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Pretty Little Justice #1
Blackmail and Other Turn Ons
Willow Vale reads tarot, thirsts on TikTok, and kills men who deserve it. She’s fine—really.
Her moral compass? Crooked at best.
Her trauma? Unprocessed and thriving.
Her next target? A “healer” who preys on sick women and thinks no one will stop him.
But her latest obsession? Saint Shade, the masked magician/acrobat lighting up Las Vegas and every woman’s For You Page. He’s chaos wrapped in black silk, and she’s determined to unmask him.
Except the night she does, he catches her mid-murder.
But he doesn’t run. He doesn’t call the cops. He helps with the clean-up.
Now it’s mutual blackmail, and the stakes couldn’t be higher—her body count, his identity. One word from either of them could end it all, but neither seems ready to stop this game of chicken when their chemistry is hot enough to burn down the Strip.
He’s obsessed. She’s unhinged. Together they’re a love story written in bleach, blood, and bad decisions.
Your morally gray soulmate might not fix you—but they’ll definitely help you bury the bodies.
Perfect for fans of Butcher & Blackbird and Lights Out, this serial killer dark rom-com is wickedly funny, a little deranged, and dangerously addictive—guaranteed to make you laugh, blush, and question your morals in the best way.
Her moral compass? Crooked at best.
Her trauma? Unprocessed and thriving.
Her next target? A “healer” who preys on sick women and thinks no one will stop him.
But her latest obsession? Saint Shade, the masked magician/acrobat lighting up Las Vegas and every woman’s For You Page. He’s chaos wrapped in black silk, and she’s determined to unmask him.
Except the night she does, he catches her mid-murder.
But he doesn’t run. He doesn’t call the cops. He helps with the clean-up.
Now it’s mutual blackmail, and the stakes couldn’t be higher—her body count, his identity. One word from either of them could end it all, but neither seems ready to stop this game of chicken when their chemistry is hot enough to burn down the Strip.
He’s obsessed. She’s unhinged. Together they’re a love story written in bleach, blood, and bad decisions.
Your morally gray soulmate might not fix you—but they’ll definitely help you bury the bodies.
Perfect for fans of Butcher & Blackbird and Lights Out, this serial killer dark rom-com is wickedly funny, a little deranged, and dangerously addictive—guaranteed to make you laugh, blush, and question your morals in the best way.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
March 28, 2026
DNF @ 35%
I mean, they're obsessed with each other and in love by chapter 3??
I mean, they're obsessed with each other and in love by chapter 3??
February 23, 2026
just the right amount of unhinged
This was the right amount of unhinged and I was here for it. What goes down on page 315 - 87% almost made me spit out my drink and was joyful at the same time.
This was the right amount of unhinged and I was here for it. What goes down on page 315 - 87% almost made me spit out my drink and was joyful at the same time.
February 8, 2026
5 stars for Willow Vale and “Not-Kade” Saint Shade!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh my god this was so freaking good. I enjoyed every moment of this book from beginning to end. From Willow and Saint’s first meeting to their mutual obsession with one another! I love how unhinged they were and all the comments Willow would unashamedly leave on Saint’s TikTok.
Saint Shade ran away from his old life. Carving a new name for himself as a aerialist magician in Las Vegas. Willow Vale is a tarot reading, dagger wielding bad*ss who just know how to put someone in their place. And she’s done so... about 14x 😂. Both MC’s are TikTok influencers, and are a little obsessed with one another to say the least. Willow tends to leave some interesting comments on all of Saint’s thirst traps and I just loved reading every one of them 😂.
This was my first time reading about an MMC who was an aerialist and I just thought Saint was so freaking cool. And he was a masked one at that 🤭. And I love an FMC who reads tarot! It definitely kept the story interesting. And their banter was so good! Willow’s sisters were hilarious! Iris and especially Opal were awesome! I love a when siblings are close in books, it just reminds me of my own 💕. Poor Saint at thanksgiving lol, but at least he survived 😂. I loved every bit of this book. It was exciting and kept me captivated. The action, comedy and spice were all there! That Spider-Man kiss? So good 😏. And their obsession with mirrors? Also very nice 😌. I think one of my top scenes is when Willow finds out Saint’s identity. Her reaction is just top tier comedy 😂. The way Saint loves and accepts Willow and vice versa is what made their story beautiful. He took his time and didn’t rush her into anything at all. The slow burn was so good and so hot🔥.
Blackmail and Other Turn Ons totally gave me those Butcher and Blackbird vibes that I love and I just am so excited for more!! Iris is next and I cannot wait to read her story and find out who Silas is!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh my god this was so freaking good. I enjoyed every moment of this book from beginning to end. From Willow and Saint’s first meeting to their mutual obsession with one another! I love how unhinged they were and all the comments Willow would unashamedly leave on Saint’s TikTok.
Saint Shade ran away from his old life. Carving a new name for himself as a aerialist magician in Las Vegas. Willow Vale is a tarot reading, dagger wielding bad*ss who just know how to put someone in their place. And she’s done so... about 14x 😂. Both MC’s are TikTok influencers, and are a little obsessed with one another to say the least. Willow tends to leave some interesting comments on all of Saint’s thirst traps and I just loved reading every one of them 😂.
This was my first time reading about an MMC who was an aerialist and I just thought Saint was so freaking cool. And he was a masked one at that 🤭. And I love an FMC who reads tarot! It definitely kept the story interesting. And their banter was so good! Willow’s sisters were hilarious! Iris and especially Opal were awesome! I love a when siblings are close in books, it just reminds me of my own 💕. Poor Saint at thanksgiving lol, but at least he survived 😂. I loved every bit of this book. It was exciting and kept me captivated. The action, comedy and spice were all there! That Spider-Man kiss? So good 😏. And their obsession with mirrors? Also very nice 😌. I think one of my top scenes is when Willow finds out Saint’s identity. Her reaction is just top tier comedy 😂. The way Saint loves and accepts Willow and vice versa is what made their story beautiful. He took his time and didn’t rush her into anything at all. The slow burn was so good and so hot🔥.
Blackmail and Other Turn Ons totally gave me those Butcher and Blackbird vibes that I love and I just am so excited for more!! Iris is next and I cannot wait to read her story and find out who Silas is!
March 19, 2026
March 2026
Kindle edition
Ooh, now this was a fun one. Playlist wasn't bad either. An acrobat and a tarot reader, both equally good at their craft. I liked the way they met and how things played out. The funniest and most cringe part of the story was the aunt's reveal. The family reunion was insane. The smoothie bit made me want to throw up. Wrapped up nicely with a HEA, unless you go by the bonus chapter. Looking forward to the next one.
Kindle edition
Ooh, now this was a fun one. Playlist wasn't bad either. An acrobat and a tarot reader, both equally good at their craft. I liked the way they met and how things played out. The funniest and most cringe part of the story was the aunt's reveal. The family reunion was insane. The smoothie bit made me want to throw up. Wrapped up nicely with a HEA, unless you go by the bonus chapter. Looking forward to the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2026
Maybe I’ve read too many dark romances but this was the tamest shit I’ve ever read.
January 20, 2026
If I could give this more than 5 stars, I absolutely would.
I devoured this book in one sitting. I could not put this book down (except to sleep cause the body needs that apparently).
Keary created a very intense and high-octane environment with characters that have many layers and that just adds to the intensity of everything going on.
Read the blurb because I am not going to tell you anymore than what the blurb gives you.
A MUST READ!!!
I devoured this book in one sitting. I could not put this book down (except to sleep cause the body needs that apparently).
Keary created a very intense and high-octane environment with characters that have many layers and that just adds to the intensity of everything going on.
Read the blurb because I am not going to tell you anymore than what the blurb gives you.
A MUST READ!!!
January 26, 2026
This was such a fun and entertaining read. If you liked Lights Out or Butcher & Blackbird, I would definitely recommend this. It’s a dark rom-com, though I’d consider it more of a “diet” dark rom-com. I really enjoyed Willow and Not Kade’s banter and chemistry. They had me laughing, and their relationship was fantastic. I’m looking forward to the next book and Iris’s story.
May 25, 2026
Loved this!
May 20, 2026
It way ok-ish; nothing too bloody or unhinged... But seriously - his name?! Wtf 😅🙈
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2026
4⭐️ 2🌶️
Loved! If you are a fan of Lights Out and the Ruinous Love series, this is the book for you. Thank you Keary T. for gifting me a copy to review for you. This is a review of an ARC and all thoughts are my own.
Blackmail and Other Turn Ons is set in Las Vegas, a city that never sleeps, is full of sin and the perfect place to live if you want to hide. For Saint Shade he is hiding from his past, for Willow she is hiding what she is doing, killing horrid men. Saint Shade posts thirst traps and Willow posts tarot card readings and they are both obsessed with each other. Their paths cross and they both need to keep each other’s secrets to stay hidden, until they realize there is more to their situation than just silence. They realize they are meant for each other. And they work together to rid the world of someone that hurt Willows friend because of misogyny and neglect. This portion of the book was suspenseful and I did not see what happens to Willow coming, I knew this bad man was going to do something but that is not what I expected. After all that happened I believed we had a blissful ending and was all tied in a pretty bow and then Miss T hits me with and extended epilogue that I could download that has a cliff hanger that has me realizing there will be another book and I need it now.
I really enjoyed the take of a dark romcom set in Las Vegas with a magician/acrobat and a tarot card reader as those are perfect jobs for the characters in this story. I liked the pasts of both characters and why they had to protect themselves and heal with each other as they reveal their true selves for the first time ever.
Loved! If you are a fan of Lights Out and the Ruinous Love series, this is the book for you. Thank you Keary T. for gifting me a copy to review for you. This is a review of an ARC and all thoughts are my own.
Blackmail and Other Turn Ons is set in Las Vegas, a city that never sleeps, is full of sin and the perfect place to live if you want to hide. For Saint Shade he is hiding from his past, for Willow she is hiding what she is doing, killing horrid men. Saint Shade posts thirst traps and Willow posts tarot card readings and they are both obsessed with each other. Their paths cross and they both need to keep each other’s secrets to stay hidden, until they realize there is more to their situation than just silence. They realize they are meant for each other. And they work together to rid the world of someone that hurt Willows friend because of misogyny and neglect. This portion of the book was suspenseful and I did not see what happens to Willow coming, I knew this bad man was going to do something but that is not what I expected. After all that happened I believed we had a blissful ending and was all tied in a pretty bow and then Miss T hits me with and extended epilogue that I could download that has a cliff hanger that has me realizing there will be another book and I need it now.
I really enjoyed the take of a dark romcom set in Las Vegas with a magician/acrobat and a tarot card reader as those are perfect jobs for the characters in this story. I liked the pasts of both characters and why they had to protect themselves and heal with each other as they reveal their true selves for the first time ever.
January 23, 2026
[3.75 ⭐️] ARC Review: This books is marketed as a dark rom-com and I would say it is definitely is on the lighter side of dark romance. If you enjoyed Lights Out and Butcher & Blackbird, I recommend adding this to your TBR.
I did enjoy the relationship between the FMC & MMC, it was quick but it was cute & sweet in execution. Although there is spice, there is no extreme kink so if you’re not super into that, you’ll enjoy this.
I was a little surprised at how the tension between the family of the MMC was resolved, it seemed to be a little quick with little issue. I would have liked to see more there but it does add to the overall lighter tone of this book. It also seems like we may be getting more books following the other Vale sisters so I’m looking forward to that.
Overall, I think that as long as you expect to have fun going into this book, you’ll enjoy it.
Thank you to Keary T for gifting me an early copy to review. All opinions are my own.
I did enjoy the relationship between the FMC & MMC, it was quick but it was cute & sweet in execution. Although there is spice, there is no extreme kink so if you’re not super into that, you’ll enjoy this.
I was a little surprised at how the tension between the family of the MMC was resolved, it seemed to be a little quick with little issue. I would have liked to see more there but it does add to the overall lighter tone of this book. It also seems like we may be getting more books following the other Vale sisters so I’m looking forward to that.
Overall, I think that as long as you expect to have fun going into this book, you’ll enjoy it.
Thank you to Keary T for gifting me an early copy to review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a must-read for 2026 if you love dark romance! I’m giving this 4.5/5 stars. The only reason it isn't a full 5 is that the beginning felt a little repetitive regarding the characters' internal monologues, but once it took off, I truly couldn't put it down.
Blackmail and Other Turn Ons by Keary T. feels like the perfect love child of Butcher & Blackbird and Lights Out. Since those were two of my favorite reads of 2025, this was the ultimate way to kick off the new year. The FMC, Willow, is a tarot card reader by day and a serial killer seeking justice by night. The MMC—whose identity is a mystery—is a high-profile Vegas magician with a dark, secret past. I was laughing one minute and filled with suspense the next. It drops January 20th, and I can’t wait for other dark romance fans to experience it!
Blackmail and Other Turn Ons by Keary T. feels like the perfect love child of Butcher & Blackbird and Lights Out. Since those were two of my favorite reads of 2025, this was the ultimate way to kick off the new year. The FMC, Willow, is a tarot card reader by day and a serial killer seeking justice by night. The MMC—whose identity is a mystery—is a high-profile Vegas magician with a dark, secret past. I was laughing one minute and filled with suspense the next. It drops January 20th, and I can’t wait for other dark romance fans to experience it!
April 18, 2026
"You're insane." "But I'm your insane." 🩶
This book is everything I wanted it to be. A dark romcom, filled with Vegas vibes, vigilante justice and fun shenanigans 💗 I loved how unhinged Willow and her sisters are. They're like modern hippies, who believe in witchcraft, reincarnation and hexes. Willow's mission to rid the world of scummy men is something I can definitely get behind 😍 You go girl!
Our not-Kade is so down bad for his girl and it turns out, his family is even more insane. 🤭 I wish we learnt more about them and what has been going on for the last ten years. The way they came and left was too abrupt.
The last 20% of this book shot the rating up for me, it was so much fun! Overall, a very solid dark romcom. Do check your triggers just in case but this is pretty on the light side imo 🩶
This book is everything I wanted it to be. A dark romcom, filled with Vegas vibes, vigilante justice and fun shenanigans 💗 I loved how unhinged Willow and her sisters are. They're like modern hippies, who believe in witchcraft, reincarnation and hexes. Willow's mission to rid the world of scummy men is something I can definitely get behind 😍 You go girl!
Our not-Kade is so down bad for his girl and it turns out, his family is even more insane. 🤭 I wish we learnt more about them and what has been going on for the last ten years. The way they came and left was too abrupt.
The last 20% of this book shot the rating up for me, it was so much fun! Overall, a very solid dark romcom. Do check your triggers just in case but this is pretty on the light side imo 🩶
April 10, 2026
★ ★ ★.5 / 5
Kinda cringe but SO entertaining.
The MMC is blonde and I love that for me. His name suits him so much when you learn it lol. Willow is so badass and fun. Her family is such a fun dynamic and I definitely want more of Opal, she seems so sweet but I’d like to see what she’s like from her own POV.
It’s a good time and the writing is engaging. I had a fun time* and I’d read more.
POSSIBLE SPOILER:
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*and especially toward the end when his family is introduced. His aunt omg lmao.
Kinda cringe but SO entertaining.
The MMC is blonde and I love that for me. His name suits him so much when you learn it lol. Willow is so badass and fun. Her family is such a fun dynamic and I definitely want more of Opal, she seems so sweet but I’d like to see what she’s like from her own POV.
It’s a good time and the writing is engaging. I had a fun time* and I’d read more.
POSSIBLE SPOILER:
-
-
-
-
*and especially toward the end when his family is introduced. His aunt omg lmao.
January 28, 2026
A tarot reader that just so happens to exact her own vigilante justice meets her idol, a masked man that is an acrobat/ magician. Willow discovers who he is, and as he sees her commit a murder, they enact a blackmail pact. Throughout the story, they work together to bring down a false prophet and fall for one another. I enjoyed these two characters and Willow's family. The story was entertaining and kept my invested.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed this book. We have a tarot card reader and an acrobat magician, which was a first for me. I enjoyed the characters. There were layers to it that were revealed piece by piece. This book made me laugh, gasp and 2nd guess myself. Truly a fun read. The mmc was possessive and we love that. The fmc was strong and kinda terrifying (in a good way). These two are perfect for eachother.
May 18, 2026
There were a few errors that really annoyed me in this book but overall I really enjoyed it. As someone who reads tarot, has lots of crystals etc, I loved Willow! She’s my kinda gal. Saint Shade is just 🥵, I have no words other than…I wish his TikTok was real 🤣
Perfect for those who love Butcher & Blackbird, Lights Out etc
Perfect for those who love Butcher & Blackbird, Lights Out etc
June 19, 2026
Absolutely loved this book!!
I was worried this book was going to be boring and predictable based off how it started. While yes, it is a little predictable in the big plot, it is 100% worth the read. I chuckled so much! Who doesn't love murdery viral witchy tarot readers and sexy masked arial silk magicians? Normally, I wouldn't love how their relationship progressed. But it worked so great for these two! Read this book. It's worth it!!
I was worried this book was going to be boring and predictable based off how it started. While yes, it is a little predictable in the big plot, it is 100% worth the read. I chuckled so much! Who doesn't love murdery viral witchy tarot readers and sexy masked arial silk magicians? Normally, I wouldn't love how their relationship progressed. But it worked so great for these two! Read this book. It's worth it!!
March 11, 2026
wow what a book. I can't wait for the next book and the next sister's storyline. There was a scene in this book that made me sick and made me almost close my book. But I freaking loved Willow and Saint shade/ Not Kade.
June 4, 2026
OK this was fun, a slightly dark rom com but definitely more on the comedy side. Lights out vibes but with less spice and more crazy family members. It was a very easy and entertaining read.
June 24, 2026
I love saint shade. Ugh. I liked her too. This book just gave nothing at sometimes. I really enjoyed the concept though.
May 15, 2026
"For fans of Lights Out and Butcher & Blackbird", yeah because the author (using that term Loosely) completely ripped off Navessa and Brynne, and literally combined their books into one poorly executed copy. The writing is boring, the characters are formulaic, there is no tension, it's instalove. This is the cheapest knock-off. Go read the originals, you'll have a better time.
February 23, 2026
So I genuinely enjoyed this book and I liked how absolutely feral the MMC was for the FMC
The only thing was that it was rather slow
So I took a really long time to read this book
It was just really easy to go do anything else.
I definitely give it five stars because the vibe was really good. The story itself was pretty good and the characters I liked both of
There was a lot of good swoon worthy moments a lot of really good lines that are highlighted in the book
There was also a lot of good book boyfriend moments
But again, the actual story was slow and easy to just pause and go do something else
I definitely wanna read more of this author’s books and I’m hoping that with more books under her belt she will maybe write a more fast paced story
The only thing was that it was rather slow
So I took a really long time to read this book
It was just really easy to go do anything else.
I definitely give it five stars because the vibe was really good. The story itself was pretty good and the characters I liked both of
There was a lot of good swoon worthy moments a lot of really good lines that are highlighted in the book
There was also a lot of good book boyfriend moments
But again, the actual story was slow and easy to just pause and go do something else
I definitely wanna read more of this author’s books and I’m hoping that with more books under her belt she will maybe write a more fast paced story
February 2, 2026
What a twisted little dark rom-com! The FMC is a morally grey, anti-hero, with serial killer tendencies. I love a woman in a male dominated field. The MMC is masked acrobatic performer, with a successful Vegas show and a dark past, who happens to get excited about the FMCs murderous tendencies. Excellent grim humor.
January 12, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🔥🔥🔥 - 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
🩸- 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮
🖤 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Willow & Saint Shade ‘Lucky’
🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
📕 graphic unalivings
📕 psychological manipulation
📕 smoothies gone wrong
📕 body disposal
📕serial unalivers
🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
Oh, my goodness. This was the perfect combination of revenge horror meets romcom. The chemistry between Willow and Lucky was simply divine the way it was built up from the start. The development of the plot and the emotional bonding they shared was phenomenally written. And don’t even get me started on that finale that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The spice was perfectly woven into the plot to build a stronger connection between the mains. I was absolutely revetted by this book and I can already tell 2026 is going to be full of bangers!
*spoilers*
Willow has a dark secret. And she just got caught in the middle of the act by none other than the mysterious magician, Saint Shade, she has been leaving thirsty comments under his unique videos. Instead of turning her in, he stays to help her with the body because now that she knows his true identity, she’s now a risk for his future. To make sure he doesn’t spill her secrets, she quickly snaps a picture of his face without the mask to ensure he won’t turn around and get officials on her for the body.
But he fascinates her. Wondering the reason why she targeted this man to kill. Upon discovering his atrocious acts that had been swept under the rug, he finds out that she’s only been targeting those who are deserving of such fate. He introduces himself to her as Kade but even she can tell that’s not his actual name. But that doesn’t come out until the moment they both allow themselves to become closer to one another, exposing their darkest secrets so that nothing is kept from each other.
The emotional and sexual bond between the two expand exponentially throughout the story as he helps her try to take down the man responsible for a death that was so dearly close to her. But I can tell you one thing, you’ll never see the climax occur the way it does and what a way to have someone meet your parents for the first time! Absolutely was pulled into the plot, the characters, and the spice to the point where I read this entire book in one sitting. Yes, it was just that good.
As a first time read by the author, I can absolutely say that it won’t be my last. The build-up to the spice was fantastic; it gave us more emotional bonding before the act because of how insecure the fmc had been from past experiences. Lucky is just a heart-stealer, the way he was down to help her bury a body the first time he laid eyes upon her in the bookstore after unaliving a victim. But the icing on the cake for the romance readers was how cute and satisfying the ending was. Perfect for fans of Now You See Me meets Even Lambs Have Teeth and one you should add to your 2026 TBR list.
(Was offered an advanced copy before release in order to provide an honest review…and I have to add this because GR told me)
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🔥🔥🔥 - 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
🩸- 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮
🖤 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Willow & Saint Shade ‘Lucky’
🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
📕 graphic unalivings
📕 psychological manipulation
📕 smoothies gone wrong
📕 body disposal
📕serial unalivers
🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
Oh, my goodness. This was the perfect combination of revenge horror meets romcom. The chemistry between Willow and Lucky was simply divine the way it was built up from the start. The development of the plot and the emotional bonding they shared was phenomenally written. And don’t even get me started on that finale that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The spice was perfectly woven into the plot to build a stronger connection between the mains. I was absolutely revetted by this book and I can already tell 2026 is going to be full of bangers!
*spoilers*
Willow has a dark secret. And she just got caught in the middle of the act by none other than the mysterious magician, Saint Shade, she has been leaving thirsty comments under his unique videos. Instead of turning her in, he stays to help her with the body because now that she knows his true identity, she’s now a risk for his future. To make sure he doesn’t spill her secrets, she quickly snaps a picture of his face without the mask to ensure he won’t turn around and get officials on her for the body.
But he fascinates her. Wondering the reason why she targeted this man to kill. Upon discovering his atrocious acts that had been swept under the rug, he finds out that she’s only been targeting those who are deserving of such fate. He introduces himself to her as Kade but even she can tell that’s not his actual name. But that doesn’t come out until the moment they both allow themselves to become closer to one another, exposing their darkest secrets so that nothing is kept from each other.
The emotional and sexual bond between the two expand exponentially throughout the story as he helps her try to take down the man responsible for a death that was so dearly close to her. But I can tell you one thing, you’ll never see the climax occur the way it does and what a way to have someone meet your parents for the first time! Absolutely was pulled into the plot, the characters, and the spice to the point where I read this entire book in one sitting. Yes, it was just that good.
As a first time read by the author, I can absolutely say that it won’t be my last. The build-up to the spice was fantastic; it gave us more emotional bonding before the act because of how insecure the fmc had been from past experiences. Lucky is just a heart-stealer, the way he was down to help her bury a body the first time he laid eyes upon her in the bookstore after unaliving a victim. But the icing on the cake for the romance readers was how cute and satisfying the ending was. Perfect for fans of Now You See Me meets Even Lambs Have Teeth and one you should add to your 2026 TBR list.
(Was offered an advanced copy before release in order to provide an honest review…and I have to add this because GR told me)
January 14, 2026
Overall, I enjoyed this one. It landed at a 4.5 out of 5 stars for me. What would’ve pushed it to a full 5 ⭐️ would’ve been less repetition, sharper comedic banter, and a shorter overall length. Vibe-wise, it reminded me of The Ruinous Love Trilogy and Lights Out—that lighter dark romcom lane—so if you enjoy those, this will likely work for you too.
The FMC reads tarot and acts as a vigilante when the law fails, which I really liked. The MMC is a masked Las Vegas headliner, bringing in secret identities, reinvention, and a bit of mystery. Our main villain is a wellness-guru con man, which added an interesting and timely layer to the story.
This is a true slow burn. Physical intimacy doesn’t really kick in until around the 70% mark, with a much heavier focus on emotional connection first. Both characters are morally gray, but the spice itself is very vanilla—nothing depraved, brutal, or taboo. It’s rooted in trust, respect, and boundaries. The MMC is extremely patient and understanding of the FMC’s past and lets intimacy unfold entirely on her terms, which I appreciated.
I really enjoyed their meet-cute—it was creative and memorable—and their chemistry was solid. I did want more comedic banter, but their emotional bonding and backstories were compelling and satisfying. There were definitely moments where I was eager to see what happened next and felt genuinely pulled in, but also some stretches where I found myself thinking, okay, let’s move this along.
This is very much a “lighter” dark romcom. When the MMC’s past resurfaces, the way it’s built up made me expect more tension, pushback, and conflict. Instead, it was resolved fairly quickly and smoothly, which reinforced how light this book ultimately is. I would’ve loved more friction there.
The single funniest moment in the entire book—the one that made me actually laugh out loud—was Vivi’s confession. It was painfully awkward in the best way, and you could feel the secondhand embarrassment. Easily my favorite scene.
As for spice: it’s traditional and straightforward. No real kinks, aside from a light mask moment at the end and a little mirror play here and there. This is much more about connection, trust, overcoming trauma and allowing yourself to be fully seen and accepted. There’s a soulmate-adjacent vibe running through it. The darkest element is the serial killer aspect, and even that stays fairly tame with minimal gore.
If you’re a fan of The Ruinous Love Trilogy, just know this is noticeably lighter in tone. Personally, I gravitate toward much darker, pitch-black stories, so for me this felt soft, romantic, and honestly kind of cute. Still very enjoyable—just lighter than my usual preference.
(I did received this as an ARC copy)
The FMC reads tarot and acts as a vigilante when the law fails, which I really liked. The MMC is a masked Las Vegas headliner, bringing in secret identities, reinvention, and a bit of mystery. Our main villain is a wellness-guru con man, which added an interesting and timely layer to the story.
This is a true slow burn. Physical intimacy doesn’t really kick in until around the 70% mark, with a much heavier focus on emotional connection first. Both characters are morally gray, but the spice itself is very vanilla—nothing depraved, brutal, or taboo. It’s rooted in trust, respect, and boundaries. The MMC is extremely patient and understanding of the FMC’s past and lets intimacy unfold entirely on her terms, which I appreciated.
I really enjoyed their meet-cute—it was creative and memorable—and their chemistry was solid. I did want more comedic banter, but their emotional bonding and backstories were compelling and satisfying. There were definitely moments where I was eager to see what happened next and felt genuinely pulled in, but also some stretches where I found myself thinking, okay, let’s move this along.
This is very much a “lighter” dark romcom. When the MMC’s past resurfaces, the way it’s built up made me expect more tension, pushback, and conflict. Instead, it was resolved fairly quickly and smoothly, which reinforced how light this book ultimately is. I would’ve loved more friction there.
The single funniest moment in the entire book—the one that made me actually laugh out loud—was Vivi’s confession. It was painfully awkward in the best way, and you could feel the secondhand embarrassment. Easily my favorite scene.
As for spice: it’s traditional and straightforward. No real kinks, aside from a light mask moment at the end and a little mirror play here and there. This is much more about connection, trust, overcoming trauma and allowing yourself to be fully seen and accepted. There’s a soulmate-adjacent vibe running through it. The darkest element is the serial killer aspect, and even that stays fairly tame with minimal gore.
If you’re a fan of The Ruinous Love Trilogy, just know this is noticeably lighter in tone. Personally, I gravitate toward much darker, pitch-black stories, so for me this felt soft, romantic, and honestly kind of cute. Still very enjoyable—just lighter than my usual preference.
(I did received this as an ARC copy)
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️4.25
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
““Look in the mirror,” he says right next to my ear. And so I do. Which means I get to watch every second of it as Lucky places a hand on both of my knees, and he slowly pulls them open. “Relax for me, Willow. And watch.”” - Willow Vale
This book kept me intrigued from start to finish! I literally stayed up until 2am reading because I could not convince myself to put it down! A true page turner that is very well written, an leaves you wanting more in all the right ways.
Willow Vale, FMC, is a tarot card reader in Las Vegas. Between telling fortunes and drooling over thirst traps of an unknown masked aerial performer - Saint Shade - on TikTok, she enjoys being a serial unaliver, ridding the world disgusting, disgraceful men.
Lucky, MMC, enjoys teasing his audience as a hot aerial performer on stage in Las Vegas. When he’s not flaunting his ridiculously sexy abs on stage, he enjoys posting thirst traps on TikTok under his stage name - Saint Shade. He also enjoys watching TikTok’s posted by Vale Tarot - Willow (FMC). He finds her sexy, intriguing, but also terrifying.
Willow continues to post TikTok’s about the secret identity of MMC Saint Shade. She is determined to uncover the man under the mask. The only problem with that is, the man under the mask is technically dead and been hiding under a false identity for the past 10years.
One night with Lucky can’t get Willow - Tarot Vale - off his mind. He finds himself standing outside her shop. But what he witnesses is anything but what he thought he would find.
Lucky and Willow find themselves traveling down a similar path. A journey they hope will eventually lead them to finding their true selves. The road they travel unfortunately has a few bumps, murders, and a whole lot of steamy, sexual tension that builds to be more than either of them can control. Especially when there is a mirror room involved!
This is my first read from this author. However, I am impatiently waiting to see if this will turn into a series that follows Willow’s sisters.
Tropes:
* Duo POV
* Slow Burn
* Dark Rom-com
* Blackmail
* Enemies to lovers
* Delicious Banter
* Strong FMC
* Obsessed MMC
* Masked Men
* Mirror play
Trigger Warnings:
* serial unalivers - morally justified
* Graphic unaliving
* Abusive power
* Cults
* Childhood trauma
* PTSD
* Detailed sexual scenes
* Stalking
* Psychological manipulation
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
““Look in the mirror,” he says right next to my ear. And so I do. Which means I get to watch every second of it as Lucky places a hand on both of my knees, and he slowly pulls them open. “Relax for me, Willow. And watch.”” - Willow Vale
This book kept me intrigued from start to finish! I literally stayed up until 2am reading because I could not convince myself to put it down! A true page turner that is very well written, an leaves you wanting more in all the right ways.
Willow Vale, FMC, is a tarot card reader in Las Vegas. Between telling fortunes and drooling over thirst traps of an unknown masked aerial performer - Saint Shade - on TikTok, she enjoys being a serial unaliver, ridding the world disgusting, disgraceful men.
Lucky, MMC, enjoys teasing his audience as a hot aerial performer on stage in Las Vegas. When he’s not flaunting his ridiculously sexy abs on stage, he enjoys posting thirst traps on TikTok under his stage name - Saint Shade. He also enjoys watching TikTok’s posted by Vale Tarot - Willow (FMC). He finds her sexy, intriguing, but also terrifying.
Willow continues to post TikTok’s about the secret identity of MMC Saint Shade. She is determined to uncover the man under the mask. The only problem with that is, the man under the mask is technically dead and been hiding under a false identity for the past 10years.
One night with Lucky can’t get Willow - Tarot Vale - off his mind. He finds himself standing outside her shop. But what he witnesses is anything but what he thought he would find.
Lucky and Willow find themselves traveling down a similar path. A journey they hope will eventually lead them to finding their true selves. The road they travel unfortunately has a few bumps, murders, and a whole lot of steamy, sexual tension that builds to be more than either of them can control. Especially when there is a mirror room involved!
This is my first read from this author. However, I am impatiently waiting to see if this will turn into a series that follows Willow’s sisters.
Tropes:
* Duo POV
* Slow Burn
* Dark Rom-com
* Blackmail
* Enemies to lovers
* Delicious Banter
* Strong FMC
* Obsessed MMC
* Masked Men
* Mirror play
Trigger Warnings:
* serial unalivers - morally justified
* Graphic unaliving
* Abusive power
* Cults
* Childhood trauma
* PTSD
* Detailed sexual scenes
* Stalking
* Psychological manipulation
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2026
I'm not sure if I've ever read a dark rom-com before. However, because it's Keary, I had to give Blackmail and Other Turn Ons a try. No surprise, it was fantastic!
It's very much a black-cat/golden-retriever situation (✔️). In the beginning, she's leery of him, only doling out her trust occasionally, while he is obsessed from the start. I mean, he kind of has to be if he's helping her hide a body, right? Both of them are crazy, and it's not long before both of them are utterly obsessed with each other (✔️). The touch him/her and die (✔️) trope was going strong. Loved it. Both have a traumatic past and are broken, but are healing together. It's actually surprisingly sweet.
Willow is a witch. She reads tarot cards for a living, but this is not a paranormal reading. I loved how Keary incorporated the tarot into the story. Will gives detailed readings throughout the story and has utter faith in the cards. The plot was excellent. The feminine rage trope most definitely gets a ✔️. Willow is a serial killer. She's not evil. She only kills those who deserve it. This happens to be men in a position of power who have a pattern of preying on women. Her kill count is given, and we actually get to see her in action. Does it say something about me that I was impressed? Meanwhile, there's the mysterious Saint Shade, the aerobic magician who lives for the show and is a little bit lonely. We get to see both halves of his personality. He has the craziest backstory that I've ever read. It was incredibly unique, just like he is. Romance-wise, Shade is a treasure. He's patient, caring, and unbelievably supportive (the bodies). I love them together.
The real meat of the story is when Willow has to go up against a hard target. This one is personal, and things get complicated. A cat-and-mouse game occurred, only it was hard to tell which one of them was the cat and which was the mouse at times. From there, things get crazy compared to the rest of this book; that's saying something. My mind was blown. It was amazing! My favorite moment was when they were all in the car. I just about died laughing. The ending of this book was just so unexpected, but I loved every minute of it. If you like a little humor with your dark romances, then Blackmail and Other Turn Ons is a must-read.
It's very much a black-cat/golden-retriever situation (✔️). In the beginning, she's leery of him, only doling out her trust occasionally, while he is obsessed from the start. I mean, he kind of has to be if he's helping her hide a body, right? Both of them are crazy, and it's not long before both of them are utterly obsessed with each other (✔️). The touch him/her and die (✔️) trope was going strong. Loved it. Both have a traumatic past and are broken, but are healing together. It's actually surprisingly sweet.
Willow is a witch. She reads tarot cards for a living, but this is not a paranormal reading. I loved how Keary incorporated the tarot into the story. Will gives detailed readings throughout the story and has utter faith in the cards. The plot was excellent. The feminine rage trope most definitely gets a ✔️. Willow is a serial killer. She's not evil. She only kills those who deserve it. This happens to be men in a position of power who have a pattern of preying on women. Her kill count is given, and we actually get to see her in action. Does it say something about me that I was impressed? Meanwhile, there's the mysterious Saint Shade, the aerobic magician who lives for the show and is a little bit lonely. We get to see both halves of his personality. He has the craziest backstory that I've ever read. It was incredibly unique, just like he is. Romance-wise, Shade is a treasure. He's patient, caring, and unbelievably supportive (the bodies). I love them together.
The real meat of the story is when Willow has to go up against a hard target. This one is personal, and things get complicated. A cat-and-mouse game occurred, only it was hard to tell which one of them was the cat and which was the mouse at times. From there, things get crazy compared to the rest of this book; that's saying something. My mind was blown. It was amazing! My favorite moment was when they were all in the car. I just about died laughing. The ending of this book was just so unexpected, but I loved every minute of it. If you like a little humor with your dark romances, then Blackmail and Other Turn Ons is a must-read.
June 17, 2026
🌟 3.8
I found this surprisingly readable. Easy. Light. Digestible. I mean, it’s still a serial killer romance, so there is some mild gore, but overall it’s a solid mid-tier read.
Kade-not-Kade was great. This is the first time I’ve read about a crime family kid who wasn’t actually mafia, but part of the cleanup crew instead. Honestly? That made a ridiculous amount of sense. His obsession levels were absolutely OTT. Way too intense. Completely unhinged. Yet somehow I liked it a lot.
Vale was such a cute little black-cat heroine. I thoroughly enjoyed her personality and the way she approached the world.
My biggest issue was that Vale kept randomly losing brain cells whenever the plot needed tension.
𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞.
First, the shop murder scene. She leaves a sliver of visibility through the door, and somehow that’s all it takes for everything to unravel? Shade is literally standing on the street watching the whole thing unfold. This wasn’t her first kill there, so suddenly I was left wondering how on earth she hadn’t been caught years ago. Then the neighbour hears screaming and comes over. Like, come on, she didn’t even soundproof the place? 🤦🏽♀️
Second, Phoenix. Vale’s supposedly a planner. An experienced killer. Yet she sees an impromptu opportunity in a parking garage and immediately goes for it with approximately zero thought. What about cameras? Cleanup? Escape routes? Facial recognition?
What happens? Exactly what should happen. She botches it, Phoenix spots her early, and someone else almost catches her. Girl. Please.
Third, the Bella confrontation. Deciding to approach a woman alone at night while stalking a potential serial killer was such an unbelievably bad idea that I physically rolled my eyes. Both Vale and Shade follow Bella into the retreat, and things get unbelievably messy from there, with the cops showing up about thirty seconds later. The whole sequence felt contrived and honestly a bit dumb.
The ending didn’t help either. Everything wraps up a little too neatly for my taste. The reconciliation, the found family, all of it felt tied up with a bow so perfect it lost some of its impact.
That said?
The romance was ridiculously cute, and Kade’s obsessive little weirdo energy carried a lot of this book for me. ❤️🔪
I found this surprisingly readable. Easy. Light. Digestible. I mean, it’s still a serial killer romance, so there is some mild gore, but overall it’s a solid mid-tier read.
Kade-not-Kade was great. This is the first time I’ve read about a crime family kid who wasn’t actually mafia, but part of the cleanup crew instead. Honestly? That made a ridiculous amount of sense. His obsession levels were absolutely OTT. Way too intense. Completely unhinged. Yet somehow I liked it a lot.
Vale was such a cute little black-cat heroine. I thoroughly enjoyed her personality and the way she approached the world.
My biggest issue was that Vale kept randomly losing brain cells whenever the plot needed tension.
𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞.
First, the shop murder scene. She leaves a sliver of visibility through the door, and somehow that’s all it takes for everything to unravel? Shade is literally standing on the street watching the whole thing unfold. This wasn’t her first kill there, so suddenly I was left wondering how on earth she hadn’t been caught years ago. Then the neighbour hears screaming and comes over. Like, come on, she didn’t even soundproof the place? 🤦🏽♀️
Second, Phoenix. Vale’s supposedly a planner. An experienced killer. Yet she sees an impromptu opportunity in a parking garage and immediately goes for it with approximately zero thought. What about cameras? Cleanup? Escape routes? Facial recognition?
What happens? Exactly what should happen. She botches it, Phoenix spots her early, and someone else almost catches her. Girl. Please.
Third, the Bella confrontation. Deciding to approach a woman alone at night while stalking a potential serial killer was such an unbelievably bad idea that I physically rolled my eyes. Both Vale and Shade follow Bella into the retreat, and things get unbelievably messy from there, with the cops showing up about thirty seconds later. The whole sequence felt contrived and honestly a bit dumb.
The ending didn’t help either. Everything wraps up a little too neatly for my taste. The reconciliation, the found family, all of it felt tied up with a bow so perfect it lost some of its impact.
That said?
The romance was ridiculously cute, and Kade’s obsessive little weirdo energy carried a lot of this book for me. ❤️🔪
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