Sweetly Unhinged: A Dark Rom-Com

by Kira Cole

Violet
I sent an anonymous email to The Ghost—a hacker who destroys scumbags for fun—detailing my darkest fantasy.
He replied.
With a phone number.
Now he's texting me, saying he can make it real. That he's watching me. That he knows exactly what I need.
I should run.
Instead, I'm saying yes.
The question driving me Who is he?
The question that's going to ruin Do I really want to find out?
CADE
Violet Carter is my brother's ex-girlfriend.
She's also the girl who just sent me the filthiest email of my life.
She thinks she's texting a dangerous stranger. I'm the guy who brings her coffee and fixes her laptop—and the man planning to fulfill every twisted fantasy she's ever had.
The closer we get, the deeper I fall.
But when she discovers who's been pulling her strings?
She's either going to kill me or kiss me.
Honestly, I'm hoping for both.


Sweetly Unhinged is Book 1 of the Devoted in the Darkness duet one, featuring a golden-retriever hacker, forbidden tension, and dangerously sweet obsession. Their story continues and concludes in Beautifully Ruined.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Rom Com, Ebooks, Thriller

416 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2025

Reviews

[Kursed Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Working on an up-and-coming councilman’s campaign as an intern, Violet is repeatedly sexually harassed by her boss. When Cade overhears Vi telling her then-boyfriend - his brother - about the latest incident, he takes things into his own hands.

A few drinks in and fed up with the state of her love life and disinterested boyfriend, Vi sends a risqué message to Ghost, the notorious vigilante hacker. When he replies and feeds into her dark desires, things escalate quickly.

Holy mother of… I literally devoured this book as fast as my fingers could flip pages!! I liked the characters, the storyline, the not-too-angsty angst, the spice and kink, the … everything! I was sooooo not ready for the “To be continued” or that WTAF of the last few chapters! I’m relieved we don’t have long to wait for book two!

Long story short, if you’ve been sleeping on Kira Cole like I was, rectify that problem right TF now!!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🖤
Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 😤😊🥵😳🤯
Ending: 🧗🏻‍♀️ {Cliffy}

POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}

🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Dark-ish, New Adult,

✨ Tropes: Age Gap (10), Forbidden, Forced Proximity, Friends-to-Lovers, Heroine in Danger, Hidden Identity, Kidnapped/Captive, Stalker
 
💫 Microtropes: Caretaker MMC, Golden Retriever

🔆 Character: Hacker, Vigilante

💋 Kinks: 🍑, Anonymous Smex, Blindfold, Bondage/Restraints, CNC, Degradation, Domination, Edging, Masked MMC, Power Exchange, Primal, Public Play, Toys as Teammates

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a

🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Bulldozer MMC, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, Manipulation, Touch-Her-and-💀, Tracking/Spying

⛔️ Safety Squad: Attempted Assault (Not by MMC), Kidnapping/Captive (Not by MMC), Stalker (Not MMC), Violence, Unaliving, and other potentially triggering elements. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📍 Setting: New York City

⚠️ Warning: This smutty read will have you DoorDashing batteries for BOB.

📣 Type: Sweetly Unhinged is the first book in the Devoted in Darkness duet and ends on a cliffhanger. This series must be read in order.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh

Editorially, this book is rough. Missing words, wrong letters, repeated sentences, inconsistent settings, unclear timelines....its a mess.
The story is okay, nothing extraordinary. I feel like we went from quirky dark romance to a mafia thriller at the end, so that was a bit of a harsh transition.
The chemistry between Vi and Cade was great, though. I loved their dynamic. Cade lost me a bit at the end, seemed like a completely different character than he's been built up as. Violet was consistent all the way through, and I appreciated that. I also appreciate that the author took the time to really drive home the difference between kink and unwanted advances.

I haven't decided yet if I'm going to read the second book. I wouldn't recommend for the story, but the smut is fun.

[Kaitlyn Weeks (Guidry) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did you read Lights Out and think “I could use a Temu version of this book”? If so, I have a book for you

Spoilers ahead!!

Complete with stalker, masked IT hero in the shadows and murder

Zade Meadows? You mean Cade Maddox - who breaks in and leaves gifts for our FMC

Many editing errors and repetitive statements
No plot with Jack
Enzo went all weird at the end
Isaac is just….dead?
“Fuck meat” …. Just NO
FMC is daft

Few good one liners:
- The girl’s got some ovaries on her, that’s for sure.
- My imagination is good. My libido better.
- “You know, Cade? Most guys buy flowers as a romantic gesture. They don’t murder their girlfriend’s stalkers.”

Not a good one yall. I read it so you don’t have to

[Jenny•●♡●• · Rating 2 out of 5]

•○● Fantasie und echtes Leben sind nicht dasselbe. ●○• S. 299

MEINUNG:
Bin bei diesem Buch nach dem Genre gegangen. Wollte wieder einmal lauthals lachen und mich köstlich amüsieren.
Nun, das war es leider nicht. Viele Aussagen und Gedanken wurden wahnsinnig oft wiederholt und das sogar auf einer verdammten Seite 🤨
Bei den Protagonisten war es leider nicht anders. Ich konnte keine Bindung zu ihnen aufbauen, da sie sehr oberflächlich blieben. Warum dieses Buch unter RomCom läuft, kann ich auch nicht verstehen. Entweder es war überhaupt nicht mein Humor, oder dieses Buch besitzt wirklich keinen. Richtig loslachen ... Leider Fehlanzeige 🫣

Ich muss zugeben, dass ich eine Geschichte mit Charaktere suchte, die ich in 'Lights out' gefunden habe. In diesem Buch hab ich definitiv umsonst gesucht.
Gegen Ende wurde es dann doch spannend, aber ansonsten plätscherte alles so dahin.😒 Bin sehr enttäuscht.

KLAPPENTEXT:
Violet
Ich schickte eine anonyme E-Mail an den Geist—einen Hacker, der Abschaum aus purer Laune heraus zerstört—und verriet ihm meine dunkelste Fantasie.
Er antwortete.
Mit einer Telefonnummer.
Jetzt schreibt er mir, sagt, er könne es wahr machen. Dass er mich beobachtet. Dass er genau weiß, was ich brauche.
Ich sollte weglaufen.
Stattdessen sage ich Ja.
Die Frage, die mich wahnsinnig macht: Wer ist er?
Die Frage, die mich ruinieren wird: Will ich es überhaupt wissen?

Cade
Violet Carter ist die Ex-Freundin meines Bruders.
Und sie ist das Mädchen, das mir gerade die schmutzigste E-Mail meines Lebens geschickt hat.
Sie glaubt, sie schreibt einem gefährlichen Fremden. Ich bin der Typ, der ihr Kaffee bringt, ihren Laptop repariert—und der Mann, der plant, jede ihrer verdrehten Fantasien wahr werden zu lassen.
Je näher wir uns kommen, desto tiefer falle ich.
Aber wenn sie herausfindet, wer ihre Fäden gezogen hat?
Sie wird mich entweder töten oder küssen.
Ehrlich gesagt hoffe ich auf beides.

[Maya Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yawn. 🥱🥱


Would've liked for the story to get to the important parts quicker, but the sudden turn of events was totally unnecessary and didn't feel believable- and yet it went on longer than needed.

[Melissa Leung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinky, dark, stalker, spicyyyy, twisted, and a little touch of sweet teehee. However, it leaves you hanging so you have to read the next book to find out what happens….

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★✬✩ ₃.₅

Sweetly Unhinged was entertaining in a "this is kind of ridiculous but I’m still turning the pages" way. I laughed, I rolled my eyes, and I definitely questioned how calmly everyone handled situations that should have involved way more panic (and a lot less dirt in places dirt should never be). The setup is fun, the dynamic between Violet and Cade mostly works, and the kink exploration is handled with a clear emphasis on consent, which I appreciated.

That said, it's messy. Some character choices felt wildly stupid, the tone swerves hard near the end, and the cliffhanger comes out of nowhere. It's not amazing, but it's decent, and that ending was just intriguing enough that I'll probably grab the second book at some point this year.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what it is about me but I'm really good at picking books with stupid FMCs.

Like I wanted to like Violet, I really did. I tried so hard to like Violet but I just could not find it in myself in the end. She had no character development and for the lack of a better description, the survival instincts of a fart. I think she's one of the main reasons why this book fell so flat to me. Not to say the MMCs were any better but this was supposed to be about Violet talking to a creepy cyber stalker and living out fantasies and yet....it just seemed like a lot of filler for the book.

Spicy level was...eh. For someone who was supposed to be so "kinky", most of Cade's fantasies took place in his head or written out in text.

And don't get me started on the ending of the book. Somehow we went from weird stalker fetish to...mafia? I don't think I'll be reading more.

[Lauren Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 / 3 stars

Sweetly Unhinged is certainly dark, but it is absolutely not a romcom. That’s fine, but the title is misleading. The story itself and the dynamic between Cade and Violet was definitely interesting and showed a mostly positive view of their kink preferences, which I appreciated. However, the editing and formatting throughout the book was rough, and it took me out of the story often enough that I was incredibly frustrated as a reader. There were simply too many typos and too many weird formatting issues for me to stay fully engaged. On top of that, I felt like too much time was spent on their internal narration defining the differences between consensual encounters and abuse, and the circular justification of their desire (in their own heads) was honestly just too much. Overall, I did like this darker exploration of politics, hacking, and desire, I just wish some significant editing had gone into it.

[Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweetly Unhinged was my first Kira Cole book, but I’ll be reading more because I enjoy her writing style.

Things I loved about the book:

⁀➴ Violet was tuned into Cade from the very beginning, before they were anything more than platonic.
⁀➴ She’s driven, going for a Ph.D and going after a career in a male-dominated field, despite repeated obstacles
⁀➴ The author uses a great range of vocabulary; there were a few words I had to look up, which was unusual for me
⁀➴ Cade’s younger brother was a total freeloader, but he still had remarkable patience for the little jerk, which gave depth to Cade’s character outside of his relationship with Violet
⁀➴ Cade is a vigilante style hacker and he goes after creeps, which was fun to witness

Definitely check content warnings before you dive in, but I do recommend this book!

Romantic chemistry: 🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 💀💀
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I received a free copy of this book and I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review 😊

[Migeldy Mauri · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5⭐️

I wanted to like this, but it ended up being more frustrating than darkly addictive.

The story started strong, but it quickly became repetitive. The same thoughts, fears, and fantasies are recycled over and over without much plot progression, which made the pacing drag.

Violet was my biggest issue. She constantly makes awful decisions and then doubles down on them. She would rather tolerate blatant workplace harassment and abuse of power than report her boss because she doesn’t want to be labeled a snitch in politics, which was honestly ridiculous.

Then there’s the drunk email situation. She sends explicit fantasies to a known hacker she doesn’t know, hasn’t met, and doesn’t even know the gender of. Because the website has a “male aesthetic,” she assumes it must be a hot man. That choice alone had me ready to strangle her.

The book leans heavily into dark kink themes including CNC, 🍇 play, primal play, manipulation, sexual assault, violence, and gaslighting. Violet’s obsession with 🍇 play was especially annoying because it was repeated constantly without adding depth or nuance. It felt more like shock value than meaningful character exploration.

Cade, the MMC and her ex’s older brother, becomes obsessed with Violet, and the obsession felt unearned. I never fully understood why he was so fixated on her, especially given how naive and careless she comes across. There is also little to no groveling, which didn’t help.

[Elizabeth Mars · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like it was fine I guess up until the ending. Kind of like a knock off of lights out but with more plot holes. Like the ending plot to drag it into needing another book just came out of nowhere really.

[Laur · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel like I’m worse off for having read this. Not my cup of tea (but to each their own I guess).

Outside of the very questionable plot, the writing also felt a little juvenile. Short paragraphs, single sentences only in some chapters.

It ends in a cliffhanger, but I won’t be reading the sequel.

[Chris Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

When fantasy answers back… it comes with demands.

Fans of non-consensual consensual dynamics and shadow-tinged fantasies will sink right into this story of discovering limits, boundaries, and the darker edges of desire. After receiving explicit photos of her boyfriend partying in Vegas with a stripper—on their anniversary—Violet makes one emotionally charged choice. Bolstered by alcohol and her best friend’s encouragement, she writes to “The Ghost,” confessing her fantasies. By morning, she can’t quite remember the details… but the Ghost absolutely can. And now, the game has begun.

As Violet tries to navigate a handsy, predatory boss in her PhD internship and a dying laptop full of school and business files, she finds herself turning to Cade—her ex’s older brother. Cade has always liked Violet, but she was his brother’s girl, and that line was never meant to be crossed. But now that she’s single… why does wanting her feel so wrong and so right at the same time?

And oh, what tangled webs we weave—because Violet, Cade, and the Ghost all have secrets, each darker and more dangerous than the last.

With truth, desire, and obsession twisting tighter around them, a seductive love triangle of hunger, fantasy, and peril forms. And when dark desires collide, someone is bound to get burned.

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

[Tinaj Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Violet and Cade. She is an intelligent woman who is going through life without making waves. To the public, Cade is an IT guy who leads a quiet life. Privately, he seek vengeance for those who are done wrong as The Ghost. They both have needs/desires that are not being met. Together they are a perfect match. This book ends on a cliffhanger. I am so grateful book 2 of this duet is available!

[Reading is escaping reality · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omgggg!!! I’m still reeling after finishing Sweetly Unhinged! This book grabbed me from the very first email and refused to let go. Vi and the mysterious ghost had me hooked, the tension, the secrets, and the way she opens up about her deepest desires were absolute perfection. And Cade, the hacker who thinks he knows everything, is in way over his head, and I loved every second of it.

Kira Cole completely nailed the mix of humor, heat, and heart. The BDSM and primal play elements were spicy and intense, yet still felt safe, respectful, and full of trust, which made it even hotter.

By the end I was screaming. The twist, the danger, the emotional chaos, I need the next book now. Kira Cole has truly outdone herself. Sweetly Unhinged is a rollercoaster of desire, secrets, and laughter that I didn’t want to end.

[Becky Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
2.5 🌶

This was fun and kept me intrigued. The story wasn't groundbreaking as I have read something very similar in the past. The duology Hunt for you and Prey for you by author Aimee Lynn (Hide & Seek duet) is pretty much the same.

FMC talks to 2 guys.
Cade - her ex boyfriends older brother. He is reliable, sweet, caring and all round good, IT guy.
The Ghost - An online hacker who also gives Violet the thrill she seeks with her kinky and dark fantasies.

However, they are both the same person.

The hide & seek duet is pretty much the same. Girl likes 2 guys, the priest and the man she talks to online who makes her fantasies come alive. Both men are the same person.

This did end on a cliffhanger and I am interested in seeing where this goes.

There were a lot of editorial mistakes in this book but I have read a lot of books like that so I am OK with ignoring them and not letting it ruin the story.

[Destinyreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The fact that her preferences align with mine is a damn bonus and just sped things up, but if I’m honest, it’s the spending time with her, all of it, that made me crash and burn for her. And I need to tell her. I love Violet."

Honestly didnt mind this book too much. I enjoyed some aspects but a lot of it was kind of common knowledge, I also felt like the fmc was kind of brain dead at some times, if maybe she didnt make it seem like she was so damn small she probably would've been fine, but because of that is what made it so hard to like her. I enjoyed Cade's character, but her character just made it very difficult to enjoy the writing just because there was more to the eye of her. She wasnt so damn helpless, but the author really made it seem that way.

[Kasey England · Rating 4 out of 5]

This kind of reminded me of Lights Out with a tad less banter and humor. Jack is a jerk. Enzo is funny but kinda somewhat a jerk as well. Isaac is a pig. I loved Cade from the get go. I felt like anyone could tell he and Vi were better for each other. I don’t quite understand why others allow someone to prevent them from being happy in a relationship. I’m onto the next book so I can get my happily ever after fix.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story! Quite a few tropes all in one for this. A lot of trigger warnings as well. Got a bit worried with the major cliffhanger at the end, but book 2 was thankfully available ☺️ Totally loving this nerdy, handsome, strong, intelligent, and kinky MMC 😍

[Candace P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I just finished Violet and Cade's story and holy smokes that ending!

Full review to come..

[Kassey J]

Tried to read the sample but the writing just wasnt for me.

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book!

[Book Keeper · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I am not a big fan of dark romance novels. Even without reading a ton of them, I would say this is on the "lighter" side, all things considered (you know what I mean, if you read that dark dark romance). So I have a bias, obviously.

With that being said, this book wasn't horrible, ultimately. I think it could have been edited a bit more, the overall writing wasn't too bad. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters. I was intrigued by the softer male lead. Maybe that doesn't make sense, if you have read it, but compared to other dark romance, he was sweet and mature. I can appreciate a man that knows when to turn on the kink and when to leave it be.

Violet... *sigh* I struggled with her. She would have me in her corner and then start spouting some stupid shit and I could not do it. It was further proven to me when she followed Cade. I tried to be charitable. I did! But she is going to be one of those too stupid to live chicks. Call it a "Spidey sense".

This book should have been wrapped up in one go. If it was, I may have given it 3.5 stars? After the "I love you's" an epilogue would have been better. Because the rest was unnecessary and I can only see her being a Trainwreck, in this next book, with Cade being led around by his d***.

I really liked their chemistry and banter, but I'm out.

┐⁠(⁠´⁠ー⁠｀⁠)⁠┌

[Randi Biggar · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars is generous… a few things made me laugh but mostly cringe. It’s like Lights Out, 50 Shades, & Haunting/Hunting Adeline all mixed into one book but in the worst ways😂😂

[Emilee Porter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

It might have been the writing style, but some sentences felt incomplete and thoughts half finished or started. Overall good story. Would I recommend……?

[VickieLovesBooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf@65%
This book was a drag! Repetative and far too long. The internal monologues were exhausting. Idk how many times we had to read about the differemce between consensual sex and fantasies. Ok, we get it! Also, the fmc Violet was definitely tstl. And don't get me started on the ex boyfriend who she dated for 3yrs. The girl was a fool.

[Book Goddess · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm annoyed with myself for not catching that this was a cliffhanger. The author advertised it clearly—it was my fault for downloading based on premise alone without looking at the obvious second book right next to it. But I won't read another one. Romance should resolve in a single volume. That's the genre contract, and splitting same-couple stories breaks something fundamental. We see it again and again.

The pacing gave it away halfway through. There was too much drag, functionally repetitive scenes not propelling the plot because the author needed to pad for book two. My editor brain rebelled, but I was already invested. So then I was hate-reading a little.

Cade and Enzo are the draw, and primarily Cade. He is genuinely compelling, and Enzo works as sidekick. But while the problems aren't many, they are glaring and structural: little brother Jake gets introduced and then just sits there, unresolved. - Again - this seems only there to set up a second book, when the focus should be on making the current book as good as it can be. A second book should be necessitated by the story, not the other way around, that's why it's supposed to be more rare as a technque. If Jake is not integral to the plot, Jake should not be introduced as if he were and then dropped mid-narrative.

The mob connections get mentioned early—and when a romance mentions mob clients, it's going to matter—but then nothing until the final pages. There were a few Deus ex machina moves at the end but by then I was too bored to care.

For a book about primal kink, there's not enough sex to compensate for broken pacing. There's a decent amount, but I wish there were more physically present mutual sex - the phone/distance/camera mechanics weren't that hot. There's constant PSA-style reminders about the difference between coercion and consensual BDSM, delivered in internal monologue like an info-mercial. It's preachy and kills the mood, made more annoying by the fact that there really isn't much actual BDSM anyway. He talks about it constantly in his own head. No primal chase scenes—she wakes up to him standing there once or twice. That's it.

And Violet. Twenty-one but reading sixteen, congenitally stupid, a TSTL caricature. She'd sink this book even without the cliffhanger format. Cade is smart and controlled and mature—he deserved an actual match, the maturity imbalance feels a bit like he picked her up at the local high school. It would have been hotter if he was paired with someone his age or older, someone who could meet him as an equal. It strains belief he'd fixate on someone he himself calls "barely legal." I think making her so implausibly young - a lithe nymphet with a driving BDSM personality - is ridiculous and smacks of ageism.

Everything Cade knows about her comes from cyber stalking, not mutual interaction, and Violet is blazingly oblivious to it. If any young women are reading this: in real life, if you're as stupid as Violet, you will get taken advantage of and no one will respect you. The odds of finding a man who sees you act this fucking stupid and thinks "I want to rescue her and keep her forever" are lower than winning the lottery.

Look, I'm not one to nitpick realism in fiction—I'm a romance novel addict, I suspend disbelief for breakfast. But this is too much, especially when the author fills so much space with patronizing lectures about consent and healthy BDSM dynamics while writing a heroine who's dangerously stupid. This is a prime example of an instance where 'show, don't tell' would have been great.

The "dark rom-com" label doesn't work. It's not 'bad' narrative and dialogue, per se, but it's neither dark enough nor funny enough to justify the term. There's some decent banter, nothing exceptional.
This would have been great as a standalone. But I'm not reading book two.

Ps on that: Based on the blurb for book 2, it sounds like the author can't carry the same story forward and skips to a different plot entirely with a kidnapping rescue and club investigation plot. That's a standard standalone mafia romance trope ( and a whole different story) that has nothing to do with the threads left dangling in book one. But please let me know if book one stuff gets resolved in book two.

[Aarann · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 "this made me laugh out loud and I was here for the banter" stars.

My main complaints were 1) my old, grumpy been-reading-smut-for-over-30-years, perimenopausal self could have done with fewer spice scenes (I'm not saying they weren't decently done, I am simply saying that I prefer the romance to the smut these days), 2) On a similar note, I wanted more interaction with "Cade," less "Ghost," and 3) the end does a curveball that just didn't seem like it fit with the rest of the book, even though, yes, there was set up. I just felt like the issue with Vi's creepy boss could have ended with a bit more show and less tell (it basically set him up as a serial rapist and probable serial killer, then immediately killed him off), with the characters in a similar situation. You could even kill creepy Isaac early enough in the next book, only to have his human trafficker connections step in, but to have it be a third act Oh whoops, he's a serial killer but it's fine because we're gonna murder him even though we're hackers who presumably have never murdered anyone seemed like maybe it wasn't thought out beforehand.

4) Also, cliffhangers. I've talked plenty in other reviews about how I feel second/third books with the same couple (that aren't an ongoing series) are cash grabs. At least the author did the decent thing here and made sure both 1 and 2 were published on the same day, and it appears she is doing the same with Cade's partner, Enzo's, duology coming out in a few months.

5) Last, I had a minor nitpick in that there were a surprising amount of errors/typos for a book that was otherwise well written.

What I loved? First and foremost, the honest and thorough discussion about real life vs. sexual fantasy. Violet has fantasies about things with Ghost/Cade that would not be okay in real life. She and Ghost speak about what she wants and most importantly, have a safe word, while rando creepy boss dude and/or dude on the street has never done anything of the sort. She also has fantasies about things she doesn't necessarily want to happen. She likes to talk about being shared with other guys and fantasize about it, but the book indicates that 1) actually doing that is a hard "no" for Cade so even though he isn't the sub, he gets to have boundaries too 2) just talking about it is the turn-on for Vi and when it comes to being threatened with the prospect of it against her will (see creepy boss threats) she doesn't actually want to try that (at least I don't think; in duologies it seems like books always push the spice up in the second book and the blurb indicates that she has even more fantasies, so who knows what will happen there). On a related note, the book discusses BDSM things like aftercare and, yes, safe words, that are frequently omitted in smutty books. One thing not discussed was condoms. I mean, c'mon, you're having incredibly risky sex with someone you think is a total stranger -- at least consider that he might have an STI here and there.

Last, loved the banter between Vi and Ghost/Cade. That is where this book truly shone for me. I actually laughed out loud a couple of times reading it.

So yeah, there was a lot to love in this one, and a few things I liked a little less, but in the end, I totally plan to read the second book.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because, like Violet, I have a noncon/primal kink, so it appealed to me. Violet is a young woman diligently working toward her career goals, and failing spectacularly at love. To be fair, she is focused on her internship, but her boyfriend is an absolute idiot and she’s been staying for all the wrong reasons. Things finally come to a head and she breaks it off, but it seems fate has more in store for Violet with her ex’s brother, Cade. Cade refers to himself as an IT guy, but what he actually does is quite a bit more complicated and nefarious. In addition to his hacking for pay he also moonlights as The Ghost, a hacker vigilante who takes down the bad guys when needed. Violet falls for both men, unaware of course, that they are one and the same.
I went into this knowing it was on the dark side, and for the most part I wasn’t too bothered. Cade made a few choices that I thought went over the line, but he seemed such a good guy that I let it pass. Violet is a sweet young woman who is driven in her career but shamed by her desires. I liked how Cade/The Ghost talked her through a lot of her worries, and the noncon/primal aspects were never stigmatized, only celebrated as valid desires. (The process of acting out those desires wasn’t captured as honestly as it could have been. Entering into that kind of situation without firm rules and agreements in place would never end well in real life, especially when the participants are strangers. And the fact they never used protection when being intimate was wildly irresponsible.)
Vi has to navigate a toxic boss and Cade finds himself in the role of protector, and so he has to be careful not to let Vi catch on to his alter ego. Things come to a head with Vi’s boss and the results well, let’s say they put Cade in a different light for me, one I wasn’t too happy with, but one he seemed quite comfortable in.
The book was on the longer side, at over 500 pages, but I never felt the author was padding the story or that I was getting bored. The writing style was quite good (though there were a plethora of typos and misspellings, etc that I hope will be fixed before publication). The characters were engaging, the story was paced nicely and it kept my interest through those 500+ pages. It ends on a major cliffhanger and, despite not enjoying some of the more violent aspects, I’ll be picking up the sequel to find out what happens with Vi and Cade. Recommended for those who heed the warnings the author makes.

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