Cross Contained

by Riley Alves

Isla and Elias have only had one another for years now.
They’re the only ones who truly understand each other in this hell hole.
Both of them can’t handle it in this place for much longer.
As the flames of desire and feelings for one another continue to grow,
they can’t help but try to burn it all to the ground.
Will they always be cross contained?

A dark romance horror novel that takes place in a religious cult where personal beliefs, morals, and fantasies are constantly tested.
They will do anything to get out.

Genres: Dark, Dark Romance

235 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 4, 2023

Reviews

[Meghan Arnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please check TWs first, this book is DARK. I felt the intensity of the scenes in every line of the book and was shocked at every turn of the page. The twist at the end was something I never saw coming and I can’t wait for book 2!

[Danni Neeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was captivated by this book. Thank you to Riley for allowing me to ARC this book.

This is a DARK romance horror novel. Isla and Elias live in a religious community. Isla was born in this community and Elias came during his teenage years after his mother's passing by his father. Isla and Elias form a relationship that is forbidden in the eyes of the community. They must sneak around and lie to spend time together. The love they share for one another is passionate, sexy and beautiful. These MCs learn some dirty secrets along the way that will have you wanting to get revenge for them. What is really going on in this community? Can they ever be together and not be afraid?

The smut will have you so hot and bothered you will need a tall drink of water (wink, wink) just to be able to cool off.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is into dark romance and as always please check the trigger warnings if you have any.

The cliffhanger has me needy and anxiously waiting for the release of book 2.

[Kirsten | Bookish.kir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Be sure to check trigger warnings before reading and also note book one ends on a cliffhanger.

I am not much of a horror reader so I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting myself into when I started this one, but the story was captivating, the spice was decent and the ending left me wanting more.

I did drop a star due to finding some parts to be predictable and some of the choices were just poor and left me rolling my eyes thinking, “what did you think was going to happen if you did that.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥.5

[Kim Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a thriller!!

[Ebony Coulter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be chosen to ARC this book and I want to thank Riley and her team for this opportunity.

Prior to reading this, you must read the warning labels as this book does contain very intense scenes.

Whilst reading I thoroughly enjoyed the romance of the two main characters. I loved the use of flashbacks when provided more context and background about their first meeting and their developing friendship.


Elias is a stereotypical bad boy that continues to break the rules. His character never changes or breaks and somehow still finds the need to keep breaking the rules in the hopes of saving both himself and Isla.

Isla is a romantic and secretly likes to live life on the edge just like Elias. Unfortunately, this ultimately becomes the couples downfall as they wait out months of brutal torcher at the hands of a priest.

I binged this book in a single reading session and already cannot wait to read the next one in the series.

[Christina Rybka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Elias and Isla

Isla and Elias are best friends and are starting to realize that things aren’t as they seem. They start to realize the adults around them are shady and not good at all. One wrong move starts an avalanche of problems. Can they survive the horror that awaits them. Great characters and storyline. Highly recommended Amazing Book. Love Isla and Elias. This is my first book by this author definitely not my last. Please read trigger warning. This book ends on a soft cliffhanger.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! 😳
GODAYYYUMMM!! This story was so good! I couldn’t put this down for even a second. (Literally, I took my kindle to the bathroom, tmi but idgaf 😂)
I do however feel like although there are many spicy scenes in this book, it was honestly more so the plot that had me hanging on every word! This book is very dark with lots of religious trauma and sacrilegious themes. Please check trigger warnings because it’s definitely not for everyone. But it’s damn sure for me 👌🏻💯😂
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Pamela Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I FLEW through this one! I seriously didn’t want to put it down. Before I get into my review I would just like to say this book is DARK, please check trigger warnings, some of these include (rape, religious cult, religious trauma, abuse, child abuse, and more). This book is about Isla and Elias who are both a part of a religious community. Isla was born into it and Elias came there during his teenage years. They both became friends very quickly once they realized how similar they were. Elias is the only one who truly understands Isla for who she really is. They both bond over their religious trauma and make a plan to be together once they are in the real world. But once they get caught during a secret rendezvous, they get held captive and get to see what really takes place behind the scenes and it’s nothing like what they were expecting. Pure evil. And what makes it worse is that their parents could care less when they try to explain the truth, and they are just as bad as the rest of them. The love these two have for each other is so intense and raw. Their chemistry is so beautiful. I love how he calls her “sunshine” and to find the reason for that had my cheeks blushing and my heart skip a beat. The spicy scenes had me going!! 🥵🥵 I can’t wait for book two!! I recommend!
5/5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶️

[Amy Sykes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to say thank you to Riley for allowing me the opportunity to ARC this book.

I love Isla and Elias, they're two people in a place where they don't belong who truly get one another and once they're adults plan to join the 'real world' together and live a normal life, but as their curiosity gets the better of them they find themselves on the end of Preist Wynard's wrath and that's the last place anyone deserves to be.

This book is full of spice, horror and a cult you certainly would sell your soul to the devil NOT to be a part of. The lies and deceit from both Isla and Elias' families and the other community adults leads them on a path where they will never be the same.

I need an Elias in my life, he's so totally besotted with Isla, he's the 'bad boy' her parents never wanted for her but he's everything she ever needed, the only one who knows her truly and vise versa.

I've literally just binged this book in like two hours and now I have no idea what to do with myself because I need to know what happens next, I've so many questions about where they're going, who they'll see and what happens to everyone else.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be upfront and say that I'm not really a horror girl, so I went into this book squinting my eyes. Ya know, like you do when you know you're gonna be scared but you're gonna do it anyway??

Right from the beginning, you're in it. From the prologue to the CLIFFIE! Heart pounding, teeth clenching, turn your Kindle over then peek again, kind of OMFG what did I just read?!

The dependency that Elias and Isla have on each other was double edged. Being that they were all each other had for so long, it made me sad but at the same time I was so glad that they had each other.

Imagine uncovering lie after lie and unending deceit from your own family and loved ones. Being trapped in a dangerous cult, with no way out and no help to ask for.

That cliffhanger just about gave me heart failure. I absolutely need book 2 like my next breath. I have to know what happens!

👉🏻💥Always check the TW/CW💥👈🏻

Anywho! Time to wrap this up with the goodies:
Read: 4🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 4 🌶🌶🌶🌶
CLIFFHANGER

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

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖤 I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review 🖤
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⭐️ 4/5
🌶 3/5
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🔪 Dark Themed
🔪 Dual POV
🔪 CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS! (⚠️ rape, child abuse, religious cult, religious trauma, abuse, torture, and many more ⚠️)
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Cross Contained is a friends to lovers, religious cult, dark story. It contains mature content and has A LOT of triggers. PLEASE, PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE STARTING!
This was sooooo good! I wasn't expecting the spice that happened, but it was so good! The friends to lovers trope is kind of already a done deal once it starts, they give you a little background information as to how it started but for the most part it's contained to about a page. The excitement and horror I felt at the same time while reading was fantastic! The way Riley described everything was perfect and made it so you weren't lost when you were switching POV's. My ONLY gripe is that we didn't more background information on the MCs. I'm hoping it will be explored more in the next book, but overall it was amazing! I finished it in 2 days 😅

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for allowing me to ARC this book! I loved it so much!

Cross Contained is a dark romance/horror novel. I was hooked from the first page and could NOT put it down. I fell in love with Isla and Elias immediately.

Isla was born into the religious/culture community that she lived in with her family, whereas Elias and his father joined after his mother's sudden death.

Their love story is intense, and the chemistry between these two is 🔥🔥.

Isla and Elias suspected something horrible was going on with the adults within the community (you're not considered an adult until 21) and set out to figure it out what it was. They find out firsthand how awful and screwed up the people they trusted the most truly are.

This book kept me on a rollercoaster of emotions! The smut scenes were HOT, the horror scenes took my breath at times, and the cliffhanger has me on edge and impatiently waiting for book 2. 😉😉

PLEASE read all trigger warnings before reading. It is DARK at times.

[Sayde · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when you discover the life you’ve been living is based on lies, the place you called home was nothing more than a place of deceit, seclusion, & pain? The worst part being those you trusted most aren’t even willing to save you from false leader whose actions are paradoxical to his “guidance”

Eli & Isla have a wonderfully delightful relationship, childhood friendship transformed to love-they are playful & sweet but they know each others darkest desires & worship each other in the hottest ways when their lust cannot be restrained.
The bravery & strength of the MCs is admirable. Their resilience saved them from the only life they’d really known

This book was so good! The dynamic between Eli & Isla pulled me in right from the beginning. They believed in their love, they rebelled, and they fought. There’s so much mystery about their community you just can’t help but question the truth while throughout the book you’ll be pulling for the MCs to make it…I hope they do..

[Torri Valderrama · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything it promises to be. I loved that it is clearly a cult, but the main characters know something isn’t right and don’t just fall in line.

The smut scenes are HOT and they play a crucial role in the story which is an added bonus in my opinion.

I absolutely love Elias and love the relationship between him and Isla. They both go through so much in this book and it broke my heart, but I truly think it’s gonna make them stronger.

There is definitely a horror aspect and it stole my breath when it is revealed.

I am so excited to read the next book. I have some ideas on things that were hinted at, and I really want to know if I’m right or not. The ending is the perfect spot for the next book to pick up and continue and I am nervous on what is going to occur.

I highly recommend this book. 5/5 ⭐️, 4/5 🌶️

Please read the content warning before reading.

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! This book is just wow!! This was not only my first cult book but also my first book by Riley. I didn’t know what to think going into it but boy was it so good! Isla and Elias’s story is dark and twisted.

Isla was born into the community but Elias only joined with his father after his mothers passing as a teenage! They’re best friends who fall in love and have desires and feelings that the community sees as forbidden. The depraved and secret things the community is hiding starts to come to light for Isla and Elias! What’s really going on?! Will they ever make it out and finally get to be together?!

This is definitely a dark horror romance story that I couldn’t put down! It was a captivating story, the spice was spicy and the ending has left me needing book 2 ASAP. It’s a great book but please read the trigger warnings before reading because it’s definitely dark!!

[readsbykish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cross Contained by Riley Alves 🖤

I was actually an ARC reader for this and goooosh it was such a quick read! I literally read this in one sitting ✨

I love the connection that Elias and Isla has, like their chemistry was so electric!!! I honestly went in on this blind, like I have no idea what to expect with this book. But, Riley Alves did not disappoint, she delivered a gripping dark romance 🖤

The plot was so unique that I have no idea what was going on in that community and all the pain that Isla and Elias went through was just so investing that I have to see the end of this book! I can’t wait for the next book to come because the cliffhanger in this book is so unbearable that I need to read the next one IMMEDIATELY!!!

4⭐️ | 3🌶️

[Sydney Leann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in the same few hours I started because it’s just that good!!!! You can’t put it down!
I fell in love with Isla and Elias love story😩 in a world where they can’t be there true selves and have to conform to what others want they find each other and it is BEAUTIFUL. I am so eager to read the next book and the end threw me 🫢 If your on the fence, I urge you to give this book a chance. You will not be disappointed! Isla you are a baddass and I know you can take whatever the world throws at you! And Elias love that girl, love her till your last breath because you were literally made for one another. You can always find your light in the dark if you have love 😭❤️

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying absolutely read the trigger warnings of this book before going into it! Do not go in blind if you have triggers and it will more than likely trigger them. Get ready to go in an emotional rollercoaster.

This book was written fantastically and is a wonderful mix of romance, suspense, and horror. You will feel all the emotions throughout this book as the characters feel them.

Definitely takes you on a journey with the main characters that no one wants to be on but leaves you hanging onto ever word and refusing to put the book down.

Thank you Riley for allowing me the honor of being an arc reader.

[Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

PLEASE read all trigger warnings before reading. This book can be dark

Cross Contained is a dark romance/horror novel. This is the second book I've read by Riley Alves and as always she has done an amazing job and her writing has evolved. I was hooked from the start and read it it one sitting. I haven't read a book like this before so it was really interesting seeing a religious/cult setting and expanding my genre.

Isla and Elias are the main characters and I feel in love with them immediately. The chemistry between these two is like fire. This book does end on a clifty - you've been warned.

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was selected by rileys team to read and review an arc for my honest review. This book does contain a few trigger warnings but she always lets people know right off what triggers there are.

