What do you think?
Blood & Roses #1-3
Blood & Roses Volume 1
What happens in the dark never stays in the dark.
As one of Seattle’s most dangerous, feared men, Zeth Mayfair always carried out the jobs he’s sent on without a second thought. Drugs? Guns? Dirty money? They’re all fair game. But girls? Girls are another matter entirely. When Zeth’s employer decides buying and selling kidnapped women is a lucrative sideline, Zeth’s usually uncomplicated life suddenly becomes very complicated indeed. And his biggest complication goes by the name of Sloane Romera.
Sloane’s sister is missing, and she needs to find her, yet all doors leading into the seedy world of human trafficking are firmly closed in Sloane’s face. She’s a trauma doctor; she needs information. What she really needs is help…and help presents itself in a most unlikely form. Zeth is terrifying, scandalously hot, and comes fully loaded with a terrible attitude and wicked smile. He also looks like he’s Sloane’s only hope. Can she work with the guy without getting herself killed, losing her job, or falling head over heels in love?
As one of Seattle’s most dangerous, feared men, Zeth Mayfair always carried out the jobs he’s sent on without a second thought. Drugs? Guns? Dirty money? They’re all fair game. But girls? Girls are another matter entirely. When Zeth’s employer decides buying and selling kidnapped women is a lucrative sideline, Zeth’s usually uncomplicated life suddenly becomes very complicated indeed. And his biggest complication goes by the name of Sloane Romera.
Sloane’s sister is missing, and she needs to find her, yet all doors leading into the seedy world of human trafficking are firmly closed in Sloane’s face. She’s a trauma doctor; she needs information. What she really needs is help…and help presents itself in a most unlikely form. Zeth is terrifying, scandalously hot, and comes fully loaded with a terrible attitude and wicked smile. He also looks like he’s Sloane’s only hope. Can she work with the guy without getting herself killed, losing her job, or falling head over heels in love?
Audible Audio
Published March 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,534 reviews
May 12, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ dare I say it?!? Too much spice not enough plot 😶
March 12, 2026
I NEED THE OTHER BOOK !
I NEED THAT MAN !!!!!!!
WHAT A MAN !!!!! He is ALL man and he is delicious!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
If you can please listen to the audiobook because the MMC narrator’s voice is like a raspy whisper in your ears and it makes Zeth Mayfair even HOTTER than he already is !
Love the plot, love Sloane, love how bratty and sassy she is. I love Michael and I will also now read Rebel because what you mean he is a MOTORCYCLE CLUB PRESIDENT ? That’s my addiction!
I NEED THAT MAN !!!!!!!
WHAT A MAN !!!!! He is ALL man and he is delicious!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
If you can please listen to the audiobook because the MMC narrator’s voice is like a raspy whisper in your ears and it makes Zeth Mayfair even HOTTER than he already is !
Love the plot, love Sloane, love how bratty and sassy she is. I love Michael and I will also now read Rebel because what you mean he is a MOTORCYCLE CLUB PRESIDENT ? That’s my addiction!
March 21, 2026
Okay, I'm not sure where to begin.
I feel like 3 stars is very generous of me. If this wasn't written by Callie, I probably would have dnf'd.
WHERE WAS THE CHEMISTRY?
Yeah, the spice was 🤌🏻🌶 but did they even like each other? There really wasn't anything special between them.
I liked the plot, but I felt like the story as a whole was lacking.
The FMC, I wanted to shake her so many times throughout the story. Like, girl, I know you're smart AF, so act like it.
Broody, dark MMC, but where was his yearning?
I can't believe this is the same author who wrote Kingfisher!
No chemistry, yearning or tension.
There has to be a lot of convincing for me to read book 2 because I'm disappointed.
I feel like 3 stars is very generous of me. If this wasn't written by Callie, I probably would have dnf'd.
WHERE WAS THE CHEMISTRY?
Yeah, the spice was 🤌🏻🌶 but did they even like each other? There really wasn't anything special between them.
I liked the plot, but I felt like the story as a whole was lacking.
The FMC, I wanted to shake her so many times throughout the story. Like, girl, I know you're smart AF, so act like it.
Broody, dark MMC, but where was his yearning?
I can't believe this is the same author who wrote Kingfisher!
No chemistry, yearning or tension.
There has to be a lot of convincing for me to read book 2 because I'm disappointed.
March 20, 2026
3 ⭐️ for the spice because it was hot & the ending because I wasn’t expecting that
April 2, 2026
2.5⭐️⭐️💫
I’m ngl… this one just wasn’t hitting for me 😭
They had no chemistry… like I genuinely don’t even know if they liked each other fr 😭 even they seemed confused about what was going on… and so was I 🥴
As a pair they just weren’t convincing at all. And the FMC??? I’m sorry… she was insufferable 😩 she kept making the dumbest decisions and I just could NOT get on board with her.
Of course we love an obsessive man 😮💨🖤 but even that couldn’t save it for me…ion know….
That being said… I’m ngl… the ending did push this to a 3⭐ for me 👀 because now I’m lowkey on edge and I need answers 😭
I’m sure a lot of people will enjoy this, it just wasn’t for me. I wasn’t really vibing with any of the characters and the story had some holes that I’m hoping get clarified in the next book 🤞📚
I’m ngl… this one just wasn’t hitting for me 😭
They had no chemistry… like I genuinely don’t even know if they liked each other fr 😭 even they seemed confused about what was going on… and so was I 🥴
As a pair they just weren’t convincing at all. And the FMC??? I’m sorry… she was insufferable 😩 she kept making the dumbest decisions and I just could NOT get on board with her.
Of course we love an obsessive man 😮💨🖤 but even that couldn’t save it for me…ion know….
That being said… I’m ngl… the ending did push this to a 3⭐ for me 👀 because now I’m lowkey on edge and I need answers 😭
I’m sure a lot of people will enjoy this, it just wasn’t for me. I wasn’t really vibing with any of the characters and the story had some holes that I’m hoping get clarified in the next book 🤞📚
Want to Read
October 2, 2025Surprise, surprise!!!
Give me all your morally grey characters!!!! Not one but two books in a short time, yeeeesss please
Publication date: January 20, 2026
Give me all your morally grey characters!!!! Not one but two books in a short time, yeeeesss please
Publication date: January 20, 2026
March 14, 2026
2.5 ⭐️
I read about 50% of the book and then skimmed the rest just to get to the ending. I loved that the FMC is a medical resident, and I’m always a fan of a morally gray MMC. But unfortunately the characters lacked chemistry and personality, and the story itself felt like it was missing a real plot. It just didn’t do it for me. 🤷♀️💋
I read about 50% of the book and then skimmed the rest just to get to the ending. I loved that the FMC is a medical resident, and I’m always a fan of a morally gray MMC. But unfortunately the characters lacked chemistry and personality, and the story itself felt like it was missing a real plot. It just didn’t do it for me. 🤷♀️💋
don-t-want-to-read
October 30, 2025Human trafficking. This is a reprint of her early work from 2014
March 3, 2026
First things first: check your trigger warnings. This is very dark romance and nothing like Quicksilver, so if you’re expecting that vibe you will be very disappointed.
This book dives straight into the darkness and the spice from the very beginning. It’s intense, morally gray, and definitely not for everyone. But somehow it completely pulled me in.
Zeth is that obsessive, morally gray MMC who will do anything for the FMC, and the dynamic between him and Sloane kept me hooked. The mystery surrounding the missing sister and the darker world they’re navigating kept the story moving for me.
And yes… there is a lot of spice. Like… chapter-one spicy.
This one is gritty, twisted, and very spicy, but I have to admit I was completely entertained and already curious to see where the story goes next. Thanks to forever publishing for the gifted arc.
This book dives straight into the darkness and the spice from the very beginning. It’s intense, morally gray, and definitely not for everyone. But somehow it completely pulled me in.
Zeth is that obsessive, morally gray MMC who will do anything for the FMC, and the dynamic between him and Sloane kept me hooked. The mystery surrounding the missing sister and the darker world they’re navigating kept the story moving for me.
And yes… there is a lot of spice. Like… chapter-one spicy.
This one is gritty, twisted, and very spicy, but I have to admit I was completely entertained and already curious to see where the story goes next. Thanks to forever publishing for the gifted arc.
March 23, 2026
DNF at 25%
I was excited for this because I liked Quicksilver! I just couldn’t get through the errors. I figured with a republish this would have gone through additional editing, but there are SO many problems.
It seems disrespectful to write a book about a character who is in medical training and clearly not consult anyone with a medical background. On the same page, she refers to the main character as a fifth year resident and a medical student (which is incorrect, a resident has graduated school and been practicing as a doctor, in this case for 5 years). She later calls her an intern, which is AGAIN wrong, because this refers to a first year resident. And then 2 years later, the main character is somehow still in residency, which unless she is going into neurosurgery, is very unlikely.
She also refers to her best friend, the psychologist (?) as being board certified, which is not something that happens in psychology. Psychiatry, yes, but not psychology. Different fields. All of this could have been fixed had anyone with a medical background been involved in the editing process.
Aside from these errors, the plot was fine. Tons of triggers, some seemingly unnecessary. I am realizing dark romance is probably just not for me.
I was excited for this because I liked Quicksilver! I just couldn’t get through the errors. I figured with a republish this would have gone through additional editing, but there are SO many problems.
It seems disrespectful to write a book about a character who is in medical training and clearly not consult anyone with a medical background. On the same page, she refers to the main character as a fifth year resident and a medical student (which is incorrect, a resident has graduated school and been practicing as a doctor, in this case for 5 years). She later calls her an intern, which is AGAIN wrong, because this refers to a first year resident. And then 2 years later, the main character is somehow still in residency, which unless she is going into neurosurgery, is very unlikely.
She also refers to her best friend, the psychologist (?) as being board certified, which is not something that happens in psychology. Psychiatry, yes, but not psychology. Different fields. All of this could have been fixed had anyone with a medical background been involved in the editing process.
Aside from these errors, the plot was fine. Tons of triggers, some seemingly unnecessary. I am realizing dark romance is probably just not for me.
March 14, 2026
SPICYYYYYY!! My jaw was on the floor towards the end… was not expecting that little plot twist 😳
March 16, 2026
Had no idea wtf was going on LOL
April 13, 2026
ugh no thanks, DNF at 56%... consent? we don't know her. I guess it's dark, but mostly it's just nonsensical and borderline problematic with the lack negotiated kink and consent. There is no emotional development here, they spend time either fucking or separately taking care of his suicidal ward. Read the content warnings, friends, but also consider staying away from this mess because it's just bad.
September 8, 2026
Did I go into this expecting romantasy given she wrote one of my fave fae MMCs (Kingfisher)? Yes, but that’s on me for not ever reading synopses... This is, IN FACT, a dark mafia romance (which is one of my fave genres), but this one did not land with me as expected...(more below)
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
▹Format: 📱 eReader
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– FMC: Dr. Sloane Romera (aka “angry girl” or “sweetheart”). Searching for her sister who disappeared 4 years ago, med student Sloane makes a dark deal to sell her body for answers, but little does she know that the man she crosses paths with holds more answers than he is even aware of.
– MMC: Zeth Mayfair. Dark and dangerous man who works for his uncle’s crime syndicate. Hosts orgies but also looks after a younger woman who has mental health issues.
– Location: Seattle, Washington
– POV: Dual first-person (with some flashbacks)
– Spice: 6-8 open-door spicy scenes (this gets dark, including knife and gun play, mixed with orgy and voyeurism)
– Tropes: morally gray MMC, strangers to lovers, dislike to love, missing women, a touch instalove, he’s mean to her and she loves it, if he wanted to he would, touch her and die, virgin FMC
– Content warning: human trafficking, suicide attempt (secondary character), physical abuse (FMC slaps MMC several times), MMC is rough with the FMC
– Representation: women in STEM (she’s a med student), LGBTQIA+ side character (though it’s not a major part of the story)
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
This had a really nice plot of organized crime and the dangerous aspects of what I would assume it would be like to be tied to it. This particular mafia romnace focuses around human trafficking.
I really did not care for the MMC in this one... He wasn’t just grumpy or morally gray. He was downright mean to the FMC and came across as entitled. Which was a realistic portrayal of a bad boy, but my preference in books is that he’s mean to everyone but her (there are some exceptions personally). This is obviously a personal preference, so if you like MCs who are mean to each other (but the MMC is the clear power holder), this one might be perfect for you! The other thing that I didn’t love is that the FMC slapped the MMC a few times...
But this one is definitely dark!! At times it reminded me of Lights Out by Navessa Allen minus the humor. It was well written, I have a lot of quotes highlighted that I really liked. It felt SO different to her romantasy books that I had to look up to make sure it was the same author (even though I knew it was...)
Would I Recommend?: Personally no. BUT if you love dark books that lean into danger in both the plot and the bedroom, I recommend reading some reviews with higher ratings to see if this would be for you!
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven—————✧——————Plot Driven
Fast Burn——✧—————————Slow Burn
Sweet————————✧———Spicy
Light/Fluffy——————✧—————Heavy/Emotional
•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
▹Format: 📱 eReader
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– FMC: Dr. Sloane Romera (aka “angry girl” or “sweetheart”). Searching for her sister who disappeared 4 years ago, med student Sloane makes a dark deal to sell her body for answers, but little does she know that the man she crosses paths with holds more answers than he is even aware of.
– MMC: Zeth Mayfair. Dark and dangerous man who works for his uncle’s crime syndicate. Hosts orgies but also looks after a younger woman who has mental health issues.
– Location: Seattle, Washington
– POV: Dual first-person (with some flashbacks)
– Spice: 6-8 open-door spicy scenes (this gets dark, including knife and gun play, mixed with orgy and voyeurism)
– Tropes: morally gray MMC, strangers to lovers, dislike to love, missing women, a touch instalove, he’s mean to her and she loves it, if he wanted to he would, touch her and die, virgin FMC
– Content warning: human trafficking, suicide attempt (secondary character), physical abuse (FMC slaps MMC several times), MMC is rough with the FMC
– Representation: women in STEM (she’s a med student), LGBTQIA+ side character (though it’s not a major part of the story)
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
This had a really nice plot of organized crime and the dangerous aspects of what I would assume it would be like to be tied to it. This particular mafia romnace focuses around human trafficking.
I really did not care for the MMC in this one... He wasn’t just grumpy or morally gray. He was downright mean to the FMC and came across as entitled. Which was a realistic portrayal of a bad boy, but my preference in books is that he’s mean to everyone but her (there are some exceptions personally). This is obviously a personal preference, so if you like MCs who are mean to each other (but the MMC is the clear power holder), this one might be perfect for you! The other thing that I didn’t love is that the FMC slapped the MMC a few times...
But this one is definitely dark!! At times it reminded me of Lights Out by Navessa Allen minus the humor. It was well written, I have a lot of quotes highlighted that I really liked. It felt SO different to her romantasy books that I had to look up to make sure it was the same author (even though I knew it was...)
Would I Recommend?: Personally no. BUT if you love dark books that lean into danger in both the plot and the bedroom, I recommend reading some reviews with higher ratings to see if this would be for you!
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven—————✧——————Plot Driven
Fast Burn——✧—————————Slow Burn
Sweet————————✧———Spicy
Light/Fluffy——————✧—————Heavy/Emotional
•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•
March 17, 2026
Utter perfection
Callie Hart is devastatingly good at making me feel everything, this was no exception 🔥
That’s it that’s the review.
P.s. please don’t forget to check your trigger warnings this one is HEAVY! ❤️
Callie Hart is devastatingly good at making me feel everything, this was no exception 🔥
That’s it that’s the review.
P.s. please don’t forget to check your trigger warnings this one is HEAVY! ❤️
May 19, 2026
I REALLY enjoyed this story and I loved the relationship between the FMC and MMC - but that ending?? I NEED the next book like now…😅 like how does the relationship grow and where does her sister fit in!?
April 7, 2026
I’m ngl… I don’t even know where to start with this one 😭
It just wasn’t hitting for me. Like… WHERE was the chemistry?? The spice was there, sure, but did they even like each other? I couldn’t feel any real connection, no tension… and that’s literally a crime in a romance.
Zeth had that broody and dark energy (which I usually eat up), but even that felt kinda flat without the yearning to back it up. And Sloane… omg. She tested my patience so many times. Girl, you’re smart, so PLEASE act like it 😭 the decisions she made were just NOT IT.
The plot itself had potential, and I did find parts of the story interesting, but overall it just felt like something was missing. It didn’t fully come together for me.
That said, the ending did bump this up to a 3⭐ for me. I’m lowkey intrigued now and need answers, so I might still pick up book 2, but it’s gonna take some convincing.
It just wasn’t hitting for me. Like… WHERE was the chemistry?? The spice was there, sure, but did they even like each other? I couldn’t feel any real connection, no tension… and that’s literally a crime in a romance.
Zeth had that broody and dark energy (which I usually eat up), but even that felt kinda flat without the yearning to back it up. And Sloane… omg. She tested my patience so many times. Girl, you’re smart, so PLEASE act like it 😭 the decisions she made were just NOT IT.
The plot itself had potential, and I did find parts of the story interesting, but overall it just felt like something was missing. It didn’t fully come together for me.
That said, the ending did bump this up to a 3⭐ for me. I’m lowkey intrigued now and need answers, so I might still pick up book 2, but it’s gonna take some convincing.
June 1, 2026
Nope! DNF on pg 219 & 56% in audio! Couldn’t finish it! Let me be the 1st to say…I’m a spicy lover! Gimme all the spice HOWEVER the writing is just bad in this book. My understanding is this is a republished piece of work from 2014 & you can absolutely tell her writing has improved TREMENDOUSLY since then…hence Quicksilver (one of my absolute favorite books). The plot is nonexistent…you get a little piece of the story then an ungodly amount of spice! It’s just overkill & completely took away from the potential this story could have.
March 11, 2026
DNF. What the f*ck did I just read.
June 27, 2026
There was a tiny bit of plot squeezed in between all the spice
June 14, 2026
3.85 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Smutty and fun. It was a good time.
Smutty and fun. It was a good time.
March 14, 2026
- dark romance
- her sister has been taken and she'll do ANYTHING to get her back
- she sells her body to get information on her sister
- mafia, drug lords, manipulation, relational drama
- high spice
- bad boy x good doctor
The story in itself is very intriguing but the execution of it had me pulling out of the story and checking out... I wish Sloane had stood up for herself more against Zeth. I would have loved to see more back and forth between them but instead she submits every time and even apologizes for things HE should be apologizing for....
Sadly this didn't work for me
- her sister has been taken and she'll do ANYTHING to get her back
- she sells her body to get information on her sister
- mafia, drug lords, manipulation, relational drama
- high spice
- bad boy x good doctor
The story in itself is very intriguing but the execution of it had me pulling out of the story and checking out... I wish Sloane had stood up for herself more against Zeth. I would have loved to see more back and forth between them but instead she submits every time and even apologizes for things HE should be apologizing for....
Sadly this didn't work for me
March 14, 2026
WOW! I was hooked from the start and it just kept getting better!
It was dark, it was violent and it was gripping! I am so excited for book 2, I literally can't wait!
Every part of that was perfection. Even the spicy scenes were hot and direct, not cringe or long winded.
10 out of 10 recommend!!!
It was dark, it was violent and it was gripping! I am so excited for book 2, I literally can't wait!
Every part of that was perfection. Even the spicy scenes were hot and direct, not cringe or long winded.
10 out of 10 recommend!!!
March 13, 2026
oh my
I devoured this book!!!! It was so good idk how to explain it. Finished it in less than 24 hours . Wow
I devoured this book!!!! It was so good idk how to explain it. Finished it in less than 24 hours . Wow
March 17, 2026
What do you MEAN I have to wait an entire year for the next book?!!
Did Not Finish
April 17, 2026Soft DNF for now, I’m on a reading slump and get into anything it seems 😑
May 11, 2026
X rated! Loved the story so figuring out which book to continue with on the earlier release. Looks like Book 4. Fingers crossed!
March 17, 2026
Very much a fun time spicy dark romance with a mafia vibe.
I enjoyed the FMC-strong independent baddy on a mission to find her missing sister. And the MMC was so down bad, but protective and possessive AF.
The phone scene in the bathroom was 🤌🏼
I will absolutely be continuing with this series!
I enjoyed the FMC-strong independent baddy on a mission to find her missing sister. And the MMC was so down bad, but protective and possessive AF.
The phone scene in the bathroom was 🤌🏼
I will absolutely be continuing with this series!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,534 reviews