Sweet Touch of Venom

The Lethal Love Trilogy #1

by Akita Sparks

Mr. and Mrs. Smith meets The Expendables & Extraction

Dive into this action packed series where love and danger intertwine, and every heartbeat could be your last?


Are you ready to step into the world of Hollow City and embrace the darkness?


She’s venom to my soul

Ronan

I live by three extract, punish, then eradicate.
My job as an extractor never comes easy, but it’s always for the a means to an end.
It’s why nothing will stop me from destroying the people who kidnapped me.
Nothing…
Except this mystery person who captures my victims and leaves them with a mark. It turns me maniacal, enraged by the audacity. But when I finally caught sight of her covered in all black shielded in a mask, I was instantly intrigued, drawn to her like her shadow on a wall.
So I did what anyone else would do, I followed her. Tracked her every move like a dog searching for a scent. How can I stay away when she drives me to the brink of no return?
He’s poison to my veins

Venom

I’ve been trained to fight, to defend myself against evil.
And most of all; to Kill Ronan Alvarez.
The moment I get him exactly where I want, I'm caught off guard, appalled even.
He’s not the same man I once knew and worst of all, he’s still sinfully gorgeous with a monstrous stare and menacing allure.
When I’m captured, he offers me a choice.
Join him or die. His ultimatum bothers me to my core, and it only makes me hate him more.
He stirs up my truths and turns them into illusions, snatching every intricate part of me I was conditioned to believe.
Hating him was the easy part, staying away from him is where my problem lies.
“They say you’ll never be satisfied once you’ve served the head of the corpse on a platter. I beg to differ.”

Genres: Dark Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Dark, Romance, Slow Burn, New Adult, Contemporary Romance

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 8, 2024

Reviews

[Anastasia ｼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

╭ ✦ •
│ ⊹ 𝟺.𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜, 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚗 ⊹
╰ ✦ •

I am completely hooked!

Venom is out for revenge. It's been her life's mission to get to the bottom of her brother's death and avenge him. She’s certain her brother’s death was no accident—and she holds his best friend responsible. Her plan? Take him down, no matter the cost. Meanwhile, Ronan, her brother's best friend, is driven by a relentless need for justice, determined to also avenge his best friend’s death ( which happened right before his eyes). As he takes on the grim task of rescuing trafficking victims and hunting down the monsters responsible, his mission grows darker and more personal. And when fate throws them together, neither expects the path forward. Venom finds herself joining Ronan’s covert academy, and soon, they’re working side by side to dismantle the very network of criminals that have haunted them both. As their shared mission heats up, so does the undeniable tension between them, sparking an attraction neither can ignore.

The tension and chemistry Anita and Ronan have is electric. I love them so much😭😭😭

I NEEED MORE!

full review soon!

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

⊹ 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 ⊹
❥Enemies to Lovers
❥Best Friend’s Sister/Brother’s Best Friend
❥Dark Romance
❥Slow Burn
❥Forced Proximity
❥Revenge
❥Vigilante Killers
❥Badass FMC
❥Morally Grey and Unhinged MCs
❥Secret Academy

Thank you for the ARC, Akita♡
_________________________________
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[neurotic.bookdragon · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️
Read this in anticipation of being an ARC reader for the second book.
While there were some parts I enjoyed and found entertaining, the writing was quite flowery and over complicated, making the story a little hard to follow at times.
The tension between the two MCs was palpable, but I feel like the backstory was a little underdeveloped and I wish we’d gotten more out of it.
I very much enjoyed the bonding we got to see unfolding between Anita & Mal towards the end of the book.
Will see if book 2 brings everything together..

[Haleemah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐️, well that ended weirdly and abruptly. Love their banter tho :)

[Komal]

DNF 7%

I just wasn’t in the mood. Might pick it up again.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really needed better editing/proof reading

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but unfortunately I found it difficult to read. The concept is interesting and there’s some depth to the characters…but the writing really needs work. It feels like this is an uncorrected proof that was accidentally uploaded. With more work and better editing, there’s potential in the writing.

[Amanda Hopwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wow !
Anita wants to avenge her brother’s death. That’s means she has to Kill his Brothers best friend. Ronan wants to avenge his best friend’s death also, but doesn’t know his bffs sister is out for him.
They both set out to kill one of the many involved without knowing the other is doing so. What happens when they realize and join forces ??
Read and find out !!

[Olga Ziminska · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been DYING to get to this on my tbr and I am SO happy that I did. This book is action-packed, sexy, and the last chapter will have you racing to get to book 2! If you’re looking for badass characters on a mission for revenge, then you need to add this to your tbr!

I can’t wait to dive into book 2!!

[Smardline S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything🔥🔥🔥! If you’re into a badass Black FMC🖤🖤🖤 and a delicious MMC🤤😍, then you need to add this to your TBR immediately! .They both seeking revenge and agreed to work together, even though she hates him. The enemies-to-lovers vibe and the best friend’s little sister trope make it impossible to put down. And the chemistry between them 🧑🏾‍🍳💋. I don’t want to spoil anything, but trust me, you’ll fall hard for Ronan baby🥵🥵🥵. Mark your calendar for November.

[CharliReadsSmut · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚖𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚛𝚘𝚗 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚙 𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚙𝚊𝚐𝚎 ✨

Wow. This book had a sprinkle of everything. I was hooked from start to finish.
We follow Anita (Venom) and Ronan (Poison), vigilantes fighting human trafficking and corrupt governments.

❝𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚 𝐩𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡. 𝐍𝐨. 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬. 𝐒𝐨, 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬.❞

Venom and Poison have never met - yet little do they know, they actually know each other very well. Their paths crossed once before, and trauma shattered everything. Now? Anita despises Ronan.

❝𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐠𝐮𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝.❞

When shit goes awry, their paths cross once more. Anita and Ronan are forced to work together to take down a human trafficking/kidnapping ring. Anita’s hatred is constantly tested, and before she knows it, she’s questioning the reason behind it, and whether it’s even worth holding onto.

❝𝐈𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝.❞

This is a true slow burn (I’m talking 81% of pure hatred!), with Ronan questioning his feelings for Anita while Anita questions her rapidly depleting hate.

❝𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐢𝐭, 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐞. 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰.❞

If you love James Bond, Mission Impossible, Charlie’s Angels, and The A-Team, this one’s for you.

🔫 Vigilante Groups
🩸 Training School
🔫 Slow Burn
🩸 Childhood Friends
🔫 Enemies-to-lovers
🩸 Forced Proximity
🔫 Touch Him & 💀
🩸 Touch Her & 💀
🔫 Revenge

⭐️ 4.5/5
🌶️ 2/5

[Vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Tonight, I don't want to get bloody. I just did my nails.”

First thing’s first this cover! 🔥

I did not expect this book to have so much action! I was hooked throughout the entire story because one thing I love is a good revenge plot. Anita and Ronan were both completely unhinged, and Ronan is exactly who he thinks he is! I was grinning during his chapters with Venom. The chemistry, tension, and forced proximity were just too good!

There was so much more to the story than I expected, and it was surprisingly heartwarming. I had a few favorite parts, but my absolute favorites were Ronan’s mango talk and the interrogation scene—I just loved their interactions. I also enjoyed the different locations throughout the chapters. And that cliffhanger? I absolutely loved it, even though I’m not usually a fan of them!

I’m ready for Tempted by Poison!!!

Favourite quotes:

“I duck, hoping it hits Ronan instead”

"You can call for him while I'm separating your kneecaps from your legs,"

“Pick your poison, beautiful”

“I don’t have anything to hide, all my dark and sick ways I accept it now. She may or may not like it, but this is me. All of me”

"Tell me," he whispers. "Does it make you sick to your stomach, hating that you want me."

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Venom was a badass FMC! She was strong willed had a IDGF attitude. She was the true definition of a FAFO type of girl!
Ronan… baby… there is so much to story that I need to know! He searched for years for Anita only to find out that she wanted him dead.
The fact that it left me on a cliffhanger… ugh…. I am so ready for the second book to come out I need to know what happens.

Trops:
friends-enemies-almost lovers
Best friends sister
Secret society
Revenge
Forced proximity

[Ya-Nais · Rating 5 out of 5]

ANITAAAAAA BITCH I WANT TO BE YOUR BEST FRIEND!!!!!!! This book is so fire! I love it i loved the characters i love Ronan i hate a miscommunication trope and this was done great. Love the tension between them i did need a lil more spice it was NOT missed like the book to executed perfectly. I had so much fun and i am now reading the arc of tempted by poison and i can’t wait there better be a little something MORE!!!!

[Bria Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story HOWEVER that ending was rude af!

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

HELLOOOO??

What was that ending 🤣🤣
Now I have no choice but to start book 2 immediately

[Cane (FeelinNoCane) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute banger! It was such a fun read. The banter, sexual tension, and action in this book were spectacular. Packed with action from start to finish, I didn't even realize I was nearing the end until I was 80% through. The story follows an enemies-to-lovers revenge plot between two rival assassins, Venom (FMC) and Plosion (MMC), as they team up to take down the same bad guys. This is a must read if you like action romance. It is so well written and easy to read. Definitely add to TBR.

[Folang · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really tried.
DNF.

"We made a car that runs on water"
really??!! that's it??


I was so happy to read this book and I was severely disappointed.

[jdvm_92 · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC reader. This means I received the book from the author, and while I usually try to honor any requests accompanying ARC copies, I believe that, above all, readers deserve my honest opinion. Therefore, my review and rating are in no way affected by any external requests and reflect my true experience with the book.

Unfortunately, while this book had an intriguing premise, it didn't meet my expectations, as I found it really challenging to connect with the story and the characters.

The plot had potential, but the MCs situation felt underdeveloped, leaving too many unanswered questions and gaps to fill.

I was curious about the background of the MMC and the organization he leads. I felt I needed more explanations to make it all work for me, as it touches on several different subjects that don’t fully connect. On the FMC’s side, her background was unclear, and her motivations for her actions didn’t fully make sense. With her skillset, it seemed she had more efficient ways to go about achieving her goals.

Their attraction to each other is described often, and I found it repetitive and think it could have been streamlined to keep the focus on advancing the story.

I didn't resonate with how they behaved in the spicy scene, was expecting something way different given the vibes I got from each character.

The action scenes could have benefited from a more agile approach and detail to really bring tension to life. I never got the feeling that they were in danger.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this book, but I felt a lack of connection to the characters, the plot and the internal logic of the world.

However, I understand that each reader may resonate differently with a story, so if you think it might be for you, go ahead and give it a try.

[Michelle Peralta · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Venom* is the ultimate badass heroine! Strong, fearless, and with an unapologetic "FAFO" attitude, she totally stole the show. I absolutely loved her no-nonsense attitude, and the way she stood her ground with Ronan was everything.

Speaking of Ronan—*whew*, I need to know so much more about this guy! He’s been searching for Anita for years, only to find out she wants him dead. What happened? His backstory is a total mystery, and I’m dying to uncover it.

The tension between Venom and Ronan? Unbelievable. These two start out as enemies—each on their own mission for revenge—but forced proximity brings them together in the most explosive way. Their slow burn is so satisfying, with both of them fighting their undeniable attraction.

Venom’s a total queen—she doesn’t take shit from anyone, especially not Ronan. She’s tough, independent, and goes toe-to-toe with the men who underestimate her. Ronan is morally grey, unhinged, and HOT. He’s on a mission to build a secret academy to help the people he’s rescued, which just makes him even more swoon-worthy.

The *enemies-to-lovers* dynamic is top-tier, and the development of their relationship kept me hooked. The twists, the tension, the revenge—they all culminate in a cliffhanger that left me *needing* more. Book two can’t come soon enough!

Tropes I loved:
• Enemies to Lovers
• Best Friend’s Sister / Brother’s Best Friend
• Slow Burn
• Forced Proximity
• Revenge
• Vigilante Killers
• Badass FMC
• Morally Grey, Unhinged MCs
• Secret Academy

#Venom #EnemiesToLovers #SlowBurn #Revenge #BadassFMC #MorallyGreyMC #SecretAcademy #Cliffhanger #BookRecommendation #Tropes

[Morgan Jacques · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes:
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Slow Burn
✨Forced Proximity
✨Morally Grey MMC

I want to start by saying check your trigger warnings. This book is dark. Things definitely happen in this book that can be triggering to some, so please check the trigger warnings because your mental health matters.

So this book took me for a wild ride. I went into it not know if I would like it or not, and I ended up loving it!

This book follows Ronan and Anita. Ronan was best friends to Anita’s brother. Carter. That was until both Ronan and Carter ended up being kidnapped, and unfortunately Carter was killed. Now Anita is out for blood, more specifically Ronan’s blood.

Knowing the truth of what happened, Ronan started this organization to stop and kill the people that took his best friend from him but also to help those who have been kidnapped. I surprisingly loved Ronan’s character. He is sick, dark, and twisted. Does that make me unhinged? Maybe. Do I care? Absolutely not. Him creating that organization to stop all the bad people and to help others that have been in his shoes 100% tugged at me heart strings. And when he finally finds Anita, the way he protects her and struggles with the feelings he has for his best friend’s sister, well it shows just how human he really is.

Anita is a standby FMC who’s out for a lot of blood. She thinks Ronan is the reason her brother is dead, and she couldn’t be more wrong. When she finds out the truth, it’s like a revelation. And the way she puts her feelings aside to get to the bigger goal…well I loved that.

This is a slow burn to the max. And it ends on a major cliffhanger and I cannot wait to see where this story goes.

[Dani-Lynn Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Five Star Rating
🌶️🌶️- Spice Rating
🔥🔥🔥 - Plot
Age Range : 18+

🖤𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
Oh my gawd! This is an amazing enemies to lovers story that just grabs you immediately from the start. Grabs you so freaking hard and doesn’t let up until the end. Our two mains in this story are just made for each other in a twisted kind of way, the way their chemistry just builds from a pure hatred for each other to a protective form. The way they are both devoted to seeking revenge for the same person. It jumps right into the action and doesn’t let up at all.

🖤𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽🖤
Anita doesn’t believe her brother’s death was an accident and solely holds one person responsible. Responsible enough for her to hunt him down years later to make sure she gets her revenge her him. Ronan had been taking down predators while investigating the people responsible for her brother’s death, as he knows someone had to avenge his death. As much as they despise each other, they decide to work together to find the culprit in this spicy, brother’s best friend romance that will stay with you.

🖤𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Anita is a strong, powerful fmc that is ambitious to take down the ones she assumes is responsible for her brother’s death. Her devotion to getting revenge for him is a huge bond, but I love that it actually brought our mains together. Ronan. Ronan is such a charmer. I absolutely loved their connection that started to bloom and look forward to what’s in store next. These are two absolutely unhinged characters that just belong together.

🖤𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
🖤 brothers best friend/best friends sister
🖤 slow burn dark romance
🖤 vigilante killers
🖤 forced proximity
🖤 enemies to lovers

🖤𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓬𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷🖤
With the sequel releasing in only 3 days, I had to indulge in this spicy enemies to lovers story as I loved how the plot drove two people that originally disliked each other to depend on each other by the end. If you needed one more reason to add this to your TBR immediately, two words. Two assassins.

[Smutty Professor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Touch of Venom is a wild ride from start to finish! Venom, the FMC, is the epitome of strength and determination. Her fierce attitude and resolve make her a badass protagonist that you can’t help but root for. She embodies the true essence of a F*** Around and Find Out girl, and it’s refreshing to see a character who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it.

Ronan, the MMC, matches her intensity perfectly. The tension and chemistry between Venom and Ronan are hot, making their complicated relationship all the more engaging. The enemies-to-lovers trope is executed beautifully, with just the right amount of heat and banter that keeps you invested in their journey.

The action in this book is top tier which propels the plot forward and keeps the stakes high. One of the standout elements for me was how the plot gradually came together, revealing layers of intrigue and revenge that kept me guessing. I appreciated how Sparks wove together these elements and created a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

My only issue is the intense cliffhanger ending. The suspense left me eager for more, but also a bit frustrated. That said, I’m relieved that this is the first in a trilogy; I can’t wait to see how the story develops and how Venom and Ronan will finally confront their feelings for each other. If you're looking for a read filled with tension, deep characters, and a storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat, I highly recommend adding this to your TBR. I’m counting down the days until the next installment!

[Carly Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly I love a brothers best friend / Enemies to lovers and this was full of that! I loved Venom and Ronan and their back stories, the challenges they both have overcome to be who they are now and the tension was palpable 🔥.

The book follows Venom a trained assassin hunt down her brothers killers and meeting Roman a man on a mission of his own on the way in a fantastic show down.
The pair put aside differences and the sexual tension to hunt these men down.

The spice is not in this book until 86% of the book, so if you’re here for the spice then maybe wait for book 2 as I feel it’s going to get hot in there, There are a lot of unanswered questions and a huge chunk of the story to unravel.

Warning if you don’t like a Cliffhanger wait until book 2 is out but it’s definitely worth a read if you like a strong female and a dark antihero type man who likes to be in charge 😜. Not a lot of twists (yet it’s only book 1) and the writing by was easy with fairly short chapters and not too wordy.


I found it a bit harder to stay on track with this read and found myself coming away from the book to read something else midway - this is more my headspace not really the story as I did like it! Overall writing and characters were likeable although a little dark it just felt like a longer book than it is- hence why 4 stars

Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️
Plot 🗺️🗺️🗺️

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Venom will Rache an denen, die ihren Bruder umgebracht haben - inklusive seines besten Freundes Ronan, welchen sie für das Schicksal verantwortlich macht. So kommt sie zurück nach Hollow City - nicht als Anita, die kleine Schwester mit Zöpfchen, sondern als harte Auftragsmörderin, die sich ihren Weg mit Gift durch die Welt bahnt. Aber Ronan hat den selben Plan - Rache an denen, die ihm seinen besten Freund genommen haben. Schnell kommen die beiden sich ins Gehege und die Grenzen verwischen - besonders für Anita.

Über den Urlaub habe ich immer wieder dieses Buch gelesen, weil es mich dann doch in der Sonne nicht los ließ. Anita ist eine starke Frau, aber keine unfehlbare Tötungsmaschine. Sie hat ein Ziel und Prinzipien, sieht sich selbst aber nicht als unfehlbar. Und Ronan tötet ohne Probleme, ist aber nicht so kalt, wie er die Welt glauben lassen möchte. Akita hat in diesem Buch eine düstere Welt mit Lichtblicken geschaffen, die einen am Lesen halten.

Die Spannung zwischen den beiden Protagonisten ist von Anfang an tastbar und baut sich über das gesamte Buch hinweg auf. Nur ganz ehrlich können beide nicht zu sich sein, was ein exquisiter Slow-Burn ist. Auch die Beziehungen zwischen den anderen Charakteren und den Hauptakteuren ist angenehm aufgebaut und findet viel Veränderung. Für mich ein 5-Sterne-Buch - ich freue mich auf Band 2!

[Maddison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tropes
Enemies to Lovers
Best Friend's Sister/Brother's Best Friend
Dark Romance
Slow Burn
Forced Proximity
Revenge
Vigilante Killers
Badass FMC
Morally Grey and Unhinged MCs
Secret Academy
Thank you for the ARC, Akita

Review

Venom(Anita)is out for revenge. It's been her life's mission to get to the bottom of her brother's death and avenge him. She's certain her brother's death was no accident-and she holds his best friend responsible. Her plan? Take him down, no matter the cost. Meanwhile, Ronan, her brother's best friend, is driven by a relentless need for justice, determined to also avenge his best friend's death which happened right before his eyes. As he takes on the grim task of rescuing trafficking victims and hunting down the monsters responsible, his mission grows darker and more personal.
And when fate throws them together, neither expects the path forward. Anita finds herself joining Ronan's covert academy, and soon, they're working side by side to dismantle the very network of criminals that have haunted them both. As their shared mission heats up, so does the undeniable tension between them, sparking an attraction neither can ignore. The tension and chemistry Anita and Ronan have is electric.

[Nikolett Berkiné Varga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am SO hooked! This book had me completely addicted from page one—it’s action-packed, fast-paced, and I honestly couldn’t put it down. If you love your characters unhinged, badass, and unapologetically themselves, you need to read this.

Venom (aka Anita) is just a force. She’s wild, dangerous, and has this "I don’t give a f*ck" attitude that I loved. She’s on a mission for revenge after her brother’s death, and nothing is going to stop her.

Enter Ronan, our MMC—just as intense and unhinged as Venom. He’s also on a revenge quest, this time for his best friend (who also happens to be Venom’s brother). The two cross paths as their missions collide, and from there, it’s pure chaos—in the best way.

The chemistry and banter between Venom and Ronan? Off the charts. The tension is wild, the sexual chemistry is even wilder, and every interaction between them is electric. They’re enemies, allies, and everything in between.

I also have to say, the side characters are amazing and I can’t wait to see more of them in future books. This story was so much fun—violent, steamy, and totally addictive. I need the next book ASAP!

Thank you Akita for the opportunity to read this book it was amazing!

[She Reads What She Wants · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading this as an ARC!

Ronan is like all the dark pieces of a man that we crave in our books but due to the tragic events he has suffered, he also pairs that with a heros heart. He has crawled to the other side of his trauma and made a way for others to find the light, even is he is still trapped in the darkness.

Venom has had only one goal for so long..Kill Ronan! After all, he is responsible for the worst possible day in her life and peace won't be found until he no longer exists, but where is he? For now, she needs to focus on ridding the world of other pieces of scum but still the end goal is the same, Ronan must go!

This book had me trying to anticipate what was going to happen next. These two don't know what life has in store for them and they have to figure out how to navigate everything that is being thrown at them without crossing the lines that neither one understands were drawn.

And them the author leaves us on a cliffhanger that shut me down like a cold shower *wink*

I can't wait to see what is next for Ronan and Venom!

[Kristine Caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

-Brother's best friend
-Enemies to lovers
-Secret academy
-Revenge
-Morally grey characters

*Check trigger warnings

Anita wants to hate Ronan so much, but he makes it hard for that to happen, especially when she starts to doubt what she thought she knew about what happened to her brother.

Anita and Ronan have not seen each other in 12 years, but they have the same goal, revenge. She wants revenge on the people who killed her brother Carter, but she also wants revenge on Ronan who was there when it happened and she believes he did nothing to stop it. Ronan wants revenge on the same people who killed Carter, who happened to be his best friend, but he also wants to find out why he was killed. They eventually figure out that they need to work together to get the rest of the men involved in the murder, but can they trust each other on this journey? After so many years of not seeing someone, can you still really know everything about them, when you once considered them family?

This book will give you Butcher and Blackbird vibes, so if you enjoyed that book, you will also enjoy this one. I loved the tension between the characters and how hard they try to fight their attraction to one another, when they are trying so hard to hate each other.

Sadly this book does end on a cliffhanger, but it is one that will be stuck in your head until the next book comes out.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖 Title: Sweet touch of Venom
✍🏽 Author: Akita Sparks
📚 Genre: Dark Romance
💫 Vibe Check: Enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, spicy
🚨 Trigger Warnings: Murder, Blood, Descriptive Death Scenes, Kidnapping

What I Loved:

Venom was badassss, 100%!! I loved seeing a badass FMC. A lot of dark romances have timid, shy FMC and this was not that, so I was immediately roped in from there. I loved the tension between the Venom and Ronan, it didn't feel forced. It felt like they fit perfectly at the correct times. Their chemistry was unmatched. I appreciate this being marked as a slow burn and actually being a slow burn story. It wasn't rushed or fast-paced, it just flowed.

What didn't hit for me:

Honestly there isn't much to say here. I wish Venom stood her ground a little more in the beginning before joining the other side but it wasn't big enough to stop reading the book to me.

This book was overall amazing though! Definitely would recommend! I will be reading the second book of the series because the cliffhanger had me like wtf 😂

[Theresse (Tess) Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: 4/5
Spice:1/5

This was such an addictive read; I couldn’t put it down! I loved Venom and Ronan—they complemented each other perfectly. Sparks did a fantastic job of making sure neither tried to change the other; instead, they embraced their darkness together. Venom, though broken by her brother's loss, is a strong character, and I’m excited to see her journey in the next book. I hope we also see Ronan's walls come down, as I felt his character was a bit more hesitant to let others, like Venom, see his pain. The banter and chemistry between them created an infuriatingly tense, yet expertly crafted slow-burn relationship. However, my only complaint is that the cliffhanger seemed a bit awkward; it seemed like an odd place to pause the story, but I’m hoping the next book will provide clarity. Speaking of, I can’t wait for book two in February!

Includes:
-Brother’s best friend
-Enemies-to-lovers
-Slow burn with all the banter
-Action-packed Revenge Plot

[Victoria Kennerknecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rounded up to 4 but I think I would have given 3.5 stars.
The story storyline itself was really good, I enjoy the characters a lot! They’re strong and spiteful and it plays for them well! I have to say I’d LOVE to see more of Wicked in the next one because I feel she has so much potential to be more than she is.
Now I personally think this was a slow start, I honestly struggled a bit to get into for a while, even tho I liked it, it wasn’t giving me the urgent pull to not put it down until about halfway. The second half definitely had so much more to the book that was exciting to read!
I do feel that it was slightly repetitive and underdeveloped in some aspects of the stories and things being left out but hoping to get answers in book 2!
Also, why…. Why the cliffhanger, it wasn’t even like a subtle cliffhanger, you flat threw us off and said good luck!! 😭🫠
I’m really excited to see how the story continues and expecting atleast 5 more twist I wasn’t expecting!