King of Hearts: A Spicy, Motorcycle Club Short Read

by Donna Costello

Outlaw Royale Road Captain Manny Diaz has spent years seeking redemption for his past mistakes. He’s five years sober with a MC that values him and a thriving coffeeshop that serves the entire community of Pinehurst but still he feels like something is missing.

Tattoo artist Nina Perz has spent almost a decade shying away from love. Her ghosts still haunt her, leading her to believe she’s better off alone until Vice President Duke Salvadore intervenes setting the two of them up on a blind date.
Sparks fly when Nina asks Manny to help her with her latest project in this spicy short story about love, loss and healing.

If you love fiercely independent women who know their worth and the strong men who support them, then one click this insta love novelette! King of Hearts can be read as standalone romance, HEA guaranteed.

119 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 28, 2026

About the author

Donna Costello is the author of several short stories including No 1 Bestsellers in Amazon’s 15 Min Romance Reads ‘Sunglasses’ and ‘The Coast’.

Her work has featured in Upwork!Magazine, Flash Fiction North, Tim Saunders’s ‘A Collection of Short Stories’ Anthology and in the Paul Cave Prize Anthology 2023.

She has a Master’s degree in Creative Writing and is the founder of Luna Creative Academy, a company that specialises in writing coaching, book editing and marketing.

When she is not writing, she is trawling library shelves for books to read, sewing her heart out and attempting to learn the ukulele with mixed results.

Reviews

[VickydpBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I loved this book. This is the 6 book in the Outlaw Royalty Motorcycle Club, they are short novellas but they can be read as standalone.

Outlaw Royale Road Captain Manny Diaz has spent years seeking redemption for his past mistakes. He’s five years sober with a MC that values him and a thriving coffeeshop that serves the entire community of Pinehurst but still he feels like something is missing.

Not saying anymore

[Tara Malta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh, I just loved Manny & Nina so much!! They were both in recovery with painful pasts and I am so happy they found eachother and love.

The book, like the rest of the series, hold such feel good stories that warm your heart. and the epilogue was a nice treat 😏

Thank you so much to Donna for providing this early copy to read and review!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I want you like I’ve never wanted anybody else.”

♥️ King of Hearts- Donna Costello ♥️

King of Hearts is the sixth book in the Outlaw Royales Motorcycle Club series by Donna Costello. This is a insta love novelette with fierce independent women who know their worth and strong men who support them. This can be read as a standalone.

“What did Duke tell you about me?”“That you’d be wearing a white shirt and had an ass you could crush walnuts with.”

I was yet again lucky enough to receive the ARC for this series, this time we get the story of Manny and Nina The way they care for each other and have an instant connection is *chefs kiss* and the spice! Not only hot but not your typical kind either.

“I think what the two of us have, it’s perfect.”

I just love how short, sweet and intense these books are. The way the relationship between the two develops in a short amount of pages fits so well and it written beautifully.

If you are looking for a short and spicy romance that you can read in one sitting then not only is this the book for you but so is the rest of the series! This is out the 28th of Feb!

♥️ Former Addicts
♥️ MC Road Captain X Tattoo Artist
♥️ Acquaintances to lovers
♥️ HEA

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🌶️🌶️/5

[Daniella · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️ King Of Hearts - Donna Castello ❤️

King of hearts is the 6th book in the Outlaw Royales Series

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this book. The story of Manny & Nina is beautiful and can be read as a standalone.

Both characters have a dark past and have found each other after a fear of being judged. They have a real connection and I absolutely loved seeing their relationship evolve into something special.

No secrets, just love & acceptance.

“I think what the two of us have, it’s perfect”

❤️ Short & Spicy
❤️ Former Addicts
❤️Blind Date
❤️HEA

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️ 🌶️/5

[Joanne Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better and better.

Manny and Nina are both recovering addicts with traumatic pasts. They are gun-shy when it comes to meeting new people.
Duke sets them up in a blind date and the attraction is immediate, they understand each other and there is no judgement.

Watching their relationship grow is heart warming and when temptation comes knocking they turn to each other for support.

While you can read this as a stand alone it is part of an amazing series so I do recommend you read them all.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read each and every book in this series and have never been disappointed.
This book is no exception.
No spoilers but Donna treats the issues that the main characters experience with dignity and respect. This book is by far my favorite in the series because it touches on some very personal health issues. Not for the same reasons the main characters have but I felt seen and that's an incredible feeling.
Grab the book...discover the amazing series and what an amazing storyteller Donna is.

[indibookdumps · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was lucky enough to get this book set as a ARC by the author, thank you!

i actually really enjoyed this book. usually with short books the pacing isn't my favorite as it's too fast but the pacing was set really well in this book, not too fast at all.

i loved both main characters and their connect to each other really can help them lead on each other when needed.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manny and Nina both have their own issues and troubling past. By the way, the author has dealt with the sensitive subject of addiction is great. This was a quick read if you’re looking for a good book.

[Kelly Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh, Book 6 in the Outlaw Royales and just like the rest of the series, this one did not disappoint.
Manny and Nina completely stole my heart.

Two people carrying the weight of addiction, grief, and hard-earned healing, finding exactly what they need in each other? I was locked in. Their connection felt raw, earned, and deeply emotional — the kind of insta-love that actually makes sense.

Manny’s quiet strength paired perfectly with Nina’s independence and guarded heart. Watching them open up, support each other, and choose happiness had me so invested I forgot this was a short read. And the spice? Utter. Perfection. Hot, emotional, and perfectly timed.

I genuinely think this might be my new favorite in the series. If you haven’t started the Outlaw Royales yet, do yourself a favour and start from the beginning, these stories hit every single time.
Short, spicy, and
✨ steamy
✨ satisfying
✨ soulful
✨ swoon-worthy
✨ sensual
✨ sharp
✨ super addictive

I COULD GO ON.

HEA guaranteed, hearts stolen immediately. 🖤🔥

Thank you to Donna Costello for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

[tash.bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manny + Nina's story was calm and grounded. Both have a dark past, and don't really think that love will happen for them. Manny's road captain of the Outlaw Royales MC, and owns a coffee shop. Nina is a partner and tattoo artist in the shop next door. They're set up on a blind date by the VP of the Royales Duke, and end up connecting in an unconventional way - through art. Manny is so vulnerable about being a former addict and the residual effects he suffers from in his sobriety. Nina, also a former addict, is supportive in so many ways. When Manny's past resurfaces, she's there for him without judgment. Their spark is undeniable, and there was definitely some spice that was made steamier with Manny's generosity in the bedroom.
King of Hearts was a deeply emotional short story about healing from the past and learning to love again. I'm fully committed to this series and always look forward to the next story!

[Tiffany Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

"King of Hearts" is the sixth book in the Outlaw Royales series, and Manny and Nina’s love story is just so touching! Their journey is all about finding a fresh start and a real connection, while also healing from their pasts. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and it’s beautiful to see how they understand the importance of acceptance and support in a relationship. This strong foundation leads to a happy and lasting romance!

I absolutely adore this series; it just keeps getting better and better! I can’t wait to see what the next book has in store for us!

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

[Linda Dominick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book in the series is about a member of the Outlaw Royales and how they find someone to love. Manny and Nina’s story is special because they have so much in common. They are both in recovery from substance abuse and find peace in art and spending time together. Since they both have a troubled past, there is no shame that makes either of them want to be secretive. It’s as if they were meant to be between what they have in common and their raw attraction to each other.
What I loved most is that there are no secrets, just acceptance and love.

[Ruth Pardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not really big on stories written in 3rd person POV, so I struggled to get as emotionally invested in the characters as I normally do, but that’s just my personal preference. However, this was a nice short story with a HEA ♥️ It touches on sensitive subjects such as addiction, making for some heavy moments. Manny and Nina’s relationship was insta-love - which I normally don’t care too much for, but the way they relate to each other and show no judgment towards each other’s history/struggles, it just shows that they’re kindred spirits and it just makes sense✨ I’m so happy that they found each other 🥹 The spice 🌶️ and the epilogue in this was a nice little surprise too!
I received this as an e-ARC from the author.

[FueledbycaffeineAndSpicyBooks Gerhards]

I received an ARC for King of Hearts. It’s the sixth installment of Outlaw Royals Series.

As I have said before I do not like star ratings or spice/ chili pepper ratings. If I posted/reviewed it I enjoyed myself.

This a a pretty unique story as both main characters have past addiction issues and come together to support each other. Both characters seem to be scared to try to love again. Will this finally be the right fit?

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved “King of Hearts”. It was raw, emotional and steamy. Manny and Nina were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend. They both had a history of addiction and feared being judged and not feeling worthy of love. I loved seeing their relationship evolve into something beautiful as they confronted their demons and found love and acceptance in each other.

[Lesliereadingallday · Rating 5 out of 5]

* I received this as an E- ARC from the author *

This story had a topic about addiction. It was real and honest about how addiction is. I enjoyed understanding it more. It follows Manny and Nina on their journey of healing and loving together. It’s book 6 coming out February 28,2026. I had the pleasure to receive this book as an E-ARC from the author, Donna herself. I wanted to thank Donna for the opportunity in reading this book.