Wedding Planner, one of my favorite movies, but with a bit more emotional depth added. The “what if” tension between Everly and Reese was somewhat predictable. Still, if you’re a reader who enjoys soft, emotional romance like I do, you will love it anyway.

Overall, I enjoyed the journey this story took me on.

Thank you, Danielle Dexter, for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review


3.5 ⭐️

Unholy Obsession By Stasia Black

Synopsis:

I used her body like an altar. Now she’s here for confession.

I left my past behind.
Then she walked into my church.
Once, I was Bane Blackwolf—heir to a legacy of blood and sin. A monster in the making. Instead, I chose the cloth over the crown, buried my name, and became Father Blackwood.
For years, I was in control of my darker nature. Until her.
Moira.
The woman with a sinner’s mouth and a body made for worship. The woman who doesn’t know it was me behind the mask that night—me who had her on her knees, begging.
Now she’s here, whispering confessions that twist the knife deeper. Tempting the man I pretend to be and the beast I’ve tried to bury.
I vowed to be a good man. I vowed to never take what doesn’t belong to me.
But Moira is mine.
The moment I touched her, I knew—I’d never crave anything the way I crave her. She’s the only thing that silences my demons and makes me forget the weight of my sins.
And I’ll be damned before I let her go.




Review:

I went into this without reading the first two books 

I must say this story does a solid job of pulling you in quickly.

Moira is restless, searching, a little reckless in the way she tries to fill the void. And then there’s Bane… or Father Blackwood. A man split clean down the middle. Priest by day, something much darker underneath. Watching him struggle between restraint and obsession was easily the most compelling part of this story.

What really worked for me was the emotional tension. These aren’t just two people drawn to each other; they’re both carrying heavy pasts, trying ...and failing to outrun who they used to be. Their connection feels messy, intense, and at times a little dangerous in the best way.

And when it matters most, they do show up for each other. That balance between chaos and care kept me invested.

Now I’m definitely curious about what led up to all of this because it feels like there’s a lot more beneath the surface I haven’t seen yet.

4 ⭐️

Spitting Off The Edge of The World By Courtney W. Dixon

 

Synopsis:


I found you just when I thought my life was over.

Julien Kendrick

Not only am I a recent high school graduate from a prestigious school, but I also come from money—a lot of money. So why am I miserable? No, it’s more like apathy. I crave to escape this life, while others are desperate for it. I want to feel again. To feel something, anything. The decision to leave my horrible parents and friends to spend two weeks doing what I want to do is meant to be my last hurrah, as the old saying goes. I don’t want to spend it alone, though, so I hire a prostitute I find on the street. Not only is he stunningly beautiful, but his pain calls to me.

He’s the one I want to spend my last two weeks with.

Romeo

No kissing. No holding. And no loving. Ever.

Those are the rules. They’re simple when I need life to be easier. But then along comes Julien, who pays a small fortune to have me for two weeks. This is my chance to escape my hell—a life I’ve known for as long as I can remember. My only memories are of being used and abused. I don’t even know my birth name, having lost it somewhere in my past. When our two weeks are up, I plan to run, but Julien is derailing that plan. He’s so kind to me. Gentle. I’m not used to it, but I’m greedy for it. Now, I’ll do anything to keep him.







Review:

Thank you, Courtney Dixon, for providing me with this arc.

This story opens with raw, traumatic moments, and some scenes were hard to read.

Julien decides to take control of his life.. on his terms. When he meets Romeo, their connection is instant. As their relationship develops, it becomes clear they share more than just chemistry. They both carry similar wounds and histories. Through each other, they start to find what they’ve both been missing: stability, understanding, and a chance for healing. Before the end of this book, I was a blubbering mess! lol so be sure to keep those tissues handy for this one.

This story reminded me of a mix between an M/M  version of Pretty Woman and the emotional weight of Me Before You. It’s tender, intense, and it's beautifully written. It captures what it means to rebuild yourself while allowing someone else to come into your life.

Watching Julien and Romeo move from merely surviving to finding something to enjoying the possibilities of a beautiful life together was incredibly powerful.


I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next in this series.


That said, this book tackles some heavy themes. I recommend checking the trigger warnings before diving in.

5 ⭐