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Black Roses
Delilah Monroe may seem like your typical wealthy housewife with a passion for strong martinis and seductive Italian men, but underneath the country club galas, the designer clothes, and her Chanel perfume lives a world of trauma, secrets and lies. Delilah has played the part of a pristine Southern society woman perfectly for over a decade that is until a mysterious figure creeps back into her life, threatening everything she has built. It's then that Delilah must decide if she is going to continue running from her dark past or finally face it, potentially risking her life in the process.
Black Roses is a steamy and thrilling adventure with twists and turns you will never see coming. It is suspenseful, juicy and darkly humorous. With heavy mental health elements, Black Roses tells a relatable, heart breaking, and heart mending story in a way like never before.
Black Roses is a steamy and thrilling adventure with twists and turns you will never see coming. It is suspenseful, juicy and darkly humorous. With heavy mental health elements, Black Roses tells a relatable, heart breaking, and heart mending story in a way like never before.
- GenresDark Romance
398 pages, Paperback
Published November 12, 2024
11 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
November 23, 2025
This book made me feel so many things ! i have cried so many times as I could relate in so many ways .
It follows delilah on her journey of healing and show cases how much our own brain will try to shield us from past trauma and rewiring our brain in the process .
Delilah is just a girl who loved a boy so fiercely that she didnt want to see the monster behind the mask and laid down and took it until she could no longer stand behind it .
please read triggers ! it deals with DV , sexual assault , severe bullying , violence , unaliving and mental health.
fav quotes :
She doesn’t get what it’s like to be scared to shut your eyes
because the darkness squeezes your brain so hard that it
explodes. Or, how you want to claw out your eyes to erase
everything you’ve ever seen. How you want to break your ear
drums to drown out all the screams you’ve ever heard and rip
out your tongue to forget all the blood you’ve ever tasted.
Loneliness is a song I never forget the melody to.
No
nightlight could brighten the darkness that was coming for me.
My black roses were set on fire, and I was drawn to it like a
moth. And now here I am, left in the ashes praying for a day
when insults don’t scream, and compliments don’t whisper.
But that day will never come because you’re invisible when
you’re sad. Nobody sees me. Nobody has ever really seen
me… well, except for him.
Then again, I know all too well how easy
it is to hide who you really are. We all have a mask we wear.
“Saying that you can’t feel sorry for yourself because
someone has it worse than you is the same thing as saying that
you can’t ever be happy for yourself because someone has it
better than you. Someone will always have it worse, and
someone will always have it better than you, that’s irrelevant.”
I stand there for a moment staring blankly at him. As usual, I
am speechless
“He sits on my arms and glues me to the floor. He makes it
hard to move or want to move. I feel heavy, I guess. I feel like
everything is heavy from the minute I wake up in the morning.
It starts with my eyelids, then it’s my arms, then my legs. It’s
like gravity is constantly betraying me. It’s like the devil is trying to drag me to hell before I’m even dead. That’s what
depression is, feeling dead before you’re actually dead.”
That’s the thing
about monsters, the real ones will never come out in the light
of day, they’ll hide in your shadow until you become too small
to have one anymore.
“So why don’t you then, wear a mask like everyone else?”
“Because I don’t need to prove to myself that I matter.”
"But, no one can save you from the riff raff that goes on in your head.
No one is equipped to save you from that. Most people are just
as broken as we are. You can’t ask a broken man to cradle a
shattered heart.”
It follows delilah on her journey of healing and show cases how much our own brain will try to shield us from past trauma and rewiring our brain in the process .
Delilah is just a girl who loved a boy so fiercely that she didnt want to see the monster behind the mask and laid down and took it until she could no longer stand behind it .
please read triggers ! it deals with DV , sexual assault , severe bullying , violence , unaliving and mental health.
fav quotes :
She doesn’t get what it’s like to be scared to shut your eyes
because the darkness squeezes your brain so hard that it
explodes. Or, how you want to claw out your eyes to erase
everything you’ve ever seen. How you want to break your ear
drums to drown out all the screams you’ve ever heard and rip
out your tongue to forget all the blood you’ve ever tasted.
Loneliness is a song I never forget the melody to.
No
nightlight could brighten the darkness that was coming for me.
My black roses were set on fire, and I was drawn to it like a
moth. And now here I am, left in the ashes praying for a day
when insults don’t scream, and compliments don’t whisper.
But that day will never come because you’re invisible when
you’re sad. Nobody sees me. Nobody has ever really seen
me… well, except for him.
Then again, I know all too well how easy
it is to hide who you really are. We all have a mask we wear.
“Saying that you can’t feel sorry for yourself because
someone has it worse than you is the same thing as saying that
you can’t ever be happy for yourself because someone has it
better than you. Someone will always have it worse, and
someone will always have it better than you, that’s irrelevant.”
I stand there for a moment staring blankly at him. As usual, I
am speechless
“He sits on my arms and glues me to the floor. He makes it
hard to move or want to move. I feel heavy, I guess. I feel like
everything is heavy from the minute I wake up in the morning.
It starts with my eyelids, then it’s my arms, then my legs. It’s
like gravity is constantly betraying me. It’s like the devil is trying to drag me to hell before I’m even dead. That’s what
depression is, feeling dead before you’re actually dead.”
That’s the thing
about monsters, the real ones will never come out in the light
of day, they’ll hide in your shadow until you become too small
to have one anymore.
“So why don’t you then, wear a mask like everyone else?”
“Because I don’t need to prove to myself that I matter.”
"But, no one can save you from the riff raff that goes on in your head.
No one is equipped to save you from that. Most people are just
as broken as we are. You can’t ask a broken man to cradle a
shattered heart.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2025
I feel like calling this a dark romance wasn’t entirely accurate. I would personally classify this under a dark thriller romance. I did enjoy it quite a bit though and found myself wanting more and to know how everything was going to tie together in the end. I was left wanting a little more in the end but there’s room for either a sequel or personal decisions as to what came next. I overall would recommend this but check trigger warnings as there are some very heavy scenes.
March 5, 2025
please check trigger warnings
some include:
DV
suicide
SA
emotional abuse
coercion
substance abuse
panic disorder
depression
manslaughter
this book was deep and emotional. Delilah i felt never stood a chance after witnessing what her parents had. at first her mom was very much a hated character but the more i read the more i found out it wasnt her fault. then there was poor Sam. he was so loving and caring. he cared for Delilah so much and ended up so hurt. Philly was an absolute POS and i hated hearing how disgusting he treated Delilah even though all she ever did was love him. the mystery of her memories had me hooked. i found myself trying to guess it and i wasnt prepared for the twists. I loved that the ending gave justice and love because this book was a lot of sadness. i couldnt put this down. i was hooked. i will definitely be reading more from this author.
again check warnings first.
favorite quote:
No night light could brighten the darkness that was coming for me.
You've seen the rain too?
some include:
DV
suicide
SA
emotional abuse
coercion
substance abuse
panic disorder
depression
manslaughter
this book was deep and emotional. Delilah i felt never stood a chance after witnessing what her parents had. at first her mom was very much a hated character but the more i read the more i found out it wasnt her fault. then there was poor Sam. he was so loving and caring. he cared for Delilah so much and ended up so hurt. Philly was an absolute POS and i hated hearing how disgusting he treated Delilah even though all she ever did was love him. the mystery of her memories had me hooked. i found myself trying to guess it and i wasnt prepared for the twists. I loved that the ending gave justice and love because this book was a lot of sadness. i couldnt put this down. i was hooked. i will definitely be reading more from this author.
again check warnings first.
favorite quote:
No night light could brighten the darkness that was coming for me.
You've seen the rain too?
March 12, 2025
I loved this book! The main character, Delilah, was so easy to relate to. Her struggles and trauma in her child/adolescence that she carried into adulthood were well written and related to each other seamlessly. The author did an amazing job of portraying the mental health issues in this story. You could feel Delilah's emotions, even when she couldn't feel them herself. I was hooked throughout this entire book, wanting her to open up more to overcome her past and present struggles. I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this author. Great book.
March 9, 2025
I would rate this a 4.5 ⭐️
Many thanks for the opportunity to do an ARC review of this wonderful book. I really loved this book. I felt like it was well written and flowed well. I didn’t want to stop reading and I finished it in two sittings. I felt like I was in the book in Delilah’s mind. It had so much raw emotion it floored me. It touched so much on mental health. It was definitely a roller coaster of emotions to say the least. It was dark and had some major plot twists throughout the book. I’m so glad the sunset made an appearance again. I promise it’s a HEA. Just wait and see!
The therapy sessions were so good and so in depth that I thought I was sitting with them. Coming from an unhappy home I felt all the emotions with this.
Check triggers and feast your dark romance souls!
Many thanks for the opportunity to do an ARC review of this wonderful book. I really loved this book. I felt like it was well written and flowed well. I didn’t want to stop reading and I finished it in two sittings. I felt like I was in the book in Delilah’s mind. It had so much raw emotion it floored me. It touched so much on mental health. It was definitely a roller coaster of emotions to say the least. It was dark and had some major plot twists throughout the book. I’m so glad the sunset made an appearance again. I promise it’s a HEA. Just wait and see!
The therapy sessions were so good and so in depth that I thought I was sitting with them. Coming from an unhappy home I felt all the emotions with this.
Check triggers and feast your dark romance souls!
March 12, 2025
I was intrigued by this book from the moment I read the synopsis. While reading there were twists and turns. There were some points that I felt were slightly confusing and hard to follow but overall it was good. There were some things that I was not a fan of but that is neither here nor there, it’s just my opinion. Overall this book was well written and there was a lot of emotion behind the story.
March 8, 2025
4.75 Stars but I rounded up to 5 because this book/author seriously deserves it!
This book is absolutely amazing. Though before getting into my review, I think this book is more of a Dark Romantic Tragedy with heavy mental health elements and a lot of mystery!
Some things about this book and Trigger Warnings:
Mystery, Romance, Symbolism, Mental health, SA, a little stalking, Domestic Violence, Substance Abuse, Suicide, Emotional Abuse, Coercion, Depression, Manslaughter, Panic Disorder
This story is following Delilah in present day (she is in her 30s) as well as flash backs to 2009 where she is about 17 or so years old.
In present day, she is a rich housewife in GA with a husband that is never home and ignores her, drinks her pain away, cheats on her husband just to feel something, and goes to therapy where she fights with everything she has not to talk about her past. Anytime she thinks, or is asked about her past, she is completely triggered and can barely function through her determination to forget and drink the memories away. Her therapist is amazing and you can tell how much she truly cares for Delilah and can see through her bs but doesn't push her. She is probably the only person in the world Delilah truly trusts.
In 2009, you follow her through her childhood trauma. The ex-Miss Georgia mother who is so miserable that she drinks her pain away. The successful and rich father that only cares about himself, his reputation, and money. The abuse between her parents that trickles down to the kids. How she never felt like she could speak without saying the wrong thing. The abusive childhood crush that is clearly a narcissist and manipulates her from the very beginning. Then she meets Sam. Sam, the sweet, poor immigrant who lost his twin sister to suicide. He was the first and only person other than her therapist (in present day) that understood and seen her and truly cared for her as herself and not her "mask" to the world.
From the beginning you know something really bad happened in her past that she is repressing and I literally could not put this book down until I found out what that was and oh my did it shock the hell outta me. This mystery was KILLING me and I had to know. This book is heavy on mental health. What the impact is of what I would call 'mental warfare' and how to heal from it. How you need meaning in your life to feel alive. How to overcome the terrible things people have done to you and KNOW you did not deserve it and stand up for yourself and those who were also hurt.
The ONLY reason I did not rate this a full 5 is because I am wanting a tiny bit more on what happened after. Like a bonus epilogue or something.
This book really reminds me of the Torment Duet in a way by Dylan Page. I went through the ringer with Delilah... you could really see and feel her struggle and feel devastated for her through out her trauma and all the shocking twists and turns she was forced to endure.. You will probably get mad at her at some parts... I did... but then I remember what she went through which shaped her actions and mindset.
Please read this book! It was absolutely amazing, beautiful, captivating, devastating, emotional, shocking, and healing. I read this in less than a day because once I picked it up, I was done for, it had its hooks in deep!
This book is absolutely amazing. Though before getting into my review, I think this book is more of a Dark Romantic Tragedy with heavy mental health elements and a lot of mystery!
Some things about this book and Trigger Warnings:
Mystery, Romance, Symbolism, Mental health, SA, a little stalking, Domestic Violence, Substance Abuse, Suicide, Emotional Abuse, Coercion, Depression, Manslaughter, Panic Disorder
This story is following Delilah in present day (she is in her 30s) as well as flash backs to 2009 where she is about 17 or so years old.
In present day, she is a rich housewife in GA with a husband that is never home and ignores her, drinks her pain away, cheats on her husband just to feel something, and goes to therapy where she fights with everything she has not to talk about her past. Anytime she thinks, or is asked about her past, she is completely triggered and can barely function through her determination to forget and drink the memories away. Her therapist is amazing and you can tell how much she truly cares for Delilah and can see through her bs but doesn't push her. She is probably the only person in the world Delilah truly trusts.
In 2009, you follow her through her childhood trauma. The ex-Miss Georgia mother who is so miserable that she drinks her pain away. The successful and rich father that only cares about himself, his reputation, and money. The abuse between her parents that trickles down to the kids. How she never felt like she could speak without saying the wrong thing. The abusive childhood crush that is clearly a narcissist and manipulates her from the very beginning. Then she meets Sam. Sam, the sweet, poor immigrant who lost his twin sister to suicide. He was the first and only person other than her therapist (in present day) that understood and seen her and truly cared for her as herself and not her "mask" to the world.
From the beginning you know something really bad happened in her past that she is repressing and I literally could not put this book down until I found out what that was and oh my did it shock the hell outta me. This mystery was KILLING me and I had to know. This book is heavy on mental health. What the impact is of what I would call 'mental warfare' and how to heal from it. How you need meaning in your life to feel alive. How to overcome the terrible things people have done to you and KNOW you did not deserve it and stand up for yourself and those who were also hurt.
The ONLY reason I did not rate this a full 5 is because I am wanting a tiny bit more on what happened after. Like a bonus epilogue or something.
This book really reminds me of the Torment Duet in a way by Dylan Page. I went through the ringer with Delilah... you could really see and feel her struggle and feel devastated for her through out her trauma and all the shocking twists and turns she was forced to endure.. You will probably get mad at her at some parts... I did... but then I remember what she went through which shaped her actions and mindset.
Please read this book! It was absolutely amazing, beautiful, captivating, devastating, emotional, shocking, and healing. I read this in less than a day because once I picked it up, I was done for, it had its hooks in deep!
June 11, 2025
At first glance, Delilah Monroe lives the dream: glamorous parties, luxury labels, a perfectly curated Southern life. But beneath the designer façade lies a woman fractured by trauma, survival, and one devastating past she’s spent years burying. That past comes storming back in Black Roses, a dark romance that peels away the layers of wealth, status, and secrecy to reveal something far more powerful: resilience.
When a ghost from her past reappears dangerous, familiar, and hell-bent on control. Delilah is forced to confront the truth she’s hidden from the world and herself. With Sam Garcia, the boy she once danced with under high school lights and who now returns carrying his own grief and guilt, Delilah faces a question: will she keep surviving behind the mask, or finally fight to live freely?
What to expect:
• 💔 A deeply emotional and traumatic backstory that doesn’t pull punches
• 🖤 A twisted villain (Philly) who is more than just a memory, he’s a present threat
• 🍸 Steamy, southern glamour meets dark realism vibes
• 💥 Twists that will make your heart stop
• 🪞Exploration of mental health, rape trauma, suicide, and shame, with compassion and grit
• ❤️🔥 A slow-burn reconnection that feels fragile, healing, and earned
Final thoughts:
Black Roses is a cocktail of suspense, pain, and unexpected humor. It’s the story of a woman reclaiming her life, not through fairytale romance, but through facing the very worst of her past and refusing to let it define her. The writing is sharp and sultry, but never at the cost of emotional depth. If you love dark romance with teeth, claws and a heroine who reclaims her voice with fire then this one will stay with you.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: Domestic violence, rape, suicide (off-page), PTSD, emotional abuse.
As seen on #BookTok and for good reason. Black Roses is a bruised, beautiful storm you won’t forget
When a ghost from her past reappears dangerous, familiar, and hell-bent on control. Delilah is forced to confront the truth she’s hidden from the world and herself. With Sam Garcia, the boy she once danced with under high school lights and who now returns carrying his own grief and guilt, Delilah faces a question: will she keep surviving behind the mask, or finally fight to live freely?
What to expect:
• 💔 A deeply emotional and traumatic backstory that doesn’t pull punches
• 🖤 A twisted villain (Philly) who is more than just a memory, he’s a present threat
• 🍸 Steamy, southern glamour meets dark realism vibes
• 💥 Twists that will make your heart stop
• 🪞Exploration of mental health, rape trauma, suicide, and shame, with compassion and grit
• ❤️🔥 A slow-burn reconnection that feels fragile, healing, and earned
Final thoughts:
Black Roses is a cocktail of suspense, pain, and unexpected humor. It’s the story of a woman reclaiming her life, not through fairytale romance, but through facing the very worst of her past and refusing to let it define her. The writing is sharp and sultry, but never at the cost of emotional depth. If you love dark romance with teeth, claws and a heroine who reclaims her voice with fire then this one will stay with you.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: Domestic violence, rape, suicide (off-page), PTSD, emotional abuse.
As seen on #BookTok and for good reason. Black Roses is a bruised, beautiful storm you won’t forget
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2025
Oh my god! This book put me through the wringer. It made me laugh, cry, smile, be giddy, angry, scared, and feel so gutted!
In the beginning I struggled a little to get into it but it’s because of the ground work being laid down. But once I understood the direction of the story I was totally sucked in.
This story is written in a current and past tense setting. The time jumps into Delilah’s past were by far my favorite part. She has so much unknowing trauma that it makes me want to wrap her up in my arms. She’s such a bright star but looking for love from such an undeserving person.
Sam Garcia! You held my heart in the palm of your hands 🖤🔥. This tender loving young man made my heart swoon. His attention and kindness is what every girl hopes for. But that ruggedness and truthful is what every one needs.
This story dives into abuse, assault, rape, childhood trauma, therapy, death, friendships, and so much more in such great detail and respect. You truly feel every emotion to your core. The anger I felt towards certain characters is so real and genuine. The love and hopefulness had me rooting for a happy ending. The friendship in both her past (Mia 🖤) and present (Sebastian!!!!) pulls at your heart strings and will make you laugh at the things they say.
The twists and turns in this story had me soooo anxious. You don’t know which direction it’s going to go. It’s like playing a game of guess who until all of a sudden the answer appears at the most unexpected time!
100% recommend this story
In the beginning I struggled a little to get into it but it’s because of the ground work being laid down. But once I understood the direction of the story I was totally sucked in.
This story is written in a current and past tense setting. The time jumps into Delilah’s past were by far my favorite part. She has so much unknowing trauma that it makes me want to wrap her up in my arms. She’s such a bright star but looking for love from such an undeserving person.
Sam Garcia! You held my heart in the palm of your hands 🖤🔥. This tender loving young man made my heart swoon. His attention and kindness is what every girl hopes for. But that ruggedness and truthful is what every one needs.
This story dives into abuse, assault, rape, childhood trauma, therapy, death, friendships, and so much more in such great detail and respect. You truly feel every emotion to your core. The anger I felt towards certain characters is so real and genuine. The love and hopefulness had me rooting for a happy ending. The friendship in both her past (Mia 🖤) and present (Sebastian!!!!) pulls at your heart strings and will make you laugh at the things they say.
The twists and turns in this story had me soooo anxious. You don’t know which direction it’s going to go. It’s like playing a game of guess who until all of a sudden the answer appears at the most unexpected time!
100% recommend this story
January 28, 2025
*** No Spoilers ***
Black Roses gave me emotions that I haven’t felt in a long time with similarities between Deliliah’s life and with some of my past relationships. This book was a 4.5 star read but I feel it deserves to be rounded up to 5 stars. I love books that are unpredictable and share stories that make you feel the experience of the main character.
To get to know Deliliah, you’ll need to understand her past. The expectation of fitting into this mold created by her father, witnessing and experiencing a catastrophic and lonely marriage, having mostly toxic relationships throughout life, to feeling constant insecurities with her own thoughts and emotions. Not all endings are what you expected or even wanted. Unfortunately, the paths through Deliliah’s story were very real and a normal situation for many people.
I love the playlist created for each chapter of the book that ties into the emotional roller coaster of Delilah’s tale. Another great song that I feel is relatable to this story is “I had to lose you to love me – Selena Gomez”. Letting go of your abuser is one of the hardest tasks but necessary to grow and have a chance at a happier life.
Black Roses gave me emotions that I haven’t felt in a long time with similarities between Deliliah’s life and with some of my past relationships. This book was a 4.5 star read but I feel it deserves to be rounded up to 5 stars. I love books that are unpredictable and share stories that make you feel the experience of the main character.
To get to know Deliliah, you’ll need to understand her past. The expectation of fitting into this mold created by her father, witnessing and experiencing a catastrophic and lonely marriage, having mostly toxic relationships throughout life, to feeling constant insecurities with her own thoughts and emotions. Not all endings are what you expected or even wanted. Unfortunately, the paths through Deliliah’s story were very real and a normal situation for many people.
I love the playlist created for each chapter of the book that ties into the emotional roller coaster of Delilah’s tale. Another great song that I feel is relatable to this story is “I had to lose you to love me – Selena Gomez”. Letting go of your abuser is one of the hardest tasks but necessary to grow and have a chance at a happier life.
April 14, 2025
Delilah Monroe may seem like your typical wealthy housewife with a passion for strong martinis and seductive Italian men, but underneath the country club galas, the designer clothes, and her Chanel perfume lives a world of trauma, secrets and lies. Delilah has played the part of a pristine Southern society woman perfectly for over a decade that is until a mysterious figure creeps back into her life, threatening everything she has built. It's then that Delilah must decide if she is going to continue running from her dark past or finally face it, potentially risking her life in the process.
Black Roses is a steamy and thrilling adventure with twists and turns you will never see coming. It is suspenseful, juicy and darkly humorous. With heavy mental health elements, Black Roses tells a relatable, heart breaking, and heart mending story in a way like never before.
The story of the fmc is tramatically beautiful. The writing style was good and flowed easily from past to present. Which can usually be hard to follow. The struggles of the FMC keeps your interest throughout the book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
Black Roses is a steamy and thrilling adventure with twists and turns you will never see coming. It is suspenseful, juicy and darkly humorous. With heavy mental health elements, Black Roses tells a relatable, heart breaking, and heart mending story in a way like never before.
The story of the fmc is tramatically beautiful. The writing style was good and flowed easily from past to present. Which can usually be hard to follow. The struggles of the FMC keeps your interest throughout the book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
April 4, 2025
This book has warning and pleas keep in mind that if you have not been in a situation like this or have known people go through any of this warning then understanding this wonderful written piece of art will be hard to understand. This book describes the struggles on emotional and mental abuse in life that some people go through in society acceptance, family chains that don’t break and relationships. How our minds work to keep some trauma hidden but how it can also affect us in everyday life decisions. I love how people can confuse or not understand abuse from love when all you grow up seeing is abuse. Yes there are some adult scenarios but is all well connected and put together to why that happens. Everything fell together so well even though there is a lot of back and forth on time frames it all is well connected. As I hit the end I think we’ll love never came…ahh but then the sun appears in her life again. I love how it ended I was able to relate to it all is such a beautiful piece.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2025
This book was difficult for me to finish. The summary described it as sexy and full of dark humor while touching on trauma and other issues, but I didn’t find it sexy or humorous at all. There was no dark humor—just darkness. While the writing was solid, the overall tone was heavy, unsettling, and emotionally draining. It reminded me of The Lovely Bones and Speak, both in its themes and the overwhelming sense of unease it created. It wasn’t a bad book by any means, just not what I was expecting and not the type of story I typically enjoy. I’m giving it 4 out of 5 stars because it delivers on emotional depth, but if you’re looking for something with the advertised wit or romance, this might not be the book for you. However, if you enjoyed The Lovely Bones or Speak as a teen and still gravitate toward stories that explore trauma with a deeply heavy atmosphere, this could be a great read for you.
March 3, 2025
Whew - this book was a rollercoaster! The struggles that you see the main character, Delilah, go thru are very real and something that all women can relate to. I feel like the author did a fabulous job capturing the reality of trauma and showcasing the positive benefits of therapy and taking care of your mental health.
This story is not your typical romance book- it's labeled a dark romance (and it is definitely dark - check your triggers!) But there were times I forgot it was a romance book completely. I was getting worried there was no HEA 😬
There are some grammar and spelling issues throughout the book (I had an ARC) that were distracting at some points. The beginning of the book starts slow and there were points that I had a hard time following. However, once it picks up, it moves fast!
Overall I give this book a 3.75-4 🌟
This story is not your typical romance book- it's labeled a dark romance (and it is definitely dark - check your triggers!) But there were times I forgot it was a romance book completely. I was getting worried there was no HEA 😬
There are some grammar and spelling issues throughout the book (I had an ARC) that were distracting at some points. The beginning of the book starts slow and there were points that I had a hard time following. However, once it picks up, it moves fast!
Overall I give this book a 3.75-4 🌟
March 14, 2025
“Black Roses” is a dark, intoxicating, and emotionally charged romance. Deanna Dellia weaves a haunting story that explores trauma, mental health, and self-destruction. Told through the perspective of Delilah, a woman drowning in her past and numbing her present, the novel masterfully balances raw vulnerability with sharp, poetic prose.Delilah is not your typical heroine—she’s messy, self-sabotaging, and trapped in a spiral of guilt, addiction, and desire. She is simply human just like the rest of us.
Dellia’s background as a trauma therapist adds an undeniable authenticity to the psychological depth of the characters. The novel doesn’t shy away from difficult topics—domestic violence, substance abuse, and coercion, among others—so readers should take the trigger warnings seriously. But despite its darkness, Black Roses is also deeply human, finding beauty in brokenness.
March 21, 2025
This book is categorized as a dark romance, although I believe it leans more towards a dark, psychological thriller romance. I was thoroughly engaged and captivated by it from start to finish. The writing is exceptional, and the author's ability to set the scene effectively draws the reader in, making it effortless to relate to the female main character and empathize with her struggles and demons she carries. The twists and turns maintain the suspense until the very end. The most captivating scenes for me were those between the female main character and her therapist – they were expertly crafted, making the reader feel like a participant in the sessions. Please note that the book contains dark scenes, so it's essential to be aware of potential trigger warnings. Although this genre isn't my usual preference, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. A very well written and excuted piece!
October 6, 2025
Delilah Monroe might look like your classic Southern socialite since she’s draped in designer clothes, sipping martinis, and gliding through country club galas, but beneath the designer facade is a tangle of trauma, secrets, and lies.
For years, she’s mastered the art of perfection until a ghost from her past reappears, threatening to unravel everything she’s built. Now Delilah must choose between running from her darkness or confront it head-on, even if it costs her everything.
Black Roses is a sultry, suspense-filled ride packed with sharp twists, dark humor, and moments that will break, and maybe and mend, your heart.
Deanna Dellia delivers a story that’s as thrilling as it is emotional, exploring mental health, resilience, and the messy beauty of survival in a way that feels raw and real.
DO check your triggers
For years, she’s mastered the art of perfection until a ghost from her past reappears, threatening to unravel everything she’s built. Now Delilah must choose between running from her darkness or confront it head-on, even if it costs her everything.
Black Roses is a sultry, suspense-filled ride packed with sharp twists, dark humor, and moments that will break, and maybe and mend, your heart.
Deanna Dellia delivers a story that’s as thrilling as it is emotional, exploring mental health, resilience, and the messy beauty of survival in a way that feels raw and real.
DO check your triggers
April 11, 2025
Hey there Delilah what's it like in your brain? I have to say that "dark romance" is not what I would classify this book to be. I would call it more of a mental health journey. I really did appreciate that Delilah was very relatable in her childhood trauma and how it shaped her as an adult. The whole time reading this I thought, oh no, SG is the one she keeps talking about that died. I was very relieved when it in fact was not. I wish there would have been another epilog to give more to the ending of Delilah and SG's story. Did they finally get together? Did SG get his happy ending with Delilah? I would have truly liked a little more on that front. But I digress. Delilah proves that when we face our demons from our past, we truly can come out shining brighter. Glad I got to take this journey in healing with her! ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! I liked the switch between the past and the present. The past that Delilah endured and the point she got to was something that I felt like I could relate too. The childhood trauma and how it bled into her adult life and how it impacted her relationships I felt was written well and showed a deeper understanding of trauma and the cycle it tends to stay in. I also liked how her husband remained unnamed almost the entire book which helped to create the suspense. I will say please check triggers before going into this book! I personally don’t have this problem but as I was reading I was able to see how some people I know need to know the triggers to prepare themselves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2025
I was given Black Roses as an ARC read from Deanna and I really enjoyed it. I don’t normally read dark romance but once I got past the slightly slow beginning, I was hooked! I really felt for Delilah and loved her growth through the novel. Her friendship with Sebastian is so fun! I liked the way Deanna wrote the different pov’s of Delilah’s life too, how she saw her past and came back to the present. The romance with Sam is so sweet and made me crave that same kind of love. Thank you Deanna for sharing this wonderful story with me! This is a 4.5 stars for me (but goodreads doesn’t allow the .5 so it’s a 4 😂)
June 28, 2025
Some books pull you in for different reasons. I have dealt with abuse and mentally manipulation more than once in my life and this book is what it’s like to feel unworthy everyday. How your brain can block out or ignore trauma until it’s triggered. There so many layers to this book I related to a lot of parts. The mystery is there right from the beginning and you’re hooked. Going from past to present it showed how Delilah processes and deals with a lot of trauma, social anxiety, self worth, and how to come out of a depression.She comes out on top and I love that for her. Th thrill and mystery keeps you going till the very end.
July 26, 2025
Black Roses hit me hard and in all the best ways. As someone who went through an abusive relationship in high school, this story felt deeply personal. The way the author captures the silent, internal battles we carry was heartbreakingly real.
The FMC’s journey is tragic and beautiful. Her pain, healing, and growth felt like a victory for anyone who’s ever struggled with self-worth. I especially loved how the author weaves in therapy, inner child healing, and the message that we are not our trauma, we’re more than our minds tell us.
This book is a reminder that even in our brokenness, there’s beauty. And that healing is possible. I cannot recommend this book enough!!
The FMC’s journey is tragic and beautiful. Her pain, healing, and growth felt like a victory for anyone who’s ever struggled with self-worth. I especially loved how the author weaves in therapy, inner child healing, and the message that we are not our trauma, we’re more than our minds tell us.
This book is a reminder that even in our brokenness, there’s beauty. And that healing is possible. I cannot recommend this book enough!!
February 1, 2025
I really loved this book. It made you feel all the emotions - it was exciting, thrilling, happy, sad, and I could not out the book down. I loved the switching perspectives of young Delilah to adult Delilah and it gives the reader a great understanding of why adult Delilah is the way she is. I also DID NOT predict how the book would end which is unique because most books and romance thrillers are so predictive. The plot twist was everything!!! Highly recommend this book if you love and appreciate mental health and love reading romance thrillers.
February 7, 2025
I want to start by saying Deanna's writing style is just so freaking good, it flows like poetry. This is a thriller/romance and it starts off strong and there was never a dull moment if work hadn't got in the way I would have devoured this book in one sitting for sure. This WILL put you through every single emotion, but in all the best ways. Caution it does deal with heavy topics so please check your triggers! I will forever be a fan of this book and Danna as a writer ( I love when you can literally feel what the character is going through and you did that)
March 1, 2025
Received as a free arc. All opinions are my own and freely given.
This book hit me hard right in the heart and soul. It was so beautifully written it was practically poetry and the main character was so relatable to me because we shared similar life experiences so I felt it even harder because I remember some of those same struggles. I also really loved the flashback scenes that show a deeper understanding of who she is to help you connect even more to the character. Was a fantastic thriller dark romance with a plot twist you will never see coming. I love a good surprise ending!
This book hit me hard right in the heart and soul. It was so beautifully written it was practically poetry and the main character was so relatable to me because we shared similar life experiences so I felt it even harder because I remember some of those same struggles. I also really loved the flashback scenes that show a deeper understanding of who she is to help you connect even more to the character. Was a fantastic thriller dark romance with a plot twist you will never see coming. I love a good surprise ending!
March 19, 2025
Just finished, and I already want and need more. I will start by saying read the trigger warnings, as always. I love when a story takes you from the current day to past throughout a story, it makes you understand what the characters are feeling and thinking. This story made me think and feel for the MFC & MMC and the process they had to get to in order to find themselves. The twist was a semi shocker but the was it was unfolded and told was ver well done. I highly recommend this book/author. Can't wait to discover more from Deanna!! Thanks for the great read and now I want black roses!!
March 20, 2025
This was a fantastic read. The love story of Black Roses has everything a great dark romance novel needs, but is also topped off with an insightful look into mental health, trauma, therapy, and redemption.
Some little things that I caught were the reference to the biblical story of Samson and Delilah, with the main characters being named Sam and Delilah, as well as the black / white symbolism.
The world isn't black and white, and the author Deanna Dellia crafts a powerful narrative that is raw and unflinching, yet relatable enough to showcase this. Highly recommend!
Some little things that I caught were the reference to the biblical story of Samson and Delilah, with the main characters being named Sam and Delilah, as well as the black / white symbolism.
The world isn't black and white, and the author Deanna Dellia crafts a powerful narrative that is raw and unflinching, yet relatable enough to showcase this. Highly recommend!
March 23, 2025
Check Your Trigger Warnings!! DV, SA, Mental Health, Addiction, This Is a Dark Psychological Romance, Based on a woman who has trauma suppressed deep within her self and the shame she feels from suffering at the hands of the ones who are supposed to love her. Plot twist This book keeps you turning the page and when you think you have it figured out it flips the script completely! Highly recommend this book!! She definitely left it with an ending where she could revisit the characters in the future and I would absolutely read that book as well!!!
March 31, 2025
This book enthralled me. I am shocked at the magnitude of emotions this book wrung out of me. From the very beginning of the book, I could tell Delilah had a dark and tragic upbringing. Her childhood was riddled with abuse, neglect, and dark secrets that shaped her into the lost and broken woman we meet in the beginning. This book read more like a dark mystery thriller that got its hooks into me, and I could not put it down. Check the triggers, the content in this book is heavy. I highly recommend reading this book.
June 10, 2025
Although this book was kinda slow paced it’s very fitting as healing takes time. This book shows the struggles and healing of trauma in a way I have not seen. The author being a psychotherapist gives this book an edge/ background not everyone has. Her expertise allows for better understanding of mental health and the behind the scenes of trauma in day to day life. Amazing character growth is evident without the book. Black Roses opened my eyes to ways I struggle with my trauma but always brushed off as personality traits.
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