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Sinners and Sweethearts #2
Honey and Hemlock
“Goldie,” he groaned, “you know what I want. Give it to me.”
Exposing Henry Stratford was supposed to put Ryland Miller on the map. Instead, it buried him in paperwork miles away from the one woman he should have stayed away from.
After months away, Ryland takes on a new position and returns to the one place—and the one woman—he never forgot. But his new assignment is far more dangerous than art heists and black market deals. Determined to uncover the woman behind the bodies, Ryland soon finds himself tangled in the web of the elusive Black Widow Killer.
Marigold Adams is a survivor through and through. The quiet flower shop owner spends her days brewing specialty teas and helping women escape situations she knows all too well.
No one ever suspected the girl surrounded by flowers.
Until Ryland comes back into her life.
Now Marigold must juggle a messy breakup, her best friend’s wedding, and falling for the one man who could destroy everything she’s built. Because the closer Ryland gets to the truth, the closer he gets to her.
And if he discovers what Marigold has been hiding, loving him might be the one mistake she can’t survive.
Honey and Hemlock is an open-door, dark romantic comedy. It contains mature themes and explicit content which may be disturbing to readers. Please check the TWs at the beginning of the book and read at your own discretion.
Tropes:
Friends to Lovers
Slow Burn
Cat and Mouse
Possessive and Protective MMC
Serial Killer FMC
Exposing Henry Stratford was supposed to put Ryland Miller on the map. Instead, it buried him in paperwork miles away from the one woman he should have stayed away from.
After months away, Ryland takes on a new position and returns to the one place—and the one woman—he never forgot. But his new assignment is far more dangerous than art heists and black market deals. Determined to uncover the woman behind the bodies, Ryland soon finds himself tangled in the web of the elusive Black Widow Killer.
Marigold Adams is a survivor through and through. The quiet flower shop owner spends her days brewing specialty teas and helping women escape situations she knows all too well.
No one ever suspected the girl surrounded by flowers.
Until Ryland comes back into her life.
Now Marigold must juggle a messy breakup, her best friend’s wedding, and falling for the one man who could destroy everything she’s built. Because the closer Ryland gets to the truth, the closer he gets to her.
And if he discovers what Marigold has been hiding, loving him might be the one mistake she can’t survive.
Honey and Hemlock is an open-door, dark romantic comedy. It contains mature themes and explicit content which may be disturbing to readers. Please check the TWs at the beginning of the book and read at your own discretion.
Tropes:
Friends to Lovers
Slow Burn
Cat and Mouse
Possessive and Protective MMC
Serial Killer FMC
390 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
First, thank you Ann for the opportunity to ARC read this.
I had to binge the first one, Glitter and Grim (which was also good) before I read this one, to get the background on Goldie and Ryland.
I was hooked from the start. This is the second book I've read where the fmc is the "villian" and uses her knowledge and love of deadly plants to her advantage. She's there for the woman who can't walk away, something she couldnt do. The tension, the longing between her and Ryland til nearly the end. I loved seeing how they overcome everything and finally say screw it.
I definitely wasnt expecting that ending though. Cant wait for the third to come out. But I need more of Goldie and Ry.
I had to binge the first one, Glitter and Grim (which was also good) before I read this one, to get the background on Goldie and Ryland.
I was hooked from the start. This is the second book I've read where the fmc is the "villian" and uses her knowledge and love of deadly plants to her advantage. She's there for the woman who can't walk away, something she couldnt do. The tension, the longing between her and Ryland til nearly the end. I loved seeing how they overcome everything and finally say screw it.
I definitely wasnt expecting that ending though. Cant wait for the third to come out. But I need more of Goldie and Ry.
September 12, 2026
So sweet and semi dark.
I love this story. I already knew I loved Ryland and Goldie from the first book in the series, but I fell even harder from the beginning of this one. I was rooting for them since the last book, and it paid off well in this book.
While it's a very cute story there are some dark themes woven in perfectly. I never felt it lacked any bit of its cozy and sweetness when the dark parts showed up. It was balanced perfectly.
The characters, all of them, even including the side characters were all well developed and well written. I loved pretty much all of them and want even more of them!
Overall this story was an amazing trip out of my daily life and into a cute, cozy, semi dark world I never wanted to leave.
I give it five stars
and I rate it 20/10
I love this story. I already knew I loved Ryland and Goldie from the first book in the series, but I fell even harder from the beginning of this one. I was rooting for them since the last book, and it paid off well in this book.
While it's a very cute story there are some dark themes woven in perfectly. I never felt it lacked any bit of its cozy and sweetness when the dark parts showed up. It was balanced perfectly.
The characters, all of them, even including the side characters were all well developed and well written. I loved pretty much all of them and want even more of them!
Overall this story was an amazing trip out of my daily life and into a cute, cozy, semi dark world I never wanted to leave.
I give it five stars
and I rate it 20/10
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.25
I was given the opportunity to read an ARC of "Honey & Hemlock" and I am writing this review voluntarily.
This is a slow-burn, friends to lovers dark romance with comedic banter that is giggle-worthy and memorable. A female seriel killer and a former FBI Agent now investigator make for an interesting and complicated love story as they navigate their own agendas without destroying each other in the process.
This was a fast-paced and entertaining read that kept me hooked from beginning to end.
I was given the opportunity to read an ARC of "Honey & Hemlock" and I am writing this review voluntarily.
This is a slow-burn, friends to lovers dark romance with comedic banter that is giggle-worthy and memorable. A female seriel killer and a former FBI Agent now investigator make for an interesting and complicated love story as they navigate their own agendas without destroying each other in the process.
This was a fast-paced and entertaining read that kept me hooked from beginning to end.
July 23, 2026
Thank you Ann, for the early copy and allowing me to come with you on this journey.
Marigold is a ray of sunshine. Everything she does is in the name of the people she cares about. Woman without a voice find marigold, and she is for them what no one ever was for her. During her complicated mission, her relationship with Ryland becomes more and more complicated. She falls for the same person who could destroy her life, can she trust him to fall all the way?
Marigold is a ray of sunshine. Everything she does is in the name of the people she cares about. Woman without a voice find marigold, and she is for them what no one ever was for her. During her complicated mission, her relationship with Ryland becomes more and more complicated. She falls for the same person who could destroy her life, can she trust him to fall all the way?
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was such an incredible book! Having read the first one I was so excited to see the journey for these two characters that were introduced in the first. It grabs you from the start and keeps you on edge with every turn it throws at you! I love seeing the transition to these two and you don’t want to miss out! I love getting more story of the characters and meeting new people too! Get ready for an ending you’re not ready for!😜 Absolutely amazing and I’m SO ready for book 3 of this trilogy!😍😍
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
3/5...This was an entertaining romantic suspense with an intriguing premise and plenty of secrets to keep the story moving. I enjoyed the contrast between Ryland’s investigation and Marigold’s seemingly quiet life, and the Black Widow Killer mystery added some tension and suspense. The romance had some good moments, although I didn’t always feel as connected to the characters as I would have liked. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 14, 2026
The slow burn had me on the edge! But it was well worth it!
Marigold out here protecting those who can’t protect themselves all while the best friend she loves is putting puzzle pieces together that leading towards her.
Book will have you going OMG, laughing, rolling your eyes
but you’ll love the ride!
Marigold out here protecting those who can’t protect themselves all while the best friend she loves is putting puzzle pieces together that leading towards her.
Book will have you going OMG, laughing, rolling your eyes
but you’ll love the ride!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I liked how the female character was the criminal, and the male was the officer tracking her. Good love story. I'm glad I read it. I received an early copy of the book from the author as an ARC reader.
August 13, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (3.5/5)
🔥🔥 (2/5)
I didn’t love this one, but I didn’t hate it either.
I read Honey & Hemlock immediately after book one, and I think that comparison made some of the weaknesses stand out more for me. The first book felt stronger and more distinct, while this one sometimes felt like it was trying to recreate the same energy instead of fully becoming its own story.
Marigold and Ryland were interesting characters, and I liked the setup of a florist hiding a much darker side while the detective falling for her is unknowingly getting closer to the truth. The cat-and-mouse element, friends-to-lovers dynamic, and protective/possessive MMC all worked for me in theory.
Where I struggled was with the emotional depth. The characters felt developed on paper, but somehow still felt a little empty to me emotionally. I understood who they were and what they had been through, but I didn’t always feel as connected to them or their relationship as I wanted to.
There were still things I enjoyed, and I never reached the point of disliking the book. It was entertaining, had a fun premise, and I liked seeing more of this world. It just didn’t hit the same way book one did, and I wanted it to stand apart a little more.
Read if you enjoy:
* Serial killer FMCs
* Detective MMCs
* Friends to lovers
* Cat-and-mouse dynamics
* Protective/possessive MMCs
* Earned spice
* Dark romantic comedies
Overall, a solid read with an interesting premise, but not quite as strong as the first book for me.
Thank you to the author for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🔥🔥 (2/5)
I didn’t love this one, but I didn’t hate it either.
I read Honey & Hemlock immediately after book one, and I think that comparison made some of the weaknesses stand out more for me. The first book felt stronger and more distinct, while this one sometimes felt like it was trying to recreate the same energy instead of fully becoming its own story.
Marigold and Ryland were interesting characters, and I liked the setup of a florist hiding a much darker side while the detective falling for her is unknowingly getting closer to the truth. The cat-and-mouse element, friends-to-lovers dynamic, and protective/possessive MMC all worked for me in theory.
Where I struggled was with the emotional depth. The characters felt developed on paper, but somehow still felt a little empty to me emotionally. I understood who they were and what they had been through, but I didn’t always feel as connected to them or their relationship as I wanted to.
There were still things I enjoyed, and I never reached the point of disliking the book. It was entertaining, had a fun premise, and I liked seeing more of this world. It just didn’t hit the same way book one did, and I wanted it to stand apart a little more.
Read if you enjoy:
* Serial killer FMCs
* Detective MMCs
* Friends to lovers
* Cat-and-mouse dynamics
* Protective/possessive MMCs
* Earned spice
* Dark romantic comedies
Overall, a solid read with an interesting premise, but not quite as strong as the first book for me.
Thank you to the author for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews