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The Villain's Vice

He saved her. Now he wants to possess her.

Seven is not a good man—he’s the worst of them.
A psychopathic serial killer. A jealous beast. A monster in a blood-red mask.
Now he has his sights set on Grace and he’ll do anything to have her.

Grace Kent is a good person—and it almost got her killed.
In a sick twist of fate, her life is saved by the notorious serial killer, Red 7. But in Moriton, no good deed comes for free.
Now Red 7 is demanding and only her heart will do.


The Villain's Vice is a dark masked stalker romance.

337 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 26, 2026

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About the author

Mindy Paige

14 books183 followers
Mindy Paige was born and raised in the jungles of Florida. She decided to pursue her lifelong dream of being an author after a grueling bachelor’s degree in botany. From contemporary to dark romance, she loves writing spicy, fast-paced stories, and has a goal to write the most unhinged MMC’s you can’t help but love.

If not writing or reading, Mindy can usually be found playing with her dogs, tending to her plants, watching trashy reality TV with her boyfriend, or fighting off alligators.

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5 stars
112 (27%)
4 stars
105 (25%)
3 stars
133 (32%)
2 stars
44 (10%)
1 star
17 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for Addie.
14 reviews
March 31, 2026
Honestly? Such a rollercoaster (and not the good kind 🎢)

The first 50% of this book? Chef’s kiss. I was literally hooked, couldn't put it down, and was fully vibing with the story. It was a total 5-star read for me—pure perfection. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

But then... things took a turn. I don’t know what happened, but it’s like the logic just flew out the window. The plot points felt like they were being picked by a randomizer, and the pacing got so messy. Suddenly, every other chapter started with "one week later" or "two weeks later," and it just felt incredibly rushed.

Hard pass. That was the absolute peak of "what am I even reading?" for me.

The second half was a struggle and honestly a 2-star experience at best. This story had so much potential to be an all-time favorite, but it really lost the plot halfway through 📉

Rating: 3/5 (Only because that first half was so good!)
Profile Image for Lauren Alicia Aycock.
10 reviews1 follower
July 5, 2026
I genuinely don't know what to do with this book.

I picked it up expecting a dark romance and somehow ended up on one of the wildest reading experiences I've had in a long time. One minute I was laughing out loud, the next I was genuinely uncomfortable, and by the final act I was completely on edge. I absolutely flew through it because I never knew what insanity was coming next.
The biggest strength of this book is the MMC. His inner monologue is chaotic, socially awkward, unintentionally hilarious, and completely unforgettable. I spent most of the book laughing at him and somehow forgot he was, in fact, a serial killer... until the story reminded me in the worst possible way. The tonal shift genuinely caught me off guard, and I found myself feeling just as manipulated as the FMC.

My biggest complaint, and the main reason I didn't put 5 stars, was the ending. It felt rushed compared to how carefully the rest of the book built the psychological conflict. I wanted more time spent exploring the emotional fallout and character growth because I wasn't fully convinced by how quickly everything resolved. After everything that happened throughout the story, I needed to see that transformation earned rather than simply accepting it.

Even with that criticism, I couldn't put this book down. If you're looking for a true dark romance that actually commits to the "dark" part, this definitely does. Just know you're in for a much wilder—and much more disturbing—ride than you might expect.

Also... Zorro the raccoon deserves five stars.
Profile Image for Ivonne Santiago-Harris.
199 reviews1 follower
March 27, 2026
Always fall for the villain

5⭐️ Absolute chefs kiss . This year had been tough to find a good read that was truly a 5 star but of course Mindy Paige always delivers . This is book 4 in the dark triad series following the story of seven . A lower ranking mask working for the sanctum as a disposer. After the collapse of the sanctum seven finds himself causing mayhem and dropping bodies like it’s his day job. Until he meets Grace, an innocent woman under attack who has a fire in her that calls to him . Love at first sight if you will .

Now listen this series isn’t for the weak, we listen and we don’t judge okay. There are very dark themes so read your triggers and don’t be a baby about it . I loved every book in the series so far but seven easily won me over and earned number one spot from chapter 1. This man is such a golden retriever for Grace , while still having that deranged touch her and die aura about him . I mean come on he burns down the restaurant because they didn’t pick the bones out of her chicken salad , and got a pet raccoon because she wanted to save it lmfao. Seven is to die for , and my God !! Let’s not even mention the spice because that was a hot hot read !!

The plot continued smoothly with the subtle incorporation of the sanctum, viktor and of course it wouldn’t be complete without our baby ghost making an appearance . I loved how even throughout the plot progression of their relationship there was the constant reminder of how little seven meant to the sanctum, nothing more than a disposer who can easily be disposed of as well. Sevens character closely reminds me of ghost and I can’t wait to get viktors story next.
Profile Image for Grace Machuca.
223 reviews6 followers
April 15, 2026
Seven is the one that the Sanctum thought little of that they never gave him a name, just a number. His story is sad, he was never valued or taught, he was to be part of the group that did the "cleanup". Seven started teaching himself how to be more and use their equipment. He is not the good guy, but nobody knows that it's him, Red 7, that is unaliving the "trash" of Moriton. He is a psychopathic serial unaliver that is obsessed with his Angel, Grace.

Grace did not have the best childhood, growing up in foster care and living on the streets before her bestfriend, Saffron took her in and helped her get on her feet and get a college degree. She works in finance for LoveBytten. One late night after work she gets into trouble trying to help a raccoon. Seven comes to her rescue and becomes instantly obsessed.

Seven does a lot of questionable things that would have the Sanctum locking him up for good. He has one goal and that is to make Grace his. He unalives anyone who touches her or makes her unhappy. He goes as far as making sure he spends every moment with her at work, lunch, and stalking her at night in her room.

Grace starts falling for Seven and when she thinks she has lost him, just pulled on my heartstrings. You will fall hard for Seven. He may be a serial unaliver, but he does whatever it takes to make sure Grace feels love. Seven is her monster, but he spoils her and treats her like a queen. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Seven loves to breed his Angel and punishing her when she doesn't listen to him with "toys". That office scene when he finally gets her for the first time was on fire🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 !
Profile Image for Pages by Jess.
120 reviews1 follower
May 7, 2026
This book delivers heavily on dark obsession and possessiveness. Seven’s fixation on Grace defines every part of his character—every action, thought, and decision revolves around her in a way that feels intensely consuming and deliciously dark. The obsession is relentless from the start, with the breeding aspect remaining a strong and consistent element throughout the story. Watching Grace both fall for him and resist him because of who he is adds another engaging layer to their dynamic.
The book also touches on several heavy themes, including attempted sexual assault, assault, murder, and childhood trauma. While those themes are present and acknowledged, the healing and resolution surrounding them could have been explored more deeply. Some smaller inconsistencies and missing details also lessen the overall cohesion of the story.
Much of the relationship relies more on physical intensity and obsession than emotional depth, though that dynamic clearly aligns with the tone the story is aiming for. Despite its flaws, the intensity, obsession, and dark atmosphere make it incredibly easy to stay invested in Seven and Grace’s dynamic, and it definitely sparks curiosity about the previous installments in the series.
Profile Image for TheHiddenPostscript.
67 reviews5 followers
July 18, 2026
Review "The Villians Vice" by @mindypaigeauthor is a 5 star read that you need to grab now.

This is one of those books that lingers long after you close it, mostly because of how unapologetically dark it is. It pushes well beyond the boundaries of a typical romance, and the line between dark romance and something even more unsettling is intentionally hard to define.

Check the content warnings before diving in because this story doesn't hold back.

If you've already read the earlier books in the series, the intensity won't come as a surprise. In fact, I'd recommend starting with those first since each one follows an obsessive, dangerously devoted hero willing to cross every line for the woman he loves.

Ghost is still my benchmark for absolute chaos, but Seven comes remarkably close. Calculated, relentless, and completely unhinged, he sets his sights on Grace and never considers letting her slip away. His methods? Let's just say they involve far more kidnapping than persuasion.

As twisted as the journey becomes, Mindy somehow never loses sight of the romance beneath all the darkness. I can't decide what it says about me that I enjoyed this as much as I did, but once again, she's written a story that completely captured my attention.

#mindypaige #thevilliansvice #romantic suspense #darkmafiaromance
356 reviews14 followers
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
March 25, 2026
When you read books like this that really are so dark, it starts to make you question things. To be clear, this definitely rides the line in the dark romance, and a lot of that line is blurred. It’s a book where you need to read the triggers because holy trauma, and honestly, morally gray is too light of a term. But if you’ve read the previous books, it’s definitely on par. However, if you are a dark romance fan, you should read the previous 3 books. They all involve crazy obsessed men who will do anything for their women. No one will ever beat Ghost, but Seven definitely rivals him in the crazy area. Seven is wild, dark, bad, and dare I say, diabolical. He's a mastermind who found Grace and refused to let her go. It took a lot of kidnapping, I mean convincing, but you know at the core of every Mindy book is a love story! I don’t know what liking this book says about me, but another dark romance by Mindy has stolen my attention.
4/5 stars 3/5 spice
Dual POV
Morally black
Masked Stalker
touch her and die
possessive MMC
Breeding kink
Profile Image for Diksha.
376 reviews1 follower
April 20, 2026
I like the idea of a serial killer who kills only criminals in the city, saved fmc one fateful night and ends up being fascinated? obsessed? attracted? with her, but then he just can't come into her life as the killer everyone knows as the red seven so he disguise himself as her boss and stalks her, asks her for lunch and somehow they end up doing each other.
Ask me where is the romance? chemistry? bond? idk myself.
The whole plotline felt insta without any good interaction just lot of internal dialogue and pacing was soooo off and weird thing and most dumbest thing i read she ends up being with both of them, boss in the day and killer in the night just you wait thats not even fun when she ends up being in cage, like huh.
Alot of things in this book felt cliche and cringe, the romance was nonexistent and the characters idk anything about them other than their occupation.
So i didn't enjoy this read, itz just felt like two people who find each other attractive are needed to be together and have sex.
Profile Image for morganinpages.
450 reviews32 followers
July 1, 2026
DNF @69%
I’m not even sorry when I say that Seven/Archer is actually psychotic and he shouldn’t be aloud the title of a book boyfriend. I had to DNF after he literally locked Grace in a cage for no reason. This man literally has no morals which is crazy to say bc he kills people. This book started out so strong but didn’t progress at all. Their relationship didn’t progress at all but then was full force heated all at once. The back and forth between seven/archer got so annoying after a while since they are literally the same person, but the relationship with Grace didn’t progress on either side. Literally nothing happened within this and this whole sanctum thing was not explained at all. Honestly I was just so mad that he put her in a cage after drugging her. It was so uncalled for. I was honestly digging the whole stalker/will kill anyone who touches her vibes, but he would also just kill random people for no reason and didn’t even care. Their relationship was nonexistent and this book was a waste.
Profile Image for OooLaLa Reads.
1,063 reviews63 followers
March 25, 2026
Unhinged, Obsessed, & I Loved It😏

OMG Besties… where has this author BEEN all my life?! "The Villain’s Vice" was my first dip into this series and let me tell you... I got snatched up from chapter ONE!! Like… no warm-up, just straight chaos, obsession, and “what the h€ll did I just walk into?!” energy... and I LOVED it!🤭

Seven? Oh baby… calling him unhinged is generous. This man is feral, possessive, psychotically obsessed, and somehow still giving “book boyfriend I shouldn’t want but absolutely do.”🥵 The breeding kink? The 'touch her & d!e' vibes? The way he stalks, taunts, and straight-up claims Grace like she’s already his? I was EATING. IT. UP.

And Grace? Sis held her own in a way that made the tension even better. Their dynamic is dark, twisted, and dripping with intensity. The banter and those group chats had me giggling like I wasn’t reading something completely unhinged at 2AM.

But LISTEN… that “special tea” moment?! I literally yelled. Like… LOUD!😳

This book was wild, addictive, and pure obsession fuel. I immediately added the rest of the series to my TBR because I NEED MORE!

My Ratings:  ⭐ 4.5/5  ▪︎  🥵 4/5

🥀 My ratings and review are my own. For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤
Profile Image for jords:).
65 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2026
The first part of this book was delicious but it just slowly lost the plot as it went on. I also got more and more frustrated with Grace - she’s seen Sevens tattoos & half his face and still can’t figure out it’s Archer after she sees his tats too. Is she blind? He even says the same phrases and has the same mannerisms and she just can’t seem to remember why it seems familiar. AND HIS VOICE. Cmon use your brain miss girl!!

Also the cage? And she just resigns to her fate and decides she likes it and he’s so sweet - what the fuck? I get that he’s sexy but girl no.

“If I know one thing about Seven, it’s that he won’t hurt me. Not unless I ask him to.” HUH?????????? YOURE IN A CAGE AGAINST YOUR WILL.

If you like strong fmcs who stand up for themselves and make their man grovel you will not like this 😅
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for cloudy.
636 reviews91 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 22, 2026
“i love you, angel. i’m utterly, wholly, and devastatingly entranced by you. i have been, and i always will. forever.”

much like what happened to me with the second book, i was hooked from the very first page. it’s no secret these stories are dark-dark and the mmcs verge on unredeemable; what always surprises me is how the author still makes me care for them regardless when i’m a known man hater. seven reminded me a lot of ghost, which is still my favorite, and his cameos were so funny in the midst of all the unhinged chaos. i will say, having the couple’s dynamic play out in a traditionally contemporary setting brought a freshness to the series that i really enjoyed. masked stalker slash serial unaliver by night, pretending to be her boss by day? hidden identity will always be that girl, especially when paired with the “they’re the same person” microtrope. and it needs to be said that the multilayered complexity in which the author portrays the female leads is very much appreciated, these two girlfriends were badass (maybe i would like the fmc’s bestie to be viktor’s girl, i got a vibe).

* i was sent an arc by the author in exchange for a honest review
Profile Image for Samantha Wood.
544 reviews5 followers
March 26, 2026
The Villain’s Vice is a deliciously dark, slow‑burn romance that hooked me far faster than I expected. Mindy Paige blends danger, desire, and emotional tension in a way that feels both addictive and surprisingly heartfelt. The dynamic between the leads is the real standout—equal parts sharp, seductive, and vulnerable. Their chemistry crackles, and the push‑and‑pull kept me turning pages long after I should’ve gone to bed.

What really works is how Paige leans into morally gray territory without losing the emotional core of the story. The “villain” isn’t just a trope; he’s layered, conflicted, and compelling. The heroine holds her own, too, which makes their interactions feel balanced rather than cliché.
Profile Image for Nikki.
429 reviews109 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 23, 2026
🌼ALPHA REVIEW🌼

RELEASE DATE: 3/26/2026

Where do I even start… Returning to Moriton in book 4 of The Dark Triad series brought up ALL the emotions. Pride - for the incredible author Mindy Paige who trusted me to alpha read her newest book baby. Excitement - for another completely UNHINGED masked man to add to the book boyfriend roster. Admiration - for a fierce, loyal, take no shit FMC ready to take on Moriton’s corruption. And then you throw in a fuzzy little raccoon side character and I’m fully obsessed. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

🖤Dark and Spicy
🌼Jealous/Possessive MMC
🖤Masked Stalk3r
🌼Br33ding Kink
🖤BC Tampering
🌼Touch her and D1E

The Villain’s Vice is a dark masked stalker romance.
Profile Image for Nat.
152 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 23, 2026
Well.... if he has a mask, saves me, stalks me and the only downside wants to breed me?
Sign me the F*ck Up!!

Seven has officially knocked Ghost off for being the most unhinged MMC Mindy has written to date.
Although I wanted a little more of a tragic backstory, instead we were delivered with the most intense unhinged man I've ever encountered in this series. 1 Million stars for genuine unhinged rage that is taken out on a chicken bone in a meal.

but also.... excuse me sir that is NOT creamer........ IYKYK.... read the book and find out......

Mindy's books have fast tracked their way into being an auto read author, and I have absolutely no regrets!
Profile Image for kennedysbookcorner.
421 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 23, 2026
3.5 round up

Now, this is a DARK stalker romance. I love me some of that. This was twisted, full of trigger warnings, and down right insane.. and I loved it. It had me questioning what was right from wrong as we drove into insanity with Grace.

I also LOVED Grace. She was smart, sassy and such a good MFC. I also loved how much she cared about others, and animals. Saf was such a good bestfriend as well. I'd love to see more of her in the future (hint hint)

**Thank you so much to the author for this eARC. All thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
678 reviews17 followers
April 7, 2026
This is 3.5 stars rounded up.

I am torn on this one. On the one hand I love Mindy's writing and the story was gripping and engaging. I loved Seven and the way he would literally do anything for her - I mean he breaks into her house and cleans it LOL.

A great stalker romance.

However, there were things in this book that I just really didn't vibe with. There were also a lot of inconsistencies in the story. I did receive an ARC so these may have been fixed since release but when reading it was quite jarring for the tense to suddenly change mid sentence then back again.
Profile Image for Alexandria (Ink Stained Sorceress).
229 reviews5 followers
April 11, 2026
3.5 Stars Rounded Up!

Listen, I'm all for a morally grey, morally black character, but Seven was UP there with how "evil" he was. I didn't absolutely love the characters in this one, and I think it made it a bit harder for me to connect with the story, and the side characters truly felt like side characters rather than fully part of the story.

It was a really quick read, and definitely all kinds of spicy, but there were just some moments that pulled me out of the story, like the timing feeling off or the characters being out of character in certain situations.

Overall, it was a good book, and I'd definitely read any others in her series if she continues it, but it wasn't my absolute favorite.
Profile Image for Jamie Byers.
261 reviews3 followers
March 26, 2026
Morally black

Mindy Paige has brought the dark. As always her Character and world-building is top notch.

Grace is caring, smart and oh so Sassy. She almost gets killed but is saved by Seven.

Seven is a wild, dark and a wicked master mind who enjoys killing people. Now he wants Grace.

The tension in this book keeps you on the edge of your seat biting your nails. The Spyce is off the charts amd oh so hot.
Profile Image for Jacqueline Diaz.
916 reviews
April 24, 2026
awesome read

I love Mindy and her books this one was one of those that has her writing style all over. We have a masked man who loves to watch his girl while she sleeps, he has a breading kink. The sanctum is at it again. This is a great addition to the others in the series. Our FMC Grace didn’t know what she was getting when Red came to her rescue in that alley. The story is fast paced and full of action.
Profile Image for Nita.
905 reviews16 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 23, 2026
It's official Seven is officially my favorite man of the Dark Triad. He is definitely extremely unhinged but at the same time he's so freaking sweet when he wants to be in his own little sexy twisted way. I definitely enjoy every part of this book It's definitely something I would reread in the future 10/10 highly recommend.
Profile Image for Vanessa  Ramirez .
1,169 reviews10 followers
Review of advance copy
March 25, 2026
✨Review ✨
***
The Villain's Vice was so good!! I loved Seven. He was unhinged, a bit crazy, and so soft for Grace. The spice was hot. The writing was so good and addictive. Seven was perfectly imperfect and so broken but Grace helped make him whole. The ending was perfect.
***
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Romance: 🩷🩷🩷
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
***
Profile Image for Jill.
644 reviews56 followers
April 6, 2026
Mindy Paige does it again with this story. I have absolutely loved this series and this book definitely didn’t disappoint this reader at all. Seven & Grace. These characters will definitely stick with me for a while. I thoroughly enjoy everything this author writes & this book Definitely did not disappoint. I look forward to her next story.
Profile Image for ameera.
26 reviews3 followers
April 27, 2026
I loved this so much. The rescue raccoon pet completely stole my heart. And Seven? Absolutely unhinged, in the best way. He's also a serial unaliver, so protecting her is not a suggestion, it’s a guarantee.
And not him removing her IUD. I'm still not over that scene.
5 reviews
May 7, 2026
what a loveable psycho ❤️

A perfect short read, Seven is a psycho, I’ll admit a loveable one. This book was the perfect mix of gooey sweet and dark stalker romance. 3/5 on the spice scale. Love Mindy’s writing, I’ll definitely be reading more.
Profile Image for Kimberly Walters.
759 reviews4 followers
July 20, 2026
This book was absolutely delicious!
I've loved this entire series from the very beginning and this one wasn't any different. This book delivered heavily on dark obsession and possessiveness. I enjoyed every part of this book It's definitely something I will be rereading in the future.
Profile Image for Ky.
402 reviews1 follower
September 9, 2026
I thought this dark romance heading into spooky season would bring the vibes. But it just didn’t. It felt weird and disjointed and yes, I did live for the unhinged obsessed MMC but after a while it just got eh.
193 reviews2 followers
March 28, 2026
4 stars!
Omg this book!!! Mindy has a way with words! I could not stop reading this. From the very beginning I was completely hooked. I love a man that is obsessed and unhinged 😮‍💨 the things this man did... holy crap. I freaking loved him. I adored Grace, she was the sweetest! I can see why Seven would become obsessed! And he was also sweet in his own way and I loved that about him.
Profile Image for June.
306 reviews5 followers
March 28, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
this whole series has my heart.

Srven is a seri@l ☠️er and the second he sees Grace, its over. He is a man who is obsessed and will do everything to keep her. This is a dark romance so if you need to look up certain warnings, please do!
9 reviews
April 9, 2026
Full of spice but lacking a plot. The whole book is about them f*cking. It was not bad just that I expected a better storyline.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews