What do you think?
Rate this book
Dangerous Games #2
The Club
Rafael
What the hell is Dominic Capelli doing in my club? Best guess, he wants revenge. I mean, I did shoot his father. And, yeah, he’s looking at me like he wants to hurt me. The thing is … I’m very much into that.
I know it’s a bad idea to play with him, but bad ideas are my favorite kind. And he's so very, very sexy.
Dominic
I didn’t come in here to screw Rafael. I came in here to screw with him. I just wanted to see how he’d react. Now that I don’t have my father to hate, I need something new.
So when Rafael starts screwing with me, when he starts trying to expose my long-hidden desires, I decide to punish him. I know I’ll enjoy it. The problem is, I think he might enjoy it too.
I’ll have to kill him in the end, of course, but maybe, before I do, we can play a little game.
*Books in the Dangerous Games series can be read as standalones. However, The Club does pick up on some events from The Contract (and why on earth would you want to skip the smutty feast that is Dante and Tristan???). Please note that these dark MM romances have HEAs but contain potentially triggering content. Each book's content list (which will contain spoilers) can be found in its ebook sample.
What the hell is Dominic Capelli doing in my club? Best guess, he wants revenge. I mean, I did shoot his father. And, yeah, he’s looking at me like he wants to hurt me. The thing is … I’m very much into that.
I know it’s a bad idea to play with him, but bad ideas are my favorite kind. And he's so very, very sexy.
Dominic
I didn’t come in here to screw Rafael. I came in here to screw with him. I just wanted to see how he’d react. Now that I don’t have my father to hate, I need something new.
So when Rafael starts screwing with me, when he starts trying to expose my long-hidden desires, I decide to punish him. I know I’ll enjoy it. The problem is, I think he might enjoy it too.
I’ll have to kill him in the end, of course, but maybe, before I do, we can play a little game.
*Books in the Dangerous Games series can be read as standalones. However, The Club does pick up on some events from The Contract (and why on earth would you want to skip the smutty feast that is Dante and Tristan???). Please note that these dark MM romances have HEAs but contain potentially triggering content. Each book's content list (which will contain spoilers) can be found in its ebook sample.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2025
377 people are currently reading
966 people want to read
About the author
Rina Saint
4 books504 followersRina loves her romances dark and dirty. Her books take you into the erotic lives of her complex, morally gray characters. If you love high intensity and fabulous smut, you're in the right place.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews
June 15, 2025
Not as hard hitting as the first book but still good. We got two psychopaths in this one which leads to some really steamy kinda brutal smut scenes. These two characters are just as broken, if not more, than Dante and Tristan. I thought Dante wasn’t as controlled as they were making him out to be. I was proved very wrong now that I’ve gotten a look into Rafael’s head. He has a lot of trauma and a lot of noisy thoughts that he can only seem to drown out through sex, drugs, and violence. Then Dominic takes a full step into his life and everything just stops.
Dominic has been living by the command of his father for most of his life, a man he despises and one who made him feel weak and unwanted. Then he connects with Rafael, someone who makes him feel good about himself, someone who he feels the need to protect. They meet each other's needs perfectly and I think the author did a good job matching them up. I would say their relationship definitely plays out darker than the last, but there are still those gentle moments in between. The possessiveness has also gone up at least three notches, which I enjoyed.
The structure of the story is laid out pretty much the same as the last one. First half is smut and getting to know the characters, the second half is plot. You have to read these in order because this one goes into more depth and detail about the plot that was introduced in the last book. Finally I would like to mention Noah, he rescued Dante and Rafael and took them in, helping them sort out their trauma and find outlets that are less destructive. He’s like the rock that holds everything in place and I thought his character was done nicely. Overall, these two books have been great reads. I would recommend checking out the TWs though because they are dark romances with some grim plots.
Dominic has been living by the command of his father for most of his life, a man he despises and one who made him feel weak and unwanted. Then he connects with Rafael, someone who makes him feel good about himself, someone who he feels the need to protect. They meet each other's needs perfectly and I think the author did a good job matching them up. I would say their relationship definitely plays out darker than the last, but there are still those gentle moments in between. The possessiveness has also gone up at least three notches, which I enjoyed.
The structure of the story is laid out pretty much the same as the last one. First half is smut and getting to know the characters, the second half is plot. You have to read these in order because this one goes into more depth and detail about the plot that was introduced in the last book. Finally I would like to mention Noah, he rescued Dante and Rafael and took them in, helping them sort out their trauma and find outlets that are less destructive. He’s like the rock that holds everything in place and I thought his character was done nicely. Overall, these two books have been great reads. I would recommend checking out the TWs though because they are dark romances with some grim plots.
June 6, 2025
HOT!! 🔥
I liked the first book better, but I still enjoyed this one 😈
I liked the first book better, but I still enjoyed this one 😈
December 14, 2024
⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️
Didn’t enjoy this one as much as The Contract. Half of the book is only smut, which okay I don’t complain about smut, but I need a little something to keep the story going.
Once the action starts, it’s dark and intense, but rushed.
I loved the possessiveness and the jealousy. The fight & fuck style of love.
The spice was hot, but also uncomfortable. Way too rough & gritty for me. It just didn’t seem all that pleasurable. I liked some scenes, but most I just skimmed past.
I guess I somewhat still enjoyed this dark & wild romance and I’m glad Rafael and Dominic got their HEA, but it wasn’t exactly to my tastes.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
CW and tropes (spoilers):
- Enemies to lovers
- Dub-con/non-negotiated CNC play
- Abduction
- Past sexual abuse
- Torture (not of MCs)
- Drugging
- Bondage
- Control/denial
- Overstimulation/multiple orgasms
- Frotting
- Jealousy
- Breath play/hand necklace
- Knife play
- Rough sex
- Face-fucking
- Violence
- Degradation
- Toys
- Cock cage
- Sex machine
- Electroshock
- Spanking & impact play
- Homophobic slurs
- Coming hands-free
Reading update — Certified smut-lover over here, but just a smidge, a little tiny crumb of plot wouldn’t be a bad idea….
“You’re mine to fuck and mine to kill. No one touches you but me.”
Didn’t enjoy this one as much as The Contract. Half of the book is only smut, which okay I don’t complain about smut, but I need a little something to keep the story going.
Once the action starts, it’s dark and intense, but rushed.
“Don’t threaten people in my club, Dominic.” His lips peel back from his teeth. “Don’t put them in danger, Rafael.” “Why should they be in danger?” “Because they’re touching what’s mine.”
I loved the possessiveness and the jealousy. The fight & fuck style of love.
The spice was hot, but also uncomfortable. Way too rough & gritty for me. It just didn’t seem all that pleasurable. I liked some scenes, but most I just skimmed past.
“You need me to fuck you up, Angel?”
I guess I somewhat still enjoyed this dark & wild romance and I’m glad Rafael and Dominic got their HEA, but it wasn’t exactly to my tastes.
It’s strange how it feels like freedom and safety at the same time. It feels, I guess, like love.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
CW and tropes (spoilers):
- Enemies to lovers
- Dub-con/non-negotiated CNC play
- Abduction
- Past sexual abuse
- Torture (not of MCs)
- Drugging
- Bondage
- Control/denial
- Overstimulation/multiple orgasms
- Frotting
- Jealousy
- Breath play/hand necklace
- Knife play
- Rough sex
- Face-fucking
- Violence
- Degradation
- Toys
- Cock cage
- Sex machine
- Electroshock
- Spanking & impact play
- Homophobic slurs
- Coming hands-free
Reading update — Certified smut-lover over here, but just a smidge, a little tiny crumb of plot wouldn’t be a bad idea….
January 4, 2025
3.5*** stars
This book is in desperate need of one if not two rounds of serious editing ! The amount of typos, repeating phrases and words drove me nuts. I honestly can’t remember having had that issue with the first book.
And also, even with the high heat both books provide I feel like the first book had more depth to it. If it wasn’t for the second half my verdict would’ve been even more grim. But I’m still very disappointed with this one. To say the least .
Prior to release I was damn excited for Rafael and Dominic. And while their dynamic, their sex and relationship development never lacked the intensity I crave and appreciate, I expected so much more.
But. I was invested in them and their story, especially in the second half, so I feel like three stars is still a justified rating despite the unrefined version of the book I got here.
*Please heed TWs
*************
Dangerous Games Series
Book 1 - The Contract - 4.25 stars
Book 2 - The Club - 3.5 stars
This book is in desperate need of one if not two rounds of serious editing ! The amount of typos, repeating phrases and words drove me nuts. I honestly can’t remember having had that issue with the first book.
And also, even with the high heat both books provide I feel like the first book had more depth to it. If it wasn’t for the second half my verdict would’ve been even more grim. But I’m still very disappointed with this one. To say the least .
Prior to release I was damn excited for Rafael and Dominic. And while their dynamic, their sex and relationship development never lacked the intensity I crave and appreciate, I expected so much more.
I just hold that glare until his anger fades to reveal the truth. He feels really fucking vulnerable. I didn’t hurt him with the rough fucking, but I could hurt him now.
I find that I don’t want to.
But. I was invested in them and their story, especially in the second half, so I feel like three stars is still a justified rating despite the unrefined version of the book I got here.
*Please heed TWs
*************
Dangerous Games Series
Book 1 - The Contract - 4.25 stars
Book 2 - The Club - 3.5 stars
January 19, 2025
I‘m so glad that the second volume didn’t disappoint!! It was hot, spicy, bloody but with the same tender moments as the first one, thus I have to say this one here was definitely a bit more well …unhinged when it came to the characters. Rafael and Dominic had a few more issues then our previous couple.
I have to say, that I wasn’t sure, if I’m going to like Rafael, since I didn’t liked him in the first volume but he definitely grew on me.
Both Dominic and Rafael are so violent and messed up that I didn’t really thought it would work with them together. But it did. They needed each other and somehow the healed each other, even though it’s on a really messed up level haha.
One thing I loved here was the rough and kinky sex hehe, I had my fun with it.
I‘m really glad I read those book and i can’t wait for another one from this author!!
Also if anyone knows similar books pls give me some recommendations👀.
I have to say, that I wasn’t sure, if I’m going to like Rafael, since I didn’t liked him in the first volume but he definitely grew on me.
Both Dominic and Rafael are so violent and messed up that I didn’t really thought it would work with them together. But it did. They needed each other and somehow the healed each other, even though it’s on a really messed up level haha.
One thing I loved here was the rough and kinky sex hehe, I had my fun with it.
I‘m really glad I read those book and i can’t wait for another one from this author!!
Also if anyone knows similar books pls give me some recommendations👀.
May 19, 2025
They did it in nearly every fucking chapter, and it just kept getting worse.
October 23, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Rafael + Dominic 🖤
Enemies | Breeding | Rough to tender | Exhibitionism | Found family
Rafael is unhinged and I love it. At one point he was naked from the waist down with bloody hands from a murder he just did and decided it was the perfect time to start playing the piano 😂
The heart to heart that Rafael and Noah had was so needed for the both of them and it was beautiful.
....
"I don't even care that I should use a condom. He's getting bred."
"You're gonna come, you dirty fucking boy."
"He needs me. I know that he does. The thing is ... I might need him too."
"I'm not sure -- I wouldn't really know -- but ... I think we just made love."
"No one has ever held me like this. No one has ever wanted me like this."
....
⚠️potential spoilers below in detailed tropes, content and warning lists
Tropes/content:
Enemies
Found family
Corset
G strings
Shower blow job
Hands free 💦
Bruised neck, inside and out
Alleyway sex
Rough sex
Rafael wears a butt plug most of the time
Dub-con/non-con (see warnings for details)
Breeding
Bondage
Bareback
Jealousy
Plugs his cum
Dom'a first time having face to face sex consensually
Sex room
Toys toys and toys
Degradation
Rapists getting stabbed in the dick and getting their balls cut off
Spanking (hand and belt)
Some whipping
Aftercare
Roughness turned tender
Doms first time giving a blow job
"No one gets to hurt you but me"
Cock cage
Exhibitionism- they fuck on the couch at the club while Rafael is still caged in front of everyone
Showering together
CNC
Love making
"Angel"
Calls him beautiful
Rafael's entire body is hairless from being lasered
Punishment
Rafael usually tops but when Dominic came along he turned into an insatiable bottom
Clothed dom/naked sub
Sex machine
They save each other in more ways than one
Mine
Touch him and die
Revenge
Vigilante justice
Strict roles (discussion of switching but never happens)
HFN (no epilogue)
Warnings:
Murder
No condoms and no discussion. Dom makes the executive decision that Raf is getting bred
Sex while high. Rafael is high the first time couple times Dominic penetrates him
Dom calls Raf a faggot after they fuck and he tries kissing him
Non consensual nude pictures - Dom took them of Rafael after they had sex and he was high. He stated he planned to use them for blackmail. He never did though
Sight OW drama - Raf sees Dom with a woman at the club and is not happy. He says he's used to doing that after being with men to keep up appearances with his father
OM drama - Raf gets between two guys and kisses both of them right in front of Dom to make him jealous
Both MCs have sexual trauma from when they were kids. They were sold to an island with a bunch of old men pedophiles
Attempted SA to MC (they only succeeded in messing with his zipper and pants button)
Violence between MCs
Dom freaks out the first time he gives Raf a blow job. He ends up punching him in the face and storming off
Dominic has a scar on the base if his dick from where his dad threatened to cut it off from being gay
Non negotiated CNC (Dom cones into Raf's house and grabs him in the dark, covers his mouth and starts having sex with him. Raf realizes it's him but there's still a horror there for him)
Rafael cant access the people who hurt him, Dominic and Dante so he gets revenge on local pedophiles - one guy gets stabbed repeatedly in the dick, another gets his dick and balls sliced completely off ( I wish this happened more in real life)
Dominic gets shot with a drug dart and kidnapped by the Collector who is the piece of shit rapist guy from the island and Rafael's personal abuser. Rafael shows up and ends up forced to his knees with the collector opening his pants. Nothing happens past that but the horror is there for him and Dominic as he sits helplessly tied down to a chair.
Torture
Rafael + Dominic 🖤
Enemies | Breeding | Rough to tender | Exhibitionism | Found family
Rafael is unhinged and I love it. At one point he was naked from the waist down with bloody hands from a murder he just did and decided it was the perfect time to start playing the piano 😂
The heart to heart that Rafael and Noah had was so needed for the both of them and it was beautiful.
....
"I don't even care that I should use a condom. He's getting bred."
"You're gonna come, you dirty fucking boy."
"He needs me. I know that he does. The thing is ... I might need him too."
"I'm not sure -- I wouldn't really know -- but ... I think we just made love."
"No one has ever held me like this. No one has ever wanted me like this."
....
⚠️potential spoilers below in detailed tropes, content and warning lists
Tropes/content:
Enemies
Found family
Corset
G strings
Shower blow job
Hands free 💦
Bruised neck, inside and out
Alleyway sex
Rough sex
Rafael wears a butt plug most of the time
Dub-con/non-con (see warnings for details)
Breeding
Bondage
Bareback
Jealousy
Plugs his cum
Dom'a first time having face to face sex consensually
Sex room
Toys toys and toys
Degradation
Rapists getting stabbed in the dick and getting their balls cut off
Spanking (hand and belt)
Some whipping
Aftercare
Roughness turned tender
Doms first time giving a blow job
"No one gets to hurt you but me"
Cock cage
Exhibitionism- they fuck on the couch at the club while Rafael is still caged in front of everyone
Showering together
CNC
Love making
"Angel"
Calls him beautiful
Rafael's entire body is hairless from being lasered
Punishment
Rafael usually tops but when Dominic came along he turned into an insatiable bottom
Clothed dom/naked sub
Sex machine
They save each other in more ways than one
Mine
Touch him and die
Revenge
Vigilante justice
Strict roles (discussion of switching but never happens)
HFN (no epilogue)
Warnings:
Murder
No condoms and no discussion. Dom makes the executive decision that Raf is getting bred
Sex while high. Rafael is high the first time couple times Dominic penetrates him
Dom calls Raf a faggot after they fuck and he tries kissing him
Non consensual nude pictures - Dom took them of Rafael after they had sex and he was high. He stated he planned to use them for blackmail. He never did though
Sight OW drama - Raf sees Dom with a woman at the club and is not happy. He says he's used to doing that after being with men to keep up appearances with his father
OM drama - Raf gets between two guys and kisses both of them right in front of Dom to make him jealous
Both MCs have sexual trauma from when they were kids. They were sold to an island with a bunch of old men pedophiles
Attempted SA to MC (they only succeeded in messing with his zipper and pants button)
Violence between MCs
Dom freaks out the first time he gives Raf a blow job. He ends up punching him in the face and storming off
Dominic has a scar on the base if his dick from where his dad threatened to cut it off from being gay
Non negotiated CNC (Dom cones into Raf's house and grabs him in the dark, covers his mouth and starts having sex with him. Raf realizes it's him but there's still a horror there for him)
Rafael cant access the people who hurt him, Dominic and Dante so he gets revenge on local pedophiles - one guy gets stabbed repeatedly in the dick, another gets his dick and balls sliced completely off ( I wish this happened more in real life)
Dominic gets shot with a drug dart and kidnapped by the Collector who is the piece of shit rapist guy from the island and Rafael's personal abuser. Rafael shows up and ends up forced to his knees with the collector opening his pants. Nothing happens past that but the horror is there for him and Dominic as he sits helplessly tied down to a chair.
Torture
December 14, 2024
"Do you have any idea what I'm going to do to you?" Dominic whispers across the table.
After Rafael and his friend Dante unalive Dominic's father, Rafael knows he's in Dominic's crosshairs. What he isn't sure of is whether Dominic wants to kill him or drag him to the nearest horizontal surface. After everything he has endured on the Island at the hands of his own father, Dominic isn't sure either. The two just might fit together perfectly, all their twisted jagged bits aligning just right. The Club is book 2 in the Dangerous Games series and can be read as a standalone but I think it would best be enjoyed in series order.
He's psychotic. Murderous. Whorish. If I could love anyone, it would be him.
I've been looking for a steamy MM book that featured a lot of spicy toys and furniture for forever and never felt like I'd found it until now. I really enjoyed the collection that Rafael had put together and how he and Dominic made use of those things together. The steamy scenes in this book were smoking hot and definitely what I've come to expect from Rina Saint. This book is a dark romance and felt darker to me in tone than book 1, especially as we learn more about the Island and what Rafael and Dominic endured there. The only parts I really didn't care for personally were the punches to the face, they were difficult to read. Otherwise, Rina Saint is quickly becoming an author whose books I really enjoy!
Rating: 4 stars
Angst: 4.5/5
Steam: 4.5/5
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
March 26, 2025
sometimes I like to pick up a smutty book and skip all the smut to read the domestic gooey moments because that shit hits different 💀
May 5, 2025
This didn’t completely work for me. It felt too chaotic and lacked any real sense of rules. There are a lot of BDSM elements, but without the structure or safety that usually comes with that—it just felt unhinged in a bad way. And hey, I’m all for a little good kind of unhinged, but this wasn’t it.
Both characters were way too rough and, honestly, too violent—and I’m not talking about killing bad guys, but how they treated *each other*. No judgment if that’s your thing, but it’s not the kind of relationship I enjoy reading about. That said, I understand why they are like this, this is the way they dealt with their trauma and abuse, this is how they fight their demons.
Also—and I’m not usually someone who complains about this—but there was so much sex that it ended up overpowering everything else. Every emotion led straight to sex, whether it was rough or just slightly less rough. The plot was minimal, and most of it revolved around mafia stuff, which I just don’t care for.
And after all that buildup, The Collector’s death was *so* anticlimactic. Too easy, not enough pain, and definitely no real closure. The whole sidling subject just died there, and I believed that the web was way larger.
That said, by the end they *do* kind of heal each other. There are tender moments, “I love you”s, some intimacy, cooking, taking care of each other, and even babies. Those bits were sweet and felt earned—and honestly, needed after everything else.
Both characters were way too rough and, honestly, too violent—and I’m not talking about killing bad guys, but how they treated *each other*. No judgment if that’s your thing, but it’s not the kind of relationship I enjoy reading about. That said, I understand why they are like this, this is the way they dealt with their trauma and abuse, this is how they fight their demons.
Also—and I’m not usually someone who complains about this—but there was so much sex that it ended up overpowering everything else. Every emotion led straight to sex, whether it was rough or just slightly less rough. The plot was minimal, and most of it revolved around mafia stuff, which I just don’t care for.
And after all that buildup, The Collector’s death was *so* anticlimactic. Too easy, not enough pain, and definitely no real closure. The whole sidling subject just died there, and I believed that the web was way larger.
That said, by the end they *do* kind of heal each other. There are tender moments, “I love you”s, some intimacy, cooking, taking care of each other, and even babies. Those bits were sweet and felt earned—and honestly, needed after everything else.
April 6, 2025
Tropes: enemies to lovers, hurt/comfort
Feels: 2/5
Steam*: 3/5
Kinks: Dubcon, Bondage, Control, orgasm denial, Breath play, hand necklaces, Knife play, Rough sex, Degradation/name calling, Toys (vibrator, anal plug, dildo, chastity device, sex machines, electroshock), Spanking, rape roleplay (kind of, mirroring of past)
Angst: medium
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: past CSA, murder, violence, gore, torture, trafficking, MC drugging other MC, abduction, homophobia, drug use, unsafe sex
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: No
Other person drama: Rafael tries to rile up Dominic by making it look like he's going to have a threesome with a couple, kissing one of them and touching. Dominic pulls him away. Dominic is jealous at times. Dominic also goes on a date with a woman, but he wasn't interested in her, and Rafael interrupts. Neither of them are with anyone else.
3 stars
Rafael's dad was a bad guy and ticked off the wrong people, he got himself and his wife killed and Rafael at 12 was sex trafficked. An FBI agent got him out and adopted him in his mid-teens. He's f***** up though, and he spends his life alternating between running his business, indulging in rough sex, and hunting down pedophiles and bad people and murdering them. He recently helped kill Dominic's father.
Dominic's father was a horrible man. He was extremely homophobic and he sensed his child was gay, so he sent Dominic to the same sex trafficking location that Rafael was held at and let his son be raped for 8 months as punishment, to scare him away from being gay. Dominic has hid his sexuality since, but he's always had to deal with homophobia from his father and he's internalized his dad's voice. Dominic wants to kill Rafael because he thinks he should, because he's a temptation and because of what he did to his father. Dominic has been fascinated with and watching Rafael for years.
When they enter each other's orbit, they end up having sex instead of killing each other. Dominic thinks he will kill him eventually, that the sex is just a temporary diversion. But as opportunities present themselves, he can't bring himself to kill him, and he actually ends up protecting him as they end up in dangerous situations. They feel avoid for the other, they give each other what they need and understand each other.
This was an ok book. There was a lot of tension, there was a connection between the characters, there were lively characters, and there was a solid plot. I had a hard time enjoying this book though because the walls were up between the characters for such a long time, there were hints at vulnerability at times, but it wasn't quite enough emotion for me. And I just wasn't comfortable with some of the sex. I hesitated about whether I should ding the stars for my personal preference, but I couldn't bring myself to round up and reward the repeated rape role-playing that they did. It's probably pushing it to call it rape role play, because it was more subtle than that, but that was how it came off to me. I know it was how they coped with both being survivors of CSA, but on page graphic mirroring of elements from their past assaults for titillation was too far for me.
Some notable moments:
"When he starts to stir, waking up, I pretend to be asleep. If he’s going to leave, I don’t want to watch. He freezes when he registers our entanglement. I expect him to slide out from under me, to escape without waking me. Instead, his arm goes from lying loosely behind me to curling around me. I know he thinks I’m asleep, but holy fuck. I did not expect that. His thumb rubs lightly against my side."
"“Everything is actually fine.” “Fine?” Dante echoes. “Nothing here is fine, Tristan. And why the hell did you jump so guiltily when you saw me?” Anger flashes across Tristan’s face. “I was startled, not guilty. And it was because I knew how you’d react!” “You were serving drinks to a man who fucking kidnapped you!” “Apparently, I have a tolerance for psychotic, violent assholes.” He looks, quite pointedly, from Dante to Dominic to me. I can’t help it. I laugh. Everyone glares at me. I’m not sure why. That really was funny."
"I clamp a gloved hand over his mouth. “Listen to me, you sack of shit. If you shout, if you scream, if you do anything other than answer my questions quietly, I will rip off your balls.” I give the rope a light yank, making his eyes bug out. God, he’s gross. “I know you have men downstairs. I’ll be gone before they reach you—but so will your balls. Are we clear?” He nods frantically."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 2/5
Steam*: 3/5
Kinks: Dubcon, Bondage, Control, orgasm denial, Breath play, hand necklaces, Knife play, Rough sex, Degradation/name calling, Toys (vibrator, anal plug, dildo, chastity device, sex machines, electroshock), Spanking, rape roleplay (kind of, mirroring of past)
Angst: medium
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: past CSA, murder, violence, gore, torture, trafficking, MC drugging other MC, abduction, homophobia, drug use, unsafe sex
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: No
Other person drama: Rafael tries to rile up Dominic by making it look like he's going to have a threesome with a couple, kissing one of them and touching. Dominic pulls him away. Dominic is jealous at times. Dominic also goes on a date with a woman, but he wasn't interested in her, and Rafael interrupts. Neither of them are with anyone else.
3 stars
Rafael's dad was a bad guy and ticked off the wrong people, he got himself and his wife killed and Rafael at 12 was sex trafficked. An FBI agent got him out and adopted him in his mid-teens. He's f***** up though, and he spends his life alternating between running his business, indulging in rough sex, and hunting down pedophiles and bad people and murdering them. He recently helped kill Dominic's father.
Dominic's father was a horrible man. He was extremely homophobic and he sensed his child was gay, so he sent Dominic to the same sex trafficking location that Rafael was held at and let his son be raped for 8 months as punishment, to scare him away from being gay. Dominic has hid his sexuality since, but he's always had to deal with homophobia from his father and he's internalized his dad's voice. Dominic wants to kill Rafael because he thinks he should, because he's a temptation and because of what he did to his father. Dominic has been fascinated with and watching Rafael for years.
When they enter each other's orbit, they end up having sex instead of killing each other. Dominic thinks he will kill him eventually, that the sex is just a temporary diversion. But as opportunities present themselves, he can't bring himself to kill him, and he actually ends up protecting him as they end up in dangerous situations. They feel avoid for the other, they give each other what they need and understand each other.
This was an ok book. There was a lot of tension, there was a connection between the characters, there were lively characters, and there was a solid plot. I had a hard time enjoying this book though because the walls were up between the characters for such a long time, there were hints at vulnerability at times, but it wasn't quite enough emotion for me. And I just wasn't comfortable with some of the sex. I hesitated about whether I should ding the stars for my personal preference, but I couldn't bring myself to round up and reward the repeated rape role-playing that they did. It's probably pushing it to call it rape role play, because it was more subtle than that, but that was how it came off to me. I know it was how they coped with both being survivors of CSA, but on page graphic mirroring of elements from their past assaults for titillation was too far for me.
Some notable moments:
"When he starts to stir, waking up, I pretend to be asleep. If he’s going to leave, I don’t want to watch. He freezes when he registers our entanglement. I expect him to slide out from under me, to escape without waking me. Instead, his arm goes from lying loosely behind me to curling around me. I know he thinks I’m asleep, but holy fuck. I did not expect that. His thumb rubs lightly against my side."
"“Everything is actually fine.” “Fine?” Dante echoes. “Nothing here is fine, Tristan. And why the hell did you jump so guiltily when you saw me?” Anger flashes across Tristan’s face. “I was startled, not guilty. And it was because I knew how you’d react!” “You were serving drinks to a man who fucking kidnapped you!” “Apparently, I have a tolerance for psychotic, violent assholes.” He looks, quite pointedly, from Dante to Dominic to me. I can’t help it. I laugh. Everyone glares at me. I’m not sure why. That really was funny."
"I clamp a gloved hand over his mouth. “Listen to me, you sack of shit. If you shout, if you scream, if you do anything other than answer my questions quietly, I will rip off your balls.” I give the rope a light yank, making his eyes bug out. God, he’s gross. “I know you have men downstairs. I’ll be gone before they reach you—but so will your balls. Are we clear?” He nods frantically."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2025
Dangerous Games #2
READ BOOK 1 first
Rafael, from book 1 is the owner of an exclusive club called Lush. Book 1 also introduced us to homophobic Dominic Capelli.
“Dominic’s eyes half close. “You’re so fucking gay.”
“This is a gay sex club. Everyone here is gay.”
Dominic’s father was a bad man - think Jeffrey Epstein’s island but just boys - and Rafael had unwillingly been on that island. So had Dominic, although they didnt interact much.
Hmm maybe it’s internalised homophobia because Dominic is attracted to Rafael but also wants to kill him. For appearances because his father is dead by Rafael and his friends hands.
Rafael is also attracted to him. They start to have a lot of hot sex in various places.
Dominic’s father really screwed both main characters up. He gave them both deep trauma from a young age.
Dominic and Rafael are all primal need and possessive and a little unhinged.
“And let other people play with you? I don’t fucking think so. You’re mine to fuck and mine to kill. No one touches you but me.”
There’s a scene where they are fighting each other in a gay fight club kinda situation where Dominic says “You shouldn’t be here, letting other men touch you.” Rafael snarls back, “If you don’t want to touch me, someone else will have to.”
Unhinged and I’m loving it.
The sex scenes are fire.
Dominic is struggling with what he endured from his father, all the homophobic rhetoric spewed at him. Originally that is why he wanted to kill Rafael , because he made him feel and want abs desire. But now, Dominic just wants to own Rafael . Beautiful broken Rafael.
Theres a lot to unpack in the book, apart from all the hot sex. These two fall in love with each other, a desperate need for one another. They see each other for who they really are and can fully be themselves in the safety of each other. Dominic and Rafael would go full scorched earth for the other if it was called for. I absolutely love characters like that.
The island of horror ties them together and together they work in bringing down “the society” and “the collector”. They also are working with Dante and Noah from book 1.
There’s beauty in the broken. Not just with Dominic and Rafael. Rafael and Noah have a beautiful father - son moment.
“I love you,” I tell him again. This time, I see it reach him. His eyes soften and swim with tears. I take my hand away from his mouth. “Fuck, Dominic,” he gasps, “I love you too.”
I don’t know if there will be a book 3 but I hope Noah gets to fall in love with someone.
#QBDBooksReadingChallenge
https://www.qbd.com.au/2025-reading-c...?
Today we *SLAY*
READ BOOK 1 first
Rafael, from book 1 is the owner of an exclusive club called Lush. Book 1 also introduced us to homophobic Dominic Capelli.
“Dominic’s eyes half close. “You’re so fucking gay.”
“This is a gay sex club. Everyone here is gay.”
Dominic’s father was a bad man - think Jeffrey Epstein’s island but just boys - and Rafael had unwillingly been on that island. So had Dominic, although they didnt interact much.
Hmm maybe it’s internalised homophobia because Dominic is attracted to Rafael but also wants to kill him. For appearances because his father is dead by Rafael and his friends hands.
Rafael is also attracted to him. They start to have a lot of hot sex in various places.
Dominic’s father really screwed both main characters up. He gave them both deep trauma from a young age.
Dominic and Rafael are all primal need and possessive and a little unhinged.
“And let other people play with you? I don’t fucking think so. You’re mine to fuck and mine to kill. No one touches you but me.”
There’s a scene where they are fighting each other in a gay fight club kinda situation where Dominic says “You shouldn’t be here, letting other men touch you.” Rafael snarls back, “If you don’t want to touch me, someone else will have to.”
Unhinged and I’m loving it.
The sex scenes are fire.
Dominic is struggling with what he endured from his father, all the homophobic rhetoric spewed at him. Originally that is why he wanted to kill Rafael , because he made him feel and want abs desire. But now, Dominic just wants to own Rafael . Beautiful broken Rafael.
Theres a lot to unpack in the book, apart from all the hot sex. These two fall in love with each other, a desperate need for one another. They see each other for who they really are and can fully be themselves in the safety of each other. Dominic and Rafael would go full scorched earth for the other if it was called for. I absolutely love characters like that.
The island of horror ties them together and together they work in bringing down “the society” and “the collector”. They also are working with Dante and Noah from book 1.
There’s beauty in the broken. Not just with Dominic and Rafael. Rafael and Noah have a beautiful father - son moment.
“I love you,” I tell him again. This time, I see it reach him. His eyes soften and swim with tears. I take my hand away from his mouth. “Fuck, Dominic,” he gasps, “I love you too.”
I don’t know if there will be a book 3 but I hope Noah gets to fall in love with someone.
#QBDBooksReadingChallenge
https://www.qbd.com.au/2025-reading-c...?
Today we *SLAY*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2025
This was a diamond in the rough. Dark erotica, with dark pasts and deep mental health issues, both MCs needed each other.
A great summary of the book can be read in the Author Rambling at the end of the book.
I really enjoyed this darkling.🖤
A great summary of the book can be read in the Author Rambling at the end of the book.
I really enjoyed this darkling.🖤
January 4, 2025
Oh me, oh my.
This is a mafia rivals tale that has two MCs fucking out their aggression over and over and over and over and over...
One MC (Dominic) is a closeted, angry, aggressive asshole-type, who I THINK is supposed to be like an undercover nice guy for his boo, although I'm not sure that's ever fully realized.
The other MC (Rafael) is an out and proud colorful peacock who's broken under the surface and really just needs someone to comfort him (that's what Dominic is supposed to do, which he does by hate fucking him over and over then punching him in the face).
I had a hard time following the plot thread, some of that I’ll say is because I didn’t read Book 1, and there seems to be a lot I missed, but some of that is because there are A LOT of characters mentioned who don’t really play an active role. So, whenever they do pop up, I’m like, who are you again? Also, it seems like whatever the plot was occurred in the background and retelling during and after hate fucking scenes between Dominic and Rafael. Which, were hot. And as much as I love the smutty smut, I can take a break every now and then and read plotty plots.
I think the peacock MC (Rafael) was more fully realized than the angry MC (Dominic), and I can see how they were good for each other in the end, but, it just wasn't my particular cup of tea. I don't want to fault the book for that though. I'm sure it's someone's particular cup of tea, and for that person, you'll get what you want, and a lot of it. Check out the tags below to see if that might be you. Read the CWs.
SUMMARY:
Maybe read Book 1
Know that this is Dark Erotica first, story second
Read the CWs
If you’re into hate fucking, degradation/humiliation, breeding, orgasm denial, restraint and dubcon with a mafia flair this might be for you.
This is a mafia rivals tale that has two MCs fucking out their aggression over and over and over and over and over...
One MC (Dominic) is a closeted, angry, aggressive asshole-type, who I THINK is supposed to be like an undercover nice guy for his boo, although I'm not sure that's ever fully realized.
The other MC (Rafael) is an out and proud colorful peacock who's broken under the surface and really just needs someone to comfort him (that's what Dominic is supposed to do, which he does by hate fucking him over and over then punching him in the face).
I had a hard time following the plot thread, some of that I’ll say is because I didn’t read Book 1, and there seems to be a lot I missed, but some of that is because there are A LOT of characters mentioned who don’t really play an active role. So, whenever they do pop up, I’m like, who are you again? Also, it seems like whatever the plot was occurred in the background and retelling during and after hate fucking scenes between Dominic and Rafael. Which, were hot. And as much as I love the smutty smut, I can take a break every now and then and read plotty plots.
I think the peacock MC (Rafael) was more fully realized than the angry MC (Dominic), and I can see how they were good for each other in the end, but, it just wasn't my particular cup of tea. I don't want to fault the book for that though. I'm sure it's someone's particular cup of tea, and for that person, you'll get what you want, and a lot of it. Check out the tags below to see if that might be you. Read the CWs.
SUMMARY:
Maybe read Book 1
Know that this is Dark Erotica first, story second
Read the CWs
If you’re into hate fucking, degradation/humiliation, breeding, orgasm denial, restraint and dubcon with a mafia flair this might be for you.
December 4, 2025
3.5 stars
The Club is book two in the Dangerous Games series. This dark MM romance story is about Dominic and Rafael.
This book didn’t hit for me like The Contract (book one) did. I had a hard time with Dominic and Rafael’s dynamic. I felt like there was almost too much sex, and unfortunately I just struggled to get into their story.
The Club is book two in the Dangerous Games series. This dark MM romance story is about Dominic and Rafael.
This book didn’t hit for me like The Contract (book one) did. I had a hard time with Dominic and Rafael’s dynamic. I felt like there was almost too much sex, and unfortunately I just struggled to get into their story.
April 18, 2025
5.5 ⭐��� def my fav in the duology!
I was nervous going into this one, especially after feeling like there wasn’t much of an emotional connection between the two MMCs in the first book. But I was super intrigued by Dominic, and since this was a pretty quick read, I figured I'd just go for it. And wow, I’m so glad I did! I absolutely loved the connection and the intense possessiveness between Dominic and Rafael. The steam was just as strong as in The Contract (book 1), but this time, it actually felt earned because of Dominic and Rafael's bond that made everything feel so much more passionate and real.
I loved the way Dominic took care of Rafael, even when Rafael didn’t necessarily want it. The way he pushed him to open up, the more tender moments they shared, and how they both challenged each other in such vulnerable, intimate ways… it was all just so good. That hostage scene where Rafael was about to be killed?? Dominic swooping in to save him and how that lead up to us finding out about Rafael’s past?? Absolute chef’s kiss!!
Dominic and Rafael were just such a perfect pair.. in a deliciously morally grey kind of way! Can’t wait to read more of Rina's work in the future!
I was nervous going into this one, especially after feeling like there wasn’t much of an emotional connection between the two MMCs in the first book. But I was super intrigued by Dominic, and since this was a pretty quick read, I figured I'd just go for it. And wow, I’m so glad I did! I absolutely loved the connection and the intense possessiveness between Dominic and Rafael. The steam was just as strong as in The Contract (book 1), but this time, it actually felt earned because of Dominic and Rafael's bond that made everything feel so much more passionate and real.
I loved the way Dominic took care of Rafael, even when Rafael didn’t necessarily want it. The way he pushed him to open up, the more tender moments they shared, and how they both challenged each other in such vulnerable, intimate ways… it was all just so good. That hostage scene where Rafael was about to be killed?? Dominic swooping in to save him and how that lead up to us finding out about Rafael’s past?? Absolute chef’s kiss!!
Dominic and Rafael were just such a perfect pair.. in a deliciously morally grey kind of way! Can’t wait to read more of Rina's work in the future!
April 20, 2025
The Club was a story about two very broken individuals that find a kindred spirit in each other. Their trauma and needs complement beautifully.
Rafael is violent and destructive and Dominic is dominant and commanding. There is so much pain in their pasts and so much the two of them have to work through but they use intimacy to do it.
The plot was minimal but had action and the smut was heavy but like I’ve said before, Rina does a fantastic job at making the smut kinky yet emotional. These two were dangerously possessive and obsessive in the hottest ways.
Loved this story.
Rafael is violent and destructive and Dominic is dominant and commanding. There is so much pain in their pasts and so much the two of them have to work through but they use intimacy to do it.
“You’re gonna come, you dirty fucking boy. You’re gonna show me how you shoot all over yourself because you love my cock in your ass.”
The plot was minimal but had action and the smut was heavy but like I’ve said before, Rina does a fantastic job at making the smut kinky yet emotional. These two were dangerously possessive and obsessive in the hottest ways.
“Don’t threaten people in my club, Dominic.”
His lips peel back from his teeth. “Don’t put them in danger, Rafael.”
“Why should they be in danger?”
“Because they’re touching what’s mine.”
Loved this story.
January 3, 2025
I’m pretty 50/50 on this book— I liked the two MMCs overall, though Dominic confused me at times. Surprisingly, my biggest issue was the smut itself—it was repetitive at best.
It’s been a while since I was so aware I was reading MM romance written by a woman — which I do read a lot of, but this book it just seemed ALOT more obvious — I can’t pinpoint an exact “oh, that’s why” moment, but something about it didn’t work for me. And considering how much smut there is, that definitely impacted my reading.
It’s been a while since I was so aware I was reading MM romance written by a woman — which I do read a lot of, but this book it just seemed ALOT more obvious — I can’t pinpoint an exact “oh, that’s why” moment, but something about it didn’t work for me. And considering how much smut there is, that definitely impacted my reading.
May 9, 2025
Yes, still on my Rina Saint spree and loving every second of it. This is the second book in de Dangerous Games series, telling the story of Rafael en Dominique.
In the first book we learned snippets of their traumatic pasts. They share the same experiences with Dante in the forst book (you better read that one first). They are completely broken by it in their own way. Dominique spend time on the island of hell, but in the years after continued being abused by his homophobic father who tried everything in his power to kill the faggot in Dominique. Rafael is on his own revenge path and is truly spiraling because of it. Despite being sort of enemies for years they are drawn to each other. I mean really drawn to each other. These guys go for it from 5% in the book and they NEVER stop. I have never seen a couple so insatiable as them. This book is pure erotica, but again, Rina Saint has the ability to make it so much more than that.
At first it is a sexual outlet for them. They both are broken and have needs because of it they cannot find with anyone else. They are violent, needy, psychotic and intense and they just meet they match. But slowly it becomes more than that. The need each other to heal. Their journey through their intense trauma, the way they open up to each other slowly, the way they just know what the other needs and the way they accept each others craziness is so beautifully written. It is intensely emotional to see these broken boys finally finding some peace after everything they have been through. Rina Saint is the first writer I read that accomplished a good combination of erotica, characters with deep layers and an emotional plot. The spicy scenes are really good but serve a purpose as well. It is their way of trauma dealing and I loved that.
So I am officially a Rina Saint fan. It is not for everyone, so check your triggers and know what you are getting yourself into. There is a lot of smut and it it rough and violent. Although I loved every bit of these broken beautiful boys, Dante and Tristan are still my favorite.
In the first book we learned snippets of their traumatic pasts. They share the same experiences with Dante in the forst book (you better read that one first). They are completely broken by it in their own way. Dominique spend time on the island of hell, but in the years after continued being abused by his homophobic father who tried everything in his power to kill the faggot in Dominique. Rafael is on his own revenge path and is truly spiraling because of it. Despite being sort of enemies for years they are drawn to each other. I mean really drawn to each other. These guys go for it from 5% in the book and they NEVER stop. I have never seen a couple so insatiable as them. This book is pure erotica, but again, Rina Saint has the ability to make it so much more than that.
At first it is a sexual outlet for them. They both are broken and have needs because of it they cannot find with anyone else. They are violent, needy, psychotic and intense and they just meet they match. But slowly it becomes more than that. The need each other to heal. Their journey through their intense trauma, the way they open up to each other slowly, the way they just know what the other needs and the way they accept each others craziness is so beautifully written. It is intensely emotional to see these broken boys finally finding some peace after everything they have been through. Rina Saint is the first writer I read that accomplished a good combination of erotica, characters with deep layers and an emotional plot. The spicy scenes are really good but serve a purpose as well. It is their way of trauma dealing and I loved that.
So I am officially a Rina Saint fan. It is not for everyone, so check your triggers and know what you are getting yourself into. There is a lot of smut and it it rough and violent. Although I loved every bit of these broken beautiful boys, Dante and Tristan are still my favorite.
September 10, 2025
Holy Smokes... this book was on fire. Its pretty much pure smut with a little bit of plot carried over from book one. I feel like you definitely have to start with book one, because the events that take place there clearly lead to this book.
Rafael and Dominic are so crazy and so toxic but they are so much fun to read. This is a pretty dark read. Even putting aside the plot of retribution for past sins done to these guys, the sex between these two is sometimes hateful and ugly, usually rough and violent. But... BUT! They do have moments of sorta sweetness and soft intimacy, but not usually. And there is a reason for that, but you have to read to find out ;)
For some reason I really liked these two, even though Dominic was such an asshole all the time. Luckily you get his POV so you can understand what he's feeling some one the time, but sheesh! He was a meanie to poor Rafael. Overall, taking the two books together, I do recommend if you like a traumatic vengeance laced story.
Contemporary MM
Dark Romance
Vigilantism
Broken Men
Hate To Love
Using Sex To Heal
Dom / Sub
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥♾️
“Don’t threaten people in my club, Dominic.”
His lips peel back from his teeth. “Don’t put them in danger, Rafael.”
“Why should they be in danger?”
“Because they’re touching what’s mine.”
Rafael and Dominic are so crazy and so toxic but they are so much fun to read. This is a pretty dark read. Even putting aside the plot of retribution for past sins done to these guys, the sex between these two is sometimes hateful and ugly, usually rough and violent. But... BUT! They do have moments of sorta sweetness and soft intimacy, but not usually. And there is a reason for that, but you have to read to find out ;)
For some reason I really liked these two, even though Dominic was such an asshole all the time. Luckily you get his POV so you can understand what he's feeling some one the time, but sheesh! He was a meanie to poor Rafael. Overall, taking the two books together, I do recommend if you like a traumatic vengeance laced story.
Contemporary MM
Dark Romance
Vigilantism
Broken Men
Hate To Love
Using Sex To Heal
Dom / Sub
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥♾️
“Don’t threaten people in my club, Dominic.”
His lips peel back from his teeth. “Don’t put them in danger, Rafael.”
“Why should they be in danger?”
“Because they’re touching what’s mine.”
January 19, 2025
This book was like 90 % smut and 10 % plot, but you know what? That was what I wanted from this. And it was really good. I love Rafael, he's probably my favorite character from this series. And his relationship with Dominic was interesting and at the end, very cute.
I wasn't sure how I would feel about Dominic, because I didn't really liked him from the previous book, but in this book, I really felt for him after you got to know him a little bit better. I loved the softer moments between him and Rafael.
I also loved the cameos of Noah, Tristan and Dante!
I wasn't sure how I would feel about Dominic, because I didn't really liked him from the previous book, but in this book, I really felt for him after you got to know him a little bit better. I loved the softer moments between him and Rafael.
I also loved the cameos of Noah, Tristan and Dante!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2025
spicy baby 🥵🥵🥵
I absolutely loved the contract and this book did not disappoint either. It was a lot of spice🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ which I love for sure but I wanted a little bit more about the island and the collector, but overall the book gave what needed to be gave. I enjoyed how Raphael and Dominic went from ready to end each other to obsessed lovers. I like that they were able to work through their trauma together and just knew what each other needed. Can’t wait for the next book to find out more.
I absolutely loved the contract and this book did not disappoint either. It was a lot of spice🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ which I love for sure but I wanted a little bit more about the island and the collector, but overall the book gave what needed to be gave. I enjoyed how Raphael and Dominic went from ready to end each other to obsessed lovers. I like that they were able to work through their trauma together and just knew what each other needed. Can’t wait for the next book to find out more.
July 16, 2025
More than smut and violence
It is great to see an author craft characters so realistic it hurts to see it come to an end. I'll definitely read more from this author and definitely read this book again! So many authors try to be dark and super smutty but this author knows their characters, knows the story they *need* to tell. Just AMAZING !
It is great to see an author craft characters so realistic it hurts to see it come to an end. I'll definitely read more from this author and definitely read this book again! So many authors try to be dark and super smutty but this author knows their characters, knows the story they *need* to tell. Just AMAZING !
July 17, 2025
Yazarı yeni keşfettim MM Dark sevenler koşsun seriyi okusun bence 🙃 hem acayip 🔥🔥hemde karekterler tam sayko 🤌🏻
Sadece smut üzerine değil duygularda bu kadar bozuk karekterlere bakınca gayet güzel verilmişti bu arada 🙃
Sadece smut üzerine değil duygularda bu kadar bozuk karekterlere bakınca gayet güzel verilmişti bu arada 🙃
August 20, 2025
4,25/5 ⭐
April 14, 2025
OMG I love Rafael and Dominic, brilliant story, I really hope there is more coming in this series.
📚Book = Interconnecting Standalone
💕Burn = Fast,
🎭OW/OM Drama = No,
🐺 Alpha Men = Absolutely, 💯
🔥Heat/spice = 10/10, 🔥
😬Angst = Low,
🍆🌮 MM/FF = Yes, MM,
🔹POV = 1st Person, MPV,
🔸Genre = Contemporary Romance,
🔹Tropes = Dark MM✨Mëntäl health✨Brøken boys✨Enëmíes to Løvers✨Hurt/Comfort✨BDSM✨Bøndäge✨Light Stälkíng✨Lots of tøys✨Røuġh dømínänt Sëx and tender aftercare✨Organised crímë✨Tøucħ him and get unalived ✨Pøssëssíve and øbsëssíve MMC’s
‼️Check TW’s before reading‼️
I was extremely exited to read Rafael’s book as I absolutely loved his chaotic personality in ‘The Contract’ (Bk 1) and ‘WOW’ this book did not disappoint, in any way. I loved the pace and the journey Rafael and Dominic went on together, it was beautiful, emotional and heart felt. They really did just needed each other, even if it took them awhile to realise this. Two men, víctíms of the island when they were both teens, are left sëverëly dāmäge emøtíonally, with viølënce & sëx being their only outlets, never letting anyone get too close.
This book is hēavy on the sëx, but it’s a way they both deal with the träumã of their past. Their story draws you in quickly and kept me fully engaged from beginning to end. There’s elements of BDSM dynämic in a lot of their interactions, with Dominic being the more dømínant and cøntrollíng one most of the time, and Rafael being the very bøssy, dëfíant, brãtty bõttom. You also get more from ‘The Collector’ as they get closer to cāpturíng him and this is my only, ‘very minor’, grumble, as the ending of his life seems a bit weak and over to briefly considering the träumā he caused so many yôung bøys. But hayhoo, the heat and connection between Rafael and Dominic is tremendously høt and íntënse, I loved every single page.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The collector really dämagėd Rafael’s view of love from a yøung age of 12, wärpíng what love looks and feels like. Now he struggled to find anyone that could give him what he so desperately needed - unbridled attention, dømínance, acceptance, but most of all…….someone who will løve him for who he is and won’t leave!!
To sůrvíve the träumā of his past Rafael uses lots of meaningless sëx to mask his päin and his viølënt tendencies to gain jůstíce on people who hürt others, especially against chíldrën.
He helps Dante (his ‘complicated’ friend) to take out Dominics father……the man who søld Dante to the collector. However by doing this Rafael is aware that Dominic will come for him as rëtalíatíons, so excepts his fäte and his own dëmíse, but not without having a little fun with Dominic first, playing along with his games.
Their püsh and püll and sëxuäl intēractíon are ěxpløsive. Dominics naturally dømínant nature comes forward and gives Rafael freedom to let go of fíghtíng everyone and everything, he learns it’s ok to just sūbmít occasionally, content in the knowledge that Dominic will be there to take care of him. Rafael quickly realises that Dominic is exactly who he needs, he just needs to convince Dominic to also let go of his shäckľes and be the dømínant førcë of nature he was alway supposed to be!
Dominic sürvíved his träumåtic past on the Island, that his own father førcëd on him, but even when his father brings him back home, Dominic still süffērs at his hands, never able to be his true self. He has to hide his sëxűalíty, feelings & cøntain every ëmøtion as his father bëlíttles, bërātes and make him feels ūselëss, completely down trøddën and tërrífíed of the man.
Now with his father’s dëaťh, he feels øbligated to take rëvėnge as the new head of his mäfía family, even if sëcretly he’s glad his father is dëād and gone. However he sets out to toy with Rafael, with the plan of kíllíng him in the end.
Rafael brings out the man Dominic was always destined to be - dömínant, strong and confident, slowly quietening the bërāting voice of his father in his head, but Dominic also discovers a caring, nurturing and prøtective side of himself, he never realised he was capable of. Now free from the shäckľes of his father, Dominic begins to lets go, realising he know longer needs to hide his sëxùalíty or how he wishes to run his family businesses and most of all…..his love for Rafael, who by now is absolutely and equivocally his!!
When The Collector comes into their lives again it pushes their strong prøtective natures and their relationship. It also tríggërs things within Rafael about his past, but in the end helps him to realize and accept some things about himself that allow him to begin to heal, with the love and supportive help of Dominic.
-
This is a standalone story and can be read as so, however for better content on the collector, the Society and the Island, I personally feel it’s better to read from the beginning with book 1.
📚Book = Interconnecting Standalone
💕Burn = Fast,
🎭OW/OM Drama = No,
🐺 Alpha Men = Absolutely, 💯
🔥Heat/spice = 10/10, 🔥
😬Angst = Low,
🍆🌮 MM/FF = Yes, MM,
🔹POV = 1st Person, MPV,
🔸Genre = Contemporary Romance,
🔹Tropes = Dark MM✨Mëntäl health✨Brøken boys✨Enëmíes to Løvers✨Hurt/Comfort✨BDSM✨Bøndäge✨Light Stälkíng✨Lots of tøys✨Røuġh dømínänt Sëx and tender aftercare✨Organised crímë✨Tøucħ him and get unalived ✨Pøssëssíve and øbsëssíve MMC’s
‼️Check TW’s before reading‼️
I was extremely exited to read Rafael’s book as I absolutely loved his chaotic personality in ‘The Contract’ (Bk 1) and ‘WOW’ this book did not disappoint, in any way. I loved the pace and the journey Rafael and Dominic went on together, it was beautiful, emotional and heart felt. They really did just needed each other, even if it took them awhile to realise this. Two men, víctíms of the island when they were both teens, are left sëverëly dāmäge emøtíonally, with viølënce & sëx being their only outlets, never letting anyone get too close.
This book is hēavy on the sëx, but it’s a way they both deal with the träumã of their past. Their story draws you in quickly and kept me fully engaged from beginning to end. There’s elements of BDSM dynämic in a lot of their interactions, with Dominic being the more dømínant and cøntrollíng one most of the time, and Rafael being the very bøssy, dëfíant, brãtty bõttom. You also get more from ‘The Collector’ as they get closer to cāpturíng him and this is my only, ‘very minor’, grumble, as the ending of his life seems a bit weak and over to briefly considering the träumā he caused so many yôung bøys. But hayhoo, the heat and connection between Rafael and Dominic is tremendously høt and íntënse, I loved every single page.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The collector really dämagėd Rafael’s view of love from a yøung age of 12, wärpíng what love looks and feels like. Now he struggled to find anyone that could give him what he so desperately needed - unbridled attention, dømínance, acceptance, but most of all…….someone who will løve him for who he is and won’t leave!!
To sůrvíve the träumā of his past Rafael uses lots of meaningless sëx to mask his päin and his viølënt tendencies to gain jůstíce on people who hürt others, especially against chíldrën.
He helps Dante (his ‘complicated’ friend) to take out Dominics father……the man who søld Dante to the collector. However by doing this Rafael is aware that Dominic will come for him as rëtalíatíons, so excepts his fäte and his own dëmíse, but not without having a little fun with Dominic first, playing along with his games.
Their püsh and püll and sëxuäl intēractíon are ěxpløsive. Dominics naturally dømínant nature comes forward and gives Rafael freedom to let go of fíghtíng everyone and everything, he learns it’s ok to just sūbmít occasionally, content in the knowledge that Dominic will be there to take care of him. Rafael quickly realises that Dominic is exactly who he needs, he just needs to convince Dominic to also let go of his shäckľes and be the dømínant førcë of nature he was alway supposed to be!
Dominic sürvíved his träumåtic past on the Island, that his own father førcëd on him, but even when his father brings him back home, Dominic still süffērs at his hands, never able to be his true self. He has to hide his sëxűalíty, feelings & cøntain every ëmøtion as his father bëlíttles, bërātes and make him feels ūselëss, completely down trøddën and tërrífíed of the man.
Now with his father’s dëaťh, he feels øbligated to take rëvėnge as the new head of his mäfía family, even if sëcretly he’s glad his father is dëād and gone. However he sets out to toy with Rafael, with the plan of kíllíng him in the end.
Rafael brings out the man Dominic was always destined to be - dömínant, strong and confident, slowly quietening the bërāting voice of his father in his head, but Dominic also discovers a caring, nurturing and prøtective side of himself, he never realised he was capable of. Now free from the shäckľes of his father, Dominic begins to lets go, realising he know longer needs to hide his sëxùalíty or how he wishes to run his family businesses and most of all…..his love for Rafael, who by now is absolutely and equivocally his!!
When The Collector comes into their lives again it pushes their strong prøtective natures and their relationship. It also tríggërs things within Rafael about his past, but in the end helps him to realize and accept some things about himself that allow him to begin to heal, with the love and supportive help of Dominic.
-
This is a standalone story and can be read as so, however for better content on the collector, the Society and the Island, I personally feel it’s better to read from the beginning with book 1.
June 17, 2025
Ohhh The Club — where do I even begin? This book grabbed me by the throat (consensually, of course 😏) and refused to let go. After The Contract had already wrecked me with Dante and Tristan’s chaos, I thought nothing could match that level of unhinged chemistry. And then Rafael and Dominic stormed in like, Hold our trauma!
We’ve got Rafael: the devastatingly hot club owner, piano god, and certified menace to sanity. Damaged? Absolutely. Dangerous? You bet. A man who’ll burn the world down and play you a love song on the ashes? That’s our Rafael.
And then there’s Dominic: the feral disaster son of a homophobic monster who locked him up to “cure” him. Daddy issues? Off the charts. Self-loathing? Oh, he marinated in it. But when he crashes into Rafael’s world? Sparks? Nope — explosions.
Their dynamic? Unhinged. Filthy. Beautiful. Perfect. I didn’t care about society’s norms — they sure as hell didn’t. What mattered was how they saw each other, how they filled the hollow spaces no one else could reach.
• 📖📖📖📖📖 — Plot: Dark, addictive, no wasted moment. I couldn’t stop turning the pages.
• 💔💔💔💔 — Angst: Oh, we hurt. And we loved every second.
• 🍑🍑🍑🍑 — Sexy times Frequency :my legs were pressed together more than half the time it took me to read this book
• 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ — Steam: Scorching. Unholy.
🧍♂️ Character Ratings
• 💙💙💙💙💙 — Rafael: My chaotic king. Sexy, tortured, terrifyingly perfect.
• 💙💙💙💙💙 — Dominic: The feral gremlin of my heart. He may be a disaster, but he’s my disaster.
This book? This whole series? It owns me now. If you’re into dark, filthy, emotional romances where broken men find exactly what they need in each other — run, don’t walk. Just prepare for your standards for fictional men to be permanently ruined.
We’ve got Rafael: the devastatingly hot club owner, piano god, and certified menace to sanity. Damaged? Absolutely. Dangerous? You bet. A man who’ll burn the world down and play you a love song on the ashes? That’s our Rafael.
And then there’s Dominic: the feral disaster son of a homophobic monster who locked him up to “cure” him. Daddy issues? Off the charts. Self-loathing? Oh, he marinated in it. But when he crashes into Rafael’s world? Sparks? Nope — explosions.
Their dynamic? Unhinged. Filthy. Beautiful. Perfect. I didn’t care about society’s norms — they sure as hell didn’t. What mattered was how they saw each other, how they filled the hollow spaces no one else could reach.
• 📖📖📖📖📖 — Plot: Dark, addictive, no wasted moment. I couldn’t stop turning the pages.
• 💔💔💔💔 — Angst: Oh, we hurt. And we loved every second.
• 🍑🍑🍑🍑 — Sexy times Frequency :my legs were pressed together more than half the time it took me to read this book
• 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ — Steam: Scorching. Unholy.
🧍♂️ Character Ratings
• 💙💙💙💙💙 — Rafael: My chaotic king. Sexy, tortured, terrifyingly perfect.
• 💙💙💙💙💙 — Dominic: The feral gremlin of my heart. He may be a disaster, but he’s my disaster.
This book? This whole series? It owns me now. If you’re into dark, filthy, emotional romances where broken men find exactly what they need in each other — run, don’t walk. Just prepare for your standards for fictional men to be permanently ruined.
November 25, 2025
The Club by Rina Saint
Format: Audiobook
Narrators: William Macleod and Tim Paige
📖- 3.75
🎙️- 4.5
🌶️- 5
Tropes:
⛓️ MM Romance
⛓️ Dark Romance
⛓️ Mafia
Non-Spoiler Audiobook Review 🎧
The Club is book two in the Dangerous Games series and we are finally getting Rafael and Dominic’s story. Told in duet by William Macleod and Tim Paige, both narrators were able to pull me deep into the darkness and trauma of the characters, keeping me interested and curious for what’s to come.
This installment was fast paced, dark and much more intense. My heart broke for them, but for different reasons. We get introduced to both Rafael and Dominic in book one, but their story dives deep into the history of their past, the trauma and abuse they survived and how it shaped them into the murderous psychopaths they’ve become. Both men love to play with fire but soon they start to play a very dangerous game with each other. The spice was off the charts hot and lots of it 😮💨🔥 This may be the spiciest book I’ve read this year and the best part, there’s actually an interesting plot to go along with all that hotness.
I’ve enjoyed this series but I cannot stress enough, read the TW’s. This installment is a deeper look into the underground… it’s raw and takes a much darker path.
Thank you Blue Nose Audio for the ALC.
Format: Audiobook
Narrators: William Macleod and Tim Paige
📖- 3.75
🎙️- 4.5
🌶️- 5
Tropes:
⛓️ MM Romance
⛓️ Dark Romance
⛓️ Mafia
Non-Spoiler Audiobook Review 🎧
The Club is book two in the Dangerous Games series and we are finally getting Rafael and Dominic’s story. Told in duet by William Macleod and Tim Paige, both narrators were able to pull me deep into the darkness and trauma of the characters, keeping me interested and curious for what’s to come.
This installment was fast paced, dark and much more intense. My heart broke for them, but for different reasons. We get introduced to both Rafael and Dominic in book one, but their story dives deep into the history of their past, the trauma and abuse they survived and how it shaped them into the murderous psychopaths they’ve become. Both men love to play with fire but soon they start to play a very dangerous game with each other. The spice was off the charts hot and lots of it 😮💨🔥 This may be the spiciest book I’ve read this year and the best part, there’s actually an interesting plot to go along with all that hotness.
I’ve enjoyed this series but I cannot stress enough, read the TW’s. This installment is a deeper look into the underground… it’s raw and takes a much darker path.
Thank you Blue Nose Audio for the ALC.
November 29, 2025
Well what a book that was! I was so not ready for it to end and could have easily listened to Rafael and Dominic for hours on end.
Rafael and Dominic could not be more of opposite if they tried when taking in their outward appearances, and the instant hate and lust mixed is one that sets you up for an explosive story! Rafael is not afraid to show off his sexuality and is a little bit of a loose canon when it comes to how he likes to blow of steam with his chosen hobby, if killing people can be called a hobby. Dominic is now the head of his fathers empire and has to show his authority, but his secret obsession with Rafael could prove to be his undoing!
I loved the dynamic between these two characters and how they developed over the course of the book. Rina has such a way of writing the emotions into her story that you really felt what they were both going through, you were there right with them living it and cheering them on to get the ending they both deserved. The lust and passion between them was fire on the page, but it was the tender moments that caught you off guard guard that left a lasting impression. They are both such complex characters and dealing with not knowing love or even how to in their own way, some of which is very violent, but together they connect on a different level and end up being exactly what the other one needs.
The choice of narrators was spot on I just loved Tim especially as Rafael, he just was the perfect fit. I've only heard clips of William doing a Scottish accent, but he was brilliant as Dominic having just the right edge to his accent.
I know The Club and The Contract can be read as standalones, but think I now need to go back and read The Contract to find out more about some of the side characters we met!
Rafael and Dominic could not be more of opposite if they tried when taking in their outward appearances, and the instant hate and lust mixed is one that sets you up for an explosive story! Rafael is not afraid to show off his sexuality and is a little bit of a loose canon when it comes to how he likes to blow of steam with his chosen hobby, if killing people can be called a hobby. Dominic is now the head of his fathers empire and has to show his authority, but his secret obsession with Rafael could prove to be his undoing!
I loved the dynamic between these two characters and how they developed over the course of the book. Rina has such a way of writing the emotions into her story that you really felt what they were both going through, you were there right with them living it and cheering them on to get the ending they both deserved. The lust and passion between them was fire on the page, but it was the tender moments that caught you off guard guard that left a lasting impression. They are both such complex characters and dealing with not knowing love or even how to in their own way, some of which is very violent, but together they connect on a different level and end up being exactly what the other one needs.
The choice of narrators was spot on I just loved Tim especially as Rafael, he just was the perfect fit. I've only heard clips of William doing a Scottish accent, but he was brilliant as Dominic having just the right edge to his accent.
I know The Club and The Contract can be read as standalones, but think I now need to go back and read The Contract to find out more about some of the side characters we met!
November 30, 2025
First off a huge freaking thanks to Tim Paige and William MacLeod cause they obviously slayed in them narrations.😩🖐🏾
How this book managed to be a favourite of mine boggles my mind.I absolutely loved it! I think it needs to be longer, I could easily read 200 more pages of Rafael and Dominic.
Rafael was a wild card in book 1, but seeing his thoughts and motivations really fleshed him out. My heart broke for him. He was witness to his parents' murder then taken by an evil man and groomed. When said man grew tired of him, he sent him to The Island where he was raped by the rich and powerful. Dominic was also on The Island, sold there by his father who wanted to rid him of his "homosexual tendencies".
Dominic is now a violent, short fused beast who takes whatever he wants, but still feels the haunting effects of his father and his time on the island. However, his time there let him understand Rafael like no one else before. They both understand each other so deeply, it's no wonder they were drawn to each other like magnets.
I was fully invested in both the action of the book and the romance. Highly recommend to lovers of high angst, high smut and interesting actions. Beware of the dark themes and TWs, as there are lots.
How this book managed to be a favourite of mine boggles my mind.I absolutely loved it! I think it needs to be longer, I could easily read 200 more pages of Rafael and Dominic.
Rafael was a wild card in book 1, but seeing his thoughts and motivations really fleshed him out. My heart broke for him. He was witness to his parents' murder then taken by an evil man and groomed. When said man grew tired of him, he sent him to The Island where he was raped by the rich and powerful. Dominic was also on The Island, sold there by his father who wanted to rid him of his "homosexual tendencies".
Dominic is now a violent, short fused beast who takes whatever he wants, but still feels the haunting effects of his father and his time on the island. However, his time there let him understand Rafael like no one else before. They both understand each other so deeply, it's no wonder they were drawn to each other like magnets.
I was fully invested in both the action of the book and the romance. Highly recommend to lovers of high angst, high smut and interesting actions. Beware of the dark themes and TWs, as there are lots.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews