The Destruction of Dahlias

The Bones of Betrayal #2

by A.R. Breck

With the flames of my past behind me, I spread my wings and fly.
Eternal scars stay etched into my bones, and I allow my former self to die.
Vivianna Finch no longer exists.
In her place is Vale Finley.
A new life, a new name, and a desperate attempt to heal my wounds.
Though, all the hiding in the world won’t keep Hades Gray away.
I war with the blood in my veins to stay away from the man who destroyed me.
It feels futile, until I meet Princeton Grant.
He’s a breath of fresh air in the stifling shadows of my life.
A whirlwind romance, which fills my heart and crushes my soul.
The devil always dresses in sheep’s clothing.
Yet, Hades Gray is never far away.
He’s ever-present, reminding me of what we were.
What we are.
I am his butterfly.
It takes the devil revealing himself for me to realize what I’ve lost.
What I’ve been searching for my entire life.
My home. My heart.
Hades Gray.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark

363 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 2023

About the author

My life in a nutshell: Writing, reading, family, traveling.

-A.R. Breck

Reviews

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

🐾 🆃🅷🅴 🅳🅴🆂🆃🆁🆄🅲🆃🅸🅾🅽 🅾🅵 🅳🅰🅷🅻🅸🅰🆂 🐾 Is the second full length romance book in the trilogy by author A.R. Breck. Spoken in 'dual perspectives.' Ends in a cliffy.

This is a hard one to review because no matter which way I go I'll divulge spoilers and it's best to go into this completely blind, like I did. So take a deep breath and get prepared to have your world rocked by this gut wrenching but also beautiful book.

After the way things ended in the previous book I was highly anticipating this one. It picks up right where that cliffy ended, she's on the run and he's hot on her tail heading towards California.

There was more of everything in this book, more angst, more heartbreak, more betrayal making this more realistic, more raw, more riveting, once I started I couldn’t put it down.

The heartache within escalated a pounding in my heart as I read the breakdown of a relationship. Sadness engulfed me. The path she’d chosen was the wrong one. Her path was already written in the stars, alongside her soulmate. The one who watched over her from nearby. The one who never let her go. My heart ached for these two. Many years had gone by and still he was there waiting for her.

 

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[Kursed Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having fled Carnival de Morte after the secrets Hades revealed, Vivianna adopts a new name and created a new start as Vale Finley.

While Vale creates a new and, seemingly, idyllic life, Hades remains ever-present. And when the shroud is lifted, he’s waiting to mend her broken wings.

This was a tough read and I’m going to leave it at that.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🖤🖤
Heat: 🌶️
Range of Emotions: 😊😢😡😭🥺
Ending: 🧗🏻‍♀️ {Cliffy}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual}

🗂 Genre: Dark Romantic Suspense

✨ Tropes: ???

💋 Kinks: n/a

⚠️ Warning: n/a

🚩 Safety Squad: Attempted Suicide, Cheating, Physical, Mental & Verbal Abuse, Mental Illness, and other potentially triggering elements. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📣 Type: The Destruction of Dahlias is part of The Bones of Betrayal series and ends on a cliffhanger. This series must be read in order.

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

[Mandyloves2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow ! I am speechless this story is amazing it hurts it’s emotional this book is absolutely incredible it’s captivating the writing is phenomenal ! I loved the character growth in this one and I can’t wait for the final book! Man grab some tissues cause you’re gonna need them talk about all the feelings this is a must read from this author! I can’t recommend this story enough!

Merged review:

Wow ! I am speechless this story is amazing it hurts it’s emotional this book is absolutely incredible it’s captivating the writing is phenomenal ! I loved the character growth in this one and I can’t wait for the final book! Man grab some tissues cause you’re gonna need them talk about all the feelings this is a must read from this author! I can’t recommend this story enough!

[Hannuuhhhh.Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading The Beauty of Butterflies I neeeeded the next book. The Destruction of Dahlias has a very different vibe than the first. It has a lot of emotional and heavy topics.

We see the aftermath of the last book and time jump. Viv, matured and moved on from the left she ran away from is living a different life. New friends, job, and boyfriend.

Not everything is what it seems. The life she created that she thought was picture perfect starts to crack. Her past begins to seep back into her life. After avoiding it for so long.

I can’t tell you how emotional this book made me. A.R. Breck broke meeee! I felt the pain Viv was feeling and have experienced that situation myself. I’m looking forward to the next book and hope we can see some healing in the next book. 🖤

[Kilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5✨ ⁣
⁣
“𝐍𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐞. 𝐍𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐲, 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐥. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐧.”⁣
⁣
This book is completely different from The Beauty Of Butterflies in the fact that The Destruction Of Dahlias deals with some extremely heavy topics. So please check triggers before going into this if needed. I’m also not giving this a spice rating because I don’t feel like it should be given one due to the heaviness of the book. There is spice though. ⁣
⁣
I don’t want to say too much about this one because I don’t want to give anything away.. but this book picks up two years after Viv ran away from Hades and the carnival and she’s been making a new life for herself. She’s got new friends, a new job.. and eventually a new boyfriend.⁣
⁣
In this book we see her life over the span of 4 years (I believe) and the life she’s now living.. and it’s not an easy one. We get snippets of Hades coming in and checking on her and I absolutely loved and hated those chapters because they always left me feeling so emotional. Hades is her soulmate and that’s who she is meant to be with. This book had me so emotional pretty much the entire book. It’s a tough read. I won’t lie. But I can’t wait for the next book to see these two heal and also help my heart heal as well. ⁣
⁣
“𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐕𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚,” 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬. “𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲. 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞’𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞’𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭, 𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐥𝐲. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮.”⁣
⁣
⚠️ TW’s: Suicidal thoughts, domestic violence, mental health issues, verbal abuse, cheating, PTSD ⁣

[Kali Dempsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐
2/5 🌶️

The Destruction of Dahlias broke my heart again and again, and again... This story was so hard to read at times, but absolutely worth every page. While we haven't gotten to the beauty yet... I know it's coming and this journey was necessary for Viv and Hades to get their happily ever after.

Princeton was the worst kind of human. This man was a gaslighting king and I spent the majority of this story on edge wondering when his verbal abuse would turn physical and hoping to the good lort that Adri wouldn't end up witnessing any of it. I knew ahead of time he wasn't a good guy, so I started the book being wary... But that first stupid about broke my heart for Viv. No one should ever feel an ounce of what Viv felt from someone who "loves" them...

The bright spots in this story was the ever presence of Hades and her new besties, Soren and Rachel. I really hope that we do get more of them because they were such good friends to Viv and I hate the idea of her losing touch with them... Maybe we'll even get to have books about them?! I'd unalive for sure.

I am so excited for The Bones of Betrayal despite the title giving me some pause... I can't wait for Viv and Hades and Adri to finally be happy and safe and together.

[Dee Homburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always a huge fan of A.R. Breck and this book may have easily become my favorite by her. The emotional rollercoaster i was on throughout this entire read was so enrapturing. I read this entire book in a day.

So many parts of this book hit close to home. And i am a tough person to get to cry while reading. This book easily brought out the tears in abundance. This was truly an emotional battle for me and i wouldn't have it any other way. Seeing all the things Viv had to go through was inspiring. And seeing Hades in the shadows... ugh. I may have messaged a few of the girls i was reading this with multiple times saying my heart!

You fall more in love with these characters through their good and bad times. This will be a story that i will read time and time again. Especially when i need a good cry. Thank you A.R. Breck for telling this emotional story that truly makes one survivor a little more heard and less alone.

[Rhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will be a short review so as no spoilers can happen!!

This is book 2 in The Bones of Betrayal series, I did not see this story going in the direction it did. All I’m going to say is be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster, Vivianna goes through so much in this book. I can’t wait for book 3 to see how everything works out!!

[Bre-Book Bre- Landers · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotional read!!
That rollercoaster was worth it!!!

Viv really shows how strong she can be, and then to have Hades in the back…I can’t help but root and fall for these two over and over again! The ups and downs are sooo worth it. Grab some tissues and buckle up buttercup.
I don’t think you really know what’s in store when you crack these pages open.

[Jo · Rating 1 out of 5]

+ Shelves (Book´s 1-2): brothers-best-friend, forced-proximity,love-triangle, heroine-other-relationship, heroine-pregnancy/om, heroine-mother-mom/om, om-drama, sex-om, heroine-sleeps-with-om-after-connection, heroine-not-celibate, cheating-heroine, weak-idiot-heroine, doormat-pathetic-hero, tragic-past, raped-by-another-man-heroine, rape-scene, drug-use, suicidal-ideation, mental-problems, BDSM-bondage, mf, second-chance, not-safe.

📌 Hades Gray & Vivianna Finch (01-02-03)


🚫 N O T A 🚫
¡Estoy HARTA de encontrar esta mierda en los libros!
De leer Héroes viendo desde la distancia como la mujer que aman está con otro hombre, se muda o casa con ese otro hombre, tienen incluso hijo/s...
En "The Destruction of Dahlias" (Libro2) Vivianna (Ahora se llama Vale) conoce a un chico llamado Princeton, y no solo comienza una relación con él sino que terminan viviendo juntos y teniendo incluso una hija! Todo esto, por supuesto, mientras Hades observa patéticamente desde las sombras, revelando sutilmente su presencia solo de vez en cuando...
Pienso que la autora mete mucha mierda lacrimógena para camuflar que simplemente nos está dando otra historia ridícula con un triángulo amoroso, con un Héroe patético/felpudo que prefiere sufrir en vez de actuar, y una heroina que va de fuerte y de que ha madurado en los últimos 2 años, pero se involucra de lleno y a la velocidad de un rayo en una relación con otro hombre, con todo lo que implica (mudanza, embarazo, etc), en vez de simplemente seguir curándose y encontrándose así misma.
Como dije, Vivianna vive con este otro hombre, tiene una hija con él... ¡pero continua amando a Hades! (Es una "bonita" forma de justificar sus traiciones y trampas, supongo) Pero, Oh, esperad, que ella también siente mariposillas por Princeton... Bueno, esto es depende el día y la calentura que tenga ese día. La veleta sopla en una dirección u otra. Lol.
Pero tranquilos, amiguitos, que la mujer fuerte y madura (😆) en cuento se ponen las cosas feas en su relación, simplemente salta de los brazos de un hombre a otro. Ahora Hades tiene 2 niñas que cuidar y proteger: a Vivianna y a la hija que tuvo con otro hombre, mientras SUPUESTAMENTE lo seguía amando a él/Hades.
¡Que romántico todo!
¿Libro 3?
¡Ni bajo tortura!



Merged review:

+ Shelves (Book´s 1-2): brothers-best-friend, forced-proximity,love-triangle, heroine-other-relationship, heroine-pregnancy/om, heroine-mother-mom/om, om-drama, sex-om, heroine-sleeps-with-om-after-connection, heroine-not-celibate, cheating-heroine, weak-idiot-heroine, doormat-pathetic-hero, tragic-past, raped-by-another-man-heroine, rape-scene, drug-use, suicidal-ideation, mental-problems, BDSM-bondage, mf, second-chance, not-safe.

📌 Hades Gray & Vivianna Finch (01-02-03)


🚫 N O T A 🚫
¡Estoy HARTA de encontrar esta mierda en los libros!
De leer Héroes viendo desde la distancia como la mujer que aman está con otro hombre, se muda o casa con ese otro hombre, tienen incluso hijo/s...
En "The Destruction of Dahlias" (Libro2) Vivianna (Ahora se llama Vale) conoce a un chico llamado Princeton, y no solo comienza una relación con él sino que terminan viviendo juntos y teniendo incluso una hija! Todo esto, por supuesto, mientras Hades observa patéticamente desde las sombras, revelando sutilmente su presencia solo de vez en cuando...
Pienso que la autora mete mucha mierda lacrimógena para camuflar que simplemente nos está dando otra historia ridícula con un triángulo amoroso, con un Héroe patético/felpudo que prefiere sufrir en vez de actuar, y una heroina que va de fuerte y de que ha madurado en los últimos 2 años, pero se involucra de lleno y a la velocidad de un rayo en una relación con otro hombre, con todo lo que implica (mudanza, embarazo, etc), en vez de simplemente seguir curándose y encontrándose así misma.
Como dije, Vivianna vive con este otro hombre, tiene una hija con él... ¡pero continua amando a Hades! (Es una "bonita" forma de justificar sus traiciones y trampas, supongo) Pero, Oh, esperad, que ella también siente mariposillas por Princeton... Bueno, esto es depende el día y la calentura que tenga ese día. La veleta sopla en una dirección u otra. Lol.
Pero tranquilos, amiguitos, que la mujer fuerte y madura (😆) en cuento se ponen las cosas feas en su relación, simplemente salta de los brazos de un hombre a otro. Ahora Hades tiene 2 niñas que cuidar y proteger: a Vivianna y a la hija que tuvo con otro hombre, mientras SUPUESTAMENTE lo seguía amando a él/Hades.
¡Que romántico todo!
¿Libro 3?
¡Ni bajo tortura!

[Kisha Panchal]

I can't even begin to explain how horrible this was.
don't get me wrong, A.R. Breck is one of my favorite authors, but this book just wasn't it.

up until the first book, I loved the whole carnival storyline. although viv has my full sympathy for what happened to her, it doesn't justify her stupid and naive behavior.

dating princeton? fine.
getting pregnant accidentally? weird, but okay, it was not her fault.
rejecting hades after finding out she's pregnant? reasonable.
but literally begging princeton to be with her even after he cheated on her multiple times? nah.

when she first met hades in this book, she said she wanted to be independent.
but girl,
running after your baby daddy who calls you names like cunt and bitch when he's "angry" ain't showing your independence.

there were scenes in this book where I wanted to slap her across the face.
it's not wrong to love two guys, but viv literally begging princeton for the bare minimum is just not it.

I get why she doesn't want to be with hades even when she can't deny the connection that they have.
but that doesn't mean you'll just keep going back to the guy who treats you like shit.
some of the scenes in this book literally show how much of a redflag princeton is.
mostly because he would fight with viv, call her names, make her feel vulnerable, and then apologize for what he did.
and viv being the naive little thing that she is, always forgave him.
why, you ask?
I don't fucking know nor do I understand.

also
the timeline of this book gave me the icks.

adriana was born.
hades visits her.
viv tells him to leave.
adriana grows up (I didn't even know when she started talking, but whatever).
princeton cheating and getting distant.
viv refusing to the help that hades offered.
and then the last chapter.

I'm not even going to waste my time reading the third book in this series.

note: this review has no personal hate towards the author. she writes amazing stories, but this book was not how I expected it to be.

[Els † ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always Andrea knows how to make me bawl my eyes out. The second book in The Bones of Betrayals series picks up where the first book left off , Vivianna wants to escape from the horrors she just went through and away from Hades. We then jump to two years later and Vivianna is now going by Vale Finley. We see Vivianna grow as a person , she goes from being this scared 18 year old to a mature 21 year old, also the shadows of her past still lurk she is putting on a brave face and pushing through.

Vivianna then meets Princeton and she falls, falls hard for the guy she sees could be her Prince Charming but is Princeton hiding something darker? Their relationship is turbulent and they both have to grow up quickly, being in a similar situation , this situation does make you grow up quickly and it makes or breaks you.
Thinking she has the perfect family cracks start to show and we see Vivianna slowing lose herself , we see the butterfly once again caged when all she’s wanted was to be free.
Hades still lingers in the shadows keeping an eye on his butterfly and you can definitely feel the pull between these two , nothing could really keep them apart and over the course of events will Hades butterfly fly back to him?

This book is heavy and emotional and my heart breaks for anyone who has been in a similar situation as the themes of this book , I know I cried in parts and connected with others. Andrea wrote this from her soul and you can definitely tell, she told us her story in such a heartbreaking and poetic way and I can’t wait to read the conclusion.

[Sophie Hircock · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝. 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬.”

We start The Destruction of Dahlias right where we left off in The Beauty of Butterflies, with Vivianna Flinch fleeing from the Carnival De Morte and Hades, and becoming Vale Finley.

There's a time jump right near the beginning, which usually I really dislike, but this never left me feeling like I didn't know what Viv was up to in those 2 years.

We also meet 'Vale's' new live interest, Princeton, and he truly sweeps her off her feet, and then the book took a turn that wasn't where I was expecting to go. All whilst Hades watches his little butterfly move on.

Andrea writes these heartbreaking but poetic books that somehow in amongst all the bad and hurt, are still so freaking beautifully written. I can't wait to see what's going to happen in the third book.

This review is purposefully vague because I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but as with book 1, please check your trigger warnings. These books are beautiful, but it's a whole messy journey to get there.

[Tyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

We start The Death of Dahlias where The Beauty of Butterflies ended. We get to see Viv as a whole new person, she’s grown so much over the time jump, a shadow of who she once was but I think the development has done her good. She’s matured, no longer the scared 18 year old but a woman.

She meets Princeton, who’s charismatic, safe and completely different to Hades, a breath of fresh air seemingly.
Seeing the slow decline happening and not being able to stop it felt awful, seeing pieces of Viv broken down, pieces of her being stolen till there was nothing left. It was like seeing a car crash about to happen and being unable to do anything to prevent it. I could feel all the anxiety and tension in the pit in my stomach, the raw emotions tugging on my heartstrings. Andrea poured everything into this book and the words and you just know this book means everything to her.

I felt a little broken after finishing The Death of Dahlias, it’s so beautifully written and I can’t wait for the final book to get some closure 🖤

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

In keeping with the heaviness of book 1 in this series book 2 delivers even more emotional devastation. I had heard a few of the triggers and I just couldn’t figure out how they fit. I kept seeing spousal/relationship abuse and I couldn’t figure out how it would play out. Oh boy! I never would’ve predicted how it turned out.

This book completely sucked me into the emotional and mental state of Vivianna. I actually felt the tension she was feeling at times.

Cliffhanger of an ending but honestly I might go so far as to call it a happy ending.

This books fills in perfectly after book one and I am guessing will lead to an explosive book 3. Can’t wait for the next one!!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two in the trilogy and it’s highly recommended to read book one first.

This picks up right where we left after the first book. Viv is on the run from Carnaval de Morte after traumatic experience and setting it on fire.
She is trying to change her life for the better and pick up the pieces that are broken. This book isn’t as dark and action packed as book one, this is definitely more trauma heavy. There is mental health representation, grieve, loss and abuse.

I enjoyed this and I can’t wait to see where the story takes us in book three!

[Jessica's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good but halfway through the book this book made me angry and a little annoyed and at one point i was yelling at Vivianna. Dont get me wrong the book is good and it is worth reading. Theres a lot of stuff that happens in the book and i just hope that in the third book we get a bunch of Hades because that is my guy and no one will top Hades.

[nothing but amazing books Lacey Threapleton Wygerde · Rating 5 out of 5]

When The Destruction of Dahlias hit my kindle I couldn’t wait jump in . I literally will draw you in and keep you captivated .
this whole book kept me on the edge of my seat. i was completely eating this story up . I don’t want give anything away let just say you are one heck of wild ride !!!!!

[Rebecca Carsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This One Will Grip Your Heart Hard…..Heartbreaking Yet Phenomenal 🩶🩶🩶

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review

This was absolutely phenomenal in every way, emotionally, mentally, and soulfully it will gut you though. I know this story comes from deep within the author in more ways than one and could not have been an easy journey while writing and putting into print for the world to read. I love everything she writes and for quite awhile her Blackridge Prep series was my favorite but this one here…..The Bones Of Betrayal….has progressed beyond anything I have read this year. I feel like it’s truly one a lot of individuals can relate to in so many ways. I know I can in some ways and it’s why it hits me in my heart so much. Please be fully aware of TW’s before just diving in.

This book is packed full of self journey and self discovery moments, heartache and heartbreak, love and lust, hate and loathing, so many emotional ups and downs, pain, anger, and so so much more. I’m not going to say to much about what’s written within because I feel even the tiniest little bit will ruin everything because this is a book & series I think everyone should read. It’s a story that pulls you in so deep you can’t help but feel every moment and every emotion right along with the characters within. It’s mostly Vi’s story and it’s one you have to experience for yourself along with her to truly understand. But, it’s also Hades story as he patiently waits in the shadows, and Princeton’s story as he struggles with a disease that many of today’s population struggles with or chooses to ignore.

I will say that everything that happens here in book two has led her down a path to where she truly belongs and that’s to her true home. I’m so looking forward to reading how she finally finds her peace and HEA. There’s really not much of a cliffy that leaves you wanting to throw your kindle or book, but it is one that leaves you feeling like you can finally breathe. I can’t wait for the final book to Vi’s story, I know most say they don’t want a story to end, but I need to know she’s going to finally be ok and find that HEA. I’m hoping for it and to see forgiveness where it belongs. A huge thank you to A.R. Breck for writing this phenomenal story and sharing it with us. Everything she writes I highly recommend but this one here It is even more so and it’s also a definite one-click series. Definitely start this one ASAP!!! You truly won’t regret it.

[Brooke (darkcoffeedarkerreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐ 3🌶️

Days later and I’m still aching…this book wrecked me. It devastated me. It brought out the darkest, most shattered parts of my heart that I’ve shoved down for years and threw them right back in my face. But while it was tragic, difficult to stomach, and raw…it was also beautiful, healing, touching and it made me feel seen. The tiny details, the fragments of pain that A.R. Breck wove into this story are so fucking real. I rarely cry while reading, but this had the tears flowing endlessly from nearly start to finish. You don’t know until you’ve been there, but reading it is a pretty close second and I can’t express how necessary I feel this story is.

Vivianna has finally put herself together following the brutal, tragic ending of The Beauty of Butterflies only to have her world rocked once again by difficult circumstances and gut wrenching heartache. Between her toxic relationship that started so sweetly and her visits from Hades, which may be the only thing keeping her together at this point, this read was an emotional rollercoaster and I couldn’t put it down no matter how dark it got. We see Vivianna at her lowest and yet she just. keeps. fighting…and it’s really fucking beautiful and inspiring to see, no matter how jagged or bloody the scars she has to carry moving forward may be.

I fell even more in love with both Hades and Vivianna during this chapter of their story and while their separation utterly broke my heart, I have faith that the final installment in this trilogy will put it back together again. While it ended on a cliffhanger, I felt the resolution starting to take form and despite being knocked back down again and again, that fierce and vicious side of Vivianna started rearing its head again and I can’t wait to see how she lets loose in the next book–I can feel it coming and it feels like sweet vengeance.

I don’t want to speak too much to the plot, as I feel that there are entirely too many spoilers that could slip free. I will say, however, that while tragic, everything that happened here has led Vivianna back to where she truly belongs–home–and the journey, while difficult, brought along some slivers of joy and learning that will make her stronger in the future. I give so much credit to A.R. Breck for writing this story, as I cannot imagine a world in which this could ever be easy to do. It was truly touching, though, and I’ll forever be grateful to have a story that makes me feel a little less alone. My daughter and I will be 4 years safe on June 1st and I cannot wait for book three so we can see Vivianna’s safe…her HEA.

**Please note that this book deals heavily with domestic violence and other potential triggers. If you have any concerns or would like a complete list of TWs, please feel free to reach out to me on any platform. Above all, keep yourself safe.

[Olivia Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a second book in The Bones of Betrayal series & to fully understand this book you will need to read The Beauty of Butterflies. Now this book shows a look into mental illness particularly bipolar, so be sure to read the triggers before reading. I have felt so connected in so many ways with this series & this book definitely intensified that. Vivianna the butterfly she is finally gets her chance to be free & become her own person without having someone controlling her or making decisions for her. She gets a fresh start with a new identity, starts managing a coffee shop & meets a man that sparks the butterflies for the first time in over two years. We get to know Princeton Grant & at first he seems to be just what she needs especially in the bedroom, but a test later he slowly starts changing. After Adrianna makes her appearance that’s when things get very hostile between Vivianna & Princeton, that’s only because he has a mental illness that is confirmed by a psychiatrist but he believes he doesn’t have it & blames her for everything including why he cheated & to the point it becomes life or death situation for her. Now through all of this Hades makes multiple appearances & confronts Vivianna, all while waiting for her to fly home to him, but he is always watching in the shadows. I’m all here for Hades & all of the guys included in the end when everything goes up in flames. It takes a real man to step up & take control of the situation especially when it involves a child, but Hades will burn the world down for his butterfly. I can’t wait to know what happens in the next book because I left this book wanting so much more from those two!

[Nicky Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I devoured this book.

The Destruction of Dahlias picks up two years after Vivianna ran away from Hades.

She’s has a new job, some new friends and she even gives dating another go with Princeton, a guy she meets at the coffee shop she manages.

This book spans a period of just over 4 years and follows her relationship with Princeton. Their early love, an accidental pregnancy, moving in together, having a baby girl, Adrianna.

It's not long after Adrianna is born that things start to change and things start to turn hostile.

Without giving too much away, things happen and I spent a good portion of the book mentally telling Vivianna to kick Princeton to the curb. BUT, she kept accepting his apologies, forgiving him and begging (no way should she have been begging) for him not to leave her and make things work.

Throughout all of this we did get some chapters from Hades POV. It killed him, but he felt it was his pennance to hold back, while he watched, never far away, as Vivianna made a life with another man. He did show himself to her, letting her know he was there waiting for her to follow her path. A path he knew would bring her back to him.

After what happened ar the end, there was no real ending with Princeton (neither Vivianna or Hades killed him). I have to assume that there is going to be more of him in the next book.

Book 3 can't come soon enough.

WARNING

The Destruction Of Dahlias deals with some extremely heavy topics. PLEASE check triggers before going into this.

[Melanie Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in one day. That’s how good it was. I was hooked after book 1 and ready to dive head first into book 2.

Here’s what I was disappointed with. Hades played too much of a supporting role as the main male character. And Vivianna took waaaay too much time to figure out Princeton was never going to change. I yelled at her in my head to grow that backbone and throw him out, even despite knowing that it’s hard to lose the dream of something you thought you had.

Here’s what I loved: Hades. That man, despite watching his twin flame have a child and desire a family with someone else, still stood strong for Vivianna and let her know he was there for her. I couldn’t even fault him for the bar scene, since Viv had been with Princeton for an extended period time at that point. The fact that he couldn’t follow through just made me fall in love with him even more.

Since Hades didn’t kill Princeton in the end, I assume he will play a part in the final book. I hope he’s ready to be messing with all of Viv’s bodyguards watching over both her and her daughter.

[Missy Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this book kinda emotionally wrecked me, but in a good way. This book deals with some heavy subjects so I would definitely check triggers before reads, which is provided in the front of the book. Having said that, omg what a read. Even with the heavy topic of these there is a bit of spice as well.

So I do not want to give anything away because I do not want to spoil anything. I can give you a basic run down though. So this book will go two years from when Viv got away from Hades and the carnival. But she is actually doing better and making a life for herself with some new friends. And dare I say a new boyfriend.
In this time that she is making a new life for herself does Hades ever pop in and check on her? Maybe. Did it hurt my heart knowing this, yeah it did. I wanted so much for them to be together. I really need the next book to see where this goes so my heart can heal.

[Kerri’s Reading Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Bones of Betrayal series and it must be read in order.

I don’t want to spoil anything so I’m going to keep this short. This book…..I didn’t know what to expect after the end of book one but this book wasn’t even close to what I thought could happen.

This is Viv’s journey and what an emotional one it is. She did a lot of learning and growing in this book. I love her character development.

Hades. I think I love him even more. While I wish he played a more prominent role in this book, his quiet presence and knowing he was watching made me fall even more for him. The “penance” he paid made me
sad for him.

I cannot wait to see where their journey goes!!

[BatWingBaddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

wishing book three was out so I didn’t have to wait

To start off check the tw there are a lot of relationship and mental health things that May really be hard for some people to read.

The book leaves off on a cliffhanger which I honestly love because they always bring me back but I don’t love the wait lol.

Overall this book felt slightly repetitive in its content and as an outsider looking into a relationship that is clearly not working it was hard to watch the train wreck unfold. I spent the entire time missing Hades and wishing there was so much more of him in this story. But I love this series and I believe a r breck is just setting us up for an amazing book 3!

[_dreamsofdarkness · Rating 1 out of 5]

w t f was this 😭

As much I dislike Hades, most of the blame can go on Vivi or whatever her name is cause I already forgot 😭

Princeton and Vivianna didn’t even have an actual relationship. it was more friends with benefits relationship until she got pregnant

I love Vivianna but I wanted to slap her

Vivianna kept holding on to Princeton as if it was a life or death situation for Adrianna but Princeton could’ve done worse to Vivi and maybe Adrianna and Vivi would make sure to keep Princeton to keep the “family” together which is understandable but it was so obvious it wasn’t gonna last

And yes I will read the 3rd book
I know I’m torturing myself

[Alondra Campa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a fat minute since I have read anything as raw and as emotional as this book. Now when I read the first book in the series I was not a fan of how slow and lacking of character development. But moving on to this book, I loved how the characters grew and how deep into the emotions and the relationships it gets. As much as I was angry and irritated with Viv I was, I can see why she did everything she did. I really enjoyed going through everything with her, even if half of it was painful, some things I did relate to and it brought me back into my life a little bit, but I absolutely loved the connection I had with her story. I can’t for the third book to be released.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am just sitting here like what!?!

I love Hades so much. While he was more of a background character in this book, he still played a huge roll in by just being there. The pain and anguish he felt watching Viv for 4 years, even though he knew he deserved part of it for what he did.

Vic/Vale…Good lord there were times I wanted to reach through the book and smack her…yet I understood why she was doing everything. My heart broke for the position she found herself in.

Princeton…well he deserves all he gets.

Cannot wait until the next book and sees where this goes!!

Story 4.5⭐️
Spice 5⭐️🌶️

[Katelyn Rizzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took for me a ride ! Not what I was expecting that for sure, wow sooo many twist and roadblocks in this book to her happiness .
I loved and I hated her , I was so angry at her for being so weak and wanting to stay with new man .
I was shocked at the and was so mad when you said 2 years and I was thinking WTF he needs to find her 🖤this book is so good and I finished it in almost 1 day I couldn’t put it down. I loved this book
I have so many feelings but I don’t want to give anything away ..
This is so good .
I love H ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥🥵🥵🥵🥵