I was eighteen when the love of my life broke my heart. Five years later, I see him again—only this time, he’s standing at the foot of the bed I share with my husband after breaking into my house.
Once upon a time, Bridger Underwood was everything I wanted and everything I should have stayed away from at the same time.
I was the good girl with old money in her veins, a mansion for a cage, and parents who chose wealth and appearances over affection. He was the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks with a taste for stealing, fighting, and breaking every rule he was ever given.
Girls like me weren’t supposed to fall for boys like him, but I did. Hard, fast, and recklessly. For a year, he was mine and I was his until he committed the ultimate betrayal, and I was left to gather the pieces of my broken heart alone.
A lot can change in five years. I’m a married woman now, trapped in a gilded cage with a man I don’t love and who doesn’t love me back. I’m not the girl I used to be. I haven’t been for a long time, and the boy who once owned my heart can see it.
But he’s not the boy I remember either. He’s taller. Stronger. Faster. And far more dangerous. Bridger Underwood always had terrible habits. And I always had one of my never being able to stay away from him.
I'm so happy I got to be selected as an ARC reader for this! I think a lot of people would really enjoy this book of masked men robbing hearts.
There are a few reasons this didn't quite make 5 ⭐️ for me. But I'll talk about the things I really liked first. It's dual POV of both the MMC & FMC with flashbacks to their pasts. The intro is awesome and leaves you guessing as to what could have been so bad. The characters go through the story really well and it's an easy setting to follow along with. The 🌶️ times in the book were steamy and I wish were a bit longer.
One of the first letdowns for me though was the side characters seemed a bit over-the-top at points to make the MMC seem more justified in his actions. The writing was really repetitive at times that I found myself skimming paragraphs that had nothing but copied phrases. I was also expecting more 🌶️ because of how it's marketed.
I hope we get a second book with one of the other guys from Bridger's group being the MMC. The story didn't seem finished with them.
Rating: 4.8/5 🌟 Genre: Dark Romance | New Adult (18+) Trope: Filthy-mouthed MMC | Morally grey hero | Found family & home | Deeply devoted love | He only loves one girl 💔
⚠️ Check the trigger warnings before reading this book!
(ARC REVIEW) Releasing on 14 October 2025
This story follows Juliette and Bridger two souls who love each other more than anything. But a tragic event tears them apart when Bridger ends up in prison. After that, hatred replaces love…
Five years later, fate brings them back together when Bridger breaks into Juliette’s house during a robbery only to find her married. Memories resurface, emotions collide, and despite everything, can they find each other back?
💭 My Thoughts
Dayummm! This book was so freaking good! 🤯 I devoured it non stop it had me completely hooked from the first page. I absolutely loved reading from Bridger’s POV you can really feel how much he loves Juliette. They need each other more than anything. 🥺❤️
And let’s be honest… Bridger’s filthy mouth? Had me weak. 👀🔥 He’s the perfect mix of protective, possessive, and that combination hits hard. Juliette’s story, on the other hand, was deeply heartbreaking. The pain and trauma she went through from her parents and her husband truly shattered me. My poor girl deserves all the softness in the world. 😭
This book is a hundred percent YES from me! I highly recommend it to anyone who loves dark romance with heavy emotions, redemption, and love that refuses to die.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
“I’ll love you for the rest of my life,” he said. “I loved you then and I love you now. I never stopped loving you. It’s impossible not to love you. I just want you to be mine forever. Until the day I die, Juliette, you’re all I could ever want, the only one I could ever love.”
This book was an emotional and devastating rollercoaster from start to finish. If you’re into dark romance with forbidden love that gets torn apart by tragedy, only to be rekindled later, this story delivers exactly that. The MMC is deeply devoted — the kind of man who would do absolutely anything for the one he loves.
The reason I didn’t give it a full 5 stars is because there were moments where the dialogue and phrases felt repetitive, almost like filler, and I think the book could have been a little shorter without losing its punch. That said, the story itself hooked me right away — no slow burn here — and I really appreciated the strong, captivating beginning. Overall, a beautifully heartbreaking and addictive read.
**look forward to seeing how many readers fall in love with Bridger 🤭
✨ARC review✨ First I wanna say thank you Avery for giving me to the opportunity to review Bridger and Juliette’s story!
After a tragic day where Bridger gets pulled from Juliette’s life for something he didn’t do he thought he’d never see her again. Five years later when he breaks into her house he finds out shes married and living the life she said she never wanted.
The book was so good! It’s dual pov of MMC and FMC, shows flashbacks between both. There is so much to unwrap from the very beginning. If easily triggered make sure to check triggers. Some of the triggers do go into detail.
The 🌶️ scenes where 🥵🤌🏼 but definitely with there was more
"I liked you better when you did what you wanted."
Whoa. This was heavy. There's a lot to unpack here. Please check the TW at the beginning. When I say heavy stuff gets covered I mean HEAVY. This was brilliant and raw and just so morbid? (but like in the best way) i don't even know what word to use. I didn't want to like him. You're not suppose to like him. but I really really liked him. My entire moral compass is skewed because of this lol The author does a fantastic at making you ride this emotional rollercoaster very early. Very beginning my heart broke, then my blood boiled and my heart broke all over again. I gasped, I cringed, I said aww and repeat. I cried. I totally cried. Again brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed this. if you don't get triggered easily and enjoy very very very morally grey character then this is for you!
*it's been a couple days but I had to come back and add that this book has been living rent free in my head." :)
thank you for the advanced copy! I received an advanced review copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Bridger Underwood wasn't just the devil bleeding for love, he was the devil willing to shed all the blood for love. Every girl needs a man willing to run in, flip all the things upside down, and come through with some blood shed to try to save the day. This is a dark and twisted story, with different trigger warnings.. If tall, dark and twisted is your MO then please let me introduce you to Bridger Underwood, your next fictional boyfriend that will make you run and hide and your toes curl all in the same breathe.
I adored this book. It was so dark, emotional and worth every second of reading. The characters were both relatable, loveable and complex and I do love a complex character. Beautifully written. I couldn't put it down, just had to know what happened. From the very first page I was gripped.
Bridger Underwood - Solid,Dependable, protective and would do whatever it takes to make sure those who need him have what they need however (complex) he's also dangerous, Criminal and the all round bad boy. Think....Robin hood yeah he'll rob you blind if your rich but he gives to the poor too. He doesn't use the money for himself it all goes to his parents his disabled dad. To give them the life they deserve.
Juliette -Sweet, Artistic, kind, loving. Doesn't judge anyone treats everyone with respect and love but is emotionally neglected, lonely and abused by those who are supposed to care starting with her parents.
Juliette and Bridger meet in school she's from a fancy rich school and he's from the south side. Instantly they realise they're totally opposite but exactly what each other need, Bridgers the bad bad that cares and sees the creativity in Juliette he gives her the love and warmth she's never received and she see's him for who he really is. She doesn't care about money or prestige she cares for what's inside and Bridger has a damn big heart. He encourages her to live her dreams. To go for the scholarship to her dream college but when her painting the one that would help her achieve her dreams is destroyed seemingly by Bridger and he's arrested she believes the lies she's told. She believes the letter she received stating how much he used her. So years later when Bridger and his friends break in to a house to rob their valuables and he finds Juliette and her husband in bed, can he walk away from her? He hates what she's become, hates that she only cares about a bag he's going to steal, that she married a man just weeks after he got locked away... but he doesn't see the truth standing in front of him. The man she's married to isn't a good man he's a brute who abuses her, beats her and blames his failures on her. Despite no knowing this he still can't keep away and she can't refuse him. So what happens when he finds out the truth how do they move on from this? Can he help Juliette escape.? Will he take her back?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Juliette didn't deserve bridger. he should have moved on and found a better woman after getting out of prison. she was unbelievably stupid to clues that were RIGHT THERE. her dad made her marry an abusive asshole for money who he KNEW hits and rapes her. yet she chose to believe the same father when he accused her ex bf ( bridger) of a crime he didn't commit. im sorry but not only should she be 100000% sure that sweet OBSESSED Bridger would never do that to her, she should also NEVER believe a damn word out of her father's mouth. this man did EVERYTHING for her, even saved her for that old hag
I'm only lowering my rating because Juliette really pissed me off. And also the scene near the end of the book where they had sex in front of her husband while he was beaten to a pulp by bridger kind of threw me off especially that bridger kind of kept talking to him while he was having sex. I was also very disappointed when Bridger didn't seem all that jealous that Juliette was married, sure, he was bothered that.She got married while he was in prison but that was the extent of it. he kept taunting her that she's married to an old man, and her sex life was probably bad. But he didn't seem all that upset over it.Now, I don't know about the rest, but I love my men, super jealous and possessive
safety: -5 year seperation : Juliette is married by force to an abusive older man. while bridger went to prison for 2 years. -celibacy : Juliette has been SAed by her husband for the duration of their marriage. no info on whether Bridger was celibate or not but from how much he hated her i don't think he was celibate, not a manwhore though no owd omd : Bridger is jealous and resentful of her husband because he thinks she chose to marry and old rich man but she was actually forced.
This was a new author for me, but I’m not disappointed! I will be reading more Avery Hart books! This was a Lovers to enemies to lovers second chance romance with a Morally Grey MMC and an FMC who finds herself unwillingly ensnared in the world of the uber rich, while longing to escape the only life she’s ever known. Trapped in a gilded cage, but a cage is still a cage.
Bridger and Juliette met and fell in love when they were 18 years old but unfortunate events separated them for 5 years. Most of the story is finding their way back into each other’s lives and how, and if, they still fit. There are dark elements to the story, including abuse.
What I loved about this book that is different from most of the books I read, especially in this genre, is that the book didn’t just immediately drop off after the climax there was more of a story more of the relationship building between Bridger and Juliet, which honestly was a breath of fresh air. You did not just have to assume that everything worked out…you got to join the journey of their relationship growth. I have not experienced this to this extent, without several epilogues at the end and skip to the future scenes, so this was a really interesting method for the author to use to finish out the story.
Absolutely loved this book, it was a page turner for sure kept me waiting on what would happen next! True love finds a way to reunite again! FMC trapped in an abusive relationship not knowing how to get out until one night someone brakes in to rob her and said husband. Bad A$$ no F!cks given MMC finds his true love again after getting out of prison from getting framed by FMCs family and goes to rob a house unknowingly it’s his true love! There is a love hate between the characters until they find out what truly happened. Be warned there is triggers and mention of mur13er! Recommend to anyone who likes a Bad A$$ MMC.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Back in the Arms of the Devil.... What can I say? Check the TW's first before diving in. The FMC's parents and husband (not the MMC) are awful!! Framed the MMC and he went to prison for it. He found her unexpectedly one night, and he kept showing up at her house. Until he won her back. UGH!! If I don't stop now, I'll just type out the whole book. I loved this book.
Bridger and Juliette were ypung loves toll a 5 uear prison sentace seperated and shattered them both now Bridgers back standing at the bottom of Juliettes bed she shares with her husband. But will love conquer all and remain or will Juliette be exchanging one gilded cage for another! Well written engaging steamy desires high emotions, drama and more!
Great Story!! I really enjoyed reading Back in the Arms of the Devil. This was a very quick read for me once I started reading it. Juliette and Bridger’s story was a second chance romance and I was rooting for them and I wasn't disappointed either. Loved their story. This was actually a new author to me and I hope to read more from this author.
This is what I call a Dark Romance. Bridgers mouth could make anyone blush because I sure was while reading this amazing work of art. DONT WALK RUN!!!!!
thank you to the author, Avery, for allowing me to be an arc reader for this amazing book!
4.9/5 🌟
Liiiiiiistennnn... I ATE THIS BOOK UP!! I legitimately could not put it down. I finished it within 12 hours and it was a very, very easy read for me.
The story between Bridger and Juliette was emotional, traumatic and so captivating. You cant help but feel so much for both of them and constantly root for them 🖤
BRIDGER MY MAAAAN!! HIS FILTHY MOUTH???? like excuse me sir 🥴 Bridger's perfect. The amount of love he has for juliette was just perfect. His personality? Perfect. His attitude? PERFECT! I can not stress this enough, Bridger is perfect 😂 He also had me laughing so much with some of the stuff he was saying. Hes quite the character!
Now Juliette, that poor girl. My heart was just constantly breaking for her. She deserved so much better than the hand she was dealt. I truly loved her character and the author did an amazing job of representing DV through Juliette and how traumatic and isolating it can be. Juliette deserves the world and i stand firm on that!
♡♡
This book is an absolute must read if you're into darker romances. Ive already have my friends waiting to read it! The only reason im giving it a 4.9/5 is due to the repetitive writing at some points but it honestly didn't take away from the story and I just skimmed over some paragraphs slightly. Other than that,