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Twisted Rivalry
JONAS
10K if I sleep with this guy's brother.
His twin brother, Ryan Hawthorne.
I've never messed around with a guy, but for that much money, I'll figure it out.
A descendant of American royalty, Ryan was born into money, status, and privilege. He spent his life in his family's cushy mansion while my family struggled to get by.
Shortly after we meet, I discover an important detail about why his twin hired me for this gig.
I'm the spitting image of someone from Ryan's past, someone he loved deeply.
I also discover that, despite my preconceptions, there's more to Ryan than some snotty rich guy with the world at his fingertips.
He intrigues me, and after the hottest night of my life, I realize something about myself.
Something he's brought out of me.
Now his brother has a new offer on the table.
But it means participating in a disturbing mind game with one object: screw with Ryan's head.
I have to do this, but what's happening between us isn't a game.
The spark of that first night becomes a raging wildfire, and I allow the lines between real and fake to blur, losing myself in a chaotic mix of blood, lust, secrets,
and lies, all tying back to this man from Ryan's past.
The man I remind him of.
There's a connection between us, yes. But what hope is there for a future with Ryan when his brother's twisted rivalry keeps him trapped in the past?
*Twisted Rivalry contains content that may be triggering for some listeners.*
10K if I sleep with this guy's brother.
His twin brother, Ryan Hawthorne.
I've never messed around with a guy, but for that much money, I'll figure it out.
A descendant of American royalty, Ryan was born into money, status, and privilege. He spent his life in his family's cushy mansion while my family struggled to get by.
Shortly after we meet, I discover an important detail about why his twin hired me for this gig.
I'm the spitting image of someone from Ryan's past, someone he loved deeply.
I also discover that, despite my preconceptions, there's more to Ryan than some snotty rich guy with the world at his fingertips.
He intrigues me, and after the hottest night of my life, I realize something about myself.
Something he's brought out of me.
Now his brother has a new offer on the table.
But it means participating in a disturbing mind game with one object: screw with Ryan's head.
I have to do this, but what's happening between us isn't a game.
The spark of that first night becomes a raging wildfire, and I allow the lines between real and fake to blur, losing myself in a chaotic mix of blood, lust, secrets,
and lies, all tying back to this man from Ryan's past.
The man I remind him of.
There's a connection between us, yes. But what hope is there for a future with Ryan when his brother's twisted rivalry keeps him trapped in the past?
*Twisted Rivalry contains content that may be triggering for some listeners.*
6 pages, Audible Audio
Published May 16, 2024
301 people are currently reading
592 people want to read
About the author
Devon McCormack
49 books1,556 followersDevon McCormack grew up in the Georgia suburbs with his two younger brothers and an older sister. At a very young age, he spun tales the old fashioned way, lying to anyone and everyone he encountered. He claimed he was an orphan. He claimed to be a king from another planet. He claimed to have supernatural powers. He has since harnessed this penchant for tall tales by crafting worlds and characters that allow him to live out whatever fantasy he chooses. Devon is an out and proud queer man living in Atlanta, Georgia.
Devon's body of work ranges from erotica to young adult, so readers should check the synopses of his books before purchasing so that they know what they're getting into.
Devon's body of work ranges from erotica to young adult, so readers should check the synopses of his books before purchasing so that they know what they're getting into.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
May 30, 2024
No rivalry, twisted or otherwise. Sets up a creepy taboo element, but it’s mostly “what if we did something taboo?” And later “remember how taboo things happened offpage 4-5 years ago that won’t be defined in any detail?”
I didn’t know about the taboo element going in, not my kink, but if you are going to make it the whole point of the book actually do it.
Shout out to my buddy readers Shonee and Jonathan and Sully for making this fun despite how disappointing it was!
Lack of characterization or relationship development makes it quickly odd and tedious versus scandalous or interesting.
Despite trying to seem dark and twisted, there’s a happy lil epilogue at the end I hated.
Premise: Evil twin is wealthy, boring twin is poor, the wealthy evil one hires a guy who looks like someone they used to know, Kieran, and says he’ll pay for the lookalike’s sister’s chemo if lookalike bangs boring poor twin.
Lookalike and boring meet in the woods and discuss that there are cameras and microphones everywhere including bedrooms so they will have to bang to cure cancer but also the evil twin will definitely watch it.
Lookalike doesn’t go through any hesitancy or experimentation and initiates BJ, rimming, and eating cum their second gay-for-pay time together and his narrative describes it as “worshipping his cock.” There was none of the element of a new experience or discovery about oneself or anything. Day 2 of the sex he’s basically a professional and down for anything.
This should be interesting. It gets repetitive. Boring and lookalike fall in love. Chemo sister misses lookalike.
Evil periodically corners one of them and is like “I watch you fuck Mwahahah my evil plan is coming to fruition.” Boring and lookalike periodically talk in the woods to be like “We sure showed him by doing exactly what he wanted us to”
Near the end shit gets wild but it’s just odd and boring and poorly paced?
Spoilers for “plot” below, all this is like the last 20% after it’s boring for most of the book:
*
.
*
.
*
Kieran is dead half-brother to the twins. He raped evil twin for months and gaslit/mind broke/groomed him. Then he tried to rape boring twin while evil twin watched and boring twin correctly labeled it rape and said that to Kieran groomer/rapist/half-bro.
Boring tells their dad about the rape and dad believes him then evil shows dad a journal showing boring was thirsty for Kieran (as if you can’t be raped by someone you find attractive). Dad removes boring from the will for being a liar liar pants on fire. Kieran and their dad commit suicide.
Evil inherits everything and boring just stays there as his gardener knowing evil is watching him in cameras all the time. Evil’s master plan was to make boring and lookalike fall in love, then have lookalike get the chemo money and leave. I guess the rationale was that boring took Kieran away by being against rape, so evil hired a lookalike and then took him away by giving him chemo money. IDK.
Anyway boring and lookalike are going to run off without the money and then evil loses his shit and attacks then and self harms and runs off in the woods and they are like “Wow big feelings. Let’s stay at a motel and call the police, he can get therapy and grow and heal.” And they do the end.
Then the epilogue is 5 months later and cancer sister is healed and has a Fault in Our Stars cancer boyfriend at Christmas. And evil twin sent boring twin a bunch of money so he’s not broke. #LoveWins.
This failed to make me care about the characters, failed to follow through on the taboo premise, and just trauma dumped twists near the end which characters repeatedly just calmly talked through like they were making a grocery list or reading a script for a therapy textbook.
—————
Weird calm dialogue while someone is stabbing them and also cutting himself open and slamming his head into hard objects and his hand:
“Hopefully the cops will find him, but if they don’t, I’m sure he’ll take care of them, and if they get infected, he could hire nurses to watch over him twenty-four seven.”
He nods. “I feel guilty for leaving like that, but I couldn’t be there another minute.”
“You needed to get out of that place,” I assure him.
(Bro, your evil twin is giving himself a concussion after stabbing you right now and is screaming his head off)
I didn’t know about the taboo element going in, not my kink, but if you are going to make it the whole point of the book actually do it.
Shout out to my buddy readers Shonee and Jonathan and Sully for making this fun despite how disappointing it was!
Lack of characterization or relationship development makes it quickly odd and tedious versus scandalous or interesting.
Despite trying to seem dark and twisted, there’s a happy lil epilogue at the end I hated.
Premise: Evil twin is wealthy, boring twin is poor, the wealthy evil one hires a guy who looks like someone they used to know, Kieran, and says he’ll pay for the lookalike’s sister’s chemo if lookalike bangs boring poor twin.
Lookalike and boring meet in the woods and discuss that there are cameras and microphones everywhere including bedrooms so they will have to bang to cure cancer but also the evil twin will definitely watch it.
Lookalike doesn’t go through any hesitancy or experimentation and initiates BJ, rimming, and eating cum their second gay-for-pay time together and his narrative describes it as “worshipping his cock.” There was none of the element of a new experience or discovery about oneself or anything. Day 2 of the sex he’s basically a professional and down for anything.
This should be interesting. It gets repetitive. Boring and lookalike fall in love. Chemo sister misses lookalike.
Evil periodically corners one of them and is like “I watch you fuck Mwahahah my evil plan is coming to fruition.” Boring and lookalike periodically talk in the woods to be like “We sure showed him by doing exactly what he wanted us to”
Near the end shit gets wild but it’s just odd and boring and poorly paced?
Spoilers for “plot” below, all this is like the last 20% after it’s boring for most of the book:
*
.
*
.
*
Kieran is dead half-brother to the twins. He raped evil twin for months and gaslit/mind broke/groomed him. Then he tried to rape boring twin while evil twin watched and boring twin correctly labeled it rape and said that to Kieran groomer/rapist/half-bro.
Boring tells their dad about the rape and dad believes him then evil shows dad a journal showing boring was thirsty for Kieran (as if you can’t be raped by someone you find attractive). Dad removes boring from the will for being a liar liar pants on fire. Kieran and their dad commit suicide.
Evil inherits everything and boring just stays there as his gardener knowing evil is watching him in cameras all the time. Evil’s master plan was to make boring and lookalike fall in love, then have lookalike get the chemo money and leave. I guess the rationale was that boring took Kieran away by being against rape, so evil hired a lookalike and then took him away by giving him chemo money. IDK.
Anyway boring and lookalike are going to run off without the money and then evil loses his shit and attacks then and self harms and runs off in the woods and they are like “Wow big feelings. Let’s stay at a motel and call the police, he can get therapy and grow and heal.” And they do the end.
Then the epilogue is 5 months later and cancer sister is healed and has a Fault in Our Stars cancer boyfriend at Christmas. And evil twin sent boring twin a bunch of money so he’s not broke. #LoveWins.
This failed to make me care about the characters, failed to follow through on the taboo premise, and just trauma dumped twists near the end which characters repeatedly just calmly talked through like they were making a grocery list or reading a script for a therapy textbook.
—————
Weird calm dialogue while someone is stabbing them and also cutting himself open and slamming his head into hard objects and his hand:
“Hopefully the cops will find him, but if they don’t, I’m sure he’ll take care of them, and if they get infected, he could hire nurses to watch over him twenty-four seven.”
He nods. “I feel guilty for leaving like that, but I couldn’t be there another minute.”
“You needed to get out of that place,” I assure him.
(Bro, your evil twin is giving himself a concussion after stabbing you right now and is screaming his head off)
May 30, 2024
The story was crazy as SHIT, but more fun as a buddy read than anything. NO REGERTS.
2.5 rounded up.
ETA: Changed my mind already. NOT rounded up.
2.5 rounded up.
ETA: Changed my mind already. NOT rounded up.
May 30, 2024
Can I complain about this tomorrow?
May 30, 2024
I had more fun ripping it apart with the kinksters then actually reading this, but it just wasn’t hitting for me. Don’t tease me with taboo and not deliver and THEN serve me trauma! Were we suppose to feel bad for Evil twin? Cause seriously what in the actual fuck?
May 17, 2024
dark romance
i'm not usually into such dark angsty stories but I love this writer so I gave it a chance. I'm so glad i did! This was such a different kind of story with twists and thorns. I couldn't put it down and read it in less than 8 hours. i highly recommend this story and writer!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
i'm not usually into such dark angsty stories but I love this writer so I gave it a chance. I'm so glad i did! This was such a different kind of story with twists and thorns. I couldn't put it down and read it in less than 8 hours. i highly recommend this story and writer!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
May 21, 2024
So, I didn't want to penalise the book for its dark content but in the end I think it was just too messed up. The twists were fine and I did read the trigger warnings so knew what to expect but some bits were hard to read and even confusing.
I still don't really understand Simon's ending and perhaps there will be a book about him at some point and that's why so vague. Not sure. But he needs a lot of care and a lot of therapy to be able to come out on the other side.
But that's not really the reason why I can't give a higher rating. The main reason is that I didn't feel the MCs romance side of things. Aside from a few instances, all their time together was having sex and being careful about what they could say out loud because they were being heard and watched pretty much 100% of the time. Cameras everywhere? It's a bit much.
I still don't really understand Simon's ending and perhaps there will be a book about him at some point and that's why so vague. Not sure. But he needs a lot of care and a lot of therapy to be able to come out on the other side.
But that's not really the reason why I can't give a higher rating. The main reason is that I didn't feel the MCs romance side of things. Aside from a few instances, all their time together was having sex and being careful about what they could say out loud because they were being heard and watched pretty much 100% of the time. Cameras everywhere? It's a bit much.
May 9, 2024
I read the blurb and I read the trigger warnings, and I wasn’t prepared! This book was a lot darker than I expected, and I did consider in the beginning if maybe it was too much for me… But I’m no quitter!
Twisted Rivalry is a total mindf*ck in the best way. I was doubting everything until the very last chapter. The twist and turns kept me captivated from start to finish, and I was trying hard to figure out the family secrets before they were revealed, but I was left gaping every time. I lost count on the number of wtf’s I mumbled out loud while reading.
I can’t say much about the book without spoiling anything, but I’ll tell you about my feelings on the different relationships.
Like Ryan and Simon, the twin brothers, that was icky from the get-go, and it turned into a major what the fudge along the way, but like.. I was mind blown. I made an extra epilogue for Simon in my head after I finished the book. I would have loved to know more about how he was doing after… everything.
Ryan and Jonas, it took me a while to warm up to them as an item, I couldn’t feel the chemistry at first, but I got there, and then it was pure fire. Jonas definitely wiggled his way into my heart and I was so hoping he wouldn’t end up with a broken heart in the middle of all the drama. I loved how he embraced his feelings and how he supported Ryan when things got tough.
What to expect:
❥ Dual POV ❥ MM Romance ❥ Dark
❥ Dysfunctional Family ❥ Bi-Awakening
❥ Taboo ❥ Hurt/Comfort ❥ Triggers ❥ Steam
I was so lucky to receive this ARC to review with my honest opinion.
Read the full review on my blog here.
Twisted Rivalry is a total mindf*ck in the best way. I was doubting everything until the very last chapter. The twist and turns kept me captivated from start to finish, and I was trying hard to figure out the family secrets before they were revealed, but I was left gaping every time. I lost count on the number of wtf’s I mumbled out loud while reading.
I can’t say much about the book without spoiling anything, but I’ll tell you about my feelings on the different relationships.
Like Ryan and Simon, the twin brothers, that was icky from the get-go, and it turned into a major what the fudge along the way, but like.. I was mind blown. I made an extra epilogue for Simon in my head after I finished the book. I would have loved to know more about how he was doing after… everything.
Ryan and Jonas, it took me a while to warm up to them as an item, I couldn’t feel the chemistry at first, but I got there, and then it was pure fire. Jonas definitely wiggled his way into my heart and I was so hoping he wouldn’t end up with a broken heart in the middle of all the drama. I loved how he embraced his feelings and how he supported Ryan when things got tough.
“Since you came here, for the first time in years, I’ve felt alive. You gave me a chance to live again. And when you leave, I’ll still be alive because you will have left me with memories that can sustain me the rest of my life.”
What to expect:
❥ Dual POV ❥ MM Romance ❥ Dark
❥ Dysfunctional Family ❥ Bi-Awakening
❥ Taboo ❥ Hurt/Comfort ❥ Triggers ❥ Steam
I was so lucky to receive this ARC to review with my honest opinion.
Read the full review on my blog here.
June 16, 2024
This could've been a cute Rom-com book
Yknow with 10 things I hate about you retelling plot but I guess author was feeling a lil quirky when he wrote this and add his own lil twist but you know I guess that just my problem because when I read this I couldn't stop thinking over the fact how much potential this book had with the plot, and lovable mcs but he decides to add A mentally unstable Yaoi villain and you know what they all do.
Not only that he trynna give a justification when Simon did what he was doing, sometimes villain don't need a redemption arc, they're just like that because they're heinous that's what Simon is, you don't need to give a traumatic backstory for that.
It's me not the book, I'm not the target audience for this.
Yknow with 10 things I hate about you retelling plot but I guess author was feeling a lil quirky when he wrote this and add his own lil twist but you know I guess that just my problem because when I read this I couldn't stop thinking over the fact how much potential this book had with the plot, and lovable mcs but he decides to add A mentally unstable Yaoi villain and you know what they all do.
Not only that he trynna give a justification when Simon did what he was doing, sometimes villain don't need a redemption arc, they're just like that because they're heinous that's what Simon is, you don't need to give a traumatic backstory for that.
It's me not the book, I'm not the target audience for this.
May 21, 2024
"And then he lunges at me. I can hardly process the move before my back slams against the bookcase so hard, my shoulder blades take a blow from the shelf, but Ryan’s lips are like an anesthetic— any pain is set aside because my body’s so hungry for the pleasure another kiss from him promises. As his tongue sweeps across mine, I grab his face in my hands."
Twisted Rivalry is a steamy, dark romance full of twists and shocks and a healthy dose of triggers and taboo! The spice level is high and while the story does turn on that element of Jonas and Ryan's relationship, sometimes it feels like it overwhelms the rest of the story - which has a dark thriller-esq element to it.
What to expect
❥ Dual POV
❥ MM dark (ish) romance
❥ Dysfunctional family
❥ Bi-awakening
❥ Taboo aspects
❥ Voyeurism
❥ Hurt/comfort
❥ Mental health rep
❥ Steamy
3.5-4 stars
Twisted Rivalry is a steamy, dark romance full of twists and shocks and a healthy dose of triggers and taboo! The spice level is high and while the story does turn on that element of Jonas and Ryan's relationship, sometimes it feels like it overwhelms the rest of the story - which has a dark thriller-esq element to it.
What to expect
❥ Dual POV
❥ MM dark (ish) romance
❥ Dysfunctional family
❥ Bi-awakening
❥ Taboo aspects
❥ Voyeurism
❥ Hurt/comfort
❥ Mental health rep
❥ Steamy
3.5-4 stars
August 16, 2025
4.5 ★
Have you ever read a book that just has you screaming, kicking your feet, and practically sitting on the edge of your seat? BECAUSE THIS BOOK WAS IT FOR ME.
There really isn't much that I can say without spoiling the story, except that this is a twisted tale of sibling rivalry, doppelgängers, family secrets, and revenge plots, all tied in to a steamy bi-awakening romance. This book took me on a WILD RIDE from start to finish, and I was living for every second of it.
There were so many twists and turns in the story, and two of the narrators felt so unreliable that I didn't have a clue what was really going on, or who I could trust. Even up until the very last chapter, I was having second thoughts and questioning everything. However, once you find out the true story, and the reason for Jonas' presence and the tension between the twins, everything falls in to place.
Despite being a fairly short book, I felt like so much happened, and I couldn't put it down. I do wish that we got a bit more closure for Simon at the end, and that the romance aspect was more developed, but otherwise I loved it.
If you like your romance with a hint of darkness, taboo, and deception, then you will devour this.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Have you ever read a book that just has you screaming, kicking your feet, and practically sitting on the edge of your seat? BECAUSE THIS BOOK WAS IT FOR ME.
There really isn't much that I can say without spoiling the story, except that this is a twisted tale of sibling rivalry, doppelgängers, family secrets, and revenge plots, all tied in to a steamy bi-awakening romance. This book took me on a WILD RIDE from start to finish, and I was living for every second of it.
There were so many twists and turns in the story, and two of the narrators felt so unreliable that I didn't have a clue what was really going on, or who I could trust. Even up until the very last chapter, I was having second thoughts and questioning everything. However, once you find out the true story, and the reason for Jonas' presence and the tension between the twins, everything falls in to place.
Despite being a fairly short book, I felt like so much happened, and I couldn't put it down. I do wish that we got a bit more closure for Simon at the end, and that the romance aspect was more developed, but otherwise I loved it.
If you like your romance with a hint of darkness, taboo, and deception, then you will devour this.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 3, 2024
certainly didn't expect this one. beyond fucked up but I enjoyed it.
May 27, 2024
I’m just shocked that this book has such high ratings… I just didn’t enjoy this at all. Take everything out of it but the romance between our two MC’s and I feel like there was no chemistry? It just didn’t read well imo
July 7, 2024
Twisted Rivalry - Devon McCormack
When I said I was excited to read another dark romance that I was genuinely interested in, I was really excited to start reading this as the premise sounded so good?! Ultimately this book was not it for me... Dark romance does have the triggers which it come with (always so) but these ones were really not for me. As a reader you are really kept in the dark to what truly happened with Ryan (I wished I knew about this earlier as it really changed my pov of this story) but let me tell you IT IS DARK! So be warned about the really dark themes in this book... Anyways the relationship between Ryan and Jonas is hella cute even though it started under the weirdest and most twisted circumstances?! What I did miss in this story, even though it deals with heavy subjects, there was not enough depth to basically everything from the characters to the relationship development to its plots and even the ending was a bit of anit-climactic in my eyes.
When I said I was excited to read another dark romance that I was genuinely interested in, I was really excited to start reading this as the premise sounded so good?! Ultimately this book was not it for me... Dark romance does have the triggers which it come with (always so) but these ones were really not for me. As a reader you are really kept in the dark to what truly happened with Ryan (I wished I knew about this earlier as it really changed my pov of this story) but let me tell you IT IS DARK! So be warned about the really dark themes in this book... Anyways the relationship between Ryan and Jonas is hella cute even though it started under the weirdest and most twisted circumstances?! What I did miss in this story, even though it deals with heavy subjects, there was not enough depth to basically everything from the characters to the relationship development to its plots and even the ending was a bit of anit-climactic in my eyes.
