Wretched Truth is the fourth and final interconnected standalone in the darkly addictive Wretched series, featuring the deeply troubled and morally grey Griffin brothers. Will this second chance romance be Ash Griffin's undoing, or will he find redemption? He won't know until he can prove himself to the secret child he never knew existed. Perfect for fans of S J Tilly, Catharina Maura and Sadie Kincaid.
I let her go once because I thought she deserved someone better. But she’s been hiding our daughter, and I’m done playing nice. She’s mine. She was always mine. And I’ll stop at nothing to take back my family.
“If you’ve come back to crush the last fragments of my heart, Belle, you’ve wasted your time. You left nothing in this chest except bitterness and dust.”
Wretched Truth is an interconnected standalone, but is best read after Wretched Heart, Wretched Soul and Wretched Lies to fully appreciate the finale of the overarching story, and to avoid spoilers.
Ash Griffin is the only man I ever truly loved, but love isn’t always enough, not when you’ve fallen for someone with dangerous ties to the mafia. If it had been only my safety I had to consider, I would have taken the risk. But it wasn’t just me. I had to protect the baby I was carrying. And Ash could never know.
But our daughter is no longer a secret. And I’m slowly realizing that the man I’ve just married, the one who was supposed to stop Ash coming after us, is as twisted as the lies he told to get me close. I always thought Ash would be my downfall. But I was wrong. He’s the only one who can save us. If he can forgive me. If I can forgive myself.
Ash was never the safe option. But who said love was meant to be safe?
When Belle vanished without a trace, I told myself I’d never look for her. The only woman I could ever love was better off without me. I made peace with that a long time ago.
But that peace shatters the moment she steps back into my life wearing another man’s ring.
And not just any man, but my greatest and most persistent enemy. There’s no way in hell my daughter is going to call him daddy.
Nothing is going to stop me taking back what’s mine. I want my daughter. And I want Belle too. Because no matter how much time has passed… She still belongs to me.
Please This series is intended for a mature audience.
Anna J Valentine was a traditionally published author, writing psychological suspense for over ten years before she fell in love with writing about falling in love!
Her heroines are feisty, her heroes passionate and their stories will take you on an emotional rollercoaster.
Ash had a lot of making up to do after being a total grump for the last three books, but somehow Anna J has done it!
In order to truly understand how Ash came to be his charming self, we are privy to flashbacks from 6 years ago.
In an attempt to rescue a struggling distillery, Ash travels to Eastham Grove to meet Bella, who is drowning under the debt accrued by her late father. During the time Ash spends there, he & Bella fall in love. But the distillery needs a cash injection he doesn’t have the means to provide, until he undertakes a less than legal job with the Irish Mafia, about which he confesses to Bella. Before they are able to figure out their relationship, Ash is then called to his father’s bedside.
After the funeral, he returns to Bella determined to make it work - however, he’s too late.
6 years on, Bella resurfaces but she’s in the grips of the Griffin’s wet wipe of a half brother. Barrett has fed her so many stories over the years, depicting the Griffin’s to be merciless - certainly not anyone Bella wants her daughter to be around, especially after the lengths she’s gone to to keep her paternity a secret.
Ash has an awful lot of work to do to unravel the intricate web of lies Barrett has woven. But as they dig deeper & discover just how far Barrett has his claws in Bella, Ash knows the information will devastate her.
Drama with the Russian bratva princess doesn’t help matters either!
Can Ash help Bella break down the barriers she’s carefully erected & let him step into the role he should’ve had all those years ago?
I’m so sad the Griffin brothers have come to & end, but can’t wait to see what else Anna J comes up with next. Absolutely brilliant read.
I am still buzzing after finishing this finale — what an absolute ride!
Ash had a mountain to climb after being the resident storm cloud for three books, but Anna J somehow pulled off the ultimate redemption arc. We finally get to peel back the layers through flashbacks set six years earlier, and everything about his behaviour suddenly makes heartbreaking sense.
Back then, Ash heads to Eastham Grove to help revive a failing distillery and meets Bella, who’s barely keeping things afloat after her father’s passing. Their connection is instant and intense, but the only way Ash can save the business requires him to take on a shady job for the Irish Mafia — a truth he admits to Bella before being abruptly summoned home to see his father. After the funeral, he races back to her… only to find he’s missed his chance.
Fast-forward six years, and Bella reappears — except now she’s tangled up with Barrett, Ash’s half-brother and the human equivalent of a damp tissue. He’s spent years feeding her lies about the Griffins, convincing her they’re dangerous and not the kind of people she wants anywhere near the daughter she’s worked so hard to protect. And she’s kept one massive secret: the little girl’s father.
Ash has to slowly dismantle every lie Barrett’s spun, all while uncovering just how tightly Barrett’s had Bella trapped. The truth waiting at the centre of it all is devastating. And if that wasn’t enough chaos, the bratva princess drama decides to erupt at the worst possible time.
The real question ? Can Ash break through Bella’s walls and finally step into the place in her life — and their daughter’s — that should’ve been his all along ?
I’m genuinely gutted this is the last of the Griffin brothers, but wow… what a finale. Anna J closed this series with fire, heart, and so much tension. Already counting the days until her next release. 🔥📚💕
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Wretched Truth, and this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
I couldn’t wait to read Ash’s story—grumpy MMCs always win me over, and he was no exception. The one who got away returns six years later, but of course 1/2 brother Barrett has her tangled in his web. The lines between lies and truth blur in the best, most addictive way. I absolutely loved the dynamic between the Griffin brothers, and I was so happy that in the end they each get their HEA.
There are some great surprises in this book! If you love authors Sadie Kincaid or S.J. Tilly, you’re going to fall in love with Anna J. Valentine. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
This book delivers everything: grumpy-to-sunshine, long-lost love, a secret love child, mafia drama, a web of lies vs. truth—and ultimately, one perfect HEA.
Received this book as ARC 😃 Oh Anna, you saved the best for last. I was already falling for Ash in the other 3 books. Because he is the brother you don't want to mess with. He is right behind everyone ready to have their back. Even though Ash and Belle's love story is sad and has a history. It's the best of the Griffin Brothers Series. So sad to see this series come to an end. But totally tend to by them in paperback for my collection ❤️😊
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Wow.. what an ending to this series. Could not put this books down, it’s that good. Asher’s story will break your heart for sure. ( but don’t worry is not for long). While reading the other 3 books you get - glimpse into Asher, b it this one really tells you why he acts the way he does. He’s the best big brother any of the griffins brothers could ask for. He really has his work cut out for him a Belle.
This book had me devastated through the entire first half, in the best possible way. It picks right up with Barrett and all his slippery, snake-like ways, and the secrets that unfold left me absolutely reeling. The twists were sharp, emotional, and completely addictive.
To say this wasn’t the perfect ending to the series would be an understatement, it was everything I hoped for and more.
Ash was the cherry on top for the Wretched Series. Imma Miss these Brothers….. Anna… maybe there is a sneaky sister or brother they “find” Just so we can have another????
Loved the book! Loved the series! Highly recommend it!!!
Like in life you shouldn't always Root and Love someone just because they exist. Bella was not my favourite person for a while and I still do not agree with things she did and how but it makes her human. So I gave her a chance and she grew on me. She is a lovely character with dubious life-choice-making-abilities.
I think a lesser man might not have had the outcome they did so happy it was Ash Anna wrote this for.
I cant believe this is the end of the Griffin brothers but what a way to finish with Ash and Belle, their story is filled with a lot of emotions but their love wins as it should, I love Anna J Valentine's writing you feel like you know all the characters and get so immersed in the stories this is another book you should definately read.
Definitely saved the best for last! I was most excited for Ash's story and it did not disappoint! I loved all of the brothers and their stories, but this one takes the cake. I could not put it down and I didn't want to! So many twists that I did not see coming. So many questions answered and loose ends tied up into a pretty little package at the end. I read this book in record time and I am so sad that its over! I am hoping there will be more in the future to keep some of the other character's stories going!
I have been waiting for Ash's book, and as all the other books in the Wretched series, it was amazing. It is bittersweet though since this is the last book in this series. All of the Griffin brothers are unique in each other stories. Ash is the oldest brother and has protected his brothers and his heart. Determined to never give his heart to another woman again, but when Belle, the only woman he has ever loved comes back into the picture he wants answers and he cannot help how he still feels for her. Belle ran away from Ash six years ago and shattered his heart believing she would be safer if she stayed out of his world. Her heart still only belongs to Ash, but they have a long road ahead to trust each other and open their hearts again. I loved this book and all of the characters. Don't hesitate to read it!
My oh my, what can I say.. I loved this series! I am soo so sad it has come to an end..
I was so shocked by who the FMC was... i was not anticipating that OMG..
This story was tied together so well and gave all the twists, turns, spice, and tears.
Ash is just everything.. and we get all the brothers banter and goofing off as well as heartfelt moments.
Belle is frustrating at times as well as doing what she thinks is best.. me..as the reader.. yells at her multiple times lol because i know the truth LOL but they get the HEA you know they deserve!!
This series was done so well that i cant wait to dive back in!!!!
Wretched Truth is the fourth and final installment of the Griffin Brothers series, and it delivers a powerful, emotional conclusion. This book follows Ash and Bella.
Ash is the brother most scarred by love. Burned by his past, he vowed to remain single and was often the most skeptical of his brothers’ romances—though he always came around in the end. Bella was the love of his life… until she ran from him. Years later, fate brings her back into the Griffins’ orbit when she becomes the housekeeper for their estranged and dangerous half-brother, Barrett.
Barrett has spent years spreading lies about his brothers and pursuing his own nefarious plans, including stealing the woman Ash loved. Ash discovers the truth the hard way: Bella is closer than he ever imagined and is hiding a life-altering secret—a little girl he never knew existed. To make matters worse, Bella is now married to Barrett.
Ash must break through the walls Bella built to protect herself while facing the devastating reality that he missed the first six years of his daughter’s life—and that both Bella and his child are in the hands of his enemy. As if that weren’t enough, the Russian Bratva princess who was meant to marry Barrett decides to stir up chaos and pulls Ash into her own dangerous agenda.
Thanks to Barrett’s actions, Bella is nearly taken, and Ash’s daughter is kidnapped in an attempt to control the Griffins. Ash and his brothers band together in a high-stakes rescue that leads to justice, redemption, and the ultimate victory over their enemies.
Packed with action, spice, drama, and intrigue, Wretched Truth showcases everything Anna J. Valentine does best. This series is a must-read and a satisfying conclusion to the Griffin Brothers’ journey.
So… who’s your favorite Griffin brother?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
After three books of brooding silence and emotional wreckage, Ash’s story finally lands, and somehow it lands beautifully. Wretched Truth takes a character who felt carved entirely from sharp edges and gives him a past that reframes everything. The result is painful, tender, and deeply satisfying.
The flashbacks are where this book truly shines. Six years earlier, Ash arrives in Eastham Grove to save a struggling distillery and crosses paths with Bella, who is drowning in grief and responsibility after losing her father. What sparks between them is fast and fierce, but it comes with consequences. Ash’s only option to save the business ties him to dangerous people, a truth he doesn’t hide from Bella. When family tragedy pulls him away, fate steps in with brutal timing, and by the time he returns, the future they might have had is already gone.
When Bella resurfaces years later, her life looks nothing like what Ash remembers. She’s entangled with Barrett, Ash’s half-brother, who has spent years poisoning her against the Griffin family and isolating her through fear and manipulation. Bella is no longer just protecting herself. She’s protecting a child, and she’s buried the most explosive truth of all about who that child belongs to.
What follows is a slow, emotional reckoning. Ash isn’t just fighting for Bella’s trust. He’s untangling years of lies, control, and quiet damage while confronting the cost of his own absence. The emotional weight hits hard, especially when the full truth finally comes to light. Add in perfectly timed bratva chaos, and the tension never lets up.
This is a redemption story done right. Raw, layered, and earned. Ash doesn’t get forgiveness handed to him. He fights for it, and watching him do so makes Wretched Truth one of the most compelling entries in the series.
*I received a free copy and chose to leave an honest review.
What an ending to a series! I had to gather my thoughts before I could even start writing this review. First of all, do not read this before you’ve finished the first three books, or you’ll ruin an incredible reading experience for yourself.
Ash, the family’s guardian, finally gets his turn in this last book, where all the unresolved mysteries from the entire series come together. And oh boy, the twists Anna has built into this story. Ash and Belle meet again after six years, and Belle is now married to Ash’s enemy (I’m intentionally not naming him). On top of that, Ash discovers he’s the father of a little girl.
As always, Anna has poured her heart into character development, and in this book the family’s enemy is made even more repulsive. I’m sure every reader will feel deep sympathy for Ash, Belle, and little Piper. The plot flows effortlessly, and the thriller elements are very much present.
I devoured the book in less than a day because I needed to know how it all ends. At the same time, I was scared to start it, because I had a feeling I was right—and Anna does not let the reader reach the happy ending easily. There is a happy ending, but you’ll go through tears, laughter, anger, and frustration before you reach the breathless finale. The series’ delicious side character, Killian, is someone I hope to hear more about next, because it breaks my heart to accept that there won’t be more Griffins.
In the forth and final installment with the Griffin Brothers, we get intimate with Ash, the dark and brooding patriarchal figure, by default, of the Griffin family.
After having his heart destroyed in his twenties, Ash swore off romance of any description. He has watched his 3 younger brothers fall and fall hard, but has kept his heart closed off and buried in a icy fortress.
When he returns from a trip, his entire world is knocked of his axis. Not only does he discover that the woman that completely decimated his heart, has married his weasel of a half brother, but that she has a child. HIS child!
Will Ash be able to be honest with himself and he brothers about his deepest desires and fight for the woman who has always had his heart. Or will this gorgeously grumpy & morally grey heart throb, walk away so as to keep the status quo.
His annoying 3 brothers have all found their happily ever after with their other halves, is the same possible for Ash too???
🌶️🌶️🌶️ My baby Ash!!!!! Devoureddddd this book! Ash and Belle were everything! I’ve been excited for Ash throughout the series. Like previous books, the plot, spice, and character development was absolutely amazing! I’m so sad the series ended. But Ash and Belle’s story was the perfect way to end the series. All throughout the book I wanted to yell at Belle lol I just wanted her to open her eyes and see how much Ash wants her and is on her side! I’m very happy with how the book ended and the redemption of both characters. All of the tropes were very much present during the book. I want to be able to reread this for the first time again! You get to see all of the other characters during the book still and i loved their dynamics. Ash is supposed to be the oldest brother, but his younger ones and their wives absolutely took care of him and i loved that. Loyalty ran deep! I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone!
Wretched truth is book four of the Griffin Brothers series. This book features Ash the oldest brother with the most pain and emotional damage of the four brothers. His long lost love is back in his life with many surprises good and bad, but let's be honest, a lot of bad. We finally have the conclusion of the overarching storyline with half brother Barrett and his horrific schemes.
I went through a roller coaster of emotions when reading this book from intrigue, to stress, to frustration, to sexiness, to wanting to scream, and ultimately bawling my eyes out by the end!
I'm sad to see this series ending but I can't wait to see what Anna has next in her writing repertoire. She's so good at launching you right into the action and making you care for these characters right off the bat that you can't help but be invested in her stories
YOU guys!! OMG!! What an amazing ending to this series! I was lucky enough to read all of them as ARCs and trust me this series DID NOT DISAPPOINT!
Now onto Ash and Belle, what a heartbreaking story, a failed distillery, two people who lost their parents and a love that spans through hardship and heartbreak. I appreciated how Ash took matters into his own hands when it came to getting Belle and Piper away from Barrett (what a weasel!), the way he stopped at nothing to get them back. I was not a fan of how Barrett was at the center of Belle and Ash’s heartache. Like a petulant child who wants someone else’s toy, but I suppose being raised by Alice will do that to you. The way that Piper comes to the realization that Ash is her Dad & the love that only a 5-year old can give is so pure and well written, makes you feel like your there watching it unfold.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
What a way to end this series. I knew I would love Ash, and his and Belle's story is so emotional. I didn't want this book to end!
The plot and story all comes to a head in this final book. You can read it as a stand alone but I highly recommend reading them all. You get such a better insight into the overall story and a deeper appreciation for the family dynamics.
Ash and Belle had a short relationship six years ago and are brought back together by Ash's half brother Barrett. Ash is blindsided that Belle has not only married Barrett ( he is the worst), but also has a daughter she hid from him.
This book is action packed emotional whirlwind with a smart plot and I absolutely recommend you read it!
Ash’s story, as the conclusion to this series, truly did not disappoint. It was so nice to finally get a deeper look into what makes Ash the man he’s been throughout each of his brothers’ stories, and even more rewarding to see him finally get his happily ever after.
This book is full of heart, emotion, and moments that remind you why you fell in love with this series in the first place. Without giving too much away, Anna does an amazing job bringing everything full circle while still delivering the intensity and passion we’ve come to expect from the Griffin brothers.
As hard as it is to say goodbye to this family, you definitely don’t want to skip this final installment. It’s the perfect ending to a series that has been such a joy to read.
WOW! Such a great way to end this series! I’ve loved the journey getting to know the Griffin brothers and their other half. I just knew that Asher would be my FAVORITE! I just love a broody misunderstood man! I loved the action in this book and how the ending turned out. Only thing I could wish for was more of Ash and Piper’s interactions. Seeing how he charmed Beck when all her father ever did was put her down melted my heart. I would’ve loved more of Piper and Ash! Overall a great series and I recommend it to anyone thinking about reading!
Book 4 of the Wretched series offers us chapters in the past and present to help us see what happened six years ago to shape Ash’s point of view on love.
Ash and Belle each made choices six years ago that changed the course of their lives and all those around them.
We finally saw the fourth brother fall and it was wonderful.
All the loose ends have been revealed, and Barrett is a bigger monster than we originally thought.
WOW!!!! What a way to end the series 🤩 I honestly couldn't put this book down. Anna is a genius and her writing of the gorgeous Griffin brothers is just perfect, I have been desperate for Ash's story since book 1 and it didn't disappoint. A total must read 😊 Ash is the brother with the weight of the world on his shoulders and a story you just need to read.
I just finished Ash’s story and I could not love it more! I cried as I finished it! I loved how it tied up some previous things and kept getting glimpses into how they all got “here”. Amazing book! So sad to see this story end but what and ending!
The way this series has come together is amazing, and with this being the last book, I’m really going to miss these brothers. Ash has only ever loved one woman, but she broke his heart and disappeared. Then he learns his half-brother has married his housekeeper. Belle only married Barrett to protect herself and her daughter; they’ve been old friends since college. Ash is devastated when he finds out, as Belle is his one true love and has been keeping a big secret. She doesn’t trust Ash, but he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her. It’s an incredible story full of twists, shocks, and raw emotion—I can’t wait to see what this author does next.