The Los Angeles nightlife isn’t for everyone, and Natalie Calder might be at the top of that list. When this curvy photographer is pressured by her friend into an evening at Völk—the hottest club on the scene—she is certain the night will mirror every other night in LA. Deafening Music. Blinding lights. One thing she didn’t count on, though, was meeting him.
There’s something about this Russian club owner Natalie can’t quite put her finger on. Maybe it’s how Nikolai Vostik stares at her—like he’s watching his next meal. And to be quite honest, if he keeps grinning in that way she finds irresistible, Natalie just might be willing to serve herself up to him. But like Club Völk, Nikolai has secrets, and no amount of chains can keep the truth from ripping out of him under the full moon.
Werewolves are real. And if Natalie isn’t careful, this soon-to-be alpha of the pack will only add her to his private menu. Or maybe he’ll use those claws to tear her clothes off instead. Nothing is as it seems, and as the secrets of this LA werewolf pack begin to unravel, the locks of Völk’s VIP room will come undone.
The Red Room will open, and no one, not even Natalie, is safe …
Raised in a small California farming town, T.A. Cruz spent his childhood honing an imagination as vast as the wheat fields stretching around him for miles. With 6 years of military service, and passport stamps from around the world, part of him will always be in that little town with a single stoplight and a population of 1500. A lifelong lover of horror, and things that go bump in the night, T.A. Cruz decided it was time to take that passion to the page to shock and terrify others for a change. He is an active member of the International Thriller Writers and is on the hunt for more groups to expand and connect with other authors that share his passion. When not diving face-first into another project, this Bestselling Mystery Author enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.
T. A. Cruz writes a damn good thriller. Have you seen Sarah Baker? was one of my favorite 5 star thrillers of the year. Now he publishes, The Red Room. A supernatural dark romance. Wow. This man has a talent for writing and jumping genres, and still getting a 5 star ratings.
The Red Room follows plus size FMC Natalia. She finds herself at a night club owned by the gorgeous MMC Nikolai. Natalia is of course, shocked to find out the Nikolai is not only rich and handsome but also a werewolf! Things not only go down from there but also up 👀. That’s right, Cruz is an amazing smut peddler! I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Don’t expect smooth sailing and don’t forget to check the trigger warnings. Also, this beauty of a book also ends on a cliffy so be prepared to be pining for book 2!
I actually did it! I finished a book I never thought I’d give a real chance. Considering the only shifter book I’d read before made me DNF the entire genre, I’m shocked this one kept me hooked. But honestly? I kinda liked it.
I had very high hopes when I decided to read this book, it checked so many of my boxes. What I didn't expect was that it was going to exceed all of my expectations.
It had been awhile since I've indulged in any kind of paranormal story so I was chomping at the bit to start this one.
It was powerful, smoking hot, spine tingling and exciting.....all rolled into one absolutely unputdownable thrill ride.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I have to say I am definitely a fan. He exceeded my expectations in this one! The world building, complexity of characters and storytelling was phenomenal.
Natalie, the curvy FMC photographer. I liked her character immediately, she’s relatable, down to earth and I love her internal dialogue. MMC, Nikolai, the Russian club owner. Instantly liked and was drawn to his character. He has a dark, mysterious alluring vibe, and let’s not forget he’s a shifter at full moons, the alpha of his pack.
The chemistry between the two, although a slow burn, was undeniable. I love his possessiveness of Natalie, a true touch her and d!e. Their tension was hot! The banter between them, top notch! And the spice was steamy, intimate and perfectly paced.
The style of writing was incredible. I was engrossed from the first page until the end. You’ll go through all emotions in this one. Moments of belly laughs, to fanning yourself, then clutching your pearls. That ending had me at the edge of my seat, couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Then got slammed with a heart wrenching ending with jaw dropping cliffhanger.
This is a read you are not going to want to miss out on. Especially if you enjoy a dark shifter romance that is also definitely a thriller. Read the trigger warnings and be prepared to be blown away. Can not wait for book 2!
The way he crafted this story is absolute perfection. No notes.
From the first page, I was drawn into the intense, edgy world of werewolves, set against the backdrop of Völk, a lavish nightclub, and filled with unforgettable characters and gripping dynamics.
The FMC, a curvy, relatable heroine, is so thoughtfully portrayed that you feel her every insecurity and fear right alongside her. Her inner monologue is heart-wrenching at times, capturing all the struggles and insecurities in a way that felt incredibly real and raw. Watching her navigate the dangers of this world and her own self-doubts is truly compelling.
Then there’s Nikolai—the enigmatic, wealthy nightclub owner whose magnetism practically leaps off the page. He’s intense and irresistible, with just enough of a dark edge to keep you guessing. Cruz has created a character you can't help but fall for, with depth and complexity that make his connection with the FMC sizzle.
I have to say, Nikolai’s brother, Viktor, is one of those antagonists you love to hate. Every scene with him is charged, and his presence adds a layer of tension and intrigue that keeps the stakes high.
Finally, the spice is just perfection—perfectly paced, with a blend of tenderness and intensity that makes every scene feel alive.
Cruz doesn’t hold back, and it’s everything I hoped for in a paranormal romance. Plus more. THAT ENDING!!! 🤯🤯🤯
I genuinely don’t understand the high ratings for The Red Room by T.A. Cruz. This book just didn’t work for me at all. The writing felt clunky and unpolished, with glaring plot holes that made the story hard to take seriously. The characters were flat and unconvincing, and the instant lust between them felt forced and superficial.
What really (also) threw me off was the random use of Russian words sprinkled throughout the dialogue. It felt unnecessary and awkward rather than adding authenticity—it actually pulled me out of the story more than once.
Overall, the book lacked depth, structure, and any real plot. I kept waiting for it to go somewhere, but it never did. A disappointing read.
I don't feel this intense chemistry the author is hoping to portray, and the story feels a bit rushed at times, but overall, it is an interesting, unique storyline for this genre. The continuous self-deprecation from the main female character was quite annoying, but I do like the main male character, and the spice is quite nice. It will be interesting to see where the characters go in the next book.
Instant 5 stars! T.A. Cruz has a talent for captivating readers with his storytelling. I found myself unable to put the book down, completely engrossed in the lives of Natalie and Nik. I am eagerly anticipating the release of the second book in the series.
Okay, Cruz has done it again. For this to be his first romance book, he hit it right out of the park. I adore the way Cruz can manipulate your emotions while reading (even if I want to cuss him out afterwards) and this book did not disappoint.
Natalie stole my heart from the very beginning, I related to her insecurities more than I’d like to admit. The way she was written was done so beautifully.
Nik is HOTTTTTT. I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t care for him at first but after chapter four I was sold. Nik’s back story melted my heart and I fell in love with him.
My favorite side character is Dimitri and I SWEAR if anything happens to him, I’m going to lose my ever loving mind 😇
I can’t wait for book two and if it also ends on a cliffhanger, you’ll find me crying for 7-10 business days. 👁️👄👁️
This book is mouthwatering and kept me wanting more!! This is a spicy suspenseful werewolf thriller that is written so detailed and perfectly paced. Natalia struggles with insecurities but Nik only sees her and it's so freaking primal and raw how possessive he is of her. Nat's inner dialogue was relatable and refreshing. The conflict of keeping your person safe over choosing your werewolf pack is intense. Everything was exactly what I wanted in a werewolf romance! Who wouldn't love to go to an edgy werewolf club?!
This is even better than I was hoping for in a book with werewolves!! I was on the edge of my seat with the suspense and the action. I’m dying to know what’s going to happen next!
I love Nikolai! He really has the touch her and 💀vibes. Seeing how much he truly cares for Natalia and would do anything for her. And omg the spice between them was 🔥.
My heart breaks for Natalia! That’s all I’m going to say.
From the moment I started reading, I was captivated by the dark atmosphere and complex characters. The pacing is perfect—each chapter left me wanting more as the tension steadily built. Cruz’s writing style is immersive, and the world-building is so detailed that I felt like I was right there in the story.
As an ARC reader, I was thrilled to get a sneak peek into this captivating story, and I can already tell this is going to be a hit. I can’t wait to see how it evolves in the final release.
3.5/5 Absolutely loved this take on a werewolf romance! I wish the relationship between the main characters felt more in depth, however the spice between them was good. Hope the fmc is a little more confident in the next one as I found the self deprecating comments a little eh. I absolutely love Nik and really enjoyed his pov and hope for more in the next one!
The Red Room is so addicting I couldn’t put it down!
Club Völk, the popular night club with The Red Room is full of dark and gruesome secrets and our FMC gets pulled into a world she never knew existed. Natalie’s internal monologue is relatable and raw and I truly felt the whiplash our insecurities can gift us. Despite all of her insecurities she’s a baddie FMC through and through. Nikolai is broody, protective, and strong but he softens for Nat soooo perfectly. Nik sucks up the air in every space and drips charisma on page. Their chemistry is off the charts.
This book was so thrilling I really didn’t know what would happen next. Our antagonist Viktor does his job so well and I’m definitely learning not to get attached to any characters👀 That ending was absolutely brutal and I’m holding my breath for the rest of the story!
The book was amazing! I’ve never read a paranormal thriller before but I will absolutely be continuing this series! TA Cruz gave shifter romance a dark and life like twist! It was real, it was intense and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Absolutely phenomenal!! Watch out, there are triggers and a grand canyon sized cliffhanger. But every red flag is well deserved and much appreciated! I loved the characters, plot, twists and deceptions!!
This was pretty good. The beginning had me but the ending lacked a bit. I hope to read the second with more action. The smut was pretty and well written.
I was lucky to receive the ARC of this book! This book is a slightly different, more realistic, take on werewolves, but still has the spice and gore you'd crave from a werewolf book. T.A. Cruz takes us on a ride in this fast-paced story where the FMC Natalie also goes on a journey when she meets Nikolai, who is seemingly the owner of an exclusive club. Natalie battles with self-love throughout this story, but this curvy girl is relatable to many insecurities we all battle. Her connection to Nikolai is pretty instant, but when faced with his younger brother Viktor, all hell breaks loose.
The ending of this story will have you at the edge of your seat! Need the next book to find out what happens.
I'm just a little late to the party! This book kept me on the edge of my sit in a good way!!! It did take me a little to warm up to the characters but I did!!! This author has found a new fan! I'm not even going to be upset about the cliff hanger at the end even tho i wanted to toss my kindle because how dare you! LOL!!
The way I couldn’t put this down🤭 the suspense the spice and the ending omg!!! I love Nikolai he was obsessed 🤭 Natalie and Niko chemistry was so good and their banter was so good!! But that ending had me cussing in two languages lol I can’t wait for the next one!!!
Tropes: 🖤: paranormal romance 🐺: touch her and 🔪 🖤: dark romance
I was not prepared for that cliffhanger. HOWEVER. 10 out of 10 read. I literally couldn’t put the book down it was so good. I really enjoyed how Nik and Nat’s relationship grew throughout the book and was truly expecting them to ride off into the sunset together. I was not expecting for that ending and now I’m already chomping at the bit for book 2. 🦷
If you loved Twilight, specifically the shifters in that book, and are looking for that “I’m not good for you” feel with Mafia, irresistible characters, AND SMUT!? Then you should give this book a try.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Curvy FMC...shifter MMC ⬅️ who is Russian 🥵🤤...Plot, spice, suspense. What more could you ask for?! Not only can Cruz write an unputdownable thriller, he can dang sure write a spicy, paranormal romance too! From the first page to the last, I was sucked in. Not once did I have to force myself to push through it. I was intrigued the whole way through and didn't want it to end!
I knew I would like this book, but I really didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. I mean, since I was a kid, I loved werewolves and stories involving werewolves. And I always appreciate a story with a curvy FMC that doesn’t realize how incredibly sexy she is. As I was reading this, there were obviously “secrets” and mysteries that the FMC was trying to figure out that were fairly obvious. I knew that the book was about werewolves so obviously things would happen during the full moon and the mysterious sexy man was going to be more than he appeared. But I what I really loved about this book were the little questions that kept coming back to me throughout the entire book that weren’t so obvious. I would keep reading and waiting for the answers about something small but odd. And of course, the entire book my mind would come back to the same question, “What the heck was in the Red Room?” The characters were great, the story was fantastic, but it’s these mysteries that put this book over the top.
The two MCs in this book were wonderful. I loved Natalie. I’ve known Natalie. A curvy, beautiful woman who doesn’t have the best self esteem and continually fidgets with her clothes or sits in a specific way so that the people they are with don’t actually see what they look like. They are someone that can’t see how sexy curves are and that not everyone wants someone who is rail thin. So, when Nick shows her how she is the one he wants and how she is the most beautiful, fantastic woman that he has ever met, I couldn’t help but smile. Nick is the perfect MMC with a secret. Gorgeous, exotic, rich and powerful Russian that treats her the way that she should be. Add the side characters like Courtney and Viktor, and I wanted to know everything this story had to offer.
I really enjoyed reading this story. It had mystery, spicy times, action, and of course ends with a cliffhanger that has been on the edge of my seat until the next book comes out. I thought that the author did such a fantastic job and I can’t wait to read the next book.