Love Bleeds Red

Vengeful Hearts #3

by Lauren Greene

He's been searching. She's been surviving. Now they'll burn it all down.

Leon Colter has been living a lie for eighteen months—pretending he's not in love with his best friend's sister, pretending he doesn't blame himself for her disappearance, pretending he's not hanging on by a thread. When their search finally leads him back to England, he finds his past holds more secrets than he ever knew. And now nothing will stop him from bringing Bailey back—even if it means burning London to the ground.

Bailey Shea survived eighteen months of unimaginable hell, but survival came with a price. Shattered and scarred, she's learned that trust is a luxury she can't afford. Especially not with the man who kept their love a secret while she suffered in captivity.

As Leon plays a deadly game of pretense with the Brotherhood's most powerful members and Bailey fights to reclaim her strength, they're forced to confront brutal truths about betrayal, shame, and forgiveness. They must decide: will they let revenge consume what's left of their souls, or will they fight for their future together?

A hunter intent on vengeance and a survivor learning to trust again must find their way back to each other or lose everything to the darkness that threatens to consume them both.

Love Bleeds Redis book three in The Vengeful Hearts Series, a dark romance series that follows an interconnected group of vigilantes in their fight for justice and love. This book continues plotlines from I'm Not In Love (I Promise) and Bulletproof Love and should be read in series order.
Featuring:

A survivor heroine reclaiming her strength and identity
A devoted hero confronting his darkest family secrets
Second-chance love tested by trauma and time
International conspiracy and high-stakes revenge
The power of found family in healing
Emotional depth with steam that burns
Author's Note: This book contains mature themes including references to trafficking, captivity, and trauma recovery. Intended for adult readers only. Please check the content warnings. While each couple gets their HEA, the series has an ongoing plot and should be read in order.

Genres: Dark Romance

540 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2025

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this series and have been waiting for Bailey and Leons story for so long! This feels to me like the darkest book in the series as we finally see what poor Bailey has been going through while they searched for her. Heartbreaking doesnt even cover it. That being said, the book had me laughing out loud at times, and included all the characters from the previous books (including the cats)- all jokes, banter and heat still present.

If you like your dark romance with some comedy this series is definately for you and does not get enough hype - sad it's over, but glad we finally get some closure.

[Ashly · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
📚 Book #3 in the Vengeful Hearts Series [Cannot be read as a standalone]
🗣️ Dual POV
🌗 Dark Meter [Grayish]
🔫 Check Your Trigger Warnings
🖤 M/F
📕 I'm Not In Love [I Promise]
📗 Bulletproof Love

This is the Leon & Bailey's story and what a heavy story it is. We get the background from the previous two book, but to finally get to hear the story through Bailey and Leon just hits so different. Especially getting to see their love from before the abduction, and then their healing journey.

Bailey is a strong FMC with the purest heart, and Leon is a down bad golden retriever who will quite literally burn down the world for her. I do not want to give anything else away, but this was a ride that you def need to check your trigger warnings for but you should have a pretty good idea as to what is coming for you by reading the first two books.

I also loved getting to see Damon, Blake, Jasper & Falin still going strong and fighting the good fight. The way that Falin & Blake welcome bailey and support her healing journey is next level honestly. I do wish that the epilogues had more final moment from the other couples. I miss them still.

Tropes:
🩸 Brother's Best Friend
🖤 Second Chance
🩸 Found Family
🖤 Hurt/Comfort
🩸 Mutual Pining
🖤 Captured/ Rescuer
🩸 Vigilante Justice

[Jessica Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thanks to Lauren Greene for the gifted copy — all opinions are my own.

First and foremost CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS! I usually don’t get triggered but there was a point in this book that I had to step back and take a break and that is perfectly fine! PROTECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. This was a great closing book to the series. It was very dark and heavy but that was the reality of Bailey & Leon’s story. Overall I really did love this series and I think it is great overall!

[LINDSAY R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bittersweet, the best way to describe my feelings about the series being over. I am in love with every single couple from this series. I love the characters and their purpose. I feel as though I am there with them through the good and the bad. I am so happy to have resolution in this and happy that I have answers, but sad to leave this found family. This book had me laughing, crying, cheering them on. I was gasping and screaming at times, but in the end it was amazing as always I can't recommend this series enough!

[Reilly AS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really had to sit with this book before writing my review because the topics in this book in particular were very dark.

This is the 3rd and final book in the Vengeful Hearts triology. You do need to read the first two books in the series before reading this one. Each book is about a different couple but the whole premise of the series is trying to find and rescue Bailey from the people who took her.

This book is about Leon and Bailey and has three different timelines: the life before being taken, the life while being taken, and the present. There is an overall happy ending, but you do need to trudge through all of the life changing things that happen to Bailey before you get there. She spends the book figuring out who she is while things are happening to her as there have been quite a few crazy things that have happened to her.

Before reading this book, please read through the trigger list and protect yourself.

Thank you, Lauren Greene, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Amber Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

M/F
Brother's Best Friend
Victim x Savior
Second Chance
Virgin FMC
Dual Timelines
Found Family
Shared Trauma Bond
Dual POV
Brother's Best Friend
Second Chance
Hurt/Comfort
Mutual Pining
Captured/ Rescuer
Vigilante Justice

Book #3 in the Vengeful Hearts Series [Cannot be read as a standalone]
-I'm Not In Love [I Promise] (book #1)
-Bulletproof Love (book #2)
Check Your Trigger Warnings

This is the Leon & Bailey's story

"Show me i'm not broken. Help me remember what it feels like to be touched by someone who cares."

“I’m scared.”
“Of what love?”
“That I’ll never be normal again. That I’ll always be this broken version of myself, pretending everything is ok.”

“Look how perfect we fit together.”

“You’re like them you know, beautiful and peaceful, lighting up everything around you without even trying. Except I’d never want to catch you and put you in a jar. That would take away how amazing it is to watch you dance around. Bringing your glow to the rest of the world. Not because you feel obligated to, but because it’s who you are. I’m happy to sit back and be awed by your presence. So f-cking lucky.”

"Even if we were right in front of them, they wouldn't see us, you know."
"We're the invisible ones. The ones they send thoughts and prayers to online so they can feel better about their own privileged lives. ne look at us and they'd turn up their noses, cross the street, pretend we don't exist. We're dirty now. Broken. The kind of problem that makes them uncomfortable because helping us would mean admitting this shit actually happens in their perfect little world."

Getting to see their love from before the abduction, and then their healing journey was such sweet satisfaction.. perfection.
I loved getting to see Bailey and Leon's story play out and the dual timelines using Baileys journal… was done so well. Loved seeing Baileys healing journey. She is a strong FMC with a heart of gold, and Leon our golden retriever who will quite literally burn down the world for her. I don’t want to give too much away, but this was such a wild ride! You should check your trigger warnings if you’ve read the first two books IYKYK.
I loved getting to see Damon, Blake, Jasper & Falin still together and strong, fighting the good fight. The way that Falin & Blake welcome bailey with open arms and support her, is so beautiful to see.
Leon is so supportive and communicative and listens to what Bailey needs, and he accepts her choices. They’re so good together I love this couple and Bailey is such a strong bad a** lover her!

[Lunar Thistle Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review
Stars: ★★★★★
Spice: 🌶🌶
Darkness: Cloudy | Slate | Midnight | Obsidian
♥ MF
♥ Brother's Best Friend
♥ Victim x Savior
♥ Second Chance
♥ Virgin FMC
♥ Dual Timelines
♥ Found Family
♥ Shared Trauma Bond

⚠️ Sex Trafficking

Seriously this is by far my favorite book in this series.
Not only because we have a satisfying conclusion but I am glutton for trauma in my romance and this book has that in spades.

Buckle up because the HEA in this one is hard won, let me tell you.
I loved getting to see Bailey and Leon's story play out in the dual timelines and using Bailey's journal as a plot device to tell their story was so well done.

I appreciate that this book respected the healing journey of an SA and trafficking victim and that once the couple is reunited they have to work to come back together.
That part of the book is truly the highlight of the story for me because that is where the real relationship is formed.
Leon is so gentle, supportive, and most of all communicative. He listens to what Bailey needs and doesn't interfere with her choices.
Bailey's strength lies in her ability to maintain the pieces of herself while going through Hell and with that she always has a modicum of hope. She often chooses to be present and aware when it could be easier to fade away.
I actually finished the booked feeling so incredibly proud of this fictional FMC.


I do have one complaint that didn't affect the rating because I understand the author's choice based on these characters but I was frustrated by the fact that neither of them were willing to kill to save the other or themselves when given the chance.

I can quickly see this becoming a new comfort series for me especially once the audiobooks are all released.

[Ali Bourikas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished the final book in the Vengeful Hearts series. I would easily give Love Bleed Reds an 8/10 stars. I binged the entire series in only 4 days. The last book in the trilogy finally gives us Leon and Bailey’s story. Even though we don’t actually meet Bailey until the final book in the series she plays a huge role in the two books prior. Leon’s search for Bailey is about to come to a head in this book. However, will she be the same woman that he knew before she was taken a year and a half before? Or will her world have been irrevocably changed?

In order of how I liked the books this one comes in second, behind I’m Not In love and just ahead of Bulletproof Love. The series as a whole is a must read and I would give it a 9/10 stars. This book was very well written. The action was tight, and the spicy scenes left the reader wanting more, but in the best way. This book weaves the reader on a wild ride, that brings our hero’s from New York to London, Leon’s old stomping grounds.

It brings the story to end, and wraps up all the loose ends, while giving the reader a look into the aftermath of trafficking. The only thing the brought the story down was the anticlimactic ending. After 2 1/2 books I was waiting for the epic battle to end the trilogy, but it never came. As we were leading up into the final show down with who you’re lead to believe is the big bad of the series, it’s handled almost off the page. However, I still loved this book, and did feel that the ending was the perfect one for both Leon and Bailey. And of course the rest of the crew.

If you love dark romances then the Vengeful Hearts series by Lauren Greene is a must read. Enjoy!!!

[Torylee Abrams · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝒜𝓇𝒸 ℛℯ𝓋𝒾ℯ𝓌
5/5 ⭐️ 2.5/5 🌶

ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ s�� sᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴘᴘᴏʀᴛᴜɴɪᴛʏ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʀᴄ 💜 ᴛʜɪs sᴇʀɪᴇs ᴍᴇᴀɴs sᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ.

I couldn’t WAIT to get back to this series and these characters. Oh my god. Wow. I love each couple so much in different ways but Bailey the FMC, just spoke to my soul in a way I can’t explain. I loved her & Leon’s story. So fucking much. I knew this was going to be the story that wrecked me. The emotions I felt while reading this, my poor Bailey.. and Leon ugh he is everything. The dual pov & flashbacks were essential to the story. My heart was literally racing and then breaking over and over again.

My god, Love Bleeds Red put me THROUGH IT!!! I was screaming into the book, pacing my room & sobbing at certain moments. I was literally harassing Lauren in her inbox because I was NOT expecting what happens. Wow. Leon and Bailey? EVERYTHING. I think they have to be my favorite couple out of the bunch. The bombs being dropped in this book. Jaw on the floor. What a rollercoaster to the very end. And the little palm cove Easter egg was everything.
I am so so sad the series is over but oh my god. What an ending. This was PERFECTION 🥹

💜𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛'𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍
✨𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢
💜𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
✨𝙷𝚞𝚛𝚝 / 𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝
💜𝚅𝚒𝚐𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚎
✨𝚖𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐
💜𝙲𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚍/ 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚞𝚎𝚛

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leon and Bailey really put me through it with this one. You can just feel the weight of everything they’ve been through, but the way they still find these tiny moments of softness in the middle of all that darkness? Kills me. It’s emotional, gritty, and honestly feels more personal than the other books ike you’re seeing the most broken parts of these two and watching them try to put the pieces back together.

Leon is giving full “I’d burn the world for her” energy, and Bailey… she’s the kind of strong that doesn’t need to shout about it. You just know she’s a survivor. The story handles heavy stuff, but it does it with care and it really balances the pain with a sense of hope that sneaks in when you least expect it.

It’s got the revenge, the love, the found family moments that make you tear up a little everything that makes this series hit so hard. By the end, I was both sad it was over and proud of how far everyone’s come.

It’s raw, emotional, and honestly kind of beautiful in how it shows that healing doesn’t mean forgetting the past it means learning to live again, even when it still hurts.

[Jayde · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Series as a whole: 5 stars

Trope list:
-Brother's best friend
-Found family
-Vigilante justice
-Captured & Rescuer
-Second chance

A series end is always bittersweet, but this series has seen so many highs and lows that it was almost a relief to see the characters finally get their hard fought happy ending. Bailey was a ghost up until this book and even though she was the driving force of the series, we'd only learnt about her from the eyes of everyone else. Even though I knew what happened to Bailey, seeing the events that started everything from her eyes was heart breaking, but her strength was everything.

It's not often I love every book in a series, but the books in the Vengeful Hearts trilogy each had something special about them and Love Bleeds Red was no different. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC for each of these books and as a mood reader this posed a challenge, but every book in this series made it easy to move past and absolutely devour the stories. This series is great for those that want a darker romance, but want something a little easier to start off with, just make sure you read the trigger warnings.

[Kerry-Anne Nabb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last book in the series, the final instalment.
Finally into the story of Bailey, from the start of her relationship with Leon, to getting kidnapped, to 18 months of hell before being found, then the life afterwards.
The way their relationship started to develop was beautiful. Adding in the diary entries from Bailey. Leon holds so much hurt and blames himself for not being there for Bailey the night she was kidnapped.
18 months apart and both Leon and Bailey went through their own hell. What Bailey went through is the worse that could happen. She believed she is broken, that she will never be the same again. And that part is true, she will never be the girl she was before she was kidnapped, but she will be stronger than she ever could imagine.
I cried so much throughout their story, it was so heartbreaking for both of them. But then add in that little twist of who had her when they finally found her, then the aftermath.
Epilogue and Extended Epilogue, they was both perfect way to end the series.

[Morgan Jacques · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tropes:
✨ Brothers Best Friend
✨ Second Chance Romance
✨ Found Family
✨Mutual Pining

Every book has made me fall more in love with this series, and this book made me fall completely head of heels in love.

This book and series is not for everyone. There are a ton of trigger warnings, so please check the trigger warnings before reading. I also suggest reading this series in order because there are a lot of things that overlap.

There are so many things I loved about this book. You have characters that you will love and characters you will hate (but mostly love). The thing I love the most is the dual pov. I don’t want to give too much away but two characters are away from each other, and we get to know what is going on with both of them until they are together. But on top of that, we also get flashbacks and get a sense of how they were when they were originally together. I felt like it really set the tone for the story.

Though the storyline was difficult and heavy at times, I absolutely loved it. I found myself unable to put this book down because I had to find out what happened next. And there was even a few times that my jaw dropped to the floor.

[Carissa Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this a million stars, I would. Every version that I got to read of this story had me on the edge of my seat. All I wanted was for Bailey to not break and I got more than I ever bargained for in that department. She not only didn't break she was a warrior. She was so strong throughout her whole ordeal. And Leon. Poor, sweet Leon. My heart literally broke for him. He was all in from the very start and then had to deal with his love being ripped from him and then her coming back to him but not the same. I admired how he was her quiet strength. He didn't try to fix everything for her (though I know he wanted to). He gave her the time and the space to heal on her own terms without ever truly leaving her. His love for her only grew and to watch them two come back together was something truly special. I'm sad that this series is ending but it will be a top read for this year.

[Lesa Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
Overall 5/5
Spice 5/5

First CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS WARNINGS

I loved this story: it was the perfect conclusion. This is Bailey and Leon’s story. I loved that for Bailey it didn’t start at present day. Her POV started the day she went missing and led up to present day. So you weren’t wondering what was going on. Due the nature of what happened to her the spice eating gets a 5/5 it’s dark spice. This is definitely the darkest of the trilogy.

I loved how you also got diary entries from the past that show Bailey and Leon’s relationship and how it evolved. I loved everything about this story and felt it was the perfect ending.

I just want to know what about Jasmine?

[Neia Quaintance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 3. Make sure u read the other 2 before u read this book. This book starts where book 2 leaves off. Make sure u read TWs before u read this book

The search for Bailey continues, but Leon is getting closer he can feel it, and he will destroy anyone that gets in his way. Bailey is barely making it she is just surviving, but when she finds her strength, she is a force her captures didn't see coming. Bailey is gonna have to work throu her trauma that she went throu for the 18 months of her worst nightmare. This is a very good book, and I absolutely loved the series and the found family. If u like a dark book, ur gonna love this series.

[Liann Alfaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review

Dual POV
Found Family
Brother’s Best friend
Vigilante
Strong FMC
Trauma- check trigger warnings

This book was a great close out to the series. We get to finally understand and experience Leon and Bailey’s love story. I don’t usually like the different timeframes but this was so well written and important to the story to understand what Bailey went through and how it all started. I love how strong Bailey is and how she becomes even stronger afterwards. Great story and must read to get answers from questions from the first two books.

[Delilah Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

best one of the whole series. i did not see leon and bailey at all. that was a huge shock but honeslty the best part of the whole series. i was worried they were just goign to find bailey and it be the end. having her pov and her early journal entried made her a real person that i actually really felt for. so obviously they found her. turn oit leons dad was the one that had her the last 6 months???? and he was conditioning her for him???????? so weird. but thry got their revenge and he died and all the others got justice. most of the book was hust her healing and learing how to be with leon again and it was fricken adorable. i love them so muchhhhhh.

[Sara Keyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fantastic end to the series! I'll be honest going in I wasn't sure what to expect, and it easi y could have over everything that happens to Bailey and jump straight into after. But Lauren did an amazing job in providing a voice for Bailey and the abuse she suffered while still telling a beautiful love and rescue/revenge story.  If you've enjoy the first to books in the series you'll love this one too.

[Becka · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic end to this series. Lauren Greene, you always take my breath away with your books. The series was such a fantastic buildup to this book, and Bailey nd Leon's story was no disappointment. I loved that we got their start and not just their ending. I'm not going to lie yhis one was hard subject matter wise, but I felt like it was written well. You get the heavy without it being directly on page which I always appreciate! I will never stop recommending Lauren Greene or this series

[Earth Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible story. Very emotional. I absolutely loved the characters.
This is my first book by Lauren. So now I need to go back and read the first 2 books in this series.
The way this is written, it grabs ahold of your soul and you feel every emotion deeply. There are also light hearted moments with the banter between the characters that will warm your heart and make you laugh. Along with the cats.
The things that Bailey endured is heartbreaking. Human trafficking and the Monster's involved along with the trauma that they cause their victims is deeply horrifying. Bailey is a survivor through and through.
Leon with his endless search for her and the things that are discovered along the way is mind boggling. His love, patience, support and how he helps her healing journey is so very precious and heartwarming.
The ending is absolutely perfection.
I highly recommend this book. And I look forward to reading more of Lauren's books.
Please check TW before reading. Your mental health matters.
If you love this genre, this is definitely a must read.

[Bree Tingley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get to read this as an ARC copy. After reading the first book I was hooked. Each one made me fall deep and deeper in love. THIS LAST ONE THOUGH 😍 Leon with his protectiveness, devotion and love for his family and Bailey for her strength throughout the entire book honestly, took my breath away. Love Bleeds Red was a beautiful ending for the trilogy. I can't recommend this book and entire collection enough.

[jiill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe this series is over 😭 Each book has been a five star read for me. Leon and Bailey's story is so heartbreaking at times, definitely check the trigger warnings before you start. I wish I could read this whole series again 😭 Thank you Lauren Greene for the opportunity to read Love Bleeds Red ahead of its release!

[AC_BadDecisionsBookClub · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic conclusion to this dark, suspenseful romance trilogy! I had been craving Leon and Bailey's story since book 1, and this did not disappoint! There were really heavy topics and difficult circumstances that Lauren navigates beautifully as this story unfolds, and I absolutely adored this story of abuse and pain and healing and growth. It was phenomenal!

[Lisa Gaede · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Bleeds Red was hard to put down! Lauren Greene wrote a dark, emotional, and truly addictive finale. What really hooked me was Bailey's strength, and Leon's devotion - wow, the chemistry. I love a book with tension and different twists and turns, and the ending was both powerful and hopeful. It was a perfect end to the Vengeful Hearts series.

[Robin ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Bailey's and Leon's story. He is British and her brothers friend that she has a crush on.
And she was taken eighteen months ago why he heads back home to London. He is a hacker trying to get information on a sex trafficking organization.

I love his nickname for her. "Firefly ".

Very emotional book.  Check the trigger warnings before reading.  Another good book by this author.

[TheNorksWife · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kind of blew through this one and skimmed over quite a bit. The switching from past to present day always turns me off from the story, but I really wanted to see the end to this series through.

Otherwise it was a good end to the series, and am sad to see it completed.

✨No cheating ✨No cliffhanger

[Lauresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review: I loved this so much. I loved Bailey and Leon. I cried, I laughed. it is dark so please protect your heart and mind and check your TW.
I am so sad this series has come to an end but it will hold a special place in my heart.

[tiarra paduck · Rating 5 out of 5]

DEFINITELY worth the read! Make sure to check your trigger warnings before you read. Leon does everything he can just to find Bailey after shes taken and used for sex trafficking. After finding out who's involved-he burns the world down just to find her. HEA

[Charlotte Padgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW what a way to end!

I loved this book! I loved the love Leon held for Bailey and he never gave up! I love the found family and how they are all literally a big disorganised family! I will miss these characters so much! ❤️