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Scream.
SABRINA WINTERS
I’ve turned into nothing more than a shell of my former self after something happens to me.
Something I can’t face.
but when my father owes the Devil of New York his soul,
he only has one bargaining chip-
me.
I can feel the safe haven I’ve carefully built crashing down around me brick by unforgiving brick as I stand face-to-face with the leader of the criminal underground - my husband.
Now I must navigate this unwanted marriage of convenience while doing my best to never reveal the truth about myself or my past.
Will all my efforts to rebuild myself be eradicated?
Could there be more to the darkness that shrouds my husband than I ever thought possible, or will my past come back to haunt me and tear us apart?
Something I can’t face.
but when my father owes the Devil of New York his soul,
he only has one bargaining chip-
me.
I can feel the safe haven I’ve carefully built crashing down around me brick by unforgiving brick as I stand face-to-face with the leader of the criminal underground - my husband.
Now I must navigate this unwanted marriage of convenience while doing my best to never reveal the truth about myself or my past.
Will all my efforts to rebuild myself be eradicated?
Could there be more to the darkness that shrouds my husband than I ever thought possible, or will my past come back to haunt me and tear us apart?
422 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 13, 2025
About the author
Ruby M. Darling
9 books726 followersRuby Darling is a small town Texas Native that reads too much Dark Fantasy Romance and sleeps too little, which has probably caused her to be delusional enough to create a world of her own. She hopes you have a great time under the glamour and in the veil.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 357 reviews
March 4, 2026
4.5✨ Nowwwww WHY would you throw THAT ending in the last 10 pages wtf?!?!? Honestly fk it I have no complaints, this series has a special place in my heart. Did the second half have little to no plot? No, it didn’t. Did I still eat it up? Yes, just like my mans Maksim and Savage. Ugh & every Jonas/Raven mention made me wanna reread Speak so bad I love them alllll
June 5, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Sometimes you finish a book, and sometimes a book finishes you. Sabrina Winters is here to finish you. I’ll tell you why in a minute. First, this book is part 1 of a duet. You don’t have to read Speak & Stutter beforehand if you don’t want to.. (I would, but that’s just me 🤷🏻♀️) but you’ll see a lot of the characters from those books here since Sabrina and Raven are BESTIES. BFFS. And they’re so darn sweet 🥹
ANYWAYS, let’s talk about Sabrina, her new betrothed Maksim, and her bodyguard Parker.. shall we? Did someone say cupcakes? 😂
Sabrina is a survivor of a terrible SA. She is a shell of who she used to be. She’s broken. She has agoraphobia, she hates everyone, and she hates herself for becoming a statistic. So to make matters worse, her father sets up an arranged marriage with the mafia king (big, dumb, mafia idiot) Maks, to pay off his debt.
Maks is NOT interested in being a husband. He just wants his money. He’s never loved anyone. Loving someone makes you weak. NOT HAPPENING.. 👀
Parker is Brinas bodyguard. He’s hopelessly devoted to keeping Sabrina safe at all costs. Even if it means he has to watch her marry the Bratva king. But it’s okay. He’ll be there. She’s always got him.
Now, there’s a LOT of plot here. A lot of side story, backstory, and individual story to unpack. I don’t want to spoil all of that for you here but.. pay attention.
Maks and Savage (Parker) quickly understand that in order for them both to give Sabrina the life and love and support that she needs, they’ll need to work together. And boy oh boy, do they ever WORK together.
The spice? Obviously on point. As usual with Ruby, and MFM books in general, you get some individual scenes with Sabrina and her men, as well as a couple delicious group scenes that will live rent free in my head for years to come. 🥵 (Maksim takes a phone call while getting a BJ at one point and I just CANTTTTT 💀)
So basically, it looks cute, it looks pretty.. but inside? A story about a woman overcoming everything that should have never happened to her, and her two men who want to help her forget. Packed to the brim with lots of “my wife”, “f*ck it”, weighted blankets, PINK EVERYTHING, mafia idiots, sexy workouts, runs in the park, “oh god, actually it’s your HUSBAND”, and lots and lots of baking. All tied up with a pretty Armani bow. 🥰
Sabrina is SMART, and although she wants to SCREAM, she might just SNAP instead 🙂↕️💕
*I am an alpha reader, beta reader, ARC reader, and Rubys PA, and this is STILL my honest review.*
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Sometimes you finish a book, and sometimes a book finishes you. Sabrina Winters is here to finish you. I’ll tell you why in a minute. First, this book is part 1 of a duet. You don’t have to read Speak & Stutter beforehand if you don’t want to.. (I would, but that’s just me 🤷🏻♀️) but you’ll see a lot of the characters from those books here since Sabrina and Raven are BESTIES. BFFS. And they’re so darn sweet 🥹
ANYWAYS, let’s talk about Sabrina, her new betrothed Maksim, and her bodyguard Parker.. shall we? Did someone say cupcakes? 😂
Sabrina is a survivor of a terrible SA. She is a shell of who she used to be. She’s broken. She has agoraphobia, she hates everyone, and she hates herself for becoming a statistic. So to make matters worse, her father sets up an arranged marriage with the mafia king (big, dumb, mafia idiot) Maks, to pay off his debt.
Maks is NOT interested in being a husband. He just wants his money. He’s never loved anyone. Loving someone makes you weak. NOT HAPPENING.. 👀
Parker is Brinas bodyguard. He’s hopelessly devoted to keeping Sabrina safe at all costs. Even if it means he has to watch her marry the Bratva king. But it’s okay. He’ll be there. She’s always got him.
Now, there’s a LOT of plot here. A lot of side story, backstory, and individual story to unpack. I don’t want to spoil all of that for you here but.. pay attention.
Maks and Savage (Parker) quickly understand that in order for them both to give Sabrina the life and love and support that she needs, they’ll need to work together. And boy oh boy, do they ever WORK together.
The spice? Obviously on point. As usual with Ruby, and MFM books in general, you get some individual scenes with Sabrina and her men, as well as a couple delicious group scenes that will live rent free in my head for years to come. 🥵 (Maksim takes a phone call while getting a BJ at one point and I just CANTTTTT 💀)
So basically, it looks cute, it looks pretty.. but inside? A story about a woman overcoming everything that should have never happened to her, and her two men who want to help her forget. Packed to the brim with lots of “my wife”, “f*ck it”, weighted blankets, PINK EVERYTHING, mafia idiots, sexy workouts, runs in the park, “oh god, actually it’s your HUSBAND”, and lots and lots of baking. All tied up with a pretty Armani bow. 🥰
Sabrina is SMART, and although she wants to SCREAM, she might just SNAP instead 🙂↕️💕
*I am an alpha reader, beta reader, ARC reader, and Rubys PA, and this is STILL my honest review.*
November 20, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
MFM
ARRANGED MARRIAGE
MAFIA BOSS
BODYGUARD
AGORAPHOBIA
SOMNOPHILIA
MY WIFE
I loved and I’ve been consumed but this series this week. I have to say that I am not itching to have the second book of this duet since the author was DIABOLICAL in the end.
Sabrina is Raven’s friend and she was this bubbly English girl with a lot of sass, spunk and attitude. She has an assigned body guard because of what happened to Raven. She has a tragedy happening to her when she went to a Concert with a friend, after that she changed completely. She became this closed off sad woman, with severe anxiety and many sensory issues. She wear gloves all the time because she can’t stand been touched, she can’t be in crowds, she can’t be in loud places, she can’t even sit on leather, she doesn’t drink alcohol anymore, she has panic attacks and nightmares and she’s been alone ever since. Through it all Parker her trusted amazing and sexy completely in love bodyguard is silently by her side. He knows her every need and they are always in sync. She wears a mask to everyone else and she’s a damn food actress. Then we have Maksim the mafia boss half Italian, half Russian so he controls the Bratva and the Italian mafia. He is this GIANT super mouth watering gorgeous lethal grumpy 34 years old virgin !!! 🥵🔥 virgin by choice and not because he didn’t have offers. He simply think women are a distraction he can’t afford to have it in his line of work. Till he gets Sabrina as a wife in an arranged marriage. He was enchanted by her from the beginning, but she was enraged that she was put in this position specially with all her issues. They are fight like cats and dogs and he is mean to her, with words but we know that words cut deeper than anything else ….. but their chemistry is explosive….. I love him. I like him more than I like Parker and I do also like Parker a lot. But Maksim is so extremely hot. And he is so perfect for her when they finally give in to their feelings. He does many little things to make her happy. It’s so cute. I also loved seem Raven and her harem in this book. This plot here wasn’t as interesting as the first duet but the ending was crazy and I can’t barely wait for the second book ! I have a feeling the second book will have a crazier plot.
MFM
ARRANGED MARRIAGE
MAFIA BOSS
BODYGUARD
AGORAPHOBIA
SOMNOPHILIA
MY WIFE
I loved and I’ve been consumed but this series this week. I have to say that I am not itching to have the second book of this duet since the author was DIABOLICAL in the end.
Sabrina is Raven’s friend and she was this bubbly English girl with a lot of sass, spunk and attitude. She has an assigned body guard because of what happened to Raven. She has a tragedy happening to her when she went to a Concert with a friend, after that she changed completely. She became this closed off sad woman, with severe anxiety and many sensory issues. She wear gloves all the time because she can’t stand been touched, she can’t be in crowds, she can’t be in loud places, she can’t even sit on leather, she doesn’t drink alcohol anymore, she has panic attacks and nightmares and she’s been alone ever since. Through it all Parker her trusted amazing and sexy completely in love bodyguard is silently by her side. He knows her every need and they are always in sync. She wears a mask to everyone else and she’s a damn food actress. Then we have Maksim the mafia boss half Italian, half Russian so he controls the Bratva and the Italian mafia. He is this GIANT super mouth watering gorgeous lethal grumpy 34 years old virgin !!! 🥵🔥 virgin by choice and not because he didn’t have offers. He simply think women are a distraction he can’t afford to have it in his line of work. Till he gets Sabrina as a wife in an arranged marriage. He was enchanted by her from the beginning, but she was enraged that she was put in this position specially with all her issues. They are fight like cats and dogs and he is mean to her, with words but we know that words cut deeper than anything else ….. but their chemistry is explosive….. I love him. I like him more than I like Parker and I do also like Parker a lot. But Maksim is so extremely hot. And he is so perfect for her when they finally give in to their feelings. He does many little things to make her happy. It’s so cute. I also loved seem Raven and her harem in this book. This plot here wasn’t as interesting as the first duet but the ending was crazy and I can’t barely wait for the second book ! I have a feeling the second book will have a crazier plot.
June 20, 2026
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, which is surprising because it has several tropes/cliches I normally hate! I don't know if it was just the way the author wrote it, or if it was the audio.... either way, I liked it. You 100% need to read the Speak/Stutter duet before you take on this one. It’s heavily intertwined with the plot in this book. Unfortunately, Book 2 didn’t deliver quite the same punch. Make sure you read those trigger and trope warnings!!!
Sabrina Winters (24, bad-ass attorney) learned the hard way that men can't be trusted.... not her friend, who betrayed her by spiking her drink, or her father, who sells her off to a crime lord to pay his debts. The only man in her life she can still depend on is her devoted bodyguard who she secretly loves.....
Parker Savage Hayes (35, ex-military, bodyguard) has loved Sabrina since he took a job to protect her. Now his heart breaks as he watches the once lively woman become a shell of herself ever since that one fateful night she escaped his watchful eye.... Now he's determined to stay by her side no matter what, even if it means watching her with another man...
Maksim Giordano (33, head of the mafia and bratva) has no interest in women... period. They are a weakness he doesn't care to entertain. When he's offered a bride from a rich and influential family as payment for a debt, the benefits outweigh the cons.
Neither Maksim nor Sabrina is impressed by the other during their first meeting.....
...and then there's Parker.....
Our lovely throuple realize sharing IS caring, they tiptoe around Sabrina's past, Raven and her men join the story, and the Syndicate does a happy dance all over their lives.... we end on a cliffy that made me so happy I waited until book 2 was released before I read this one!
SEX: Bro..... the sex is next level. I've got some things to tell you, though. We have some yummy oral via somno at 34% and you KNOW I was celebrating that! Penetration at 54% and I'm going to say it's dubcon. Delicious dubcon. After that, it's on like Donkey Kong! The sex in this book is phenomenal and DETAILED. Plus, there are NO CONDOMS!! WooHoo! The dirty talk....well, it gets a little crazy. I think it's worse in Book 2, as in the talking is much longer and more detailed. Here is a sample.... See the triggers section for other details. OH! There is no MM sex, unfortunately. That would have been the icing on this cupcake!
SABRINA: Somehow, someway, I managed to like her...in this book. After her attack, she closed herself off. Can't handle being around people and definitely doesn't want men around. She has to wear long gloves so people can't touch her. It's ridiculous. Plus, she keeps the "secret" to herself. That always annoys the fuck out of me. Despite all that, I liked her. I don't know why. Everything just made since to me and I got why she did things that way. It might have been the strong audio. I can't be sure.
MAKSIM Lord oh lord. There's a secret about Maks that I won't tell you, but it made the romantic in me squeal in delight!!
PARKER: He's the kind of man you want. He's so devoted to Sabrina that he doesn't even blink at the thought of sharing her. He will do absolutely anything to make her happy.
PINK: Girls, I love the color pink just as much as the next person, but the love of pink in this book really tested my limits. I accepted most of it because I understood it was her armor. It was also significantly less in Book 2. The main thing that drove me up the fucking wall is she referred to her vagina as her “pink parts”. JFC are we twelve?!
COMPLAINTS: Hated the time jumps. There are a lot of long rambling speeches. I hated how heavily involved Raven and her men were involved in the story, especially in Book 2. Plus, Parker's siblings intrude on Book 2. Finally, one thing that didn't mesh was that somehow Parker couldn't figure out what happened to Sabrina. She's dropped off at home, apparently so drunk that she can't even walk. Suddenly the next day she completely shuts herself off from the world and can't stand to be around men or to be touched. Um.... it's not rocket science!
TRIGGERS: I don't know why I feel the need to hide the triggers, but here we are. I think that covers everything. I hope it does.
AUDIO: Get the audio!! It's a duet with Amy Hall, who is great, and Joe Arden. Joe narrates both Maks and Parker and he's good enough to do two separate accents. At first, I thought his accent for Parker was going to annoy me, but I got used to it.
BOOK 2: Not gonna lie. I barely made it through Book 2. I was livid by the end of it. I'm so thankful the audio wasn't out yet because I would have purchased it. I still recommend Book 1, but Book 2 wasn't for me.
“Only in death will you ever get away from me, Duchess. Even then, be prepared for me to find you in the ether, or heaven or hell, where you go, I will find you. And you will forever be my bride.”
Sabrina Winters (24, bad-ass attorney) learned the hard way that men can't be trusted.... not her friend, who betrayed her by spiking her drink, or her father, who sells her off to a crime lord to pay his debts. The only man in her life she can still depend on is her devoted bodyguard who she secretly loves.....
He needs and deserves a woman that can more than tolerate a touch to the elbow. He needs a woman that will love him as fiercely and as passionately as he is quiet. And that's not me. Will never be me. I'm too damaged. Too broken. Too… much....
Parker Savage Hayes (35, ex-military, bodyguard) has loved Sabrina since he took a job to protect her. Now his heart breaks as he watches the once lively woman become a shell of herself ever since that one fateful night she escaped his watchful eye.... Now he's determined to stay by her side no matter what, even if it means watching her with another man...
It's a beautiful thing when my girl lets you in. I want in. I want all the way in. I want to breathe her in until my lungs feel full, feel her warmth, or give her mine when she's cold. I want every thought in that beautiful mind of hers. I want all the things I shouldn't. I want to own and consume her – heart, body, mind, and soul.
Maksim Giordano (33, head of the mafia and bratva) has no interest in women... period. They are a weakness he doesn't care to entertain. When he's offered a bride from a rich and influential family as payment for a debt, the benefits outweigh the cons.
No, I could never love her. I won’t allow myself to. If she becomes a victim of my way of life, so be it. I’ve worked too hard to get to where I am, to ever allow myself to fall for her or any other woman.
Neither Maksim nor Sabrina is impressed by the other during their first meeting.....
I decided then and there this man will never have access to me. Not my mind. Not my heart, nor my body. He can think whatever he wants about me. Other than three-point-three million dollars - I don't owe this man a goddamn thing.
..... A bit of disgust forms in the pit of my stomach. She's beautiful, yes, but there's only one word I can form in my mind when I see her- Weak.
...and then there's Parker.....
“...... the truth is I love you. There's no one else for me.....all I can tell you is that when I try to imagine a future without you, it's no future at all. It's cold and dark in that future, and it's not one I want. I know we'll make this work, because you're a fighter, Sabrina.”
Our lovely throuple realize sharing IS caring, they tiptoe around Sabrina's past, Raven and her men join the story, and the Syndicate does a happy dance all over their lives.... we end on a cliffy that made me so happy I waited until book 2 was released before I read this one!
“You're making it more difficult than it has to be..... Together. Separate. As long as she's happy, who's business would it be? If we don't fix this, you'll lose her… and we both know you don’t want that.......She'll never trust you without me, Maks. She won't ever choose one over the other. Push her, and you'll lose her completely...”
SEX: Bro..... the sex is next level. I've got some things to tell you, though. We have some yummy oral via somno at 34% and you KNOW I was celebrating that! Penetration at 54% and I'm going to say it's dubcon. Delicious dubcon. After that, it's on like Donkey Kong! The sex in this book is phenomenal and DETAILED. Plus, there are NO CONDOMS!! WooHoo! The dirty talk....well, it gets a little crazy. I think it's worse in Book 2, as in the talking is much longer and more detailed. Here is a sample.... See the triggers section for other details. OH! There is no MM sex, unfortunately. That would have been the icing on this cupcake!
“I think… he and I work better as a team when it comes to you. I say… we take it one day at a time and figure it out as it comes along. I don't have all of the answers, but Parker loves you. I know I've been fucked for you since the day I walked into that bistro, and you shoved your little gloved hand in mine.”
SABRINA: Somehow, someway, I managed to like her...in this book. After her attack, she closed herself off. Can't handle being around people and definitely doesn't want men around. She has to wear long gloves so people can't touch her. It's ridiculous. Plus, she keeps the "secret" to herself. That always annoys the fuck out of me. Despite all that, I liked her. I don't know why. Everything just made since to me and I got why she did things that way. It might have been the strong audio. I can't be sure.
On the outside, I'm flawless. On the inside, I'm rioting. Nerves wrack me, wreck me, ebbing and flowing, waiting to disintegrate me into a ball of chaos.
MAKSIM Lord oh lord. There's a secret about Maks that I won't tell you, but it made the romantic in me squeal in delight!!
She's the most fucking infuriating woman I've ever met in my life. I may as well be one lone soldier catapulting nothing but goddamn cupcakes and butterflies into a castle wall. And yet, that insatiable, gnawing feeling wants her to be worth it.
PARKER: He's the kind of man you want. He's so devoted to Sabrina that he doesn't even blink at the thought of sharing her. He will do absolutely anything to make her happy.
I have what I like to call an honorary degree from Sabrina Winters University. I graduated top of my class. Well, almost. There are a few… other things I need to learn to get my Masters. Then I want to go back and get my PhD.
PINK: Girls, I love the color pink just as much as the next person, but the love of pink in this book really tested my limits. I accepted most of it because I understood it was her armor. It was also significantly less in Book 2. The main thing that drove me up the fucking wall is she referred to her vagina as her “pink parts”. JFC are we twelve?!
COMPLAINTS: Hated the time jumps. There are a lot of long rambling speeches. I hated how heavily involved Raven and her men were involved in the story, especially in Book 2. Plus, Parker's siblings intrude on Book 2. Finally, one thing that didn't mesh was that somehow Parker couldn't figure out what happened to Sabrina. She's dropped off at home, apparently so drunk that she can't even walk. Suddenly the next day she completely shuts herself off from the world and can't stand to be around men or to be touched. Um.... it's not rocket science!
TRIGGERS: I don't know why I feel the need to hide the triggers, but here we are. I think that covers everything. I hope it does.
AUDIO: Get the audio!! It's a duet with Amy Hall, who is great, and Joe Arden. Joe narrates both Maks and Parker and he's good enough to do two separate accents. At first, I thought his accent for Parker was going to annoy me, but I got used to it.
BOOK 2: Not gonna lie. I barely made it through Book 2. I was livid by the end of it. I'm so thankful the audio wasn't out yet because I would have purchased it. I still recommend Book 1, but Book 2 wasn't for me.
July 20, 2025
✨4 stars✨
June 22, 2025
Another 5 star read from Ruby. This is going to be a duet and you should probably read "Speak" and "Stutter" first as the charters from the first duet will be a part of the story here as well.
Sabrina is Ravens bestie and comes back into her life when Raven finds all of her men. Sabrina is also a patient of Damon's and is in on going treatment with him.
Her past trauma and her drama with her new Mobster husband and her bodyguard Parker will all spill into the influence off Raven and her men's story.
Sabrina is forced to marry Maxim, the mobster boss with a bad reputation and their tendency scam of a marriage unfolds it is so well written and played out between them. I loved the banter and the way Maxim quickly realises how he feels about her. But Sabrina who’s had a crush on her bodyguard and a former soldier, southern statue of a man, she is confused by how he reacts to her being married to Maxim, and its not at all what you'd think.
These three almost seamlessly slide into a ménage à trois when the men agree the best way to care for and protect Sabrina from her trauma is by alining both their passion for her, and also F her at the same time.
This is just as spicy as Ruby's other books but again with such a great balance of giving all the charters a great back story so there's both smut (that will cinche your eye brows off while reading 🔥) but also dive deep into a suspense story about the secrete society and the past trauma that Sabrina is trying to deal with so she can move on in life.
Sabrina is Ravens bestie and comes back into her life when Raven finds all of her men. Sabrina is also a patient of Damon's and is in on going treatment with him.
Her past trauma and her drama with her new Mobster husband and her bodyguard Parker will all spill into the influence off Raven and her men's story.
Sabrina is forced to marry Maxim, the mobster boss with a bad reputation and their tendency scam of a marriage unfolds it is so well written and played out between them. I loved the banter and the way Maxim quickly realises how he feels about her. But Sabrina who’s had a crush on her bodyguard and a former soldier, southern statue of a man, she is confused by how he reacts to her being married to Maxim, and its not at all what you'd think.
These three almost seamlessly slide into a ménage à trois when the men agree the best way to care for and protect Sabrina from her trauma is by alining both their passion for her, and also F her at the same time.
This is just as spicy as Ruby's other books but again with such a great balance of giving all the charters a great back story so there's both smut (that will cinche your eye brows off while reading 🔥) but also dive deep into a suspense story about the secrete society and the past trauma that Sabrina is trying to deal with so she can move on in life.
February 24, 2026
i neeeed the next one NOWWWW
January 2, 2026
Ruby Darling has solidified herself as one of my favorite dark romance authors. I loved this one. I do think I liked Speak and Stutter (specifically Speak) a tad bit more, but this one still delivered. Sabrina was a great FMC, and the boys of course were amazing. Maksim is probably my favorite. It was so toxic in the beginning with him I ate it up. But I did love Parker as well. And the ending?? I need book 2 now!
October 1, 2025
⭐️5 🌶️5 🎤5
Wow, this audiobook was such a fun experience! I blushed more times than I can count and laughed in unexpected & questionable moments lol but it was so worth it.
This mafia romance feels like walking into a room you had no business being in, yet somehow having the time of your life. Mafia vibes and baking in one story? Didn’t expect that at all, but I’m here for it 😂 Ruby you’ve got me as a forever fangirl I’m truly obsessed with this! And your storytelling
It’s an easy 5 stars from me. The plot, twists, character development, and narration everything worked together perfectly. The audio especially is a masterpiece, I still can’t believe I got to experience it as an ALC 🤯
Ruby gives you everything from spice, found family, banter and more!. The characters MMC & FMC especially will win you over, Joe and Amy’s narration brings it all to life beautifully.
Buckle up, grab a snack, and dive into the deepens with us you won’t be disappointed!
Okay I’m rambling on now you guys don’t want that from me anymore lol just add it to your list and listen to it! It’s Fkin amazing!
April 6, 2026
Duchess….
That cliffhanger! DANGIT. June 30th seems so far away Ruby….. what a ride. Loved everything about this book. Sabrina is FIERCE and a fighter, just like her bestie Raven. Her men- SAVAGE- and -MAKSIM- on their knees worshipping the very ground she walks on….. Oh to be loved and to be in love. (Even if it’s fictional). Excited for SNAP!! I thought it was coming out in May from a TikTok I saw but no just punch me in my face why don’t ya. That cliffy was too much for me to wait almost 3 months girlfriend. Gimmmmme an ARC! Lol
That cliffhanger! DANGIT. June 30th seems so far away Ruby….. what a ride. Loved everything about this book. Sabrina is FIERCE and a fighter, just like her bestie Raven. Her men- SAVAGE- and -MAKSIM- on their knees worshipping the very ground she walks on….. Oh to be loved and to be in love. (Even if it’s fictional). Excited for SNAP!! I thought it was coming out in May from a TikTok I saw but no just punch me in my face why don’t ya. That cliffy was too much for me to wait almost 3 months girlfriend. Gimmmmme an ARC! Lol
September 29, 2025
Holy sh*t. This audio is one of the hottest audios I’ve EVER listened to. Amy as a very posh, British lawyer being growled at by Joe Arden as a Mafia Don AND a filthy talking southern boy was 🥵🫠. I was turning down the volume to my AirPods just in case someone around me could hear because my GOD was this audiobook spicy. I have a very good poker face and can easily read or listen to smut in public and this one had me testing ALL my limits. I feel like I could never look Joe Arden in the face again after to listening to this book 🫣.
So anyway, this book was just moving along at a regular pace. Beautiful, successful socialite went through something terribly traumatic. She was arranged to marry a billionaire mafia boss to pay her dad’s debt. She was dealing with her trauma in a very unhealthy way until she was forced to marry. Then there were a lot of pink parts, lots of super spicy healing and then TRAUMA AND A HUGE CLIFFHANGER! This book took such a turn and I’m unwell. I was just enjoying Mak’s and Parker’s praises and then all of a sudden I was crying. So take that as you will. I’m hoping Ruby saves my soul in book 2 🤞🏻
So anyway, this book was just moving along at a regular pace. Beautiful, successful socialite went through something terribly traumatic. She was arranged to marry a billionaire mafia boss to pay her dad’s debt. She was dealing with her trauma in a very unhealthy way until she was forced to marry. Then there were a lot of pink parts, lots of super spicy healing and then TRAUMA AND A HUGE CLIFFHANGER! This book took such a turn and I’m unwell. I was just enjoying Mak’s and Parker’s praises and then all of a sudden I was crying. So take that as you will. I’m hoping Ruby saves my soul in book 2 🤞🏻
March 15, 2026
Has Ruby become the queen of why choose? I’m thinkin’ so!
Sabrina goes through a traumatic event that has left her cold, guarded, and broken, only to find herself in an arraigned marriage with the biggest mafia boss of New York, Maksim. Maksim has met his match with her. Let’s not forget her bodyguard with that southern drawl, Parker.
Sabrina initially disassociates by rage baking delicious cupcakes - I want the recipe! As she starts to work through her trauma, Maksim and Parker are there to help, and we are rewarded!
Read if you enjoy why choose, trauma to triumph, secret societies with a little mafia sprinkled in, and cupcakes!
Can’t wait for book two!
Absolutely loved Amy Hall as the very snobbish Sabrina. She played that upper class snoot very well and her emotions trying to keep everything inside was felt.
Joe Arden did amazing as Maksim and Parker, always bringing the story to life!
Thank you to BNA for the ALC!
Sabrina goes through a traumatic event that has left her cold, guarded, and broken, only to find herself in an arraigned marriage with the biggest mafia boss of New York, Maksim. Maksim has met his match with her. Let’s not forget her bodyguard with that southern drawl, Parker.
Sabrina initially disassociates by rage baking delicious cupcakes - I want the recipe! As she starts to work through her trauma, Maksim and Parker are there to help, and we are rewarded!
Read if you enjoy why choose, trauma to triumph, secret societies with a little mafia sprinkled in, and cupcakes!
Can’t wait for book two!
Absolutely loved Amy Hall as the very snobbish Sabrina. She played that upper class snoot very well and her emotions trying to keep everything inside was felt.
Joe Arden did amazing as Maksim and Parker, always bringing the story to life!
Thank you to BNA for the ALC!
October 5, 2025
Absolutely loved this story and duet style audiobook! The performances were fantastic, and I am feral for these characters! This is an MFM, arranged marriage, age gap, mafia vibes dark romance. Their story is beautiful, their relationships are swoon worthy, bringing all the heat and feels. This ends in a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to continue with this duet.
The FMC, Sabrina, in Scream is a side character we meet in Speak and Stutter.
The FMC, Sabrina, in Scream is a side character we meet in Speak and Stutter.
September 30, 2025
Arranged marriages and bodyguards? Sign me uppp. On top of that you tell me there’s an audiobook with great narrators in it too? Yes I’m absolutely sold 🤣 this book was great and had a really good plot, I loved that we got to see characters from speak in this and loved both the fmc and our mmcs. I also thought it got quite emotional and shed a tear or two while listening to the audiobook too 😪
June 27, 2025
needs a better editor
The acknowledgments thank the author’s editor but she needs a better one because there were multiple instances where the wrong word was used or just misspelled.
The acknowledgments thank the author’s editor but she needs a better one because there were multiple instances where the wrong word was used or just misspelled.
September 6, 2025
This story really dragged for a whole lot of not a lot happening. The grammatical errors were awful, and if I had to read the terms mix-matched one more time I would not have finished.
February 10, 2026
Alright, 2 reasons to listen to the audiobook:
#1) Joe Arden. and #2) *Refer back to #1*
Yes mam I’ll take another helping!
#1) Joe Arden. and #2) *Refer back to #1*
Yes mam I’ll take another helping!
January 27, 2026
Rating: 5 Stars
Scream is a hauntingly beautiful start to the Duchess & Devil’s series. It explores the heavy reality of life after trauma through the eyes of Sabrina Winters. Two years after a horrific assault, Sabrina is a warrior hiding behind a mask of perfection. Her struggle with agoraphobia and the psychological weight of her past felt incredibly raw and authentic.
The plot kicks into high gear when her father enters an arranged marriage agreement with Maksim Giordano, the Bratva king, to settle his debts. Maksim is the ultimate "touch her and die" MMC, but the addition of Parker, Sabrina’s bodyguard, creates a fascinating triangle of devotion and desire. Parker is a southern soldier who knows her better than anyone, and the way he reacts to her marriage is unexpected and deeply moving. I loved seeing characters from the Tongueless Duet crossover, especially seeing Sabrina as a patient of Damon. The writing is seamless, the banter between Maksim and Sabrina is addictive, and the build up of emotions of their marriage kept me turning pages until the very end. That brutal cliffhanger has me desperate for the next installment.
Tropes:
Why Choose / RH
OTT Possessive MMCs
Mafia / Bratva Romance
Bodyguard / Former Soldier
Arranged Marriage
Mental Illness / Trauma Representation
Scream is a hauntingly beautiful start to the Duchess & Devil’s series. It explores the heavy reality of life after trauma through the eyes of Sabrina Winters. Two years after a horrific assault, Sabrina is a warrior hiding behind a mask of perfection. Her struggle with agoraphobia and the psychological weight of her past felt incredibly raw and authentic.
The plot kicks into high gear when her father enters an arranged marriage agreement with Maksim Giordano, the Bratva king, to settle his debts. Maksim is the ultimate "touch her and die" MMC, but the addition of Parker, Sabrina’s bodyguard, creates a fascinating triangle of devotion and desire. Parker is a southern soldier who knows her better than anyone, and the way he reacts to her marriage is unexpected and deeply moving. I loved seeing characters from the Tongueless Duet crossover, especially seeing Sabrina as a patient of Damon. The writing is seamless, the banter between Maksim and Sabrina is addictive, and the build up of emotions of their marriage kept me turning pages until the very end. That brutal cliffhanger has me desperate for the next installment.
Tropes:
Why Choose / RH
OTT Possessive MMCs
Mafia / Bratva Romance
Bodyguard / Former Soldier
Arranged Marriage
Mental Illness / Trauma Representation
January 7, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐-> ♾️🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶.5
💕 Arranged Marriage 💍
✨️ Italian Mafia
💕 Secret Society
✨️ "My Wife"
💕 Why Choose MFM
✨️ Slight Age Gap
💕 Bodyguard
✨️ Bodyguard
✨️ 📚 ARC 📖 / 🎧 ALC 🎧 REVIEW ✨️
🎙Narrators: Amy Hall & Joe Arden 🎙
⚠️ Check Your Content/Trigger Warnings ⚠️
Sabrina is thrust into an arranged marriage that her dad setup because he owed Maksim $3.3M. Yep you read that right. Even though Sabrina had a career as an attorney her father knew that if he arranged her to be married, he could satisfy the debt and offer something that Maksim wouldn't get unnless he married Sabrina.
What Sabrina doesn't want is for Parker to leave her side anytime soon. He has been by her side from the worst time in her life. She has some trauma from her past that she tries to so hard to navigate but barely scrapes by. With the way that she tries to do everything to keep her mental health on the precipace is a huge undertaking. She has gloves and certain fabrics she can't touch. Throughout the book you see how this affects her. When she gets overwhelmed she breaks out in hives and shuts down. I felt sooo much while reading this part of her life. She had been through something so traumatic that it was decimating her bit by bit.
Parker, or Savage, as he is referred to freuqently is the one that has been by her side in order to keep her not only safe but also help her navigate the world that she walks. I love that there is a relationship like theirs, because you are able to see a love that so many people will never experience. It wasn't an out loud love. Parker didn't require that of Sabrina.
Once Sabrina and Maksim are married it becomes a terrain that she hasn't treversed. But once they are all able to see that they could make their triangle work, it is on and popping!! I loved seeing their dynamic work and how happy she was! They were able to help her bring her true self out with the help of her therapist! I love that she went to therapy in order to help her mental health and embrace the woman that she is. Like so many women she struggles to loook at herself and love what she sees! Her trauma threatens her daily but she refuses to let it win!
I loved this dark and enticing romance that brings soo much more to the table! This does end in a cliffhanger, but will continue in book 2! I cannot wait to get my ears and eyes the conclusion!
🔥 Let's Talk About Sex Baby 🥵:
🌶️🌶🌶️.75 /5
🌶 CNC
🔥 Dub-Con
🌶 Enjoyable Group Scenes
🔥 MFM
🌶 Somnophilia
🔥 Breath Play/Choking
🌶 Voyeurism
🔥 Exhibitionism
🌶 Pain Play
🔥 Orgasm Denial/Forced
🌶 Bondage/Restraint
🔥 Cum Play/Swallowing
🌶 Humiliation/Degradation
🔥 Spanking/Impact Play
🌶 Raw Sex/No Condom
🔥 Breeding Kink
🌶 Throat Fucking
🔥 Primal Play
Sabrina, Maksim and Parker were a trio that truly worshipped each other! They were so willing to bend and try everything they could together. These were some of the hottest group scenes I have ever read! I loved hearing them together and the banter that they kept going. I didn't think the spice could be this spicy, but it was soooo good!
Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ Ruby M. Darling & Blue Nose Audio ✨️ for the complimentary 🎧 ALC 🎧 copy. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest and voluntary✨️.
🌶️🌶️🌶.5
💕 Arranged Marriage 💍
✨️ Italian Mafia
💕 Secret Society
✨️ "My Wife"
💕 Why Choose MFM
✨️ Slight Age Gap
💕 Bodyguard
✨️ Bodyguard
✨️ 📚 ARC 📖 / 🎧 ALC 🎧 REVIEW ✨️
🎙Narrators: Amy Hall & Joe Arden 🎙
⚠️ Check Your Content/Trigger Warnings ⚠️
Sabrina is thrust into an arranged marriage that her dad setup because he owed Maksim $3.3M. Yep you read that right. Even though Sabrina had a career as an attorney her father knew that if he arranged her to be married, he could satisfy the debt and offer something that Maksim wouldn't get unnless he married Sabrina.
What Sabrina doesn't want is for Parker to leave her side anytime soon. He has been by her side from the worst time in her life. She has some trauma from her past that she tries to so hard to navigate but barely scrapes by. With the way that she tries to do everything to keep her mental health on the precipace is a huge undertaking. She has gloves and certain fabrics she can't touch. Throughout the book you see how this affects her. When she gets overwhelmed she breaks out in hives and shuts down. I felt sooo much while reading this part of her life. She had been through something so traumatic that it was decimating her bit by bit.
Parker, or Savage, as he is referred to freuqently is the one that has been by her side in order to keep her not only safe but also help her navigate the world that she walks. I love that there is a relationship like theirs, because you are able to see a love that so many people will never experience. It wasn't an out loud love. Parker didn't require that of Sabrina.
Once Sabrina and Maksim are married it becomes a terrain that she hasn't treversed. But once they are all able to see that they could make their triangle work, it is on and popping!! I loved seeing their dynamic work and how happy she was! They were able to help her bring her true self out with the help of her therapist! I love that she went to therapy in order to help her mental health and embrace the woman that she is. Like so many women she struggles to loook at herself and love what she sees! Her trauma threatens her daily but she refuses to let it win!
I loved this dark and enticing romance that brings soo much more to the table! This does end in a cliffhanger, but will continue in book 2! I cannot wait to get my ears and eyes the conclusion!
🔥 Let's Talk About Sex Baby 🥵:
🌶️🌶🌶️.75 /5
🌶 CNC
🔥 Dub-Con
🌶 Enjoyable Group Scenes
🔥 MFM
🌶 Somnophilia
🔥 Breath Play/Choking
🌶 Voyeurism
🔥 Exhibitionism
🌶 Pain Play
🔥 Orgasm Denial/Forced
🌶 Bondage/Restraint
🔥 Cum Play/Swallowing
🌶 Humiliation/Degradation
🔥 Spanking/Impact Play
🌶 Raw Sex/No Condom
🔥 Breeding Kink
🌶 Throat Fucking
🔥 Primal Play
Sabrina, Maksim and Parker were a trio that truly worshipped each other! They were so willing to bend and try everything they could together. These were some of the hottest group scenes I have ever read! I loved hearing them together and the banter that they kept going. I didn't think the spice could be this spicy, but it was soooo good!
Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ Ruby M. Darling & Blue Nose Audio ✨️ for the complimentary 🎧 ALC 🎧 copy. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest and voluntary✨️.
January 27, 2026
Rating: 5 Stars
Scream is a hauntingly beautiful start to the Duchess & Devil’s series. It explores the heavy reality of life after trauma through the eyes of Sabrina Winters. Two years after a horrific assault, Sabrina is a warrior hiding behind a mask of perfection. Her struggle with agoraphobia and the psychological weight of her past felt incredibly raw and authentic.
The plot kicks into high gear when her father enters an arranged marriage agreement with Maksim Giordano, the Bratva king, to settle his debts. Maksim is the ultimate "touch her and die" MMC, but the addition of Parker, Sabrina’s bodyguard, creates a fascinating triangle of devotion and desire. Parker is a southern soldier who knows her better than anyone, and the way he reacts to her marriage is unexpected and deeply moving. I loved seeing characters from the Tongueless Duet crossover, especially seeing Sabrina as a patient of Damon. The writing is seamless, the banter between Maksim and Sabrina is addictive, and their marriage kept me turning pages until the very end. That brutal cliffhanger has me desperate for the next installment.
Tropes:
Why Choose / RH
OTT Possessive MMCs
Mafia / Bratva Romance
Bodyguard / Former Soldier
Arranged Marriage
Mental Illness / Trauma Representation
Scream is a hauntingly beautiful start to the Duchess & Devil’s series. It explores the heavy reality of life after trauma through the eyes of Sabrina Winters. Two years after a horrific assault, Sabrina is a warrior hiding behind a mask of perfection. Her struggle with agoraphobia and the psychological weight of her past felt incredibly raw and authentic.
The plot kicks into high gear when her father enters an arranged marriage agreement with Maksim Giordano, the Bratva king, to settle his debts. Maksim is the ultimate "touch her and die" MMC, but the addition of Parker, Sabrina’s bodyguard, creates a fascinating triangle of devotion and desire. Parker is a southern soldier who knows her better than anyone, and the way he reacts to her marriage is unexpected and deeply moving. I loved seeing characters from the Tongueless Duet crossover, especially seeing Sabrina as a patient of Damon. The writing is seamless, the banter between Maksim and Sabrina is addictive, and their marriage kept me turning pages until the very end. That brutal cliffhanger has me desperate for the next installment.
Tropes:
Why Choose / RH
OTT Possessive MMCs
Mafia / Bratva Romance
Bodyguard / Former Soldier
Arranged Marriage
Mental Illness / Trauma Representation
May 28, 2026
Great storyline and the spice was definitely spicy! Love me some Joe Arden 🥵🤌🏽🌶
September 24, 2025
I listened to the audiobook version of this story and I am so pleasantly surprised. This is my first read by Ruby Darling and I honestly wasn't sure what to expect. I love a good why choose and the blurb caught my attention so I dove in, and I am so glad I did. I felt for Sabrina from the very beginning. Made to marry a man she does not love, dealing with the trauma of the horrible even she survived. There was a moment where Maksim described seeing Sabrina screaming underwater while in the bathtub and my heart broke for her. I had a bit of a hard time warming up to Maksim because he was such a jerk to her in the beginning. I'm not bully romance kind of girl, but he worked so hard to be better for her, to love her and to give her everything she needed, including Parker, that I kinda fell for him too. Parker was pure delicious sweetness and I couldn't get enough of him. The chemistry between these three was magic, and the relationship development was phenomenal. The spice was so freaking good, I think it was some of the best I've read in a MFM story. Even though there was so much spice, the story itself was so interesting, emotional, suspenseful. There was lots of conflict both individually and collectively, which made this story so much more interesting. The narration by Joe Arden and Amy Hall was masterful. I loved every second of it, including that darn cliffhanger. I can't wait for the next installment.
September 30, 2025
Fantastic follow up from speak & stutter 😭 I loveeee how amazing & strong Sabrina is even in her weakest moments. I also loved seeing Raven & her boys 😭 so precious
Thank you Ruby & Blue nose for the ALC!
Thank you Ruby & Blue nose for the ALC!
September 30, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐-> ♾️🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶.5
💕 Arranged Marriage 💍
✨️ Italian Mafia
💕 Secret Society
✨️ "My Wife"
💕 Why Choose MFM
✨️ Slight Age Gap
💕 Bodyguard
✨️ Bodyguard
✨️ 📚 ARC 📖 / 🎧 ALC 🎧 REVIEW ✨️
🎙Narrators: Amy Hall & Joe Arden 🎙
⚠️ Check Your Content/Trigger Warnings ⚠️
Sabrina is thrust into an arranged marriage that her dad arranged because he owed Maksim $3.3M. Yep, you read that right. Even though Sabrina had a career as an attorney, her father knew that if he arranged her to be married, he could satisfy the debt and offer something that Maksim wouldn't get unnless he married Sabrina.
What Sabrina doesn't want is for Parker to leave her side anytime soon. He has been by her side from the worst time in her life. She has some trauma from her past that she tries to so hard to navigate but barely scrapes by. With the way that she tries to do everything to keep her mental health on the precipace is a huge undertaking. She has gloves and certain fabrics she can't touch. Throughout the book you see how this affects her. When she gets overwhelmed she breaks out in hives and shuts down. I felt sooo much while reading this part of her life. She had been through something so traumatic that it was decimating her bit by bit.
Parker, or Savage, as he is referred to frequently is the one that has been by her side in order to keep her not only safe but also help her navigate the world that she walks. I love that there is a relationship like theirs, because you are able to see a love that so many people will never experience. It wasn't an out loud love. Parker didn't require that of Sabrina.
Once Sabrina and Maksim are married, it becomes a terrain that she hasn't treversed. But once they are all able to see that they could make their triangle work, it is on and popping!! I loved seeing their dynamic work and how happy she was! They were able to help her bring her true self out with the help of her therapist! I love that she went to therapy in order to help her mental health and embrace the woman that she is. Like so many women, she struggles to look at herself and love what she sees! Her trauma threatens her daily, but she refuses to let it win!
I loved this dark and enticing romance that brings soo much more to the table! This does end in a cliffhanger, but will continue in book 2! I cannot wait to get my ears and eyes on the conclusion!
🔥 Let's Talk About Sex Baby 🥵:
🌶️🌶🌶️.75 /5
🌶 CNC
🔥 Dub-Con
🌶 Enjoyable Group Scenes
🔥 MFM
🌶 Somnophilia
🔥 Breath Play/Choking
🌶 Voyeurism
🔥 Exhibitionism
🌶 Pain Play
🔥 Orgasm Denial/Forced
🌶 Bondage/Restraint
🔥 Cum Play/Swallowing
🌶 Humiliation/Degradation
🔥 Spanking/Impact Play
🌶 Raw Sex/No Condom
🔥 Breeding Kink
🌶 Throat Fucking
🔥 Primal Play
Sabrina, Maksim and Parker were a trio that truly worshipped each other! They were so willing to bend and try everything they could together. These were some of the hottest group scenes I have ever read! I loved hearing them together and the banter that they kept going. I didn't think the spice could be this spicy, but it was soooo good!
Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ Ruby M. Darling & Blue Nose Audio ✨️ for the complimentary 🎧 ALC 🎧 copy. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest and voluntary✨️.
🌶️🌶️🌶.5
💕 Arranged Marriage 💍
✨️ Italian Mafia
💕 Secret Society
✨️ "My Wife"
💕 Why Choose MFM
✨️ Slight Age Gap
💕 Bodyguard
✨️ Bodyguard
✨️ 📚 ARC 📖 / 🎧 ALC 🎧 REVIEW ✨️
🎙Narrators: Amy Hall & Joe Arden 🎙
⚠️ Check Your Content/Trigger Warnings ⚠️
Sabrina is thrust into an arranged marriage that her dad arranged because he owed Maksim $3.3M. Yep, you read that right. Even though Sabrina had a career as an attorney, her father knew that if he arranged her to be married, he could satisfy the debt and offer something that Maksim wouldn't get unnless he married Sabrina.
What Sabrina doesn't want is for Parker to leave her side anytime soon. He has been by her side from the worst time in her life. She has some trauma from her past that she tries to so hard to navigate but barely scrapes by. With the way that she tries to do everything to keep her mental health on the precipace is a huge undertaking. She has gloves and certain fabrics she can't touch. Throughout the book you see how this affects her. When she gets overwhelmed she breaks out in hives and shuts down. I felt sooo much while reading this part of her life. She had been through something so traumatic that it was decimating her bit by bit.
Parker, or Savage, as he is referred to frequently is the one that has been by her side in order to keep her not only safe but also help her navigate the world that she walks. I love that there is a relationship like theirs, because you are able to see a love that so many people will never experience. It wasn't an out loud love. Parker didn't require that of Sabrina.
Once Sabrina and Maksim are married, it becomes a terrain that she hasn't treversed. But once they are all able to see that they could make their triangle work, it is on and popping!! I loved seeing their dynamic work and how happy she was! They were able to help her bring her true self out with the help of her therapist! I love that she went to therapy in order to help her mental health and embrace the woman that she is. Like so many women, she struggles to look at herself and love what she sees! Her trauma threatens her daily, but she refuses to let it win!
I loved this dark and enticing romance that brings soo much more to the table! This does end in a cliffhanger, but will continue in book 2! I cannot wait to get my ears and eyes on the conclusion!
🔥 Let's Talk About Sex Baby 🥵:
🌶️🌶🌶️.75 /5
🌶 CNC
🔥 Dub-Con
🌶 Enjoyable Group Scenes
🔥 MFM
🌶 Somnophilia
🔥 Breath Play/Choking
🌶 Voyeurism
🔥 Exhibitionism
🌶 Pain Play
🔥 Orgasm Denial/Forced
🌶 Bondage/Restraint
🔥 Cum Play/Swallowing
🌶 Humiliation/Degradation
🔥 Spanking/Impact Play
🌶 Raw Sex/No Condom
🔥 Breeding Kink
🌶 Throat Fucking
🔥 Primal Play
Sabrina, Maksim and Parker were a trio that truly worshipped each other! They were so willing to bend and try everything they could together. These were some of the hottest group scenes I have ever read! I loved hearing them together and the banter that they kept going. I didn't think the spice could be this spicy, but it was soooo good!
Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ Ruby M. Darling & Blue Nose Audio ✨️ for the complimentary 🎧 ALC 🎧 copy. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest and voluntary✨️.
January 27, 2026
ALC REREAD - ALPHA READ - ARC REREAD
The Duchess has arrived✨✨✨
The anticipation of Sabrina’s story was so strong throughout the Tongueless duet that I just knew it was going to absolutely rock me in the very best of ways.
Sabrina Winters is, for all accounts, an image of impeccable perfection. But behind that frosty exterior a warrior who has survived and had to claw her way back out hangs in the balance. Only her bodyguard, Parker Savage Hayes, knows a fraction of what lies beneath the veneer she shows. When her dad must make a deal basically for his life, she agrees to marry ✨the devil of New York✨ Maksim Giordano. Maksim has ruled over his empire and has never felt the need or desire to be married- until it benefits him. Once Sabrina is within his grasp he realizes he’ll stop at nothing to truly make her his- in all ways. As Sabrina navigates her marriage and feelings towards Maksim, she must also face the desire and longstanding attraction she’s avoided for Parker. But the three of these tortured souls must fight for their love- and for one another.
After alpha reading this book I knew reading it all together was going to be a wild ride and whewww do you need a seatbelt for this one! I absolutely love the marriage of convenience trope and its done so well with the begrudging Maksi baby who finally falls in love with his betrothed. And Parker, her bodyguard and quite honestly her PERSON. The trio just completes each other in all of the very best ways.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The cliffhanger ending on this one could send you into a grippy sock vacation tbh. Thank everything that is holy that my girl Ruby loves me enough to let me continue alpha reading for her and this story is continuing for me in snippets and chapters. These three are such special characters and I can’t wait for everyone to love them as much as I did.
Thank you so much to Ruby for allowing me to be a part of your journey 🖤
SCREAM- OUT NOW!!
The Duchess has arrived✨✨✨
The anticipation of Sabrina’s story was so strong throughout the Tongueless duet that I just knew it was going to absolutely rock me in the very best of ways.
Sabrina Winters is, for all accounts, an image of impeccable perfection. But behind that frosty exterior a warrior who has survived and had to claw her way back out hangs in the balance. Only her bodyguard, Parker Savage Hayes, knows a fraction of what lies beneath the veneer she shows. When her dad must make a deal basically for his life, she agrees to marry ✨the devil of New York✨ Maksim Giordano. Maksim has ruled over his empire and has never felt the need or desire to be married- until it benefits him. Once Sabrina is within his grasp he realizes he’ll stop at nothing to truly make her his- in all ways. As Sabrina navigates her marriage and feelings towards Maksim, she must also face the desire and longstanding attraction she’s avoided for Parker. But the three of these tortured souls must fight for their love- and for one another.
After alpha reading this book I knew reading it all together was going to be a wild ride and whewww do you need a seatbelt for this one! I absolutely love the marriage of convenience trope and its done so well with the begrudging Maksi baby who finally falls in love with his betrothed. And Parker, her bodyguard and quite honestly her PERSON. The trio just completes each other in all of the very best ways.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The cliffhanger ending on this one could send you into a grippy sock vacation tbh. Thank everything that is holy that my girl Ruby loves me enough to let me continue alpha reading for her and this story is continuing for me in snippets and chapters. These three are such special characters and I can’t wait for everyone to love them as much as I did.
Thank you so much to Ruby for allowing me to be a part of your journey 🖤
SCREAM- OUT NOW!!
July 1, 2025
“Only in death will you ever get away from me, Duchess. Even then, be prepared for me to find you in the ether, or heaven or hell, where you go, I will find you. And you will forever be my bride.”
SCREAM
by Ruby M. Darling
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁
First book in the Duchess & Devils series with multi-pov from the FMC Sabrina and her MMC’s Parker the bodyguard and Maksim husband & Mafia Don makes for a dark spicy why choose suspense romance.
If you read Speak and Stutter then you may remember Raven’s best friend Sabrina and caught snippets of Sabrina, Parker and Maksim throughout the duet. If you have not read this duet, then I highly recommend reading it first, though not necessary.
One of the things I love about Ruby M. Darling books is that there is so much suspense action going on and it’s always fast paced all the way through the end, but she is able to work in lots of spice that will have you melting! Of course, with any dark romance if you have triggers, you may want to check those, if not happy reading!
Sabrina is a beautiful strong curvy woman who is working to overcome trauma. Baking cupcakes is relaxing and her men love to eat them, but there is so much more to her persona. I love the banter and the moments of humor just as much as the spice, suspense and action. There were even times I was in tears. Sabrina is relatable and I think that is one of the reasons I love her and Raven so much. The men, however are hot and the spice is chef kiss! You can’t help but fall for both Maksim and Parker!
Scream has age gap, mafia, syndicate secret society, bodyguard, arranged marriage, why choose MMF, just to name a few. It’s too good to miss and I can’t wait for the next release!
SCREAM
by Ruby M. Darling
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁
First book in the Duchess & Devils series with multi-pov from the FMC Sabrina and her MMC’s Parker the bodyguard and Maksim husband & Mafia Don makes for a dark spicy why choose suspense romance.
If you read Speak and Stutter then you may remember Raven’s best friend Sabrina and caught snippets of Sabrina, Parker and Maksim throughout the duet. If you have not read this duet, then I highly recommend reading it first, though not necessary.
One of the things I love about Ruby M. Darling books is that there is so much suspense action going on and it’s always fast paced all the way through the end, but she is able to work in lots of spice that will have you melting! Of course, with any dark romance if you have triggers, you may want to check those, if not happy reading!
Sabrina is a beautiful strong curvy woman who is working to overcome trauma. Baking cupcakes is relaxing and her men love to eat them, but there is so much more to her persona. I love the banter and the moments of humor just as much as the spice, suspense and action. There were even times I was in tears. Sabrina is relatable and I think that is one of the reasons I love her and Raven so much. The men, however are hot and the spice is chef kiss! You can’t help but fall for both Maksim and Parker!
Scream has age gap, mafia, syndicate secret society, bodyguard, arranged marriage, why choose MMF, just to name a few. It’s too good to miss and I can’t wait for the next release!
April 24, 2026
Scream by Ruby M. Darling was an intense, emotional read, and I absolutely loved it.
The themes in this book were dark and you need to check the TW's before starting it. What really stood out to me most is how much care Ruby puts into showing the impact of trauma rather than using it as shock value. It doesn’t treat sexual assault like a quick plot device. It focuses on what comes after, the fear, the stress responses, the triggers, the spiral of thoughts, and the way it changes how safe you feel in your own body and in the world.
It showed consequences. It showed survival. It showed how the trauma keeps showing up even when you’re trying to move forward. That level of realism and effort is really important.
Sabrina's healing journey was supported by Maksim and Parker, in a way that felt real and meaningful. Parker brought the care and softness she needed. He was safety, patience, and gentleness when everything was too difficult. He grounded her. Then there was Maksim, who challenged her, not cruelly, but firmly, pushing her to break through the fear, take her power back, and stop letting what happened to her define what came next. They each offered something completely different, and together it was what she needed.
Overall, this was a powerful first book of the series and it left me excited to see what twists and turns the next book would take
Also, that cliffhanger was just really mean 😢😮💨
⭐️ 5 stars
3.5 peppers
⚠️ Please check trigger warnings before reading.
The themes in this book were dark and you need to check the TW's before starting it. What really stood out to me most is how much care Ruby puts into showing the impact of trauma rather than using it as shock value. It doesn’t treat sexual assault like a quick plot device. It focuses on what comes after, the fear, the stress responses, the triggers, the spiral of thoughts, and the way it changes how safe you feel in your own body and in the world.
It showed consequences. It showed survival. It showed how the trauma keeps showing up even when you’re trying to move forward. That level of realism and effort is really important.
Sabrina's healing journey was supported by Maksim and Parker, in a way that felt real and meaningful. Parker brought the care and softness she needed. He was safety, patience, and gentleness when everything was too difficult. He grounded her. Then there was Maksim, who challenged her, not cruelly, but firmly, pushing her to break through the fear, take her power back, and stop letting what happened to her define what came next. They each offered something completely different, and together it was what she needed.
Overall, this was a powerful first book of the series and it left me excited to see what twists and turns the next book would take
Also, that cliffhanger was just really mean 😢😮💨
⭐️ 5 stars
3.5 peppers
⚠️ Please check trigger warnings before reading.
January 26, 2026
When her world is turned upside down, Sabrina completely loses herself and hides behind a facade… but when an arranged marriage is forced upon her she decides this could be her path to escape- a means to an end.. but her new husband takes his vows quite seriously, especially the whole “til death do us part”- part and he has no intention of letting Sabrina go.
Her baggage doesn’t scare him, in fact he’s eager to unpack it, even if it includes her first love/bodyguard coming along for the ride. With the two of them by her side, she will start to live again, finding that girl she buried long ago and maybe even replacing her grave with someone who deserved it all along…
Why choose x somno x mafia x bodyguard x arranged marriage
Her baggage doesn’t scare him, in fact he’s eager to unpack it, even if it includes her first love/bodyguard coming along for the ride. With the two of them by her side, she will start to live again, finding that girl she buried long ago and maybe even replacing her grave with someone who deserved it all along…
Why choose x somno x mafia x bodyguard x arranged marriage
September 28, 2025
After a devastating tragedy, Sabrina leans on her bodyguard, Parker, to survive the darkness threatening to consume her. But when her father forces her into an arranged marriage with Maksim, the ruthless mafia and Bratva boss, her world becomes even more complicated. Neither Sabrina nor Maksim wanted this union, yet both must confront their demons while navigating an unexpected bond. Amy Hall and Joe Arden deliver a flawless performance, capturing every layer of Sabrina and Maksim’s turbulent relationship. This story grips you from beginning until the end, and I can't wait for the next installment.
Thank you, Ruby M. Darling and Blue Nose Audio for the ALC.
Thank you, Ruby M. Darling and Blue Nose Audio for the ALC.
November 15, 2025
Rude.
RUDE
I CANT EMOTIONALLY HANDLE A CLIFFHANGER OF THIS MAGNITUDE
RUDE
I CANT EMOTIONALLY HANDLE A CLIFFHANGER OF THIS MAGNITUDE
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