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RUIN: Until the End Trilogy - Book One
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26She came to Italy for a deal. He arranged the deal to get to her.
What Claire Bailey thought was a career-saving business trip to the Calabrian coast turns out to be something far more deliberate.
Arik Medici has lived for centuries in the shadows of the region his family was cursed to protect. Charming, controlled, and dangerously patient, he has been patiently waiting for Claire's arrival.
He let her live her life. He waited. And now she's finally here.
As bodies surface and the truth closes in, Claire begins to understand that nothing has been a coincidence. Not the canceled flights, not the closed roads, and certainly not the extended hotel stay at Vigneto Riserva del Regale .
Neither was falling in love with him.
But Arik is not a man. And love, for something like him, looks a lot like possession.
What Claire Bailey thought was a career-saving business trip to the Calabrian coast turns out to be something far more deliberate.
Arik Medici has lived for centuries in the shadows of the region his family was cursed to protect. Charming, controlled, and dangerously patient, he has been patiently waiting for Claire's arrival.
He let her live her life. He waited. And now she's finally here.
As bodies surface and the truth closes in, Claire begins to understand that nothing has been a coincidence. Not the canceled flights, not the closed roads, and certainly not the extended hotel stay at Vigneto Riserva del Regale .
Neither was falling in love with him.
But Arik is not a man. And love, for something like him, looks a lot like possession.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 1, 2026
About the author
N.L. Brooks
1 book1 followerN.L. Brooks is a lover of all things spooky and dark, especially in her books. She is an avid reader of dark, paranormal, and gothic romance, as well as mystery, thriller, and horror books. She loves genre blending and enjoys writing dark, romantic stories with jaw-dropping twists.
When she is not writing, celebrating Halloween year-round, or taking cruises, she can be found deep in the woods of Connecticut with her husband, children, and two black cats, Salem and Dark Spirit.
When she is not writing, celebrating Halloween year-round, or taking cruises, she can be found deep in the woods of Connecticut with her husband, children, and two black cats, Salem and Dark Spirit.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy
If your idea of a "rough business trip" involves being stood up by a client, only to be forced into an all expenses paid extended vacation in Italy whisked around by a breathtakingly gorgeous, mysterious man... please, sign me up for your corporate trauma.
Ruin is a very slow burn, high tension paranormal romance that takes you on a stunning Italian getaway and then gives the traditional vampire lore a complete, fascinating makeover. Forget what you know about the usual bloodsuckers. Arik can handle the sunlight, eats and drinks like a normal human, and honestly, for the first hundred pages, he just radiates pure, wealthy Italian playboy energy.
But don't let the beachside villa fool you; the mystery is lurking right beneath the surface. While Claire is busy living my absolute dream life (seriously, if a beautiful rich Italian man asks me to move into his gorgeous estate forever, my bags are already in his closet 🧳), women are going missing, the hotel staff is acting a little too compliant, and the 🚩red flags are beautifully waving.
The sexual tension is absolutely tensioning 🔥, the world building introduces a really unique take on vampires and the "mate" bond. The stakes get terrifyingly high as the mystery of the winery unfolds and self control starts to snap.
Just a fair warning: this is an unfinished series, this first installment is a heartbreaking, emotional cliffhanger that will leave you staring at the wall and mourning the obstacles keeping these two apart. It’s a fast, addictive read that will make you want to book a one-way ticket to Italy….. just maybe keep an eye on the staff. 👀
Highly recommend if you love:
✨Unique vampire lore
✨Forced proximity in gorgeous Italian villas
✨Mystery, suspense, and missing persons drama
✨Men who would burn the world for their mate
Shoutout to BookSirens for the advanced copy!
Ruin is a very slow burn, high tension paranormal romance that takes you on a stunning Italian getaway and then gives the traditional vampire lore a complete, fascinating makeover. Forget what you know about the usual bloodsuckers. Arik can handle the sunlight, eats and drinks like a normal human, and honestly, for the first hundred pages, he just radiates pure, wealthy Italian playboy energy.
But don't let the beachside villa fool you; the mystery is lurking right beneath the surface. While Claire is busy living my absolute dream life (seriously, if a beautiful rich Italian man asks me to move into his gorgeous estate forever, my bags are already in his closet 🧳), women are going missing, the hotel staff is acting a little too compliant, and the 🚩red flags are beautifully waving.
The sexual tension is absolutely tensioning 🔥, the world building introduces a really unique take on vampires and the "mate" bond. The stakes get terrifyingly high as the mystery of the winery unfolds and self control starts to snap.
Just a fair warning: this is an unfinished series, this first installment is a heartbreaking, emotional cliffhanger that will leave you staring at the wall and mourning the obstacles keeping these two apart. It’s a fast, addictive read that will make you want to book a one-way ticket to Italy….. just maybe keep an eye on the staff. 👀
Highly recommend if you love:
✨Unique vampire lore
✨Forced proximity in gorgeous Italian villas
✨Mystery, suspense, and missing persons drama
✨Men who would burn the world for their mate
Shoutout to BookSirens for the advanced copy!
Review of advance copy
RUIN is the first book in a Trilogy called "Until the End." But by trilogy, the author means that it's a single story told across three books. I appreciated this disclaimer up front; I like to know when I'm getting a cliffhanger. I enjoyed Part 1 enough that I'm already looking forward to the next two.
RUIN is the story of Claire, a wine rep who takes her boss's place on a trip to Italy to try to obtain distribution rights from a small family vineyard, and Arik, the mysterious stranger she crosses paths with on the journey. This is a dark paranormal romance, and every thing that goes along with it. The story is told in dual POV, which I appreciated because I don't think the story would be as compelling without knowing what they're both thinking.
The premise was a new twist on an old monster, and I'll be curious how much more we learn through the other books about why things happen the way they do. Suffice it to say, things are complicated between these two, and whether there will be a happy ending is an open question. The story is also episodic, in that although there's clearly an overarching narrative, there's also a mystery specific to the individual book, too. I would have liked to see more time devoted to the individual mystery because it felt rushed to me. Still, I really enjoyed this book.
Many thanks to BookSirens for an ARC in exchange for my honest assessment of this work.
RUIN is the story of Claire, a wine rep who takes her boss's place on a trip to Italy to try to obtain distribution rights from a small family vineyard, and Arik, the mysterious stranger she crosses paths with on the journey. This is a dark paranormal romance, and every thing that goes along with it. The story is told in dual POV, which I appreciated because I don't think the story would be as compelling without knowing what they're both thinking.
The premise was a new twist on an old monster, and I'll be curious how much more we learn through the other books about why things happen the way they do. Suffice it to say, things are complicated between these two, and whether there will be a happy ending is an open question. The story is also episodic, in that although there's clearly an overarching narrative, there's also a mystery specific to the individual book, too. I would have liked to see more time devoted to the individual mystery because it felt rushed to me. Still, I really enjoyed this book.
Many thanks to BookSirens for an ARC in exchange for my honest assessment of this work.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ruin delivers an immersive, cinematic reading experience, transporting readers through vivid settings while weaving together mystery, suspense, and a slow burn romance. From the very first chapters, I found myself intrigued by the unfolding thriller elements and eager to uncover the secrets hidden beneath the surface. Each chapter revealed just enough to keep the story moving and encouraged me to keep turning the pages.
One of the highlights for me was the vampire lore. It offered a refreshing take while still honoring the classic elements that make vampire stories so compelling. Combined with a fast paced narrative and a cast of complex, evolving characters, the story creates an engaging foundation that leaves plenty to explore.
The conclusion does exactly what the first installment of a series should, it leaves readers with lingering questions and a desire to discover what comes next. While I personally would have enjoyed seeing a bit more development in certain plot points, it never took away from the overall reading experience.
Ruin is an enjoyable blend of paranormal fantasy, romance, and thriller that introduces an intriguing world and sets the stage for the series ahead.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the ARC.
One of the highlights for me was the vampire lore. It offered a refreshing take while still honoring the classic elements that make vampire stories so compelling. Combined with a fast paced narrative and a cast of complex, evolving characters, the story creates an engaging foundation that leaves plenty to explore.
The conclusion does exactly what the first installment of a series should, it leaves readers with lingering questions and a desire to discover what comes next. While I personally would have enjoyed seeing a bit more development in certain plot points, it never took away from the overall reading experience.
Ruin is an enjoyable blend of paranormal fantasy, romance, and thriller that introduces an intriguing world and sets the stage for the series ahead.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the ARC.
Review of advance copy
Overall I thought this was a really good book. I will say the beginning seemed a little too fast for him to just fall in love with her but then you kind of learn towards the end why or how he came to know of her, which I liked. I also ended up really liking Arik towards the end.
There were a few typos here and there but nothing that would stop me from reading it. The only reason I’m not giving it the full 5 stars, it just didnt wow me like some books have in the past (just my opinion) but don’t get me wrong she’s a great writer and I think it’s a good book, (I was able to clearly picture so many things in my mind throughout the book so she did really good detailing things). I’m definitely not disappointed at all and was still a good read for me. I think with the way it ended I will definitely read book 2.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There were a few typos here and there but nothing that would stop me from reading it. The only reason I’m not giving it the full 5 stars, it just didnt wow me like some books have in the past (just my opinion) but don’t get me wrong she’s a great writer and I think it’s a good book, (I was able to clearly picture so many things in my mind throughout the book so she did really good detailing things). I’m definitely not disappointed at all and was still a good read for me. I think with the way it ended I will definitely read book 2.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
I enjoyed it. Claire is a relatable, likeable character. You can't help but root for the underdog. The story is more character-driven than plot-driven. I'm hoping the sequel will give more of a plot now that we know who the main characters are.
Claire is sent on a once-in-a-lifetime work trip to Italy. She wants to use this opportunity to prove herself at her work as a wine supplier in NYC. Little does she know, residing in Italy, where she is visiting, is a vampire who has had his sights set on her for a very long time. This story highlights Claire's push-and-pull emotions towards Arik.
Claire is sent on a once-in-a-lifetime work trip to Italy. She wants to use this opportunity to prove herself at her work as a wine supplier in NYC. Little does she know, residing in Italy, where she is visiting, is a vampire who has had his sights set on her for a very long time. This story highlights Claire's push-and-pull emotions towards Arik.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews