The Secrets That Kill

Obsidian Knights Secret Society #1

by Kristen Luciani

When an act of revenge becomes an act of obsession…and your best friend’s sister is the target.Born into a world stained with blood and violence, I’ve risen to the top, beyond rich, skilled in the fine art of death. I’ve never forgotten where I came from, how hard I hit rock bottom, or the girl who drove me there.

My best friend’s sister, Ivy.

The stars have finally aligned because when a complicated assassination job comes my way, I have the chance to get my revenge on the woman who put me behind bars.

Cold, meticulous, and cruel, I play my twisted game. Sweet Ivy is innocent, naïve, and desperate, the perfect accomplice for my plan. Once plucked, savored, and bent to my will, I’m going to destroy her.

One thing threatens my objective. She makes my blood burn hot, setting off all kinds of fires. One taste, and I’m addicted to the forbidden. Each depraved act draws us deeper into our dark, sex-soaked world where my objective for revenge becomes blurred by obsession.

But the enemy still lurks, waiting for a chance to steal what’s mine. And what Ivy doesn’t know is that the dangerous secrets of my past can shatter everything she wants for her future.

She thinks she knows betrayal. She has no idea.Fans of dark billionaire, secret society, enemies to lovers romances will love this spicy hot new standalone novel by USA Today Bestselling Author Kristen Luciani. Scroll up and one-click today!

Publisher This story contains dark, explicit, and triggering themes. If such content offends you, please do not purchase this book.

Genres: BDSM, Enemies To Lovers, Dark, Dark Romance, Erotica, Contemporary, Forced Proximity

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 15, 2024

About the author

Kristen Luciani is a USA Today bestselling romance author, momtrepreneur, and a beauty product junkie with a penchant for stilettos, Silicon Valley, plunging necklines and grapefruit martinis. As a deep-rooted romantic who prefers juicy drama to fill the lives of anyone other than her, she tried her hand at creating a world of enchantment, sensuality, and intrigue, finally uncovering her true passion. No pun intended…

***FREE BOOK OFFER!*** Click here to get a free copy of my MAYHEM!
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Reviews

[Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: revenge
Angst: 😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

This was a super steamy rollercoaster ride from beginning to end. I really loved how it was an emotional slow burn that had to navigate building trust and forgiving a past filled with deception and blackmail. I loved Ivy! I'm not usually a fan of the "broken heroine" trope, but she really grew throughout the story to become a bad ass - and in a believable way, not a "flip a switch and now I'm a badass" way, lol. I thought the story was fast paced and had tons of twists and turns. I'm super excited to see where Kristen takes us with this series!

[Claudia, Cmarie927 · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a devoted fan of this author, I eagerly expect her new releases, confident that they will be just as captivating as the last book I read. The moment Mercer was introduced in Lethal Lover, the last installment of the Vengeful Villains series, I was certain that I had to read his story as soon as possible. Be ready, because this is even darker and grittier than her previous series.

You've read the Vengeful Villains series, Right? If you haven't already, you really should. This book doesn't have a direct connection to that series, so you are free to start here. Then I would suggest exploring the author's catalog. Just my opinion… *wink*

Prepare yourself for a profound and intense reading experience with these characters. There are various factors that make it unlikely for these two to have a successful relationship. Kept in the dark about so many things, Ivy's troubling and difficult backstory has had a profound impact on her. Unknowingly, she has been under Mercer’s watchful eye for most of her life, for good reason. When he manipulates her into the universe of the Obsidian Knights, she is transformed into a pawn by Mercer, who exploits her naivety to serve his ultimate purpose. He subjects her to many degrading, hazardous, and explicitly unethical circumstances that go far beyond what she is comfortable with. From start to finish, this story had me completely captivated, with its addictive plot and heart-pounding situations that kept me eagerly turning the pages. These two are complete opposites, yet their unique connection is undeniably strong. Their relationship was a whirlwind of emotions - intense, passionate, and more than occasionally frustrating. Their steamy chemistry and intensity sizzled right off the pages… whew! I found their HEA very satisfying, especially with the way their specific dangers were resolved.

I am truly impressed by the author's ability to create and develop these characters with such creativity and craftsmanship. I found myself engrossed in the dangerous world of these pages, unable to tear myself away until the very end.

Being fortunate enough to receive a complimentary copy of this book, I am eager to provide my feedback on it. I cannot wait to see what happens next in this series. Grab this one, it’s great.

[Brittany (Brit.tea.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secrets that Kill was the perfect start to the Obsidian Knights Secret Society series.

ℐ'𝓂 ℊℴ𝒾𝓃ℊ 𝓉ℴ 𝒻--𝓀𝒾𝓃ℊ 𝓇𝓊𝒾𝓃 𝓎ℴ𝓊 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓎ℴ𝓊'𝓁𝓁 𝒷ℯℊ 𝒻ℴ𝓇 𝓂ℴ𝓇ℯ.

This book was filthy, and I loved it. The spice was FIRE. Mercer is unhinged with specific shminks and loves control. One taste of his little Pollyanna (Ivy), and he becomes obsessed with her; he is a touch her and 💀 type of guy, and I couldn't put this book down. I devoured it in one sitting.

𝒴ℴ𝓊'𝓇ℯ 𝓈𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒶 𝒻--𝓀𝒾𝓃ℊ ℊℴℴ𝒹 ℊ𝒾𝓇𝓁, 𝒫ℴ𝓁𝓁𝓎𝒶𝓃𝓃𝒶. ℐ 𝒸ℴ𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓁𝒾𝓋ℯ 𝓌𝒾𝒽𝓉 𝓂𝓎 🍆 𝒷𝓊𝓇𝒾ℯ𝒹 𝒾𝓃 𝓎ℴ𝓊𝓇 𝓂ℴ𝓊𝓉𝒽.

Mercer has a job to do, but he needs some assistance, and he knows the perfect person to help him- his best friend's little sister. He can kill two birds with one stone, eliminate his target, and get revenge on the girl who put him behind bars.

Oh, Ivy has had a tough life, and Mercer is up to no good when it comes to getting his revenge against her. These two want to hate each other, but Mercer has tasted the forbidden fruit, and now he can't stop.

𝒴ℴ𝓊 𝓉𝒶𝓈𝓉ℯ 𝓁𝒾𝓀ℯ 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓈𝓌ℯℯ𝓉ℯ𝓈𝓉 𝓈𝒾𝓃, 𝒫ℴ𝓁𝓁𝓎𝒶𝓃𝓃𝒶.

You will HATE Mercer, but once the story unfolds, you will grow to love him. These two had a rough start, but these two broken souls were made for each other.

𝒩ℴ𝒷ℴ𝒹𝓎 𝓉ℴ𝓊𝒸𝒽ℯ𝓈 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉'𝓈 𝓂𝒾𝓃ℯ.

I can't wait to continue this series and read The Desires That Burn. Age gap and dad's best friend, I'm all in!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC
𝔻𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕋𝕠 ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕: 15 Days
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖: High (Check Trigger Warnings)
𝔼𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕋𝕪𝕡𝕖: Concluded; with a snippet of Book 2 stemming from the world at the end. The Desires That Burn: A Dark Billionaire Age Gap Romance! (I will definitely be reading this when it releases 🥵)
•
𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕎𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕥𝕪𝕝𝕖: I enjoyed the writing and pacing of the story. I did find that at times the transition of the story was kind of abrupt but it did keep the plot moving that’s for sure. I do love how the author grows the character throughout the story.
𝔽𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 ℚ𝕦𝕠𝕥𝕖: “Patience, they say, is a virtue. And I play that game like a prodigy.”
𝔽𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣: Chapter 38 🖤
𝔽𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣: Mercer Vale
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: At first I was sure if this book was going to be for me. But boy was I wrong. The Character growth is 🤌🏼 and the spicy was SO good 🥵. I’d kinda say it is a mix between 50 Shades and the Haunting Adeline books. I am definitely interested in the other side stories I feel like the author is going to come out with and I can’t wait! I really did not see the one plot twist coming. 🤯 I would totally recommend this book if this sounds up your alley 😌

[Robyn Corcoran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wrote this review for Saucy Reviews on Kinky Korner.
Book one in the Obsidian Knights Secret Society is about Mercer Vale and Ivy Gardner. The start was intriguing and I was absorbed in the storyline the whole way through.

Right off I am going to admit that I was super annoyed with Mercer, his attitude and the way he manipulated and humiliated Ivy made me see red. I admit he had some reason to be vengeful towards her but it still annoyed me, although, I forgave him. He is one hundred percent a planner who organises everything to the nth degree, assassins have to be I expect.

Ivy was an innocent young woman with a traumatic past. She was easily manipulated but a part of her liked being manipulated, too. Mercer exposed her to a way of life she’d never known and she flourished. The difference between Ivy at the start of the book and Ivy at the end was amazing, she’d sure grown up and built up her confidence. Together they had incredible chemistry evidenced in the many, many passionate scenes.

Underlining the romance was the current job Mercer was working, and boy did it turn hairy with some incredible twists and turns, I loved the surprises.

[Daniela Tavares · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/6.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5.

This was hovering on a 4 star but the last 20% did it for me.
This started literally with a bang of sorts but this was also a slowburn. I liked that while we start with spice, we took our time building the feels.
Ivy pulled this off for me. The way she stood up for herself and want she wanted was so good. I kinda wish someone 👀 would be bodily harmed, you know just a bit cuz F them for what they did.
The last part made me gasp out loud and made my boyfriend look weird at me for a bit. I was not expecting that someone to be that someone. I'm also not sure if i like him or hate him but I guess i'll find out with the next book.

Ivy had a very one sided crush on Mercer since he became friends with her brother and now it seems like fate intervened 🤐 and put Mercer in her path again except now all she feels is hate and disgust. Until she doesn't. Love and Hate are sides of the same coin as both she and Mercer learned later on.
Ivy has a lot of guilt inside her because of her past and Mercer knows that so he plays on it ir order to get her to do his bidding but not only that, he also gives her sister the best treatment she could have and holds that above Ivy's head.
Ivy might seem like a doormat in some aspects or a people's pleaser but she isn't that. She is a smart, strong woman who knows what she wants and needs and she F'ing demands it by the end of this and I loved that. I loved that she confronted Mercer , armed I might add 😌, and she decided right then and there she would be the one to end this whole thing and F Mercer.

Mercer was interesting but then he was also an a-hole. The saving grace i think is that when he behaved like that especially when Ivy was in subspace, he acknowledged to himself that he was being an idiot and that he shouldn't do or say what he did at certain points which made me like him in a way because he knew what he was doing but he also needed to keep his control and that was his way of doing it. If he didn't acknowledge that in his head, i don't think I would've liked him very much.
Mercer had it rough growing up and a mother who didn't care at all for him even after everything they went through. I confess this tugged at my heart strings a bit but he was emotionally so unapproachable that I didn't know what to think of him anymore because his words and actions didn't always mean the same which honestly made me wanna read more and find out if he was redeemable and if he deserved Ivy because that was my question for the majority of this book.

Their D/s dynamic was an interesting one. I liked how Kristen wrote it and it didn't feel like too much for me. I loved seeing Ivy discover her darkest desires and I liked that she did research and that it was present in her mind that while this whole dynamic seems wrong to other people, to her it was a need and a release and that with the right person it could be amazing.
Mercer had his head up his bum so he didn't always provide aftercare which made me side eye my kindle a bit but like I mentioned above, he at least acknowledged that he should do it and that he was a sh*! Dom for not doing it. It doesn't excuse him but I could get past it because Ivy didn't exactly need him to cuddle her and such which worked for them because Mercer mouth and his emotions aren't always on the same page and he F***s up sometimes but she sees through him so she provides him aftercare in an interesting way too because Dom's needed to and Mercer was no exception.
Again I really liked how they played together and that when they were in it, they felt and understood each other on another level.

Now those last 20% were amazing and I was on the edge of my sit. A heroine kicking a$$ is always a highlight for me and Ivy didn't disappoint. She went into danger very well prepared and she did what she needed to. I was cheering for her the whole time while also being afraid for her. I loved that the story took this turn. The plot twist was also good.
On the other side of this, I loved that Mercer deferred to Ivy when she caught him in the middle of a conversation. He even armed her again because she wasn't playing which was kinda funny, sweet and smart of him but also showed that he was all in with Ivy even though he hadn't acknowledged that yet.

Mercer gesture at the end might seem small compared to everything he did to Ivy but to me it was the right thing because it matched his character but also gave Ivy what she needed in order to come back. Some might also think Ivy was to "weak" and forgave him right away but I think Ivy was firm and that she got what she needed of him and if she didn't, she would've walked away which demonstrated that she wasn't about to dance to his tune just because.

Orin's book is next and while I'm interested, I'm also reticent to read it because he did some damage and I ain't about to forget that soon but I could be persuaded when I get to it cuz he was in Black Ops so I understand the why and I honestly wanna know how he went from being a spoiled kid, to being Black Ops and then finally to be a Knight. I'm sure it's gonna be a good story from the sneak peak we had but i will need some convincing. I also hope we see more of Mercer and Ivy in his book because I need some closure.


* I read an arc of this book. *

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre/Trope: Dark, BDSM Romance
Book Type: Standalone
Book Length: Novel
POV: Alternating Dual
Setting: Manhattan, New York
Male MC: Mercer Vale is an enigma. He’s wealthy, wickedly handsome, cold, calculating, dangerous, and belongs to a secret society of underworld criminals called the Obsidian Knights. Mercer had a hard life and ended up living on the streets, getting involved in some illegal activities, and going to prison for 2 years when he was in his early 20s. Mercer is now in his early 30s and has dark hair and hazel eyes.
Female MC: Ivy Gardner is a young college student and works multiple jobs to support her disabled sister and herself. She knew Mercer as her older brother’s best friend and crushed on him hard when she was 14. After finding out he gave drugs to her brother she reported him to the police and Mercer was sent to prison. Ivy is now 22 and has long dark hair and blue-green eyes.
Endearment: Pollyanna
Spice Level: High
Frequency of Spice: High
Angst Level: Medium/High
Cliffhanger: No
My Review: I really liked this story a lot, but it did have a few flaws in my opinion. It was super sexy and spicy and had a ton of intensity and angst, which was amazing. I felt Mercer and Ivy’s connection completely. They had great chemistry and a backstory that made for a delicious revenge plot and a second-chance angsty romance. Mercer was a cold and vengeful man though and I just wanted him to thaw out a bit sooner and realize his feelings for Ivy were worth more than his revenge. Also, I wished that Mercer and Ivy were able to resolve their issues a bit faster too so we could have enjoyed them being in love and happy for longer. It was a little late in the story for me and it had no epilogue, which I didn’t like. Lastly, the nickname of Pollyanna is probably one of the worst I’ve ever read and I was not a fan of that at all. Despite all of that, it was an excellent book and I really enjoyed it. Just a few tweaks and it would’ve been a total 5-star read for me.

[Angie Schexnaildre NOLA504nerds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wow! This is the first book in Ms. Luciani’s Obsidian Knights series. And let me tell you it did not disappoint.

Ivy Gardner & Mercer Vale have a history and it isn’t good. Ivy had a crush on him as a teenager, and now she’s all grown up.

Mercer is a man of many talents. When given a mission from the Obsidian Knights, he plans on using the one person who’s wronged him, Ivy.

4 1/2 kinky stars! The steam in this book is off the charts. I loved how Ivy never backed down to Mercer. She also burrowed her way deep into his stone cold heart. I did love the big reveal towards the end of the story.

[Jennifer Harrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Who doesn't love a "brother's best friend" trope? Now give it a little twist where the heroine has sent that best friend to prison, and you get Ivy and Mercer's story.

The idea of the story intrigued me. Unfortunately, it did not hold my interest. The idea was there, the execution just didn't do it for me.

Ivy was very much the innocent sub she was tasked to portray. What I liked about her was that it wasn't all an act, but it wasn't all real. She had backbone and had no problem using it.

Mercer was a lot kinder than I expected him to be. I anticipated ruthlessness, and he no doubt had it in him, but he also had a soft spot for Ivy.

The book contained a very heavy dose of spice, and I dare say that if even a fraction of it were cut, you'd still have a lot of spice. For me, this took away from the story. Yes, it was a big part of it, however I would have liked to have seen more of the "seedy underbelly" of what they were trying to infiltrate, as opposed to more D/s.

I'd like to emphasize that there is nothing wrong with the amount of spice, it just didn't do it for me in this book.

The last few chapters were my favorite, and there was even a surprise that I didn't see coming, and I'll admit, I loved.

Overall, this book just wasn't for me. The writing was good, the characters were good, the pacing was just a little slow, and the story didn't get quite as nitty-gritty as I would have liked.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

True enemies to lovers. Spoiler Alert




Growing up we all have that one crush. For some it’s a captain of the football or baseball team, the boy next door, or your older siblings friend. That’s what Mercer was to Ivy. But Mercer saw her the way most of our crushes probably saw us- the naive annoying gnat that wouldn’t go away. Then both their lives take a big turn. Now several years later they “run” into each other. He has something she needs and he needs her as a pawn a little fish to use to get to the bigger fish really to drain the whole pond and if she goes down with it, well he won’t look back. Or so it seems that way. But things change and as much as Mercer doesn’t want to admit to himself everyone around him sees it. The middle to end take some big turns and twists. I loved this book so much I read it twice. It’s full of fire and ice, with spice.

[Kayley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I cannot believe this has over 4 stars. I read some crazy shit- this was wild. This man should be sentenced to life in prison and then his brain and trauma should be studied by women in STEM after to work towards a cure for manipulative men.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret That Kill is book of Obsidian Knights Secret Society Trilogy. A full-length standalone steamy novel with no cheating or cliffhanger and guaranteed HEA. A brilliantly written story driven by revenge that grabs you attention from the start and keeps you riveted, hook and on the edge of your seat in this nail-biting suspenseful story. A spellbounding, fast, paced, dark, depraved, filthy, craveable and twisted story. An absorbing addicting and unputdownable read. This story contains dark, explicit, and triggering themes. If such content offends you, please do not purchase this book.
A dark billionaire romance, hate-to-love age gap trope story, enemies-to-lovers romance, brother's best friend romance, forbidden relationship, off-limits relationship, taboo story, secret society story, touch-her-and-die romance, dark romance, opposite attracts story, with hatred, revenge, violence, drama, darkness, madness, danger, surprises, suspense, forgiveness, lies, resilience, BDSM, manipulation, betrayal, enemies, anger, angst, revenge, resentment, revelation, tension, emotions, retaliation, debasement, threat, losses, trauma, pawn, pain and pleasure, secrets, hurt, heartaches, deception, steam, surprising twists and turns, mystery, double-cross, assassin, guilt, blackmail, dominance, spanking, intense rough sex, submission, dirty talking, passion, power and control, mystery, kinks, grief, obsession, bloodshed, action packed, possessiveness, betrayal, murder, chaos, fear, depravity, poison, edge play, rope play, anal play, attempted rape, blood and gore, acceptance and love.
Mercer Vale is filthy rich, a stone cold killer, vicious, cold-hearted, and an assassin. He's a member of The Obsidian Knights. A secret society, one that exists in the realm outside law, order, and rules that rest of the world follows. Each Knight has been carefully curated, with each them having special skills. Mercer skills are poison that he specially created and knifes and guns. They're the creme la creme of underworld criminals, shadowy and existing on the edge of society. Mercer has a complicated job to pull but it needs a certain kind of girl to help him pull it off. He enlist Ivy Garner. His obsession and best friend little sister without her knowing. She's exact kind of her that his target Henderson who plays in the depths of the Broken Angel club wants with his depravity. This target is most difficult to take down and many of tried. Mercer took this job for two reasons to rid of that rat bastard and the second is to get revenge on Ivy.
When Ivy was fourteen she had a crush on Mercer and even tried to kiss him but he rejected her. However, she now caught his attention because she has grown up to be beautiful, curvaceous woman with stunning face with a killer body like a porn star. Ivy is innocent, sweet and vulnerable woman but she was the one who send Mercer to prison and he wants retribution for her action. She's a walking wet dream to his target. But Mercer plans on taking her, defiling her, owning her, and bend her to his will before waiving her in front of Henderson at the Broken Angel. He going let Ivy part take in her own destruction willing. Cara and Ivy are college roommates and Mercer blackmailed Cara into bringing Ivy to the club. Ivy thought Mercer was her brother's best friend but she find out that he was a drug dealer and was sell him drugs and it caused her brother Jaxson to die so she turn him into the police where he was sent to prison. Fast forward ten years later and she his now face to face with his anger cold eyes.
There's pure hatred and anger between them but there's a magnetic that draws them to each other without touching. Mercer set it up that Ivy would be directly in Anton Popov path so that he can save her from a guy like him who destroy girls then sell them to the highest and sickest bidder. Mercer knew that he can kill two birds with one stone by getting rid of Henderson for killing Ruby and getting his revenge on Ivy for sending him to prison. Ivy sister Elise was in a bad car accident with her parents and she was the only survivor and it has caused her to be in a wheelchair. Ivy was supposed to be in the car with her parents on that day and she has been guilt ridden because of the fact. Mercer knows that Ivy has been eating herself with guilt of her sister in a wheelchair and has used that weakness to manipulate her into helping him with his next target Henderson at the Broken Angel club. He convinced her to help and he would help her sister to get care that she needs and he would foot all the bill. There's a clinic in Switzerland that may possibly help Elise to walk again, so he buys the clinic and puts Elise on a first class flight to Switzerland.
Ivy didn't want to help him but after she heard the happiness in her sister's voice she couldn't deny her her dreams. Mercer was shocked that he was attracted to Ivy he never planned on feeling that way in his planning for revenge against her. He decided to he was going to own her, used her then destroy her. Although Mercer had lost two years of his life in prison because of Ivy has managed to carved out a successful life and became a billionaire was he got out courtesy of The Obsidian Knights. Mercer is a dominant, alpha male with a sick and depraved proclivities in dominating woman. Mercer manipulate Ivy natural submissiveness by debasing her and pushing her to the pass her limits in a public setting. Mercer didn't out on the darkness that was submerged in Ivy so the more it pushed her the lines became blurred as enemies went from hatred to love. Ivy started as a shy and naive woman and in the process rise a strong and powerful phoenix. He thrives on power, careful planning and control until the woman who he had once thought was an annoying little fourteen year old matured into a beautiful woman turn his life on it's axel. Ivy brought the cold-hearted killer to his knees by letting him fall in love with her and can't live without her and in the end she made this emotionless killer confess his love for her. Their passion was electrifying, magnetic and charged and their bedroom scenes were scorching hot, filthy, carnal, and risqué. In the end Ivy proved that she can be a monster like him and be his perfect queen once he was able to accept that he wasn't the cause of his childhood trauma and tragedies. I devoured every morsel of this book and can't wait for the next.

I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25stars—THE SECRETS THAT KILL is the first instalment in Kristen Luciani’s contemporary adult OBSIDIAN KNIGHTS SECRET SOCIETY dark, erotic, romance series focusing on a secret society of billionaires and assassins. This is billionaire Mercer Vale, and twenty-three year old, college student Ivy Gardner.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise including graphic scenes of BDSM and Dom/sub scenarios, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.


Told from dual first person perspectives (Mercer and Ivy ) THE SECRETS THAT KILL follows the unconventional and questionable relationship between our story line couple. Mercer Vale blames Ivy Gardner for the implosion of his life, years before. Demanding payment for sins of the past, Mercer takes control of Ivy’s life, forcing our heroine into a world she knows nothing about. As Mercer’s submissive, Ivy is about to become a pawn in a dangerous game of murder and vengeance wherein years of betrayal culminate in the ultimate showdown, and consent is questionable at every turn.

The world building is complex and gritty. Power and vengeance are the focus for one man who is struggling for control of his life. His need to avenge is bred from years of trauma and abuse, and Ivy will become a victim of revenge, jealousy and obsession.

The relationship between Ivy and Mercer is atypical and forced. Ivy will become Mercer’s captive, a sexual slave, a submissive to be used when and how Mercer demands. Consent is questionable from the outset but Ivy will succumb to Mercer’s needs and demands, often instigating and pushing Mercer to the edge of control. The $ex scenes are aggressive, intense and provocative.

There is a large ensemble cast of questionable, controversial and dark characters. We are introduced to a secret society whose members are cruel, and their actions are heinous.

THE SECRETS THAT KILL is a dark story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, domination and submission, acceptance and love. The premise is dark, dramatic and tragic; the characters are desperate and contentious.

Copy supplied for review

Www.thereadingcafe.com

[Alina Anghel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for fans who love dark billionaire, secret societies, D/s relationships and enemies to lovers romances.

Ivy is the innocent sweet girl who made some wrong choices when she was young and made Mercer pay for some of his choices when he didn't have too much to live by.
They meet again when she's older and Mercer has plans to use her to get access to a man that he's targeting.

I'd first like to swear a bit at Mercer for the way he treated Ivy throughout the book for something she did when she was young and foolish.

The book was so intense, the relationship between them so spicy and woven in intrigue. I really liked the progression of their relationship throughout the book.
Mercer is obsessed with her and she makes his blood boil. He's mostly deluding himself that he can let her go once he's used her to get what he needs but we know he wouldn't be able to do that. 👀
They both rocked each others lives and wouldn't be able to live much without the other.
I'm glad Ivy finally got the backbone to leave him if he didn't admit that he wanted her and recognized his worth. And she showed us just how much of a badass she really is. ❣️
And Mercer FINALLY admitted his feelings. 👀

That plot twist near the end, DAMN. I need to admit I wasn't actually expecting that, but I had a feeling when Mercer said some things. I'm glad that turned out the way it did. ❣️

I wish it was a bit longer so we could see how their relationship moved once they admitted their feelings for each other, but I'm hoping to get peeks at them in the next book, about Orion's story. Can't wait for this one! ❤️

Some of my favorite quotes:
“Because you give me something none of those other girls ever could.”
"She has power over me—my mind, my body, my fucking soul. And I don’t trust myself around her. Not right now."
"What I really want to do is back her into a wall and absolutely ruin her lipstick, I want to kiss her until her complex sweetness and fresh taste has infused my body and cleansed me."
"I know it’s not real, but it feels real. And being in your hands, being yours, gives me peace. It’s something that’s been missing in my life for so long.”
"I fucking never want to let this woman go. In this moment, I’m in her world like she’s in mine, deep down where nothing exists except a shared pleasure, shared pain."

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really liked this book. It was much better than I expected, and there was a lot that went on. It felt like a substantial read, rather than a lighter version of darker themes that I keep coming across. It was still light on the story, as most of it was just spice between the characters, but it was OK. There were a couple of things that just didn't make sense to me, though. The following will have spoilers.

Editing-wise, first off, it had issues. There were instances of misspelling and wrong words used in several places. Most of the misspellings were such that they were still a word and spell check wouldn't catch it, but it was still annoying.

Story-wise, there were a few things that irked me. First one being that they started off hating each other, and she knew that he had plans for her. Why was she so shocked when those plans came to light? I get that she was hoping he started to care, but she seemed surprised that it was a thing at all.

Talking about his plans, I was definitely shocked about the twist about her brother. I did not see that coming at all. That being said, though, he knew about Mercer's plans... for his sister... and seemed OK with it? That just seems off to me. If he actually cared about her, then he wouldn't let Mercer do any of that to her. It doesn't really compute in my brain.

I liked the end, but it seemed a bit quick once she was dropped off at the house. More than once she was thinking she needed to go, and he couldn't bring himself to say what she wanted, but then all of a sudden there it was and he proposes and everything HEA. Just abrupt.

I did like the author, and I will continue the series. I would recommend this book to others to read, too.

[~lil maso~]

Reviewed by Robyn for Saucy Reviews on Kinky Korner

Book one in the Obsidian Knights Secret Society is about Mercer Vale and Ivy Gardner. The start was intriguing and I was absorbed in the storyline the whole way through.

Right off I am going to admit that I was super annoyed with Mercer, his attitude and the way he manipulated and humiliated Ivy made me see red. I admit he had some reason to be vengeful towards her but it still annoyed me, although, I forgave him. He is one hundred percent a planner who organises everything to the nth degree, assassins have to be I expect.

Ivy was an innocent young woman with a traumatic past. She was easily manipulated but a part of her liked being manipulated, too. Mercer exposed her to a way of life she’d never known and she flourished. The difference between Ivy at the start of the book and Ivy at the end was amazing, she’d sure grown up and built up her confidence. Together they had incredible chemistry evidenced in the many, many passionate scenes.

Underlining the romance was the current job Mercer was working, and boy did it turn hairy with some incredible twists and turns, I loved the surprises.

*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*

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[Charlene Gaskins · Rating 2 out of 5]

2. 25 Meh.

The story wasn't one that I haven't read before in the "revenge trope" series that seems to be repetitious in this genre. The best friend's little sister who is targeted to pay for someone's else prior offense by Mercer, is nothing new. There is nothing wrong with this kind of story as long as the author can make it their own or put an "it factor" into the plot which separates it from all the others stories that have already been published.

Reading the blurb was misleading especially when the author chooses to not focus on something like BDSM between the "good girl" and the main character. Had I known that this was going to be a trip down "50 Shades of Grey" I wouldn't have attempted to read this book. The 50 Shades series was great. Some authors have tried to replicate it, but only a few have been successful.

Ivy's character was more to my liking than Mercer. Mercer's character felt immature and slow on the uptake. Both characters had some strong moments in this book, there just weren't enough of them. I got the sex/lust connection between these two, but never felt like it was a love story. Sexual gratification is great, but doesn't equate to love.

If you are someone who enjoys allot of BDSM, then you will enjoy this book. I prefer a main male character that knows how to be sensual, sexy, erotic and arousing without all the paraphernalia needed by Doms and Sub's. For me, a little BDSM done right, goes along way.

The actual story wasn't bad, but could have been better with a plot that was original and characters that resonated with a wider range of readers.

[Tamarra Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is not new to me, having read previous books by her. This one definitely did not disappoint.

From the first word to the last and everything in between was a roller coaster of a ride that will leave you hot and steamy in all the right places. You will be pulled into an emotional story that will grip your heart, and the slow burn will have you navigating many avenues such trust and an unforgiving past filled with blackmail and deception.

Our FMC Ivy and our MMC Mercer are from two different worlds, but unbeknownst to Ivy, Mercer has been part of her life, lurking in the shadows. He takes advantage of her innocence, despite her traumatic past, he manipulated and humiliated her, however this became the norm for Ivy, because she liked it, and this allowed Mercer to exploit and expose her to another life she never thought possible, and because of him she flourished in so many ways.

The person Ivy was at the beginning of the book was not the same at the end of the book. You can tell that there definitely was character development and growth because it allowed Ivy to develop not only her confidence but her self-worth too.

If you love age-gap, billionaire, brothers - best friend with alpha-hero vibes, BDSM and a host of triggers with a HEA - then this book is for you.

Highly recommend both the author and the book.

I received an ARC. Therefore, I am submitting a voluntary review.

[Robin Biggerstaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I was not prepared for how much I really loved this book. I forced myself to slow down and really really read it. As always check your TWs.

Mercer and Ivy have that push and pull that is relatable in a way that zeros in on how what you want and what you need are two completely different things that are somehow uncomfortably similar at the same time. Sometimes it’s because you don’t want to admit it to yourself, and sometimes you just feel like wanting and needing it makes you less. But in the end we want what we want, and it comes down to are we going to do whatever it takes to get it or are we going to deny ourselves while telling ourselves it’s for our own good or the good of the other person. So we settle.

Watching these two try to reconcile their inside feelings with their outside actions throughout this book was almost humorous. Mainly because it felt familiar.

The story in the book was ever present and moved along, but the real plot focus was absolutely the relationship and painful dynamic between the main characters. It did not lack for spice. The spice is dirty and toxic and absolutely not for everyone. It’s not a how to guide for the appropriate way to approach BDSM. That’s not a secret. There was no misrepresentation. No excuses were made. This was an unapologetic roll in the mud and muck. And I loved every minute of it.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have read Lethal Lover then you have met Mercer. This is the story of he and Ivy. Now I will go ahead and let you know that your probably not going to be a Mercer fan. In the beginning. He annoyed the fire out of me. He is a master manipulator and gosh I hated the way he humiliated Ivy. That poor girl. I was wishing she would run more times than I can count. But, with that said, redemption is one of the reasons we all read romance books. Though I didn't have much faith that he was going to be able to redeem himself at all, ever!!! He is a professional assassin.Ivy is this sweet innocent young woman who has gone way to much in her young life. She didn't mind being manipulated as much I minded her being manipulated and I just wanted to scream at times. Don't let this dude do that to you Ivy!!!. But alas I guess Mercer was the man for her and he did show her a life that she never knew was possible so I couldn't stay mad at him forever. There is so much growth in Ivy by the end of the book and that was all Mercer's doing!! We can't forget the action and the moments that keep you on the edge of your seat. There are twists and turns and what the heck moments in this book that will keep you reading to find out what's going to happen. I did enjoyed the story once I got over being so very irritated at Mercer.

[Brandi-Lynn Weiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercer Vale is definitely one of the MOST infuriating guys ever. I swear I wanted to jump in this book, junk punch him w/a brick, & hit him over the head w/a huge frying pan! This man was stubborn & bullheaded right to the very end. He wanted his revenge on Ivy, his best friend’s little sister who was responsible for him going to prison, & he wanted to make her suffer. The things he said to her throughout the book were harsh & cruel, my heart sank for her over & over again. I wanted so much for her to throw her middle fingers up at him & walk out.
This book was absolutely amazing, frustrating, angsty, & totally hooks you f/the start! It keeps a steady pace until probably the last 20%, BUT then at 90% I swear Kristen literally pulled the rug out f/under me! It was a HUGE plot twist I definitely didn’t see coming & I swear I reread the paragraph about 3 times because I was speechless. At 99% of the book I wanted to shout FINALLY! Finally this infuriating alphahole of a man finally broke & told Ivy how he felt. I was relieved & beyond happy when Ivy found her backbone, knew her worth & was done being treated how he was treating her- just wished she’d done it before the 90% mark.
Next is Orion’s story & I don’t know how I’m going to wait until it’s released!!

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secrets That Kill is the first book in the brand new series Obsidian Knights Secret Society. This book has Triggers, proceed with caution and it's very intense, explicit with D/S scenes including open door scenarios in sex clubs. Revenge is the main theme between enemies to lovers with a hated MMC and a shy, guilt ridden FMC. There is no cheating, but lots of humiliation and degradation and a HEA that IMO was rushed. 3.75 stars is my rating.

Ivy had a crush on her brothers best friend, Mercer, he was a bad boy, she was only 14 and he thought she was aggravating. But when drugs were found she called the cops and Mercer was arrested.

Mercer wants revenge, he spent 2 years in jail but he's out, rich and a Knight in a secret society. He has a plan and he will have Ivy as a pet, he will use her, break her, make her love him then destroy her.

Ivy is guilt ridden over the tragic events that happened to her family. She used to love Mercer, but she hates him now, he's blackmailing her. She will do her job and hope her sister will be taken care of but secrets are exposed and men are willing to take everyone out who is playing the game.

[Debbie Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and Beautiful!

I just love this story,then I have love anything by Ms. lucinia! Ivy is just a young girl when she falls for Mercer, her brother's friend,but he doesn't want anything to do with her,but she changes his life,she puts in prison for two years.But still is effective with changes in her life,she loses her brother ,her sister is in a bad accident, her parents die.Mercer's life isn't any better,but he slowly climbs to a better life buy being a hired killer has a side job,he goes after bad men who use and abuse women and children.Ivy comes across Mercer but they hate each other because of things that happen much earlier in their lives.He convinces her to work with him if he footers bill for her sister's recovery! They both have secrets and started out hated each other but they ended up caring for each other! But she comes across someone from her past and things change and bursts apart.Mercer trys get across that he does love Ivy but doesn't know how to let her know but he is willing to try! This story is dark,steamy ,hot and very good!

[Jennifer Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercer is filled with thoughts of vengeance directed at our heroine, Ivy, who made a terrible mistake when she was a teenager that led to him going to jail. He's known her since she was a teenager as he was a friend of her brothers, but she didn't realize that he was watching her for so long. He finally figures out how to use her for his own agenda while getting her back for their past, but little did he know that she would upend his world. I had some issues with Mercer at the beginning that's for sure as he was just plain cruel, and Ivy didn't deserve it no matter what she thought was right at that younger age but I've learned by reading so many of this author's books that there's always growth for our anti-heroes that lead to me falling for them. Mercer & Ivy are so hot together as they sizzle off the pages like crazy. Of course there's still so many twists to keep me guessing with tons of heart pounding action so I've never been able to put any of Kristen's books down without devouring them cover to cover! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[GKP2460 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secrets That Kill is book 1 in the Secrets Society Of The Obsidian Knights series and if book 1 is any indication we are in for a very dark, twisted, consuming, journey with these characters.

Mercer Vale is after one thing and one thing only, revenge. And Ivy is who he has his sights set one. The sister of his former best friend.

"Become worse than those around you and own the game when it’s time, or sink and die."

Ivy Gardner is the one he wants to see suffer but she's also the one he soon finds he can't get enough of. The one he doesn’t want to live without. This journey, these characters, are absolutely and completely explosive! This story pulls it's readers in from the start and utterly consumes us in the most twisted, dark and delicious way. It's an utterly fantastic enemies to lovers story and
I can't wait for Orions story. Especially if it's as intense and consuming as Mercer and Ivys story has been.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books that come with a warning and this one did not disappoint!

Ivy used to crush on Mercer, her brother's best friend. When she was 14 he even kissed her. But, life did a turn after that. He was giving her brother drugs and she turned him in to the police and he was arrested. While he was in prison he vowed to make her pay for ruining his life.

When Mercer gets out of prison, through his group the Knights, he's given a mission but needs help. It'll be full of filth and kink, but he knows who he wants to help and he can break her in the process. He rescues her and presents his case to her, with a little incentive using her sister.

OMG, this story! I hated Mercer and was so mad at Ivy for being so compliant! There were so many twists and turns, my head was spinning! I couldn't put this book down because there was always danger or sex lurking around the next page!! Great story, I hope the rest of the series is as filthy!! lol

[Fatma · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Check TW!
ARC Review

This book was wonderful. It had revenge, hate-to-love, true D/s, mystery, and suspense!

Ivy is a strong girl, that's done everything in her power to protect her family, but her actions come short or cause more damage than good in the longrun.

Mercer is out for revenge. For more than 1 reason too. So deciding it's better to hit 2 birds with 1 stone. He plans on using Ivy to take down an abusive trafficking organization. At times he can be very cruel and honestly he's a very terrible Dom.

Ivy is naive young adult with so much guilt that it blinds her. She's so much stronger than she thinks she is and it was wonderful seeing her use that strength. I'm happy she was able to mature and relieve herself from that guilt.

By the end Ivy & Mercer are the perfect D/s and I'm glad they both let go of their hatred towards each other and accepted their true feelings. While taking down a huge organization.

[Didi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This intriguing first book in this new series. It is not for the faint of heart. Pay attention to your triggers. The author takes us on a twisted dark and gritty engrossing journey. Mercer will make you want to smack him upside the head at times with his mission of revenge. Ivy will have your heart and you will cheer her growth into a strong woman. Mercer’s plans to ruin her for what he sees as her past betrayal and the mission they are on will have you flipping the pages with tension, innocent naivety, degradation, heart-pounding situations, D/s, fear, mistrust, manipulation, intensity, obsession, jealousy, strength, and so many twists. I did feel it was a bit rushed in the ending. Great gritty read. Can’t wait for next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sharon in SF · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our MMC, Mercer, takes on a mission to rid the world of a predator, but he needs help. Growing up on the streets, he's now worked his way up as a billionaire using his money to clean up the deep underbelly. He plans to use our FMC, Ivy, as a lure to the depraved to gain access into an exclusive event to get closer to his target. He's harbored a lot of animosity toward Ivy since she's the reason he was incarcerated so he has no qualms if she becomes collateral damage. What he doesn't account for is the intense chemistry that sizzles between them.
I love reading Kristen Luciani because of the twisted and complex relatonships she weaves into her dark stories. Great start to the Obsidian Knights Secret Society!

[Shafeequah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Killer Dom

Mercer Vale didn't expect Ivy Gardner to be his kryptonite. All he wanted was to take revenge on her for having him thrown in jail. But his best friends sister, the one who annoyed him as a teenager, was all grown up and beautiful. He needed her to exact a plan but wanted to kill two birds with one stone. Destroy Ivy and do his job as an assassin. What he wasn't prepared for was Ivy becoming the perfect sub for him. Their chemistry in their D/s game was 🥵🥵. But this was all part of the game he needed to play. But when the rules of the game change and Ivy finds out the truth, Mercer Vale has to make the ultimate decision. Great book and heading on to Orion's book.