A. Unda-Tames's Blog

✨(A glamorous holiday novella full of rivals, dares, and dangerous sparks)The Christmas Dare: How a Single Spark Started an Entire SeriesEvery author has a moment when a story arrives fully formed — a whisper, a dare, a spark. For me, The Christmas Dare was all three.I knew I wanted a world filled with:glittering high-society eventshidden desires behind flawless façadesfamily legacies, secrets, and rivalriesheroines who are stronger than they were ever allowed to beand men who are both danger and temptation in one breathBut it all began with a single question:What if a perfectly-behaved heiress was dared to do the one thing she shouldn’t… and discovered she loved the feeling of breaking the rules?That question became Bianca Cerezo. And the one person bold (and arrogant) enough to tempt her? Sebastián Cortez.Why Christmas? Why a Dare?The holidays are known for beauty, tradition, family expectations… which makes them the perfect time for a heroine to rebel.I wanted:✨ A Christmas Eve gala in Mexico City ✨ Priceless artifacts behind velvet ropes ✨ A rivalry that crackles every time they breathe in the same room ✨ A challenge that feels dangerous, intimate, and wickedly funAnd when Sebastián whispers that dare, Bianca’s entire world shifts.This novella is not just their beginning — it’s the moment Bianca discovers the version of herself she was never allowed to be.A Fast, Sparkling Read You Can Devour TonightAt around 20,000 words, The Christmas Dare is:bingeablefast-pacedaddictivefilled with tension and stolen momentsIt’s designed to be read in one sitting between celebrations, curled up with a warm drink, or late at night when you want something thrilling and romantic.The Hidden Thread: The Beginning of the High Society Heist SeriesReaders often ask: “Is this a standalone or part of a bigger world?”This is the beginning of something much bigger. The Christmas Dare is the first spark in the High Society Heist novellas — each one featuring Bianca as she navigates:glamorous eventshigh-stakes daresholiday chaosand the one man who refuses to stay her rivalThis is where it all starts.Read The Christmas Dare for FreeI’m thrilled to share this novella as a permanent free gift to my readers. If you love tension, luxury, danger, and flirtation that borders on trouble…🎁 Download your free copy here: 👉 https://dl.bookfunnel.com/l4dzwhaofrI can’t wait for you to meet Bianca and Sebastián — and to see what you think of that fateful Christmas Eve dare.

Hi lovely, and welcome to The Dark Bloom Society.Let me start today with a question: Have you ever felt judged for reading romance? If so, you’re not alone.Maybe someone called it “fluff” or “unrealistic.” Maybe they rolled their eyes at your book cover. Maybe they dismissed your favorite stories like they were something less than powerful.But here’s the truth — and tell me if I’m wrong…Romance novels aren’t just about happy endings. They’re about power. Healing. Learning what you like and don’t like. Finding your voice. Daring to be vulnerable. And yes — rediscovering your capacity for love.I’m Aggie — romance and dark romance author, and founder of The Dark Bloom Society, where we explore stories of obsession, power, and transformation.And today, I want to share why I read and write romance and dark romance — and what it has taught me about love, hope, sensuality, and myself.💫 My Personal Connection to RomanceI started reading romance because I wanted a story about love. A story where people could be complicated, broken, messy, imperfect — and still find redemption.But when I began writing romance, especially dark romance, something shifted.I realized these stories aren’t fantasies. They’re reflections of us — our fears, our desires, our hunger for connection, our mistakes, and our ability to rise again.Romance, to me, is the study of emotional power… and the most beautiful expression of transformation.🌹 5 Lessons Romance Has Taught MeIf you’ve ever wondered why romance is so powerful, here are the five truths I’ve learned from both reading it and writing it.1️⃣ Romance is written by women, for women.Romance gives women a voice. It lets us see ourselves as multilayered beings — strong, soft, sensual, wounded, ambitious, fragile, powerful… all at once.And as a writer, I get to create heroines who aren’t perfect, but real. Women like:✨ Mariana — battling addiction and finding her strength again. ✨ Emmie (Center Stage) — discovering her true self at forty. ✨ Nikki (Sweet & Spicy) — healing from emotional abuse and reclaiming her worth.These women may be fictional, but they carry real truths. They fall apart, they rise, they transform… they bloom again.And that, to me, is power.2️⃣ Romance celebrates love and hope.Every romance novel — no matter how dark — carries a promise:Love is possible. Healing exists. Redemption is real. And no matter how far you fall, there is always a path back to the light.Dark romance doesn’t erase the darkness. It just tells the truth: The journey to love is messy — and deeply human.3️⃣ Romance teaches that pleasure is not shameful.This one is close to my heart.For generations, women were taught to stay quiet about desire. To be ashamed of sensuality. To hide the parts of ourselves that were too bold, too curious, too passionate.Romance says: No. Your pleasure matters. Your desire is sacred.Sex isn’t dirty. It isn’t wrong. It’s connection. Communication. Self-discovery.And it’s powerful when we allow ourselves to want.That’s a core pillar of The Dark Bloom Society — embracing the parts of ourselves we were told to hide: our power, our sensuality, our fragility… and our fire.4️⃣ Romance builds empathy.Romance teaches us to see others more gently.Every character — every lover, every villain — carries a history. A wound. A reason they are the way they are.Reading romance helps us understand why someone guards their heart… why they run… why they break… why they stay.Writing romance has made me more compassionate, more patient, more loving. Because people are always carrying stories you can’t see at first glance.5️⃣ Romance transforms us.Reading — any reading — expands the mind and softens the heart.But romance? Romance changes us.It teaches courage. It strengthens emotional intelligence. It reduces stress. It boosts imagination. It gives us a place to land when life feels heavy.And it reminds us that love is one of the most radical acts of courage we can choose.🌙 Why Romance Will Always MatterSo to wrap up this very philosophical reflection…Romance isn’t just an escape. It’s a mirror. A mirror that shows us who we are — and who we could become if we allowed ourselves to love boldly and live fully.Whether the story is light or dark, tender or dangerous, one truth remains:You are worthy of love. You are worthy of pleasure. You are worthy of transformation.That’s why romance will always matter.✨ A Gift for YouIf this resonated with you, I have a little gift: 📖 Download my free guide to sensual living — filled with journal prompts, rituals, and a short story to welcome you deeper into the Dark Bloom Society.And tell me in the comments: Why do YOU read romance? I’d truly love to hear your story.

Discover how Mariana in the Dark Veil Series, intertwines the mysticism of Día de los Muertos with dark romance — where love, death, and the supernatural collide under the watchful gaze of La Catrina and the spirit guides known as Alebrijes.Between the Living and the DeadIn Mariana, love doesn’t just cross boundaries — it crosses worlds. Set during Día de los Muertos, the story unfolds at the exact moment when the veil between the living and the dead grows thin.It’s a time of music and marigolds, but also whispers and omens. Because when the spirits return… they bring their secrets with them.The Tradition: More Than a CelebrationDía de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is one of Mexico’s most meaningful traditions — a celebration that transforms grief into color, memory into light.Families create ofrendas, altars filled with candles, sugar skulls, pan de muerto, and photographs to welcome back loved ones who’ve passed on. It’s believed that for a brief moment each year, those souls return — not to haunt, but to celebrate life with us once more.That belief inspired Mariana’s tone — suspenseful, beautiful, and alive with the tension between two worlds.Alebrijes: Guardians of the SoulThroughout the novel, you’ll find the echo of Alebrijes, fantastical creatures born from both dream and legend.In Mexican folklore, Alebrijes act as spirit guides — protectors who help souls navigate the crossing between worlds. Each one carries meaning through its animal form and color:Jaguar: power and courageOwl: healing and intuitionDog: loyalty and protectionDragon: passion and transformationTraditionally, Alebrijes blend elements of three of the four natural elements — air, fire, and earth — reminding us that we are connected to both nature and spirit.In Mariana, they symbolize that same duality — beauty and danger, protection and temptation — mirroring the emotional world of the heroine herself.La Catrina: The Lady of the DeadThe figure of La Catrina, with her elegant hat and skeletal face, has become the symbol of Día de los Muertos. But her origins run deep — all the way to Mictecacihuatl, the Aztec goddess of death, who guards the bones of the departed in the underworld.Her story represents reverence, not fear — a reminder that death is part of the cycle of life.In Mariana, this myth becomes flesh. During one haunting scene, the music fades, the lights dim, and a tall, skeletal woman enters — her skirt a tangle of serpents, her voice commanding silence. It’s one of the story’s most chilling and symbolic moments, inspired by La Catrina’s divine legacy and the sacred awe she evokes.Love, Death, and the Veil BetweenSetting a dark romance during Día de los Muertos gave Mariana a rare kind of energy — one where desire feels haunted, and love becomes eternal.Every choice Mariana makes feels shadowed by the spirits around her — the people she’s lost, the lovers who changed her, and the past she can’t quite escape.It’s a story where death doesn’t end love — it transforms it. And in that transformation lies the very heart of The Dark Veil.🌒 Join the Dark Bloom SocietyIf you’re drawn to stories where romance meets mythology, passion meets danger, and love transcends life itself — join me inside the Dark Bloom Society. It’s where we celebrate the beauty of dark romance, the mystery of death, and the power of storytelling that lingers long after the last page.

By A. Unda-Tames | Dark Bloom SocietyThere’s a kind of love we don’t often talk about in the daylight — the kind that scares us a little. The kind that makes our pulse race and our logic blur. The kind we label wrong but secretly can’t stop thinking about.We call it dangerous love.And yet… we crave it.Not because we want chaos or heartbreak. But because somewhere inside us, there’s a hunger to feel deeply — to surrender control, to risk something, to be seen in all our rawness.The Safety of DangerIn real life, most of us are careful. We choose stability, peace, predictability. But when we open the pages of a dark romance, all those walls fall away.We get to step into a world where desire is wild and untamed, where love burns instead of comforts. It’s safe danger — a place where we can touch our own shadows without fear of being destroyed by them.Dangerous love gives us permission to ask, What if I stopped apologizing for wanting more?The Psychology Behind the CravingIt’s not about pain. It’s about intensity. It’s about power and surrender — two sides of the same desire.We’re drawn to characters who challenge us, who mirror our hidden fears and fantasies. They pull us into the dark, not to break us, but to show us what’s real underneath the surface.When Dante looks at Mariana, he doesn’t see the version of her the world accepts — he sees the version she hides. That’s why it feels dangerous: because being truly seen always is.When Love Becomes TransformationThe most powerful stories aren’t about falling in love — they’re about becoming through love. Dangerous love asks, Who are you when you stop pretending?Maybe that’s why we can’t resist it. Because behind every morally gray hero, behind every moment of obsession or forbidden desire, there’s the promise of transformation. Of blooming darker.And that’s the beauty of it — danger becomes the spark that wakes us up.You’re Not Broken for Wanting MoreIf you’ve ever finished a book and thought, “Why did I love him?” — you’re not alone. You don’t crave destruction. You crave depth. You crave passion that makes you feel alive, stories that let you burn without consequence, and characters who love without apology.Dark romance gives us that — not to glorify pain, but to explore the complexity of desire, the duality of control and surrender, the truth that love can be both beautiful and brutal.And that’s okay. You’re allowed to want stories that make your heart ache. You’re allowed to want love that’s a little bit dangerous.Because somewhere between pain and passion… is where we finally bloom.🌹 Join the Dark Bloom SocietyIf this spoke to you, you belong with us. Subscribe to the Dark Bloom Society Newsletter — where every week we explore the shadows of love, the beauty of transformation, and the stories that dare to feel.👉 Join the Society

By A. Unda-Tames | Dark Bloom SocietyThere’s a kind of love we don’t often talk about in the daylight — the kind that scares us a little. The kind that makes our pulse race and our logic blur. The kind we label wrong but secretly can’t stop thinking about.We call it dangerous love.And yet… we crave it.Not because we want chaos or heartbreak. But because somewhere inside us, there’s a hunger to feel deeply — to surrender control, to risk something, to be seen in all our rawness.The Safety of DangerIn real life, most of us are careful. We choose stability, peace, predictability. But when we open the pages of a dark romance, all those walls fall away.We get to step into a world where desire is wild and untamed, where love burns instead of comforts. It’s safe danger — a place where we can touch our own shadows without fear of being destroyed by them.Dangerous love gives us permission to ask, What if I stopped apologizing for wanting more?The Psychology Behind the CravingIt’s not about pain. It’s about intensity. It’s about power and surrender — two sides of the same desire.We’re drawn to characters who challenge us, who mirror our hidden fears and fantasies. They pull us into the dark, not to break us, but to show us what’s real underneath the surface.When Dante looks at Mariana, he doesn’t see the version of her the world accepts — he sees the version she hides. That’s why it feels dangerous: because being truly seen always is.When Love Becomes TransformationThe most powerful stories aren’t about falling in love — they’re about becoming through love. Dangerous love asks, Who are you when you stop pretending?Maybe that’s why we can’t resist it. Because behind every morally gray hero, behind every moment of obsession or forbidden desire, there’s the promise of transformation. Of blooming darker.And that’s the beauty of it — danger becomes the spark that wakes us up.You’re Not Broken for Wanting MoreIf you’ve ever finished a book and thought, “Why did I love him?” — you’re not alone. You don’t crave destruction. You crave depth. You crave passion that makes you feel alive, stories that let you burn without consequence, and characters who love without apology.Dark romance gives us that — not to glorify pain, but to explore the complexity of desire, the duality of control and surrender, the truth that love can be both beautiful and brutal.And that’s okay. You’re allowed to want stories that make your heart ache. You’re allowed to want love that’s a little bit dangerous.Because somewhere between pain and passion… is where we finally bloom.🌹 Join the Dark Bloom SocietyIf this spoke to you, you belong with us. Subscribe to the Dark Bloom Society Newsletter — where every week we explore the shadows of love, the beauty of transformation, and the stories that dare to feel.👉 Join the Society

Because you don’t have to apologize for what awakens you.We’ve all heard it, haven’t we? That quiet judgment when someone spots the book in your hand — a cover that hints at danger, passion, maybe even sin. A raised brow. A teasing smile. A silent assumption that says: “Oh, that kind of book.”But here’s the truth — it’s time to stop apologizing.Because being a dark romance reader doesn’t make you broken, lonely, or naïve. It makes you curious, brave, and emotionally honest.Fiction is the safest place to explore our deepest desires — to touch danger without consequence, to surrender without losing ourselves. In those pages, we test boundaries, heal old wounds, and meet the parts of ourselves the world taught us to hide.And isn’t that what great storytelling is supposed to do? To awaken something — not tame it?🌹 Why We Love Dark RomanceWe’re drawn to intensity because it mirrors the real pulse of being alive. Control and surrender. Fear and trust. Power and vulnerability.When a hero walks the edge of danger, it’s not just his darkness that calls to us — it’s the light he finds inside it. And when a heroine chooses love despite the risk, she’s really choosing herself — her courage, her desire, her transformation.That’s why dark romance matters. Because between obsession and redemption lies something raw and real: truth.🔥 You Are the Unapologetic ReaderIf you’ve ever felt you had to explain your bookshelf, hide your book spine, or tone down your enthusiasm — consider this your permission slip to stop.You are the reader who owns her curiosity. Who craves stories that feel dangerous because they tell emotional truths polite fiction won’t touch. Who understands that fantasy isn’t escape — it’s freedom.You are the unapologetic reader. And this Society was built for you.🕯️ Inside the Dark Bloom SocietyIn my Dark romance series, every heroine faces that same choice — between control and surrender, love and survival. They stumble, they burn, and they bloom. Just like us.If you’re ready to explore that world — where obsession meets redemption and danger becomes desire — start with Mariana, in The Dark Veil Series.🖤 Dark Bloom Society — for the unapologetic reader, where fantasy becomes confession.Join the Dark Bloom Society Newsletter

Dear dark romance lover, today we explore why readers are drawn to obsessive love stories in dark romance. Discover the psychology behind obsession, control, desire, and fear — and what it reveals about human connection.When Love Becomes an ObsessionIn dark romance, love doesn’t whisper — it consumes. We’re drawn to it: the kind of passion that feels like madness, that refuses to let go. But why does obsession fascinate us so much when, in real life, we’d run from it?Because obsession, in fiction, gives us permission to feel everything.Why We’re Drawn to Obsessive LoveObsession exaggerates what we secretly crave — intensity, attention, and devotion. In a world where relationships often fade into half-hearted texts, dark romance gives us total focus. The kind of connection that says, “I see only you.”When a character vows, “I’d burn the world for you,” it touches something deep. For a moment, we imagine being that unforgettable — that necessary.The Psychology Behind ObsessionPsychologists call it limerence — that intoxicating stage of infatuation where every thought revolves around one person. In dark romance, that phase never ends. It sharpens, deepens, and turns into a need that feels almost spiritual.What’s really happening underneathControl: They try to claim what they fear losing.Projection: They fall for the reflection of their own wounds and desires.Fear: The threat of loss turns love into panic.Desire: Not just sexual — existential. “Without you, I’m nothing.”This is why readers can’t look away. Obsession in fiction mirrors our need to belong, to matter, to be remembered — all within the safety of a page.How Obsession Looks in FictionCharacters reveal obsession in small, haunting ways:The protector who watches from the shadows.The rival who eliminates threats.The lover who tracks every move out of fear, not malice.The powerful one who controls everything except emotion.In my Dark Veil series, I explore these shades of obsession:Mariana – passion and danger collide; love as destruction.Mateo – devotion as redemption; a need to save, no matter the cost.Dante – power and surrender intertwined; obsession as worship.Each story asks the same question: how far would you go for love?Fiction as a MirrorWe don’t crave obsession itself — we crave what it represents. To be chosen. To be seen. To be unforgettable.Dark romance lets us explore that desire safely. It turns the forbidden into understanding. Through the lens of obsession, we study the edges of human emotion — the space between love and madness.What It Reveals About UsObsession reminds us that love is rarely clean or simple. It’s messy, chaotic, consuming — and sometimes that’s where the truth hides.In dark romance, danger and desire share the same pulse. And maybe that’s why we keep reading — because deep down, we want to understand the madness we call love.🌒 Join the Dark Bloom SocietyIf you love exploring the darker side of love — passion, psychology, power, and redemption — join me inside the Dark Bloom Society. It’s our community for readers who crave stories that make you feel too much and question what love really means.

Día de los Muertos has always fascinated me. How could it not? I even set an entire book on that very day.Because to me, it’s not only a tradition—it’s a heartbeat. A celebration painted in color, music, food, and love. It’s about remembrance and legacy, about keeping alive the voices of those who came before us.When I chose to set Mariana (Book One in the Dark Veil Series) against the backdrop of Día de los Muertos, it wasn’t just for the hauntingly beautiful aesthetics (though the imagery is unforgettable). It was because this day reflects the core of Mariana’s story: how our scars, our secrets, and our heritage shape who we become… and how love can bloom, even in the shadow of grief.And today, I finally get to share something special with you.✨ The Day of the Dead Giveaway Box ✨ 🌺💀 A one-of-a-kind box inspired by Mariana 💀🌺Inside, you’ll find: 📖 A signed author copy of Mariana 🌹 A rose crown like Mariana’s 🪬 A charm bracelet 💀 Two tiny skeleton figurines for your shelf 🎨 Catrina tattoo sheets ✨ Stickers + a few extra surprisesThis giveaway is my way of saying thank you—for walking this dark, dangerous path with me, for supporting my words, and for keeping these stories alive.👉 Entering is simple:subscribe to my newsletter here!The giveaway is open until October 20 2025, and the winner will be announced shortly after.Whether Mariana’s story is already etched into your heart or you’re about to step into her world for the very first time, may this box pull you deeper into the shadows where love burns brightest.Thank you, as always, for being here—for reading, for supporting, and for letting me tell these stories. You mean more to me than you’ll ever know.XOXO, Aggie 🌹P.S. Dante’s prequel is almost ready… and you’ll be the first to get it free.(giveaway only applies unly for people living in the USA)

Romance comes in many shades — from sweet and lighthearted to passionate and spicy. But dark romance? That’s an entirely different world. It’s love set against shadows, where beauty mixes with danger, and passion collides with survival.So, what really makes a romance dark? Let’s step into the shadows together.1. High Stakes and Moral GraynessIn dark romance, the line between right and wrong isn’t clear. Characters make choices that carry heavy consequences, not just for themselves, but for everyone around them. Survival, loyalty, betrayal, and sacrifice all collide in a way that forces us — and the characters — to question what love is really worth.2. Obsession, Danger, and Power PlaysDark romance isn’t about gentle courtship. It’s about obsession, intensity, and sometimes even destruction. These stories thrive on tension — the kind that pulses like a heartbeat, both thrilling and terrifying. Power dynamics, control, and danger keep readers hooked, even when the outcome feels uncertain.3. Love That Breaks and RebuildsDark romance doesn’t shy away from pain. Characters might be broken down by betrayal, trauma, or impossible choices. But what makes the genre powerful is how love becomes both the weapon and the cure. It shows us that even when everything falls apart, love can be the force that builds us back stronger.Why Do We Crave Dark Romance?Readers are drawn to dark romance because it doesn’t sugarcoat reality. It’s raw, emotional, and unforgettable. It lets us explore fears, desires, and vulnerabilities in a safe fictional space.Dark romance offers:Catharsis → processing complex emotions through story.Emotional depth → characters who feel real, flawed, and unforgettable.Thrill of the taboo → exploring boundaries and danger without real-world consequences.Meet Mariana: A Heroine in the ShadowsFor me, dark romance isn’t just about the genre — it’s about the characters who fight their way through it.Mariana, the heroine of my Dark Veil series, was never supposed to be more than a girl trying to survive heartbreak. But survival wasn’t enough. Her story is about fighting for love in a world that wants to break her — and discovering just how strong she is when pushed to the edge.Her love story doesn’t play by the rules. It’s passion, danger, and resilience woven together — the very heart of what dark romance is.Step Into the Dark with The Dark Veil SeriesIf you’re ready to explore dangerous love stories with Latinx characters, high stakes, and passion that burns brightest in the shadows, Mariana’s story is waiting for you.✨ Read Book 1 of The Dark Veil series here ✨ Get exclusive behind-the-scenes content + giveaways:Dark romance isn’t about happy-ever-afters that come easy. It’s about the love stories that challenge us, consume us, and change us.Are you ready to step into the dark?

The other day, something happened that completely shifted how I view my writing.I was working at our restaurant when the bartender casually mentioned to a guest that I’m a dark romance author. An older gentleman, sitting at the bar, stood up, walked over to me, and simply said:“Thank you.”He explained that as a gay man, he once read a story where the character reflected him—his life, his struggles, his heart. In that moment, he felt seen. He felt heard.His gratitude was so raw and genuine that it struck me deeply.Because that’s the beauty of dark romance. It’s not just about forbidden love or dangerous obsessions—it’s about exploring the unspoken. The “taboo” subjects people often shy away from: heritage, skin color, sexuality, addiction, generational pain, survival.And I’ll be honest—before that day, I was doubting myself. I questioned if I was giving enough to the world through my writing. Was I being shallow? Was it all just entertainment?But that conversation changed me. His words reminded me why I write. To tell stories that make people feel something. To shine a light into the shadows. To show that even in darkness, there’s a voice, a place, a kind of truth.And so, to that stranger—I thank you. For reminding me that stories matter.Check out my dark romance series