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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
46 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
Florence Wolfe
1 book29 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 41 reviews
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! 💕
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🫢
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.
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 🔥) 🥵
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 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.
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
Read
April 22, 2026God bless Cal’s heart
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
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
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review: Righteous Desires
.
.
“ Because I knew the moment I kissed you, there was no going back for me. Not in this life, not in any other.”
.
.
Now this is how you do a debut. I’ll start by saying that a quarter of the way through “Righteous Desires,” Florence Wolfe had crafted something special. What I didn’t anticipate was collecting a six-star read that has left me feral for more of Florence’s work. From multifaceted characters, the exploration of a unique sport, to pursuing your dream whilst hiding your truth, Righteous Desires is a gritty, sexy, and emotionally charged hit.
.
.
Things I Loved:
The Yearn in Yearning: With lines like “you are the blueprint” and “you were made for me,” there is no shortage of yearning, heat, and swoon in Righteous Desires. While spice is one thing, I loved how vocal and expressive both Si and Cal were about their feelings for one another. Even as they navigated the highs and lows of their dreams, not a moment went by that I, as a reader, questioned how much they loved one another. Furthermore, the reverence in which they savored each other, be it intimately or in everyday interactions amplifies the romantic factor of Righteous Desires.
Exploring A Different Facet of Sports: When you hear sports romance, usually what comes to mind is hockey. And don’t get me wrong, I love the boy aquarium. However, words cannot summarize how excited I was to explore a different sport. In a sport that places a heavy emphasis on contemporary masculinity, roughhousing, and theatrics, I was curious to see how Cal and Si’s story would unfold. Needless to say, their reverie, emotional intelligence, and sweet nothings whilst navigating this industry was incredibly beautiful. I also commend Wolfe for how she immerses the reader in WWE. From the training, promotion, major events, and storylines, Florence sets the perfect backdrop for a romantic and emotional sports romance.
Bring On the Heat: Rivaling some of my favorite reads, there’s plenty of heat in Cal and Si’s story. Talk about HIGH heat. You get sexy undergarments, sweltering secret rendezvous, and plenty of hickeys. All that to say, Wolfe delivers all the heat and then some.
Overall, my plea to you is to do yourself a favor and read this book!
.
.
“ Because I knew the moment I kissed you, there was no going back for me. Not in this life, not in any other.”
.
.
Now this is how you do a debut. I’ll start by saying that a quarter of the way through “Righteous Desires,” Florence Wolfe had crafted something special. What I didn’t anticipate was collecting a six-star read that has left me feral for more of Florence’s work. From multifaceted characters, the exploration of a unique sport, to pursuing your dream whilst hiding your truth, Righteous Desires is a gritty, sexy, and emotionally charged hit.
.
.
Things I Loved:
The Yearn in Yearning: With lines like “you are the blueprint” and “you were made for me,” there is no shortage of yearning, heat, and swoon in Righteous Desires. While spice is one thing, I loved how vocal and expressive both Si and Cal were about their feelings for one another. Even as they navigated the highs and lows of their dreams, not a moment went by that I, as a reader, questioned how much they loved one another. Furthermore, the reverence in which they savored each other, be it intimately or in everyday interactions amplifies the romantic factor of Righteous Desires.
Exploring A Different Facet of Sports: When you hear sports romance, usually what comes to mind is hockey. And don’t get me wrong, I love the boy aquarium. However, words cannot summarize how excited I was to explore a different sport. In a sport that places a heavy emphasis on contemporary masculinity, roughhousing, and theatrics, I was curious to see how Cal and Si’s story would unfold. Needless to say, their reverie, emotional intelligence, and sweet nothings whilst navigating this industry was incredibly beautiful. I also commend Wolfe for how she immerses the reader in WWE. From the training, promotion, major events, and storylines, Florence sets the perfect backdrop for a romantic and emotional sports romance.
Bring On the Heat: Rivaling some of my favorite reads, there’s plenty of heat in Cal and Si’s story. Talk about HIGH heat. You get sexy undergarments, sweltering secret rendezvous, and plenty of hickeys. All that to say, Wolfe delivers all the heat and then some.
Overall, my plea to you is to do yourself a favor and read this book!
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I went into this one curious because it’s the first pro-wrestling romance I’ve ever read, and it ended up being a really fun experience. The author does such a great job capturing the atmosphere of the wrestling world.. the crowds, the performances and the personalities that are larger than life in the ring. It genuinely felt like being pulled into the audience while everything unfolded.
I also loved the way music was woven into the story, with a song included at the start of each chapter. It added a fun extra layer to the reading experience and made the emotional beats hit even harder.
At the center of the story are Callum, known in the ring as Deadlock, and Silas, who performs as Timeless. Callum is the confident newcomer who walks into the ring with plenty of swagger, but beneath that bravado is someone shaped by a difficult childhood and yet he carries so much love and loyalty for the people he cares about. Silas, on the other hand, has spent his life living in the shadow of wrestling legends in his own family. Carrying the weight of that legacy… along with abandonment and anxiety that followed him from childhood that has left him struggling with insecurity and the pressure of expectations.
Both characters come from painful backgrounds, “different monsters, same basement” and watching them try to navigate their trauma while building something together made for a really emotional journey. Their story is messy, intense, and full of growth.
I also have to give a little love to Evan, Silas’s best friend, who absolutely stole every scene he was in. Everyone deserves a friend like that in their corner.
Overall this was a gritty, emotional romance set in a really immersive wrestling world, and it kept me invested in Callum and Silas’s story the entire time. The ending leaves things on a bit of a cliffhanger, so be ready for that. If you enjoy character-driven stories about love, healing, and fighting for something real.. look no further!
I also loved the way music was woven into the story, with a song included at the start of each chapter. It added a fun extra layer to the reading experience and made the emotional beats hit even harder.
At the center of the story are Callum, known in the ring as Deadlock, and Silas, who performs as Timeless. Callum is the confident newcomer who walks into the ring with plenty of swagger, but beneath that bravado is someone shaped by a difficult childhood and yet he carries so much love and loyalty for the people he cares about. Silas, on the other hand, has spent his life living in the shadow of wrestling legends in his own family. Carrying the weight of that legacy… along with abandonment and anxiety that followed him from childhood that has left him struggling with insecurity and the pressure of expectations.
Both characters come from painful backgrounds, “different monsters, same basement” and watching them try to navigate their trauma while building something together made for a really emotional journey. Their story is messy, intense, and full of growth.
I also have to give a little love to Evan, Silas’s best friend, who absolutely stole every scene he was in. Everyone deserves a friend like that in their corner.
Overall this was a gritty, emotional romance set in a really immersive wrestling world, and it kept me invested in Callum and Silas’s story the entire time. The ending leaves things on a bit of a cliffhanger, so be ready for that. If you enjoy character-driven stories about love, healing, and fighting for something real.. look no further!
April 18, 2026
Disclosure: I received a complimentary Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In Righteous Desires , Florence Wolfe performs a surgical examination of the wrestling industry, stripping away the glitter of the lights to reveal the ghosts left behind. This is not just a sports romance; it is a grueling, decade-long study of two broken men navigating the violent intersection of scripted rivalry and genuine obsession.
The Diagnosis:
Wolfe’s technical precision is staggering. She navigates the industry's complex politics, kayfabe that ruins bodies, and the systemic homophobia of the ring with an authority that makes the trauma feel dangerously real. As someone who grew up watching these gods on screen, seeing the industry's horrifying reality laid bare was both captivating and emotionally taxing.
The Anatomy:
The relationship between Silas and Cal is a slow-motion collision. I found myself visceral in my frustration with Silas; his capacity for self-sabotage and the harmful decisions he makes—driven by his upbringing —frequently made me want to discard my professional chill as well as myself off a cliff entirely. The emotional weight of Silas repeatedly hurting Cal is an Everest-level climb that requires a strong stomach.
The Verdict:
Righteous Desires is a ginormous, soul-crushing Ode to Kayfabe. It is long, it is frustrating, and it is absolutely not for the faint of heart. Wolfe manages to weave a story that is as hateful as it is beautiful, proving that even when the script is broken, the love can remain. I have zero self-preservation left, so I am officially ready for whatever trauma Wolfe has planned for the next installment.
In Righteous Desires , Florence Wolfe performs a surgical examination of the wrestling industry, stripping away the glitter of the lights to reveal the ghosts left behind. This is not just a sports romance; it is a grueling, decade-long study of two broken men navigating the violent intersection of scripted rivalry and genuine obsession.
The Diagnosis:
Wolfe’s technical precision is staggering. She navigates the industry's complex politics, kayfabe that ruins bodies, and the systemic homophobia of the ring with an authority that makes the trauma feel dangerously real. As someone who grew up watching these gods on screen, seeing the industry's horrifying reality laid bare was both captivating and emotionally taxing.
The Anatomy:
The relationship between Silas and Cal is a slow-motion collision. I found myself visceral in my frustration with Silas; his capacity for self-sabotage and the harmful decisions he makes—driven by his upbringing —frequently made me want to discard my professional chill as well as myself off a cliff entirely. The emotional weight of Silas repeatedly hurting Cal is an Everest-level climb that requires a strong stomach.
The Verdict:
Righteous Desires is a ginormous, soul-crushing Ode to Kayfabe. It is long, it is frustrating, and it is absolutely not for the faint of heart. Wolfe manages to weave a story that is as hateful as it is beautiful, proving that even when the script is broken, the love can remain. I have zero self-preservation left, so I am officially ready for whatever trauma Wolfe has planned for the next installment.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“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.”
ARC Review of Righteous Desires by Florence Wolfe
5⭐️ 4🌶
Did I just fall in love with pro wrestling without knowing absolutely anything about it? Um yes, yes I did. This story was an absolute gem 💎 and there's not enough words for me to describe how much I loved Silas and Callum and the emotional journey they took me on.
This story is told in first person, single POV (Silas'), it had absolutely perfect pacing, I never felt like any part of this story dragged, everything felt relevant to the plot and character building and was written so well that it kept me engaged throughout. The spice was 🥵❤️🔥, the burn started pretty fast and there was a great balance of spice vs plot, neither overwhelming the other.
Now the MMCs: Silas Reed and Callum Kincaid. Two broken boys trying to make it as professional wrestlers —its hate at first sight for two new rivals right? Well rivals turned friends quickly develops into something more and it was just absolutely beautiful to see these two souls come together.
Silas is such scarred baby, trying to go beyond the legacy left behind by his dad and uncle and his broken childhood. He's taken all the 'right' steps to get where he's going at 20 years old. Technical, strategic, he’s doing his best to be in control of his future.
Enter Cal. Fresh off the indie circuit, he’s the only one who could possibly match Silas, he's arrogant but has the skills to back it up. He's got his own daddy issues but is good at hiding behind a cocky and flirty facade.
Their chemistry is off the charts in the ring and in private. The comfort they find in each other is just soulmate level love even though they struggle to navigate it with the world around them. Silas and Cal's story covers the span of nearly a decade, and of course its not all sunshine and rainbows. Going in you know this is a story about a second chance, and it is done so well —and while it will hurt your feelings and make you cry, it doesn't drag out unnecessarily. The feelings are raw and gritty, the mental health representation is just everything. And the pacing is just perfect in bringing these two their HEA.
This was one hell of a debut novel, and I can't wait to see what Florence brings us in the second book of the Kayfabe series!
ARC Review of Righteous Desires by Florence Wolfe
5⭐️ 4🌶
Did I just fall in love with pro wrestling without knowing absolutely anything about it? Um yes, yes I did. This story was an absolute gem 💎 and there's not enough words for me to describe how much I loved Silas and Callum and the emotional journey they took me on.
This story is told in first person, single POV (Silas'), it had absolutely perfect pacing, I never felt like any part of this story dragged, everything felt relevant to the plot and character building and was written so well that it kept me engaged throughout. The spice was 🥵❤️🔥, the burn started pretty fast and there was a great balance of spice vs plot, neither overwhelming the other.
Now the MMCs: Silas Reed and Callum Kincaid. Two broken boys trying to make it as professional wrestlers —its hate at first sight for two new rivals right? Well rivals turned friends quickly develops into something more and it was just absolutely beautiful to see these two souls come together.
Silas is such scarred baby, trying to go beyond the legacy left behind by his dad and uncle and his broken childhood. He's taken all the 'right' steps to get where he's going at 20 years old. Technical, strategic, he’s doing his best to be in control of his future.
Enter Cal. Fresh off the indie circuit, he’s the only one who could possibly match Silas, he's arrogant but has the skills to back it up. He's got his own daddy issues but is good at hiding behind a cocky and flirty facade.
Their chemistry is off the charts in the ring and in private. The comfort they find in each other is just soulmate level love even though they struggle to navigate it with the world around them. Silas and Cal's story covers the span of nearly a decade, and of course its not all sunshine and rainbows. Going in you know this is a story about a second chance, and it is done so well —and while it will hurt your feelings and make you cry, it doesn't drag out unnecessarily. The feelings are raw and gritty, the mental health representation is just everything. And the pacing is just perfect in bringing these two their HEA.
This was one hell of a debut novel, and I can't wait to see what Florence brings us in the second book of the Kayfabe series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review: Righteous Desires by Florence Wolfe
Release Date: April 17th
⭐ 5 | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
First of all—what a debut.
You can feel how long this author has lived with these characters. It shapes the way the story is told and deepens the reader’s connection to it. Nothing about Silas or Callum feels surface-level.
I fully understood Silas and felt for him, even during the moments when I didn't like him very much. Watching him spiral was painful and frustrating, especially knowing how much he was breaking Callum in the process, but I think it was necessary.
Because even when he’s making the worst possible choices, you still get it. The CPTSD adds a layer that makes everything click into place—even when it hurts to watch him self-sabotage over and over again.
I'll note that this narrative was told entirely from Silas' perspective but I never felt blind to what Callum was feeling. His patience, his care, his willingness to fight for them—even when Silas is pushing him away—were always evident and that only made it harder to experience.
The tension in this book is romantic and emotional, but there's plenty of soft moments to cushion the blow for when the hard times hit.
I also have to talk about the setting because I did not expect to be this invested in the wrestling world—BUT IT WAS DONE SO WELL. The drama, the performance, the blurred lines between what’s real and what’s not—it pulled me all the way in and gave me back a little piece of my childhood.
Also, big shoutout to Evan. Top-tier best friend. No notes.
Verdict: 5⭐
Emotional, frustrating, and deeply immersive. A story about love, self-destruction, and the fight to come back from it.
Happy for now… and I will absolutely be seated for book two and Evan's story as well. 👀
Release Date: April 17th
⭐ 5 | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
First of all—what a debut.
You can feel how long this author has lived with these characters. It shapes the way the story is told and deepens the reader’s connection to it. Nothing about Silas or Callum feels surface-level.
I fully understood Silas and felt for him, even during the moments when I didn't like him very much. Watching him spiral was painful and frustrating, especially knowing how much he was breaking Callum in the process, but I think it was necessary.
Because even when he’s making the worst possible choices, you still get it. The CPTSD adds a layer that makes everything click into place—even when it hurts to watch him self-sabotage over and over again.
I'll note that this narrative was told entirely from Silas' perspective but I never felt blind to what Callum was feeling. His patience, his care, his willingness to fight for them—even when Silas is pushing him away—were always evident and that only made it harder to experience.
The tension in this book is romantic and emotional, but there's plenty of soft moments to cushion the blow for when the hard times hit.
I also have to talk about the setting because I did not expect to be this invested in the wrestling world—BUT IT WAS DONE SO WELL. The drama, the performance, the blurred lines between what’s real and what’s not—it pulled me all the way in and gave me back a little piece of my childhood.
Also, big shoutout to Evan. Top-tier best friend. No notes.
Verdict: 5⭐
Emotional, frustrating, and deeply immersive. A story about love, self-destruction, and the fight to come back from it.
Happy for now… and I will absolutely be seated for book two and Evan's story as well. 👀
April 26, 2026
This was my first book by Florence and yeah, I went in blind. Wow this book was amazing and I couldn't put it down!
My first wrestling romance and Florence absolutely set the bar ridiculously high. This book grabbed me from page one and did not let go. The tension, the chemistry, the emotion… I was locked in.
Silas and Callum? Unreal. The push and pull between them, the way they circle each other, the connection they don’t want to admit to… it was so good. Their early relationship felt messy, real, and completely addictive.
And then the heartbreak hits. That breakup? Brutal. I felt everything Silas was going through, the anxiety, the self-doubt, the way his trauma takes over… it hurt. And the time apart? Even worse. These two have such strong soulmate energy that watching them spend years apart was painful.
But when they come back together? Worth it. You can see how much they’ve grown, how much deeper their connection is, and how they finally start to communicate and let each other in. The second chance felt earned.
I also loved the found family vibes within the wrestling world. The side characters really added so much heart, and I’m already hoping we get more of them.
Also, I learned way more about wrestling than I expected and actually loved that aspect. It made everything feel immersive and real.
Emotional, intense, a little chaotic, and so addictive. The kind of book that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go.
I am absolutely seated and ready for book two.
My first wrestling romance and Florence absolutely set the bar ridiculously high. This book grabbed me from page one and did not let go. The tension, the chemistry, the emotion… I was locked in.
Silas and Callum? Unreal. The push and pull between them, the way they circle each other, the connection they don’t want to admit to… it was so good. Their early relationship felt messy, real, and completely addictive.
And then the heartbreak hits. That breakup? Brutal. I felt everything Silas was going through, the anxiety, the self-doubt, the way his trauma takes over… it hurt. And the time apart? Even worse. These two have such strong soulmate energy that watching them spend years apart was painful.
But when they come back together? Worth it. You can see how much they’ve grown, how much deeper their connection is, and how they finally start to communicate and let each other in. The second chance felt earned.
I also loved the found family vibes within the wrestling world. The side characters really added so much heart, and I’m already hoping we get more of them.
Also, I learned way more about wrestling than I expected and actually loved that aspect. It made everything feel immersive and real.
Emotional, intense, a little chaotic, and so addictive. The kind of book that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go.
I am absolutely seated and ready for book two.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Unlimited stars for this one. I don't even know where to start. I needed about 24 hours to recover from this epic love story before writing this. I read this over about a 40-hour time frame, with work and life getting in the way for some of those hours. This one was hard to put down. Si and Cal are embedded forever in my heart now. This is definitely a high heat book but it's not only chemisty and lust - their bond feels soul-deep even before words are said. I immediately fell in love with both of them.
I think I laughed out loud, jaw dropped a few times, cried real tears, did a happy dance, and I think my heart stopped at one point in devastation - in no particular order. What a roller-coaster, I'm telling you.
This was wonderfully written. I know absolutely nothing about wrestling, but that made absolutely no difference while reading this story. The details you need to know about the sport and the business are so flawlessly embedded in the story it just flows as you are reading.
And I have to give a shout out to all of side characters. I loved them all. They were all there for a different purpose and they all brought their A-game to this story.
This one comes out April, 17th, 2026. Write that down. Go Pre-order Now. Whatever you need to do to remind yourself that Silas and Callum are yours to read SOON.
Thank you so much for the ARC Florence Wolfe
ARC recieved for no monetary gain.
I think I laughed out loud, jaw dropped a few times, cried real tears, did a happy dance, and I think my heart stopped at one point in devastation - in no particular order. What a roller-coaster, I'm telling you.
This was wonderfully written. I know absolutely nothing about wrestling, but that made absolutely no difference while reading this story. The details you need to know about the sport and the business are so flawlessly embedded in the story it just flows as you are reading.
And I have to give a shout out to all of side characters. I loved them all. They were all there for a different purpose and they all brought their A-game to this story.
This one comes out April, 17th, 2026. Write that down. Go Pre-order Now. Whatever you need to do to remind yourself that Silas and Callum are yours to read SOON.
Thank you so much for the ARC Florence Wolfe
ARC recieved for no monetary gain.
April 17, 2026
4.5 / 5 ✨
The chemistry between Cal and Silas is absolutely addictive. Inside the wrestling ring they are fierce rivals who are meant to hate each other, but outside the ring the tension is impossible to ignore. Watching them struggle with their feelings is both painful and beautiful.
Silas character is so vulnerable, and you can really feel the weight of everything he carries. Cal on the other hand seems tough and guarded, but underneath he is protective and soft in ways that made my heart melt. And yes, the spice level is very high and absolutely worth the wait.
The wrestling world also feels vivid and exciting. Even if you know nothing about wrestling, it does not matter because the details about the sport and the business are woven so naturally into the story that everything just flows while you read. Seeing the story through Silas’s point of view adds even more emotion and longing to the romance.
I also have to give a shout out to the side characters because they were fantastic. Each of them had their own purpose and really added something special to the story. This book takes your heart through a roller coaster of angst and passion, then gently puts it back together again. My only complaint is that it ended way too soon because now I am desperately waiting for the next book.
The chemistry between Cal and Silas is absolutely addictive. Inside the wrestling ring they are fierce rivals who are meant to hate each other, but outside the ring the tension is impossible to ignore. Watching them struggle with their feelings is both painful and beautiful.
Silas character is so vulnerable, and you can really feel the weight of everything he carries. Cal on the other hand seems tough and guarded, but underneath he is protective and soft in ways that made my heart melt. And yes, the spice level is very high and absolutely worth the wait.
The wrestling world also feels vivid and exciting. Even if you know nothing about wrestling, it does not matter because the details about the sport and the business are woven so naturally into the story that everything just flows while you read. Seeing the story through Silas’s point of view adds even more emotion and longing to the romance.
I also have to give a shout out to the side characters because they were fantastic. Each of them had their own purpose and really added something special to the story. This book takes your heart through a roller coaster of angst and passion, then gently puts it back together again. My only complaint is that it ended way too soon because now I am desperately waiting for the next book.
April 20, 2026
“It was always going to be you. It’s only ever been you.”
Adding to my top books of 2026, told from Silas Reed's POV, Righteous Desires has it all: love, trauma, healing, and acceptance.
The story of Callum Kincaid and Silas Reed will live in my heart forever.
What I love about this story is the way these broken boys showed up for each other. Pegged immediately as rivals on the mat but behind the scenes it was anything but that. Cal and Silas had instant chemistry from critiquing their skillset, to long car rides filled with "get to know you" conversations to becoming each other's person. Then falling in love both knowing that this love had to be kept in the dark.
When tragedy strikes and their worlds implode separating them for over 7 years. They are no longer the boys they used to be but men determined to stay on top. Cal is the current Champion of the World and Silas is set to make a comeback - when their worlds collide again, hurt and anger turn into a fiery passion that neither of them are willing to let go of again. Watching Cal and Silas work through their heartache and choose each other is so beautifully written. This debut novel is nothing short of spectacular. I cannot wait for the second book in this amazing series!
Adding to my top books of 2026, told from Silas Reed's POV, Righteous Desires has it all: love, trauma, healing, and acceptance.
The story of Callum Kincaid and Silas Reed will live in my heart forever.
What I love about this story is the way these broken boys showed up for each other. Pegged immediately as rivals on the mat but behind the scenes it was anything but that. Cal and Silas had instant chemistry from critiquing their skillset, to long car rides filled with "get to know you" conversations to becoming each other's person. Then falling in love both knowing that this love had to be kept in the dark.
When tragedy strikes and their worlds implode separating them for over 7 years. They are no longer the boys they used to be but men determined to stay on top. Cal is the current Champion of the World and Silas is set to make a comeback - when their worlds collide again, hurt and anger turn into a fiery passion that neither of them are willing to let go of again. Watching Cal and Silas work through their heartache and choose each other is so beautifully written. This debut novel is nothing short of spectacular. I cannot wait for the second book in this amazing series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW 📖✨
This was truly a phenomenal read, honestly, I’m gonna need a trophy for my bookshelf when this releases. 🏆(And a Special Edition, and Artwork- No pressure though 😅)
I’ve already tried to put my feelings into words, but nothing quite captures how deeply this story hit me. There were so many moments where I had to stop because my vision blurred, only to realize I was that emotional over these guys. Cal and Si completely wrecked me in the best way. 💔
The found family woven throughout their journey adds so much heart to the story. Watching Silas confront his past and grow into someone who believes he’s worthy of love? Beautiful. Painful. So, so worth it.
And listen… the only spoiler I’ll give: Scott must be protected at all costs. Do with that what you will. 😭
From the wrestling world to the behind-the-scenes grit and the very real dangers that come with it, every detail pulled me in deeper. There wasn’t a single moment when I wasn’t completely captivated.
And can we talk about the playlist?! 🔥 It was hitting the entire time, bringing back some old favorites I hadn’t listened to in forever and making every scene hit even harder. 🎶 . There were times when I stopped reading to put the song on with the chapter and play it over again lol
And that ending?! Not heartburn, just pure NEED to know what happens next. The cliffhanger was done so tastefully and left me desperate for more.
I will not stop recommending this when it releases. Ever.
This was truly a phenomenal read, honestly, I’m gonna need a trophy for my bookshelf when this releases. 🏆(And a Special Edition, and Artwork- No pressure though 😅)
I’ve already tried to put my feelings into words, but nothing quite captures how deeply this story hit me. There were so many moments where I had to stop because my vision blurred, only to realize I was that emotional over these guys. Cal and Si completely wrecked me in the best way. 💔
The found family woven throughout their journey adds so much heart to the story. Watching Silas confront his past and grow into someone who believes he’s worthy of love? Beautiful. Painful. So, so worth it.
And listen… the only spoiler I’ll give: Scott must be protected at all costs. Do with that what you will. 😭
From the wrestling world to the behind-the-scenes grit and the very real dangers that come with it, every detail pulled me in deeper. There wasn’t a single moment when I wasn’t completely captivated.
And can we talk about the playlist?! 🔥 It was hitting the entire time, bringing back some old favorites I hadn’t listened to in forever and making every scene hit even harder. 🎶 . There were times when I stopped reading to put the song on with the chapter and play it over again lol
And that ending?! Not heartburn, just pure NEED to know what happens next. The cliffhanger was done so tastefully and left me desperate for more.
I will not stop recommending this when it releases. Ever.
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