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Bleeding Havoc
He was her warning. She was his war. Together, they burned it all down.
Darren Wheeler was never meant to survive his own destruction. Fresh out of rehab and barely holding it together, the infamous guitarist of August Bleeding is back on tour with a ruined reputation and ghosts he can't escape. Sobriety claws at his sanity, his past haunts every step, and the one person he ruined is just a few feet away… living a life without him. Jainie Lovatt doesn't play it safe. As the fierce frontwoman of Riot Dolls, she's spent years fighting to be heard in a world that wants to tame her sound—and her. This tour is her band's big break… if she's willing to sacrifice everything that makes her music real.
They collide, and it's war. He calls her a fraud. She calls him an asshole. And neither of them will walk away. But beneath the venom and the fire, something raw and real takes shape that's dangerous enough to wreck them both. Because Darren isn't just fighting his demons—he is one. And Jainie might be the only one reckless enough to face him… even if it destroys her in the process. On a tour fueled by music, rage, and buried truths, lines blur, secrets bleed, and not everyone will make it out whole.
Darren Wheeler was never meant to survive his own destruction. Fresh out of rehab and barely holding it together, the infamous guitarist of August Bleeding is back on tour with a ruined reputation and ghosts he can't escape. Sobriety claws at his sanity, his past haunts every step, and the one person he ruined is just a few feet away… living a life without him. Jainie Lovatt doesn't play it safe. As the fierce frontwoman of Riot Dolls, she's spent years fighting to be heard in a world that wants to tame her sound—and her. This tour is her band's big break… if she's willing to sacrifice everything that makes her music real.
They collide, and it's war. He calls her a fraud. She calls him an asshole. And neither of them will walk away. But beneath the venom and the fire, something raw and real takes shape that's dangerous enough to wreck them both. Because Darren isn't just fighting his demons—he is one. And Jainie might be the only one reckless enough to face him… even if it destroys her in the process. On a tour fueled by music, rage, and buried truths, lines blur, secrets bleed, and not everyone will make it out whole.
576 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2026
About the author
S.L. Kunz
4 books10 followersBorn and raised in Utah, she always had an interest in storytelling. She looked forward to all the creative writing assignments that started in middle school, and her love for stories snowballed from there, both in reading and writing. She always dreamed of sharing her stories with the world, but life got busy. A husband, kids, and all the things that come with it. She's finally picked up the pen again and can't wait to share her stories.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 8, 2026
*Bleeding Havoc* was raw, emotional, and completely impossible to put down 👀🎸🖤
From the very first chapter, I knew this was going to be a book that wrecked me in the best way. Darren and Jainie's story is messy, painful, passionate, and packed with so much history that you can feel the weight of it in every interaction.
Darren is not an easy character to love, and that's exactly what makes his journey so compelling. Fresh out of rehab and struggling to stay sober, he's forced to confront the damage he's caused, the mistakes he can't take back, and the people he hurt along the way. His battle with addiction, guilt, and self-destruction felt incredibly real, and there were so many moments where my heart broke for him even when I wanted to be frustrated with him.
And then there's Jainie.
I absolutely loved her. She's fierce, talented, stubborn, and refuses to let anyone diminish who she is or what she wants from her career. She's spent years fighting to be heard, and she's not about to let anyone—including Darren—tell her who she should be. Watching her stand her ground while still carrying her own wounds made her such a strong and memorable character.
What really made this book shine for me was the relationship between them. The tension is immediate and intense. They know exactly how to push each other's buttons, and their arguments practically crackle off the page. But underneath all that anger is heartbreak, longing, regret, and feelings neither of them ever truly got over.
The music industry setting added another layer that I loved. Being on tour together creates the perfect environment for all that unresolved tension to explode. Every performance, every backstage interaction, and every forced moment together felt loaded with emotion.
The emotional depth of this story is what pushed it into 5⭐ territory for me. It isn't just a romance. It's a story about redemption, healing, forgiveness, and learning whether it's possible to love someone after they've shattered your heart—and whether it's possible to forgive yourself for the person you used to be.
✨ Read this if you love:
• rockstar romance 🎸
• enemies-to-lovers vibes
• second chance romance
• emotionally damaged characters
• addiction and recovery journeys
• high angst and emotional tension
• strong, independent FMCs
• music industry settings
This book made me feel everything. The angst, the heartbreak, the chemistry, the hope—it all came together perfectly. I was completely invested in Darren and Jainie's story, and by the end I couldn't imagine a better journey for them.