This is the second book I've read by her and it was just as amazing as the first. She promised horror and suspense and most importantly SPICE🌶🌶🌶 and she delivered on all three. I flew through this book in one sitting i always love her characters they have so much depth. Please do yourself the favor and read EVERYTHING she writes. Im just sad that i have to wait to find out what happens next.

[Laura Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid horror reader and having read the authors previous novella, I'll admit that I went into this book with certain assumptions and expectations. This novel completely blew those out of the water! The love story intertwined with the cult surrounding and the amazing twists and turns kept my attention for hours. The cliffhanger definitely has me anxious for the second book to come out. And once again, the Playlist that the author put together flowed and helped set and keep the tone of the book. This is a must read for horror fans who also love some spice.

[Taylor Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoilers!

Definitely read the triggers, but this book is immaculate. The writing style flows smoothly and the story has a plot you can actually understand.

Elias is on my list of book boyfriends. The way he always wondered how Isla was and didn’t sway his thoughts from her during the torture was sweet.

Isla went through so much trauma and heartache, and came out stronger. She endured rape and pain just for being with someone who makes her happy.

Book 2 is on my list now, and I’m so excited to read it.

[XxLaVampiresaAlexisxX · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cross Contained is the first book in the contained duet. PLEASE MIND YOUR TRIGGERS!

I'm not sure why, but religious horror/cults is always such guilty pleasure for me. Reading this blurb, I just had to give this one a try. Riley Alves is a brand new author to me. I was a little hesitant at first, but this is definitely a good one! For the first 25%, it was a bit of a slow world building for me. But MAN, after that 25%, I was sucked in. Isla and Elias had such a bad deal from the start. Ahhh and that cliffy, definitely left me wanting more!!

[Ashlyn Palmisano-Rojas · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many triggers and very hard to stomach some of the scenes but the hard hitters have always been my favorite reads. There’s something about cults and religious trauma that feels so surreal and yet things like this is happening for real. This couple is strong, they’ve been through hell and have come out swinging ready to even help others. I ate this book up in one night and am about to dive into book two. I do not recommend this book for anyone with even minor triggers, this book is not for the faint of heart.

[Kaylin Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the wonderful opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book and all I can say is wow.
I am speechless. This book had me in a chokehold, it was amazing. Riley did it again!!
Definitely make sure to read ALL trigger warnings before starting this book.


I absolutely love Elias and Isla. I was left wanting more immediately. I couldn’t read this fast enough. This was an easy 5 ⭐️.

I can’t wait for book 2!!

[Danielle Daliege · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not my typical genre of book—the romance? Yes, but thriller/ horror, no. But I ATE THIS UP. Though the beginning is slow, it really picks up a few chapters in. The suspense will keep you on the edge of your seat as you wait to see what happens next for Elias and Isla. Definitely a unique storyline of a cult society who do horrific things to children. I fell in love with this love story and literally CANNOT WAIT to see what happens in book 2!!

[natasha fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god, when I tell you this book was absolutely fire!! 5/5⭐️ couldn't put it down!! You quickly fall in love with the main characters and their love for each other!! They will wrench your heart out from the depths of your soul..The angst and all the other crazy about this book kept me turning pages till I couldn't keep my eyes open!! Definitely check TWs for this book, but otherwise, go wild!!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an amazing mixture of horror and romance. Now I know you might think that those don’t go together, but Riley made them go together perfectly. This book had you waiting to see what would happen next. I couldn’t stand to put it down. It is book one in a duet and I am so excited to see where this story goes next. The characters and story are so well written that you feel like you are there with them.

[Kellie McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wild ride this book was! The religious cult aspect vs the love story intertwined within the book was truly intense and amazing. It’s an easy well written read. If you love horror, romance, and books with a strong characters you will love this. There is almost no world building but that’s what makes it even more interesting because you want to know how these people come to be in a place like this and you feel trapped in your own way.

[Debbie Grafton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please read the trigger warnings!
This book is amazing!
Thank you Riley for letting me ARC this book!

Isla and Elias have a love that is truly beautiful even after everything the “community “ puts them through. They know something isn’t right and begin to look for answers, only to be be stopped right before they get answers.

This book will have you on the edge of your seat, cussing and crying all with in a couple of pages.

I can’t wait for book 2