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Betray Me Once: A Dark Hockey Thriller Romance
It’s dark, cold, and deserted.
But somehow, Neve Devine runs straight into the arms of two of Drayton U’s best hockey players.
Then a body drops.
Faust Darling is immovable. There’s a reason he’s captain, despite his coldness.
Sylvan Connor is unpredictable, the new player rising too fast.
And Neve? She’s detached, controlling her life by simply never feeling a thing.
But with investigations underway, midnight stalkers at the door, and two men breaking down her walls while they try not to break one another… everything comes flooding in.
Which one is trustworthy?
Which one is dangerous?
And which one will she betray?
***Betray Me Once is a MMF, dark gothic hockey romance standalone***
But somehow, Neve Devine runs straight into the arms of two of Drayton U’s best hockey players.
Then a body drops.
Faust Darling is immovable. There’s a reason he’s captain, despite his coldness.
Sylvan Connor is unpredictable, the new player rising too fast.
And Neve? She’s detached, controlling her life by simply never feeling a thing.
But with investigations underway, midnight stalkers at the door, and two men breaking down her walls while they try not to break one another… everything comes flooding in.
Which one is trustworthy?
Which one is dangerous?
And which one will she betray?
***Betray Me Once is a MMF, dark gothic hockey romance standalone***
- GenresDark Romance
498 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2026
84 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 17, 2026
two hockey players obsessing over a girl who don’t gaf…i WILL be there
February 21, 2026
Yes. Read this book.
I was on edge from both the suspense of the university campus death and the dynamics of the love triangle.
The main characters are written with such depth that I can not pick a favorite. I could read another 500 pages of them.
I devoured this read and so will you.
New adult
Thriller/suspense
Triangle MFM
FMC-fiesty yet detached
MMCs morally grey - one stoic, one mischievous
Why choose
Girl bestie
Who is the killer?
Angst
Smart banter
Hockey
Stand alone
Dark Romance
HFN
I was on edge from both the suspense of the university campus death and the dynamics of the love triangle.
The main characters are written with such depth that I can not pick a favorite. I could read another 500 pages of them.
I devoured this read and so will you.
New adult
Thriller/suspense
Triangle MFM
FMC-fiesty yet detached
MMCs morally grey - one stoic, one mischievous
Why choose
Girl bestie
Who is the killer?
Angst
Smart banter
Hockey
Stand alone
Dark Romance
HFN
February 13, 2026
never free me from kv rose’s shackles i don’t hate it here🙏
February 16, 2026
I’m screaming! This was absolutely one of my favorite K.V. books ever. I have zero complaints.
Such a good mystery/thriller plot and it was a dark hockey romance. Two of the best MMCs she’s ever written. Wow. And to think I had it all figured out right up until the very end… 🫢😳😫🙌🏻🙌🏻
Such a good mystery/thriller plot and it was a dark hockey romance. Two of the best MMCs she’s ever written. Wow. And to think I had it all figured out right up until the very end… 🫢😳😫🙌🏻🙌🏻
February 19, 2026
If there is one thing I can always rely on, it is K.V. Rose delivering a suspenseful, deliciously dark romance, and Betray Me Once absolutely delivered. I was completely hooked, suspicious of everyone, and constantly trying to piece it together. Not once did I correctly guess who was behind the murders. K.V. truly kept me on my toes.
I adore this trio: Neve, Faust, and Sylvan. Out of all of K.V.’s heroines, Neve is the one I connected with most. There is something about her that just felt real and relatable.
K.V. has written love triangles before, but this is her first why-choose romance (pretty sure it is at least), and it is MMF. The tension, the chemistry, the emotional pull between all three of them was everything. The story felt complete and satisfying, but I am greedy. That said, I would happily accept extra spice if she ever felt generous. I especially need more of the Faust and Sylvan tension, and more of the three of them together.
I adore this trio: Neve, Faust, and Sylvan. Out of all of K.V.’s heroines, Neve is the one I connected with most. There is something about her that just felt real and relatable.
K.V. has written love triangles before, but this is her first why-choose romance (pretty sure it is at least), and it is MMF. The tension, the chemistry, the emotional pull between all three of them was everything. The story felt complete and satisfying, but I am greedy. That said, I would happily accept extra spice if she ever felt generous. I especially need more of the Faust and Sylvan tension, and more of the three of them together.
Read
February 20, 2026Tense, pulse-racing scenes kept me hooked and suspecting EVERYONE. The suspense absolutely had me sat. That said, I felt like the characters held me at arms length most of the book and some of their shifts in thinking felt a bit abrupt. But the tension and atmosphere carried me through.
February 15, 2026
Wow
So I am a huge fan of KV and after reading the description I picked up the book a little worried it may be too different from how she normally traumatizes I mean brings her readers on a journey but this book was amazing. It wasn’t nearly as dark as she usually writes but it was insane all the way.
So I am a huge fan of KV and after reading the description I picked up the book a little worried it may be too different from how she normally traumatizes I mean brings her readers on a journey but this book was amazing. It wasn’t nearly as dark as she usually writes but it was insane all the way.
February 22, 2026
Neve Devine is a lucky girl, mysterious murders
aside. 😈
Faust Darling and Sylvan Connor, ma’am. MA’AM! 🫠These two are serious sex appeal. This was such a slow burn, angst filled story and I was dying for them to finally get down with it. The only thing I needed was more Faust and Sylvan scenes. Look, I loved Neve, but come on. 🥵
A psychological suspense/thriller, this one will have you questioning every one until the end!
aside. 😈
Faust Darling and Sylvan Connor, ma’am. MA’AM! 🫠These two are serious sex appeal. This was such a slow burn, angst filled story and I was dying for them to finally get down with it. The only thing I needed was more Faust and Sylvan scenes. Look, I loved Neve, but come on. 🥵
A psychological suspense/thriller, this one will have you questioning every one until the end!
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Did he feel as good as I did?”
I can't believe I am saying this about a KV Rose book but I think this book healed me? It has all the twisted personalities, vulgar language and disgusting spice you would expect from KV but it's almost as if this story has the energy of a cinnamon roll black cat. And of course I thought I knew everything, and I might have, until the last five sentences.
“Reluctantly, I shift my gaze to his. Gray-silver irises. Too intense. A lock of blond hair fallen just above one eye. He has such a beautiful nose. I suppose the devil really was an angel, wasn’t he?”
I did receive this arc from KV and if you know me you know I am a KV die hard. I will read anything she releases but I have this affliction where I am brutally honest. Even for my favorite authors. This book was everything. I believe it clocks in around 500 pages long and it was not nearly enough. I kept pausing the last quarter of the book torn between getting answers and not wanting the story to end yet.
“What’s loud is her. What’s loud costs me the fucking goal. Jealousy like I’ve never felt surges up my spine, into my brain. She’s poisoned me.”
“Kissing is not what I want to do to my teammate. I want to fucking devour him.”
This story follows Neve, our heroine, and our two angry anti-heroes, Faust and Sylvan, as the three collide one dark night outside the collegiate hockey arena. One is running away from someone, another is catching the other, and the third is stalking their prey. The night ends with a murder but no one is admitting to it. Faust and Sylvan know each other as much as teammates can read each other without words, but nothing more. Why did the team captain, Faust Darling, not sign the professional contract? And why does Sylvan Connor's parents never come to his games? And if Neve Devine is studying to be a psychologist, shouldn't she be able to figure out who is a murderer? Relationships are tangling and bodies are piling up but who is betraying who?
“Eventually, he was going to stab you too, let your blood clot the snow.” His breath sends shivers down my spine as spots pop in front of my eyes. “Maybe I can save him the trouble...after all, it’s so much easier to fuck a corpse if she’s still intact.”
KV has this method where her stories are primarily character driven, almost breaking you down just to maybe heal you at the end, but interwoven is a chilling plot that drives a need to be solved. Betray Me Once exquisitely captures the knife edge balance of progressing the plot, developing the character relationships, and keeping you in rapt suspense. I seriously could not put this book down and one moment I thought I had it all figured out just to be thrown out the window the next moment. I fall in love with almost all of KV's heroines and Neve was no exception. She is very relatable and my heart broke so many times with her destructive thoughts. And of course I adored both Faust and Sylvan. I mean those names, they were destined to be adored. I wanted to wrap them in the bubble wrap and never let them go. Obviously Neve would slit my throat.
“He nudges his nose against mine and my heart feels as if it’s going to fly out of my fucking chest. “Are you?” he whispers. “Going to ruin me?”
“I feel like melting here. Just like this. Only for tonight. Maybe I’ll fuck it up in the morning. But tonight, could I keep him?”
My final note is KV Rose, despite hating love triangles, is an actual queen at them. Boy of Ruin anyone? That shit still haunts me to this day. Armed with the knowledge this was going to a be a standalone, I was expecting to be devastated at the end of this. But I wasn't and I swear I meant it when I said I think this book healed me.
“His eyes don’t leave me; I feel him like a brand. Like he’s marked me as his, and maybe he has. It was his name I said when I came undone.”
I can't believe I am saying this about a KV Rose book but I think this book healed me? It has all the twisted personalities, vulgar language and disgusting spice you would expect from KV but it's almost as if this story has the energy of a cinnamon roll black cat. And of course I thought I knew everything, and I might have, until the last five sentences.
“Reluctantly, I shift my gaze to his. Gray-silver irises. Too intense. A lock of blond hair fallen just above one eye. He has such a beautiful nose. I suppose the devil really was an angel, wasn’t he?”
I did receive this arc from KV and if you know me you know I am a KV die hard. I will read anything she releases but I have this affliction where I am brutally honest. Even for my favorite authors. This book was everything. I believe it clocks in around 500 pages long and it was not nearly enough. I kept pausing the last quarter of the book torn between getting answers and not wanting the story to end yet.
“What’s loud is her. What’s loud costs me the fucking goal. Jealousy like I’ve never felt surges up my spine, into my brain. She’s poisoned me.”
“Kissing is not what I want to do to my teammate. I want to fucking devour him.”
This story follows Neve, our heroine, and our two angry anti-heroes, Faust and Sylvan, as the three collide one dark night outside the collegiate hockey arena. One is running away from someone, another is catching the other, and the third is stalking their prey. The night ends with a murder but no one is admitting to it. Faust and Sylvan know each other as much as teammates can read each other without words, but nothing more. Why did the team captain, Faust Darling, not sign the professional contract? And why does Sylvan Connor's parents never come to his games? And if Neve Devine is studying to be a psychologist, shouldn't she be able to figure out who is a murderer? Relationships are tangling and bodies are piling up but who is betraying who?
“Eventually, he was going to stab you too, let your blood clot the snow.” His breath sends shivers down my spine as spots pop in front of my eyes. “Maybe I can save him the trouble...after all, it’s so much easier to fuck a corpse if she’s still intact.”
KV has this method where her stories are primarily character driven, almost breaking you down just to maybe heal you at the end, but interwoven is a chilling plot that drives a need to be solved. Betray Me Once exquisitely captures the knife edge balance of progressing the plot, developing the character relationships, and keeping you in rapt suspense. I seriously could not put this book down and one moment I thought I had it all figured out just to be thrown out the window the next moment. I fall in love with almost all of KV's heroines and Neve was no exception. She is very relatable and my heart broke so many times with her destructive thoughts. And of course I adored both Faust and Sylvan. I mean those names, they were destined to be adored. I wanted to wrap them in the bubble wrap and never let them go. Obviously Neve would slit my throat.
“He nudges his nose against mine and my heart feels as if it’s going to fly out of my fucking chest. “Are you?” he whispers. “Going to ruin me?”
“I feel like melting here. Just like this. Only for tonight. Maybe I’ll fuck it up in the morning. But tonight, could I keep him?”
My final note is KV Rose, despite hating love triangles, is an actual queen at them. Boy of Ruin anyone? That shit still haunts me to this day. Armed with the knowledge this was going to a be a standalone, I was expecting to be devastated at the end of this. But I wasn't and I swear I meant it when I said I think this book healed me.
“His eyes don’t leave me; I feel him like a brand. Like he’s marked me as his, and maybe he has. It was his name I said when I came undone.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
Only KV Rose could provide a story this intense and mind-blowing. Once I started reading, I was committed ‘till the end. Sleep? Who needs sleep when you can immerse yourself in a KV world.
I loved the connection and chemistry between Neve, Sylvan, and Faust. It wasn’t forced, but felt natural. Each character kept you guessing about their true intentions until the end. Neve was a perfect match for both men. I loved how the relationship between the guys also progressed slower and was believable.
Overall, I am impressed and in awe. I haven’t found a story of KV Roses’s that I haven’t loved yet and this one certainly did not disappoint. 🖤
I loved the connection and chemistry between Neve, Sylvan, and Faust. It wasn’t forced, but felt natural. Each character kept you guessing about their true intentions until the end. Neve was a perfect match for both men. I loved how the relationship between the guys also progressed slower and was believable.
Overall, I am impressed and in awe. I haven’t found a story of KV Roses’s that I haven’t loved yet and this one certainly did not disappoint. 🖤
February 15, 2026
that was a fucking whirlwind! i usually don't like reading polycules because i always favorite one over the other but with them... i loved them both. i think i'm growing to enjoy reading thrillers but maybe that's just because romance is involved. that was such a crazy plot twist at the end and i enjoyed every second of it. of course don't get me started on the fact hockey was involved because if you know me, you know i love hockey. another outstanding read from kv rose but who's surprised really.
February 14, 2026
This book was provided as an ARC. What a ride!! I could not put this book down and literally binge read it. Does that surprise anyone since it was written by KV!! Neve, Faust, and Sylvan had chemistry like no one I have ever read. This book had a bit of everything but mostly suspense. I thought I had it figured out, and a slap in the face said, " Oh no, you don't." If you love KV like I do, you do not have to be told it is a must read. Just be prepared! I can not wait for what she gives us next because if it is half as good as this book, it will be a best seller, lol.
February 16, 2026
I've never read a KV Rose book that I didn't love. Betray Me Once was no exception. An MMF dark hockey thriller with an almost gothic setting. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. I loved the dynamic between Faust, Sylvan and Neve (I love these names btw). Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I get surprised. I highly recommend this book and every other book she has written.
February 22, 2026
I am beyond thrilled to have a KV book in my hands again. I missed her stories and characters but I must say the wait was soooo worth it. Faust is yummy as hell and Neve is perfection. I also admit to loving the crazy but sexy Sylvan. As always you cannot go wrong with a story created by KV. I’ll be waiting for the next one and the next. Love you queen of dark romance.
February 23, 2026
K.V. Rose is my girl for dark romance. Her writing style just jives with me. MMF romance and thriller combined. She is able to make emotions and connections feel very real for me. Really telling story, selling a story. Love Neve, Faust and Sylvan!
February 15, 2026
3.75.
February 19, 2026
Toxic thriller, with depth. Where you spend the entire book knowing it’s going to end soon but you just want more and more.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews