Scorching Lies

by C.M. Nyx

I had everything, a family, safety, comfort, I was the heiress to my fathers empire, but that all came burning down, leaving me scarred and alone.

If that wasn't enough, the lies started coming to the surface.

The betrayal blindsided me and I was left broken and lying on the ground of my own personal hell. My enemies were now lined up, waiting for the chance to make me bleed. My former friends had their hands wrapped around my throat, trying to snuff out the last of my family's bloodline, all for revenge.

Ryker was the most vicious of them all. He wanted to make me hurt, to make me scream, to watch me burn. I just hope I can prove my family's innocence before he takes away every piece of me. I may not be his princess anymore, but I'll bleed to become his queen.

Genres: Dark, Dark Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Adult

303 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 23, 2024

About the author

C.M Nyx is a Indie Author that shares a home with her husband, two children, dog Luna, cat Garfield, and her many characters.

The Queen herself loves to edge and tease her readers with wicked words and dark fantasies.

She's local to Memphis, Tn but loves to travel! Her go to is the beach but the mountains call to her in a way that inspires all the fantasy words she puts to paper.

Reviews

[Annie✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of dark romance books and this one still surprised me! Please read Trigger Warning list before you start reading. 📖


It all starts with a tragedy which sets the tone for the rest of the book and it is the reason why Kenna is being treated the way she is by one of the Stone brothers, Ryker. They will go from childhood friends, to enemies to lovers!

Ryker is your typical possessive, sexy big book boyfriend🥵, who you will love even though he does some questionable stuff 🤔
Kenna and Ryker’s relationship is full of possession and passion, but it doesn’t take you away from the story in this book.

You will read about betrayal, but you will never expect it. It will also make you question things and believe me, you will want answers ASAP!

I’ve really enjoyed reading this book and I am so looking forward to Book 2 🖤

Thank you for letting me read it before it’s published! 🖤

[Kristens_korner · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a 4.5 for me, but check your triggers warnings! I don't think I had any, but this book definitely triggered me a little. Despite that, it was such a wild ride that I couldn't stop reading. The intensity of the characters and the loyalty among the group and the ups and downs had me on edge on every page. The chemistry and spice are top level, and the emotions had riding high throughout the whole book. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

[Ari Loves All The Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it.. but there was so much going on.. I didn't know who all was involved with the FMC until it was made abundantly clear (more than halfway in the book) just by the writing, i thought all 3 brothers could have been involved with the Kenna. There is so many questions as what is the foundation and who is the foundation and this book didn't really answer that.. How Kenna is involved with the Savage family is also confusing with little to no answers. Hopefully book two will give a little bit more clarity to all these answers.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating for me
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 spicy

C.M.Nyx certainly knows how to write dark romance. Do check the trigger warnings before reading. I loved this book. The dynamic between the Stone brothers and Kenna is so full of tension,hate, and lust. The storyline is captivating and makes it hard to put down. I highly recommend this book.

[Noriboo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story starts slow and then accelerates. I wasn't able to put it down. The main characters are very intense and very screwed up. I don't have another way to say it. This book delivers on all it's trigger warnings, so don't pick this up expecting it not to be that bad. Because it does get very bad. I enjoyed the twists in the story, and it absolutely didn't go the way I thought it was going to go.


Tropes:
✨️ Enemies to lovers
✨️Bully romance
✨️Crime syndicate rivalries

[Is · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many questions and no answers 😐

[Kari Chappell · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite flower has always been Lillies and I love scorching hot men. I got both of these in this book. Kenna the FMC is one of my favorite FMC’s to date. She is young but wasn’t written bratty and annoying. My heart broke for her early on in this book. She is resilient, but was abandoned by The Stone brothers after an accident they blame Kenna and her father.
2 years after the death of Alex Stone and the fire that took so much from everyone Kenna is now in college trying to move on.
She wasn’t expecting to see the Stone Brothers at college. They hate her and will do anything to make her life miserable. I lived the story, the characters, the plot and I was NOT ready for the ending, but I want to learn more of Cole. The cliffhanger is brutal.
5 stars and 10 peppers

[Haley Babin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scorching Lies is no joke when it comes to being a dark romance with a very possessive MMC with his two brothers who plan to make the MFC’s life a living hell after a brutal fire being set up and ending in their father’s passing. They blame the Kingstons and are on a war path. Please read the trigger warnings and know this has no lovey dovey feelings or behaviors between Ryker and Kenna. It is dark, rough, brutal, twisted, and a love/ hate that is consumed by flames between these two. Even with the other two brothers there is not much coziness amongst these characters which don’t get me wrong is delicious in its own way. Add in a stalker from the past planning to ruin the Stone brothers and what’s left of Kenna’s family name to uncovered secrets and betrayals you do not see coming. That ending left you hanging and all hell was about to break loose leading into Book 2❤️‍🔥☠️

[Daisy 🌙🍄 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryder and Kenna!! This is an I hate you but love you romance.
These two powerful families are trying to make sure their reign doesn’t get overthrown and also trying to find out what happened to the Stone family’s father. The plot was amazing! I was intrigued wanting to know what happened next and who was wrong and right. I enjoyed have dual point of views in the story.

The ending had me tearing up!! Huge cliffhanger!! I can’t wait for book two!

Also super spicy 🥵🥵🥵 had action, mystery and spice all in one book. I loved it! 🥰

[Victoria Rodriguez-Combel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky to receive this book as an ARC and I was obsessed from page 1. As a dark romance readers you never know how much plot you are going to get. This book right here….YOU NEED TO READ IT!! The plot is amazing. Elite families going head to head but there is someone lurking in the shadows you need to watch out for… the spice level is high and it does contain fire play so please read the trigger warnings before reading. The writing style flowed very well and there were no plot holes. THE ENDING!!!! I need the second book ASAP!!! 🔥

[Keri Blanchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book sucked me in right from the beginning. It’s definitely a dark romance that delivers. There is mystery, tension, spice, secrets, betrayal, and so much more. In her debut novel, CM Nyx had me questioning every character and wondering who to trust. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for book 2.

[Tracy Booktalk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will say from the beginning that I will read everything this author writes. I raced through this book, could not put it down. If you love raw agony, a waterfall of emotions pick up Scorching Lies. I definitely recommend this book!

[Pear · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️‍🔥Kenna+Ryker❤️‍🔥
The cliffhanger! I can’t wait for the next one! Check the TW!

Dark bully romance
Secrets and lies
Elite families
Corruption
De@th/m*rder
Fire play
Torture
Touch her and 💀

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow

Thank was amazing!! And now i need to read the next one! I am so excited to meet her at ApollyCon soon too!

[Robyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book is not as dark as some books I have read, it was a darker read to me due to my fear of fire. So, going into this one, if you have a fear of fire or of being burned, there are scenes in this book that might make you extremely uncomfortable. There’s your warning.

This is a dark academia (college) book with a bit of a mystery theme surrounding it. There’s a stalker (not the MMC) and it ends on a cliffhanger. The interactions between the MMC and the FMC will leave you uncomfortable and turned on. There are multiple mentions of the MMC planning to “burn” or “blled” alongside the FMC, in a manner suggesting that he plans to kill her and then commit suicide.

I feel like this was a spin off of another series due to some characters that we met in the book, like Blue. But because this is my first book by this author, I’m uncertain. I will be looking into more of her works!!

My favorite scenes involved the lilies 😉. IYKYK.

Read this book if you like unhinged MMC, revenge plots, strong FMC, organized crime vibes, dubcon/noncon and dark academia.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way that this book/series hooked me and wouldn't let me go.

It is dark (check triggers), full of HATE, like you think characters might hate each other but let me tell you, they don't hate like The Stone brothers hate.

I was so addicted to this story, I flew through this book and book 2 in 1 day

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
I have found my forever book HUSBAND! Kenna and Ryker's story is heartbreaking yet oh so hot! This is C.M. Nyx's debute novel and it was done absolutely fantastically! From the plot to the spice to the character building, it was all done so beautifully! If you're a fan of Shantel Tessier's The Lords series, you'll devour this book and I can promise you that you'll never look at a lily the same way ever again 😏 I literally could not have asked for more in this book, it's now one of my top and favorite dark romances ever! There is a grocery list of Trigger Warnings though, so make sure you check those out if you have any triggers. This does end on a major cliffhanger but it just had me begging for book 2. A well deserved standing ovation for C.M. Nyx and I can't wait to see what's next in Kenna and Ryker's story (but I claim Ryker, you all can have any of the others!)

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re in the mood for a fun, chaotic, “should I be concerned about myself?” kind of dark romance, Scorching Lies absolutely delivers.

This one has a lot going on — in a good way. You can definitely tell it’s laying the groundwork for the rest of the series. There are threads being pulled, secrets simmering, and enough tension brewing to power at least three more books. It very much has that “just wait, it’s about to get messier” energy, and I am seated.

And the romance? Oh, it’s enemies-to-lovers but make it unhinged. It’s giving: I want you… but I also might want to unalive you. The tension is sharp, the chemistry is volatile, and every interaction feels like it could either end in a kiss or a crime. Honestly? That’s the sweet spot.

Is it dark? Yes.
Is it dramatic? Also yes.
Was I entertained from start to finish? Absolutely.

C.M. Nyx clearly knows how to balance tension, heat, and just enough chaos to keep you flipping pages. This feels like the calm before a very stormy, very messy series — and I cannot wait to see where it goes next.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I may not be his princess anymore, but I'll bleed to become his queen."

Kenna has lost everything but she will do everything to prove her innocence and her family's.
Ryker, Cole and West, her childhood friends want to make her pay.
Ryker doesn't fall under the morally grey character he is the devil, he wants to make her bleed.
This is the ultimate bully, forced proximity, spicy dark romance.
It does however end in a cliffhanger but wow what a way to end it!!!
Patiently waiting for book 2, I need more from Kens and Rye.

[L.R. Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
Story was great, some of the writing imagery is fantastic, great passion and emotion in the characters, slightly let down by multiple editing issues (rod iron gates really glitched my brain 😐)

[Robyn Luther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenna and Ryker… 🥵🥵🥵

Let me preface this review with a… check your trigger warnings/tropes! This is a Dark/Spicy Romance!!! Let’s get into it!

This book is Amazing! For a book to reach Amazing status for me… it has to have a really good plot and keep it!

We get thrust into this story with Kenna Kingston, FMC, being trapped in a fire with Alec Stone. Ryker Stone, MMC, is searching the burning building for survivors. He finds Alec, his father, and Kenna together. Both are already being scorched by flames from the fire. Push comes to shove and Alec makes his son save Kenna first knowing that he would not live long enough for Ryker to Kenna out and then come back for him. This story is centered around tragedy and betrayal as well as perceived betrayal.

Flash forward 2 years, to the present, and this is where our story takes place. We find Kenna in college at Hawthorne University, a legacy left to her by her parents. The Stone brothers, Ryker, West, and Cole all are attending as well. Kenna had been abandoned by the brothers after the fire. She was forced to recover through multiple surgeries and skin grafts alone. Throughout the story you learn that the brothers blame her, and her father, for the fire and their father’s death and they’ve made it their mission to make her life at Hawthorne a living h€ll.

This is very much a friends to enemies, bully romance, enemies to lovers, dark and spicy romance.

The spice in this heavy as well! It is palpable! The author describes the scenes so well that you almost feel them as they unfold.

I went back and fourth on who to trust and not to trust so many times it is unreal! There’s suspense and thrill in this story as well. There’s not much else I can say without giving spoilers! Just if you like dark/spicy books with a lot of plot and twists and turns… then this is your book!!!!! Trust me on this!!!

Also… it does end on a cliffhanger, but, it also ends with you craving more!!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

AMAZING!!!!!

[Summer Maenner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scorching Lies by C.M. Nyx
As an AuDHD mood reader, my brain
usually lets go of book details like
they never happened - but Scorching
Lies is the kind of storv that leaves
a full-body imprint. Even when the
specifics blur, the feeling of this book
clings to you in the best, most chaotic
way.

C.M. Nyx delivers a romance that's
intense from the start - not because
of huge plot twists, but because the
emotional chemistry between the
characters is ridiculous. It's messy
addictive, magnetic, and sometimes
borderline too much... which is exactly
why I loved it. The *insion practically
vibrates off the pa . You dont just
read this book - you absorb it at a
nervous-system level.
What stood out most to me was how
character-driven the story is. These
characters are flawed and complex
and half the time I wanted to shake
them while also cheering them on.
Their dvnamic is a collision of desire,
secrets, and obsession that kept
me hooked even when my attention
span tried to wander. This isn't a soft
slow-burn romance - it's sharp, hot
and emotionally heavy in a way that
makes you feel. everything.

As someone who foraets details,
this book worked perfectly for me
because the experience isn't about
rememberina everv event - it's about
remembering the vibe. And the vibe?
Dark, scorching, and impossible to
look away from.
If you want a romance that's
high-tension, morally gray, and
emotionally fierce, this one is
absolutely worth it. I finished it feeling
wired, overstimulated, and fully in
love with the chaos - the exact kind
of reading experience that keeps me
coming back to dark romance.

[Bri Hires · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is very engaging and will keep on the edge of your seat. There is a lot of mystery to it and you are going to be begging for the next one by the end! College bully romance, love hate vibes, check your triggers.
One thing I will say that I got a bit frustrated with and the only reason for not giving 5 stars at times it felt like things were being left mysterious for mystery sake. They were being revealed to the FMC but not the reader repeatedly. Example the FMC would find something say oh my goodness this makes so much sense but not tell the reader what it was right away. It got frustrating after the first few times especially cause we don’t understand why she lets herself be treated so bad but we know there HAS to be a reason.
I can handle that happening a couple times but it felt like it happened A LOT and when she’s treated so badly we want to understand why.
I will say if you love morally grey men like I do though you are going to love these men! Cause they definitely fall into that category.
I can’t wait to see where this story goes especially after that cliffhanger and how the romance is going to progress.

[Sam Oneill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Dark Romance Novel
*Please read the trigger warning page*

Kenna - Was in a tragedy that she doesn’t understand what happened, she was on the floor in a burning building with her father figure at her side and her best friend who unfortunately was already d3ad.
She was burnt badly and needed hospital attention.
She was pulled out of the building by Ryker, she had known him and his brothers since they was small, they was all a family unit, that changed after the stone brothers lost their dad and girlfriend in the Fire.
Because of Kennas dads dealings her family was blamed for the head of the stone families death.

Ryker - Is one of the Stone brothers, he was the one who saved Kenna before saving his father, the death of his father and his brothers girlfriend was blamed on Kenna, he stalked her, he was in a war within himself, he hated her buy was drawn to her, she was his and only his, Touch her and be prepared to 💀. All three stone brothers are set out to make Kennas life a living hell. They can hurt her, but if anyone else tries to the Stone brothers won't have it.

This novel grips you in with the twist and turn storyline, hold tight for a rollercoaster ride that this author takes you on.
To say the ending is a jaw dropper is an understatement. It was beautifully written. The storyline flowed and caught you hook line and sinker with the secrets and the betrayals that develop throughout the story.

The smut is just a chefs kiss, I lived for it! It was the first novel of this author that I have read and it most certainly won't be the last.

- Enimes to Lovers
- Bully romance
- Touch her and 💀
- Stalker
- Spicy 🌶🌶🥵🥵

[Leviathon Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scorching Lies by C.M. Nyx absolutely lives up to its title — this story burns from the very first chapter.

What I loved most was the tension. Not just romantic tension (though that was chef’s kiss), but the emotional kind — the kind that simmers under every conversation and glance. The lies in this story aren’t just plot devices; they shape the characters, challenge their loyalties, and force them to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves. That layered conflict made the drama feel earned rather than exaggerated.

The chemistry between the leads is intense and addictive. Their dynamic walks that fine line between frustration and obsession, and I found myself equally wanting to shake them and root for them. The push-and-pull felt raw, messy, and very human.

C.M. Nyx also does a great job pacing the reveals. Just when you think you’ve figured everything out, another crack forms in the foundation. I appreciated that the twists didn’t rely solely on shock value — they deepened the stakes instead.

If you’re into emotionally charged romance with secrets, heat, and characters who make questionable decisions for very understandable reasons, this one will keep you hooked.

Definitely recommend for readers who like their love stories a little dangerous and a lot dramatic. 🔥

[Brittany Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please read the trigger warnings.

Tropes:
Morally black
Dark bully romance
Fire play
Touch her and 💀
Cliffhanger

“This is for the ones who show loyalty without question. The ride or die people who make water thicker than blood. Stand tall and bleed for me. Because you bleed, I bleed.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is well written, the plot develops at the perfect pace, the chemistry between the characters is 🔥, and it leaves you wanting more. Kenna has been through the wringer but she’s a survivor or more aptly named ‘killer’. Ryker is the king of the city not just the school and he is not afraid to throw his impressive weight around.

The spicy scenes were fantastic and expertly written and thought out. Some books just throw those scenes around and hope it works out but not here. It does have an awesome cliffhanger so I am thrilled I can go read the second one now.

“I’ll only ever see you. No matter how fast you run or how hard you fight, you’ll always belong to me. There’s no world in which I don’t crave you. No life in which I won’t possess every inch of you. Kenna Kingston, I’ll burn the world to ashes to keep you now that I’ve tasted you.”

[redreads4861 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book..... sucked me in from the very beginning and DID NOT let go. Read it in one sitting staying up past my bedtime cause I couldn't put it down. I don't know what C.M. put in this one but holy smokes. Read the triggers before you read this book but if you don't have any you should give this one a try. Kenna and Ryker holy smokes. Kenna, Ryker, West and Cole grew up together until something happened and tore them apart. The guys think it was all Kenna's family and take it out on her and try to break her. But Ryker doesn't know all the secrets and lies that surround them and that night. Poor Kenna not only does she have to deal and worry about Ryker she also has to deal with her Shadow... The ending to this book... hello PLOT TWIST I didn't expect at all. Got a little in my emotions at that.(thanks C.M.) And HOLY CLIFFHANGER!!!!!!!! I need to know what happens next.......

If your looking for a DARK ROMANCE and read the triggers and your good with that than you should read this one ASAP!!!!!!

[Marianne Antonichuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man where to start with this book I was able to read this book and like I was pulled in right at the beginning and then the stuff that happens in this book I was holding my breath at points I was crying at points mostly the ending I was loving Ryker and Jenna together as they were hot through the book as you read you have questions and some of those questions do get answered but some you will need to wait as there is a huge huge cliffhanger at the end I was hating the stone brothers but when you read you feel like Keena and Ryker are great together their scenes are hot I am still thinking of this book and I know I will need to read the next cause it was left with questions still needing answers please watch your triggers in this but a great book for sure please I am begging for book two I need it now I give this book 5 stars for the characters the storyline the plot and just an overall great book

[Madison Denman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The plot sucked me in from the beginning and had me hooked until the cliffhanger ending. The story seemed to go really fast sometimes, but nothing that really took away from the overall plot.

Now on to the main reason I couldn’t rate this book higher than 3 stars, the spice. Don’t get me wrong, I love spice, and with this being a dark romance, a fair amount of spice was sure to take place, however some of the spice scenes felt too forced. Especially towards the end of the book when the plot really gets thick, I felt that the spice began to take away from the plot. Some of the spicy scenes felt totally natural and fit right in, but others felt like they came out of nowhere and didn’t feel right.

Overall, this book was great. And while I wasn’t a fan of some of the spice, the plot really sucked me in and kept me focused until the end. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out!

[Narlene Murguia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rate: 5⭐️
Spicy: 4🌶️
I had the pleasure of reading this book. It starts with a brutal fire/tragedy. Which sets the tone for the book. This is why Kenna gets treated the way she does by the Stone Brothers Especially Ryker. Ryker is possessive the touch Her and I’ll kill you type. You’ll love him even though he does some questionable stuff. It’s a friend to enemies to lovers trope. In this book you’ll find betrayal, action, mystery, spice and an Elite family which feels more like mafia vibes to me. It’s definitely a dark romance no lovey-dovey in this book. It’s a dark/ rough/ brutal/ twisted/Love-hate type of book. PLEASE read trigger warnings. I definitely didn’t since I’m pretty good at it and yet it still got me at times. The ending is a huge cliffhanger. Can’t wait for book 2.
P.s my favorite flowers are lilies and this book has given them a different meaning. I will never see them the same way.