Safe

by Nicole Maroni

After a brutal attack leaves 23-year-old Danielle clinging to life, her darkest secret is finally exposed—she’s been in a hidden, abusive relationship with Landon, a ruthless drug dealer now on the run. With no safe way forward, her protective older brother sends her into hiding with Cody, his ex-military best friend and the only man he trusts to keep her alive.

But Cody carries demons of his own, and neither of them expects the fragile trust between them to spark into something deeper. As danger draws closer and hearts get tangled, secrets and betrayal threaten to tear everything apart.

Now, Danielle must confront her past to reclaim her power.

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2025

Reviews

[Teressa Oliverio · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first page, this story had me completely hooked. The raw emotion, high-stakes danger, and tender moments of healing are woven together flawlessly. Danielle’s journey from victim to survivor is powerful and inspiring, and her chemistry with Cody practically leaps off the page. The tension—both romantic and suspenseful—kept me flying through chapters, unable to put it down. Every twist landed perfectly, and the emotional depth made the ending even more satisfying. A gripping, heartfelt, and unforgettable read!

[Alyssa Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was chosen for our bookclub and I struggled to get through it 😢

The sentences felt rushed (ie, Alex bursts into the room and calls 911, and only two sentences later the Chief is by his side).

An unnecessary amount of POVs in my opinion as well. I don’t think Thomas’ POV was helpful to the story. It could have been shown with the interrogation and had a bigger punch than reading it from Thomas himself. And I didn’t care for Alex’s POV… in a romance book, I feel like the brother’s POV takes away from the spice level.

Insta love is a no for me… one of my least favorite tropes.

A few too many cliches for my liking as well. Especially the miscommunication of “had I told her what I was supposed to tell her, none of this would have happened”.

Overall, it was a quick read and I’m glad I read it for the sole purpose of trying to find new indie authors. But none of the characters stuck out for me - they were pretty cookie-cutter.

This is only my opinion, and others may really enjoy it. But this wasn’t something I would recommend to my readers since we tend to feel the same way about books.

[A.J. FRAZIER · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was an early reader for Maroni's novel, SAFE. It follows a young woman in a horrible situation and her journey as she fights to overcome her past with her abusive ex and move forward to find trust in love again. You can tell Maroni bled into her characters, and she didn't sugarcoat the pain that comes with being in abusive relationships.

Danielle is coming from a horrible situation, and moving on isn't a fairy tale. Like a real human being, she struggles to trust again, and with that comes real human emotions such as fear, rage, and sadness. But there's also hope, and watching her claw her way back to find her life again is a journey in itself.

If you're looking for a quick read, and something different that combines romance, the realities of trauma, and the aspects of the thriller genre, look no further.

[Caroline Ashford · Rating 4 out of 5]

FINALLY a dark romance I REALLY liked. Nicole does a wonderful job of blending crime and romance in this book, and I seriously appreciated the twists and turns that it brought.
Danielle and Cody's slow-burn relationship was a wonderful change-up from the overly typical "insta-lust/love" that can sometimes be found in these more dark romances.

Also, the violence (in a literary way) was beautifully written. The abuse was handled with grace and care, not just for shock value. I found myself cringing, but in a way that was more "it's brutal and real and close to home" vs "wow this might as well be torture p*rn."

I'm looking forward to seeing more from this author, and congrats on your debut!!!!

[Madeline Madsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went in to this book hoping for a hit. I love indie authors and books, but I really struggled with this book. It definitely needed a helping hand from beta readers and editors. I love the premise of the book. I could not get past the switching POVs where it was re-told every other chapter. Also the timeline is all over the place- you are with Cody-- then with Alex 2 days later--- then back with Cody. You are in the hospital resolving issues---then back in the cellar. I wish that there was more continuity throughout. I only pushed through this because it was a book club pick or I would have DNFed.

[TabbyCat · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took just like a chapter for me to really get into it, but once I did I binge read the book. I was shocked at the resilience that Danielle has in the book after what she had happened to her at the beginning. The multi POVs I liked because I got to see some scenes from each character and know what was going on in their head at the time. I would have to say that I really liked Cody and how he was towards Danielle and also just the kind of person that he was all together. The story came together well and I am in a way glad with the outcome for Danielle, Cody, and Alex.

[Leah Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What sets this book apart is its emotional depth. It doesn’t shy away from the realities of abuse and trauma but threads them through a story of survival, trust, and second chances. The pacing keeps you turning pages—danger, betrayal, and romance woven seamlessly together.

For fans of romantic suspense with grit, high stakes, and heart, this novel delivers a powerful ride. It’s not just a love story; it’s about reclaiming power after the darkest of betrayals.

[Prairie Wildfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a ride! Safe is a suspenseful, fluff-free story of an abuse victim in hiding with her brother's best friend, hired to keep her safe. Both are determined to keep the other at arm's length. The psychological process of Danielle's relationship becoming an abusive one is so on point and your heart breaks for her and Cody as they each deal with their own trauma. The further you get into the story, the faster you are turning those pages!

[Shelby Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Safe by Nicole Maroni is a real nail-biter. From the start, you will be hooked, turning pages to find out what will happen next. Danielle’s journey is powerful and inspiring, weaving suspense, romance, and the fierce love of a big brother. This book has it all and is a must-read for anyone looking for a suspenseful story with a lot of heart and passion.

[H.N. Oetken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling until the end, this author really knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat. Her scenery descriptions are pure poetry and really immerses you into the story. The feelings that all the characters have toward each other are relatable and almost too real in some instances. I thoroughly enjoyed every twist and turn in this story!

[Samantha Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not just a run of the mill dark romance. It is a very well written and throughout story. You can tell Nicole put a lot into her characters. The sensitive topics were approached with care , but she also is not afraid to give a very realistic portrayal of abuse and things of that nature. This is a nail bitter too. The story draws you in from the beginning.

[Danielle Covert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me on a roller coaster of emotions. Seeing what Danielle went through and how she emerged on the other side was so empowering and emotional. This book hits details on domestic violence in ways that I haven’t seen before.