The Lies Of Temptation

Without Limits #4

by Skyla Raines

An achingly forbidden MM age-gap romance about grief, desire, and the kind of love that finds you in the darkest moments.

I was one breath away from ending it all when my dad’s estranged best friend walked in and everything changed.

Elliot

When my mom died, the world didn’t just fall apart, it swallowed me whole. I smiled when I was supposed to. Spoke when spoken to. But inside, I was numb. No one saw how close I was to the edge.

No one... except Anthony.

He saw through my mask. He looked at me like I mattered, like I was worth fighting for. He was older, confident, and his presence shook the foundation of everything I thought I knew about myself.

A solitary touch from him burned like salvation, and a single glance made my heart ache with the need to be seen.

I didn’t mean to need him. I didn’t mean to want him more than anything. But he made me feel alive, even when it hurt.

Especially when it hurt.

Like an addict, I’d do anything for one more hit.

Anthony

Elliot was drowning, falling apart in ways no one else seemed to notice. He was a boy bleeding grief, in a house that didn't care. I told myself I was just watching out for him, that he needed someone.

But that was a lie. I needed him. I was drawn to him like a man starving, even though I knew getting close would destroy us both. He was too young, too raw, too close to the edge.

And I was no hero.

When he shattered, I was the only one there to catch him.

Now I didn’t know how to let go, even if loving him was the one line I was never supposed to cross.

Genres: M M Romance, Spicy

425 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 29, 2026

About the author

Skyla Raines is obsessed with romance and broken boys. She's an avid reader and a sucker for hard-fought happily ever afters.

When she's not bringing to life the characters in her head, she's watching her family grow and cherishes every moment with them.

Reviews

[Kim Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a heavy story so please check the tw-list 🫶🏻

Not gonna lie, this one hurt quiet a lot. But, the journey was worth every second. Every raw emotion, every moment that seemed unbearable for these characters made them who they are, and that's the beauty in a story like this ❣️

Elliot has been through something no one should ever have to go through. He tries so hard, and he is such a sweet, pure soul 🤧 the way I was rooting for his happiness was no joke 🙈 he deserves it all.

Anthony is older than him, being his dad's best friend and all. By the way, the hate I felt towards a certain character needs to be studied btw, how can someone act like that 😒

This book captures the real life perfectly. Nothing is linear, the pain that comes with just existing sometimes seems unbearable. I won't forget how these men fought for their love 😭 oh and the writing? As always just so extraordinary well done ✨️

I really love this whole series so much 💘

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh... this was a difficult book to get through, and I am of two minds about how I feel after reading it. On one hand, the writing was so beautifully descriptive and poetic. I made so many highlights, especially at the beginning, and there were a great deal more of just little snippets and phrases that I was tempted to highlight just because they really vibed with me. Her words make the emotions feel almost tangible. It's breathtaking....

However, the way that Anthony kept hurting Elliott was reprehensible. He keeps justifying his behavior to himself and is convinced that he knows what is best for Elliott. But when he's wrong and ends up hurting Elliott, he just goes back to his previous behavior and does it again! Yes, there's some reasoning behind it that is explained later on, but I still find his behavior unforgivable.

I also came to realize near the end that I don't really feel like I know the MC's much at all. They are a vague human outline colored in with grief, sadness, anger, and frustration. Their emotions were beautifully depicted, but I don't think we really got to see much of their personalities and lives. So, I don't think I really even liked them all that much, other than feeling bad for Elliott.

That is why I was very confused and conflicted about how to rate and review this! So I settled on a 4, because the words were so beautiful. I'd like to try and read another book or two of hers, to see if it's just that I'm not connecting with this one in particular. One last warning though. There is some light daddy kink in this that came out of nowhere for me, but it is just a bit. Just the pet names and a little dirty talk. It's not my thing, but I'm not that bothered by it.

[ashlee ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elliot + Anthony

-dark mm romance
-forbidden romance
-dad’s best friend
-age gap tension
-hurt/comfort
-found family

this book was such a relatable story of how relationships can form after grief from two people who need to get their shit together! the way anthony just wanted to be the best version he could be for elliot cause he knew if he went after him in both of their states it wouldn't be healthy?🥺🥺 oh honey!! my baby!! & skyla wrote this in the ending notes: "recognizing yourself in pain does not mean you are weak or broken. It means you’re human. And being human is not a failure. Healing rarely arrives all at once. It comes in fragments. In small decisions. In choosing to answer one message. In letting yourself be held. In staying—again and again—even when leaving feels easier." & it was just perfect!!

[Tonya ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

*arc review *

This book was so heartbreakly good. I felt for both MCs in this book. I definitely felt for Elliot,just wanted to do nothing but hold him. I was reading aka watching two broken people trying to navigate through so much together and it hurt. It hurt ALOT.

This was hard to read sometimes, I felt very emotional while reading and made sure to take breaks in between if needed.

This was a hard earned HEA, one where I felt like I was finally letting myself breathe after seeing both of them go through so much together. Skyla wrote a story that left an impact on me.

-hurt/comfort
-dad's best friend
-fordbidden romance
-found family
-daddy/boy

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG… this book. THIS BOOK. 😭🖤
I don’t even know how to explain what The Lies of Temptation did to me because my words? Absolutely refusing to cooperate. This story had me in a full emotional chokehold—heart racing, chest aching, brain completely occupied by Elliot and Anthony. Skyla Raines clearly woke up and chose emotional violence, because how does one person evoke this many emotions so effortlessly? ✨

This book is an emotional rollercoaster with zero safety bars. I had to take breaks—plural—just to collect myself… and then immediately jumped right back in because apparently I enjoy suffering. I lived every heartbreak with these two broken boys, and honestly? Obsessed doesn’t even begin to cover it. This has officially shot straight to the top of my favourite Skyla books. 🥺💔

Elliot… my sweet, precious Elliot 😭🫂
Watching him navigate his grief was painful in the most real way. His loss, his spirals, the moments where the weight of everything just became too much—I wanted nothing more than to wrap him in a blanket and protect him from the world. And then there’s Anthony… god, this man. 😮‍💨 He wanted so desperately to be Elliot’s safe place, while quietly carrying years of his own unhealed trauma. Two broken souls trying to survive together—and honestly? They went through it. The way they hurt each other, affect each other, and slowly learn how to heal together had me glued to the pages.

The themes in this book are heavy, and Skyla handles them with so much care it hurts. The grief feels raw and consuming, like you’re living it right alongside them. Every time I thought, “Okay, maybe things are finally looking up,” the story said absolutely not and shattered my heart all over again. I couldn’t stop reading—I needed to know how much more emotional damage I was about to take.

Skyla does not hold back. The tension? The heartbreak? The sheer intensity of Elliot and Anthony’s connection? Breathtaking. The whole story plays out like a devastating film—emotionally relentless, gripping, and impossible to look away from. I was hooked from page one and completely ruined by the last. 🎬💥

⚠️ Trigger warnings are a MUST. This book goes deep and pulls zero punches. But if you love broken boys, emotional pain, learning how to live after loss, and finding love through healing… yeah. You need this one. 🖤✨

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ THIS REVIEW PLS PLS PLS ‼️

This review is emotional chaos and word vomit all mixed together, but I promise I’m being honest from the deepest place in my chest!

This book is not for the faint of heart. We were warned. Skyla told us it would be heavy, and she did not lie. I sobbed. Like real, chest-hurting, can’t-breathe kind of crying. I was chatting my besties while reading and I just want to say thank you for emotionally babysitting me through this breakdown, and I’m also sorry for the screaming.

Elliott and Anthony
These boys are broken in different ways, but they’re both drowning in pain. Elliott’s grief is consuming, and relentless. Losing his mom didn’t just take a person from him, it took his entire sense of safety. His father fell into depression, their home fell apart, and Elliott was left to grow up inside loss. That kind of grief doesn’t disappear. It sits in your chest. It shapes who you become. It teaches you how to survive instead of how to live.

Then Anthony enters their lives. His dad’s best friend. And that’s where everything changes.

Anthony carries his own pain, his own damage, his own guilt and brokenness. And when these two collide, it isn’t just romance, it’s two wounded souls trying to learn how to breathe again. Their connection isn’t perfect, and it’s not clean, but it’s real. It’s messy. It’s desperate. It’s human.

What destroyed me the most wasn’t just the love story. It was the grief. The way grief lingers. The way it controls choices. The way it creates walls. The way it convinces you that you don’t deserve happiness. The way acceptance feels like betrayal to the people you lost. The way healing feels like guilt before it feels like peace.

This book doesn’t romanticize pain. It shows it. It sits in it. It lets it exist. And then slowly, painfully, it shows what acceptance looks like. Not moving on. Not forgetting. But learning how to carry the loss without letting it consume your entire identity.

Elliott learning to accept love again.
Anthony learning to accept himself.
Both of them learning that pain doesn’t mean you’re unworthy of softness.
That grief doesn’t mean you’re unlovable.
That broken people still deserve to be held gently.
This story hurt me. It healed me. It cracked something open in my chest and left it there.
Skyla didn’t write a romance. She wrote a story about grief, survival, acceptance, and the slow, terrifying process of letting yourself love after loss.

And I will never forget Elliott and Anthony. Ever.
If you’re reading this and thinking about picking it up… just know this:
It will hurt.
It will break you.
But it will also hold you.

[Bookandmischief06 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lies of Temptation by Skyla Raines is the fourth book in the Without Limits series. This is a series of MM standalone books. The Lies of Temptation is a dark MM, forbidden romance with an age gap, dad’s best friend, hurt/comfort and found family. This book is emotionally heavy with the death of a parent so please check your trigger warnings before jumping in.

Elliot is the ultimate broken boy. After the death of his mother, he is a completely lost soul. He was already living in a world where he felt invisible and emotionally neglected. Now the one person whom he could actually rely on is gone and he’s drowning.

Anthony Ruiz is Elliot’s father’s best friend. He’s been distant from the family until he gets the news that the only person who ever really saw him and loved him (as a friend) without conditions has passed away. It’s a shock. But what’s more is the state he finds Elliot in. He wants to help him, to be there, to be whatever Elliot needs him to be but Anthony has some unhealed traumas. He’s terrified he’s only going to break Elliot more than he’s already been broken. Everything starts to fall apart when his feelings for Elliot develop into more than friendship and he can only seem to run, even when Elliot begs him to stay.

The Lies of Temptation was a dark and emotional book. These two really go through it together and separately. Elliot’s emotionally spiral throughout the entire novel was so heartbreaking but worse was the frustration felt with Anthony. I struggled with him in a few parts as he repeated past behaviors over and over. What I continue to love about Skyla’s writing is her ability to write real people. People that are imperfect and make very human mistakes. These characters were no different. Both of them have amazing character development and by about 85% in, the fog finally seems to lift for both of them. Overall, I loved the story and the HEA was hard fought and much deserved.

I gave this book 4.5 stars.

[Michelle Exploringwithchapters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, Wow. I am really a bit torn on this review. I am going to rate it 3 stars, strictly on MY perception and not necessarily anything directed towards the author. I don't read triggers typically, or others reviews- and usually the tropes are enough to draw me to a story. The style of this book is layering in the painful backstory before you get the HEA. The problem I had was that we were still building in the painful elements at the 70% mark, and for me- we should have already had some moments to celebrate, that made us fall in love with our characters. Instead Anthony kept TICKING ME OFF. This is a dad's best friend age gap which comes with the "guilt" element but the "friends" hadn't been friends in 18 years, and the dad left the son in his care because he couldn't stand to see his deceased wife reflected back at him..... SO the guilt didn't quite match up for me. Also... The "staying with him will hurt him more?" also didn't work for me. Elliott had SEVERE depression and "leaving him alone because you loved him so much" ???? I understand that Elliott had to heal before the two of them could have a healthy relationship, but I didn't feel like we spent enough time in a happy space for me to really enjoy the story. That being said, if you like a heavier read that really shares the pain of one of the characters and are ok with that being the bulk of the story, this would be one for you. It had some really beautiful writing in places (some was a bit overly descriptive) but overall well written visually. Just very heavy.

[AroundtheBookBend · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly don’t know how to write this review. I’m pretty sure I cried nearly every chapter. The usual words feel too weak and inadequate to properly describe what this book did to me.

**Please mind your triggers as this deals in some extremely heavy topics**

The Lies of Temptation is grief bleeding onto paper. It’s raw and ugly and incredibly painful. And at times, hard to read. Elliot’s grief was a living, breathing thing that clawed at my skin and burrowed into my bones. It settled there, refusing to move. It hurt. Watching it consume him hurt.

Anthony’s was a bit more subtle. I had to really look, but once I locked on it was hard to ignore. He didn’t make the best decisions, but it was easy to see the unresolved trauma fueling those decisions. Understanding that makes him extremely relatable.

This isn’t an easy read. It’s heavy enough to drown you if you’re not careful. But it’s such a necessary one. Grief is not the same for everyone. Healing from it is not a straight line. We see that in these two. Their grief shaped every decision and thought. It attacked them mentally, emotionally, and physically. It left scars that will never fully heal.

Elliot and Anthony were two beautiful and flawed characters who took me on a journey I’m still recovering from. Like me, you will probably leave this book wrecked but hopeful.

I got an advanced copy and this is my voluntary review.

[Gül Türkay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lies of Temptation | Skyla Raines
ARC REVİEW 📖💫

Elliot realizes how fragile life is after losing his mother. He begins to think that living no longer has any meaning, that everything would be more beautiful if he simply disappeared. While drifting through these dark thoughts, his father’s closest friend, Anthony, enters his life.💔

A strong connection forms between Anthony and Elliot from the very first moment. Anthony has also experienced a similar loss in the past; he recognizes the emptiness and pain inside Elliot. With Anthony, Elliot feels—perhaps for the first time—that he isn’t alone. Anthony makes him feel that he still exists, that he is still alive, that he is still here.

But this bond doesn’t offer a straight, calm, or safe path. The dynamics between them are constantly shifting, full of ups and downs and sharp turns. While reading, I felt like I went through all the stages of grief alongside Elliot—denial, anger, emptiness, and the slow approach toward acceptance. It was all there. The bond formed with Anthony was sometimes healing, sometimes painful, but it always felt real.🥺

Yes, it has an HEA, but even after closing the book, I couldn’t shake its effect for a long time. Some stories don’t end when the book does—and this is one of them.❤️‍🩹

[Julia Toth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is heavy, and while I enjoyed it, I might have loved it if I would have read it at a different time. The way grief is portrayed it's like a living, breathing thing. Anthony and Elliot handle their grief in different ways, while also trying to stay afloat and. Anthony's indecision and feelings of inadequacy were very much steering this story one way or another. I totally understand why he did things a certain way, and that somehow made this feel even more realistic. Like, how many of us would handle a situation like this adequately and without hurting anyone? But I also wanted to shake them and help them along their journey. Anthony felt a bit misguided in what he was doing, but to him that felt like the only option he had. Poor Elliot was just floating and I just wanted him to be tethered to something.
The writing is beautiful and you can feel their grief permeate the book. Anthony and Elliot need to work through their grief in order to be able to give themselves the best chance for a happily ever after.

In conclusion I would advise readers to check out the TWs and to go in knowing what this book is about because it's not an easy read, but it will speak to the appropriate reader.

[WickedRiverReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely a journey. Both Elliot and Anthony had a lot they needed to work through and sadly the catalyst to their healing was shared grief over someone they loved. Elliot was understandably drowning in emotions, so much so there were times he thought he’d never see the surface. Anthony tried his best to support Elliot through this however he had his own issues that needed to be dealt with that prevented him from being the person he wanted to be for Elliot. There were hard truths, difficult times and moments of doubt between them but through it they became stronger individually so they could be better together. I enjoyed see Elliot gain tools to help him through his struggles and Anthony taking his own path to healing was nice to see. I appreciated how supportive they were of one another and I loved who they became over time. This was really good read.

💜ARC REVIEW💙

☑️ Trigger Warnings.

[Leelah🍁♋️ Orion · Rating 4 out of 5]

my heart

Wow. That was just wow. What an emotional journey that was. I’m so incredibly glad I got to see these two get their HEA. They fought for it. Really fought for it. But through that fight love was always there. Love is what kept them fighting, love was what helped them survive and love was their happiness. The writing for this was simply beautiful. The way grief and loneliness was written what’s simply remarkable. It wasn’t harsh, but it touched you in a way that made you feel. This book has huge triggers so please mind them for your health and safety. I adored the found family. My only complaint is I wish we had more time with them together that wasn’t a struggle, wasn’t something that hurt.


In the know:
Check out tiggers before reading. This deals with hard grief and the pain that comes with it.

Dual POV
No cheating or sharing
No om/ow drama
Relation before spice
Loved that the side characters were diverse.

[readingwithmiaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
3🌶️



You Guys, This Book Was Really Really Good. The Raw Emotion And The Topics Were Very Hard Ones To Cover So Please Check Trigger Warnings Because The Topics Weren’t Easy But How Skyla Handled Them Were Really Good. Elliot And Anthony Were Something Else But I Loved Them So Much. Elliot, Oh This Man, He Is So Broken But My God I Loved Him And I Hurt Fir Him Especially In The Beginning. I Cried So Much In The Beginning Cause It Got Me So Hard. And Anthony, Oh This Man Was Exactly What Elliot Needed So Caring Ans Calm, Pissed Me Off A Couple Times But I Loved Him Sl Much. More Men Like This Thank You. The Dad, No Words Other Then FUCK HIM!!!!!! IYKYK. The Found Family Was So Sweet Y’all I Loved It. Highly Recommend This Book Y’all For All MM Angst Lovers Because This Book Was So Amazing. I Cannot Wait To See What Skyla Puts Out Next Because I Know Her Books Are Gonna Be Amazing 💕🫶

[anna_79_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know what to write in this review! Skyla has done it again, this book will rip you apart. I still haven’t recovered from reading it. It deals with very heavy topics so please check out the TW before diving in. With that said, it is worth it. You will come out healed in the other side, but it’s a tough journey!

I don’t want to spoil anything for you. Just have faith in Skyla and that Elliot and Anthony will get their hea.

Thank you so much for this arc! My review is honest and voluntary.

[Tasha_loves_to_read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where to even start on this book full of hurt, pain, grief and growth.
There just isnt enough words to describe the beauty within this story.
The pain hurt, the grief felt, the love present, the growth and acceptance and finally to stop running, from it all.
Elliot and Anthony's chemistry was palpable and the tension 🥵. Their story was angsty, forbidden and essentially full of care. Thank you @skyla_raines for letting me part of your beta team. I absolutely adored these men 💜

[Georgia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this, and maybe I would have, but I just can’t enjoy the way it’s written. I love purple prose as much as the next person, but there’s got to be a limit. Every single page of the book is just simile after metaphor after simile. The writing is so flowery that it feels like wading through mud to get to the actual the content, the actual story. It’s so wrapped up in metaphors that half the time it loses meaning.

It also felt like there were missing scenes sometimes, especially in the beginning.

And the conversations are just so painfully repetitive; every single time they talk it’s Elliot want Anthony, Anthony almost giving in, then some variation of “I don’t want to hurt you, I don’t want to break you, I’m not trying to fix you, you don’t want this, you don’t know what you want” literally every single time. It’s a pattern I’ve noticed with this author.

Literally nothing about these two characters suggests they should be together. Anthony made Elliot dependent on him and then abandoned him when he was suicidal. Elliot is completely incapable of acting like the adult he is. They were so bad for each other that I couldn’t even root for them. I was mostly just relieved when I got to the end of it.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skyla had me in tears from the prologue. The feelings I felt from this story are really hard to put into words; anyone who has lost someone will feel this deeply. Parts of this story felt like Skyla had written it just for me, and I’m sure others will feel the same. Elliot and Anthony — what a pairing. Both men were broken, full of trauma, which made for a beautiful story. The way Skyla wrote about love — even when it’s hard and messy — grief, and how difficult life can be for the ones left behind was absolutely touching. It is definitely a story that takes hold of your heart and doesn’t let go.

[Ana Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m gonna need a moment to gather all my thoughts. I haven’t read all the books in this series but having read The Lies Of Omission and this one, I can honestly say this one was extremely heavy.

It’s not an easy read but it’s definitely worth reading it. The topics in this story are not for everyone, especially if your mental health is fragile or you’ve dealt with grief. It is however, beautifully written and shows us in depth the difference between wanting to end it all because you don’t want to live and wanting to end it all because the pain is too unbearable.

There’s a huge difference. One I, myself didn’t know. As someone who dealt with suicidal thoughts, I see how my feelings towards ending it all were more about not feeling worthy or good enough. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to be here. I just felt like I didn’t belong. I felt invisible and nobody cared to really see me.

From the very first sentence of this story, we could feel Elliot’s pain. The only person who loved and saw him, was gone. The other person whom he thought loved him, also left him. In his heart, all he felt was abandonment, rejection and pain; so why bother exist in a world where he was already invisible?

Anthony frustrated me to no ends. He kept giving Elliot hopes only to turn around and crush him. I know he too was dealing with his own demons. But my God, couldn’t he have been a little more careful about what he said and did to Elliot?

They were both broken. They were both wrong for being so dependent on the other. Elliot wanted someone to stay and Anthony wanted someone to save. But Elliot didn’t need saving, he needed to be seen. Anthony didn’t want to go, he just didn’t know how to stay.

Both almost lost themselves in their own pain. It took a lot of courage and self awareness for them to understand they didn’t need fixing. They just needed help to deal with their broken pieces.

This might be my longest review to date, but this book gave me a lot to think about. I admit I had to take breaks between reading because at some points I just couldn’t handle it. I hated the one who should not be named for making Elliot feel small and worthless. I hope he rots in hell.

𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝓮𝓷𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓽𝓸 𝓹𝓾𝓵𝓵 𝓱𝓲𝓶 𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓻𝓮. 𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝓘 𝓴𝓷𝓮𝔀 𝓘 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓵𝓴 𝓪𝔀𝓪𝔂. 𝓑𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓰𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓭𝓮𝓮𝓹 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓷𝓮𝓮𝓭 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓭𝓼. 𝓘𝓽 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓷𝓮𝓮𝓭 𝓯𝓲𝔁𝓲𝓷𝓰. 𝓘𝓽 𝓷𝓮𝓮𝓭𝓮𝓭 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝔂 𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓲𝓭𝓮 𝓲𝓽.

This was the kind of HEA that was really hard earned. One that wasn’t simply achieved because they got together. No, it was gradual, at times not even possible it would happen. But they made it. They healed themselves on their own without any codependency or guilt. Well done, Skyla.

[Chanel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words will not be able to do this beautiful book justice but I'll try my best.

Elliot is grieving the loss of his mum. His world ascends into darkness. He feels like he is disappearing, like no one stays, always abandoned.
His dad's ex best friend becomes his person to hold on to so he doesn't disapear. But Anthony is also fighting his own demons that haunt him and in wanting to protect Elliot ends up hurting him more.

Oh my sweet precious baby Elliot. He constantly broke my heart with his suffering. I just wanted to wrap him up and protect him from a world that keeps throwing darkness at him. Watching him trying to navigate life with grief and pain, suffering with loss, spirling, losing himself was so devastating.

Anthony, too, broke my heart. All he wants is to be Elliot’s safe place, his calm in the storm. But he is unhealed, terrified of his feelings, weighed down by his own trauma. His love is fierce, but fear keeps steering him wrong.

Together, Elliot and Anthony are beautiful and painful in equal measure. Two broken souls trying to survive, trying to love, and constantly hurting each other in the process. They make mistakes and they falter but they never stop trying.

Watching them grow, heal and fight to move forward was so rewarding. They are put through so much but their strength and determination to be better, not just for themselves, but for each other was breath-taking.

Each book Skyla writes I fall in love with the story, the characters and the writing and this book is no different.
Skyla writes so beautifully, almost poetic. The way she captures pain is raw and visceral because you don’t just read it, you feel it. She handles heavy, difficult topics with so much care and respect. Every emotion, every moment of tension and heartbreak, seeps straight into your soul.

Elliot and Anthony’s story will stay with me for a long time. It is emotional, heartbreaking, unforgettable and absolute perfection.

Please make sure to take care of yourself and read the TW's. This book is heavy and deals with a lot of dark and painful topics.

But trust me, you will be rewarded in the end, watching these two precious souls fight their way to a hard earned HEA.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe it’s just me but I was sooo confused and lost. The story did not make sense to me. The whole time I wondered if I am missing something

So Anthony who was best friend with the dad has been away for 18 years then comes back when tragedy struck. He sees Elliot as a man and wants to protect him which is okay but that’s when the confusion starts.

Elliot (21) who is gay and wants Anthony right away. Does Elliot have any sexual experiences before Anthony?? He thought that maybe he was Ace. So is he a virgin? None of it is mentioned, even the first time he and Anthony had sex.

And then we have Anthony (not sure his age) who used to love Elliot mother. I’m not sure if he is straight or bi, but then at 25% he starts to have sexual fantasies about Elliot. At 25%??! Like why? How?😏 and again, has he been with a guy before? None of it is mentioned

At 31% and out of nowhere, Elliot calls Anthony “daddy”. And of course the “daddy” continues until end of the book. For me, it felt all of a sudden and cringy.

The interaction between Anthony and the older guy at the bar with the wisdom and life advice was so weird and confusing.

we have the continuous cycle. Anthony want to protect Elliot —> Elliot wants Anthony —> Anthony gives in —> Anthony feels like he is going to hurt Elliot and ruins him so he backs up —> Elliot feels hurt —> Anthony wants to comfort and protect him. Then cycle begins again and again.

At 50%, Anthony is in love with him. How? I don’t know.

Who the heck is Thomas that Anthony calls everytime to get advice???

Don’t get me started on Elliot’s father, David. And especially when he found out about the relationship between Elliot and Anthony. And btw how did he found out about that?? Cause he was away and then suddenly he came to the house and accused Anthony? I am soo confused

I know my review is all over the place, but that’s exactly how I felt reading the book. I kept wondering if I am missing something, if I skipped scenes cause it did not make sense. I’m literally still confused.

[Shyandmoodreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ ARC Review ✨

Oh boy... Oh boy... Guys.. my heart. It's throbbing in pain and in happiness all at once 🥹. This book. THIS BOOK. Skyla is a top 5 author for me and once again she hasn't disappointed because this book finished me 😭💜🫶.

This is a beautiful and hard journey of fighting those inner demons and ultimately of self-discovery and self-acceptance. Both characters are flawed, and yet so perfectly human in those flaws 💯. Your heart will break for them, it will hurt with them, it will cry and laugh and hope and RAGE with them and AT them.

This is not an easy read, but it's a beautiful read that will stick with you for a long time. This book has you down in the trenches battling alongside Anthony & Elliot as they fight each other and themselves for their place in the world and thankfully with each other 🥹💜.

I just cannot tell you all how much you NEED this book! But as always, please check your triggers because this is as heavy as it is spectacular and as always mental health matters! Skyla has a way of really delving into the nitty gritty of relationships and those inner thoughts we all try to ignore that both tears your heart out and mends it even stronger as you watch Anthony & Elliot's love grow and heal.

This book is not one that shows how love heals everything, but that through love all is possible and sometimes knowing we have that love gives us enough reason to stay. To fight. To learn to love ourselves, and that's what both of these boys needed to do. Learn to accept and love one another before they could fully and healthily love one another.

Please be kind to Anthony. Elliot's pain makes more sense and is easier to accept than Anthony's, but he is fighting his own demons. His wounds are older and more ingrained and almost harder to get past even as you want to rage at him to just give in and love Elliot.

As always, thank you to Skyla for the opportunity to read this ARC. I am in awe of your poetic writing and I can't wait to see where else your writing journey takes us 🥰.

[Kata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever felt that moment when you finish a book and suddenly have no idea what to do with your life?
This book did that to me. And not because it wasn’t good.
Oh no. No, no!

You know what? I’m not afraid to say it — even though it’s only January 26, I can confidently state that this is one of the best books of the year!
Because Skyla, you did it again! You simply cannot write a book without breaking (okay, who am I kidding — shattering) my heart into pieces, only to put it back together with the greatest love and care.
Because this book… this book is EVERYTHING.

Elliot and Anthony were not perfect. Not even close. They made mistakes.
Many times.
And yet… to me, they were perfect.

Do you know why?

Because despite everything they went through, they learned how to love properly.
And that was the most beautiful thing about this book.

I could have been angry with Anthony for making decisions more than once that he shouldn’t have — but I understood why he did.
And El… my God, that boy 🥺 I would have wrapped him up in a blanket, pulled him close, and never let him go, because he so, so deserved to finally be chosen and loved for who he is — not because someone had to.

And Mia, Dix, Jett, and Drax are living proof that real family isn’t necessarily defined by blood.
They were El’s true family. Because they were there, they supported him, and they loved him.
As for El’s father… ugh… that man doesn’t even deserve to be called a father. Or a friend.

This story reminded me why I fell in love with reading.
Because books don’t just allow us to escape into other worlds — they also show us the pain a person can endure over and over again, and yet how strong they can be. How they learn to move forward, and how they learn to live with that pain, when they are surrounded by the right kind of support.

Thank you, Skyla, for the ARC — once again, you wrote an incredible book 🖤

[Naulee · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Every silence felt like proof. Like I’d finally loved someone enough to drive them away.”.

4.5⭐️ 3🌶

ARC Review

Where to start with this one? The Lies Of Temptation was an extremely intense and emotionally devastating story. The journey this story takes you on dives headfirst into the trauma and grief that Elliot is experiencing from the loss of his mom, the isolation and abandonment from his dad, and his re-introduction to Anthony, his dad's former best friend. Their relationship revolves around figuring out how to survive and stay afloat amongst tragedy, while also slowly building an unspoken, yearning connection for one another.

Elliot wants to be seen but is terrified of being too much. All he wants is someone to stay.
Anthony is terrified of ruining Elliot. His own past trauma holds him back as he weighs the scales of want vs need, his own and Elliot's.

The dual first person POV delves pretty hard into the emotional intensity that both of them are going through, and its the unspoken things from their inner monologues that gripped me as a reader. Honestly I was feeling pretty devastated for about more than half of this book. The emotional complexity between these two was so raw and tragic, yet they navigated themselves to each other through it all.

I will note the way Skyla wrote this, it was like reading a really sad love poem. Beautiful, descriptive, but complex and intense. I don't think this style will suit every reader. I felt like there was a fairly limited amount of dialogue between the characters, and you had to focus on their inner thoughts and how they from each of their POV they processed, acted, and reacted toward one another. There are a lot of unspoken things and quiet moments they go through to get to their HEA and it definitely felt overwhelming at moments to get to. Definitely a beautiful read if you're willing to take the time.

Check your TW before you read. Its heavy but worth it.

[Nicanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful heart-squeezing, emotional read!

📚Book = Standalone, (Bk4)
💕Burn = Slow burn tension,
🔥Heat/spice = 3/10,
😬Angst = High,
🍆🌮 MM/FF = Yes, MM
🔹POV = 1st Person, MPV,
🔸Genre = Dark Contemporary Romance,
🔹Tropes = MM✨Dads, best friend✨Age Gap✨Hurt / Comfort✨Grief, longing and self destruction✨Forbidden✨Daddy / Boy✨Found family✨HEA…just remember that bit❤️✨
‼️Please, check TW’s before reading‼️

This was a fantastic story, and one that definitely tugged at my heart, I just wanted to reach inside the book and hug Elliot! It’s absolutely not a light and fluffy book, it’s full of grit, emotion and raw grief and how you can learn to love again. It’s so true how different people wear their grief and how you deal or come to terms with it, not one is right or wrong, its just the way you are as an individual, and quiet a few I saw in myself. 😢 Grief is such a fickle thing, it’s unpredictable and comes in waves you can’t always control, some are hidden, some are not, but all are valid!

Elliot and Anthony really did need each other after such grief, it was just a very hard won battle! I‘m just glad they made it in the end after their tough rollercoaster ride, full of push and pull. Elliot was beautiful, sweet and pure, who lost everything in one sweep! Anthony, I have to say some of his actions gated a-bit, especially with his running, but demons have a way of hanging one, and he really did try his best and he was the only one to see Elliots pain he hid behind his mask. Ahhh but once they truly come together, Anthony certainly took care of his baby boy in every way! 🥰

One of the characters…..I really loathed!! I mean how could you be so cruel? You’ll get it, and I‘m sure will feel the same way!!! 😡

I can honestly say this is an emotional book, it’s raw and real, but so very much worth the pain and tears. Skyla really did a fantastic job with this book. Xx

[Chels · Rating 5 out of 5]

“He wasn’t mine to want. But he was the only thing I wanted.”

I don’t want to give too much away, so I’m not very good at reviews yet.

I don’t often read trigger warnings, because I am able to read anything, tbh.
Reading doesn’t affect my real life; it’s an escape no matter what is written.
BUT if you have triggers, please read the warnings. This book was a tough read.

By "tough read," I mean we are experiencing Elliot's grief over losing his mom and emotional trauma from his dad. Yes, I said experiencing it because Skyla has a way with words.

His story is so intense, and I just wanted to reach through the pages and give him the biggest freaking hug.

Anthony definitely deserved a big hug as well; he was going through his own things while also trying to help Elliot. Not quite understanding exactly what Elliot was going through but wanting to make him happy.

The emotions this book will drag out of you...

I felt like I was feeling their emotions; I really felt for Elliot. He is so special.

I loved seeing them become who they were always supposed to be; they both really took the time to work on themselves as people, and I absolutely loved that. It was all right on page and in the book.
You don’t get that in books very often; it’s often fast-forwarded past all of it.

It might have been a bumpy road but their HEA was WELL deserved and BEAUTIFUL. 🥰

“He’s my dad’s best friend. He’d known me since I was a kid. Yet all I could think about was what it would feel like to put my hands on him. To be held. Touched. Ruined. “🤤

“I lived for those smiles. I craved them. Because when Elliot smiled, it was like watching winter crack open into spring. Hesitant. Unwilling. But full of impossible promise.” 🥹

😈 I was blessed with an ARC for this book; this is my very honest review. 🩵

[Eszter Ilia-Barabás · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ARC was provided me by the author

Based on the tropes listed and the synopsis, I would have thought I would love this novel. I expected a ton of ​​suffering, hopelessness, and a million emotions. For the first third of the book, I felt everything completely, and I had to fight to see the letters through my tears.

Then something has changed. I don’t know what it was. Elliot’s grief and pain were palpable. Anthony was trying to do the right thing. For some reason, the sense of flow I had felt while reading had disappeared. I marked fewer and fewer quotes. Maybe I was reading at the wrong time. Maybe I just couldn’t get involved enough. Or the writing style was unusual for me. I don’t know.

The main focus of the book is certainly important. I can see why this book was born, and yes, there were parts that I recognized myself in.

“[…] He’s drowning and you’re handing him the anchor.”

I missed small pieces of the past. Where Elliot and Anthony's relationship developed and changed. Where I could have understood what they loved about each other. Because attachment can really seem different under the weight of grief.

I could have drowned Elliot's father in a spoonful of water. I understand that he's human and grieving, but he can't blame his basic personality flaws on grief. He's a horrible person.

The small group that gathered around Elliot (I think they were the main characters in the previous books in this series) couldn't get close to me at all, and they didn't particularly pique my interest.

(Mainly) Elliot's journey to recovery was presented very nicely, and I'm glad that he finally learned to believe that he deserves to be loved.

This is a novel that deals with important topics, and while it didn't really resonate with me, I can understand why it might resonate with many.

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a heart wrenching experience. Full review will follow. I have to order my thoughts and feelings.

Here it is:

That was a heart-wrenching and quite difficult experience!

Elliot lost his mother and he got lost in his grief, with no support from his dad, who abandoned him.
He’s so lost he wanted to disappear, just like that.
Anthony, a long-lost, former, friend of Elliot’s father, returned to their home and tried to save Elliot and his dad.

The grief was overwhelming, and Anthony could only be present, his eyes on Elliot, to keep him safe.
Anthony’s present works somewhat soothing, Elliot wants to touch this new reality.

Elliot is tired, exhausted by his grief, he’s fading, he feels as if he’s disappearing, bit by bit. The darkness is too much to carry.
He wanted it all to hand over to Anthony, the only one who saw him.
If only Elliot knew how much Anthony wanted to take care of him, not only that but he’s obsessed with Elliot. Only, Anthony is as broken as Elliot is. You’ll find out while reading.

“I don’t know how to let someone in without expecting them to leave.”
“Then don’t ask. Just don’t shut the door.”

There are so many unspoken words, so many silent moments, it was oppressive af!
Gosh, there were times when I got so angry and wanted to quit because it was so frustrating. Not with Elliot, never with Elliot! I wanted to squeeze him, tell him how wonderful he is, how strong. My heart broke for him, more than once. He had so much weight to carry.
The author asked in the foreword for a little grace for both Elliot and Anthony, I agree!
It’s a harsh story, about grief, drowning, surviving, suffering, nothing is sugar-coated, nothing!

“You made it,”
“No. We did.”

And they did!!

[Teigan · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF page 254/419 (60%).

This book just feels endless and repetitive. I don't know how long I've spent on this over 4 days (admittedly yesterday was my birthday so only read 1 chapter then).

First 25% - Elliot's mother dies and he's grieving while his dad ignores him and invites Anthony over.

25-50% - Elliot's dad just ups and leaves after telling Anthony that he can't even look at Elliot anymore. Elliot struggles even more. Both MMCs want each other but Anthony keeps saying no every time he goes to give in because he knows Elliot isn't in the right headspace.

50-60% - They give in but then immediately have to separate because Thomas said so? Elliot tries to kill himself as he doesn't want to be alone. They then go back and forth about wanting each other but not being able to.

This was just boring personally. Also who tf is Thomas? Is he Anthony's friend? Family member? Employee? Assistant? Why does he have to get involved and be in charge of Anthony getting involved?

The daddy kink felt random where it was placed. So that kinda ruined the vibe.

And why has no one considered therapy or actually making Elliot work through his grief? I have no idea how long has passed throughout this time frame but Elliot is only getting worse and began to self harm and attempt suicide.

Side note - I don't get grief entirely as I've never experienced it, but why is Anthony crumbling with Elliot? He left when Elliot was 3 for 18 years without getting hold of his parents or anything. I'm confused about why he left? Did he sleep with Elliot's mum or just have feelings for her? Even then why did Elliot's dad call him to come back after all that time? Anthony just seems to get more depressed from hanging around Elliot.

[mm_spice_reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok yall.. so I finished this book a few nights ago but had to sit with it for awhile. The first word that comes to mind with this book is HEAVY - it is rife with trauma and grief and no detail is spared. That being said, this story is one of Skyla's best. The writing feels almost poetic at times. Elliott and Anthony are both "broken" men, Anthony's past being what has shaped him and Elliott's more current state being what has debilitated him. Skyla gives us a warning in the beginning to try and find grace with Anthony, and at times, I was frustrated by him and his actions - but we also need to realize that no relationship can be successfully born out of dependency. Love is rarely sunshine and rainbows 100% of the time. And grief never exists on a linear timeline. Grief often feels like a one step forward, three steps back kind of thing.
Even though this story is heartbreaking and messy, their love wasn't going to be stopped. Skyla gave them SUCH justice with their journey back to each other and she showed that even the most tragic of beginnings can have the most amazing outcome.

As someone who has experienced profound loss, the descriptions of grief in this were spot on. It is heartbreaking and gut wrenching and I cried many, many times in this. I want to give a strong warning that if you have any triggers related to grief or codependency, please proceed with major caution - this is not a light and fluffy story. However, if you don't feel any of this would be an issue, I will forever be recommending this story. Please give it a chance.