A convicted killer. A librarian with secrets. A love story no one is supposed to survive.
In a place meant for quiet and order, something feral slips through the cracks. A man with no past. A woman who sees too much. One moment in the shadows changes everything. It starts with a look. It becomes a pattern. And soon, it’s the only thing that feels real. She should turn him in. He dares her to. Desire isn’t the worst thing she finds in him. Not even close. Indecency is a story of heat that won't fade, hunger that won't obey, and the kind of devotion that doesn’t care who it breaks. Once you cross the line, there’s no going back.
He walked out of prison with blood on his hands and nothing left to lose. He only wants to disappear—but then he meets Rachel, the librarian whose life is as lonely and messed up as his own. She’s everything he can’t gentle, fierce, far too good at hiding her scars. And she’s willing to let him ruin her, body and soul.
What starts as an obsession spirals into something brutal and beautiful, a desperate connection forged in secrecy, shame, and need. But the past is a living thing, hungry and relentless. There are no clean slates for people like him. There are only choices, consequences, and the kind of love that leaves marks you can never hide.
Ex-con / criminal hero“Good girl” librarian heroineMorally gray, antihero romanceSmall town secretsObsession / forbidden desireUnapologetically dark and rawContent Indecency contains explicit sexual content, graphic violence, trauma, prison settings, references to murder, criminal activity, substance abuse, mental health struggles, grief, and themes of obsession and self-destruction. The story includes power imbalances, psychological intensity, and difficult emotional subjects. Readers should proceed with care.
Non-Traditional HEA This is not a sweet romance. Indecency is messy, complicated, and refuses to play by the rules. If you’re looking for a traditional happily-ever-after, turn back now. This book is about survival, love that claws and bleeds, and what it means to find light in the darkest places...even when it can’t last forever.
Kaylessa Black spends most of her time in the rich, imaginary worlds inside her head, where she’s a fierce heroine with multiple dashing fantasy boyfriends vying for her affection. In real life, she’s just trying to make it through the day without drifting off into another epic adventure. Balancing reality with her wild imagination, Her life may be ordinary, but fortunately for you, her mind is anything but. She writes to help navigate the chaos of both worlds—one where she’s a queen in another realm, and the other where she’s trying to remember to buy milk.
Thank you Kaylessa Black for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A dark romance about a good girl librarian and he’s a convicted murderer… ooh so so so good!!! The spice definitely starts right up and it delivers each time. I was immediately drawn in from the first chapter.
The FMC (Rachel) seems like the typical “good girl” but she has secrets too. Now, the MMC (Jude) he’s a dangerous man. Lives on the streets, living with secrets, and enjoys escaping to the library for some quiet time. Once Rachel catches him pleasing himself, she can’t look away nor can she stay away. And Jude can’t stay away either. As the story goes on, it was definitely interesting to see if Rachel was gonna run away or run towards Jude once his secrets and past came out. The pace of the book was too good, the twist though!!! Left me speechless. And that ending though… was heart touching and just what I needed for their love that was really messed up but also saved them at the same time.
Thank you to Kaylessa Black for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Indecency is exactly what it promises to be.
And then it goes further.
This book lives in shame. In taboo. In voyeurism. In the kind of desire that makes you question yourself mid-chapter and whisper, “Why am I still reading this?”
By chapter three, you already know this man has a kink.
Not a cute “book boyfriend” kink.
A literal book kink.
He finishes inside library books.
She finds them.
She’s turned on by it.
I had to close the book and stare at the ceiling for a solid minute.
When she asks, “Which one?” like she’s mildly inconvenienced instead of deeply unwell, I knew this story was not going to hold my hand. And his response — “go check my corner” — detached, careless, almost bored? That’s when you realize the shift isn’t about the books anymore.
It’s about her.
The imagery in this book is vivid. Almost suffocatingly so. The crouched-in-the-shadows scene? I’m sorry but it gave me full Gollum energy. Big, unblinking eyes hunched over “his precious” with need dripping everywhere. I could not unsee it.
And when she flips to page 146 and the pages “parted with a sticky sound”?
I gagged.
She loved it.
That’s the genius — and the danger — of Indecency. It makes you sit in the discomfort. Her kink leans into depraved scenarios that most people would openly condemn: homelessness, stench, public indecency. The ugliness is the point. The shame is the fuel.
And then we learn he’s a criminal.
A quick search. A list of charges. The last one being rape.
That moment shifts everything from “dark romance” to something far more unsettling. The indecency isn’t just in the acts. It’s in the moral gray space the book forces you to occupy.
The stalking creeps in. He follows her home. Watches her. Claims her as “his” from outside her window. When they finally come together, it’s not intimacy — it’s control.
“I don’t fuck. I mark.”
Unhinged. Memorable. Chilling.
And yet.
I started to feel for him.
Chapter 20 wrecked me. His backstory is bleak and horrific. The portrayal of the mothers in his life paints a devastating picture of how someone becomes this fractured. It doesn’t excuse him — but it explains him. And that’s where Kaylessa Black truly succeeds.
By halfway through, I had cycled through shame, discomfort, fascination, concern about my own tolerance levels… and then yearning. Chapter 15? The yearning was incredible. Suddenly this isn’t just indecency. It’s longing. It’s two broken people meeting each other blow for blow, darkness for darkness.
“She wasn’t afraid. She was meeting me blow for blow, darkness for darkness.”
That dynamic carries the story.
The FMC begins quiet but strong, and as the layers peel back you see who she really is — a woman battling desire for a man she knows she shouldn’t want. I did wish we got more of her history to match the depth we receive from the MMC, but her internal struggle is compelling.
The twist? If you’ve read the trigger warnings closely, you can sense it hovering in the background. Not fully obvious — but not entirely hidden either.
And the ending.
You think it’s going to go one way. Or another. Or the way you secretly hope.
It doesn’t.
It ends in a way that feels earned — uncomfortable, fitting, and very much aligned with who these characters are.
Even though the MMC is not a good man, you end up on his side. And that’s what makes Indecency so unsettling. Kaylessa Black manages to make you care about a criminal. To feel empathy where you didn’t expect it. To question where your own lines are drawn.
So is it the indecency of the actions that shocks you?
Or the indecency of how easily you start to understand them?
Overall, I liked this.
It’s spicy. It’s twisty. It’s deeply dark. It will not be for everyone. But if you’re willing to sit in moral discomfort and explore desire at its ugliest edges — this one delivers.
Disturbed? Yes. Intrigued? Absolutely. Still thinking about it? Unfortunately… also yes. 😌📚🔥
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Thank you so much for choosing Indecency. Please make sure to check all trigger warnings before choosing this book. It is one of my darkest :)
A convicted killer. A librarian with secrets. A love story no one is supposed to survive. He walked out of prison with blood on his hands and nothing left to lose. He only wants to disappear—but then he meets Rachel, the librarian whose life is as lonely and messed up as his own. She’s everything he can’t have: gentle, fierce, far too good at hiding her scars. And she’s willing to let him ruin her, body and soul. What starts as an obsession spirals into something brutal and beautiful, a desperate connection forged in secrecy, shame, and need. But the past is a living thing, hungry and relentless. There are no clean slates for people like him. There are only choices, consequences, and the kind of love that leaves marks you can never hide.
Tropes: Ex-con / criminal hero “Good girl” librarian heroine Morally gray, antihero romance Small town secrets Obsession / forbidden desire Unapologetically dark and raw
Content Warnings: Indecency contains explicit sexual content, graphic violence, trauma, prison settings, references to murder, criminal activity, substance abuse, mental health struggles, grief, and themes of obsession and self-destruction. The story includes power imbalances, psychological intensity, and difficult emotional subjects. Readers should proceed with care.
Warning: Non-Traditional HEA This is not a sweet romance. Indecency is messy, complicated, and refuses to play by the rules. If you’re looking for a traditional happily-ever-after, turn back now. This book is about survival, love that claws and bleeds, and what it means to find light in the darkest places...even when it can’t last forever.
If you’re looking for a romanticized story about a murderer who finds redemption and love along the way, you’ll have to look elsewhere, because you won’t find it here. If you want a love story that’s crooked from the start, full of desperation and raw emotion, keep going. You’ve found your next read.
After years behind bars, a convicted killer finds a way out of prison. With nowhere to go, he now lives on the streets, minding his own business and invisible to everyone around him. Until he meets Rachel, the librarian of a small-town library. A woman just as lonely as he is. The obsession hits hard, but they start to form a bond, and no one is going to come between them. No one.
Indecency by Kaylessa Black is a dark romance for seasoned dark romance readers. It’s raw, messy, and complicated, and there’s a long list of trigger warnings, so if you have any, be sure to check them before you start reading. The writing style is very accessible. The story well written and deeply engaging.
This book makes you reach into the darkest parts of your soul, walking a fine line. You know what the MCs are doing is messed up, but you still find yourself rooting for them because their love feels real, and you hope they can get their HEA.
I flew through this book and absolutely recommend it for avid dark romance lovers. However, if you’re new to the genre, I’d suggest starting with something a little lighter.
Indecency by Kaylessa Black releases on March 28th. Be sure to visit her profile for more information.
This is the second book I’ve had the chance to read by Kaylessa Black, and once again, she did not disappoint. There’s something about the way she writes dark, complicated love that just works, and Indecency pulled me in from the very beginning.
Rachel and Cody’s relationship starts with that immediate spark, but what I loved most is how it grows into something deeper and unexpectedly beautiful. It is not rushed or surface level. It builds layer by layer until you are fully invested in them and everything they become together.
Rachel especially surprised me. She might come across as innocent at first glance, but Kaylessa Black does such an incredible job revealing her darker edges. She is not just along for the ride. She matches Cody in ways you do not initially expect, and that balance between softness and darkness made her such a compelling FMC.
And Cody… wow. What a complex character. The fact that he steals his brother’s identity to escape prison already sets the tone, but it is the internal conflict surrounding that decision that really makes him stand out. His relationship with that part of himself, what he has done, who he is pretending to be, and what that means for his future adds so much depth. He is layered, morally gray, and impossible not to be drawn to.
Indecency is dark, emotional, and completely consuming. Kaylessa Black continues to prove that she knows how to write characters who live in the gray and love just as fiercely there.
I wasn't sure what to think of this book as I read through the first chapter. As I got a few chapters in I found I couldn't flip the pages fast enough to find out what was happening next. Talk about a wild ride of truths and lies all getting spilled at once! Once Rachel and 'him' laid it all out, it actually broke my heart for them. I really enjoyed how everything tied into the ending. If you devour dark romance, you like messy, and welcome complicated, you will really like Indecency.
Blurb: He walked out of prison with blood on his hands and nothing left to lose. He only wants to disappear--but then he meets Rachel, the librarian whose life is as lonely and messed up as his own. She's everything he can't gentle, fierce, far too good at hiding her scars. And she's willing to let him ruin her, body and soul
What starts as an obsession spirals into something brutal and beautiful, a desperate connection forged in secrecy, shame, and need. But the past is a living thing, hungry and relentless. There are no clean slates for people like him. There are only choices, consequences, and the kind of love that leaves marks you can never hide.
Kaylessa's writing is so unique compared to that of many authors I have read. The storylines always have the best twists and turns, plus... the steamy scenes got me going...
I was not expecting that twist, nor was I expecting Rachel to have her own dark backstory.
I didn't want it to end! Nothing felt rushed, the pacing was perfect, and that TWIST was amazing! This was my favorite of her books so far. I can't wait to see what Kaylessa does next!
Thank you Elaine and Kaylessa Black for this ARC of Indecency‼️
This was dark, delicious, unnerving, and a bit indecent in ALL THE BEST WAYS‼️ The twists and turns that this story took were absolute perfection. (I did figure out one of the twists, or mainly it was something that kept scratching my brain like a big WHAT IF kinda thing). I ATE this book up, I’m still reeling, and my brain is still in the pages of the book (which sounds dirty if you really think about it 🤣 IYKYK)
But just WOW, can I say that again⁉️ This was my second book by Kaylessa, and I NEED THEM ALL‼️ This book was dark and deliciously spicy so be ready, but those twists and turns 🤯
Tropes: 📖Librarian FMC 🖤Convict MMC 📖He does dirty things in her Library 🖤She Can’t look away 📖Chemistry 🖤Longing for Each other 📖MCs on the Run (kinda) 🖤HEA but like different in the BEST way 📖No 3rd Act Break Up 🖤SPICY
Kaylessa Black’s writing is truly poetic. From page one, I was completely sucked into this story. Rachel is a librarian who stumbles across a dark, dangerous stranger in the library doing very naughty 😈 things. Instead of running the other way, it awakens something primal in her—and she can’t look away.
What follows is an intoxicating mix of obsession, desire, and danger. Rachel finds herself digging deeper, yearning to be closer to this man no matter how risky it becomes. The chemistry is intense, the suspense is thick, and the secrets keep piling up.
Between the twists, the tension, and the absolute panty-soaking good time this book delivers, every single word was worth it. The plot twists just keep coming, and by the end, you’re cheering for someone you never expected. I absolutely devoured this book. 🔥📖
Besties… listen. "Indecency" came in HOT from that very first prologue and never let me breathe again. I was like, “Oh… this is how we’re starting?!” Buckle UP.😏
Rachel and Jude? The tension is immediate, thick, and dripping with this voyeuristic, forbidden edge that had me feeling like I was right there in the shadows with them. It’s definitely toeing that taboo line in the most addictive way. The way this story pulls you in... like you’re peeking between library shelves, watching something you shouldn’t be seeing... yeah… I was fully gone.
Jude is that morally grey, ex-con antihero you know you shouldn’t want… but you absolutely do. And Rachel? Quiet, layered, and hiding more than she lets on. Together, they are messy, obsessive, and completely consuming.
Ohhhh... and that plot twist?! Whew. I had my suspicions, and when it hit, I was still sitting there like… whoa?! This book is dark, raw, and unapologetically intense.
Absolutely TBR-worthy. No notes. Just obsession.🫣
My Ratings: ⭐ 4.5/5 ▪︎ 🥵 4/5
🥀 My ratings and review are my own. For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤
Wow wow wow. Let's just say, after reading The Sinners Bride I knew I'd love Kaylessa's work. I did not, however, expect to fall for Cody so quickly. The story is a short read, which I deliberately kept putting down to last longer. The spice starts so quick... and I don't think I can look at a paperback, or walk into a library the same way again!
I was hooked the moment Rachel caught him in that library and I revelled in evey wicked thought they both had for each other. The twists were good, and I was praying for a HEA at the end. Such a brilliant read. Thank you so much for letting me ARC review it Kaylessa.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
In this dark romance story our FMC is a librarian. On the outside she seems like your typical "good girl" but after an incident when she was younger brought life to a kinkier side of her - she might not be as good as most people think. Our MMC is the dark shadowy figure that spends his time in the stacks of the library. Living on the streets he comes in for quiet. But when she catches him with his c*ck in his hand, defiling books - her reaction should be to run, tell someone. Instead she can't look away, and wants him more. She knows he is hiding things, but are they things she can get past? Or will his secrets keep him away?
I ate this book upppp. Devoured it. I can promise you, this book is one of a kind. Kaylessa always starts her books with a bang (wink wink) and this did not disappoint. It lives up to its name for sure. It’s indecent and makes you question, am I into this? Yes. Yes you are. It’s fine. We all are.
There are twists and turns to keep you engaged and I don’t want to give anything away. it is HEA even tho it seems like it might not be at some points. I loved the characters and loved that it was something I’ve never read before. It’s dark, kinky, a little depraved, and a lot of yum. 👏🏻
This was such a unique dark romance. I read a lot of dark romance books, and I loved the unpredictability of the story and characters! This was haunting, tragic, beautifully uncomfortable. The author did an amazing job at creating this dark, atmospheric, intensity with each interaction the main characters had with one another. The ending completely surprised me, I truly couldn’t have guessed it! I did receive an advanced copy of Indecency, however, my thoughts and feelings are completely my own. I hope you’ll give this one a try and will be open to their story!
I finished reading my ARC for Indecency by Kaylessa Black.
This story does not have a traditional happy ever after, its dark, moody, much like the weather in Washington where this story takes place. It’s very steamy, and very much wild. Only few characters throughout the story, an escaped inmate finds solace with a librarian. The two finding commonalities among the other. It has some cute moments and some parts that hold strong emotion.
It has a decent plot, it’s very much spicy driven, be prepared for almost every chapter.
This was definitely one of those books that made me say WTF did I just read. It was a messed up book in the best way possible. I couldn’t put it down!!! You have a criminal that walks out of prison when he probably should never have been allowed to go free and then you have a librarian that comes across as a good girl but in reality she is just as messed up. They were perfect together. I cannot wait to read the next book written by Kaylessa.
Thank you Kaylessa Black and Elaines.proofreading.editing for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.
Damnnnnnnnnn Kaylessa did it again. I just couldn’t put this book down without finishing it. From starting to the it this book kept getting interesting. The story, plot, and those unexpected twists left me speechless. Onc moment I was smiling and the very next I was throwing my kindle away. I had to put my kindle down to breath time to time. I devoured this book in one sitting. This is so good. Can’t wait to see what Kaylessa stored for us
Good Lordy Kaylessa has done it again with her beautiful poetic writing!!
Such a wild and chaotic but beautiful love between the two main characters. Rachael is sweet but fierce and Jude is ruthless but goes after what he wants. Both together are a force and pure powerful love.
Not your typical love story or HEA and triggers should be checked
** I received my copy of this as an ARC and I am happily leaving my review voluntarily **
The book situation was abit odd but i get it and i loved him so much but i cried so bad at the end because i needed the ending so bad. I honestly couldnt live with the book if it was to end any other way. The book has such a sad tone though but it hrlps you feel deeply towards the characters and what theyve been through.
Dark, raw, and completely consuming. Indecency by Kaylessa Black is messy, obsessive, and unapologetically intense. The ex-con and quiet librarian dynamic pulls you in fast, and their connection is dark, complicated, and impossible to look away from. If you love morally gray characters and obsession-filled romance, this one absolutely delivers.
Ok I’ve never been a fan of these kinds of stories BUT this one had me intrigued enough to read it through. I was intrigued by the plot. It had some crazy twists and turns. The spice level was positively dripping.
This was a quick read with short bite sized chapters. This pulled me in and had me holding my breath time and time again. This book wrecked me- there's just something about Rachel and Judes story that will keep a hold on me long after the last page has been turned.