An easy 5⭐ read for me and one of my favorite books in the August Bleeding series so far 🖤🔥
From the very first chapter, I knew this was going to be a book that wrecked me in the best way. Darren and Jainie's story is messy, painful, passionate, and packed with so much history that you can feel the weight of it in every interaction.
Darren is not an easy character to love, and that's exactly what makes his journey so compelling. Fresh out of rehab and struggling to stay sober, he's forced to confront the damage he's caused, the mistakes he can't take back, and the people he hurt along the way. His battle with addiction, guilt, and self-destruction felt incredibly real, and there were so many moments where my heart broke for him even when I wanted to be frustrated with him.
And then there's Jainie.
I absolutely loved her. She's fierce, talented, stubborn, and refuses to let anyone diminish who she is or what she wants from her career. She's spent years fighting to be heard, and she's not about to let anyone—including Darren—tell her who she should be. Watching her stand her ground while still carrying her own wounds made her such a strong and memorable character.
What really made this book shine for me was the relationship between them. The tension is immediate and intense. They know exactly how to push each other's buttons, and their arguments practically crackle off the page. But underneath all that anger is heartbreak, longing, regret, and feelings neither of them ever truly got over.
The music industry setting added another layer that I loved. Being on tour together creates the perfect environment for all that unresolved tension to explode. Every performance, every backstage interaction, and every forced moment together felt loaded with emotion.
The emotional depth of this story is what pushed it into 5⭐ territory for me. It isn't just a romance. It's a story about redemption, healing, forgiveness, and learning whether it's possible to love someone after they've shattered your heart—and whether it's possible to forgive yourself for the person you used to be.
✨ Read this if you love:
• rockstar romance 🎸
• enemies-to-lovers vibes
• second chance romance
• emotionally damaged characters
• addiction and recovery journeys
• high angst and emotional tension
• strong, independent FMCs
• music industry settings
This book made me feel everything. The angst, the heartbreak, the chemistry, the hope—it all came together perfectly. I was completely invested in Darren and Jainie's story, and by the end I couldn't imagine a better journey for them.
An easy 5⭐ read for me and one of my favorite books in the August Bleeding series so far 🖤🔥
June 9, 2026
Two Recovering Souls - One Brutal Love Story
Final book, Darren's story. I'll be completely honest, I didn't want to read it. In my mind there was little that Kunz could do that would make him a redeemable character. But I knew other things would happen with the other band members and couldn't miss the wrap up of August Bleeding. So of course I read it.
This might possibly be my favorite book of the series, it was soo good. Darren and Jainie, what a hot f*cking couple. Darren finally has met his match, and actually thinks he's worth saving. Once he starts letting her in, and removes the facade of the tough guy, I loved Darren.
As always I was a mess reading this book, Kunz always makes you FEEL for her characters. The trauma, pain and anguish they face, and how they work through it. It's so powerful, she truly has a gift for bringing such profound emotion to these stories. I cried for Darren (a few times) and for Jainie.
- "He isn't trying to fix me right now; he's just standing in the black with me."
But right when my heart is on the floor we are hit with spice that rivals Bleeding Oath IYKYK. Bleeding Havoc was so hot, so dirty. The f*cking bet, one of the best scenes in the book. 🥵
I'm sad we are saying goodbye to August Bleeding, but I am so excited to see what Kunz has in store for us all next.
Final book, Darren's story. I'll be completely honest, I didn't want to read it. In my mind there was little that Kunz could do that would make him a redeemable character. But I knew other things would happen with the other band members and couldn't miss the wrap up of August Bleeding. So of course I read it.
This might possibly be my favorite book of the series, it was soo good. Darren and Jainie, what a hot f*cking couple. Darren finally has met his match, and actually thinks he's worth saving. Once he starts letting her in, and removes the facade of the tough guy, I loved Darren.
As always I was a mess reading this book, Kunz always makes you FEEL for her characters. The trauma, pain and anguish they face, and how they work through it. It's so powerful, she truly has a gift for bringing such profound emotion to these stories. I cried for Darren (a few times) and for Jainie.
- "He isn't trying to fix me right now; he's just standing in the black with me."
But right when my heart is on the floor we are hit with spice that rivals Bleeding Oath IYKYK. Bleeding Havoc was so hot, so dirty. The f*cking bet, one of the best scenes in the book. 🥵
I'm sad we are saying goodbye to August Bleeding, but I am so excited to see what Kunz has in store for us all next.
May 30, 2026
Darren is four months into a tour with Bleeding August, and the distance between him and his bandmates is impossible to ignore. They've got good reasons for keeping him at arm's length. Rehab made him sober, but it didn't make him whole. He's drowning in guilt, haunted by the people he's hurt, especially Katie, and struggling with the fear that he's failed as a father.
Then he meets Jainie, guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist for Riot Dolls. She's every bit as broken as he is, and seeing his own damage reflected back at him makes Darren lash out. Yet even at his worst, he can't deny her incredible talent.
This isn't a sweet romance. It's messy, gritty, complicated, and sometimes downright brutal. Check the trigger warnings because these two are a walking dumpster fire, and I could not put this book down. It's the kind of story that has you desperate for the happy ending while simultaneously not wanting the book to end.
This journey is packed with addiction, heartbreak, betrayal, revenge, and redemption. The road to love is anything but easy, but that's what makes it so compelling. As Bette Davis famously warned, "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night." This book delivers exactly that kind of ride, and the ending was absolutely delicious.
Five stars from me.
Then he meets Jainie, guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist for Riot Dolls. She's every bit as broken as he is, and seeing his own damage reflected back at him makes Darren lash out. Yet even at his worst, he can't deny her incredible talent.
This isn't a sweet romance. It's messy, gritty, complicated, and sometimes downright brutal. Check the trigger warnings because these two are a walking dumpster fire, and I could not put this book down. It's the kind of story that has you desperate for the happy ending while simultaneously not wanting the book to end.
This journey is packed with addiction, heartbreak, betrayal, revenge, and redemption. The road to love is anything but easy, but that's what makes it so compelling. As Bette Davis famously warned, "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night." This book delivers exactly that kind of ride, and the ending was absolutely delicious.
Five stars from me.
May 27, 2026
ARC Review
This book carries a heaviness that follows every page.
We already knew the sharp edges, the anger, and the damage left in the wake of this main character, but stepping into his story reveals a bit more of what has been sitting beneath all that noise. Not excuses and no neatly wrapped answers, just someone trying to keep moving while carrying things that still hurt.
There’s a recognizing of familiar fractures, different wounds, similar ache. No easy fixes, no magical turning point, just the slow and difficult process of finding something steady enough to hold onto while everything else feels uncertain.
The quieter moments leave the strongest impression. The unspoken understanding, the presence, the feeling of someone choosing to stay even when things are complicated.
This story feels like hearing noise slowly turn into music, finding strength in places that once only carried hurt. 🖤🎸
Kelly (TheInkAddictsReads on Insta)
This book carries a heaviness that follows every page.
We already knew the sharp edges, the anger, and the damage left in the wake of this main character, but stepping into his story reveals a bit more of what has been sitting beneath all that noise. Not excuses and no neatly wrapped answers, just someone trying to keep moving while carrying things that still hurt.
There’s a recognizing of familiar fractures, different wounds, similar ache. No easy fixes, no magical turning point, just the slow and difficult process of finding something steady enough to hold onto while everything else feels uncertain.
The quieter moments leave the strongest impression. The unspoken understanding, the presence, the feeling of someone choosing to stay even when things are complicated.
This story feels like hearing noise slowly turn into music, finding strength in places that once only carried hurt. 🖤🎸
Kelly (TheInkAddictsReads on Insta)
July 12, 2026
Bleeding Havoc, last in the series, densely weighs on the soul.
This is Darren's story. Recently out of rehab, he's trying to right the wrongs in his life. Then he meets insanely talented Jaimie who is definitely his match. Together they face life's cruel attempts to bear them down. Their journey is nothing short of phenomenal, packed with all the angst and feels. I absolutely loved this well written page turner for sure. Read it and be immersed.
This is Darren's story. Recently out of rehab, he's trying to right the wrongs in his life. Then he meets insanely talented Jaimie who is definitely his match. Together they face life's cruel attempts to bear them down. Their journey is nothing short of phenomenal, packed with all the angst and feels. I absolutely loved this well written page turner for sure. Read it and be immersed.
Review of advance copy
I am so upset that this one is the last in the series. Great ending and great story. I am so glad the the talented Darren straightened himself out and finally found someone to tame him. That one was a very enjoyable read in my favorite genre, rockstar. All I can say is Read THIS BOOK.
June 7, 2026
It’s so sad that this has come to an end. But i absolutely loved the way this came together. Darren finally finding a woman that can tame him. She’s everything he needs in the best way possible. This was such a great and emotional ride to get to this point. A really great read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews