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HEAVY: A Dark Taboo Romance
Calista
Everyone has a past, but mine is a storm that never stops chasing me. When my life goes up in flames by my own doing, I'm left with an impossible lose everything I've built or hide out in a remote cabin with a killer. My plan is to rebuild the vacation home where my family once spent summers, hoping it will distract me from the chaos. But there's one major my roommate is way too hot. And who is this too-hot roommate? My damn step-uncle. He's a convicted murderer with a history as dark as my own, and maybe this cabin isn't the only thing I'm desperate to repair.
Ronan
Fifteen years behind bars, and freedom tastes no sweeter than my old concrete cell. I figured I'd drink myself into an early grave or wind up back in prison. Then my little step-niece showed up, begging to stay at the place my brother let me live in. She's fixing up the cabin, but I can see it in her eyes that I'm also on the plans for repairs. But I don't need fixing; I'm not broken, just forgotten. She's a beautiful fighter with secrets she's not ready to share. But she's in a cage with a lion that's been starved too long, and now that I'm free, I've got an appetite that will only be satisfied by her.
Everyone has a past, but mine is a storm that never stops chasing me. When my life goes up in flames by my own doing, I'm left with an impossible lose everything I've built or hide out in a remote cabin with a killer. My plan is to rebuild the vacation home where my family once spent summers, hoping it will distract me from the chaos. But there's one major my roommate is way too hot. And who is this too-hot roommate? My damn step-uncle. He's a convicted murderer with a history as dark as my own, and maybe this cabin isn't the only thing I'm desperate to repair.
Ronan
Fifteen years behind bars, and freedom tastes no sweeter than my old concrete cell. I figured I'd drink myself into an early grave or wind up back in prison. Then my little step-niece showed up, begging to stay at the place my brother let me live in. She's fixing up the cabin, but I can see it in her eyes that I'm also on the plans for repairs. But I don't need fixing; I'm not broken, just forgotten. She's a beautiful fighter with secrets she's not ready to share. But she's in a cage with a lion that's been starved too long, and now that I'm free, I've got an appetite that will only be satisfied by her.
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Published October 29, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 10, 2025
I loved the book and re reading via audio made me love it even more. just a big ole YES from me.
November 6, 2025
Updated review after reread with the audio;
Just wow! I cannot get over at how amazing Sebastian York and Andi Eloise did as Ronan and Calista!!
This story is filled with some of the most gut wrenching emotions and both of them poured that into their performances!!
Even though I read this book before, these two had me feeling like I was reading it for the first time again and was deep in my feels!
Thank you, Mel for allowing me to receive this ALC!
_________________________________
One thing I can promise you when you go into a M.L. Burns book is you’re going to go on an emotional ride and eat every word up!!
Heavy was nothing short of that and there wasn’t a moment in this book that didn’t have my full attention.
When I say an emotional ride, I mean grab the tissues! I was a sobbing mess, at minimum, 4 different times in this book and my heart was hurting so bad for these characters but especially Ronan.
Ronan, my baby.
I cannot even express the love I have for him with something as simple as words.
I was telling Mel, something about a broken MMC does it for me and she delivered. The shit he has gone through literally had me pausing so I could try and catch my breath!
A man with so many demons, so much heartache and trauma that he thought he would never know what happiness was… A man that never had a single soul in his corner when he needed it most 😭😭
My heart was breaking over and over again!
Calista coming in with her own trauma just adds to the heartache. However what I absolutely loved was these two heavy souls coming together and healing one another- giving exactly what the other craved, needed and deserved!
This was a perfect example of two people that were made for each other!
“As long as it’s him that pulls me to Hell, I’ll gladly burn just to mix our ashes so there is no telling us apart.”
That road was no walk in the park for them however, especially adding in the plot twist Mel threw at us! My jaw was falling open more and more into that twist, that I was ready to go scream if this didn’t go how I wanted lmao
BUT on another note- the SPICE was GIVING!!!
Holy shit the things I’d let this man do to me 🫠🔥😂
This is another point Mel will always hit, she know how to write a hot ass scene 👏🏼
“I still need to taste your tears, baby girl. I imagine they’re as delectable as your c*nt.”
“You c*ming for me is as beautiful as that fight of yours. I want it every fucking day that I’m alive and free.”
If you’re a dark romance reader, I highly recommend!!!
Infinity stars for me!!! ✨✨✨✨✨
But PLEASE read your trigger warnings for this one, as it’s very Heavy just like the title.
Just wow! I cannot get over at how amazing Sebastian York and Andi Eloise did as Ronan and Calista!!
This story is filled with some of the most gut wrenching emotions and both of them poured that into their performances!!
Even though I read this book before, these two had me feeling like I was reading it for the first time again and was deep in my feels!
Thank you, Mel for allowing me to receive this ALC!
_________________________________
One thing I can promise you when you go into a M.L. Burns book is you’re going to go on an emotional ride and eat every word up!!
Heavy was nothing short of that and there wasn’t a moment in this book that didn’t have my full attention.
When I say an emotional ride, I mean grab the tissues! I was a sobbing mess, at minimum, 4 different times in this book and my heart was hurting so bad for these characters but especially Ronan.
Ronan, my baby.
I cannot even express the love I have for him with something as simple as words.
I was telling Mel, something about a broken MMC does it for me and she delivered. The shit he has gone through literally had me pausing so I could try and catch my breath!
A man with so many demons, so much heartache and trauma that he thought he would never know what happiness was… A man that never had a single soul in his corner when he needed it most 😭😭
My heart was breaking over and over again!
Calista coming in with her own trauma just adds to the heartache. However what I absolutely loved was these two heavy souls coming together and healing one another- giving exactly what the other craved, needed and deserved!
This was a perfect example of two people that were made for each other!
“As long as it’s him that pulls me to Hell, I’ll gladly burn just to mix our ashes so there is no telling us apart.”
That road was no walk in the park for them however, especially adding in the plot twist Mel threw at us! My jaw was falling open more and more into that twist, that I was ready to go scream if this didn’t go how I wanted lmao
BUT on another note- the SPICE was GIVING!!!
Holy shit the things I’d let this man do to me 🫠🔥😂
This is another point Mel will always hit, she know how to write a hot ass scene 👏🏼
“I still need to taste your tears, baby girl. I imagine they’re as delectable as your c*nt.”
“You c*ming for me is as beautiful as that fight of yours. I want it every fucking day that I’m alive and free.”
If you’re a dark romance reader, I highly recommend!!!
Infinity stars for me!!! ✨✨✨✨✨
But PLEASE read your trigger warnings for this one, as it’s very Heavy just like the title.
January 4, 2026
I really loved everything about this from the story, characters, narration and book as a whole.
The twists and connections kept me constantly wondering what was really happening.
Hearing Ronan’s back story was so painful but important to understand him as a character. As well as Calista’s past and the influence her mother had on her.
Also the spicy scenes were top tier but I expected nothing less. Great tension and yearning and just the right amount of build up.
The twists and connections kept me constantly wondering what was really happening.
Hearing Ronan’s back story was so painful but important to understand him as a character. As well as Calista’s past and the influence her mother had on her.
Also the spicy scenes were top tier but I expected nothing less. Great tension and yearning and just the right amount of build up.
January 14, 2026
This book was hot and I loveddd it! Except for the shark week chapter, I would recommend skipping that one...it was a little too much. I would also like to personally slap Cal's mom straight through the pages because girl, what the hell is wrong with you?
November 26, 2025
Krazy!
January 20, 2026
Heavy by M.L. Burns is the first book in the Neighbors of Sapphire Valley series. While the books will be interconnected, they can be read as stand-alones.
It follows the story of Calista and Ronan, who are forced together by circumstance. Calista just lost her home due to a fire and needs a place to stay. Thankfully, her mom and stepdad own a little cabin in the woods. In exchange for fixing up the place, her mom hands her the keys. Ronan is fresh out of prison and also needs a place to stay. Thankfully, his brother and his wife also own a little cabin in the woods. Do you see where this is leading?
On the surface, Heavey is a dark taboo romance, but when we start getting glimpses of Calista’s backstory, that’s when it gets…Heavy. Some of it is tough to read because of what she’s gone through. With that said, it helps the character's growth over the course of the story. Ronan also goes through his own growth by confronting his inner demons, and by the end, they’re almost different people, but in a good way.
What about the spice? If you’re familiar with Mel’s work, you know what the spice level is like. We’re past chilli peppers and into the habineros. But don’t think for a moment that Heavy is all smut and no plot, because Burns has a way of blending the two that creates balance. If you’re looking to get your toes wet with taboo romance, Heavy is a great place to start. While there’s not only the aspect of step niece and uncle, but there’s an age gap as well. However, Cal is in her mid-twenties, and Ronan is 40, so the gap isn’t like an icky level. At least for me, anyway.
As a 47-year-old cis male, I read Credence by Penelope Douglas, and while I thought it was good, it’ll be the last time I read an open-door romance where the FMC just turned 18.
If you have watched my videos before, you know I don’t usually do star ratings, but I did give Heavy 5 stars on Goodreads and Fable. The second book in the series, Hollow, will be out in March. ARC signups are now live but I’m lucky enough to be on Mel’s permanent ARC team so I’ll be reading and reviewing it soon.
It follows the story of Calista and Ronan, who are forced together by circumstance. Calista just lost her home due to a fire and needs a place to stay. Thankfully, her mom and stepdad own a little cabin in the woods. In exchange for fixing up the place, her mom hands her the keys. Ronan is fresh out of prison and also needs a place to stay. Thankfully, his brother and his wife also own a little cabin in the woods. Do you see where this is leading?
On the surface, Heavey is a dark taboo romance, but when we start getting glimpses of Calista’s backstory, that’s when it gets…Heavy. Some of it is tough to read because of what she’s gone through. With that said, it helps the character's growth over the course of the story. Ronan also goes through his own growth by confronting his inner demons, and by the end, they’re almost different people, but in a good way.
What about the spice? If you’re familiar with Mel’s work, you know what the spice level is like. We’re past chilli peppers and into the habineros. But don’t think for a moment that Heavy is all smut and no plot, because Burns has a way of blending the two that creates balance. If you’re looking to get your toes wet with taboo romance, Heavy is a great place to start. While there’s not only the aspect of step niece and uncle, but there’s an age gap as well. However, Cal is in her mid-twenties, and Ronan is 40, so the gap isn’t like an icky level. At least for me, anyway.
As a 47-year-old cis male, I read Credence by Penelope Douglas, and while I thought it was good, it’ll be the last time I read an open-door romance where the FMC just turned 18.
If you have watched my videos before, you know I don’t usually do star ratings, but I did give Heavy 5 stars on Goodreads and Fable. The second book in the series, Hollow, will be out in March. ARC signups are now live but I’m lucky enough to be on Mel’s permanent ARC team so I’ll be reading and reviewing it soon.
October 29, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐-> ♾️🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶🌶.5
🖤 Age Gap
🏍 Mroally Gray MMC
🖤 Dark Romance
🏍 Found Family
🖤 Taboo
🏍 Forbidden
🖤 Forced Proximity
⚠️ Please Check Your Trigger/Content Warnings ⚠️
✨️ 🎧 ALC 🎧 REVIEW ✨️
🎙Narrators: Andi Eloise & Sebastian York 🎙
At this point I will read ANYTHING Andi and Sebastian voice! They always blow me away with not only their voices they lend but how they reel you in and grab you right in the feels! This book would have been emotional no matter what, but Andi and Sebastian just rocked me even harder. Hearing the despair and pain in their voices was almost unbearable. Tears were running down my face while my husband was watching football. He looks over at me and motions for me to take my headphones off, and asks if I'm okay. The dam of tears was let out. I just bawled, and he was so confused. I told him he just had to listen to it.
I am a dark romance, forbidden romance girly to my core. I'm a revel what can I say? But this dark forbidden romance is on a whole different level. We come in with a step-uncle romance, but add in h just got out of prison. He has his calloused outside because he has had to be that way for 15 years. So he had his guard up at every turn, especially around his brother. Family trauma runs rampant in this book so be aware of the angst you will encounter.
There is so much angst, and tension woven throughout this book! But its a necessary evil to see the full picture. SA plays a good sized part in this story, so if you can't handle it BACK AWAY! This story is so complex and it unfurled like an onion. I had so many layers that it looked like a beautiful disaster.
Calista and Ronan were two very broken people, but they were able to make their broken work for each other. They work through some trauma together in order to make the bigger picture that much more beautiful.
I loved the tension, the chemistry, the banter and everything that enveloped these characters. The banter got me when they were asking questions back and forth and it came down to what is yuor favorite color? I couldn't help but chuckle. I loved the moments between when there was a bit of silence, not everything has to be said out loud. This book spoke volumes to me and I was beyond sad when it ended.
It was a ball of chaos, but boy was it beautiful 😍. I could admire this author forever because of how she put this book together. I am ready for the next beautiful nightmare she bestows upon us!1
🔥 Let's Talk About Sex Baby 🥵:
🌶️🌶️🌶🌶.5 /5
🥵 Breath Play
🔥 Praise & Degradation
🥵 Pain Play
🔥Dom/Sub
🥵 Breeding Kink
🔥 Baby Girl/ Daddy Kink
🥵 Toys Are Teammates
🔥 Voyeurism
🥵 He's Got Multiple Dick Bling
🔥 Outside Fun
🥵 Bondage
🩸 Period Play
🔥 He Braids Her Hair to Hang Onto
🎥 Cam Couple
Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ M.L. Burns and Blue Nose Audio ✨️ for the complimentary 🎧 ALC 🎧. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest, and voluntary✨️.
🌶️🌶️🌶🌶.5
🖤 Age Gap
🏍 Mroally Gray MMC
🖤 Dark Romance
🏍 Found Family
🖤 Taboo
🏍 Forbidden
🖤 Forced Proximity
⚠️ Please Check Your Trigger/Content Warnings ⚠️
✨️ 🎧 ALC 🎧 REVIEW ✨️
🎙Narrators: Andi Eloise & Sebastian York 🎙
At this point I will read ANYTHING Andi and Sebastian voice! They always blow me away with not only their voices they lend but how they reel you in and grab you right in the feels! This book would have been emotional no matter what, but Andi and Sebastian just rocked me even harder. Hearing the despair and pain in their voices was almost unbearable. Tears were running down my face while my husband was watching football. He looks over at me and motions for me to take my headphones off, and asks if I'm okay. The dam of tears was let out. I just bawled, and he was so confused. I told him he just had to listen to it.
I am a dark romance, forbidden romance girly to my core. I'm a revel what can I say? But this dark forbidden romance is on a whole different level. We come in with a step-uncle romance, but add in h just got out of prison. He has his calloused outside because he has had to be that way for 15 years. So he had his guard up at every turn, especially around his brother. Family trauma runs rampant in this book so be aware of the angst you will encounter.
There is so much angst, and tension woven throughout this book! But its a necessary evil to see the full picture. SA plays a good sized part in this story, so if you can't handle it BACK AWAY! This story is so complex and it unfurled like an onion. I had so many layers that it looked like a beautiful disaster.
Calista and Ronan were two very broken people, but they were able to make their broken work for each other. They work through some trauma together in order to make the bigger picture that much more beautiful.
I loved the tension, the chemistry, the banter and everything that enveloped these characters. The banter got me when they were asking questions back and forth and it came down to what is yuor favorite color? I couldn't help but chuckle. I loved the moments between when there was a bit of silence, not everything has to be said out loud. This book spoke volumes to me and I was beyond sad when it ended.
It was a ball of chaos, but boy was it beautiful 😍. I could admire this author forever because of how she put this book together. I am ready for the next beautiful nightmare she bestows upon us!1
🔥 Let's Talk About Sex Baby 🥵:
🌶️🌶️🌶🌶.5 /5
🥵 Breath Play
🔥 Praise & Degradation
🥵 Pain Play
🔥Dom/Sub
🥵 Breeding Kink
🔥 Baby Girl/ Daddy Kink
🥵 Toys Are Teammates
🔥 Voyeurism
🥵 He's Got Multiple Dick Bling
🔥 Outside Fun
🥵 Bondage
🩸 Period Play
🔥 He Braids Her Hair to Hang Onto
🎥 Cam Couple
Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ M.L. Burns and Blue Nose Audio ✨️ for the complimentary 🎧 ALC 🎧. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest, and voluntary✨️.
October 28, 2025
Heavy is book 1 in the Neighbors of Sapphire Valley series by M.L. Burns. I already adored M.L.’s writing, but there was just something so captivating about Heavy. It is without a doubt a top 10 read of 2025 for me.
Ronan is fresh out of prison for un-aliving someone. When his brother offers up their lake house to Ronan, he reluctantly accepts his help. His world is turned upside down when Calista, his step niece, moves into the cabin after her townhome burnt down. Ronan is dark, mysterious and misunderstood, but that doesn’t deter Cal. Cal is fierce and strong-willed. Both Ronan and Cal have been failed by those who were supposed to protect them, but they are both resilient and stronger in spite of the trauma they endured. The attraction and chemistry between Ronan and Calista is palpable and eventually they give into their dark desires and it’s a steamy, wild, action-packed ride from there, with a twist I never expected.
M.L. definitely named Heavy appropriately, this story is definitely on the heavier side, but I really enjoyed it. Ronan and Cal’s previous trauma was brutal, and no one deserved a HEA more than they did! They both saw a side of each other that others didn’t and the way they became each other’s refuge was such a beautiful journey. This book is spicy AF and I loved all of the depraved, taboo, daddy spice! I can’t wait for more from this series!
Heavy is narrated in duet by Andi Eloise and Sebastian York. Andi is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Andi captured Cal’s sass and fierceness perfectly. She also left me all up in my feels when she brought the darker moments to life with such raw emotions. Sebastian as Daddy Ronan, perfection. His deep, gravely voice was perfect for portraying Ronan’s intensity. He also brought me to tears in some of his flashback scenes. This story is raw and beautiful. Both narrators performed with so much passion, they really did this one justice! Bravo!
Ronan is fresh out of prison for un-aliving someone. When his brother offers up their lake house to Ronan, he reluctantly accepts his help. His world is turned upside down when Calista, his step niece, moves into the cabin after her townhome burnt down. Ronan is dark, mysterious and misunderstood, but that doesn’t deter Cal. Cal is fierce and strong-willed. Both Ronan and Cal have been failed by those who were supposed to protect them, but they are both resilient and stronger in spite of the trauma they endured. The attraction and chemistry between Ronan and Calista is palpable and eventually they give into their dark desires and it’s a steamy, wild, action-packed ride from there, with a twist I never expected.
M.L. definitely named Heavy appropriately, this story is definitely on the heavier side, but I really enjoyed it. Ronan and Cal’s previous trauma was brutal, and no one deserved a HEA more than they did! They both saw a side of each other that others didn’t and the way they became each other’s refuge was such a beautiful journey. This book is spicy AF and I loved all of the depraved, taboo, daddy spice! I can’t wait for more from this series!
Heavy is narrated in duet by Andi Eloise and Sebastian York. Andi is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Andi captured Cal’s sass and fierceness perfectly. She also left me all up in my feels when she brought the darker moments to life with such raw emotions. Sebastian as Daddy Ronan, perfection. His deep, gravely voice was perfect for portraying Ronan’s intensity. He also brought me to tears in some of his flashback scenes. This story is raw and beautiful. Both narrators performed with so much passion, they really did this one justice! Bravo!
October 27, 2025
Ok, Heavy is a deliciously dark, taboo romance and it was phenomenal in plot and spice. Please check the trigger warnings as there some horrible things that happened to our MMC and FMC in childhood. Ronan (MMC) just got out of prison, and his estranged brother puts him up in a cabin until Ronan can make his next move. Calista (Cal) is the step daughter of Ronans brother, and Ronan’s new roommate. Ronan is violence and Cal is oh so willing to be his prey. Sebastian York was an amazing Ronan, his amazing gravelly husky voice is panty melting. Andi Eloise is always able to bring characters to life to perfectly and she captured the perfect on the outside and broken on the inside Cal. These two broken people come together and it’s fireworks in every sense of the word. And the twist on things had me absolutely shocked.
January 20, 2026
Omg where do I start?!?! This book was absolutely hands down one of my top 10 for this year! ML Burns seems to be hitting all the right spots with all the books!!
The feels, the passion, the anger, the fear and so much more that happens in this book is so relatable for anybody. It’s amazing what one person will do when their life or their loved one’s life is at stake.
Neither of these two expected to fall in love with each other, but that’s most definitely what happens. He fell harder and over came so many mountains with his emotions and trauma that I think he had the biggest growth in this story. I absolutely love this man!
She most definitely had just as much trauma but she over came her trauma a long time before this time in her life. But man does she push her buttons on a daily with him haha!
The feels, the passion, the anger, the fear and so much more that happens in this book is so relatable for anybody. It’s amazing what one person will do when their life or their loved one’s life is at stake.
Neither of these two expected to fall in love with each other, but that’s most definitely what happens. He fell harder and over came so many mountains with his emotions and trauma that I think he had the biggest growth in this story. I absolutely love this man!
She most definitely had just as much trauma but she over came her trauma a long time before this time in her life. But man does she push her buttons on a daily with him haha!
November 2, 2025
Heavy Heartstorm
Heavy hits like a tidal wave—raw, aching, and relentlessly human. M.L. Burns opens the Neighbors of Saphire Valley series with an emotional gauntlet that centers Ronan and Calista, two trauma-marked souls whose collision feels both inevitable and hard-won. I’d read the book before, but the duet performance by Andi Eloise and Sebastian York made it feel brand new: York channels Ronan’s hollowed-out grief and buried tenderness with a gravity that stopped me cold, while Eloise gives Calista a resilient warmth that never trivializes her pain. Together, they pour gut-wrenching honesty into every beat, turning key lines—“As long as it’s him that pulls me to Hell…”—into moments that linger.
This is an emotional ride in every sense—heavy themes, high-stakes healing, and a careful stitching of two shattered people who fit. The duet elevates the intimacy and keeps attention locked, and the late-game twist tightens the screws without cheapening the characters; I teared up more than once yet never felt the pain was exploited.
Heavy hits like a tidal wave—raw, aching, and relentlessly human. M.L. Burns opens the Neighbors of Saphire Valley series with an emotional gauntlet that centers Ronan and Calista, two trauma-marked souls whose collision feels both inevitable and hard-won. I’d read the book before, but the duet performance by Andi Eloise and Sebastian York made it feel brand new: York channels Ronan’s hollowed-out grief and buried tenderness with a gravity that stopped me cold, while Eloise gives Calista a resilient warmth that never trivializes her pain. Together, they pour gut-wrenching honesty into every beat, turning key lines—“As long as it’s him that pulls me to Hell…”—into moments that linger.
This is an emotional ride in every sense—heavy themes, high-stakes healing, and a careful stitching of two shattered people who fit. The duet elevates the intimacy and keeps attention locked, and the late-game twist tightens the screws without cheapening the characters; I teared up more than once yet never felt the pain was exploited.
November 8, 2025
Wow. ML has done it yet again and written a story that just grips your heart and overall emotions. I love the twist that was added. My heart broke for Ronan as he was broken time and time again. His raw self was so incredibly strong. I think Calista’s age was depicted perfectly as the choices she made reflected he growing process. Andi and Sebastian’s narration were wonderful. Andi has an innocent tone but also knows how to modulate for a very emotional and impactful narrative. Sebastian is just a pro. He was perfect for Ronan with the grit and powerful tone of his narration. I can’t wait for the rest of this growing series.
December 7, 2025
3.5⭐️ spicy, suspenseful and so fun!!
This has been on my TBR for ages and I’m so glad I finally listened/read it. This is not your normal taboo romance there’s a suspense element with a small twist that was a nice surprise. I really enjoyed this and makes me want to read more of M L Burns!
This has been on my TBR for ages and I’m so glad I finally listened/read it. This is not your normal taboo romance there’s a suspense element with a small twist that was a nice surprise. I really enjoyed this and makes me want to read more of M L Burns!
November 25, 2025
The books is well written, I’ve read it and in the future I’ll do so again definitely
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews