Born into violence. Ruthlessly brutal. Savagely alluring.
Maddoc, Dante, and Logan. The Reapers.
They’re the type of men mothers warn their daughters about, and the last thing I should be doing is marching into their territory and proposing a deal.
But I don’t have any other options.
My sister has been sold to the notorious West Point gang to cover a debt my father owes, and I’ll do anything to get her back... even if it means offering myself up to the Reapers, West Point’s enemies.
It should be simple. Live under their roof, under their control, until they find a way to free my sister.
But in this dangerous new world I find myself part of, nothing is ever simple. And with every rough touch, every searing look, something inside me starts to unravel. I start to crave their darkness instead of fearing it.
I’m playing with fire, dancing too close to the flames…
And when secrets and lies light the match, we’re all going to burn.
This is the first book in the Ruthless Hearts series, a new adult enemies to lovers romance. It contains steam, violence, and dark subject matter. Please venture between these pages at your own discretion.
Callie Rose is a bestselling author who loves to write books that will grab you by the feels and not let go till the very last page. She loves twisty plots, tortured bad boys, strong FMCs, and redemption stories where that shit is *earned*.
The cover drew me in, then the blurb, my anticipation levels high expecting it to go dark with the kidnapping side of things, but this was vanilla, I wouldn’t even say semi dark. But otherwise it did keep my attention, definitely has me intrigued enough for the next book.
When the father hands over his youngest daughter to a gang trying to take power and infiltrate their city Riley has no choice but to go to Dante, Maddoc and Logan - their rivals to help get her sister back, not knowing what she was getting herself into with these three men.
Out of these three men Logan was the one that had my full attention, a little bit more calculating than the others, structured, had a darker personality, and like a moth to a flame I was drawn to that.
She'd had a brief encounter with Dante at the club where she's a stripper, so she was taken by surprise to learn that he was a member of 'The Reapers' but she'll go into battle with the devil if it means getting her sister back.
As for the storyline I wouldn't say it's 100% unique as it's been done a time or two before, but ad in these hot charismatic men and the girl who doesn't back down made for an enjoyable read all in all.
It did end on a cliffy, to end all cliffy’s because this was major. How was her aim?
I'm actually so proud of Riley for being so fucking strong...I honestly love her. Dante and Logan are obv my faves and as for Maddoc? I wasn't too keen on him but I can see myself warming up to him in the next book (maybe). This book was really giving Malice, Ransom, Victor and Willow from the FWP series by Eva Ashwood, so if you're looking for a RH series with similar vibes to tide you over until the release of the next book, I'd recommend that. Also a massive and heartfelt thank you to Callie Rose because miss author just managed to get me out of a month long reading funk mwah😩🙌🏻
safety squad: - RH - safe sex (except for that one scene towards the end) - forced proximity - no cheating - no OW/OM drama - jealous/possessive Hs - brief scene of one of the H's having sex with a random woman while the h watches (this is before they get involved sexually or emotionally but yes, there's an attraction/chemistry) - the hood/gang vibes - cliffhanger - mentions of human trafficking, drugs, death, murder, violence, etc (please check the TWs!)
idk how to feel about this book.. I was interested in how things would play out with Riley going to Dante, Maddoc and Logan for help in rescuing her sister, but the pacing was a lot more slow than I was expecting. 🥱 I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that Riley’s only connection that she acts on is with Dante for almost all of the book. I’m probably the most intrigued by Logan and his deadly vibe though 😭😏 and Maddoc wasn’t doing much for me tbh. I liked Riley a lot, I always prefer when the fmc isn’t someone that lets the love interest(s) walk all over her. I plan to continue the series cause I have to know what’s gonna happen after that ending.. I just hope the sequel better delivers on what this one lacked.
Ruthless Games is one of my favorite RH series and so upon hearing Ms. Rose was starting another RH in the same world, I was soooo excited. I can't wait to see if there'll be some cameo appearances as well. Rose is one of my favorite RH writers and so I was not super concerned of being disappointed, but given that I couldn't get into her rejected mates RH, I was a tiny bit concerned.
NONE NEEDED.
Fuck, this was just everything I've been wanting. We've got a brave FMC who will do anything for her beloved sister and three intriguing Hs who are thick as thieves. I've been in a slight slump with nothing really holding my interest but this, this I could not put down. I was just sucked right into the story and I could not put it down. I read all night and into daylight when the birds started chirping outside. Totally worth. The chemistry is just off the charts, the unique dynamic and relationship that's building between Riley and each of the guys is so delicious. Not only that, the relationship between Maddoc, Dante, and Logan is just as important and I appreciate how heavily that is emphasized as well. It's all just so well done, I can't wait to see how things further progress.
Highly recommend giving this a go if you're looking for a spicy, contemporary RH.
Riley (FMC) is tough as nails and strong as hell. Which she's has had to be with everything going on around her. When events land her to seek the help of 3 dangerous men she's brought into a world that she's not prepared for. I loved the battle of wills Riley had with the guys. She certainly gave as good as she got. Riley was pretty much underestimated from the start of this book i thought but as the book progressed she began to show her strength. This book had me changing my mind throughout with everyone having their own agenda but that cliffhanger ending had me stumped and completely threw me. It was that good!! This was a cracking start to this series. Bring on book 2 now.
Do you know what I love when I read these kinds of books? Chemistry between two characters. Imagine when somebody hates you, despises you, fights with you, and then..she or he becomes your whole word. But in this book? It was nothing like that. Maybe I felt something between Dante and Riley, but I was disappointed.
I thought they would rescue her sister soon and there would be more action.
but, of course, not. They were doing everything but planning. And finally, when they helped her sister and brought her home, Riley decided to act like an immature girl, which made me so mad.
Bruh, this three book series could have easily been one, two if your pushing it. And I’ve read a darker story line in my bathroom on the back of a shampoo bottle.
I JUST finished ‘Pretty Dark Vows’ by Callie Rose and it was FREAKIN’ FANTASTIC 🤯! (FYI, I’m not affiliated with the author and there are NO spoilers! 🙌🏻)
You guyyyyysss… this was AMAZING 🤩!!!! And it’s not widely known (less than 250 ratings on Amazon at the moment!) But it is so, so, so GOOD! Like… so GOOD! 👏🏻🙌🏻
If you like Den of Vipers 🔥, by K.A. Knight… this is TOTALLY for you! If you like Demons and Debts by Kyra Alessy (another lesser known, fantastic series!)… this is ALSO totally for you 🙌🏻! This is a great cross between these two FABULOUS 💋 series and at the same time, is unique and really stands out as something special on its own ❤️🔥!
OK ✅! So this starts off with a FMC who is a stripper 🪩 👙📿 and is absolutely A-OK 👌🏻 with her profession. She’s sassy 💋, STRONG 💪🏻, and FIERCLY protective 👊🏻(and providing for 💰) her little sister 👩🏼. This is world FULL of GANGS 🔫 and she is working & living in Reapers ☠️ territory, just doing her best to scrape by! But it doesn’t take long for her life to get INTERTWINED 🪢 with the GANGS, despite her best efforts, and she is forced to approach THREE of the roughest, baddest, and HOTTEST 🥵 of gangsters for help! Except… what will they ask her to do 😮? What is she willing to do 😲? For their help?? 🔥🔥🔥
So this is an enemies-to-lovers 🥷✌🏻💘 contemporary romance Why Choose, centered around crime & gangs 🔫. It’s a seedier, steamy 🔥world… and I am HERE FOR IT 👏🏻👏🏻!
I was HOOKED from the very first paragraph! Riley is BOLD, FIERCE 💪🏻, and tells it like it is! She is not only smart, but street smart 🧠! It was refreshing to see her actually THINK 🤔 and SPEAK 🗣️ the things that I myself would have been THIKING and SPEAKING, if I were in her shoes! And she stays that way… the WHOLE BOOK 🥳🥳! FIERCE 🤜🏻 until the VERY end and I LOVE IT 👏🏻🙌🏻👏🏻!!!
And the guys!! HOT 🥵 🥵🥵! DANGEROUS ⚠️! And UNIQUE 🙌🏻! I LOOOOOVE a Why Choose where the guys all stand a part form one another! I loved each of them in their own way… especially Logan, who reminded me of “D” in Den of Vipers ❤️🔥! I think he was my favorite, although I really loved Dante’s swagger 😉 and Maddocs authority 👊🏻!
And the STEAM 🔥! Is HOT 🥵 HOT 🥵 HOT 🥵! It’s actually JUST the RIGHT 👌🏻 amount! We can tell early on this author knows how to WRITE SPICE 🌶️🌶️! But it doesn’t dominate the book! The non-romantic plotline takes a big role… all the way to the very end!
Ohhhhhhh…. and THAT ending 😱😱!! Mother of all CLIFFHANGERS 🪨 & TWISTS 🌪️ !! I recommended this to my book bestie and she stayed up ALL night 🌙 reading it in one sitting… and she sent me msg after msg where she was going nuts over the book! I woke up 🥱 to alllll kinds of excited msgs 😂🤣😂!! Especially over that cliffy 🤯!! We were both SUFFERING because Book 2 wasn’t out yet 😭😭! But ✋🏻! Good news 🥳!! Book 2 JUST came out 🙌🏻! And speaking of… I’m off to read it now! 👊🏻👏🏻🙌🏻
So if you love an enemies-to-lovers 🥷✌🏻💘 with Den of Vipers vibes, FANTASTIC SPICE 🌶️ (but not as much as DOV,) a FREAKIN’ AMAZING cliffy with a big a$s TWIST 🌪️, a FIERCE 👊🏻 FMC that is proud, realistic, and smart 🧠, and ROUGH 🔫 guys that will make you SWOON 😍 and want to know MORE… give this a shot! It’s free on KU and you never know, it may be the Pretty Dark Vow that will SHOCK 😱 you too!
You know, I keep going further down into the RH rabbit hole and I can't say I'm mad about it.
I really liked this book. I liked that the characters were unique and fleshed out. I like that she took a generic plot line and put her own twist on it. It's really refreshing to have a MFC that feels real: she's not impossibly hard or impulsive. Her reactions to events are in proportion to what has happened. I like the little plot twist at the end. We get through our big climax point and there's just that eerie feeling of "what's next?"
I loved this story so so much! This is a dark why choose romance. Rylie needs help saving her sister so she makes a deal with people that she would never otherwise talk to. I hope that made sense lol My head is still reeling over that cliffhanger lol I cannot wait to read the next book when it comes out
Yeah, no. There's just no way i'm gonna have sex with a man who i just found out betrayed me, and wants my sister for his own scheme, even if it's just a "distraction".😭😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Good lord this book was terrible. I only kept reading for Dante. WHY ARE WE YAPPING SO MUCH. You could take 200 pages out of this book and not miss a thing. This is supposed to be a DARK romance??? Where is the darkness we’re speaking of? Romance?? There’s only two actual spicy scenes??
Logan, you’re fing annoying “eating eggs whites and exactly 4 ounces of spinach for breakfast.” “You haven’t eaten anything substantial in the past thirty-six point nine hours.” Shut up. You’re cringe.
Maddoc, you’re just arrogant with nothing really to back it up. “Gonna make you feel so good” no thanks. Why are we referring to the MMC’s as weird analogies and their appearances? “The blond man,” “the tatted man” ??????
Do yourself a favor and read Sick Boys by Clarissa Wild instead.
Riley will do anything for her sister including walking herself right into the center of one of the biggest gangs in the city demanding they help her rescue her sister from a rival gang. This book had me on my toes. The back and forth and overall determination Riley has to protect her sister to the best of her ability. She is a strong FMC who isn’t afraid to say what’s in her mind!
I'm not really sure I want to continue reading the series. There is nothing special about characters or the story that intrigued me. The cliffhanger is good, though.
OMG THIS BOOK! I devoured it! It was soooo good! I needed a book to draw me in and consume me, and this did just that. I can’t wait to read the 2nd one. I’m OBSESSED!
DNF 48% I wanted to like this book. I have read some other gang type books like this that I enjoyed so I gave it a shot.
I have to say, at 48% in hardly anything has actually happened. It's dull and I'm finding that I don't particular like the characters much. Maybe Dante. Though it doesn't sit great with me how he's cool with Riley being treated in certain ways by the others.
I like that there's kind of a bit of a connection between them all, even if it's minor and not really acknowledged. That connection was basically the reason I stuck it out to 48%. But.... I'm just kind of over it. I skimmed through other reviews enough to know that this ends in a cliffhanger and maybe something about Chloe ending up in the reaper's hands instead of 'free' and decided that I just don't want to read anymore about these people.
There's lots of books out there that don't have me cringing and grinding my teeth, and I'm going to go find one instead of this shit.
I absolutely consumed this book, couldn’t put it doe until the very last word and wow what a ride 😜 The suspense, secrets, danger, gang war, kidnapping and oh so much more had me in the edge f m chair the whole time. The steamy scenes were hot AF 🥵🔥 The chemistry was off the charts. Overall a phenomenal read, definitely reading more from this author
Oddio, sembra un libro scritto dall' intelligenza artificiale. E' come se avessero inserito in un cervellone numerosi dark romance e reverse harem e sia uscito fuori questo libro. Non mi ha ricordato particolarmente nessun romanzo che ho letto, ma allo stesso tempo me ne ha ricordato una decina tutti insieme. I tre protagonisti maschili sono la sagra dello stereotipo, e la protagonista sebbene non sia odiosa come molte altre è sicuramente stupida e fastidiosa. Sto dicendo che il libro è brutto? No. Sto dicendo che è un bel libro? Nooooooo! Leggerò anche il secondo, anzi, comincerò a leggere il secondo, per scrupolo più che per interesse, metti che diventa un capolavoro... ne dubito, ma non si sa mai.
Aggiornamento: Ho letto solo la prima pagina del secondo libro e no, non ce la posso fare, chissenefrega se potrebbe essere migliore del primo. Cominciare un libro sapendo già che al 99,99% lo mollerò non è un buon punto di partenza.
this was written super well i just didn’t like some parts. like why riley wasn’t freaking out way way more while her sister was literally missing. i wouldn’t be able to be calm for a second if it was me. but she was having sex….. with all the guys….. barely questioning them…. also a scene in the beginning of the book was borderline assault? it felt weird. they just made her take her clothes off and touched her without saying anything. ALSO? one of the guys said something along the lines of “what? is your sister too weak to handle some groping from drunk guys?” EXCUSE ME? who the fuck says that? all of them are annoying and weird. i hate them all. but the ending was super good. excited to read the next book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Definitely gotta read this! Riley having come across The Reapers was no easy task. But when her sister Chloe runs into trouble, its up to Riley to save her and can’t do it without the help of Maddoc, Logan, and Dante. Needless to say they are ruthless, dangerous men of the Reapers gang. With Dante and Riley already starting a spicy history, Riley wants to use that to her advantage to get Chloe back. I really like Riley, her being a tough gal just made it that more interesting and badass in stepping up to the plate. Action and sizzling chemistry between the dangerous three is whats in store for you. And the cliffy is fiiiyurrrrr!! Can’t wait for the next. Multiple POV, excellent writing is what you get, so read it!