Into the Blue: An Enemies to Lovers Dark Romance

by Zea Kayleigh Galan

I built my kingdom on control. Then she walked in, and I started losing it–fast.

She's not just beautiful. She's captivating for reasons I can't comprehend.

I break my own rules to get closer. I can't stop touching her. Can't stop wanting her. And when my old ally puts a hit out on her, I lose every bit of that control I'm known for.

Bringing her home with me should've been the end of it.
Instead, it's just the beginning.

The more I fall for her, the more I see the cracks in my kingdom–and the lies she's wrapped herself in.

Nothing is more important than my business and my family. I can't trust her. I can only trust leverage. She's been using mine all along.

I should end her and walk away.
But I can't and won’t let her go that easily.

Now, the business is bleeding from the inside. My people are dying. And the woman I let inside my walls? She might be the knife at my throat.

She wants a seat at the table. She wants my empire to bend.

But I didn’t become King to just let anyone—especially her—take it from me.

So tell me, Diamond.

Are you my salvation… or my ruin?

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2025

About the author

Zea is a passionate storyteller who brings romance to life with heartfelt emotion and unforgettable characters. A lifelong lover of love stories, she weaves her background in anthropology into crafting tales where swoon-worthy heroes fall hard for their strong, relatable heroines.

Living in the picturesque mountains of Colorado with her husband, daughter, and a spoiled, posh cat, Zea draws inspiration from her surroundings to create warm, vibrant settings readers want to escape to. When she’s not writing, she’s indulging in her other loves: cooking, hiking, designing clothes, or curling up with a romance novel and a plate of sweets.

Zea is dedicated to connecting with her readers and invites you to join her on this journey of love, laughter, and happily ever afters.

Reviews

[Cydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Into the Blue was a RIDE, honey!

When honeypot Diamond starts working as a dancer at Blue's club, she is drawn into his life quickly and drastically. Under his protection, Diamond and Blue become wrapped up in one another, but they both have their own agendas that are slowly but surely revealed as the story progresses. I ate up every messy part!

This is my first time reading a Zea Kayleigh Galan book, and now I am fully plugged into the lore and will be reading her backlist to experience how interwoven her stories are! Blue and Diamond are a little bit toxic, a lot hot, and perfectly balanced. Even though this is a dark romance with forced proximity, the consent is very present and I really appreciated that. I never expected to walk away from this book being less afraid of snakes but here I am LOL.

The more I slowly submerge myself in dark romance, I'm realizing I like it when both MCs are morally gray. I also like it when the MMC remains a simp even when he's bested by the FMC, because women are so often sharper than men so I struggle when FMCs are not written that way. Diamond was so completely lovable and I was rooting for her even when I didn't understand what she was doing and why. I actually think that while this is definitely a romance, there is a strong ~reclaiming my time~ arc that I thoroughly enjoyed. And the spice? Chileeee—

One thing I will say is there are a lotttt of characters in this book! I think if I'd read her previous books it might have clicked for me more, BUT I don't think that reading her other books is required to understand what is happening here in its entirety. Every question I had was answered; it just took me longer than it typically would to figure things out.

Thank you to Zea Kayleigh Galan for sending me an ARC!

5 ⭐️s
3.5 🌶️

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

"Into the Blue" by Zea Kayleigh Galan is a dark romance that kept me engaged for about two-thirds of the book. It did take a little bit for me to get into the swing of the story because it is very insta-lust-y to start, but as Galan gets into the meat and potatoes of the plot, I got fully invested in Diamond and Blue's story. It is a drug kingpin book with lots of twists, kn1fe scenes, deceptions, drama, secrets, and surprises. Diamond is such a strong FMC! I really enjoyed reading about her as the main character. She's got to figure out a lot of information about Blue and his business. He is her mark, but she starts to fall for him over time (rather quickly). She did make me angry from time to time with her actions, but overall, I liked her. Blue is the kind of morally grey character who BEGS you to hate him, but you just can't because he's so darn lustful and dangerous and intoxicating. He's not all bad, despite his criminal dealings. Blue and Diamond might have started as an insta-lust couple, but the connection between them blooms over time. There is a lot of peril and intensity and second-guessing towards the end of the book, and I, for one, was riveted. Check the TWs on this book because there are definitely a few. Can't wait for book two!

Thank you to Zea Kayleigh Galan and Happily Booked PR for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Zea writes it gonna eat it up every single time... guaranteed.

If you know me, you know I love dark romance and man did this one deliver.

I want to start this off by saying I really wanted to HATE
Blue (ifykyk) and the more I read the more that started to be further to what was happening.

Diamond is a baddie fr, like I could see her on baddies the reality tv show and I was SAT for her. Sometimes
she did upset me, in the end she was just making boss babe moves.

If you like your men morally grey and your romance dark, I highly recommend this book.

Black MCs, the FMC is a honeypot and Blue is POSSESSIVE. There is betrayal, backstabbing, secrets and forced proximity! What more could you want from a book?

This book is my 2nd fave she's ever written.

[Nadia Latai (Nadiasbookishworld86) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Into the Blue is an edgy, don't know who to trust dark romance that has each main characters dancing around each other. How do you trust a stranger just because they are attractive? Diamond has to keep her eye on the prize, or in this case her target- Blue . 🖤🖤🖤

[Britt 🐺 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Into the Blue is now live! Go ahead and download it now on KU because you do not want to miss this lovers to enemies back to lovers dark romance 🤪

Swipe for a mini mood board and some tropes!

I have yet to read a Zea book I haven’t been completely engulfed in. We are immediately in the story following Diamond and Blue. I don’t want to give away too much but Diamond really is THAT girl 🔥 she’s a dancer at Off Topz and hatches a perfect plan to come across Blue and these two are HOT from the very beginning. I loved their relationship and how it kept me on my toes. The snakes??? Love. And the mouth on Blue?? 🫠🔥😩

I cannot WAIT to get my hands on Redd’s book next 😏

Thank you, Zea for the ARC!

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue Dream/Into the Blue were my first books by Zea Kayleigh Galan and they absolutely will not be my last! I love her writing style and characters. In this story you can expect a dark romance, rivaling drug families, 🔪 play, on page abuse (not between the MCs), behind the scenes power plays, a badass FMC, and a tough exterior MMC with a serious soft spot for his woman. Make sure you read the Blue Dream novella before starting Into the Blue because you’ll miss out on a whollllleee lot of Blue & Diamond’s back story if you don’t!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quantity of spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Quality of spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
*There are nice spicy scenes between Blue Dream and Into the Blue. I’ve included the pages/chapters at the bottom of this review.*

Our FMC, Diamond, is a new stripper at Off Topz and it just so happens that our MMC, Blue, is the new owner. She catches his eye IMMEDIATELY and he books out a private room with her. We learn very early on that Diamond is at this club for ulterior motives and Blue is her mark.

In this story there are two rivaling families, the Lafayettes and the Duponts. They had previously worked together but when Lafayette Senior handed the business over to Junior, he ran it into the ground and the Duponts parted ways.

Diamond is the rightful heir to the Lafayette family but her father never recognized her as such. Senior got her mother pregnant and then she was raised solely by her mother. But Diamond is back to claim what is rightfully hers. In order to do that, she must show Senior how she can make their business run more efficiently and to do so, she must fuck with Blue Dupont’s business.

Meanwhile, Diamond has made herself the woman Blue cannot get out of his head. So when the opportunity arrises to play damsel in distress, Blue steps in to be her protector. His “protection” is on another level when he moves her into his home and essentially won’t let her leave. But Diamond won’t let that deter her.. she’ll just do her badass bitch moves right under his nose. She is falling for him too though & must constantly remind herself that Blue is her mark.

I absolutely loved how everything turned out in the end, but I really wish we got to see more of Diamond’s plays from her end. A lot of what we got from her were quick calls just saying to carry out plans, and then from Blue’s side how his product kept disappearing and his runners killed. Seeing Diamond’s side would have just given it that extra umph for the big ending!

And the spice in this book 🔥🥵 from that very first 🔪 scene, the chemistry between Blue and Diamond was explosive! And that dinner anal scene with the alligators, that’ll live rent free in my head from here on out.

Do yourself a favor and pick up this book!

🌶️ Spicy Scenes 🌶️

Blue Dream

1. Ch 3 Pg 25 22%
2. Ch 6 Pg 54 50%
3. Ch 10 Pg 85 81%

Into the Blue

1. Ch 14 Pg 112
2. Ch 15 Pg 122
3. Ch 16 Pg 135
4. Ch 22 Pg 179
5. Ch 26 Pg 217
6. Ch 32 Pg 269

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diamond. Everything about her glimmered and I like flashy things.


I am so grateful to have gotten an advanced review copy of this book. This is no joke when I tell you guys I ate this up.

This story was a movie I didn’t want to press pause on. From very early on in the book I just kept wanting to turn the page because I was just eating it up.

Diamond is such a baddie and she’s making moves to make a name for herself and get what’s rightfully hers.

Blue is strong, commanding, willing to do what it takes for his empire.

This book is spicy as all get out, so if you’re needing some of that in your life then you’re gonna wanna download this book. But make sure to check the trigger warnings because this absolutely is a dark romance.

I can’t tell you the amount of times I giggled, squealed, and screamed while reading this book. It was such an intense ride from start to finish.

I really enjoyed the storyline as well and it kept me hooked just as much as the relationship. Sometimes you’ll question the main characters but you also can’t get enough of them.

I think Diamond would have me on my damn knees for her too.

I am so sad that I have to wait for the next book in this series but I’m going to be excited when it releases!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Review ✨
Just finished Into the Blue by Kayleigh Galan (A Shadow of Vengeance novel) and WOW. This was such a quick, addictive read packed with explosive dynamics and unforgettable characters.

Blue is the kind of dangerous kingpin you cannot look away from, and the FMC Diamond? She’s smart, fearless, and absolutely fierce 🔥 Their chemistry was electric, the tension was constant, and the spice… let’s just say it delivered. Also, as a plus, I thought it was great that the main characters in this are black, I don’t think we see that enough.

If you love fast-paced, dangerous romance with characters who practically leap off the page, this one needs to be on your TBR.

[April More · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a first for me. It is a dark, drug Kingpin romance. Your MMC is a drug Kingpin and the FMC is the daughter of a rival drug Kingpin. I liked the MMC, Blue and liked his story. There is backstabbing, betrayal and tons of secrets, & forced proximity in this book. The spice is spicing in this book. Check the trigger warnings before reading. I give it a 4 stars just because it is not my type of read. It was good and I enjoyed the spice. The chemistry between the two characters was really good and if you love dark romance then put this on your list.

[Caitsbooknook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ate this up!!!!!! Full RTC

[ash😈 · Rating 5 out of 5]

OOOOOOOOHMYGOD!!!!

This hands down has to be my favorite Zea book to date.

Blue, hands down🥵😍🫠

And Diamond, giiiiirl is a baddie. A fuckin boss. Instantly gravitated to her.

Absolutely OBSESSED with this book (and the novella)

[Kaylie Helfrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot of fun!

It was high spice and high plot with a good dose of unhinged in the best way possible. Diamond is a dancer, but she also a has a secret that leads her to wanting to infiltrate a crime organization. Blue is the head of an organization who has a lot of stress and the gorgeous woman working at the strip club he just acquired is the perfect stress relief.

Blue and Diamond had amazing chemistry. There is a bit of insta love, but I felt like it really worked in this context because of who these characters are and what they are doing with each other early on. The lust is almost required for this plot to work. I also feel like the spice is this was done really well.

I will say that I did feel a little bit lost right at the very start. I felt like as the reader we were almost dropped into chapter 5 of the story and I wish we would have gotten a few build up chapters to almost introduce into this world and these characters. I was able to figure out who was who, but I did have to kind of flip back and reread a few times to get there.

I also loved the side characters in this and I feel like we are gearing up for the interconnected stand alones. I can't wait for Redd and Steph's story. I also loved that Blue had a female best friend that wasn't a threat to this story or relationship in any way. I truly believe platonic friendships of the opposite sex are possible and it was so refreshing to see such a green flag friendship represented in a book like this.

I went feral over Blue and his specific brand of unaliving. I don't want to spoil anything, so I will leave it at that.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read more from this author and specifically in this series. I do wish this would have been a little bit longer. The story did feel a tad bit rushed at times and I just wanted a little bit more.

Thank you to Zea for the gifted copy! I will absolutely be continuing on with this series.

[Loves2 Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Into the Blue by Zea Kayleigh Galan is an intense, gripping dark romance that had me hooked from start to finish. I devoured every messy, juicy part of this story, feeling like I was watching a movie I never wanted to pause.

The two main characters, Diamond and Blue, are the perfect blend of toxic and hot. Diamond, a total baddie, is a mesmerizing "honeypot" who's making big moves to reclaim what's hers. She’s so completely lovable that I was rooting for her even when I didn't understand her choices. Blue is strong, commanding, and will do whatever it takes to protect his empire. As they get wrapped up in each other's lives, their own hidden agendas are slowly revealed, and their dynamic is perfectly balanced.

One thing I particularly appreciated about this dark romance is that while there is forced proximity, consent is very present, which I loved. This book is spicy as all get out, so if that's what you're looking for, you'll definitely want to download this one—just be sure to check the trigger warnings. The storyline itself is just as compelling as the romance, keeping me on the edge of my seat. I was constantly giggling, squealing, and screaming while reading, never knowing what was coming next.

While I haven't read any of Zea Kayleigh Galan's previous books, I'm now fully plugged into her world and plan to read her backlist. This book stands on its own, but it's clear her stories are deeply interwoven. While there are a lot of characters to keep track of, all my questions were answered by the end. The author's talent for creating morally gray characters who are both deeply flawed and completely captivating shines through.

I’m so grateful to have received an advanced review copy of this book. The ride was so wild and a lot of fun. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

[Nikki B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I will say, it took me some time to really get into the story, once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. I read this while I recovering from being sick, so to be honest, I think I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have. There was lots of spice in the story that didn't do much for me, I don't know if that's because I was sick and it didn't phase me or if it just wasn't doing it for me. Though, it is spicy!!!!
Diamond is falling for Blue. And she shouldn't because he is her target. That doesn't mean she can't have fun with him. Blue is absolutely enamored with Diamond. After she's been attacked and he brings her to his house to help her recover, he basically moves her in and doesn't want to leave her side. And while Diamond thinks she's playing her cards right and keeping him at a distance, she's falling for him. Hard.
The plot in this book is great. It keeps you engaged in the story and keeps you wanting to know more about what's going to happen. The spice is spicy. There's secrets, twists, and betrayal. But the characters also have a very strong connection and intense chemistry together. This is definitely one to add to your tbr!

[Ukiyo Sporrer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Zea Kayleigh Galan and Happily Booked PR for the opportunity to read this ARC!

It took me a little while to settle into this story, but once I did, I was completely pulled in. I don’t usually reach for mafia or organized crime romances, so this was a pleasant surprise.

Diamond (Racquelle) is bold, fearless, and unapologetically driven. She starts working at Off Topz, a strip club owned by Blue (Milo), a man deep in the underworld and steadily building his empire. Diamond has her own agenda, a mission to prove herself, and she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty to do it. She's not just showing up, she’s taking over, and I loved every second of her energy.

Blue is the ultimate boss. He’s cold, calculated, and unapologetically in charge. But when it comes to Diamond, she chips away at his walls. Their chemistry is off the charts, and when things finally combust between them, it’s intense in all the right ways.

This book has grit, heat, tension, and heart. The dynamic between Diamond and Blue is electric, and I’m already looking forward to seeing where the series goes next.

