She didn’t break his heart. She sacrificed it to keep him alive.
Gabriella I learned a long time ago that survival comes at a cost. Sometimes it’s your freedom. Sometimes it’s your voice. And sometimes… it’s the people you love. He was never meant to be part of my story. But for one moment, I let myself believe I could have him. Just one moment of weakness—one choice that changed everything. Now I live in a world where obedience is survival and failure is punished. I’m bound to his enemies, trapped in a life I can’t escape… and I’ve become someone he would never forgive.
Vienna They always underestimated me. They thought the laughter meant I wasn’t paying attention—that the charm made me soft, that I wouldn’t see what was right in front of me. They were wrong. Because I remember everything. The girl who chose me. The girl who betrayed me. The girl who took everything from me. She thinks she made her choice. She thinks she’s beyond saving. But I’ve seen the cracks—and I’m done pretending I haven’t. They took her from me once. This time… I’m taking her back. No matter who I have to destroy to do it.
She stayed to save him. Now he’s risking everything to save her.
J.M. Johnson is a UK based author, often writing books set in her home of Yorkshire.
She writes dark romance that are very, very spicy, with morally grey men, and strong female leads. With a profound love of sarcasm (that's the British in her!) her books are always filled with it, as well as sprinkling humorous banter throughout.
All of the books come with trigger warnings like a shopping list, but are also plot heavy.
When she's not writing, she's either practicing her special effects makeup, or spending time with her three children, her fiance and her two dogs.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Stars – A Dark Romance That Completely Consumed Me
Hidden by J.M. Johnson was everything I wanted from a dark romance and more. From the very first chapter, I was pulled into a story filled with tension, secrets, obsession, and twists that kept me turning pages long into the night.
This isn't a light-hearted romance. It's dark, intense, and emotionally gripping, with characters who are beautifully flawed and a storyline that keeps you guessing. The chemistry between the characters is electric, and the way the author builds suspense had me hooked from start to finish.
What I loved most was how unpredictable it was. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another revelation would hit, making it impossible to put down. The darker themes were handled in a way that added depth to the story rather than taking away from it, creating a reading experience that was both thrilling and unforgettable.
J.M. Johnson has created a world that is haunting, addictive, and impossible to forget. If you enjoy dark romance with mystery, danger, emotional intensity, and characters that leave a lasting impression, then this book is definitely worth reading.
I absolutely loved every minute of it and can confidently say this is a 5-star read for me. I cannot wait to dive deeper into this series and see what happens next.
🖤 Dark, twisted, addictive, and utterly captivating. Hidden completely stole my attention and refused to let go. 🖤
Well what a cliffhanger of an ending that was. It was good seeing how the other characters are doing, I loved Dante and Rachels three books. Great storyline which takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, I loved seeing more of Vienna's story and generally more of him terrorising people, the sandwichs were hilarious. This is definitely a romeo and Juilet style romance. Can't wait for the next book to see how it all develops and ends.
I LOVED IT! These Devils! Can I find me a biker that belongs to the club? I want to be a Devil’s old lady! Vienna and Gabriella’s story has me in my feeeels! 😭😭 Vienna is everything I thought he would be. What an amazing man!!! I love him so so much!!!! It’s a roller coaster. The cliffhanger. Their love story 😭 I loved it so much. It’s so much more than I could have imagined. So looking forward to book number 5. I need it NOW!
Another great book from JM Johnson. Vienna has been my favourite all through the series but this book truly showed who he is. His relationship between him and Gabrielle is raw with no holds barred. If you haven’t read this series you need to. Be warned though the cliff hangers are gutting.
When I tell you I have been dying for Vienna‘s book since finishing Dante and Rachel‘s trilogy… I am physically ill. The emotional damage here is criminal.
The way I was desperately swiping at my Kindle at 3 AM hoping a glitch would magically spawn another chapter??? THAT CLIFFHANGER IS SICK AND TWISTED AND I AM GOING TO SUE. I need book two directly injected into my veins right now.
VIENNA IS THE BLUEPRINT. I am on my hands and knees for this man. He is hands down my favorite character. He’s everything. He’s a chaotic, unhinged menace who will casually wipe out an entire bloodline for his people, wave at the traumatized witnesses, tell them to have a blessed day, and actually MEAN IT. The way he loves so loud and hard is so deeply attractive it makes me want to scream that he isn’t real. He is such a layered character, soft and hard, loyal and genuine. The saddest, funniest person I’ve ever read. I mean truly, being funny is just in his DNA.
DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN?! I need CPR immediately. It needs to be studied. In a lab. Specifically the lab located in my bedroom.
But honestly, this book was soul-crushing. Jumping back and forth from when they were 14 years old to present day at 37 is pure devastation. We are talking about TWENTY-THREE YEARS of loving somebody. It was absolutely brutal experiencing it all, especially knowing they aren't even together right now. Watching that innocent adolescent love bloom into young adulthood, only for them to be ripped apart, completely broke me. The absolute hell they survived, the silent sacrifices they made, and the sheer amount of YEARNING over the last ten years of being without each other all while missing half the puzzle pieces had my heart physically aching.
Put me in the ground. I am actually unwell. I just want to scream, let them just be able to fucking love each other and be happy.
And Gabby... listen. The urge to violently shake her by the shoulders yelling “GIRL WHAT ARE YOU DOING, GO TO YOUR MAN” while simultaneously wanting to violently defend her in a court of law is so real. The abuse she went through made me sick to my stomach, so I get it, but god the angst is killing me. The love is so unconditionally real and I am rooting for them so hard.
Getting to see Dante, Rachel, and the rest of the club back was everything. No one does found family better than them. If you think this is just some regular dark biker romance, you are dead wrong. JM Johnson is mothering so hard with the plot and depth. You don't just read about these characters, you become unhealthily attached to them.
I will be upping my Lexapro dose while I wait for book 2 because 10 mg just isn’t going to do it.
thank you to j.m and her team for allowing me to arc read for her! i was SO excited for this book because vienna is my favoriteeeee character from the entire devils disciples series. he always brought such a light, fun energy to the books, and finally getting to see who he really is and why he is the way he is just made me love him even more, wholeheartedly. i will say check the trigger warnings for this one. there were a few moments where i was making faces and lowkey grossed out. it was never a hard no for me, but it definitely adds a heavier layer to the story. i also feel like this one leaned more into the smutty/sexual side than the others. it didn’t bother me personally, but i can absolutely see how it could be triggering, so pleaseeee check those warnings before going in.
dante and rachel felt a lot calmer in this book, like they were just over everyone and everything. dante especially seemed exasperated like all the years of chaos are finally catching up to him. but honestly? i feel like it’s a front and he secretly thrives in it. rachel definitely toned it down a bit, but she’s still her crazy self, ready to go to war with the riders straight out the damn front door.
i also loved getting more insight into rachel’s parents. because let’s be real, we all hated that sad excuse of a mother in the previous books. the rest of the club kind of fell into place like usual, but it was really cool to see how everyone developed into who they are now. the flashbacks and the whole descendants upbringing added so much depth and really tied everything together. and the stuff about laura??? wow… actually insane.
nico, yeah, he’s still disgusting. i’ve always hated him from the little bits we got before, and this just solidified it. i cannot believe he ended up as president because he is not president material at all.
gabby though, my heart hurts for her. she was so strong, especially with everything she had to endure under nico. i really felt for her and all the other girls in this story. she did what she had to do to protect the people she loved and cared for so deeply, but i really wish she could’ve gotten what she deserved without going through the absolute worst. and that betrayal scene??? killed me. like WHAT. insane.
and vienna… he will always be my favorite. i knew he was troubled, but learning just how troubled he was and how he found his way into the devils was so interesting. it even made you appreciate kitty a little bit (yuck, i know). from the descendants to the disciples, he’s still the same loving, ride-or-die, would-die-for-you type of man. and seeing him with bee just hits differently now, knowing how everything in his life played out, just when he had it all.
overall, this was such a good book. j.m. johnson is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors, even though i HATE the way these books end. the cliffhangers get me every single time, my jaw literally dropped. the way this one ended should be illegal because WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?? i need to know immediately. but i guess i’ll be patiently or very impatiently waiting.
favorite quotes: "i knew what it was to adapt before you even realised you were adapting." *side note, im sure there was a lot of quotes in this book but i was reading so fast i did not highlight any*
This book was everything I hoped it would be and more! This was my most anticipated read of the year to date (book 2 now being the next one!!), I have been waiting for Viennas story since first meeting him and my word I was not disappointed. This had me laughing, ugly crying and everything in between. Vienna is the big oaf, the loveable rogue, the class clown, never seeming to take himself to seriously and doing everything in his power to wind up everyone else just to let them go and laugh at the destruction. However, under it all there’s always been a hidden vulnerability, a backstory of pain and heartbreak which he hides and protects in the only ways he knows, comedy and humour. Finally being able to peel back his layers (ha! No pun intended if you know you know!) dig a little deeper and really understand him, just made me fall in love with him even more. The intrigue that Gabriella brought any time she was mentioned has had me hooked on their dynamic from the start. To delve into her background, trials, tribulations, trauma and turmoil has only strengthened that resolve that her and Vienna are truly destined.
As per her writing style - and admit it, you’d be disappointed if it wasn’t- this book if full of triggers (you’ve been warned!) it’s dark and disturbing, it’s hot and sexual, it’s slamming your eyes shut as you can’t believe what you’re reading, it’s toe curling, heaving breathing, panty melting, gut wrenching and swoon worthy. It’s everything and yet not enough all at once.
If you read Dante and Rachel’s story and are ready for more, what are you waiting for? If you haven’t, but you’re after the hot and hunky, slightly deranged, loyal to a fault, a little unhinged, found family Biker, dark and dirty romance then this is the book for you. But I highly recommend you start at the beginning with Stolen. Come on and join the Devils!! You won’t regret it!
I was not prepared for how devastating Hidden would be.
This is easily the darkest and most emotionally brutal book in the series. The abuse, trauma, and survival in this story are not for the faint of heart, but that is also what makes it so powerful. The pacing is slower, and it needs to be. Every moment is meant to sit with you, to hurt a little longer, to make you feel exactly what these characters are going through.
Vienna absolutely wrecked me.
His devotion to Gabriella, to the point of obsession, was heartbreaking in every way. The sleepless nights, the drinking, the way he hid his pain behind humor… knowing he was falling apart while no one truly saw through it destroyed me. Everything that makes Vienna who he is ties back to Gabby, and realizing that piece by piece was painful to witness.
And Gabriella… my heart shattered for her.
Everything she endured to survive, for herself and for her mother, was horrific. The sacrifices she made and the way she allowed herself to be seen as the villain just to protect him hurt on another level. Watching everyone believe she betrayed Vienna had me internally screaming. The signs were right there. How did no one see it?
And then the letter.
I sobbed. Not a single tear moment, full emotional breakdown.
And that ending?
My heart was racing and I just sat there staring at my Kindle trying to process what I just read. I am not okay. If this turns into any kind of tragic ending situation, I will not recover.
This book did not just break my heart. It completely shattered it, and I will be thinking about it for a long time and impatiently waiting for the next book to hopefully piece me back together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was an arc read Im going to start this with: why why why!! your an evil women j.m johnson with your cliffhangers 🤣!! I swear she is the queen of cliffhangers & i dont know how my kindle survives her books as it nearly gets launched at the wall with every book! She also straps you into an emotional roller coaster & does not let you off until the end of the book I felt every emotion while reading this & i loved it!! This is the 4th book in the devil deciples series & this time follows the story of the vice president of the biker club, vienna & the rival gang, the rough riders, princess, gabriella. Vienna & gabriella have history, they have known each other from been kids & we get to see their past & watch their friendship grow into more through before chapters. Obviously been from rival gangs their love is forbidden & this is a romeo & juliet story that we know is destined for tragedy. Fast forward to current days & gabriella is now the old lady of the rough rider leader nico. Nico is a vile sadistic human being & he has made it into my top 10 most hated character list! And the way he treats gabriella is disgusting, she is trapped with no way out but vienna won't give up that easy on the woman hes loved for so many years. Once again I loved the characters & the banter, vienna has been my favourite character from book 1 & the things that come out of that mans mouth & the things he gets up to is pure comedy gold! Like all of J.M. Johnsons books CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS! Her books are dark & this one is no exception! I cant wait for viennas next book as i need to know what happens next!
Wow… just wow. This book has hurt my heart so much. I genuinely couldn’t put it down. Once again, JM Johnson has completely blown me away with her writing—she is so incredibly talented, and you can feel it on every single page.
This was such an eagerly awaited read for me, and somehow it still exceeded expectations. But that ending? I’m not okay. I’m honestly not going to be okay for a while. I need some kind of emotional support blanket—or an emotional support animal—just to recover from what I’ve just read.
It is absolutely fantastic. I cannot wait for the rest of the series.
The depth of trauma that Vienna endures, alongside everything Gabriella goes through, is just heartbreaking. Their stories stay with you long after you’ve finished. The loyalty, the obsession, the constant drama surrounding them—it’s intense in the best way. And the abuse Gabriella suffered at Nico… wow. Just wow. Some parts of the book were full on and traumatic to read but I pushed on because of my love for the characters and hey, trigger warnings are there for a reason and I love this series. I have no regrets even if sometimes it was harrowing.
This book doesn’t just tell a story—it makes you feel everything.
I DEVOURED this book. I’ve been waiting since the end of Dante and Rachel’s book to see the world from Viennas point of view and it didn’t disappoint!
We see Vienna as a clown, funny guy and always creating mayhem wherever he goes but in this book you get to see a whole different side to him. The story with his mum, the struggles he faces growing up in the club. His love for Gabriella was just 😍😭 he was always there even when she didn’t know it, always on standby incase she called.
Gabriella’s story was heartbreaking, being with Vienna then the reason they weren’t together (trying to not give spoilers 🙊) the scenes in the clubhouse broke me, especially one of the opening chapters (👁️). I loved her character and learning more about her and the whole story from her POV.
This book was really well written yet again, I loved the flash backs to them growing up then flicking back to the present. This is one of my favourite couples in the Devils Disciples series and I can’t wait to see their story develop in the next book. But girl… that cliffhanger… why’d you keep doing this to me 🤣😭 thank you so much for sending me the ARC copy, I always love reading what you’ve written! 🖤
J.M. Johnson has done it again. After following the Devil's Disciples series from the very beginning, I had huge expectations because this series is by far one of my favorites. Hidden, Book #4, was absolutely devastating in the best way possible. The sacrifice, the pacing, the suspenseful plot all sat heavy on my chest, I was furiously turning the pages just to breathe. Johnson knows exactly how to build anticipation and deliver payoffs that literally take your breath away. The character dynamics are pure perfection: intense and of the highest stakes that keep you invested from the first page to the last. Nobody writes dark, gritty romance with fierce, badass heroines and beautifully flawed, morally gray men quite like J.M. The tension in this book is elite, the pace is relentless and the emotional payoff is everything I needed and more. It is dark, it's deliciously spicy and will absolutely wreck you in all the right ways. If you love dark romantic suspense that keeps you guessing until the back cover, this is the book. This series is for you.
Hidden is another wild ride in this series and honestly just proves again how good J.M. Johnson is at delivering that emotional whiplash. This one leans hard into the dark, gritty MC world and it’s got that heavy, haunting feel the whole way through.
Sophia and Eros completely pulled me in. Sophia is such a standout, she’s strong, layered, and there’s so much going on with her that keeps you guessing right up until the end. The dynamic between her and Eros is intense, messy, and feels inevitable in that way you can’t look away from. The “hidden” parts of her life add this constant tension that just sits under everything and makes it so hard to put down.
The writing is sharp, with that biting sarcasm and real MC banter that makes it feel authentic. The world building is still top tier, and I loved seeing bits of Dante and Rachel in the background because it keeps everything feeling connected.
I have recently devoured all of the Devil's Disciples books, and I am so thankful & grateful I got to get my hands on Hidden Early! The Devil's Disciples is now one of my top all time favourite series!! This book is about Vienna and Gabriella's story. Vienna has hands down been one of my favourite characters throughout the series and getting book 1 of his story (which Im devastated about I need book 2 ASAP!!!) was exactly what I the reader wanted. I loved that in this story we got to understand facets of Viennas character and explanations as to why he is the way he is, makes me love him even more! Vienna and Gabriella's story is beautiful and heartbreaking and I cant wait to see how it plays out. I don't want to give anything away, please just read it! Jenifer has created a world that I want to live in; All. The. Time. 10/10 6 stars!!!
I am wrecked and I am not okay. I expected passion, I expected humour, arguments and hidden gems. I wasn’t ready for emotional damage. The absolute heartbreak that Vienna and Gabriella go through, and the years it spread through damn near broke me. JM Johnson doesn’t write soppy romance or whimsical stories, she digs her fingers into the messy trauma of fractured hearts and ugly truths that usually happen behind closed doors. What happened to the baby and how it was handled in the tough world of biker clubs was written so brilliantly it felt like it was happening to me. The letter? No words can describe the ugly crying that caused, or the ache I felt for days after. And the cliffhangers Jo is so famous for was like a slap in the face and like a true junkie I eagerly await the next book- after I get therapy of course. A+++++ 10000/10.
If you have not read book 1-3 of Devil’s Disciples, I strongly recommend it. While you could start with Hidden, the characters and story would make more sense if you start from book 1..also check the triggers cuz baby, you may be triggered. This book is intense!! Now to the review, haha. This book is so well written and kept me engaged the entire time. JM did a great job of switching from the past to the present and it just flowed. The character development was great and showed great depth, especially the MMC. I love how she showed the complexity of the characters and the struggle for their love. This is like a Romeo/Juliet in the sense of a forbidden romance with rival MC. I enjoyed every bit of the book and can’t wait for the next installment!
It's not been that long ago that I discovered this gem of an author and i completely fell in love with her work when I read the first book, Stolen. These stories get better and better with each book and I get brought further and further down the rabbit hole that is the Devil's Disciples. Hidden is absolutely fantastic! Of course it is! Vienna and Gabriella are brilliant and the emotional rollercoaster that is their journey is equally so. And then in the fashion I've become accustomed to with this author she leaves us on a cliffhanger that left me completely and irretrievably broken.
“You think you know death, but you don’t. Not until it's someone you care about. You kill those you deem beneath you. I’ve experienced loss. The kind that gets under your skin and lives inside you.”
DAMN, this series just keeps getting better and better! I have absolutely loved Dante and Rachel's story but I've been dying to get my hand on Viennas one - and it did not disappoint!!!!
I'm honestly not sure how to be okay with the cliffhanger this has left me on, I need to know if Vienna and Gabriella will finally get the happy ending they deserve.
This very much is the Romeo and Juliet story of an MC world - doomed from the start! Will they end up being star crossed lovers, or can they finally get their Happily Ever After?
• MMC who uses humour to cover up actually feelings, but yes he is very funny. • FMC doomed to live out the life she didnt want, and doesnt deserve • MCs from rival Motorcycle gangs
Vienna is the clown, the joker and the silly one. That’s how the world see’s him. He has so much more to him than that. Hidden underneath his facade is a broken bruised boy, who has had to fight.
I knew I loved this character from the first duet, but god did I love this. It’s amazing to see why Vienna is the way he is, humour is a coping mechanism after all.
Throw in some spice and a moment I nearly threw up in my mouth. I bloody loved this book! From start to finish.
This book is another amazing work by an amazing author.
If there were a 6th Star ⭐ I’d slap it all over this book!!
There’ll be no spoilers here. Just sheer love!
Just when you thought you’d met the spiciest & most possessive biker EVER…in strolls Vienna. If you ever want to squirm, ache, cry and scream at a book….this is it. The Devils Disciples are sheer perfection. I’m honoured to have read this early ❤️ regardless of yet another cliffhanger, I will gladly wait for the next instalment of heat and angst 😉
To count the author as one of my book friends makes me feel SO incredibly spicy and lucky indeed. Be warned, Vienna is mine…… & Claire can still “off” iykyk
Vienna is my absolute favourite and I was DYING to have his and Gabriellas story told and it did not disappoint.
Chapter 2 I was dry heaving as I can't stand anything to do with eyeballs (read your triggers)
The spice was spicing as usual and I loved it. The way Gabriellas story was told both past and present was amazing I thoroughly enjoyed it, it got me in the feels towards the end with the romeo and Juliet style, but its now left on that cliffy and my heart is hurting not knowing whats happened to V!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Wow, another fantastic instalment in the Devil's Disciples series.
I am so glad that the author decided to give Vienna & Gabriella their own story and this first part certainly did not disappoint.
Hidden gives us the beautiful, troubling background of how Vienna and Gabby came to be and the inevitable diffulties they face being from rival MC clubs. This is not a light fluffy read. It contains some dark and raw scenes, so do check triggers, but I loved every chapter and I cannot wait for the release of Healed later on in the year.
Well what can I say, JM doesn’t do things by halves, nor does she love nothing more than hanging us over a cliff every single time. I always think it can’t be as big a cliffhanger than all of the others but yep smashes it every time!
As usual a work of art, I’ve laughed hysterically and won’t look at a potato peeler in the same way again. Please don’t leave us hanging for too long! Vienna and Gabriella deserve a better ending than Romeo and Juliet get!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Have the tissues ready! Learning the story of Vienna and Gabriella with a mix of what's currently happening and what happened in the past is a very emotional whirlwind! You get the meanings behind certain things. You fall in love with with prior main character, Dante, a little more, side character, Mama K, and even Crash.
I love this world. Love these characters and the author knows where to leave the story off making readers feral for more.
Aw my sweet Vienna 😭 This was rough, heartbreaking and infuriating...
Gabriella had my heart, she and Vienna deserve all the good in the world after everything they've been through...
Gabriella is a survivor, she's strong and resilient.
I haven't hated a fictional character as much as I hate Nico, and I truly hope he dies a horrible death.
I loved Dante and Rachel and I'm glad they're still the vicious and petty people they are 🤣
I think I went through all the feelings with this one, and I cried at some parts and laughed out loud at others.
But those last few chapters....Natalie and Vienna and Gabriella had me on a chokehold. My heart was breaking for them. I need the next part, I need my baby Vienna to be OK 😭🥹🫂
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!! Once again the author has blown my mind with these books. The plot was thick, the story was amazing, the spice was perfect, the romance moving and this book had you feeling all the feels. Everything you could want in a dark romance and more and i absolutely loved this book!!!! I will never stop recommending this series. if you haven't read it yet YOU NEED TO!!!!!
Well what can I say, I wasn't prepared for how written Hidden was. In the trilogy Vienna was just a side character, he clown if you will, but reading hidden you finally understand the kind of person he is and how relatable he is. He's perfection Im so proud to have been able to read this! Cant wait for book two...
However the cliff hanger is lethal.. you cant leave us hanging like that
How utterly heartbreaking. I love Vienna, how could you not. I love how it goes to the past and shows you their story and why they are, the way they are. And she is such a survivor. I couldn't even fathom that kind of mental and physical torture. I think this was wonderfully written and I am so nervous for the next book.
After a long, not so patient, wait i was given the honor of reading this 4th book of the devils disciples series. Honestly the wait was worth it. This book had my emotions rollercoasting the whole way through. I strongly suggest reading the trigger warnings as some topics may be a little hard to deal with but honestly this series is incredible.
Luke, I just want to give you the biggest hug. This book was absolutely amazing. The way his character is written and everything he goes through will have you feeling every single emotion. It’s giving Romeo and Juliet Heartbreaking, emotional, and beautifully done—put this on your TBR immediately.