Midnight Muse

by Rii Finley

She escaped captivity, but her mind is still a prison.



When I broke free from my captors, confused and alone—with no memories of my past—the last thing I wanted was to be forced to live with a stranger. He's awkward. I don't trust his kindness. He makes me feel uneasy. There's no way in hell I'm letting yet another man violate me.



An understandably angry, guarded little survivor has invaded my home. It was love at first scowl for me. Even if she never reciprocates, I'll spend my life taking care of her every need—unless she tells me otherwise. Sometimes the recipe for healing calls for a little...spice.

As her memories return, dormant emotions reawaken. Will his devotion and support be enough to save her?

AUTHOR While the love in this book is NOT dark, there are underlying dark themes. please read the content warnings before reading. A link to the warnings can be found on my website

373 pages, Paperback

Published August 30, 2025

About the author

Rii Finley is a coffee-drinking, music-loving introvert. She finds joy in all kinds of creative outlets from painting and sculpting to writing (obviously). She loves animals and has two rambunctious boxer dogs. The Spotify team is probably concerned by how much of her listening time is consumed by Sleep Token.

Romance novels are her escape—her happy place—she's usually reading one on her phone in her down time.

If you love good banter and lighthearted humor in the midst of chaos, and prefer your books spicy and heartfelt with a splash of darkness, you've found your new favorite author!

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man I loved this story! Charli was such an incredibly strong FMC, but her story wasn’t glossed over. Her stages of grief were beautifully written and while I was reading I was wishing hard for her to find peace. Nikolai was a beautiful soul, emotionally mature and could always break tension with a joke or crazy fact. He was absolutely the perfect person to heal Charli and her trauma. I highly recommend this book and I am grateful I was given the opportunity to read this as an ARC.

[Kristin Lipponen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book. I finished it in a day. I loved the golden retriever MMC. I caught myself laughing at some of the stuff he says throughout the whole book. The FMC is such a character too. I loved her story and what she went through and the battles. I loved the detailed spicy scenes in this book. I felt like I could really picture both characters while reading. I cannot wait to see if there is a book 2(I hope there is) and who is the main characters of that book.

[Moon'S Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh God, I loved this book.. I can’t recommend it enough! 🤩🤩
The perfect contemporary slow burn romance that not only shows the trauma our FMC (Charli) went through, but also how it shaped her into someone fierce and unforgettable.

And then we have our MMC, Nickolai... What. A. Gem. I never knew I would love a submissive man this much, and he has my HEART ❤️.
His rambling had me laughing out loud more times than I can count, and the way he balanced vulnerability with charm made him unforgettable.

This book was exactly what I needed for my stressed-out life. It’s emotional, it’s funny, it’s spicy (detailing was perfect 😉), and it leaves you with that warm, satisfied feeling of reading something truly special.

Thank you so much, Rii, for letting me read this. I’m already counting down for the next one!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Midnight Muse is the first book in the Lost and Found series, but interestingly, it takes place in the middle of book two (Craving Candy). So if you’re planning to continue, go grab that one next! These could be considered interconnected standalones, and while you can read them out of order (I know I did), just take this interwoven timeline into account. If you go in blind, it might be a bit tricky to follow.

This story is a sweet, slow-burn romance with spicy scenes and a boy who falls first for a girl who’s been through hell and back. The story revolves around Charli, so most chapters are from her POV. Normally, I dislike that (I always prefer his POV 😉), but oddly enough, it worked here. It build up my anxiety and kept me hungry.

I especially loved:
💕The Russian terms of endearment
🎶The playlist at the beginning
🔚The epilogue (so satisfying!)
👀And yes… the slapping

Some of my favorite quotes:

Okay, goodbye Uncle. Thanks for bringing me your vagrant," Nikolai teases. Forget Caroline, he's officially at the top of my mental hit list.

"But if I leave, I'd miss out on the cute little faces you make while you read." I pout, trying to bring the lighter mood back. Her eyes burn into me with blazing fury. Before I can lean away, she reaches out and slaps me. She actually slaps me, hard, right across the face. I think I'm in love.

"I know this is the dumbest shit I'll ever ask, but... Why are you naked?"

What I would’ve liked more of: 🎭drama🎭
The return of her captor was over in about 1.5 pages—way too fast for such a big moment.

And a personal discovery: I do not like submissive men. 😅

But overall, a compelling read with heart, heat,... All-in-all a fantastic debut novel. Looking forward to diving into Craving Candy next!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Rii for allowing me to read this book! I so look forward to reading the next book in the series!

Onto the review:

I am typically a dark romance girly, but when I saw the advanced quotes coming up all over my feed - I knew I had to read this book. This book was a perfect mix of sugar and spice with banter between the MCs that had me laughing out loud in public places. (I am sure Rii you are not sorry for that!)

Tropes you'll find and some triggers:

🐶Amnesia and PTSD

🐶Sex captive and violence (not between MCs)

🐶Car accident and murder/death

🐶Hurt/Comfort

🐶Found Family

🐶Black cat x cinnamon roll

🐶Banter that'll make you giggle and bring a flush to your cheeks

🐶Slight BDSM-various aspects

🐶healing through magical breakfasts and sex

🐶A few surprise twists and turns that you may or may not see coming

🐶HEA- a true one with no surprises along the way

I loved Nikolai's awkwardness and Charli's spicy exterior. The Found Family bit felt a little forced in the beginning but I soon forgot that slightly rushed feeling. I loved Caroline's brazen nature but as a veterinarian I found her school storyline a little unrealistic (it certainly would not have been an option at my school). The love that builds between Nikolai and Charli doesn't feel forced or rushed, and I loved the care and attention to the pacing of their relationship. I loved how Nikolai cares for Charli so completely and freely and how Charli learns to trust again.

I won't put any spoilers (except the small one in this review 😉) but overall I found this to be a great entry point for this author and I look forward to watching her grow her writing and her world building.

[BlaireNasty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight Muse by Rii Finley is an emotionally charged, tender, and deeply compassionate story about survival, healing, and the kind of love that waits without demanding.
From the very first page, the heroine’s voice is raw and authentic. Her fear, anger, and mistrust feel heartbreakingly real, making her journey one that immediately pulls you in. Rii Finley does not romanticize trauma. Instead, she treats it with care, honesty, and respect. The internal struggle of escaping captivity while still being trapped in one’s own mind is portrayed powerfully and thoughtfully.
The male lead is a standout. His devotion is quiet, patient, and selfless, never crossing boundaries, never forcing healing, only offering safety and consistency. Their dynamic is slow-burn in the most meaningful way, built on trust rather than desire alone. Watching their connection grow as memories resurface and emotions reawaken is both emotional and rewarding.
While the romance itself isn’t dark, the underlying themes are intense, and the author is very clear about content warnings, which is greatly appreciated. This book is proof that love doesn’t need to be aggressive or possessive to be powerful. Sometimes, love is simply staying, protecting, and choosing patience.
Midnight Muse is a beautiful, painful, and hopeful read that will resonate with anyone who appreciates trauma-informed romance, strong emotional depth, and characters who feel real. Highly recommended. Just be sure to read the content warnings before diving in.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I 🖤🖤🖤🖤 this book! I enjoyed the insta-love from Nikolai and how he did everything in his power to make Charli feel safe and cared for. He took care of her as much as she would let him. Just an amazing story of trauma and triumph. Nikolai is seriously THE BEST!

Charli developing throughout this book was just heartwarming and also torturous to me because I could see how sweet & loving Nikolai was being. He just wanted to make her happy and to have her see herself the way he did but knew she needed time. The trauma she had to relive and fight to overcome was heartbreaking. The way her and her new found family lives intertwined in this story was wild!!! 🤯

This book was a first for me where the man was submissive. I was unsure if I’d like it but the first time he dropped to his knees I was a goner. 😈

🖤Tropes:
✨Amnesia
✨Forced Proximity
✨Hurt/Comfort
✨Found Family
✨Black Cat x Golden Retriever
✨He falls first
✨Unrequited Love
✨Angst
✨Banter
✨Not third act break up
✨HEA

🤤Additional tropes that make an appearance:
🖤🍆 warming
🖤dominate FMC
🖤submissive MMC
🖤breeding kink
🖤bondage (small scene but desired)
🖤Feeding kink
🖤Caregiver kink

Thank you Rii for this intoxicating ARC. It was fantastic! 💜

I noticed that Nikolai’s cousin’s book will be next and I am THRILLED for Miss Non-filtered mouth Caroline’s story! 😏

[Shellee · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ // 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you Rii Finley for giving me an opportunity to read Midnight Muse. This book was really well written. It wasn’t 100% my cup of tea, but still a really good read. I did really appreciate Charli’s character development, as well as Nikolai's willingness to learn how to take care of her throughout the book. Nikolai was a super cute character, with his willingness to try and win over Charli with his sub-service acts. I also enjoy that while Nikolai and his family are rich, they don’t flaunt it. They enjoy a humble lifestyle to an extent, at least that’s what I gathered. There were a couple of twists in the book that I wasn’t expecting, things that highlight how Charli already has a connection to Caroline, or how characters that were briefly discussed come back into play later.

This book does have female empowerment in it. A FMC that went through a traumatic experience and regained her power with the support of a kind and patient MMC. A man that would quite literally worship the ground his woman walks on.

It is a Found Family HEA, so if you’re not wanting that, this probably isn’t for you, but it is worth the read if you don’t mind how it ends. It is not a dark romance. Does it have dark themes? Yes, but it is not a dark romance.

Themes or Triggers to look out for:
Kidnap Victim FMC
Various Forms of Assault
Insinuative Breeding Kink (Captor)
Car accident
Murder

Those are probably the most questionable things, other than that, the book is pretty soft outside of that. The MMC is soft / submissive. The FMC is stand-offish / dominant. I’d definitely recommend giving the book a try. I enjoyed the story behind it for sure.

[Rebecca Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me kicking my feet like a little kid when the two MCs got together! Their story is one that doesn’t instantly happen into romance. I loved watching Charli and Nikolai develop their relationship.

He was so patient and kind and understanding throughout the entire thing. I loved it!

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC

Omg I loved this, not often am I engrossed in a book from the beginning but this had me turning pages

Check your triggers

But this happily ever after has such a heart wrenching start, I couldn't put it down.

I love the forced proximity, the dom/sub of it was 🤌 the banter between them.. just a good time, highly recommend

[lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight Muse is one of those wholesome books that you can't put down. From the beginning of the book we are on our toes and rooting for the FMC. There's tons of well done spice and the relationship doesn't feel forced. I recommend this book to everyone!

[ProofReadEdit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a spicy romance that holds passionate characters and a tension-thick plot. I love both MCs so much and feel that their story is one I will always remember. I loved reading this book and I cannot wait for the next one!

[Ashley Clements · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌶️🌶️🌶️ spice level.


Golden retriever MMC who is also a sub.

Black cat x cinnamon roll

Themes or Triggers:
Kidnap Victim (FMC)
Various Forms of Assault
Insinuative Breeding Kink (Captor)
Car accident
Murder


Over all a good read. Would highly recommend.

[Rose Horgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars! I absolutely loved it. Would recommend it!