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Stolen Dove

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He’s her captor, her hell, and the only man who makes her feel alive.

Briar


I thought my nightmare ended when my husband died. I was wrong.
In The Ravens’ world, widows like me don’t get freedom—we get auctioned.
I ran to save myself, but they sent Cain to drag me back.
He’s everything I should fear.
But when his hand is at my throat, fear isn’t the only thing I feel.

Cain

I was sent to return a runaway Dove.
She’s fire where there should be fear. Defiance where there should be obedience.
But when they told me to kill her, I knew I’d never give her back.
And I can’t decide whether to break her… or make her beg for more.
Either way, by the time I’m through, this little Dove will know exactly who she belongs to.

This is a high heat dark romance capitor/captive novella. It is advised to check content warnings on author's website.



Captor/CaptiveKidnappingForced ProximityTouch Her and DiePossessive/Obsessive MMCMorally Gray MMCHe Falls FirstOn The Run RomanceEnemies to LoversOver the Top MMCSecret SocietyInstalustHigh SpiceFirst Climax for FMCWidow FMC

167 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2025

68 people are currently reading
174 people want to read

About the author

Dahlia Vale

3 books19 followers
Dahlia Vale writes dark, dangerously addictive contemporary romances where alpha-holes seduce, power corrupts, and pleasure always comes with a price.

Her stories are fast-paced, filthy, and emotionally intense—perfect for readers who crave morally gray men, broken heroines, toxic desire, and the kind of love that leaves scars.

If you’re into obsession, dominance, betrayal, and just the right amount of emotional ruin… you’re in the right place.

Dahlia is the dark romance alter ego of international bestselling author Christina Diane, who also writes spicy Regency romances with scandal, seduction, and sharp-tongued banter.

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5 stars
153 (59%)
4 stars
47 (18%)
3 stars
40 (15%)
2 stars
11 (4%)
1 star
7 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Cécile Smits .
1,468 reviews286 followers
December 23, 2025
Found this little gem as a freebie in a newsletter,didn’t know the author,but am glad i took a chance.
It’s the story of Briar,who survived 8 years with her late abusive husband,but will be auctioned to the next man that will have her.
But she’s not waiting for a lifetime of more abuse,so she runs.
Only the cult she lived in,The Ravens,isn’t going to let her go and sends their best enforcer Cain after her.
Once he’s got her,he starts to have his doubts about bringing her back,though….
And when he hears her late husband wants her dead,all of his orders fly out the window.
Will they be able to find their happy after,or will The Ravens enforcers find them??
Profile Image for Kristy.
345 reviews35 followers
December 9, 2025
A dark captor/captive quick read. Briar ran from The Ravens when her husband died, she wanted to be free and not auctioned off to the next highest bidder. Unfortunately this is a society that doesn’t let you escape. So they send Cain to bring her back. Cain wasn’t expecting the fire and defiance that comes with Briar. And when they send him an order to kill her he decides to keep her for himself. Be prepared for some high heat in this novella! 🔥 🥵
52 reviews3 followers
January 9, 2026
I listened to this on audio and I need everyone to understand that I was just… existing… doing normal life things… while a man was growling unspeakable things directly into my ears... In public… With headphones on! A dangerous game, but one I do regularly!

Cain is a possessive and ruthless antihero. He is not interested in redemption, therapy or self reflection and honestly accepts what he is.
Briar, meanwhile is stronger than she first appears (observant, quietly defiant) and very aware of how dangerous her situation is.
In short, Cain is a walking red flag factory and Briar makes choices that had me yelling “GIRL???” out loud and the power dynamics are so unbalanced they definitely need their warning label and a hard hat on top. Their dynamic is intense, unbalanced and deliberately messy with attraction and power colliding long before trust ever enters the room. In this world rules are made by rich men who have never once been told “no.” and need a good slap upside the head to bring them out the dark ages!

Craig Richards deserves both praise and jail time because the delivery made everything worse (that’s complimentary) and he really brought Cain’s inner thoughts out. Craig Richards narration was beautifully paced throughout and the spicy scenes between the plot (yes I actually pay attention to that!) well I did not need that level of emotional and vocal commitment before noon. Every line hit harder, every threat sounded hotter (yes I have issues) and every moment of tension felt deeply personal.
Is this healthy? No.
Is this realistic? Absolutely not.
Did I have a good time? 100%, yes! I like narrators and authors feeding my book induced darkness! These two made me want to be captured by Cain myself!

Read the content warnings. This book is doing laps in the dark romance Olympics and wants to be placed. If you like your fiction messy, feral and deeply unconcerned with morality, then congrats, you’ve found your people. I am looking forward to more unhinged men from Dahlia Vale..
Profile Image for Kymber Jones.
382 reviews8 followers
December 4, 2025
Dahlia Vale's book Stolen Dove is a dark, twisted romance that quickly draws readers in and keeps them in a strangle hold until the end of the book, desperate to know how the thrill ride ends.

Stolen Dove is a standalone story in the Ravens series, a new series about a secret society that is all about patriarchy and views views women as less than chattel in our modern society - and whether they want to join or not, women become a member through the family they are born into.

One woman however, dares to break tradition, and when her husband dies, she runs, trying desperately to escape the clutches of a group of men wanting to determine if they are going to force her to remarry or kill her.

The woman's hopes are quickly dashed when the man sent to catch her meets up with her in just a matter of several hours. However, plans change and her capture suddenly becomes the one person that let's her spread her wings and soar, becoming her own person.

Stolen Dove is a fast paced book that instantly draws readers into its stranglehold, holding them captive until they find out the ending that's full of savage twists.
Profile Image for Bailey.
8 reviews
December 28, 2025
This was a hot read! Like extra hot.
I was lucky to snag this book from a stuff your kindle event and I’m glad I found it!
Spice is definitely 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Unfortunately I’m rating this three stars because I didn’t feel the characters chemistry. I also despised how easily and quickly Briar gave into Cain. Albeit, I will say it’s very realistic that she has very little life preservation skills and I do appreciate that she was defiant in his face. However, the begging just wasn’t hot and her initial submission was NOT it— it did not feel powerful in the slightest. She definitely didn’t become badass UNTIL AFTER Cain decided her pussy was good enough to keep alive— as brash as that sounds, it’s the way it comes off! Regardless, I love my men morally grey so that doesn’t really bother me?? It’s more so Briar and how weak she came off. Maybe insta love isn’t for me? Who knows!

ANYWAY, all that aside, I did truly enjoy the book! Easily digestible as I read it in under 24hrs; it’s 140 pages and some change so either way it’s doable— but it being enjoyable definitely made it more palatable! Aside from Briar pissing me off, Aha!
Profile Image for Danielle ♡ Cirque des Morts.
38 reviews
January 11, 2026
When the dedication starts with..."For the good girls who would dry hump their captor for a fucking orgasm", you know its gonna be good!

Briar, she's a dove, on the run from The Ravens. She's a widowed dove, she doesnt get to l9ve freely, she gets auctioned to the highest bidder.

Cain is a Talon, sent to retrieve her, but when orders change, he knows there is no going back. Briar is his and no one else can have her, no matter the cost.

This is a novella; its short, its spicy and its captivating! I love Briar and Cain's story and needed more!

This is just an introduction and warm up for whats to come in The Sinclair Billionaires series (A Dark Secret Society roamance).
Profile Image for Gem .
328 reviews12 followers
November 22, 2025
She’s a widow on the run from the society that tied her into an loveless & volatile marriage (plus, she’s never had a 💦). He’s the possessive & obsessed, morally grey antihero tasked with capturing her. You can guess where this is going… 😉.

This is short, spicy & so good!! I love a dark secret society read & with this novella, Dahlia sets the scene for a potentially very intriguing concept to explore in further books. Loved it!!
I immediately felt for Briar & her situation, then Cain appears & the chemistry & banter between them is *chefs 💋. Highly recommend!!
Profile Image for Jasmin.
302 reviews8 followers
January 16, 2026
Stolen Dove is a dark, spicy, intense, and addictive short read/listen that had me hooked from start to finish. Briar grows into her own strength, while Cain is deliciously unhinged, possessive, and obsessive—and I loved how he falls hard and fast for her. Craig Richards brings both characters to life, perfectly capturing Cain’s intensity and Briar’s fire, making every moment gripping and emotional. This is the first Dahlia Vale novella I’ve read, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

⚠️ Please check the TW/CW before reading.

Thank you, Dahlia Vale, for the e-book and Audio!
2,427 reviews22 followers
December 1, 2025
I have read other stories that deal with secret societies like this series. The concept for this secret society is different (although I still don’t know the entire reason for the secret society which I am sure we will find out about) and I like it. Love the concept of one running from the society and one sent to find them. What could possibly happen? You guessed it, love and banter, I love the push-pull.
Profile Image for Bookish_Ashleigh.
168 reviews11 followers
December 4, 2025
Wow this was so good. I know it was just a little taste that leads into a new series, but it was an amazing story. The instant obsession between Cain and Briar was top notch possessive and hot AF. She was a run away widow from a crazy secret society and he was hired to hunt her down. I could feel the nerves, the worry and everything that lead up to them meeting and fighting on the same side. I can’t wait to continue reading more of this secret society !
Profile Image for Alex Barker.
91 reviews1 follower
January 14, 2026
Couldn't put it down! This book was a wild ride with a smooth-flowing plot and engaging storyline. I was warned it was spicy, but wow, the smut sneaked up on me - might've been a bit more than I expected, but hey, I wasn't complaining! Loved watching Briar grow into her own and finding her strength. And Cain? Morally grey turned soft and squishy for her, and I was HERE. A quick, entertaining read from start to finish.
Profile Image for Madeline McKinney.
52 reviews
January 2, 2026
Super easy one-sitting short read. Little plot, no development, smut-focused novella. Smut wasn't heavy either, fairly vanilla for the dark romance world. No logic needed, no critical thinking to be had, a few editing mistakes, but entertaining enough for the expectation of it. I do recommend the bonus chapter that you can get at the end of the book.
Profile Image for Monique Jakobsen.
15 reviews2 followers
January 3, 2026
This was a quick read but I really enjoyed it. It was a good introduction to the world. One thing that would have made it even better for me - if it was a bit longer and we saw more of the chemistry. I know it’s only a novella, but I enjoy yearning and to feel the chemistry more. But other than that, so excited to read more by the author!!
Profile Image for Claire.
6 reviews
November 19, 2025
I can't wait to read more from this author. This is a new-to-me author, and I can't wait to dig more into other characters in The Ravens universe.

Spicy read with lots of heat. I love Cain! I also want to know more about Dane!!!
Profile Image for Mardi  Del Rio .
7 reviews
January 12, 2026
This book is short sweet and to the point! It's a very quick read! It's on the dirty side so make sure to read the Trigger warnings.

FMC Briar is a widow, husband was part a secret society. MMC Cain was sent to retrieve her and later eliminate her. But instead falls inlove!
4 reviews
November 19, 2025
Absolutely loved this story! So hot and loved both Cain and Briar as characters. I hope we see more of them!
Profile Image for Lacey.
9 reviews
November 19, 2025
Truly loved this book so much! I love a captive/captor romance and looking forward to reading the next book. This was hot, spicy, and I can't get enough of Cain.
Profile Image for Scarlet Vex.
1 review
November 19, 2025
Please give me more!!!! I loved that there was a second epilogue and we got to see more of Cain and Briar!

Note this is a captive/captor romance and recommend checking content warnings.
Profile Image for TM_ReadsBooks.
51 reviews1 follower
January 9, 2026
Absolutely love this. Stolen Dove,is a fast pace, dark twisted,spicy romance.
Can’t wait to read more from this author.
Profile Image for Janet Guzman.
523 reviews11 followers
January 5, 2026
Absolutely loved Briar and Cain so much!!!! Can’t wait for more from this series 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Omg this audio was 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 whew can’t wait for more
Profile Image for Noelia.
222 reviews5 followers
November 18, 2025
2/5⭐

Libro corto para pasar el rato, pero que no me ha parecido el libro de mi vida.

Los capítulos no son ni largos ni cortos, y está narrado por ambos protagonistas, aunque en este caso no he conectado con ninguno😞.

La historia va un poco rápida y me parece que las cosas son un tanto surrealistas y difíciles de creer.

¿Lo recomiendo? Para leer en una tarde sí, y si os llama la atención, dadle una oportunidad a ver qué os parece!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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