Dare to Play

Blackwell Hawks #1

by Sadie Hunt

Everyone in Blackwell Falls wants me to be a good girl.

Especially my brother, Bram Montgomery.

He did everything he could to keep me away from the Hunt.

But what can I say? I'm ready to play.

And the unhinged Hawks are all too eager to oblige.

Do I consent to be hunted?

Do I consent to be branded?

Do I consent to be chained?

Do I consent to be used?

The answer is yes. I consent to it all.

Except I have no way of knowing what I'm really signing up for.

*This is a reverse harem/why choose dark romance with three heroes, one heroine, and all your favorite triggers. Please check content warning at the beginning of the book before reading."

Genres: Dark Romance, Why Choose, Romance, Dark, Forced Proximity, Mystery, Contemporary

374 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 28, 2026

Reviews

[Booktokqutiepie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swear, Sadie Hunt outdoes herself every single time. With each new release, her storytelling grows sharper, darker, and utterly more addictive… and Dare to Play is absolutely no exception.

Cassie, our fierce and determined FMC , is many things… but patient isn’t one of them. As the little sister of Bram Montgomery, the man behind Blackwell Falls and one of the infamous Blackwell Butchers, she’s spent her life on the sidelines. Now she wants revenge, and the only way to claim it is to enter the Hunt.

Yes…that Hunt.
The dangerous game once run by her brother and his circle… now controlled by the Blackwell Hawks.

Jagger, Vigo, and Hawk, our deliciously unhinged MMC trio, never expect the quiet little mouse to walk into their world ready to play. Even knowing her presence will eventually lead to a collision course with Bram, they let her stay.

And oh… what a game it becomes.

This story delivers trope heaven:

* Dark romance ✔️
* Why choose ✔️
* Tattooed, morally gray men ✔️
* Forced proximity ✔️
* Primal play ✔️
* Toys… and so many toys ✔️

Every page drips with tension , the dangerous kind that makes your pulse race while your morals quietly pack their bags and leave the room.

The side characters elevate everything. The Butchers make unforgettable appearances (as always, stealing pieces of my soul), and the cameos from the Kings were the perfect treat for longtime readers. Add in a suspense subplot that keeps you guessing and a romance hot enough to fog your Kindle screen, and you’ve got pure chaos in the best possible way.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A flawless start to the series.

And the spice?
Five-alarm fire levels. 🔥🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Honestly… I’m still recovering. Someone fetch the smelling salts because I absolutely caught the vapors ….and I regret nothing.

If you haven’t picked up this book (or any of Sadie’s work), consider this your official wake up call and recommendation:
Step into Blackwell… but don’t expect to leave unchanged.

[The_Book_Brat · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Reverse Harem
*Contemporary
*Multi-1st-PoV
*Morally Grey Men
*Virgin FMC
*Forced Proximity
*Homicide investigation
*Established Harem (3)
*Mid Burn
*High Heat
*Book 1 / 3
Hot Hawks!!
Awww I really felt for Cassie in this book! She just wants to be her own person and recognised/seen for who she is….not just Bram’s baby sister 😳 it’s created a few issues for her namely getting rid of that pesky V-card and so she decides to enter the hunt. Oh boy do things kick of spicy there and it never really drops 🔥🔥🌶️ honestly the toys these guys play with and the heat they build is 👌👌
Not only that but the Hawks are having to come to terms with the fact that they may actually be having full on feelings for Cassie too - especially as she begins to show more of herself as she becomes comfortable and confident 👑
Hawk himself is the more stoic of the three but when he gives that bit he’s all in; Jagger is the softest of them and immediately wants to care for her; and Vigo is the wildcard protective whilst also wanting to push her limits 🥰
There is a sub plot in that Cassie doesn’t believe her parents being ran off the road was an accident and as they dig around more it might just unearth more than they bargained for 🫣 and after that ending it’s find to be a rocky second book….cant wait!!

[Tina Remillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassie has spent her life being protected by her brother, but she’s tired of being kept in the dark. She enters the Hunt because she needs answers about what really happened to her parents—and if her brother won’t tell her, she’s determined to find out for herself.

Cassie is inexperienced and a virgin, but that doesn’t stop the Hawks from wanting to play. What starts as the Hunt quickly becomes something neither side expected. As they spend more time together, those feelings start becoming very real, and watching the Hawks begin to fall for Cassie was one of my favorite parts of the story.

Then tragedy strikes, and the Hawks show Cassie exactly where they stand. They stay by her side and refuse to walk away, even when her brother has a hard time accepting what is happening between them.

This book had everything I wanted—mystery, suspense, tension, spice, and three men who are definitely not easy to forget. Cassie is determined to uncover the truth, and I was just as desperate as she was to get answers.

And that ending?! I am still not okay. That cliffhanger had me absolutely salivating for more. I NEED to know what happens next!

[Molly Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dare to Play is right! The Hawks are now the hunters, and with the introduction of new masked teams, exciting game twists, and a virgin FMC with a terrifying brother, things are about to change forever.

If you’re a fan of spicy vibe play, an FMC discovering her confidence, and a touch of mystery, then Dare to Play is the game for you. But hold on tight because the ending will keep you guessing until the next book.

Devoured: 10/10
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[DoubtFire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps this is morbid of me, but I was expecting something far darker than what I read... and I'm a bit disappointed.

First of all, I'm always annoyed going into something, thinking it is a series-first or a standalone, only to realize there's an entire world of characters being referenced that I don't know. This is clearly a saga that I was not privy to, and nowhere in the description does it imply this. In my experience, the author tends to get lazy on their writing, not putting the same time into plot and pacing because, well, that's already been done in previous books, and this is just for fans who will eat it up anyway. Just saying, that trend is holding true.

Which leads me to: this is only okay. It is trying to do a number of things, but does not succeed in any of them:

-clunky plot: a gritty smutty pleasure read, but also have a complicated crime world with characters who are emotionally challenged, traumatized, and oh so bad but also there's no consequences for anything, but also a cozy romance where the guys fawn over the FMC

-Except FMC is a doormat! Her whole personality is rooted in her brother. She can't be independent, bc her brother. She didn't pay for college, bc her brother. She didn't take out a loan for her business, bc her brother. She's a virgin, bc her brother is big bad crime guy who people fear. (And so stupid because she's a virgin at 23 (or 24, the author doesn't know!) and can't stop telling her dates that she's a virgin so they "get weird about it" by being nice? (Literally... the whole plot hinges on she's tired of being a virgin).) But it's okay that she's a doormat because she has friends and a small business - feminism FTW - the guys *like* her because she's *checks notes* soft? Like her literal skin is soft.

-SAME samey guys, to the point where even the other polyculs in the story follow the same tropes of broody, crazy, and sweetheart. Paired with different POV chapters, where all the guys sound exactly the same; you wouldn't know who it is if you weren't told their eye/hair color. Also, why is this entire town based around FMMM?

-bad/no editing: so many typos, especially in the last like 30%. small plot holes and inconsistencies, enough to annoy me because they kept. happening. See age complaint above.

-the smutty isn't even that smutty. It relies on insta-lust and insta-wet so it's insta-over. Don't worry though, it happens all! the! tiiiime! Quantity is obviously better than quality, right?... Also the guys are deeply into BDSM, kinky stuff, yet no one preps her long-term for anyyyything? *cough* anal *cough*

-Also, it's not even that dark. Maybe I misunderstood when picking this, but I lowkey wanted something gritty as a palette changer. The weird tunnel hunt thing only last for a few chapters (while we lament on the FMC woes of being a virgin and how this is her only option to get laid! but it's so rough! the criminals! oooh only bad boys here!), only to turn out VERY normie after. They wait a literally in-story month before someone finally pops her cherry. idk they bust a guy's knee out with a bat, and they rob banks, but noooothing else about this is dark.

I hate to judge an author by something clearly dependent on whole other series, but I am not impressed.

[Elixabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Queen of Cliffhangers
(Plot/Spice/Tears/V¡olence-G¤re-Action)
📚 4/5 - 🌶 4/5 - 💧1/5- 🗡 1/5
I was a sent a complimentary copy with no expectation for a favorable reviewn.

Holysh¡t. Where does Sadie come up with these characters?? The Hawks always seemed like a$$holes in the other books, but when you get to know them more they aren't. Hawk, Vigo, and Jagger live in the moment, even if it creates chaos later and I love it! Cassies story of how she's had to go through everything alone is so heartbreaking. Especially since I'm sure Bram didn't mean for it to happen. Speaking of Bram... the scean when she told him about her and the Hawks was SO hilarious!! Meave really knows how to control him. 🤣


So a Sadie Hunt book wouldn't be complete without a cliffhanger, amd WOW. Just wow. June can't come fast enough!!

[InkedSirenXO · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book doesn’t flirt with danger… it drags you into a candlelit room, locks the door, and dares you to enjoy it.

Dare to Play is pure chaotic temptation wrapped in velvet shadows and sharp edges. From page one, the atmosphere is thick with tension, power, and that intoxicating “this is a bad idea… but I’m doing it anyway” energy. Blackwell Falls feels like a place where rules go to die, and honestly? I was ready to bury them too.

Cassie’s journey from “good girl” expectations to fully embracing her darker desires is addictive to watch. She doesn’t just fall, she chooses to dive, and that agency makes every risky step hit harder.

And the Hawks? Absolute menace material in the best way.

* Vigo is chaos with a grin, the kind of trouble that feels like gasoline on a spark.
* Jagger is obsession personified, intense and unpredictable in a way that keeps you on edge.
* Hawk is the one who truly tests limits, pushing boundaries with a quiet, dangerous pull that lingers long after the scene ends.

The dynamic between them all is electric, layered with tension, control, and a constant push-pull that never lets you settle. The spice is bold and frequent, but it’s the psychological edge that really seals the deal. Every moment feels like a dare… and you’ll keep turning pages just to see how far it goes.

What really hooked me is that underlying question humming beneath it all: how much of yourself are you willing to surrender for desire? The Hunt isn’t just a game, it’s a transformation, and there’s a delicious sense that once you step in, there’s no clean way out.

If you love dark romance with multiple dangerous love interests, morally gray characters, and a heroine who leans into the chaos instead of running from it… this one will absolutely own you.

Consider this your warning: you won’t just read this book. You’ll play along. 🔥

[Michele Marrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadie Hunt has a way of sucking you into her world. Blackwell Falls has become a kind of second home for me. Getting to see all these characters develop and get their own story is extremely entertaining. Cassie had no idea what she was signing up for but was tired of being the town good girl. She certainly stepped in some sh*# when she joined the hunt and willing consented to a whole lot more than she could’ve imagined. Her relationships with the hawks of course is full of a bunch of steam, super spicy and very tasty. I ate it all up. There’s more to it than that though and Cassie finds herself in drama and chaos.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot 3.5 ⭐️
Spice 3 🌶️

First of all. The cliffhanger was criminal!!! And I have to wait for June 2 for book 2. I’m annoyed. This was a good book but I feel like it was a setup for book 2 to be better. Love the toy room but didn’t get the full experience. Basically, more please.

[Vikki The Fee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible - 4.5⭐️ 3🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Jas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an Arc copy for my honest review of this book!

This is the first book in the Hawks series and boy Sadie did not come to play! 😮‍💨 This reverse harem book is about Cassie, Brams' (Butchers) little sister and 3 complex men who are known as the Hawks. Cassie is a sweet, shy, sheltered coffee shop owner and is finally done being hidden behind Bram. Cassie joins The Hunt to win the prize of having a problem handled for her... as it turns out that is not how it goes down for our girl. The Hawks zero in on her and from there they are determined to make her theirs. This book is filled with spice that'll leave you panting and flying through the pages, 3 morally grey men who are not only panty dropping attractive, but love to take care of their girl Cass in alllll the right ways. This book does end on a cliffhanger... iykyk... and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next one!! Please always read the triggers! ❤️

[Kendra Renae · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️4 🌶️4


I really enjoyed this one and whew that ending I felt in my spirit the moment she took that turn it was for the worst💔

[Emily Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as advertised

This is a small town chase through the woods book, but there is no 3 on 1 anything. I think the guys finding out she's inexperienced is meant to be sweet, but instead they are just as infantalizing as all the guys that (didnt) come before, off page. She also totally picks the wrong guy of the 3. It's like 2nd grade, he ignores her the whole book and then says it's because he likes and she folds in the same page.
So anyways, there's maybe a plot sort of happening that you'd care about if you read some other books in this series but it's moving even slower than the 🫑(bell pepper emoji, because that's how much spice).

[Tedra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent

I actually liked these guys a bit more than the last trilogy.
Didn't Like that tgey just ledt her, in chains in the tunnels for others to find though, I mean what was the point of that?

Also I didnt think the fnc had much of a personality. Virgin, lil sister & coffee shop owner. Was super unrealistic to find that she's into pain, humiliation, 3somes, anal & nip & clit clamps. She's just okay with everything all at once.

[Mythica Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dare to be hunted. I dare to be branded. I dare to be chained. I dare to be used.


Cassie, who is in desperate need to get revenge for her parent’s untimely deaths, and also finds a bonus in losing her V Card decides to join the Hunt, something her brother Bram used to run before meeting Maeve but is now run by the Hawks. The Hawks, our three masked men, Vigo, Hawk and Jagger, had it all and were successful but hated forcing themselves to be someone they weren't. They wanted to push boundaries and feel alive in ways that others may not agree with.

Cassie struggles because she is constantly being protected by her older brother, Bram, who has been taking care of Cassie since their parents died in a car crash. She wanted to know more about the accident but he never wanted to talk about it. She never wanted to upset Bram so she did her own research, which led to her belief that the accident was not really an accident. She is tired of living in the dark in order to make her brother happy because all he wants is to keep her safe. So, when he goes on a little vacation, she takes advantage of that moment decides to join the hunt.

Nobody in their right mind would ever consider letting Cassie join the hunt... but the Hawks are wild and the Butchers hate them. They are rowdy and wild and reckless in ways that seem immature but hide how intelligent they actually are.

They are crazy enough to let her join the hunt, if only to get under Bram's skin.

When she gets caught by the Hawks in the Hunt, she is bummed that she lost the hunt, but she is eager to rid herself of her V-card but things don’t turn out the way they planned and they are not willing to claim her in the way that they want, especially when she is Bram’s little sister.

Living with them brings strain between her and her brother, but Cassie is determined to see this through. Jagger is a bit calmer compared to the other two men. He used to be a wall street man, who started throwing money off of rooftops, before leaving his business and learning to give into his compulsions and desires. Vigo is a pierced and wild man with an obsession to his emotional support bat and has zero impulse control and a severe sweet tooth. Hawk is dark, a man with a brilliant mind, but a closed off heart; a man who enjoys pushing boundaries and living life on the edge in every way possible. Neither of these men want to be tied down, but they cannot help but gravitate to Cassie.

Despite losing the hunt, the men are willing to do some digging into the car accident. When they get the answers that they weren’t expecting, they tell Cassie and decide to help her out. But as always, Blackwell Falls is not a safe place… and the monsters that lurk in the dark will do anything to make sure they stay hidden and undiscovered.

So, when Cassie keeps digging with her men, they unknowingly paint a massive target on each of their backs. Cassie is not willing to tell Bram about anything because she doesn’t want to burden him and she wants to do this on her own and be something other than Bram’s little sister. However, when on a drive to go see her best friend, she never makes it to her destination. Is she destined to meet the same end that her parents met? Will the Hawks be able to save her in time?

As always, I genuinely loved this book. Sadie Hunt has a way of making me hungry for more and captivated from the very beginning. I like knowing that this big ring that poisons Blackwell Falls continues to be a problem and it does all seem to tie to every ring that has been taken down in previous series, continuing in this deep black hole of darkness and evil. I also love that this shows a bit more into the BDSM side of spice. Having three men at once is steamy. Add spicy toys and some extra dominance and my cheeks were left burning. The book left off on a cliffhanger and I am eager to see what happens next.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reintroduces Bram’s sister, Cassie. He bought her a coffee shop after she graduated college and Maeve was jealous when she spotted him visiting her because she'd thought Cassie was the dreaded "other woman."

This book begins with Cassie heading to where Bram had told her never to go - The Hunt. The Hawks are in charge of it now and apparently didn’t know that Bram had a sister. That doesn’t seem logical since they all live in the same town but whatever. Cassie is 24 hoping to kill two birds with one stone - win the Hunt and have someone executed plus lose her virginity. Aim high.

Chapter 13 ...Vigo said, approaching her with something like curiosity. He tore off his mask...
Chapter 14 ...but it only lasted a minute before he pulled at the mask and dropped it onto the floor. A few sentences later - ...to see the last Hawk...kneeling at my feet. ...Then he reached for his mask and tossed it aside.
All three men have discarded their masks.
Cassie - His eyes seemed to glow through his mask.
Yeah, not so much.

I think it was Jagger who showed Cassie around the house. Did it never occur to her that maybe they didn’t want her snooping in the rooms he didn’t show her? That’s egregious enough but to rifle through a cabinet is unforgivable. She gets pissy when they look at her computer FFS but as they’ve reiterated to her time and time again, they’re in charge and can do whatever they want. If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself)

It has been established that both Hawk and Jagger had been extremely successful in their chosen professions. I’m not too sure about Vigo since he was a college professor. Anyway, if they were rich why do they rob banks and jewelry stores now? For funsies? Apparently so

Chapter 29 Jagger: “Vigo didn’t let you come the other night. Maybe I should make you wait too.”
Chapter 21 Vigo: “That’s right, come for me, mouse.” I cried out as my body shuddered, my pussy clamping down on his finger as the tremors rolled over me. (And so on and so forth)
Based on the above I would say that Vigo definitely let her come “the other night.”

But then, Chapter 30 “Yeah, but you got to eat her pussy,” Vigo said. “Plus you let her come. I was trying to be a team player and make her wait.”
Not true if Chapter 21 is accurate.

Chapter 20 Cassie: I’d stalked Travis’ socials for the past two years, making a bitter note of the milestones in his life - an engagement, a wedding in Vegas, a baby...
Chapter 30 Travis: “Take it!” Dorsey begged. “Just... take it and go before my girlfriend gets home.”
I thought he was married.

Chapter 35 ...mice find a way to survive when everything else dies.”
So do cockroaches.

Chapter 39 Cassie: I opened the closet and reached for the boxes that had been there ever since I’d moved in and gotten them out of the storage unit Bram rented to hold some of our parents’ furniture, just in case I wanted any of it later.
...in my teens when I’d first discovered the boxes and was trying to make sense of what happened to my parents. I’d hoarded the boxes in my room, looking through the papers in secret, convinced I could find the answer to the way things were - the way Bram was - if only I looked hard enough.
Cassie was ten when the accident happened but is looking at the paperwork as a teen. So how/when did the boxes move from her room to a storage unit? You’d think they would have been stored at the same time as the furniture, especially since Bram avoided reminders of the accident. Actually I’m surprised he kept them at all.

I know this is fiction so everything will work out but the paperwork Cassie and Jagger are going through is 14 years old at the very least. Wouldn't any kind of criminal trail be cold by now?

This ends on a cliffhanger and it’s pretty obvious that Cassie has disturbed a hornet’s nest. I’ll get back to this eventually but other series are calling me.

[Donna reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book doesn’t just turn up the heat… it consumes you in it.

From the moment Cassie steps into the world of the Hawks, there’s this intoxicating shift, like crossing a line you know you shouldn’t… but crave anyway. But what makes that step even more explosive? She’s not just chasing desire… she’s chasing revenge.

Because behind every reckless choice, every dangerous yes, there’s him—Bram.

Her brother. Her protector. The one who did everything in his power to keep her away from the Hunt… because he knows exactly what it is. What it does. What it takes.

And Cassie? She walks straight into it anyway.

Not out of ignorance, but out of defiance. Out of pain. Out of a need to take something back after everything they’ve lost.

The weight of their parents’ death lingers over every decision she makes. And Bram’s trauma? You feel it in the tension between them, the control, the fear, the desperation to keep her safe even when it pushes her away. Their relationship is raw, complicated and emotionally charged in a way that hits just as hard as the romance.

So when Cassie chooses the Hunt…
She isn’t just risking herself.

She’s betraying the one person who’s always fought for her.

And that makes every moment sharper. Every choice heavier. Every consequence inevitable.

And then there are the Hawks…

Vigo is chaos wrapped in charm, the kind of reckless energy that dares you to lose control right alongside him.
Jagger is obsession personified, intense, unpredictable and focused in a way that feels both thrilling and terrifying.
And Hawk… Hawk is the edge of the blade. Dark, commanding and utterly unapologetic in how far he’s willing to push limits.

As book boyfriend energy goes?
They don’t just own it…they redefine it. These men are bold, unapologetic and dangerously captivating. You’re not choosing your favorite… you’re getting pulled under by all of them.

The spice level? Absolutely scorching.
Every interaction feels charged, deliberate and loaded with tension that simmers until it snaps. The dynamic here leans into control, power and surrender in a way that’s daring and completely consuming. It’s provocative, yes…but also intriguing in how it explores the psychology behind desire, trust and letting go.

And when it comes to the danger and erotic elements?
They’re bold, varied and woven into the story in a way that keeps you completely hooked. Every scene feels like a push further, deeper into temptation, deeper into risk, deeper into a world where pleasure and danger blur until they’re impossible to separate.

But what truly elevates this story is the emotional depth threaded through all that intensity.

Cassie isn’t just exploring desire…she’s unraveling, rebuilding and reclaiming pieces of herself that were shaped by grief and loss. And the Hawks? Beneath all that dominance and darkness, there are cracks, glimpses of something deeper, more fragile… and far more dangerous because of it.

It’s messy. It’s addictive. It’s impossible to look away from.

And Sadie Hunt? She writes like she has no limits and that’s exactly what makes her unforgettable. Her storytelling is fearless, immersive and completely unapologetic. She creates characters that consume you, worlds that pull you under, and tension so thick you can feel it in every line. Once you read her, you don’t just want more… you need it.

This isn’t just a dark romance.
It’s vengeance wrapped in temptation.
It’s grief twisted into desire.
It’s a choice between safety… and surrender.

And once the Hunt begins?

There’s no turning back. 🖤

[Jodi Beach · Rating 5 out of 5]

DARE TO PLAY(Blackwell Hawks Book 1) REVERSE HAREM ROMANCE❤️‍🔥 M/FMM BOOK 👀 no MM in book 📑Another magnificent book📚by SADIE HUNT

Reverse harem ADULT ROMANCE💝 by:SADIE HUNT
🃏DARE TO PLAY(Blackwell Hawks Book 1)
❇️❇️❇️
🔆Ratings:🔆
❇️❇️❇️
Stars 5/5 🌟
Action 5/5 🎬
FMC 5/5 💃
MMC 5/5 🤵
Romance 4/5 🖤
Spice 5/5🌶️
🔞Spice level 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (out of 5 🌶️)
If I could add more spicy peppers🌶️I would. This is an extremely spicy 🥵book📕.
📌Ohhhhh👀 the down right filthy🥵dirty talk‼️holy moly. WOW.😮And the rough and spicy scenes. I think I am in love 🥰. I gave it a 5 rating because I love dirty talk and a man that is aggressive and knows what he wants and takes charge.
❇️❇️❇️
🪢Sexual kinks touched on🪢
🪢 Blood Play, Marking, blindfolds & lite ties, Primal Play, Forced Orgasm Pleasure.
🥰 I loved this book. I did not put this book down unless I needed coffee or to use the restroom. I devoured this book. These are the type of books that I enjoy most. They have the ability to just suck you in and you can’t put it down.
❇️❇️❇️
‼️(Synopsis)‼️
♦️Everyone in Blackwell Falls expects me to be a good girl.Especially my brother, Bram Montgomery.He did everything he could to keep me away from the Hunt.But what can I say? I'm ready to play, and with their vast inventory of spicy toys, the unhinged Hawks are all too eager to oblige.
♦️Unpredictable and wild, blond-haired Vigo brings out all my most dangerous impulses.
♦️Jagger once dumped boxes of money from the rooftops. Now he lives for his compulsions — and I’m his latest obsession.
♦️Hawk, the black sheep with a black heart. He pushes every boundary, leading me to the edge of the cliff in bed and out.
♦️Do I dare to be hunted?
♦️Do I dare to be branded?
♦️Do I dare to be chained?
♦️Do I dare to be used?
♦️The answer is yes. I'll do it all.
♦️But the Hunt — and what comes after — has a life of its own.
♦️And I have no way of knowing what I'm really signing up for.
❇️❇️❇️
🎙️PERSONAL REVIEW🎙️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎙️If '📗Book Hangover' was a medical diagnosis⚕️, I’d be in the ICU right now. This story hit every single emotional note with the precision of a world-class orchestra. It has that rare 'vacation magic' where you forget your own name for 300 pages and then wake up at the end feeling like a brand new person. A true 5-🌟starexperience is supposed to feel like a high-end holiday for your imagination, and this one delivered a first-class ticket. It has that sense of completion that is so hard to find where every thread is tied, every emotion is earned, and you’re left sitting in silence for twenty minutes after the final period just staring at the wall. It’s that 'magical vacation⛱️' vibe where you’re sad it’s over, but you’re so filled with the warmth of the journey that you can’t even be mad at the flight home.🎙️
❇️❇️❇️
🔆Tropes & Triggers🔆
🥋Violence including graphic depictions of physical fights,knife play
💣 Murder, torture, shootings
🧨 Emotional /Psychological Abuse/trauma, kidnapping and sex trafficking.
🪦 Graphic Sex Scenes
🥼 Mental Health Issues/Depression/cognitive impairment/amnesia
🚔 Criminal Activity
⚠️ Enemies to lovers
🤬 Angst
🏜️ Forced proximity
⚖️ Morally gray heroes.

[Ashes And Ink · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with the Blackwell Butchers and have been eagerly awaiting the next installment of Blackwell Falls. Sadie absolutely did not disappoint when it came to the story of Cassie and the Hawks! It is everything I could have asked for and more. A new mystery to unravel, danger around the corner, dynamic characters and relationships and the best spice left me with an almost perfect feeling…until the end that is. The cliffhanger in this book is brutal! I am not sure how I am going to make it to the next book. Another fantastic read from Sadie and Blackwell Falls and I want to go back.

I squealed when I saw that Bram’s little sister Cassie is the main character in this story! I definitely wanted more of her, and her and Bram’s relationship and story after the Butchers series and I got that in spades in this book. Cassie may be sweet but there is so much more to her than meets the eye. She is fed up being Bram’s little sister and jumps on the opportunity to take control of her own path. I love that we see such a caring side of Cassie, especially regarding her brother, while also seeing that she makes her own choices and will stand by them no matter what may come. Her determination is something I admire, while also being able to relate to the sense of loneliness that results from carrying too much weight on your own.

While I love the Butchers, if it couldn’t be them, The Hawks would be the team I would want to win. The dynamic between them and the Butchers in the first series left me wanting to know so much more. The Hawks are more than I dreamed of and there is still so much more to learn about these three men! They may not be “good,” but they are good for Cassie! Attractive, possessive, morally grey and oh so soft for her, I mean what more could a girl ask for?

This is the first book in this new installment, so there are many questions left to be answered. The pace was great and I finished this book quite quickly (even while having to tend to my tiny humans). I could not put it down! The spice in this book is fantastic, and I feel like it complements the story. A great balance between spice and plot made it even more difficult to pull myself out of this world. While this book does tie into the other series that take place in Blackwell it is not necessary to read them to be able to enjoy this book, although it does make for a more well-rounded experience. If you enjoyed the Blackwell Butchers, you should run and add this to your TBR. If you enjoy a good why-choose, dark romance with morally grey men and a woman who knows what she wants I highly recommend picking this up.

[Shelby Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a thriller that keeps your heart racing and a romance that sets your pages on fire, Sadie Hunt has delivered yet another masterpiece, her mind is a dark, beautiful labyrinth, and Dare to Play is her most twisted turn yet.

Blackwell Falls is a city built on secrets, run unofficially by Bram and his Butchers, who we met in the Blackwell Butchers trilogy. But when the Butchers take a step back, the reins of their Hunt are handed over to a trio of masked men known as The Hawks.

Cassie, Bram’s younger sister, isn’t completely the innocent little girl we’ve seen in previous books. Tired of living under her brother’s shadow, Cassie enters the Hunt with a win-win mentality that perfectly encapsulates her spicy, rebellious nature: If she wins: She earns a favor to eliminate her greatest enemy. If she loses: She surrenders her v card to the victors that make her their prey.

The Hawks—Vigo, Hawk, and Jagger—have elevated the game, making it darker and more sinful than prior Hunts. When Cassie inevitably loses, she is pulled into their world, moving into their secluded home in the woods.

Beyond the steam and the masked tension, Sadie weaves a compelling story, Cassie is haunted by the accident that claimed her parents’ lives years ago, a car crash off a mountain road that only Bram survived. While the city and police view it as a tragedy, Cassie views it as a crime shes determined to solve. The chemistry between her and the Hawks truly shines when they put their resources toward her cause, proving that they are just as invested in her mind and her past as they are in her body. The revelation that her gut instinct was right all along sets things into motion that they aren't ready for.

Sadie excels at balancing the everyday normalcy of Cassie’s life at her coffee shop, Cassie’s Cuppa with the underground brutality of Blackwell Falls. The dynamic between Vigo, Hawk, and Jagger is distinct; they aren't just a monolith of masked men, but three complex individuals who provide Cassie with the different types of strength she needs to face her demons and her desires.

Be prepared for a cliffhanger that will have you at the edge of your seat. Just as the truth about what happened on the mountain road all those years ago begins to surface, Sadie pulls the rug out from under us. The final scene will have you screaming for the sequel.

[Misty °.•☠︎︎•.° · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaggers words:
If you wanted to hear about the worst of humanity, all you needed to do was talk to a woman. They bore the brunt of society’s weakest, most cowardly men.

Cassie joins the hunt with two clear goals: to finally claim what she’s always wanted without her overprotective brother standing in the way, and to avenge her brother Bram and their parents.

If you remember the first trio who messed with Maeve in the Blackwell Butcher series—the Hawks, the ones loudly whooping and yelling through the tunnels—and their appearance at the end of Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here… yes, 'those guys'. Hawk, Jagger, and Vigo. They act first and think later, doing whatever they please. So when the question comes up about letting Cassie Montgomery join the hunt—Bram’s sister, no less, and Bram being the man everyone fears—they treat it like a challenge. A dare. Just another way to get under Bram’s skin.

What they don’t consider is the fallout. Claiming Bram’s sister? That’s not a small decision—and whether Bram will let them live after it is a very real question. But by then, it’s already too late. They have to face the consequences of their impulsiveness.

As the story unfolds, a heartfelt connection develops between Cassie and the Hawks. The blend of spice, plot, and character dynamics is perfectly written with Sadie's fantastic imagination! Their chaotic banter had me laughing so much, but also the emotional moments hit just as hard, adding real depth to the story.

Bringing attention to the new guys for a second. The trio that replaces the ghosts that were eliminated in the last series - the Bulls.... calmly meandering through the tunnels in no rush to catch or claim a girl, but also gentlemen to boot! I loved the way they guilt-trip the Hawks during the hunt. 🤣 I won't go into detail because you just need to read this book to get what I mean! I am excited to see if they will get a series!!!

[TarynLA · Rating 5 out of 5]

RH Romance Book 1 of 3

First off that was rude….. how could you throw us off the cliff and leave us free falling?? And now we wait for book 2……

This was a great read! I love the Hawks and Cassie!! There were laughs, tears and spice all mixed with some mystery.
There’s spice throughout but it takes a bit to get to the ‘main event’ considering she’s untouched, and surprisingly, to the MMCs, they actually care….. and they are not quite sure why. They may have taken on more with Cassie than they bargained for, and they are feeling things that they’ve never thought possible….. one being jealously??

There are answers Cassie wants and revenge she seeks but she can’t go to her brother Bram for them… so she takes the only other option she has…… she joins the hunt. Bram isn’t in charge anymore so who’s going to stop her? She also wants to lose the V and she thinks this is the best way.

The Hawks are now in charge of the hunt. And they made a few changes….. once they see Cassie, they know who she is, but that won’t stop them from claiming her.

Honestly, watching the Hawks fall and not know it is quite the treat. Looking forward to more.

So far there’s no cheating and no OWD and as I stated above we were left on a cliff…..

* Virg!in FMC
* Tatted / Morally Grey MMCs
* MMCs with Surprising Previous Careers
* K!nks & Toys
* Forced Proximity
* Strangers to Live in ‘Lovers’

Also there’s dark themes discussed but nothing, imo, dark on page in this book. I’m assuming it’ll get darker as the series progresses.

‘But the truth was, I didn’t feel much of anything. For anybody. It was a flaw in my genetic code, a bug that couldn’t be fixed.’

‘I had no idea what the f*** was wrong with me or why this girl—this virginal, sheltered, lonely girl—had me sweating it out like a dr*g @dd!ct in withdrawal when I’d only ever had one little taste of her in the tunnels.’

[Trish McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fall in love with each set of guys in Blackwell series.

I consented to be hunted.
I consented to be stripped
I consented to be marked.
I consented to be owned.

Cassie is Brams little sister. Cute little green eyed red head that owns
the coffee shop. Being Brams, little sister doesn’t give her freedom
like other girls. Keeps her sheltered. She is ready to be her own
person and get rid of the get rid of the annoying v-card. She joins The
Hunt while Bram is out of town. Not just for pleasure but for
revenge. She loses to the men wearing bird mask, the Hawks.

“You’re prey. If we catch you, we do what we want with you. The end.”

We got a little glimpse of the Hawks in other books, and the biggest
glimpse was in Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here and I just fell in love
with them. Hawk the test your limits, commanding, unapologetic,
always observing, dark eyed with features so striking, slightly bent
nose, and black hair guy. Vigo is chaos who will grin at you as he
enforces it. He’s charming, has dangerous energy with spiky blonde
hair, gray green eyes and freckles. Jagger is obsessive, intense,
piercing in his left brow, blue eyes, brown hair, and a strong nose guy.
All three men are hulking, muscled, and covered in ink.

“Claiming you. You’re our little mouse now.”
“Pain and pleasure, mouse. Can’t have one without the other.”

The care the Hawks show for her through out the book without all
the broody male egos is nice. Then the whole telling Bram was
hilarious. I was spitting my water out when he jumped that fence.
Maeve is a rock star.

“Bram could have killed you, dismembered you, hung you from a
telephone pole as a warning to other.”

I love the buildup, the dominating men, sex toys and spicy scenes. I
knew there was going to be a cliffhanger, but I still yelled no when it
came. I was not ready for the end.

[Shaunette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another adventure traversing the dark side of Blackwell Falls. The Hunt is on, the Hawks are ready but they are in for quite the surprise. A surprise in the form of Cassie Montgomery and the Hawks are looking forward to this hunt. The Hawks want Cassie and they are prepared to bear the consequences of that decision. That consequence is facing Bram Montgomery. Cassie is terrified for various reasons but she is determined to see this hunt through. I was intrigued to see what’s behind the Hawks mask and I was truly surprised. There were surprises after surprises and what I thought I knew about Cassie is far from her actual reality. The Hawks are not your typical Blackwell Falls bad boys but they own the choice and lifestyle that they’ve chosen. Cassie is conflicted but she’s not backing out.

This is another dangerous journey down the rabbit hole of Blackwell Falls underbelly with Cassie now trying to unravel her parents death. The Hawks find Cassie irresistible and down the rabbit hole they go right along with her.

The Hawks are ready to jump right in with Cassie and they are prepared to give her pleasure that she’s only ever dreamed of. They loooove to play and Cassie’s b*dy will be their instrument of choice. I’m in love with Hawk and he was another surprise that I didn’t see coming. They’re all delicious but Hawk stole my heart.

I can’t wait to sink my teeth into the next book because the mystery and secrets of Blackwell Falls seem to overlap. That cliffhanger had my heart racing and I’m afraid for Cassie.

Sadie I’m so addicted to this Blackwell Falls universe and I just want more. Thank you for another hot, spicy, thrilling and suspenseful adventure!

[Etienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Main Characters: Cassie, Vigo, Jagger, Hawk

Story Setting: Southside of somewhere

Story Summary: Cassie is Bram’s sister, she joins the (omg what is it called??? The run?) THE HUNT! She joins The Hunt bc she wants the person responsible for her parents death, dead. She cannot ask her brother (Bram - notorious person who runs the Southside) bc of his trauma with the car accident. Uhh.. she loses, they (The Hawks) now “own” her for the next 90 days. They find out she’s a virgin and they are respectable men how only fuck non virgins so she is a virgin for 90ish% of the book. Uhh they all somehow basically fall in love with her and don’t know how they’re going to let her go. She’s looking into her parents mysterious death, they were run off the rode, they are also looking into it with her. She’s also looking into missing girls of color from the town? Idk

Main Events: Uhh nothing major until she’s run off the rode tbh.

Story Conclusion: She gets pushed off a mountain (in her car) by another car. Is it bc of the missing girls or the person responsible for her parents death and her brother mental scars? Are they connected?

Write 1 fact and opinion about this story: The book was an easy read. It was too descriptive, I think I just don’t care for her style of writing. “I took a sip of coffee and let the warm liquid seep through my caffeine deprived system giving me the jolt I need to start my day” she literally didn’t say that but that’s the vibes I get from her book.

Solid 2.5 - 3 stars, idk if I will be bothered to read the other two books. As nosy as I am and want to know how it comes together, idk if I can/will.

[Kristy Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting to get a story on Cassie - sweet, innocent, coffee shop owner and Bram’s little sister. & I have been intrigued with the Hawks since we saw them in The Butchers … and NBEHH.

Cassie is tired of being sheltered and is wanting to own her life and her body without interference just bc she is Bram’s little sister. While also hoping for some help with the person who was responsible for running her parents off the road. The Hawks - Vigo, Jagger and Hawk - have taken over the Hunt and are ready to play! What they didn’t expect was a red headed bombshell to flip their world upside down. The Hunt is darker, the heat was cranked up and things definitely got wet. Cassie was not prepared for the obstacles in her way or the pull she had towards the Hawks. I was literally kicking my feet like a maniac the whole time she was making her way through the tunnels. Think darker, unhinged masked men, who love to play with their toys.

We are still following the trail of the missing - trafficked - women. I’m so anxious to see where this leads. We have been on this since the Kings and I’m ready for all to be exposed. Cassie has took it upon herself to dig into the missing women while also figuring out what truly happened to her parents, and the Hawks are all too eager to help out. Is all of this connected? Were her parents close to exposing the underbelly of Blackwell Falls?!

I loved everything about this! I think the Hawks have taken top spot in the Blackwell Falls world. 🖤

“You’re our little mouse now.”

[Caren · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love your villains dark and unhinged but total golden retrievers for the girl that they love, you will devour this book in no time!

You get The Hunt and all the depravity that comes with it. The run through darkness, the excitement of being caught and lost, the want to survive and win just to get closure on the things that have haunted Cassie for most of her life.

Cassie, Bram's little sister from Blackwell Butchers, has been sheltered and protected by her brother ever since her parents died. But things aren't always perfect even when others want them to be. She has her own demons she's dealing with about her brother and the loss of her parents, and she wants justice that was never truly given.

The Hawks are now running The Hunt and allow Cassie in just to screw with her brother Bram. Or so they think. Until they each, in their own way, come to know her and what's behind the surface of her.

Hawk, whose past will surprise you with his tats and hard exterior and want to give her everything, even the things she doesn't know she wants.
Jagger, who gave up on a life that was pulling him under to finally feel free and in doing so is able to be there for Cassie.
Vigo, our unhinged, Oreo eating maniac that would burn the world down for her. Who could ask for more???

There are twists and turns and spice galore and just a hint of mystery... or maybe so much more.

You will love this book, and I can't wait for the next one. Sadie does not play around when it comes to our men of Blackwell Falls! Enjoy!!

[Mrs C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of Sadie Hunt will already be familiar with the darkness that surrounds Blackwell Falls, and this trilogy dives straight back into it. The story follows Cassie, the sheltered sister of Bram (one of the MMCs from the Butchers trilogy).

Cassie makes the decision to take part in the Hunt — an adult game of hide and seek where the women hide and groups of three to five men seek. If a woman survives for twenty‑four hours, she earns the right to ask for a kill. If she loses, she belongs to the men for ninety days.

We’ve seen this concept before in the Butchers books, and given the family connection, you might expect something very similar — but you’d be wrong. Cassie is hunted by the Hawks: Vigo, Jagger, and Hawk. They’re familiar faces from the Butchers story and Blackwell Hollow, and honestly, I thought I’d hate them… I absolutely do not.

Without giving too much away, Cassie is driven by her past and determined to face it head‑on. Whatever the outcome of the Hunt, she’s prepared to accept it.

The men are slightly unhinged, unapologetically criminal, and completely unprepared for the feelings they start developing for a Hunt girl. Cassie, meanwhile, finds herself drawn to them in ways none of them expect.

As usual, Sadie Hunt leaves us on a brutal cliff‑hanger — literally. Will Cassie survive? How will the Hawks react? And what about Bram? I’m gripping the edge of my seat waiting for the next book.

Packed with drama, tension, spice, and suspense, this was everything I expect from this author. I absolutely loved it.

[Celeste Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I just finished Dare to Play by Sadie Hunt and listen…

This is not a book to curl up with your tea and blanket on the sofa.
This is a book that will leave you wanting to rush to the next chapter while you consider whether you need therapy.

It’s dark - dark like it’s not supposed to be.
The men are all morally charcoal - there’s no moral in their actions.

And somehow… I was like:
Yep. This is acceptable.

The heroine is supposed to behave, but instead charges straight into the mayhem like:
“Let’s see what happens.”

There are multiple men involved in this crazy adventure - who better ruin my life 😏 - but every man seems to have a reason why this is a terrible idea.

Spoiler:
It is a bad idea.
But we proceed anyway.

What I loved about this book:

🔥 The tension was ridiculous.
🔥 The heroine has a backbone - yes, even if all of her choices are questionable.
🔥 The whole thing feels addictive - like you fall into the story and don’t remember to perform your other responsibilities.

What to know before reading:

⚠️ This is not a soft romance book.
⚠️ This is not about healthy relationships.
⚠️ This is about jumping into a dangerous situation - knowing that it may be chaotic - and proceeding anyway.

At times, this type of book is what one needs to release the stress in their life.

Final thoughts:

Was it unhinged? Yes.
Did it make me question life choices? Yes.
Will I continue the series? Obviously.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about a cliff hanger?😜 Oh Lordy I am here for these Blackwell Hawks! I think I’ve said that each different series in the Blackwell Falls world has been my fav so far and I’m saying it again… These guys are now my new favourites!

Sadie Hunt writes great books! Her attention to detail is spot on. I have never lost interest in any one of Sadies books as she writes interesting & unique stories that touch the heart as well as well as set it on fire! The Blackwell Falls universe is a web of intrigue & wonderful characters & this instalment is brilliant!

The Hawks are a unique trio of men who are unapologetically living their best lives! Cassie, our beautiful heroine, is ready to step into hers. Go Cassie I say! I love the way Sadie has written the characters with a deep understanding of the “moral” world & yet has managed to allow them the freedom to cut loose at the same time.

I am here for the newest adventure into Blackwell Falls dark side & I love the way I get to catch up on the lives of our other fav’s from the BF universe. The underworld intrigue & of course the (very) hot spice has me hanging out for the next book. I am looking forward to seeing how far the 4 MC’s will go - in bed & out! 😜 - seriously… the locked room! ??

So 5 stars for this book, another brilliant read!
Ticks all my boxes. ✔️ 5⭐️🌶️ ✔️well written. ✔️flowing timelines ✔️ awesome characters. ✔️. alt POV

Enjoy!