Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. From the first few chapters I was completely hooked, and by the end I wasn't ready to let these characters go.

The chemistry was incredible, the emotional tension was just as strong as the romance, and I loved watching the relationship develop. It had the perfect balance of angst, spice and heart, and I found myself flying through it because I just had to know what happened next.

One of my favourite reads of the year, and I'm already desperate for the sequel. I need it immediately.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

WOW! This was such a pleasant surprise!

Going into this, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I ended up flying through it. It was dark, romantic, emotional, and had just enough suspense to keep me turning the pages. Lucien is the perfect morally gray hero—dangerous, obsessive, and completely devoted in his own twisted way. If you love a possessive antihero, you'll probably eat this up. I really enjoyed both the characters and the overall story. The chemistry between Lucien and Addie was intense, and I especially enjoyed watching Addie's character evolve throughout the novel. Their relationship had plenty of tension, and I was invested from the start. One thing I did find myself wanting was more world-building. The mafia families, the MC, and the overall criminal world were so intriguing that I kept hoping we'd dive deeper into them. By the time I was about 80% through, I had a feeling there was no way everything would be wrapped up—and I was right. That cliffhanger had me immediately wanting the next book! I also want to give the author credit for how they handled some of the heavier themes, particularly pain and trauma. It never felt like those topics were included simply for shock value; they added emotional weight to the characters and their relationship. Overall, I had a great time with this one. It was dark, addictive, and emotionally engaging, and it definitely left me wanting more. I'll absolutely be picking up the next book in the series because I need to know what happens next.

Jackie Ashenden knows how to write emotionally charged romance, and this book completely swept me away. The chemistry between the characters was undeniable, but what I appreciated most was the emotional vulnerability that existed beneath the romance.

Watching these characters slowly break down their walls and learn to trust each other made every heartfelt moment feel earned. The tension was perfectly balanced with genuine tenderness, creating a relationship that felt authentic from beginning to end.

This was an incredibly satisfying romance that kept me turning pages well into the night.

I needed book 2 yesterday! 👀

This book was so addictive. It’s been a minute since I picked up a dark romance, and damn… this one really was dark.

Astrid has so much trauma to battle, but watching her stand up to Lucien was so damn satisfying.

The emotions between them were incredibly complex, but they just worked. Every interaction felt intense, messy, and completely believable.

Such a fast-paced, addictive read, and I genuinely can’t wait to see what comes next!

This was a deliciously fun time. While I think we could have gotten more of Lucien’s backstory up front to connect with him a bit more and see more growth from him, this book really set the sequel up well to give us more Lucien and Wolf. I’ll definitely be picking that one up! If you like typical mafia-type romances this will fit the bill. A good, quick read with great pacing that left me looking forward to the next piece.

Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for giving me the opportunity to honestly read and review this ARC.
I was shocked by how much I loved this book! I really enojyed the slow burn elements of it and the spice was just *chefs kiss*. Both characters really reel you in and take you on a journey that I was not anticipating! THE PLOT? Amazing. Like no notes. At first I thought the plot might be a bit unbelievable but the author does a really good job of making it feel grounded and substantial. The fmc is also not a character I thought I would like but again the writing handles her so so well. This book is good for fans of dark romance and morally black mmcs. I can't waIt for the second book to come out and will be counting down the days!

Review will be posted on Goodreads as soon as the title becomes avaliable and will be posted to my instagram on 7/30.