Welcome to the LOVE YOU TO DEATH multi-author short story collection! Love and Valentines related stories to make your heart race and your spine tingle! There's a fine line between love and hate. Come read as these main characters struggle to find love, keep love, or survive love.
On their first Valentine’s Day as a married couple, 36-year-old Sofia and her husband, Kyze, buy an old vineyard tucked in the rolling hills of Italy. It’s meant to be a fresh start, a place to grow love like grapes on the vine. But days before the holiday, Kyze vanishes without a trace.
Locals whisper that the vineyard is that every year, it takes one lover.
Desperate for answers, Sofia begins to uncover the vineyard’s a sealed wine cellar hidden beneath the estate, faded photographs of couples who never left together, and chilling warnings scrawled in places no guest should ever find. As the vines grow heavy and the past begins to bleed into the present, Sofia must face the Love may not be the only thing aging on this land. And someone, or something, has been waiting for her.
Make sure you check out all of the LOVE YOU TO DEATH dark thriller stories!
Tiffany Royster was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois. Writing has always been her passion ever since she was a little girl. “Everyone Has A Secret” is her first self-published book in 2019, which is part of a series. Tiffany resides in Loves Park with her family. You can find her author Facebook page by searching Tiffany Royster – Self Published Author.
Blood and Wine – A Love You to Death Story ~Tiffany Royster You’ve probably heard the phrase “aging like fine wine” tossed around as a compliment. Tiffany Royster takes that well-worn saying, pours it into a crystal glass, and adds just enough darkness to stain the tablecloth in Blood and Wine, a short story featured in the A Love You to Death multi-author collection.
Kyze and Sofia purchase an old winery in Italy, fulfilling Sofia’s long-held dream of owning one. Picture lush vineyards stretching toward rolling hills, a quaint house nestled on the property, and a charming Italian town just close enough to feel inviting. It’s the kind of setup that practically begs for romance. Unfortunately, the townsfolk’s strange reaction to the couple’s arrival puts a sour note in the air. Sofia is unsettled, Kyze shrugs it off as folklore meant to lure tourists, and naturally, things only get stranger from there.
Royster weaves a love story into something eerie and quietly unsettling, the kind that makes you side-eye your significant other for a moment longer than usual. Kyze and Sofia are both likable and relatable, though I did feel a slight disconnect with Sofia early on. It took two chapters before we even learn her name, despite her being the primary narrative voice. A quicker introduction would have helped ground the reader sooner. That said, for a short story, Royster does a solid job building an immersive atmosphere. The winery felt realistic, and I could easily imagine myself wandering the grounds alongside the couple.
As a longtime fan of Royster’s work, I usually find myself enthusiastically singing her praises. This time, however, the story landed a bit flatter for me than expected. The premise is strong and full of promise, but it feels like it’s just shy of its full potential. With a bit more development and a few layout tweaks, this could have been something truly memorable.
Overall, Blood and Wine is a quick, enjoyable read that offers a darker twist on Valentine’s Day stories typically drenched in hearts, chocolate, and predictable happily-ever-afters. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for something short, atmospheric, and slightly off-kilter without requiring a major time commitment.
Blood and Wine releases on January 30th, 2026.
I would like to thank Tiffany Royster for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC for Blood and Wine. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review.
A part or the Love You To Death short story collection, a valentine's related theme by various authors.
What a fascinating psychological supernatural thriller by Tiffany Royster, this one captured me from the beginning with it's chilling mysteries and suspense.
Sofia has always had this yearning to own a vineyard, she loves wine, and when the chance comes up soon after her marriage to Kyze, it was an offer they could not refuse. They bought the vineyard at a steal in the mountains in Italy. They introduced themselves to some of the locals telling them they'd just bought the vineyard, their faces dropped, and advised Sofia and Kyze to leave and run, that place is cursed, once a year just before Valentine's day a couple visits and only the woman leaves, the man disappeares.
Just days before Valentines Kyze disappears, and Sofia's desperate in her search for him and for the truth into whatevers going on.
Sofia starts to discover the vineyards chilling secrets, old photos of couples that never leave together, a sealed cellar, the warnings, documents and journals, as the past meets the present.
The vines have needs to keep alive, to survive they call and wait for Sofia and she must acknowledge the truth.
Blood And Wine is a thrillingly creepy story by an amazing author, exciting descriptive characters. Tiffany is a truly amazing suspense thriller writer, her books are intense and have you on the edge of your seat.
LOVE YOU TO DEATH is such a fun concept for a collection — love, obsession, danger, and just enough darkness to keep your pulse up. Sofia and Kyze buying a vineyard in Italy for their first Valentine’s as newlyweds? Romantic. Kyze vanishing days later? Immediately suspicious.
The setting really carried this one for me. The old vineyard, the sealed wine cellar, the faded photographs of doomed couples — it had that moody, gothic energy that should have completely swept me away. The “one lover a year” legend was deliciously eerie, and I loved the idea of love literally aging and curdling over time.
That said, because it’s a short story, everything moved very quickly. The buildup was strong, but I wanted more depth — more tension, more emotional weight, more time to really sit in Sofia’s fear and unraveling. Some reveals felt a little rushed, and I didn’t fully connect to the characters before things escalated.
Overall, it was an entertaining, atmospheric read that delivered spooky Valentine vibes, even if it didn’t fully sink its claws into me. A solid addition to the collection — especially if you love romance with a sinister twist.
Dark love stories on Valentine’s? I’m listening. 👀🍷
This Valentine’s short story was a gripping and engaging read with an intriguing plotline that kept me hooked throughout. The suspense built nicely, and the darker twists added tension that made it hard to put down. The characters were compelling, and the story flowed smoothly from beginning to end.
Overall, this was a solid and entertaining thriller that I’d recommend to readers looking for something suspenseful with a Valentine’s twist.
I loved the attention to detail throughout the storyline and how as you read you feel like your at the vineyard with the characters. I do feel it could have had a little more backstory to how it all became to what it is but overall it's a great quick read! It is fast paced and has unexpected twists that adds to the story that I did not see coming at all!
5 🌟 Received as an ARC and it hooks you from the beginning. Sofia and Kyze buy a vineyard but when they arrive the locals have plenty of warnings for them. What appears to be innocent and a dream come true quickly is not what it seems!
A quick, spooky sip of a thriller. Blood and Wine has a great haunted vineyard setup, eerie vibes, and just enough twists to keep you turning pages. Not a deep, cellar aged mystery, but a fun, haunting read best enjoyed in one sitting, preferably while enjoying your glass of wine.
This was my first read from this author. I enjoyed this short story, it was fast paced and had good descriptions to really immerse into the setting of the vineyard. I'll definitely read more from this author.
This was a great read… from the first mention of a curse involving a vineyard I was hooked. The Romance and thriller themes were mixed perfectly and threw off what I thought would have been the ending. Great plot twist.
Pour yourself a glass and read Blood and Wine! The description of the vineyard was so well done I could imagine myself walking along in the rows of grapes. In fact it was so well written I could see myself follow along in the hunt for answers about these missing men.
I’ve been reading this whole series, and this is the last one. It was one of the better ones if not my favorite. I liked the description of the Italian landscapes and vineyards. This story made me glad I’m not a wine connoisseur.
Blood and Wine is dark, romantic, and deliciously unsettling. Tiffany Royster blends love and menace into a story where desire turns dangerous and nothing feels safe. Short, sharp, and haunting!
This was fast paced, fun read. perfect for those horror/paranormal/thriller types who are looking for a quick read. The vineyard remembers and wine is breathing and always looking to be fed!!
Blood and Wine was a fast, gripping read. Sofia ignores the town’s warnings about the vineyard, brushing them off as rumors—until she learns the truth for herself. I enjoyed every bit of it.
This story is just the right blend of love, romance, and betrayal. A vineyard in the Italian countryside is the perfect setting for a happy ending. It's this one? It depends on your point of view!
As an installment in the Love You To Death series, Blood and Wine offers a darker, sharper alternative to the usual sugary holiday romance. I really loved the author's descriptive writing style; the narrative is full of mystery and intrigue, managing to build tension quickly. It grabs your attention immediately, making it perfect for a single-sitting read. I loved the twist—it was unexpected and took the story in a direction I didn't see coming. This book is perfect for thriller fans who want a quick, dark read to celebrate Valentine's Day.
“Blood and Wine” by Tiffany Royster is an intense and chilling addition to the Love You To Death short story collection. It’s a tale of a cursed vineyard that takes one lover every year. Dark, immersive, and dripping with dread, this story keeps you guessing. Will Sofia and Kyze survive, or will the vineyard claim its next victim? Haunting and unforgettable.