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The Toy Maker
Tara Holloway’s life is in free fall. Fired from her job, broke, and desperate, she stumbles upon a job listing that leads her straight into the heart of Pink Cherrie, a high-end, exclusive adult club.
What starts as a last resort quickly becomes a world of neon lights, seductive performances, and secrets wrapped in lace.
But the biggest mystery is Jason, the owner. He’s brilliant, distant, and undeniably tempting.
As Tara learns the ropes—quite literally—she realizes there’s more to Jason’s world than pleasure. Beneath the glamorous allure lurks danger, and a man who sees her as more than just another Cherry on stage.
With her new life on the line, Tara must decide if she’s just another performer, or playing a game where the stakes are higher than she ever imagined.
What starts as a last resort quickly becomes a world of neon lights, seductive performances, and secrets wrapped in lace.
But the biggest mystery is Jason, the owner. He’s brilliant, distant, and undeniably tempting.
As Tara learns the ropes—quite literally—she realizes there’s more to Jason’s world than pleasure. Beneath the glamorous allure lurks danger, and a man who sees her as more than just another Cherry on stage.
With her new life on the line, Tara must decide if she’s just another performer, or playing a game where the stakes are higher than she ever imagined.
- GenresDark Romance
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2025
About the author
Jane Ann Darling
3 books16 followersJane Ann Darling writes dark romance with a wicked streak and has a soft spot for happily ever afters—eventually. Fueled by an unhealthy amount of coffee and a lifelong love affair with classic rock, she spends her nights plotting her next novel instead of getting a decent amount of sleep.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 31, 2026
That was some 50 shades of grey on steroids lol. I received this book in my monthly reveal box, and dang it didn't disappoint.
This book was spicy, intense, heartbreaking, and the end just dang. All around good time and I hope there is a book 2 😂
This book was spicy, intense, heartbreaking, and the end just dang. All around good time and I hope there is a book 2 😂
June 29, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book.
The story follows Tara, who loses her job and ends up working at a super unconventional sex toy club/store. She becomes a “cherry,” meaning she tests sex toys in front of an audience (yep, it's that kind of spicy). The owner, a mysterious and dominant toy maker, ends up becoming her Dominant—and of course, she catches serious feelings, even though she tells herself she can’t.
There’s definitely a strong love story at the heart of this book, and I think that’s where the author really shines. The romance felt real and emotional, and I loved watching Tara fall in love, even if it was messy and complicated. I also really enjoyed the friendship between Tara, Jade, and Sarah—it added some warmth and grounding to all the heat. Honestly, I wish there had been more scenes with them!
On the flip side, the pacing felt a bit choppy. Some scenes ended abruptly or transitioned without much explanation, which made things feel rushed or confusing at times. I also wanted to know more about the actual business—like how it started, who really owns it, and why it's even set up the way it is. And while I get the appeal of the BDSM angle, I think the story would’ve been stronger if it had leaned more into the romance and character development, and a little less into the Dom/sub stuff, which didn’t always feel natural.
Overall, it’s a super spicy read with a well-written romance at its core. I’d definitely read more from Jane Darling, especially if she sticks to what she clearly does best—writing love stories that pull you in.
The story follows Tara, who loses her job and ends up working at a super unconventional sex toy club/store. She becomes a “cherry,” meaning she tests sex toys in front of an audience (yep, it's that kind of spicy). The owner, a mysterious and dominant toy maker, ends up becoming her Dominant—and of course, she catches serious feelings, even though she tells herself she can’t.
There’s definitely a strong love story at the heart of this book, and I think that’s where the author really shines. The romance felt real and emotional, and I loved watching Tara fall in love, even if it was messy and complicated. I also really enjoyed the friendship between Tara, Jade, and Sarah—it added some warmth and grounding to all the heat. Honestly, I wish there had been more scenes with them!
On the flip side, the pacing felt a bit choppy. Some scenes ended abruptly or transitioned without much explanation, which made things feel rushed or confusing at times. I also wanted to know more about the actual business—like how it started, who really owns it, and why it's even set up the way it is. And while I get the appeal of the BDSM angle, I think the story would’ve been stronger if it had leaned more into the romance and character development, and a little less into the Dom/sub stuff, which didn’t always feel natural.
Overall, it’s a super spicy read with a well-written romance at its core. I’d definitely read more from Jane Darling, especially if she sticks to what she clearly does best—writing love stories that pull you in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2025
The Toy Maker is the kind of story that will have you blushing. Tara was fired from her job and knowing she has people that depend on her and bills to pay, she immediately begins the search. She sees an add for a department store, calls, and gets scheduled for an interview for the same evening. But upon approaching the building, she finds the name of the place is called The Pink Cherrie. While she thought she would be doing sales or accounting, she had no idea what was in store for her. Her position would be to model. And not just model, she would have to put on a show for a crowd, using the toys that the toy maker, Jason, makes for her to use. Tara and Jason begins to get close and he ends up becoming her dominant. And she can't help the feelings that are developing between them.
The only issues I had with the story was that I couldn't connect with the characters. Tara did things that just made me want to shake her and tell her to get it together. Aside from that, the story is intriguing, spicy, and keeps you very entertained.
The only issues I had with the story was that I couldn't connect with the characters. Tara did things that just made me want to shake her and tell her to get it together. Aside from that, the story is intriguing, spicy, and keeps you very entertained.
August 26, 2026
The love story here is the golden ticket to this series. It ends on a cliff hanger, which I hated. It made this woman who was strong, but also has weaknesses look like an immature coward.
I personally hate reading a book and loving the FMC, only to be so disappointed on how they decided to go on and make a choice; or to not even decide to make it and just act on impulse, like Tara does here. She abandons her real first group of friends and a guy she is so clearly head over heels in love with, and he is the same to her.
After all that she has went through in this book and the woman she became to end that way stinks. Hopefully the next book comes out soon because I want to see what Tara does and really how Jason handles it. And I hope the girls let her know what she did with them also was hurtful, but true friends won’t just drop her like she did to them when she was upset and confused.
I personally hate reading a book and loving the FMC, only to be so disappointed on how they decided to go on and make a choice; or to not even decide to make it and just act on impulse, like Tara does here. She abandons her real first group of friends and a guy she is so clearly head over heels in love with, and he is the same to her.
After all that she has went through in this book and the woman she became to end that way stinks. Hopefully the next book comes out soon because I want to see what Tara does and really how Jason handles it. And I hope the girls let her know what she did with them also was hurtful, but true friends won’t just drop her like she did to them when she was upset and confused.
July 7, 2025
Did I enjoy this book? Yes. Did i want to simultaneously shake some sense into the FMC while punching the MMC? Also yes lol!! Needless to say I had very strong feelings about these characters!! The storyline was fantastic and kept me hooked right to that cliffhanger of an ending! I’m definitely coming back for the next book!!
July 9, 2025
This cliffhanger hanger will be the death of me. I need book 2.
Jane's writing kept my attention from beginning to the end. I could not put this down. The spice was top tier in my book.
A great reading experience. This will be one of those books I wish I could read again for the first time. Now where is book 2
Jane's writing kept my attention from beginning to the end. I could not put this down. The spice was top tier in my book.
A great reading experience. This will be one of those books I wish I could read again for the first time. Now where is book 2
July 7, 2026
WOW! The smutt is so off the charts, and addicitive The Toy Maker is hard to put down. Tara is a strong character down on her luck and looking for a job, it just so happens this job is so much fun. The Toy Maker is well edited making it even easier to read. The detail with the toys is great and the story line will leave you wanting more!
June 30, 2025
My first book by Jane Ann Darling and I was pleasantly surprised.
The FMC is personable and easy to get behind.
And the friendships the FMC has is another great part and really enjoyable!
The story/plot is there and I wish there was a little more back story but overall it was a good read with spice!
The FMC is personable and easy to get behind.
And the friendships the FMC has is another great part and really enjoyable!
The story/plot is there and I wish there was a little more back story but overall it was a good read with spice!
June 30, 2025
Losing her safe job in accounting, Tara signs on for a job she really knows noting about. But she is sincere and that's a missing commodity in the sex trade industry. But her gullibility and kindness are soon taken advantage of. But will Tara learn from her experiences? A good read.
August 10, 2026
THIS BOOK WAS AN ABSOLUTE BANGER WHEN I READ IT IN 2017 ON WATTPAD. Oh my god this brings me so many memories. AHHHHHHH IVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS BOOK FOR YEARS
June 19, 2025
This was a solid read. The MFC, Tara, was endearing and easy to connect with and root for. The spice was well done. Several little surprise twists added to the overall intrigue.
I would say the business is not well-explained. You kind of have to piece it together on your own. I would have preferred to have a better understanding of what the business entailed upfront.
I would not necessarily classify this as Dark Romance.
I would say the business is not well-explained. You kind of have to piece it together on your own. I would have preferred to have a better understanding of what the business entailed upfront.
I would not necessarily classify this as Dark Romance.
June 30, 2025
Jane Ann Darling absolutely delivers with The Toy Maker — a dark, decadent, and deliciously filthy read that pulls you in from the first page and refuses to let go. The premise is seductive, the execution is flawless, and the characters? Utterly addictive. The MMC is the perfect mix of twisted, brilliant, and irresistible, crafting not just toys—but fantasies that blur the line between control and surrender in the most tantalizing ways.
Her writing is bold, cinematic, and charged with tension — both emotional and erotic. Every scene is soaked in desire, and yet it still manages to dig deep into character and psychology. You’ll devour it, pant through it, and wish there were more.
If you like your romance dark, your kinks inventive, and your alphas possessive, this one’s for you. Just know: The Toy Maker will have you hot & bothered and leaving you wanting more, literally!
Her writing is bold, cinematic, and charged with tension — both emotional and erotic. Every scene is soaked in desire, and yet it still manages to dig deep into character and psychology. You’ll devour it, pant through it, and wish there were more.
If you like your romance dark, your kinks inventive, and your alphas possessive, this one’s for you. Just know: The Toy Maker will have you hot & bothered and leaving you wanting more, literally!
July 5, 2025
TARA IS MY B****!!! Her sass sings to my soul like a sweet, sweet siren. We both love Cheetos. We both respect pizza (I knew Jason was a monster). We're both strong women with dysfunctional families and abandonment issues. But, anyway, enough about how she's secretly my best friend in real life. I just read this book in two days. I deep-throated it like Tara deep-throated Jason (although she did it far better than I could have). I got sucked into this story like Tara got sucked into being a Cherry, and I have no regrets. This book was HOT, intense, gripping, and wonderfully relatable due to Tara's narration. I don't even have words to properly string together to form coherent sentences. And the ending? THE ENDING?!? Jane, WTF did you just do to me?!? You say "post-nut clarity is a b****", but THIS ENDING IS ONE AND I HATE YOU.
I'll be here for the remainder of the series.
I'll be here for the remainder of the series.
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December 8, 2025Amazing and I hope she keeps publishing
August 25, 2026
I loved this book! Very well written. The writing pulled me in from the very first page. If you’re wondering about the spice, the title gives you a good idea of what to expect. I enjoyed following Tara and Jason’s story and watching their relationship grow. I couldn’t put the book down because the story kept me wanting more. The ending really surprised me. I can’t believe it finished that way and now I want to read the next book right away. The cliffhanger has me wondering what will happen next and I don’t want to wait. The romance was intense, the story was fun, it was spicy and now I’m totally invested. I need book 2!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews