Come Back To Me

by Ashlynn Mills

When my husband dies, it leaves behind a deep open wound that threatens to never close. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. Nothing’s the same without him. Nightmares of the car crash that took him from me keep me awake at night and are horrible reminders of what I've lost. I try to move on, only I don’t know how. Then I find out I don’t have to, when a friend tells me about a woman living deep in the woods who could bring him back. When Gareth returns, I find out the hard way why loved ones who pass should remain buried, but even after I realize he’s not the man I originally fell in love with, I still can't let him go. He can't let me go either, and as much as that would have been a good thing in the past, I'm not so sure it is now.This is not a romance and is a horror erotica with a twisted Hea. Please read warnings before continuing. This book has very dark subject matters.

Genres: M M Romance, Dark, Queer, Romance, Horror

177 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2025

About the author

Ashlynn Mills is a Latina from Texas who currently resides in Missouri with her family running a farm. She enjoys reading and writing all genres about people falling in love.

Reviews

[Kez Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark second chance mm romance filled with plenty of horror and trauma. It was creepy, emotional, tense, and had a twisted ending.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not my usual type of book. I like dark romance though so I figured a bit of horror at Halloween is acceptable. Plus Ashlynn Mills wrote it, and I’ll read anything she writes. That said…read the warnings folks. This book is not your typical HEA. It’s a short read. It’s mostly written from Riley’s pov. Riley just lost his husband and found out some troubling news. He’s lost and lonely and just wants Gareth back. And it seems like something (or someone?) really wants to help him make that happen. This book has some twists and turns, but I don’t want to give anything away. As always, Ashlynn has made me like something I never would have read otherwise. That girl has skills.

[Aiden Messer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oooh, this was fun! Dark, smutty, creepy, and highly toxic, but also kind of cute

[Betty Loves Books Galore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a twisted second chance to more h dark romance, featuring Riley and Gareth, and is standalone novella.

After Riley loses his husband in a tragic car accident, his grief leads him to bring Gareth back from the dead. But the man who returns is no longer the loving husband he remembers, and their reunion turns dark and terrifying.

Ok Ashlynn, what did I just read. You did warn me but I’m not sorry about going in blind at all, it was twisted, and had me guessing the whole time. Not sure I should have read it right before bed because my dreams were crazy. 🤪

Things to expect in this book are:
Standalone
Novella
Check CW
MM dark romance
Second chance
Suspense
Hurt / Comfort
Grief & loss
Trauma & nightmares
Supernatural
Resurrection gone wrong
Possessive & toxic
MC in lingerie
Spicy times
Dubcon
Rough play & Blood play
Biting & marking
Public s*x
Food v’s feelings
Twisted HEA

[ashlee ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riley + Gareth

-mm horror erotica
-novella
-second chance
-resurrection gone wrong
-hurt/comfort
-grief + loss
-twisted hea

welllll this was intriguing af yall!! i don’t even remember where i saw this, but i downloaded it immediately & read it in like an hour flat & it wasn’t sooooooo…hahaha different! hahah very zombie esque. i love how they even mentioned it was like warm bodies coded. which i LOVEDDDD that movie. haha & thank god the other lover was not who i thought it was cause id have taken out my fighting hands haha that twisted hea was WILDDDD bro! 🤯🤯

[Sara Husser · Rating 5 out of 5]

🧟‍♂️🩸We still have us, it just looks a little different is all🩸🧟‍♂️

"One last goodbye. One last drink. One last everything with you. It's too much. I need you here with me. I need to hear you tell me it's going to be okay."

"I like how alive you seem whenever I touch you. I've never witnessed someone so alive before. You make me feel like I could stand on my own. It's both dangerous and illogical."

"Nothing has ever been more perfect. Nothing ever can be."

"I promise to never take too much for you."

"No one else I'd rather be more connected with. It's like we're becoming one and your emotions mix with mine. They're addicting. All of you is."

This was such an amazing book. This was a spicy horror dark romance. I know the author didn't advertise as romance, but to me, it was. It ended with an unconventional HEA, but it was still a great HEA and a happy one to me. This story had some great twists and turns. I was thinking one way then something else happened. The spice in this was fantastic and kinky 🔥🔥🔥🔥.

This story follows Riley and Gareth. Riley is grieving the loss of his husband Gareth and can't go on without him. He casts a spell for Gareth to come back to him. Does he come back whole? Who is Gareth now? What secrets is Gareth hiding? The connection between these two was toxic yet sweet. It was extreme but also romantic. I loved everything about this couple and how this story ended. I would kill for another book or novella of these two so bad! I highly recommend this spooky story. 🎃🩸😈🧟‍♂️

“You're not at all sad about it?” I stretch my neck.

“No.”

“What do you feel then?”

He cups my face, yanking it to his. “You. Just you.”

[Ashley Dead.inside_but_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

🚩 Please check ALL the TWs! This book is listed as NOT A ROMANCE! It is more in line with a Pitch Black/Horror Story. No Fluffy rainbow unicorns here! There is a Twisted HEA for these two though so if you think you can make it through the story it's twisted and slightly (alot) toxic but it's there 🤣🖤

🌶🌶🌶🌶

Riley lost his husband Gareth in a car accident, and though people keep telling him "give it time" he really can't. Gareth was like the other half of Riley, and it appears they may have some unfinished business that Riley is only finding out about after Gareth's funeral. So Riley takes matters into his own hands and attempts to bring Gareth back from the dead, but what has come back isn't Gareth or isn't JUST Gareth. Riley has to now figure out if having a demon/zombie husband is better than having no husband at all....ALONG with unraveling the secrets that were hidden in their marriage.
Well I completely loved this! I devoured it and left no crumbs (😉🧟‍♂️) it was the perfect mix of Dark/Obsessive/Toxic love with that bit of mystery thrown in, and dont get me started on the spice 🥵🔥 The story was only about 180 pages so there isn't a ton of build up here we get right into it! If your a lover of the Dark you need this book in your life

Tropes/Tags
Pitch Black/Horror
Hurt/Comfort
Grief/Loss
Suspense
Second Chance
Resurrection Gone Wrong
Twisted HEA
Obsessive MC
Possessive MC
Touch Him and 💀
C@nniblism
Dubcon
Lingerie
Free Use
Biting/Marking
🩸 Play

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good, From the opening page, my heart broke for Riley as he was grieving the loss of Gareth, his husband, he would do anything to get his love of his life back, added to this there was texts on his deceased husband phone, that were not texts you would receive from a friend.
I was on tender hooks all the way through this story, knowing once Riley made the decision, it would not be all rose petals and puppies and trying to guess who was behind the texts, I put everything on hold until I finished this story. The descriptive scenes enabled me to clearly imagine every scene and there were a few surprises that I never saw coming and when I finished I wanted more.

[Kathy Seabrease · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a twisted love story! Only one that could come from the mind of Ashlynn! While I am not a horror fan, I just can't not read her books. I have to admit I was scared as I read, worried for Riley, worried that maybe this time, it might be too much for me... and then things turn and I am reading a love story ... Riley so loved Gareth, to the point of " til death do us part" not being good enough. A love that was so special, it turned Gareth from a monster into a loving husband...and then full circle when "til death" was too much for Gareth too. An HEA that we never thought about... and definitely forever.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like wtf did I just read. At 1st I’m just plodding along with the story enjoying the love story mixed with sorrow and finding their way back, oh yeah and the whole being dead thing, but we’ll ignore that for now, and then bam!!! Get smacked in the face with that last chapter like I’m not now all where do I go from here. I don’t think this is being made into a series but I totally need another book to see how it goes after. I don’t like to give spoilers but if you read this book, and you won’t be sorry you did, you’ll see what I mean. Definitely one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Absolute 5 star that is definitely in my read again list

[Miruru Shouting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy, slightly dark, dubc0n/n0nc0n, hurt/comfort, zombie/husband back from the dead, cannabalism, murder, and other dark themes

There is an undertone of creepy mystery surrounding the act of Riley trying to bring his husband, Gareth, back to life after having lost him a few days ago. Though what he got isn't really his husband but a zombie that has some of his memories and needs to eat human meat to stay alive.

The dubcon was hot but sometimes creepy too. There's also the underlying secret of trying to find out who Gareth was cheating on Riley with (I had my suspicions).

Overall, the perfect read for Halloween and the spooky season.

[Makeda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a dark romance girly through and through but something about zombies/ eating chunks of your man really did something to me mentally that I’m not ready to unpack 🤢BUT I liked this! I read it all in one day which is wild for me so hey, lol maybe this’ll help prepare me to read even darker books but we’ll see.

It’s a short easy read, actually had a bit a twists and turns and I loved the spooky vibes. The zombie MC kinda gave me the ick sometimes and I’m not even talking about when he but a chunk of him 💀 but yeah something just always felt off about him. Maybe that was the point and if so… well the author did that!

[Syd Springer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not going to lie, as soon I received this book, I drove right in and didn’t put it down until I was done. Ashlynn is an awesome job with this horror romance! I have already read this book twice in the last week and I will be reading it again. Riley just about broke my heart with his pain of loss. All Riley wants is to have the love of his life back but nothing a help. Or can it? I loved the connection Gareth and Riley had in this book and how even though they loved each other in life, Gareth’s feelings for Riley didn’t wave when he came back; it intensified. Longing happens on both sides but Gareth’s longing is of the flesh and that is something that Riley has to come to terms with. I really hope we get more horror romance from Ashlynn!

I received an e-book copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Cynthia M Brow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come Back To Me is the story of Riley and Gareth. Please read the trigger warnings before starting as this is a horror erotica with dark themes. Oh my goodness, what an amazing story. This one was just perfect. I loved all the twists and turns on this rollercoaster ride of a story. I loved the unconventional HEA. This was a great story for Halloween. I loved everything about this book, the characters, the steam, and the story. I would definitely recommend this book.
received a free review copy

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't this or how much I was gonna enjoy it! If you are looking for some smutty zombie vibes this would do nicely!

Riley is so distraught after losing his husband, he ends up using witchcraft to bring him back and as movies and TV shows have taught us, they never come back just as they were! There are some twists and turns and some brain eating! ( a couple of them really deserved to get eaten too because they were jerks and homeboy has to live somehow!!)

The ending.... I didn't know if I thought it was sweet or messed up! I think a bit of both! 😂

[Robin T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, so not a romance... but kinda is? We start woth our heart broken MC Riley who has lost his husband in a tragic accident. Then he finds some suspicious text msgs to an anonymous person.

But he can't help bit feel lost and broken with out Gareth. So when the temptation comes he can't help but bring him back.

Be aware of the triggers there are many. Spice lvl 4/5 angst 3/5 loved this book

[C. Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so idk where to even begin with this one. This is definitely not my normal read but since Ashlynn wrote it, I read it. Riley lost his husband in a tragic accident and will do anything to get him back and I do mean anything. Once I started this I couldn’t put it down. Awesome job Ashlynn!! 🖤🔥😈🔥🖤

My favorite quote:

“You're not at all sad about it?” I stretch my neck.

“No.”

“What do you feel then?”

He cups my face, yanking it to his. “You. Just you.”

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riley and Gareth’ story was extremely twisted and ends with a HEA for the protagonists.
It has horror, adrenaline, danger, possessiveness, jealousy, misunderstandings that could have led to cheating, insecurities, and a longing that transcend death.
It had paranormal aspects, a belief that makes the impossible possible, supportive friends, but also doubt as the truth starts to come to light.
It was a bit unconventional, but I'm happy they found their way to be always together.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting. I shouldn't have found this book sweet, but I did. This is a cross between dark romance and horror and does it very well. Do read triggers if you may be affected. Riley is a very accepting character, once he gets Gareth back. Including about Arkansas. Until he finds out who that is and by then, there's nothing he can do - that bit really strikes you as vicious. I would definitely recommend this.

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

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A TWISTED TALE ABOUT LOVE AND DEVOTION!

I really liked this read!! It was dark, twisted, and of the wall awesome! Riley has survived an accident that his husband died in. He is in deep grief and wants his husband to come back. Well, Riley finds a way, and his husband Gareth and another dark companion come a long for the ride. This was a good read and definitely a page turner for me. This read is extremely entertaining.

[Shawn Cha · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it

I love this book it’s so dark and gritty. Perfect for a nice cold dark night. I love Riley but he can be so dumb at times he forgave Gareth too easily. Gareth is strange is he the old Gareth or is he someone new but with his memories? Whoever the new Gareth was I really liked. The old one I can do without. I just wished we knew more about the witches. Overall I loved the book finished it in one day.

[J.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so interesting. As soon as I read the blurb, I knew I had to read it.

Riley just loved Gareth so much that he couldn't imagine moving on without him. He decided to bring him back from the dead, ready to accept him no matter what he became when he came back. He just wasn't expecting a morally-gray zombie husband who also loved him more than anything.

Their love became a bit twisted, but I enjoyed that so I won't comment. I believe the HEA they had made sense for them too.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. First please mind the trigger warnings because this was not a fluffy story. This was a dark, extremely emotional story with a different HEA. Once I started this I just couldn’t stop. If you like your stories dark and unconventional then you should definitely check this out.

[K-Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really do not want to give anything away in this review. The uniqueness of the characters and the situation are what make this a great read. Riley lost his husband and well there really is no length he will not go to in order to get him back. Legit page turner here as I felt like I was in like Riley was!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well. That was crazy.

When Gareth dies, Riley brings him back from the dead with a spell. But Gareth doesn’t come back the same man he was.

Unconventional HEA but there is one. There are some horror elements. One of the trigger warnings is cannibalism. So this definitely isn’t going to be for everyone.

[its_a_bookish_life_for_me · Rating 4 out of 5]

i don't typically read horror erotica, but i was intrigued by the blurb and hooked right away. i've been in a slump, and i was pleasantly surprised that i couldn't put this down. like, i *needed* to know who the other man was, and i *needed* to know what the twisted HEA was. and i was NOT disappointed. this was great

[Fran Rosey · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow, what a wonderfully written horror romance. if horror romance is your niche,i highly recommend this book. i was not expecting what transpired. great characters and world building. the description says it all and the ending is not what i expected either, but worth it. i defiantly cant wait for more, keep up the wonderful work you do.

[Belinda Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riley lost his husband and is so desperate to have him back, he dabbles in dark magic.
Gareth comes back changed, but in their opinions, it's for the better.
This was a dark, twisted, and unsettling page turner.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is out of my comfort zone. But what a story and what an end. I hope you like it too, bite by bite.

[Thera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book yall!! Omg!! It was amazing!! Gareth and Riley are everything. I laughed and I cried. I swooned and I cringed. But that ending, hahaha wow! It was perfect!