Caged Desires

Reign of Sin #1

by Sarah Sterling

🔥 Caged A Dark Syndicate Love Story 🔥

I was only supposed to chase the truth.
Not end up captive to the city’s most ruthless crime lord.
Martin Devereaux is a name whispered in fear.

Cold. Calculated. Untouchable.
A man who kills without mercy and rules Ravenhurst with an iron grip.
I should have walked away the moment I uncovered his secrets.
Instead, I was caught. Caged in his fortress.
A prisoner to the very monster I was trying to expose.

But the longer I’m trapped in his world, the harder it becomes to remember why I should hate him.
Because beneath the brutality, beneath the darkness, there’s something else.
Something broken.
Something that calls to me.

He says he won’t let me go.
That I belong to him now.

But I’m not the kind of woman who surrenders.
Martin thinks he can possess me.
Control me.
Break me.

But what if the real danger isn’t losing my freedom?
What if it’s losing my heart—to the man I was never supposed to love?

127 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 2, 2025

About the author

Sarah Sterling is a master of darkly seductive romance, weaving tales of forbidden love, dangerous passion, and characters who blur the lines between right and wrong. Her novels, rich with intensity, emotional depth, and unexpected twists, have enthralled readers worldwide, consistently landing on bestseller lists.

Known for her enigmatic heroes and heroines who defy fate, Sarah crafts stories where love is not just a feeling but an irresistible, high-stakes adventure. Whether set in moody, mystical backdrops or amidst the raw pulse of power and desire, her books promise an unforgettable escape into the extraordinary.

Based in New Orleans, a city as mysterious and vibrant as her stories, Sarah draws inspiration from its history, culture, and secrets whispered through the French Quarter. When she’s not penning her next addictive romance, you’ll find her exploring hidden speakeasies, practicing yoga by the Mississippi River, or perfecting the art of Cajun cooking.

For those who crave love stories laced with fire, danger, and undeniable chemistry, Sarah Sterling delivers every time.

Reviews

[A. King · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm warring with myself on how to rate this one, because in all honesty? It wasn't the greatest. But it wasn't bad either. The problem is the timeline and how it's all working together. Everything is very "bam-detail-bam-detail-bam!" all over the place and nothing in it really seems to work organically. The MMC and FMC have this connection right off the bat (which I don't mind, because it hits a spot in me that always makes me grin) but it just wasn't working out right.

There is also a LOT of repetition in the sayings or the behavior. Her walking away from him after making a sudden point. Or him stating that she's going to have to trust him to protect her. There was also a very sudden, very brash moment of where she protects him instead of the other way around which, for me, doesn't seem plausible considering she's only JUST learned how to protect herself? So it was sort of off the wall for me.

Again, not HORRIBLE. Just not the greatest in my opinion.

[Angi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an untraditional love story. Beth is a journalist trying to investigate the mafia. She gets caught by the man she is trying to investigate and he takes her back to his house to find out who she is working for and why she has been investigating him. He tries to explain he’s trying to protect her from more dangerous men. The men who killed her father. Even though there is a mutual attraction she wants to hate him. Until she realizes the amount of danger she is actually in and she starts to see that Martin really is trying to protect and as they battled his enemies and hers, they begin to fall in love. His trust issues and her trying to figure out how this man and this danger fits into her life. In the end they choose each other. This is a steamy enemies to lovers story that enforces that anyone can find love in any situation.

[Katherine Cannone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute mafia romance!! Fast moving danger right around the corner. No place is safe for Beth in a world she knows nothing about.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tables turn when on Beth when she becomes the prey caught in Martin's trap. She was there to expose him but when she is caught up in an emotional storm will she be able to break free of him. this thrilling story kept me glued to the pages.

[Em · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was just zero character development between her being captured and them throwing themselves at each other.