Secrets That Bind Us

by Ruby M. Darling

After losing her husband and mother within a span of two years, Verity C. Huntington, a #1 international best-selling romance author, trying to figure out life as a single mother has now been tasked to be her best friend’s Maid of Honor and the wedding will be held in none other than the small town she swore she would never return to and has stayed away from for the last 13 years- Adelaide, Texas.

On a whim, Verity decides to pack up her kids, flip the home and the barn, sell them- and her memories of Adelaide- for good. But her plans hit a snag when Dean Carson- her first love and now Adelaide’s sheriff- reenters her life, determined to have her fall in love with him once more.

But he’s not the only thing making her heart race.

The longer she stays in her mother’s house, things begin to go bump in the night, shadows crawl, dark secrets resurface, and stranger things are playing tricks. With her heart and her sanity on the line, she must confront the dark truths hidden in Adelaide’s shadows. Can she escape unscathed once again, or is something far more sinister lurking in a quiet Texas town?

*Secrets That Bind Us is a Sexually graphic, standalone, Erotic thriller not to be consumed by anyone under the age of legal adulthood.*

Genres: Romance, Thriller, Second Chance

334 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2025

About the author

Ruby Darling is a small town Texas Native that reads too much Dark Fantasy Romance and sleeps too little, which has probably caused her to be delusional enough to create a world of her own. She hopes you have a great time under the glamour and in the veil.

Reviews

[Léah Bauman · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review: Secrets That Bind Us by Ruby Darling

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
🌶️🌶️🌶️

“I’m in love with a silent commanding God”

Get ready to meet your next book boyfriend .. just saying ..

Ruby Darling has delivered a captivating, emotionally layered novel with Secrets That Bind Us, a haunting blend of second-chance romance, small-town secrets, and slow-burning suspense that unfolds across a dual timeline. This book grabbed me from page one and held on tight!!!

At the center of the story are Dean and Verity, childhood sweethearts whose lives were ripped apart by trauma and silence, but whose bond refuses to break. Verity, now a single mother, has carved out a successful but guarded life. Dean, rugged and emotionally complex, is what Verity refers to as her “dark angel” masculine and brooding, with a quiet storm of devotion that’s aimed at only one person: her.

“Staring down at me is the dark angel God sent to torture my heart, body, mind and soul. But only torture it enough to be able to put it back together. How he weaves every bit of my being to fit into his is fascinating”

Their chemistry crackles off the page, laced with both longing and pain. The emotional stakes are high, and the love between them feels both impossible and inevitable. Two quotes that perfectly capture that ache:

“I am destined to fall for you over and over again.”
“I used to think Verity Huntington was made for me, but the truth is, I was made for her.”

What sets this story apart isn’t just the romance, it’s the way Darling masterfully weaves in elements of thriller and mystery, revealing buried truths at just the right pace. The dual timeline structure deepens the emotional impact, allowing readers to fully experience the echoes of the past and how they ripple into the present.

The themes of forgiveness, trauma, and identity are handled with nuance, and the writing itself is evocative, lyrical without being overly sentimental. There’s a maturity and emotional depth here that makes the characters feel real and their pain earned. Not to mention, Darling paints the most vivid pictures and her descriptions are some of my favorites I’ve read. The woman also knows how to write spice 🥵🌶️🌶️🌶️

If you're a fan of emotional thrillers with second-chance love, small-town tension, and deeply scarred but unforgettable characters ( not to mention a hot as fuuuuuuuuck MMC), Secrets That Bind Us is one to put at the top of your list.

Thank you to Ruby Darling for the opportunity to read an early copy. I can’t wait to see how readers respond to this one and what you’ll write next!!

[Cassi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oohhhh Dean & Verity. How I love these two.

This was an emotional second chance at love between a smalltown sheriff and a single mom. It was everything. Epic love confessions, trauma, growth, healing, twists and turns I absolutely did not see coming. Dean is absolutely a must have book boyfriend. Loved this one so much!

[Eliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets that bind us by Ruby M Darling is a stand alone romantic thriller, meaning it ends with a happy ending. Perfect for this season, is a small town, a second chance romance, is a spooky house, what can be more perfect?
Are you ready to meet your new book husband, lover, daddy and bf? I don’t think you are! Dean is butter, I mean butter, smooth, smart, possessive, dominant, that will make you weep on your legs in moments!
Verity, a single mom, a strong independent woman, with an amazing writing career, with the soul of a saint. She is the perfect mom in every way possible.
The book is absolutely brilliant, amazingly written. Ruby is a mastermind when it comes to plot twists, but now we discovered she is brilliant at thrillers and spooky scenarios as well ! The smut is just perfection as usual!
The visuals of this book are of the charts, they belong in a movie, and here is me calling out for HBO, Netflix, Amazon Prime, MGM production don’t miss on this one before someone else will pick up a story of a lifetime!

[Megan Gorney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity to read this prior to release day as an ARC. I absolutely LOVED it. It had everything, plot, spice, the perfect man, a bit of a thriller romance.

[Brooklyn Scalabrini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secrets That Bind Us - eARC review

4 ⭐️| 4 🌶️

So you’re a small town second chance romance girlie? Add this book to your list.

Queen Ruby has done it again!
Prepare yourself for a journey to Adelaide & try to keep up with all the twists and turns she delivers.

In #STBU we meet Dean and Verity - along with a glimpse of their past and present.

The spice and suspense are just icing on the cake 🍰

Available now on KU & the ‘Zon
Review is mine, photo cred to Ruby Darling

#secretsthatbindus #suspense #thriller #deancarson #verityhuntingdon #kindleunlimited #rubydarling #indieauthor

[Clairsreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I hear the theme song for American Horror Story the entire time I was reading this book? Maybe. Did I find myself extra jumpy and leaving lights on longer? ABSOLUTELY. Did it slow me down on absolutely devouring this masterpiece? NEVERRRRR.

Verity leaves her small town and her first love, Dean Carson, behind. After she’s made it big as an author, the loss of her mother sends her reeling and straight back into the clutches of not only the town she left behind- but the boy she ran away from. Dean never truly moved on from Verity and once he realizes he has a chance to have her again- he’ll stop at nothing to make her his again. As secrets are revealed and nothing is as it seems these two will have to not only face their feelings for each other- but the dangers that go bump in the night in order to find their happy ending.

This book was such a wild ride and I literally could not put it down. Dean and Verity were truly end game and their journey back to each other was such an exhilarating and excruciating one I could not get enough. Pair that with the paranormal and shocking revelations that just kept coming throughout this love story and this is unlike anything you have ever read. Ruby’s mind is a dark, twisty, smutty little place and I never want to leave it.

Another absolute banger by my girl Ruby and I couldn’t be more proud to read her work in every stage. Happy release day, my love!!! 🌻🖤

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!! Dean Carson is omg!!! How can I create a man like him. The way he loves Verity.
This book reminds me of a mild American Horror story meets Gilmore Girls.
Verity and Dean were teenage first loves but Verity is determined to escape the small town. She gets married and becomes a number one best selling author and after losing her husband and mother she moves back to Childhood home with her two kids to have her best friends wedding and sell house. After moving in strange things start happening in home and who does she run into??? Mr Dean Carson himself. While Verity has been out living Deans life has been stuck in limbo loving Verity. I don’t want to give to much away so pick up the book. Find out what happens between Dean and Verity. Find out the mystery behind her home. Find out the plot twist in the end. Oh the plot twist. It’s Ruby you know there is a plot twist lol. This book is so good. It’s so heartwarming. And the spice is definitely spicing. Oh yeah. Dean is yummy 😋
Grab this book. A blankie. Some wine or cocoa. Light a candle. And enjoy your night!!!!!

[Zhynah Vu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initially rated this 4.5 but changed my mind as the days went on and I was still thinking about it!!
Ruby writes mystery thriller romance soooooooo well! And her plot twist are always hits! She really leaned into the sheriff and single mom trope! And the paranormal haunted house vibes is perfect for the fall season! The banter and yearning!!! Damn you dean Carson! As always her FMC Verity is a bad bitch independent woman who just wants to be cared for. Second chance romance in a small town sheriff agh!! The spice was sooo fucking good!! Ahhhh!!

[Hannah Ladd · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨
The amount of times I said wtf is actually insane. Every time I thought “there’s no way there could be another twist” Ruby said “I’m gonna hold your little hand when I say this, but yes, yes there is.”
Dean and Verity’s love story is an absolute rollercoaster. It’s emotional and a long one. And you get to see the whole thing play out over nearly 2 decades. Some people are just meant to be and the way these two kept coming back into each other’s lives just proves that. “It’s always been you” is heavy with them.
I think this may have been my first thriller and I’m not mad about it. Did I get the creeps here and there and have to make sure I wasn’t being watched? Yes 🙂‍↕️ But it kept me going because I needed answers 👀
The found family was strong in this friend group. Verity definitely hit the jackpot with her best friend. She’s a girls girl. 🤭
My favorite scene is most definitely when he pulls her over. 🤣🤣 these two love a good role play 😏
Ruby killed it once again!!
Thank you Ruby for this ARC! 🫶🏼

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is EVERYTHING!!!! The angst, the mystery, the thrills, the SPICE! Dean and Verity are like two magnets drawn together and no matter how they may fight it, they can’t.

Ruby Darling gave us everything in this stand alone book. Tropes include small town romance, second chance romance, first love. This isn’t your typical boy meets girl. It’s so much more and I devoured it.

[Alyssa✨ |apvreads| · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, say hello to your new book boyfriend, Dean Carson.

Ruby delivers yet another masterpiece. She weaves you into the story, past and present. You feel every emotion: pain, heartbreak, love and terror. The thriller aspect of this story gave me goosebumps. This is a must read, add to your TBR. You won’t be disappointed. Infinite stars.

[Trishh_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby has done it again 👏🏼👏🏼 I absolutely loved this book! Dean and Verity were always meant to be and nothing was going to keep these two apart! There were so many twists and turns!!! I was constantly stunned looking at my kindle like wait what?!?! Highly recommend 🖤

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Fallon Story · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing read. Absolutely loved the story the characters the dual timeline. Getting to watch dean and verity’s relationship from childhood all the way to adulthood was just chefs kiss. The way this man yearned for her the way he loved her was unmatched. Great romantic thriller read.

[Annette ~ wellstothebellsbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5🌟

[India (ChaptersAfterDark) · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟 Secrets, Twists & Sooo much Tension!

Okay, wow... this book I think I would say I am pretty speechless. It is rare for me to find a book where I don’t guess the ending half way through the stort and yet this took twits to a whole new level. Secrets that Bind Us by Ruby Darling had me in emotional knots in the best possible way. You know when you're reading something and your brain is just going, “Wow” every few chapters? Yep, that was me, clutching my Kindle like it held the answers to life itself 😅. Ruby does not play when it comes to angst, spice, and characters who are so tangled up in their own emotions that you can't help but feel it too. It’s messy, it’s layered, and honestly, it’s just so much! Full of love and feelings? Always 💕.

What I Loved About This Book ✨


🔀 The Dual Timeline Magic
I love a good dual timeline, and this one was so well done. It had me flipping pages, trying to connect the dots, building theories that Ruby promptly crushed with a smile (I just know she was smirking while writing - I see you Ruby!). Each timeline felt rich, real and gave depth to the story in such a clever way. 


❤️‍🔥 Romance That Hurts (In a Good Way)
Let’s be real – Ruby knows how to break a heart and make it feel good. The romance in this book? It gutted me. There’s tension, there’s longing, and yes, there is that spicy, hawt hawt heat that we all come for 🔥. But also? There’s so much emotion tucked in between every steamy scene. I felt it all.


🧩 The Mystery That Sneaks Up On You
I wasn’t ready for how invested I’d get in the mystery element. It quietly simmers in the background and then BOOM – plot twist central. You think you’ve figured it out? Nope. Reverse Uno, baby. Classic Ruby. Every time I thought I understood a character, something happened and I was like, “...Oh. Ohhhh.” Chef’s kiss. 👏


👥 All. The. Relationships.
Dean is literally the emotional core of this book – his connections with Noah, Savvy, and Verity all bring different sides of him to life. The build-up, the slow unravelling of tension and feelings… it’s beautiful. Messy, but beautiful. I loved seeing how each dynamic shifted and evolved. Honestly, it made my heart ache in all the right ways 🫶.


The Tropes:
* Dual Timeline
* Found Family
* Second Chances
* Single Mum * Town Sheriff
* Hidden Secrets

Ending Summary 💫
Secrets that Bind Us is so much more than just a romance – it’s a journey through past and present, through love and grief, through truth and the lies. It had me clutching my chest, yelling “NOOO” out loud, and then just lying there like a puddle of feelings. If you’re looking for a story that will twist your heart, melt it a little, then twist it again – this is the one ❤️‍🔥.

[Freyja's Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are still looking for the perfect spooky romance to celebrate the end of summer, THIS IS IT!

Without surprise, I've rated this book 5⭐ because apparently I just absolutely freaking love everything this author writes!
This is her first standalone, even though it is set in the same world as the RMU series (I mean Verity's shrink is none other than the BEST EVER psycho daddy Dr Damon Archer - *squeeeaaaal*) and it was the first romantic thriller that I've read.

I must admit that I tend to avoid thriller books (and movies) as I am kind of a mouse and my head (or the Universe) gives me my fare share of ghosts, apparitions, moving objects and other missing socks as is... Anyways, I gave Secrets That Bind Us a chance because Ruby Darling is set on auto-read/buy in my brain, and I am not disappointed.

Even though this was not my absolute favorite from her, this book had me in a chokehold from page 1. As always, the romance is so well written it feels real. Like, I was Verity and Dean and I felt each and every of their emotions in my very soul.
Their story is soul crushingly beautiful and I cried so much while reading the most beautiful love declarations ever over and over again.
Like... I mean, DEAN CARSON!!!!! This man is ultimate husband material!
Like, other men say "I love you" but Dean mtfkn Carson says "I can read books". (Also, he's the sherif) And it's everything you need to know to, PLEASE, give this beautiful soul of an author and her books a chance!!!
And if you like spice, I am telling you, you won't be disappointed.
Well, I mean, as long as you do not think about your reality too much... Because, Ruby keeps raising my standards and expectations of men a little too high and my husband can't keep up anymore. 🫣🤣🙄

I'll finish by saying that I am not usually a fan of the tropes "second chance" and "single parent". But, honestly, the plot, the angst, the tension, the YEARNING were so good I would not have wanted it any different.

Tropes:
🌻Romantic Thriller
🖤 Second Chance
🌻Dual Time Line
🖤 Small Town
🌻 Single Mom

[Skyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐
3.5 🌶️

“Did you ever feel my soul crying out to yours?” “Every day. I wanted to come back to you, every day.”

After losing both her husband and her mom, single mom and bestselling author Verity Huntington is already carrying more than her share of heartache. Add in planning her best friend’s wedding at her old family home, and suddenly she’s heading back to small-town Adelaide, the very place she once swore she’d left behind for good.

But moving back into her childhood home to fix it up and sell it isn’t exactly smooth sailing. For one thing, the house may or may not be haunted. For another, her first love, Dean Carson, now the town sheriff, very much still has her in his sights. And Dean? He’s determined to win her back, no matter what things go bump in the night.

HOLY WOW. I spent half of this book muttering “Dean Carson, the MAN you are!” to myself. He is the definition of a book boyfriend! Sweet, swoony, and just the right amount of intense. And let’s be real: add sunflowers into a romance and I am done for. 🌻 Instant favorite. 🌻

The dual timelines between past and present made the whole story even more magical. Dean has always burned with pure recklessness, while Verity’s quiet resolve gave their love this incredible balance. The invisible string tying them together practically hummed off the page! You could feel their connection in every scene.

And as always, Ruby’s writing delivers big time. Her imagery is stunning! Every page felt like I was watching a movie unfold. The emotional pull was beautifully done, and the spooky, haunted house moments? Chef’s kiss. (Full disclosure: I’m a total scaredy cat, so this was firmly a “don’t read in the dark” kind of book for me!)

All in all, the thrills are delicious, the romance is unforgettable, and Dean Carson just might ruin you for other book boyfriends. Pick up this book and meet him! You won’t regret it.

Special thanks to Ruby for the ARC! 💛

[Jenny Talbot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this story very much felt like a homecoming to a place I’ve never been before. Adelaide, Texas features a haunted past; and a wickedly woven together community cloaked in secrets and eyes that are always watching. And waiting.

Verity leaves her hometown right out of high school and becomes a wildly successful author. Dean is the man who has loved her from afar for years, and when she comes back to town with her two children he makes it his mission to win her back. And what comes of it is an unraveling of truths brought forth by eerie history of her family home.

It is safe to say Ruby has painted a vivid picture of paranormal energy for me. The house and its spirited inhabitants are characters in the story; they become living and moving beings that are sensed by Verity, Dean and her two children in ways that felt indescribable.

What Ruby does very well in her writing of this is the past and present POVs in both Verity and Dean’s chapters. She writes this story steeped in flashbacks that serve as puzzle pieces. Additionally, the children occasionally have a POV chapter which made the paranormal aspect feel very real. I was on the edge of my seat wondering when something was going to snap — either on the haunted or living side of things.

And it wouldn’t be a Ruby book without delicious spice. Dean has that “you’re mine” energy to the thousandth degree and he pulls it off with a charming sexiness. This couple is raw and passionate while maintaining the integrity and heart of the story. Their history tells a tale of love and longing and mending that was beautiful (and hot) to read.

[Rebecca Frady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dean and Verity...where do I even begin?

Why did I give this story 4.5⭐️s? I can't exactly explain it. It grabbed me and wouldn't let go. I read as fast as my brain would let me, just to get through whatever new twist I was facing. Then, I couldn't put it down, each chapter pulling me in deeper. For a minute there, I was afraid I was about to be slapped with a Pen Pal level plot twist (for which I'm not down, btw). I could feel the panic rising. Never fear, though, its a traditional HEA.

The story twists and turns, and around every new corner is another 😯 moment, but its not convoluted. I really enjoyed the paranormal touch adding a slight creepy factor (however, it fell a bit short as there was no real resolution, revelation, or purpose to it). Its a good love story (even though Dean never gave Verity a truly heartfelt apology after the illegal race incident and I really needed him too) that stands the test of time, distance, and circumstance. The spice is abundant and pretty good (although, I hate reading about tongues and butts, 🤮). These 2 do it like rabbits.

I will say, while I loved both MCs, there was some depth missing to their characters. For example, Dean had a crooked sherriff father and a druggie mom, but never any depth to how that shaped him, other than his thoughts that Verity's mom was the closest thing to a parent he ever had and he enjoyed family dinners at Verity's house. I would've sacrificed a little spice for a bit more character development.

Do I recommend this book? Yes
Will I buy a trophy book to commemorate this read? No

Now, I must go sleep because this book kept me up till 3am the past two mornings.

[readswith.erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐁𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐔𝐒 🖤🌻
ARC Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

You know those books that will live with you forever? I think this is one of them.

Ruby’s writing is phenomenal, like from another planet. She has a way of captivating you from the minute you start the first chapter, it engulfs you and you never ever want to leave the world she creates.

This book follows the beautiful love story of Verity Huntington and Dean Carson, and with the help of a dual timeline, you get both parts of their story, the past and the present and how they find their way back to each other after Verity left her small town behind to become an author, and with it, left Dean as well.

This story had so many twists and turns, along with the simmering thriller behind it as well. I was truly captivated by these two. They’re absolute ENDGAME and their two beautiful children, Savannah and Noah… just, perfect.

“𝙄 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝙄𝙩’𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤. 𝙄𝙩’𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤. 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤. 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙨, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙗𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩.”

I highly recommend this book if you need something easy to read, something to devour and something to make your heart flutter.

“𝘿𝙞𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡 𝙘𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨?”
“𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙮.”

Oh to be loved by a man like Dean Carson 🥺

Read if you love:
🌻 Dual Timeline
🌻 Small-town
🌻 Second Chance
🌻 Sheriff x Single Mom
🌻 Suspense/Thriller
🌻 It’s always been you
🌻 Spicy spice

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets That Bind Us is out in the world and you need to read it. I think this is my favorite book Ruby has written. I eat up a small town romance, but then you add thriller & suspense vibes, with an "it's always been you" trope- I AM SAT.

This story is written in dual timeline/POV and jumps between the lives of Verity and Dean, their high school years, and when Verity leaves her small town in Texas to pursue her writing career. So much happens and there is so much going on behind the scenes that sets up this crazy story from start to finish.

Verity and Dean never stopped loving one another but Verity was damned and determined to never go back home. To a house with so much trauma, ghosts, and bad memories. Fate has other plans. So she and her 2 kids return and so many things have changed but many things have not.

Your first love will always hit so hard and Verity has never and will never be able to escape Dean Carson. When I tell you, I love this man! He is in my top 5 book boyfriends. He is delicious, loyal, sexy, protective, and persistent. This book is so good. Ruby's writing is beautiful, poetic, and it had me sucked in from the beginning.

Ruby is also the queen of writing amazing sexy scenes. I was panting through these pages. When you have a man BEGGING, it's just so fucking hot.

Y'all go read this book. It's a great spooky season read and you won't regret it!

🌻💀👻🧡🍁💛✨️

[Caitlin O'Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 — 𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙱𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚄𝚜 𝚋𝚢 𝚁𝚞𝚋𝚢 𝙼. 𝙳𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (a forever favorite!)
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

“𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘯𝘢’𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴, 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺, 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 ‘𝘦𝘮 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘵.”

This book was more than just an arc read for me…it was an experience. Ruby M. Darling has written some absolutely incredible stories before, but Secrets That Bind Us? Hands down, my favorite she’s ever created.

This is quite literally THE PERFECT creepy/paranormal romance for spooky season: a haunting small-town setting dripping with eerie, paranormal chills (yes, I was actually scared at times 👀), a web of secrets and lies that keep you breathless, and at the heart of it all is a romance that destroyed me.

This is right person, wrong time at its absolute finest. Verity and Dean’s connection feels otherworldly. Twin flames, inevitable, & soul-deep. Their love is both brutal and beautiful, built on heartbreak, near-death moments, and years apart. And when they finally come back together, it’s raw, emotional, and unforgettable.

Ruby always has a way of reminding me why I read in the first place…for stories that rip me apart and put me back together. Secrets That Bind Us isn’t just a book I’ll recommend; it’s a book I’ll carry with me.

[SinfulReadsByV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those first chapters were spooky with Noah and his friend.
Verity had me laughing with her avoidance antics. Not the greatest excuses, lol, but the slippers, nice touch.
Dean… ah Dean. He definitely gave off those “she’s mine” vibes to the fullest. Mark your turf, why don’t you? Lol. Can I get a Dean? I’m putting him on my Christmas wish list!
And the business card thing? Just too darn cute🤣
Then the bombs started dropping in the first half of the book. I was like, “Whaaattt, girl?” This was a rollercoaster of emotions (heartstrings pulled!), chaos, and everything in between. This felt like a next-level second chance. Can we even call it that? More like another soulmate chance.
And those twists… WTH! I have whiplash thanks to Ruby. Where should I send my chiro bill? Lol.
Let’s talk about the spice because you may just melt into a puddle after reading some of these pages! Chapter 34? Dang 🥵.
Verity was determined to be more than a small-town girl, and wow, did she ever become more than that throughout this story. Ruby did such a great job showing all their complicated and flawed layers. The settings had just the right balance, pulling me deeper into the story, while the side characters added an extra layer that made everything even more engaging.
This book had the perfect title. Those secrets really do bind. I’ll zip it there, but just know this was one wild ride, and you’re going to love meeting Dean.

[My Dark Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌻Duel timeline
🌻 Small-town
🌻Second chance
🌻 Sheriff / Single mom
🌻 Suspense/thriller
🌻 It was always you

⭐️ ARC REVIEW ⭐️

This is one of those second chance, he’ll do anything to get her back, passionate reads that will get your panties in a twist.
Dean fucking Carson is the man of the hour. From an adolescent teen he knew Verity was it for him. He was a goner.
He was rebellious, the boy who had it all, but had his chance and he messed it up.

When Verity moves on to NY to pursue a career as an author, she gets swept into a marriage which doesn’t serve her. As she becomes a best selling author and her mother passes away, she moves back into her childhood home to get her barings back as a single mom, and work through some childhood trauma.

Dean is now the town Sheriff and he is not only not let her get away this time, but he’s going to prove that he wants it all with her.

This is a world wind second chance love story that had me turning the pages.

Now the house…. It’s haunted and her children, herself and Dean feel it and when unexplainable things happen brace yourself for a twist you didn’t see coming.

What a great stand alone from Ruby.
5 stars! ⭐️ / 2,5 🌶️

My post has som quotes that made me smile and that I haven seen used in other reviews yet, so I thought I share them on my edit.

Defiantly pick this up. Pre-order and get comfortable while diving into Dean and Verity’s love story 🌻

[Marla Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets That Bind Us is a small town, second chance romance with a bit of a twist. I loved these characters from the start. Verity, with her two kids, moves back to her hometown after years of being away. As she’s renovating her house and making plans with her best friend, she runs into her old high school flame, Dean Carson. As the story unfolds and secrets are revealed, they fight to get their HEA. The story is told in a dual timeline. I really enjoyed seeing how their romance began and seeing the struggles.
Verity is a strong and resilient female lead. She goes through some traumatic events, but doesn’t let it break her. I love her growth from her teens years to who she becomes now.
Dean is one of the best book boyfriends. He’s loved her pretty much his whole life, and does everything he can to be with her. I love his interaction with her kids.
Ruby knows how to write deep, meaningful relationships. One of my favorite quotes, “We’re a convolution of objections and disasters. Set in stone, like statues of lovers. Archeologists will find our bones twisted towards each other like sunflowers on a cloudy day.” She also knows how to write that spice! Ruby did a great job with their heated moments in high school, and the way they level up as adults… 🔥
I hope everyone gives this book a try. If you love second chance, thriller/suspense, this might be for you!

[Sarah is Lostinthepages.17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

From page one, this book just sucked me in and never let go. It’s in me. The way Ruby writes, makes you feel like you are part of the story. That this is my love, my heartbreak, and my second chance. I felt chills all over from the sounds in the quiet house, things that were going bump in the night and the entity hiding there.

But this isn’t my story, it’s Dean and Verity’s and it’s sweet, difficult, revealing and epic.
Young love, her big dreams, lies that kept them apart for years, and now to return to the home where family was lost and ghosts live.
Verity always had big dreams, dreams that included Dean Carson but never Adelaide.
For Dean, it was always Verity, anywhere, as long as he was with her. She was his heart, the other half of his soul, but a broken promise and lies, stole years from them.
Watching Dean fight for them, every year stolen, Verity’s trust, her mind, ghosts of the past, and then try to repair and prove what he has always known to be truth…

𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣. 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙨, 𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙮. 𝙄 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙗𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙙. 𝙄𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙛**𝙠𝙞𝙣’ 𝙗𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨. 𝙄𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙨.

Secrets That Bind Us is special. Ruby’s writing is a gift. Immerse yourself in it and experience the butterflies in the belly and the goose bumps all over your body and sit on that roof with two teenagers and watch them fall in love.

[Marieta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was nothing like what I expected and everything that I wanted from a book right now.
The plot was so interesting, and the dual timeline was a brilliant way to tell the story. It kept me interested, and it kept me reading, and it made me drop everything else that I was doing and reading, because I had to know what was going to happen as soon as possible. The thriller part of the story was incredibly well done. There were twists that were hinted and that I guessed and there were twists that completely surprised me. The big plot twist .... I did not see that coming at all! The story had a few paranormal elements that I found very eerie, and perfectly woven into the plot.
The main thing that made this story so special were the characters. Once again Ruby M Darling wrote incredible characters, and very quickly made me care very deeply about them. Verity was wonderful. Her past was so sad and her journey - so significant. I loved that she tried to find a way to combine what was the right decision for her future with what her heart wanted her to do. Dean.... The depth of his feelings and the things he was ready to do to be with Verity were incredible. The way he loved her, the way he wanted to protect her, the way he took care of her kids - it all made him a perfect and unforgettable character.
The connection between Verity and Dean can be compared with very few others. The way they were both written - I felt the need, the pull and the desperation to be together. Ruby used everything in this book to show the incredible bond the two of them had.
This book combines great plot with incredible characters, suspense with the most beautiful and intense love story, and all of that is delivered with amazing, powerful and so lyrical writing.

[Paula Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dean Carson has topped my book boyfriend list! The things this man says!

Dean and Verity’s story starts in High School, which Verity finds herself in a triangle, because Micah also peruses her. There is so much childhood trauma and manipulations. Verity just wants to escape to New York and chase her dreams to be an Author. Fast forward to a decade later when Verity needs to return to her small town home with her two children Savvy and Noah, but nothing is what it seems. There are so many secrets that must come to light, some haunted and a second chance at true love. This is such a beautiful romance, with second a love so boundless and pure, it is healing. I found myself smiling at times, crying sobs and had moments of eerie goosebumps. Everything in the house or on the Sunflower farm isn’t normal.

If you are a mood reader and like a book perfect to read during the Autumn months, then this needs to be on your TBR! It is multi-pov, dual time lines, flash backs. There is found family with amazing supporting characters. Oh so good spice, Dean’s mouth, ahh! There is so much plot that will pull you in and have you on the edge of your seat and the twist! It is standalone, so happy reading!

[Mae Thorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
A standalone erotic thriller romance

5/5 ⭐🌶️

🌻 Small town
🖤 Sheriff x Single Mum
🌻 Second chance
🖤 Dual timeline
🌻 'It's always been you'

Check TW ⚠️

Ruby did it again, hitting me in the feels. Playing with my heart like a pin cushion tearing it up only to put it back together.

Love, hurt, betrayal, misunderstanding, obstacles, second chance. Guaranteed HEA.

Verity Huntington, an author and single mum of two. I felt for her. The struggles she had to overcome. Strong, independent and fiery.

Dean Carson, small town sheriff. What a man! He doesn't just love Verity, he worships her! The definition of book husband! Possessive, protective, dominant and caring.

It's the type of love and devotion we all want, we crave! The chemistry they have for each other

To say the spice in this book was hot would be criminal. It is scolding! It had me squirming and had me covering my mouth stop me from screaming.

Filled with secrets, shocking revolutions, plot twists, increased tension all surrounded in eerie suspense. Had my heart pounding!

To say I love Ruby and her books is an understatement. She is my number one favourite author to read! Highly recommend! The way in which Ruby wrote this book, it NEEDS to be put on the big screen!

[Christine]

I don't know if I expected anything, but I definitely didn't expect the turn of events that happened. Just when you think the book is about to be over... NOPE. There's more if this exciting, page turning mystery with the right amount of spice to come. It kept me engaged enough to continue.

Verity is mess and at the same time stronger than most anyone when it comes to being haunted "literally ". I found myself saying "WTF! GET YOUR KID'S, RUN AND DON'T LOOK BACK". Not Verity or Dean. I can only assume that love.... Nooooo. I can't fathom why someone would stay in that house.

I love Dean. He was such a visceral character for me. Making typical mistakes as a young person (as we all do), but growing, learning and always in moving in the right direction. Toward what he has always wanted mo matter what it takes. Verity.

The flow of this book was easy going, there was no repetition for quotas and not predictable; an A+ IMO. I did not see half the thing's happening in the background coming. A rare talent. The journey to the HEA is one I can re-read in the future.

Sooo looking forward to whatever your next book will be.