[Jasmine Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue, the heartless character from the Alpenglow Ridge series, surprises everyone by falling in love. This book shows that there are two sides to every person. Blue isn’t a heartless person, but he’s afraid to get too close to others. This is different from how he’s portrayed in the Alpenglow Ridge series. Honestly, he’s one of my favorite men from all of the books. He’s complex and keeps you on your toes.

I didn’t like Diamond/Racquelle. Sometimes, dual POV can be interesting, but in this case, I didn’t like her thoughts. The main reason was that we get to know her actual plan. I do respect her as a businesswoman, though! She played her role well, and even though I was angry at her, she was well-written.

This is a dark romance, but I think it’s a good starting point for someone who hasn’t read a really dark romance before. I loved that this book happens at the same time as Whisk Til Peaked and Roped on the Ridge. We get some fun cameos from our favorite group.

Thanks to Zea Kayleigh Galan and Happily Booked for the ARC!

[Amanda Price (LifeWithAmandaP) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3/5🌶️🌶️🌶️

What to Expect:
💙Dark Romance
🔪Black Main Characters
💙Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
🔪Morally Grey MMC (A BOSS!)
💙Honeypot FMC (A DANCER!)
🔪Knife Play
💙Betrayal
🔪Possessive MMC
💙Touch Her &
🔪Snakes & Venom
💙Organized Crime
🔪Dual POV
💙HEA

This book had me HOOKEDDDD from page one—Diamond is THAT GIRL!!! A total GIRL BOSS making moves even when her heart is on the line, and Blue… whew, I went in ready to hate him but ended up obsessed with his possessive, ruthless, yet surprisingly vulnerable and beautiful side (funny how they do that right?). Their chemistry is EXPLOSIVE, wrapped up in betrayal, secrets, backstabbing, and the kind of forced prox that makes every scene even more HAWTTTT. Dark, sultry, and full of tension, this story gave me everything I could want in a spicy little dark romance!!

A HUGE thank you to Zea Kayleigh Galan and Happily Booked PR for sending this one over. Absolutely LOVED it and forever grateful to have been given a chance to dive into this one!!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. I don't read too much of "organized crime" theme based books, but I was excited I got the chance to read.

Diamond - Racquelle, who got a job at Off Topz, a strip bar owned by Blue - Milo, who does unsavory business to make his money. Diamond has her reasons for being there and proving to Blue and her absentee father that she can run the same business as these men and do it better. She'll do anything to get what's owed to her, even kill her own blood to get it.

Diamond had this bad b!tch vibe, and I loved it. She used what she had and got it. Even though she knew the risks, she took them.

Blue was bad a$$. He took the business his father created and made it better. Being a boss, he showed no weakness to his men, and he was loyal to those who were loyal to him.

When Diamond and Blue hit it off, it was hot! 🔥🔥 The things Blue said to Diamond had me smirking. Diamond had this way of opening up Blue when no one before her had ever done.

I enjoyed reading and can't wait to read more from this series.

ARC provided from the author and Happily Booked PR for an honest review.

[Crystal L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put down this dystopian, "who will survive" sinister-fueled book.
Enter a new post-apocalyptic world where women are being used for breeding. Think Handmaid's Tale with a twist. Briar is sent to Blue Arrow Island for defying the Regime. She refused to breed for the next generation. Blue Arrow Island is a prison meant to break you or what is left of you with no option of escaping. Briar finds herself in an unfathomable circumstance, especially when her eyes lay upon the Island's most brutal leader. She wants to escape but at what cost
This was heart-wrenching and a terrifying thought especially as a woman. The inner monologue 1 had while reading was full of my own fears. Beyond that, this dystopian nightmare had just the perfect amount of romance, the danger of it mixed with the tension made it intoxicating and I wanted more. The FMC was resilient and badass. It was high stakes, emotional, and gripping. I absolutely need to read book 2.
Thank you Happily Booked PR for the e arc, all opinions are my own.

[JoAnna VanDorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much more than Kat and “Michael’s” book. But I’m a bad boy lover so that isn’t much of a surprise 😂😂😉 Not saying I didn’t love “Michael” cause I did. Who can say no to a cowboy?? But Blue is 🥵🥵 Yes please I need one of him. And Diamond oh my I absolutely loved her!! And her last POV 🤭🤣🤣 My coworkers think I’m crazy laughing and smiling at both. I’m so beyond happy when I seen who the next book was for and definitely squealed a bit at the “stalking”. Who can say no to a good stalker romance?? I will read every book in this series, not in this see, in the past, to come in the future and literally just any book Mrs Zea writes. I absolutely love her books. So a brilliant author with a range of different characters.
Cowboys ✅
Gangsters ✅
Friends to Lovers ✅
Interracial couples ✅
BSBD ✅
Knife play ✅
Banter ✅
This list literally can go on all day. Just do yourself a favor and read a book by this amazing author.
🌶️🌶️

[OooLaLa Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danger, Betrayal, and a Side of Spice

Besties, let me spill the tea— "Into The Blue" by Zea Kayleigh Galan was suspenseful and gritty.
Rival drug Kingpin families? ✔️
Backstabbing and betrayal? ✔️
Forced proximity that had the tension (and the spice) spicing off the charts? DOUBLE ✔️.

Blue is every bit the dangerous, magnetic MMC who makes you wanna roll your eyes and roll in bed with him, and Diamond? Whew, that girl is fierce, sharp, and never afraid to match him step for step. Their chemistry was explosive, and let’s just say Diamond stumbled into some new kinks along the way 👀🔥.

The twists kept me guessing, the danger kept me hooked, and the spice? Yeah, it delivered. If you’re here for dark, intense romance where secrets and heat collide—besties, add this to your TBR immediately. As always... don't forget to read the Trigger Warnings.

My Ratings: ⭐ 4/5 ▪︎ 🥵 4/5

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly I would like to thank Zea for an ARC of Into the Blue. All thoughts are my own.

What a ride!!! This book hooked me from the first few pages and didn’t let up until the end!

Into the Blue takes us deep into the underworld of organised crime, a dark romance that explores the power dynamics in a mainly male dominated world. Diamond our FMC was my favourite, she was headstrong, knew her worth and didn’t back down from her goals, despite being in situations out of her control.

We love a strong FMC and a down bad MMC. Blue was a savage boss that was only soft for her. Once I started I couldn’t put it down, desperate to know what was going to happen. I loved meeting the side characters and learning about their stories, the Dual POV worked so well, adding to the edge of your seat feeling the book gave.

It was fast paced, actioned packed and super spicy!! What more could you want from a book! Will be recommending to everyone 💙

[Ené · Rating 4 out of 5]

How far would you let your ambitions go?

Diamonds are a girl's best friend. But this particular diamond wants nothing more than to protect her girls and take what rightfully belongs to her. After all, men are easy. However, the particular man she aimed to ally with seemed to have other plans. Now her morals are going haywire trying to justify her actions between him, the mafia boss, and him, the protector.

I actually enjoyed this, though what makes this a daunting read (my true rating is 3.5) is the code-switching. I probably haven't read enough books with this much, uh, let's say modern language. Why sugarcoat it? With modern slang. Bae, WAP, PD, and others—not on my bingo list for this book. Definitely didn't expect them here. But not unwelcome, just... jarring from what I'm used to. Definitely worth a shot.

[SMV · Rating 4 out of 5]

Into the blue is a suspenseful, organized crime, dark romance with plenty of spice and intrigue.

This is a story about a woman's journey to claim her throne. To gain control in a world dominated by men. Whatever the cost. Whatever the sacrifice. And regardless of her heart, pulling her into the dark. Into the blue.

This is a story about a man who rules the dark, finding a light and holding on, knife in deep and willing to lose everything to feel her brilliance.

In the first half of the book, you watch a man fall instantly. A man with a cold, calculated, unyielding reputation who has found a light in his darkness and is doing everything he can to be consumed by it, by her. But this is not a woman in need of saving. She has her own agenda, a lethal plan already in motion. He is a mark, just another man standing in the way of what is rightfully hers. So why does it feel like betrayal? Why is she losing herself in him? Why does being engulfed in his darkness feel like where she belongs?

As you move through the pages of their story, with each of his confessions, every secret, and every piece of himself he reveals to her, the weight of her betrayal makes for a suspenseful, seductive, and deeply emotional read. It’s a plot-driven story about forbidden lovers from rival families caught in a ruthless battle for domination and control.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book ARC and can’t wait to dive into the rest of the series. The setup for book two was absolutely perfect.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always here for a badass FMC who doesn’t take shit, and this urban romance delivered.

I’d love to see Lee’s mistress get her own story, not as a continuation but as a standalone.

Spice-wise, this is not a slow burn, but love-wise it absolutely is. It’s a love-at-first-sight, slow-burn romance filled with secrets, possession, and passion in every chapter.

I adored every second of this book.

Take a dark romance and make it Black.

I didn’t hate either the MMC or the FMC, which is rare for me. Diamond is a bad bitch who let her feelings take the wheel, and Blue is just a man trying to find his way while running his business.

Diamond is THAT girl.

This was a 5-star read with 5-star spice. It’s not smut because the plot is just as strong as the heat.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started Into the Blue, it seemed the main characters were an insta-couple and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get into the story but a few pages later I was hooked!

This book tells the story of Diamond and Blue.

Blue is this tough boss no one wants to cross but he this allure to him. He’s the type you want to hate until you see his other side.

Diamond is a storing FMC with her own secrets and plans. Shes strong, fierce and logical…until her heart has other plans. Her heart and her brain are in a tug of war.

This book kept me on my toes the entire time. With danger, spice and twists and turns I never saw coming.

I was given the privilege to be an ARC reader and this review is my own.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've dabbled in Dark Romances before... but this was something else 🤣

Diamond was definitely a badass FMC. Blue, like any true Morally Grey MMC, was truly Morally Grey and absolutely owned it.

I will say, I wished there was more of this book to really sell Blue and Diamonds relationship a bit more. They just kinda jumped in all hot and heavy and the rest was history. With that being said, I did think Zea's done a great job of describing the hustle and that sort of lifestyle! There was nothing wrong with the pacing of the book either, it was definitely within that "sweetspot" length. But, I just would have liked to see the emotional side of the relationship a little more 🫠 (I'm a yearning, tension, sappy feelings kinda gal).

All in all, the writing style and plot development kept me hooked. The spice was spicy and if you've ever wondered about knifeplay... this one is for you.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Into the Blue is a romance story between a drug kingpin and a dancer at his club. They are instantly attracted to each other, but the female lead is secretly the daughter of his rival family. She was plotting to use Blue to take over the family business, but as they spend more time together each of them starts to develop feelings for each other.

The book contains enemies to lovers, drugs, violence, snakes and venom, knifeplay, spice, etc.

Personally I thought the plot was pretty predictable and there wasn't much build-up between the two main characters. I also didn't love how he called her "bae" all the time unprompted. But otherwise a decent read.

[shadowarc13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.” Into the blue. Blue, long seen as the heartless character from the Alpenglow Ridge series, surprises readers by revealing a more vulnerable side in this novel. Rather than being cold, he is simply guarded, and this complexity makes him one of the most compelling men in the series.
By contrast, Diamond/Racquelle was less engaging for me. While dual POV can add dimension, her perspective revealed too much of her plan and lessened the tension. Still, she was a well crafted character sharp, ambitious, and convincingly written, even when frustrating.
As a dark romance, this book feels approachable for readers new to the subgenre. 💛

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, thank you so much to Zea for letting me be part of the ARC team—I have huge respect for anyone who puts their work out into the world. Publishing a book is no small feat.

For me personally, this one wasn’t 💯 my style. While I loved the obsessed MMC and that “touch her and die” vibe, and I did enjoy the intertwining storylines (with potential for spin-offs), some of the wording and phrasing didn’t quite click with me. That said, the ending and the representation included in the book were definite highlights.

Overall, it was a quick read, and while it wasn’t exactly for me, I know this story will absolutely land for the right readers.