What do you think?
Rate this book
Locks and Lies
A deliciously dark and twisted contemporary romance inspired by Rapunzel.
She’s his greatest mistake… and the one he’d risk everything for.
Ryder Finn is as charming as he is ruthless, and has built a life stealing from others. So when an opportunity arises to make some quick money, he takes it. Except the woman he’s meant to find isn’t just missing, she’s hiding. And Ryder isn’t the only one tracking her down.
Violet Sonne’s life is a fragile balance between a failing art career, and caring for a mother slipping deeper into paranoia and delusion. Until the day Violet realises the monsters her mother fears might actually be real. Desperate, she turns to the last person she should trust–the same man who was paid to find them. Ryder may be her stalker, but he’s also the only shot she has at uncovering who’s hunting her mother… and surviving it herself.
Because the closer they get to the truth, the more dangerous the lies become.
And in a world where loyalty is bought and sold... can you ever really trust a thief?
Stalker - Enemies to Lovers - Forced proximity - Obsession - Betrayal & Redemption - Fairytale reimagining
---
Locks and Lies contains explicit content, graphic violence, profanity, and topics that may be sensitive to some readers. Full details can be found listed inside the book. Recommended for 18+.
This novel is written in British English including spelling and grammar.
She’s his greatest mistake… and the one he’d risk everything for.
Ryder Finn is as charming as he is ruthless, and has built a life stealing from others. So when an opportunity arises to make some quick money, he takes it. Except the woman he’s meant to find isn’t just missing, she’s hiding. And Ryder isn’t the only one tracking her down.
Violet Sonne’s life is a fragile balance between a failing art career, and caring for a mother slipping deeper into paranoia and delusion. Until the day Violet realises the monsters her mother fears might actually be real. Desperate, she turns to the last person she should trust–the same man who was paid to find them. Ryder may be her stalker, but he’s also the only shot she has at uncovering who’s hunting her mother… and surviving it herself.
Because the closer they get to the truth, the more dangerous the lies become.
And in a world where loyalty is bought and sold... can you ever really trust a thief?
Stalker - Enemies to Lovers - Forced proximity - Obsession - Betrayal & Redemption - Fairytale reimagining
---
Locks and Lies contains explicit content, graphic violence, profanity, and topics that may be sensitive to some readers. Full details can be found listed inside the book. Recommended for 18+.
This novel is written in British English including spelling and grammar.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2026
About the author
Taylor Aston White
37 books411 followersTaylor Aston White writes deliciously dark fantasy & romance, where tension burns, secrets break, and love always wins. Based in the UK with her childhood sweetheart and their two children, she's the author of several bestselling series and loves to explore mythology and European faerie tales to create her own, modern twists.
Follow her on Instagram - @taylorastonwhite, and join her newsletter on www.taylorastonwhite.com
Be sure to follow Taylor on BookBub for the latest on sales https://bit.ly/3rNVVlm
Follow her on Instagram - @taylorastonwhite, and join her newsletter on www.taylorastonwhite.com
Be sure to follow Taylor on BookBub for the latest on sales https://bit.ly/3rNVVlm
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
March 31, 2026
Without hesitation, I can say this is one of the best retellings I have ever read - possibly the best one.
I’m one of those adults who still go to the cinema to watch fairy tales.
Locks & Lies was the first Rapunzel retelling I’ve ever read, and I had high expectations from the combination of Rapunzel and dark romance. Not to mention, I was convinced nothing could really surprise me since I practically know the original story by heart. I was wrong - and incredibly (pleasantly) surprised.
I completely fell in love with Ryder. And all those little details throughout the story (I won’t name them because of spoilers) but every single one made me so happy!
I truly enjoyed Locks & Lies, and there isn’t a single thing I would criticize about this book. Definitely a five-star read in my opinion!
I’m one of those adults who still go to the cinema to watch fairy tales.
Locks & Lies was the first Rapunzel retelling I’ve ever read, and I had high expectations from the combination of Rapunzel and dark romance. Not to mention, I was convinced nothing could really surprise me since I practically know the original story by heart. I was wrong - and incredibly (pleasantly) surprised.
I completely fell in love with Ryder. And all those little details throughout the story (I won’t name them because of spoilers) but every single one made me so happy!
I truly enjoyed Locks & Lies, and there isn’t a single thing I would criticize about this book. Definitely a five-star read in my opinion!
March 26, 2026
5 ⭐️s!
This Rapunzel-inspired dark romance doesn’t just retell a fairytale—it tears it apart and rebuilds it into something sharper, darker, and completely addictive.
Violet Sonne is a heroine that lingers with you long after the final page. She’s been hidden away most of her life, but there’s nothing weak about her. There’s a quiet strength in the way she sees the world—through art, through color, through hope—even when everything around her has been built on fear and secrets. She’s not waiting to be saved… she’s searching for answers.
And then there’s Ryder Finn.
Controlled. Detached. Dangerous in that quiet, calculated way. He has a job to do and no room for distractions—until Violet becomes exactly that. What starts as a mission quickly turns into something far more complicated, because she’s not what he expected… and definitely not someone he can ignore.
Their dynamic? Immediate tension.
It’s in the sharp dialogue, the lingering looks, the way they push and pull like they’re both fighting something inevitable. Ryder is all walls and rules, the kind that have kept him untouchable for years—but Violet slips past them without even trying. Watching him slowly lose control, piece by piece, was honestly one of the most satisfying parts of the story.
The romance leans into that enemies-to-lovers edge with a slow, simmering burn that builds into something intense and consuming. Every moment between them feels charged—like one wrong move could either ruin everything… or change it completely.
And when the story shifts into suspense? It hits.
The mystery surrounding Violet’s past and her mother’s secrets adds a constant undercurrent of tension. There’s danger, twists, and that lingering feeling that something bigger is always just out of reach. It never takes away from the romance—it elevates it. Every choice feels heavier, every connection more fragile.
What really stood out is how seamlessly it blends that fairytale foundation with darker, grittier elements. You’ll catch the familiar threads if you’re looking—but this story very much stands on its own.
And that ending…
Absolutely unhinged in the best way. The kind that makes you sit there for a minute just processing everything you just read.
If you’re into dark romance with a soft-but-strong heroine, a morally gray love interest who falls harder than he should, and a plot that keeps you on edge the entire time—this one delivers.
It’s not about being rescued.
It’s about breaking free—and deciding who’s worth the fall.
Thank you Taylor for the ARC
This Rapunzel-inspired dark romance doesn’t just retell a fairytale—it tears it apart and rebuilds it into something sharper, darker, and completely addictive.
Violet Sonne is a heroine that lingers with you long after the final page. She’s been hidden away most of her life, but there’s nothing weak about her. There’s a quiet strength in the way she sees the world—through art, through color, through hope—even when everything around her has been built on fear and secrets. She’s not waiting to be saved… she’s searching for answers.
And then there’s Ryder Finn.
Controlled. Detached. Dangerous in that quiet, calculated way. He has a job to do and no room for distractions—until Violet becomes exactly that. What starts as a mission quickly turns into something far more complicated, because she’s not what he expected… and definitely not someone he can ignore.
Their dynamic? Immediate tension.
It’s in the sharp dialogue, the lingering looks, the way they push and pull like they’re both fighting something inevitable. Ryder is all walls and rules, the kind that have kept him untouchable for years—but Violet slips past them without even trying. Watching him slowly lose control, piece by piece, was honestly one of the most satisfying parts of the story.
The romance leans into that enemies-to-lovers edge with a slow, simmering burn that builds into something intense and consuming. Every moment between them feels charged—like one wrong move could either ruin everything… or change it completely.
And when the story shifts into suspense? It hits.
The mystery surrounding Violet’s past and her mother’s secrets adds a constant undercurrent of tension. There’s danger, twists, and that lingering feeling that something bigger is always just out of reach. It never takes away from the romance—it elevates it. Every choice feels heavier, every connection more fragile.
What really stood out is how seamlessly it blends that fairytale foundation with darker, grittier elements. You’ll catch the familiar threads if you’re looking—but this story very much stands on its own.
And that ending…
Absolutely unhinged in the best way. The kind that makes you sit there for a minute just processing everything you just read.
If you’re into dark romance with a soft-but-strong heroine, a morally gray love interest who falls harder than he should, and a plot that keeps you on edge the entire time—this one delivers.
It’s not about being rescued.
It’s about breaking free—and deciding who’s worth the fall.
Thank you Taylor for the ARC
April 7, 2026
This was such a good Rapunzel retelling. As someone who practically had Tangled as my comfort movie every night during my teenage years, I recognized so many elements, and that made the experience more enjoyable. I also really liked the twist on the story; it felt fresh while still keeping that familiar core.
I struggled with the mmc a bit.. He’s exactly how he’s supposed to be though, very true to the original character. But he’s just not really my cup of tea. I tend to prefer something a bit more unhinged, so that’s definitely a me problem 😅.
As for the romance… sadly, it didn’t quite land for me. I didn’t fully connect with it, and I’m not sure if that’s because I’m in a bit of a reading slump right now, but I found it hard to stay fully engaged and motivated to keep reading.
Thank you for the ARC ❤️.
I struggled with the mmc a bit.. He’s exactly how he’s supposed to be though, very true to the original character. But he’s just not really my cup of tea. I tend to prefer something a bit more unhinged, so that’s definitely a me problem 😅.
As for the romance… sadly, it didn’t quite land for me. I didn’t fully connect with it, and I’m not sure if that’s because I’m in a bit of a reading slump right now, but I found it hard to stay fully engaged and motivated to keep reading.
Thank you for the ARC ❤️.
April 6, 2026
DNF @ 55%
i was doing my best to ignore the manwhore MMC and the way he had fucked quite literally every single woman with whom he came into contact, but him having unprotected shower sex with the FMC mere days after having sex with another woman could not be overlooked 🤢 the FMC had no dignity or common sense whatsoever
i was doing my best to ignore the manwhore MMC and the way he had fucked quite literally every single woman with whom he came into contact, but him having unprotected shower sex with the FMC mere days after having sex with another woman could not be overlooked 🤢 the FMC had no dignity or common sense whatsoever
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
I try not to compare books to the prior ones in the series. But I cannot help it with this one because I was basically obsessed with book 1: Blood and Thorns. It was sooo good.
With this one I had a hard time staying connected to the plot and the characters. The modern twist on a Rapunzel retelling/inspo was super fun. The mystery behind the hard drive and the FMCs mother was super intriguing and I liked that the pacing never let up.
I just wanted more from the characters. They were all very superficial and I really wanted more from the FMC. I did enjoy Ryder’s character the most. I mean he rides a motorcycle, he’s pierced 👀 and he has major computer hacking skills. So basically he’s super hotttt. His ties to the Russian mob kept it fun and I loved the unhinged texts throughout.
If you want a fun spicy/dark romance with a spin on a modern Rapunzel story… this is the one for you!
Thank you Twisted Tales PR and Taylor Ashton White for an eARC.
I try not to compare books to the prior ones in the series. But I cannot help it with this one because I was basically obsessed with book 1: Blood and Thorns. It was sooo good.
With this one I had a hard time staying connected to the plot and the characters. The modern twist on a Rapunzel retelling/inspo was super fun. The mystery behind the hard drive and the FMCs mother was super intriguing and I liked that the pacing never let up.
I just wanted more from the characters. They were all very superficial and I really wanted more from the FMC. I did enjoy Ryder’s character the most. I mean he rides a motorcycle, he’s pierced 👀 and he has major computer hacking skills. So basically he’s super hotttt. His ties to the Russian mob kept it fun and I loved the unhinged texts throughout.
If you want a fun spicy/dark romance with a spin on a modern Rapunzel story… this is the one for you!
Thank you Twisted Tales PR and Taylor Ashton White for an eARC.
March 26, 2026
A huge thank you to Twisted Tales PR for this ARC. This has to have been the best ARC I've read this year!
Lock & Lies had everything in it that I love in dark romance, and I literally did not want it to end!
I went into this book blind, knowing only that it was "Tangled", reimagined and retold as a dark romance.
Our FMC, Violet, is described as the real-world version of Pixar Rupunzel, and our MMC is literally called Ryder Finn. (The little Easter eggs from the movie that are spread throughout this book were such a treat, I absolutely loved it! )
Violet is sweet and innocent, an artist, and helps take care of her mentally unwell mother. But you see her strength and attitude come to light when Ryder comes barging into their lives.
And Ryder OMG, he is the very definition of morally grey! One of my absolute favourite tropes is when the MMC fucks up and you hate him and then somehow he wins you over and you love him again. Ryder was the epitome of that trope. At one point, I genuinely hated him. He truly was an asshole, but of course, he won me over with his wit and charm.
This book started off like a dark rom-com with some light stalking, witty humour, and lots of banter between Ryder and Violet. However, from the 50% mark, I knew this was not a dark rom-com. This was a dark romance with very heavy content and triggering themes. It's not often that a book starts off light and just gets darker and darker the further along you read. With that being said, the banter from Ryder lasts the entire book to lighten the heaviness just a bit.
The emotions that this book pulled out of me had me literally sobbing and wanting to hug fictional characters. I loved this story, I loved our MMC & our FMC, and genuinely did not want to stop reading. This is actually book two in this series and, so having not read the first one, I can tell you that is exactly what I'm going to do, and then patiently wait for the third instalment that comes out later this year!
Absolute banger of a read 5 ⭐️s all the way!!!!
Lock & Lies had everything in it that I love in dark romance, and I literally did not want it to end!
I went into this book blind, knowing only that it was "Tangled", reimagined and retold as a dark romance.
Our FMC, Violet, is described as the real-world version of Pixar Rupunzel, and our MMC is literally called Ryder Finn. (The little Easter eggs from the movie that are spread throughout this book were such a treat, I absolutely loved it! )
Violet is sweet and innocent, an artist, and helps take care of her mentally unwell mother. But you see her strength and attitude come to light when Ryder comes barging into their lives.
And Ryder OMG, he is the very definition of morally grey! One of my absolute favourite tropes is when the MMC fucks up and you hate him and then somehow he wins you over and you love him again. Ryder was the epitome of that trope. At one point, I genuinely hated him. He truly was an asshole, but of course, he won me over with his wit and charm.
This book started off like a dark rom-com with some light stalking, witty humour, and lots of banter between Ryder and Violet. However, from the 50% mark, I knew this was not a dark rom-com. This was a dark romance with very heavy content and triggering themes. It's not often that a book starts off light and just gets darker and darker the further along you read. With that being said, the banter from Ryder lasts the entire book to lighten the heaviness just a bit.
The emotions that this book pulled out of me had me literally sobbing and wanting to hug fictional characters. I loved this story, I loved our MMC & our FMC, and genuinely did not want to stop reading. This is actually book two in this series and, so having not read the first one, I can tell you that is exactly what I'm going to do, and then patiently wait for the third instalment that comes out later this year!
Absolute banger of a read 5 ⭐️s all the way!!!!
March 27, 2026
The way Taylor Aston White can write fairytale inspired dark romances is amazing! There were hints of the fairytale here and there but done in a unique way to the story.
Ryder felt like a mix of Deadpool and Flynn Rider, a golden retriever that’s kind of psychotic.
Violet is a soft and sweet artist just trying to care for her mother and Ryder comes into her life like a tornado.
This book is fast paced and focuses more on the plot than the romance, Ryder is also someone who doesn’t love easily so we watch that struggle unfold with his feelings for Violet adding some angst to the book.
At times some of the scenes felt more outlandish than expected for a dark romance and would kind of pull me out of the book but I’d suggest this to anyone who loves fairytale inspired books and dark romance!
This book is DARK so please check the TWs.
Thank you so much Twisted Tales PR and the author for the ARC!
Ryder felt like a mix of Deadpool and Flynn Rider, a golden retriever that’s kind of psychotic.
Violet is a soft and sweet artist just trying to care for her mother and Ryder comes into her life like a tornado.
This book is fast paced and focuses more on the plot than the romance, Ryder is also someone who doesn’t love easily so we watch that struggle unfold with his feelings for Violet adding some angst to the book.
At times some of the scenes felt more outlandish than expected for a dark romance and would kind of pull me out of the book but I’d suggest this to anyone who loves fairytale inspired books and dark romance!
This book is DARK so please check the TWs.
Thank you so much Twisted Tales PR and the author for the ARC!
April 17, 2026
I read this book in a day and a half, but it was definitely a love-hate relationship. I absolutely loved this retelling up until the 60%-70% mark. Then it took a turn for the DARK dark. CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS. There were so many mentions of SA, 🍇, and human sex trafficking in the last quarter of the book that I literally almost threw up. That's where the minus two stars came from. It's what I imagine Epstein Island to be like, but described in detail - including the use of babies, kids, and adults alike 🤮. Granted that was only a small portion of the book, but still. Almost DNF'd at 90% because it got so bad. Aside from that, I looooove me a morally gray man who falls so damn hard for the woman that he doesn't know what to do with himself. The who-did-this-to-you was strong and I ate it up. All the twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The author did a FANTASTIC job making the reader question everything they thought they knew and every person they thought could be trusted. I also loved all of the Rapunzel Easter eggs throughout this story! From direct quotes, to names, to initially self-absorbed 'arsehole' personalities 😅. This was definitely a DARK romantic suspense/thriller mystery read, with a spice level of 3.5 🌶. I didn't hate this book, but I definitely didn't love it either.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This Rapunzel retelling takes what you know from the beloved fairytale and absolutely flips it upside down. You see the familiar themes or details but in a totally reimagined way.
Violet Sonne is the kind of FMC you can’t help but fall in love with, she’s sheltered but not naïve, soft but not fragile, sunshiney in a way that makes you believe in all the good in humanity, even when life hasn’t been fair to her. She’s an artist who sees the world in color and possibility, even though her life has been shaped by her mother’s fear that someone is coming for them. Violet is resilient and determined to uncover the truth.
“This wasn’t some fairytale, and I wasn’t the damsel in distress.”
Then we have our MMC, Ryder Finn who is charming, closed‑off, and hired to find a missing USB drive… not a girl with paint‑stained fingers and a smile that knocks the air out of him. He’s supposed to be tracking down Violet’s mother, but instead he finds Violet herself, tucked away like a secret. And from the moment they meet, the chemistry is instant and impossible to ignore. Ryder becomes obsessed with Violet. There’s this draw to her that can’t explain. As much as he wants to say he doesn’t care, he really does.
“Beautiful, broken, and mine to ruin.”
Ryder has rules, no touching, no kissing, no repeats and he clings to them like armor. For him, the only person he can trust is himself. These notions have kept his life simple, predictable, and safely detached. But Violet breaks every single one of those rules without even trying. The more time he spends with her, the more those boundaries start to feel flimsy, like they were never meant to withstand someone with her kind of light. Watching him unravel slowly, reluctantly, and completely against his own intentions becomes one of the most satisfying parts of the story. Their banter is sharp, it’s the kind that sparks chemistry long before either of them is willing to acknowledge what’s happening between them. The enemies to lovers is in full force. They hate that they care so much about the other.
“I didn’t kiss. In fact, I’d never kissed, but I did with her. She’d tasted of honey and sin, and after just one taste I was already thinking about the next.”
Once Violet teams up with Ryder to help save her mom, the story kicks into full suspense mode. There are plot twists, danger, and moments where you’re not sure who to trust. The mystery around her mother’s paranoia and the missing drive keeps the tension high, but it never overshadows the emotional tether between Violet and Ryder. Instead, it amplifies it.
Loved the sunshine girl meets the emotionally guarded boy, the forced proximity, and slow‑burn tension that builds into something undeniable. This retelling delivers all of it. It blends fairy‑tale roots with grit, heart, and a suspense plot that keeps you guessing, making the romance hit even harder against the backdrop of danger and twists.
Lock & Lies doesn’t feel like just another retelling. It’s a story about choosing freedom, choosing trust, and choosing each other even when the world feels like it’s closing in.
A huge thank you Taylor Aston White for the early copy! Can’t wait the Little Mermaid retelling next!!
Violet Sonne is the kind of FMC you can’t help but fall in love with, she’s sheltered but not naïve, soft but not fragile, sunshiney in a way that makes you believe in all the good in humanity, even when life hasn’t been fair to her. She’s an artist who sees the world in color and possibility, even though her life has been shaped by her mother’s fear that someone is coming for them. Violet is resilient and determined to uncover the truth.
“This wasn’t some fairytale, and I wasn’t the damsel in distress.”
Then we have our MMC, Ryder Finn who is charming, closed‑off, and hired to find a missing USB drive… not a girl with paint‑stained fingers and a smile that knocks the air out of him. He’s supposed to be tracking down Violet’s mother, but instead he finds Violet herself, tucked away like a secret. And from the moment they meet, the chemistry is instant and impossible to ignore. Ryder becomes obsessed with Violet. There’s this draw to her that can’t explain. As much as he wants to say he doesn’t care, he really does.
“Beautiful, broken, and mine to ruin.”
Ryder has rules, no touching, no kissing, no repeats and he clings to them like armor. For him, the only person he can trust is himself. These notions have kept his life simple, predictable, and safely detached. But Violet breaks every single one of those rules without even trying. The more time he spends with her, the more those boundaries start to feel flimsy, like they were never meant to withstand someone with her kind of light. Watching him unravel slowly, reluctantly, and completely against his own intentions becomes one of the most satisfying parts of the story. Their banter is sharp, it’s the kind that sparks chemistry long before either of them is willing to acknowledge what’s happening between them. The enemies to lovers is in full force. They hate that they care so much about the other.
“I didn’t kiss. In fact, I’d never kissed, but I did with her. She’d tasted of honey and sin, and after just one taste I was already thinking about the next.”
Once Violet teams up with Ryder to help save her mom, the story kicks into full suspense mode. There are plot twists, danger, and moments where you’re not sure who to trust. The mystery around her mother’s paranoia and the missing drive keeps the tension high, but it never overshadows the emotional tether between Violet and Ryder. Instead, it amplifies it.
Loved the sunshine girl meets the emotionally guarded boy, the forced proximity, and slow‑burn tension that builds into something undeniable. This retelling delivers all of it. It blends fairy‑tale roots with grit, heart, and a suspense plot that keeps you guessing, making the romance hit even harder against the backdrop of danger and twists.
Lock & Lies doesn’t feel like just another retelling. It’s a story about choosing freedom, choosing trust, and choosing each other even when the world feels like it’s closing in.
A huge thank you Taylor Aston White for the early copy! Can’t wait the Little Mermaid retelling next!!
May 11, 2026
I don’t consider myself a dark romance girlie, but I definitely am a fairytale retelling girl so 4.5 ⭐is both high praise and maybe a favorite new subgenre?
Taylor Aston White’s “Locks & Lies” gives an undeniable nod to Disney’s “Tangled” - with lots of little Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the novel. However, we quickly deviate from the sing-a-long filter by diving introducing our morally dark grey stalker/mafia connection MMC. Ryder Finn, our leading man, has been hired to find Geraldine Hoffman and a USB drive she stole over 20 years ago. Unfortunately, Geraldine has been off the grid, basically a ghost, for 6 months. The only connection is her vibrant daughter, Violet. When the tides of London’s underground pull Violet into the middle of a mystery, Ryder has to make the ultimate decision: remain professional, even if that means giving up the only person he’s cared for OR find a new dream, one that may just involve Violet.
The storyline itself was a very interesting take on what I consider to be one of my favorite fairy tales - almost reminiscent of season 7 Once Upon A Time urbanized retellings. I loved the mafia aspects, combined efforts to take down a human trafficking ring, and making our “Mother Gothel”-esque character easy to sympathize with and redeemable due to her own circumstances. Don’t even get me started on the spicy scenes (and my personal favorite microtrope of well-placed piercings)… reading this book on an airplane was a choice!
Additionally, outside of the storyline, the author took the time to make a very comprehensive list of trigger warnings. In this list, she explicitly acknowledged the dramatization of certain mental illnesses or their characteristics to push the plot and the use of the term “crazy” when referring to affected individuals. Honestly, I think this was a compassionate thing to do and wish more authors would be as reflective.
The only reason why this was not a straight 5⭐️is, again, because I am admittedly not a dark romance girl. A couple of the spicy scenes just rubbed me the wrong way because they came off more as assault rather than consensual actions (think under the influence or verbally not wanting to be intimate). I also wish that there was a little more vulnerability between the characters to sell the insta-lust to “what is this feeling” to love pipeline. With this in mind, I will certainly be reading any fractured fairytale Taylor Aston White writes (since she might have changed my mind a bit on the dark romance/mafia plots).
🔓 Fairytale Retelling
🔓 Dark Romance
🔓 Forced proximity
🔓 🍆 piercing
🔓 Interconnected mafia standalones
GINORMOUS thank you to Twisted Tales PR and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions! I cannot wait to keep reading the next installments!
Taylor Aston White’s “Locks & Lies” gives an undeniable nod to Disney’s “Tangled” - with lots of little Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the novel. However, we quickly deviate from the sing-a-long filter by diving introducing our morally dark grey stalker/mafia connection MMC. Ryder Finn, our leading man, has been hired to find Geraldine Hoffman and a USB drive she stole over 20 years ago. Unfortunately, Geraldine has been off the grid, basically a ghost, for 6 months. The only connection is her vibrant daughter, Violet. When the tides of London’s underground pull Violet into the middle of a mystery, Ryder has to make the ultimate decision: remain professional, even if that means giving up the only person he’s cared for OR find a new dream, one that may just involve Violet.
The storyline itself was a very interesting take on what I consider to be one of my favorite fairy tales - almost reminiscent of season 7 Once Upon A Time urbanized retellings. I loved the mafia aspects, combined efforts to take down a human trafficking ring, and making our “Mother Gothel”-esque character easy to sympathize with and redeemable due to her own circumstances. Don’t even get me started on the spicy scenes (and my personal favorite microtrope of well-placed piercings)… reading this book on an airplane was a choice!
Additionally, outside of the storyline, the author took the time to make a very comprehensive list of trigger warnings. In this list, she explicitly acknowledged the dramatization of certain mental illnesses or their characteristics to push the plot and the use of the term “crazy” when referring to affected individuals. Honestly, I think this was a compassionate thing to do and wish more authors would be as reflective.
The only reason why this was not a straight 5⭐️is, again, because I am admittedly not a dark romance girl. A couple of the spicy scenes just rubbed me the wrong way because they came off more as assault rather than consensual actions (think under the influence or verbally not wanting to be intimate). I also wish that there was a little more vulnerability between the characters to sell the insta-lust to “what is this feeling” to love pipeline. With this in mind, I will certainly be reading any fractured fairytale Taylor Aston White writes (since she might have changed my mind a bit on the dark romance/mafia plots).
🔓 Fairytale Retelling
🔓 Dark Romance
🔓 Forced proximity
🔓 🍆 piercing
🔓 Interconnected mafia standalones
GINORMOUS thank you to Twisted Tales PR and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions! I cannot wait to keep reading the next installments!
April 22, 2026
This book really reignited my love for Tangled! It took an already amazing story and put such an interesting twist on it, and I really enjoyed reading this re-imagining of one of my favorite movies. After reading Blood and Thorns and finding Ryder so charming, I was super excited for Ryder and Violet's story, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. I ended up really liking both MCs for entirely different reasons. Violet's optimism and bravery was so refreshing to read, and I thought she was really relatable and fun to read from the perspective of. Ryder was so very charming (like I knew he would be), and I loved his witty one-liners. Just like with Sebastian, Taylor Aston White really knows how to write a morally gray man. Ryder was SO hot and attractive, I can't really talk about him without blushing. I also really liked that he's got depth to him; he's not just a rugged yet charming thief but has a well-developed backstory that explains why he is the way he is. Also, I adored how he became gentle and sweet and protective over her and really their whole dynamic. They both helped each other heal and change for the better in some way, and it's so stinking sweet. That's not to dismiss the absolute craziness of this book (not in a bad way, I really enjoyed it). There's tons of twists, jaw-dropping moments, and wild stuff going down in this book, Taylor Aston White really knows how to write an interesting and engaging book that does not release you from its grasp. There were a few moments where I had to close the book, sit there, and scream into my pillow. BUT! I did have lots of fun reading it, and I'm super excited for the next book in the Twisted Ever After series and who it will be about...! Thank you to the author and to Twisted Tales PR for allowing me to arc-read again for this book!
**ALSO!!! Please check out the trigger warnings before reading! The book gets pretty dark and could definitely be triggering, so please check out the warnings before!**
I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
**ALSO!!! Please check out the trigger warnings before reading! The book gets pretty dark and could definitely be triggering, so please check out the warnings before!**
I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW
Locks and lies by @taylorastonwhite
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
Thank you for the ARC read @taylorastonwhite and @twistedtalespr - I do love a grumpy MMC who falls hard and bless him Ryder is down so bad for Violet.
I love a fairy tale retelling so much and Blood and Thorns (book 1 in the series) is an absolute favourite of mine. When I heard that @taylorastonwhite was moving on from beauty and the beast (book 1) to Rapunzel for book 2 in the series I was beyond excited.
I would say the fairy tale theme is less immediately obvious in locks and lies and while still present it’s not as strong in its theme as book 1 but that doesn’t make it any less of a good read. We have a sweet and always optimistic FMC and a grumpy MMC with a heap of childhood baggage. Forced together as a result of the FMC needing protecting and the MMCs job going all a bit wrong.
It’s a super easy read but with some good angst and tension. I would have happily read another 100 pages of more exploration of that tension, the banter between Violet and Ryder and getting into some more gritty aspects of their relationship. There are some darker themes within it but as you can tell from my other reviews, I eat up dark romances so I would say this is on the lighter side of a dark romance.
The plot has some good twists and turns and at times I was like 💥 I wasn’t expecting that. Book 1 will@forever have my heart but book 2 is a good read too. Now we wait for book 3 - the little mermaid!!! I can not wait!!!
Locks and lies by @taylorastonwhite
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
Thank you for the ARC read @taylorastonwhite and @twistedtalespr - I do love a grumpy MMC who falls hard and bless him Ryder is down so bad for Violet.
I love a fairy tale retelling so much and Blood and Thorns (book 1 in the series) is an absolute favourite of mine. When I heard that @taylorastonwhite was moving on from beauty and the beast (book 1) to Rapunzel for book 2 in the series I was beyond excited.
I would say the fairy tale theme is less immediately obvious in locks and lies and while still present it’s not as strong in its theme as book 1 but that doesn’t make it any less of a good read. We have a sweet and always optimistic FMC and a grumpy MMC with a heap of childhood baggage. Forced together as a result of the FMC needing protecting and the MMCs job going all a bit wrong.
It’s a super easy read but with some good angst and tension. I would have happily read another 100 pages of more exploration of that tension, the banter between Violet and Ryder and getting into some more gritty aspects of their relationship. There are some darker themes within it but as you can tell from my other reviews, I eat up dark romances so I would say this is on the lighter side of a dark romance.
The plot has some good twists and turns and at times I was like 💥 I wasn’t expecting that. Book 1 will@forever have my heart but book 2 is a good read too. Now we wait for book 3 - the little mermaid!!! I can not wait!!!
Review of advance copy
💜💛ARC Review💛💜
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I had the pleasure of beta and ARC reading this book, and holy hell, it’s amazing!! Also, did I tell you it’s a Tangled retelling? I couldn’t believe the twists and turns that Taylor put in it; they had me shocked!! This book will break you; the back story of both characters breaks your heart, especially Ryder. That man has gone through so much, and seeing the rules he has because of the trauma— no touching, no kissing, and no repeats. He sticks to these rules because it’s his only way to control his life, but you realize really quickly that Violet is an exception. This man is obsessed with Violet. Violet is sheltered, but she isn’t naive; she’s the type of character that you just fall in love with. I love seeing these two fall for each other, especially since the chemistry between these two is explosive. And the banter had me dying!!! These characters have motives and flaws and darkness in them, and it makes them feel real, and your heart gets broken for them. But watching these two fall for each other is beautiful and real. The way the author is able to add the tangled elements is beautiful, and you wouldn’t be able to tell it was a retelling with how she writes. If you want a book that will tear your heart out and make you throw your Kindle across the room because your heart is breaking but then put back together, this book is for you!! You will laugh and you will cry, but oh, it’s soooo good.
💜💛Thank you so much for the ARC! This review is my opinion💛💜
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I had the pleasure of beta and ARC reading this book, and holy hell, it’s amazing!! Also, did I tell you it’s a Tangled retelling? I couldn’t believe the twists and turns that Taylor put in it; they had me shocked!! This book will break you; the back story of both characters breaks your heart, especially Ryder. That man has gone through so much, and seeing the rules he has because of the trauma— no touching, no kissing, and no repeats. He sticks to these rules because it’s his only way to control his life, but you realize really quickly that Violet is an exception. This man is obsessed with Violet. Violet is sheltered, but she isn’t naive; she’s the type of character that you just fall in love with. I love seeing these two fall for each other, especially since the chemistry between these two is explosive. And the banter had me dying!!! These characters have motives and flaws and darkness in them, and it makes them feel real, and your heart gets broken for them. But watching these two fall for each other is beautiful and real. The way the author is able to add the tangled elements is beautiful, and you wouldn’t be able to tell it was a retelling with how she writes. If you want a book that will tear your heart out and make you throw your Kindle across the room because your heart is breaking but then put back together, this book is for you!! You will laugh and you will cry, but oh, it’s soooo good.
💜💛Thank you so much for the ARC! This review is my opinion💛💜
March 27, 2026
4.5⭐️
This is a dark Rapunzel retelling that had me hooked from the start 🔥
Violet is our FMC that has grown up fairly sheltered due to her mom’s belief that bad people were after them. Violet is trying to get her mom the right doctors, the right medicine, anything to control the episodes.
Ryder is our MMC, a man who gets paid to do unseemly things. This time, the job is to find a USB drive. Violet’s mom is believed to have it so Ryder stalks Violet to get close to the mom.
Things quickly spiral and they’re both on the run. Turns out, Violet’s mom may have been right all along and now they’re all in danger.
Violet is the sunshine here, with zero sense of self-preservation. Even after a number of dangerous encounters, she makes the most questionable decisions…the kind where you scream “why???” at your Kindle. But Ryder is her one shot at getting to the bottom of this mystery.
Ryder is a man hardened by life and rightfully so. A tragic childhood left him with both physical and emotional scars, sensory triggers, and a small circle of those he trusts. He’s truly baffled by Violet and her approach to life. His internal dialogue is both dark & delightful, I loved it 🖤
These two together were 🔥 She hates him. He’s confused by her. Neither of them know what’s happening between them. I love how Ryder confronts his old habits and new feelings, with spectacular groveling by the way.
Do check those trigger warnings on this one 🖤
This is a dark Rapunzel retelling that had me hooked from the start 🔥
Violet is our FMC that has grown up fairly sheltered due to her mom’s belief that bad people were after them. Violet is trying to get her mom the right doctors, the right medicine, anything to control the episodes.
Ryder is our MMC, a man who gets paid to do unseemly things. This time, the job is to find a USB drive. Violet’s mom is believed to have it so Ryder stalks Violet to get close to the mom.
Things quickly spiral and they’re both on the run. Turns out, Violet’s mom may have been right all along and now they’re all in danger.
Violet is the sunshine here, with zero sense of self-preservation. Even after a number of dangerous encounters, she makes the most questionable decisions…the kind where you scream “why???” at your Kindle. But Ryder is her one shot at getting to the bottom of this mystery.
Ryder is a man hardened by life and rightfully so. A tragic childhood left him with both physical and emotional scars, sensory triggers, and a small circle of those he trusts. He’s truly baffled by Violet and her approach to life. His internal dialogue is both dark & delightful, I loved it 🖤
These two together were 🔥 She hates him. He’s confused by her. Neither of them know what’s happening between them. I love how Ryder confronts his old habits and new feelings, with spectacular groveling by the way.
Do check those trigger warnings on this one 🖤
March 30, 2026
Violet is a struggling artist trying to support her mom, who suffers from paranoia and delusions. Ryder is a charming thief sent to retrieve an item from Violet's mom. When the seemingly simple job takes a turn for the worse, Violet and Ryder must work together to figure out the mysterious entity that's hunting them. As secrets start to unravel, Violet is forced to confront a dark world she's been shielded from while Ryder struggles with emotions that Violet forces him to feel.
Points of interest:
Rapunzel fairytale retelling
Mafia
BDSM
Only she can touch me
Mental health rep
Triggers:
Sexual assault
Torture
DubCon
Drug/alcohol
Pedophilia and grooming
Human trafficking
Trauma
Thoughts:
This is the second book I've read by Taylor in the fairytale telling series. While I liked the nods to the fairytale in the first book, I feel like I needed a little more separation from the source material for this story. Some of the quotes and wording felt pulled exactly from the source material and was a bit jarring for me while reading because my mind jumped to the source material in that moment. There was a lot of dark twists and secrets in this book and I can't say any of the characters were particularly redeemed by the end. There was also some things that didn't quite feel resolved by the time I finished reading. An entertaining read overall, but not my favorite retelling and I probably wouldn't read this one again.
Points of interest:
Rapunzel fairytale retelling
Mafia
BDSM
Only she can touch me
Mental health rep
Triggers:
Sexual assault
Torture
DubCon
Drug/alcohol
Pedophilia and grooming
Human trafficking
Trauma
Thoughts:
This is the second book I've read by Taylor in the fairytale telling series. While I liked the nods to the fairytale in the first book, I feel like I needed a little more separation from the source material for this story. Some of the quotes and wording felt pulled exactly from the source material and was a bit jarring for me while reading because my mind jumped to the source material in that moment. There was a lot of dark twists and secrets in this book and I can't say any of the characters were particularly redeemed by the end. There was also some things that didn't quite feel resolved by the time I finished reading. An entertaining read overall, but not my favorite retelling and I probably wouldn't read this one again.
April 24, 2026
A Dark Rapunzel retelling
This book was interesting but also hard to read. Personally I love Rapunzel, Tangled is my favorite Disney princess movie. What I liked about this book was some of the obvious Tangled references, the hey Blondie and the name of Ryder, among others. However I struggled to get through this book. Now I like the MMC Ryder, his witty banter, sarcasm and the fact that he was just an asshole is the reason I kept reading because to be honest I wanted to stop reading at the 60-75% mark. The MMC is not a good guy and there is so many red flags from him but he kept the story going. As for the MFC Violet, lord she was just annoying and so naive it became it bit much. I mean how many times does something bad need to happen for you to see a red flag or learn. I also did not like how she would just wilt under the MMC, it was just weird especially after he had done something horrible to her. She did open her eyes slightly but not quick enough for my liking. The last 20% was especially hard to read because the book became so much darker, I'm talking E-Files themes dark, I was literally cringing, please read the trigger warnings before reading. Personally I liked book 1 better, if the witty sarcastic humor from the MMC was not present it would of become a DNF. However I would like a Roman story, that should be interesting.
This book was interesting but also hard to read. Personally I love Rapunzel, Tangled is my favorite Disney princess movie. What I liked about this book was some of the obvious Tangled references, the hey Blondie and the name of Ryder, among others. However I struggled to get through this book. Now I like the MMC Ryder, his witty banter, sarcasm and the fact that he was just an asshole is the reason I kept reading because to be honest I wanted to stop reading at the 60-75% mark. The MMC is not a good guy and there is so many red flags from him but he kept the story going. As for the MFC Violet, lord she was just annoying and so naive it became it bit much. I mean how many times does something bad need to happen for you to see a red flag or learn. I also did not like how she would just wilt under the MMC, it was just weird especially after he had done something horrible to her. She did open her eyes slightly but not quick enough for my liking. The last 20% was especially hard to read because the book became so much darker, I'm talking E-Files themes dark, I was literally cringing, please read the trigger warnings before reading. Personally I liked book 1 better, if the witty sarcastic humor from the MMC was not present it would of become a DNF. However I would like a Roman story, that should be interesting.
May 5, 2026
This is the second book from the Twisted Ever After series. I really loved the first book, and this one too. This dark Rapunzel retelling has a lot of references from the Tangled movie. Ryder is just like the one from the movie charming and cunning, but here he is truly a bad boy that doesn’t stop being a bad boy. Violet aka Rapunzel is sweet and caring of her mother but also strong and courageous. He brings out the darkness in her and she brings out the light in him.
The spicy scenes will make you blush, I know I did hehe. You hate to love Ryder and you love to hate him. He does very questionable things regarding Violet and just when you think he has softened for her, he flips it on you. When it comes to Violet, he breaks his own rules, he is obsessed with her, and many times you find yourself rooting for them. There are a lot of secrets regarding Violet and her Mom that sometimes the dark themes turn even darker so make sure to read the trigger warnings. You may think you know where the story is going, but then it takes an unexpected turn. I was satisfied with the ending and where the MCs ended up. Violet accepts Ryder’s darkness and he pushes her to try new things. The perfect bad boy x good girl trope for adults.
Thank you Twisted Tales PR and Taylor for the early copy. This is my honest opinion.
The spicy scenes will make you blush, I know I did hehe. You hate to love Ryder and you love to hate him. He does very questionable things regarding Violet and just when you think he has softened for her, he flips it on you. When it comes to Violet, he breaks his own rules, he is obsessed with her, and many times you find yourself rooting for them. There are a lot of secrets regarding Violet and her Mom that sometimes the dark themes turn even darker so make sure to read the trigger warnings. You may think you know where the story is going, but then it takes an unexpected turn. I was satisfied with the ending and where the MCs ended up. Violet accepts Ryder’s darkness and he pushes her to try new things. The perfect bad boy x good girl trope for adults.
Thank you Twisted Tales PR and Taylor for the early copy. This is my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This twisted take on a classic Tangled x Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder story, or in this case Violet Sonne and Ryder Finn is one I tried not to devour but to rather savor.
Greta is running from a past haunting her in more ways than one, Ryder is looking to cash in on a bounty, and Violet is the unfortunate one caught in between the chaos and the lies.
Violet finds herself torn between the safety of herself and Greta, or the infuriating man trying to cash in on the bounty.
As the lies unravel Violet finds it difficult to trust those around her but somehow survival depends on picking your poison and hoping you live to tell the tale.
The secrets run deep and the scars, possibly even deeper.
Will the truth set Violet free or ruin everything she's ever known?
A classic enemies to potential lovers... or is it? You'll have to read it and find out.
This is the second book I've read by Taylor Aston White, and it definitely won't be the last.
I absolutely loved this, and I sat laughing out loud more times than I could count.
The line that now lives rent free in my head has to be: “You’re up in bum-fuck nowhere playing babysitter while the rest of us are cleaning up your mess.”
Honestly 10/10
Greta is running from a past haunting her in more ways than one, Ryder is looking to cash in on a bounty, and Violet is the unfortunate one caught in between the chaos and the lies.
Violet finds herself torn between the safety of herself and Greta, or the infuriating man trying to cash in on the bounty.
As the lies unravel Violet finds it difficult to trust those around her but somehow survival depends on picking your poison and hoping you live to tell the tale.
The secrets run deep and the scars, possibly even deeper.
Will the truth set Violet free or ruin everything she's ever known?
A classic enemies to potential lovers... or is it? You'll have to read it and find out.
This is the second book I've read by Taylor Aston White, and it definitely won't be the last.
I absolutely loved this, and I sat laughing out loud more times than I could count.
The line that now lives rent free in my head has to be: “You’re up in bum-fuck nowhere playing babysitter while the rest of us are cleaning up your mess.”
Honestly 10/10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author and @twistedtalespr for this amazing eARC!!
This book had me in a chokehold from the start....dark, gritty, and just the right amount of unhinged. The Rapunzel-inspired twist pulled me in immediately, but it was the tension, obsession, and constant what is happening next energy that kept me flipping pages like my life depended on it. Ryder and Violet are so incredibly multi-dimensional. He’s morally gray in the way I live for, and she’s strong in a quiet, desperate, survival-driven way that made me root for her from the beginning.
Their dynamic? Messy, intense, and addictive. Stalker to protector with enemies-to-lovers tension and forced proximity… yeah, I ate that up. 🤭
The suspense in this one is SO well done. The twists kept coming, and not the predictable kind...you genuinely don’t see half of it coming. There’s a heavy, dark undertone throughout (definitely check triggers), especially with the trafficking elements, but it adds so much depth and stakes to the story.
This was one of those books I kept saying “just one more chapter” until suddenly it was 2am. I was fully invested in Violet and Ryder and needed to see how it all unraveled. I’ll absolutely be picking up Blood & Thorns next because I need more of this series immediately.
This book had me in a chokehold from the start....dark, gritty, and just the right amount of unhinged. The Rapunzel-inspired twist pulled me in immediately, but it was the tension, obsession, and constant what is happening next energy that kept me flipping pages like my life depended on it. Ryder and Violet are so incredibly multi-dimensional. He’s morally gray in the way I live for, and she’s strong in a quiet, desperate, survival-driven way that made me root for her from the beginning.
Their dynamic? Messy, intense, and addictive. Stalker to protector with enemies-to-lovers tension and forced proximity… yeah, I ate that up. 🤭
The suspense in this one is SO well done. The twists kept coming, and not the predictable kind...you genuinely don’t see half of it coming. There’s a heavy, dark undertone throughout (definitely check triggers), especially with the trafficking elements, but it adds so much depth and stakes to the story.
This was one of those books I kept saying “just one more chapter” until suddenly it was 2am. I was fully invested in Violet and Ryder and needed to see how it all unraveled. I’ll absolutely be picking up Blood & Thorns next because I need more of this series immediately.
Review of advance copy received from Autorin bzw. Autor
“You called me heartless, and maybe you’re right. But I don’t know if I want to be anymore. Not for you.”
Having already had the chance to read the beta version of Locks and Lies by Taylor Aston White, I can honestly say I cannot wait for everyone else to finally experience this book.
The MMC? Wonderfully obsessed. The yearning? Off the charts. The tension? Absolutely insane.
And the spice… let’s just say it’s on a whole different level. Every scene feels soo intense and while I would have happily taken a few more (because they were that good), the ones we do get absolutely deliver.
The plot is genuinely engaging and refreshingly different. It doesn’t feel like one of those fantasy retellings you’ve already read a hundred times. You really root for the characters, even when you want to shake them, hoping they’ll grow and somehow find their way to a happy ending.
If I had to mention one thing, the kidnapping element isn’t quite my personal preference (I might still be a little influenced by Haunting/Hunting Adeline) but that’s entirely on me and didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the story overall.
I loved it and already can’t wait for the next books in this series!! 4,5 ⭐
Having already had the chance to read the beta version of Locks and Lies by Taylor Aston White, I can honestly say I cannot wait for everyone else to finally experience this book.
The MMC? Wonderfully obsessed. The yearning? Off the charts. The tension? Absolutely insane.
And the spice… let’s just say it’s on a whole different level. Every scene feels soo intense and while I would have happily taken a few more (because they were that good), the ones we do get absolutely deliver.
The plot is genuinely engaging and refreshingly different. It doesn’t feel like one of those fantasy retellings you’ve already read a hundred times. You really root for the characters, even when you want to shake them, hoping they’ll grow and somehow find their way to a happy ending.
If I had to mention one thing, the kidnapping element isn’t quite my personal preference (I might still be a little influenced by Haunting/Hunting Adeline) but that’s entirely on me and didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the story overall.
I loved it and already can’t wait for the next books in this series!! 4,5 ⭐
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book. It was my first time reading this author, and now I’m already planning to go back and pick up their earlier work.
Going in, I wasn’t sure how a Rapunzel retelling would play out. I expected a few familiar things but instead the story kept surprising me and was so unique. There are subtle nods to Tangled which I loved but the direction it takes with Rapunzel feels fresh and completely its own.
The story follows Violet, an artist trying to carve out her place in the art world while also caring for her mother Greta who struggles with delusions. Then we have Ryder who is a morally grey thief, driven by greed and always chasing his next payday. When he takes on a job to retrieve something valuable, his path crosses with Violet and in order to get the job done he makes a deal with Violet.
Once they start working together they begin to realise that her mother’s delusions might not be delusional after all...
The plot moves quickly and never feels predictable. Forced proximity is one of my favourite tropes, and it works perfectly here. Ryder and Violet have incredible chemistry, and the tension ands spice between them was amazing
Ryder is the definition of morally grey and I loved him!
Going in, I wasn’t sure how a Rapunzel retelling would play out. I expected a few familiar things but instead the story kept surprising me and was so unique. There are subtle nods to Tangled which I loved but the direction it takes with Rapunzel feels fresh and completely its own.
The story follows Violet, an artist trying to carve out her place in the art world while also caring for her mother Greta who struggles with delusions. Then we have Ryder who is a morally grey thief, driven by greed and always chasing his next payday. When he takes on a job to retrieve something valuable, his path crosses with Violet and in order to get the job done he makes a deal with Violet.
Once they start working together they begin to realise that her mother’s delusions might not be delusional after all...
The plot moves quickly and never feels predictable. Forced proximity is one of my favourite tropes, and it works perfectly here. Ryder and Violet have incredible chemistry, and the tension ands spice between them was amazing
Ryder is the definition of morally grey and I loved him!
March 27, 2026
"And I know that you're so fucking hopeful it drives me mad. You believe everything will work out, even when it shouldn't. And because you believe it... I almost believe it too."
4.75 stars
I LOVE the story of Rapunzel, so I was so excited for this sequel by Taylor and she did not disappoint! This story was familiar enough in its Rapunzel references and characters, while still holding its own and adding a much darker spin to the Disney classic. Ryder was definitely my favorite part of this book; his character was so cocky yet charming and I loved his inner dialogue. Violet was a chaotic and optimistic balance to his cynicism and need for control, and their chemistry slowly grew into something neither could live without. The momentum slowed a little for me in the third act, but overall I devoured this dark retelling and cannot wait for the next!🖤
Tropes: opposites attract, dark Rapunzel retelling, charming morally grey hero, sunshine heroine-in-danger, who hurt you, forced proximity, he falls first and hard, touch her and die, hate-to-love-you, stalker vibes, good girl, slow burn, STEAMY🔥
Spice rating: 🌶🌶🌶🌶 / 5
*ARC provided by the author,and I voluntarily reviewed it*
April 14, 2026
I got the ARC version of this book on a Tuesday and couldn’t put it down.
Seriously, I am still reeling from Violet and Ryder’s dynamic. I went in for the Rapunzel vibes, but I stayed for the absolute chaos of their relationship.
The plot actually goes hard, it’s not just a backdrop for the romance.
Violet is basically trapped in this depressing apartment by her mother’s intense paranoia, trying to make it as an artist while her life feels like it's stalling out. But everything shifts when she witnesses a literal murder, and suddenly the "monsters" her mother warned her about are very real.
Enter Ryder. He’s a high-ranking thief who is sent to "clean up" the witness, but instead, he becomes completely fixated on her. When he ends up kidnapping her, the forced proximity is off the charts.
The way the plot weaves their connection into this bigger conspiracy involving the mafia and Violet's own family secrets kept me hooked. I loved seeing Violet stop being a victim and start playing Ryder’s game, while Ryder goes from being her biggest threat to the only person she can actually trust. If you love a story where the "hero" is a total criminal who would burn the world down just to keep the FMC in his sight, you need to read this yesterday.
Seriously, I am still reeling from Violet and Ryder’s dynamic. I went in for the Rapunzel vibes, but I stayed for the absolute chaos of their relationship.
The plot actually goes hard, it’s not just a backdrop for the romance.
Violet is basically trapped in this depressing apartment by her mother’s intense paranoia, trying to make it as an artist while her life feels like it's stalling out. But everything shifts when she witnesses a literal murder, and suddenly the "monsters" her mother warned her about are very real.
Enter Ryder. He’s a high-ranking thief who is sent to "clean up" the witness, but instead, he becomes completely fixated on her. When he ends up kidnapping her, the forced proximity is off the charts.
The way the plot weaves their connection into this bigger conspiracy involving the mafia and Violet's own family secrets kept me hooked. I loved seeing Violet stop being a victim and start playing Ryder’s game, while Ryder goes from being her biggest threat to the only person she can actually trust. If you love a story where the "hero" is a total criminal who would burn the world down just to keep the FMC in his sight, you need to read this yesterday.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Locks & Lies by Taylor Aston White
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
I was so excited to dive into this book, and I devoured it in less than two days! I loved this retelling of Rapunzel and also appreciated that it was a dark romance. I hadn’t read book one, but I didn’t feel lost at all.
A grumpy MMC who doesn’t want to find love but is now obsessed with Violet — hello Ryder!
Violet is such an optimist; I just wanted to hold her hands through all the craziness she became a part of. Ryder was hilarious, and I loved watching him struggle with his feelings for Violet.
I would have been happy to read more about their relationship after the conflict was resolved, but I am very pleased with how it ended.
The twists and turns in the story were phenomenal; it kept me hooked the entire read! I can’t wait for the next book in this series!!
“Violet tasted like an addiction. Something I’d carve into my next breath. And the only way to kill an addiction like that is to cut it off cold.”
“You called me heartless, and maybe you’re right. But I don’t know if I want to be anymore. Not for you.”
“You’re the sunshine in a storm.”
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
I was so excited to dive into this book, and I devoured it in less than two days! I loved this retelling of Rapunzel and also appreciated that it was a dark romance. I hadn’t read book one, but I didn’t feel lost at all.
A grumpy MMC who doesn’t want to find love but is now obsessed with Violet — hello Ryder!
Violet is such an optimist; I just wanted to hold her hands through all the craziness she became a part of. Ryder was hilarious, and I loved watching him struggle with his feelings for Violet.
I would have been happy to read more about their relationship after the conflict was resolved, but I am very pleased with how it ended.
The twists and turns in the story were phenomenal; it kept me hooked the entire read! I can’t wait for the next book in this series!!
“Violet tasted like an addiction. Something I’d carve into my next breath. And the only way to kill an addiction like that is to cut it off cold.”
“You called me heartless, and maybe you’re right. But I don’t know if I want to be anymore. Not for you.”
“You’re the sunshine in a storm.”
March 30, 2026
🖤🖤🖤 Locks & Lies 🖤🖤🖤
🖤 Rapunzel retelling
🖤 Mafia Romance
🖤 Stalker
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
Spice: 🌶🌶
Stars: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I love Taylor's writing style, its always so easy to get lost in her stories. This is a gritty mafia romance wrapped in a rapunzel retelling and Disney's Tangled will never be the same again!!
Ryder's personality shines in this book, he is hilarious and dangerously charming. My heart broke for him when he was recounting his childhood and it made me love him all the more. The text message thread between Ryder and Violet is absolute gold.
Roman deserves a medal for his patience with Ryder; I really hope we get his story at some point.
Violet wears optimisim like a second skin, much to Ryder's frustration. She focuses on the beauty in her harsh reality and when faced with the evil in the world she does not wilt like the soft flower everyone believes her to be.
The contrast between Ryder and Violet's personality are the definition of opposites attract, I really liked the dynamic between them.
I loved am loving this series and cannot wait for the next installment. Taylor is quickly becoming an auto-buy author, her books are fabulous, highly recommend this read.
🖤 Rapunzel retelling
🖤 Mafia Romance
🖤 Stalker
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
Spice: 🌶🌶
Stars: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I love Taylor's writing style, its always so easy to get lost in her stories. This is a gritty mafia romance wrapped in a rapunzel retelling and Disney's Tangled will never be the same again!!
Ryder's personality shines in this book, he is hilarious and dangerously charming. My heart broke for him when he was recounting his childhood and it made me love him all the more. The text message thread between Ryder and Violet is absolute gold.
Roman deserves a medal for his patience with Ryder; I really hope we get his story at some point.
Violet wears optimisim like a second skin, much to Ryder's frustration. She focuses on the beauty in her harsh reality and when faced with the evil in the world she does not wilt like the soft flower everyone believes her to be.
The contrast between Ryder and Violet's personality are the definition of opposites attract, I really liked the dynamic between them.
I loved am loving this series and cannot wait for the next installment. Taylor is quickly becoming an auto-buy author, her books are fabulous, highly recommend this read.
April 3, 2026
Another installment in the Twisted Ever After and it lives up to the series name with a twist on a classic fairytale!
Violet is an artist trapped in the real world (far less colorful, a bit more drab, tbh), and she's trying to take care of her mom all while trying to hold down a job with a terrible boss. Then she meets a guy who is asking about art lessons for his "sister". Their chemistry is electric! Their banter is fresh and engaging! Ryder throws Violet off her game and her general life plans. He's a kind of refreshing tornado of confidence, swagger, and annoying charm. Just what Violet needs (even if she doesn't realize it).
Ryder has had a complicated life and now lives on his own terms. He was not expecting a ray of sunshine to upset his careful untouched life. He's on a job to find something from years ago and that puts him on a path to meet Violet. Unlike most of the women he enjoys, there's something about Violet that keeps him intrigued. Violet keeps him on his toes and probably gives him some gray hair.
The story is engaging and filled with twists and turns, plus there's plenty of chemistry and banter between the two leads!
There are several content warnings: violence (graphic), explicit steamy content 😏, trafficking, and some less than savory behavior.
This is the second book in the Twisted Ever After series and can be read as a standalone, though I do recommend reading the first book first.
Violet is an artist trapped in the real world (far less colorful, a bit more drab, tbh), and she's trying to take care of her mom all while trying to hold down a job with a terrible boss. Then she meets a guy who is asking about art lessons for his "sister". Their chemistry is electric! Their banter is fresh and engaging! Ryder throws Violet off her game and her general life plans. He's a kind of refreshing tornado of confidence, swagger, and annoying charm. Just what Violet needs (even if she doesn't realize it).
Ryder has had a complicated life and now lives on his own terms. He was not expecting a ray of sunshine to upset his careful untouched life. He's on a job to find something from years ago and that puts him on a path to meet Violet. Unlike most of the women he enjoys, there's something about Violet that keeps him intrigued. Violet keeps him on his toes and probably gives him some gray hair.
The story is engaging and filled with twists and turns, plus there's plenty of chemistry and banter between the two leads!
There are several content warnings: violence (graphic), explicit steamy content 😏, trafficking, and some less than savory behavior.
This is the second book in the Twisted Ever After series and can be read as a standalone, though I do recommend reading the first book first.
April 2, 2026
4.5 ⭐️*ARC REVIEW* First, I want to say I had no idea what to expect going into this. A dark Rapunzel retelling? I was definitely curious, and I’m so glad I gave it a chance because it turned out to be really good. There were some real dark moments, but the humor balanced everything out so well and kept me fully entertained.
Violet’s mom is schizophrenic and constantly warns her about people watching, and as the story unfolds, you start to question whether it’s really all in her head or not. The action never lets up, it honestly felt like watching a movie with something happening at all times from beginning to end.
Ryder was easily my favorite character, and I loved watching Violet break down his walls and change him in ways he tried to resist at first, but you really can’t run from love. There’s a moment of betrayal that will leave you shocked and redemption that will warm your heart. And the spice? Woah 😅 let’s just say… there are piercings involved. The moment I saw that, I thought...dark romance fans are about to go wild over this!🤭
Overall , such a good read, 10/10 recommend.
Violet’s mom is schizophrenic and constantly warns her about people watching, and as the story unfolds, you start to question whether it’s really all in her head or not. The action never lets up, it honestly felt like watching a movie with something happening at all times from beginning to end.
Ryder was easily my favorite character, and I loved watching Violet break down his walls and change him in ways he tried to resist at first, but you really can’t run from love. There’s a moment of betrayal that will leave you shocked and redemption that will warm your heart. And the spice? Woah 😅 let’s just say… there are piercings involved. The moment I saw that, I thought...dark romance fans are about to go wild over this!🤭
Overall , such a good read, 10/10 recommend.
March 27, 2026
"It was like she was my very own, personal poison. Designed to crack me open and shatter the pieces I’d tried so hard to hold together. Made to ruin me from the inside out."
Ryder is hired to steal a UBS from Violet's mom. In order to get to her mom, Ryder needs to professionally watch Violet. What used to be gentle watching from afar has turned Ryder making his presence known and a damn ultimatum: help Violet discover the truth about her mom and get what he needs or walk away with nothing. Violet has done everything she can to protect her mentally unstable mom. Nothing has been easy but when she finds out her mom has a past, she needs to rely on Ryder to help uncover all the hidden truths.
Loved Tangled!? You devour this Rapunzel retelling! Ryder Finn will bring you to your knees right at the start. The inner monologue of this man is right on brand. He is everything I could have asked for. Sarcastic, funny, calculated and protective. Did I mention that this man is PIERCED and tattooed? Violet has had it so rough that seeing stand up for herself was the best! She was stronger than what most people gave her credit for. Her mind is so beautiful and constantly on. So when Ryder turns it off for her?! This girl did not stand a chance at all. And fuck, who doesn't love a story that is filled with drama and spice?!?!?!
Repunzel retelling, Stalker, Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, 1st person, dual
Ryder is hired to steal a UBS from Violet's mom. In order to get to her mom, Ryder needs to professionally watch Violet. What used to be gentle watching from afar has turned Ryder making his presence known and a damn ultimatum: help Violet discover the truth about her mom and get what he needs or walk away with nothing. Violet has done everything she can to protect her mentally unstable mom. Nothing has been easy but when she finds out her mom has a past, she needs to rely on Ryder to help uncover all the hidden truths.
Loved Tangled!? You devour this Rapunzel retelling! Ryder Finn will bring you to your knees right at the start. The inner monologue of this man is right on brand. He is everything I could have asked for. Sarcastic, funny, calculated and protective. Did I mention that this man is PIERCED and tattooed? Violet has had it so rough that seeing stand up for herself was the best! She was stronger than what most people gave her credit for. Her mind is so beautiful and constantly on. So when Ryder turns it off for her?! This girl did not stand a chance at all. And fuck, who doesn't love a story that is filled with drama and spice?!?!?!
Repunzel retelling, Stalker, Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, 1st person, dual
March 30, 2026
𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐞𝐬
𝐁𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟔𝐭𝐡
- - -
Read this if you like:
□ enemies to lovers
□ dark Rapunzel retelling
□ stalker
□ one bed
□ morally grey
□ forced proximity
□ touch her and die
□ he falls first
First of all, I really enjoyed this dark Tangled retelling. We have a Flynn, Rapunzel and Mother Gothel in this story. And, the thieves! Although, these thieves did not sing with Rapunzel, like in the movie. The MMC's name is Ryder Finn. I love that name so much! And also, the iconic frying pan scene is also in this phenomenal book. I laughed so hard when that scene happened. When the MMC calls the FMC 'blondie', I swooned.
This book is action-packed, fast-paced, lots of steamy scenes, and the plot is amazing. There is explicit sexual content and dark themes. So be sure to read the trigger warnings!
Highly recommend this gem if you are a sucker for dark romance and fairytale retellings.
Thank you Twisted Tales RP for the ARC.
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐞𝐬
𝐁𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟔𝐭𝐡
- - -
Read this if you like:
□ enemies to lovers
□ dark Rapunzel retelling
□ stalker
□ one bed
□ morally grey
□ forced proximity
□ touch her and die
□ he falls first
First of all, I really enjoyed this dark Tangled retelling. We have a Flynn, Rapunzel and Mother Gothel in this story. And, the thieves! Although, these thieves did not sing with Rapunzel, like in the movie. The MMC's name is Ryder Finn. I love that name so much! And also, the iconic frying pan scene is also in this phenomenal book. I laughed so hard when that scene happened. When the MMC calls the FMC 'blondie', I swooned.
This book is action-packed, fast-paced, lots of steamy scenes, and the plot is amazing. There is explicit sexual content and dark themes. So be sure to read the trigger warnings!
Highly recommend this gem if you are a sucker for dark romance and fairytale retellings.
Thank you Twisted Tales RP for the ARC.
Review of advance copy
This was a good read with a few forgivable flaws. The writing was great and the plot was definitely not predictable. However, this was extremely dark and it didn’t really feel realistic that this could turn into a romance after some of the events in the middle of the book. I did enjoy the characters and this book handled some very sensitive topics extremely well but I do feel like there needed to be some more relationship building between the romantic leads in the middle of the book in order to convince me that the romance made any sense by the end. The spice was done very well but be forewarned this was definitely not just a smut book so if that is what you are looking for, this isn’t it. 4 stars because I would pick up another book by this author but I do wish the romance had some more depth in a story as heavy as this.
Thank you to Twisted Tales PR for this gifted eARC.
Thank you to Twisted Tales PR for this gifted eARC.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews