Bitter Sweet: A Love You To Death Story

by Erica Damon

Welcome to the LOVE YOU TO DEATH multi author short story collection! Love and Valentines related stories to make your heart race and your spine tingle! There’s a fine line between love and hate. Come read as these main characters struggle to find love, keep love, or survive love.

Josephine is the woman to go to for jilted lovers. From lacing chocolates with laxatives to knowing where to hide a body, she has the skills.

But nothing about Jo’s newest job has been by the book, and she needs to get her head on straight before she gets herself into trouble. Things only get worse when she learns the target is a previous client.

What happens when her latest mark knows her game?

Make sure you check out all of the LOVE YOU TO DEATH dark thriller stories!

56 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2026

About the author

Erica Damon is a writer, equestrian, and artist living in Western Massachusetts. Her compulsively creative nature has led to a collection of ‘what ifs?’ and that sense of wonder weaves its way into her fiction. She writes thriller and horror under her name, and equestrian romance under the pen name, Isla Ryder.

In any genre, her goal is to sweep the reader into her world, keeping it grounded enough in reality that the reader doesn’t question a moment of the action.

This is what she loves helping other authors with, as she has discovered that she enjoys reading books in the early stages even more than published ones and helping writers to spin their stories into something riveting as a developmental editor. If she’s not writing, she’s likely out riding horses while ideas swirl in the background.

Reviews

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I probably shouldn’t love Jo as much as I did but hey… stranger things have happened lol. I mean let’s be honest, Jo was a bad you know what to create these “altered” Valentine’s Day treats but do be the delivery woman too?? That’s bold! Great story about revenge, getting kick backs and accepting no BS!

[Read With Lorena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bitter Sweet: A Love You To Death Story is a short story that is fun, fast paced, and perfectly to the point. But with Erica Damon, short definitely does not mean boring.

Josephine, or Jo, is the woman people turn to when love goes wrong. From sabotaging a cheating ex with laced chocolates to knowing exactly how to clean up a mess, she is skilled, confident, and very good at what she does. Her newest job, however, quickly takes a turn when she realizes the target is someone from her past, and nothing about this assignment follows her usual rules.

What really made this story stand out for me was the twist. It completely made my jaw drop and had me quietly whispering, “But of course!” once everything clicked. It was clever, satisfying, and perfectly timed.

You also cannot help but root for Jo. She is a strong, independent woman who knows her worth and is unapologetically making her money, and I loved that about her character.

Bitter Sweet is part of the Love You to Death collection, and after finishing this one, I cannot wait to dive into the other six stories. If you enjoy dark romance with humor, sharp writing, and a twist you will not see coming, this is a great place to start.

[Naito Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bitter Sweet is probably the best Valentine’s Day–themed short read I’ve come across, and it fits perfectly alongside Erica Damon’s other thrillers. Jo runs a shadowy business built on revenge against partners who mistreat their other halves, and that premise alone is already deliciously dark. When Drew enters the story, the romance adds a surprisingly soft contrast—just enough sweetness to balance the bite.

And then comes the twist. As expected. I was grinning like the Cheshire Cat because this is exactly the kind of turn I’ve learned to anticipate from Erica Damon—and love her for. The payoff is sharp, clever, and immensely satisfying.

This is a short, quick read that wastes no time, delivers on tension and tone, and leaves you feeling smugly pleased by the ending. Perfectly bitter, perfectly sweet, and absolutely worth reading.

[Susan Blissett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and thrilling Valentine’s short story! Jo has a business on the dark web where she works to take revenge on those partners who have committed adultery or some other sin. This may be by spiking food and drinks with laxatives or something worse, slashing tyres or murdering if they have enough money to pay her. I enjoyed this short dark story and was hooked throughout, looking forward to reading what would happen next. I found some of the sentence structure, at times, made the story difficult to read as some sentences didn’t flow and I had to read them again to check my understanding. Other than this I thoroughly enjoyed this quick, interesting and enjoyable short story.
Thank you to the author for an ARC of this story.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bitter Sweet by Erica Damon is a really good thriller for anyone looking for an anti-romantic Valentine’s Day read. The premise is engaging, pulling you in right from the first page with a dark atmosphere that sets the tone perfectly. It’s a very quick read that manages to pack a lot of action into few pages.
My only real critique is how the ending was handled. The main character practically gives away the twist several pages before it actually happens, which took away the surprise of the ending. Even with that slip-up, it’s still a solid addition to the genre and a fun way to spend an hour.

Want to see spoilers or trigger warnings? Check out: https://www.spoiltheplot.com/books/bi...

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge shout-out to author Erica Damon for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you ever wished you could send a very "special" gift to the person who scorned you? Well, Josephine has built the perfect business for exactly that. Whether it’s candy laxatives, slashed tires, or... something a bit more permanent... she’s got you covered.

I’m usually pretty good at spotting a plot twist, and I thought I had this one all figured out—but I was SO wrong! The real twist made the story even more delicious. This is part of the "Love You to Death" collection, and after this experience, I can’t wait to dive into the rest of the stories!

[KwentongKuneho · Rating 5 out of 5]

In today’s world where most of the relationships get fckd up because of someone’s craziness, oh I would love to be Josephine! I’ll do the dirty work for you honey! I think I’ve watched too many crime docus to cover up my tracks so well. Lol!

BITTER SWEET by Erica Damon did not disappoint me. It was my 2nd ARC from her and I really enjoyed the fast-paced, action-filled story she delivered her readers. And there I was thinking “oh! busted!” but then no she wasn’t and then “whaaaaat???” Oh girl, that was a hell of a story. A lot of things happened in those few pages but I loved every bit of it.

[Laura Welsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a great short story. The story is about Josephine, who owns a company that does discreet work for those wanting to punish/take revenge on their partners in some way. There are plenty of options available, though everything is done through her website to protect her identity.

This book explores what happens when she takes a job through a different booking method.

A quick, fun read if you've ever been hurt and wanted to exact revenge. It's part of the Love You to Death Short Story collection.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Steph Adkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read by Erica Damon. Quick fun short story from the Love you to death 7 books series (not connected but all similar themes, all different authors).

Josephine helps those that need to take care of a loved one and their problems. Will one of her current clients be the what she’s looking for in love herself or will mistakes bite her in the end?

-fast pace
-darker themed but not dark
-closed door romance

* I received my copy of this as an ARC and I’m leaving my review voluntarily *

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly entertaining quick read. Jo was a character I could definitely get behind. Everything about her was relatable and thrilling. She’s full of suspense and such a bad ass. There was never a dull moment in this story. From jump it sucked me in and had me floored until the very end. Chef’s kiss on the twist. Erica is clever in her writing and I honestly enjoy her style. Can’t wait to dive into more of her work.

Thank you BookFunnel and Erica Damon for the eARC. This review is that of my own.

[Danielle Lundquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super short story, but great read nonetheless.

Josephine has a business of taking revenge on the lovers of her clients. She gets caught during one by a man who follows her around. They end up meeting and he wants her to do a job for him, on his wife. There are secrets that lie beneath the surface, but you will have to either trust me, or read for yourself, but I think reading for yourself is the best option.

[Terri Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast Paced story that could seriously be a standalone book. Josephine runs a business on the dark web catered toward revenge. Someone scorns you, get a box of “special” chocolates, someone makes you angry get the next package up. But then there is the premium package - this one is for the ultimate revenge.

One thing this story may remind you - if you’re in the business to exact revenge, don’t let it get personal.

[K.J. Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erica never lets me down!

I wish this was longer 😩 I LOVED the main character and he give no shits attitude. The premise pulled me right in and the pacing was - chef’s kiss!

I can’t recommend this little short story enough and I hope this main character with her website full of payback comes back in further instalments in the future!

[Laura Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I probably shouldn't love Jo, but I did. Jo runs a successful business on the dark-web for clients looking to exact revenge on their former partners. The only parameter is how much are you looking to spend? But when things get personal that's when the real fun comes in.

Short, sweet and to the point I read this in one sitting because I could not put it down waiting to see how things turned out.

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Bitter Sweet” by Erica Damon is a dark, thrilling bite of revenge packed with secrets. Part of the Love You To Death short story collection, this fun yet sinister tale delivers satisfying payback while keeping the tension high. Perfect for readers who enjoy their revenge stories with a dark edge.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ABSOLUTELY loved this one. Such a good concept, and now I want to send chocolates to so many people. lol
The twist was just perfect ! This is an amazing valentines short read, especially if you’re just sick of everyone’s crap lol - loved it.

[Tanya Kolb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a twisty story of love and vengeance! If you've ever wished for a way to get back at a nasty ex, you need someone like Jo! She offers services that a jilted lover only dreams of! If you have a twisted mind, this one might bring a smile to your face!

[Country · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great short revenge styled with a mix of secrets short story and I loved it! It puts a while new spin on a box of chocolates and how you never know who's planning your demise or planning someone's. I did not see the twist at the end either!

[Crystal Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great quick read! As a busy mother and full time worker it’s hard to get time to read and I appreciate the quickness of this story. The characters are great in the book and the end is just perfect for the story! Thanks for letting me read it!!

[Crystal O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great hit by Erica Damon! Who wouldn't want to buy a package from Jo to get bittersweet revenge on an ex or a selfish co worker. Her packages include laxative induced chocolate or THC to murder! Very short story but packed with plenty of action

[Ashleigh Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erica wrote another short winner!

Revenge can be bitter sweet. Jo provides a service for scorned lovers, but there's always two sides to every story.

A short & sweet, dark Valentine's adventure.

Thanks for the advanced copy!

[SKP · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one much better than the first book in the series. The premise was original, and well plotted. The characters excellent for such a short book. I couldn’t help but to like Josephine, even though I probably shouldn’t! lol

[Lisa Farmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is good! What do you do when your job is to take care of people who have wronged other people but now one of them is after you? You’ll have to read to see what Jo does or doesn’t do 😈😈

[Kandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting short story with a twist I did not see coming. Loved it.

[Suzan Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new twist on Valentines Day! Great short story that ties everything up nicely! Nice little thriller. Hooked me right away and Inread it in one sitting! It is really great!

[Alyssa Coplai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced and predictable. Was a quick was read but wasn’t too impressed with the ending. Characters were all assholes but I guess that was kind of the point right?

[Candy Turk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Valentine’s short story was a good, quick read. The storyline was intriguing. It was entertaining from start to finish and worth the time. Overall, a solid 3-star read.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great written short story. It grabs you and never lets go till the last word. Very well defined twist.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bitter Sweet is wickedly clever and full of bite. Erica Damon flips revenge into a high-stakes game where control slips fast and consequences hit harder—smart, twisted, and wildly entertaining.

[Heather Flaherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this revenge novella, I wonder if this is really a thing. lol. Josephine is the go to person to get back at someone. From laxative chocolates to getting rid of bodies. Her unexpected new client is associated with an old client. Whose story is Josephine to believe? And can she pull this one off?