AfterDark: Lavender and Lies

by Miriam Yvette

A cursed witch. A wolf in sheep’s clothing. A perfect recipe for a disastrous trip.
“You’re impossible, Dante. You burn bridges before getting to know someone.”
“And you’ve been living in a cage, princess. You should be grateful I considered taking you out for a walk.”

Cursed for leaving San Francisco, Vina’s reality and delusions start to blur. To make matters worse, her and Dante’s banter forsakes common ground and leads to mistrust. A new budding romance is beginning to blossom, but Agony’s torment becomes inescapable. When Vina discovers her past may hold answers to stopping Agony, will the lies force her to submission, or will she risk it all as Bearers of Red before her?

AfterDark is a paranormal romance with wolf shifter romance. Lavender and Lies picks up exactly where the last book ends.

357 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2026

About the author

Miriam Yvette is a fantasy romance author and fantasy artist. Born in California, most of her childhood was spent in the Central Valley and in Washington State. She enjoys visiting national parks, spending time with her husband, children, and family. She spends most of her time writing in the late, hooting hours of the night, when possums come out of hiding, and street cats brawl.


Readers who love awkward first kisses will enjoy my stories!

Reviews

[Ashley Nussman-Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a few chapters to fully settle back into the world, but once I did, I was completely hooked.

One thing I really appreciated was how consistent the characters felt. Their personalities, relationships, and interactions stayed true to what was established in the first book, which made it easy to become invested in their journeys again. The banter, tension, and character dynamics were some of my favorite parts of the story.

The world-building continues to expand in interesting ways, and I enjoyed learning more about the lore while still feeling like the story kept moving forward. There was a nice balance between action, mystery, character development, and supernatural elements. If you enjoyed book one, I highly recommend continuing the series. I can't wait to see what the author has in store for these characters moving forward.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bronze Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

With twists and turns aplenty, Miriam Yvette keeps her readers in utter suspense, wondering what will happen next and gasping with shock when revelations are revealed.

I absolutely loved this book and feel like I've gotten to know so many of her characters and understand them better. Dante, of course, keeps proving to be a complete mystery, but I suspect that deep down, there is a side to him we haven't seen yet that, against all odds, genuinely cares for Vina. I am merely guessing about that, however. Like an onion, no matter how many layers you peel, there's more hidden depths to this wolf. And layers that are equally as spicy! 😆 The question keeps coming up: Who is he? Closely followed by the question: What does he really want? Dante sums up his and Vina's personalities perfectly: “Hey, she idolizes romance as much as I idolize food. If it’s offered on a platter, we take it.” - Dante, chap. 19 "Dante"

I think my favourite character here, nothwithstanding the endearing tuxedo cat, Sushi (Rilanda's familiar), is Evelynn, Vina's bestie from her former Girl Scout days, who would go to her end to protect Vina. She says something profound regarding friendship that is among my favourite quotes in this book:

"My grandma, rest her soul, said keeping a friend is like riding a seesaw. It only functions when you lift each other up when the other is down. Sometimes the person leaves, and a new person takes their place, and that’s okay. Maybe we’re friends because we’re incredible together. Maybe it’s because we both grew up carrying our own burdens. But it doesn’t matter. I’ve never wanted to get off the seesaw with you." - Evelynn, chap. 14 "Vina"

The sexual tension in this book is so thick, you need a chainsaw to slice through it, but it's done very tastefully. When you finally come to the ultra spicy bit, it's after chapters and chapters of metaphorical foreplay so that you're primed. I found it rather inspiring. 😏

And I just have to mention another quote from this book that I found very profound and thought-provoking:

"People either dreaded the dark or pretended it wasn’t there. They’d light every room in their lonesome house to purge the dreaded feeling from their mind. What they were really expunging was the submergence of themselves. In the still peace, one heals." - Chapter 13 "Dante"

In the grand tradition of typical Miriam Yvette, we are left on a massive cliffhanger. Will the wolf tear Vina apart along with her whole world? We readers hold our breath until book 3!

[Katherine Tricker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to pick this up after waiting on the cliffhanger from book 1, and it did not disappoint!

There are so many revelations in this one that had me going "wait, WHAT?" and now I've got to wait for book 3 😭🤣

Vina and Dante's journey in this book is far from smooth. Their relationship is still very much a will they or won't they, not to mention should they?

The new characters we meet are fabulous and I especially love Evelynn as Vina's best friend. Idris is still a perfect villain you absolutely love to hate.

I highly recommend picking this series up if you love paranormal fantasy because this has the whole host of creatures, plus a blood contract that might not be all it seems.

I'm off to wait impatiently for book 3. 😏

[JenniferARCReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved book two couldn't put it down.
Lavender and Lies rips straight on from Witches and Wolves: Vina clinging to a speeding motorcycle while Dante races through California with Arbiters on their tails and a cursed mark climbing her arm. The road-trip setup strips away safety and turns the slow-burn into high-pressure chemistry motels, midnight pancakes, and disastrously funny “play along” scenes.
The world expands smartly: Dante’s family, Mexican heritage, pack politics, and Idris’s quietly devastating choices deepen the stakes. Motel scenes and the tea-shop beat are particular highlights. The ending Dante preparing to betray Vina to save his motherleft me stunned.
Sharp, funny, and emotionally urgent. This series is getting better; highly recommend.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ARC and I am so glad I did. I was hooked by the first book but I enjoyed this one just as much. As the story progresses the revelations and twists just keep coming. Dante is an enigma and the development of his relationship with Vina is driving me mad! Will they, won’t they, can they trust each other when so much is hidden and left unsaid? What about everything Dante is hiding? Will Vina get the scarf back?
I’m really looking forward to the next book!

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vina and Dante’s story only gets better in Lavender and Lies. There was so much suspense that will keep you coming back for more. The tension between Vina and Dante makes you love and hate them at the same time. Poor Vina is a pawn in a bigger game that we are only starting to scratch the surface with. And the lies are just starting to come to the surface. This does end on a cliffhanger so be prepared to have your heart ripped out.

[Samantha Norris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Miriam Yvette for getting the chance to be apart of the ARC!

What a wild ride!! The twist and turns in this book I didn’t see coming. Once again we are left on a major cliffhanger. I enjoyed learning more about Vina’s and Dante’s background (even though not all questions are answered). Also the will they won’t they is beautifully tense. I cannot wait for book 3!

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I love how unique this is with the magical scarf. And the supernatural beginning we hear about it this story. The scene with the ghost hand on her shoulder and the other spirit was the only one to see her yup chills. This was a very fun read thank you for letting me be ARC.