May 19, 2024
This is a really dark story, love the setting and the plot. Very nicely executed! I had a hard time putting the book down. And lots of good spice.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
May 13, 2024
4.5 stars
Ryan and Simon are twins who come from old money. Their parents are deceased but they still reside together at the family estate. The story starts with Simon introducing Jonas who he has hired to help Ryan with grounds keeping. Jonas is a dead ringer for someone from the twins past so Ryan is suspicious of Simon’s motives right away. We soon learn that Simon has offered Jonas 10K to seduce Ryan. While Jonas identifies as straight he desperately needs the money to pay for his sister’s medical care. His parents are also deceased and his Aunt and sister are all he has. Clearly the twins have a toxic relationship and as more of the past is revealed you start to understand why. I enjoyed the Psychological aspect of the book, trying to figure out who you could trust and what had really happened. This is not your typical romance and that’s why I loved it! Devon is not afraid to write outside the box, can’t wait to see what he does next.
Ryan and Simon are twins who come from old money. Their parents are deceased but they still reside together at the family estate. The story starts with Simon introducing Jonas who he has hired to help Ryan with grounds keeping. Jonas is a dead ringer for someone from the twins past so Ryan is suspicious of Simon’s motives right away. We soon learn that Simon has offered Jonas 10K to seduce Ryan. While Jonas identifies as straight he desperately needs the money to pay for his sister’s medical care. His parents are also deceased and his Aunt and sister are all he has. Clearly the twins have a toxic relationship and as more of the past is revealed you start to understand why. I enjoyed the Psychological aspect of the book, trying to figure out who you could trust and what had really happened. This is not your typical romance and that’s why I loved it! Devon is not afraid to write outside the box, can’t wait to see what he does next.
May 20, 2024
2.75⭐️ 2.5🌶️
This has the opportunity to be so much more IMO. The plot was definitely on the right track but somehow lost me because it never got too dark. I was imagining some mindf*ck twist and turns laced with secrets and betrayal, but Ryan and Jonah being on the same page took away all of the angst. What we were left with was not knowing Simon’s endgame.
I did like the relationship that they built and the spice was good, but not much else unfortunately 🤷🏻♀️
This has the opportunity to be so much more IMO. The plot was definitely on the right track but somehow lost me because it never got too dark. I was imagining some mindf*ck twist and turns laced with secrets and betrayal, but Ryan and Jonah being on the same page took away all of the angst. What we were left with was not knowing Simon’s endgame.
I did like the relationship that they built and the spice was good, but not much else unfortunately 🤷🏻♀️
May 19, 2024
Dnf at 15%.
December 17, 2025
This is a fake relationship to more dark romance, featuring Jonas and Ryan Hawthorne, and is a standalone book
Jonas takes a paid job to seduce wealthy Ryan Hawthorne, only to learn he was chosen because he looks exactly like someone from Ryan’s past. What begins as a fake setup turns into real feelings, complicated by secrets and Ryan’s twin manipulating them both.
This is a dark, emotional romance that starts as a paid setup and turns into something real. The chemistry is intense, but the manipulation and secrets keep everything complicated. Make sure you read the CW before jumping in as there is something very sensitive topics in this one that could be triggering.
Things to expect in this book are:
Standalone book
MM dark romance
Check CW
Fake relationship
Rich boy x poor boy
Lookalike
Hurt / Comfort
Past assault
Loss of parents
Mind games & manipulation
Unhinged Twin
Sibling rivalry
Lines between fake & real
First times
Bi awakening
Obsession
Secrets revealed
HEA
Jonas takes a paid job to seduce wealthy Ryan Hawthorne, only to learn he was chosen because he looks exactly like someone from Ryan’s past. What begins as a fake setup turns into real feelings, complicated by secrets and Ryan’s twin manipulating them both.
This is a dark, emotional romance that starts as a paid setup and turns into something real. The chemistry is intense, but the manipulation and secrets keep everything complicated. Make sure you read the CW before jumping in as there is something very sensitive topics in this one that could be triggering.
Things to expect in this book are:
Standalone book
MM dark romance
Check CW
Fake relationship
Rich boy x poor boy
Lookalike
Hurt / Comfort
Past assault
Loss of parents
Mind games & manipulation
Unhinged Twin
Sibling rivalry
Lines between fake & real
First times
Bi awakening
Obsession
Secrets revealed
HEA
May 15, 2024
PLEASE READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS! THESE ARE NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY!
Now that I've gotten that out of the way, OMG! This book was sooooo dark and chaotic. So many twists and turns that you honestly weren't sure who to believe at some points. This really will have you questioning everything you thought was going on but then kept getting darker and darker.
Jonas is in desperate need of money and Simon offers him 10K to sleep with his twin brother Ryan. Both Ryan and Simon are rich kids from an affluent family and when Jonas first meets Ryan, he believes he's just a rich brat. But once he spends more time with him, he realizes the pain underneath the surface that keeps Ryan in an invisible chokehold due to the mysterious similar looking man that Jonas looks like from Ryan's past. From the first night they are together sparks fly and the sinister games begin and keep you on your toes the entire time until the end.
Plot: 4/5
Spice: 4/5
Now that I've gotten that out of the way, OMG! This book was sooooo dark and chaotic. So many twists and turns that you honestly weren't sure who to believe at some points. This really will have you questioning everything you thought was going on but then kept getting darker and darker.
Jonas is in desperate need of money and Simon offers him 10K to sleep with his twin brother Ryan. Both Ryan and Simon are rich kids from an affluent family and when Jonas first meets Ryan, he believes he's just a rich brat. But once he spends more time with him, he realizes the pain underneath the surface that keeps Ryan in an invisible chokehold due to the mysterious similar looking man that Jonas looks like from Ryan's past. From the first night they are together sparks fly and the sinister games begin and keep you on your toes the entire time until the end.
Plot: 4/5
Spice: 4/5
not-interested-in-reading
September 6, 2024Yeah no. Not into whatever this was going to be.
January 9, 2025
Wey esta libro fue un rotundo NO.
Insta-love niveles estratosfericos.
Trama sumamente predecible.
Final más cliché y aburrido que nada.
Personajes sin química.
Simplemente no disfruté casi nada de este libro, puedo rescatar algunas escenas ¿cute? Pero contadas y solo por eso no pongo 0.5 ⭐️
El libro si toca temas un poco sensibles sooooo checa los TW.
Insta-love niveles estratosfericos.
Trama sumamente predecible.
Final más cliché y aburrido que nada.
Personajes sin química.
Simplemente no disfruté casi nada de este libro, puedo rescatar algunas escenas ¿cute? Pero contadas y solo por eso no pongo 0.5 ⭐️
El libro si toca temas un poco sensibles sooooo checa los TW.
Read
May 22, 2024I don’t know why I kept reading this book.. is so bad.
Read
May 19, 2024Shoot me, I didn't like it
I didn't feel the romance 🤷♀️
I didn't feel the romance 🤷♀️
June 21, 2024
[This review contains SPOILERS]. I'm not usually one to include spoilers in my reviews, but I feel you should be somewhat prepared for what you're about to read.
There is romance, and there is darkness, but this is not a dark romance. It is a dark story with romance in it. And when I say dark, I do mean dark, with all capital letters, DARK.
The story revolves around Ryan, Simon, and Kiernan Hawthorne and Jonas and is told from three perspectives. Most POVs are from Ryan and Jonas with a sprinkle of Simon's POV. There is angst, there is tension, there is high-heat, there is shock and twists, there are interesting side-characters, and there is mystery. There is also... incest. Yes, you read that right. There is on-page and off-page scenes where the Hawthorne brothers are a little more intimate than your average siblings.
From the very first chapter you learn that the Hawthorne brothers share more with each other than they should. These scenes don't go into detail the way the intimate scenes between Ryan and Jonas do, but they are there. If you can put that in the back of your mind and not let it deter you from reading this book, it's actually quit a good read.
Jonas is extremely supportive and understanding of Ryan and what he's been through. They share a deep connection and have many, many spicy moments. I loved witnessing Ryan’s growth and seeing Jonas help him overcome is past-trauma. Their HEA is definitely hard-fought.
Simon is a psycho, and it must be my deep inner love for misunderstood characters talking, but you kind of feel bad for him by the end of the book. I would give anything for a book on Simon alone. The book ended with an okay enough closure for Simon, but I'm hungry for more to be honest. Give me a two part story – his story with Kiernan and his story after. As disturbing as it would be, I would read it immediately.
This book deserves 5 stars alone for the shock value. I read A LOT and it takes a lot to invoke emotions in me, especially shock and discomfort, and this book kept the shock values coming while keeping me comfortably uncomfortable. The best way I can describe this book is like witnessing a car crash - it's morbid and you absolutely should look away, especially when the EMT pulls out a gurney and you just know you're about to witness something that will cause bile to rise in your throat, but you don’t look away because you HAVE TO know what happens next.
There is romance, and there is darkness, but this is not a dark romance. It is a dark story with romance in it. And when I say dark, I do mean dark, with all capital letters, DARK.
The story revolves around Ryan, Simon, and Kiernan Hawthorne and Jonas and is told from three perspectives. Most POVs are from Ryan and Jonas with a sprinkle of Simon's POV. There is angst, there is tension, there is high-heat, there is shock and twists, there are interesting side-characters, and there is mystery. There is also... incest. Yes, you read that right. There is on-page and off-page scenes where the Hawthorne brothers are a little more intimate than your average siblings.
From the very first chapter you learn that the Hawthorne brothers share more with each other than they should. These scenes don't go into detail the way the intimate scenes between Ryan and Jonas do, but they are there. If you can put that in the back of your mind and not let it deter you from reading this book, it's actually quit a good read.
Jonas is extremely supportive and understanding of Ryan and what he's been through. They share a deep connection and have many, many spicy moments. I loved witnessing Ryan’s growth and seeing Jonas help him overcome is past-trauma. Their HEA is definitely hard-fought.
Simon is a psycho, and it must be my deep inner love for misunderstood characters talking, but you kind of feel bad for him by the end of the book. I would give anything for a book on Simon alone. The book ended with an okay enough closure for Simon, but I'm hungry for more to be honest. Give me a two part story – his story with Kiernan and his story after. As disturbing as it would be, I would read it immediately.
This book deserves 5 stars alone for the shock value. I read A LOT and it takes a lot to invoke emotions in me, especially shock and discomfort, and this book kept the shock values coming while keeping me comfortably uncomfortable. The best way I can describe this book is like witnessing a car crash - it's morbid and you absolutely should look away, especially when the EMT pulls out a gurney and you just know you're about to witness something that will cause bile to rise in your throat, but you don’t look away because you HAVE TO know what happens next.
May 12, 2024
Twisted Rivalry is a dark romance! I like the premise of the story, Jonas was offered 10K if he sleep with Ryan Hawthorne, by the guy’s twin brother!!!!!! There’s one thing, he is straight but He needs that money. Ryan Hawthorne was born with all the privileges, money and status but he and his brother have been spending their life’s into his family's mansion, but the relationship between them is not a good relationship even if they are twins.
Jonas discover many important detail about the relationship between the twins, that would change his view about them, they are identical but so different inside, besides there’s the mystery about how is the person that he is the spitting image for Ryan’s his past, the guy he loved.
Ryan is not what it seems, he carries a pain so deep inside him but he is also a good guy and wants to help Jonas, they can work together to make his twin brother help Jonas’s family.
After his first time with Ryan he is intrigued with him, they shared a night he is never going to forget and realize that maybe hi isn’t straight at all, he woke something in him and spending more time with him isn’t a hardship after Ryan’s brother offered him a new deal.
I like how Jonas and Ryan developed feelings for each other and are working against Simon’s agenda, the game they are playing is dangerous but they are willing to risk being everything, they revenge Simon is working on is a mystery to later is discovered, so many disturbing things are about to happen between Jonas, Ryan and Simon. There so many lies and secrets on this book that makes it so interesting and have me on edge, is the past going to return and haunted Ryan and Jonas? How screwed up is Simon??? So many things to discover!! I like how everything develops and how ends, this was a very interesting and steamy story! Highly recommended it!
Jonas discover many important detail about the relationship between the twins, that would change his view about them, they are identical but so different inside, besides there’s the mystery about how is the person that he is the spitting image for Ryan’s his past, the guy he loved.
Ryan is not what it seems, he carries a pain so deep inside him but he is also a good guy and wants to help Jonas, they can work together to make his twin brother help Jonas’s family.
After his first time with Ryan he is intrigued with him, they shared a night he is never going to forget and realize that maybe hi isn’t straight at all, he woke something in him and spending more time with him isn’t a hardship after Ryan’s brother offered him a new deal.
I like how Jonas and Ryan developed feelings for each other and are working against Simon’s agenda, the game they are playing is dangerous but they are willing to risk being everything, they revenge Simon is working on is a mystery to later is discovered, so many disturbing things are about to happen between Jonas, Ryan and Simon. There so many lies and secrets on this book that makes it so interesting and have me on edge, is the past going to return and haunted Ryan and Jonas? How screwed up is Simon??? So many things to discover!! I like how everything develops and how ends, this was a very interesting and steamy story! Highly recommended it!
May 20, 2024
Holy Guacamole! What the heck did I just read?! Honestly, I don't even know where to start with this book. It was dark and very twisted but I think that's what draws you in. Disclaimer though: you really need to love reading a dark romance because this will have you so twisted you won't know where to turn or how to feel. I would highly recommend reading the trigger warnings before starting it. I almost didn't finish but I kept telling myself to keep going because I know how Devon's books are and they always have that twist into goodness at the end. I also don't like to quit books without giving them a real shot first regardless of how dark they are. I knew going in this was going to be dark but I was not prepared for how twisted it truly was.
From start to finish I was confused as to how the characters were truly connected and some parts were a little icky to me, such as the parts with Ryan and Simon the twin brothers, but I think that's what kept me captivated. The way Ryan and Jonas were brought together was unconventional, but it worked for their characters and kept me reading. I wanted to know how their story would end. I don't think we truly understand how trauma in our younger years can have an effect on our present and there is nothing truer than that for Ryan and Simon, but especially Simon. It wasn't until near the end that I understood what Simon was truly thinking and even then I was dumbfounded. I think the one thing I was looking for was a more climactic ending for Simon and to understand what he was thinking and going through when all of the dust settled. That for me was missing.
I would recommend this book but proceed with caution and as I said in the beginning make sure to read the TRIGGER WARNINGS first. Proceed with a clear mind and be open to anything that can happen.
From start to finish I was confused as to how the characters were truly connected and some parts were a little icky to me, such as the parts with Ryan and Simon the twin brothers, but I think that's what kept me captivated. The way Ryan and Jonas were brought together was unconventional, but it worked for their characters and kept me reading. I wanted to know how their story would end. I don't think we truly understand how trauma in our younger years can have an effect on our present and there is nothing truer than that for Ryan and Simon, but especially Simon. It wasn't until near the end that I understood what Simon was truly thinking and even then I was dumbfounded. I think the one thing I was looking for was a more climactic ending for Simon and to understand what he was thinking and going through when all of the dust settled. That for me was missing.
I would recommend this book but proceed with caution and as I said in the beginning make sure to read the TRIGGER WARNINGS first. Proceed with a clear mind and be open to anything that can happen.
May 30, 2024
Wow. That was a dark and twisted journey full of mystery, intense emotions ranging from list to guilt to anger to love. Jonas is given an opportunity he can’t pass up, 10k to sleep with Simon’s twin brother, Ryan. The catch? Jonas looks like someone from Ryan’s past and Jonas is straight, but he desperately needs the money, so he pushes through the issues. Except that’s not all Simon wants. Ryan feels like a ghost haunting and roaming the halls of his family mansion, he is in charge of the landscaping, he has two other men on his crew but has asked for additional help,, which is what Simon passes Jonas off as, another landscaper. Ryan knows his twin though and knows he’s scheming. The problem is, Ryan feels stuck playing these games, letting Simon get away with the mind games. Ryan has some pretty intense baggage that I won’t go into cause no spoilers allowed in my reviews. But Ryan truly hurts my heart with his trauma. I spent a good chunk of this story trying to piece it together, to figure it out before the reveal. I was so dang curious and intrigued and couldn’t stop reading, I absolutely devoured it. And the big reveal did not disappoint. It broke my heart. Watching Ryan suffer, ugh so hard. But Jonas stood up for him, believed him, loved him and supported him in anyway he could. They are perfect together. And even though Simon is a villain, I hope to see his character redemption, cause my heart hurt for him too. These boys went through a lot, lost a lot. Not just Ryan and Simon but Jonas too. All three of them have suffered horrible losses and big traumas. But Ryan and Jonas’ love is beautiful and bright and pure. The story is so well written, it just sucked me in, got its hooks in me and wouldn’t let me go. I have a feeling this will be one of those stories where these characters stay with me for a long time.
September 3, 2024
I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, but I wasn't disappointed! Jonas is hired by Simon to do a job on his estate in exchange for money to help his sick sister. The only problem is the job is to seduce Ryan, Simon's twin. Ryan knows something's up immediately because Jonas looks eerily similar to someone from his past. Despite that, he confronts Jonas and agrees to sleep with him to fulfill his job. But Simon offers Jonas an even better deal if he can get Ryan to fall in love with him. Soon the lines are blurred and it's no longer fake to either of them. But there's a dark and twisted side to Simon that puts their love and trust in one another to the test. All the secrets of Ryan and Simon's past come out, destroying the careful balance they'd built between them but also liberating them from the all-consuming grief that ruined their relationship.
This book was seriously so good. It kept me on my toes and I was constantly wondering what Simon was going to do and what motivated him. When everything came out I actually felt a bit bad for Simon even though he's clearly a psychopath. I really liked the concept of this book. It's dark and really rather taboo, especially Simon's behavior. But at the same time, Jonas and Ryan falling in love was really sweet and genuine. I liked seeing Ryan falling in love, finally seeing Jonas as himself instead of a ghost from his past. I liked how protective Jonas was and that he was supportive of Ryan even when the truth was uncertain. I liked the darkness of this book and that it kept me guessing. The spice was hot and the love was convincing.
Tim Paige did a great job narrating, though I think some of the flashbacks would have been easier to follow by reading. Overall, I give this 4/5 🌟!
This book was seriously so good. It kept me on my toes and I was constantly wondering what Simon was going to do and what motivated him. When everything came out I actually felt a bit bad for Simon even though he's clearly a psychopath. I really liked the concept of this book. It's dark and really rather taboo, especially Simon's behavior. But at the same time, Jonas and Ryan falling in love was really sweet and genuine. I liked seeing Ryan falling in love, finally seeing Jonas as himself instead of a ghost from his past. I liked how protective Jonas was and that he was supportive of Ryan even when the truth was uncertain. I liked the darkness of this book and that it kept me guessing. The spice was hot and the love was convincing.
Tim Paige did a great job narrating, though I think some of the flashbacks would have been easier to follow by reading. Overall, I give this 4/5 🌟!
April 10, 2025
MM🌈
🌶️🌶️
Dark
Bi awakening
This is a fucked up story. Not the taboo incest element but the hire a guy who looks like our dead brother to seduce you so that you will stop lying about what really happened years ago even though I am the one lying about it element.
Ryan and Simon are twins. They had an older half brother that died about 4 years ago. Their mother overdosed when they were 9. Their half brother killed himself when they were 18, then a week later their father killed himself. All because of stuff pertaining to the half brother, Kieran. The mom couldn’t accept Kieran because he was the product of an affair and ultimately killed herself to get away.
Simon hires Jonas, who looks just like Kieran, to have sex with Ryan. Jonas is straight but for the 10K, he’ll get over it. Then afterward, Simon offers up health care for Jonas’s sister, who has cancer, if he’ll stay and make Ryan fall in love with him. Ryan and Jonas do end up falling in love.
The reason is twisted. Turns out Simon and Ryan used each other to discover their budding sexual feelings. Then Kieran started having sex with Simon but it wasn’t consensual, at first. He gaslighted Simon into thinking it was. Simon thought Kieran loved him. Ryan had always loved Kieran until Kieran raped him. But Simon saw it as Ryan stealing Kieran from him. Then Kieran killed himself when Ryan told him it was rape not love. Their father killed himself because of lies Simon told him about Ryan and Kieran.
IDK 🤷🏼♀️
🌶️🌶️
Dark
Bi awakening
This is a fucked up story. Not the taboo incest element but the hire a guy who looks like our dead brother to seduce you so that you will stop lying about what really happened years ago even though I am the one lying about it element.
Ryan and Simon are twins. They had an older half brother that died about 4 years ago. Their mother overdosed when they were 9. Their half brother killed himself when they were 18, then a week later their father killed himself. All because of stuff pertaining to the half brother, Kieran. The mom couldn’t accept Kieran because he was the product of an affair and ultimately killed herself to get away.
Simon hires Jonas, who looks just like Kieran, to have sex with Ryan. Jonas is straight but for the 10K, he’ll get over it. Then afterward, Simon offers up health care for Jonas’s sister, who has cancer, if he’ll stay and make Ryan fall in love with him. Ryan and Jonas do end up falling in love.
The reason is twisted. Turns out Simon and Ryan used each other to discover their budding sexual feelings. Then Kieran started having sex with Simon but it wasn’t consensual, at first. He gaslighted Simon into thinking it was. Simon thought Kieran loved him. Ryan had always loved Kieran until Kieran raped him. But Simon saw it as Ryan stealing Kieran from him. Then Kieran killed himself when Ryan told him it was rape not love. Their father killed himself because of lies Simon told him about Ryan and Kieran.
IDK 🤷🏼♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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