He ran from a cult. Straight into the arms of a man who doesn’t let go.
Colton Escaping the Children of the Fallen was supposed to be impossible.
They controlled everything — money, food, movement, fear.
But when I discovered what they were really doing to the children, I ran… before my baby brother became their next victim.
I expected to spend the rest of my life hiding.
Instead, I ended up under the protection of the Murphy family — and directly in the path of Ronan Murphy.
Cold. Dangerous. Obsessive.
He watches me like I belong to him.
Touches me like he’s already claimed me.
Protects me like he’ll burn the world before letting anyone take me back.
I should be terrified.
But after a lifetime of being alone… his obsession feels dangerously close to safety.
Ronan Colton thinks this ends when the threat is eliminated. He’s wrong. I don’t forget. I don’t forgive. And I don’t let go of what’s mine. Someone hunted him. Someone tried to sell his brother. They will pay for that mistake. I will dismantle the cult that hurt him. I will destroy everyone involved.
And when it’s over…
Colton still won’t be leaving. He thinks I rescued him. He doesn’t understand.
I kept him.
Because he’s mine.
My addiction.
My Addiction is Book Two in the Murphy Enterprises series. It can be read as a standalone, but the stories overlap.
✔ Dark MM romance
✔ Possessive, morally gray hero
✔ Hurt/comfort & found family
✔ Obsessive love
✔ Protective antihero
✔ On-the-run suspense
✔ HEA
Intended for readers 18+. Please check trigger warnings before reading.
This one was more of a 3.25-3.5 stars for me. Every single bit of those stars goes to Ronan!
When I first started reading this I thought I would like it more than the first book. I mean the premise seemed soo intriguing with a MC on the run from a cult with his baby brother and a psychopath. I just wasn’t in love with it like I thought I would be.
I absolutely love this authors psychopathic characters. They are literally everything!! I loved Ronan so much. He was so funny without even trying. I thought it was so cute that he asks Siri how to take care of a baby. Seeing him with Ollie was the cutest thing ever.
I just can’t say the same thing about their counterparts. Colton was so annoying for a majority of the book. There was like maybe 15-20% where he wasn’t bugging the shit out me but by that point I was skimming through the book. He was like Xavier 2.0 from the first book (who I didn’t like at all) with him giving me whiplash. I don’t mind some insecurities in my characters but his were so weird. Like Ronan was obsessed with Colton’s dimples and would touch them. Then Ronan found out baby Ollie had dimples and touched them too and Colton was like “oh so he just goes around touching everyone’s dimples, I thought I was special but I guess not!” I was like umm are you forreal, he’s touching your baby’s dimples and you’re getting insecure over it? It was just so bizarre!! And then he got mad at Ronan for not expressing himself enough and “jumping to conclusions about how Colton feels” when Colton was doing the exact same thing. His communication skills were non existent but he got mad at Ronan for not being able to explain himself? Idk I just really didn’t like his way of thinking.
Anyway I’m hoping Conor is next or Daddy Duncan because I didn’t like Liam in this one and Finn is just kind of there at this point.
Ms. Varner I love your psychopaths but can we please get better love interests for them in the future please and thank you?!
No cheating or op drama at all. Possessive and obsessive which we love. No break up. Virgin MC (I do feel like this should have been dual virgin because Ronan went on and on about how much he hates touch and being near people but he’s had sex multiple times? Make that make sense) Torture and murder. Pretty much HEA
1st Person POV Dual Plot 4/5 Spice 1.5/5 MM Virgin MC On the run
This is the second in the series and while it could be a standalone, I am so glad I read the first one before reading this one. There are so many side character and different relationships and how they all interact that I would have be missing a huge chuck of what made this second book so good! I also liked that you could tell the writing growth between the first and second book! This story had a more natural flow to it!!
I loved how Ronan and Colton meshed together so seamlessly, of course there was some push and pull, but when you are dealing with an overbearing psychopath who has trouble reading cues, that's gonna happen! I also adored baby Ollie! They way he has all these big bad men wrapped around his little adorable finger was so funny! He was the comedic relief this book needed! ( Ollie's little rivalry with Ronan's twin Liam is hilarious!! These two give off Jack Jack and the raccoon vibes from the Incredibles!😂😂)
Review of advanced copy received from Author 5 ⭐️ 3🌶️ This book was emotional, sweet, and addictive and kept me hooked from page 1 to the very end. Colton and Ronan had great chemistry, and I especially loved watching Ronan realize he was feeling strong emotions. The emotional turmoil Colton had to face when he was protecting his brother was intense, but watching him slowly accept help was so special. Colton is truly one of my favorite MMCs I’ve read in a while. After reading My Obsession, I was so excited to read Ronans story. It did not disappoint. Gosh Ronan has many unique quirks to him, but they made me love him more and more with each one. When he asked Siri for help, it made me LOL. He is also so incredibly sweet with Ollie, and his journey with him and Colton was so rewarding. Read this book if you love: ⭐️Dark MM romance ⭐️Possessive and morally gray hero ⭐️Hurt/comfort ⭐️On-the-run suspense ⭐️ Found family ⭐️HEA
My review and other information: (a little bit of spoilers, probably) • • •
This book is quite different from the first book, more focused on action and family, and I found it very cute, but sometimes I thought, "Okay, that's enough, now everyone get out of here for a bit and let the MCs have some time alone." But I liked it. I hope there are books about the other brothers (and please, let them all be MM romance). And I'm also keeping an eye on Uncle Duncan; I foresee a romance with an age gap , office romance, and boss/employee (that would be delightful).
And I'll be completely honest now… I don't like babies! And I generally don't read stories that have babies in them. The baby in this book was okay, but he was practically the protagonist and I got bored with so many scenes featuring him.
—— Cheating: No Breakup: No POV: 1st person, dual Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles(Ronan Top /Colton bottom) Main characters' age: Colton 24 / Ronan 20-something Kindle Unlimited: Yes! Happy ending: Yes Do they stay with other people?: No. Colton is virgin. Any type of SA?: No.
Colton is on the run from a cult with his baby brother, Ollie. That's when he meets Ronan. As soon as Ronan sets his eyes on Colton, he knew he had to have him.
This book did something I didn't expect, it surpassed book 1 (My Obsession) for me. My Obsession was an amazing 5⭐️ read for me... and this one was still so much better in my opinion. I absolutely love the way Ronan was, not only with Colton but also with Ollie. Ronan surprised me in many ways. Starting with how quickly he was willing to just accept Ollie and his messiness as a baby. Ronan hates anything unorganized or messy. Ollie being a year old, is all of those things.. yet as soon as Ronan realized he needed both Colt and Ollie in his life, everything changed. The protective, obsessive, and possessive side of Ronan was exactly what Colton need. For the first time in his life he had someone willing to put him first and help him carry the burdens of life while making him feel cared for and wanted for the first time in his life.
Now, let's talk about Alessia Murphy. That woman is amazing in every single way. She leads the Murphy family full of psychopaths in a way that allows them to be who they are and who they need to be while also keeping everyone under control and in line. She is their moral compass. It's rare for me that I like a side character way more than the main characters... but Alessia Murphy is that woman. She's amazing in every way. I love her so much. The way she loves and accepts everyone in this family, including anyone her boys bring into the fold just makes me love her that much more!
For the first time in their lives Colton and Ollie have the family they deserve and the Murphy family are more than welcoming.
This book exceeded all of my expectations. Excited to see what the future holds for the Murphy family and any future Murphy Enterprises books. Thank you so much Wendi Varner for the opportunity to enjoy this family and their journeys. ❤️
Aghhh!! "My Addiction" is my newest addiction. Wendi - this book is so fun. First of all, I was hooked from the beginning...page 1. I need to be pulled into a book early on, and this book delivered.
Colton and Ollie. My poor babies. I want to protect them at all costs. The book starts with Colton going on the run with his baby brother Ollie to protect Ollie from their parents and the cult life they've been forced into. By a great stroke of luck, he stumbles into Murphy Enterprises. Side note: I hope one day I'm lucky enough to stumble upon a Murphy family member - Alessia especially.
Colton then meets Ronan - the hottest brother of the Murphy boys (in my opinion he's the hottest), and you know how the Murphy boys are. Something about Colton immediately triggers Ronan and the rest is beautiful book history. Ronan develops an extreme need to protect Colton. There's more about Ronan's need to protect in the book (the cover is a giveaway). Colton has fear and trust issues, but throughout the book with Ronan's actions and the actions of the Murphy family, Colton opens up to the idea of giving all of himself to Ronan.
Then there's Ollie, my sweet baby Ollie and his dimples. Ollie falls in love with the Murphy family. He has the cutest nicknames for the family too - Ki-ki for Kieran; Mamo for Alessia; Pa for Ronan (ugh, so sweet). He also picks up cute little cuss words like ack asssssss. So adorable.
Needless to say, the Murphy family - well - they take care of the bad guys which was so fun to watch unfold. I loved everything about this book - beginning, middle and end. This book was such a quick and fun read. I can't wait for the next book in the series. These book are the perfect palate cleansing reads.
Plot ♾️⭐️ Colton runs away from a cult with his younger brother, how he meets Ronan is really cute, i loved the chemistry between Ronan and Colton, you could feel the lengths Ronan would go to keep them both safe and the fear Colton had of being caught and leaning to trust others.
Characters ♾️⭐️ The attention in the details of the Characters blew me away again with wendis books i didn't need to be told Ronan was on the psychopathy and autism spectrums you felt it in his actions, how they both grew as characters and their relationship was soo cute and funny, theres 1 part with Ronan, Ollie and siri that had me full belly laughing with butterflies because it was funny but so sweet and wholesome at the same time, you will understand if you read the book.
We also learn more about the Murphy family and the dynamics and vibes, i really enjoyed the interactions, Alessia is by far my favourite book mum, i really loved her character there was a part where she says something to Colton and as a mother i really resonated with that.
Writing style ♾️⭐️ Wendi has a way of hooking you in, you dont just read, you feel her words
Spicy ♾️⭐️ 🤫👏🏾👏🏾
Overall i really enjoyed reading my addiction, Ronan, Colton and ollie live rent free in my head, i will probably cry when the series ends, my obsession was amazing, my addiction literally blew me away, i really dont think im ready for conor and jacksons story.
Dark romance, possessive, morally gray hero, hurt/comfort and found family, obsessive love, protective antihero, on the run suspence, HEA.
Honestly, I tend to stay away from writing reviews, but I felt your work deserved the attention, so here I am.
I found out about your work on TikTok, and compared to many of the books that are constantly hyped, this was a very enjoyable read. My main concerns relate to the timeline and the development of the plot. For example, Ronan meets Colton and then moves in with him the very next day. From that point onward, many major events seem to happen quite quickly, including the “I love yous,” family involvement, the hunt among others.
I think a more realistic timeframe would make the progression of the story feel more believable and strengthen the overall plot. A little more skepticism from the brothers would have also added tension, especially given how quickly everything unfolded. Realistically, even intense or morally grey characters would likely have some hesitation before fully diving in.
This also ties into the characterization. The banter was good and kept the story engaging. However, I found myself thinking that baby Ollie should have been closer to three years old, given how advanced his character seemed at times. For me, it’s often the small details that help sell a story and make it feel authentic.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of your work.
P.S. While the book wasn’t particularly heavy on spice, I honestly didn’t mind. The plot moved steadily and kept me invested throughout, which was more than enough for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My Addiction is Book Two in the Murphy Enterprises series and I'm obsessed with the latest addition to the Murphy family.
Going into this story, I had no expectations, and I'm so grateful that I got swept up in the wholesomeness of Ronan, Colton, and Ollie. Honestly, Ronan didn't stand out much back in My Obsession since he was more behind the scenes but dare I say I love his story a lot more than I do Declan and Xavier.
This book made me equally swoon, tear up, and laugh. Seeing the big bad Zaddy Murphy men like Kieran and Duncan become teddy bears for Ollie was such a sweet and laughable experience not to mention the beef between Ollie and Liam LMAO.
We saw different sides of this family and I love the way the Murphys stand on business and use their power and riches in getting rid of scums and are unapologetic about it.
ALESSIA MURPHY THE WOMAN THAT YOU ARE!! That woman stood on business and demonstrated why she's the head of the Murphy men.
I could ramble more about this story like another favorite scene of mine when Ronan asked Siri for baby instructions lol so cute and funny.
I'm officially invested in this series and looking forward to whoever is up next in finding their person.
Psychopath × Cinnamon Roll is definitely one of my favorite tropes and Wendi Varner is quickly becoming a favorite author with The Murphys. Book 2 in the series (can be read as a stand alone although characters crossover) is Ronan Murphy's he's the tech guy who has some neuro-spicy tendencies besides being on the antisocial personality disorder spectrum. I was already obsessed with him from the first book. He meets Colton and Colton's baby brother Ollie and it's literally addiction at first sight. All his monsters get quiet when Colton is around and Colton himself is no slouch, being on the run from a religious cult is hard work after all. Yep that's right, poor Colton & Ollie were being mistreated by their parents & cult so Colton did the only thing he could to protect his baby brother...he ran. I won't spoil the book but you can expect lots of "firsts", (over)Possessive MMC, Psychopath in love, a cinnamon roll that can hold his own, found family, the spice is spicing. An added note about this series over all is that The Murphys have a matriarch that is normal and loving and wonderful and married to the father who happens to be a psychopath so she made adjustments for him and then for her boys as they got older and presented with traits of antisocial personality disorder. I love that about this book. Alessia Murphy is a sweet loving badass in the most normal way possible while being surrounded by psychopaths and it separates this series from others, imco. I rated this book 5-stars and already cannot wait for the next installment.
I liked this one so much better than the first! I loved Colton and Ronan's relationship and how it built over the course of the book. Ronan giving Colton space to make his own choices while clearly yearning for him the whole time was such a good dynamic.
Ollie was such a necessary addition too, he softened Ronan in a way that gave us some genuinely sweet, funny moments the first book was missing.
My one real complaint is the inconsistencies the author let slip through. Colton's age keeps shifting, he's 22 at the start, then Ronan says 24 at one point, then later it's 23. Ollie's age does the same thing, bouncing between 11 months, a little over a year, exactly 1 year, and back to 11 months again. I honestly can't tell if that was intentional, maybe meant to show that Colton and Ollie genuinely don't know their real ages because of growing up in a cult, since that's a pretty common tactic cults use, or if it was just an oversight. Either way, it made for a frustrating guessing game as a reader.
The story started out strong. The possessive MC has always appealed to me and the interpretation of “psychopaths” is always an interesting read. I liked how Ronan and Colton’s story started with such great emotional pull, but after a while it became a little mundane and lost all the tension that had been building up in the first part of the book.
I loved Ronan. Colton was an iffy character for me - he came off a little tiny bit annoying at times and maybe at some points I wished for someone better for Ronan. And Ollie is just an unbelievable character - babies are just not like that.
The side characters were fun but at times a little intrusive. Also the amount of characters introduced made it overwhelming at some points - I couldn’t keep track of who they all were.
I do look forward to the next book which is hopefully the eldest brother cos it sounds quite interesting.
My Addiction I got the ARC This is Book Two in the Murphy Enterprises series. It can be read as a standalone, I was so excited when I received this book. I love how we get to read about Declan and Xavier the couple from the first book but this book is about Ronan and Colton, and baby OLLIE. Not going to lie now I want to read the mom and the dad’s( Kieran) story next. If they have one that it .
“Ollie doesn’t just have you anymore.” I tighten my hand on his shoulder. “He has us.” I look him straight in the eye. “And so do you.” I was already 50% in I was reading and I did not what this book to end. The way Ronan wanted to not just protect Colton but also baby Ollie was a beautiful thing to read . “I think you unlocked a language kink.” This book was perfection. Also the epilogue it was beautiful. I had hoped that there was an extended epilogue but there is not.
My Addiction by Wendi Varner completely consumed me from start to finish. Ronan and Colton have the kind of chemistry that feels once in a lifetime — intense, emotional, and impossible not to root for. Every scene between them had me hooked.
Colton especially stole my heart. The way he cares for Ollie and steps into that protective “dad” role so naturally made me love him even more. Any kid would be lucky to have someone like him in their corner.
The storyline involving The Church was honestly terrifying at times, but watching Ronan and his family stand beside Colton and help him break free was powerful and emotional. The danger, the loyalty, and the love woven through this story made it impossible to put down.
Now excuse me while I impatiently wait for book 3 because I need it immediately. If you haven’t started this series yet, fix that ASAP.
Oh my little big weirdo Ronan from cyber loner who didn’t like people or kids to a protector and lover protecting Colton and little Ollie. The way not only did he decide that Colton was his person he also decided that Ollie was his whole world and took on the role of parent and unconditionally made them his family. Colton is the best protecting his baby brother and becoming his parent to save him from a horrible fate. Ofcourse the Murphy clan took on the role in doting grandparents and uncle’s immediately. This one made me cry gasp and laugh. Especially with Ronans buffering at certain things. The funniest part is Ollie’s beef with ronans twin Liam. The plot again is worth the read itself but paired with the romance and instant chosen family it was perfection can’t wait for my fixation
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is a dark mm romance the second book in the series, the Murphy Enterprises, which follows a family of psychopaths with this story, focusing on a hacker name Roman and his connection with Colton a man fleeing a religious cult a gripping journey of escape and the contrasting backgrounds of both MMC‘s I don’t wanna give too much away, but it’s definitely a 10 out of 10 hopefully and audiobook can be made with Joe Arden as Roman and Liam DiCosimo as Colton. I would definitely reread with the audiobook. I can’t wait for the next book in the series
not perfect but still a five. I like Ronan and Colton a lot, especially when you throw baby Ollie into the mix. Ronan is so deadpan and has a dry sense of humor. Colton is a little bit odd and we don’t really see any depth to him—it’s more focused on Ronan or the plot and that’s fine. I liked the plot although I feel like it wasn’t as action packed as the description made it out to be. It fit into the sequence of Murphy books though. Overall loved colt and Ronan more but character rankings—
I have read book one and I just finished book 2 and I'm getting ready to read book 3. I am completely enthralled with the story of the Murphy. Boys and I cannot wait to continue the series. And I hope that the author continues the story of the other boys as well. There's 2 more. The author pulls you in, and the stories are so good, and it makes you pause because it makes you want to believe that there is a person out there that will look at you. The way ronan looked at colton.....
From the absolute very start, Colton, baby Ollie and Ronan had my heart, body and soul.
The story is so well told, my head was all over the place during certain scenes, I was a bag of nerves. The relationship between Colton and Ronan evolves so beautifully, little Ollie had me laughing my head off🤣🤣😍.
Not putting any spoilers as personally I'm not a huge fan , everyone just needs to add this to their TBR list 📚🙌
Baby Ollie is going to rule The clan Murphy 😈!! The Love Colton has for his baby brother shines throughout the whole book he would do anything to keep all safe. Ronan doesn’t stand a chance with the two of them lol. I cannot wait to see what is next you will not be disappointed you’ll have the ups and downs sitting on the edge of your seat your seat to the very end. I am a sucker for a HEA
Really enjoyed this second book in the series and looking forward to the third book being released this week. Love a good obsessive/possessive MC. Aside from enjoying Colton and Ronan’s relationship the addition of baby Ollie allowed for some sweet and funny moments. As I have my own Ogham tattoo I love that Ronan has one! Loved the inclusion of the Gaeilge. And finally, Alessia Murphy is a top tier matriarch!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I liked this book. I just hate time inconsistencies. They really bother me! So in the prologue it says that Colton is 22 years old and Ollie is 11 months old. Then I think it was on page 74, Ronan says Colton is 24 years old and they have kept saying that Ollie is a year old and on one page it said over a year old. Then on page 115, Ollie is back to “a little over 11 months old”. Then on page 196 it said Colton is 23 years old! I’m confused!
Bro let me BREATHE Another epic story, go figure. Full of gasps, giggles, teary eyes, and plenty of kicking feet. Lol
If there are any complaints, I'm unaware of them right now because I'm still surfing that "end of the book high" I freaking love these three. It was adorable as hell. Frustrating at times but quickly leveled out back into "awwww" territory lol.
I want to spill everything about this book but at the same time, im tripping over myself to start the next book. 🤌
Colton & Ronan!!! Baby Ollie!!! I loveddd this one so much, definitely my fav book in the series! Ronan loves Colton so well and his approach to him being “his” was much better than Declan’s from the last book. Also, Ronan googling everything and having no clue how to look after a baby was hilarious and adorable. Ollie instantly latching onto Ronan and the entire family but hating Liam was GOLD. The found family was so good in this one. Ollie just brought something I don’t see in books a lot and it made everything that much more wholesome. Also, I loved how much Xavier was in this book!
This is the second book of the Murphy Enterprise and I loved it so much! I love Ronan and Colton so much, they’re perfect for each other. Don’t even get me started with baby Ollie and his war with Liam it’s so funny. Momma Alessia is such a baddie and they way she keep all the men in check is amazing. Love every minute of it
This book was definitely written better than book one. The flow of the writing and story were much improved. Still not much in the way of spice which was very disappointing. I need that physical connection and intimacy and we just don't get it. What couple of spicy scenes there were were still very short. I'm sure the next book will be more of the same but we'll see.
I loved Ronan so much!!!! He’s my favorite Murphy, he had me laughing through the whole book. I love Colton and Ollie, they take Ronan out of his comfort zone. This was such a fun read for me, the battle between Liam and Ollie is so amusing. The Murphy’s are so welcoming, down to earth, unhinged, possessive and I love them for it!
Another great Murphy Family book. Ronan is the possessive mmc we have all come to love. Colton is shy, inexperienced, sheltered boy next door (if you happen to live in a cult). Sweet Ollie, omg! With a terrific storyline and 🌶️🌶️🌶️ scenes this book will make you laugh, cry and pant throughout the read. Highly recommend!
My Addiction is a flawless blend of raw vulnerability and unapologetic obsession. It is gritty, romantic, and beautifully paced. Wendi Varner continues to prove why the Murphy Enterprises series is an absolute must-read for fans of dark M/M romance. Prepare to binge this in one sitting!