Sweet Ruin: A Valentine Anthology

by Kirsten Gale

Sweet Ruin is a dark Valentine anthology featuring 14 twisted tales by 12 hauntingly brilliant authors, all bound together by one deceptively innocent tradition… the heart-shaped chocolate box.

Behind every satin ribbon and glossy lid lurks obsession, betrayal, revenge, and desire sharpened into something dangerous. Love isn’t always sweet — sometimes it’s fatal.

From whispered promises to deadly secrets, these stories prove that romance can rot, passion can poison, and the prettiest gifts often hide the darkest intentions.

Open the box… if you dare.


KIRSTEN GALE, JED KENT, ALI CLARK, J.D. SETZER,
KENDRA SMART, JIM DONOHUE, ABBY WOODLAND,
ANDY HOLBERRY, MICHELLE CARBAJAL,
ASHLEY MARIE, SASSYGIRL, MELINDA POUNCEY

478 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2026

About the author

Kirsten Gale is a thriller author who loves crafting dark, twisted stories that keep readers hooked until the last page. Fascinated by the eerie and unexplained, she spends her free time researching folklore and uncovering the secrets behind ancient legends. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and finding inspiration in the world’s hidden mysteries.

Reviews

[JD Setzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

LETS GOOO, 14 amazing stories from an amazing group of authors and friends! I promise these will not disappoint

[Kari Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great anthology! Many of these writers have been on my tbr for a while, but I have not read anything by them yet.

I wanted to read this one because Jed Kent is one of my go-to authors and he never disappoints.

Now I will be moving several of these writers up on my tbr! Some wonderfully written stories in this anthology, all joined together by Valentine's Day chocolates.

If you are a fan of horror or thrillers, this is a great anthology!

[Irina Sandoval-Hickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc - This thriller anthology is perfect for readers who enjoy quick, gripping short stories that deliver suspense in powerful doses. Each story offers a different flavor of tension, dark, twisted, unsettling, and unpredictable making it easy to read in short bursts while still feeling fully satisfied.
It’s the kind of book where every author makes you feel like you are opening a new surprise in every story with some being chilling, some being intense, some being psychologically heavy. A great pick if you love thrillers but want something fast-paced, sharp, and addictive in small doses.
Life is the box of chocolates literally.

[E. Lyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly twisted and unnerving in the BEST WAY

Each story had its own emotional and psychological twists and turns. I loved each author had their own voice while having something connecting each story.
I probably won't be eating boxes of chocolate for a while, but these stories were worth it. Lol. Maybe it'll help with a diet 😂

[Kristina Vanderpool · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Valentine’s Day anthology features 12 talented indie authors, each delivering a short story packed with dark twists and gripping moments. You’ll find yourself asking what you’d do if you received a box of chocolates—because in this haunting, addictive collection, love is anything but sweet.

[Jenny Coyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

rounding up from 4.5 stars

Anti-Valentine anthology with a great assortment of stories centering around an evil box of chocolates.

[KiKi Garner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun ride and concept of this anthology!! Great job to all the authors. Love to read more from everyone.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great anthology by very talented authors. I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend reading it.

[Tanya Kolb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed each of the stories in this anthology! They were all wonderfully written.

I loved how they were all linked by the boxes of chocolate, however this also threw me off a little because the stories contradicted each other so much. For example, in some, there was a shop and in others there was not. I know it's an anthology, I think maybe I expected the thread to be more consistent if it was going to continue through each story.

Having said that, I looked forward to seeing what vengeance those boxes would bring!

[sugarnsass_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

An anthology of sickeningly sweet, blood soaked, letters of fractured, crushed L🩸VE that digs deep and leaves the heart rended! These stories pour on desperation, expectation , desire, longing, obsession, love, forever, and death. Experience the mushy, gushy, ‘love’ stories of thriller/horror authors! They definitely paint Valentines blood red and just like a box of chocolates, each story is a unique blend of thrills and chills to satisfy!

Grab a copy, pour a drink, light a candle, settle in and “Taste Love At Its Sweetest.”

🗣️Shoutout to Kirsten Gale for putting together this excellent Valentines treat! P.S. I think we need a yearly Valentine anthology with a different theme. What better way to honor L🩸VE!

[Natasha Stills · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology is absolutely fantastic! There’s something so enjoyable about diving into a collection of short stories crafted by a wide range of talented authors. Each piece brings its own unique voice and perspective, making the entire experience feel fresh and unpredictable. I found myself completely absorbed in every single story—each one was a gripping journey filled with unexpected twists and deliciously dark undertones. From start to finish, the collection kept me hooked, leaving me eager to see what the next tale would reveal. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an extremely enjoyable read. I feel like I may have been the target audience when trying to get new readers to follow the collaborated authors. I saw an opportunity to purchase the book before the release date and took it. I am not one to usually add physical books to my collection after reading it, but I couldn't resist. New authors to love on and grow my to be read pile. If you a looking for a valentine thrill ride take your chance on this anthology.

[Country · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great collaboration between 12 authors with each story addicting and leaves you questioning how bad can a book of chocolates be? I liked how all the stories used the same chocolate shop name and used the same design of the boxes but added their own twist in their own stories! They are all great short story reads and have you hooked with just one page!

[Kayla Muncy · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review... This anthology was absolutely perfect. It was dark and twisted. Each short story kept me wanting more. It was hard not to over indulge, just like you would a heart shaped box of chocolates. An absolutely great read I will be recommending it to everyone ♥︎

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinister, seductive, and impossible to put down! This anthology is perfect for readers who like their chocolates laced with menace.