Thank you to NetGalley and Caz Luan for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoy dark, erotic romances where love and power collide—woven with high-stakes criminal tension—*Sweet Torture* delivers. The pacing dips briefly midway, but patient readers will be rewarded with a gripping climax and a cliffhanger that promises more heat and danger to come.

Spoilers ahead!

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First Impressions
From the moment I started *Sweet Torture*, I was drawn into a dark world where Griffin’s luxurious advertising empire masks a ruthless smuggling operation. He lives by three ironclad rules:

Rule 1 – Need to know only
Rule 2 – Never double-cross him
Rule 3 – Never mix business with pleasure

But when he meets Naz, a masked stranger at a provocative art show, his entire world shifts from control to craving.

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The Spark of Desire
Griffin’s orderly, domineering existence in boardrooms and shipyards is shattered by Naz’s bold, erotic challenge. She appears unannounced - draped in mystery - and forces Griffin to negotiate not a business deal, but a sexual contract in which he submits to her. Watching Griffin, the alpha dog of a criminal empire, kneel at Naz’s feet and beg for instruction felt electrifying. It was as if every piece of his tightly wound identity unraveled in a single moment.

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Power Exchange & Role Reversal
In many BDSM stories, the man is the Dominant. In *Sweet Torture*, Naz flips that trope: she is the undisputed Dom, and Griffin, used to commanding boardrooms and harbor docks, must learn to obey. I loved how their first contract negotiation played out like a high-stakes business meeting. Naz’s calm control contrasted with Griffin’s disbelief. She explained, “I need a contract because damaged goods are considered worthless. And worthless things get broken and tossed away.” That line cut deep, revealing her scars from a brutal past D/s contract that nearly killed her.

Though Naz and Griffin’s D/s relationship continues to evolve, what stands out most is how instinctively Griffin yields to her. There’s a moment where he follows her commands with the eager loyalty of a little puppy dog—and it’s both endearing and revealing. It’s not weakness, but devotion. His submission isn’t performative; it’s emotional, rooted in a deep trust that makes their dynamic feel real rather than romanticized.

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Character Reflections
Griffin (Chaos): A self-made billionaire, he built his fortune after a childhood of foster care and an abusive, alcoholic father whom he ultimately killed. Griffin thrives on control—both in business and in bed—until Naz forces him to kneel and “show me how to fuck.” His transformation from a predatory smuggler to a vulnerable submissive (“Chaos”) was both heartbreaking and exhilarating.

Naz (Queen): An erotic artist with fierce independence, Naz protects herself with rules and contracts. Her past bleeding and broken under a former Dominant haunts her every nightmare. But when she meets Griffin, she sees a man who can both challenge and heal her. Naz’s shift from cold, guarded survivor to a woman willing to bend her own rules for love felt deeply authentic.

Riley Deacon: Naz’s former abuser, now stalking her from the shadows, embodies the darker side of control. His reappearance at the Italian restaurant where he corners Griffin in the bathroom and taunts him with “have you seen the scars yet” sent chills down my spine.

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Deeper Reflections on Trust & Control
Trusting someone to break every rule you once lived by is a bold gamble. In *Sweet Torture*, Griffin’s submission to Naz teaches him vulnerability he never knew he needed. Naz, in turn, must trust a man from a criminal underworld not to exploit her trauma. Their interplay reminds me that true intimacy requires surrender and that love can flourish even when two broken hearts hold the reins together.

“Have you ever met someone who knew exactly what you needed before you knew you needed it?”

That question, first whispered by Griffin in awe of Naz’s prescience, encapsulates their journey: a dance of power where each learns the other’s deepest needs before spoken. It’s a potent reminder that sometimes, love is the most dangerous submission.

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The Danger & Climactic Twist
Just when their D/s bond seems solid, Naz’s past comes back with terrifying force. Riley Deacon ambushes her at home, handcuffs her, and drags her into a van—hauling her deep into the forest toward a house cloaked in menace. He doesn’t need a reason beyond obsession. He feeds on her fight, which is exactly why he keeps coming back. What awaits her in that house is unknown, but the danger is visceral, and Riley’s twisted desire to break her is horrifyingly clear.

Griffin has just been released from jail and is desperate to find her. How will he save Naz from Riley’s clutches, and what horrible things will she endure in that house in the forest?

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Final Thoughts & Rating
*Sweet Torture* held me rapt at the beginning with its heady mix of criminal intrigue and BDSM intensity. Griffin’s gradual descent from ruthless smuggler to devoted submissive felt both surprising and inevitable. Naz’s emotional scars and unwavering dominance grounded the story in genuine pain and redemption. However, the pacing dragged in the middle, and I found myself craving more of the early erotic tension. Despite that, the climactic showdown with Riley and the raw honesty of Griffin and Naz’s bond left me deeply moved.

Overall Rating: 3★

If you enjoy dark, erotic romances where love and power collide—woven with high-stakes criminal tension—*Sweet Torture* delivers. The pacing dips briefly midway, but patient readers will be rewarded with a gripping climax and a cliffhanger that promises more heat and danger to come.