Beautiful Deceptions & Sweet Miseries

Groveton College

by Steph Macca

The best made plans can still be shattered just like the fairest hearts can be broken.

I had my whole life planned out. There was no Plan B - it was always going to be Plan A.

I accepted a scholarship to the elite Groveton College and I was going to get my degree in journalism, marry my sweetheart and live a comfortable life, never having to worry about the small things.

A routine check-up changes my life. In one quick moment, everything comes crashing down. But I could never have imagined when I fell, I would land at the feet of Beau, Jax and Chase - three promising athletes at the college.

They're on a mission to teach me how to re-enter the dating world and learn new things because apparently 'that's what friends do'. But it turns out there's more to the dating world than bad dates, crappy dating apps and narcissistic ex-boyfriends who make it their mission to destroy you.

There's ways to escape, to turn the pain into strength, and find the best version of yourself.

But as I learn their ways and give myself to these three very different Doms, I realize some plans are meant to be broken.



Beautiful Deceptions & Sweet Miseries (BDSM) is part of the Groveton College shared world series. BDSM is a full-length standalone novel with why choose themes, abuse/DV, explicit sexual situations including the nature as depicted in the acronym title and strong language. There is a HEA.

Genres: BDSM, College, Romance, Dark, Dark Romance, Why Choose, Sports

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2023

About the author

Bestselling Dark Romance Author
Author of Unhinged 🔪

Knock Knock, Little Killer

Reviews

[Kursed Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Addison Holland is a junior at Groveton College. When her boyfriend disrespects her, she is lucky to find new friends to lean on.

Overall, I liked the intent, but I had difficulty feeling the connection between Addie and the guys. Likewise, the pretense of helping Addison return to the dating scene was frustrating.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🤍
Heat: 🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 🥺😊🤬🤔😍
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 🧍🏻‍♀️ {Single}

🗂 Genre: Contemporary Romance

✨ Tropes: College, Coming of Age, Curvy Woman, Friends-to-Lovers, Who Hurt You

💋 Kinks: Blindfold, Crawling, Domination, Finger Licking Good, Praise, Shibari, Toys,

⚠️ Warning: This steamy read will leave your panties wet and reaching for BOB.

🚩 Safety Squad: AśśauIt (Not by H), Cheating (Not by H/h), VioIençe, and other potentially triggering elements. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📣 Type: Beautiful Deceptions & Sweet Miseries is a standalone in the Groveton College world, a multi-author collaboration. However, no other books need to be read.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[Laura (lady_h_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You deserve someone who will shatter you into a million pieces in the best way possible, then put you back together so you shine so bright that you glow for days afterwards."

What a fun, one-sitting read! BDSM is the first book released in the Groveton College shared world, and it came in hot and heavy.

We get three doms who are there to pick up the pieces of the broken FMC, helping her find herself and offering endless pleasures. Orgasms are the best for stress relief. They also take on the roles of protectors, saving her from an abusive ex and her best friend’s manipulations.

This story is fast burn and spicy. There are BDSM elements and the boys include healthy communication about needs and boundaries before engaging in activities (probably my favorite part of the story, outside the supportive relationships they develop – there is a lack of this communication in many similar stories). MF and group scenes are explicitly depicted.

BDSM is a standalone that ends in an uplifting HEA.

Genre: College Romance
Tropes/Features: Some dark elements (Gaslighting and abusive ex, on page DV), best friends to lovers, three dom MMCs, DV survivor FMC, twins, healing, finding oneself
Narrator: Single 1st Person POV
Relationship Type: Why Choose MFMM, fast burn, spicy (BDSM)
Book Type/Ending: Standalone in Groveton College shared world, HEA
TW/CW: Available in book

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of strangers who took in a girl who had been discarded and gaslighted, turned friends turned love. 

This story was lighthearted with 3 doms getting a girl to learn about herself under the guise of dating and "friends with benefits" 

Beau, Jax and Chase each had their own personality traits any girl would fall for. Plus each technique was different, and I loved that they each made Addison feel safe. The story was a whirlwind romance and I wish it had been longer because I just loved them a bunch. 

The only downside of this book was it was single pov, but as I was talking to Steph about the book, I realized it definitely was a mystery as to their Intentions. Did they fall in love with her at the club and just wanted her to trust them? Why would they push her to date? 

I whole hearted loved this book and I truly hope Steph writes more about them. Maybe an extended epilogue or something. 

[Shedevilreads Bookstagram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful Deceptions & Sweet Miseries by Steph Macca is a dark why choose college romance. This is the first book in the Groveton College series and each book can be read as a standalone.

This is the first book of Steph's that I have read, and it definitely won't be my last. I really enjoyed the relationship that bloomed between Addison, Beau, Jax, and Chase. The boys really helped Addison grow and become the person she was always meant to be.

I would recommend this book if you like college romances, BDSM romances, why choose romances, or contemporary romances.

[Jess McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addison's life for the last year seems like a lie. When everything comes to a head, three strangers take her in. Jax, Beau and Chase do nothing but lift her up and encourage her in every way. I loved watching their romance unfold, while Addison took back her life. The club scene, I was rooting for her and cheering her on.

There are some subjects in this one that can be hard to deal with, but I would say that this book is lighthearted. It's not as dark as other books by Steph, but it does come with THREE doms... 🥵🥵🥵

[Kassy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know it's weird but i feel like i'm fresh out of a grave .it was a beautiful wim.this author was literally inside my brain.every pleasure i craved i found .cutely smuty with poetry on top .the perfect whipped cream cake i tasted in a while .love it .love the author's mind . overall chef's kiss.

[Mandi Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addison had her whole life planned until she finds out what’s been happening without her knowledge. With no other choice, she decides to trust her new friends: Beau, Chase, and Jax to help her. As she begins to find out exactly what deceptions have been going on, can she trust her new friends to help her move on?
Quick and steamy read with the usual SM nod to mental health (always love it!). I loved seeing Addie grow and come into her own, it was encouraging for those of us who may have similar backgrounds. I also adored the guys & their connections to each other and Addie!

[Rachel Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!!
I thought it moved pretty quickly and it kept me interested.
There was also drama, humor and more.
It all started when Addison has her life flipped upside down. Then, she meets Chase, Beau and Jax
They introduce her to different kinds of kink and help her to feel more comfortable with herself. I loved seeing their relationships grow from a friendship to more. I also loved that each relationship move at its own pace. It made it seem more genuine.
Despite the drama caused by a certain two horrible people, I thought it was a sweet and spicy read overall.

[Becca O'Keefe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why choose one

Loved this start to new world. Addie was so much fun and her growth was amazing to watch.
Only wish it had been slightly longer.
Can't wait for the rest in the series.

[Wendy Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Deceptions and Sweet Miseries is the first in the Groveton College Series by Steph Macca. We meet Addison, a young college student living with her boyfriend. When she finds out she has a STI. And we all know thats not a good thing! She meets Beau, Chase, and Jax. These guys are just amazing. They are just good guys wanting to help out lady in need of help. Love them. Love watching their relationship with Addison. Some TW to watch out for. No bullying between the guys and Addison, but some bullying from the ex. HEA.

[Laura_c_loves2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! Addison, Chase, Beau, and Jax are fantastic together. It was such a good story, and I loved how it all developed.

[librarian.lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC provided by author for honest review. I've read other Steph Macca books, I especially loved the Lies We Keep series, but I did have a bit of trouble with this book. This is not a bad review by any means, just some observations. The book started really good, I fell in love with the characters from the get go, but I'm not sure what happened that the story dragged a bit and as we got closer to the end everything was resolved very quickly. Something else I noticed was the timelines. It isn't clear in what year this book is, since there is mention of current social media platforms, but it seems like our MFC is not familiar with using a USB drive, or certain technology, which is a bit odd when the FMC is in her third year of college. The setting for what I could tell was in Texas, but the way some of the characters express themselves, or certain settings don't match. Maybe a little bit more research would have helped a lot. I truly believe this could have been an excellent book, with a bit more time and editing. Again, these are my opinions and in no way am I telling you not to read this book.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I received an ARC for this book)

Trigger Warnings include:
Abuse/domestic violence including narcissistic tendencies, gaslighting and physical abuse; assault/violence, cheating, STDs, BDSM including toys, rope play, spanking, bondage, sensory deprivation

The terrible things included in the trigger warnings are HEAVILY involved, in full detail, right there on the page. If ANY of that is hurtful to you mental health, PLEASE do not read this. We get to see first hand how AWFUL Addison’s (thankfully now ex) boyfriend is. And we also get to see her bloom into her true self. A strong woman. A force, a storm. With the help of a few…friends *wink wink* Addison finds her inner goddess, and it’s impossible to not cheer her on! We meet Beau first, and he doesn’t hesitate to go into protective mode. He never bats an eye. He’s calm in a way that makes her feel safe, but there’s also an understanding there’s a beast ready to be unleashed to protect her. Chase was my favorite. I swooned for him first. Jax is the brunt force paired with his brother’s calmness. He’s a little more closed off than Beau and Chase, but no less protective and supportive. He just does it in his own way. We didn’t get nearly enough time with Jax, and he felt like too much of a stranger. I loved that while this was a why choose with all those dynamics, the main focus was on Addie and her journey to find her strength.

Hurricane: 20

My Favorite Quotes:
• “You deserve someone who will shatter you into a million pieces in the best way possible, then put you back together so you shine so bright that you glow for days afterwards."
• “Pick yourself for once."
• “I can feel your body holding onto me like it's afraid to lose me."
• “You taste delicious. No wonder he couldn't resist you."
• “You can take it for me."
• “You're doing such a good job for me."
• “Even on your knees, you hold all the power.”
• “I love hearing you choke on me."
• “I really want my car to smell of you.
• “You can even bring us to our knees too."
• “Are you going to come for us?"
• “A girl shouldn't have to choose if she doesn't want to."

8/10 Dirty Birdy
7/10 Friends to Lovers
6/10 Forced Proximity
6/10 Sports Romance
6/10 Why Choose

[Christy Davisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick steamy light BDSM RH read.

Ok this story is told in a singular POV and it doesn't detract from the story. Would I have liked dual POV? Yes because I always love each characters POV's when reading, but with that said it's still well written and easy to follow.

This one is for anyone who has been broken-hearted or dealt with a liar and had their world turned upside down.

You start off meeting Addie the scholarship student at the prestigious Groveton College, who just wants to make it through college obtain a good job, and marry her college sweetheart like most girls. Unfortunately when some lab work comes back with an unexpected surprise in the form of a cheating boyfriend poor Addie has found her world isn't so perfect. Down on her luck and confidence she meets three dominant trust fund males Jax, Chase, and Beau who befriend her as friends with benefits until feelings get caught.

This is a light-hearted but steamy read that steps into the BDSM world and gives Addie the power to be more confident in herself in and out of the bedroom. Each guy brings something unique to their relationship with her and there is zero sword crossing here.

I definitely hope the author adds to this story later on, but as of now it's a fast paced read that brings the steamy goodness you crave in an RH. Highly recommend it!

[DeeDeeWReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

BDSM - Beautiful Deceptions & Sweet Miseries, well titled, well played there Ms. Steph Macca. There is some content/trigger warnings you'll want to be aware of before reading. Your mental health is most important.

Addison is a girl that just wants to finish college, get a great job, marry her boyfriend, the usual dream. Well that dream is shattered when her yearly health exam doesn't quite come back as she expects. We learn quickly not all is rainbows and roses with her boyfriend.

Enter three hot track stars, who save Addison when she needs it most. They bring her into a whole new world of owning her body and what she does with it. They teach her a little about friends with benefits, but sometimes, feelings get caught worse than the flu, and life takes you into a direction you didn't expect.

I am NEW to Steph Macca and her writings, but I LOVED THIS ONE!!! It was fun, relatable to every girl who ever had her heart broken, found out her man wasn't all that he seemed, and just needed saving till she could save herself. You will not regret grabbing this one and reading it. I finished in one day it was so dang good....

[Victoria Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

You meet Addie and she tells you about how her life came to be at Groveton College, she had a loving boyfriend for over a year and a best friend that could talk her into anything. Addie goes out with her BFF one night to a club and sends up spilling her drink on some guy. They have a moment and then they depart.

Next Day, surprise! That guy walks into the coffee shop she works at with another guy. Fast forward, she finds out that there is a reason why she is ignored in the shop that day. They come to her rescue when things come to light about her boyfriend, Aaron.

They take her under their week and fight back through her trauma. What Addie doesn't think about until its too late is what happens when things start feeling real between the guys that are helping her.

This was a great first read by the author for me. I will be looking into more of her work!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book a lot. If you asked me to choose a favorite of the three men, I would not be able to give you an answer. Beau is more of the serious one, whereas his twin brother Jax is more on the lighthearted side. Although, the one that is the most fun is Chase. He is the professed "matchmaker" of the group and the one that has the most fashion style. Yet, when it came to all three men, they really were protective of Addison and made sure her needs were met.

I love how they made sure not to come on too strong to Addison while, allowing her to take command. This allowed her to become more self-confidant and blossom. Although, I knew that she was falling for these men and when she did come to this realization, I may have yelled "about time".

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Addi's story. She started out as such a meek girl and those three men showed her how to be a strong woman. She may have lost a boyfriend and a best friend, but she gained so much more in the end. Each one of the men had their own strengths, but I think Chase was my favorite. He was the fun one, always there to encourage her to grow as a person and find herself. As much as these guys help her to express herself and become more confident, they really need to take their own advice. I love they were Doms that were all about empowering her but they should have taken a bit more control of the situation. I would have loved to see them express their feelings and work out what they really wanted too. Overall it was a fun, quick and sexy read.

[L C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This, ladies and gentleman, is how you start a series of connection books.

I absolutely loved Addie, despite the heartbreak of not only finding out her gaslighting boyfriend cheated on her through contracting an STI and being even more heartbroken by who he cheated with she stood up for herself and was still open to love. Beau, Jax and Chase were each the perfect MMC in their own ways. I did start to panic as I was reading that I had been wrong and that it wouldn't end up as a RH but, on reflection, the pace in which Addie became involved with each of the guys actually made for a more realistic read.

Check the triggers, as always, but if you have none I do recommend going in blind for full enjoyment, the guys preferences are worth it!

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and Slightly naïve Addison (FMC) gets her life rocked when she discovers she has an STI. One which slowly unravels a long list of lies her boyfriend was keeping from her. That in itself though brings Beau, Jax and Chase into her life. All of them get her a lot of much needed support to get her life back on track. Some of which was with their own brand of kinky steaminess. There was a genuinely endearing sweetness to Addison's relationship with the guys that I really liked. They gave her a much needed boost to her confidence both in and out of the bedroom. It was hot as hell!! I really enjoyed reading this book. A great read.

[Teresa Juckett (Love Dark Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. This was a fun, fast hot read that had BDSM elements, which I loved. This story had me glued to the pages I didn't want it to stop I kept wanting more from these character's. I went in blind after reading the blurb and knew I was hooked. Addison meets these three guy's Beau, Jax and Chase after she breaks up with Aaron her cheating ex. They come up with an idea of helping Addison out of her breaking up slump, since Aaron was her first they want to help her get back her mojo.

Definitely would recommend.

It is written in single pov, but I would've loved to know their thoughts on what had made the guy's come up with the idea they had about helping Addison out.

[REKH · Rating 2 out of 5]

Format: Kindle
New author: Yes
Rep: side character in a ff relationship
Keywords: Why choose, new adult, narcissist, STI, damsel in distress, college track team

Oof. This book had the bones of a good story, but it just wasn’t good. So many little problems, and zero depth to the writing. Set at a small private college in Texas, the writing had all the telltale signs of a book set in America, written by a non-American. It’s a cute idea for a story, but it’s under developed, and very little about the three male main characters was believable. There is also a serious trigger warning for on Paige domestic violence. This isn’t a bully romance; it’s a romance with domestic violence.

[The.Roaming.Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The FMCs story (unfortunately) starts out not in the best situation and only gets worse it seems as each page passes. Sadly I think many women can relate, especially in that college phase of life. Luckily she runs into a group of 3 guys that don't stand for abuse in any way and stand behind her even though she is a stranger. The rest of the book tells their story of helping her gain her confidence and self back ending in the sweetest HEA I've read in a while. Bravo on another fab read Steph!

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dark, why choose college romance that is apart of the Groveton College Shared World Series. This story is about the FMC who has always had everything planned out until her whole life is flipped upside down and her plans crumble. After everything crumbles in her life she comes across the three MMCs who are there and support, teach and grow on her. This book was Amazing and Steph has never let her readers down when it comes to giving us Amazing books. I can't wait to see what she has in store next.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finding out her boyfriend cheated on her, Addison finds herself in a tough position. Single, friendless, and in desperate need of somewhere safe to stay. Beau, Jax and Chase are all to happy to let her stay with them and help her gain some much needed self confidence again.

I wish we had got a bit more of them all together as a couple and this definitely could have benefited from having the guys POV's as well but other than that this was a really solid read that I had a great time with

4/5 stars

[RachelAnyFranny · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh god. What absolute nonsense. I've read some trash in my day but this was the bottom of the barrel. It's only saving grace was that Bad Omens were mentioned, and it was only 200 pages.

It wasn't even Porn with a Plot because there was no porn, and there was no plot. Not a personality to be found amongst any of these characters and the dialogue was the definition of ROPEY!!

The worst part is that the author tried to be clever and have the name of the book spell BDSM. Excuse me while I go take a bath in acid 🤢

[Amanda Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy dark and steamy! Definitely an amazing read. I was totally engrossed in the story the characters and writing are amazing. I finished it in one day and did not want it to end. It was a very dark college romance with things that might trigger so check out the warnings but if you love books that are dark and steamy and tackle tough subjects you will love this one. I will definitely recommend this book.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book Beautiful Deception & Sweet Miseries is about Addison and her guys.

Loved this book from the first chapter to the Last. The FMC Addison character grew through out this story into a strong woman from how she was portrayed in the beginning. The guys Jax, Beau and Chase were grgreatthey were just what Addison needed to help her through her traumas etc.. ypu wont want to miss this read

This is another great book By Steph Macca.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story had a little bit of everything! Addison thought she had it all starting her third year of college, a good boyfriend and a best friend who was fun even though a bit selfish. After things quickly unravel after a routine appointment she finds solace in three new friends. Beau, Chase and Jax are fantastic characters! I loved how supportive they are towards Addison. This is one story that’ll be a go to reread for me!

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reverse Harem

I’m on the fence with this book. I liked some parts but others not so much. I liked the characters and the reverse harem/why choose trope but it was missing something. I wasn’t hooked but I persevered hoping it would get better. I felt the BDSM and the guys all being Dom’s just seemed forced or just put in for effect. I also couldn’t see where this was a dark college romance. I felt disappointed.