Deniable Secrets

by Raven Cross

In the shadowed world of killers, love is a deadly distraction and trust is a fatal mistake.

Thrust into the life of an assassin, Shyira barely survived the brutal training. Now, she must follow the rules or end up with a bullet between her eyes. Pulling the trigger is easy. Ignoring her heart? That’s the real fight. She’s drawn to the one man she can never trust.

Michael, the dangerously seductive agent, has betrayed Shyira over and over—always in service to The Collective. But when his sadistic former mentor resurfaces, dredging up a past of torment, Michael is consumed by rage and regret. Torn between his mission and an impossible desire for Shyira, he faces a choice that could destroy them both.

As treachery snakes through every corner of The Collective, the two must face more than just a dangerous foe. One wrong move could shatter everything—Michael’s revenge, Shyira’s heart, and both their lives.

If you loved the forced proximity and possessive alpha male of Kennedy Mitchell's Mine to Protect and the slow burn of JT Geissinger's Burn For You then you'll love Deniable Secrets, book two in the Society of Assassins series.

One click today to start the latest action-packed dark romantic suspense novel in this series.

382 pages, Paperback

Published August 10, 2025

Reviews

[JP18267 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow this book is intense. The minipulation and tension is high and everyone is starting to crack. The relationship between Shyla and Michael gave me whiplash. Each book gives a little more insight into the collective but left with more questions. It's hard to tell who to trust and who is just doing their job or showing their real feelings. I am hooked and can't wait to find out what happens next!

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Joanne Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Deniable Secrets” is the book in the “Society of Assassins Series.” The Collective is a secret society where your dreams, inspirations, and even your life, are no longer your own. Michael Varro is a “morally gray alpha-male, who uses seduction, mental and emotional abuse as a means to an end.” Shyira Chandler (aka Shy) is a former federal agent with the FBI, who is also now part of the collective and part of Michael’s team.

With him being Shy’s boss, it is proving a challenge for Michael, both mentally and physically. She has a compassionate personality and cares deeply about people - her family and her work colleagues. Most of all, she is attracted to Michael, but any hint of a relationship between them, signs their death warrant!

“Michael stands in front of me, wearing a black tailored suit with a sky-blue button-up shirt, holding a single white rose. How do I answer that question when I don’t know what I want? I pour another glass of wine and take a gulp. The man I’ve craved for over two years sits in front of me, asking me what I want from him. “I know now it’s not the conditioning, Shy. I love you.”

“Deniable Secrets” will keep you totally engaged from start to finish. The book has so many twists and turns - from page to page, chapter to chapter, you will not be able to put it down! The story is intriguing from the start and you will be hooked. I know I was - just love these two, warts and all! A thoroughly enjoyable read from page to page, one chapter to the next - at times you are metaphorical “on the edge of your chair” wondering what will happen next. Overall, I would highly recommend this book and you will not be disappointed 😊

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Lots of OW/OM drama

This is book 2 in the series and picks up where book 1 ended. Once again, Shyira is Shyira. She's too good for The Collective and it makes her TSTL. Her goodness isn't a true character flaw, it makes her good in the morally grey world, but it also makes it hard to like her when she does stupid, impulsive things like she does at the beginning of the book. 😒

Michael is…complicated. In contrast with Shyira, he's morally grey and callous.

I get it, The General and Sonja are sadists, but the mission with Laci and Michael is just cruel for the sake of being cruel and I felt badly for Laci.

Once the identity of Michael's mother was brought into the story, my brain latched onto Sonja and Jessup are his birth parents – I couldn't remember if we've ever been given a description of Sonja’s appearance that would indicate her age, and Jessup is approximately 15-20 years older than Michael, theoretically both of them are old enough to have had a baby together and said baby to immediately go into the system.

I wanted to trust Dav, but Shyira is a terrible judge of character, so… 🤷🏻‍♀️

Echo is something else. She's the perfect woman scorned. I don't hate her, but I don't like her either.

I received a free advance copy of this book through Booksprout and all opinions are my own.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read book one and being left with some unanswered questions, I was looking forward to book 2. I was not disappointed. The development of the relationship between Micheal and Shy was great to read and continue to root for them, although I go from loving Micheal to hating him like rapid fire!

The pace of the book was good and I wanted to continue reading to see what happened and if they got the bad guys. The writing style is easy to read and while some connections are complex with a moderate number of characters, these were all easy to remember and understand.

While I felt this book concentrated more on the overall story of the main characters, there were still snippets of the missions the characters undertook, which I liked. The overall story of book 2, answers some questions but also leaves you with others you didn’t know you had until the end.

While I am not usually a fan of action books, this slow burn, tension driven action book ticks all boxes for me and keeps me guessing throughout.

Definitely recommended and definitely can’t wait for book 3!

I received a free copy of this book and am reviewing it freely.

[Maegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - If you like Romantic Suspense this is for you. If you like Slow Burn this is for you. If you like Black Ops thrillers this is for you.

This sequel is dark. Darker than the first. And full of so much many twists and turns that you will be shook. You will say “oh sh*t”. And that’s just the plot. The romance is has so much longing and angst that every interaction, every touch between the MFC & MMC will have you yearning for the now. For the next.

And the writing! It got even better. The writing in the first was good. Compulsively readable, well crafted. This was better. Poignant at times yet still compulsive. The craft of the sentences and dialogue work, and work well together. Everything is well placed.

If you read book 1 (Deniable Asset) and were waffling around picking up the second. DO IT!

If you find this review and want to pick up the start of this hate to love Romantic Suspense series here is the link for Book 1 https://a.co/d/c37JLLK.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

And the hits just keep coming with this second book!
I cannot EVEN with the mission with Laci and Michael. I really REALLY need there to be som karmic ass kicking for the general and Sonja in the third book because the insanity they pull in the second book has to have SOME consequences right?! They can't just get away with all the manipulation!
The chemistry continues to grow with Michael and Shy but he continues to put up roadblocks for himself. SLOW burn to the EXTREME because JUST DO IT ALREADY ;)
The story line is a heavy in this book and the slow burn adds to it and makes it so much better. I like that it's not just a romance but the a full action packed story that moves the plot, and the relationship along at a perfect nail niting pace.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Anyone else having a hard time deciding if they love or hate Michael?!? This book was a wild ride of emotions, not gonna like I cried a lot. Shy was put through the wringer!!!

This is the second book in the society of assassins series and boy was I on the end of the seat the whole time. There were so many unexpected plot twists in the book that you just could predict what was coming next.

We get to see learn more about Jessup and Echo the relationship the three of them had be for they disappeared and the reason behind their disappearance.

The book is filled with lies, secrets, jealously, lust, action, heartbreak and so much more. I will over here not so patiently waiting for book three if you need me!

[Mandy Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Society of Assassins series is back with an absolute banger of a second book. The tension is through the roof as everyone starts to crack under the pressure of manipulation and deceit. My emotions were all over the place, especially with Shyira and Michael's chaotic relationship. You'll have whiplash trying to figure out if you love or hate Michael. The story unravels with jaw-dropping reveals and unexpected plot twists, but it also leaves you with more questions than answers—which only makes me more desperate for the next book. I'm completely invested in this adventurous story and this couple. If you need me, I'll be over here on the edge of my seat waiting for book three!
​I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Is the second book in the Society of Assassins series and is a GREAT addition to the series. The action, secrets, deceit, treachery, jealousy, manipulation, and betrayal only thickens as the agency puts a new mission and pressure on its operatives. Michael and Shyira continue to have an on again/off again relationship that gives you whiplash. But you can be trusted as they try to fix a failed mission. (NOTE: This book continues in a cliffhanger and I can’t wait for the next book to see how it all turns out.).

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is part 2 of an ongoing serial that's about Michael and Shyira who serve in The Collective. If you love a good dark twisty espionage romance serial this is the one for you. Shyira is a trainee gaining experiences as an assassin and Michael is a hard-core assassin seeking revenge. Their relationship yo-yo's as they're sent on a mission. What happens in this part was an engaging well written story that kept me turning the pages. I do love that you get both points of view with our characters, that were very entertaining in this copy I'd received and volunteer to read and review. This does end with a cliffhanger.

[Tesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was extra surprising for me as I really enjoyed it. A first for this author for me, makes me think I've been missing out.

Michael and Shyira were truly explosive in their dynamic. Both suspect rivals but that attraction between them was spot on.

This book was so packed with action, danger, suspense and intense. Very much a push pull relationship that was involving for me.

Very well written and a fabulous read!!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Catherine Budd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the series which continues the story of Michael and Shy along with The Collective.
Raven Cross has presented an amazing plot with characters who are both interesting and charismatic. The plot is very complex with multiple characters who present as benign but are in fact very evil.
The interactions between Michael, Echo, Jessup and the other team members keep the story moving along rather than dragging.
I will be looking forward to the next book in the series.
Well done!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anne (Izzie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing from the first book in the series this second book is fast paced and definitely doesn’t disappoint. It’s well written, and with twists and turns throughout will keep you hooked. Michael and Shyira are both strong characters and their relationship is not sunshine and roses, I can’t wait for the next book to see how it develops and what happens to the Collective.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Genoveva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shyira and Michael are back with book 2 of Society of Assassins series and are we put through a rollercoaster following their relationship. I had my jaw on the floor for several reveals in this story. I am so invested in this couple and this adventurous story! I am on the edge of my seat reading this series.

[Julee McKFly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story continues in the second book of an action packed series. The author gives twists and turns and cliffhangers that make me want the next book right away! The fmc became a little less relatable for parts of the book which is why I rated it 4 stars.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael and Shyira's ping pong relationship keeps you turning the pages. They are part of an organization of assassin's and a job that comes up sets the stakes between them. The plots are jaw dropping and give rise for speculation that draws you in having you hold your breath for the next episode.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me guessing all the way to the end, I genuinely didn’t know who to trust. The tension was real, the action felt believable, and the chemistry added just the right amount of heat. If you’re into spy stories with a seductive edge, this one’s definitely worth the read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Courtney Reads Smut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buckle up for this one. This is intense. Shyira and Michael and their relationship made my head spin. The twists and turns in this book will keep you on the edge of your seat. Jealousy. Deceit. Betrayal. This has everything for a great romantic suspense.
I do recommend reading book 1, Deniable Asset, before starting this book.

📖 380 pages
📚 Society of A$sas$ins series Book 2

[L KQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

On and Off

Michael and Shirya are off on on throughout this book while continuing their dangerous missions for the Collective. Secrets begin to unravel and losing one of their own creates doubt. It was a great read and with the ending keeping you on the edge of your seat, the next installment is sure to be explosive.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marie Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has many twists & turns that kept me engaged in the story. I can't wait for book three and everything that story will bring to this series.

[Kathy Bankston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second installment in the series Society of Assassins. There are many secrets that inhabit this story line, Deniable Secrets. The main characters Michael and Shyira continue to evolve both personally and professionally. The pacing in the development of the characters, the plot sequencing and the action scenes are very much on point through most of the book. While I may have been personally craving a little more action at times I did not want for pace and movement in the book as the story developed. All of the International intrigue and interpersonal relationships within the team and the collective itself provides really good reading entertainment. My emotions were all over the board while reading book. Being just intrigued and enjoying the genre itself and then the way the author applies a twist or a little turn really makes you want to keep reading.

I would personally recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fair amount of intrigue from the international perspective, and secret agency missions, storylines that show human and character development should consider putting this book on their list of 'to be read'. The writing is conducive to the reader's visualization of the scenes including the humanization of the hardened characters as they navigate a world where they are often the boogie man while, I believe, secretly wanting to believe they do it altruistically. But, do they know better?

[Rhiannon Blankenship · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has all the things, action, push/pull romance and can't stay away from each other. Absolutely loved, loved this book I picture John Wick meets Mr. And Mrs. Smith style that you cannot get enough of!!!