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The Kayfabe Series #1
Righteous Desires
UNDER THE LIGHTS, THEY ARE GODS. BEHIND THE CURTAIN, THEY ARE GHOSTS.
Silas Reed made the impossible break Cal Kincaid’s heart to save his career. But the grief followed him to the ring. One botched move later, Silas was exiled with a shattered shoulder, leaving Cal alone to become the ruthless King of the industry.
Seven years later, the exile is over.
Silas returns to a world that moved on without him. But the man waiting for him isn’t the boy he left behind. Cal is now the untouchable Heavyweight Champion of the World, and he hasn’t forgiven a damn thing.
Scripted rivals. Real-life strangers. Inescapable lovers.
The hatred turns to heat.
The rivalry turns to obsession.
While the cameras roll, they tear each other apart. But when the locker room clears, the dynamic shifts. Their collision is violent, desperate, and anything but scripted.
Silas wants his legacy back. But the only way to the top is through the man he destroyed.
Ring the bell, the main event is underway.
Silas Reed made the impossible break Cal Kincaid’s heart to save his career. But the grief followed him to the ring. One botched move later, Silas was exiled with a shattered shoulder, leaving Cal alone to become the ruthless King of the industry.
Seven years later, the exile is over.
Silas returns to a world that moved on without him. But the man waiting for him isn’t the boy he left behind. Cal is now the untouchable Heavyweight Champion of the World, and he hasn’t forgiven a damn thing.
Scripted rivals. Real-life strangers. Inescapable lovers.
The hatred turns to heat.
The rivalry turns to obsession.
While the cameras roll, they tear each other apart. But when the locker room clears, the dynamic shifts. Their collision is violent, desperate, and anything but scripted.
Silas wants his legacy back. But the only way to the top is through the man he destroyed.
Ring the bell, the main event is underway.
483 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 17, 2026
About the author
Florence Wolfe
2 books39 followersFlorence Wolfe writes gritty, high heat MM romance featuring complicated men who desperately need therapy but settle for each other instead. She specializes in high stakes emotion, beautiful flaws, and putting her characters through absolute hell before letting them earn their happy endings.
Based in North Carolina, Florence survives on a medically inadvisable amount of coffee while actively plotting her characters' next emotional spirals.
Connect with her on social media (and ask her to please give her characters a break):
Tiktok: @FlorenceWolfeWrites
Instagram: @FlorenceWolfeWrites
Facebook: Florence Wolfe
Based in North Carolina, Florence survives on a medically inadvisable amount of coffee while actively plotting her characters' next emotional spirals.
Connect with her on social media (and ask her to please give her characters a break):
Tiktok: @FlorenceWolfeWrites
Instagram: @FlorenceWolfeWrites
Facebook: Florence Wolfe
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
June 11, 2026
4.25⭐️
“But you know one thing I can promise? When it’s all said and done, when the ashes are done falling, when the crowd stops screaming, when you’re living your sham of a life, you’ll always think of me. Of us. Because guess what? It’s righteous fucking desires, baby, and they’ll plague your infected brain until you die.”
The one thing that didn’t quite work for me was the fact that they spent seven years apart. SEVEN YEARS and then, when they saw each other again, they got back together in five chapters. Sure, there was some yelling and Cal being angry, but they got back together way too quickly. It was seven years, not seven months or seven days or weeks. Seven YEARS and they got back together as if nothing had happened call me toxic but that didn’t sit right with me.
“I love you, Callum. I’ll love you from here. I will love you from a distance. I will love you in every fucking lifetime because there’s no way we were only meant to find each other in this one. You were right. You were a righteous desire. And I never let you go. Not once. Not ever.”
That being said, I loved it and i loved THEM but Cal have my heart, that's my baby right there, the two of them are exactly the kind of characters I LOVE reading about because they actually make me FEEL something. Especially Cal.
“You were protecting us? Our careers? Silas, you’re fucking stupid, you know that? Because back then… had it come down to us or the ring, I would’ve asked for my release the second it happened. I would have stayed with you. I would have never gotten in a fucking ring again if it meant we got everything we wanted.”
Special mention to EVAN that man was the real MVP.
"I feel like the child in a divorce who didn't know the parents were getting back together."
"That is literally exactly what you are. Welcome to the family, hun. It's exhausting in here."
And he's wasn’t even joking, that man was TIRED of them. Every gray hair he will get before his time will be because of those two.
“You two were eye fucking across the ring, I felt like a third wheel in a three-way match.”
“Jealous?”
“Traumatized.”
“But you know one thing I can promise? When it’s all said and done, when the ashes are done falling, when the crowd stops screaming, when you’re living your sham of a life, you’ll always think of me. Of us. Because guess what? It’s righteous fucking desires, baby, and they’ll plague your infected brain until you die.”
The one thing that didn’t quite work for me was the fact that they spent seven years apart. SEVEN YEARS and then, when they saw each other again, they got back together in five chapters. Sure, there was some yelling and Cal being angry, but they got back together way too quickly. It was seven years, not seven months or seven days or weeks. Seven YEARS and they got back together as if nothing had happened call me toxic but that didn’t sit right with me.
“I love you, Callum. I’ll love you from here. I will love you from a distance. I will love you in every fucking lifetime because there’s no way we were only meant to find each other in this one. You were right. You were a righteous desire. And I never let you go. Not once. Not ever.”
That being said, I loved it and i loved THEM but Cal have my heart, that's my baby right there, the two of them are exactly the kind of characters I LOVE reading about because they actually make me FEEL something. Especially Cal.
“You were protecting us? Our careers? Silas, you’re fucking stupid, you know that? Because back then… had it come down to us or the ring, I would’ve asked for my release the second it happened. I would have stayed with you. I would have never gotten in a fucking ring again if it meant we got everything we wanted.”
Special mention to EVAN that man was the real MVP.
"I feel like the child in a divorce who didn't know the parents were getting back together."
"That is literally exactly what you are. Welcome to the family, hun. It's exhausting in here."
And he's wasn’t even joking, that man was TIRED of them. Every gray hair he will get before his time will be because of those two.
“You two were eye fucking across the ring, I felt like a third wheel in a three-way match.”
“Jealous?”
“Traumatized.”
May 21, 2026
4.2 ⭐️
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
format: ebook
i really, really enjoyed this. this is easily one of the most fully
fleshed out relationships i’ve ever seen in a sports romance. from the first interaction to the last and everything in between. the story grew with the couple and you really felt every emotion they did. 10/10 character development.
i was not at all ready for how spicy this was either. i loved the balance between the really kinky stuff they were into, and the soft, tender lovemaking when they needed it. i just adored the way these two loved and needed each other.
i think my only critique was this was very sports heavy, and i truly know nothing about wrestling. the author did a really great job of explaining a lot of it but i mostly felt kind of lost and bored when that aspect was taking over the story.
not getting cal’s pov was hard because my heart just hurt for him so much during the conflict, and not being able to know exactly what he felt was a struggle. so in that aspect, i understand why the author would want to do a second book for them. but otherwise, i’m not really sure why it’s needed. i feel like things could’ve ended where they did. i’m kinda on the fence about whether i’ll read the second or not? but i’d love if side characters got their own story (evan, maybe?).
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
format: ebook
i really, really enjoyed this. this is easily one of the most fully
fleshed out relationships i’ve ever seen in a sports romance. from the first interaction to the last and everything in between. the story grew with the couple and you really felt every emotion they did. 10/10 character development.
i was not at all ready for how spicy this was either. i loved the balance between the really kinky stuff they were into, and the soft, tender lovemaking when they needed it. i just adored the way these two loved and needed each other.
i think my only critique was this was very sports heavy, and i truly know nothing about wrestling. the author did a really great job of explaining a lot of it but i mostly felt kind of lost and bored when that aspect was taking over the story.
not getting cal’s pov was hard because my heart just hurt for him so much during the conflict, and not being able to know exactly what he felt was a struggle. so in that aspect, i understand why the author would want to do a second book for them. but otherwise, i’m not really sure why it’s needed. i feel like things could’ve ended where they did. i’m kinda on the fence about whether i’ll read the second or not? but i’d love if side characters got their own story (evan, maybe?).
April 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🫦🫦🫦🫦
I went in completely blind and came out absolutely feral. 😤🖤
A sports romance about pro-wrestling? My very first one — and Florence set the bar so impossibly high I don't know how anything will ever top this. 🤼🔥 From the very first page this story had me in a grip I couldn't escape. Fitting, really. 😏
Silas and Callum. Two men who have more in common than either of them wants to admit — and watching that slowly unravel? Delicious. The dynamic between them is magnetic, layered, and so incredibly real. You feel every push, every pull, every almost. 😮💨
But let me warn you, bestie — 👀
That break-up hits like a chair to the back. 😭 And the second chance? Florence made them WORK for it. Crawl for it. Bleed for it. I felt every ounce of Silas's agony, his angst, his hurt — deep in my soul. Florence had me in an actual choke hold and I was not even mad about it. 🔥
And the cliffy? Okay listen — breathe. It's not evil. It's not cruel. It's the kind that leaves you hungry rather than devastated. Mostly. 😈
Also — I genuinely learned so much about pro-wrestling reading this. My first rodeo in this world and some terms still have me googling — but honestly? That just means Book 2 can't come fast enough. I am so ready. Count me all the way in. 🤼
Go read if you love:
🤼 Wrestling
🔒 Forced proximity
🦋 Bi-awakening
💔 Trauma
🩹 Healing & Comfort
🏠 Found family
😱 Cliffhanger
👨🏻👨🏼 Dom/sub dynamic, Praise, Toys, Lace
My first wrestling romance and Florence absolutely bodied it. 🖤 This one grabs you by the collar from page one and doesn't let go — even after you've closed the last page. She just earned a permanent spot on my auto-buy list and I have zero regrets. 😋
78/26
I went in completely blind and came out absolutely feral. 😤🖤
A sports romance about pro-wrestling? My very first one — and Florence set the bar so impossibly high I don't know how anything will ever top this. 🤼🔥 From the very first page this story had me in a grip I couldn't escape. Fitting, really. 😏
Silas and Callum. Two men who have more in common than either of them wants to admit — and watching that slowly unravel? Delicious. The dynamic between them is magnetic, layered, and so incredibly real. You feel every push, every pull, every almost. 😮💨
But let me warn you, bestie — 👀
That break-up hits like a chair to the back. 😭 And the second chance? Florence made them WORK for it. Crawl for it. Bleed for it. I felt every ounce of Silas's agony, his angst, his hurt — deep in my soul. Florence had me in an actual choke hold and I was not even mad about it. 🔥
And the cliffy? Okay listen — breathe. It's not evil. It's not cruel. It's the kind that leaves you hungry rather than devastated. Mostly. 😈
Also — I genuinely learned so much about pro-wrestling reading this. My first rodeo in this world and some terms still have me googling — but honestly? That just means Book 2 can't come fast enough. I am so ready. Count me all the way in. 🤼
Go read if you love:
🤼 Wrestling
🔒 Forced proximity
🦋 Bi-awakening
💔 Trauma
🩹 Healing & Comfort
🏠 Found family
😱 Cliffhanger
👨🏻👨🏼 Dom/sub dynamic, Praise, Toys, Lace
My first wrestling romance and Florence absolutely bodied it. 🖤 This one grabs you by the collar from page one and doesn't let go — even after you've closed the last page. She just earned a permanent spot on my auto-buy list and I have zero regrets. 😋
78/26
April 17, 2026
This book was such an unexpected surprise. I was generously gifted a last-minute ARC by the author, and wow—I absolutely loved it. Easy five stars.
Cal and Silas are just starting out in the world of professional wrestling when they get paired together for training and traveling early in their careers. What starts as a friendship slowly grows into something more as they navigate both their rising careers and their feelings for each other. I had so much fun reading their early relationship development—it felt natural, messy, and really engaging.
Both of them are young and carrying a lot of trauma, but they handle it in very different ways. Cal steps into this protector role, while Silas struggles with panic, intrusive thoughts, and really low self-worth. Watching them fall in love was beautiful, but also heartbreaking—especially when Silas lets his trauma take over and ends up pushing Cal away. His fall (both physically and emotionally) hit hard and was such an emotional turning point.
The seven-year separation? Painful. These two absolutely have soulmate energy, so seeing them apart for so long—and knowing neither of them reached out—was tough. This was probably the only time I really wished we had Cal’s POV, because I would’ve loved to see what those years were like for him too.
That said, the way the author brought everything back together was so well done. This is where the side characters really shined. I loved Lena and Evan (and I really hope we get his story at some point 👀). The little found family they all built within the wrestling world added so much heart to the story.
When Cal and Silas finally find their way back to each other, you really see how much they’ve grown. They’ve learned how to communicate, how to be vulnerable, and most importantly, Silas learns how to let Cal support him instead of shutting him out. Their emotional connection felt so much deeper the second time around. I especially loved the time they spent with Silas’s family—it was healing for both of them, but especially for Cal.
Overall, this was such a beautiful, emotional journey. The author did an amazing job giving an inside look at the world of professional wrestling—it felt well-researched and immersive, especially for someone like me who doesn’t know much about it. The pacing, the plot, the character growth… it all just worked, and I was completely invested the whole time.
I’m already counting down to the next book coming this fall! 💕
Cal and Silas are just starting out in the world of professional wrestling when they get paired together for training and traveling early in their careers. What starts as a friendship slowly grows into something more as they navigate both their rising careers and their feelings for each other. I had so much fun reading their early relationship development—it felt natural, messy, and really engaging.
Both of them are young and carrying a lot of trauma, but they handle it in very different ways. Cal steps into this protector role, while Silas struggles with panic, intrusive thoughts, and really low self-worth. Watching them fall in love was beautiful, but also heartbreaking—especially when Silas lets his trauma take over and ends up pushing Cal away. His fall (both physically and emotionally) hit hard and was such an emotional turning point.
The seven-year separation? Painful. These two absolutely have soulmate energy, so seeing them apart for so long—and knowing neither of them reached out—was tough. This was probably the only time I really wished we had Cal’s POV, because I would’ve loved to see what those years were like for him too.
That said, the way the author brought everything back together was so well done. This is where the side characters really shined. I loved Lena and Evan (and I really hope we get his story at some point 👀). The little found family they all built within the wrestling world added so much heart to the story.
When Cal and Silas finally find their way back to each other, you really see how much they’ve grown. They’ve learned how to communicate, how to be vulnerable, and most importantly, Silas learns how to let Cal support him instead of shutting him out. Their emotional connection felt so much deeper the second time around. I especially loved the time they spent with Silas’s family—it was healing for both of them, but especially for Cal.
Overall, this was such a beautiful, emotional journey. The author did an amazing job giving an inside look at the world of professional wrestling—it felt well-researched and immersive, especially for someone like me who doesn’t know much about it. The pacing, the plot, the character growth… it all just worked, and I was completely invested the whole time.
I’m already counting down to the next book coming this fall! 💕
May 30, 2026
2.5⭐️ Meh. DNF 50%. The writing is simple and mediocre, the characters are flat and childish, and the plot is draggy and bland. This story is not worth anywhere near this many pages.
April 16, 2026
4.5⭐️ 4🌶️
Second Chance
Friends to enemies to lovers
So cute and adorable and swoony at first but then the tension hits and the yearning is wonderful!
They are POSESSIVE and easily Jealous of eachother I ate that up like fucking ice cream!
Heavy on the sports aspect (wresting)
Soooo spicy! 🌶️
Second Chance
Friends to enemies to lovers
So cute and adorable and swoony at first but then the tension hits and the yearning is wonderful!
They are POSESSIVE and easily Jealous of eachother I ate that up like fucking ice cream!
Heavy on the sports aspect (wresting)
Soooo spicy! 🌶️
April 20, 2026
Silas + Cal
-mm romance
-sports romance
-friends to enemies to lovers
-second chance
-forced proximity
-found family
-silas pov
if you are still sitting in the blackhole from heated rivalry craving more of those feels…this is it…you’re right where you need to be!! i can’t wait to get some of cal’s pov because he was PININGGGG the whole time..i know it!! so this little hea…for now…was hard fought (literally) but so well earned!
-mm romance
-sports romance
-friends to enemies to lovers
-second chance
-forced proximity
-found family
-silas pov
if you are still sitting in the blackhole from heated rivalry craving more of those feels…this is it…you’re right where you need to be!! i can’t wait to get some of cal’s pov because he was PININGGGG the whole time..i know it!! so this little hea…for now…was hard fought (literally) but so well earned!
April 14, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I absolutely loved it. The writing style is light, and the book is a quick read, even though it’s packed with events—some of which aren’t exactly easy to take in. The main characters will stay with me for a long time. Cal and Si… oh my gosh, it was just wonderful. Definitely five stars—if I could give more, I would.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I absolutely loved it. The writing style is light, and the book is a quick read, even though it’s packed with events—some of which aren’t exactly easy to take in. The main characters will stay with me for a long time. Cal and Si… oh my gosh, it was just wonderful. Definitely five stars—if I could give more, I would.
April 19, 2026
Two wrestlers falling in love? Sign me tf up🫢
June 19, 2026
⭐️ 5/5 | 🌶️ 3.5/5
This book was truly a dream come true for me. As a huge wrestling fan, I remember telling a friend about a year ago that my dream was for an author to write an MM romance set in the world of professional wrestling. When I stumbled across Righteous Desires, I honestly wanted to cry with happiness. At the same time, I was terrified of being disappointed because my expectations were sky-high. Thankfully, Righteous Desires didn’t just meet those expectations—it completely exceeded them.
Florence Wolfe clearly knows professional wrestling inside and out, and that expertise shines through in every aspect of the story. From what happens inside the ring to the realities behind the scenes, the book captures the industry with impressive authenticity. As someone familiar with wrestling, everything felt believable, and I even learned a few things I hadn’t known before.
The romance between Silas and Callum impressed me just as much. Their story was beautiful, layered, heartbreaking, perfectly angsty, and wonderfully steamy. Told entirely through Silas’s perspective, the novel follows them across years of their lives—from their rise to wrestling superstardom to a relationship filled with both unforgettable highs and painful lows. There were so many moments when I would have given anything to step inside Cal’s head and experience certain scenes from his point of view.
That being said, Silas completely captivated me from beginning to end. Watching him navigate his sexual awakening while confronting years of trauma made for an incredibly compelling and emotional journey.
I had such a hard time putting my Kindle down, and the only thing that kept me from falling into a book hangover after finishing was knowing that a second book is coming soon.
I am more than ready for more Silas and Cal, more wrestling, and more emotional devastation. Thank you, Florence Wolfe, for giving me the exact book I had been waiting for.
This book was truly a dream come true for me. As a huge wrestling fan, I remember telling a friend about a year ago that my dream was for an author to write an MM romance set in the world of professional wrestling. When I stumbled across Righteous Desires, I honestly wanted to cry with happiness. At the same time, I was terrified of being disappointed because my expectations were sky-high. Thankfully, Righteous Desires didn’t just meet those expectations—it completely exceeded them.
Florence Wolfe clearly knows professional wrestling inside and out, and that expertise shines through in every aspect of the story. From what happens inside the ring to the realities behind the scenes, the book captures the industry with impressive authenticity. As someone familiar with wrestling, everything felt believable, and I even learned a few things I hadn’t known before.
The romance between Silas and Callum impressed me just as much. Their story was beautiful, layered, heartbreaking, perfectly angsty, and wonderfully steamy. Told entirely through Silas’s perspective, the novel follows them across years of their lives—from their rise to wrestling superstardom to a relationship filled with both unforgettable highs and painful lows. There were so many moments when I would have given anything to step inside Cal’s head and experience certain scenes from his point of view.
That being said, Silas completely captivated me from beginning to end. Watching him navigate his sexual awakening while confronting years of trauma made for an incredibly compelling and emotional journey.
I had such a hard time putting my Kindle down, and the only thing that kept me from falling into a book hangover after finishing was knowing that a second book is coming soon.
I am more than ready for more Silas and Cal, more wrestling, and more emotional devastation. Thank you, Florence Wolfe, for giving me the exact book I had been waiting for.
April 11, 2026
Without any hesitation that’s a 5 stars going to Silas & Callum being part of list of it Favs Couple.
(Ok let’s be honest it goes over 6 stars actually)
This book has everything!
The perfect balance between angst, banter, sexy, heartbreak, vulnerability & wrestling.
I believe my review will not do it justice.
I will just go send messages to all my friends and tell them they HAVE to read this book!
This doesn’t look at all like a debut novel. She got me hooked from the beginning.
She kept me on my toes bc even though we know the plot, we know the heartbreak is coming, she kept me stressed out about it bc I wasn’t sure how this was coming.
They were everything…
Oooh I loved the fact the first book is writing from Silas POV.
Can’t wait for Callum POV. I know He will get some of my tears…
Anyway just READ THIS BOOK!!!
My favorites parts :
Every times Cal called Silas « baby », the fact we got first Silas’ POV when he is the one who broke them up, Callum being this layered character, the author adding detailed wrestling show.
(Ok let’s be honest it goes over 6 stars actually)
This book has everything!
The perfect balance between angst, banter, sexy, heartbreak, vulnerability & wrestling.
I believe my review will not do it justice.
I will just go send messages to all my friends and tell them they HAVE to read this book!
This doesn’t look at all like a debut novel. She got me hooked from the beginning.
She kept me on my toes bc even though we know the plot, we know the heartbreak is coming, she kept me stressed out about it bc I wasn’t sure how this was coming.
They were everything…
Oooh I loved the fact the first book is writing from Silas POV.
Can’t wait for Callum POV. I know He will get some of my tears…
Anyway just READ THIS BOOK!!!
My favorites parts :
Every times Cal called Silas « baby », the fact we got first Silas’ POV when he is the one who broke them up, Callum being this layered character, the author adding detailed wrestling show.
June 21, 2026
DNF @ 21%
Notes I took while reading:
Page 7: "He wasn't reckless. He wasn't sloppy. He was exact."
Page 8: "Not like an insult. Not like a threat. Like recognition."
Page 9: "Not an insult. Not a compliment. A statement."
Page 10: "His real name. Not the one that echoed through the gymnasiums. He wasn't introducing his character like some of the new guys did to make a point. He was introducing himself."
Page 11: "Not resentment. Not friendship. Something else. A pressure."
Page 13: "He wasn't showboating now. No audience. No trainers watching. Just repetition."
Page 13: "It wasn't praise. It was a verdict."
Page 14: "It wasn't admiration. It was recognition, in a way I'd never been given."
Between pages 7-14, the author reused this "It wasn't ... It was ..." sentence structure SO OFTEN. There was literally one per page (none on page 12, but two on page 13 to make up for that). I honestly felt like I was losing my mind with how repetitive it got.
"Traveling together quickly became a routine for us" followed by just listing out things that Silas and Callum learned about each other + how Silas felt that Callum was different and that sharing travels with him "felt right". 😒 Would've loved to have actually seen the two of them start to form a friendship (and have it be reinforced by more friendly interactions) rather than have it happen via a summary.
"By the end of the summer Aftershock tour, Cal and I actually felt like we'd become friends." Wow, really? We saw like two scenes of their tour together and that's supposed to make me believe they'd become friends? Ok.
Uh, I don't think drinking coffee would realistically help with anxiety? I guess someone could theoretically form an attachment to it to find comfort in consuming it (like any other food item) but I feel like the caffeine would counteract that psychological comfort with a biological response to the stimulant? Very weird choice to make Silas use coffee as a way to calm down.
"[You two are] Cool? Since when? You guys barely spoke a few months ago. Now I hear rumors you're rooming together, driving together... it's just odd, Si." EXACTLY. Evan literally just said what I'd been thinking. We should've seen Silas and Cal actually develop their friendship so that we as readers understand that despite them only knowing each other for a few months, that their bond was solid. Instead, I'm basically in the same boat as Evan, confused over why these two suddenly got on so well. Being given summaries and expecting us to fill in the blanks of the timelapses is lazy especially considering romances should be focused on the relationship dynamic between the MCs (so we needed to see how Silas and Cal evolved from strangers to friends).
Silas: "My dad. The man who looked so much like me it was sometimes painful to look in the mirror."
Cal just two pages later: "You don't look like him."
HUH? So Silas thought he looked so much like his dad that he sometimes couldn't bear to look at his reflection, but Cal thought that they didn't? Was this some sort of "I'm my dad" internal dissonance in Silas's mental health??? Why didn't he contradict Cal when he clearly believed otherwise then?
Also, why didn't Cal call Silas out on lying to his dad and uncle about having plans while they were heading to the hotel? I get Cal not calling Silas out in the moment, but since they didn't actually have plans, shouldn't he have asked why Silas lied when they were alone? It would've worked as the perfect segue to them talking about their respective family traumas.
I finally had to call it quits when a sixty-two day timelapse happens after their first time having sex. Why on earth did neither of the two talk about their very clear attraction to one another or address their relationship? And more importantly, why didn't we see their attempts at evasion if they both made an implicit decision to not talk about it?
TL;DR: I had VERY big problems with the writing and the story. Repetitive sentence structure and too many timelapsed scenes were my primary issues. An explicit contradiction (Silas looking/not looking like his dad) and questionable character choice (using coffee to calm down from panic attacks) did not help. 1.5 stars rounded down.
Notes I took while reading:
Page 7: "He wasn't reckless. He wasn't sloppy. He was exact."
Page 8: "Not like an insult. Not like a threat. Like recognition."
Page 9: "Not an insult. Not a compliment. A statement."
Page 10: "His real name. Not the one that echoed through the gymnasiums. He wasn't introducing his character like some of the new guys did to make a point. He was introducing himself."
Page 11: "Not resentment. Not friendship. Something else. A pressure."
Page 13: "He wasn't showboating now. No audience. No trainers watching. Just repetition."
Page 13: "It wasn't praise. It was a verdict."
Page 14: "It wasn't admiration. It was recognition, in a way I'd never been given."
Between pages 7-14, the author reused this "It wasn't ... It was ..." sentence structure SO OFTEN. There was literally one per page (none on page 12, but two on page 13 to make up for that). I honestly felt like I was losing my mind with how repetitive it got.
"Traveling together quickly became a routine for us" followed by just listing out things that Silas and Callum learned about each other + how Silas felt that Callum was different and that sharing travels with him "felt right". 😒 Would've loved to have actually seen the two of them start to form a friendship (and have it be reinforced by more friendly interactions) rather than have it happen via a summary.
"By the end of the summer Aftershock tour, Cal and I actually felt like we'd become friends." Wow, really? We saw like two scenes of their tour together and that's supposed to make me believe they'd become friends? Ok.
Uh, I don't think drinking coffee would realistically help with anxiety? I guess someone could theoretically form an attachment to it to find comfort in consuming it (like any other food item) but I feel like the caffeine would counteract that psychological comfort with a biological response to the stimulant? Very weird choice to make Silas use coffee as a way to calm down.
"[You two are] Cool? Since when? You guys barely spoke a few months ago. Now I hear rumors you're rooming together, driving together... it's just odd, Si." EXACTLY. Evan literally just said what I'd been thinking. We should've seen Silas and Cal actually develop their friendship so that we as readers understand that despite them only knowing each other for a few months, that their bond was solid. Instead, I'm basically in the same boat as Evan, confused over why these two suddenly got on so well. Being given summaries and expecting us to fill in the blanks of the timelapses is lazy especially considering romances should be focused on the relationship dynamic between the MCs (so we needed to see how Silas and Cal evolved from strangers to friends).
Silas: "My dad. The man who looked so much like me it was sometimes painful to look in the mirror."
Cal just two pages later: "You don't look like him."
HUH? So Silas thought he looked so much like his dad that he sometimes couldn't bear to look at his reflection, but Cal thought that they didn't? Was this some sort of "I'm my dad" internal dissonance in Silas's mental health??? Why didn't he contradict Cal when he clearly believed otherwise then?
Also, why didn't Cal call Silas out on lying to his dad and uncle about having plans while they were heading to the hotel? I get Cal not calling Silas out in the moment, but since they didn't actually have plans, shouldn't he have asked why Silas lied when they were alone? It would've worked as the perfect segue to them talking about their respective family traumas.
I finally had to call it quits when a sixty-two day timelapse happens after their first time having sex. Why on earth did neither of the two talk about their very clear attraction to one another or address their relationship? And more importantly, why didn't we see their attempts at evasion if they both made an implicit decision to not talk about it?
TL;DR: I had VERY big problems with the writing and the story. Repetitive sentence structure and too many timelapsed scenes were my primary issues. An explicit contradiction (Silas looking/not looking like his dad) and questionable character choice (using coffee to calm down from panic attacks) did not help. 1.5 stars rounded down.
May 24, 2026
OMD I loved this book so much 🥹💓 and it was SO hotttt ❤️🔥
Silas and Callum, my precious babies 😭 I adored them so much. Their chemistry was insane and I already miss them.
I’m literally suffering knowing I have to wait until Fall 2026 for the second book ARRRGHH 😭 but I’m already so excited for it.
Anyway, I 100% recommend this book, I loved it so much 😭💓
Silas and Callum, my precious babies 😭 I adored them so much. Their chemistry was insane and I already miss them.
I’m literally suffering knowing I have to wait until Fall 2026 for the second book ARRRGHH 😭 but I’m already so excited for it.
Anyway, I 100% recommend this book, I loved it so much 😭💓
April 21, 2026
I kept seeing Righteous Desires by Florence Wolfe on the author's TikTok and finally picked it up this weekend — wow. As a longtime pro-wrestling fan, I was blown away by the authenticity of the world-building; I've watched countless wrestling documentaries and this felt genuinely real. The characters are fully developed and so lovable. From the nostalgic, brutal beauty of the sport to the hard-fought HEA, this book wrecked me in the best way possible. I cried all the way through.
My husband occasionally asks for m/m recs, and this is absolutely his next read.
My husband occasionally asks for m/m recs, and this is absolutely his next read.
May 1, 2026
I’ve been on a role with such great books lately in afraid it will end soon. This book is so freaking goooood!!
My heart is consumed with Cal and Si! I love them so much. I wasn’t expecting this to be just Si’s POV but I’m hoping book 2 is Cal’s because I love duets that do it like that. I just want to be inside Cal’s head!
This story follows two UWF wrestlers who come from two different backgrounds. Silas is a legacy guy and Cal is a “build from the ground up” guy. Both of the earned their spots and fought hard to be where they are. When they are thrown together in training to be the businesses newest rival story, they spend all their time together working or traveling.
Silas catches Cal looking at him just a moment too long or a handshake that lasts just a little extra. Is it all in his head or is Cal trying to make a move?
When emotions spark, feelings are explored with an emotional and explosive intensity. These men know that their jobs are at risk if their love ever gets out but is it worth the fall out?
With all the anxiety of what they are facing because of who he loves, Silas makes a choice that changes everything. Seven years later he wants to make amends and see if he can recover what he lost all those years ago. Moving forward will be difficult and they are staring down the barrel of an unforgiving gun that is the UWF and a lot of close minded people. But Cal and Si have each other and for now, that’s all that matters!
The spicy in this was woooo! Cal is one possessive man and I’m living for it. His mouth needs a warning label!
3.75/5 🌶️
This ends on a HFN and not a cliffhanger like I’ve seen people talk about. It’s nothing shocking or bad. It’s just a HFN with the uncertainty of the future at stake. I saw cliffhanger and thought it was going to be dramatic or bad. So rest assured it’s a happy for now situation and not someone is maybe dead kind of thing!
I loved this so much. The story was told so well and the writing was beautiful. As someone who doesn’t know squat about wrestling, this book explains it enough without being too overwhelming with info.
I cant wait for book 2!!
My heart is consumed with Cal and Si! I love them so much. I wasn’t expecting this to be just Si’s POV but I’m hoping book 2 is Cal’s because I love duets that do it like that. I just want to be inside Cal’s head!
This story follows two UWF wrestlers who come from two different backgrounds. Silas is a legacy guy and Cal is a “build from the ground up” guy. Both of the earned their spots and fought hard to be where they are. When they are thrown together in training to be the businesses newest rival story, they spend all their time together working or traveling.
Silas catches Cal looking at him just a moment too long or a handshake that lasts just a little extra. Is it all in his head or is Cal trying to make a move?
When emotions spark, feelings are explored with an emotional and explosive intensity. These men know that their jobs are at risk if their love ever gets out but is it worth the fall out?
With all the anxiety of what they are facing because of who he loves, Silas makes a choice that changes everything. Seven years later he wants to make amends and see if he can recover what he lost all those years ago. Moving forward will be difficult and they are staring down the barrel of an unforgiving gun that is the UWF and a lot of close minded people. But Cal and Si have each other and for now, that’s all that matters!
The spicy in this was woooo! Cal is one possessive man and I’m living for it. His mouth needs a warning label!
3.75/5 🌶️
This ends on a HFN and not a cliffhanger like I’ve seen people talk about. It’s nothing shocking or bad. It’s just a HFN with the uncertainty of the future at stake. I saw cliffhanger and thought it was going to be dramatic or bad. So rest assured it’s a happy for now situation and not someone is maybe dead kind of thing!
I loved this so much. The story was told so well and the writing was beautiful. As someone who doesn’t know squat about wrestling, this book explains it enough without being too overwhelming with info.
I cant wait for book 2!!
April 16, 2026
ARC REVIEW.
Infinity stars ⭐
All lovers of MM romance, or just romance in general, need to read this book immediately!!! If this book doesn’t blow up, I will genuinely be flabbergasted.
I genuinely can’t believe this is a debut novel. You can feel the love poured into every page. It’s nothing short of perfection.
The story is written in a single POV from Silas, but the way Florence Wolfe writes Cal, how he’s seen, described, and felt, makes it almost seem like a dual POV. That takes serious talent. The writing is simply beautiful.
The love between Silas and Cal will completely grip your heart. It’s the kind of relationship that makes you ache and wish for something just as deep and consuming. This is a love story with a capital L ❤️❤️❤️
It’s also my first time reading a romance featuring pro wrestlers, and that element really stood out. You can clearly feel the author’s passion for the sport, which adds an extra layer of authenticity and depth.
Without a doubt, this is my favorite book of 2026 (dare I say EVER)!
THANK YOU for the ARC!!! I’m completely obsessed with Silas and Cal and feel so lucky I got to experience their story 🥹✨
Infinity stars ⭐
All lovers of MM romance, or just romance in general, need to read this book immediately!!! If this book doesn’t blow up, I will genuinely be flabbergasted.
I genuinely can’t believe this is a debut novel. You can feel the love poured into every page. It’s nothing short of perfection.
The story is written in a single POV from Silas, but the way Florence Wolfe writes Cal, how he’s seen, described, and felt, makes it almost seem like a dual POV. That takes serious talent. The writing is simply beautiful.
The love between Silas and Cal will completely grip your heart. It’s the kind of relationship that makes you ache and wish for something just as deep and consuming. This is a love story with a capital L ❤️❤️❤️
It’s also my first time reading a romance featuring pro wrestlers, and that element really stood out. You can clearly feel the author’s passion for the sport, which adds an extra layer of authenticity and depth.
Without a doubt, this is my favorite book of 2026 (dare I say EVER)!
THANK YOU for the ARC!!! I’m completely obsessed with Silas and Cal and feel so lucky I got to experience their story 🥹✨
May 4, 2026
“Because I knew the moment I kissed you, there was no going back for me. Not in this life, not in any other.”
Wow what a debut! What a book! What a story, utterly obsessed with Silas & Cal 🥹
This book is an emotional rollercoaster, I found myself relating to Silas's story on a deep level. It's the kind of book that grabs you from the first page and refuses to let go.
I laughed, I cried, I swooned and I didn't want it to end. Florence has created characters that are so real, you feel like you know them. Their story is both raw and beautiful, a perfect combination that kept me hooked until the very last page. And there's nothing I love more than two characters wanting to be seen and heard their whole life and then finding it within each other.
If you're looking for a book that will make you feel everything, then hey. Hi, read this! I loved every single minute of it and can't recommend it enough!
Wow what a debut! What a book! What a story, utterly obsessed with Silas & Cal 🥹
This book is an emotional rollercoaster, I found myself relating to Silas's story on a deep level. It's the kind of book that grabs you from the first page and refuses to let go.
I laughed, I cried, I swooned and I didn't want it to end. Florence has created characters that are so real, you feel like you know them. Their story is both raw and beautiful, a perfect combination that kept me hooked until the very last page. And there's nothing I love more than two characters wanting to be seen and heard their whole life and then finding it within each other.
If you're looking for a book that will make you feel everything, then hey. Hi, read this! I loved every single minute of it and can't recommend it enough!
April 18, 2026
I found out about this book coming out via my FYP on Tiktok and I'm so glad that I seen it because wow, what a debut from this author.
I watched the little tiktoks about them and their chemistry, yearning, angst, and their love over the course of a decade and this author definitely wasn't lying because Callum and Silas had me on a roller-coaster of emotions from the start.
I loved how Callum cared for Silas from the start and yes Silas was there for Callum too, but Silas definitely had more emotional trauma in this book and how he was always in his head.
What I didn't know is that their story is continued in book two coming out this fall and I just want more Callum and Silas now.
I can't wait for book two so I can see Callum's POV as book one was all Silas.
Spice 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶 (the two were 🔥) 🥵
I watched the little tiktoks about them and their chemistry, yearning, angst, and their love over the course of a decade and this author definitely wasn't lying because Callum and Silas had me on a roller-coaster of emotions from the start.
I loved how Callum cared for Silas from the start and yes Silas was there for Callum too, but Silas definitely had more emotional trauma in this book and how he was always in his head.
What I didn't know is that their story is continued in book two coming out this fall and I just want more Callum and Silas now.
I can't wait for book two so I can see Callum's POV as book one was all Silas.
Spice 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶 (the two were 🔥) 🥵
May 10, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This book was unreal. The yearning. The angst. The growth. It was everything.
For a debut novel and honestly just as a novel in general, Florence Wolfe left no crumbs. I was swept into every scene, completely immersed, basking in every emotion she placed on the page.
Even the side characters had depth. Nothing felt hollow or thrown in for convenience. Watching Callum and Silas grow, not just together but as individuals, was something special. They started as young and in love, and witnessing them settle into love, into maturity, into understanding, was stunning.
This story doesn’t just explore romance. It moves through time. Through resentment. Through pain. Through learning how to forgive. Through choosing each other again and again.
I rarely get choked up reading, but even the intimate scenes carried such emotional weight and vulnerability that I found myself in awe. Every touch meant something. Every confession felt earned.
This wasn’t just a love story. It was a testament to how love can survive time, resentment, and pride, and still come back deeper than it ever was
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This book was unreal. The yearning. The angst. The growth. It was everything.
For a debut novel and honestly just as a novel in general, Florence Wolfe left no crumbs. I was swept into every scene, completely immersed, basking in every emotion she placed on the page.
Even the side characters had depth. Nothing felt hollow or thrown in for convenience. Watching Callum and Silas grow, not just together but as individuals, was something special. They started as young and in love, and witnessing them settle into love, into maturity, into understanding, was stunning.
This story doesn’t just explore romance. It moves through time. Through resentment. Through pain. Through learning how to forgive. Through choosing each other again and again.
I rarely get choked up reading, but even the intimate scenes carried such emotional weight and vulnerability that I found myself in awe. Every touch meant something. Every confession felt earned.
This wasn’t just a love story. It was a testament to how love can survive time, resentment, and pride, and still come back deeper than it ever was
April 18, 2026
Wow
Brilliant book
I am not a wrestler fan so dont feel like you need to be to read, I am also not a big fan of second chance romance( I hate the inbeetween bit when they're with other people) but this book was amazing I could of read another 400+ more pages of these two. This was emotional and spicy. Perfect combo I didnt think id be so invested in two wrestlers but i was 🤣 ahh my heart i need more. Perfection possesive perfection ❤️ i loved the other characters in this book also. Any kind of gay/bi awakening im here for and when theres this much heart and heat with being so obsessed with each other you cant go wrong.
Brilliant book
I am not a wrestler fan so dont feel like you need to be to read, I am also not a big fan of second chance romance( I hate the inbeetween bit when they're with other people) but this book was amazing I could of read another 400+ more pages of these two. This was emotional and spicy. Perfect combo I didnt think id be so invested in two wrestlers but i was 🤣 ahh my heart i need more. Perfection possesive perfection ❤️ i loved the other characters in this book also. Any kind of gay/bi awakening im here for and when theres this much heart and heat with being so obsessed with each other you cant go wrong.
April 25, 2026
so, i guess im gonna have to get more into wrestling now… this book was amazing. 10/10, no notes. i cried, i kicked my feet, i swooned… i highlighted so many passages in this book, i might as well have highlighted the entire thing 😅 i canNOT wait for cal’s book and im absolutely delighted to have read this. silas and callum now have a permanent spot in my brain! ty for writing such an absolutely amazing story! til next time ✨🖤✨
April 20, 2026
Get this book asap 💙❤️🔥
You will not be disappointed! The love these to have for one another, is out of this world! The time apart killed me, and my heart hurt so much for these too! The side character’s were also amazing! This book had heartbreaking moments ❤️🩹, funny moments, and spice ❤️🔥. Pick this up, you will not be disappointed
You will not be disappointed! The love these to have for one another, is out of this world! The time apart killed me, and my heart hurt so much for these too! The side character’s were also amazing! This book had heartbreaking moments ❤️🩹, funny moments, and spice ❤️🔥. Pick this up, you will not be disappointed
June 8, 2026
What a fun read! Can’t believe in the year of our lord 2026 I finally managed to find a 1st person pov NOT DUAL.. I’m in shock this was amazing
Read
April 22, 2026God bless Cal’s heart
June 6, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ Oh I absolutely loved this. As soon as I picked this up I was immediately hooked and couldn’t get enough of Silas + Cal. There were so many great aspects to this story and without giving too much away I loved how it all unfolded. The tension and longing was palpable between these two and don’t even get me started on how spicy this was but in the best way. I loved the single POV and cannot wait for the second book in this series and getting Callum’s POV! Highly highly enjoyed!
April 20, 2026
I cried i swooned i cried more and i swooned even more
Long ride but definitely a happy one
Long ride but definitely a happy one
May 15, 2026
Im absolutely gluttonous because I’ve been fedddddddd
This book is so good. Doubted the reviews for a hot minute because the beginning was kinda boring but boy an I glad that I stuck it through
Chefs kiss. Thank you for the meal.
This book is so good. Doubted the reviews for a hot minute because the beginning was kinda boring but boy an I glad that I stuck it through
Chefs kiss. Thank you for the meal.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Righteous Desires is the kind of book that sneaks up on you. You think you're picking up a fun sports romance about two professional wrestlers and instead you end up three hundred pages deep at 2am sobbing into your blanket with no regrets whatsoever.
Silas Reed aka Timeless, disciplined, wound so tight he barely breathes - meets Cal Kincaid, aka Deadlock, on his first day of training and something just clicks in the worst possible way. These two men are oil and water, total opposites, rivals by design. And yet from the very first chapter the tension between them is alive and electric and a little bit terrifying.
Silas spent his entire childhood checking his father's pulse in hotel rooms to make sure he was still breathing. At seventeen. Alone. And then he built himself into the most controlled, untouchable person in every room he walked into because if he slipped for one second, he became them. The panic attacks have a reason. The black coffee he drinks until his hands shake has a reason. The suffocating need for perfection is just armor, and Florence Wolfe peels it back layer by layer with a precision that genuinely hurts to read.
And then there's Cal. Tattooed, possessive, a complete menace, somehow also the softest man alive when it matters. Built like a weapon but loves like a lifeline. His backstory is just as gutting - a runaway at fourteen, a father who was a monster, a mother who chose a do-over life over the child she left behind. The "Deadlock" persona is armor just as much as Silas's perfectionism is. Two men who learned early that love meant something dangerous, slowly and painfully learning to trust each other anyway.
"Most guys will break you. But Callum tries to understand you."
The slow burn here is genuinely cruel. Months of shared hotel rooms, long drives, polaroid photos that could never see daylight, stolen kisses in stairwells and Scottish alleyways, whispered futures built on porches that didn't exist yet. And then seven years of wreckage because one of them was too scared to hold on. The breakup scene wrecked me. Cal's words in that doorway wrecked me. The seven-year gap wrecked me.
"We lost seven years. Seven years where we were miserable because we were too scared to do this. If we hadn't broken up back then… we'd probably be standing here married already."
The reunion wrecked me even more.
What separates this from a lot of MM romance is that the emotional weight carries as much as the spice - and the spice is very spicy.
The wrestling world is built with obvious love and research. The politics, the kayfabe, the locker room dynamics, the road life - it all feels real without overwhelming the romance. Evan deserves his own book immediately. The chaotic golden retriever energy of that man is a gift to every scene he's in.
The coming out chapters in North Carolina broke me open in the best possible way. Messy and real and eventually healing in a way that felt completely earned. Scott. The twins. Even Maverick in the end. I did not expect to cry this much over a wrestling romance set partly on a dirt road in North Carolina but here we are.
Cal counted the days too. That's all I'll say about that.
"I spent every night in those hotel rooms staring at the ceiling, wondering if you were okay. Wondering if you ever thought about the house we talked about. And the whole time, you were building it. You were building us."
If you're a fan of dark emotional MM romance with genuine heat, complicated family dynamics, enemies to lovers done right, and a slow burn that earns every single payoff - THIS IS YOUR NEXT READ!!!!!!!
Righteous Desires is a book I will be recommending to everyone.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Righteous Desires is the kind of book that sneaks up on you. You think you're picking up a fun sports romance about two professional wrestlers and instead you end up three hundred pages deep at 2am sobbing into your blanket with no regrets whatsoever.
Silas Reed aka Timeless, disciplined, wound so tight he barely breathes - meets Cal Kincaid, aka Deadlock, on his first day of training and something just clicks in the worst possible way. These two men are oil and water, total opposites, rivals by design. And yet from the very first chapter the tension between them is alive and electric and a little bit terrifying.
Silas spent his entire childhood checking his father's pulse in hotel rooms to make sure he was still breathing. At seventeen. Alone. And then he built himself into the most controlled, untouchable person in every room he walked into because if he slipped for one second, he became them. The panic attacks have a reason. The black coffee he drinks until his hands shake has a reason. The suffocating need for perfection is just armor, and Florence Wolfe peels it back layer by layer with a precision that genuinely hurts to read.
And then there's Cal. Tattooed, possessive, a complete menace, somehow also the softest man alive when it matters. Built like a weapon but loves like a lifeline. His backstory is just as gutting - a runaway at fourteen, a father who was a monster, a mother who chose a do-over life over the child she left behind. The "Deadlock" persona is armor just as much as Silas's perfectionism is. Two men who learned early that love meant something dangerous, slowly and painfully learning to trust each other anyway.
"Most guys will break you. But Callum tries to understand you."
The slow burn here is genuinely cruel. Months of shared hotel rooms, long drives, polaroid photos that could never see daylight, stolen kisses in stairwells and Scottish alleyways, whispered futures built on porches that didn't exist yet. And then seven years of wreckage because one of them was too scared to hold on. The breakup scene wrecked me. Cal's words in that doorway wrecked me. The seven-year gap wrecked me.
"We lost seven years. Seven years where we were miserable because we were too scared to do this. If we hadn't broken up back then… we'd probably be standing here married already."
The reunion wrecked me even more.
What separates this from a lot of MM romance is that the emotional weight carries as much as the spice - and the spice is very spicy.
The wrestling world is built with obvious love and research. The politics, the kayfabe, the locker room dynamics, the road life - it all feels real without overwhelming the romance. Evan deserves his own book immediately. The chaotic golden retriever energy of that man is a gift to every scene he's in.
The coming out chapters in North Carolina broke me open in the best possible way. Messy and real and eventually healing in a way that felt completely earned. Scott. The twins. Even Maverick in the end. I did not expect to cry this much over a wrestling romance set partly on a dirt road in North Carolina but here we are.
Cal counted the days too. That's all I'll say about that.
"I spent every night in those hotel rooms staring at the ceiling, wondering if you were okay. Wondering if you ever thought about the house we talked about. And the whole time, you were building it. You were building us."
If you're a fan of dark emotional MM romance with genuine heat, complicated family dynamics, enemies to lovers done right, and a slow burn that earns every single payoff - THIS IS YOUR NEXT READ!!!!!!!
Righteous Desires is a book I will be recommending to everyone.
April 17, 2026
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC!!
Righteous Desires, Florence Wolfe’s impressive debut novel, tells the emotional and intense journey of two pro wrestlers as they climb their way up to the top of their professional lives while managing their own personal drama. The story is told from the single POV of Silas, the son and nephew of two legendary pro wrestlers, who carries the family’s legacy and the trauma of a childhood living on the road. When he meets Callum “Deadlock” Kincaid, both young men are paired together as rival wrestlers. While this is not the usual “rivals to lovers” novel (there is no actual rivalry between them), they are expected to maintain “kayfabe”, a staged illusion of rivalry, while living together on the road and becoming increasingly intimate with each other.
The most remarkable characteristic of this novel is its cinematic quality. I think I have never encountered a book that I so easily can imagine being turned into a movie. The first half of Righteous Desires is the tale of Silas and Callum travelling together, from town to town, ring to ring, hotel room to hotel room. It is a road movie, reminiscent of many American classics, where the passing of time is brilliantly constructed in such a way that the reader can feel the tediousness and exhaustion of the long trip that contrasts with the growing feelings and the intimacy of the characters that takes place in the private spaces of hotel rooms.
Later, when the protagonists’ paths separate, there is still a cinematic aesthetic in the description of Silas’s house in North Carolina. The suffocating Southern Gothic atmosphere, with its characteristic ghostly aura, paints a sepia picture that reflects Silas’s feelings of hopelessness. All this accompanied by a playlist that, in soundtrack fashion, increases the feelings of isolation, trauma and despair of the protagonist.
However, and because this is MM romance, there is an innate optimism that tells the reader that ultimately everything is going to be alright. Because, even in the lowest moments, the promise of love prevails, as represented by the reconstruction of the old creaking house in the woods of North Carolina or by the Polaroids that capture the indelible nature of love. The sepia picture is little by little coloured back to life while Silas and Callum find their way back to each other.
Even though this is a story of trauma, Righteous Desires manages to stay humorous and lively, not only thanks to the presence of Evan, the friend who provides the comic relief in this story, but also because it ultimately allows for Silas to heal. This is a tale of love but also one that gives second chances to those who need them and that shows that, even if the past cannot be changed, the best is yet to come.
Righteous Desires, Florence Wolfe’s impressive debut novel, tells the emotional and intense journey of two pro wrestlers as they climb their way up to the top of their professional lives while managing their own personal drama. The story is told from the single POV of Silas, the son and nephew of two legendary pro wrestlers, who carries the family’s legacy and the trauma of a childhood living on the road. When he meets Callum “Deadlock” Kincaid, both young men are paired together as rival wrestlers. While this is not the usual “rivals to lovers” novel (there is no actual rivalry between them), they are expected to maintain “kayfabe”, a staged illusion of rivalry, while living together on the road and becoming increasingly intimate with each other.
The most remarkable characteristic of this novel is its cinematic quality. I think I have never encountered a book that I so easily can imagine being turned into a movie. The first half of Righteous Desires is the tale of Silas and Callum travelling together, from town to town, ring to ring, hotel room to hotel room. It is a road movie, reminiscent of many American classics, where the passing of time is brilliantly constructed in such a way that the reader can feel the tediousness and exhaustion of the long trip that contrasts with the growing feelings and the intimacy of the characters that takes place in the private spaces of hotel rooms.
Later, when the protagonists’ paths separate, there is still a cinematic aesthetic in the description of Silas’s house in North Carolina. The suffocating Southern Gothic atmosphere, with its characteristic ghostly aura, paints a sepia picture that reflects Silas’s feelings of hopelessness. All this accompanied by a playlist that, in soundtrack fashion, increases the feelings of isolation, trauma and despair of the protagonist.
However, and because this is MM romance, there is an innate optimism that tells the reader that ultimately everything is going to be alright. Because, even in the lowest moments, the promise of love prevails, as represented by the reconstruction of the old creaking house in the woods of North Carolina or by the Polaroids that capture the indelible nature of love. The sepia picture is little by little coloured back to life while Silas and Callum find their way back to each other.
Even though this is a story of trauma, Righteous Desires manages to stay humorous and lively, not only thanks to the presence of Evan, the friend who provides the comic relief in this story, but also because it ultimately allows for Silas to heal. This is a tale of love but also one that gives second chances to those who need them and that shows that, even if the past cannot be changed, the best is yet to come.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Going into this book, I’ll admit I didn’t have high hopes. I’ve never been a wrestling fan nor cared about it in the least, this is a new author, a debut novel, and it was over 500 pages. BUT, I am here to tell you, this book more than exceeded my expectations. It absolutely is a SIX star read!! When an author can make you enjoy a sport you’ve never liked, care for characters that you wasn’t sure you’d relate to, and fall in love with a world where pain and hurt is prevalent, that author has something truly worth reading.
Cal and Si first meet in training and there’s instant chemistry. They just have something special when they’re working together and that becomes more obvious as they perform together. That chemistry soon turns into lust and desire and they find themselves falling fast. Over the course of a year, they train to be the best in the UWF, working together, sharing the spotlight. They are falling in love behind closed doors, knowing their careers could be over if anyone found out. When things fall apart, Silas disappears, leaving Cal to move on without him and become the champion. Seven years later, Silas is back, more determined than ever to claim what is his. Cal is angry, hurt, confused, but has he moved on?
When I tell you this book put me through the wringer, I mean it. So many emotions, so much baggage to sort through, and all the tears and laughter I could handle. Si and Cal really have to go through it and work for their happiness. Cal was the anchor when Si needed grounded, always supporting and there when he needed him most. Si pushed Cal to be the best version of himself. Seeing them communicate with each other and putting each other first was beautiful. This story was so well written, at no point in time did I feel like the story dragged, and it was so intriguing that I couldn’t put it down. It does end on a HFN situation so I cannot wait for the next part of Si & Cal’s story!
Also want to add that it is 1st person, single POV (Silas) which makes it very interesting since Silas is the one who disappears, breaking Cal’s heart. I wonder if we’ll get more of Cal’s side of the story in the next installment!
🖤 MM Romance
🩶 Professional Wrestlers
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🩶 Gay Awakening
🖤 Second Chance Romance
🩶 Hurt/ Comfort
🖤 First Times
Cal and Si first meet in training and there’s instant chemistry. They just have something special when they’re working together and that becomes more obvious as they perform together. That chemistry soon turns into lust and desire and they find themselves falling fast. Over the course of a year, they train to be the best in the UWF, working together, sharing the spotlight. They are falling in love behind closed doors, knowing their careers could be over if anyone found out. When things fall apart, Silas disappears, leaving Cal to move on without him and become the champion. Seven years later, Silas is back, more determined than ever to claim what is his. Cal is angry, hurt, confused, but has he moved on?
When I tell you this book put me through the wringer, I mean it. So many emotions, so much baggage to sort through, and all the tears and laughter I could handle. Si and Cal really have to go through it and work for their happiness. Cal was the anchor when Si needed grounded, always supporting and there when he needed him most. Si pushed Cal to be the best version of himself. Seeing them communicate with each other and putting each other first was beautiful. This story was so well written, at no point in time did I feel like the story dragged, and it was so intriguing that I couldn’t put it down. It does end on a HFN situation so I cannot wait for the next part of Si & Cal’s story!
Also want to add that it is 1st person, single POV (Silas) which makes it very interesting since Silas is the one who disappears, breaking Cal’s heart. I wonder if we’ll get more of Cal’s side of the story in the next installment!
🖤 MM Romance
🩶 Professional Wrestlers
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🩶 Gay Awakening
🖤 Second Chance Romance
🩶 Hurt/ Comfort
🖤 First Times
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